"...I’ve seen pitiful weakness,” Steve (House) writes. “I’ve watched myself crawl, belly-down, across a mountainous landscape of fear. Climbing has shown me that I am all of these things: strong and weak, brave and coward, both immune to and at the mercy of the fear of death - all at the same time. Risk is the fee to learn these lessons. The cost is not negotiable. It is a price that, for now, I pay gladly." From: Beyond The Mountain".

Museum Closed

The Modoc County Board of Supervisors closed the museum in Alturas.

This is a really enjoyable museum. When taking my boys camping in the desert or traveling that direction we ALWAYS stopped at the museum. They asked to stop there. We have had the practice of stopping at every small town museum we come across in our travels. The one in Alturas is among the best.

Last week my third generation camped with me and a highlight was to introduce them to this museum. "Closed".

I asked next door about the "Closed" sign. The Chamber of Commerce rep wondered aloud if any of the Board had ever been to the museum. "They didn't see it as valuable to the community." Is this an accurate perception of Board values?

Six other cars stopped to see the museum while we were in the parking lot on a Monday. All were disappointed. Modoc County history is really interesting - Indians, pioneers, nature, ranches, mail order brides, baseball teams, weird stuff that's only in a museum...

I know there are budgets to deal with. I know everyone has their own pet item they believe shouldn't be cut. But... But... This museum had one staff person, plus volunteers. It charged money to get in. It doesn't need to be open every day nor year round. Weekends only? Three days a week?

America is known in other parts of the world as being largely a-historical regarding our own roots let alone that of others. History on this micro scale answers part of the "why did they come here?" question. This answer in turn provides context for "Why are we here?" Together these answers: seen, and heard, and touched in a museum, in a community, in a county, in a state, in a country, in the world - provide ballast for securing the future. Isn't that the purpose of the B.O.S.?

Modoc County has helped contribute to their own county's illiteracy. And mine.

Dear B.O.S.: Open it up to my third generation and the multiple generations in your own valley.

Modoc County
Board of Supervisors
204 S. Court St.
Alturas, Ca. 96101

Here is an interesting article on what the bailout is doing for small businesses: http://ping.fm/VsntV

Our clothes dryer broke this week(end). So far, it's cost $99 to have the repair guy out. Needs another $100 plus in parts. The thing is only 6 years old. Whatever happened to the 20 years washers and dryers used to last?

The repair guy said our washer is a. a lemon; b. going to tank at any moment. $99 buys no hope.

The good news is: Clothes dry fast and cheap outside on the rope I stretched in the backyard for this purpose. However, I remember how it was to wash clothes in the tub and dry them on racks by the stove in the winter. I don't think we'll go back to that period in our life. We'll fix it if it's not too much more. Otherwise, there's a new dryer in our future.

Why doesn't the $4500 you can get for a clunker extend to Whirlpool?

^Flue Season Boss is Master Sweep^
Bob Ferrari is Certified by the CSIA and NFI as a wood, gas, and pellet technician. he qualifies for the NFI Master Hearth Technician.

Report : Air Travel From Redding

I just returned from a business trip to the Midwest. We've all heard about the thinning services offered over the last few years. I'll confirm a few and add one peeve.

Yes, you do get nothing more than a drink and a snack if the flight is less than, (I think), three hours. Therefore, nearly all flights are broken into less than the time required to feed you. This means it takes longer to get where you are going since you have to stop more often, and if you forget to bring food you have to buy an airline sandwich.

Yes, going through L.A. is better than going through San Francisco even though you have to change terminals because there are fewer delays or canceled flights, or canceled delayed flights.

Yes, you do have to pay to check a bag, your first bag. You pay more for a second bag. Many Americans are traveling lighter. That's not such a bad thing. I didn't see anyone wearing multiple layers of clothing, as I did in Kyrgyzstan, to avoid excess baggage fees. That means it's less likely the plane is overweight, (which is likely in Kyrgyzstan).

This brings me to my peeve. Many flights are at full capacity because the airlines have scheduled fewer flights. I don't have a problem with that. It's just business. However, on account of the baggage fee, more people are traveling with just a carry-on. I bring my laptop and a daypack on board. I was asked, since my two bags are small, to put them under the seat in front of me so that there will be room for people with the large carry-ons.

That brings out my grumble. I paid for a checked bag. Why should I sit with less leg room so Mr. or Mrs. Big Bag has more room? No. I'm not going to play.

I suppose it won't be long until any carry-on costs extra.

The airline that asked me to stow my gear under the seat was Delta/Northwest. The coolest airline from Redding to other hubs is Alaska/Horizon. Their people smile. They have good cookies. They serve beer and wine for free. They hub in L.A. And, they never ask me to live without leg room.

Chimney Sweep Wins Tour De France

It wasn't me.
Maurice Garin, a chimney sweep, won the first Tour De France in 1903. I guess that means breathing soot isn't actually detrimental to your lungs. That's good news to me.

Chimney sweeps often rode bikes from job to job in those days. Many old sweep photos show the working men with their bikes. I suppose they were somewhat kin to today's bike messengers in the big cities. Those guys can ride.

You don't often hear of plumbers or carpenters riding bikes for work. Certainly you never hear of masons. But chimney sweeps have always ridden bikes and we won the first TDF.

I'm so proud.