A week of THANKS & GIVING…

This Thursday in the U.S. was Thanksgiving Day. I had meant to post then, as tt has long been my favorite holiday, but things got busy. Maybe I love TG because we just eat lots of good things that aren’t on the everyday menu (like turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes & pies: no goat or mensef this time around) and watch American football (vice futbol internacional), but also because it is a day of reflection. I like to make it a week-long of THANKS & GIVING. Of course, some recent events also make me pause.

Watching the evening network news this week I see that riots in Cairo have left 30+ dead. If I follow the analysis correctly it is that demonstrators are tired of waiting on the military government that took over last spring to hand over power before the elections, and they haven’t “fixed the economy” quick enough. The fiscal health of the nation is dependent on tourism and foreign folks aren’t coming. So, demonstrations & riots should certainly be an attraction… hmm…

On the domestic demo-front (“Occupy Anything”), Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich (yep, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives) had some good analysis of the “Occupy” demonstrators (interfering with people trying to get-to-work in order to pay their taxes that provide government space & services), but added some un-sensitive words: “take a bath… get a job…” On the flip-side, former Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi accused “60 Minutes” the weekly news magazine on TV of a right-wing hatchet job on their piece looking at insider trading by members of our Congress (it isn’t illegal for them, because they make the laws). Many come with little in their portfolio and leave wealthy. I’m starting to like China’s handling of public corruption more-n-more, and it isn’t often that “60 Minutes” is cited for right-wing bias. Many of us are feed-up with anyone and everyone in office and want a return to citizen legislators’ love to see ALL incumbents o-u-t, regardless… yes, yours too. Unfortunately, too much $$$ have come influencing power, corrupting the basis of the Republic (gee, didn’t wee learn anything from Rome?). Anyway, we need to go back to basic necessary programs, and ask: is it sustainable? If not, change it to make-it-so, Bottom line: everyone will need to be involved in the hurt.



4 that roomed & roamed: Phil-Mike-Scott-Steve in '71

Lost a comrade-in-arms this past week: Michael (Mike)Taylor a vet of Vietnam (& VVAW) was a roomie in Denver in the early 70’s. He’d been a Sgt. With USMC before we met. He had a career with the railroad, but I knew him as a sensitive poet. RIP Michael.

Talked with several former colleagues this week. A special one, Cindy Schroder, that wrote the book A Hunt for Justice, has begun her next non-fiction based on some of the cases we (FBI, Fish & Wildlife, and National Park Service) worked together. Should be interesting read, stay tuned…

http://www.amazon.com/Hunt-Justice-Story-Undercover-Wildlife/dp/1599218941/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322242383&sr=1-1

THANK YOU to the many that have served & given…

VVAW on-The-Mall '71

The other day I was doing some weights work at Santa Fe Community College’s Resistance Training Center (aka: gym) and I thought how proud the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) would be about how far we’ve come with an entire center dedicated to their efforts for social justice & change. As a VVAW vet of the Occupy the DC Mall (April ’71), I wondered how long the courts would go along with present encampments around the country (guess we know now). As I recall, US Court in ’71 said we couldn’t make any “preparations to sleep,” so our stay was short in comparison. Of course, the whole “99%” thing is rhetorical hogwash that reminds me of Spiro Agnew’s “Silent Majority.” Neither he, nor the “Occupy movement” represent much beyond themselves. They certainly don’t speak for a majority in this Republic.

Iron Age copper pit - steps

BTW- appears that Petra Archaeological Park, Jordan: Phase III might be a go for this next spring (inshallah).

As I put on a Bureau of Land Management Volunteer shirt today I realized that like many I am a volunteer for a myriad of agencies & organizations: National Park Service, Forest Service, NM State Parks, NM Historic Preservation Div., Santa Fe County Open Space, etc.  We have so many of US that make our land work, and I prefer to think it isn’t broken beyond repair (yet). We could sure use some lube-oil-filter maintenance though.

I want to start by again thanking ALL of our veterans of military service. I know personally that it was… often challenging. In addition, I want to herald our public servants, especially emergency services personnel for their contributions to public safety & welfare of citizens.  I’ve noticed that those that sometimes cry loudest about perceived injustices haven’t “been there, done that” in putting their lives in “Harm’s Way.” I am reminded that it takes the warriors & the healers to bind and protect the villages.

