Chris and I are walkers. We walk evenings during the week and mornings on weekends. Coco's on the end of the leash held firmly in my hand in case she sees a rabbit. Coco bolts after rabbits and squirrels, her two mortal enemies. We're still trying to leash-train her, but she's still technically a puppy and it's a task.
We walk through our neighborhood and down to the Cheyenne Greenway. Recent mayors and the city council pushed to expand this urban amenity. Greenway expansion was on the May ballot and it passed with flying colors, even though a $55 million rec center was defeated. Judging by that support, and the number of walkers, cyclists and runners who use it, the Greenway is a hit. It's concrete, a step up from the asphalt paths you usually find on greenways.
So we walk. Chris walks to keep in shape and moderate her diabetes. I walk to keep in a semblance of shape and I love being outside. Walking spurs my imagination although that's mostly when I walk alone. Chris and I talk during our walks but not all the time. When I walk alone, the activity stimulates the creative center of the brain. Sometimes I'm inspired to write another story. Other times I'm able to work out the kinks in something I'm in the process of writing.
Chris and I walk the mountains. Sometimes that's called hiking but more and more it seems like strolling. We're not as intent as we used to be about logging miles. My sensibilities tell me to slow down and enjoy the view. My knees also send signals to slow down.
I also walk downtown, where I work. It's a good place to walk. Long blocks, wide sidewalks, and very little traffic most of the time. But Cheyenne is primarily a driving town, so walkers have to be wary of street crossings. Motorists can be courteous, but often they (we?) are clueless. A decade ago, I wrote an online story on "New Urbanism" design and its philosophy of livable, walkable neighborhoods. As I drove around town, I noticed how few walkers there were, especially in the Dell Range corridor with all its big box stores. On ten trips down Dell Range, I saw only one pedestrian, and he looked hopelessly lost.
The article received a few responses. One was negative, taking me to task for trying to shove East Coast ideas down the throats of Wyomingites. New Urbanism, the writer declared, was just a plot to take away a citizen's trucks and tell him/her what kind of house to build -- and where.
Wyomingites don't like to be told what to do by experts, especially if they're from "The East Coast" or California. But many times these outside experts can see things more clearly than those who've lived in a place for a long time.
Dan Burden of Walkable Communities visited Cheyenne this week "to see which neighborhoods are the most pedestrian-friendly," according to the 9/4 Cheyenne Tribune-Eagle.
He found out that Cheyenne was not particularly pedestrian-friendly. No surprise there. He was startled that the roads and streets were so wide (39- to 52-feet) and the sidewalks were so narrow. We could have told him that. Western streets are really wide compared to their cousins elsewhere. Is this due to the Mormon pioneer precept that dictated streets should be wide enough to turn around an ox cart? Very few ox carts left, even in Provo and Salt Lake City. But take a look at streets in Cheyenne and Fort Collins. Those are some wide streets. At least Fort Collins has bike lanes on most streets. We're still working on that. Yellowstone Ave. that flanks my neighborhood has bike lanes. Dell Range on the other flank does not.
Burden's a city planner that contends that his peers have the wrong priorities. "Design standards should accommodate people first and vehicles second, not the other way around."
Sidewalks, he said, should be six feet across to let two people walk side by side. The most narrow sidewalks were three-and-one-half feet in Pointe Frontier. The sidewalks around the public library downtown were only four feet wide. They are too narrow to accommodate the gaggles of St. Mary's School students which soon will be trooping from their new school to the library.
Face it: we're living in a new century in which fuel prices will climb steadily and we'll all have to turn to alternative transportation. That could be smaller cars on narrower roads, hybrid cars, bikes and walking. Let's add width to sidewalks by taking it from roadways. We've already done that in Cheyenne on Vandehei. Yes, I know that most Cheyennites complained about the winding narrow street with bike lanes on the other side of concrete and brick dividers. But it may be tactics like this that gets us out of our Saudi-powered vehicles and onto our legs where bipeds belong.
