Trent's Experience

A Glorious Day for a Hike!

2011-02-21T18:51:00.003-07:00

It was a glorious day for a hike! The spring-like weather, more than a month in advance of the calendar, presaged a great hike, decreed by Jackrabbit Slim as Mt. Sanitas, for the elevation gain! So we presented ourselves to the staff at North Boulder Cafe and were well served gastronomically and nutritionally for glorious day ahead.

We, Jackrabbit Slim, Ranger Glenn & I, reconvened on the County Courthouse lawn and wandered through alleys and backroads to the trailhead, a mere mile west of the courthouse, whereupon gazing on the beauty of the red rocks at the south end of Mt. Sanitas, I remembered that I had forgotten my recently procured hiking staff back at the car. As we began the ascent, 1500' in a little more than a mile, I recalled my profound respect and awe for this mount. It is a challenging stroll for almost everyone, save for those ultra-runners who will pass you three or four times on your ascent, but especially so for chronologically enhanced gentlemen who have neglected an at least annual visit hereto.

I had remembered my new heart rate monitor and iPhone antenna, so I was able to keep track of my exertion. Although I politely stepped aside for everyone I encountered on my way up to allow them to pass, my heart rate monitor accurately reflected how out of breath I was! But no matter surely! It was a glorious day! The sun was already shining on the west trail. It was warm with a cool-to-cold breeze wafting through occasionally. Everyone was "Hail fellow, well met!" Doggies were abundant on the trail, their tails creating small breezes on their own.

Some of the inspiring sights were 4 & 5 year olds, trudging their way up the mount, a father with 2 pre-six year old kids, a one year old in a baby backpack, and him with a prosthetic leg. We saw old friends finding each other for the first time this year, or in a year. We heard many accents.

The walk up was long, maybe almost 2 hours, but stopping afforded beautiful views! Near the top Jackrabbit Slim spied a large raptor in a tree. He peered down motionlessly, looking for plump morsels, as from time to time, we all do. The grade is relentless and for every 20'-30' stretch of low grade, is a slightly longer stretch of staircases of high steps or even worse, striated sedimentary rock thrust out of the ground 75-85 degrees off their original orientation, but canted like a funhouse floor, so that walking up is nearly an optical illusion and almost requires a third leg, like that hiking staff I left in the car. I mentioned this to Jackrabbit Slim, who immediately and graciously offered me his staff. I said, "No, if I suffer a little this time, I'll be more likely to remember it next time."

A gentleman with a German accent laughed and asked "Punishing yourself so you'll remember better?"

"Yep", I replied

"I do that all the time!", he continued laughing. I pondered the German nature of mi madre's parents surnames and rued the obvious connection: I came by this behavior honestly.

In spite of the beauty, my pace, my sometimes graceless ascent, I finally made it to the top! The cheery little souls who congratulated me with "You made it!" were slightly more irritating than their youth could excuse. I had just taken a picture of myself (Oh, Sacred iPhone, is there nothing you can't do?). I knew I didn't look that bad! At the top it was time to recharge batteries. I plugged in my new spare charger for my iPhone and watched it slowly regain its strength. I did the same by soaking in some incredible views. I was about 1500' above the Boulder Valley. I could see windmills standing still on the far southern plain, miles below Boulder. Working east, I saw the major egress points from Boulder, including the 40th parallel, aka Baseline. To the north, I saw Longmont and beyond. On a really clear day, I could have seen DIA with the naked eye, or as nekkid as mine ever get.

After 10 minutes near the top, I realized that the breeze had turned to a wind, the sun had been obscured by clouds and I was freezing in my t-shirt & long sleeve denim shirt. Being prepared with a jacket in my backpack, I quickly moved into the sun and eschewed further raiment. The sun recharged me as the battery juiced my iPhone. All too soon, it was time to descend. Although we had mostly trekked up in a solo manner, we three met at the summit and intended to head down together. We had gathered stories from those who had risen via the east trail and knew our (also recently acquired) ice cleats would be required later down the path. Ranger Glenn, prudent soul that he is, donned his snow-bound foot gear accessories at the start of the descent. We hiked a few hundred yards, with a reasonable loss of elevation when we encountered the ice covered trail. Mind you many had successfully traversed this 50 yard ice patch in sneakers or running shoes, there was nevertheless, a fairly precipitous decline just past the rocks along the edge of the trail. I watched a couple of ladies choose discretion over valor and slide down the steeper part of the trail on their bums. I watched a young man, probably a college kid scamper up the rocks on the side of the trail in his sneakers. Only after realizing he was missing a golden opportunity if not a critical moment in their potential relationship, did he retreat back down the rocks part way to extend his hand in support of his young lady friend who was not as quite as lithe and confident as he was upon the rocks at the edge of the cliff (well it seemed like a cliff to she & me!).

Knowing that a low center of gravity is not an inherent part of my physique and the inherent safety thereof, I crouched down and dug my new ice cleats into the ice and immediately ended up on my arse, sliding down the trail towards the rocks. Speed was not an issue, and my backpack helped to slow as well as guide me. With the help of not entirely unwanted verbal assistance from Ranger Glenn & Jackrabbit Slim, I was able to regain my footing, stature and composure and walk the last 20 yards of ice to safety.

Shortly thereafter, having relieved my boots of the no longer virginal ice cleats, calamity struck! Attempting to gain purchase with my boot sole on a very steep rock, my balance went behind me, driving my heels towards my butt at alarming speed. My massive thighs and finely-tuned calves sprang into action, quickly contracting, placing the entire burden of this 200 pound sack of sh-tuff on my knees. They, in turn, quickly responded with loud popping noises and a sharp stab of pain, likewise prompting my own response of "FTH" although actually taking the time to let folks around me know That Hurt!

I took more than a few minutes to regain my breath, lower my heart rate and assess what damage, if any had been done to my knees. Fortunately, both knees were weakened on both sides, so as long as I kept my weight centered on my knees, I was able to continue my descent.

Again with the funhouse rock staircases, again with the unending staircases of 12" diameter logs. But I carefully picked my way down, keeping a hand on nearby rocks for stability. Ranger Glenn offered to gather materials to construct a travois to help me down, but I quickly disabused him of the necessity of that offer. We caught up with Jackrabbit Slim, who of course called to see where we were just as I began crossing the last ice covered trail. When he learned of my misfortune, he insisted I use his hiking staff just before I did. He also provided a couple of Vitamin I pills to fight the inflammation. Gently chastising me all the while for not having a fully stocked first aid kit of my own. (The casual reader will take assurance knowing I have procured a suitable kit for $2!) The rest of the way was slow, uneventful and glorious. The sun struggled to shine through the clouds and keep the eastern side of the trail warm, and the temperature was perfect! Upon reaching the trailhead, we walked the final mile to our just rewards, a couple of pints, a plate of nachos at the Walnut Brewery in Boulder. My knees were sore, but they were not screaming at me as I walked the last few hundred yards to my vehicle. I was glad to arrive home, safe and mostly sound.

It had been a truly glorious day for a hike!

Institute for Policy Studies: Executive Excess 2010: CEO Pay and the Great Recession

2010-09-07T07:57:00.000-06:00

Institute for Policy Studies: Executive Excess 2010: CEO Pay and the Great Recession

An appropriate thought for labor day. As we labor & toil, we work more and more for the plutocrats and less and less for our families and communities.

The important thing is that the people Mark Twain affectionately referred to as idiots are seriously considering giving our corporate overlords an extension on their tax breaks.

Gosh, I love workin' so hard to make the rich even richer!

Joseph LeDoux: Why the "Right Brain" Idea is Wrong-Headed

2010-06-29T23:34:00.000-06:00

Joseph LeDoux: Why the "Right Brain" Idea is Wrong-Headed: "Joseph LeDoux"

This guy is an incredible science writer. I loved reading his book The Synaptic Self!

He writes clearly and succinctly, yet with enough detail to give one a decent, science-based, working knowledge of not only Woody's, but all our 2nd favorite organ (I thought it was the largest erotic organ, but anyways).

This article highlights the danger of the media and the half-assed job, no let's be honest here, the intentionally misleading job, they do regarding communicating scientific findings.

It also highlights a more appropriate view of thinking about how the brain works. It's not the simplistic, dualistic view reported by Pink, Opie & others from back in the last century, rather a lots more complicated, yet holistic view of the brain as a system of systems.

His discussion of fear is interesting not only from a perspective of the emotion, but also calling out GoreBore for accurately referring to scientific research in his work.

If you haven't yet read anything by Joseph LeDoux, then please accept my humble recommendations to do so, ASAP!