Of course, those that have known me awhile realize I am constantly singing a hymn unto our teachers – every occupation & profession owes them. I’ve written more than one op-ed pointing that out. Even though I was a less than average student through high school (tried to make-up for it in college and with my chosen profession/s), would I have evolved into an interest for Oriential Archeology (yes, I can even spell it both ways) had it not been for Pete LiPera? I can’t say “THANK YOU” enough times to those that impart their wisdom to us in oh so many ways…



Pete LiPera - Eastern Civilization* (and so much more), Burbank, HS

*- I thought the class was going to be about New Jersey.

Armistice Day 2011 (aka: Veterans Day in USA)





Nephew Evan

Dad & Mom

Just want to say a very quick THANK YOU to ALL veterans and those that have served in so many ways on this special day: 11.11.11 (more later)

Father-in-Law Charles Medici



Me (a long time ago)

1st person that can triangulate which Street in Burbank, CA this photo was shot on wins a See's Candy gift certificate.

Rear View Mirror: Retrospective

Jabal Haroun trail

           Been home “a work week” for the good folks of Petra Archaeological Park (PAP) and Wadi Rum Protected Area (WRPA), and they’re enjoying a Friday (“holiday”). Of course many are working, being year-round operations. I’ve been thinking about the many challenges facing PAP & WRPA. They are both World Heritage Sites, being managed by a local (“Region”) Development Authority that is very knowledgeable about the positive aspects that tourism has on the local economy. When we talk about “economic engines” and infusion of outside capital these are prime generators.

vendor & mother (breaking rocks)

           However, there are forces at work that makes one ask: is it sustainable? While in-country the authorities often cited the realities of “Arab Spring” in nearby countries for their justification to move slowly & softly with the enforcement of conservation regulations put in place to protect the character of their special places. Meanwhile pressures are knocking on the door wanting a piece of the action. Various activities and pursuits, that aren’t in keeping with park/protected area principles, want a slice-of-the-pie here-n-there. I recall seeing about a dozen young vendors each day (usually young girls that should’ve been in school) selling colorful rocks quarried from the wadis (canyons/arroyos) of PAP; sometimes you’d watch their parents hammer the stone from its ancient location right in front of you. Sure, the place is called Petra and there is plenty of rock, but there used to be a lot more petrified wood at Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona) too. The fact is that parks & protected areas can’t be “all things for everybody.” They need to be conserved in such a manner as that will retain the integrity for which they were established, and that will provide the desire for visitors to continue to want to experience. Otherwise, they’ll take their tourist dinar/dollar/euro/pound/shekel/yen/yuan to someplace that will provide them with their desired results.

           Case in point: at present ATV’s operate outside WRPA, in the villages and buffer zone that encircles the “Protected Area.” One of the degradations that they’re grappling with at present is the exponential growth in tour trucks, and of course the tracks they leave behind (almost everywhere, including management areas designated as “wilderness”). I certainly hope the ATV can be kept in zones outside WRPA, for they’ll certainly have a potential impact on that World Heritage Site (I wonder if any World Heritage Sites allow ORV or ATV recreational use?). “If” allowed in (for economic growth sake) they’ll be jeopardizing: unique ecology, World Heritage Site status, visitors wanting to make this a destination. It is not too late, but pro-active change in management needs to be nurtured and allowed to grow with local partnerships. It is in everyone’s best interests. After all, eco/heritage tourism is sustainable given you protect the resources that made it viable to begin with.

           Being home, I’ve also been exposed to our euro-centric mass media. I heard an interview with a spokesman for “Occupy Oakland” the other day on NPR, and I was struck instantly by the rhetoric that took me back to the VVAW (Vietnam Veterans Against the War) daze. I recall many instances of calling for action & social change (plus being tear-gassed at an outdoor Jethro Tull concert) back in the day of ‘Revolution Now!” Some of the built up anger and verbal expressions are all-too-familiar. But, things have changed with Americana over the past 4-decades/2-generations, as they did from the 4-decades before that (seems wealth-gap and a call for socialism was a concern 80-years ago too). As the chants & slogans changed that evening to Molotov cocktails, I wondered what the difference was between the <.1% involved here with those recruited by “freedom fighters” elsewhere. I came up with one-word: geography.

Here is a link to a catchy tune direct from Buffett Hotel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGbrCJfgH8s 

Ad-Deir (The Monastery)