Zinn`s dream: No more veterans

Transcription

Zinn`s dream: No more veterans
December 5, 2007
BIWEEKLY
FREE
The
final
edition
Alternative evolves to new media
In this issue:
by Steven Higgs
E
Santa’s holiday A&E picks
Santa has more on his mind than just toys
for tots this Christmas season. In an exclusive
interview from his Bryan Park home-awayfrom-the-pole, the man in red shares his
thoughts on what to do this month.
Page 5
______________________________________________________
What child is this?
Editorial cartoon by Brian Garvey
Page 2
Citizens seek Edwardsport review
Citizen groups are seeking an additional IURC
review of Duke Energy’s plans to build a coal
gasification plant southwest of Bloomington in
Edwardsport..
Page 2
Media blind spots and blackouts
Kevin Howley says the media’s failure to cover
FCC proceedings on media ownership is either
an inexcusable blind spot or a deliberate
attempt to keep the public uninformed.
Page 3
Civitas
The world without humans
A new book has Travis thinking about a postenvironmental-apocolyptic world and how
long the human footprint will actually last.
Page 4
Poll Numbers
Editorial cartoon by Tom Tomorrow
Page 4
Around town
The Alternative’s biweekly calendar of events
Pages 6-7
ASTROLOGICK
Astrologer Gary Paul Glynn’s biweekly forecasts
Page 9
Organic Matter by Kristin Rust
Mother Nature can compensate
Kristin is back, and she takes a look back at
what Mother Nature threw at area gardeners
this past year and how Her creations adapted
to Her mercurial moods.
Page 10
On the Web:
ven though I know this piece is a
farewell to some, it’s really an announcement of a new phase in the ongoing experiment in new-media journalism
called The Bloomington Alternative.
Yes, this is the last issue of the Alternative print edition. And I’ve heard from
enough loyal readers who crave that
newsprint in their hands to know that
we’re going to lose them if we don’t keep
a print publication on the street (an eventuality that has not been ruled out).
But while the thought of losing readers is an anathema to any writer – it sets
pinched nerve endings ablaze, actually
– the truth is, for a multitude of reasons,
it’s time to let go of the old media and
more fully embrace the new.
The only aspects of the future that are
certain today are that we will continue
building our Web presence, and all of the
Alternative’s regular contributors – Travis, Garvey, Canada, Thom, Hamm, Harrell and Fischer, Rust – will be there, with
extensive archives of their work.
Given that the creative potential on
the Internet is limitless, we’ll be offering
some new media experiences for those
who make us part of their virtual habits.
But it bears repeating: We are evolving, not going away, by any means. And
a print publication of some sort may indeed be part of the mix.
A
common response from readers and
supporters these past 5 1/2 years has
been that they appreciate our honesty,
H
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“We will spend our ‘time
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whether they agree with us or not. We tell
it the way we see it. Take us or leave us.
It’s the readers’ choice.
In that spirit, I’m going to be honest
and say the decision to end the print version isn’t just about money.
The paper and Web site pay for them-
selves through the generous support of
individuals and advertisers who share
our vision and value our audience. We’ve
always paid our bills, and our contributors, on time. None of us would quit over
cash.
It’s about money in the sense that future
FDVKÀRZ SURVSHFWV GRQ¶W ERGH DOO WKDW
well for anything other than treading water. And those who have watched the Alternative grow since July 2002 know that
standing still is not what we’re about.
Continued on Page 11
Zinn’s dream: No more veterans
by James Alexander Thom
NEW PROJECT
Photograph by Steven Higgs
Almost three years to the day since planning for The Bloomington Alternative print edition began, the biweekly counter to market-driven journalism in
Bloomington is ending its run. The mission will continue online and, perhaps,
in other, yet-to-be-determined forms as well.
oward Zinn, eminent peacemonger and sage, can really set you to
thinking.
He wrote to me last week that he’d
given a Veterans Day speech in Worcester, Mass., telling the audience what Veterans Day should be: a day we pledge
“No more veterans!”
Wow! Is that a loaded idea!
Stop making veterans. Pledge to stop
making wars for so long that peace outlives even the oldest veterans. Think of it.
Zinn, author of the classic A People’s
History of the United States, was an Air
Corps bombardier in World War II, an
old warrior long since turned against
war, one of the leading American dissenters against the Bush administration’s
warmongering.
The postscript to his letter said, “Mail-
editor@BloomingtonAlternative.com
er is now dead. And Kurt [our mutual
friend Vonnegut]. And Joseph Heller –
all honest witnesses
to the ‘good war.’”
E
verybody mentioned here so
far (except Bush) is
or was a war veteran. So when Howard
says, “No more veterans,” he’s implying a time when we
and many of our most esteemed friends
will be gone.
That would include another of our
peace correspondents, Korean War Marine Andy Jacobs, longtime Indiana
congressman who wrote a book about
presidents who send Americans off to
become veterans of foreign wars. At 80,
Andy now writes anti-Bush barbs from
Indianapolis.
We all hope our pens are mightier than
the sword. I feel as much esprit de corps
in this squad of old pen warriors as I did
in the Marines.
Think far ahead to a time when there
will remain no living Vietnam or Desert
Storm veterans, or even those still being forged in Operation F.U.B.A.R. in
Iraq. That will be a long time from now,
because soldiers who survive the wars
WKH\¶UHVHQWWR¿JKWWHQGWROLYHORQJEHyond them.
I can remember as a child in the 1930s
attending the funerals of my ancestors
who were Civil War veterans. Most if not
all World War I veterans are gone, including my father, who was also a World War
II veteran. World War II is more than 60
years in the past, but old farts from that
www.BloomingtonAlternative.com
Continued on Page 2
2
The Bloomington Alternative
December 5, 2007
The Bloomington Alternative
The Bloomington Alternative is a biweekly
journal of news and commentary published in Bloomington, Ind. Both the print
and online versions are free.
The Alternative is a mission-driven
publication whose goal is to promote
and celebrate progressive social change
and independent media in Bloomington.
Specifically, we promote social, environmental, and economic justice; local arts;
local business; and independent writers.
Alternative staff:
Editor: Steven Higgs
Columnists: Gregory Travis, Steve Chaplin,
Tom Szymanski, Kristin Rust, Caitlin Brase,
Helen Harrell & Carol Fischer
Editorial cartoonists: Brian Garvey,
Tom Tomorrow
Calendar: Ashlee Deon
Contributing writers: Thomas P. Healy,
Steve Chaplin, Lori Canada,
Alison Hamm, John Blair, Kevin Howley,
James Alexander Thom,
Josephine McRobbie, Jessica Hullinger,
Caitlin Brase, Ashlee Deon, Charli Wyatt,
Jesse Darland
Ad design: Talia Halliday
Copy editing: Karen Garinger
Send submissions or comments to:
editor@BloomingtonAlternative.com
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P.O. Box 3523
Bloomington, IN 47402
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Issues mailed on the Tuesday before
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Citizens seek Edwardsport review
Alternative Report
crease, driving up the cost of the plant
and making alternatives such as wind
onsumer and environmental advo- DQG HQHUJ\ HI¿FLHQF\ HYHQ PRUH HFRcacy groups have asked the Indiana nomical alternatives.
Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC)
• Congress and the EPA are considering
to reopen its investigation of a proposed even more stringent limits on carbon diQHZFRDOJDVL¿FDWLRQSRZHUSODQWLQ(G- oxide, a greenhouse gas emitted by coal
wardsport.
plants. Tougher regulations on carbon
The groups want the IURC to consider emission could make the plant uneco“new and material evidence” discovered nomic and a waste of ratepayer dollars.
that would have an outcome on the deci• Duke has also proposed a tenfold
sion.
increase in its programs to help reduce
6SHFL¿FDOO\WKHJURXSVZDQWWKH,85& electricity demand, which would reduce
to consider:
the need for the new plant.
• Duke has issued a call for bids on as
“It is simply incredible that Duke conmuch as 1,000 megawatts of new genera- tinues to seek approval of a 600 MW plant
tion by 2012, nearly twice the capacity of when they only claimed to need 500 MW
the proposed Edwardsport Project.
to begin with and are now taking bids
• Originally Duke had partnered with for over 1,000 MW of generation,” CitiVectren Energy Delivery to share the zens Action Coalition Executive Director
risk and costs. Vectren has asked to Grant Smith said in a news release.
completely withdraw from the project,
By acknowledging it can expand inleaving 100 percent of the risk on Duke YHVWPHQWV LQ HI¿FLHQF\ PRUH WKDQ ratepayers.
times, Duke has indicated demand for
• Construction costs continue to in- HOHFWULFLW\ FDQ EH UHGXFHG VLJQL¿FDQWO\
C
and achieved at less than the cost of
new generation.
Duke’s continued push for a new coal
plant and higher carbon emissions “is unacceptable and highly risky to Hoosiers,”
Smith said.
³2WKHUFRDOJDVL¿FDWLRQSODQWVDURXQG
the country are being rejected by state
regulatory commissions because of the
high costs and the growing uncertainty
of the costs of future carbon regulation,”
he added.
While Gov. Mitch Daniels may want
the plant, homeowners throughout
Duke’s service territory will pay dearly
for it, Smith continued.
“The fact is that Wall Street will not
invest in such a risky plant unless Duke
has government subsidies and a blank
check from ratepayers to cover any and
all costs,” he said. “A 20 percent jump
in electric rates will not help the state’s
economy and will hurt consumers, small
business and industrial customers already
struggling with rising energy costs.”
• Zinn’s dream: No more veterans
If they can’t restrain themselves (or be United States president. That is, if conrestrained), they’ll start a series of con- gressmen keep balking on impeachment,
FRQÀLFW OLNH $QG\ 5RRQH\ DQG =LQQ ÀLFWVWKDWZLOOSUREDEO\RXWODVW$PHULFD the people must drive them to it. Conhimself), are still visible among us.
gress should not allow indictable war
criminals to rule America, and if you
f the Iraq War were to end somedon’t think those guys are indictable,
time in the next 10 years (don’t
wake up and read the mountains of
count on it), some of its veterans
evidence. Then write, call or e-mail
by Jim Thom
might still be living in 2067 or 2077
your congressman.
or even 2087, so Howard Zinn’s
www.BloomingtonAlternative.com
dream of “No more veterans” is a
ack to the poignant aspect of
long way off. But it could happen.
Howard Zinn’s idea: what about
You have to dream far.
and there never will be a time of no more an America without war veterans?
Here’s the thing: George Bush and veterans. Give a fool an army and he’ll
What would we do for parades?
Dick Cheney could help make Howard use it. Bush and Cheney still have time
Could we tough-ass Americans, who
Zinn’s dream come true (in the distant to cross the Rubicon again, and they will whipped the Indians, King George III of
future) by not attacking Iran. They’re if they can.
England, Gen. Santa Anna of Mexico,
itching to do it, but if they could reOne last hope to prevent that is another Aguinaldo of the Philippines, Germany’s
strain their pugnacious little selves from of Howard Zinn’s noble ideas, advanced Kaiser and Hitler, Japan’s Tojo, Panama’s
that, Iraq War veterans might be the last in a magazine column a few months
ago: A “People’s Impeachment” of the
American war veterans ever!
Continued on Page 3
Continued from Page 1
I
editor@BloomingtonAlternative.com
“Glowball warning”
B
www.BloomingtonAlternative.com
3
The Bloomington Alternative
December 5, 2007
Media blind spots and blackouts
by Kevin Howley
T
he screenwriters’ strike continues to
grab headlines, right alongside big
news stories like the military crackdown
in Pakistan, the diplomatic letdown in
Annapolis and the economic meltdown
on Wall Street.
As the strike enters its fourth week,
popular television programs like The
Daily Show, Desperate Housewives and
24, among others, have closed shop.
Press coverage of the strike invariably
frames the labor dispute in rather dire
WHUPVDSDUWIURPWKH¿QDQFLDOLPSOLFDtions a prolonged strike will have for
ZULWHUVDQGWKH¿OPDQG79VWXGLRVDOLNH
the American public will suffer the consequences of a television season littered
with reruns and “reality” programming
should the strike drag on for months.
These news stories reveal a great deal
about the blind spots and blackouts that
are common in U.S. press coverage of
media and culture. Indeed, the sheer
amount of coverage the writers’ strike receives stands in stark contrast to another
media-related news story – a blockbuster, in fact – that barely receives mention,
let alone headlines.
I’m speaking of the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) proposed rule change to media ownership
regulations.
F
CC Chairman Kevin Martin has
made quite clear his intention to gut
the few remaining regulations that prevent media corporations from further
consolidating their holdings across the
country.
He has also set his sights on the longstanding prohibition against broadcast/
newspaper cross-ownership in the same
market.
Martin’s fellow Republicans, Commissioners Deborah Tate and Robert
McDowell, are in
favor of “relaxing”
ownership restrictions. Democratic
commissioners Michael Copps and
Jonathan Adlestein
are vehemently opposed.
interest, enhance media diversity and
preserve localism – Martin has put his
plan to gut ownership restrictions on the
“fast track.”
M
artin’s intransigence in the face
of growing popular opposition to
media consolidation has set the stage for
a showdown in the U.S. Congress over
communication policy that may well
shape the American media landscape for
generations to come.
And yet, despite the high stakes political maneuvering between federal
regulators, industry lobbyists and citizen
groups over the FCC’s proposed rule
LJQL¿FDQWO\ WKH SDUWLVDQVKLS WKDW change to media ownership regulations,
characterizes the media ownership the U.S. news media refuses to cover
debate at the FCC is nowhere to be this issue in any depth.
found, either in the halls of Congress or
among the American people.
