This morning should be an interesting start to the day. My friend Doug told me some time ago about a group called freecycle.com. The premise is as follows. To keep things from going into landfills, we should recycle things as best we can by simply offering them free to others instead of throwing them away. Well, he called me a couple of days ago because there was a listing about someone giving away a truck full of free glazes for ceramics. He thought I might be able to use them for myself or for the school.
So, I responded to the email list and after a day of consideration, I won the offer. So, this morning Connie,Zack and I are off to get it. The question is what is the stuff like? Glazes can dry up etc. so I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into. I'm hoping I'm not just taking a load of stuff out of someone's garage for them. I have no idea where I'm going to put all of this stuff, anyway. Should be interesting. Mom's giving me some room in her garage to store things, so that will help. My studio takes up about 1/3 of the garage as it is. I've thrown so much out and there's still so much to get rid of. I guess I'll put some stuff in the freecycle myself.
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Sunday, July 24, 2005
If It's Good Enough for Us, It's Good Enough For Them
WEARE, N.H. - Near the foot of an unmarked, dead-end dirt road sits a humble, mud-colored farmhouse. A sign on a mailbox jutting from a tilted post spells "SOUTER."
Some folks want to make that "Hotel Souter."
People from across the country are getting behind a campaign to seize Supreme Court Justice David Souter's farmhouse to build a luxury hotel, according to the man who came up with the idea following a Supreme Court decision favoring government seizure of private property.
"We would act just as these cities have been acting in seizing properties. We would give Souter the same sort of deal," said Logan Darrow Clements, of Los Angeles.
Town Clerk Evelyn Connor has had to return checks from people wishing to donate to a hotel construction fund. A rival proposal from townspeople would turn Souter's land into a park commemorating the U.S. Constitution.
Souter has declined to comment on the matter, but he has defenders, like Betty Straw, his sixth-grade teacher.
"I think it's absolutely ridiculous," she said. "They're just doing it for spite."
Souter was one of five justices who sided with the city of New London, Conn., last month in a decision favoring government power to seize private property by eminent domain. The city plans to build a private hotel and convention center, office space and condominiums.
The 65-year-old justice has lived for decades in his family's home in this central New Hampshire town, about 15 miles from Concord. His 8-acre property is undisturbed by neighbors whose yards are strewn with rusting farm equipment and old pickup trucks.
The house, more than 200 years old, is one of the few remnants of the original East Weare village, which was seized 45 years ago to make way for a dam.
Clements, 36, has never been to Weare, population 8,500, but is a member of the Free State Project, the libertarian movement that chose "Live Free or Die" New Hampshire as its promised land and wants to move 20,000 followers here. The group's second annual convention started in Lancaster on Saturday.
He knows his hotel plan is hard to take seriously.
"That's sort of the story of my life: Nobody takes me seriously until I do something," he said. "We will be taken seriously when we make a formal presentation to the powers that be in Weare," he said, adding that he is talking to several development consultants.
Clements said his mission, like his long-shot bid for governor of California in 2003, is rooted in his passion for a philosophy of free-will capitalism embodied in Ayn Rand's 1957 novel, "Atlas Shrugged."
"We should have a voluntary society where people interact with each other through trade, not through the initiation of force," Clements said. He got 274 votes.
Connor, the town clerk, said it's all a little much for a town where the biggest excitement of the year usually is the Weare Patriotic Celebration, which this year featured an American Legion chicken barbecue, carnival rides and a men-versus-women softball game.
"We just got a Dunkin' Donuts," she said.
Other town officials agree.
"It was the general consensus that we were not interested in taking anyone's property," said Laura Buono, head of Weare's board of selectmen. She said board members are willing to review any formal proposal Clements submits.
But in a state where people fiercely protect their right to local control over land and government, many said the nuisance is Souter's just deserts. A recent University of New Hampshire poll reported 93 percent of state residents oppose the taking of private land through eminent domain for private development.
"It's something you really don't want to screw with around here," said Charles Meany, Weare's code enforcement officer.
He thinks the hotel idea is "ludicrous" and doubts whether Clements will be able to satisfy requirements to prove the economic necessity of building a hotel on Souter's land.
But Clements has his share of local supporters, including David Archambault, who runs a go-cart track near Souter's home.
"What this is doing I think is wonderful, because he's getting a point across to all these people that they're getting too much power," Archambault said.
Robin Ilsley, who makes syrup on a family farm about two miles from Souter's place, thought the justice brought the controversy on himself. "It was a pretty stupid ruling," she said.
Even her mother, who watched Souter grow up, is unsympathetic.
"I like David very much, but I don't like his ideas," said Winnie Ilsley, 77, who runs a doll museum at her farm. "I just don't think it's fair," she said of the New London decision.
And the hotel?
"Let 'em build - but I don't think it's going to happen," she said.
Some folks want to make that "Hotel Souter."