Signs: The most useful thing you pay no attention to. - By Julia Turner - Slate Magazine

2010-03-20T13:31:00.000-06:00

Signs: The most useful thing you pay no attention to. - By Julia Turner - Slate Magazine

When my Libertarian & Republican friends complain about big government, I wonder if this is one of the government departments they would like to cut. Surely we can rely on state governments to come to consensus on sign standards and common regulations? Of course, the state governments will spend the monies to erect sufficient signage. Think of all the other 'big government' departments we could cut: USDA, FDA, EPA, NASA.

It's like they forgot the preamble to the constitution founds the purpose thereof to the general welfare of the population. Every tax cut, every budget cut is antithetical to the intent of the constitution.

I'm tired of the desperate need to follow the letter of the law while trampling on its spirit.

Lessons of a $618,616 Death - BusinessWeek

2010-03-11T00:02:00.000-07:00

Lessons of a $618,616 Death - BusinessWeek

This article just begins to scratch the surface of what's happening with our healthcare system in America today. It highlights the best and the worst in the same article with the same story. On one hand, a man's life is extended enabling him to see his son graduate high school, on the other hand, millions of dollars were spent developing the technology (pharmaceuticals) which (questionably) aids a very small number of people when the same money could have been used to vaccinate hundreds if not thousands of children. In between lie the health care professionals, tied up in red tape, fighting a losing battle against end stage diseases, but doing their best for their patients, day in & day out.

Certainly, there are not easy answers for all of the issues the health care discussion raises, nevertheless, we know that collapsing the profit out of the administration of health care is a quick and easy way to increase the available funds for health care services. We already have a plan that works, if you don't believe me, ask your mother (if you're old enough) or your grandmother what they think about Medicare. They love it! The only problem with Medicare is the idiots keep reducing the funding for it!

I'm discouraged by the number of people, and their vehemence, opposed to public funding of health care for everyone in the United States of America! To my way of thinking, opposition to public funding of health care, like unto Medicare, is merely thinly disguised racism and the age old class struggle that has been ingrained in American thinking since the beginning.

Maybe that's where my idea for a bumper sticker came from: America Deserves Sarah Palin!

Kind of a sad commentary, so I can't close with that.

We can effect change with our voting practice. If you don't vote, it's a vote for the status quo. If you do vote, vote change, real change, vote the bastards out! :-)

Dead Man

2009-01-09T21:47:00.000-07:00

Dead Man (1995)
Normally, I don't care much for black & white films, but it took over an hour for me to notice this film was black & white.
As the movie started, I thought I was in for another dazed performance by Johnny Depp. I was so right!
From the beginning of the movie, he was dazed & confused. (I was just starting Hazed & Infused.)
All the images were there at the beginning to signal an underground journey: the long train ride, the murder, the Blackfoot chanting & burning herbs. Neil Young composing & performing just put icing on the cake.
But there was no return from the spirit world, only a deeper & deeper descent thereto.
In the end, it's kind of a funny statement that Nobody sends William Blake back to the spirit world. My buddy Ian loved & quoted Blake. Some of the quotes Nobody made of Blake made me think of all the poetry that was just out of my reach because I just can't read quite slow enough. I'll have to go read a little Blake I guess & surprise Ian.
The contrast between the near comedic & the grotesque made me think about Blood Meridian by Cormack McCarthy. It made me wonder if Ridley Scott, whom I have been told is shooting it, will film it in black & white. Although Blood Meridianhas damn little discernible comedy.

While I'm rambling about movies, I should also mention Seven Beauties. While it starts off drenched in stereotypes, it takes off in long vignettes, through an incredible everyman story to an ending only an agnostic anarchist, like unto myself, could love. While the whole movie was shot well, the scene near the end where he looks in a mirror, but we only see his fiance & mother in the reflection is paramount, highlighting the dichotomy between past & future, while his mother tells him to forget his past & the viewer has the vivid scenes of him executing one his fellow concentration camp prisoners to stay alive & keep as many of the others alive as possible still fresh in mind.
An engaging, dynamic, ingratiating film that blossoms into a surprising, happy message of carpe diem.

H. R. 676 (Introduced-in-House)

2008-12-14T17:51:00.000-07:00

H. R. 676 (Introduced-in-House)
Here we go! Let's see what we can do to really affect positive, systemic change in America! This bill looks like a great start!
Write your congressman, you can email also, if you wish, but written works best! Tell'em to get behind this.
This will be a best first step!

15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense: Scientific American

2008-12-13T20:51:00.000-07:00

15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense: Scientific American

Science is so often bandied about casually & incorrectly, that it is refreshing to see it accurately summarized by a trusted source!

If Intelligent Design were at work, do you think it would have allowed the Middle Eastern religions to proliferate to the point of 2009? Really, now!

Democracy Now! | CEOs of Big Three Automakers Return to Capitol Hill to Plead for $34B Federal Bailout

2008-12-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

Democracy Now! | CEOs of Big Three Automakers Return to Capitol Hill to Plead for $34B Federal Bailout
If the auto industry really is so all fired important to the economy, then why can't the oil industry, specifically Exxon-Mobil pay for their salvation? Just in the last year they've recorded over US$1Trillion in profit. Their taxes have never been lower. Seems to me they could easily fund some loans to the auto industry.
Then the wads of cash that Congress can't wait to throw around (I hope you eschewed voting for any incumbent congressman!!!) could be spent on ramping up solar, geothermal, and other types of energy. (I've just decided to eschew the use of the word 'alternative' since that implies a perspective of the dominant mindset. Whew, now REM is just Rock! ;-)

I fail to understand how anyone could give these guys money after they've demonstrated their inability to manage what they already have!

Write your congressmen today & say ¡No Mas!

Deer Mountain

2008-06-20T01:05:00.000-06:00

Rocky Mountain National Park Hiking Page
There's something mind-expanding about hiking with new friends! Maybe mountain trails enable a loftier & grander tone as Thoreau described in Walden. Maybe it's the opportunity to think & ponder longer in the conversation as a function of less & less oxygen. Maybe it's the lack of oxygen, but by the time you get back down off the mountain, there's a deeper friendship.
I had the opportunity to hike with two new friends at the beginning of June, and it's set the tone for a great summer! Steve & I hiked Deer Mountain for the first hike of the year. Getting up to just over 10k feet took us about 2.5 hours. We only got lost once and we both had to stop frequently to breathe in the view. That's another mind-expanding experience: Standing on the side/top of one mountain, gazing at scores of peaks ranging all around the horizon.
Steve & I honed our diagnostic acumen as we observed the various droppings along the trail. Elk & deer drops we were quick to identify, but the large equine processed grass & water globs puzzled us for a while. Our identification was soon justified as a guide & a young couple came down a rather narrow part of the trail. "Just giv'em a little reign here, so they can find their own way." said the guide as Steve & I stepped into the trees. I was damn glad I wasn't on one of those horses. (One of my more poignant notes to self: Never climb on top of a being larger than myself & expect it to do my bidding!)
Steve was vindicated as we got closer and closer to the top by the sighting of snow. He managed to stay out of tromping through snow at this point, unlike a few hours later when he soaked his Nikes in 3 foot snow drifts another 2k feet higher!
Finally we came to the sign that said the peak was just .2 miles away. As we stepped out onto summit, the view was awe inspiring. Mountains loomed around the horizon across a large valley carved by a moraine 10,000 years ago. I've walked through that valley & seen the huge remnants left as geological trinkets on the floor. But being at the top of a mountain and looking down on it, the valley floor smoothes out, glowing a bright young green on a sunny, crisp morning.
The top of Deer Mountain was littered with chipmunks, curious to find the law-breakers who will feed them. Steve called home to celebrate being on top of the world with his sea-level wife. We marveled (& rued a little) at the fact he got a signal at the top of Deer Mountain.
We took our time on the mountain top & made quick work of the descent. Hiking definitely works both the hamstrings & the quads, up & down! Steve couldn't resist the beckoning grass fields and took a couple of them to bypass a switchback. Maybe he just couldn't resist the short cut. I found it rather easy to resist, not liking the traipse down a 20% slope without a hiking staff, but I wasn't about to let the flatlander show me up, so I accompanied him down one particularly beautiful long grass field. I was glad Ranger Glenn wasn't there to chastise us!
Once we got back to the trailhead, we shot another picture for the end of the hike. We were not as fresh & energetic as the picture taken at the start of the hike, but certainly the trail dust couldn't mask the glow of the first hike of the season!
From the base of Deer Mountain, Steve drove up Trail Ridge Road. We stopped before we got to the Alpine Visitor center, got out of the car at a trail head & gaped at the two guys coming up the road, at nearly 12,000 feet above sea level, pedaling bicycles and towing small trailers behind them. We were impressed! From this trail head, we walked out across a wide plain & quickly found ourselves post-holing through a 200 yard long snow drift. It didn't slow Steve down and soon he'd climbed to the top of the highest outcropping around. From there he found the brass plaque that maps out all of the peaks visible in the 360 degree view afforded by the height. I could see all he could see, I just chose not to climb up the last 30 feet or so.
We drove down from Estes Park & came back via 75th south to Niwot Road. It's a beautiful rural drive that reminds us that development restrictions really are important!
Something about all that open space allows the mind to absorb much more than it normally does. Steve & I probably compressed 3-4 years of conversation into that hike. Not bad for the first hike of the summer!

