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Railway through the Desert

The featured photo from the Library of Congress shows indian women at the Laguna, New Mexico, train depot c. 1902. Santa Fe Railroad officials encouraged the sale of Pueblo jewelry, crafts, and art at rail depots throughout the Southwest in an effort to attract tourists to the region. Native American imagery became a powerful force in American advertising during the late 19th century and has remained a familiar marketing symbol ever since. Thousands of posters, signs, brochures, and promotional booklets portrayed Indigenous people as symbols of strength, courage, speed, fierce independence, and a deep connection to nature. Railroads heading west, particularly those crossing the Southwest to California, embraced this imagery to sell the romance of travel. Their advertisements promised an unforgettable journey through dramatic landscapes inhabited by ancient cultures, transforming a train trip into an adventure. One example from my collection is this 1917 brochure, distributed aboard Santa Fe Railway trains to encourage travelers to visit Los Angeles. This version flows more naturally while preserving the historical context without endorsing the stereotypes used in the original advertising. If you're writing for a history or vintage advertising audience, it also reflects that these were marketing portrayals rather than factual representations. This is the story of how the Land of Enchantment was formed. https://mytext.cnm.edu/lesson/creating-the-land-of-enchantment/ 

By |July 14th, 2026|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on Railway through the Desert

Running of the Bulls with Hemingway

PAMPLONA, Spain — This year’s San Fermin festival is fit for anything.   Including outfitters offering packages for running with the bulls and bullfighting side-trips.  This year marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ernest Hemingway’s book “The Sun Also Rises,” which put Pamplona on the map. Hemingway first attended the festival in Pamplona, Spain, on July 7, 1924, accompanied by friends. He was immediately captivated by the life-and-death drama of the bullfights, the bravery of the matadors, and the energetic, hard-drinking culture of the celebration. These annual trips provided the core setting and inspiration for his breakthrough work. Today, the festival consists of eight consecutive morning bull runs, beginning on July 7. Thousands of participants pack the cobblestoned streets of Pamplona to scramble out of the way of a pack of charging bulls.  The run spans roughly 875 meters (about 960 yards) through the old quarter of the city, culminating in the bullring.  The run is inherently dangerous, with participants regularly suffering gorings and severe injuries.

By |July 8th, 2026|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on Running of the Bulls with Hemingway

Sources for All of Your Adventures Afield

I used to remember paging through the annual Willis & Geiger print catalog.   It left you reminiscing of days afield and dreaming of more days to come.   But, after a day of looking to find the name of catalog company that I ordered the best leather dog collar that I have ever found, I decided that I had better start making a list of all of the great resources that I have curated over the years.   Here's just the beginning: Books ---independent and antiquarian book resellers specializing in rare, out-of-print, and collectible outdoor sporting literature: Angling & Fly Fishing Specialists Coch-y-Bonddu Books: Widely regarded by international collectors as one of the best angling bookstores on the planet. They maintain a massive online catalog of both new and deeply out-of-print fishing texts. [1] Adams Angling Books: A highly trusted reseller specializing in hard-to-find, used, and rare books focused on fly fishing, fly-tying, and related natural history. [1] A.M. Rapach Angling Books: A specialized Pennsylvania-based antiquarian dealer that curates out-of-print fishing and field sports catalogs for discriminating collectors. [1] An Angler's Bookcase: An independent reseller stocking thousands of fishing titles, focusing heavily on signed first printings and rare limited-edition books. [1] Spinoza Rod Company (Book Division): Along with high-end split-bamboo fly rods, they curate an elite digital vault of collectible and antique angling literature. [1] Hunting, Firearms & Big Game Outfitters Callahan and Company Booksellers: Operating via classic physical mail-order catalogs out of New Hampshire, they specialize heavily in waterfowling, upland gamebird shooting, and sporting bibliography. [1, 2] Worldwide Hunting Books: The premier destination for acquiring or selling out-of-print big-game hunting journals, classic African safaris, and wilderness exploration memoirs. [1] Sporting Classics Store: The book division

By |July 7th, 2026|Categories: Dog Training, Fishing, Fly Tying, Foxhunting, Hunting, polo, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Sources for All of Your Adventures Afield

