In my last post I offered my opinion that spending US $1.6 million to upgrade a free laser light show at Grand Coulee Dam was inappropriate. (Frugality, a Laser Light Show, and Food Stamps). In addition I opined that responsible parties at the Bonneville Power Administration and Bureau of Reclamation just don’t get it. This […]
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Frugality, a Laser Light Show, and Food Stamps
As soon as I begin to believe I’ve seen or heard just about everything I’m proven wrong again. A recent Oregonian carried the announcement that the Grand Coulee Dam was updating its laser light show for a US $1.6 million dollars. The 36 minute show is projected against the water as it rushes across the […]
So Clever – Radar Station B-71
A few years ago my wife and I went on a bit of a meandering vacation to visit the Redwoods, Nevada City, Reno, Park City, Yellowstone, and the Stonehenge Replica in the Oregon Gorge. While staying at a wonderful Bed and Breakfast near the Klamath River (ReQua Inn) we went sightseeing and exploring on the back […]
Somalia
On Friday, June 8, 2012, National Public Radio’s Morning Edition broadcast the news (originating with the BBC) that Somalia now had a dry cleaning business. And oh so tongue in check noted that the various warlords and al-Qaida-linked militants probably didn’t need a dry cleaners over the years in this failed state. Ms. Montagne suggested the […]
Mother Earth News Fair Puyallup, Washington
I attended the two-day Mother Earth News Fair over the weekend at the Western Washington Fairgrounds in Puyallup (pew-al-əp), Washington. Not having been to this event before I was not sure what to expect other than what was advertised. The weather cooperated most of the weekend with just a few sprinkles here and there but […]
Bridge to Nowhere?
Last week I wrote about Senator Ted Stevens and the work over he received from our Department of Justice. I remain disappointed and mad that the DOJ has not rolled the heads of those responsible and apologized to Stevens family. That work stirred up another story that I have to get out of my system. […]
Justice And An Overdue Apology
Alaska was my home for over twenty years and one constant during that time was the positive influence of US Senator Ted Stevens. He served Alaska and the United States in the Senate from 1968 until 2009. Before the US Senate he was a state representative and practicing attorney, graduating from Harvard Law School in 1950. […]
A Courtesy to Future Leaders
Why do many of us treat those who will soon control our destinies poorly? In this story “obtuse” pretty well covers it. Recently my spouse and I were flying on a domestic flight that offered a meal en route for a price. Looking over the placard menu, a young man sitting at the window in […]
Crossing South Dakota
Interstate highway 90 crosses South Dakota in the US from east to west in 410 miles. The windshield photograph tells much about the nothingness of the drive and its seemingly Sisyphis-like futility. South Dakota however, created stories of the land you are travelling across to enlighten the listener and ease the drive. There are several […]
Airlines in 2011 – Any Difference?
This spring and summer I was an airline passenger much more than normal. I flew transatlantic on a US carrier, trans-Canada on a non-US carrier, and across America on a small US carrier. That is not a lot of flying compared to the daily flow of commerce across our skies (629 million passengers on US […]
