One Card to Rule Them All

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

- The Constitution of the United States, Tenth Amendment

Rick Wagner used this tagline last week to talk about another topic, so he deserves at least a little credit for the idea development today. The concerns expressed here bear little resemblance otherwise.

Three months from today, the first phases of the federal Real ID Act of 2005 will kick in. Citizens of most states will not see any substantive change, as most states have requested, and been granted, extensions to implement the act's provisions. This includes Colorado.

Residents of Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Oklahoma may see their ability to access federal facilities, or facilities where access is federally controlled, i.e. airports, restricted or denied until their states have a compliance plan in place.

A total of 39 states raised questions, objections, or in the case of the "Real ID 5", have rejected the act altogether. The Governor of Montana has displayed particular fervor regarding the issue, writing the governors of several states urging them to reject Real ID as well. I called Gov. Ritter's office today, and a staff member stated that to his knowledge the Governor has not replied to Gov. Schweitzer as yet.

There are lots of information sources, with varying perspectives and approaches, that provide answers to questions about Real ID:

The Dept. of Homeland Security information page provides the "official" answers.

There is excellent coverage from CNet News as it relates to the effect on individual states and the issues surrounding the act from many perspectives.

I'll repeat the Wikipedia link from above.

From the opposition side, the ACLU's dedicated site to the Real ID issue is also informative.

In fact, opposition to Real ID and/or its' implementation appears to be bipartisan in nature, as well as across idealogical lines. According to Information Week:

More than 600 groups oppose the Real ID Act, which was inserted into a military spending bill two years ago. They include the National Governors Association, the American Bar Association, the American Conservative Union, the Council of State Governments, Gun Owners of America, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Even certain evangelical groups have weighed in on this, some equating Real ID with the "mark of the beast" as depicted in the "End of Days" section of the Book of Revelation.

Finally, when The American Spectator is on the same page as the ACLU about an issue, and fans of Sean Hannity are weighing in on the same side as well, then something is definitely out of joint.

From this corner it appears that the Real ID initiative is an attempt at federal intrusion into areas that are outside its' constitutional purview. The act intrudes excessively on civil liberties and individual privacy, will be overly costly to implement, and even costlier to administer. It is a largely unfunded mandate, and as such the administration feels it necessary to resort to coercion to get it implemented before 1/20/09.

It is an unwelcome attempt by a lame-duck administration to foist its' will on a nation that appears to have long rejected continued attempts by this same administration to move us ever closer toward a surveillance society.

One wonders why the Bush administration would attempt to force the issue on a law so unpopular so late in the administration's lifetime. If John McCain becomes the Republican nominee, his support for Real ID, if elected, would seemingly guarantee the continued implementation of the act.

Other presidential candidates appear to have either reversed their voting stance, have reaffirmed it, or have stated their opposition from the start. With this hasty and heavy-handed action, what's this Republican administration saying about their ability to hold the White House?

I'm hopeful that there are more governors and legislatures that will show the courage to stand up to this, as well as advocacy groups who can help to muster the grassroots support needed to put this not-so-sacred cow out to pasture.

Looking forward to hearing back from Gov. Ritter on the issue. Maybe he'll hear from you too.

Watershed Week in Review

Last week was certainly an interesting week, but (as one would expect?) not in the way we expected.

I found an excellent chronicle of it in an AP article that the Sentinel even picked up part of today.

Even with the local developments, it was a week that may go on to shape the nation and the world in ways we have yet to see or even think about. Click on the link above, and reflect on those things that happened. Astonishing.

May your week be safe, happy, fruitful, and blessed.

Compassion and Justice

John 8:1-11

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

Working within the Criminal Justice System, or even being involved in an adjunct profession that interacts with the system, can't be an easy job. Having worked in public safety for the last 24 1/2 years, I can attest to the difficulties involved in dispatching, responding to and mitigating all kinds of problems and immediate threats. My experience has shown me that the best solutions are those that address the fundamental cause of the problem. These solutions are sometimes difficult or impossible to come by, for all manner of reasons, and that includes the lack of institutional or political will, or cooperation to achieve consensus between stakeholders.

Two stories in the local papers this morning greatly illustrate to me a need for balance, creative thinking, and compassion with some people who have been branded with what is turning out to be the 21st century's version of The Scarlet Letter; "Offender".

The first involves a woman who admittedly did a terrible thing; after the apparent exercise of some measure of grace and mercy by certain components of the justice system, she additionally had her sentence suspended, reportedly because of the effects of Huntington's Disease.

She apparently violated her probation last month by assaulting someone in the nursing home she had been living in, and by being evicted from this facility and not reporting her change of address. According to the Sentinel article, she was arrested in Boulder, transported back to Grand Junction, and jailed. Her failure to comply with the terms of her probation apparently justified the issuance of a warrant, her transport across the state, and incarceration, all at taxpayer expense.

To be sure, she brought this upon herself, even after a considerable amount of grace from the judicial system to keep her out of jail. Her disease process may be getting the best of her, for all we know or should know. The concern here is not with the justice system as much as the media.

How was the public interest served by today's story?

Are we any safer from the knowledge that this woman continues to suffer at the hands of her own heredity, as well as her own choices? Is that knowledge, and subsequent public scrutiny, perhaps being exploited to bring attention to the taxpayer dollars being spent to transport her from the Front Range and incarcerate her? Or at an even more basic level, is the last sentence in the article the most important one? This could be one of those rare news stories where the lead appears at the end:

Buescher is not related to state Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction.

