Band or Building?

Here is an interesting coincidence I just had to take a picture of. The quality is not that good since I took this late in the day in poor lighting, so I converted it to black and white for visibility. In any case, there is an office park in Englewood, Colorado called Meridian, and one of the streets there is Maroon Circle. There is a new office building going up there, and here is the construction sign. I just thought it was funny, as the building is named Maroon 5. That also happens to be the name of a popular music group. What next? Buildings like Dave Clark 5? Fab 4?

Dashing Through the Snow

Snowing at Southlands - click for larger view of all the flakes falling

The Winter Solstice is a couple of weeks away, and the beautiful snowfall we have this weekend makes it all the more evident. Today, we decided to go do a little holiday shopping at Southlands, and then to have lunch at Ted's Montana Grill. This was the first time I have eaten at Ted's, but it was outstanding. I had the bison meatloaf with garlic mashed potatoes and Aunt Fannie's squash casserole. The lovely spouse had grilled salmon that was grilled to perfection. Everything is made fresh at Ted's, and the service was fantastic as well. Our server, Joey, and the manager Antonio, made sure we were well taken care of. Finishing off with key lime pie made this a perfect lunch. The Ted who owns Ted's is none other than Ted Turner, the founder of Turner Broadcasting and CNN.

Anyway, on our way into the restaurant, I decided to snap this picture across the plaza of Southlands, looking over the ice rink and toward the cinema. The snow was falling at a pleasant rate, not blowing, but just very pretty to look at. Some days I really enjoy living in Colorado. Today is one of them.

Some Thoughts on This December 7

A Date Which Will Live in Infamy

Today is the 66th anniversary of the sneak attack by the Japanese Empire on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In asking Congress for a declaration of war against Japan, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt stated that December 7, 1941 was "a date which will live in infamy". This horrible event was the 9/11 to the generation of Americans living at the time. Of course, most people back then heard about it on the radio, and saw footage on newsreels, as television broadcasting was still experimental.

To hear radio coverage of the President's address to Congress, CLICK HERE.

In the attack, twenty-one U.S. Navy ships were damaged or destroyed, 2,350 people died, and 1,178 were injured. This also decisively ended the movement for the U.S. to stay out of the war. Today, we would be remiss if we didn't pause to remember those who gave their lives in service to the nation that fateful day.

Delaware Day

December 7, 1787 was the day that the legislature of Delaware ratified the Constitution of the United States, thus earning its nickname, The First State. Delawareans are quite proud of this fact, and since 1939 have annually held remembrance of the fact by celebrating Delaware Day. So, to our friends in America's second-smallest state by geographic area, a very happy Delaware Day.

Mitt Romney, Mister Intolerant

Yesterday, I mentioned Mitt Romney's speech in Bryan, Texas, calling for support from those who would be suspicious of his Mormon faith. Well, today I got a copy of the entire transcript, and it looks like Mitt is telling the evangelicals, "Hey, I'm just like you . . . intolerant. Join me, and we'll discriminate against those evil non-believers." Here is one excerpt of the speech:

"We separate church and state affairs in this country, and for good reason. No religion should dictate to the state nor should the state interfere with the free practice of religion. But in recent years, the notion of the separation of church and state has been taken by some well beyond its original meaning. They seek to remove from the public domain any acknowledgment of God. Religion is seen as merely a private affair with no place in public life. It is as if they are intent on establishing a new religion in America – the religion of secularism. They are wrong."

Note to Mitt . . . secularism is not a religion. You need a belief in a deity to qualify for that. As for establishing a "new religion in America", isn't that exactly what your so-called "prophet", Joseph Smith, did in the 1800s when he concocted . . . oops, I mean "restored" . . . the LDS religion? Pot, meet kettle! So Mitt, get your panties untwisted and quit slamming 14% of the U.S. population, a percentage that far outnumbers the barely 1% share that are membership of the LDS church. Pretty bold intolerance from someone who belongs to a group that most Christians believe to be a cult of Satan. How quickly Mitt has forgotten the intolerance that Latter Day Saints have endured over the years!

