Related links Forum discussion Syndication     Column index A river runs beside it April 21, 2007 Dave just realized that a lot of mountain roads have been built in river valleys. OK, he may not be the sharpest wanderer in the band of wanderers, but give him a little credit; he DID realize that a lot of RIVERS were built in river valleys… 19th-century thinking April 18, 2007 The celebration seems to be continuing, in the Pacific Northwest. The so-called “wilderness” was conquered by white settlers who displaced “savages” and created the greatest land ever. But in the context of Iraq, Dave is troubled by the double standards that go along with the celebration. Kansas Kamping April 17, 2007 Herb is a retired retailer living in Merced, Ca. He has interests in writing and in local history. Herb volunteers at the local Courthouse Museum as a docent and is the author of Ghost Towns of Merced County. Answer blowing in the wind April 12, 2007 Rows and rows of wind towers represent a change in scenery in eastern Washington. But those towers are good news for those who treasure clean air and affordable energy. Born again. Again April 8, 2007 With the arrival of spring coinciding with Dave’s arrival in Yakima, thoughts of death and rebirth come to mind. Be in it March 28, 2007 In a previous life, Wandering Dave was a public recreation administrator. This gives him a different spin on leisure activities and a special appreciation for moments like one he experienced last weekend in Oregon… In the company of greatness March 19, 2007 It takes more than a few hundred million bucks and an entourage to impress Wandering Dave. But Delford M. Smith, founder of Evergreen Aircraft and the force behind the Evergreen Aviation Museum and Captain Michael King Smith Educational Institute managed to do just that— and it took only about 12 seconds. Pretty Darned Fantastic March 12, 2007 The tourism and travel industry is beginning to make rather extensive use of a digital file format known as PDF. This powerful tool presents lots of potential for anyone wishing to control exactly how their output will appear regardless of what kind of computer or software being used by the audience member. California Dreamin’ …NOT March 8, 2007 Oregonians look askance at Californians. Dave thinks he knows why and he tends to agree. I’ve been to town March 2, 2007 While he’s not claiming that Reno casinos are the Devil’s workshop, Wandering Dave (who, in a former life was a community recreation manager) is clearly not a fan of Nevada-style gaming. The Legend of Snowshoe Thompson By Guest Columnist Mick Mikkelson February 26, 2007 Flat land didn’t interest John Thompson. So, when the U.S. government needed someone to deliver mail in the Sierra foothills, he eagerly applied for the job. ‘Wanderer’ crosses path with Lodi teen February 17, 2007 Lodi is a town, like any other, filled with people willing to do the right thing. Wandering Dave bumps into a member of Generation Next and discovers they have character and will do the right thing... True to mine own self February 7, 2007 Wandering Dave and his creator, David Burke have finally had a meeting of the minds. They’ve settled their differences and are now on the same page. They’re eager to start their great adventure and hope you’ll ride along. Is this ride worth an “E” ticket? February 26, 2007 Travelers sometimes get “nickled and dimed” in what some refer to as tourist traps. They pull over to see what’s causing all of the excitement and, before they know it, they’ve coughed up a bunch of cash and may not have much to show for it. Where in the world is Antioch? February 19, 2007 Dave wandered into Antioch and at first wondered whether the residents had a sense of identity. Nobody knew what to call themselves (Antiochers, AntiOaklies, Anti-0hs?) and they weren’t even sure how the town got its name. After a day or two, though, he began to get a feel for the Antioch way of life... On the road with new media February 12, 2007 Dave discusses the evolution of the media and explains how he arrived at the decision to become a “mobile media mogul” while touring Canada and the U.S. This column is intended to serve as an introduction and can run any time during 2007. You name it, they hawk it at the fair The Los Angeles County fair attracts more than fairgoers; it’s a great place to market all kinds of gadgets, gizmos and contraptions— some that even work as advertised. Some bargains can actually be found, and whether you buy or not, the vendors put on a pretty good show. You want to go where everyone knows your name Ham and eggs: $4.65. Pancakes with hot maple syrup: $3.35. Bottomless cup of coffee: $1.25. A smile and cheerful greeting from a caring waitress: priceless. Bird expert focuses on pet projects This lady is for the birds! She raises and trains them and is a widely respected expert and author who jokes that she may have a “feathered thumb.” A Buddhist outpost for Southland A $25 million Chinese-style temple lies nestled below the crest of the Puente Hills between ridges along the steep descent into the San Gabriel Valley. Some 10,000 square feet of buildings occupy 15 acres of land and provide a place of learning and worship for some of the Southland’s 70,000 Buddhists. Fire detective has nose for the job Blanche the “fire dog” is a pro at sniffing out arsonists, and she’s a hit with people she meets while serving as a member of the West Covina Fire Department.