“Bipartisan support is
Bipartisan support is growing for
legislation – the Media Ownership Act
growing for legislation
of 2007 – that would put the brakes on
– the Media Ownership
Martin’s plan to allow further media
Act of 2007 – that would
consolidation. What’s more, a broad coput the brakes on Martin’s
alition of concerned citizens, from across
the political spectrum, have voiced their
plan to allow further media
opposition to Martin’s plan.
consolidation.”
To his credit, Martin did seek some,
albeit limited, public comment on the
FCC’s ownership deliberations. But
Surely bipartisan support in Congress
like his predecessor, former FCC chair- on any issue is newsworthy. Instead, it’s
man Michael Powell, Martin displayed business as usual in the nation’s newsa rather transparent contempt for public rooms. What little press coverage there
opinion.
is of this debate is found in the business
Despite an overwhelming majority of sections of the New York Times and the
Americans who spoke out against media Washington Post.
consolidation – and instead demanded
Failure to cover this issue, at length
the FCC do more to promote the public and in-depth, is, at best, a blind spot for
S
the U.S. press. At worst, it is a deliberate media blackout designed to keep the
American people in the dark, and out of
the loop, when it comes to crucial public
policy decisions.
N
o doubt the stakes are high for
writers, producers and the studios.
Without minimizing the importance of
this dispute, the simple truth is that, at
the end of the day, the various parties
will eventually settle their differences.
$IWHUDOOVRDSRSHUDVIHDWXUH¿OPV79
talk shows and night-time dramas all
share one thing in common: they all start
with words on a page.
But in the scheme of things, the writers’ strike is small potatoes compared
with the consequences that further media consolidation will have on American
media, society and culture.
Today, a handful of conglomerates
control most of the news, information
and cultural programming that Americans read, see and hear. Big media is on
the march, while local, independent media is on the run.
In a rapidly changing media environment, vigorous reporting of communication policy debates, such as media ownHUVKLS LV WKH ¿UVW VWHS WRZDUG HQVXULQJ
a more diverse, accountable and responsible media system for us all.
Kevin Howley is an associate professor of media studies at DePauw University. He can be reached at khowley@
depauw.edu.
• Zinn’s dream: No more veterans
Continued from Page 2
membership! Think of old coots wearing
John Deere caps instead of VIETNAM
Noriega, Iraq’s Saddam, etc., could we VET caps. If guys couldn’t reminisce
stand having no veterans? Would it di- about war, what would we have to talk
lute our testosterone too much to march about besides sports and erectile dysin parades celebrating peace?
function? Instead of “Semper Fi” and
Imagine all the VFW posts shut down “Hoo-ah!” we’d have to hoot “23 skiEHFDXVH QRERG\ TXDOL¿HV DQ\PRUH IRU doo!”
editor@BloomingtonAlternative.com
I must ask, Howard Zinn, would peace
be too boring?
Abraham Lincoln called military glory “that attractive rainbow that rises in
showers of blood.” Could America be a
real country without it?
Well, it would be strange, that’s for
sure. But we could try it. If for no other
reason, it’s what Jesus (A.K.A. “The
Prince of Peace”) told us to do.
James Alexander Thom can be reached
at editor@BloomingtonAlternative.com.
www.BloomingtonAlternative.com
4
The Bloomington Alternative
December 5, 2007
Civitas
The world without humans
by Gregory Travis
I
has hosted all manner of species save
one: humans.
Protected southward by a double fence
Many things take a remarkably short
of
razor wire, the DMZ holds against
time to become undone. The book’s
author, Alan Wiesman, takes pains to Seoul’s expanding suburban shock wave.
point out what I, and many others, have It’s protected to the north, against hordes
long sought to make of starving North Koreans, by a similar
clear. Namely, the barrier. And between the fences lies a litmore modern, the HUDOPLQH¿HOGWXUERFKDUJHGE\WKHRFFDmore new, the shit- VLRQDOVRXQGRIDXWRPDWLFULÀH¿UHHPDtier. Houses built in nating from a pillbox belonging to one,
the post WW II boom or the other, side.
DUHWKH¿UVWWRJRWKH
Perhaps his target is a family trying to
more recently con- dash to sanctuary. More likely a bored
structed, the more soldier is just blowing off a little steam.
quickly reclaimed by nature.
Everything about the zone says “Hu“One thing [that disasters] have in mans stay out.” Everything about the zone
common is that nearly all the buildings says “For the rest of you, here is found
that crumbled or will crumble were built sanctuary.” And so became, in one of the
after World War II,” the author writes.
most inhospitable places, a riot of life.
Within as little as half a decade, and
without any human maintenance, any
“With humans gone, how
human tilting against nature’s windmill,
do ecosystems continue?
today’s chipboard-and-vinyl McMansion
sprouts a roof leak in a couple of years,
What happens to our
a rotten roof truss a year after that, and
cultural artifacts, once we’re
inward collapsing mold-covered walls
no longer around to tend to
only one-sixth of the way through a conthem?”
ventional 30-year mortgage.
But the book’s most fascinating passages concern not what will happen in a
world without us but what has happened Frontier, redux
in those parts of the world that we, for
Hard in southeastern Indiana’s uplands
whatever reason, have already abanlies
another sanctuary. A post-WW II
doned.
My wife, half-Korean, half-Finnish, relic that, unlike almost everything else
introduced me to the book because of built since that war, was built to last.
The Jefferson Proving Ground (JPG),
that subject; namely, the subject of the
two-mile wide, 100-mile long, Korean 55,000 acres of pristine Hoosier homedemilitarized zone (DMZ). An area stead carved out of national necessity
that, since Eisenhower was president, (and 2,500 displaced families) to prove
The center cannot hold
’m reading a book, The World Without Us. The premise is simple: what
if, suddenly, humans were to disappear
from the face of the earth? The mechanism for that disappearance, whether it’s
sickness, suicide or mass exodus (voluntary or involuntary) is immaterial.
What matters is what happens afterward.
What happens here on Earth, that is.
With humans gone, how do ecosystems
continue? What happens to our cultural
artifacts, once we’re no longer around to
tend to them? What things last, and what
things rot?
7KHDQVZHUWRWKH¿UVWLVWKH\GR(FRsystems continue as they always have,
governed by evolution and species specialization. Without human husbandry,
of course, those specializations change.
Cockroaches and domestic dogs get the
short end of the stick, the former denied
the heated buildings that a tropical species requires in northern climes.
The latter, which domesticated us into
giving it table scraps hundreds of thousands of years ago, simply can’t compete against real game hunters: bears,
wolves, coyotes. With us goes our best
friend, too.
