Blog Salida: April 2008

Spam and Foreign Firefighters

Colorado News
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Prison For Colorado Spam King
"A 35-year-old Louisville man who ran a "spam" empire, sending hundreds of thousands of unsolicited e-mail solicitations to computer users around the world, has been sentenced to prison and fined more than $700,000 by a federal court."

Europeans Attend Colorado Firecamp
The Mountain Mail - "Instructors at Colorado Firecamp welcomed their first two international students, Paulo Gonçalves of Portugal and Nicola Lazzarini of Italy, earlier this month."

Spinach Dip Recipe

by Nichole Roberts

Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese, cut in cubes 1/4 cup whipping cream 1 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry, 2 tablespoons chopped pimento, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt, 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, 2 teaspoons grated onion, 1/4 teaspoon dried leaf thyme, crumbled

Preparation: Combine cream cheese and cream in slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW until cheese is melted, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Add remaining ingredients; cover and cook on LOW for about 45 minutes longer. Serve with raw vegetables, crackers, or crusty bread cubes.

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Thai Recipes

Field of Dreams

Short Story
by White Feather

The fields of summer were rich in earthly scents. The sky was big and the ground was moist from recent rain. As the group walked across the field they slowed their pace and took in the incredible beauty of the little valley.

The last time the group walked across this particular field it was frozen and everything was brown and yellow. There were no insects buzzing the air; no knee-high grass and wildflowers flowing in the breeze. It was winter then so now the group reveled in the sharp contrast. The field had come to life.

The people decided to stop and rest. They put down the large packs from their backs and placed them on the ground. Several of the group sat down on the ground with their backs to their packs. Others went to the small stream running along the edge of the field and collected water for everyone. The children, despite being exhausted, began playing.

What the group never learned during their winter visit through this field is that the field was a special energy center. It was the perfect place to stop and rest and try to rejuvenate before continuing with the journey. The energy of the field was exquisite. The group got so relaxed they decided to pitch camp right there in that field. They would leave in the morning. All the tension of being on a journey seemed to evaporate. All the thoughts involved with the trip dissipated and the group simply thought about their time of rest. It was like being home--for a day.

Everyone dreamed expansive dreams that night as they breathed in the rich air of the field. The sound of crickets serenaded the sleeping people as they dreamt of a home they were going back to. The sweet smell of the lush vegetation helped them focus in on that destination.

The next day when they left, each member of the group took part of that field with them.

In addition to occasionally writing for Blog Salida, Salida author White Feather has published numerous books, including two novels, collections of short stories, and collections of non-fiction essays. Books by White Feather.

Biotech, Renewable Energy, Income, and Snow

Colorado News
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Colorado's Per Capita Income Highest in Pitkin County
"Per capita personal income in Colorado ranges from a low of $16,859 in Crowley County to a high of $86,122 in Pitkin County, according to data released Thursday by the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis."

Eighteen Renewable Energy Bills Moving Through Colorado Legislature
"DENVER – Colorado energy czar Tom Plant is keeping a close watch on the last of at least 18 bills related to developing Colorado’s renewable energy resources that are still moving though the legislative process as this year’s General Assembly nears an end."

Colorado Governor Signs Biotech Incentive Bill
"Colorado reached for its wallet to encourage biotech businesses in a move to match past rhetoric. Governor Bill Ritter has made meaningful economic development measures a cornerstone of his administration."

Eight Colorado Resorts Set Snow Records
"Among Ski Country’s 26 members, record snowfall was recorded at Beaver Creek (430 inches), Crested Butte (422 inches), Monarch Mountain (482 inches), Powderhorn (320 inches), Silverton (550 inches), Snowmass (450 inches), Steamboat (489 inches) and Telluride (353 inches)."

Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon--And the Journey of a Generation

Book Review

Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon--And the Journey of a Generation, by Sheila Weller.A groundbreaking and irresistible biography of three of America's most important musical artists -- Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon -- charts their lives as women at a magical moment in time. Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon remain among the most enduring and important women in popular music. Each woman is distinct. Carole King is the product of outer-borough, middle-class New York City; Joni Mitchell is a granddaughter of Canadian farmers; and Carly Simon is a child of the Manhattan intellectual upper crust. They collectively represent, in their lives and their songs, a great swath of American girls who came of age in the late 1960s. Their stories trace the arc of the now mythic sixties generation -- female version -- but in a bracingly specific and deeply recalled way, far from cliché. The history of the women of that generation has never been written -- until now, through their resonant lives and emblematic songs.

Filled with the voices of many dozens of these women's intimates, who are speaking in these pages for the first time, this alternating biography reads like a novel -- except it's all true, and the heroines are famous and beloved. Sheila Weller captures the character of each woman and gives a balanced portrayal enriched by a wealth of new information. Girls Like Us is an epic treatment of midcentury women who dared to break tradition and become what none had been before them -- confessors in song, rock superstars, and adventurers of heart and soul. Order from Amazon.com

Lightbulbs and Lynx

Colorado News
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Conservationists Sue For Lynx Protection in New Mexico
"ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A coalition of conservation and animal protection groups on Monday sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to force it to extend federal protection to Canada lynx in New Mexico. 'Once lynx cross from Colorado into New Mexico — which they have been doing — they're suddenly not protected anymore.'"

Recycling Program Begun in Colorado For Light Bulbs, Thermostats
"Xcel Energy Inc. and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on Monday unveiled a recycling program for compact fluorescent light bulbs and thermostats containing mercury. The light bulbs and thermostats can be dropped off at any Ace Hardware location in Colorado. The retailer has 104 locations in the state. Although the light bulbs use less energy, the drawback is they contain small amounts of mercury. The recycling program is for individuals only, not for businesses."

Now there's some good news for Earth Day. What do you think of the lynx reintroduction to Colorado? What do you think of those compact flourescent light bulbs? Click on the 'comments' link below to share your opinions.

Democracy

Quotation of the Week

"Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time." - Winston Churchill

Tree Hole

Girls to the Rescue!

Announcements

As the second production in their 2008 season of celebrating women in theatre, Stage Left Theatre Company will be presenting two short plays for younger audiences. “Girls to the Rescue” consists of two stories involving well-known fairy tale characters in fun new situations.

The Fairy Godmother’s Assistant by Cynthia Mercati is about a young teen left in charge when the Fairy Godmother, her boss, goes on a much-needed vacation. The amazed assistant is visited by various members of the kingdom who are seeking help from the Fairy Godmother. Can this un-magical girl be of any help to them at all?

Have you ever wondered what happened to Cinderella after she married the Prince? In Cinderella, Inc. by Thomas Hischak, our heroine opens an employment agency. With the help of her stepsisters, Cinderella finds jobs for people who are difficult to employ for some very funny reasons. And then, there’s the dragon…

Directed by Bailee Schreyer-Bragassa with Zac Vosburgh, and by Dorothy Cladas, these tales feature the performances of local youngsters, and are sure to please children of all ages.

Performances are at the Salida Steamplant Theatre on Friday, April 18th at 7:00 pm, and on Saturday, April 19th at 11:30 am, and 2:30 pm. Tickets are $5 for kids under 18, $8 for adults, and will be available at Bongo Billy’s Salida Café, at the Salida Chamber of Commerce, and at the door. For more information, call 207-2209.

Gas and Water in Colorado

Colorado News
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Study: Boom Will Double Northwest Colorado Population
"A new study predicts that the energy industry will drive a doubling in population growth in northwest Colorado by 2035. And that’s not even taking into account what would happen if oil shale development takes place in the region, the report says."

Alamosa Cleared to Use Water
"DENVER - They couldn't hear the celebration going on in Alamosa - the sound of tap water filling water glasses - when the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment lifted a state-imposed "boil water order" for the San Luis Valley community on Friday. The contamination left 389 people ill, 16 of whom had to be hospitalized."

