text:
Dust Devils Announce 2014 Promotional Schedule
Another Fun Summer in Store at Gesa Stadium
By Tri-City Dust Devils | May 20, 2014 2:18 PM ET
After breaking an attendance record for the seventh consecutive season in 2013, the Tri-City Dust Devils are gearing up for what is expected to be another great summer of fun and affordable family entertainment at Gesa Stadium. The Dust Devils are excited to release their 2014 promotional schedule for the upcoming year. Some of the most popular promotions will be returning, while new promotions and giveaways will make their debut. Here are some highlights of the upcoming schedule:
Opening Night - Opening Night will be on June 18th versus the Everett AquaSox and will feature a magnet schedule giveaway sponsored by Pizza Hut as well as a postgame fireworks show presented by CO-Energy.
Fireworks - There will be a grand total of ten fireworks nights this season, with postgame fireworks shows after every Saturday game at Gesa Stadium. Along with these nights, fans can catch postgame fireworks shows on Opening Night June 18th, the Independence Day celebration on July 3rd, Thursday August 14th, and the Season Finale on September 1st.
Giveaways - Various items will be given to the first 500 fans through the gates at Gesa Stadium this season: a poster schedule giveaway on June 20th, thanks to the Tri-City Herald; a sunglasses giveaway on June 29th, courtesy of Lourdes Health Network; a hat giveaway on July 31st, sponsored by Charter; a team photo giveaway on August 7th, thanks to Community Real Estate Group; a Russell Wilson 3D canvas giveaway on August 15th, presented by Gesa Credit Union, and a baseball card giveaway on August 28th, courtesy of Wildhorse Resort & Casino.
Food and Beverage Promotions - The Dust Devils welcome CO-Energy as the new sponsor of $1 Family Feast Nights. Every Friday, 12-ounce Coca-Cola products, ice cream sandwiches, hot dogs and bags of chips will be on sale for just one dollar. Coca-Cola Monday offers $1 22-ounce Coca-Cola products every Monday home game all season. For the first time, wine will be served nightly at Gesa Stadium. A selection of Kiona Vineyards wine will be available for purchase.
Other Great Nights - Returning to Gesa Stadium this season is Social Media Tuesdays, sponsored by Dura-Shine Clean. Fans will be qualified to win prizes and participate in on-field activities through games and questions on Facebook. New to Gesa Stadium this season will be Worthwhile Wednesdays, sponsored by Precision Movers. On four of the Wednesday home games, the Dust Devils will highlight a community-based organization from the Tri-Cities area. This season will also feature the first Bark in the Park night, sponsored by Paw's Natural Pet Emporium. Fans are invited purchase a pooch pass and bring their dogs to the game on Sunday, August 3rd.
The Dust Devils' 2014 season begins on June 18th against the Everett AquaSox. Ticket packages are on sale now and start at just $56, with full-season tickets available for as low as $259. Special ticket rates are available for groups of 20 or more. Season tickets, mini-plans, and group tickets can be purchased by contacting the Dust Devils front office at (509) 544-8789 or at the Gesa Stadium box office.
Dust Devils Baseball… "It Will Blow You Away!"
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.View More


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Carrier 9200 code 33
I have a carrier Weathermaker 9200 that is flashing a code 33. Even when I turn the thermostat to OFF position the fan still runs. The unit will not heat at all. I have pushed the manual reset but that does not make any difference. The only way I can shut off the fan is to turn off the breaker. Any ideas on what to check for to get some heat out of this?
you have an open flame rollout or high limit switch open causing fan to run all the time. If you look on the back of your furnace door it will tell you what each code means. code 33 is open limit switch if i remember correctly. Also on your circuit board you have a 3 amp fuse make sure that is not blown.
Carrier 9200 33 Code
Did you figure out what was wrong with your furnace? Mine is doing the same thing. Where is the reset button on it? Thanks!
Fan kept running..
It ended up being the high temp switch which is the one on the top left as you are looking into the furnace with the cover off. $10 part.
I'll replace that switch. Hopefully it will save me a fortune on HVAC!
I have the same problem. But can you please exactly tell me, diagramatically if possible, where/which is the high temp switch is? Please reply fast...its very cold here, and I had been trying to figure out the problem myself because the tech is asking too much money that I cannot afford! Thanks.
i was told to put a 3 amp car fuse in place of reset switch worked but i was advised to do under my own risk for temp. emer. heat fix propperly as soon as possible
Have you all cleaned your intake and flue, and your trap and condensate lines? You may be getting rollout from lack of draft.
my 9200 flashes when it has no flame but stops flashing when flame lights but it burns for only 3 min .goes off blinks and repeats over and over does not bring temp to se point .what can i do.please help
Dirty air filter, or some other problem with your blower.
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Trip Start Sep 05, 2005
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On leaving the hostel we went straight to the MTR subway station and headed to Admiralty. This is the financial district of Hong Kong with masses of skyscrapers as far as the eye can see. But we hadn't come here to see them, we had come to see the overhead view.
To do this we got the tram to the top of Victoria Peak. The tram line has been running since 1888, though thankfully on more modern trams now. It was quite a laugh going up, although rather painful sitting on a wooden bench when going up the hill at a near vertical angle. The view from the top was pretty special and relatively clear despite the fog. I imagine the views of the harbour are even better by night. They are currently building a new viewing platform, which was kind of in the way of the view, but it should be ready for next year.
We were planning to visit Macau today so we head off to find the dock and see what times the ships were sailing. Walking around Hong Kong Island was incredible. It was Mid-Autumn festival and the streets were packed! It was also Sunday so 10's thousands of maids, all Thai and Phillipino, were sitting on the paths having a good old chat. We couldn't find the dock so headed back to Kowloon to pick up our passports.
CTS was closed when we arrived and there was already a large queue. When the doors opened there was a mad rush but I was happy to get my passport back with a shiny new visa for China in it, well not shiny but a rather dull sticker but either way I could go to China for up to 3 months now.
Whilst we were there we decided to book our train journey to Shanghai. Nearly booked it for the wrong day so I was glad I checked when we would get back from Taiwan! Chose 2 middle bunks in the hard sleeper section for about 35 quid. Not bad for what will be a torturous 26 hour journey!
Both formalities sorted out we went in search of some dinner. Found a cosy little Chinese restaurant round the corner and had a lovely meal of yellow tree pork and a side dish of pork and cabbage wontons for about 3 quid! I was stuffed, but Dave even managed to squeeze in a banana split as well!
Fully refreshed we went in search of the China ferry terminal in Kowloon to see about going to Macau. However we decided that it would be totally pointless going to Macau today as we would only get about 2 hours there. So we'll go there tomorrow instead.
On the way back to HK Island we found a small coffee shop offering free net access in return for buying a drink so decided to go in. Good job we did as the rain started up again. Had a good chuckle at the guy in the street struggling to sort out his umbrella for a couple of minutes!
Back on HK Island we went looking for the Central Library for some proper Internet access. As it was mid-autumn festival there was a massive party going on in Victoria park. The amount of people around was incredible! Just trying to walk anywhere in HK is a hassle and takes about 3 times as long as it would elsewhere. Finally got to the library and it had closed early! Had to force our way back to the hostel to see if we could use a computer there.
As part of this festival all the kids carry around colourful lanterns. Some were traditional paper ones whilst others carried modern plasticy ones blaring out 80's tunes on a non-stop loop! Rather irritating. Back at the hostel both the computers were free so I tried to ring home, didn't work and it was bloody boiling so I made a quick getaway to our air conditioned room.
The pub from last night was showing an early footie match so we headed there. As we approached the entrance we noticed a sign that read "minimum spend $HK100", probably as a result of our milking antics last night! Went for the cheapest thing on the menu which was rancid. Never buy Eidelweiss beer again, no matter how cheap!! After the game we took the star ferry back to Kowloon to have a wander around the night market.
The market was pretty cool and sold loads of worthless tat that nobody would ever need. I bought a cheap fake watch of a fake brand and if it lasts a month I'll be happy. Looked around the food stalls on the market selling some rather appealing looking seafood, most of it still moving!
Turned the corner and spotted a Yoshinoya Japanese restaurant. Its funny that we avoided Japanese food almost all the time whilst in Japan but head straight there in HK. Either way it was delicious and a bargain.
The walk back through Nathan Road was nice and we stopped by the park on the way. It was packed full with kids celebrating the festival and the noise from all the 80's tunes on their lanterns was deafening! Spotted a fantastic Engrish sign on a shop selling teaching materials for kids that proudly said "Kiss My Kids"!! Picture above as proof.
Arrived at the dock to find the ferries had stopped running. Frantically headed back to Tsim ha Tsui subway and made it back to Causeway Bay just before the stations closed.


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Conshohocken, Pa. -- Twitter and tablets are quickly rising in importance to retailers' e-commerce efforts, while email is losing steam. According to the second quarter 2013 Monetate E-commerce Quarterly, Twitter experienced the fastest growth among all social networks in referrals to e-commerce sites, moving from 5.4% of social referrals in second quarter 2012 to 9.64% in second quarter 2013 – a 77% gain.
The numbers show Facebook is still the dominant social force in e-commerce with 61.43% of social media referrals to websites in second quarter 2013, up from 56.89% the previous year. Pinterest continues to expand its role, moving from 14.47% to 21.87% in the same interval.
In addition, mobile is expanding its device share of e-commerce traffic, moving from 15.2% in second quarter 2012 to 22.13% in second quarter 2013. Within that share, tablets represent 12.44% of mobile traffic and smartphones hold a 9.69% share. A year earlier, smartphones were slightly more popular as e-commerce devices.
Meanwhile, both referral traffic and conversion rates to e-commerce websites from email decreased since last year. Referral traffic dropped from 3.75% in the second quarter of 2012 to 2.36% in second quarter 2013, while conversions slipped from 3.56% to 3.34% in the same interval.
Interestingly, average order value from email increased during that time, from $89.43 in second quarter 2012 to $99.93 in second quarter 2013.


