Unsettling

Unsettling

Unsettling 2025 There’s unsettling data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service on the Rocky Mountain Western Slope snowpack. This is the lifeblood of the Colorado River. We’re looking at the lowest snowpack on record since 1941. A winter that’s been warm and...

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Foolishness

Foolishness

Foolishness 2024 Foolishness rarely strays far from any bureaucracy, in any organization, in any culture, in any era. The raw foolishness of swapping reason and scientific research for ideology seems to be the current fashion in Washington, where something or other...

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Just A Smidgen

Just A Smidgen

Just a smidgen, perhaps only a vague shadow of a smidgen, a pittance, a number buried deep in the monied mists of Capitol Hill. The National Park Service receives less than 1-15th of 1 percent of the federal budget, according to park advocates. Washington DC...

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Quicksand

Quicksand

Quicksand 2025 There it lies, timeless quicksand, ancient and devious, disguised and poised to devour, terrible quicksand that swallows empires, dreams and innocent explorers alike. There it is, savage, silent quicksand mushrooming across parts America’s parched...

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Inviting

Inviting

Inviting 2026 At first he spoke so softly I had to lean in close to hear him.  His speech was lightly accented and formal, with a faint suggestion of something inviting in an illicit way that intrigued me.  There was nothing condescending about his manner and to the...

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Cautious

Cautious

Cautious 2025 Mr. Aziz gave me a practiced nod, cautious and restrained as if attached to well-worn reins.  He smiled softly, seemingly in approval of the intentions of this waiting room décor.  I invited him into my office where he continued to take stock of things,...

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Persian

Persian

Persian 2025 One morning shortly after I moved in, Mr. Aziz came to my office and carefully surveyed my efforts at decoration. The Persian rug from my father’s study fit nicely in the waiting room.  Four dark leather chairs were grouped on opposite walls with a small...

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