Wednesday, October 19, 2005

The Bird Flu Pandemic I

Thoughts on the pandemic.

Initial thought? The price of chicken is going to go UP.

Caught between a rock and a hard place; brain rotting Mad Cow or a lack of chicken? My advice, like Eddie Murphy’s in Trading Places, is to put your money in sow bellies.

Seriously. With the report of Nine Dead from Mad Cow in Idaho. You get the distinct impression that all is not quite safe with respect to eating beef. Yes, a good friend of mine says ‘stay away from hamburger’. But that’s just to reduce the dosage. It doesn’t prevent being dosed in the first place. Only avoiding the contaminated food source prevents getting dosed with Mad Cow prions.

Then we have the approaching bird flu pandemic. And YES, it IS a ‘pandemic’. It’s just killing off the birds, for the most part….at the moment. And what’s the immediate consequence? There will be fewer chickens available for dinner. Not to mention what will happen with eggs. The price of both will probably sky rocket, where the bird flu is killing large numbers of birds.

So without beef or chicken or even eggs to eat, pork is going to become something other than “the other white meat”. If the fish go bye-bye too, it’s going to be the ONLY meat.

UPDATE: This is going to put some kinda pressure on the Jews and Muslims.

ADDITIONALLY: I think Cox & Forkum did a cute job with the aspect of Bird Flu vs. Humans. More on THAT idea, later.

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Competitors, Start Your Ovens!

The entry form deadline for the State Fair is tomorrow. So it’s time to decide: heat up the house and prove who’s got the best chocolate chip cookies this side of the Kansas border, or stand around at the fair, lamely saying “I bet mine are better than that.”

It is now, as they say in some circles, time to put up or shut up. The deadline for submitting your entry forms for the Colorado State Fair Open Competitions is Friday, August 12. If you’re the type of Fair-goer who eats chili dogs and cotton candy and then rides the Zipper ‘til disaster happens, this post won’t interest you.

If, however, you’re the sort of Fair-goer who has wandered into the Creative Arts building and wondered where all that stuff came from, this post is for you. It came from people like you and me, who decided to risk a few bucks on entry fees and ingredients to see if they can claim state-wide bragging rights on their quilts, their biscuits, their jams and jellies, their ceramics, doilies and leatherwork. Just go here and download the desired .pdf file. It will include an entry form, instructions on where to pay entry fees, where to take your entries, and when and so on.

Last year I observed part of the pantry judging, and it was very educational. The judges were very nice in giving out baking tips as they critiqued the various items. (And no, I don’t know how you become a chocolate chip cookie judge, but I suspect a degree in home economics helps.) I have the following advice if you want to enter pantry items:

1) The most entries were in chocolate chip cookies and banana bread, so I wouldn’t bother entering those unless I was going after “Queen/KIng of the Kitchen” where you’ll basically want to enter everything in order to increase the odds of getting enough ribbons.

2) Unless the category calls for nuts or raisins, don’t bother adding them because the judge will just pick them out. It seems they can’t hold a bad nut against an entrant, so they’re removed so that they don’t distract from the flavor of what the cook did.

3) A jelly is supposed to be firm, but not so firm that the judge can’t get a plastic spoon into it.

Have fun!

 

 

Thursday, July 28, 2005

Interesting Weather the Other Day

Do I smell the sea?

That was some kinda weather we had last Tuesday.

We had to go up to Denver for a meeting. Got up early and as we were getting dressed, the clothes were already dripping wet. This is Pueblo. This sort of stuff doesn’t happen. Right?

Then, going outside, I distinctly noticed the aroma of rotting vegetation. Smells I had not remembered since some trips to the Panamanian jungle at the behest of our rich Uncle Sam. Yes. It had been raining, but you don’t get that kind of aroma from just a light overnight rain.

Didn’t think much of it. Just enjoyed the interesting memories. And we left for the meeting. Noticed a lot of moisture all along the way north.

The meeting over, we started back. When we got south of Colorado Springs, things got ‘interesting’. It was raining cats and dogs most of the way. And in places they were being pitched by the barrel. Serious issues with trying to see anything beyond the hood, here and there. There wasn’t much lightening associated with this downpour. That’s odd too. The clouds reminded me of clouds I’d seen elsewhere. But I couldn’t quite place exactly where. Furthermore, I noticed something else, what sailors call “the smell of the sea”. And that IS rather odd around here.

Susan didn’t notice the aroma that much.

The way things were going, I thought for sure that Pueblo would be having their best rain all year. But, typically, hardly a drop.

Once home, Susan said she was noticing sea-like aromas. I noticed they were stronger and included something like rotting fish.

