Tahoetopia

Storm Troopers at Tahoe?

I'm not the only one who's paranoid about law enforcement, especially when it resembles Haiti's Touton Macoutes. According to a current poll, 11 million American adults view the government as their enemy. Fortunately, only 10,000 of these people are members of armed militia groups of which there are at least 224 now in operation.

Uncivil Liberties Becoming Way Too Common

"Put that thing on a leash," he spat.

This tale isn't that interesting. The question is why was this guy so rude? What made him think I'd accept it? Does he always push his luck with strangers? No doubt he has his story. My view is that he was a little man sorely testing the patience of a big man who does almost anything to avoid confrontation.

The Beautiful and The Damned

Only one generation apart themselves, In 1995 Jerry Garcia, 53, died of a heart attack brought on by decades of drug abuse. A few days later, Mickey Mantle, 63, died of complications resulting from decades of alcohol abuse.

Entrepreneuring Ain’t for Sissies

Lately owning your own business is enjoying a revival. Newspapers, magazines, and books carry romantic success stories about new enterprises here and there. As most who have tried will attest, however, for every success story there is a pile of sad ones. It is easy to step onto the own-your-own-business playing field but difficult to score a touchdown.

Casablanca

Casablanca opened in theaters in 1942. At the time, the real Nazis occupied Casablanca along with most of Europe and Northern Africa. In Hollywood's version, the white suit Paul Henreid wore in playing Victor Lazlo represented civilization.

In Search of Golden Trout

As most anglers are hardy outdoorsy people who enjoy catching all manner of fish nearby to civilization, the golden trout enthusiast is the Henry Stanley-in-search-of-Livingston of fishermen. Going after golden trout can become like a fishing safari into unexplored regions of the Sierra’s dark continent.

Truckee River Dam--New Look

Contractors completed the initial phase of construction last week, allowing the new bridge pedestrian crossing to open on the east side of the dam. Since then, pedestrians, runners, bicyclists, rollerbladers, and strollers all have been exploring the scenic new crossing.

Bachelorhood in the Sierra

Once, being a never married, middle-aged male was considered a pretty good gig. Instead of becoming part of the food chain one unfurled the Jolly Roger. Instead of capitulating to the budding need for ritual one slipped a condom on the male/female war zones and ran with the wolves.

Poulsen Peak Commemoration Honors S.V. Pioneer

The celebration included a hike to the top of the peak where a small monument to Poulsen has been erected out of stones and wood. The group gathered around an American flag suspended on a rock outcropping for a group photo and then circled around the monument, holding hands.

July 4th Quiz

In celebrating the Fourth of July, see how many questions you can answer about "the great act that brought a nation to its birth," the American Revolution.

1. By what trade did Patriot Paul Revere make a living?

2. What the signal agreed upon by patriot messengers to warn Sam Adams and John Hancock in Lexington that the British were coming to arrest them?

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