Gas Prices Nearing Records Levels in Colorado
"DENVER (AP) ― The price of regular unleaded gasoline is nearing record levels in Colorado while the price of diesel is at an all-time high."

Lavender - The Scent of Relaxation in Your Herb Garden

by Hans Dekker

Amongst the many types of lavender, three main varieties stand out; English, French, and Italian lavender. Some have been hybridized and these are easily grown hardy, though you can't grow the seeds, as they will revert back to the original plant. The hybridized plants have larger flowers; so if looks are what you are after, go for it.

If you intend to harvest for the oil, or to make lavender pillows, the English lavender has the strongest scent. It is the most popular lavender, with its compact bushy growth reaching about 3 feet high. It has silvery pointed leaves and tiny mauve flowers grow at the end of long stems. Different colored flowers, from white through to pinks, blues and mauves, are available and the highest concentration of oil is in the flowers.

French lavender is considered the most hardy of all, reaching a height of about five feet. If the spent blooms are snipped off regularly it will bloom for nearly nine months of the year, giving good value for money and time. The blooms cut off can be dried and used for pot-pourri or sleep pillows. So can the leaves. Given a sunny spot, it will reward you with a greater depth of colour in the blooms.

Italian lavender is the baby of the three, growing to only about two feet high. It is a bit scarcer, but well worth cultivating if you can find it. Its leaves are tiny, smooth and pointed and although similar in many respects to the other lavenders, it is still different enough to form a good contrast. It flowers from mid-winter to early summer and will make a most attractive small hedge or groundcover, the deep mauve flowers covering the bush profusely. It is not as highly perfumed as the other two lavenders.

The best time to pick lavender flowers for drying is just before the last flowers have opened. Do it on a dry day while it is still cool to retain the oil essence. Hang in a shady, airy place to dry out and then strip the flowers from the stems and store in airtight containers. Lavender is most effective visually if grown as a hedge or with several bushes grouped together. They all like a sunny well-drained position.

Lavender is used as a remedy for giddiness and faintness. It calms and relaxes and cosmetically is good for oily skin.

Hans is an avid gardener and writes for Gardening-Guides.com. Visit us for more articles on herb gardening

Theatre Entertainment This Weekend

Announcements

High Country Fine Arts Association will present Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I this weekend at the John Held Auditorium. Shows will be April 11, 12, and 13 at 7pm with matinees on Saturday and Sunday, the 12th and 13th, at 2pm. Tickets for adults are $10 and $5 for seniors and those under 18 and are available at the Chamber of Commerce and at the door. For more information call 719-395-3579 or visit HCFAA.org.

Armageddon in Retrospect

Book Review

Armageddon in Retrospect, by Kurt Vonnegut. The first and only collection of unpublished works by Kurt Vonnegut since his death--a fitting tribute to the author, and an essential contribution to the discussion of war, peace, and humanity's tendency toward violence. Armageddon in Retrospect is a collection of twelve new and unpublished writings on war and peace. Imbued with Vonnegut's trademark rueful humor, the pieces range from a visceral nonfiction recollection of the destruction of Dresden during World War II--an essay that is as timely today as it was then--to a painfully funny short story about three Army privates and their fantasies of the perfect first meal upon returning home from war, to a darker, more poignant story about the impossibility of shielding our children from the temptations of violence. Also included are Vonnegut's last speech as well as an assortment of his artwork, and an introduction by the author's son, Mark Vonnegut. Armageddon in Retrospect says as much about the times in which we live as it does about the genius of the writer. Order from Amazon.com

Spring Rituals

by Jane Goodhart

As the days get longer, there are certain things I do to celebrate this fact. One is around the first day of spring, I walk or peddle but never drive down to the river, go to the boat ramp, take my shoes off and dip my footsies into the river. However this year I fear that my footsies may get tangled up in bureaucratic red tape, not to mention some chemicals or mega doses of minerals that I don't want to soak in. My other spring ritual is to get up before the sun rises and make sure I have some rocks to put on my rock sun calendar. It is my way of honoring the seasons changing. I am sure that the people who have moved into places I have lived in have wondered why there are rocks at angles, and lines, all going east. Maybe it will inspire someone that I don't know. It's the least I can do, eh?