People from across the country are getting behind a campaign to seize Supreme Court Justice David Souter's farmhouse to build a luxury hotel, according to the man who came up with the idea following a Supreme Court decision favoring government seizure of private property.
"We would act just as these cities have been acting in seizing properties. We would give Souter the same sort of deal," said Logan Darrow Clements, of Los Angeles.
Town Clerk Evelyn Connor has had to return checks from people wishing to donate to a hotel construction fund. A rival proposal from townspeople would turn Souter's land into a park commemorating the U.S. Constitution.
Souter has declined to comment on the matter, but he has defenders, like Betty Straw, his sixth-grade teacher.
"I think it's absolutely ridiculous," she said. "They're just doing it for spite."
Souter was one of five justices who sided with the city of New London, Conn., last month in a decision favoring government power to seize private property by eminent domain. The city plans to build a private hotel and convention center, office space and condominiums.
The 65-year-old justice has lived for decades in his family's home in this central New Hampshire town, about 15 miles from Concord. His 8-acre property is undisturbed by neighbors whose yards are strewn with rusting farm equipment and old pickup trucks.
The house, more than 200 years old, is one of the few remnants of the original East Weare village, which was seized 45 years ago to make way for a dam.
Clements, 36, has never been to Weare, population 8,500, but is a member of the Free State Project, the libertarian movement that chose "Live Free or Die" New Hampshire as its promised land and wants to move 20,000 followers here. The group's second annual convention started in Lancaster on Saturday.
He knows his hotel plan is hard to take seriously.
"That's sort of the story of my life: Nobody takes me seriously until I do something," he said. "We will be taken seriously when we make a formal presentation to the powers that be in Weare," he said, adding that he is talking to several development consultants.
Clements said his mission, like his long-shot bid for governor of California in 2003, is rooted in his passion for a philosophy of free-will capitalism embodied in Ayn Rand's 1957 novel, "Atlas Shrugged."
"We should have a voluntary society where people interact with each other through trade, not through the initiation of force," Clements said. He got 274 votes.
Connor, the town clerk, said it's all a little much for a town where the biggest excitement of the year usually is the Weare Patriotic Celebration, which this year featured an American Legion chicken barbecue, carnival rides and a men-versus-women softball game.
"We just got a Dunkin' Donuts," she said.
Other town officials agree.
"It was the general consensus that we were not interested in taking anyone's property," said Laura Buono, head of Weare's board of selectmen. She said board members are willing to review any formal proposal Clements submits.
But in a state where people fiercely protect their right to local control over land and government, many said the nuisance is Souter's just deserts. A recent University of New Hampshire poll reported 93 percent of state residents oppose the taking of private land through eminent domain for private development.
"It's something you really don't want to screw with around here," said Charles Meany, Weare's code enforcement officer.
He thinks the hotel idea is "ludicrous" and doubts whether Clements will be able to satisfy requirements to prove the economic necessity of building a hotel on Souter's land.
But Clements has his share of local supporters, including David Archambault, who runs a go-cart track near Souter's home.
"What this is doing I think is wonderful, because he's getting a point across to all these people that they're getting too much power," Archambault said.
Robin Ilsley, who makes syrup on a family farm about two miles from Souter's place, thought the justice brought the controversy on himself. "It was a pretty stupid ruling," she said.
Even her mother, who watched Souter grow up, is unsympathetic.
"I like David very much, but I don't like his ideas," said Winnie Ilsley, 77, who runs a doll museum at her farm. "I just don't think it's fair," she said of the New London decision.
And the hotel?
"Let 'em build - but I don't think it's going to happen," she said.
Saturday, July 23, 2005
We're Home
We got in last night. Boy, it was a hot one. The temperatures were as high as 117 on the way home. Then we ran into a very terrible thunder storm. It was so fierce, I could hardly control the car. I was worried it might turn into a tornado. It blew one very large truck over on its side and it was hanging over a ditch! That happened just seconds before we got there. We stopped in a Dairy Queen for shelter as did everyone else on the highway. That was sort of funny because they had 2 kids running the store and about 50 people in the store wanting to buy things.
The rest of the trip was non-eventful, for which I am grateful. I will be posting more pictures soon.
Bison Bob
The rest of the trip was non-eventful, for which I am grateful. I will be posting more pictures soon.
Bison Bob
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Vacation
Well, we're half way home, almost. Make that about 1/8 of the way home. We've left Bison Ranch and are now right outside the entrance to the Grand Canyon. We're in the Holiday Inn and they have broadband connections in each room! yea!!!
We had a nice time at Bison Ranch. My sister Robin and her kids were with us and her friend Mary. My family and mom came too, so we had quite a group. We're in two vans. We went to the Imax Theater, which has nothing to do with an Apple product, and we saw their movie about the Grand Canyon. I had seen it before. It's excellent. Tomorrow morning we will head out to see the Grand Canyon and then head home. I've got about a 10 hour drive ahead of me. I'm pretty tired of driving, but it's almost over.
