Colorado Books

This book is a tour de force in the prehistory and history of human interaction with pronghorn. Great printing, pictures and presentation. This is why I give it a five, in addition to the writing and content being a five. I asked an antelope in the front yard what she thought and she agreed with me.

Miss Kay's book is so filled with information that I'll be re-reading it for times into the future. The people spoke a language of Athalpascan or Athabascan which has a variety of spellings, and it's language offspring are many children. The ethnic strain extended sometimes from Alaska down into Mexico, with many tribal names. They are the people whose stories appear in this book. The topics discussed by the author focus on the oral traditions of seven historians of the Oklahoma group. And some of their photos are eerily familiar.

I had originally found this through 'Good Minds' [dot etc.] which is a site for the Canadian Iroquois Nations specializing in Native American literature which is culturally sensitive to objectively include the Indian perspective on their own cultures. I wish they were an Amazon marketplace affiliate, since purchases are transacted through bank transfers and [with fees] converted to Canadian currency. Still, Amazon was able to sell me the book I wanted and at a very discount rate.

There's so much to learn in this book, I'd be remiss to focus on just the origins of Peyote religion for the Apache, or the Missionary influence on their culture. Though it's there for anyone who's interested in that. This book is the greatest collection of cultural legends for this tribe that I have ever seen. Their wisdom is intact, though speaking to and from aboriginal times.

Aboriginal tales:

One story of origins speaks of a continent full of ice storms which had not yet known the sun. The large animals hunted by the grand fathers had to be dug out of the ice and brought back to (geo-thermally) heated caves. There were large cracks in the earth with smoke coming out, and the people lived in caves. Another tale recounts, when man was first in the world, there were plants and animals but there was no sun. The sky was dark except for `very bright stars'. Those bright stars were lighting everything, like a cloudy day hiding the sun now'days.

I didn't recognize post-contact Biblical influence in Apache narratives. But they do put me in mind of a Biblical narrative which I consider to be pre-Edenic. Where Job chap. 38 says how the 'Sons of God' saw the stars created and shouted for joy. Other translations have them being, 'the Morning Stars' all sang together, [at the dawn of creation]. And that's just one more account which seems to focus on a time before the Eden legend.

The Native American mind among the very most remotely separate cultures has remembrance of twin boys who were influential upon the forming/ordering of the created world. I've seen variations on this theme from Agua Caliente Indians of California, from Tuscarora Iroquois of North Carolina, and now this plains group of Apache from Oklahoma, who called them 'Fire-boy' & 'Water-boy'.

Dr. K.P. Schweinfurth cites other sources who suggest it may be the most important theme in American Aboriginal Epochs.

When I read about Fire-boy & Water-boy here, I understood some imputed teachings which are connected to the spirituality in all things. a.) believe in your friend. b.) be contrary to any & everyone who tells you something is impossible. c.) educate yourself & collaborate with your fellow man as a team. d.) and finally, never underestimate the force of nature.

The number four is identified as a spiritual number for various reasons you can find in the book, but one associated teaching is how parents would forego disciplining their children for three times when they disobeyed, but the fourth time punishment came.

One more aspect of 'this' First-Nation's spirituality is their dance. It is a sort of community spirit. One dance society discussed in this work is called the `Manatidie'. Allusions to it's being a unifying instrument of their culture are numerous. 'Manatidie' means the 'black feet' dance. Although the dance was adapted from the Pawnee, and said to receive it's name from the Blackfoot tribe (proud feet), this is one of the dance societies perpetuated among the Oklahoma Apache. Someday I hope to witness Manatidie.

This book answers many questions on the pre-history of Colorado and the surrounding area. I have used it as a research tool, but it is also a simple read for hobbyists and people interested in paleoindian cultures. The section on paleoenvironmental periods and climactic conditions was interesting and not found in other similar resources. The illustrations of different types of lithic points, as well as maps were helpful in visualizing the text. The appendices of plants, animals and fish found in Colorado are interesting additions. The emigration routes of the prehistoric people and how they led to the historic Indian tribes that the first Europeans encoutered are clearly described. I would have liked more speculation on what life was like for the prehistoric people and more illustrations on items such as clothing and tools other than the points, i.e. pottery, the atlatl, bone tools and ornaments. Also helpful would have been a graph or timeline of the diifferent periods of occupation. However, illustrations/photos of these items can be found in other resources. Overall, this publication does cover the prehistory of the region very well.

Eldon Cunningham's Printmaking: A Primary Form of Expression is an essential contribution to recent American printmaking, surveying the works and lives of some of hte major artists working in the medium. His extensive quotations from the several artists is a virtue. One hopes that an updated edition, or a sequel, might be forthcoming.

This is a great book for getting up to speed on what other members of the Mars Society are doing. Papers, such as A.P.Grover et. al.'s work on the WAVAR reactor are quite enlightening.

This book was recommended to me by a supplier of radon mitigation equipment and is excellent. It has more than adequate design and installation to allow a reasonably competent DIYer to design and install their own radon mitigation system. In addition, it covers the necessary safety precautions to take in the process.

If you don't plan to install your own system, but simply want to be informed as you work with a professional, then this book will also serve you well.

Now if I can just find a book of this type for septic system design...

Matt

if you love to be around rivers and
like their sounds and want them to
be free flowing and free spirited
this is a collection of stories/poetry
that you will enjoy. a great gift book.

Manfred Clynes unravels the mysteries of emotional perceptions and response with music, art and mathmatics. The remarkable abilities of the human mind to experience emotional responses to given stimulus are defined in a precise mathmatical formula revealed through his groundbreaking research.

This formula can do what artistic genius has done intuitively through the ages. It can provide the reader with a great deal of insightful information of ones own emotional perceptions and expressions.

Artistic genius can be learned by anyone! Read it, you'll love it!

As is true for all volumes in the RGS Story series, this book is exceptional. It's a study of the Rio Grande Southern railroad, specifically the portion of the railroad between the towns of Ophir and Rico.

The incredible Ophir loop area is covered in Vol 3, while vol 5 covers Rico itself and the mines above it. This volume covers the trackage and small stations between, including Trout Lake and the 10,250' Lizard Head pass.

A must for any RGS fan, or anyone interested in the history of this part of the country during the 1890s - 1950s. As with every book in the series, this one includes many hundreds of photos, historical accounts, track plans, building and bridge drawings, and much more.

One of the best tourist activities I can think of ... No, make that two of the best tourist activities I can think of are riding the Durango and Silverton narrow gage north of Durango, Colorado.

In the summertime the train goes all the way to Silverton. It stops there for a couple of hours and you walk around the quaint little town, probably buying an ice cream or a piece of home made pie. The ride is up the Animas canyon, and a beautiful ride it is.

In the summertime the train only goes about half way, where it turns around at a wye. You get out there and go to a shed where's there's a blazing fire and free hot drinks. On the way back, as the sun goes down one of the trainmen comes through lighting a kerosene lantern at each end of the coach. It's the crowning moment of a glorious day.

Before you go, read this book. It has about 200 pictures of the narrow gage railroads around Durango. It goes back into the history (all in all there were about 2,000 miles of narrow gage track.) but it also covers the Durango and Silverton and its transition from hauling freight to the miles in Silverton and elsewhere to tourist railway. Splendid book.

One last comment, while in Durango stay at the STRATER HOTEL. It's of the same vintage as the train and the food is supurb.

I have no financial interests in either the railway or the hotel, I just had a great time there.