At the end of the article, the reporter talked to Carol Matteson Pascal, who was participating in the walkability audit. She named her favorite walking cities in the U.S.: Santa Fe, Seattle and San Francisco. I haven't walked around Seattle since I was a kid lost at the Seattle World's Fair. But Santa Fe and San Francisco I've walked during the past ten years and they are high on the walkability scale. So are Portland and Denver. Salt Lake City's not bad. It's great to walk in Sheridan and Buffalo, Wyoming. Jackson's great for walkers, as long as you don't stop to shop -- could spend all your allowance in five minutes. Missoula's a walking town. That's true of many university towns. Laramie, for one, as long as you don't need to get to the Super Wal-Mart way out on Grand Avenue.
Although Wyomingites rarely venture to the dreaded East Coast, it boasts some ultra-walkable places such as Washington, D.C. (yes, inside The Beltway!), Boston, St. Augustine (although you have to drive to get to the beach), and the Baltimore Harborfront.
Which are the worst? So many choices. Houston, L.A., Atlanta, Orlando. Most modern sprawling U.S. cities, especially in the West and South. Phoenix? Some cool places downtown, such as Roosevelt Row and the adjacent historic district. There will be a light rail system soon. But Phoenix remains a car city. Tucson, too. Great bus system, though.
What are your favorite walkable towns and cities? Least favorite?
Friday, September 05, 2008
And Sarah Palin called Obama an "elitist"
In today's Huffington Post, Ari Rabin-Havt quotes a Vanity Fair article about the price of the glittery ensemble Cindy McCain wore to the RNC Tuesday night. Here are the figures:
It's nice to see that George Bush's tax cut for the rich has done some good. You wouldn't want to wear just any-old earrings to the Xcel Energy Center in front of 15,000 howling pink faces. Without the tax cuts, where would she be? Maybe wearing a cast-off pantsuit from Hillary Clinton, ringleader of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits. Or some old frock from Cindy's 10,000-square-foot clothes humidor in Scottsdale.
Oscar de la Renta dress: $3,000
Chanel J12 White Ceramic Watch: $4,500
Three-carat diamond earrings: $280,000
Four-strand pearl necklace: $11,000-$25,000
Shoes, designer unknown: $600
Total: Between $299,100 and $313,100
I hope she thanked Laura Bush while they were on stage together. According to an analysis by the Center for American Progress Action Fund, the McCains have received $313,413 thanks to George Bush's tax cut. If John McCain were President, she might have been able to add a bracelet to the ensemble. According to the same study under McCain proposed tax cuts they would have received tax breaks of $367,788.
It's nice to see that George Bush's tax cut for the rich has done some good. You wouldn't want to wear just any-old earrings to the Xcel Energy Center in front of 15,000 howling pink faces. Without the tax cuts, where would she be? Maybe wearing a cast-off pantsuit from Hillary Clinton, ringleader of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits. Or some old frock from Cindy's 10,000-square-foot clothes humidor in Scottsdale.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Lots of gas, rising costs -- what gives?
In her most recent e-mail newsletter, veteran activist (and activist veteran) Nancy Sindelar posts news on a series of Heating Conference Town Meetings being held across the state. These meetings are part of Wyoming Energy Assistance Program. Many are concerned that the program will be overwhelmed with requests (and short on funds) this winter, when home heating costs are rising 30 to 70 percent. The Gov was on Channel 5 this morning talking about the program. I particularly like Nancy's pointed, embedded comments within the event listing. Take a look:
There are more of these town meetings set for Wyoming, including ones on Sept. 15 in Evanston and Kemmerer.
Thursday, September 11th, Casper, Douglas, & Wheatland: Heating Conference Town Meetings sponsored by the Public Service Commission. Find out why Wyoming is a major gas producer, yet our prices are almost doubled from last year. 1 1/2 Hour meeting with a member of the PSC and utility reps. 10 AM, UW Outreach Bldg., 951 North Poplar, Rm. 150, Casper; 1:30 PM, City Hall, Council Chambers, 101 North 4th St. Douglas; 4:30 PM, Town Hall Council Chambers, 600 9th St., Wheatland. Free, but it will cost. Info: 307-777-7427; Wyoming_PSC@state.wy.us
There are more of these town meetings set for Wyoming, including ones on Sept. 15 in Evanston and Kemmerer.
