ODDS AND ENDS----CATCHING UP

I'VE BEEN BUSY--these past two weeks in an interesting experiment ---will tell you all about it when I catch up with some prior happenings. This is a map from stat counter showing the location of my readers on 5/24/10. Of course I'm pleased to see widespread interest in Western vagabondage--but what struck me was that someone on the lonely island of Annobon, off the coast of Africa checked me out---sure wish I could hear from you sir or madam. I'm equally curious about you.

Saw this--got the story (more efficient way to bale hay--doesn't need a barn--won't spoil in the field) was moved to poetry: BETTER WAY

They're shaping hay a better way

rolling hay bales round,

lengthwise grain sheds off the rain

when left out on the ground.

Little is lost and saved is the cost

of stacking it round the farm;

but mostly heed, THERE'S NOW NO NEED

TO BUILD A HUGE HAY BARN

And I'm well pleased to save the trees

that would have built the barn;

perhaps indeed, we n'ere did need

to cause the woods such harm.

Barns like this one--requiring thousands of trees--the biggest barn in Kansas. (Colby)

An astonishing structure--in perfect condition--now part of a museum and occasionally used for county meetings---I'll show you the upstairs.

Big enough for a grand---anything. Weddings most often I was told.

Instant friends, Jacob and his father--(also Jacob I believe) in front of a real sod house --the first I've seen.

Oh this is ominous---I settled into Goodland, Kansas wal-mart and then it hit. Sirens sounded tornado warnings and hail pelted my vulnerable glass-covered solar panels. That's $1,500 worth of solar power up there. (but it's hardened glass and came through ok) I moved 3 times, trying to get my rig shielded from the fury. Later I met and interviewed a British storm chaser--his group does it for the sheer sport. Said the latest fad is to don a metal shark armor suit with helmet and let the tornado move over you.

Folk art like this can be found almost everywhere---same kind of guy--seized with a vision--like the builders of Coral Castle, Watts Tower, Salvation Mountain etc. This tower in Genoa, Colorado boast a view of 6 states. (I doubt it)

Could you guess from looking at the trees that a 50 mph wind is blowing? I got off the road and hunkered here most of the day. Notice the 4 stabilizers I have lowered to help.

Lucky, I chose to stay put. Just out of town, this hapless trailer---similar to mine was destroyed by the wind.

And a mile further on this scene speaks of the wind's ferocity. I must say--Kansas Weather scares me---I'll move elsewhere.

See that sign---"world's first rodeo" wellll I don't know--Prescott, Az makes the same claim. Anyway, Deer trail, Co was a lovely little town---shrinking however--lots of empty stores.

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES ABOUT COPS: Visits by the police are very rare but After a night in a field, I had a visit from this one. More curious than official. I've become an expert at dealing with cops----here's the best technique: Step outside, smiling broadly and say "Hello there!--- boy am I glad to see you---can you tell me.........then ask a harmless question about the area. Then tell him how you're enjoying...........the area. The cop in him will melt and the proud booster of his town and county will emerge. This one was super nice--sat and visited for a spell---told me to make myself at home. If a cop visits me at night, my opening line is: Thank God you're here......I need......(a tire shop--radiator repair etc) What the cop wants to know is if you are harmless---respectable--respectful. What a cop cannot bear is disrespect. Of the three ego states in all of us--parent---adult---child---the best one to open with --in most situations-- really--- is playful child.

What I would have told the BBC about the Apple iPhone antenna, if they'd actually wanted to hear it

I got an email this morning from BBC World Service radio, asking if I'd like to participate in a debate to "discuss whether the Apple bandwagon is grinding to a halt" in the wake of the iPhone antenna problem. I said sure, and they asked a couple of questions about my views.

Unfortunately, when they saw my reply, they decided that my opinions were too similar to those of Computerworld columnist Mitch Wagner (link), who was also appearing on the program. It wouldn't lead to a good debate. They were very polite about it, and there are no hard feelings on my part.

