2016-08 5enses by 5enses

ALAN DEAN FOSTER gets wordy/nerdy about language P.10

JAMES DUNGEON looks up (& down) at cosmic art P.20

ROBERT BLOOD gets high(er) off the ground P.16

AUGUST 2016 | VOLUME 4, ISSUE 8 | 5ENSESMAG.COM

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5enses

August MMXVI Volume IV, Issue VIII

Mara Kack

In which:

4 18 5 20 6 7 10 11 12 + 14 8/9 16 22 Paolo Chlebecek

fashions flowery finery and fixates on a fairly fair-weather familiar

Russ Chappell

answers hard questions about digital drives and storage space

Robert Blood

attracts a year-round bird who rules with exceptions and prefers to walk

telescopes skyward and takes in the microcosm courtesy of the macrocosm

Peregrine Book Co. staﬀ

amends your reading list and brings books to bear and bears to books

Kathleen Yetman

COVER IMAGE: Coco St. James. Photo by Scotty Kirby, ScottyKirby.Com.

sows the seeds of undoubtedly good food without making corny jokes

Alan Dean Foster

mines for the mean of meaning within a multitude of wordy mediums

-No Usage Limits-No Contracts Required-Free Install Options-Fast Local Support-

We will work with you.

Prof. Werner Von Karmann has a red letter day and answers some fan letter from yellow ledbetters

James Dungeon

dolls himself up for a front row seat to a many-splendored runway show

Ty Fitzmorris

Left Brain/Right Brain

dips his toes into a wealth of waterborne activity in the wilds

Robert Blood

Discover events around Greater Prescott via a pop-sci metaphor

Oddly Enough

ﬁnds out how to get a leg up (in the air) in the performing arts world

Smart, quirky comics about the strange-but-true by Russell Miller

Adorn Your Lifestyle Buy | Sell | Trade •

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5ENSESMAG.COM • AUGUST 2016 • CONTENTS • 3

Plant of the Month

Pineywoods Geranium

Saturday, August 20, 2016 9 am - 5 pm

All events are FREE with general paid admission!

Photo by U.S. Forest Service, Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest. Creative Commons 2.0.

By Mara Kack 1403 Heritage Park Rd.; Prescott, AZ 86301 • www.HeritageParkZoo.org Phone: 928.778.4242 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supported by the community.

4 • FEATURE • AUGUST 2016 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

he simple leaves of the Pineywoods Geranium (Geranium caespitosum) begin to add small splashes of green to our Ponderosa Forest floor during late spring. The five finger-like extensions of each deeply lobed leaf also adds soft texture as each emerges from the duff of pine needles and oak leaves. Through the dry summer months, this perennial forb continues to mature, sending up delicate stems with scattered leaves that can reach up past your knees. As moisture settles on the landscape, the pineywoods geranium responds by putting forth small but intricate pinkish-purple flowers. Each half-inch flower is composed of a central stand of stamens that enclose the base of the pistol and then protrude off the top like a miniature fireworks display. This display is accentuated by streaks of dark purple veins that extend from the base to the tip of each petal. When you stop to smell these flowers you may be slightly disappointed, but if you take the time to reach out and investigate the leaves your senses will be stimulated. Similar to other mem-

bers of the geranium family leaves are scented with a robust, earthy fragrance with a hit of lemon and spice when crushed.

he delicacy of the Pineywoods Geranium can also be enjoyed along Riparian systems and up through Montaine Conifer Forests. As monsoons soak the landscape, white flowers of Western Yarrow, White Flower Prairie Clover, Pygmy Bluets, the delicate Pink Alumroot, the purples of various four o’clocks, and the red flowers of Scarlet Gilia and Arizona Thistle, are just a few associates that join the Pineywoods Geranium for a wondrous display of wildflowers within the Highlands. ***** Visit the Highlands Center for Natural History at 1375 Walker Road, 928776-9550, or HighlandsCenter.Org. Mara Kack, education director at the Highlands Center for Natural History, grew up in Prescott surrounded by its natural wonder and now teaches through science and nature to inspire new wonder in current and future generations.

Bird of the Month

Crissal Thrasher Photo by Russ Chappell.

