Round Two

We got another blizzard yesterday, here's a shot of the backyard. The space directly behind the grill is the drive which I had very painstakingly shoveled out in anticipation of being able to park in. Now it's a future chore that I can already feel in my back and shoulders, I've shoveled tons of snow since the last storm and this one is supposed to be lingering into the morrow.

Soltice Blizzard

The view out my back door on the morning of 12-21-06. I really like the effect of the flash on the snowflakes at various distance, looks like a starfield. Posting now on 12-22-06, I'm supposed to go into work today, it remains to be seen if I can get to a passable street, there's one about 2 blocks from here. Got to get going, later

Frank Rich - Has He Started Talking to the Walls? -link

When news organizations, politicians and bloggers had their own civil war about the proper usage of that designation last week, it was highly instructive — but about America, not Iraq. The intensity of the squabble showed the corrosive effect the president’s subversion of language has had on our larger culture. Iraq arguably passed beyond civil war months ago into what might more accurately be termed ethnic cleansing or chaos. That we were fighting over “civil war” at this late date was a reminder that wittingly or not, we have all taken to following Mr. Bush’s lead in retreating from English as we once knew it.

Bush is so divorced from reality that he blames Al Qaeda for the whole mess, as if they had the influence to manipulate all the forces at play in Iraq.

Radio hoax reveal an appalling depth of bigotry-link

When radio host Jerry Klein suggested that all Muslims in the United States should be identified with a crescent-shape tattoo or a distinctive arm band, the phone lines jammed instantly.
His show on Sunday, Nov. 26 lured a gaggle of bigots out of the weeds. Just hit the link, it's chilling and unbelievable.

Lady "Blue", photo by F. Liebovitz

"I'm A Fool To Want You" or any other Billie Holiday tune you'd care to insert here.

Thank You Dr. Dean

Kudos to Howard Dean for his vision, he thought his "Fifty State Strategy" would take a few years to prove out and it surprised everyone with immediate success. I think it's fair to say he outmanoeuvred Rove who flogged his tired old "Smear & Fear" ploy right into the dirt.

Hopefully he'll get a full measure of credit for Democratic gains, Chuck S. and Rahm E. would like to claim most of that credit, but progressives will see through this corporatist bluster.

That's how I see the future of the Democratic party shaping up, there's a schism between the DNC and the DLC, the progressive and corporatist wings of the party. You could just as easily say the liberal and conservative elements are jousting for position at the steering wheel.

I want my party to stay true to it's liberal/progressive/populist roots, but I realize that some compromise is likely to evolve, as is necessary for the health of a resurgent Democratic party.

Pastor Ted Haggard

Image is from Evangelicalright.com

New Rules with Bill Maher 11/03/2006

Bill Maher's Talking Points Memo

Iraqi reality show?-Link

Is irony dead? Apparently not, if this so called reality show is any indication. I'd say the Iraqis who participate in this show are in grave danger if they ever return to any of the areas where fanatical militias prevail.
On the positive side, it looks like the Americanization of Iraqi culture is coming along nicely, why in no time at all Iraq will be a fully functional western style democracy, just like red state America. End the occupation now.

Mandolin

Here's my mando, the juxtaposition of the instrument and fruit is intended to be artful, I think I've seen a classical painting that's fairly close.

Joe Lieberman pledged only 3 terms-Link

It appears that Joe won't honor his 1988 pledge to serve no more than 3 terms. I think his intent might be to accept a cabinet position after the elections (SoD?), if he retains his seat the Republican Gov. would appoint another R to replace him. Disgusting ploy.

Mushroom Explosion

For the last month or so there's been an excellent run of days with rainfall in the mountains. While this is welcome and of great benefit to most, there are some unwanted side effects, mudslides, rockslides,etc. A whole section of highway got washed out between Deckers and Woodlawn Park. The rains have also promoted an explosion in mushroom growth, the picture above is a pair of Amanita Muscaria the common fly agaric, posionous and halucinogenic.


This next photo is a good example of Sarcodon Imbricatus, it's common name is Hawk's Wing, it's edible but not choice and probably not very tasty when it's grown to this size.

Wolcott~en fuego

I gotta give a shout out to James Wolcott, the man has been on fire for at least a month. Starting with the flare-up in the Palestinian situation right up to the present, he's posting almost every day on the subject and his passion is awesome to behold. If you haven't seen his blog lately, get yourself over there and be informed.

Here is one of many gorgeous views from Trailridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. This is our national treasure, along with all our other public lands, the commons, they are to be protected jealously.

4th of July Spectacular

The plan is to launch the Space Shuttle at about 12:40 MST today. This seems a bit incautious in light of the events of the weekend, which includes two scrubbed launch attempts and the discovery of a crack in the foam insulation of the fuel tank. A small piece of foam fell away from the area near the crack, launch managers have none the less decided to proceed.
I'm sorry, this seems contrived, I'm reminded of the Challenger disaster that simply had to launch in time for Ronald Reagan to include some remarks about the "Teachers in Space" program in his SOTU address.