Domestic cats, on the other hand,
turn out to be some of the winners in a
world without us. Cunning and self-reliant, they easily evade the predators that
come back to once again occupy the land
where our cities stood. Likewise does
water win, invading every opportunity,
every crack, every cranny. And where
water wins, so too does a riot of molds,
mildews and fungi.
the weapons that would make us victoriRXV ¿UVW DJDLQVW WKH *HUPDQV DQG -DSDnese, and then later against the Koreans,
DJDLQVW WKH 9LHWQDPHVH DQG ¿QDOO\
against the Arabs.
Then, in the early 1990s, JPG offered its last salvo. Helping prove our
nation’s weapons here in the Heartland
before they went overseas to defend the
Homeland.
Not long after its last hurrah, the decision was made to close JPG. Computers
had become far more adept, and much
more economical, as a way to model ordinance. No longer did we need a vast
ZLOGHUQHVVLQZKLFKWR¿UHRXUJXQVMXVW
to prove to ourselves that they would
work. That job was outsourced from real
space into cyberspace.
Which left those 55,000 acres, nearly
four times the size of Brown County
6WDWH 3DUN LQ OLPER 'HFDGHV RI ¿ULQJ
lead and depleted uranium (DU) shells
into the hinterland had left that hinterland
too dirty for even the most ambitious developer’s suburban daydreams.
So a decision was made: fence it off.
And so JPG is today. Twenty-milesE\¿YH RI SULVWLQH ZRRGODQGV (QRXJK
buried DU to keep the humans out, not
enough to actually affect the wildlife that
has come crashing back to the sanctuary: a warren of birds, coyotes, foxes and
even rumored cougars thriving in a world
without us.
And so it will be, so long as we keep
our goddamned hands off.
Gregory Travis can be reached at
greg@littlebear.com.
Editorial Cartoons
Online at
www.BloomingtonAlternative.com
Brian Garvey
Tom Tomorrow
Paul Kane
Keith Knight
editor@BloomingtonAlternative.com
www.BloomingtonAlternative.com
5
The Bloomington Alternative
December 5, 2007
the
Alternative Arts & Culture
TboubÖt!ipmjebz!B'F!qjdlt
by Lori Canada
and those organic mung bean
sprout gingerbread men cookhile most know that Monroe
ies from Bloomingfoods you
County is home to modern folk
offered me were too much to
hero John Mellencamp, many aren’t
resist.
aware of the fact that the universal symBA: Great! Those tasty ginbol of benevolence and charity himself,
gerbread men are free range,
Santa Claus, is also an area homeowner.
too, but let’s get right into it.
The remote regions of the North TerAny local holiday happenings
restrial Pole is where the globe’s most you wanna tell us about that
recognizable jet-setting do-gooder really put the crimson in your
spends most of his time, but the merry bowl of jelly?
man in red escapes to his Bryan Park
SC: There’s always a lot goneighborhood getaway bungalow a few ing on in Bloomington, and this
times a year.
time of the year is no exception.
Fresh on the heels of unseating Bill Right now I’m especially exGates as the world’s top philanthro- cited about the Monroe County
pist as named by Business Week, and Civic Theater’s theatrical proin town for a jug band extravaganza at duction of Dickens’ A ChristMax’s Place, Father Christmas recently mas Carol. It’ll be performed in
sat down for an exclusive interview with a number of off-the-wall venues
The Bloomington Alternative.
at various times throughout DeSurprisingly accessible and seemingly cember, and folks should check
unaware of his own mythical stature, RXWZZZPFFWRUJIRUVSHFL¿FV
Claus offered up his area arts and enterBA: Wow, Santa, I had no
Photograph by Brian Richwine
tainment holiday picks, while carefully idea you were Web savvy!
The
jolly
one
himself
knows
more about
avoiding hot button issues, such as the
SC: Most people don’t. LisBloomington
than
who’s
been
naughty.
He
effects of unfettered globalization on the ten, I’m as old as the limestone
also
knows
what
there
is
to
do
around
here
toy industry, ongoing debates over the hills, but in my business, staying
secular marketing of Christmas and re- in touch with youth culture is a over the Christmas break.
cent polls showing that most Americans must, and the Internet is where
workers will be in town for a live reinwould select his furry, pagan compadre, the kids are.
deer presentation at the WonderLab on
the Easter Bunny,
Speaking of kids, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
over all other can- Santa says, “Don’t the forget
while it’s not exactly
BA: Sounds like there’s a lot going on
didates if he were
holiday-themed,
that
for
young people. Anything for old timthe Gallery Walk.”
to enter the 2008
wacky Cardinal Stage ers you can tell us about?
Dec. 7 • 4:30-7:30 p.m.
presidential race
camp will be putting
SC: Oh sure. First off, there will be a
Participating
galleries
tomorrow.
on Oliver!, based on special holiday offering of WFHB’s Sat• Wandering Turtle • Textillery Gallery
Oliver Twist, another urday’s Child on Dec. 8 at the Waldron
• Gallery North
• John Waldron Arts Center
BA: This is • Prima Gallery
Dickens novel, Dec. Fire Bay starting at 11 a.m. The ever-jol• Bellevue Gallery
• By Hand Gallery
obviously a busy
• tutto bene wine cafe
ly Arbutus Cunningham and Art Heck21 to 31.
time of the year
Check out www. man will both be on hand for that event,
for you. Thanks
cardinalstage.org for and later that same night, there will be
so much for chatting with us!
a candlelit evening of music, readings
more details.
SC: It’s my pleasure. I try to support
And Donner wanted me to mention that and other 19th-century holiday treats at
independent journalism whenever I can, he and some of my other four-legged co- the old Wylie House from 5 to 8 p.m.
W
I haven’t slid down the Wylie House
FKLPQH\ VLQFH +DOIVWLÀHG VRE
Damn, that was a good year. I’ll never
forget that hand-crafted briar pipe the
Mrs. bought me on our trip to France …
BA: I’m sorry, Santa. You must have a
lot of fond memories tucked under your
plush, red velvet hat.
SC: Ho! Ho! Ho! Yes, you could say
that again! Anyway, back to it. On Dec.
16 at 2 p.m. the more cultivated among
us can check out the Bloomington Chamber Singers’ Messiah Sing-Along at St.
John the Apostle Church.
And the Fifth Annual Winter Solstice
Group Exhibit at Wandering Turtle Art
Gallery runs through Dec. 31. Check out
www.wanderingturtle.com for more details.
BA: That all sounds swell, Santa, but
what about all the popular music lovers
out there, anything for them?
SC:Well, despite some reports to the
contrary, Bloomington always has great
shows going on, but a few things jump
out at me.
,¶OO GH¿QLWHO\ EH DW WKH %OXHELUG RQ
Dec. 13 for the annual Toys for Tots
fundraiser, this year featuring VHS or
Beta, Autovaughn and American Bang.
And if I’m not too wiped out from
traveling, I’ll hit the Bluebird again on
New Year’s Eve for Robert Bradley’s
Blackwater Surprise. Action starts at 9
p.m. for both of those shows.
