The Liberal Media

Today I opened my New York Times. That is, I opened my internet browser, I selected NYT among my bookmarks, and I clicked on OPINION. Just like that.

God knows I love living in the Twenty-First Century. Back in the olden days, in the 1980's and 90's, I had to drive to the library to read the New York Times. And if someone beat me to it, I had to wait my turn. Imagine that!

I love the New York Times Op-Ed writers. Each has their own unique soapbox, their own voice and pitch. The one commonality is their ability to communicate, and in my humble opinion, they are experts in the science and art of communication.

Today Gail Collins wrote, "Send in the Clowns, and Cheese," a piece dedicated to poking fun at the G.S.A.'s 2010 Western Regions Conference, held in Las Vegas at the cost of $2,742.50 per bureaucrat-attendee. She makes me chuckle, the way Erma Bombeck makes me chuckle. Even as I'm cringing I'm chuckling ~ and that's a rare talent.

And Nicholas Kristof, whom I've mentioned here before, published "Arsenic in Our Chicken?" Kristof doesn't make me laugh. He doesn't even make me smile. But I love him for what he does, and that is, think. His column today addressed the routine fact that our chickens contain banned antibiotics, antihistamine, acetaminophen and arsenic. Lovely, huh? But it is nothing like last week's column which everyone should read.

Thank you, Ms. Collins and Mr. Kristof, elite members of the liberal media, for entertaining and educating me again today. Both of you are a welcome part of my daily routine, bringing smiles and smirks, fear and frustration, thus making me a better and stronger citizen.
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August and Martin

Today I stumbled upon the story of August Landmesser, a German who is seen in a crowd of saluting Nazis, his arms crossed in defiance. The photo was taken in June 1936 at the launch of a German naval vessel in Hamburg. It turns out, Mr. Landmesser was a member of the Nazi Party from 1931 to 1935, but when his application for marriage was rejected - his sweetheart was a Jew - "Rassenschande" turned him against the party.

It's a sad story of love, not unrequited but unrecognized, and neither the Mr. or Mrs. survived the war. The story has been preserved by the younger of their two daughters, Irene, who published "The Toll of “Rassenschande” on a Family" in 1998.

Today is also the 44th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

And so today I reflect on the lives of two great men. One led a very private life, his one defiant act was "discovered" and distributed by the media almost 50 years after his death. The other led a very public life. He was hailed by friends and hunted by enemies for years and years; I presume his fame affected his inward character as well as his outward behavior and today, we judge him both for what he was and what he was not.

Both men are enigmas, one for the little we know and one for the much that we know. Yet both continue to impact our world by forcing us to look at character and culture. They both cause us to think, to pause, to reflect, to consider. And for that reason, I salute both men. May we continue to learn from them.

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Saving Highgrade

Last Wednesday, Denver held it's breath as the Lower North Fork Fire ignited from old "controlled burn" embers in 85mph winds. Authorities estimate the fire burned at 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit and scorched four square miles in two hours that afternoon. Three people perished and Denver was immediately covered in a thick orange-brown cloud.

The Lower North Fork is a hair's breath south of  Deer Creek & Highgrade roads, the favorite ride of Denver cyclists. It's the beautiful land that lies between Chatfield State Park and the town of Conifer. Today, less than a week later, the fire is 97% contained at 4,140 acres, thanks to a dedicated fire crew. There are still over 500 firefighters battling the blaze today, even as rain turns to snow. 

The early spring blaze has brought to mind how fortunate we are to have firefighters ready, in season and out, to battle blazes in difficult conditions and challenging terrain. I think we take firefighters for granted, until they are suddenly with us, rescuing the life and landscape we love. So Here's to Firefighters ~ thanks for stopping the "Lower North Fork" and for saving Deer Creek & Highgrade.