Jobs, Corruption, and Beer

Colorado News
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Colorado Jobs Up, Unemployment Sharply Lower
"In some of the best news about jobs in Colorado since the start of the recession, employment grew 4,900 in August, and the state's jobless rate fell half a percentage point, to 7.3 percent, the lowest since February."

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Former Interior Secretary Gale Norton Is Focus Of Corruption Probe
"The Justice Department investigation centers on a 2006 decision to award oil shale leases in Colorado to a Royal Dutch Shell subsidiary."

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Colorado Company Brews 30 Years of History
"After humble beginnings and plenty of heady times, Boulder Beer Co. Colorado's first microbrewery and the oldest surviving craft brewery since prohibition in the United States is turning 30 on Sept. 25, the second day of the Great American Beer Festival."

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The National Parks: America's Best Idea

Book Review

The National Parks: America's Best Idea, by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns. America’s national parks spring from an idea as radical as the Declaration of Independence: that the nation’s most magnificent and sacred places should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone. In this evocative and lavishly illustrated narrative, Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan delve into the history of the park idea, from the first sighting by white men in 1851 of the valley that would become Yosemite and the creation of the world’s first national park at Yellowstone in 1872, through the most recent additions to a system that now encompasses nearly four hundred sites and 84 million acres.

The authors recount the adventures, mythmaking, and intense political battles behind the evolution of the park system, and the enduring ideals that fostered its growth. They capture the importance and splendors of the individual parks: from Haleakala in Hawaii to Acadia in Maine, from Denali in Alaska to the Everglades in Florida, from Glacier in Montana to Big Bend in Texas. And they introduce us to a diverse cast of compelling characters—both unsung heroes and famous figures such as John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, and Ansel Adams—who have been transformed by these special places and committed themselves to saving them from destruction so that the rest of us could be transformed as well. The National Parks is a glorious celebration of an essential expression of American democracy. Order from Amazon.com

Quick and Simple Pumpkin Soup Ideas

by Christine Szalay Kudra

Just as there are different kinds of pumpkins themselves, pumpkin soup is a multitalented dish too. All over the world, you will find a wide verity of this dish from many diverse cultures and as you will come across when you try different pumpkin soup techniques. The pumpkin lends itself incredibly well to an extensive variety of diverse flavorings and ingredients. Pumpkin soups can be found, which feature pumpkin as the main ingredient of a dish or plays a supporting part of a combinations of many different ingredients.

If you're like most people though, you think of pumpkin soup as very much a seasonal dish, appearing on the dinner table around the holidays, and disappearing shortly thereafter, not to be seen again until autumn's chill returns to fill the air. We are all familiar with the traditional classic pumpkin soup with its many familiar spices like clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and alike served piping hot with just a touch of cream swirled into it. This cold weather dish is common around fall but this delicious soup is wonderful no matter what time of year you wish to serve it hot or cold.

For something a little bit different, try a curried pumpkin soup. It's a little bit spicier than the traditional pumpkin soup you're used to from holiday dinners, but every bit as delicious. The spices used in these pumpkin soups include some, which strike a familiar note, and others, which lend a more exotic taste to the dish. A wonderful alternative during winter months pumpkin soup makes a nice change of pace from those bland everyday soups we get far too often.

Jamaican pumpkin soup recipes are also a good choice if you're looking for a soup, which is a little different from what you may be used to. In Jamaica, pumpkin and other hard-shelled squashes are very popular vegetables and there are many different soups, which are eaten year round. These soups often feature beef, noodles, and spices including the classic Jamaican combination of thyme, allspice, and habanero peppers.

If you have a dinner party coming up, a pumpkin soup served in individual pumpkin shells is always an impressive presentation. For this particular pumpkin soup recipe, you'll want to have several small pumpkins (at least as many as you'll have diners and probably a few more). The pumpkin makes a great serving dish after being hollowed out, fill it with your favorite pumpkin soup recipe, and is sure to impress your guest and family alike.