(By the way, Mitch pointed out the most interesting line I've seen so far on the antenna issue -- Microsoft COO Kevin Turner compared the iPhone 4 to Windows Vista. "It looks like the iPhone 4 might be their Vista, and I'm okay with that." (link) That single sentence summarizes so much of what's wrong with Microsoft today: grasping at straws, in denial, not focused on what they must do to win, and a tin ear to what their comments sound like in public. The scariest thing is, I think they might actually believe the stuff they say.)

Anyway, back to Apple. I thought it would be good to share my thoughts that were too boring for the BBC. If they'd put me on the air, it would have gone something like this:


Q. On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is this for Apple?

A. About a 1.5, with 1 being utterly meaningless in the long term. Unless there is some huge, hidden problem that Apple still isn't telling us about, the story is now over.


Q. One newspaper headline here goes 'Apple has lost its touch.' Is that fair?

A. It goes beyond unfair, it's utterly ludicrous. Apple just shipped the iPad, a major new category device, and it's selling far better than most people (including me) expected. For comparison, the Apple Macintosh, which we all cite as a huge success today, sold about 70,000 units in its first hundred days of availability (link). The iPad sold 70,000 units in the first four hours (link).

Most companies would kill to lose their touch that way.

If you want to look at a company that has lost its touch, check out BP. Or Toyota. Or Dell, which allegedly shipped twelve million computers that it knew were destined to fail (link). But even that sort of huge mistake isn't usually enough to kill a company. Remember when Intel knowingly shipped millions of Pentium processors that couldn't do math properly (link)? No, you don't remember? I rest my case.

If you want to know what Apple would look like if it lost its way, go back in time and look at the company in about 1997.

But Apple today? They made a mistake, and they handled it poorly. Hopefully they've learned from it. Giving everyone a free case is a reasonable solution. The cost of the cases is less than the cost of the accumulated bad PR (not to mention the cost of the class action lawsuits, which were the next step).

The average customer pays almost no attention to this sort of inside-the-beltway news. A company has to screw up repeatedly over a long period of time, or do something flagrant like killing people, in order to really damage its image. As long as there isn't any other big problem hidden in Apple's products, I think this story will be forgotten in a few months.


That's not to say everything is going great for Apple...
-Google Android is gaining momentum.
-Many mobile developers would love to have a better alternative to the App Store.
-Various governments might decide its walled garden approach to computing violates the law.
-At some point, I still believe the web is going to make proprietary platforms like Apple's less relevant.
-Apple is getting so big that I wonder how long it can continue to grow at the same rate.

And maybe most importantly, Apple is gradually learning that the rules of behavior for a successful industry leader are different than the rules for a scrappy upstart. Aggressiveness that's cute in a five-year-old kid will get a 25-year-old football player arrested.

Compounding Apple's challenge, its very effective marketing and design has set a higher standard for its products than the one applied to most other companies. Apple needs to learn that standing in the spotlight shows off your scars as well as your beauty marks.

One step in that process if for Apple to be humbler and more open. I think that's a lesson they started to learn this week.

(PS: I listened to BBC World's coverage of the iPhone this evening (link). One report called the antenna "the biggest PR disaster in Apple's history," which shows that BBC reporters have very short memories. As for what Mitch said, yeah it would have been a boring debate.)

WHERE DOES THE KODGER KING SLEEP?

ONE MONTH'S SECRET HIDEAWAYS REVEALED---5/24/10 TO 6/24/10 Spent most of the day 5/24/10 hunkered beside a garage in Limon, Co, escaping a 50 mph wind that laid big trucks on their sides. In late afternoon things calmed down and I visited Deer Trail, Co. (home of the world's first rodeo) then north into the countryside looking for a suitable place to spend the night. Two miles out a lonely country road I found a firm level field and settled in.

