Jackson Hole Underground

It’s almost April, and yet the snowstorms show no signs of abating. Nearly another foot of snow was measured in the Tetons today, and the forecast calls for 14 inches by tomorrow night, with still more on the way.

It’s been a winter of nearly continuous powder skiing. Naturally, after we eclipsed the 500-inch mark earlier this month, people began to wonder whether this season would set a new record for snowfall.

(more…)

At last, it’s time to get psyched for Saturday’s Mountain Festival at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, featuring Michael Franti and Spearhead with an opening set by The Radiators. (Let’s hope the weather will be markedly improved from the slush falling outside right now.)

We are going to take the music one step further. JH Underground, in partnership with the Art Association and Center for the Arts, will present a screening of Franti’s acclaimed documentary, “I Know I’m Not Alone,” on Monday, March 31.

“I Know I’m Not Alone” is the story of Franti’s trip to Iraq, Israel and Palestine in 2004, when he and a group of friends flew into Baghdad armed only with video cameras and a guitar. Franti discovered an Iraqi heavy metal band, jammed with Palestinian hip-hop artists, strummed through the streets and generally met peaceful people wherever he went.

The film views the conflicts through a humanist lens. Franti wrote the songs for his powerful album Yell Fire! during the journey and while editing footage afterward.

The movie will be shown at 7 p.m. in the Center for the Arts theater. Doors will open at 6, and pizza and beer will be available for purchase. Tickets cost $10.

Proceeds will benefit the Middle East Children’s Alliance, a charity Franti supports that is working to treat victims of war in Palestine and Iraq.

Here’s a chance to take Franti’s message to heart and not just make a great party but help make peace as well.

Reactions to Barack Obama’s bright, pitch-perfect speech on Tuesday showed how his candidacy has divided America. It ain’t pretty, but Obama has indeed threshed the noble from the nasty.

Conversationalists vs. Screamers. Obama’s speech was inarguably heartfelt and profound. It opened a door for anyone wishing to explore the many histories of American grievances, if only to see how they overlap. He noted how things have gotten better and that we can make things better still.

On cue, the screamers yelled that it “wasn’t enough” and “it’s too late” and besides, Obama wasn’t serious if didn’t haul out Rev. Wright for a lynching. (Politicized Christians practice forgiveness on a case-by-case basis. Rev. Wright does not qualify; he’s not a white married Southern Republican family values senator caught in diapers with a hooker.)

Rational vs. Emotional. For those of us patiently awaiting a 21st century we can relate to, Obama underscored a crucial point: Old racial wounds are a legitimate source of anger in older people. Knee-jerk racism is expected, and can be forgiven, in older people. Young people aren’t hauling that baggage; now is the time to resume improving who we are as a nation.

(more…)

Thank heavens we have eagle eyes watching over our forests.

Regional Director Harv Forsgren put an end to the sad comedy the U.S. Forest Service has staged in recent months over proposed relocation of the Bridger-Teton supervisor’s office.

Forsgren, who has been under a barrage of criticism from all sectors of the community and even his own employees, announced at a press conference Thursday that the agency will remain in Teton County.

However, according to the Jackson Hole Daily, the Forest Service will go ahead with plans to sell part or all of the 15-acre site on North Cache Drive, a parcel estimated to be worth up to $50 million. Selling public land is the only way the Forest Service can pay for construction of a new headquarters, Forsgren said.

(more…)

Time for tip-off. Hello, heart-stopping basketball. Goodbye, productivity.

I’m always excited for the first weekend of the NCAA tourney. What I’m not excited about: commercials, and the commentary of Billy Packer.

The Bradshaw pool has a record 211 entries. Tim gives us a nice history of the pool, including a reference to a story I wrote about him for the Jackson Hole News in 2000. Hard to believe in this age of live blogging, but Tim was ahead of the curve in putting his pool online.

(more…)