Perhaps Mike Wiggins and his editors would like to expand on why they felt it was necessary to parade this unfortunate soul in front of the community again. Looking forward to reading more about this, but preferably not in the newspaper.

There's one other unfortunate soul with whom I'm much more familiar with, and whose misdeeds have been chronicled by several local media outlets, most recently in today's Free Press. I've spoken with this gentleman on numerous occasions in the course of my work. He is clearly frustrated by the circumstances of his life, many of which can be sourced to the destructive forces of aging and/or poor lifestyle choices. Several times he's chosen to call my work and vent some of his frustrations. That's inappropriate and can be illegal (as he is finding out..repeatedly), but he doesn't seem capable of learning this lesson anymore, if he ever did.

As the story reported, myself and several of my colleagues have been listed as victims and/or witnesses in the various criminal proceedings against this person. I recently completed and returned a Victim Impact Statement to the District Attorney's office, with roughly the following included:

This gentleman's problems would be more appropriately addressed by the Human Services infrastructure of government, instead of the Criminal Justice system. The court would best serve the needs of society and the defendant by assuring that this occurs.

I would hope that Judge Flynn makes sure that the Adult Protective Services division of the county Department of Human Services is directly involved in the gentleman's placement in a living arrangement that addresses his basic needs, and assures that his communication with the outside world is appropriate to those needs.

These people are God's children as well. While those of us involved in these systems of man are scurrying about to make sure that earthly justice is served, we as a society need to make sure that in the larger scheme of things, we are emulating something much more basic to our survival as a civilization.

Addendum 1/9/08 1245: In the interest of fairness, Paul Shockley and his editors at the Free Press are equally culpable here, if not more so because their story was on Page 1 above the fold and continued into the inside pages. I didn't see the paper until Saturday morning; this is a side effect of printing the paper out of town, I guess. I should have looked online, though.

Watershed Week 2008

Watershed Week is a term used in Michael Crichton's 1972 novel The Terminal Man, which I read in one sitting shortly after it came out. The "Watershed" described in the book is a week in 1969 when the theoretical storage and processing capacity of all of the world's computers exceeded the same theoretical capacity of all human brains. This from a work of fiction that has been praised as prophetic in its' depiction of the role of computers in our lives, and particularly in medicine.

I'm unable to find a citation online regarding this other than the novel itself, but there is a definition that fits its' usage in the novel, and the context with which I refer to this week:

An event marking a unique or important historical change of course or one on which important developments depend.

This week's potential events have been preceded by both local and national events that provide an interesting prelude. The Super Bowl was certainly a testament to the adage "that's why they play the games". The Giants played dominant defense, and as a Pittsburgh native I fully understand and agree with another adage, that being "defense wins championships". Those who make a living from analyzing these kind of events ad nauseum were having a field day today.

On the local end, the extensive coverage provided by the Sentinel in their Sunday edition regarding the effects of growth also served as a prelude to a critical meeting of City Council this evening. I get the feeling that the information, assertions, and decisions made tonight will play a large role in what the Grand Valley will look like in the years to come, not in terms of any actual law or code, but how much our elected leaders really listen to the citizens that make up their constituency, and even more how those elected officials work together with each other to make sure that we as one county can sustain a community we can all be proud of. If I can get a glimpse at Channel 12 tonight, I will. It should make for riveting television.

On the national side of things, tomorrow is Super Tuesday, and those who make a living analyzing these things ad nauseum are working overtime trying to predict outcomes and get the pulse of the electorate in advance of the primaries and caucuses that may largely establish who will be running for President from here on into November.

I personally don't have an expert take on what might happen, and as you can probably tell I don't place a great deal of stock in professional analysis and prognostication, whether it be ESPN or the Gallup Poll. I stayed an unaffiliated voter, so I'm not participating in the caucuses here tomorrow. Some may say that is irresponsible of me, but I don't feel that way. I'll take the time to get behind a candidate once I get a handle on what they are standing for, but I'm much more interested in what the legislative branch is doing.

Invariably, my perspective on all of this is largely shaped by how much of my life is influenced by God's presence. I fear that it isn't enough. Kirk Yamaguchi at Canyon View Vineyard Church brought that point home this past weekend with an excellent sermon that referenced several key points in scripture, one of which is highly pertinent to me as I mull over the events in what could be a watershed week for our region and our country.

Mark 4:18-19

Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Prayers for Michaela

I was trying to finish a post this morning about Groundhog Day, but I ran out of time. Thankfully, Gene Kinsey took care of what I wanted to say anyway. This is a good thing because life has taken my focus in another direction that is a good deal more urgent and potentially serious than some party in Punxsutawney.

I was out with Evan at the mall today when Leslie called me from Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh. She had taken her 6 year old daughter Michaela there this morning. Michaela is a cancer survivor; she had a neuroblastoma removed from the area of her stomach and liver, and since the beginning of 2006 has endured chemotherapy, radiation, and a stem cell transplant, along with the usual blood work, scans, and trips to the hospital. Along with Leslie and her older sister Gianna, Michaela got to visit here last August, and in November she got to go to Las Vegas to see the PBR World Finals, which was her wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

This morning Leslie called me and said that Michaela had been having increasing pain in her chest, so she took her to Children's. X-Rays and CT Scans showed a new mass in the area of her mediastinum, and enlarged lymph nodes in her abdomen, near her liver. Leslie brought her home tonight, with a planned return to the hospital on Monday for a likely biopsy and additional evaluation.