Moving on to Denver, I found this vacant corner of an Aurora Wal-Mart---charmed the guard and was invited to stay indefinitely. The Nearby mega-mall entertained me, so I stayed 3 nights--5/25--27/10.

Then I shifted positions to this vacant lot to be near the City's bicycle trails and parkland---stayed here 5/28--29/10. No one troubled me or even asked what I was doing here.

I returned to the previous Wal-mart spot for 2 nights ( 5/30 & 31 )and then moved to a Home Depot for 2 days(no picture) to do some engineering on my rig----yes--they let me sit right there--never objecting). Then I moved to the Denver Suburb of North Glen, settling in here at the Moose Lodge parking lot for 4 days((6/4-7/10) while I wrote a blog entry, enjoyed the neighborhood and bought a new computer. The old one died.

A host of difficulties fell upon me all at once: 1. NM threatened to suspend my drivers license(prove to us that you live SOMEWHERE) 2. TV receiver died. 3. TV people shut off my East and West coast feed. (this is a big deal to us RVers as it allows us to watch Leno and all other programing 2 and 3 hours earlier. and 4. I cannot get my new computer up to speed. So of course I cried out to Brenda---the best troubleshooter on the planet , who let me join her here at the Greely Moose Lodge. In three days time she had shepherded me through the computer problem and assisted me in dealing with the bureaucrats of New Mexico. (a good story in itself) I installed the spare tv receiver that I carry and got it approved by Direct TV. The final challenge of getting East AND West coast feed approved is an enormous problem (as RV owners will attest) and requires the finesse of a poker player and the guile of a serpent. Diana managed half of the problem by locating the only town in America that now has no over-the-air tv reception--that fact is crucially important. (too complicated to explain why) My serpent-like guile wangled a legitimate address there from the post mistress in that ghost town. (dead as the town is--still has a live post office) BINGO problem solved--service restored.

Got a bright Idea for a new table and went here--in Greely, Co to build it. Took two days and I camped with no objection. (note to Newbies--DON'T ASK PERMISSION --everyone seeks to avoid the burden of responsibility---it is easier to get forgiveness than permission)
Stayed the nights of 6/16 and 17/10. The night of 6/18/ I stayed in Greely, Co Wal-mart.

Then 6/19/10 I moved North to the Visitor Center at Ft. Collins, settling in their parking lot overnight--woke to this sight in the morning.

Then moved to this parking lot of a terrific Nature Preserve---spent parts of two days bicycling and enjoying it. (night of 6/20/10)

Temperature got hot in Ft. Collins, so naturally I went to the mountains--Paul recommended the road up the Cache la poudre river--so up I went to cooler climes and spent the night(6/21/10) here at Hewlett Gulch trailhead. Spent most of the day hiking the trail.

Still too warm for me---Decided to go higher---7000 ft or better--noticed this pass on the road to Laramie, Wy. Went there---and as usual, a side road (pumpkin Rd) leads into the countryside--went out about a mile and settled in for the night of 6/22/10.

Next day on to Laramie. Settling on the edge of Wal-mart, shuffling in and out as I enjoyed the city and did my inquiries about the Shepard murder. Stayed 7 nights, all told. (6/23--29/10)

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES: In one sense, I sleep in the same place everynight, comfortable--all my stuff handy, just like all the muggles. Moving changes only the scenery and temperature outside my window. Ah but that's a big deal, you see---as much for what I move AWAY from as what I move toward. All scenery fades in intensity--be it ever so beautiful. What everyone really wants is a fireworks style of life with an unending stream of brilliant-but -fading flash/experiences. These camping spots of mine may not strike you as lovely--but they are perfectly adequate for my taste. Often my chosen campsite borders something beautiful or interesting. Almost always it is free and that's important. Some may think that parking lots are lower-scale living, but I cherish a good parking lot home-for-the-night. Real comfort is in the head! ---as we-who-have- escaped fixidity know. Those who pay the big bucks to be plugged in to electricity in a high dollar campground suffer more than pocketbook drain.