Tix still available for Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Casper Sept. 13
I can't attend this year's Jefferson-Jackson dinner because I'll be in Tennessee for an arts conference. But you can go! Here's the info from the Wyoming Democratic Party web site:
The 2008 Jefferson-Jackson dinner and banquet will take place at the new Casper Hilton Garden Inn on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. To learn more, and to buy tickets online, go to:
http://www.wyomingdemocrats.com/ht/d/RegisterForConvention/i/1198342/pid/273337
Tickets are $75 per person for the dinner banquet, or $600 for a table of eight. Featured speakers include Gov. Dave Freudenthal and our candidates for congressional offices. You can also join those candidates -- including future congressman Gary Trauner and future U.S. Senators Chris Rothfuss and Nick Carter -- at a VIP cocktail event prior to dinner. Tickets to the VIP cocktail are $100 each.
This is going to be a fantastic rally continuing this historic election year that you won’t want to miss. Seating is limited at the dinner, so please sign up today.
FMI: 1-800-729-3367
The 2008 Jefferson-Jackson dinner and banquet will take place at the new Casper Hilton Garden Inn on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. To learn more, and to buy tickets online, go to:
http://www.wyomingdemocrats.com/ht/d/RegisterForConvention/i/1198342/pid/273337
Tickets are $75 per person for the dinner banquet, or $600 for a table of eight. Featured speakers include Gov. Dave Freudenthal and our candidates for congressional offices. You can also join those candidates -- including future congressman Gary Trauner and future U.S. Senators Chris Rothfuss and Nick Carter -- at a VIP cocktail event prior to dinner. Tickets to the VIP cocktail are $100 each.
This is going to be a fantastic rally continuing this historic election year that you won’t want to miss. Seating is limited at the dinner, so please sign up today.
FMI: 1-800-729-3367
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Fresh Alaska news: Go to Celtic Diva's blog
Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis is the place to go for freshly-caught news about Gov. (and recent Repub Veep nominee) Sarah Palin and other Alaskan politicos (and political shenanigans. The Diva was a fellow blogger at the DNC in Denver and her photos are much better than mine. Check out the blog at http://divasblueoasis.blogspot.com/
For more prog-blog views on Palin, Palin's baby, Palin's teen daughter's baby, Palin's husband's sled dogs, and all sorts of other Palin ephemera, go to Lefty Blogs and click on the Alaska posts. Daily Kos has been abuzz with news (and non-news) about the Repubs.
For more prog-blog views on Palin, Palin's baby, Palin's teen daughter's baby, Palin's husband's sled dogs, and all sorts of other Palin ephemera, go to Lefty Blogs and click on the Alaska posts. Daily Kos has been abuzz with news (and non-news) about the Repubs.
After primary defeat, Goodenough works to elect Natrona County candidates
Casper's Keith Goodenough, defeated by Nick Carter in the primary race for John Barrasso's U.S. Senate seat, sent this message the other day:
Just a quick note to say "thank you" to all of the fine Wyomingites and otheres that helped with my effort to become the Democratic nominee for the U.S.Senate.
The final numbers were 11,984 for myself, and 12,316 for Nick Carter. A difference of 332.
I raised and spent around $5,000.
Now I am going to focus my political efforts on helping some other candidates here in Natrona County. And you will be hearing from me on that front in the coming weeks.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Nobody wrote politics like Hunter S. Thompson
Matt Davis at Ghost Road Press in Denver alerted me to goodreads.com, where readers meet to recommend books, slam others, and just talk about their favorite subjects -- books and authors.
Yesterday Matt sent comments on five of his favorite Hunter S. Thompson books. He gave five-star ratings to "Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72;" "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream;" "Hell's Angels;" "The Great Shark Hunt: Strange Tales from a Strange Time;" and "Generation of Swine: Tales of Shame and Degradation in the '80s."
The first three I've read, the second two I've read excerpts from, whether in Rolling Stone or by just grazing the collections.