Lazy Biking Days of Summer

2008-05-06T16:16:00.002-06:00

Work #1
Find more Bike Rides in Erie, Colorado
In case you were wondering, I will be trying to ride my bike in to work again this year! Above is a link to my usual ride, although with the demise of the StorageTek campus, I may need to find a better way around the ICF (Interlocken Charlie Foxtrot).
I'll be taking a practice ride on Sunday to see if I can still make it!
I'll be taking build up rides this week to get ready.
There's air in the tires & even a new tube, so I should be good to go.
Keep your eye on the spy cams around Louisville, Lafayette & Broomfield, maybe you'll spot me! ;-)

Which Superhero are you?

2008-03-26T21:51:00.000-06:00

http://www.thesuperheroquiz.com/

Your results:
You are Spider-Man

Spider-Man		100%
Supergirl		80%
The Flash		65%
Green Lantern		65%
Iron Man		65%
Superman		60%
Wonder Woman		55%
Robin		50%
Hulk		35%
Catwoman		35%
Batman		20%

You are intelligent, witty,
a bit geeky and have great
power and responsibility.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...

I was never that much into Spiderman, but then I was never as dark as Batman or his ilk.
The comic book superhero is an interesting mythology, especially in light of the pervasive influence it has had across our culture. Millions of kids growing up wishing they could be something that was impossible, rather than dreaming of that which was just slightly out of reach.
Kinda reminds you of the cornucopia of Greek or Roman gods. People were free to worship which ever god they liked best or would help them the most. Mythology still seems to serve the same purpose, eh? ;-)
The more things change, the more they stay the same!

How I became a modern day nomad, and how you can too - Gadling

2008-03-25T18:04:00.000-06:00

How I became a modern day nomad, and how you can too - Gadling

This really begs the question of how bad do you want to see the rest of the world, not to mention how bad do you want the rest of the world to see you?

With an iPhone, a pocketful of memory chips & credit cards, it would be easy to be virtually anywhere, whilst you actually were virtually anywhere. We should keep an eye on this site! ;-)

Europe or BUST!

2007-09-02T19:01:00.000-06:00

Europe or BUST!
Well, the boy, er, man, has gone & done it now! He's run off to Europe with his girlfriend.
Right now, I believe they are in Germany, trying to have fun without his old man!
Check their blog out from time to time & see what they're up to.
In the meantime, I'll get back to my political rantings & ravings!

xkcd - A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language - By Randall Munroe

2007-05-06T12:01:00.000-06:00

xkcd - A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language - By Randall Munroe: "http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/online_communities.png"

This is pretty amusing overview of all the online communities on the web.

A Hit Woman This Time

2007-05-04T15:26:00.000-06:00

Interior Official Steps Down Over Rules Violation - New York Times: "WASHINGTON, May 1 %u2014 A deputy assistant secretary at the Interior Department resigned Monday, a month after the department%u2019s inspector general issued a stinging report that said she violated federal rules by giving industry lobbyists internal agency documents and rode roughshod over agency scientists. The resignation came about a week before a House committee was set to hold hearings on political interference with biologists, and the same day that Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, wrote Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne demanding that he take action to address the concerns about the official, Julie A. MacDonald, who was overseeing the Fish and Wildlife Service."

Another scary thing about this is the lack of official inquiry or notification.

It will take 50 years to recover from HeBeGeeBee2's henchmen & henchwomen!

Quantum physics says goodbye to reality (April 2007) - News - PhysicsWeb

2007-04-24T21:37:00.000-06:00

Quantum physics says goodbye to reality (April 2007) - News - PhysicsWeb
Hah! I knew reality was only a figment of my imagination!
Of course, this could be pure tripe & I couldn't tell.
The website does bear a little perusal...

Fighting Walter Reed After Fighting the War - washingtonpost.com

2007-04-16T22:38:00.000-06:00

Fighting Walter Reed After Fighting the War - washingtonpost.com
This will be the first post calling attention to the hatchet men who have been brought in by HeBeGeeBee2 & his gang of 40 thieves.
The recent scandals at Walter Reed are just the tip of the iceberg.
We'll look across the administration & see under-funding, lack of leadership & occassionally outright criminal behavior as the hallmarks of the hatchet men brought in to dismantle America, hacking away at scores of branches of the government at once.
But for now, we'll just note the sad stories of our troops coming back home, wounded, tortured, disabled & depleted, while the government who sent them there, studiously ignores them as they come back!

Personal Technology -- Personal Technology from The Wall Street Journal.

2007-04-08T09:55:00.000-06:00

Personal Technology -- Personal Technology from The Wall Street Journal.
This is exactly why I evangelize Macs now!
1. The user interface demonstrates understanding of how humans work, think & remember, in other words respect.
2. The hard drive is full of highly functional, easy & fun to use software that does allows full control of digital media & internet content.
3. It's fast! Zippy! Start, Stop, in seconds, not minutes.
4. It's built on UNIX. Thirty plus years of innovation, improvement & integration.
5. It just works!

It's your choice: you can save money & waste a lot of your valuable time, or you can spend a little money & really make your time count!

Lemme know.

B'nai Mitzvah or Do You Need a Jacket?

2006-11-05T17:33:00.000-07:00

B'nai Mitzvah
"Do you need a jacket?"
"Do you want a jacket?"
"Don't you want a jacket?"
"Aren't you cold?"
It was like no one in Virginia had seen weather below 50F in 3 years. Every time I happened to be outside or even near a door someone was concerned about the temperature's affect on me. I thought the 50F degree evenings were nice short sleeve weather. Apart from that, I had one great long weekend.
I was excited about seeing my buddy Ian's daughter Rachel becoming Bat Mitzvah. She was still cocooned inside of Nikki when we left VA for CO back in Jul1993. Thirteen years later, she's ready to be recognized as being responsible for the commandments. In the meantime, my own kids grew up.
The trip came together effortlessly. Erwin provided a crash pad, taxi & rent-a-car service & Betty provided a full-service Bed & Breakfast.
The morning of my trip saw me shovelling about 4 inches of snow off the driveway & sidewalks before I headed into work. It was one of those wet sloppy fall snows that Colorado is famous for around Hallowe'en. Tree branches were bent to the breaking point. I did notice the blue spruce in the back yard seemed to be 12 feet tall all of the sudden. I almost left the snow on to strengthen the limbs, but it was just a little to thick, so all the rabble got roused from the limbs.
Driving east to the airport later that afternoon, the roads got drier & drier, until 5 miles from the airport there was little evidence of snow. As I walked to my gate, I passed by a flight that would get into Dulles about 95 minutes earlier than my scheduled flight. I stepped up to the gate & 20 minutes later got an earlier flight & start to my vacation.
I got to my seat & was congratulating myself on being so ever crafty, when it dawned on me my checked luggage probably wasn't quite as crafty as me & that it would probably still be on the flight that got in at 1a. It mattered not. I walked out of the terminal at Dulles, Erwin was parked & waiting in front of the door. We hit a sports bar he knew nearby, caught the last part of a world series game, caught up & had a drink. 90 minutes later, we were relaxed & headed back to the airport. He pulled up to the same door, I walked right into baggage claim. None of the passengers was even to the terminal when the ramp started up & my bag came off first. I was headed back to the car before the second bag hit the carosel!
Friday, Erwin & I made it over to the new Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. What a great place! The myriad flying machines were amazing to behold, if not frightening. There was an SR-71 Blackbird (Yay, though I fly through the valley of the shadow of death, I am not afraid for I am at 80,000 feet & climbing! - Sign above the operational hanger of an SR-71) and the Enola McLuhan, er, Gay. There were biplanes, hang gliders and space capsules. The power of technology to serve man's inhumanity towards man was astounding. But the power of technology was also enough to suspend judgment while we watched an Imax movie about the Mars Rover program. We wrapped the day up with a boatload of sushi & a few brews back home from the keg-erator (Thanks Greg!)
Saturday, I headed towards the synagogue in Erwin's car, using the new Google Maps for Treo hand-held devices. The Palm app put me right on the synagogue, right on schedule. Of course, once I got there, I had no clue what to do. I finally approached the gentleman who had provided me with a program & asked about expectations regarding head coverings. He exclaimed they were a reformed congregation & only a third of the folks would be donning, so for once, I was relaxed to fit in with the majority. The service was interesting & inspiring mainly because it was let by the B'nai Mitzvah.
It was obvious Rachel & Chris had been well schooled in Hebrew, scriptural interpretation and the history of their religion. They both did a great job of reading the Torah & the prophets in Hebrew and commenting thereupon. I reflected on the 4000 year old traditions they were carrying forward. Beyond that, Rachel demonstrated grace, intelligence & wisdom. The whole time Ian & Nikki sat up on the dias & beamed. They were obviously & correctly proud. It was a moment that encompassed the future & the past with Rachel assuming responsibility for understanding both. To be honest, I think everyone was beaming!
That afternoon, I caught up with Mel, Ian's sister, Lee & finally got to meet Mort. That night, we were subjected to the manic energy of 40 or 50 12-14 year olds. I had forgotten how loud they can scream just for the heck of it! The best dancers that night were Bridget & Amy. They just appreciated a huge dance floor & couldn't care less about who was watching.
After a great party, we headed back to the hotel for good-byes. It had been a great day to celebrate friendship & history (both recent & ancient).
Erwin & I both got to the house after midnight (he had been at a jam) & slept late the following morning before heading out for a most excellent breakfast of bagels, lox, eggs & coffee. Erwin insisted throughout the entire weekend that he was picking up the tab & refused to listen to rhyme or reason. After a huge breakfast, we walked Odie again, then watched a little football. We shut the evening down with a wonderful home cooked meal with a couple of friends of his, Barbara & Steve. Barbara cooked a great spagetti meal! After dinner we started watching the Cowgirls actually win a game. I'll be glad when they get another coach & more glad when they get another owner!
Monday, I got up & headed out to see Cheryl's mother. Again with the trusty Treo Google Maps app. This time, it took me the back roads towards Charles Town WV, through Harper's Ferry & right through beautiful downtown Scrabble. I was at the river 90 minutes after leaving Reston & through some beautiful countryside to boot. Betty had lunch waiting for me. (Man! I was treated like a king this weekend!) We went for a walk at The Nature Conservancy Yankauer Preserve. We saw many birds, a tiny little field mouse, a wonderful view of the Potomac & an interesting little memorial to Zyp.
Lennie came by & we had a great visit. Just at sunset Jamie showed up! I was really happy to see him & the icing on the cake Kevin showing up a little later. We had a great dinner, talking about everything and catching up. The next morning I helped Betty with a little more work in the garage, then it was back down the back roads to civilization. Erwin & I hit a sushi buffet that made me rue the delicious breakfast Betty had cooked for me. There was a shelf with at least 30 little wooden trays of sushi! If only I had known, I would have allowed for more time to get to the airport!
I got back to Denver & was damn glad I had that big black leather jacket that hadn't been required once in Virginia! It was 30F degrees & very frosty. They laughed at my jacket in Virginia, but nodded appreciatively as we got of the jetway in Denver. I was home by 8p on Hallowe'en.
This was one of the best solo vacations I ever had! Five days of being treated like a king! Everyone I saw was glad to see me & said so! Most of them even hugged me! No schedules, no hurrying or worrying. Lots of good food, good times & most importantly good people with lots of love! It just doesn't get much better than this!
Thanks to everyone I saw in Virginia & West Virginia!