THE MEANING OF A MURDER

REFLECTING ON A REAL MURDER- that I know about--nearby--I decide to go to the scene and let it speak to me. It happened in this state. Wyoming

In this city

Down this road

So I settle in just across the way.

And begin reflecting on this young man---Matthew Shepard--the victim.

Lured to this spot--Nov 26, 2004---robbed for his money, then MURDERED FOR HIS GAYNESS. This last fact attracted worldwide attention. News media from around the globe flooded the town for the story. Thousands of protest marchers converged to express their outrage. The task I've set for myself is to discover whether Laramie town is homophobic and to reflect on the deeper meaning of this brutality.

I tracked down the (then)Sheriff of Laramie---and found him playing the part of a sheriff in the annual Territorial Prison Festival. His name is Gary Puls (pronounced Pulse) and his new job is Asst. Supt of Wyoming Territorial Prison here. He was super-nice--gave me a tour of the grounds---answered my questions about the Shephard killing--and offered me a job. (no thanks)

I already knew that the killers were caught, convicted and sentenced to life. I asked what it was like to be at the center of world news focus. Unbelievably stressful he said---blood pressure through the roof. Was there any sympathy in Laramie for the killers? Absolutely none!

I checked that last statement out---asking all over town, people's opinion on the killing---these two guys crawled from beneath the car to tell me that they and the town were horrified. It's true--I found no homophobia in Laramie. The protesters who showed up found themselves preaching to the choir. Locals joined in to send a message to the world: homophobia is irrational hate and we will not tolerate it.

I took a day off to find MY PEOPLE---the Unitarians---and go hiking with them around Turtle Mountain. I'll reveal shortly why I choose to identify with them.

RANDY PHILOPHIZES: Millions are accomplices to this murder. Everyone who believes the Bible to be the word of God had a hand in the killing--and in every other act of homophobic persecution. Romans 1:26/27 (and a host of similar verses) declares homosexuality a sin and an abomination. And based on Biblical teaching, generations of Gays, Lesbians etc have been persecuted. Christianity is responsible for the CLIMATE OF OPINION that metastasises in certain minds like these killers. The Bible is just dead wrong on this issue and the Western world is slowly coming to realize it. We know now that homosexuality is and has always been a natural part of human and animal life. Not unlike red hair or left handedness. We're not sure of the details--just of the fact.

THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IS THIS:----BELIEF IN REVELATION ITSELF!!!---- Believing that there is a God---AND THAT HE WRITES ( OR INSPIRES THE WRITING OF) AUTHORITATIVE BOOKS.------ I SAY THIS TO ALL WHO BELIEVE THERE MUST BE A GOD: --WHY NOT JUST BELIEVE IN GOD AND REJECT THE NOTION THAT HE WRITES OR INSPIRES THE WRITING OF "HOLY BOOKS". (i.e. reject the notion of revelation) Believe that God leaves it to us to create and perfect ethics--- Just as he leaves it to us to invent technology, art, culture. Believing this ---will take away the worst effects of religion. And then--choose to live by real faith:--trusting your own deepest intuition. (that is approximately the Unitarian position--the only church I know that rejects all infallible revelations)

BELIEVE WITH THOMAS JEFFERSON AND MANY OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS THAT GOD LEAVES THE JOB OF ETHICS TO US.-------- THAT WAY,--WE-,-ALL OF US--PARTICIPATE IN AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PERSONAL AND COLLECTIVE CODE THAT WE LIVE BY---A CODE THAT IS NOT YET PERFECTED--one that moves forward as we become more sensitive to the feelings and needs of others. THIS IS A LOFTIER VIEW OF LIFE---AS CREATIVE RESPONSIVENESS RATHER THAN THE CHRISTIAN VIEW OF LIFE AS OBEDIANCE TO GODS WILL.