I'm not sure what else to say right now, except that I feel very much like I did when Jan's cancer started to progress again after nine months of holding it at bay, and when she had her stroke last March. I'm quietly hopeful for strength and healing, but also respectful of God's plan for this lovely little girl and her family.

I'll go to church tomorrow morning and ask for these these things, while reminding myself that acceptance of God's will is part of the path. Right now I'm going to bed. I'm very tired. Below I have included a somewhat familiar verse that feels appropriate.

Please keep Michaela in your prayers as well. Thanks.

Isaiah 40:28-31 (New International Version)

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Media Matters, Harmon Division

Yesterday was an atypically crazy day at work, starting with critical medical calls, a barn fire, numerous wrecks from slippery roads, a house fire, a SWAT callout for a homicide suspect, and culminating in the rescue of two snowmobilers from the Uncompahgre Plateau.

It was tough to wind down after getting out of there; I had a nice conversation with Leslie that helped a lot. There's something to be said about the power of a loving voice and a hug, even if it is a virtual hug from 1700 miles away.

The last incident was made all the more difficult because they were two guys that I know. I stayed well past the end of my shift, helping to handle communication to and from information sources, associates, and family members until the word came down that both of them were OK.

I found out that they both have a Spot Satellite Messenger device, which allows them to send one-way messages through a satellite network to friends, family, or an emergency call center, depending on the circumstances. The call center fed us their GPS coordinates after they pressed their help buttons when their snowmobile finally became inexorably stuck in an area with no wireless phone service. Search and Rescue found them in the snow cave they had built not too long afterward, but it was 3 1/2 hours that I bet they won't forget soon, given the precarious position they found themselves in.

Speaking of precarious positions, it was a little more difficult to wind down last night after reading Gary Harmon's blog post from yesterday. Seems like he was trying to draw a parallel between Ted Kennedy's endorsement of Barack Obama and the unfortunate events at Chappaquiddick nearly 40 years ago. From what I can gather, Gary saw the initial reaction of certain officials of NOW to the endorsement as akin to what happened to Mary Jo Kopechne on that fateful night.

Huh?

To be nice, that's a stretch, especially given the position of National NOW on the endorsement, which carries a good deal more civility. Then again, Gary's blog isn't really about those kinds of things. Gary seems to specialize in single-paragraph, from-the-hip sniper attacks that may be entertaining for a second or two but can be significantly off the mark. He apparently saves the better-researched vitriol for his weekly column.

Gary's post of January 24 had similar problems. Gary referenced an excellent article from Wired about the potential for water supplies and small communities to be threatened by the rapid emphasis on crops that can be used to make biofuels such as E85 Ethanol and Biodiesel.
He attempted to label this as an additional unseen cost of Hybrid Vehicle technology.

Oh, really?

First, the article was based on information from a UN summit held in Thailand, with a specific focus on Asia and the Pacific. I'm not sure that these concerns translate so well to the high desert of Colorado.

Secondly, I think that Gary confused hybrid technology in vehicles with the alternative fuel technology that the crops are produced for. I’m no expert, but I did enough research to know that hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius can largely power themselves a lot of the time through technology such as regenerative braking, and can burn standard gas when needed.

Aside from the costs associated with replacing and recycling spent batteries, the lower operating cost and lessened environmental impact associated with hybrids is impossible to ignore. Gary's all-too-brief assertion to the contrary amounts to a misrepresentation of the linked article (which makes good points), and an unjustified bad rap on hybrid technology.

From a local standpoint, wouldn’t it be interesting if a re-commitment of some of the Grand Valley’s shrinking agricultural land base to bioenergy crops struck a balance with oil, gas, and shale production and their associated environmental impacts? At the same time, we could be revitalizing our local agricultural economy and holding off unwanted sprawl. Could be a win-win for our area.

I don't know if that's a "dose of reality", but I believe it's a good shade closer than what I've been reading under that tagline of late. I guess it's a good thing that Media Matters is busy enough with other local stories.

Count your blessings, and have a great day.

A Reflective Moment

If you're old enough to have been around or to remember what happened 22 years ago today, do you remember where you were when this happened?



I was asleep after having worked a night shift at Magee in Pittsburgh. Jan was at work, and called me. I basically flew out of bed and turned on the TV in the living room. Didn't move much from the couch until after President Reagan gave his speech, and so eloquently invoked High Flight. The Great Communicator, indeed. Great speechwriters, too. I guess it's a good thing that White House speechwriters don't belong to the WGA, especially given the tenuous eloquence of the current occupant.

The lessons from this tragedy have been learned and re-learned by our society (Don't take anything for granted, and don't think it's not important enough or let CNN handle it for you, among many others).

Putting those things aside, let's take a moment and reflect on the lives of those involved, and how they ended or were indelibly changed by this event.

Have a blessed day.

Do The Math

This is the intersection of First Street, Grand Avenue, and US Highway 6 and 50 in Grand Junction. No, the town wasn't named for it. It's the intersection most in need of a roundabout. Just give me a few months of vacation when they do it.

I didn't mention before that I'm a big fan of roundabouts. Having spent a considerable amount of time in New England, I can attest to their efficiency and safety, as long as they're built correctly. Think 24 1/2 Road and G Road, but not 12th and Horizon.

The interesting thing about the picture isn't the traffic, but the gas station signs on either side of the intersection. This picture was taken on Saturday afternoon, and the prices had been in place since at least last Wednesday. Don't worry, I can't read them either.