Go to www.theplayerspub.com to
learn more about the Kookamongas and
Hambone party at the Players Pub on
New Year’s Eve. I am really liking that
place.
A right jolly old elf can really cut a rug
there, and that’s saying a lot! Ho! Ho!
Ho!
Lori Canada can be reached at
locanada30@yahoo.com.
7:C?II?ED?I7BM7OI<H;;
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editor@BloomingtonAlternative.com
www.BloomingtonAlternative.com
6
The Bloomington Alternative
December 5, 2007
Around town
Wed - Dec 5
Civic
Monroe County Courthouse: Bloomington Peace Action Coalition anti-war
Peace Vigil, 5-6 p.m., free
Dance
Music
Max’s Place: David Miller’s Art Deco
Quartet, 8 p.m.
Runcible Spoon: Irish music session with
Music
Bluebird: Andy Hollinden & Glenn Gass,
Theater
Grey Larson, 7 p.m.
The Cinemat: “A Christmas Carol”, 7 p.m.,
Theater
free
9 p.m.
Kilroy’s Sports: Dueling Pianos & DJ
Unique, 10 p.m., $3
Players Pub: Open mic, 7:30 p.m.
Rhino’s: Austin Lucas & the Pressmen, 7
Wells-Metz Theatre: “Jimmy Cory”, 2 &
7:30 p.m.
Sex/Death V, 10 p.m., $5
Sun - Dec 9
p.m., $6
Trojan Horse: Acoustic guitar, 6-8 p.m.
Bloomington Playwrights Project:
Wed - Dec 12
Civic
Civic
Harmony School: Wednesday Night
Contra Dance, 8 p.m., $3-5
Theater
Boxcar Books: The Midwest Pages to
Prisoners Project, 2 p.m.
John Waldron Arts Center: “Juliet: A
p.m.
Grey Larsen, Traditional Irish Music sessions, Runcible
Spoon, Dec. 11 & 18
.
Misc
Kirkwood Observatory: Night viewing
Bloomington Playwright’s Project:
Bellevue Gallery presents “Joyuex”, 5-7:30
p.m., free
Harmony School: Wednesday Night
Bluebird: Clayton Anderson Band, 10 p.m.
Max’s Place: Open mic, 7:30 p.m.
Tutto Bene: Sarah’s Swing Set, 8-11 p.m.,
$3
Mon - Dec 10
Boxcar Books: The Midwest Pages to
Prisoners Project, 7 p.m.
Comedy
p.m.
Dance
Indiana Memorial Union: IU Swing
Theater
Monroe County Courthouse Rotunda:
“A Christmas Carol”, 12 p.m., free
Bloomington Playwrights Project:
Sex/Death V, 10 p.m., $5
Thur - Dec 6
Civic
Dance Club six-week session, 8 p.m.,
$40-50
The Cinemat: “A Christmas Carol”, 7 p.m.,
Music
free
John Waldron Arts Center: “Juliet: A
Dialogue About Love”, 8 p.m., $8 general/
$6 students
Bluebird: Karaoke, 9 p.m., $1
Player’s Pub: Songwriter’s Showcase, 8
Wells-Metz Theatre: “Jimmy Cory”, 7:30
p.m., free
Thur - Dec 13
Civic
Boxcar Books: The Midwest Pages to
Silence Comedy, 9 p.m., free
Dance
Harmony School: Wednesday Night
Dance
Windfall Dancers Studio: Latin Dance
Paintings by Herbert J. Reith III, Sweet Hickory, Dec. 14,
8-11 p.m.
Contra Dance, 8 p.m., $3-5
Music
p.m., free
Party, 9 p.m., $5
Music
Theater
Bloomington Playwrights Project:
Bluebird: Dave Mathews cover band, 10
p.m.
Four Winds Resort & Marina: all-request DJ dance party, 9 p.m., free
Jake’s: DJ Action Jackson, 9 p.m.
Kilroy’s Sports: Kenny Kixx & DJ Unique,
11 p.m.-3 a.m., $3
Alternative Arts & Culture
City Hall Atrium: “A Christmas Carol”, 12
dians Kevin Burke & Drew Donisi
dance party, 7:30 p.m., $7
the
Sex/Death V, 10 p.m., $5
Bear’s Place/Comedy Caravan Come-
Arthur Murray Dance Studio: Ballroom
a Return Sample From Mars?”, 7-8:30 p.m.,
free
Bloomington Playwrights Project:
Indiana Memorial Union: Awkward
Silence Comedy, 9 p.m., free
Borders: Science Café: “Are We Ready For
Theater
Comedy
Indiana Memorial Union: Awkward
.
Runcible Spoon: Open mic night, 7 p.m.
Prisoners Project, 7 p.m.
Comedy
Misc
7:30 p.m., $15
Sat - Dec 8
Prisoners Project, 7 p.m.
Dance
Bluebird: 16 Candles, 10 p.m.
Max’s Place: Open mic night, 7:30 p.m.
Rhino’s: Mae, Husband & Wife, Concordia,
p.m.
Boxcar Books: The Midwest Pages to
Comedy
Music
dians Jesse Joyce & Ray Devito
Session, 5:30- 8:30 p.m.
p.m.
of sky & Saturn, 9-11 p.m., free
Bear’s Place/Comedy Caravan Come-
Runcible Spoon: Traditional Irish Music
Wells-Metz Theatre: “Jimmy Cory”, 7:30
Kirkwood Observatory: Night viewing
Civic
Lost, Genghis Tron, 7:30 p.m., $8
Theater
.
Misc
free
Bluebird: The Buzzkills & True Story, 10
Kilroy’s Sports: Josh Holmes, 10 p.m.
Regazzi Art Café: Live jazz, 7-9 p.m.
Rhino’s: Dillinger Escape Plan, A Life Once
Contra Dance, 8 p.m., $3-5
The Cinemat: “A Christmas Carol”, 7 p.m.,
phy art opening, 7 p.m., free
Music
Music
Theater
Boxcar Books: Steve Fender’s photogra-
of sky & Saturn, 9-11 p.m., free
Dance
Snuffy’s Place: Jam session, 7:30 p.m.
Fri - Dec 7
Art
ington Peace Action Coalition anti-war
Peace Vigil, 5-6 p.m., free
Music
Dialogue About Love”, 8 p.m., $8 general/
$6 students
Wells-Metz Theatre: “Jimmy Cory”, 7:30
Monroe County Courthouse: Bloom-
Regazzi Arte Café: Southern Italian accordion music, 6-9 p.m.
Rhino’s: Tim Williams, The Black Atlantic,
Alexander the Great, 8 p.m., $5
editor@BloomingtonAlternative.com
Sex/Death V, 10 p.m., $5
Rhino’s: “A Christmas Carol”, 7 p.m., free
Tue - Dec 11
Civic
Bluebird: WTTS Toys for Tots Christmas
Party with VHS, 9 p.m.