The global clash of ignorant armies largely represent "Holy Book" conflicts---There are 27 of them that claim to be inspired by god. Around the world children are infected with MIND VIRUSES of doctrines and wierd ethics that constrict their lives, impose needless guilt and fear.

MOST OF US HAVE BEEN INDOCTRINATED WITH SOME SORT OF MIND VIRUS---YET, I SAY EVERY ONE OF US IS RESPONSIBLE FOR QUESTIONING THEIR INDOCTRINATION ----SHUCKING THE CRAZY STUFF--AND BUILDING AN EHIC APPROPRIATE TO OURSELVES. (Have you REALLY questioned yours?)

VISITING EISENHOWER----WOULD YOU TRADE LIVES?

Never visited a presidential library or museum--resolved to do so here--in Abilene, Kansas--home town and grave of Eisenhower. It's late in the day so I settled along this quiet street on the outskirts of town--will visit the museum tomorrow--will bike around the city --letting it speak to me.

Ike as a boy--an accurate likeness--in a park downtown--made me ponder what accidents of fate or traits of character propel someone to greatness--wonder if any of his townspeople saw anything remarkable about him.

He grew up in this house--upper right room--one of several kids---all had distinguished careers.

Next day I paid the $5 and spent the day in the museum---which was excellent--really well done with full sized panoramas--movies--maps, guns--everything. I come away really understanding his life and times--I was a part of it--remembering election day--our store was the community voting place.

The Library is mostly for scholars and researchers---The Museum is an equally imposing building. I learned that the taxpayers fund all this.

Mural in the museum. I resolve not to leave till something "touches me".

Ike wearing the famous Eishenhower jacket--he selected for the troops--thought they looked spiffy. I do too. I wondered how he managed to stay so trim even into old age. Learned the secret from a historian on the scene. (Managed to corner two of them before I left.) Turns out Ike was a super heavy smoker--3 packs a day--It finally killed him--via heart trouble. I quizzed a second historian about his (alleged) affair with his female jeep driver---said it was probably true. Truman wrote about it in his biography--said Ike asked permission to divorce Mamie and marry the lady--apparantly was swept away---like the governor of South Carolina. Truman said he ordered Ike to end the affair and get on with the invasion of Europe. In all fairness I should report that Truman when writing this years later had soured on Ike--considered that he'd betrayed democratic principles. (wikipedia)

He and Mamie are buried here---I waited till everyone had left--wanted to be alone with the president.

He lies beneath this simple plaque.

And on the wall--these words--a fitting epitaph. War....is no way of life at all

RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES: Alone in the buriel chapel, letting myself feel whatever surfaced, my first flash was a poem fragment by Grey:

" The boast of heraldry and the pompt of power,

and all that beauty and all that wealth ever gave

awaits alike the inevitable hour,

for the paths of glory lead but to the grave."

True enough, but once understood as the context for all our lives, is somewhat irrelevant to the keener question: WHAT IS A LIFE WELL LIVED? Was Eisenhower's a life well lived? Is mine?

Big subject, but I'm a clever condenser: I thnk Eisenhower was a product of Germanic culture that stresses obedience (duty) as a primary value--as the path to success--a higher value than creativity. Emotions must subordinate themselves to the prime value. So Eisenhower plodded his way to the top---a career of endless years--following orders---slowly discovering his personal genius for herding humans by wielding power inoffensively. So rock steady and dependable that superiors could not but appreciate and promote him. But was he happy? Was he a joyful--well-rounded personality like Franklin or Teddy Roosevelt---or Ben Franklin for that matter. The answer is NO. They led us creatively and progressively. He had to be dragged into issues of social advance. (Little Rock school integration)

The sad incompleteness of his character surfaced in his addiction to cigaretts and his heartrending hunger for romance. I would not trade lives with Ike--I would rather be a creative, joyful nobody---which I am.

P.S. The Germans have much to answer for---foisting on the world a scripted, joy starved culture of obedience--that leaves them vulnerable to emotional con men.