Wow, free coffee with a 10 gallon gas purchase.
Gotta be a great deal, right?

Well, maybe.

OK, so if I get 10 gallons of regular gas at the place on the left, I'll spend $1.20 more and get a free cup of coffee. If I go to the other place, I save $1.20, but no "free" coffee.

I didn't check how much a coffee was at the place on the right, but I'm guessing (because I'm not a coffee drinker) that it's less than $1.20.

Anyway, the disparity in prices between one station and another is what's really interesting to me, given that these places supposedly sell gas from the same oil company, and thus have the same supplier, right? Maybe. Granted, the stations are run by different companies, but for some strange reason I feel that the cost of coffee isn't what's behind this.

In any case, it's a moot point now. As of Saturday night BOTH places were selling regular gas for $2.89. I guess someone didn't get the memo. Yet another example to me of the curious way that gasoline is priced, here and elsewhere. If anyone with more expertise in the industry can help explain this, please do.

Speaking of energy, I think when I have more of it I'll talk about that. I'm kind of tired but happy, having just returned home from an excellent benefit concert for KAFM at Boomers. John-Alex Mason gave a great performance. Judging from his website, he splits time between Memphis and various locations across Colorado.

Until tomorrow.

Update 1/27: At 25 Rd and F Rd at 11:00 Sunday morning, regular at the Bradley Sinclair was $2.75, while the C&F Conoco on the opposite corner was $2.89. Caveat emptor.

Starting Off Again

After my last post, I received emails from the editors of both Grand Junction newspapers. Josh Nichols thanked me for what he called an "eloquent" defense of his publication in my comments on Denny Herzog's recent post about media coverage of the KREX fire.

Denny asked me to give him a call, and when I did he had some explanations as to what were behind some of his comments. He then asked if I would be interested in having this blog included as part of the Sentinel's list of community blogs on GJSentinel.com.

Denny said that he enjoyed reading what I wrote, even if he didn't agree with most of what I had to say. Even though I was very gratified by his offer, I couldn't help thinking that I was listening to Lou Grant channeling Voltaire.

Today the link was posted on the Sentinel's website, so in advance of this I decided it was about time to move the blog to a more robust hosting service. As a result the web address has changed, but so has the layout. Nicer colors and bigger fonts, also more storage space for pictures and other multimedia.

In recognition of this, I felt it appropriate to reprise my first post, with some added information and a chance illustration or two. That way many of you who may be visiting this site for the first time will have some idea of who I am, where I've been, and what to expect.

Starting Off

I think I was called to start this blog because I seemed to be gathering experience in being able to express myself in writing, and have been feeling an innate need to share, if for no other reason than to help myself and others. Here's the brief scoop:

I live in Grand Junction, Colorado.
I am a native of the greater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. Go Pens.

I am recently widowed. My late wife Jan fought lung cancer for 19 months before passing away last April. It was tough before she left us, and it's been tough since. More about her here.



We have a teenage son, Evan. He's had a rough time of it as well, but he seems to be doing better. He attends Western Colorado Community College and Grand Junction High School. He aspires to be a filmmaker, and he's big on cats. More about him here.


I have a girlfriend, Leslie, a single mother of two daughters who lives in the Pittsburgh suburbs. We've known each other a long time. Despite the distance and
other issues brought on as much by myself as anyone else,
we have managed to see each other quite a bit and
are trying to keep it together. More about her soon.


My mother, Barbara, has been staying with us since Jan's death. It's hard to work shifts and keep tabs on a teenager, and she's been a big help with the house and some small projects we've been doing. Here she is with Evan.


We have two cats, Smokey and Bandit. The names were coincidental; I'm not a fan of Burt Reynolds' extended adolescence in the 1970's. They kind of mimic the current household members in appearance and attitude.


I work in Public Safety Communications. Not to sound trite, but my work number is 9-1-1.
I am also active in several professional organizations and publications.
I attend Canyon View Vineyard Church in Grand Junction. Being there has helped.
I volunteer at KAFM Radio, an excellent community radio station. I co-produce the Words program there. It is tedious at times, but also a lot of fun. KAFM is a shining example of how community media can work at any level.

My hobbies include:
Frank Lloyd Wright.
Mass Media.
Public Safety radio monitoring and Amateur radio.
Politics as it relates to the First Amendment, Civil Liberties, and Freedom in Cyberspace.
I am a big fan of Garrison Keillor and A Prairie Home Companion.
Movies, TV, obscure pop culture references, literature, and other things. Leslie calls me "Mr. Trivial Pursuit". I auditioned for Jeopardy in Denver late last spring. Haven't heard anything yet.

And onward we go. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

The Phoenix of New Media

I took this picture of KREX-TV burning this morning. I also took some video, using the same fairly cheap digital camera, and uploaded it to YouTube:




The video was taken from northwest of the fire. The house in the foreground is that of the late Rex Howell, the visionary founder of what Ralph D'Andrea today called a "great uranium-boom experiment, a TV station in the middle of nowhere". KDVR has some great raw video on their site, which shows the building from close up, the impressive destructive force of the fire, and the considerable smoke that it generated. Ralph went on to say:

"Much, if not all, of that history took place in an odd little building in the Hillcrest neighborhood whose architecture was a strange mixture of 1930s Art Deco and 1950s kitsch. Originally built in 1931 for radio...that odd little building, an important piece of Grand Junction history, is now gone...As a community, we're a little smaller today with the loss of that odd little building on Hillcrest".