Wal-Mart Workers Walk Out

2006-10-19T00:08:00.000-06:00

Wal-Mart Workers Walk Out
Many people ask me why I am so adamantly opposed to shopping at Wal-Mart. This article is just the tip of the iceberg!
If you're shopping at Wal-Mart, for any reason, at any time, you're part of the poverty problem in America!

Rich young ruler

2006-10-18T23:45:00.000-06:00

Rich young ruler
Welcome to all of Martha's friends who might stumble upon this blog!
This looks like a pretty cool site comparing the three gospels that probably share a common source, commonly known as "Q".
I ask all visitors, when it comes to Iraq, What Would Jesus Do? Would he have done the same thing as HeBeGeeBeeToo? Before you charge to the doornail's defense, remember he doesn't think his policy in & on Iraq has been a mistake!
Too bad we can't put the ten commandments on every desk in Congress, I think they could use a little reminding! What do you think?

Alex Henes - Merely A Flesh Wound

2006-10-12T20:44:00.000-06:00

Alex Henes - Merely A Flesh Wound
You've GOT to go check out my buddy Alex website! Not only is he an incredible person, he's got an incredible site, with incredible photos of the incredible things he's done.
OK, I think you get the point! Alex sucks the marrow out of live in a way that would humble Thoreau.
When I went to work at Level(3), I imposed upon Alex to let me rent out his basement, thinking I would be there a month or two. About 11 months later, I was finally gone. We both learned alot from each other, although I am sure I walked away the richer!
Looking at Alex' website immediately creates in me a sense of the possible. A feeling that life is incredible.
Thanks for everything, Alex!

Welcome to Dave & Jess' Big Day!

2006-10-05T23:27:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Dave & Jess' Big Day!
d00d,

The wedding was perfect, actually, the entire day was perfect. From the minute I finally rolled out of bed, around 9a, until I fell into bed just before midnight, it was one of the most perfect days of my life.

The entire wedding party had spent Friday night in downtown Denver at the Adams' Mark Hotel. After a couple of quick run throughs of the ceremony with the dignitaries, we met up at the Spaghetti Factory. Almost 20 folks in the immediate family & wedding party, and every one thoroughly enjoyed each other's company at dinner. Jess & Dave showered everyone with thoughtful gifts. It was a perfect presage to the following day.

Later that night, I hung out with the friends of the bride & groom down at the bar. There was a pretty cool white funk band with a black lady lead singer. They were decent, but then I'm a sucker for live music. The best thing about hanging out with young folks is they haven't heard any of my jokes, so I can go on almost all night & seem really funny & cool. Or at least it seemed that way. I was in bed a little after midnight & slept like a rock, until the morning would no longer be stayed.

I went out on the 16th Street Mall for some breakfast & cash. I returned to an awakened queen with a present of her favorite Starbucks' drink: Venti Soy White Mocha, no whip. As I finished my morning ablutions, I began to sense that it was going to be a perfect day. There was no whiff of stress in the air. The day was cool & cloudy, but not cold. The air had a hint of humidity in it, unusual for Denver, but not uncommon. In fact it was a typical fall day, just 3 weeks early.

I had just finished with the monkey suit when Cheryl realized she had forgot the wine of which she wanted to share a glass with Jessica as they got ready for the wedding. It was a suggestion from a good friend of hers, who married her daughter off the year before. For a split second panic seemed ready to burst through the seams, but I remembered we were in a hotel & told Cheryl to just order room service & not worry about it. Swooooosh, serenity restored.

Chris & I met up in the hallway. He had picked out the tux style for us & the only person at the wedding that looked sharper than me was Chris. Damn fine suits! I kept flashing on Spike Lee & Denzel Washington strutin' down the street in their zoot suits at the beginning of Malcom X. I was totally jonesin' on a serious helmet, like 18 inch diameter brim, min! Man, we made those suits look good!

We went down to the lobby to direct the honored guests to the limousine. I asked Dave & his to be down ready to go by noon & they were there. You could tell there was a dog the previous night, but the dog just got a few nips in, no serious bites. After the second time the limo left without the boys, I was starting to feel bad. I peeled off a twenty & told the groomsmen to get a little hair of the dog that had bit them last night & they were gone like scalded cats. When Dave came back down, I told him they were in the bar & was kind enough to show him where it was. Dave ordered a short bloody mary & i ordered a single shot of my daily drinker, Maker's Mark. The bartender had already succumbed to the wiles of the groomsmen. She made Dave a 16oz bloody mary & poured me the stiffest 3-finger shot I ever saw. As the drinks came across the bar, the limo pulled up. Dave & I hit the drinks hard, but neither one of us made a dent. It was purely for show.

Chris had gone with the first load & was directing folks at the Denver Botanic Gardens. I took the next to last limo over & Cheryl made sure that all the girls were ready when the last run was made at 1:30 to bring Jess & her bridesmaids over. I tried to take pictures, be a gracious host & generally maintain. It seemed like I was maintaining, but I was sure that pretty soon folks were going to notice that my feet weren't touching the ground. No one ever said anything, so I guess no one noticed I was high! ;-)

Around 2p, I got the word that everyone was in place & Jessica was coming around the back of the venue. When I picked her up, I had a fleeting thought of meeting a blubbering, I mean a total, mascara dripping wreck. At least, I had steeled myself for that as one of several possibilities. What I found, back behind the wall, was a beautiful woman, totally in the moment. She was beaming like the sun & I suddenly understood why the sun had hidden behind the clouds that day, because Jessica could light up the world that day. I stole a quick peak at her feet & sure as shit, her feet weren't touching the ground either. I just smiled at her & she smiled at me, like so many times before, all the way back to when she smiled back up at me just 2 minutes old.