You can dress up pumpkin soup into something sophisticated by adding some grown-up ingredients like sherry (dry or sweet) and gruyere cheese; this is a combination, which works especially well with pumpkin. The result is an incredibly delicious, silky smooth tasting soup, which will delight your family and friends and perhaps even make some believers out of people who were ambivalent to this vegetable before!

Whether curried, spicy, sweet or sophisticated, pumpkin soup recipes run the gamut of flavors and culinary influences, with a soup perfect for every palate. Pumpkin soup should not just be left to holidays such as Thanksgiving but enjoyed often. Try some variations on this versatile theme; after all, they are available year-round - and regardless of the season, this diverse vegetable should be a part of your culinary treasure chest year round.

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Copyright © 2009, by Christine Szalay Kudra. As the mom of four boys great food is a way of life and lots of it. You can easily make a classic pumpkin soup from just a few simple ingredients. It is fast and easy to make this creamy gourmet soup that goes well with a full meal or can be served by itself. Garnish it with a dollop of sour cream and serve with linen napkins. For more info and recipes visit: PumpkinSoup.org

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Smoke and Money Flow Into State

Colorado News
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Health Advisory Issued As Smoke Flows Into Colorado
"Heavy smoke flowing into Colorado from fires in California and Utah has created unhealthy breathing conditions for some people, the state health department said today.

"A smoke health advisory was issued this afternoon for Garfield County and parts of northwest and north-central Colorado. The air is filled with so many fine particulates that state health officials said the air quality is in the "unhealthy-for-sensitive-group" category, which includes individuals with heart disease, respiratory illness, the very young and very old.

"The highest concentrations of smoke are likely occur north of Interstate 70 and as far east as the Front Range. Although the air in the metro region is hazy, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment officials said particulate levels outside the warning areas are only moderate."

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Colorado Forest Service To Distribute 10.7M In Stimulus Grants
"The Colorado State Forest Service is seeking proposals for $10.7 million in federal stimulus funds it will distribute for projects that create forestry-related jobs. The funds authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act include:

• $6.25 million for organizations working to create or retain jobs in forest restoration and fuels mitigation.

• $4.47 million to fund jobs involved in planning community wildfire protection, with some of the money for jobs in the wood-products industry.

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Cahokia: Ancient America's Great City on the Mississippi

Book Review

Cahokia: Ancient America's Great City on the Mississippi, by Timothy R. Pauketat. Almost a thousand years ago, a Native American city flourished along the Mississippi River near what is now St. Louis. Cahokia was a thriving metropolis at its height with a population of twenty thousand, a sprawling central plaza, and scores of spectacular earthen mounds. The city gave rise to a new culture that spread across the plains; yet by 1400 it had been abandoned, leaving only the giant mounds as monuments and traces of its influence in tribes we know today.

In Cahokia, anthropologist Timothy R. Pauketat reveals the story of the city and its people as uncovered by the dramatic digs of American corn-belt archaeologists. These excavations have revealed evidence of a powerful society, including complex celestial timepieces, the remains of feasts big enough to feed thousands, and disturbing signs of large-scale human sacrifice.

Drawing on these pioneering digs and a wealth of analysis by historians and archaeologists, Pauketat provides a comprehensive picture of what's been discovered about Cahokia and how these findings have challenged our perceptions of Native Americans. Cahokia is a lively read and a compelling narrative of prehistoric America. Order from Amazon.com

Marijuana Clinics Sprouting In Colorado

Colorado News
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Marijuana Clinics Crop Up Rapidly In Colorado
"The explosion of consumer demand for medical marijuana has spawned concern among some but represents opportunity for others to move medical marijuana into the mainstream. By summer's end, there could be as many as 60 medical-marijuana "dispensaries" in Colorado, according to the founder of Colorado Medical Marijuana, which catalogues the dispensaries on its website."