Copyright © 2008, by Jane Goodhart. All Rights Reserved.

Jane Goodhart lives in Salida, Colorado. In addition to writing for Blog Salida, she is also a regular contributor to the Women's Teaching newsletter.

Franz Lake Mirror

Franz Lake - Copyright 2008 by White Feather

Teachers

Quotation of the Week

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." - Henry Brooks Adams

News From Around Colorado

Colorado News
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The Fastest Growing Town in Colorado
"NEW CASTLE, Colo. -- Dale Gray remembers when it wasn't a big deal for kids to walk around downtown New Castle with their guns. A community survey by RRC Associates of Boulder estimated the town's population at 3,443 in 2007, and New Castle maintained an average annual growth rate of 8.9 percent since 2000. Some wonder if New Castle hit 4,000 last summer. 'Per capita, it is the fastest growing town in Colorado,' said building official David Hunsicker."

Grim Record Broken With 17 Deaths on Colorado Slopes
"17 skiers or snowboarders have died on slopes and mountains this season in Colorado, the most ever."

Fire Danger Classified as Critical in Parts of Colorado
"KUSA – Officials have issued a RED FLAG WARNING for Saturday afternoon and evening for most of south central and southeast Colorado due to the increased potential for wildfires."

Fine For Killing Colorado Bald Eagle Rises
"DENVER, Colorado — With a bald eagle named Adam looking over his shoulder, Gov. Bill Ritter signed into law a bill on Thursday that increases the penalties for poaching a bald eagle in Colorado after the federal government took the bird off the endangered species list. 'This law gives the bald eagle the same status in Colorado as the golden eagle, Rocky Mountain goat, desert bighorn sheep, the American peregrine falcon and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep," Ritter said as the bewildered bird looked on.'"

Hobbits Becoming More Human

by Joel Kontinen

A new study suggests that the hobbits, a diminutive people whose remains were found on the Indonesian island of Flores in 2003 and 2004, were real humans after all. They were originally classified as Homo floresiensis, a species distinct from Homo sapiens but the dispute about their status has never abated.
Named after J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth heroes, they became known all over the world after scientific journals published a drawing by Peter Schouten that describes a tiny ape-like man carrying a furry animal on his shoulder.

Many researchers think that the hobbits' small stature (one meter or just over three feet) and small head were the result of microcephaly, a neurological disorder that still causes some individuals to have an abnormally small head. They maintain that it is not justified to classify them as a distinct species. For instance, in 2006 Pennsylvania State University published a study stating that the small head of Homo floresiensis was due to microcephaly.

As reported by ScienceNow, a new study conducted by Peter Obendorf and Benjamin Kefford of the RMIT University of Melbourne and Charles Oxnard of the University of Western Australia at Crawley concluded that the small stature of the Homo floresiensis was not the result of genetic defects. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, suggests that the hobbits' size was caused by a condition known as cretinism. This is due to a lack of iodine. Comparing the pituitary flossa in a hobbit skull with individuals suffering from cretinism, they found a significant match and thus suggested a new theory.

The remains of twelve hobbits were originally found in a cave in Liang Bua. Obendorf stated that it is an area where people still suffer from goiters that results from iodine deficiency. The new study even mentions that local myths include stories of tiny people who lived in caves.

While it may be too early to discard the microcephaly hypothesis altogether, the case for hobbits being real humans is much stronger than before. We should probably do well to forget the image of an ape-like man carrying a furry animal on his shoulder and start describing hobbits as real people. It seems that the distinction between hobbits and humans is found only in Tolkien's Midde-Earth but not on this earth.

Joel Kontinen is a translator and novelist currently living in Finland. His background includes an MA in translation studies and a BA in Bible and theology. He mostly writes about orgins issues. Blog. Home.