As we walked towards the venue, she observed that everyone would be looking at her. I told her that everyone would be looking at her with love & her challenge was to absorb all that love & channel it towards Dave. She hugged my arm & I walked her down the aisle & gave her away. Actually, the question was "Who presents this woman?" Which set a lot better with all three of us, Cheryl, Jess & me.

The ceremony was beautiful. Dave threw in a line that added a touch of silliness & romanticism. I thought to myself that poor Jess ended up loving most a man that had some of my strongest, yet most questionable traits. I was very proud of her. I really appreciate the man she has chosen. Not just for how he reminds me of me, but also for how different he is from me. Funny how that works.

After the ceremony, I knew I was gonna get ripped off, because like Colin, "I feel like I'm walking round, a ten feet tall". We did the picture thing & I flashed back on every wedding I had been in since Cheryl & I took each other's picture at her sister's wedding in 1976. Yeah, baby, we've been smoochin' for over 30 years! Dig that! Anyways, I followed the Higgins around & got some great shots, based on watching & mimicking the photographer. By 4p, they were exhausted & needed to catch the limo back to the hotel. They were really glad to get the F lenses out of their faces.

Chris, his friend Katherine & I rode the last ride back to the hotel & got there around 5p, just when the reception was supposed to start. Chris is an amazing man. He was totally engaged in the ceremony. He stepped up & helped where he saw opportunity. He had great ideas & he treated everyone with whom he came into contact with the greatest respect! You just can't imagine, unless you take the best of Cheryl & the best of me & mix it in with a totally repressible double dash of the weird, one dash from Cheryl & I respectively. He was totally zen-like, moving things along without pushing, making guests feel welcome effortlessly, totally surfing through the whole day. He was the essence of cool.

By the time I got to the hotel, the reception was underway. I could barely hug some of my friends, with the ten or so little details to wrap up. Nothing major, just details & I had a beer in my hand, so coo. The snackiepoos looked good, the few bites I got before I ran into the dinner room were tasty, but by then I was starvin', Marvin! We got everyone in the reception hall & seated for dinner & I realized that soon I was gonna have to grab part of my 15 minutes of fame in front of 100 of Jessica & Dave's favorite people. I was still maintaining, but my feet were back on the ground. The tux coat was starting to get a little heavy.

Dinner went well. The steak at the tasting, three weeks earlier, was not very tasty, nevertheless, when someone offers me a 2 inch thick chunk of dead kuh, I'm gonna eat it! The actual reception dinner was almost as good as a hundred dollar steak at Morton's. But as soon as I was done eating (& it didn't take long with that chunk of cow!), I knew that the toast I had been thinking about for over 2 months was about to come due. I knew I needed to come in under 5 minutes, so that ruled out any giving of advice in the toast. I avoided giving advice, but acknowledged that there just wasn't time for decent advice in the toast. All present were appreciative. I talked about the strong bond between a father & a daughter. How special it was. I recognized the ceremony we had just witnessed and encouraged the bride & groom to look to themselves, their new families, their wide group of friends to work through the years of bliss coming. Dave's parent's have been married 30 years & Cheryl & I coming up on 27. They have a powerful foundation upon which to build.

I managed to keep the toast short & then I relaxed. My responsibilities that day were done! I had a few tips in my pocket, but the ceremony was complete! Everything had been perfect, my beautiful wife, my cool son, my beaming daughter, her happy husband, his happy friends, the grandparents, the friends, the weather, the circumstances, everything was perfect. I finally got to do my thing & work the room. I got lots of hugs from folks I knew & loved & those I knew not before. Everyone had a great time, appreciated the ceremony, loved the bride & groom & expressed their happiness. I was starting to get high again! ;-)

The next thing I knew, it was 10:30 and almost everyone was gone. I realized there were still a few beers in the keg, so I ran outside, grabbed a bunch of (25-30yo) kids & said "Gitchyer ass back in there & kill that keg, goddammit! They did & I did. We shut down & by 11:30, Cheryl & I were falling back into the tiny little queen size bed. We were sated. The day had been perfect. We knew it was perfect. We knew while it was happening it was perfect. We talked about it being perfect while we watched it being perfect. Beyond expectations. The culmination of a quarter of a century of blood, sweat & tears. It was such a beautiful day that no one cried.

Well, Jess cried a couple of times at the reception. I heard Dave was close to tears once, but he maintained! ;-) Everyone else just radiated!

It was a perfect day.

Love,
Trent

BBC NEWS | US report says Iraq fuels terror

2006-09-24T22:04:00.000-06:00

BBC NEWS | US report says Iraq fuels terror
First the UN says torture in Iraq is 'worse after Saddam', now the National Intelligence Estimate says that the so-called war on terror is actually increasing the threat of terror! So, HeBeGeeBee2 has actually created a war of terror and a war for terror! If our pitiful Congress goes ahead with proposed legisation to exempt government employees, e.g. HeBeGeeBee2, Rummikens, et al. from the War Crimes Act of 1996, then there is really no recourse from anywhere in the world for the heart-breaking tragedy HeBeGeeBee2 has wrought upon the world. It's a sad state of affairs. Never have so few been able to wreak such destruction on so many.

Mind Hacks: Brain dissection video tutorial

2006-09-24T20:50:00.000-06:00

Mind Hacks: Brain dissection video tutorial
I kid you not! This link is a blog I follow on My Yahoo because they track lots of interesting things about the brain. Following the link on the Mind Hacks blog will take you right to the dissection videos which are linked via little pictures from the dissection videos. Note, this is not for the squeamish, weak of heart or those who might otherwise relate more to the cadaver than the information! :-)
On the otherhand, if you wish to see a real dissection, this is the link for you! I have only been able to watch one so far, the one about opening up the spinal column.
I'll watch the brain dissection video after I get over my cold & can have a nice stiff bourbon!
In the meantime, "Beware, your brain may no longer be the boss!"

Duffy's Tavern

2006-09-11T21:23:00.000-06:00

Duffy's Tavern
BTW, stop in when you get a chance and check out my buddy Marty's blog. It is always an interesting dialog with Marty & if he posts any pictures, that's double bonus, because he's a great photographer!

Count Down Special Comment on Bush's speech

2006-09-11T21:21:00.000-06:00

CountDownSpecialCommentBush512K.mov (video/quicktime Object)
This guy doesn't pull any punches, but he doesn't go in for the kill either. It's nice to see that some one is actually clearly stating the abuses of power of the Bush regime on nationwide media.

It Was An Epic Day For an Epic Hike

2006-07-16T22:34:00.000-06:00

"It was an epic hike on an epic day!" exclaimed Jackrabbit Slim for the ninth or nineteenth time on the way down from the North Arapahoe Peak. I call him Jackrabbit because he's fast up & down the trails. I call him Slim because he's not. The logical contraction J'im, is his name, so it all fits together poetically, not including the reference to Pulp Fiction.
It really was an epic day. We drove out of Boulder around 7:45 in the morning as the temperature rapidly climbed to over 100 degrees F. We managed to keep in the cool until we arrived at the Fourth of July trailhead just before 9a. We started at about 10,210 feet above sea level and hiked a little over 2 miles up to the base of South Arapohoe where we were at about 12,700 feet. More or less, for every two steps, we were stepping up almost a foot from 9 until 11:30.
The wildflowers were incredible. I saw more Columbine blooms in one day than I have ever seen in my life! We saw 16 marmots, but that was mostly on the way down. Even though it was obvious flowers were starting to die, there were signs that last weekend's two days of rain had revived every single plant on the mountain. The colors were vibrant.
The first part of the trail is below the treeline & the path through the pines was cool and shady. When we came in full contact with the sun above treeline, we were still cool and refreshed, in spite of the grade. At the end of the tundra, we were looking up at a 700 foot vertical scramble up a 1500 foot bed of talus to the top of the South Arapahoe peak at 13,397 feet above sea level. That scramble took almost another hour and we were at our first major milestone, South Arapahoe Peak. The plan was to ascend to the south Arapahoe peak and then traverse the ridge between them to the north Arapahoe peak which is at nearly 14,000 feet above sea level. (This might be a good time to mention I live in a neighborhood called "Arapahoe Ridge" and as I drive or bike into work every day, I see the Arapahoe ridge!) We left the south peak a little after 12:30p and started across the ridge. Although from my house the ridge looks fairly smooth, up close it was obvious that some real mountianeering skills might be required.
While coming up the talus base to the south peak involved choosing what might generously be termed paths, starting out around the ridge to the north peak was just walking across large rocks with the goal of maintaining or slightly increasing altitude. It was a fairly precarious hike with fairly disasterous consequences, but Jackrabbit Slim had been there before and was a conscientious, careful & concerned guide for which I regularly expressed my (literally) undying appreciation! We walked past 2 glacier fields, which are landmarks visible from where I live & work. It was a little strange standing on top of a glacier that fell away over 600 feet at a grade of over 80%, but we took each other's pictures anyways.