By Russ Chappell year-round Prescott resident, the Crissal Thrasher occasionally visits local bird feeders. It’s large and slender with a long tail, shorter wings than other desert thrashers, a dark-brown back, rufous undertail coverts, dull yellowish eyes, and a light brown eyebrow. Possessing a long, sharply downturned curved bill (more prominently curved that its cousin, the Curved-billed Thrasher) this bird has a permanent frown. Both adult sexes measure slightly less than 12 inches in length with wingspans of more than 12.5 inches and can weigh up to 2.5 ounces. Residing in dense, low scrubby vegetation and riparian brush, the Crissal prefers walking and running to ﬂying. Even when disturbed by people or predators, it’s more likely to run for cover than to ﬂy. When not at your feeder, this ground forager can be found digging through leaf litter with its huge curved bill looking for insects, spiders, seeds, and berries.

uring breeding season, a cup-shaped nest constructed of twigs and lined with ﬁne vegetation is concealed in the middle of dense shrubs, three to eight feet oﬀ the ground. The nest, containing one to four eggs, is often

located beneath large branches for protection from other birds and direct sunlight. Eggs are a plain, faded blue and are the only thrasher eggs that don’t have spots. Both the male and female take turns on the nest. When hatched, the chicks are covered with light down and completely helpless. The Crissal Thrasher population declined between 1966 and 2015, with a current estimated breeding population of about 200,000, 60 percent of which reside in Mexico. Although not on the 2016 State of North America’s Birds Watch List, they are currently listed as Species of Special Concern by the California Department of Fish and Game. So, just for fun, if you see these magniﬁcent birds in your feeder, give them a big smile — just don’t be disappointed if the favor isn’t returned!

Bringing Wild Birds To Your Backyard! www.jaysbirdbarn.com

1046 Willow Creek Rd, Suite 105 Prescott

(928) 443-5900

***** Visit Prescott Audubon Society at PrescottAudubon.Org. Contact them at Contact @PrescottAudubon.Org. Russ Chappell is a retired helicopter pilot and Prescott Audubon Society board member and webmaster who enjoys photographing the numerous birds that visit his oﬃce bird feeder.

5ENSESMAG.COM • AUGUST 2016 • FEATURE • 5

There are over 200 million insects for every 1 human on the planet. Isn’t it time you got to know your neighbors? Arthropalooza

Via ...

A Celebration of Everything ‘Bugs’ Saturday, Aug. 13 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. $5 admission

At the Highlands Center for Natural History 1375 S. Walker Rd. • 928-776-9950 • HighlandsCenter.Org

JACY’S AUCTION Reuse, recycle, re-make-money Antiques • Household • Estates • Buy • Sell • Consign • Transport

928-443-0911

Peregrine Book Co.

Staff picks Catered by Reva Sherrard “Zeitoun” By Dave Eggers Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath caused so many people pain and destruction. This account of one family’s experience reveals the beauty and tenacity of New Orleans while also exposing a few massive policy disasters. — Emma “Sexus” By Henry Miller Henry Miller is pretty well known for having books banned in the USA. Although this book is deﬁnitely pushing limits in detailed eroticism, the bottom line is that Henry Miller was an incredibly gifted writer. This ﬁctionalized retelling of the beginning of his second marriage is incredible. If my defense of Henry Miller is meek, his own may serve better: “I can never go back on what I’ve written. If it was not good, it was true; if it was not artistic, it was sincere; if it was in bad taste, it was on the side of life.” — David “Into Thin Air” By Jon Krakauer A haunting account of one of the deadliest treks in Everest’s history. Jon Krakauer describes the beauty and terror of mountaineering in a way that will either make you long for its glory or run screaming in the other direction (which is downhill, by the way). This book is easy to read, but hard to digest. — Sean

“Sergio Y.” By Alexandre Vidal Porto This short novel is a brief view into the life of a Brazilian therapist who is haunted by the fact that one of his former patients has transitioned from male to female, and has killed herself. I had the good luck to have met the author, and he told me that of all the things he’s written only this story has stuck with him. And for good reason. — Jon “A Good Man Is Hard To Find” By Flannery O’Connor With some of the most monstrous characters in ﬁction, A Good Man Is Hard To Find explores the hypocrisy and truth of human nature. Infused with a grotesque view of life and religious symbolism, O’Connor’s words are brutally honest and impossible to escape. With tragic comedy and apocalyptic possibility, O’Connor took the nightmares of men and women and crafted incredible works of ﬁction. If you prefer something bold, forthright, and with little comfort, look no further, you’ve found what you’re looking for. — Lacey

***** Visit Peregrine Book Company at PeregrineBookCompany.Com and 219A N. Cortez St., Prescott, 928-445-9000.

6 • FEATURE • AUGUST 2016 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

Vegetable of the Month

Corn Photo by Kathleen Yetman.