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Hilary Duff Gets Bitter And Judgemental
MSNBC reports that Hilary's talking trash about Nicole Richie for getting with her ex.
Duff has bad-mouthed Richie — who she thinks is a "skank," according to Us Weekly.
Joel Madden, who is dating reality show star Richie and who used to date the "Lizzie McGuire" star is apparently at the center of the friction. Madden and Duff split in November, and although Madden has been loyal to Richie, he keeps calling his ex, according to the mag, but she doesn't return his calls.
"[Duff] can't believe he's dating Nicole and thinks she's a skank," a source told Us, adding that when Duff heard about Richie's arrest, "she asked if Nicole had been coming from Joel's. … She kept saying she never knew Joel at all."
So blame Joel. It's not like Wrong Way On The Freeway Toothpick Girl took his ass from you. Why is it that the ladies always blame each other? Tina Fey was right! It's girl on girl crime! Or cite the real reason. Those horrible veneers you were rocking for awhile. I just wanted to offer you a sugarcube. Just playin', "Beat of My Heart" is bangin'.
(Image source)


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[Rooms] City center & next to alhambra
Size50 m²
Floor No.3
- Family/child friendly
- Internet/WiFi
- Kitchen
- Washer/dryer
- Towels
- Balcony/terrace
Accommodation summary
|Calle Animas, 18009 Granada, Spain
|Property type
|Private room
|Property ID
|Acceptance rate
|Response time
|A few hours
|Calendar updated
The room can accommodate up to three guests and it is on a guesthouse that offers you an unique style of accommodation in this traditional Spanish city as the property features a Japanese theme as the owners are originally from Japan.
It is ideal for a student or for a family. This cozy and colorful room has two single beds and a bund bed. There are one kitchen and the bathroom fully equipped on each floor of the guesthouse and you will have to share them with other guests.
Enjoy this house situated in the heart of the city Plaza Nueva. We are next to the Alhambra.
Due to our central location in the heart of Granada guests staying with us can enjoy all the city has to offer right here on their doorstep including a range of restaurants, bars as well as cafes and shops.
If you want to go to the city center, Cathedral, Gran Via street, famous neighborhood of Arabic tea shops, bars ,Cuesta San Gregorio street slope down you have it within 3 minutes' walk. Sierra Nevada is a half hour drive away and the beach about fifty minutes.
We welcome all guests to come stay with us in the comfort and security of our guesthouse property. Come to know the charm and magic of Granada! Hope to see you soon!
House rulesNot suitable for "bad foot" or wheelchair user.
You can use our PC to check your mail up to 30 minutes per day.
|Weekly rate for 1 guest
|€ 104
|Monthly rate for 1 guest
|€ 324
|Price for > 1 guests
|€ 11 per guest/night extra
|Check-in After
|Check-in before
|On arrangement
|Check-out Before
|Cancellation Policy
Reviews of this property
Ótima position, the hostess is very nice, gave us all kinds of information. Bathroom and room very well, just very small kitchen for any type of stay.
Ótima posición, la anfitriona es muy agradable, nos proporcionó todo tipo de información. Baño y habitación muy bien, justo la cocina muy pequeña por cualquier tipo de estancia.
La ubicación inmejorable; aunque la información dada me llevo al error de pensar que el aseo no era compartido, de haberlo sabido no la hubiera contratado, es algo a lo que me cuesta renunciar, no me gustar el compartir aseos. También eche de menos una pequeña televisión para llevar mejor la noche.
Por lo demás, bien, todo muy básico, aunque Mieko es muy agradable y respetuosa.
Reviews for this host's other properties
The meeting with Mieko was quiet difficult when we arrived in Granada. But, after that, we spent a a pleasant stay in this apartment, well located in the city of Granada.
- Quality assured accommodation
- Every host is verified by telephone
- Secure payment via SSL encryption


text:
Nanotech 2014 Vol. 2
Nanotechnology 2014: MEMS, Fluidics, Bio Systems, Medical, Computational & Photonics
Chapter 7: Photonic Materials & Devices
Enhancement in optical and electrical efficiency of a Si nanocrystal light-emitting diode by indium tin oxide nanowires
|C. Huh, T.-Y. Kim, B.-J. Park, E.-H. Jang, S.-H. Kim
|Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, KR
|420 - 423
|Si nanocrystal, light emitting diode, nanowires
|In this work, a new technique for improving the optical and electrical properties of Si NC LEDs by employing indium tin oxide (ITO) nanowires (NWs) was investigated. The structure of Si NC LED investigated here was ITO NWs/ITO (100 nm)/n-SiC (50 nm)/Si NCs in SiNx (50 nm)/p+-Si substrate. The Si NC LED without ITO NWs was also fabricated for comparison. As the growth temperature of ITO NWs decreased, the ITO NWs were smaller and less uniform in size as compared to those synthesized at 500 °C. The ITO NWs had a tendency to grow perpendicularly above the surface, even though all of them were not perfectly oriented on the surface. I-V characteristics of Si NC LEDs with ITO NWs were improved as compared to those of Si NC LEDs without ITO NWs. This was attributed to an enhancement in the current spreading property of the ITO layer and a decrease in the dynamic resistance of the whole Si NC LED. Moreover, light output power and wall-plug efficiency of the Si NC LED with ITO NWs were also enhanced. We will discuss on the electrical and optical properties of Si NC LED with ITO NWs in detail.
|Mail/Fax Form


text:
Disney is inspiring kids to create a healthier, greener and stronger tomorrow.
Recipients of 2016 Disney Summer of Service grants will be announced soon.
Share what inspires you to make a difference by selecting one of the categories below.
Explore the latest Friends for Change videos!
Check out these handy PDFs to help you take action!


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The raytracing engine in cs6 in really slow compared to E3D,
However I get his point It's not hard to get ANY results from the plugin,
but the templates are gonna come anyway… So join the party
Artem200800, GhosTeam i totally agree with both of your opinions because its really true to buy cs6 its much more expencive than E3D . And also reytraced engine is requiring a lot of computer power . And by using retraced engine some of the features turns off such as layer precomps or some masking i think if i,m not correct please tell crrect me . And with E3D you probablly can use all these features . Also i want to ask you guys what kind of method are you using to import 3d objects in afte effects is it pre-renders or obj. file included ? . Because i see that with E3D 3d object import become much, much more easy.
WilQ5 said
I,m quite sure that everything what this amazing plugin can provide you can achieve in after effects manually only it would take more time , and CS6 is already using retrayced engine so you can get even greater reflections on your objects such as texts so if some of you dont want to wait i would give it a try and also projects wich are done manually are more valuable in my opinnion than using some plugin because even some customers of our projects could make an amazing work using this plugin … i hope you get my point guys
You can't import obj files in After Effects. That's one of the big differences with e3d.
you can't import obj models in CS6 but you can do it in lower versions using the live Photoshop 3D layers. Probably from CS6.5 Adobe will bring back this functionality.


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The devastation that Hurricane Katrina has left behind may also leave Hewlett-Packard swamped in the Big Easy.
The computer and printer maker is scheduled to hold its Technology Forum next month at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans (Sept. 12 - 15) with .
Wind and water damage in the downtown area threatened to shut the show down.
But a note posted today on the show's Web site says that until further notice, HP is moving forward with the show as normal. The company said its event team is assessing the situation and will make a decision by Friday, September 2, 2005.
"We ask that you be patient while we complete our assessment and that you make no changes to your conference or travel plans at this time," HP said.
The decision may not be HP's to make. Newhouse News Service reported Tuesday that New Orleans city officials might open the convention center as a temporary refuge to shelter an estimated 50,000 people made homeless by the storm. The nearby New Orleans Superdome was opened as a public safety refuge on Monday but the roof on the football stadium developed leaks.
Even the television game show, "The Wheel of Fortune" had the good sense to leave the convention center. The show had been scheduled for taping for the final round of contestants, but Broadcast and Cable reported that the entire staff and set were already on the way out of town.
But that is the situation now. HP's decision will depend partially on how the city and community can rebound in less than two weeks.
"Please be cognizant that the media coverage of an event of this magnitude can be sensationalized for effect," a representative with HP said. "While some areas have withstood damage, others may have not. However, please be assured that our decisions will be based on our ability to ensure the safety and welfare of all attendees."