Kilroy’s Sports: Dueling Pianos & DJ
Unique, 10 p.m., $3
Rhino’s: Summer Davis, Hanna Francis,
Rosalyn Sternberg, 7:30 p.m., $3
Trojan Horse: Acoustic guitar, 6-8 p.m.
the
Alternative Arts & Culture
Monroe County Public Library: Team
Hilary Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
www.BloomingtonAlternative.com
7
The Bloomington Alternative
Fri - Dec 14
Music
Comedy
Bear’s Place/Comedy Caravan : Comedian Kieth McGill
Bluebird: Hairbangers Ball, 10 p.m.
Four Winds Resort & Marina: all-request DJ dance party, 9 p.m., free
Regazzi Art Café: Live jazz, 7-9 p.m.
Rhino’s: Youth in Action B.O.B. 2007, 8
p.m., $4
Dance
December 5, 2007
Sat - Dec 22
Fri - Dec 28
Music
Four Winds Resort & Marina: all-request
DJ dance party, 9 p.m., free
Music
Four Winds Resort & Marina: all-request DJ dance party, 9 p.m., free
Indiana Memorial Union: IU Swing
Theater
Dance Club six-week session, 8 p.m.,
$40-50
Buskirk-Chumley: “Oliver!”, 7 p.m.
Music
Theater
Bloomington Playwrights Project: “A
Christmas Carol”, 7 p.m., free
Sat - Dec 15
dian Wix Wichman
Music
p.m., free
Tue - Dec 18
Comedy
Bear’s Place/Comedy Caravan Come-
Sat - Dec 29
Bluebird: Karaoke, 9 p.m., $1
Players Pub: Songwriters Showcase. 8
Four Winds Resort & Marina: all-request DJ dance party, 9 p.m., free
Theater
Music
Buskirk-Chumley: “Oliver!”, 2 & 7 p.m.
Runcible Spoon: Irish music session with
Grey Larson, 7 p.m.
Music
Bluebird: Guns & Roses and Bon Jovi
Wed - Dec 19
Sun - Dec 30
Theater
Jesse Joyce, Bear’s Place/Comedy Caravan, Dec. 10.
Tribute Bands, 10 p.m.
Four Winds Resort & Marina: all-re-
Civic
quest DJ dance party, 9 p.m., free
Monroe County Courthouse: Bloomington Peace Action Coalition anti-war
Peace Vigil, 5-6 p.m., free
Theater
Buskirk-Chumley: “Oliver!”, 2 & 7 p.m.
Buskirk-Chumley: “Oliver!”, 2 & 7 p.m.
Mon - Dec 31
Sun - Dec 23
Theater
Dance
Theater
Buskirk-Chumley: “Oliver!”, 3 p.m.
Harmony School: Wednesday Night
Contra Dance, 8 p.m., $3-5
Buskirk-Chumley: “Oliver!”, 2 & 7 p.m.
the
Jimmy Cory,Wells-Metz Theatre, Dec. 5-8
Jake’s: DJ Action Jackson, 9 p.m.
Kilroy’s Sports: Kenny Kixx & DJ Unique,
11 p.m.-3 a.m., $3
Regazzi Arte Café: Southern Italian accordion music, 6-9 p.m.
.
Alternative Arts & Culture
Misc
Kirkwood Observatory: Night viewing
of sky & Saturn, 9-11 p.m., free
Thurs - Dec 20
Rhino’s: Jenn Cristy & Margaret Gray, 8
Art
p.m., $5
Runcible Spoon: Traditional Irish Music
Session, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Buskirk-Chumley Theater: 85th An-
Theater
Bloomington Playwrights Project: “A
Christmas Carol”, 7 p.m., free
Sun - Dec 16
niversary Celebration, new art exhibit
opening, 6:30 p.m., free
Civic
Boxcar Books: The Midwest Pages to
Prisoners Project, 7 p.m.
Comedy
Civic
Indiana Memorial Union: Awkward
Boxcar Books: The Midwest Pages to
Silence Comedy, 9 p.m., free
Prisoners Project, 2 p.m.
Music
Dance
Arthur Murray Dance Studio: Ballroom
Snuffy’s Place: Bob Jones Band, 7-11 p.m.
Theater
Monroe County Public Library: “A
Christmas Carol”, 3 p.m., free
Mon - Dec 17
Civic
Boxcar Books: The Midwest Pages to
dance party, 7:30 p.m., $7
Fri - Dec 21
Music
Four Winds Resort & Marina: all-request DJ dance party, 9 p.m., free
Theater
Buskirk-Chumley: “Oliver!”, 7 p.m.
Prisoners Project, 7 p.m.
editor@BloomingtonAlternative.com
www.BloomingtonAlternative.com
8
The Bloomington Alternative
December 5, 2007
8LI%PXIVREXMZI3RPMRI[[[&PSSQMRKXSR%PXIVREXMZIGSQ
Investigative reporting
Who Owns Downtown?
Who owns Kirkwood?
• The story
• The list
Who owns the Square?
• The story
• The list
curity (DHS) guidance letters with Social Security Administration (SSA) no-match letters.
This past August, the administration issued a new
DHS rule apparently intended to flush out undocumented immigrants. The rule directed SSA to add a
letter from DHS to the envelopes containing the nomatch letters SSA sends employers informing them
about alleged discrepancies between their employee
records and SSA’s database.
POLITICS | LABOR | ECONOMIC JUSTICE
STATE OF THE UNION: Who cares?
***
How public is our library?
by Tom Szymanski
“The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is
ripe. You have to make it fall.”
- Che Guevara
***
Question: When is it going to stop? Answer: When
you want it to stop. I hate to be so negative during
the holiday season, but when are people going to get
angry enough to put an end to the ridiculous state of
affairs we live in today?
The stories
• Clashing philosophies
• How public is our library?
• Questions for the board
• The board responds
• Standoff on Kirkwood
• Records request -- firearms policy
• A library gun deal
• Gray’s resignation letter
• MCPL gun policies
• Leadership on the brink
• MCPL board anti-union?
Photo albums
• New York City – 11.22.07
- by Steven Higgs
• La Boheme – 11.02.07
- by Steven Higgs
• Take Back the Night – 10.09.07
- by Kathleen Huff
• Bob Woodward – 09.17.07
by Kathleen Huff
• I-69 protest – 08.21.07
by Steven Higgs
• I-69 protest – 07.09.07
by Steven Higgs
• Climate Change Day of Action – 07.01.07 – by Jessica
Hullinger
Click Sections » Online Features
» Photo Albums
Blogs
POLITICS | ENVIRONMENT
epppie’s blog
Citizens seek Edwardsport review
Consumer and environmental advocates have
asked the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
(IURC) to reopen its investigation of a proposed new
coal gasification plant in Edwardsport.
The groups want the IURC to consider “new and
material evidence” discovered that would have an
outcome on the decision.