By Kathleen Yetman orn or maize (Zea mays) is a grain indigenous to North America. Corn was ﬁrst domesticated more than 9,000 years ago from teosinte, a grass found in the Central Balsas River Valley of Southern Mexico. It’s estimated that the selective breeding process from the grass to the corn we eat today may have taken hundreds of years. Domesticated varieties spread across the Americas through trade networks around 5,000 B.C.E. Indigenous groups in Arizona and New Mexico began cultivating corn around 2,500 B.C.E. Corn plants send up a tassel that produces pollen. Ears of corn are formed when the wind carries pollen to the silks of an ear. Each silk cor-

responds to a potential kernel, meaning that if one silk isn’t fertilized by pollen, the ear of corn will be missing a kernel. Because corn is pollinated by wind, farmers seeking to maintain the variety they have control pollination through various techniques: planting only one variety, delaying the planting date for each variety, planting varieties far away from one another, and in small crops, placing paper bags over the ears after hand-pollinating.

he most common types of corn are sweetcorn, ﬂint corn, ﬂour corn, popcorn, and dent corn. Sweet corn is harvested when the kernels are full of water, or during its short “milk”

stage. Flint, ﬂour, and popcorn are all left to mature on stalks until their husks are dried. Flint corn comes in a variety of vibrant colors and has particularly hard kernels. Flint corn is commonly used as decoration. Flour corn is best ground, as its name suggests, for making tortillas. Most corn grown in the United States is dent corn and is used for cornmeal and fructose due to its high starch content. Corn accounts for around 21 percent of calories consumed worldwide. It’s a good source of the B vitamins, thiamin, niacin, and folate. It is also a decent source of potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. ***** The Prescott Summer Market is 7:30 a.m.-noon Saturdays at Yavapai College, parking lot D. The Chino Valley Market is 3-6 p.m. Thursdays at Olsen’s Grain parking lot. Find out more at PrescottFarmersMarket.Org. Kathleen Yetman is the managing director of the Prescott Farmers Market and a native of Prescott.

Prescott’s finest submarines since before downtown traffic 418 W. Goodwin St., 778-3743 M-F 10:30-2:30, Weekends closed

5ENSESMAG.COM • AUGUST 2016 • FEATURE • 7

Left Brain: August’s mind-full events Events

Creek bird walk • 7 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5: Local, guided bird walk at Banning Creek with Bonnie Pranter. (Jay’s Bird Barn, No. 113, 1046 Willow Creek Road, 928-443-5900, RSVP) “Board Game Night” • 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5: Open game night for enthusiasts of all ages and origin stories, facilitating all tabletop, card, and board games. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000)

Candidate forum • 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6: Candidates for LD 1 House and Senate and Yavapai County Supervisor speak on water issues. (Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation Building, 882 Sunset Ave., 928-445-4218)

“Western History Symposium” • 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6: The 13th annual Western History Symposium, via Prescott Corral of Westerners International and Sharlot Hall Museum. (Prescott Centennial Center, 1989 Clubhouse Drive, 928-445-3122) Granite Basin bird walk • 7 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 11: Local, guided bird walk at Granite Basin with Ryan Crouse. (Jay’s Bird Barn, No. 113, 1046 Willow Creek Road, 928-443-5900, RSVP)

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“Death Cafe” • 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11: People gather to eat cake, drink tea, and discuss death with the objective “to increase awareness of death with a view to help people make the most of their (ﬁnite) lives.” Hosted by Dani LaVoire. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928445-9000)

“Bug-a-Boo Bliss” • 9:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 12: Activities for all ages including evening hikes, crafts, and scavenger hunts, all centered around “bugs.” Price of admission covers Aug. 13 Arthropalooza event. See featured calendar listing for more. (Highlands Center for Natural History, 1375 S. Walker Road, 928-776-9550, $2-$5) “The Tom Mix Cord” • 10:15 a.m. Friday, Aug. 12: Author Bob White reading that appeals to Western enthusiasts and classic car collectors alike. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928445-9000)

Highlands Center bird walk • 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13: Monthly Prescott Audubon Society bird walk. (Highlands Center for Natural History, 1375 S. Walker Road, 928-776-9550) “Zoo Day!” • 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13: Bring the kids — Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary staﬀ members bring in live animals for the audience to see up close. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000) “The First Train to Prescott” • 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13: Andrew Odell, retired professor at Northern Arizona University, presents the history of the Prescott and Arizona Central Railway from its early days in 1886 to its boom and bust by 1893. (Sharlot Hall Museum, 415 W. Gurley St., 928-445-2133)

“Painted Pottery Quilts of the Hopi Mesas” • 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13: Carolyn Davis discusses the painted pottery quilts of the Hopi Mesas. A Second Saturday Lecture Series event. (Smoki Museum, 147 N. Arizona Ave., 928-445-1230, $6-$7)