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San Diego, CA, USA < change city >
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Coordinators (47)
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Bands (28)
Wedding Fashion (19)
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Reception Sites (314)
See All Vendors >
PHILLIP AND AMANDA'S WEDDINGMay, 2009 in Coronado
We'll email them to see if they can answer your question.Requires Login
You must log in before you can send this couple a question. Log in here.
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We do this to ensure that the couple does not get emailed needlessly.
Ceremony: Ceremony and Reception
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- Ceremony: Ceremony and Reception
- Restaurant: Miguel's Cocina
- Hotel: Best Western Suites Hotel Coronado Island
- Restaurant: Phil's BBQ
- Hotel: Glorietta Bay Inn
- Entertainment: Gaslamp District
- Hotel: Hampton Inn San Diego Downtown Hotel
- Attraction: Coronado Ferry Landing
- Hotel: Hotel Del Coronado
- Attraction: Downtown Ferry Landing
- Restaurant: Casa Guadalajara
- Attraction: Old Town San Diego
- Restaurant: Costa Azul Coronado
- Attraction: Seaport Village
Ceremony and Reception1845 Strand Way
Coronado, CA, US
Best Western Suites Hotel Coronado Island275 Orange Ave
Coronado, CA, United States
Glorietta Bay Inn1630 Glorietta Blvd
Coronado, CA, United States
Hampton Inn San Diego Downtown Hotel1531 Pacific Highway
San Diego, CA, United States
Hotel Del Coronado1500 Orange Ave
Coronado, CA, United States
Casa Guadalajara4105 Taylor St
San Diego, CA, United States
"Located in Old Town San Diego, Casa Guadalajara is one of our favorite Mexican spots. They have an excellent happy hour with free food and homemade tortillas! Delicious!"
Costa Azul Coronado1031 Orange Ave
Coronado, CA, United States
"Great Mexican food and just down the street from the Ceremony and Reception Site."
Miguel's Cocina1351 Orange Ave
Coronado, CA, United States
"An excellent Mexican restaurant located just down the street from the ceremony and Coronado hotels. Try their jalepeno cheese sauce! It's to die for!"
Phil's BBQ3750 Sports Arena Blvd
San Diego, CA, United States
"Our favorite BBQ spot! That is why we will be serving it at our reception! Get ready to dig in to the best and most famous BBQ in San Diego! If you don't get enough Saturday night, visit them again and try their Broham Sandwich. Delicious!"
Gaslamp DistrictGaslamp, San Diego, CA
San Diego, CA, US
"The Gaslamp is a lively spot with plenty to do. There are many excellent restaurants, posh hotels and a variety of entertainment."
Coronado Ferry Landing1201 1st St # 6
Coronado, CA, United States
"The ferry takes you across the water from Downtown to Coronado. At the Coronado Ferry Landing is a fun place to walk around. There are specialty shops and great restaurants."
Downtown Ferry Landing1050 N Harbor Dr
San Diego, CA, United States
"Catch the ferry from downtown into Coronado and enjoy fine dining and shopping."
Old Town San DiegoOld Town, San Diego, CA
San Diego, CA, US
"A historical look back at old San Diego. There are great Mexican restaurants, shopping and museums. Make sure to stop by Heritage Park to see the old Victorian homes!"
Seaport Village831 W Harbor Dr
San Diego, CA, United States
"Seaport Village is one of our favorite places to go in San Diego. It is right along the bay and has many unique shops and good eating. Pack a picnic and enjoy a great time watching the kites and street performers."


text:
American Le Mans Series
View Single Post
GO Green
Join Date: Oct 2004
Fan#: 14522
Location: Long Island, NY, United States
What I Drive: 2003 2.0L Grabber Green Zx3
Posts: 11,148
Points 26,907, Level 97
Level Up 56% Completed
Forum Activity 2%
FF Reputation:
Buy-Sell-Trade Rating: (
Originally Posted by
The ALMS is truly an awesome series...especially the GT2 class. Totally bummed that I couldn't make it the race, but happy the season is finally under way. Endurance racing is so physically and mechanically demanding...it's really amazing how much punishment the cars and the drivers can handle! Can't wait until Corvette moves into the GT2 class, will be interesting to see if they can compete with the likes of Porsche and Ferrari...probably not is my guess.
Why not? the Corvette team is top notch and has won plenty of races and continues to excel. And its not just the cars, the drivers are very good too. During the race today the commentators were talking about how great the other teams are but out of even the prototype pits, the corvette pit team seemed superior to the rest as they were quick and efficient. This will play a big role in how they do in GT2.
Congrats to audi for winning with their new R15 in P1 class. It was an amazing battle against Peugot. Acura I believe one in P2, Corvette in GT1 (obviously lol) and Ferrari took the win in GT2, but it probably would of been Porsche if they didnt have that accident in the last hour.
Can't wait for the next race, and I'm thinking about going to Lime Rock Conn to see the race there.
My 2003 Ford Focus ZX3 - Finally realized it's a 4cyl
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Chinese Crested Temperament
What's Good About 'Em,
What's Bad About 'Em
Hairless and Powderpuff Chinese Crested Temperament, Personality, Behavior, Traits, and Characteristics, by Michele Welton. Copyright © 2000-2016
The Chinese Crested is fine-boned, elegant, and graceful -- and certainly unique-looking.
High-spirited and happy, animated and agile, he is an adept climber and jumper who often grips his toys (or his owner's neck) tightly with his paws.
This people-oriented "Velcro" dog depends emotionally on his owner and demands a lot of personal interaction, stroking, and rubbing. He doesn't like being left for long without companionship.
Reserved with strangers, some lines or individuals are high-strung and/or timid with new people and new situations. Early and frequent socialization will help build a confident, stable temperament.
Chinese Cresteds are playful with (though sometimes jealous of) other pets.
Though independent and somewhat willful, he is also bright and responds well to the obedience training he needs to control his inquisitive activities. Use reward-based methods.
Some will bark (or howl), and some are clever escape artists who can scale high fences or dig under them.
Housebreaking is very difficult, especially when a male is not neutered, as this somewhat primitive breed is inclined to excessive marking of his territory (i.e. lifting his leg in your house).
If you want a dog who...
- Is small, elegant, and exotic-looking
- Comes in hairless and coated varieties, and many colors
- Doesn't shed much
- Is high-spirited, animated, and agile
- Makes a keen watchdog, but is not aggressive with strangers
- Is usually good with other pets
A Chinese Crested may be right for you.
If you don't want to deal with...
- The fragility of toy breeds (see below)
- High activity level
- "Separation anxiety" (destructiveness and barking) when left alone too much
- Timidity or fearfulness in some lines, or when not socialized enough
- Stubborness (a mind of his own)
- Notorious housebreaking difficulties
- Tendencies to climb or dig to escape from confinement
- Barking
- With the hairless variety, a commitment to skin care
- With the powderpuff variety, a commitment to brushing and combing
A Chinese Crested may not be right for you.
- choosing the RIGHT breeder and the RIGHT puppy
- or choosing an ADULT dog from your animal shelter or rescue group – a dog who has already proven that he doesn't have negative traits
- training your dog to respect you
- avoiding health problems by following my daily care program in 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy
More traits and characteristics of the Chinese Crested
If I was considering a Chinese Crested, I would be most concerned about...
- Fragility. Too many people acquire a toy breed puppy without understanding how fragile a toy breed is. You can seriously injure or kill a Chinese Crested puppy by stepping on him or by sitting on him when he's curled under a blanket or pillow, where he frequently likes to sleep. And Chinese Crested puppies can seriously injure or kill THEMSELVES by leaping from your arms or off the back of your sofa. A larger dog can grab a Crested puppy and break his neck with one quick shake. Owning a toy breed means constant supervision and surveillance of what's going on around your small dog. Chinese Cresteds must always be kept indoors, in a safely fenced yard, or on-leash -- they are just too easy to injure when not under your complete control.
Chinese Crested puppies are NOT suited to young children, no matter how well-meaning the child. Children cannot help being clumsy, and that a child meant well is little solace to a Chinese Crested puppy who has been accidentally stepped on, sat on, rolled on, squeezed, or dropped onto the patio. Even Chinese Crested adults may feel overwhelmed by the loud voices and quick movements that children can't help making -- and stress and shyness (even defensive biting) may be the result.
- Separation anxiety. More than most other breeds, Chinese Cresteds need a great deal of companionship and do not like being left alone for more than a few hours. They become anxious, which they express by destructive chewing and barking. If you work all day, this is not the breed for you.
- Providing enough socialization. Standoffish by nature, Chinese Cresteds need extensive exposure to people and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural caution can become shyness or suspiciousness, which are difficult to live with.
- Mind of his own. Chinese Cresteds can be stubborn and manipulative. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
To teach your Crested to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Chinese Crested Training Page discusses the program you need.
- Housebreaking problems. As a behavioral consultant, I would put the Chinese Crested on my Top 10 List of "Hard to Housebreak." Consistent crate training is mandatory. Sometimes a doggy door is necessary. And some owners never do get their Chinese Cresteds fully housebroken. Territorial marking (unneutered males lifting their leg to pee in your house) is a common problem.
- Fence security. Many Chinese Cresteds climb like monkeys and dig like gophers. You may need higher fences than you might imagine for their small size. You may also need to sink wire into the ground along the fence line to thwart digging.
- Barking. Chinese Cresteds are often too quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be equally quick to stop them so they don't turn into yapping nuisances.
- Skin care. Hairless Chinese Cresteds have delicate skin that must be frequently washed and moisturized.
- Grooming. Powderpuff Chinese Cresteds become a matted mess without frequent brushing and combing. If you can't commit to the brushing, you have to commit to frequent trimming to keep the coat short, neat, and healthy.
To learn more about training Chinese Cresteds to be calm and well-behaved, consider my dog training book, Teach Your Dog 100 English Words.
It's a unique Vocabulary and Respect Training Program that will make your Chinese Crested the smartest, most well-behaved companion you've ever had.
Teaches your dog to listen to you, to pay attention to you, and to do whatever you ask him to do.
My dog buying guide, Dog Quest: Find The Dog Of Your Dreams, will teach you everything you need to know about finding a healthy Chinese Crested. Health problems have become so widespread in dogs today that this book is required reading for ANYONE who is thinking of getting a purebred, crossbred, or mixed breed dog.
If you'd like to consult with me personally about whether the Chinese Crested might be a good dog breed for your family, I offer a Dog Breed Consulting Service.
Once you have your Chinese Crested home, you need to KEEP him healthy -- or if he's having any current health problems, you need to get him back on the road to good health.
My dog health care book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy is the book you need.
Raise your dog the right way and you will be helping him live a longer, healthier life while avoiding health problems and unnecessary veterinary expenses.
Please consider adopting an ADULT Chinese Crested...
When you're acquiring a Chinese Crested PUPPY, you're acquiring potential -- what he one day will be. So "typical breed characteristics" are very important.
But when you acquire an adult dog, you're acquiring what he already IS and you can decide whether he is the right dog for you based on that reality. There are plenty of adult Chinese Cresteds who have already proven themselves NOT to have negative characteristics that are "typical" for their breed. If you find such an adult dog, don't let "typical breed negatives" worry you. Just be happy that you found an atypical individual -- and enjoy!
Save a life. Adopt a dog.
Adopting a Dog From a Dog Breed Rescue Group
Adopting a Dog From the Animal Shelter
|Dog Training:
What Works, and What Doesn't
|Puppy Training Schedule: What To Teach, and When
|Why Homemade
Is The Best Food
For Your Dog
|Teach Your Dog Words
|The Second Best Food For Your Dog
|When Buying a Dog, Are AKC Papers Really Necessary?
Copyright © 2000-2016 by Michele Welton. All rights reserved.
No part of this website may be copied, displayed on another website,
or distributed in any way without the express permission of the author.