Specifically, the groups want the IURC to consider:
Front page, third column
Stories & columns
POLITICS | ENVIRONMENT
Glowball warning
Not necessarily fishing for a Nobel Prize nomination here, but just as Al Gore alerted us to global
warming, I must warn of another looming danger:
The Glowball Economy.
A Glowball is what Earth will look like from space
by the time all the Fools-in-Chief and the militaryindustrial complex and the Extreme MBAs (Masters
of Bigness Administration) get finished with it:
POLITICS | LGBT | HUMAN RIGHTS
Bush attempts hijack of SSA to catch illegals
Disco never died; it just turned into either House
music, or Garage music (depending on whether
you are a bigger fan of Frankie Knuckles or Larry
Levan), and then further mutated into a thousand
forms of electronica, with a big push from Detroit’s
Juan Atkins.
Sophia Travis’s blog
Click Sections » News » Stories
by James Alexander Thom
Death of a disco
Catch-up, Ketchup, or Catsup?
Editorial cartoons
The author of “Civitas” and I have returned home
from our 10-day train trip (celebrating our 10th Anniversary...) and I’ve had food + politics on my mind.
Today’s online publication of The Bloomington Alternative is right in keeping with many of the reasons
for the thoughts pervasively nagging at me...peak
oil, peak water, land use issues, etc. That last one
there, land use, being what all issues, particularly
politicaland policy-related, boil down to.
This Modern World
Poll Numbers
by Tom Tomorrow
(th)ink
Writers’ Strike
by Keith Knight
Click Sections » News >> Blogs
WeThePeople Van Winkle
by John Clower
by Paul Kane
“Hasta la vista, baby!” The Bush administration
has announced it will return in March with a revised plan to pair Department of Homeland Se-
www.BloomingtonAlternative.com
Click Sections » News
» Editorial Cartoons
Archives
Columnists
Civitas by Gregory Travis
Organic matter by Kristin Rust
OUT in Bloomington
by Helen Harrell with Carol Fischer
State of the Union by Tom Szymanski
Community links
The Alternative archives hold thousands of stories and
columns on the following subjects:
The Alternative Online links to hundreds of community
businesses and organizations:
Activism
Arts
Books
Commentary
Community
Culture
Economic Justice
Education
Environment
Global Locale
Human Rights
In Memoriam
Interstate 69
Labor
Arts & Culture
Click Sections » News » Columns
editor@BloomingtonAlternative.com
Lake Monroe
Media
Music
Peace
Politics
Review
Social Activism
Social Justice
Society
Transportation
War
Browse by Topic
Comedy
Dance
Film
Music
Spoken Word
Theater
Visual Arts
Business
Cuisine
Environment
Health
Human Rights
Libraries
Media
Front page >> Left-hand column
www.BloomingtonAlternative.com
www.BloomingtonAlternative.com
9
The Bloomington Alternative
ASTROLOGICK
Biweekly forecast for all signs by Gary Paul Glynn
his two-week forecast period is un-
Tder the influence of the Jupiter-Pluto
conjunction in late Sagittarius, becoming exact on December 11. The symbolic fusion of these two planets often
symbolizes major changes in the world
of economics, politics, religion, science
and global affairs. Most of the action is
likely to be taking place out of the glare
of the media, although it’s difficult to
contain this combination. Jupiter-Pluto
could very well be the tipping-point for
the plutocrats.
Wednesday, December 5
Passionate intensity and the desire to
more deeply connect with others are
emphasized over the next three weeks
with Venus entering Scorpio this morning. It would be best to avoid decisions
and agreements between 9:45 a.m. and
1:30 p.m. with the Libra Moon void-ofcourse (VOC) until it enters Scorpio at
1:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 6
The morning gets off to an energetic
start that can be sustained through the
afternoon although it’s likely that data
and movement could feel restricted in
some way. Transportation delays and/
or breakdowns, computer glitches, bad
connections and difficulty in getting
words and ideas across to other people
are possible (Mercury square Saturn).
Watch for higher levels of unpredictability and instability messing with the status
quo tonight and tomorrow (Sun square
Uranus).
Friday, December 7
With the Moon in its closing Balsamic
Phase in addition to being VOC the en-
tire day, stick to routine while avoiding
new business. The overall energy pattern
suggests a vague sense of apprehension
and uncertainty.
Saturday, December 8
The generally upbeat sign of Sagittarius
hosts the Moon today through Monday
morning, perhaps helping lift us out of
any weird funk we fell into in recent days.
Actions and motivations may be guided
in a more grounded way through teachers, mentors or older persons (Mars sextile Saturn).
Sunday, December 9
The New Moon takes place at 12:40 p.m.
in mid-Sagittarius (17Sag15), marking
the start of a new solar-lunar cycle which
carries a more philosophical approach
to life experiences. Religious beliefs,
legislation, foreign affairs and higher
education are emphasized now and for
the next two weeks. Personal ethics and
sense of personal authenticity are strong
as well.
Monday, December 10
This morning, the Sagittarius Moon
crosses the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction,
perhaps acting as a trigger for major
events before the Moon enters cautious
Capricorn at 1:50 p.m. unexpected twists,
turns and revelations may explode on
the scene today (Mercury square Uranus). Nervous irritability, quirky reactions, incendiary speech and surprising
news might hit close to home.
Tuesday, December 11
For the first time in thirteen years, Jupiter
forms an exact conjunction with Pluto in
late Sagittarius (28Sag20) – a location
associated with developments that impact humanity as a whole. Major news
December 5, 2007
focus on plutocratic movements as well
as widespread corruption is indicated.
As this isn’t anything new, there is also
a chance that these topics will reach a
critical mass where something has got
to give – particularly where the economy is concerned. This alignment might
be the first shot fired ahead of Pluto’s entrance into Capricorn in late January. On
a more personal note, tonight could see
passionate exchanges and really great
sex (Venus trine Mars) if the opportunity
presents – otherwise, use your imagination (Sun sextile Neptune).
Wednesday, December 12
With the Capricorn Moon VOC the entire day, it would be best to avoid making major decisions or agreements. Love
and romance take on a more serious
and mature tone, with duties, responsibilities and expectations overshadowing
the more playful aspects we might have
seen last night.
Thursday, December 13
There may be a greater sense of mental
objectivity and emotional detachment
with the Moon now moving through
Aquarius. This could help diffuse personal differences in the early evening while
encouraging original, thinking and writing later tonight.
Friday, December 14
Despite the potential for cloudy, idealistic thinking in the early afternoon, this
is a good day for Christmas shopping
for people on your list with a creative
streak.
pected change that mobilizes us before
noon. The potential for major news developments is present tonight and tomorrow.
Monday, December 17
The Pisces Moon reaches its First Quarter
Phase, suggesting a time for making adjustments to projects already underway.