Agreed. The amount of remodeling that little building underwent to accommodate a modern day television presence likely contributed in part to its' demise. Listening to GJFD attack the fire this morning lent some credence to my theory. They weren't in the building but 5 to 10 minutes before the Safety Officer pulled all of them out and called for defensive operations. Some of the crews were reporting backdrafts, possibly because of numerous concealed spaces created by false ceilings and other byproducts of multiple renovations and additions to the structure.

While thinking about Ralph's comments, it occurred to me that this event was a local benchmark of transition from the traditional way we think about the media to the possibilities that the Internet and other technologies provide to a free society in the documentation and distribution of information.

Thanks to the alert staff of the Daily Sentinel, the KREX fire was on the Internet within 45 minutes of the call going out for firefighters, complete with pictures and some raw video (it does help if the Editor lives down the street). KJCT posted viewer photos on its' web site. Links to the local efforts were on most Denver media outlets within another hour or so.

I thought about the digital content that I had. While certainly not broadcast quality, today's events show that there is an emerging marketplace of ideas that is looking for this kind of stuff. Not the sensationalistic or pandering kind of place, but local outlets, be they local mainstream media, blogs, or message boards. With my camera and laptop I can transfer the video, edit it, toodle by my local Starbucks and use the free Wi-Fi to send it anywhere, all within a very short time. If I have a PDA or smartphone with an integrated camera, one device can collect, edit, annotate, and send it from anywhere, within minutes.

The potential for these capabilities to provide a comparatively inexpensive means of forming a new, community-driven local media is pretty mind-blowing. The effects of the digital revolution on the music industry have been well-documented; what's next for the information industry?

Perhaps its' time for more local media players to embrace the concept of citizen journalism and public access. There is a provision in the City of Grand Junction's franchise agreement with Bresnan Cable for a Public, Educational and Government (PEG) access channel, in addition to Mesa County's Channel 12. All the City has to do is ask for it.

The kinds of information collection and dissemination used today could be leveraged to help create content for a diverse and vibrant community television outlet. We've got plenty of local expertise in all facets of a best practice, that being technology, processes, and people. What's holding us back?

My condolences go out to the KREX staff. Best wishes to them as they begin rebuilding. Given the growth being experienced in this media market, KREX is unique in its' historical position in this media market, as well as its' recent history of listening to the desires of many for Denver TV news. It seems well-positioned to take the quality of local programming yet another step further.

Like the mythological bird, what kind of new commitment, capabilities, and renewal will rise from the ashes on Hillcrest? It's all dependent upon the imagination and drive of those who choose to be involved, and are willing to open their minds to the possibilities.

We've got what it takes here. Rex Howell knew that. Here's to the future.

P.S. Big-time kudos to Bresnan and KREX management for making it a priority to get the CBS and FOX network feeds back on the cable system. Definite customer-oriented thinking there.

Sign O' the Times

This billboard faces east along North Avenue in Grand Junction, just west of the intersection with 5th Street, atop a two-story commercial building. It's often been utilized as a "message" billboard by groups with a political or social agenda. This message has been up since the Christmas holidays. When the lease runs out on this one, there may likely be a response message, or maybe something different. I'll keep an eye on it. It's actually hard for me to ignore, as it's about a block and a half from my house.

For those of you in the Pittsburgh area, these types of displays here are not as quirky, poignant, or ubiquitous as "WHY CAN'T LANSBERRY GET MAIL?", but they are fun to see nonetheless.

On a more somber note, my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of the disastrous tour bus crash in southeast Utah on Sunday night, along with their families. The Sentinel did an excellent job at covering the story from many different angles, most notably for me the most complex effort of mustering numerous ambulances to a very remote and unforgiving area, especially in the absence of any air medical transport due to bad weather.

Several media outlets noted the absence of cell phone coverage in the immediate area of the crash. You'd be surprised what areas don't have coverage, especially here. They say it's coming soon, though. Hopefully with more than just one carrier. This is long overdue in anyone's book.

Rick Wagner's blog is certainly entertaining, among other adjectives that others have volunteered in conjunction with his Sentinel column. I have found irony; Rick's blogging moniker that is attached to his posts is YOUR PLACE TO BE HEARD, but he offers no opportunity for comments from readers, nor any link to an email address. Whose place to be heard?

The compulsive proofreader in me also needs to point this out; Wall Street Journal Op-Ed.
Also, perhaps mercifully, his links to Al Jazeera and Ann Coulter, among others, are typos and don't work.

Keep up the good work, Rick. Lord knows that one side of an argument gets boring after a while.

Godspeed to Rick and to the rest of us. Stay safe in your travels.

Happy New Year

Denny Herzog recently wrote about the music associated with New Year's, particularly Auld Lang Syne.

While I'm not hardly a traditionalist, I do remember those old broadcasts with Guy Lombardo at the Waldorf-Astoria. How distant they seem now. Denny provided an interesting link to some commentary on the song's history, along with some alternatives that are out there.

I help to produce the "Words" program on KAFM Community Radio, along with Linda Skinner.
In working with about 200 children a year, it's fun to be able to schedule children's words that fit in with certain holidays, and associate music with that word that is reminiscent or serves as a message about the day in question.

For this reason I would personally resist playing Auld Lang Syne behind the word for New Year's Day, simply because it's too obvious, almost to the point of being trite. The same goes for U2's "New Year's Day", which I like a great deal, but in general would prefer to avoid the easy, obvious selection.