In the 1970s, all of us budding writers and journalists wanted to write like Hunter Thompson but knew we never could. The first presidential campaign I really followed was in 1972 when I was 21 and a college drop-out and an escapee from the military draft. It was the first time I realized that these every-four-year contests actually meant something -- a great deal, it turns out. If Muskie or McGovern or any Democrat had won in 1972, history would have been wildly different. Nixon gave us his version of peace with honor at a great price in lives and national honor.
Hunter Thompson took his politics seriously. He was outraged by the spectacle and the hypocrisy he found at every turn. He diatribes against political operatives and Spiro Agnew and media stars were hilarious. The venom burst from the page. It was propelled by righteous anger and, as we all know from Woody Creek legend, drugs and alcohol. He cared about democracy and self-righteous bozos on the campaign trail ticked him off.
"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" was outrageously funny. In "Hells Angels," he recorded the excesses of the Angels in vivid detail. He got his ass kicked for his trouble.
I wish we had the likes of Hunter Thompson on the 2008 campaign trail. I wonder what he would have made of the Democratic Party's stage-managed spectacle in Denver last week? Or the Repub gathering in St. Paul right now?
One other area where Hunter really showed his stuff was sports. Some of you may have read his coverage of the Kentucky Derby and various professional boxing matches. But he was a sports nut and during his last years wrote a weekly column for ESPN online. Very funny and occasionally outrageous, but not as sharp as his early stuff.
We miss him during this oddest of election seasons.
Yesterday Matt sent comments on five of his favorite Hunter S. Thompson books. He gave five-star ratings to "Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72;" "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream;" "Hell's Angels;" "The Great Shark Hunt: Strange Tales from a Strange Time;" and "Generation of Swine: Tales of Shame and Degradation in the '80s."
The first three I've read, the second two I've read excerpts from, whether in Rolling Stone or by just grazing the collections.
In the 1970s, all of us budding writers and journalists wanted to write like Hunter Thompson but knew we never could. The first presidential campaign I really followed was in 1972 when I was 21 and a college drop-out and an escapee from the military draft. It was the first time I realized that these every-four-year contests actually meant something -- a great deal, it turns out. If Muskie or McGovern or any Democrat had won in 1972, history would have been wildly different. Nixon gave us his version of peace with honor at a great price in lives and national honor.
Hunter Thompson took his politics seriously. He was outraged by the spectacle and the hypocrisy he found at every turn. He diatribes against political operatives and Spiro Agnew and media stars were hilarious. The venom burst from the page. It was propelled by righteous anger and, as we all know from Woody Creek legend, drugs and alcohol. He cared about democracy and self-righteous bozos on the campaign trail ticked him off.
"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" was outrageously funny. In "Hells Angels," he recorded the excesses of the Angels in vivid detail. He got his ass kicked for his trouble.
I wish we had the likes of Hunter Thompson on the 2008 campaign trail. I wonder what he would have made of the Democratic Party's stage-managed spectacle in Denver last week? Or the Repub gathering in St. Paul right now?
One other area where Hunter really showed his stuff was sports. Some of you may have read his coverage of the Kentucky Derby and various professional boxing matches. But he was a sports nut and during his last years wrote a weekly column for ESPN online. Very funny and occasionally outrageous, but not as sharp as his early stuff.
We miss him during this oddest of election seasons.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Donate to Lori Millin's campaign
Lori Millin, my respresentative in Wyoming House District 8, has a donation page at https://secure.dlccweb.com/o/5945/p/10021/donate. Go there and donate $10 to help Lori's re-election, and return her to the State House so she can continue her great work on health care, education and other important issues. While there, throw in a "tip" to ActBlue to support other Dem candidates.
I contributed earlier today, and shall sleep the sleep of the righteous tonight.
I contributed earlier today, and shall sleep the sleep of the righteous tonight.
Gustav knocks Cheney off RNC podium
We were anticipating with much relish the Dick Cheney speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.
Alas, the Veep was upstaged by Hurricane Gustav as it continues to threaten the Republicans with strong winds, torrential rain and terrible P.R.