Another Horror in the Heartland

Once again, a troubled young man inflicts immeasurable pain on innocent people by shooting at others before committing suicide. This time, it was at a busy shopping mall in Omaha, Nebraska. It would be sad enough if Robert Hawkins had just killed himself, but like Dylan Klebold, Eric Harris, Charles Whitman, and many others, he decided to take innocents to the grave with him.

It is being reported that the 19-year old gunman was upset over a romantic break up and losing his job at McDonalds. Broken hearts and fast food jobs come and go for normal people that age. Obviously there was something more behind this horror.

Since the perpetrator's name will be remembered, I don't want to neglect here to mention those whose lives he took:

• Gary Scharf, age 48
• John McDonald, age 65
• Angie Schuster, age 36
• Maggie Webb, age 24
• Janet Jorgensen, age 66
• Diane Trent, age 53
• Gary Joy, age 56
• Beverly Flynn, age 47

Incidents like this will probably never be 100% preventable. However, this sad tale once again begs the question as to why we don't have better mental health care in this country. Even most medical plans partition off mental illness as a separate type of limited coverage. Here are nine lives, gone forever, leaving their loved ones to grieve over this inexplicable act of senseless violence.

OOPS!

The Associated Press is reporting that a teen in Houston had just finished getting his drivers license on Monday, and while leaving accidentally drove into the Department of Public Safety building, punching a hole in it. The trooper who conducted the test was not in the car at the time.

Talk about a big oops, this had to be one. I would imagine that freshly-minted license may end up being revoked, if not by the police, at least by the boy's parents. Once more we see that life is more interesting than just about anything you can make up.

A Couple of Signs

Not much to say about these, I just liked them. The first picture is the sign for the Fat Frog Cafe in Littleton, Colorado. The second is an old 7up sign that is still in use. I wonder what its story is. Looks like it's been around for a few years. Pretty cool old logo, isn't it? Yeah, I remember when it was the current logo!

A Spicy Saturday

December already! 2007 has flown by. It seems time is passing so fast that I could use the hands of a clock for a fan.

Today is a cold, overcast day in the Denver area, but it could be a lot worse. The mountains in the southwest part of the state are getting up to four feet of snow. So far, we have a bit of drizzle, but I would not be surprised if we have a little white accumulation overnight.

Today I went to an interesting little shop in Downtown Littleton. It is a spice shop where they grind and blend custom mixes of spices. You can tell what type of business it is as you open the door, as the aroma of the variety of spices hits the olfactory sensors. It is not overpowering, and is really quite nice.


A big bag of Indonesian Black Pepper

There is a stack of cloth-lined wicker hand baskets stacked by the door for use while shopping. The store is not fancy at all, but it is very attractive. Jars, vials, and pouches of various spices are displayed on shelves, in bins, and even in bread pans. There are several vintage scales where the employees custom blend varieties of spice. If you don't see what you want, they will blend it for you as you watch.


Jars of ground, exotic chili powders on display

In the picture below, one of the "Spice Girls" (no, not those Spice Girls) is using an old balance scale to weigh and mix spices for a customer. She was very gracious in allowing me to take her picture while she worked. She knows her craft well, as you can see the blur of her hands working rapidly to create the particular blend of flavors requested. I am not sure if the lady in the background on the cell phone was watching her, or watching me take a photo.


Blends of spices made to order

As I mentioned, there were several older scales in the shop. Below is one that is reminiscent of those that used to populate the produce sections of supermarkets when I was a child. The produce man would take your paper bag of produce, weigh it, and mark the price on the bag with a big wax crayon.

This particular scale was holding some spice mills, and a couple of mortar and pestle sets. There were more sets on display nearby in the front window of the store.


Old scale, spice mills, and mortar & pestles

We purchased some milling spice, some chai spice, and some other herbs and spices for use in cooking. I can hardly wait for some delicious spiced apple cider. The best part of all is that these fresh spices were less expensive than what you would pay at the typical grocery store. I know this first visit won't be our last.