Luckily, for the last two years kids have picked words that have played well with the spirit of New Year's Day. Last year a student at Columbine Elementary picked "tintinnabulation", for which we chose the section of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture with all of the bells pealing in the background.

This year two students at Loma Elementary chose words that lent themselves to both New Years' Eve ("Segue", set to the Beatles' "A Day in the Life") and the beginning of what we can only pray for to be a gentler, more civil New Year, or at least until election season kicks into high gear.

The word for New Year's Day was "Daybreak". You can listen to it here. The program typically airs Monday through Friday at 7:30, 4:30, and 7:30 PM on 88.1 FM or online. The music is Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam performing a traditional Christian hymn. The contrast illustrated there, as well as the message of the song, is highly appropriate to a spirit of renewal and understanding in these challenging times.

Praise with elation,
praise every morning,
God's recreation
of the new day.

Happy New Year ahead.



Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Pittsburgh - I've been thinking of Robert Frost quite a bit lately. His poem that appears below seems to me to be written for today, the shortest day (or "darkest evening") of the year.

I have been thinking more frequently about Frost mainly because of how The Road Not Taken applies more to my life lately, especially the part about two roads diverging in a wood and taking the one less traveled by. This will manifest itself in different ways now and in the future, and I'm looking forward to the adventure.

Anyway, I'm here for a few days before spending Christmas with my brother-in-law on Cape Cod. He lives in a group home, and with no immediate family left except for me and Evan I feel it's up to me to show that he still has family that cares for him. After last year's debacle with bringing him out to GJ, I felt it would be better to do the traveling this time, and I have other business on the Cape as well. I'll be back the Friday after Christmas. Promises to keep, miles to go before I sleep.

I drove around with Leslie last night, looking at Christmas lights at some of the more upscale properties in my home town and contemplating the changes in the area since I last roamed here on a daily basis. Changes, indeed.

Have a wonderful Christmas.


Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening - Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Dan Fogelberg

The news of the loss of Dan Fogelberg this morning sent me and probably lots of people my age back to their teenage years. For me, the loss hits harder because he died of cancer in his 50's, like Jan and too many others in recent years. I'm more emotional about this than I guess I should be, but his music helped to form the soundtrack for some of the best years of my life, and still does. I am using one of his songs for Words next month. I wish that I could fit in a few more.

What will have to suffice is a short tribute here. Several of Dan's songs are among my all time favorites. I used Longer as part of Jan's memorial service music. Leader of the Band is an amazing tribute to his father, and makes many a band geek get wistful about the good old days.
He even got into social commentary a little, partnering with Tim Weisberg for an album that included The Power of Gold.

But nothing else Fogelberg ever wrote put its' hooks into me like Nether Lands. There was a great video tribute posted to YouTube using this most orchestrated but also most intimate ballad. Apologies in advance to those of you at work who are firewalled from this. I also put the lyric underneath; it's a fitting tribute to someone who inspired and who will be missed, especially in this season of peace.

Enjoy the days to come.

Nether Lands

High on this mountain
The clouds down below
I'm feeling so strong and alive
From this rocky perch
I'll continue to search
For the wind and the snow and the sky
Oh I want a lover and I want some friends
And I want to live in the sun
And I want to do all the things that I never have done

Sunny bright mornings and pale moonlit nights
Keep me from feeling alone
Now I'm learning to fly and this freedom is like
Nothing that I've ever known
Oh I've seen the bottom and I've been on top
But mostly I've lived in between
And where do you go when you get to the end of your dream

Off in the Nether Lands I heard the sound
Like the beating of heavenly wings
And deep in my brain I can hear a refrain
Of my soul as she rises and sings
Anthems to glory and anthems to love
And hymns filled with earthly delight
Like the songs that the darkness composes to worship the light

Once in a vision I came on some woods
And stood at a fork in the road
My choices were clear yet I froze with the fear
Of not knowing which way to go
Oh, one road was simple acceptance of life
The other road offered sweet peace
When I made my decision
My vision became my release

Twentysomething Travelogue

Keystone - I'm here because I ferried my son and two of his friends for the 36 Hours of Keystone, which at first blush appears to be a convergence of as many twentysomethings (and younger) as possible on the ski resort for 36 hours of nonstop skiing, snowboarding, and associated revelry.

The weather was cooperative for most of the event, except that in its' aftermath I am battling a low-grade fever and hopefully not the beginnings of the flu, a shot for which I have procrastinated about.

The boys are just settling in for what will probably be about 3 hours of sleep before using their seemingly boundless energy (augmented by energy drinks, the new motivator of this generation) to hit the slopes for a couple of hours again before we head back. I hope that my good friend Ibuprofen will help me keep the chills, etc. at bay until we get back to GJ.

I've found the last several hours very interesting, observing the youngest generation in action. The emphasis placed by Keystone on safety and responsible behavior on the slopes has had a significant effect; the lines to reach the lift and gondola to the lighted trails have been made worse by a security checkpoint, apparently looking for alcohol (I surmised this by the number of discarded containers along the path of the checkpoint queue).

I looked at the sheer number of private security and uniformed public safety personnel on site, and tried to draw a comparison between this event and the average twentysomething's way of blowing off steam in Grand Junction, that being Rum Bay, which like its' predecessor Bourbon Street had generated its' share of ill will with neighbors and law enforcement alike. I was indeed glad that a real estate office replaced the nuisance bar in my neighborhood.

I believe that the proof of the new owners' tenacity will lie in how effectively they identify problem patrons, and head off a disturbance before it happens, if at all possible. We'll see what happens.