"From bright, modern offices atop a Panera sandwich shop near Park Meadows mall, Colorado Medical Marijuana walks potential patients through the process of finding a doctor and registering with the state — for $235. The state registry fee is $90. Under Amendment 20, passed by voters in 2000, dispensaries can sell marijuana to anyone on the medical- marijuana registry who has designated them as their 'caregiver.' To keep up with demand, the Hemp and Cannabis Foundation, which operates the Wheat Ridge clinic and 13 others in nine states, has hired nearly 40 new employees around the country this year and expects to add more, said founder Paul Stanford. Doctors do not prescribe medical marijuana and cannot dispense it. But Amendment 20 requires a doctor's signed referral, signifying a patient has one of eight specific medical conditions, including severe pain."

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As of June 30th there were 8,918 people in Colorado registered to use medical marijuana. Gilpin County has the highest use with 8.7 registrants per 1000 people. Chaffee County has 2 registrants per 1000 people. What are your views on medical marijuana? Click on the Comments link to share your opinions.

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Goat Song: A Seasonal Life, A Short History of Herding, and the Art of Making Cheese

Book Review

Goat Song: A Seasonal Life, A Short History of Herding, and the Art of Making Cheese, by Brad Kessler. Acclaimed novelist Brad Kessler lived in New York City but longed for a life on the land where he could grow his own food. After years of searching for a home, he and his wife, photographer Dona Ann McAdams, found a mountain farmhouse on a dead-end road, with seventy-five acres of land. One day, when Dona returned home with fresh goat milk from a neighbor's farm, Kessler made a fresh chèvre, and their life changed forever. They decided to raise dairy goats and make cheese.

Goat Song tells about what it's like to live intimately with animals who directly feed you. As Kessler begins to live the life of a herder -- learning how to care for and breed and birth goats -- he encounters the pastoral roots of so many aspects of Western culture. Kessler reflects on the history and literature of herding, and how our diet, our alphabet, our religions, poetry, and economy all grew out of a pastoralist milieu among hoofed animals.

Kessler and his wife adapt to a life governed by their goats and the rhythm of the seasons. And their goats give back in immeasurable ways, as Kessler proves to be a remarkable cheesemaker, with his first tomme of goat cheese winning lavish praise from America's premier cheese restaurants. In the tradition of Thoreau's Walden and Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Goat Song is both a spiritual quest and a compelling and beautiful chronicle of living by nature's rules. Brad Kessler's novel Birds in Fall won the 2006 Dayton Literary Peace Prize and was named by the Los Angeles Times one of the top ten books of the year. He is the author of another novel, Lick Creek, and his non-fiction has appeared in numerous publications including The New Yorker, The Nation, Kenyon Review, and Bomb. Kessler is the recipient of the Rome Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and a Whiting Writer's Award. He lives with his wife, the photographer Dona Ann McAdams, in Vermont, where they raise a small herd of dairy goats and produce cheese. Order from Amazon.com

Wolves Come To Salida, Colorado

by M. K. Albus

The Wolfwood Refuge of Ignacio, Colorado once again brought some wolves and wolfdogs to Alpine Park in Salida for exhibit as part of their ongoing efforts at promoting an understanding of these animals. The refuge provides a place for unwanted and homeless wolves and wolfdogs. Part of their mission is to dispel myth and misinformation, judgment and prejudice, cruelty and inhumane treatment. They wish to reach a place of understanding and respect with the realization that quality of life is an inherent right of all creatures.

Quite a large crowd came to see the animals. Pens were set up in the park holding the larger wolves and wolfdogs and a few people at a time were allowed inside the pens to pet and be with the animals. A couple of young wolfdogs were outside the pens on leashes where children could play with them. To see children's faces light up as they petted the wolves was as uplifting to see as the wolves.

One rehabilitated 10-month-old gray wolf named Trinity was also outside the cages (see picture below). She was an incredibly gentle and loving animal who truly enjoyed the attention she got from all the people.

Photos Copyright © 2009 by White Feather. All Rights Reserved.