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Ohio's large urban districts are undergoing a painful transition, similar to the one already experienced by many of the state's big manufacturers, from sprawling organizations with a corner on the market to shrinking systems struggling to compete for fewer and fewer customers.
Like the majority of the cities they serve, the "Big Eight" school districts (Akron, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown) are suffering from heavy population losses. The Big Eight districts hemorrhaged over 64,000 students combined from 1995-96 to 2005-06. As a result, some urban districts are treading water just to avoid potentially devastating fiscal crises. Consider a few recent examples:
Despite these spiraling deficits and perennial enrollment declines, Ohio's urban districts have still managed to accumulate an astonishing surplus of wealth in one area: school facilities. Thanks to state and local contributions totaling in the billions of dollars, new school construction has taken off in the Big Eight districts, leaving a trail of empty buildings in its wake and making veritable land (or building) barons out of many urban districts. Columbus Public shuttered 12 buildings last year with four more tentatively set to close this spring; Dayton Public has almost two dozen listed "in transition"; and numerous other buildings in Cincinnati, Toledo and Cleveland are lying fallow with limited or uncertain futures.
These urban districts should waste little time leveraging their considerable facilities holdings for financial and academic gains. House Bill 276, recently signed into law by former Governor Taft, can help them do just that. The bill allows districts leasing facilities to charter schools to combine those charter students' test scores with district students' scores. Thus Dayton Public Schools, whose students were outperformed in reading and math in grades 4-8, could not only bring in precious revenue from new lease agreements, but more easily secure their Continuous Improvement rating--or raise it--in future years. And Cleveland Municipal, Ohio's lowest rated district (69 percent of its schools were rated either in Academic Emergency or Academic Watch in 2005-06), could lease much-needed buildings to higher-performing charter schools in return for a way out of chronic academic, and to some extent fiscal, distress. Other cash-strapped districts such as Toledo and Akron would be foolish not to follow suit. Columbus Public Schools is already leading the way with plans to lease a building (or buildings) to the new KIPP school(s)--see here.
Forward-thinking district leaders may want to consider leaving the facilities business altogether--while still racking up the same fiscal and academic benefits. One option would be to create a "Real Estate Trust" (Center for Reinventing Public Education has written extensively about this)--an independent nonprofit entity, perhaps in partnership with local stakeholders, that would plan and oversee new construction; broker the sale or lease of unused property/buildings; research and offer cost-savvy, creative options for districts' changing facilities needs; and even manage existing buildings and properties. By engaging the expertise of business leaders, real estate brokers, and political officials, a Real Estate Trust could leverage district assets more effectively and get better returns on district facilities (one such trust is operating in Portland, Oregon--see here). And district officials, most of them ill-suited to brokering real estate deals, could turn their full attention to the more pressing task of raising student achievement.
With inauspicious enrollment forecasts, looming deficits, and a finite supply of local and state funding, it's time urban districts practiced a little alchemy--by turning brick-and-mortar to fiscal and academic gold.
May 18, 2015
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Livermore Travel Guide
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Holiday Inn Express Livermore
3000 Constitution Drive, Livermore, United States
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Livermore
720 Las Flores Rd, Livermore, United States
Courtyard Livermore
2929 Constitution Drive, Livermore, United States
Hilton Garden Inn Livermore
2801 Constitution Drive, Livermore, United States
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Passage � Livermore...
... pour une super chambre pas ch�re !!! Et rencontrer une dame qui se lave les cheveux avec du liquide ...
Rodger's Camping Trailers
Just back from what I hope is my final trip to Roger's Camping Trailers in Fremont for last minute parts and supplies. These folks are super helpful and know everything there is to know about travel trailers and 5th wheels. We have purchased two ...
Dropped off Jimmie
End of the trip, dropped off ...
The photos are finally all here
HELLO!!! I just wanted to give a brief update...I have been in California for about 2 weeks. I started in L.A. where I was a speaker at a convention on dolphin therapy. The convention went great, and I made some really good connections. One of the ...
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Wente Vineyards Estate Winery
5565 Tesla Rd., Livermore, California, United States
Fenestra Winery
83 Vallecitos Road, Livermore, California, United States
Thomas Coyne Winery
51 E. Vallecitos Rd., Livermore, California, United States
Poppy Ridge Golf Course
4280 Greenville Rd., Livermore, California, United States
This public course's three nines are named for area grapes: Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Merlot.


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Thread: New Fragrance: Odin 04 Petrana
From nstperfume.com:
New York-based clothing retailer Odin will launch Odin 04 Petrana, a new fragrance:
Transported to a Jordanian desert landscape covered in blooming black iris comes a floral scent that reveals its dark complexion from earth to air. The heart of Petrana emerges from a foundation of wild orris root and green violet leaf absolute. Herbaceous coriander, spicy pink pepper and deep purple cassis float above the blooms infusing luminous freshness.
Odin 04 Petrana was developed by perfumer Jean-Claude Delville; additional notes include heliotrope, vetiver and white musk.
Odin 04 Petrana is available now for pre-order at Aedes, $110 for 100 ml.
Please feel free to check out my Swap Thread - Patou pour Homme, L'Instant de Guerlain PH Extreme, Dior Homme Intense, Pure Malt, Pure Coffee and many more! Click Here For My Swap Thread
Thank you for the news, JC. The description sounds dreamy!
"...her fragrance all in my keeping; softly she comes in the night." Lyrics, Gordon Lightfoot, "Softly."


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Anyone ever powdercoat a plow??
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Fox International Channels, the international TV network of AMC megahit The Walking Dead, has teamed with the series' creator/executive producer Robert Kirkman and co-producer Circle Of Confusion to develop a drama series based on Kirkman's upcoming comic book series set in the world of exorcism. Told through the Kirkman prism, the series follows a young man, Kyle Barnes, who has been plagued by possession since he was a child. Now an adult, he embarks on a spiritual journey to find answers but what he uncovers could mean the end of life on Earth as we know it. Kirkman will executive produce through his Image Comics Skybound imprint alongside The Walking Dead executive producer David Alpert of Circle of Confusion. "Exorcism has captivated movie audiences all over the world but has never been explored on television," said FIC's EVP Sharon Tal Yguado. "Robert Kirkman, who forever changed the scope of Cable TV with The Walking Dead, possesses an unparalleled talent of telling big concept stories in a smart and incredibly genuine way." (photo: Matt Hoyle)
'The Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman & Fox Int'l Channels Team For Exorcism Series
8 Comments
So Kirkman gets shows made before they're even comic books? Not a bad way to make a buck.
Roy Lee is already doing THE EXORCIST. Roy Lee is a producer. Circle of Confusion only produces Carbon Dioxide and Bodily Waste. Don't tune in to this anytime soon!
As much as I still would like to see an "Invincible" series or show, I'd prefer a new book from Kirkman, so I'm REALLY REALLY GLAD it looks like that's happening.
Isn't just the same plot as Supernatural?
Damn, I LOVE this show. Again, it beat out ALL the networks in last nights ratings.
Next week when Rick and The Governor meet, it will be a ratings EXPLOSION!!!!!!!!!
So this is where Kirkman rips off every EXORCISM movie and novel that's ever been made and then convinces himself he invented the genre? Every interview with this man is a cringe fest. Can't wait!
Robert Kirkman is so attractive even that picture is pretty hot
Classic network overreaction to a one-hit wonder. This has "Freakylinks" stink all over it.


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There are many ways to make chili. Some believe it should never have beans. Some like it spicy. Some like it sweet. Some like it with ground beef, while others like turkey or sausage.
Well this chili has a little bit of everything for everyone. Although I will say that if you don't like heat, I wouldn't try this. It's not super spicy by any means but if you don't like a somewhat spicy chili, then I'd suggest making the chili I make in my chili half smokes recipe. Just omit the half smokes.
This chili combines bison meat, cannelli beans, kidney beans, guajillo peppers, and a bunch of other surprises to make a rich and deep chili. It does require a bit of cooking time to really get all the flavors going, but that's how it goes with all good chilis.
I recommend serving this with some good cornbread (I made some but failed to take pictures....will do next time) and shredded cheese. Oh, and beer. And football. If you are into those things, like our household.