For the most part, the throng at Keystone has been well-behaved. Gotta ski, of course. There were some humorous (I think) bumper stickers placed at several locations that were uncomplimentary of skiers from Texas. Decorum prevents any further description. If the preferences of this group are any indicator, snowboarding is much more popular than more traditional methods of getting across the snow. I wouldn't have an idea of what is easier or more fun, as I haven't donned a pair of skis in 30 years. I would like to try snowboarding sometime. Leslie wants to as well. Maybe we can hold each other up and try to prevent any fortysomething fractures or dislocations. I'd like to snowshoe someday. Something else for the long list.

This group is certainly not a statistical representation of the real world; skiing ain't cheap, and minorities are conspicuously under-represented. I'll just say I'm watching cautiously, and doing the best I can to make sure that my addition to this generation holds up his weight.

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On an unrelated note, congratulations to Rick Wagner on his new column and the listing of his blog on the Sentinel's website. Rick is thoughtful, considerate in the majority of circumstances, and an intelligent voice in the Grand Valley community. We agree on some issues, disagree more often than not, but I respect him nonetheless.

Rick seems to have jumped into his new ventures with both feet.
His blog entry of December 1 had an interesting photo associated with it, and juxtaposes rather starkly with a well-written story in Saturday's Rocky. Regardless of what Gov. Ritter's motives are with the discussion of union representation among state employees (which I haven't followed well enough to have an informed opinion either way), he's no Castro.

Rick's inaugural Sentinel column also drew the attention of Colorado Media Matters. All I can say is that there are times when we all have a Woodstein moment, but with faith and perseverance the truth will make itself known to us. Of that much I'm hopeful for.

Speaking of interesting pictures, The New Yorker had another cover this week that deftly captures the unfortunate circumstances with which we find ourselves saddled.


All I want to know is if Blackwater has this contract too.

Best wishes for His blessings upon your holidays and the year to come.

Thanksgiving Weekend 2007

It's been over a month since I last wrote anything. Tough times and issues abound, but nothing insurmountable with the help of friends, family, and the grace and mercy of God's love to help see the way through my own shortcomings, and to pardon those of others.

We did the turkey on the grill for the first time this year. It was very good. My mother is a whiz at these things, and her organizational and other skills when it comes to cooking, etc. are formidable.

We did a little bit of furniture shopping on Friday, but in general were able to avoid the throngs out for the high holy day of the First Church of My Stuff.

Evan is enjoying his extended vacation while work continues at Grand Junction High School.
He goes to WCCC, so he still has classes there. While I sympathize with the staff and maintenance personnel involved in the repairs, I have to scratch my head about the alleged lack of modern, commonplace systems that could have minimized the catastrophic damage that occurred to the school and its' infrastructure, not to mention the continuity of education. Ralph D'Andrea and some of his readership wondered the same thing.

News Media reporting of this incident has been pretty good, despite Jeff Kirtland retaining his title as the most taciturn Public Information Officer I've ever seen. Witness this reported exchange with Emily Anderson of the Free Press:

Kirtland said the break was the result of natural stress on
aging parts.

"Parts give," Kirtland said.

Kirtland said the break came in an integral mechanical part located under the water tank.

"If you don't want something to give, this is the thing you don't want to give," he said.

Granted, this is a 50 year old building with infrastructure that is clearly aging, but still working and serviceable. I hope that the media will pick up on this angle and start asking questions, perhaps not to the Principal, or the Superintendent, but the Maintenance Director, who has yet to be heard from in any forum that I've seen.

Questions I would ask include "Are there leak detection systems with automated notification contingencies in any District 51 facility?" and if not, "Why Not?".

If this is the case, and if in response to this event the District is forced (hopefully by their insurance carrier) to retrofit these detection systems at an increased cost over had they been a planned expenditure, then this will be another classic example of the District knowing the price of everything, but the value of very little.

If you need another example, drive past a few school facilities during spring and summer. Even with all of the public emphasis on watering and sprinkling during non-peak hours, it's not hard to find a massive school sprinkler system spraying away at 2:00 in the afternoon.

The most recent reporting in today's Sentinel has teachers reporting next week to attempt to "boil down the last weeks of school into absolute essentials", according to GJHS' first-year Principal, Jon Bilbo. I still have to wonder how much torment he's taken over his career from teenage fans of Tolkien. Lucky for him he's a pretty tall and imposing figure, more like Gandalf. Pretty much a straight shooter as well. No complaints from this corner so far. We'll see how this condensation of schoolwork goes.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'm hopeful for a swift and successful resolution of the immediate problems, as well as the granting of foresight and strength of will to those responsible for these facilities, so that they may see the need and benefit of modern technology and take the necessary steps to see it utilized, to the benefit of those who use the facility, those who maintain it, and those of us who help to pay for it all.

May this weekend be the start of many blessings for you this holiday season.

Building Bridges

It's heartening to see someone reconsider a good idea initially perceived as out of reach, and take steps to make it happen. An example of this is the article in today's Sentinel about St. Mary's getting city help to build a pedestrian bridge over Seventh Street at Wellington Avenue.

I wrote about this back in March. St. Mary's employees were apparently so vocal about this when their building project came about that their CEO put a long explanation into his monthly communique' this past January about how a bridge just couldn't be built because of the expense.

It's likely that pressure has continued from employees and perhaps some customers who would benefit from a walkway between the surgery center, oncology clinic, and the main hospital, and as a result St. Mary's reached out to the city for help. Perhaps Bob Ladenburger is learning something from Tim Foster in this area.