A great time was had by all. To learn more about Wolfwood Rescue visit their website: WolfWoodRefuge.com

Enthusiasm

Quotation of the Week

"Nothing great has ever been achieved without enthusiasm" - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Exxon Mobil Found Guilty, Portland Company Moving To Colorado, Banned Purses

Colorado News

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Exxon Mobil Pleads Guilty to Killing Protected Birds
"ExxonMobil, the world's largest publicly traded oil and gas company, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to charges that it killed 85 protected birds -- including hawks, owls and waterfowl. The company violated the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in five states over the last five years, according to the Department of Justice. Most of the birds died after exposure to hydrocarbons in uncovered natural gas pits, oil tanks and waste water facilities at ExxonMobil drilling and production plants in Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, court documents stated."

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Portland Wind Turbine Company Moving To Denver
"Wind-energy company REpower USA Corp. of Portland is moving its headquarters to Denver in early September, the company said Friday."

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Colorado Springs Liquor Store Bans Purses
Denver Post - "Colorado's Liquor Outlet issued a "no purse" policy, plastering signs in front of the store telling patrons to leave purses in their cars or at the door. 'If they try to shop, we won't sell to them,' head cashier Laurae Langello said. The purse ban was implemented three weeks ago to combat the increase of thefts this year at the store."

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Colorado Wild: Preserving the Spirit and Beauty of Our Land

Book Review

Colorado Wild: Preserving the Spirit and Beauty of Our Land, by Judith P. Sellers (author), Willard Clay (photographer), and with a foreward by T.A. Barron. The spirit of Colorado’s land is mirrored in all who prize its wildness and seek its preservation. Its sublime mountains, sun-dazzled plains, rugged canyons, wildflower-splashed meadows, and crystalline waters have long inspired people from diverse walks of life to strive to preserve it--in words, on canvas, in song. And, in its most imperative sense, many have also sought literally to preserve it. Colorado’s natural heritage is a legacy to be cherished and protected for generations to come. It will take the mind, spirit, and will of the Colorado people to succeed, but there is a driving, urgent imperative among its committed to save these special places that will be lost forever if the challenge goes unheeded. "Colorado Wild: Preserving the Spirit and Beauty of Our Land," a collaboration between naturalist writer Judith Sellers, well-known for her conservation efforts, and photographer Willard Clay, is a striking artistic photographic tour of Colorado’s wilderness with large-format photography and text highlighting past, recent, and current conservation efforts. Filled with the natural treasures of the state, "Colorado Wild" is a call to the challenge of preserving our land.

A former professor of botany at the Unviersity of Arizona, Willard Clay left his Ph.D. research projects and teaching career in 1982 to pursue nature photography on a full-time basis. Traveling throughout the country with a 4x5 view camera, Willard seeks natural compositions in color and form that are distinctive. Will’s photography first appeared in Arizona Highways magazine in 1979, and has since been published in myriad national publications, including magazines, calendars, books, and posters from the Sierra Club, Audobon, Outside, and more. Willard makes his home in Illinois with Debra Alsvig-Clay and her two sons, Curt and David.

Judy Sellers has lived in Colorado for more than thirty years, exploring the backcountry on foot, ski, and bike. A landscape designer by profession, she writes a weekly gardening column for the Colorado Springs Gazette. Her passion for the outdoors has led to involvement with many conservation organizations, both locally and nationally. The mother of two sons, she lives in the foothills of Colorado Springs with her cardiologist husband and two cats. This is her first book. Order from Amazon.com

Feeding Bears, Obama, and Mountain Climbing Death

Colorado News

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Colorado Woman Who Fed Bears Is Killed By One
"Donna Munson, 74, considered the black bears that swarmed across her land in southwestern Colorado to be her pets. She fed them dog food and scraps -- poking the food through a metal fence she built around her porch -- attracting so many bears that neighbors sometimes counted as many as 14 on her property at a time.

On Friday, one of them killed and ate Munson, slashing her head through the fence and dragging her body underneath it.

"She was dead set on continuing to feed the bears, and unfortunately, she paid the ultimate price," said Ouray County Sheriff's Investigator Joel Burk, who had to shoot a bear that tried to approach Munson's remains as he interviewed witnesses."

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Colorado Apartment Vacancies Rise
"Apartment vacancies in communities outside metro Denver climbed to 9.1 percent in the second quarter, the highest level in four years, according to a report released Tuesday by the Colorado Division of Housing.