Then I remembered where I’d seen the sort of clouds I noticed on the drive; hurricanes. So, I’m wondering….was last Tuesday’s interesting weather the passage of what remains of Hurricane Emily? The one that stormed across the Yucatan late last week?

The plot took it west across Mexico proper to dissipate into a strong weather system. Then, running into the prevailing winds in western Mexico, would it not be blown to the northeast?

Just the other day, the National Weather Service was all a titter about a big cloud of dust coming to the east coast from the Sahara desert. If matter as heavy as dust can make it all the way across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa to the Carolinas, surely the light odors of the Yucatan jungles can be carried here by what used to be a hurricane.

I’ve asked the National Weather Service about this. Maybe they’ll answer….

Monday, May 30, 2005

Own an Older Home? Free Masonry Workshop

No, there’s no secret handshake, just information on what to do about your crumbling mortar.

If you own an older building in Pueblo, you might be interested in the FREE workshop on Historic Masonry and Stone Repair to be held on Saturday, June 11, 2005, from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm at NeighborWorks of Pueblo, 1241 E. Routt Ave. This wil be a hands-on Restore and Rehab clinic for area contractors, city officials, owners of landmark properties, and residents hoping to gain a better understanding of historic improvements. After lectures and lunch on your own, a hands-on product testing demonstration will be held.

The workshop will be led by Chris Koziol, Susan Quinnell (both of CSU—Ft. Collins’ Architectural Preservation Institute),  Dave Woodham (Atkinson-Nolan & Associates) and David Cockrell (Staff Planner, Historic Preservation Commission).

For more information, or to register, call Sandra Daff at Neighborhood Housing Services, 544-8078.

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Masonry & Stone Repair for Historic Buildings

A message from Dave Cockrell of interest to anyone who owns or lives in a building more than 50 years old.

Dear Friends of Pueblo’s Old Houses & Buildings—

    Neighborworks of Pueblo and the Pueblo Historic Preservation Commission are teaming up to sponsor a series of technical assistance workshops for those who care about old houses and commercial buildings!  The workshops will be for owners, contractors, city officials, and anyone who cares about protecting our architectural heritage and the quality of our older neighborhoods.

    The first workshop is on Historic Masonry & Stone Repair, with a focus on foundations.  It will be presented by Chris Koziol and his colleagues at the CSU—Ft. Collins Architectural Preservation Institute. 

The workshop will be Saturday, June 11, 2005, 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM at Neighborhood Housing Services (Neighborworks), at the corner of Northern and Routt in Pueblo.  Questions and registration should be directed to Sandy Daff at Neighborworks of Pueblo, 544-8078.

    Please feel free to spread the word to anyone you think might be interested!  Hope to see you there.

Monday, March 28, 2005

Oops!?!?!!!???

Be careful about what you pray for….

I have been informed that I have been appointed to the Pueblo Area Council Of Governments (PACOG) Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) for Transportation.

I received the notification of my appointment by the council last Friday.

I’ve been in something of a state of bemusement since then, as I gave my chances of appointment a probabilty of less than .1. [Note: For the non-math-inclined less than 10%; closer to 1-in-100.

I do love practicing the skills necessary to put things in their proper place at the proper time. That’s what logistics is all about. The military teaches it with a certain sense of ‘fervor’. It gives you a sense that peoples’ lives might, actually, heaven forefend…depend upon it.

So be it….

...I’m appointed. I’ll serve here for the duration; a year. I’ll find it educational and an interesting exercise of all the skills, that ALL of you, whether you, like-it-or-not, have paid to equip me. [Note: I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed the Army’s Logistics Executive Development Course (LEDC). I got so bent out of shape that whatever it was that came out of it was so much better than what went in.]

I hope to apply everything I’ve been given, by the Army and authorities higher than that, is exorcised, properly….

Regards….

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Attention History Buffs

Do you know a woman who worked for CF&I Steel? Does your house have an intriguing past?

A couple of things regarding local history that you might be interested in:

1) Bessemer Historical Society has started an “oral history program focusing on the experiences of the women who made the steel industry.” Contact Jay Trask, 719-564-7742 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or Virginia Frazier at 719-948-2514. The flier emphasizes that they want to hear ALL the stories of CF&I’s women. The website is here. My father worked with a couple of women who had started at the mill during WWII. Unfortunately, I think they’ve both passed on.

2) HighNoon Productions wants to know “Does your historic home have a story to tell? Have you renovated a historic home and made startling discoveries? If so, we want to talk with you.” They’re doing a program that will appear on HGTV and the application information is available on their website. The reward is a “great room makeover.”

Some interesting projects that look like they’re worth supporting.

Sunday, February 20, 2005

More Evidence of Dysfunctional Business Efforts

If you want to attract business to downtown, don’t put government offices in prime real estate locations.