Hemingway’s Cast & Blast Style

Hemingway On Writing, the Viability of Surviving as a Novelist and Style As a lawyer, I have often admired and tried to replicate Ernest Hemingway's minimalist, "Iceberg Theory" style of prose. In fact, as a law clerk, I was asked by a senior partner who was reading a brief I drafted, "So what do you read for fun?"  I said something along the lines of my usual plethora of nonfiction, get rich quick, self help, religion, philosophy, etc., as I read several books a week voraciously.  I was told, "read Hemingway, you could learn to write from him" as the senior partner was alluding to his flat, sparse prose style, and comparing it to my new-found willingness to wield words after graduating law school.  Sportswriting in the tradition of Ernest Hemingway favors stoicism, outdoor pursuits like fishing and hunting, and themes of man confronting nature. Notable literary successors who mastered this craft include Norman Maclean, Hunter S. Thompson, and George Plimpton.  Norman Maclean, Author of A River Runs Through It, a masterpiece that elevates fly-fishing into a profound meditation on grace, family, and the natural world. His sparse, lyrical style is frequently compared to Hemingway's.  Hunter S. Thompson: Known for his Gonzo journalism, Thompson actually began and ended his career as a sportswriter. He covered everything from the Kentucky Derby to the Super Bowl for ESPN, utilizing sports to critique American culture and famously typing Hemingway's prose as a tribute. In today's day and age of AI writing everything for people and soon about to "do everything for people" such as tasks from babysitting to dishes, having creativity, originality and something unique to say is becoming increasingly uncommon.   "AI is a good summer intern,

By |July 1st, 2026|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on Hemingway’s Cast & Blast Style

The People Who Will Thrive in the AI Age

The People Who Will Thrive in the AI Age What will differentiate people is not how smart they are but their relationship to mental effort. By David Brooks Remember when AI was going to take away our jobs and leave humans with nothing to do? So far, that doesn’t seem to be happening. Researchers from ActivTrak analyzed the digital activity of more than 10,000 workers and found that when people adopted AI, their work life became more intense, not less. The time that these early adopters spent on email, messaging, and chat apps more than doubled. Their use of business software rose by 94 percent. Researchers from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business found that when using AI, workers started taking on tasks that they had previously outsourced, because activities such as coding and engineering became easier to do. They squeezed in work bursts in the evening, on weekends, in waiting rooms, and whenever else they had a spare moment and AI was handy. They also did a lot more multitasking, supervising a bunch of bots doing different things simultaneously. The general pattern that the research points to is that many people don’t use the time they save using AI to do less; they use the time to take on new tasks. AI also seems to shift workers’ expectations, and their boss’s expectations, about how much they should accomplish in a day. Every hour feels more crowded, but also more frazzled. The ActivTrak researchers found that the time people spent on focused, uninterrupted work fell by 9 percent. There’s even a name for this mental state: “AI brain fry.” In some sense this is normal. Every time some new labor-saving technology is introduced, there are experts (the ones

By |June 29th, 2026|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on The People Who Will Thrive in the AI Age

Your Sporting Air BNB

Thinking about renting your place in Bozeman, Montana?  Well here are the statistics on where Montana's Airbnb money is made.   However, there are new restrictions in place which make it virtually impossible for non-owner occupied units to be short term rented in Bozeman, and other places are following to include a lot of the Front Range area.   Check the rules carefully, as a place outside of town maybe a better bet if you are looking to Airbnb your property. This seems to follow the type of restrictions that Maui put into place.   Maui’s short-term rental laws require owners to hold valid permits to operate. Under Bill 9, signed in December 2025, approximately 6,000 apartment-zoned rentals (the "Minatoya list") are being phased out to address the housing crisis.   These rentals must cease by Jan. 1, 2029.Rest of Maui County: These must cease by Jan. 1, 2031.  Exemptions apply strictly to hotel-zoned and resort-zoned properties. Operating a legal Short-Term Rental Home (STRH) or Bed & Breakfast (B&B) requires conditional permits and must comply with strict Community Plan Region caps. Furthermore, all hosts must register for a Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) and General Excise Tax (GET) license with the Hawaii Department of Taxation and pay these taxes directly.  For detailed information on property zoning status and permit applications, visit the Maui County Short Term Rentals portal.

By |June 16th, 2026|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on Your Sporting Air BNB

Cowboys and Indians

For decades, we have subscribed to Cowboy and Indians Magazine.   This month, with Yellowstone and its spinoffs creating a boon on all things western, such as everything the Yellowstone characters wear on the ranch sold by Schaefer Outfitter (one of the suppliers to the show), they focus on western fashion, weaving and jewelry with Naiomi Glasses, the first Native American to work with Polo Ralph Lauren to create a curated line of attire and home goods, based upon her Navajo background of weaving bold native patterns. The Six Best Western Bars in Denver

By |June 8th, 2026|Categories: Colorado, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Cowboys and Indians