And to my question about the good life---I say it is a life of LOVE AND CREATIVITY.

WHERE---EXACTLY--IS SHANGRI LA

I've been invited to come see for myself: A Mayberry of a town out on the Kansas Prairie. Cottonwood Falls, an Emeral city in the emerald green flint hills--Darlene and Linda's hometown and they've invited our "tribe" to come see for ourselves.

I stopped to take a picture--turned around--and these curious cattle had assembled--looking expectantly at me. I naturally assumed they wished to hear a few words from me--so I quoted a special poem I wrote for them some years ago.

SERMON TO THE COWS

Whenever I walk by a herd of cows

they stop whatever they're doing,

raise their heads to look at me

and quietly keep on chewing.

Such focused attention is truly rare

so far's I can determine.

It rouses up the preacher in me

so I preach the cows a sermon.

I introduce myself as Randy,

a long-time lover of milk,

a special friend of cows everywhere;

my words flow smoothe as silk.

I urge them to be good cows;

stay within their fences;

share the grass evenly;

honor their bovine senses.

I warn them about those handsome bulls;

rascals up to no good,

who satisfy their lust and run

away from fatherhood

I'm warming up--I speak of calves;

I warn of loco weeds;

describe the joys of bovine heaven

for those who've done good deeds.

I'm prepared to preach on but suddenly

they're all back grazing again;

such a wonderful audience---but

a short attention span.

Stopped to puzzle over this odd structure--what is it--a water tower? Nobody was around to ask--have to remain a mystery, I guess.

The tribe was already assembled for evening circle when I arrived---full time RVers from around the country will gather like this when the call goes out to come experience something new.

This was Mothers day --Ernie provided roses to every mother--I offer a poem to these now-single ladies brave enough to travel the country in their own motor home:

MOTHERS OF THE ROAD

These are Mothers of the road--

finished rearing up their brood;

now with time and lighter load

express a traveling mood

Ernie gave each one a rose

honoring Mothers day.

let flowers speak what everyone knows,

but none of us can say.

Cottonwood Falls fairgrounds---free parking if you don't need electricity---stayed a week.

Courthouse---stately status symbol of Chase county pride. Courthouses usually are--symbols of status and pride. In Texas counties-- they carried this urge to ridiculous extremes--building massive, ornate, county courthouses to rival the Taj Majal---each seeking to outshine the others. It's worth a trip through Texas to see them.

From the 3rd floor looking down on Cottonwood Falls. That's the whole business district.
The interior floors, walls, staircases and furniture were marvels of carpentry.

A stallion and his harem? Close enough! We're touring the courthouse jail.

The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve---just outside town--a vast area--treated with great care by dedicated rangers--you're seeing almost precisely what the pioneers saw--heartlifting just to know its there.

I happened upon this stunning scene--A sure fire sign you're in Shangri La----bicycles NOT LOCKED UP.

Madonna of the trail---famous statue in nearby Council Grove.

A strange man lived 3 years in this tiny cave---declared himself a holy man--migrated to Las Cruces, New Mexico---Indians killed him.

This marker lets me return to the subject of Shangri La. Is it reasonable to believe that somewhere else you might make a better life?---yes!--But not reasonable to think that the good life could ever be a PLACE. I go further and say that all places (and all people) must be MOVED THROUGH to experience the Shangri La feeling. All people and all places grow stale--It is MOTION (albeit sometimes very slow motion) that generates happiness. I see signs everywhere that humanity is beginning to grasp this insight---marriages are shorter---jobs---avocations--even friendships. To be happy, one must be going somewhere. Happiness like electricity can only be generated by motion. Thoreau left his Shangri La of Walden Pond because the experience was complete and he "had many more lives to lead." I believe most people squander their lives chasing the delusion of permanence.

So to answer the title question precisely: SHANGRI LA IS AN EVER FADING FLICKER IN THE HEAD. The Good news is that there is an infinite supply of flickers available to those with the courage to MOVE.