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Repairs will result in overnight water service interruption tonight
EL PASO, Texas - El Paso Water Utilities has identified immediate repairs needed at a facility in Northeast El Paso with the repairs requiring an interruption of water service beginning at 10 p.m. today, Jan. 25.
Service is expected to be restored early Saturday morning.
Customers on O'Donnell St., O'Brady Place, O'Riley Lane, O'Rourke Lane, O'Dell Drive, O'Hara Drive, O'Connor Drive, O'Toole Drive, and O'Brian St. in the Future Land subdivision as well as customers on Lynn Field Rd., Edge of Texas St., and State Line Dr. will be affected.
EPWU crews have scheduled the repairs for overnight to minimize the impact on residential and commercial customers.
EPWU appreciates the patience of its customers as the utility make these repairs which are necessary to continue to provide reliable water service.


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May 29, 2008
skippy Calls For Boycott Of Dunkin Donuts For Appeasing Right-Wing
Right-wing bloggers recently went nuts because a woman in a Dunkin Donuts ad wore a scarf that, if put on her head, might look like a Muslim woman with a scarf on her head. (No, I'm not kidding.) The called for a boycott of Dunkin Donuts.
Dunkin Donuts promptly gave in and canceled the ads. By doing so they demeaned women who wear scarves, not to mention supporting the right-wing blogger claims that a woman wearing a scarf (not even on her head) is a terrorist.
See actual photos here: skippy the bush kangaroo: time to stop buying the donuts - an action alert!,
we say, what's good for the batshit insane is good for the logical.
here's dunkin' donuts contact form. why not email them and let them know that you will no longer be buying their donuts or coffee or any product because their actions, at worst, in effect condemn all who wear scarves, and at best, are just plain looney?
Posted by Dave Johnson at 6:32 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
March 28, 2008
The Republican Party's Pastor
We've been hearing a lot about Barack Obama's pastor, but very little about the Republican Party's pastor.
So go read about it over at Talk to Action: The King of America: A True Story of Washington Gone Mad,
When members of Congress bow down to a foreign cult leader who publishes a major newspaper, and no one seems to care, just how crazy have our politics become?At the same site, read Neil Bush, the Rev. Moon, Paraguay and the U.S. Dept. of Education,
Over the past several years, Neil Bush, the younger brother of President George W. Bush and the son of former President George H.W. Bush, has made several international trips of behalf of the Reverend Sun Myung Moon's assorted enterprises. In late February, Bush called on Paraguay's president while in the country as a guest of a business federation founded by the Rev. Moon.
Posted by Dave Johnson at 4:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
March 24, 2008
Moon And The Republicans
Please watch this video about the Reverend Sun Myung Moon and his organization's political influence with the Republicans. This is an important story. Moon, for example, owns the Washington Times. Front groups set up by his organization have been receiving millions of tax dollars from the Bush Administration.
And definitely get the new book on Moon, Bad Moon Rising, by John Gorenfeld
Posted by Dave Johnson at 11:15 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
December 24, 2007
Romney and Scientology?
I missed this in April ... Romney Favors Hubbard Novel,
When asked his favorite novel in an interview shown yesterday on the Fox News Channel, Mitt Romney pointed to "Battlefield Earth," a novel by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. That book was turned into a film by John Travolta, a Scientologist.I ask this in all seriousness, is it possible to even know about this novel if you are not involved in Scientology - much less say it is your favorite novel? OK, it's possible, but is it possible for an educated person who does know about the novel to not know that it is Scientology? (Never mind that it is a candidate for worst movie ever made.)
A spokesman said later it was one of Mr. Romney's favorite novels.
"I'm not in favor of his religion by any means," Mr. Romney, a Mormon, said. "But he wrote a book called 'Battlefield Earth' that was a very fun science-fiction book." Asked about his favorite book, Mr. Romney cited the Bible.
What is Mitt Romney doing mixed up in Scientology? It's possible that he has had the kind of life that makes a person vulnerable to their recruitment - as well as a target.
Posted by Dave Johnson at 8:41 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
December 23, 2007
Happy Holidays
Espresso left us this year, but now she has all the muffins she could want.
Buddy still has to suffer indignities...
Happy Holidays from the Johnsons!
Posted by Dave Johnson at 2:38 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
December 6, 2007
Video - I Am A Muslim
Through the LinkTV One Nation Many Voices contest. Go see. And if you make a film you can win a bunch of money.
Posted by Dave Johnson at 1:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
October 23, 2007
IS Greed Good?
This piece originally appeared at the Speak Out California blog.
"Greed is good." That line from the 1987 film Wall Street shocked the country with its blatant articulation of the 1980s-era Reagan philosophy of greed. Twenty years ago it was still a shock to civilized people to hear such a vulgar statement promoting self-interest over community. From the movie,
The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that: Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right; greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms, greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge - has marked the upward surge of mankind and greed, you mark my words - will not only save Teldar Paper but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA.Greed used to be considered one of the "seven deadly sins." Religions warn against its harmful effects on people and the greater community. Buddhism warns that greed is one of the three poisons. W.Jay Wood wrote in Christianity Today,
Greed is an inappropriate attitude toward things of value, built on the mistaken judgment that my well-being is tied to the sum of my possessions....Greed alienates us from God, from our neighbor, and from our true self.But twenty years after being shocked by the promotion of a "Greed is good" philosophy much of the public instead buys into the consumer culture of greed and self-interest over public-interest. How has this change come about?
It had help. For example, John Stossel, co-anchor of ABC's 20/20 and host of ABC's John Stossel Specials reports for ABC radio, and ABCNews.com wrote a 2006 opinion piece titled Greed Is Good, which he posted at the far-right Townhall site (and many other far-right sites), Stossel writes,
If pursuing profit is greed, economist Walter Williams told me, then greed is good, because it drives us to do many good things. "Those areas where people are motivated the most by greed are the areas that we're the most satisfied with: supermarkets, computers, FedEx." By contrast, areas "where people say we're motivated by 'caring'" - public education, public housing etc. - "are the areas of disaster in our country.... How much would get done," Williams wondered, "if it all depended on human love and kindness?"This Stossel piece is derived from a 1999 20/20 episode of the same name, and for years was widely promoted and distributed as a "Greed" teaching kit for classrooms by the Palmer R. Chitester Fund, Inc.
The accompanying teachers guide (PDF document), included such "educational" tidbits as,
The video argues that "the more government tries to help, the worse things get" and uses the circumstances of the Lakota Sioux tribe in South Dakota as an example. Would the Lakota Sioux tribe be more prosperous without government support? What evidence would support or refute this argument?and,
Some say that decreasing tax rates stimulates the economy by enabling workers to keep more of the money they earn. As a result, they have added ability to put money back into the economy by spending, saving and investing. Others accept high tax burdens believing that the cost of government is justified based on all of its programs and agencies. The video shows an example of the typical two earner household- Bill and Mary Thurston of St. Louis, who both work from January until May to pay their share of annual taxes. Do you think American taxpayers are getting their money's worth? Which taxes do you think are/are not justifiable?and,
Have students research reports of government waste and report the most egregious cases they can find. Have them detail specific examples of what could happen to a private company that operated in the same manner.Anti-government propaganda like that is "educational?" Of course not. But there it is, with the credibility and celebrity of both ABC and Stossel backing up the pro-greed, ideological message.
A 2000 Salon.com article titled Prime-time propagandist, said,
"Stossel in the Classroom" is a series of study aids that includes Stossel's popular ABC News special reports, accompanied by study guides written by two conservative economics instructors at George Mason University. The study guides are emblazoned with a big blue ABC News logo and Stossel's face. ABC News and Stossel had almost nothing to do with the development of "Stossel in the Classroom," but the product is deceptively packaged to look like an ABC product.Who is the Palmer R. Chitester Fund that distributed these so-called study materials? Media Transparency describes The Palmer R. Chitester Fund as follows:
The Palmer R. Chitester Fund was created by the combative Bob Chitester, with startup money from the Bradley Foundation, to create right wing "popular" media, and lately has taken to selling educational materials based on the error-prone reporting of ABC TV's arch-conservative correspondent John Stossel. It's Idea Channel distributes "intellectual" videotapes on conversations between mostly members of the right wing movement on topics ranging from political science to economics to history.The Fund is now part of Chitester Creative Associates. It's President Bob Chitester proudly declares,
"Over 80% of U.S. secondary schools are now using at least one of our teaching units."The Fund receives grants from numerous sources to help it distribute similar teaching materials. (One source, for example, is the John Templeton Foundation. John Templeton, such a radical anti-government conservative that he renounced his US citizenship in 1968. Yet, in 2007, Templeton was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People (Time 100) under the category of "Power Givers.)
The Salon article mentions some of the other sources and participants,
One contributor to the "Stossel in the Classroom" series is the John M. Olin Foundation, an organization that popped up regularly in stories detailing Hillary Clinton's "vast right-wing conspiracy" during the investigation and impeachment of President Clinton. For three decades, the Olin Foundation has funded many of the most influential institutions and individuals on the right. Board member and conservative columnist Walter Williams' professorship at George Mason University is also underwritten by Olin.Yes, some of this is old news - to some of us. But it is worth rehashing because it helps tell the story of disturbing changes in our culture. In the time since the statement "greed is good" shocked us our society certainly has become more greedy and self-interested. And in that time society has become much more of an on-your-own, in-it-for-yourself society as contrasted with a "we're-all-in-this-together, take-care-of-each-other" society. Certainly the "free market"-oriented one-dollar-one-vote"value" has clearly come to dominate over the humanitarian and democratic value of one-person-one-vote.
Chitester Fund is a conservative foundation, sporting John Fund of the Wall Street Journal editorial page, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Williams among others on its boards. Text on the Chitester Fund Web site describes the organization's mission: "We are particularly interested in illuminating the prerequisites of a free society -- (with an) emphasis on projects that examine the role of government and explain the interrelationship of economic, personal and political freedom," code for a closeted conservative group. [emphasis added]
The "economics education" effort described in one example here is just the tip of an iceberg - of a huge effort to push America's public attitudes rightward. Some have estimated that spending on the conservative movement's "message machine" is over $300 million dollars per year.
What can we learn from this? One thing we can learn is that it is possible to move America's public attitudes and change our culture. The so-called conservatives were certainly able to accomplish this. We can even see and learn from how they did it. It wasn't easy and it wasn't inexpensive, but they proved that a systematic effort to educate the public certainly can succeed.
I think it is time that progressive-minded Americans begin to put resources of our own into an effort to educate the public about the benefits to them of values like democracy (one-person-one-vote vs one-dollar-one-vote) and community (taking care of each other rather than everyone on their own and out for themselves). We must do this to restore the country that our Founding Fathers envisioned.
Posted by Dave Johnson at 11:14 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
October 5, 2007
Hillary Letter Of Support For A Moonie Group?
Rick Perlstein in Reporters: man your engines,
