The Way Low Down

Robby Wicks, formerly of Porcelain Hand Jive, and Sean Williams, formerly of Windjammer, have joined with Joshua Boyle and Peter Cogan to form The Way Low Down, a Denver-based bluegrass quartet. Check out their freshly recorded four song demo here:

The Way Low Down - Four Song Demo (Zip File)

Traffic Tyranny in Fort Collins

On August 26th, Amy and I were driving home from some errand. We were waiting in the left turn lane just before 8pm. It was a double turn lane that normally stays green for a good while, it being part of one of the busier intersections in town. My office is located just west of this intersection, so I drive through this particular turn lane numerous times every week. We were only the third car in line. As I crossed the line, the light turned from green to yellow to red so ridiculously fast that we were still only partway through the turn. As it turned red, a bright flash caught my attention and blinded me for a split second. It all happened so fast that I slowed down, thinking the flash must have originated from emergency vehicles, explaining the light's strange and sudden turn to red. A few seconds later, I realized that I'd just been caught by Big Brother in the form of a red light camera.

I was infuriated- not only had I just been trapped by a machine that now gave the police context-less evidence against me, but it had unsafely distracted my vision while I was trying to safely drive home with my 8 1/2 month pregnant wife in the car. I immediately saw how this would likely play out. I'd receive the ticket in the mail, I'd contest it, the judge (or more likely the D.A.'s staffer) would hand me paperwork outlining a pre-determined plea, and finally I'd be charged "court fees" (my penalty for challenging the accusation) in addition to the original fine. I thought about writing a letter of complaint to the city that same night, but Amy was having contractions off and on and ended up going into labor the next morning, so my mind moved on to more meaningful things.

Sure enough, the citation arrived in the mail the following week. Included was a photo of our car in the intersection while the light was red. Not included, of course, was the photo that could have shown me crossing the line while the light was still green, nor the video clip that could show the unreasonably brief time the light took to turn from green to red. Impossible to document (but relevant nonetheless) is the way the camera flash disoriented me, however briefly, while I was trying to drive my wife and unborn baby home safely. My guilt is presumed and my defense will sound like an excuse. As my dad pointed out when I told him the story, this places the burden of proving innocence on me, the result of automated government harassment.

I may end up paying this fine, but you can bet I'll be contesting the entire situation.

Newlin Creek Bouldering

Nathanael Hansen bouldering on Newlin Creek granite, July 18, 2009.


Nick Murray on granite slopers in the creek.


Nathanael Hansen on the slopers.

Nick Hureau

President Obama's Inaugural Address

It was a nice speech, and I'm glad he used a pragmatic tone and didn' t gloss over too much. Two points gave me pause, however:

"The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works..."

I realize that those of us who support the notion of limited government are dwarfed in number by those who seek bold federal action on seemingly every issue. But the entire political spectrum ought to constantly consider whether or not the government is too big or too small in any given arena. Otherwise, one supports the notion that government can solve ALL problems (and many do with religious zeal). That is a ridiculous assertion. Even Bill Clinton declared in 1996 that "the era of big government is over." I am optimistic that President Obama's vision of "smarter government" will result in greater efficiency in some areas; but like most politicians, and increasingly more of the population, he seems to see a government solution for problems of every scope.

"We cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself."

This statement is too warm and fuzzy. It's fine to have ideals; in fact, ideals are an important element of America's national greatness. But government owes it to it's citizens to be pragmatic, not utopian. Americans are served best when our big hearts are managed by clear minds. Tribalism is not something that can be dissolved. We all have our identities, whether national, religious, ethnic, political or otherwise. The way we identify with others according to our common interests, values, or actions is basic human behavior. Tribal identities may shift, but it is naivete to suggest that something so fundamental will simply dissolve. We should seek not the dissolution of "tribes," but peace and shared interests between them. I have seen in President Obama both an idealism bordering on utopianism and a strong pragmatic streak. I hope that pragmatism proves to be his core leadership trait.

Ryan's Inferno

On November 18, 2008, Than Hansen of Colorado Springs completed the first free ascent of Ryan's Inferno in Garden of the Gods, CO. At a tentative 5.13a, it is likely the hardest free pitch in the Garden of the Gods. The route was originally a project of local climber Ryan Sayers, who died in 2003 from a lightning strike in Wyoming's Windy River Range. The send marks the completion of the last of three major projects that Sayers' was close to finishing at the time of his death. Than was one of his closest friends and wore Sayers' old harness during the send as a tribute to a missed friend and climbing partner. View the video below:

The Colorado Springs Gazette had a brief article about the climb last month. Here's the link.]