In 1910, three million acres of forest in Idaho and Montana – an area the size of Connecticut – burned down, making it the largest forest fire in American history. Timothy Egan’s new book, The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and The Fire That Saved American, argues the fire, which claimed 70 lives, actually saved our nation’s forests by strengthening the U.S. Forest Service and rallying public opinion behind Roosevelt’s plan to protect national lands. Listen to Egan discuss the book on Fresh Air and then read a chapter here.

Posted: November 4th, 2009 under Uncategorized.
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I spent last night getting drunk on a huge bottle of cheap red wine, slovenly walking around the living room playing 6th-grader pentatonic solos to Europe ‘72. Whether it really is the band’s best album or because it’s the one that followed me around most of my young adult life, Europe ‘72 is the one to have. If there’s something better than “Ramble On Rose” to blast through a shit car stereo on the way to wherever you’re going, then I’m not sure I want to know it.

MP3: Grateful Dead – Ramble On Rose

Argue with me, go ahead. What’s better?

Posted: November 4th, 2009 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 10