Rev. Sun Myung Moon is claiming a "letter of support" from Hillary Clinton. I sure hope he's lying.Does anyone know more about this?
Go read Rick's piece.
Posted by Dave Johnson at 8:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
September 5, 2007
Blogging from the 2007 Human Rights Defenders Policy Forum
I am at the Carter Center in Atlanta to observe the 2007 Human Rights Defenders Policy Forum. The Carter Center brings together leaders of the world's human rights effort for discussions to try to find policy solutions that can help lessen the problem of human rights violations and atrocities that occur again and again in the world. In the next couple of days former President Jimmy Carter will be speaking, as will Louise Arbour, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Karin Ryan, Director of the Carter Center's Human Rights Program writes,
"Why does the international community fail again and again to respond to these crises before they take on catastrophic dimensions?"The ongoing Human Rights Defenders Policy Forums attempt to answer that question and find solutions.
This year's conference brings together human rights defenders of different faiths, to discuss ways that the common traditions of faith in the struggle for human dignity can be utilized to provide new channels for approaching these problems. Karin again,
"What might be accomplished if the reawakening of faith that is taking place throughout the globe were accompanied by a heightened commitment to put a stop to human rights violations in many places where they are ignored?"
So I find myself in Atlanta to observe and write about this conference. Today's discussions are off the record as the participants work to find common areas to discuss in the public conference of the next two days. This gives me a chance to write about what it is like to be here.
What is it like? The Carter Center is a very nice facility, with excellent conference amenities. It includes the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum. (The museum includes a replica of the Oval Office and I hope I get a chance to sneak over and see it. I'll let you know.) The conference takes place in an auditorium, with a horseshoe-shaped table for the approx. twenty international Human Rights Defender participants and ten or so organizational representatives. (There will be more over the next couple of days.) There are two rows of observer tables at the edges of the room, which is where I am. I have an earpiece for translation as people speak if needed. During the coffee break I spoke to a man who showed me the places where agents of his government cut him with a machete.
And that is what my first day as an observer is like. I flew here from California and landed in a nice airport. I am staying in a nice hotel. I am typing on a computer in the hallway of a very nice conference center. I carry in my head what is probably a widely-shared image of an ideal modern, civil life. I might not live that life (or even want to or think it is sustainable) but I feel that many of us reading this probably do share the image, because you are probably reading it on a computer in a modern society. In this Ideal Modern Life we have our jobs. We drive around in cars and go to shops. We consume and have our brand attachments. We watch TV shows and are entertained. We have houses and gardens. And somewhere else in the world these things are happening.
It is the 21st century and these things are not only happening, but the world's ability to confront such problems seems to be diminishing. The forces of racial, religious, national, ethnic, ideological, economic and environmental division seem to be gaining the upper hand. This is a conference where Human Rights Defenders struggle to find ways to help keep them from continuing to happen. The people here come from places where these things happen, but part of their message is that these things can happen when the world does not make it enough of a priority to keep them from happening.
Over the next two days I will be blogging at the Skoll Foundation's Social Edge blog, and cross-posted at the conference's own blog. I invite you to drop in. I'll post summaries here as well, when I can, but mostly I'll be posting there.
Blogging is a conversation. It is interactive. So please join this discussion and leave comments here - or better, leave them over at the Social Edge blog as the conference unfolds.
Posted by Dave Johnson at 10:16 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
September 1, 2007
How People's Thinking Changed
This is a great post on how people's attitudes were shaped in the last few decades. Daily Kos: My neighbor, John
Read down the comments, as well, they're a good part of understanding the thinking.
Posted by Dave Johnson at 8:37 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
June 13, 2007
TV Preacher
Before bloggers, there was Dr. Eugene Scott.
Gone now, though...
Posted by Dave Johnson at 10:38 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
June 3, 2007
Former Canadian Ambassador Say US Already Theocracy
U.S. a theocratic state, says former Canadian ambassador,
Frank McKenna, Canada's former ambassador to Washington, referred to the United States on Friday as "a theocratic state" in which Christian evangelicalism plays a big role in the Republican administration.
"Right now the United States is in many ways a theocratic state, not dissimilar to some of the other religious states in the world where religion has a huge part to play in government."
Posted by Dave Johnson at 5:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
May 31, 2007
Republican Brownback Says The Science On Evolution Is Not Settled
The science on whether smoking tobacco causes cancer is still unsettled. The jury is still out. The science on asbestos, lead in gasoline and paint, DDT, safety of SUVs, ... etc.
And, of course, the science is still not settled on global warming. The jury is still out.
Right. Where have we heard this before?
And here we go again: Republican Presidential candidate Sam Brownback, What I Think About Evolution.
(By the way, who really wrote this?)
Posted by Dave Johnson at 12:34 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
McCain, O'Reilly: It's About Keeping Jews, Blacks and Women Out Of Power
Near the end of the video, there was this exchange:
Bill O'Reilly: But do you understand what the New York Times wants, and the far-left want? They want to break down the white, Christian, male power structure, which you're a part, and so am I, and they want to bring in millions of foreign nationals to basically break down the structure that we have. In that regard, Pat Buchanan is right. So I say you've got to cap with a number.
John McCain: In America today we've got a very strong economy and low unemployment, so we need addition farm workers, including by the way agriculture, but there may come a time where we have an economic downturn, and we don't need so many.
O'Reilly: But in this bill, you guys have got to cap it. Because estimation is 12 million, there may be 20 [million]. You don't know, I don't know. We've got to cap it.
McCain: We do, we do. I agree with you.
Posted by Dave Johnson at 12:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
April 18, 2007
Don't Reward Failure
At Firedoglake: Don't Reward Failure By Giving Money to NARAL,
And what did they do with all that cash? They sat it and didn't do a damn thing, didn't lift a finger to fight Samuel Alito. Worse yet, when the Gang of 14 decided to vote in favor of cloture, they said that they did not consider cloture votes "significant" and would not be considering them in their scorecard. They then went on to add insult to injury by asking their membership to thank Lincoln Chafee and Joe Lieberman for the beatings they delivered with their "aye" cloture vote by pretending that their "nay" floor votes were significant. They then poured salt into the wound by endorsing both "short ride" Lieberman and Chafee over their opponents who made it clear that they would not have voted for cloture for Alito, which gave us the 5-4 decision we have today.Go read.
Don't reward failure. Tell your friends. Don't give money to NARAL when they come knocking on your door to tell you that choice is going down the crapper unless you give them a lot of money, because what you'll be giving money for is Nancy Keenan's ability to point her little pinky over tea at Washington cocktail parties and tut-tut over the state of choice in this country at the hands of the fundamentalists. She'll take no responsibility for the fact that NARAL will not fight, will not back those that fight, and worse yet, that NARAL sucks up all the pro-choice money so nobody else can mount a meaningful fight, either.
Posted by Dave Johnson at 7:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
April 4, 2007
Pelosi Wears Scarf - Wingnuts In Full-On Frenzy
Sheesh. Speaker Pelosi wore a head covering whie visiting a mosque, and the right-wingers are in a frothing, seething, full-on anti-Muslim racist frenzy.
Never mind that Laura Bush and Condoleeza Rice ALSO wore headcoverings when visiting mosques, as well as when visiting the Vatican.
So here they go: Pelosi Allows Radical Muslim Propaganda Coup,
"The anti-American propaganda this woman has given the very people who want to totally destroy us is immense."Here's a good one,
"Tired of being beheaded, hijacked, kidnapped and terrorized? Try Dhimmitude! It's 100% submissive and guaranteed to appease the enemies of freedom. Well, temporally anyway. Because that's all we have to do you know, is just be nice to them. [. . .] The left wants peace at any cost. Terrorism pays."Another, with a dose of pure anti-Muslim racism:
"I guess the Muslims will give her props for the head scarf, after all she is playing the role of a good dhimmicrat. Then again, depending on how sensitive the Syrians are feeling, she may of sparked another international "Religion of Peace" murderous rage."See also Has speaker Pelosi committed sedition by her visit to the mideast?
Go see the pics and read The Mahablog : Pelosi Wears Scarf; Righties Bark at Moon
And to really understand America's right, read the 800 comments here.
Posted by Dave Johnson at 10:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
March 4, 2007
Please read slacktivist: McFaith: A dialogue (part 1)
Don't mess with my religion. Bigot.
Posted by Dave Johnson at 8:07 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
February 22, 2007
Bush Forming Religious Police?
Hoo-boy here's one to worry about. Attorney General launches religious freedom initiative at SBC meeting. (SBC means Southern Baptist Convention.)
U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales met with Southern Baptist leaders Feb. 20 to unveil a new Department of Justice initiative aimed at educating Americans about their religious liberties and to ask for the Southern Baptist Convention's help in identifying and reporting abuses of those liberties. [emphasis added]Great. The government working with the Southern Baptists to identify and report abuses of their religious liberties. And of course, the usual right-wing gibberish accompanies this new campaign,
"Why should it be permissible for an employee standing around the water cooler to declare that 'Tiger Woods is God,' but a firing offense for him to say 'Jesus is Lord'?" he said to vocal affirmation from Executive Committee members. "These are the kinds of contradictions we are trying to address."Has anyone, anywhere ever been fired for saying "Jesus is Lord?" Of course not.
So it looks like we are about to experience a massive wave of right-wing Christians screaming that they are being victimized every time a Jewish or Muslim person appears on TV or gets a job they wanted. Backed by the full resources of the government. Just great.
With the unveiling of the "First Freedom Project," the Department of Justice is creating a department-wide Religious Freedom Task Force, the attorney general told Executive Committee members. Another component is the initiation of a program of public education to ensure that people know their rights. Gonzales said the justice department will hold a series of regional training seminars for leaders interested in religious liberty issues, starting in Kansas City, Mo., March 29.
Also, the department has launched a new website, firstfreedom.gov, with information on the laws they enforce and how to file a complaint. Justice officials will be distributing informational literature to religious organizations, civil rights groups and community leaders on how to file a complaint, Gonzales said.
Imagine if the religious right's beloved "war on Christmas" was a year-round affair. Legions of lawyers ready to pounce on school and civic administrators, the persistent neon buzz of ACLU-paranoia in the air, Pat Robertson and the Bill O'Reilly Persecution Complex (nice band name...) pressuring corporate America to replace every "gezundheit" with a "God bless you." Now, imagine if the leaders of the effort weren't just the Jerry Falwell Admiration Society, but instead the full weight and force of the Department of Justice...Watch your backs. Here it comes.
Posted by Dave Johnson at 9:08 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos
November 24, 2006
Door-To-Door Athiests Bothering Mormons
Hooray! Go see Door To Door Atheists Bother Mormons
Australian filmmaker John Safran is so fed up with mormons ringing his doorbell early in the morning that he flies to Salt Lake City Utah and tries to convert Mormons to atheism. Needless to say, the locals were not pleased."Blessed is the man who goes around banging on epople's doors at all hours of the morning for he truly is Jesus's little friend."
Posted by Dave Johnson at 1:38 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack | Link Cosmos