It's absolutely correct that the same issue exists with Mesa State, with one of the differences being a cohesive, focused voice from those who would stand to benefit from a pedestrian bridge over 12th Street. Perhaps the Criterion can make this an area of focus, especially with their new web presence. Those with concerns in this area could then be organized into a presence that can't be ignored, and then perhaps Mr. Foster will take a page from Mr. Ladenburger's game plan and start the process of making this happen.

A pedestrian bridge over 12th Street for the benefit of Mesa State students, staff, and neighbors is long overdue. Barring any substantive movement in this direction from the College itself, the city should make it a prerequisite for any future in-kind contributions to the College's expansion efforts. It would be nicer if the College would earmark some of the $5 Million it just received from the City over the next 10 years toward some kind of progress in this area, and soon.

Bridges can be a good thing, not only in the context of achieving a greater measure of safety and helping to ameliorate the effects of significant growth, but to achieve understanding and cooperation between institutions with strong leadership and varying missions and visions for the future. Here's a start. Well done.

Autumn

This is my favorite season of the year. The heat of summer is gone, replaced by a more comfortable climate for quiet walks, thinking, and just being at home. The more temperate conditions (when it's not raining) have an invigorating quality for me that helps me to focus and get things done. It's also a subtle reminder that all things end, be it summer, youth, a period in your life, or indeed life itself.

Jan will be gone 6 months on Monday. This coincides with what would have been our 19th anniversary. That being said, I feel compelled to reflect on a colleague whose untimely death in a foreign place that I will probably never see is having a profound impact on many in my profession.

Jason Lhotka was tied to my place of employment more than the average Sheriff's Department employee. When I first started working here, his girlfriend was one of my peers. After he graduated from Mesa State, he did an internship at the GJPD that included processing requests for audio tapes. He was quiet, articulate, and driven. We did not always see things the same way, but he was always respectful, even in disagreement. The Lord obviously had a greater calling for him when He called him from the slopes of Kilimanjaro, and I hope that his wife and young son will draw some comfort from knowing that Jason is at peace in His kingdom. He will be missed.

Not much more to add at this point. I've attached a link below to a recent live performance by an icon of my generation, singing a song that was an anthem for young men my age and from the looks of it still is. The Boss has a few more wrinkles, but the fire is still there.

Enjoy your weekend. Maybe see you at Oktoberfest.


Springsteen: The Promised Land

Enough Already

The fact that I have left this outlet alone for nearly two months has less to do with not needing to vent than it does coming up with occasional cohesive thought, while maintaining a sense of humility and grace about things. I have remained silent through the first anniversary of the blog, but that date doesn't seem as important to me as the rest of the dates ahead. So much for introspection; I'm pretty damn busy too. Trying to buy a house, raise a teenager, and keep up with work and miscellaneous projects; It's gonna keep getting busy around here.

Pastor Kirk Yamaguchi at the Vineyard tonight talked about Jesus being in the wilderness for forty days, and being tempted by Satan. This is the way I've felt at times since Jan died, wandering in the wilderness of indecision, doubt, fear, and insecurity. I'm feeling better now, largely thanks to those who love me unconditionally and whom I have not treated very well at times. Now, if we can just get these people together...

I hope that Denny Herzog is doing OK; his blog has been silent longer than mine.

The qualities of grace and humility seem to be more important to me now, and are a precious commodity in the blogging community. As much as I enjoy reading Gene and Ralph and others, the shrill tone that accompanies the writing at times smacks of posturing and being overly judgmental. I do not strive to do this.

I do strive to effect change through careful analysis, quiet determined discussion of the issues, perseverance, and the application of common sense. There are a few things that have passed by that I thought were worth writing about, but are dated enough that I'll just spare a few words about them.

Drunks: See Matthew 25:40. It's not just about enforcement, and the potshot taken at Chief Gardner in the You Said It was unfair and shortsighted. It's about changing hearts and minds, as well as maybe the culture. This starts with greater community involvement in liquor licensing (several home rule cities on the front range have liquor advisory boards), and increasing the availability of effective treatment to the CPI (Chronic Public Inebriate) population. I wonder who actually thought that moving the main homeless shelter and alcohol treatment facility to North Avenue would move the problem there?

Mesa State: When I moved here my first apartment was in the shadow of the college, and I am now to the point where if I can avoid the area during the day it's a good thing. The city planner who wrote a letter to the neighborhoods east of the college and called it a "threat" to those neighborhoods had their heart in the right place. Regardless of what the "official" city line is toward the college's continued growth, there's a quality of life issue looming heavy over there that will not be resolved without careful consideration given to that growth, and when enough is enough. For me, that line has already been crossed.

Annexation / Persigo Agreement: When Ralph D'Andrea and Rick Wagner are on the same page about an issue like this, you know that suitable redress is long overdue. Gene Kinsey did an admirable job trying to defend the actions of the elected officials at the time, and his unique perspective is valuable. Unfortunately, what many of us have had to deal with as a result of the effects of this agreement equates to me to a finding of the end not justifying the means. It also makes me seriously consider whether a court-imposed solution would have been preferable to what exists now.

I would like to conclude with a rather poignant reminder of what really matters, and from Pittsburgh, no less. I don't write as much because I'm too busy with things that matter. My son and family, a good woman who loves me, and those intangibles that make life worth living. If I have anything constructive to share, it'll be here. Otherwise the sharks can have at the scraps.