About halfway there, I had to ascend a slab of rock about 10 feet high with no casually discernable or significantly useful outcroppings. It was basically just a 10 foot high slab of granite. I still don't understand how Jackrabbit Slim got up there, but when he offered to pull me up, I grabbed his hand, pulled with all my might, got a knee up on the rock (scraping & scuffing) and sat down beside him. I was intensely aware of my rate of breathing. Between altitude & adrenaline, I was grateful for every molecule of oxygen sweet mother earth could provide. And speaking of sweet mother earth, I realized I was over 13,400 feet above sea level on a rock platform about 6 feet wide and 9 feet long and it wasn't completely level. There was a patch on the west end of the platform, about 4' x 6', that was sittable, so I sat there and announced my decision that I wasn't going any further. That decision came from some deep and primeval part of my brain. There was no logic or rationality associated with that decision. As I looked north towards the next steps and saw big boulders with a drop of indeterminite height on a knife edge of 80% on one side down glaciers and 65% on the other side down a boulder field, the logical parts of my brain confirmed the decision and I continued to sit.
Jackrabbit Slim had talked for years about this hike and it was a big one for him. He had only gone across the ridge successfully once before, having been turned back by thunderbolts & lightning (very, very frightening!) and having to scamper back down. I knew how big it was for him to get to the north peak, so I told him to go on, I would wait right there. I had previously informed him that I would only go as far as I was comfortable and I had gone significantly beyond that point! He promised to be to the north peak in 30 minutes, eat his PBJ (with Udi's bread) and then head back across. I repeated my promise to wait right there and encouraged him to reach his goal. He walked, almost hopped, down the big boulders and out of site. He reappeared on the knife edge and within minutes had completely disappeared from sight.
While the rational side of my mind was fully committed to sitting right there (right there!), it was exerting every Jedi mind trick in the book to prevent the primeval part of my brain from running away, literally.
Here was the mind-body instance of Trent sitting on the continental divide which was really just a rock pedastal 10' above it's supports, the aforementioned 80% & 65% slopes to the east & west respectively. There was only one short way down and that was down a 10 foot, 85% slope slab of granite. Fortunately, the intellectual side of my mind won control of my body and I continued to sit, for the entire 2 hours it took Jackrabbit Slim to get back. I moved occassionally: I got food out of my Camelback, I put a windbreaker over my crossed legs when I felt the sun beginning to bake them, and I occassionally turned to look in a different direction, although I wanted to keep an eye on Jim, in case I had to start down by myself.
His 30 minute trek to the north peak took almost an hour, with interminible 10-20 minute chunks out of my line of sight, although from my vantage point I could see for scores of miles in almost every dicection. When I looked at the map and realized my butt crack was pretty much exactly on the continental divide, it was only the rational side of my mind that was able to acknowledge the signicifance of my position and that the emotional side of my mind would eventually appreciate that fact, once it (my emotional side) had been resuscitated, nay resurrected.
Jackrabbit Slim took his own sweet time (seemingly) and was back at my perch at 3:30ish. In the interim, I had come to strong grips with my acrophobia (fortunately) and was now prepared to figure out how to get off my perch. (Much later, literary referencial capability returned to my brain & I was able to compare my position to that of Drool Rockworm at the beginning of Lord Foul's Bane). Once again, Jim excelled as a guide and a friend, descending first and either offering advice as to placement of limbs or actually placing them, a literal lifesaver! Back on the large rocks at the base of my platform, I was very disconcerted to realize that finding the path back was almost as difficult for Jim as it was for me. But after an hour of painstaking pathfinding, we were back at the South Arapahoe peak and this time, we had it all to ourselves! The summer afternoon thunderheads had not yet developed and we had a very close sun (pity the fools down only a mile high and 100 degrees) and a very cool breeze. It was 4:30pm and we had to scramble down 700 feet of much more than less trail-less rock. I managed to get way below the trail, and it was only Jim calling to me that led me to maintain enough altitude to avoid disaster (only the slightest of exaggerations there)! Finally, by 5:30 we were back on the tundra and a real discernable trail! As my literary sense began to return, I decided tiggers don't like honey & trents don't like scrambling!
The walk down was great, although the sun baked my calves. As previously mentioned, there were marmots galore. Some were brave, others correctly cautious, but all were fat with beautiful pelts. It made me think back that over 150 years before, the mountains were full of beavers. The flowers were still spectacular as we walked down, although many had closed up shop for the evening, pulling in their petals like awnings in a hot middle eastern village. We were back to the trailhead a little after 7p, and Jackrabbit Slim said for the tenth or twentieth time: "It was an epic day for an epic hike!" I heartily concurred!

"Cargo Cult Science" - by Richard Feynman

2006-07-03T22:52:00.000-06:00

"Cargo Cult Science" - by Richard Feynman
So here's one of the smarter guys of the 20th century attempting to explain the difference between science and information. Science is asking questions about what we can observe and interact with and being scrupulously honest about the answers, even if the answer is not profitable! Information then is just about what we can tell others with limited or no scrupulous honesty involved, e.g. religion (no two religious experiences are alike, can't test them, they fight each other to the death, etc.) politics (for flat out lying check out the Nazi aggression in the late 1930's or the American aggression towards Iraq & Afghanistan!) or even science (reflexology, Intelligent Design, stem cell research).
I've read a couple of Feynman books and they were greatly enjoyable. Feynman has that natural Occam's Razor like mind that really pisses people off! Be sure to read the commander's response to Feynman repeatedly demonstrating he could open every officer's safe at the Manhattan Project. A typical bureaucratic, military response! He's lucky they didn't have a Predator drone to take him out!

State Tracked Protesters in the Name of Security - Los Angeles Times

2006-07-02T11:05:00.000-06:00

State Tracked Protesters in the Name of Security - Los Angeles Times
State Tracked Protesters in the Name of Security
Officials say they have stopped monitoring antiwar and political rallies. The practice violates civil rights, Atty. Gen. Lockyer says.

By Peter Nicholas, Times Staff Writer
July 1, 2006

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office in charge of protecting California against terrorism has tracked demonstrations staged by political and antiwar groups, a practice that senior law enforcement officials say is an abuse of civil liberties.

The Times obtained reports prepared for the state Office of Homeland Security in recent months that contain details on the whereabouts and purpose of a number of political demonstrations throughout California.

The source of the information is listed in some cases as federal law enforcement agencies, including the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, an investigative arm of the U.S. Homeland Security department.

The source of the information is listed in some cases as federal law enforcement agencies, including the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, an investigative arm of the U.S. Homeland Security department.

Trent's Thoughts
I really wish I hadn't read George Orwell's 1984 so recently! I reread it when Chris read it for school. It's frightening to see the actions we associate with a totalitarian state being accepted so blithely by Americans. How is it that one strike against America seems to justify throwing away all of the hard won civil liberties our fathers and grandfathers fought so hard to preserve?
Another thought spurred from 1984 has to do with the internet as a historical source. Once most print media is gone, will jobs like Winston Smith's actually exist, where people go back into the "internet" and change "history" to meet the current political expediencies? Will we even be able to tell when it starts?

John Toland Interview with Don Swaim

2006-06-26T22:21:00.000-06:00

John Toland Interview with Don Swaim
This is a great interview with John Toland, author of Adolf Hitler and Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire 1938-1945, the two books that I've been plowing through. After reading Toland's biography of Dillinger, I thought I was up for the Pulitzer prize winning work. Instead, it turns out my brain is full of European WWII & I've got to make room for the Asian WWII stories.
Toland is very unassuming in this interview, but obviously a stickler for detail. It's fun to listen to him (if you've read & enjoyed his books!)
The quote I like best from him so far is "History doesn't repeat itself, human nature repeats itself."
That pretty much sums it up!

Adolf Hitler : The Definitive Biography

2006-06-24T19:25:00.000-06:00

Amazon.com: Adolf Hitler : The Definitive Biography: Books: John Toland
p. 1150 "Genius is a will o' the wisp, unless it is founded on perserverance and fanatical determination. That's the most important thing in human existance."
A. Hitler

p. 1180 "To the average German, the Fuehrer was more than a man, he was a supernatural phenomenom. They held positive believe in his invulnerability."
J. Toland

p. 1204 "The greater area of responsibility of the individual, the greater necessity for obedience."
A. Hitler

Toland does a superlative job of describing Hitler. He details the fanatical determination of a brilliant and deliberately evil man. Toldand writes of a man who studied and learned to manipulate crowds in person, who demanded complete and unquestioning obedience, yet was beset by doubt & flagging self-confidence. Toland reveals an asectic vegetarian and pitiful farter that was capable of ordering the deaths of millions: Jews, Russians, Germans, to meet his own megalomanaical and patriotic beliefs.