Fishing Bozeman, Montana

"Men do it drunk, how difficult can it be?"  ~The Madison Here is a draft that matches the classic, slightly rugged, and adventurous tone of Sporting Road. It leads directly into the hilarious quote you provided and sets up Bozeman as the ultimate fly-fishing hub. “Men do it drunk, how difficult can it be?” ~The Madison There is a specific brand of humility that only a Montana trout river can dish out. You pull into Bozeman with visions of cinematic, perfect loops slicing through the big sky, landing a dry fly gently on the nose of a rising twenty-inch brown trout. Then you actually step into the Madison River, watch a guy in a battered baseball cap net his fourth fish of the hour while balancing a cold beer, and realize you are utterly outclassed by the locals. Bozeman is arguably the epicenter of the fly-fishing universe, and for good reason. Within an hour’s drive in almost any direction, you have access to some of the most legendary blue-ribbon trout water on the planet. But if you’re going to tackle it, you need to know what you’re up against. The Big Three Rivers River Character What to Look For The Madison The "Fifty-Mile Riffle." Fast, shallow, and relentless rock gardens. Heavy nymph rigs or throwing massive streamers against the banks. The Gallatin Crystal clear, classic alpine canyon water right out of A River Runs Through It. Wading shoe-deep and hunting for rising trout along the log jams. The Yellowstone Big, wide, and untamed boat water. The longest undammed river in the lower 48. Hopper-dropper setups during the late summer heat. Surviving the "Fifty-Mile Riffle" The Madison is a unique beast. Unlike rivers with distinct

By |May 5th, 2026|Categories: Fishing, Uncategorized|Comments Off on Fishing Bozeman, Montana

White House State Dinner Party

Here is the dinner menu for the evening, as provided by the White House. [Photo from Wikipedia and as reported by The New York Times.] The food First Course Garden Vegetable Velouté Hearts of Palm Toasted Shallots Micro Mint The first course offers delicate garden herb velouté, silken and aromatic, complemented by a refreshing hearts of palm salad. Finished with crisp toasted shallots and a whisper of micro mint for brightness and contrast. Second Course Spring Herbed Ravioli Ricotta Cheese Morels Parmesan Emulsion The second course is made of a handcrafted spring herb ravioli, featuring herbs from the White House Kitchen Garden, generously filled with creamy ricotta, earthy morels, gently dressed in a light Parmesan emulsion, which enhances the essence of the dish. Third Course Dover Sole Meunière Potato Pavé Spring Ramps Snow Peas Parsley Oil The third course is made of a classic Dover sole meunière, expertly prepared and bathed in a nutty brown butter. The fish is accompanied by tender spring ramps, sweet snow peas, layered potatoes pavé, and a vibrant parsley oil for a refined, seasonal finish. Dessert White House Honey & Vanilla Bean Crémeux Flourless Chocolate Gâteau Almond Joconde Crème Fraîche Ice Cream

By |April 29th, 2026|Categories: Cuisine, Uncategorized|Comments Off on White House State Dinner Party

Bobcat vs Lynx

  Photos from https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/the-buzz/whats-the-difference-bobcat-vs-lynx   Americans tend to equate a mink coat with the epitome of luxury.   However, the most expensive fur coats in the world are defined by the rarity and density of the pelts, with Russian Sable leading the market at prices often exceeding $150,000 due to its silky, silver-tipped texture. Lynx follows closely, commanding high prices because designers use only the white, spotted belly fur, requiring a massive number of pelts for a single garment. Chinchilla is prized for having the softest and densest fur on Earth, while Vicuña, though technically a wool, rivals these furs in cost due to the extreme scarcity of the South American camelid fiber. Together, these materials represent the pinnacle of luxury outerwear, combining intense warmth with storied status. My daughter became interest in bobcat fur, as she attends college where the mascot is a bobcat.   A bobcat fur coat retailing on a specialist fur site might start around $2,000 for a basic sectioned bobcat coat, but most go for a lot more than that if well made from the prized spotted belly fur of well selected pelts.  Bobcat is often confused with lynx, as the pelts look similar, even more so than the animals.   Lynx coats generally cost more than straight bobcat because the fur is rarer and thicker/softer: about $5,000 – $25,000 or more for new high-end pieces. Some luxury pieces with prime lynx belly fur can be much higher ($30K-100K), depending on styling and heritage.  Hunting, trapping, loss of habitat: All of these factors essentially exterminated Colorado’s Canadian lynx by the 1970s. Two decades later, CPW reintroduced 96 of the state- and federally endangered big cats around Creede and Durango, and the

By |February 9th, 2026|Categories: Uncategorized|Comments Off on Bobcat vs Lynx