News stories involving politics, religion,
legislation and the economy surfaces,
although the quality of the information
is suspect (Mercury conjunct Sun). An
energy shift in the early afternoon could
have some people up-in-arms over
something. Irritability is one possibility
tonight although the energy could be
translated into a walk on the wild side.
Tuesday, December 18
Jupiter enters Capricorn where it will
remain for about a year, potentially serving as a boost to the bottom line of some
businesses. This will largely depend on
what transpired last week during the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction and the general
state of the economy. At its worst, Jupiter symbolizes exaggeration, waste and
hubris; at its best, optimism, generosity
and prosperity. The Moon’s North Node
enters Aquarius, placing a karmic focus
on the basic principles of democracy
and the work that needs to be done to
insure its survival over the course of the
next 18 months.
Times are EDT/-0500 UTC
Saturday, December 15
The Pisces Moon lends a dreamy, emotional tone to the weekend; ideal for
movies, concerts and parties with an
open bar. Even so, a late night contact
may coincide with something or someone telling you the party’s over.
Sunday, December 16
The early morning comfort-zone shifts
into a state of restlessness with an unex-
Gary Paul Glynn
Professional astrologer
25 years of experience
Personal birthchart interpretation
812-333-1346
gpg@bluemarble.net
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10
The Bloomington Alternative
December 5, 2007
Organic matter by Kristin Rust
Mother Nature can compensate
A
fter an amazingly extended warm
SHULRGZH¿QDOO\JRWWKHFROGWHPperatures that are expected during the
holidays. By now, I hope all gardens
have been put to bed, and gardeners
WDNHDPSOHWLPHWRUHÀHFWXSRQWKHSDVW
year.
As an organic gardener, I have many
memories of the year’s growing season: the extremes of temperature, the
ice storm, the drought, the survival (or
demise) of plants, shrubs and trees. All
brought lessons with them.
It may seem a distant memory, but
spring 2007 was challenging. March
suffered a deep freeze on the 4th and
then a devastating ice storm on the 13th.
Surviving that challenge, plants faced
an early warming trend – unseasonably
warm. Then, in early April, we had a
deep, extended freeze.
Mother Nature can throw curve balls
like nobody else I know. What did I
learn from that? Plenty!
woods lost their showy color, and most
fruit trees were minus their blooms.
Sounds awful, doesn’t it?Well, not
quite. What was amazing was witnessing the resilience of
our gardens despite
that early adversity.
I wager that not
many had heard
about the secondary leaf growth on
trees until this past
spring. Healthy trees
can store three years’
worth of energy. If a tree was vigorous
and healthy in previous years, it will respond to a freeze by putting out a new
set of leaves from what are called adventitious buds.
Thank goodness nature can compensate for such harsh conditions!
M
any other plants fought back, as
well. Even though many perennials were disappointing in the early part
hile the simple axioms still hold of the season, some plants seemed more
true (e.g., “don’t plant annuals glorious than ever!
until Mother’s Day,” as tempting as it
Iris blooms come to mind. They
might seem to get started earlier), there didn’t seem to care about the foul
are even larger lessons for trees, shrubs weather. Most rhododendrons still put
and perennials.
RQPDJQL¿FHQWVKRZV%OXHEHUULHVDQG
)RU H[DPSOH ZH GH¿QLWHO\ GLG QRW peaches came on strong, freezes nothave a very colorful spring blooming withstanding.
season as a result of the extreme weather.
You can always count on Mother NaThe lilacs were almost absent, the dog- ture to give us some memorable mo-
W
editor@BloomingtonAlternative.com
ments in the garden, no matter how unexpected the climate.
N
ext came June, and it seems as if we
never had a spring transition. Conditions went from freeze to summer.
While we all worried about our trees,
things seemed to be returning to some
semblance of normalcy. Novice and experienced gardeners alike slowly came
back to the garden and planted with
guarded optimism.
While we had several weeks of good
weather, rain seemed inconsistent, and
this proved to be a harbinger of the
drought to come.
“You can always count
on Mother Nature to
give us some memorable
moments in the garden, no
matter how unexpected
the climate.”
It turned out to be a summer with very
little rain. Actual drought status was
declared in late summer and lasted into
early fall. It had devastating effects on
all types of plants in the garden.
Here again, there were lessons to be
learned. As one who works out in the
garden on a daily basis, I can report that
native perennials, shrubs and trees, as a
general rule, survive better and longer
than most anything else in the garden.
I won’t say that natives thrived, but
they were able to handle more stress
without dying.
T
his was also a good time to learn
about watering.
Where trees were concerned, overwatering in a heavy clay soil (which
most of us have in abundance) will lead
to oxygen starvation in the root system.
The best rule of thumb for tree watering is: “deeply, less often.” Most woody
plants go by this same rule.
Shallow-rooted perennials and annuals needed more constant attention. It
seemed as if I saw people watering every day, and this became the major task
for gardeners in 2007.
What is the biggest lesson I learned in
my garden in 2007? We can’t do much
to undo Mother Nature’s blow. Better to
observe, react and work with Her and
appreciate the blessings She does offer.
And, as the ever-optimistic gardener, I
start dreaming of next year’s garden.
Happy holidays and to all a very
healthy new year!
Kristin Rust can be reached at kristin@
newleafconsult.com.
www.BloomingtonAlternative.com
11
The Bloomington Alternative
• The final edition
As I said, all of our regulars, plus a
batch of new contributors, will be there.
Continued from Page 1
It’s about time and opportunity, for the
Alternative and for me, honestly. There
simply aren’t enough hours for the personal and professional obligations I have
now. And I have some new opportunities
that I can’t pursue while publishing a biweekly newspaper. (See my new photo
album online.)
Absent the resources to move the print
edition toward its potential, I just can’t
continue.
To be completely honest, I’m tired of
saying I’m sorry.
A
s far as the new-media experiment
goes, we will spend our “time off”
this month building upon the online upgrade we did last summer.
“We are evolving, not
going away, by any means.
And a print publication may
very well be part of the mix.“
And they will be as compelling as they’ve
always been, perhaps more so, given the
freedom that comes with the Web.
And there’s all that creative potential.
W
e can already prove that we’re the
No. 1 alternative media Web site
in Bloomington.
And our No. 1 goal is to expand our
December 5, 2007
audience at all levels – local, state, national and global.
After all, we never have been an alternative to just the market-driven pap
that passes for media in our community
these days.
I was recently interviewed by a young
Middle Eastern journalist who “collects”
the print editions. Hell, ask me about my
John Negroponte story sometime.
Trust me, that Internet is one hell of an
exciting place. (Those newspapers are
made from trees, anyway.)
Thanks, and good luck to those readers
we lose. To those who come to the Web
with us, hang on. We’ve just started.
Steven Higgs can be reached at editor@
BloomingtonAlternative.com.
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kristin@newleafconsult.com
www.newleafconsult.com
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The Bloomington Alternative
12
December 5, 2007
Roy Graham
Lawyer
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