One remembers Dick Cheney, Casper's not-so-favorite son being greeted with cheering crowds when he visited coastal Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina three years ago. Oh, now I remember. He was greeted by a guy who said "Fudge You, Cheney," although he didn't say "fudge." After that, Cheney retreated into the mist.
Although it wasn't mentioned in the AP story, Cheney's non-appearance probably means that Republican candidate for U.S. House Cynthia Lummis won't introduce him.
The good news: Pres. Bush won't speak either.
The bad news: Laura Bush and Cindy McCain will talk to the RNC crowd about the importance of being prepared for natural disasters, such as another Republican being elected president.
Alas, the Veep was upstaged by Hurricane Gustav as it continues to threaten the Republicans with strong winds, torrential rain and terrible P.R.
One remembers Dick Cheney, Casper's not-so-favorite son being greeted with cheering crowds when he visited coastal Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina three years ago. Oh, now I remember. He was greeted by a guy who said "Fudge You, Cheney," although he didn't say "fudge." After that, Cheney retreated into the mist.
Although it wasn't mentioned in the AP story, Cheney's non-appearance probably means that Republican candidate for U.S. House Cynthia Lummis won't introduce him.
The good news: Pres. Bush won't speak either.
The bad news: Laura Bush and Cindy McCain will talk to the RNC crowd about the importance of being prepared for natural disasters, such as another Republican being elected president.
Welcome to Beijing...or Baghdad...or maybe St. Paul
This just posted on DemocracyNow site and I'm reprinting in full:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE http://www.democracynow.org/
September 1, 2008
Contact: Dennis Moynihan, Mike Burke
ST. PAUL, MN—Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman was unlawfully arrested in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota at approximately 5 p.m. local time. Police violently manhandled Goodman, yanking her arm, as they arrested her. Video of her arrest can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ
Goodman was arrested while attempting to free two Democracy Now! producers who were being unlawfuly detained. They are Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. Kouddous and Salazar were arrested while they carried out their journalistic duties in covering street demonstrations at the Republican National Convention. Goodman’s crime appears to have been defending her colleagues and the freedom of the press.
Ramsey County Sherrif Bob Fletcher told Democracy Now! that Kouddous and Salazar were being arrested on suspicion of rioting. They are currently being held at the Ramsey County jail in St. Paul.
Democracy Now! is calling on all journalists and concerned citizens to call the office of Mayor Chris Coleman and the Ramsey County Jail and demand the immediate release of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar. These calls can be directed to: Chris Rider from Mayor Coleman’s office at 651-266-8535 and the Ramsey County Jail at 651-266-9350 (press extension 0).
Democracy Now! stands by Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar and condemns this action by Twin Cities law enforcement as a clear violation of the freedom of the press and the First Amenmdent rights of these journalists.
During the demonstration in which they were arrested law enforcement officers used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades and excessive force. Several dozen others were also arrested during this action.
Amy Goodman is one of the most well-known and well-respected journalists in the United States. She has received journalism’s top honors for her reporting and has a distinguished reputation of bravery and courage. The arrest of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar is a transparent attempt to intimidate journalists from the nation’s leading independent news outlet.
Democracy Now! is a nationally-syndicated public TV and radio program that airs on over 700 radio and TV stations across the US and the globe.
Video of Amy Goodman’s Arrest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE http://www.democracynow.org/
September 1, 2008
Contact: Dennis Moynihan, Mike Burke
ST. PAUL, MN—Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman was unlawfully arrested in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota at approximately 5 p.m. local time. Police violently manhandled Goodman, yanking her arm, as they arrested her. Video of her arrest can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ
Goodman was arrested while attempting to free two Democracy Now! producers who were being unlawfuly detained. They are Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. Kouddous and Salazar were arrested while they carried out their journalistic duties in covering street demonstrations at the Republican National Convention. Goodman’s crime appears to have been defending her colleagues and the freedom of the press.
Ramsey County Sherrif Bob Fletcher told Democracy Now! that Kouddous and Salazar were being arrested on suspicion of rioting. They are currently being held at the Ramsey County jail in St. Paul.