While Toland paints a painstakingly detailed portrait of Hitler, he scarely mentions the critical interconnections that allowed Hitler to be so successful, such as his party henchmen, Goebbels, Bormann, Goering, Heydrich; or the German capitalists and industrial leaders who funded and enabled his massive spending on public works and re-armament. Toland does describe well all of the people with whom Hitler dealt with, including intimates, direct reports, and foreign diplomats.

Toland however leaves ambiguous how Hitler was able to motivate so many to action. Very little of Hitler's actual speeches are quoted, although Toland does describe their effect on the German populace as being positive and profound. Toland describes how Hitler was able to lie to himself as well as the public. Toland describes how Hitler was able to craft a speech in a speech: to those who knew about the Final Solution, there were plenty of references to what was happening and encouragement to continue; to those who did not know the Final Solution meant extermination of people despised by Hitler (mainly Jews, Russians and Eastern Europeans in general) they only heard vague promises which justified, vindicated and satiated their prejudices.

Toland does an excellent job of describing Hitler's manipulation and domination of the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi), including the thugs and gangsters which came along with the party members. During his rise to power, Hitler's brownshirts were used to silence any opposition or debate. Hitler would not tolerate being questioned by others.

Toland does not however describe how an Army corporal, a self-educated artist & historian, a self-doubting, woman fearing weakling was able to manipulate politicians, diplomats, military professionals, capitalists, heads of state as well as a huge percentage of the German population to wage an evil and hate-filled war against so their neighbors. That is to say, Toland does not completely describe the context that enabled a man like Hitler to wield power so deftly. Toland does however describe the process of that manipulation, inspiring wonder and awe (& profound disappointment) in the large mass of people that followed and practically worshipped him.

While we have no parallels with Hitler in the 21st century, the glimpses of the Nazi party provide frightening parallels with Republican party's actions in this century. The willingness to bend & break the law to imprison those who would dare disagree with the party; the tendency to spy on anyone for the welfare of the state; the complete disregard and disdain held for the "enemy"; all of these things have parallels between the 1930's and the 21st century, but orders of magnitude in difference of effect, so far.

I think the most frightening parallel between then & now is the willingness of a populace to believe a leader based on that leader's image and vague generalizations about an "enemy of the state" which allowed the willing minded to apply their own prejudices and thereby support an immoral and illegal war.

Well, it was a rough 1200+ pages, especially since I knew how it ended! I was never so glad to see someone put a pistol to their temple & pull the trigger! Next, I'm onto Toland's book The Rising Sun, The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire. I have every expectation it shall be just an frighteningly illuminating as Hitler's biography was. Who says things are less scary with the lights on!

Father's Day at Poppy's Pizza and Grill, Estes Park, CO

2006-06-19T00:22:00.000-06:00

Poppy's Pizza and Grill, Estes Park, CO
Here's what makes Father's Day worthwhile: A beautiful day for lunch with Kent & Linda, on the Big Thompson River in Estes Park. The daddies are happy because Jess & Dave are happy!

Altitude in Summer: Coney Lake, Beaver Reservoir Trailhead, Indian Peaks Wilderness & James Peak Wilderness

2006-06-18T23:05:00.000-06:00

ProTrails: Coney Lake, Beaver Reservoir Trailhead, Indian Peaks Wilderness & James Peak Wilderness
Saturday started off blustery and managed to maintain that attitude until we left. We started from the Coney Flat trail head at 8:45 on the almost 7 mile trek up to Buchanan Pass, with the intent of summiting Sawtooth Mountain at 12,304 feet above sea level. Buchanan Pass is the saddle or low point between Sawtooth & the peak just to the north (right) of Sawtooth. Walking up to Sawtooth would have put us just east of the Continental Divide.
It was interesting to note that just a few months earlier, Jim had gone cross country skiing on the same rocky road we were hiking. Apparently, a couple of feet of snow makes a big difference! Still, there was a 5-15 foot drop off on the right side of the road in some places!
We made it to the Buchanan Pass trail head about 2 hours later. We had been protected from a lot of the wind whilst in the trees, but we were coming up to the tree line. The hike started around 9230 elevation, so after a couple of hours of hiking up, the trees had started to thin out. Not to mention that shortly after leaving Coney Flats on the Buchanan Pass trail, we soon lost the trail in the large snow banks. 3 days away from summer and we were walking across acres of snow. Fortunately, we did very little postholing, and just a few more fall down spills. Nobody went hurtling to the end of the snowbank unintentionally, although I did glissade down about 25 feet to avoid the next 25 yards of crossing the snow bank.
We crossed a field of boulders, then crashed through some low evergreens, crossed a swollen stream & voila! there was the trail. Finally, three hours after Coney flats, five hours after embarking, we got to the last ridge before Buchanan Pass. We were at 11,662 feet elevation. There was a large snowfield blocking our way to Buchanan Pass. We could try to walk across it, but slipping meant a long slide down the side of a mountain! Who knew how deep the snow was, feet or inches? We had gotten within 900 feet of the 12,304 foot peak of Sawtooth, a wonderful place to be so close to summer, although the peak would have felt like the dead of winter!
So we declared victory, had a bite to eat, gloried in the blustery beauty of alpine elevations in Roosevelt National Park, and started on the trek down. Slowly but surely, the oxygen became more plentiful. Headed east, we lost the trail again in a snowbank, but didn't get as far off track this time!
We finally got back to the car at around 5:15, making it an 8:45 min day, but far better than the best day at work!
The wildflowers were blooming, but not in vast numbers. There were a few big patches of Columbine just below 11,000 feet, including some huge yellow daisy like flowers over 3 inches in diameter & some tiny little white & purple flowers, maybe one-quarter inch in diameter. We didn't see much wildlife, save for a whistle pig on the way down.

All in all, Jim, Rob & I had a great hike. Next week, we'll try the Arapahoe peaks, but I think the saddle is still snow covered.

Marshall Mesa - City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks

2006-03-26T22:26:00.000-07:00

Marshall Mesa - City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks
This was a nice long hike for Glenn & me. We were out on the trail for about 4 hours, covering around 7 mi or so. We saw a coyote. Glenn saw him pounce & chomp on something. It was gone in a bite or two, so it was probably just a mouse.
The weather was supposed to be 60 degrees, but it barely got over the low 50's. Still, a lovely day for a hike. Although I did flash on Last of the Summer Wine when Glenn & I sat on the side of a hill & looked north across Boulder to share the sight with Jack & Mary.
I'm glad the wind wasn't blowing yesterday like it was today! It seemed like the gusts were 60 mph today!

Public Misled on Air Quality After 9/11 Attack, Judge Says - New York Times

2006-02-03T06:56:00.000-07:00

Public Misled on Air Quality After 9/11 Attack, Judge Says - New York Times: "In her ruling, Judge Batts decided not to dismiss the case against Mrs. Whitman, who is being sued both as former administrator of the E.P.A. and as an individual.

As a legal matter, the ruling established that the suit's charges were well-documented and troubling enough to meet a legal standard to go forward. But Judge Batts also criticized Mrs. Whitman's performance in the days after the collapse of the towers unleashed, by the E.P.A.'s estimates, one million tons of dust on lower Manhattan and beyond.

'The allegations in this case of Whitman's reassuring and misleading statements of safety after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks are without question conscience-shocking,' Judge Batts said. "

Once again, the cronies of the Bush administration have demonstrated unbelievable incompetance. From the Department of Defense's lack of proper prior planning (resulting in the emergency action on the part of the National Guard & in thousands of military & civilian casualties), to the extreme mismanagement of FEMA, to the industry shill mis-management of the Mine Safety & Health Administration (sic), and countless others, the Bush administration has clearly demonstrated its lack of concern for the safety and well-being of Americans and others.
Congress, both Democrats & Republicans are completely complict in this dismantling of the government which was proscribed by the Constitution as being "of the people, by the people and for the people."
We are but a sad pale shade of what our forefathers hoped for.

CBS News | Lying In The National Interest | January 28, 2006�12:34:26

2006-01-31T20:58:00.000-07:00

CBS News | Lying In The National Interest | January 28, 2006�12:34:26: "Lying In The National Interest

Jan. 28, 2006
Has President Bush been covering up his intentions with Iran? (CBS)

Quote

“No president should ever take a military option off the table.”
Vice President Dick Cheney

(Christian Science Monitor) This column was written by Daniel Schorr.One of the inherent powers of the president, apparently, is the right to lie in the perceived national interest.

In 1960, President Eisenhower had the State Department announce that a plane shot down over the Soviet Union was on a weather mission. He was left red-faced when the Russians produced the U-2 spy plane and its CIA pilot.