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We went tent camping for 10 days and then stayed in hotels for the next week. This is a list of places we went and what we thought of them. I have put a * in front of all the places that are only if you are camping.
1) CO has the greatest summer temperature differences between day and night than any other state-summer temps in some areas can be mid-90's (F) during the day and mid-50's at night. Also, sudden thunderstorms, lightning, and hail are not at all unusual on what you were tinking was a sunny hot day!
2) When acclimating to the elevation what matters is where you sleep/spend the night not so much where you spend the day.
3) When they say, "drink plenty of water," they mean it, BUT try to drink small amounts frequently rather than chug-a-lug a huge amount. The latter only makes you need a bathroom when there aren't any available! I suggest a Camelback or any backpack that has a bladder for water-you can ice it up and have cold water for the entire day.
4) Leave enough time to do nothing or to visit places for longer than you planned
Although we were looking forward to visiting Colorado Springs we were disappointed. We could have been in any city in the US that has every hotel, fast food ad tourist "attraction" tha is known. The old part of town was nice but nothing really special but the rest of town was urban sprawl with a nice view. The people we dealt with were all very nice-but that is true all over Colorado. We only went to Colorado Springs because our rental car was cheaper there than in Denver and this is the only reason I can see for returning.
Though advertised as near the airport this hotel took over 1/2 hour to get to at 9pm. The entrance is poorly marked (you need to turn left into a small road and then work your way around and behind the building on the corner.) Our room was clean but the toilet did not flush. The free breakfast was convenient and OK and it was nice to have the choice of eating in the dining room or taking the food back upstairs. This is a good budget place if you simply need a place to sleep.
We chose this campground off the internet and were fairly happy with it. Pluses: the owners and everyone who works there are very friendly and helpful; the pool is nice and open with an "adults only" period in the morning;, the bathrooms/showers are adequate, clean and conveniently open all the time; the washing up facilities (for dishes, etc.) are also convenient; there is a nice but small playground that is good for small children; campsites next to the stream have a nice feel to them and the sound of the water (mostly) drowns out the road noise; it's very convenient to Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs attractions. Minuses: The road noise-even with our site next to the stream, we could hear it all night long. In an RV or a trailer where one is sleeping inside, the noise may be less.
We all (my husband, 10 year old son and I) enjoyed this place. The caves are interesting and if our guide was any indication, the guides are VERY well trained. Our guide was charming and funny while really giving us a lot of information about caves. There is a gift shop up top that you can browse while waiting for your group to go (when you get your ticket you are given a number and time that you will be called-our wait was 20 minutes) I can get a bit claustrophobic but had no trouble down here as the paths are well lit and seem spacious. There is one time that they turn off all the lights (with plenty of warning) so if you have small children who are really afraid of the dark you need to consider that. You can take plenty of pictures so take a camera, as well as a raincoat if it's July or August. When we entered the caves it was a bright sunny and warm day. When we came back out 30 minutes later there was a huge rainstorm and we got drenched running back to the car.
What an incredibly gorgeous place!!! Although we enjoyed some of the places we wnet in Colorad Springs, no-one in my family was impressed with the city and we decided to leave for other pklaces earlier than we'd planned. However, the one place we all wanted to revisit (and did) was this great park. The frst tme we visted was at sunset after a rainstorm ad we only had enough time to drive through . The lighting was great as were all the wonderful red rock formations. The next day we went back so we could send more time and walked around Balanced Rock as well as taking the time to view the film and the visitor's center which is very informative. The last time we went was midday and the place was still fantastic. We hiked around, taking our time to watch a father teach his young son technical climbing (with equipment) on one of the formations. We were also able to watch birds-some with nests up on the high ledges- flying in and around. The parking places are large so there was plenty of parking anywhere we stopped and the paths are well maintained with garbage cans along the way. This place was someplace that you could spend a day exploring or simply visit for a few hours. Even a drive trough is worth it but you that may lead to your wanting to get out and see more. Also, make sure you visit the Garden of the Gods Trading Post wich hasbeen voted one of the best gift shops and it is. They have the usual trinkets but also LOTS of nice stuff from pottery to clothes to art work to rugs and jewelry.
OK, so it was my birthday and I wanted to go to a nice restaurant but we'd just been in a rainstorm and we were still a bit wet. We also were not dressed up but in day clothes. No Problem. When we arrived and asked if we would be admitted, not only were we very cordially welcomed (it was just 6 pm) but we had an incredible waiter and the dinner was not to be believed. Rather than go on at great length about this restaurant suffice it to say that if you are up for a dinner of wild game, or just really good food, you could not find a better place. The review at their site is far more comprehensive than I could ever write. (You can get to it from the link above.)Craftwood Inn has a long history and used to be visited by all sorts of well known people. It may still be, but you are treated as well as anyone else could be. First, our waiter recognized that our son was not thrilled with a menu of unusual items (more below) and right away offered that the chef could cook him a cheeseburger. I opted for the caribou after he told me it tasted like mild lamb and I was blown away. Not only was the flavor terrific but it had the consistency of a brie. I have NEVER tasted a meat so tender. Of course, if you decide you want fish, as did my husband, you will also be glad you did. Though it is a bit expensive, I think each bite of our meals and each sip of the wine (recommended by the chef) was well worth every penny.
Wear a hat, take water and a camera and prepare yourself for either a short (45 minute) or a long (several hours) hike. Florissant Fossil Beds Nationa Monument is part of the National Parks system and very interesting. (It was a definitely suitable substitute for Petrified Forest in AZ which I had to miss when our travel plans changed.) Did you know that there was once a volcano in Colorado, how about a sea ? Florissant was created by a volcano that erupted millenia ago and covered-thus preserving and petrifying- the trees in the area. Later there was a lake and when that drained hundreds of fossils were created. Even a perfect one of a butterfly that even has the colors preserved. There is a very good book store at the entrance but be sure to catch the ranger's talk. The ranger we had was enthusiastic, helpful and very well informed. Because it was the height of the day and getting very hot we decided just to do the small loop to see the petrified trees. The trail was well marked but take a guidebook from the ranger station (entrance) so you have more information about each site. For the more energetic -and not in the heat of the day-the bigger loop with the homestead looked very interesting.
I am not a big one for places like this but it wasn't bad. If you have kids and just want them to have a bit of fun it is worth it. If you want to see what a frontier/mining town looked like-South Park City in Fairplay is far better. We got the combination ticket which entitled us to a tour of the town and its entertainment, a horse drawn wagon ride and a trip on the narrow gauge railway out to Royal Gorge. (Because it was mid-July-when rainstorms in the afternoon are pretty much a given-we spent part of the time running through the rain and were not able to have our wagon ride.) However, we all enjoyed the "gunfights" and the magic shows. Each summer, theater students, from all over the country, work at Buckskin Joe as gunfighters and hotel workers and do a good job at it. The first gunfight we saw was a recreation of a real story and pretty well acted. The second one was a comedy and we all laughed until our sides hurt. After each "fight" there is a magic show in the theater on the street. Our son attended both and had a wonderful time. (One was enough for his parents though it was very good.) We had drinks in the saloon (draught beer and sarsparilla) and spent some time talking to some of the kids who work there. The town is OK. Some of the places are stores with quasi-authentic items but mostly tourist junk, but it was interesting to see some of the memorabilia from the many westerns that have been filmed there. However, so many of the displays were dusty and not well kept that I was a bit disappointed. Then again, this is a place that is just for fun. The last part of our trip was spent in the narrow gauge railway that took us to the edge of Royal Gorge. We had opted not to see more of Royal Gorge than this and we were pleased with our decision. You get a good view of the gorge and the bridge in the distance as well as the river below and it seemed that most of the people on the train with us felt the same way. One note-the gift shop at the train station was tacky and overpriced!