Democracy Now! is calling on all journalists and concerned citizens to call the office of Mayor Chris Coleman and the Ramsey County Jail and demand the immediate release of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar. These calls can be directed to: Chris Rider from Mayor Coleman’s office at 651-266-8535 and the Ramsey County Jail at 651-266-9350 (press extension 0).
Democracy Now! stands by Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar and condemns this action by Twin Cities law enforcement as a clear violation of the freedom of the press and the First Amenmdent rights of these journalists.
During the demonstration in which they were arrested law enforcement officers used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades and excessive force. Several dozen others were also arrested during this action.
Amy Goodman is one of the most well-known and well-respected journalists in the United States. She has received journalism’s top honors for her reporting and has a distinguished reputation of bravery and courage. The arrest of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar is a transparent attempt to intimidate journalists from the nation’s leading independent news outlet.
Democracy Now! is a nationally-syndicated public TV and radio program that airs on over 700 radio and TV stations across the US and the globe.
Video of Amy Goodman’s Arrest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ
Labor Day: Hope vs. More of the McSame
Who would Jesus vote for?
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Homes raided in Minneapolis prior to RNC
Hey, I thought I was finished with convention blogging. I almost forgot about the upcoming RNC in St. Paul, Minn. The Republican's fun began today in Minneapolis.
Read "Massive police raids on suspected protestors in Minneapolis" at Glenn Greenwald’s site at http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/30/police_raids/index.html.
Get more updates from the mnblue blog at www.mnblue.com
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune has more at www.startribune.com
Read "Massive police raids on suspected protestors in Minneapolis" at Glenn Greenwald’s site at http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/08/30/police_raids/index.html.
Get more updates from the mnblue blog at www.mnblue.com
The Minneapolis Star-Tribune has more at www.startribune.com
The Daily Show finds real Obama bio video
This should have been the Barack Obama bio shown Thursday night at the convention, as it is both funnier and shorter than the DNC version:
Something to look forward to...
From the Casper Star-Tribune:
P.S.: TRAUNER WILL WIN!
Wyoming's Republican candidate for congress, Cynthia Lummis, will address the national Republican convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul Monday afternoon, officials say.
The former two-term state treasurer, will appear before Vice President Dick Cheney takes the podium on Monday.
"We will be so excited from Wyoming to have two of our own speaking," said Amy Larimer, executive director of the Wyoming Republican Party. "It's been such a historic election for us anyway and this is just really, really exciting," she added.
For the first time in anyone's memory, all three federal offices were up for election this year. Lummis will face Democrat Gary Trauner of Jackson in the November general election.
P.S.: TRAUNER WILL WIN!
On conventions, blogging and the West
Now that I've had a day of reflection and power napping, I'm prepared to tackle the convention in retrospect.
It was a spectacle. Heavy-hitting Dems as speakers! Celebrities in the delegations! More media than delegates! More cops than media and delegates combined! Music! Fireworks! Protesters!
It was impossible as a lone blogger to capture it all. I tackled it in slices. Some people stood out for their antics and/or attire. There was the tall blond delegate from Mississippi in her Ole Miss antiwar dress. The TV cameras liked her a lot. There were celebs -- Ashley Judd just behind the Wyoming delegation in the Pepsi Center, and Jamie Foxx walking the aisles. Almost all the Democrats who've been in the public eye during the post-World War II era: Jimmy Carter, Daniel Inouye, Michael Dukakis, John Kerry, Hillary and Bill Clinton, Fritz Mondale, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton. And those are only the ones I saw personally.
But after the first day of the convention, I was less interested in pol-and-celeb-spotting than I was in talking to the people around me. And eavesdropping. And keeping my eyes open. All techniques honed by years of fiction writing. Most of my stories come from personal encounters. The way someone speaks. A passing comment. The look in the eye. A small gesture can turn into a short story which can speak a universal truth -- if you're lucky.