For a More Joyous Holiday Season

Today is Black Friday, the day after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, when retailers look forward to the potential of the season, and consumers go on a quest for bargains. For many shoppers, it it the thrill of the hunt; modern man's version of the hunting survival instinct that allowed our species to survive its infancy.

As a rationalist, I don't hold any religious or supernatural beliefs as justification for the holiday season. However, I do enjoy the secular benefits; time off work, being with family, and the change of the seasons. That said, I live by a credo that I have mentioned here before; the only sin is causing unnecessary harm or suffering to another. Its that simple. Still, I try to go beyond that in my daily life . . . actually doing my best to make the day a little better for those with whom I come in contact. Not only does this spread cheer and goodwill, you wouldn't believe how much stress goes away just by making a decision to not consider non-urgent things in life urgent, and by truly caring about the people around you. I do this every day, but during the rush of the Christmas shopping period, it could make for a more enjoyable December. Here are some of the things that I try to practice:

• Greet people with a smile and a warm "Hello" or "Good Morning!" It is amazing how this simple act brings smiles to others and lets you make a fleeting connection with someone. The funny thing is, this can start a chain reaction that you will never know about, touching many more people.
• Stop the rush. You will get there when you get there, so enjoy the time out. Whether its a line of traffic, or a line at the checkout stand, being upset won't help. In the car, put on some music you like, be it Christmas carols, classical symphonies, or rock and roll oldies. I find that classical music or some jazz is very de-stressing. You'll find you may be disappointed when you get through the wait, as you have enjoyed the time so much more.
• Let the other guy or gal go first. Now this is counter to our instincts, but it really doesn't hurt. Let that car into the queue. Offer someone with fewer items than you to check out first. It doesn't hurt. Really.
• Don't get upset with a greeting you disagree with, be it "Happy Holidays", "Merry Christmas", or "Happy Channukah". It's the thought behind it that counts. Such greetings are not typically attempts at proselytization. They are simply good wishes. I can use as many of those as I can get.
• If you are fortunate enough to have a job, share a little with those less fortunate. Donate to a food pantry. Give toys to charitable organizations. Coats are always welcome, and can be found inexpensively at clearance stores. If you have the time to do so, volunteer to deliver items, work at a food pantry, or to serve food to those in need.
• Teach children that it isn't all about me, me, me. Instill the joy of simple things, such as the twinkling holiday lights, hot cocoa by the fireplace, time with loved ones. Also, teach the joy of giving and serving others. Let them participate in finding charitable gifts to share.
• Practice those random acts of kindness. Pay the toll for the car behind you. Help someone with packages. Hold the door open for others. Be sure to tip those who serve you and who depend on those tips for their livelihood.
• Shovel the snow off your neighbor's sidewalk.

There are many others. Be creative. Come up with other ideas. Not only will these brighten the holiday season, but can be practiced year round. We're all in this life together. Let's make the journey better for everyone. Love your neighbor.

Happy Holidays to all!

A White House Pardon

I saw a headline today that read President Bush Pardons Turkey. I thought he had pardoned himself, but no. It was the White House Thanksgiving Turkey that got a presidential reprieve.

Time & Technology Marches On

Human beings are clever little apes. We have walked on the earth's nearest neighbor in space and mapped our own genome. We have harnessed the power of the atom and sent our surrogate eyes and ears into the interstellar void. We have conquered many dread diseases and yet our ultimate individual demise remains a certainty.

Even our more simple technology, while remaining somewhat the same externally, continues incremental evolution over time. The cars of today look and operate much the same as those built 70 years ago. But the automobiles of today are much better than those of the past. Tires rarely go flat, engines are much more fuel efficient and put out less pollutants, and safety features like air bags and seatbelts make for a much less dangerous ride. The engine is controlled by a computer, and reliable electronic ignitions and fuel injection have replaced points and carburetors.