The second-quarter figures echo a trend in the metro-Denver vacancy rate, also at a four-year high with figures of 9 percent for the second quarter and 8.4 percent in the first quarter. The Division of Housing surveys apartment owners in both the metro area and outlying communities but conducts the surveys on different schedules. The non-metro vacancy rate is up from 6.7 percent during the second quarter of 2008, with all areas but Colorado Springs reporting increases."

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Obama Coming To Colorado
"On Saturday August 15, President Barack Obama and the First Family will arrive in Colorado and President Obama will hold a town hall meeting in Grand Junction."

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Colorado Mountain Climber Killed
"A well-known Colorado mountain climber was killed and his partner was injured Sunday when ice fell from beneath in North Cascades National Park. The climber who was killed, Craig Luebben, and Willie Benegas were training for an American Mountain Guide exam at the time of the accident, said Mark Gunlogson, with Seattle's Mountain Madness. Benegas worked for Mountain Madness."

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Unemployment and Journalism

Commentary

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Ed Quillen: Ways to Reduce Unemployment
Denver Post: "After spending a week in Oregon, I nearly forgot how to pump my own gas, as the law there requires gasoline to be dispensed by an attendant...."

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Bill Donovan: Journalism 101
Salida Citizen: "My friend Merle over at Arkansas Valley Publishing makes good points in his editorial on Friday. However, in addition to the simple fact that people now have the ability to speak out, I believe it is the lack of quality and or objectivity in our trusted news outlets that has created the perceived need for citizen journalism around the world..."

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Anyone Lose Their Tennis Shoes?

A Closer Look At Angus Cattle

by Art Gib

Cattle are one of the animals that define America for several reasons. Our country's history wouldn't be complete without the cattle ranches and cowboys of the American West. A good portion of the U.S. economy is fueled by the cattle industry. In fact, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, cattle and calf production in 2008 was valued at $34.9 billion dollars, while the consumption of beef that year was 27.3 billion pounds. Americans love their beef and as a result, the industry thrives.

The most common breed of beef for consumption is Angus. This breed is characterized by two types of naturally hornless (polled) cattle: Black and Red Angus, so named because of their coloration. In the United States, these are considered two separate breeds. Black Angus is the most popular breed in the U.S. The cattle are considered better beef cattle for several reasons. Angus cattle are hardy and adaptable with a high carcass yield of higher marbled meat. They have a lower fat content than some cattle. These cattle are used exclusively as beef cattle and are not used for milk for human consumption.

Angus cattle came the United States from Scotland. The breed was originally called Aberdeen Angus because the cows were native to the Aberdeen and Angus counties of Scotland. In fact, Scotsman Hugh Watson is often considered the founder of the breed. He selected the best animals for his herd and it is believed that most Angus cattle today can trace their origins back to Watson's cattle.

The cattle breed first came to the United States via Scotsman George Grant in 1873. He transported four Angus bulls to the Kansas prairie. Two of these bulls were exhibited at the Kansas City Livestock Exposition. Because the dominant breed of cattle at the time was the Shorthorn, many people considered the hornless cattle strange and unusual. By crossbreeding the Angus bulls with native Longhorns, Grant was able to produce cattle that wintered better than regular Angus. During 1878 through 1883, the popularity of Angus grew and thousands of cattle were transported to the United States directly from Scotland. The popularity of the hornless Angus has grown exponentially since the early years.

Today, because of the recent spotlight on the inhumane nature of some cattle farms, many natural cattle farms have come into existence. They feed their cattle only natural feed and grains and use no added hormones or antibiotics. Most of these natural farms use only Angus and Angus cross-bred beef. Today, because of the quality of beef, Angus is the most popular breed in the United States.

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Niman Ranch farmers and ranchers raise livestock traditionally, humanely and sustainably to deliver the finest tasting organic meat in the world. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

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A Giant Hologram

Quotation of the Week

"The universe may be nothing more than a giant hologram created by the mind." - David Bohm (Physicist, 1917-1992)