While I was blogging in the hotel lobby Thursday, two volunteer Democrats who been shepherding us all week were chatting. One good thing about publicly typing on a laptop -- people don't think you're listening. But the woman volunteer, who was in her early forties, was talking about moving from Minnesota and how hard it's been on her daughter, who's in high school. She's going to the very huge Cherry Creek H.S., which used to be the largest one in the state but now probably is dwarfed by new and bigger exurb schools. The daughter is "very social" but finding it hard to make friends. The woman volunteer also complained that there was no water in Colorado. "So many lakes in Minnesota," she said, adding that her entire family loves swimming and boating and water-skiing.
The man from Minnesota moved to Colorado Springs to be near his kids, three out of four of them had moved to The Centennial State. He wore a gray pony tail and wire rim glasses, which made him look a bit like John Denver. He seemed perfectly happy in the Springs, even though Dems are outnumbered by insufferable hordes of born-agains.
I contemplated the words of the unhappy Minnesota expatriate. It's very tough to move out of your homeplace. It's really tough on teenagers. Her husband pushed for the move and she went along but now is having second thoughts. What's going to happen to them? Back in the booming 1990s, I heard statistics that 50 percent of those who moved from California to Colorado moved back within five years. They returned to family because they missed them. Didn't like the winters. Discovered that there hadn't been an ocean in Colorado for 30 million years.
I felt the same way when I moved from Florida to Colorado 30 years ago. I missed the beach! Also, warm weather. And my parents and my eight brothers and sisters and all of their kids yet to come. I was born in Denver, so I did have relatives there and still do. But it wasn't the same. My wife, too, was homesick, but possesses the vagabond spirit of the Army brat that she is. But we loved the mountains and made friends with other expatriates from Georgia and Massachusetts and even Minnesota. Now here we are 30 years later as Americans who've spent more than half of their lives in the Rocky Mountain West. Our son was born in Denver and our daughter in Cheyenne. She's the only native-born Wyomingite in the family.
There are many stories embedded in our experiences. Five years ago -- heck, one year ago -- I never could have contemplated attending a national political convention as a blogger. It's one of the many pleasant surprises I've had in my life. More to come, I hope.
It was a spectacle. Heavy-hitting Dems as speakers! Celebrities in the delegations! More media than delegates! More cops than media and delegates combined! Music! Fireworks! Protesters!
It was impossible as a lone blogger to capture it all. I tackled it in slices. Some people stood out for their antics and/or attire. There was the tall blond delegate from Mississippi in her Ole Miss antiwar dress. The TV cameras liked her a lot. There were celebs -- Ashley Judd just behind the Wyoming delegation in the Pepsi Center, and Jamie Foxx walking the aisles. Almost all the Democrats who've been in the public eye during the post-World War II era: Jimmy Carter, Daniel Inouye, Michael Dukakis, John Kerry, Hillary and Bill Clinton, Fritz Mondale, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton. And those are only the ones I saw personally.
But after the first day of the convention, I was less interested in pol-and-celeb-spotting than I was in talking to the people around me. And eavesdropping. And keeping my eyes open. All techniques honed by years of fiction writing. Most of my stories come from personal encounters. The way someone speaks. A passing comment. The look in the eye. A small gesture can turn into a short story which can speak a universal truth -- if you're lucky.
While I was blogging in the hotel lobby Thursday, two volunteer Democrats who been shepherding us all week were chatting. One good thing about publicly typing on a laptop -- people don't think you're listening. But the woman volunteer, who was in her early forties, was talking about moving from Minnesota and how hard it's been on her daughter, who's in high school. She's going to the very huge Cherry Creek H.S., which used to be the largest one in the state but now probably is dwarfed by new and bigger exurb schools. The daughter is "very social" but finding it hard to make friends. The woman volunteer also complained that there was no water in Colorado. "So many lakes in Minnesota," she said, adding that her entire family loves swimming and boating and water-skiing.
The man from Minnesota moved to Colorado Springs to be near his kids, three out of four of them had moved to The Centennial State. He wore a gray pony tail and wire rim glasses, which made him look a bit like John Denver. He seemed perfectly happy in the Springs, even though Dems are outnumbered by insufferable hordes of born-agains.