Television is another example. In the 1950s and 1960s, television sets as they were called, worked on vacuum tubes. Like the similar incadescent light bulb, vacuum tubes burn out. TVs of the time would take a few seconds to "warm up" before you could watch. Typically, the sound came on first, followed by a picture appearing on the black and white picture tube. Then when turned off, the picture would shrink to a bright spot that remained on the tube for a few seconds.

It was standard procedure that when a TV started to malfunction, the owner's first task would be to unplug the set, remove the back of the TV, and start pulling out all the tubes. The symptom could be the picture shrinking, or no sound or picture at all. But almost all the time, the problem was a tube gone bad.

Once the tubes were removed and their location in the set noted, a trip to a local grocery or convenience store was next. How well I remember the tube tester at 7-11 where I accompanied my dad with a bag of tubes on many occasions. The tube tester had a panel of tube sockets on top. The procedure was to use a guide book to see how to set the dials, plug the tube into the proper socket, and push a "test" button. A light and gauge indicated if a tube was good or bad. Once the bad tube or tubes were identified, a replacement could be procured from the lower part of the cabinet that held the tube tester, and you would buy the ones you need and head home. Hopefully, once the tubes were back in place, the TV would work fine.

The weird thing is that I remember one particular tube that seemed to go out often on our old Emerson black and white console TV. That tube was 6KE8. That TV was in a blond wood cabinet with two doors that closed to hide the picture tube (screen) when not in use. The speakers were in the bottom half of the cabinet, and in those days there was no remote control. Well, we kids were actually the remote, as we heard "Could one of you kids switch the TV to Channel 11 please?" There was a volume knob and a channel selector knob that let you choose from channels 2-13. That was it. No UHF. And there were 3 channels we had back then via rabbit ear antenna. They were KPRC-TV 2 (NBC), KGUL (Now KHOU) 11 (CBS), and KTRK 13 (ABC). The other channels were all static.

Today, I get a couple of hundred channels, and still not much worth watching. Yet if I were to get in a time machine and bring that old Emerson into 2007, it would still work. That is until early 2009, when the United States shuts off analog television and makes the move to all digital. Now each channel will be capable of high definition and multiple programs over a single station, all in widescreen, color glory, and all without the need for tubes. And even past that date, if the old TV were hooked up to a converter box, cable or satellite receiver, and it would still show programs. That is until that 6KE8 burned out again. I doubt the 7-11 clerk of today would even know what the heck I was talking about.

As for now, my current TV still has one tube...the CRT. This is a plain, standard definition color TV of 7 year vintage, but it looks so good that I see no reason to spend more to go to HD just yet. Someday, I will make the change, but I can't see spending the money for it right now. I guess the days of my being an early adopter of technology are long gone.

Here We Go Into the Icebox

Well, here we go into a new work week. It's Monday. I know a lot of people dread Mondays, but I try to enjoy every day. After all, we spend 1/7 of our life on Monday, so why go around upset about it? I wish everyone a wonderful Monday today.

This will be a beautiful Monday here along the Colorado Front Range. Sunny skies and a high predicted to reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit. But it isn't going to last. By Wednesday, our next cold front will pass by, making the high for that day only 25 degrees...a drop of 45 degrees! YIKES!

I suppose I can give my new snow boots a little more use, as that system is expected to drop at least 8 inches of snow. This Indian Summer is coming to a screeching halt, just before the Turkey Day Holiday. I guess that is what is meant by going "Cold Turkey"!

Have a terrific week, everyone!

Yes, This is the Right Place!

Don't let the mods to the page header throw you...this is still my blog!

I'll admit it... I am a bit too lazy to dig in and create my own template, so this is, and has always been, a standard Blogger design. But being either too lazy or too busy to create a custom design only gets you so far. So, I decided to at least add a custom header image. The photo on the header is from WV 279, but it could be anywhere, so I'll use it to illustrate life's highway from whence I post.

Maybe someday I'll be more ambitious about this. For now, this will have to hold you.