I understand that the City and County Public Health Department is looking for new, or rather different, office space. I can appreciate that need. However, since we’re on the topic of apparent dysfunctional efforts to attract business to Pueblo, let’s talk about this activity.

It seems that there are five locations on the short-list for Public Health’s new digs. One of which is the old Holmes Hardware building. A very nice old building with lots of history, lots of space, lots of parking and lots of useful years ahead of it. Strategically situated at the intersection of Union and B Streets, on the corner of the restoration effort of the historic Union district, it has a commanding presence that many a major retailor would covet, like an anchor location in a major mall.

So, tell me….what is the logic of putting a government agency there? Will it enhance the retail activities of the district? Hardly. So why are the City Fathers not saying, “No way!” As it is, I have not heard a peep out of them about this.

Chuck Green, in today’s editorial, touched on dysfunctional efforts to attract good business to Pueblo. He also mentioned the city’s apparent disregard for historical structures. Here, with the Publich Health Department’s interest in Holmes Hardware, we see both of these fused in perfect synchronicity. Let’s make a government building out of a perfectly good business opportunity.

What we REALLY need in the old Holmes Hardware building is a retail magnet that will draw consumer business to the historic Union District. Not a government agency that will do nothing for commerce in downtown. Something like Borders. I’ve called Borders about the possibility. And although I didn’t do lunch with their CEO, I got the distinct impression that they’d look at the idea.

I mean, Circuit City is okay. So is Barnes and Noble. But they are not Borders. We could use a bit more serious competition in that segment. More attractive shopping opportunities scattered about the city, especially in downtown. And whereas we cannot do well without the Public Health Department, could they not do their work just as well in one of those big vacant buildings along the southern stretch of Santa Fe?

I think so. But I’m just a grunt. I could run the logistical activities of a heavy brigade in contact with an ‘enemy’ out of a trunk in the corner of a rat-infested, abandoned rail car. Along with the rest of the brigade staff crammed in there with me. I had a roof over my head to keep out the rain and my feet were dry. But I’m easily pleased…when it comes to where I work. Not when it comes to where I live.

Friday, February 04, 2005

New Sidebars

More and better things to see and do and places to go/stay.

I’ve expanded the sidebars (see left-hand side of the blog at the main level). I’d like to tout some of the great places to go, things to do/see and places to stay in town. So I’ve added some sidebar boxes to assist in that.

If you can recommend any others, I’ll be happy to try them out for myself, as best I can. Send an e-mail to ADMINISTRATION.

And Thanks!

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Good-Thai

Sometimes…you just have to do it yourself.

One of the great things about this town is that there is a wealth of culinary delights to be had, if you know where to find them. We’ve got an interesting admixture of ethnicities and tastes in town. Everything from haute cuisine a la Steel City Diner [Note: Which isn’t REALLY a ‘diner’. It’s more like a, ¡horrors!, bistro.] and the Renaissance to places that have great Mexican dishes, but mind you don’t leave expensive things in plain sight in your car while you eat. Then there are the Slovenians and Bohemians and Japanese and Chinese and let’s not forget the Italians.

The town is a virtual buffet.

One of the groups I associated with in another life/town, somewhere north of here, had a special interest group (SIG) that went by the charming appellation of STUFF; SIG for Totally Unabashed Face Feeding. Once a month they’d descend on some hapless restaurant and partake of just about everything on the menu. Once there were thirty of us at a well-known Chinese outfit. All of us around one very large table. Everyone ordered something different from the menu. The food arrived and the plates were whizzing about as if props from a 50’s scifi invasion movie. A fine time was had by all.

Well. Whereas I can find just about anything I want, when I want to avoid cooking, I can’t find anything from southeast asia; Viet Nam or Thailand. So, I’ve had to take up doing it myself. Even as I type the skillet is coming up to temp as the rice noodles soak in hot water. The salmon is thawed. The pud thai sauce…the deliriously, delicious and spicy sauce of limes, peppery powders and sauces, brown sugar and fish sauce is ready to go. [Note: Interesting. It’s been stable for several months in the refrig when I had to juice a bunch of limes and needed something useful to do with the results of all that squeezing. That’s some kinda preservative. They could have transported Nelson’s body all the way from Siam, packed in that, if he’d died there instead of off the Spanish coast. Instead, they used a cask of cognac. It was probably easier to come by.]

At any rate….

...if one can’t find it oneself. Even here. One has to be prepared to do it on your own. Hence learning how to cook. Which brings me back to dinner. It’s TIME…to get back to work. The noodles are drained. The fish is thawed. The skillet is hot. And Life is ‘good’.

Bon appetite!

P.S. If you are interested in the recipe for the pud thai sauce, feel free to drop me an e-mail/line. I’m always willing to share such blessings.