I contemplated the words of the unhappy Minnesota expatriate. It's very tough to move out of your homeplace. It's really tough on teenagers. Her husband pushed for the move and she went along but now is having second thoughts. What's going to happen to them? Back in the booming 1990s, I heard statistics that 50 percent of those who moved from California to Colorado moved back within five years. They returned to family because they missed them. Didn't like the winters. Discovered that there hadn't been an ocean in Colorado for 30 million years.
I felt the same way when I moved from Florida to Colorado 30 years ago. I missed the beach! Also, warm weather. And my parents and my eight brothers and sisters and all of their kids yet to come. I was born in Denver, so I did have relatives there and still do. But it wasn't the same. My wife, too, was homesick, but possesses the vagabond spirit of the Army brat that she is. But we loved the mountains and made friends with other expatriates from Georgia and Massachusetts and even Minnesota. Now here we are 30 years later as Americans who've spent more than half of their lives in the Rocky Mountain West. Our son was born in Denver and our daughter in Cheyenne. She's the only native-born Wyomingite in the family.
There are many stories embedded in our experiences. Five years ago -- heck, one year ago -- I never could have contemplated attending a national political convention as a blogger. It's one of the many pleasant surprises I've had in my life. More to come, I hope.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Alaska's Palin not the Western governor with highest approval rating
Watching the TV talking heads tonight, and the subject was Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain's (72nd birthday today!) choice as Veep.
One thing the Repubs kept saying was the Gov. Palin had the highest approval rating of any U.S. governor. No solid numbers were mentioned, but one Repub talking head said that it was more than 80 percent.
So what? One Democratic governor of a Western red state has -- according to a recent poll -- an 81 percent approval rating. He's the only Democrat among the five state elected officials, and he has to deal with a veto-proof legislature, dominated by Republicans. He's a life-long hunter, and his hobby is rebuilding traditional sheep wagons. He opposed the feds' wolf-reintroduction rules, and boosted the budget of the state arts agency to record levels.
Who is this magic man? Gov. Dave Freudenthal of Wyoming.
So Sarah Palin's a Republican governor in a Republican state and has a high approval rating.
So what?
One thing the Repubs kept saying was the Gov. Palin had the highest approval rating of any U.S. governor. No solid numbers were mentioned, but one Repub talking head said that it was more than 80 percent.
So what? One Democratic governor of a Western red state has -- according to a recent poll -- an 81 percent approval rating. He's the only Democrat among the five state elected officials, and he has to deal with a veto-proof legislature, dominated by Republicans. He's a life-long hunter, and his hobby is rebuilding traditional sheep wagons. He opposed the feds' wolf-reintroduction rules, and boosted the budget of the state arts agency to record levels.
Who is this magic man? Gov. Dave Freudenthal of Wyoming.
So Sarah Palin's a Republican governor in a Republican state and has a high approval rating.
So what?
Convention wrap-up -- final day
Once the bus returned me to the Denver burbs tonight, I drove to my uncle's house, picked up my gear and drove back to Cheyenne, getting in about 12:45 a.m. We made a pretty fast getaway from Mile High Stadium and the buses seemed to get priority entering I-25, which was eerily empty, with only our bus and a white Homeland Security van jockeying for space. The city closed the highway from 5:30 p.m. until midnight for security reasons. Just what prompted that decision is hard to say, since the stadium is far enough from the highway to protect against any kind of explosions. If there's one thing this convention had -- security. Denver cops, Lakewood cops, Aurora cops, ATF agents, TSA screeners, Secret Service and, I'm assuming, FBI. We had police in the hotels and on the buses. When is enough security enough? When we say it is!
One classy move the cops made -- providing an escort for the non-permitted march on Wednesday by Rage Against the Machine and members of Iraq Veterans Against the War. Something like 3,000 participated in that march, which made it the largest one at the convention.
More convention wrapping up in the morning.
One classy move the cops made -- providing an escort for the non-permitted march on Wednesday by Rage Against the Machine and members of Iraq Veterans Against the War. Something like 3,000 participated in that march, which made it the largest one at the convention.
More convention wrapping up in the morning.
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