On my way into the radio station, I saw a bumper sticker on a truck in front of me. It caused me laugh as I read, “Conserve water, shower with a Marine.” It wasn’t that the quote was all that funny, it’s the memory that it brought up. I promised myself that the moment I…

This is a cautionary tale of authority — Stuck was caught between a Rock and a Hard Place. It’ not the first time Stuck had been in this position — but as usual — it was uncomfortable. Rock was the top of the hill. What Rock said rolled downhill. Hard Place was the newcomer — still searching for…

I’ve stopped posting for a while — too much work and lack of sleep are the two main reasons.  Plus I’d like to recharge my internal batteries before heading off on another writing jag. As I wait for my muse to awake, I’ve been playing with a small idea.  Hell, it might be a big idea…

Here’s a break-down of The Iowa Caucus results going back to 1972: 2008 — Democrats: Barack Obama 37.6%, John Edwards 29.8%, Hillary Clinton 29.5%, Bill Richardson 2.1%, Joe Biden 0.9%, Others 0.2% Eventual nominee: Barack Obama Republicans: Mike Huckabee 34.4%, Mitt Romney 25.2%, Fred Thompson 13.4%, John McCain 13%, Ron Paul 9.9%, Rudy Giuliani 3.4%…

In 1855, the miners in Gold Canyon had their best year, to that date. About 200 miners dug up an estimated $100,000 in gold. Thereafter, the collective annual earnings declined. By 1857, this decline had spurred some miners to prospect upper Gold Canyon and the adjacent areas. They looked for gold-bearing gravel, which experience had…

During the first California state legislative session, lawmakers voted to eliminate the right of Indians to vote because they feared the control the Indian peoples might exercise. The Legislature also enacted the “Act for the Government and Protection of Indians.” This law set the tone of Indian-white relations for many years. The act provided the following: The…

Mail service was begun between Salt Lake City and San Bernardino in 1852. This led to stations being built at natural springs along the ‘Old Spanish Trail’ where fodder for horses grew without cultivation. One of these was built-in meadows about 55 miles away from the nearest neighbor to its northeast, which was one of…

In October 1879, former U.S. President Ulysses Grant paid a visit to Virginia City. A parade was held in his honor, at which passed in display several volunteer guard units that had been formed during the Civil War and were still organized. None of these military companies had ever fought a battle. Membership in them…

I was talking with my boss, Dan. He told me he’d been so busy the last few weeks that he’d gotten none of his Christmas shopping done. Then he told me that it would be okay. Why? He has a family tradition of purchasing at least one present for a family member in the final…

The first recorded contact between Indians who lived in what is now known as Del Norte County and white men was June 9, 1828. On that day, the Jedediah Smith party met the Tolowa. However they were not the first as there had been some previous contact with Russian and Hudson Bay fur traders. But…