In 1962 President Kennedy cut short a trip to the West Coast and flew back to Washington from Chicago, suffering, it was announced, from an upper respiratory infection. The real reason for his hasty return was newly acquired photographic evidence that the Russians were putting nuclear missiles in Cuba – prompting the Cuban missile crisis.

In 1981, the Reagan White House condemned Israel for bombing the Osirak nuclear facility outside Baghdad saying, “The unprecedented attack would add to the tense situation in the Middle East.” Left unsaid was that the CIA director, William Casey, had visited Israel and agreed to cooperate in the attack, using American-made planes and American reconnaissance satellites to pinpoint the target.

So now, 25 years later, once again we face the introduction to the nuclear waltz and the question of how far the administration will go in keeping Americans posted on the gathering storm. What we have heard so far leaves a lot to the imagination. "

It's a shame lying has come to be expected from every administration for the last half-century. The lies of the current administration are far beyond the pale of anything we have seen before. Our expectations should be higher & we should vote our conscience!

Public Parks - Rabbit Mountain

2006-01-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

Public Parks - Rabbit Mountain
Rabbit Mountain hike, 28Jan2006, Glenn, Jim & Scott. After the traditional fast breaking at the NBC, we drove northerly on US-36 up to Lyons & Rabbit Mountain. It was a beautiful Colorado spring day in the middle of winter. We began our hike at 5500' above sea level at about 11:30. The temp was in the upper 50's even the mid-60's at times. The sky was blue & cloudless until about 1p when a cloud bank began to build up just east of the Flatirons & by 3p had obscured the sun, plunging the temp down to the lowest of 50's.
We took turns helping Jim carry far more than his fair share of the conversation burden. The pace was generally rapid, though rabid would not have been wise on Rabbit.
The view is from the farthest north we could see from the top of Mt. Sanitas, a few weeks ago. The Boulder Valley is huge from the perspective of Lyons, 20? mi to the north of the city of Boulder. At the top of Rabbit Mountain, the views of Long's Peak & Mt. Meeker are astounding. The north face of Mt. Audobon is visible belying the western view of a smooth sloping mount with a rocky and broken profile.
We hiked for almost 4 hours, reaching a peak of about 6180' above sea level. The trail seemed much rockier than the Mt. Sanitas trail. That perception could have just been a function of brand new orthotics, as my ankles were very tired by the end of the hike. Nevertheless, it was a great hike: good conversation, good weather, good exercise, good whiskey: great friends!

Pentagon Study Links Fatalities to Body Armor - New York Times

2006-01-09T22:12:00.000-07:00

Pentagon Study Links Fatalities to Body Armor - New York Times: "The Army, which has the largest force in Iraq, is still deciding what to purchase, according to Army procurement officials. They said the Army was deciding among various sizes of plates to give its 130,000 soldiers, adding that they hoped to issue contracts this month."

They HOPED to issue contracts this month?????

One could only fondly imagine the drill sargeant from Full Metal Jacket reading that "military official" the riot act with enough f-bombs to melt the idiot's brass right through his skin!

Three years in theatre & they are hoping to issue contracts for armor? I guess if you're comfy in the pentagon, there's few worries, eh?

Can we bring 'em home yet?

AlterNet: 2005 Media Follies!

2006-01-02T07:07:00.000-07:00

AlterNet: 2005 Media Follies!

In spite of the accused left-wing liberal bias of the "press" it seems that once again, they have focused on the inane, trivial and distracting whilst allowing the important stories to languish in the backwater reporting of the internet. Thank god for the internet!

2005-12-28T17:24:00.000-07:00

Grizzly Bear at at Rocky Mountain Wildlive Conservatory

2005-12-28T17:23:00.000-07:00

Tigers at at Rocky Mountain Wildlive Conservatory

2005-12-28T17:14:00.000-07:00

Mountain Lion at Rocky Mountain Wildlive Conservatory

Killing Veterans

2005-12-26T09:05:00.000-07:00

http://www.sfbayview.com/012605/headsroll012605.shtml

It's not enough to send our troops to fight a war based on lies, deceit and greed, but we have to give our troops implements of destruction which not only kill insurgents and innocent Iraqi's, but also ends up sickening and killing our own troops.

Should the use of depleted uranium by the United States military qualify the Iraqi debacle as the first nuclear war?

FEMA, heath care, environment, veterans benefits, Plame outing: will incompetence be the tag by which we know King George II's administration?

Destroying the National Parks - New York Times

2005-08-30T06:18:00.000-06:00

What is the purpose of destroying our national parks? This is just another resource that gb2 is willing to sacrifice, like the blood of young Americans, the souls of innocent Muslims and now the very land of America! How much more must we tolerate?

From the New York Times Opinion - 29Aug2005

Most of us think of America's national parks as everlasting places, parts of the bedrock of how we know our own country. But they are shaped and protected by an underlying body of legislation, which is distilled into a basic policy document that governs their operation. ...
Recently, a secret draft revision of the national park system's basic management policy document has been circulating within the Interior Department. It was prepared, without consultation within the National Park Service, by Paul Hoffman, a deputy assistant secretary at Interior who once ran the Chamber of Commerce in Cody, Wyo., was a Congressional aide to Dick Cheney and has no park service experience.

Within national park circles, this rewrite of park rules has been met with profound dismay, for it essentially undermines the protected status of the national parks. The document makes it perfectly clear that this rewrite was not prompted by a compelling change in the park system's circumstances. It was prompted by a change in political circumstances - the opportunity to craft a vision of the national parks that suits the Bush administration.

But there is nothing subtle about the main thrust of this rewrite. It is a frontal attack on the idea of "impairment." According to the act that established the national parks, preventing impairment of park resources - including the landscape, wildlife and such intangibles as the soundscape of Yellowstone, for instance - is the "fundamental purpose." In Mr. Hoffman's world, it is now merely one of the purposes.

Mr. Hoffman's rewrite would open up nearly every park in the nation to off-road vehicles, snowmobiles and Jet Skis. According to his revision, the use of such vehicles would become one of the parks' purposes. To accommodate such activities, he redefines impairment to mean an irreversible impact. To prove that an activity is impairing the parks, under Mr. Hoffman's rules, you would have to prove that it is doing so irreversibly - a very high standard of proof. This would have a genuinely erosive effect on the standards used to protect the national parks.

The pattern prevails throughout this 194-page document - easing the rules that limit how visitors use the parks and toughening the standard of proof needed to block those uses. ...

There is no question that we go to national parks to use and enjoy them. But part of the enjoyment of being in a place like Yosemite or the Grand Canyon is knowing that no matter how much it changes in the natural processes of time, it will continue to exist substantially unchanged.

There are other issues too. Mr. Hoffman would explicitly allow the sale of religious merchandise, and he removes from the policy document any reference to evolution or evolutionary processes. He does everything possible to strip away a scientific basis for park management. His rules would essentially require park superintendents to subordinate the management of their parks to local and state agendas. He also envisions a much wider range of commercial activity within the parks.

In short, this is not a policy for protecting the parks. It is a policy for destroying them.

The Interior Department has already begun to distance itself from this rewrite, which it kept hidden from park service employees. But what Mr. Hoffman has given us is a road map of what could happen to the parks if Mr. Bush's political appointees are allowed to have their way.

OfficialWire: Bush Refuses To Meet With Sheehan

2005-08-07T12:37:00.000-06:00

OfficialWire: Bush Refuses To Meet With Sheehan
I'm not too sure I'd want to meet this group either, chanting down the road "W killed her son!" It's sad we rarely see bush comforting the grieving & suffering. He seems a little above the effects of war, or perhaps all the blood & guts surprised him!

Here's a slap in the face!

2005-05-01T08:33:00.000-06:00

For those who proclaim America to be a Christian nation, they should take a look at what's happened to greed. It's gone from being a deadly sin to being a prized and rewarded character trait.
Nicholas Kristof calls the Baby Boomer's the Greediest Generation, noting "But I fear that we'll be remembered mostly for grabbing resources for ourselves, in such a way that the big losers will be America's children."
But writing about Medicare & Medicaid doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of greed's importance to America. Why are all of America's national security interests centered around areas of critical natural resources? Why is the ability to make an income being shipped overseas? Why are executive positions never outsourced?
Why is the unmitigated greed of the richest 5% of the population of America enabled by the poorer 95%?

Government for the people

2005-04-30T11:18:00.000-06:00

When did it become ok for us to forget the part of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address about government for the people? Why is it ok for the government to continually take away priviledges & benefits from every average American citizen? Bush's plan to limit and reduce social benefits to support his war on Iraq is yet another attack not on "terror" but instead on Americans! Watch this space, we'll document more attacks on Americans!

Trent on top of the world

2005-04-30T09:57:00.000-06:00

Trent on Mount Audobon July 2003. Jim took the picture