Saw a lot of great Indian Pottery. I'm anxious to try and incorporate some of their ideas and techniques into my work. They have a very interesting technique where they put horsehair into the pottery and get some unique results. Not sure if I can do it in a kiln or not, electric that is, but I'll give it a good try.
See you all soon.
Bob
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Friday, July 08, 2005
Spiderman Got Me!
Turns out I didn't have a 24 hour virus, I was bitten by a black widow spider! I didn't even notice on my leg that there was a bite. And I don't remember getting bitten, but I've seen plenty of them in the garage and that's where I do my ceramics. I must have scared one of the little guys and he decided to have me for lunch.
My leg has a huge red patch on it and it is very warm and itchy. My friends tell me I'm fortunate because their relatives blew up like balloons and had horrible open wounds. I just have a very ugly leg. I'm supposed to keep it elevated and put ice packs on it, which does make if feel a lot better.
Firing another batch in the kiln tonight. Kind of excited because I'm trying a new idea out. I took a picture of a kid (goat) and etched it into leather hard clay. So I have this relief picture in a square piece of clay. I fired it to bisque and it came out great. Then I painted it with glaze and I refired it. I'm not sure how it will turn out. You don't have the same freedom with glaze as you do with acrylics and oil paints. They don't blend well. But we'll see.
My leg has a huge red patch on it and it is very warm and itchy. My friends tell me I'm fortunate because their relatives blew up like balloons and had horrible open wounds. I just have a very ugly leg. I'm supposed to keep it elevated and put ice packs on it, which does make if feel a lot better.
Firing another batch in the kiln tonight. Kind of excited because I'm trying a new idea out. I took a picture of a kid (goat) and etched it into leather hard clay. So I have this relief picture in a square piece of clay. I fired it to bisque and it came out great. Then I painted it with glaze and I refired it. I'm not sure how it will turn out. You don't have the same freedom with glaze as you do with acrylics and oil paints. They don't blend well. But we'll see.
Monday, July 04, 2005
The 3rd of July
We had a very nice celebration last night. The City of La Mirada put on a big even at the La Mirada Regional Park. It's a 90 acre park, that is really quite beautiful, full of trees, playgrounds and a small lake on rolling hills. Thousands turned out for the event. They had old fashioned games like potato sack races, three legged races, pie eating contests, rock wall climbing and much more.
There were eating booths provided by many nonprofits in the city. We had tri-tip sandwiches and hotdogs. In & Out burgers were selling for $7.00 for a double double, so I passed. (hard to pass them up!)
The fireworks were fantastic, some of the best I've ever seen. There were several new types I hadn't seen before, so that made it a bit more special.
While Connie went and took the kids to see stuff, I stayed with our chairs and blankets. I listened to my ipod for a while. Have a good book on their that I'm "reading". Then I called my buddy Wayne from church, who just bought a MiniMac. It sounds so cool.
Today I'm waiting to hear from my sis in law, Cathy, to see how their show is doing. They are selling at a bit 4th of July event that is supposed to have 60,000 people in it. She's selling, hopefully, some of my ceramics.
Seems I have the flu or something today. I've got the chills, aches, and have a low grade fever and I almost never get a fever. But I can handle it.
Our idiot dog tore down the screen door and actually bent the bars on our security screen door like Superman! I can't believe this dog. That was when he was on 3 tranquilizers!!! I guess I'm going to give him 4 tonight, though 3 is what they told me. It didn't phase him a bit. I'll have to take pictures of the door damage. You won't believe it.
Happy 4th to everyone.
There were eating booths provided by many nonprofits in the city. We had tri-tip sandwiches and hotdogs. In & Out burgers were selling for $7.00 for a double double, so I passed. (hard to pass them up!)
The fireworks were fantastic, some of the best I've ever seen. There were several new types I hadn't seen before, so that made it a bit more special.
While Connie went and took the kids to see stuff, I stayed with our chairs and blankets. I listened to my ipod for a while. Have a good book on their that I'm "reading". Then I called my buddy Wayne from church, who just bought a MiniMac. It sounds so cool.
Today I'm waiting to hear from my sis in law, Cathy, to see how their show is doing. They are selling at a bit 4th of July event that is supposed to have 60,000 people in it. She's selling, hopefully, some of my ceramics.
Seems I have the flu or something today. I've got the chills, aches, and have a low grade fever and I almost never get a fever. But I can handle it.
Our idiot dog tore down the screen door and actually bent the bars on our security screen door like Superman! I can't believe this dog. That was when he was on 3 tranquilizers!!! I guess I'm going to give him 4 tonight, though 3 is what they told me. It didn't phase him a bit. I'll have to take pictures of the door damage. You won't believe it.
Happy 4th to everyone.
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