WOW. While researching our trip I came upon this site in the National Parks guide. Then I read some excellent reviews at Trip Advisor and we decided to make this our campsite. (see below for campsite info) First of all, you start to see the dunes from 50-75 miles away. They look like a beige stripe at the base of the Sangre de Christo mountains as you drive along the valley in any direction. We came in from Rte 17 having followed 24 out of Colorado Springs-which is a great drive in itself. When we arrived it was midday and we decided to set up camp before going to the dunes. We got there around 2 pm and went to the visitor's center first. Here is another excellent NPS (National Park Service) bookstore and gift shop as well as educational and fun interactive displays. Our son did everything before he was ready to go out to the dunes. I have seen warnings that things look closer than they are and PLEASE take them seriously. When you leave the visitor's center or any other entrance to the dunes you will have a significant hike across a flat expanse of sand. THEN you get to the dunes. Since our son is 10 he spent much of his time rolling and trying to slide down the dunes. He tried a plastic raincoat and piece of cardboard for sliding but neither worked very well and we were sorry we had not stopped to buy a plastic sled that we heard are sold at the gas station near the entrance. Be careful, when a wind blows the sand can sting and it WILL get into everything. Your shoes should be full before you even get to the dunes but any cameras or other equipment that does not work well with sand in it should be kept covered (ziploc bags work well). We only got about 1/3 of the way up the tallest dune before that afternoon's thunderstorm rode in so, we made our way back to the entrance but had we started earlier, we would have been able to hike all the way. Take water and pace yourself. In any case, the views are great from anywhere and there is something very cool about standing on 750' high SAND dunes where there never was a beach! (The sand was created by the breakdown of the San Juan mountains, to the west, blowing across the valley floor) Oh,if you do not enter from the visitor's center but from the parking lot, the walk to the dunes is not as long and there are showers for getting the kids clean.
See the link above or go the the NPS.org site for Great Sand Dunes Nationa Monument camping for more information.
This was the 2nd campground that we stayed at in CO and it could not have been more different from the first! It was quiet, our view was glorious-the Dunes; we had a nice area with Pinyon Pines providing shade as well as a place to tie our clothesline and a "bear box"-a metal. locking box that we stored all our food and cooking items in. We had ample space for the tent and to put chairs and a table for card games as well as a picnic table. When you enter any of the NPS campgrounds there is a place to stop and get a envelope for payment. After you choose a campsite you tear off the stub and clip it to the post at the site and then put the money in the envelope and return it to deposit it where you first came in. We had a site that not only overlooked the dunes but was a short walk from the toilets and sink. The campground has quite time after 10pm and we slept very well that night.
NOTE: The address above calls this Alamosa but you are actually right outside the small town of Mosca. Alamosa is a good 1/2 hour away. If you need basic supplies the store near the entrance to the park has them but for more stuff or to stock up (as we did, for the next several days) go to Alamosa where you will find supermarkets. You'll also have cell phone reception in Alamosa which is not present in most of the area.
Just by happenstance I picked up a book about scenic drives in CO while we were at Garden of the Gods. When we left Great Sand Dunes, on our way to Pagosa Springs, we saw a line about La Garita (Natural) Arch and decided to visit. It's near Del Norte. I do not have the book any longer and do not have the exact directions but we headed northeast out of Del Norte and then took a county road that was unpaved for several miles through phenomenal rock formations until we saw the turn off for La Garita. (It is National Forest land and it is marked. The GPS coordinates are: N 37 48.833' W 106 22.639' at about 8900 feet ) The hike to the arch is about 300' and easy-moderate. If you like to take the time to see the not so common this is worth the time. You do not need a 4 wheel drive car-we were in a minivan. This would also be a good day trip on bikes.
A nice town with a very helpful visitor's center. We wished we had planned our trip to allow more time here. For lunch the Rose Cafe was very good. There is a candy factory that makes REALLY good fudge-can't remember the name but they are located below street level near the Rose Cafe. We opted for the budget approach to mineral baths and went to the Spa Hotel rather than the more expensive place across the street-it's all the same water. We got towels, shampoo and soap for about $1 in addition to the entrance and spent over an hour there. There is a pool that is warm 84F); a hot tub that is hot (104F) and gender-segregated really hot pools (108F) that are very good for any aches and pains you have-just take off any jewelry you have on-silver turns black. See below for the special places in Pagosa Springs.
The link above does not lead to a website for RMWP because they don't have one yet. It does have their contact info though and this place is well worth a visit if you are anywhere near Pagosa Springs. First of all, they have horseback riding trips. Secondly, they have a sanctuary for wild animals from all sorts of backgrounds. Grizzly and brown bears, timber and grey wolves, bobcats and mountian lions, an elk with the most majestic antlers you have ever seen and Pokey the porcupine, whose favorite food is peanut butter sandwiches, all live here. Get there for feeding time at 4pm and you'll have a good laugh and learn about the animals from one of the caretakers. The people who work here are the nicest and so caring. The grizzly bear is a bag of laughs and a bit of a cut-up, Tomasina, a mountian lion, is 16 years old and lives there with her old mate and son. There are two very chatty geese who will demand your attention when you go near their pond-and any other reason they can think of-and you can see some movie stars as well-3 of the animals have been in movies. The gift store is good as well.
If you are up for beautiful scenery and have a tent, trailer or RV, Teal should be on the list of places to see. When you first leave Pagosa Springs on Piedra River Rd you have no idea what you are in for. After a brief time on paved road passing developments you leave the pavement onto well maintained road (speed limit 20-40 MPH) and past a few more newer developments. Then you start to see Piedra River Canyon (see below) then you drive more (the first time it feels like forever but it's about 15 miles) and then you drive down a short road into some of the most beautiful scenery and one of the best campsites you can find. Stop at the board and get your deposit envelope (if there aren't any, Fred ,the carretaker, lives in site #8-to the left-and will give you one.) Then head to the right where there are 4 sites-the best ones. There you will find sites surrounded by pines, each with a good sized pad-#1 is big enough for 4 tents- and views of Williams Lake Reservoir. You are a short (2 minute) walk from the vault toilets (that are kept scrupulously clean) and the water pump (hand operated-fun for the kids). Fred, and his dog Ginger will come by at some point on his scooter and see if you need anything, give you information and answer questions, should you have any. If you happen to have a hummingbird feeder hang it up and in the morning you will see literally doxens of hummingbirds at it. From your tent you'll be able to see the lake and the mountains-look for the one that looks like the head of an Indian lying down. A short walk will take you to the lake which is a reservoir and which you can walk all the way around. In late July when we were there the raspberries (near the dam) were just getting ripe and there are numerous wildflowers in bloom. If you fish you can do so from the shore or a boat/canoe. If you are there in summer, early morning is the best time to walk as the afternoon usually has a thunderstorm and we even had hail during our stay. There is a fire pit and picnic table at each site as well and you are free to gather your own firewood and kindling-in fact Fred encourages it. You won't have electricity or cell phone reception but you will have peaceful, cool-cold nights and awaken to amazing beauty.
Take Piedra River Road out of Pagosa Springs until you get to the Peidra River Trailhead for an easy-moderate hike with awesome scenery and a perfect picnic spot. The information we read sad the hike is about 3.5 miles long but I have no idea whether that is how far we hiked or not. All I know is that I had to stop to take another picture about every 50 feet because each turn yielded scenery more beautiful than the last as we descended from road side to the river. Beware of the poison ivy along the path although as long as you know it is there ,it is easy to avoid. When you get to te rive at the bottom you can continue along the path that leads several more miles or hike back up. There are nice spots to picnic or have a snack before you return-just remember to take a bag for the trash and hike it back out with you. The hike back up is easy-moderate and will only be strenuous for the most out of shape. Remember water. We saw several families with young children (3-7) who were taking their time but apparently having a good time. Our 10 year old was yads ahead of us all the way in both directions.
We did not actually get to see Chimney Rock itself-other than from the distance-because the day we went there were Native Amercian dancers. If you have the chance to get there for one of their performances DO NOT MISS it. The day we were there we were able to watch Jicarilla Apaches and Aztecs for 2 hours. Because we were en route to Durango and it was late we had to miss the last hour but I will never forget watching people whose ancestors had danced on this same land performing for us. We saw the afternoon performance and the last half hour was with the sun very low in the sky. The sound of the drums, the shells (on the ankles of the Aztec dancers) and the calls stayed with us all the rest of that night.