I love space exploration and space science, but I'm concerned for the safety of our astronauts today. Is this launch an attempt to manufacture a "feel good moment" for the failure-plagued Bush administration? I really hope not.

In the wilderness

In the wilderness everything just seems to fall into patterns that naturally draw the eye. You can look down at the ground right at your feet and find a whole world to facinate and amaze.

Why don't you just blow him John?

Oh my! A private audience with the kingmaker himself, look at Falwell's getup, zombie Rehnquist must be green with envy.

Urban Art

I shot this one today under Speer Blvd. on the Platte bikepath, I think it has texture.

Smiley Suit-Link

A french patent troll is suing Wal Mart over the use of the smiley face icon which he holds patents to around the world, but not in the U.S. I think Forrest Gump may want to jump in here and protect his interest.

Fire on the mountain

Forest fires can turn the most idyllic scene into a barren landscape, this is part of the Hayman burn near Cheeseman Reservior.
These trees on Mt. Falcon are some of the survivors of a fire that took quite a bit of timber in 1988.

The thinning that you can see here probably deserves the credit for their survival.

Thom Hartmann-Link

This is a great and touching article by Hartmann on the occasion of Worker's Memorial Day, which gets less attention than groundhog day in the U.S. Also,Monday is International Worker's Day, Bush is attempting to turn it into "Loyalty Day".

Belated Earth Day Blogging

Here in Colorado it's easy to get away from the hassle of the city and just wander through mountain parks, fish, or camp. Gas is not cheap, but it's worth it.

Just look at Denver, stewing in it's own juices. That brown cloud is nasty, photo taken on a Sunday morning.

This fellow lives in a lake in Washington Park in south central Denver, his home is an oasis in the city.

Runoff

Spring runoff is in full swing as seen here on the north fork of the S. Platte River at Pine Valley Ranch OSP.

Censure Hearings-link

Hearings into the question of censuring began on Friday with minimal support from the Democratic Party. Only Pat Leahy has joined in the discussion with Russ Feingold. Senator Russell D. Feingold, the Wisconsin Democrat who proposed the censure motion and is considering a 2008 presidential run, argued that the Bush administration's insistence that it needed no Congressional approval for its wiretapping program implied that "we no longer have a constitutional system consisting of three co-equal branches of government; we have a monarchy." (my italics, from the Times).
Republican complaints against the censure move were predictable, "This will aid the enemy!", and the old favorite,"You'll endanger the troops on the ground!". Nowhere is there concern for the rule of law, with the possible exception of Arlen Specter, I think he may prove to be the wild card in this affair.

Colorado's most famous mountain

The Shining Mountain in the early morning light, photo taken on Saturday 3/25, on my way to fish at Happy Meadows. I spent that night in Lake George and fished the tailwater at Tarryall Reservoir on Sunday morning.It got windy at about 10ish and clouds started zipping by, they looked like the outriders of a storm to me so I hit it, sure enough,before I could reach 285 I was in the middle of a spring storm with some good old blizzard like conditions. Got home just fine though, found out today that the system that blew through here really clobbered Wyoming, 20 car pileup on I80, 6 dead.Sad for those folks, sorry for the families, weather is no joke.

Rocky Mountain National Park

I visited Rocky Mountain National Park yesterday and what a glorious morning it was.This picture was taken at the Bear Lake trailhead. The park teems with wildlife, these elk were spread out, at least 100 in the meadow and scattered into the timber, maybe as much as 500.

Alpine lakes, streams and beaver ponds are all over the park, I bought an annual pass for $35, I'll be coming back for some fishing soon.

Social Security Video- link

Here's a beautifully composed little primer, debunks the S.S. hockum that's been spouted by the chimp.

European Sophistication

Or is that sopistication? The ad says equal rights for all, so I guess smoking cigs and pissing in the bushes puts this gal on an equal footing with the boys on the other side of the hedge in der Beirgarten. And is she planning to use a handful of the shrubbery or just drip dry?

Chomsky-link

Interesting article by Chomsky, laying out the realignment of world order and power. In Asia he sees a developing relationship between China and India, portending an awesome nexus, and in the west, Cuba is finding ways to assert its influence, particularly with Venezuela, but throughout the third world. Meanwhile, the US exhausts it's resources and credibility on George's excellent adventures in the Mideast. Anyway, it seems that a big source of the hubris that infects the current American regime is the notion that the USA is the world's sole superpower, now that's a house of cards.

Teacher Reinstated-Link

A Denver area teacher will be making some concessions to get back in the classroom.

Long Scraggy Mtn.

Colorado

lookin' good

The fate that Bush deserves- link

just saw this over at Atrios' joint, couldn't help thinking that dimson deserves no better.

Rollout-Itflows

This is the rollout of my blog. I'm not to sure what this is about just yet, I do need a place to post my photos, so I'll try posting one now.