Arthropalooza: A Celebration of Everything “Bugs” • 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13: Explore the world of insects, spiders, and more with Highlands Center docents, staff from the Natural History Institute, and more. Includes interactive tables on pollinators, spiders, and more of our local six- and eight-legged friends that will capture your imagination and inspire curiosity. Special presentations include a 10 a.m. discussion of native bees, an 11:30 a.m. discussion of butterflies and moths with Phil McNally, and a 1 p.m. discussion of beneficial insects in the garden with Jeff Shalau. Via the Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary, Prescott College's Natural History Institute, and Highlands Center for Natural History. Event is free for families who also attend the child-centered “Buga-Boo Bliss. See Aug. 12 calendar listings for more. (Highlands Center for Natural History, 1375 S. Walker Road, 928-776-9550, $5) COURTESY PHOTO. “Please Enjoy Your Happiness” • 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13: Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and veteran war correspondent Paul Brinkley-Rogers discusses his celebrated memoir about his haunting love affair with a mysterious older Japanese woman in 1959. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000)

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“Zoo by Moonlight” • 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18: Enjoy the zoo by moonlight. (Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary, 1403 Heritage Park Road, 928-778-4242, $4-$6)

“H is for Hawk” • 9:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 19: Discuss “H is for Hawk,” by Helen Macdonald. A monthly Natural History Book Club meeting. (Prescott College Natural History Institute, 312 Grove Ave., 928-350-2280) Lynx Lake bird walk • 7 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20: Local, guided bird walk at Lynx Lake with Eric Moore. (Jay’s Bird Barn, No. 113, 1046 Willow Creek Road, 928-443-5900, RSVP)

8 • EVENTS • AUGUST 2016 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

“Wet & Wild Water Day” • 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20: Enjoy this annual day of water-themed fun at the zoo including a water slide, splashy bounce house, water gun station, dunk, and special animal feedings, aquatic animal encounters, and more. [Editor's Note: In the spirit of disclosure, 5enses is one of the sponsors of this event.] (Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary, 1403 Heritage Park Road, 928-778-4242, $6-$10, free for members)

“Counters” & “The Darkest Side of Saturn” • 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20: Sedona author Tony Taylor discusses his novels that both won the 2016 Eric Hoﬀer Book Award. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-4459000)

Multi-day Prescott Gem & Mineral Show & Sale • 9 a.m. Aug. 5-7: 13th annual gem and mineral show and sale featuring more than 60 vendors, demonstrations, displays, mineral specimens, crystals, gemstones, jewelry, beads, fossils, lapidary equipment, ﬁndings, and more, plus raﬄes and children's events. Via Prescott Gem and Mineral Club. (Prescott Valley Event Center, corner of Glassford Hill and Florentine Roads, PrescottGemMineral. Org, $4-$5) Prescott Area Boardgamers • 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Aug. 3 & 17: Play European-style board games. (Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St., 928-777-1500)

Aspen Spring bird walk • 7 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 25: Local, guided bird walk at Aspen Spring with Ryan Crouse. (Jay’s Bird Barn, No. 113, 1046 Willow Creek Road, 928-443-5900, RSVP)

Prescott Farmers Market • 7:30 a.m. Saturdays: Enjoy local organic produce and goods from local farmers. (Yavapai College Parking Lot D, 1100 E. Sheldon St., PrescottFarmersMarket.Org)

Highlands Center forest walk • 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26: Monthly evening forest walk. (Highlands Center for Natural History, 1375 S. Walker Road, 928-776-9550)

Naturalist city & field walks • 8 a.m. Saturdays, Thursdays, and first and third Wednesdays: Naturalist field walks at city trails and the Highlands Center. (Highlands Center for Natural History, 1375 S. Walker Road, 928-776-9550)

August’s art-full events :niarB thgiR

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Events

“The Art of Bike Photography” • 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6: A group ride and bicycle portrait techniques class. (Milagro Arts Center, 126 N. Marina St., MilagroArtsCenter.Org, $75-$90)

“Demystifying Digital Photo Gear” • 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7: Learn what gear is right for you. (Milagro Arts Center, 126 N. Marina St., MilagroArtsCenter.Org, $55-$70) “Indigenous Materials” • 7:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 12: A ﬁeld-based natural ﬁbers workshop. (Milagro Arts Center, 126 N. Marina St., MilagroArtsCenter.Org, $55-$75)

“Coloring Book Night” • 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12: In the spirit of National Coloring Book Day, join in a fun, relaxing evening of coloring. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000)

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“Mile High Brewfest” • 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13: Annual event featuring Southwest beers and wines plus music. Proceeds go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arizona. (Cortez Street, between Gurley and Goodwin streets, 928-776-8686, $25)

“Quick & Inky” • 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20: Intro to screen printing class. (Milagro Arts Center, 126 N. Marina St., MilagroArtsCenter.Org, $105-$125)

“Sharlot’s WineFest” • 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20: The fourth annual event featuring local wines, craft brews, specialty spirits, restaurateurs, and more. Pre-sale tickets only. (Sharlot Hall Museum, 415 W. Gurley St., 928-445-3122, $55)

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“24 Hour Play Festival” • 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20: The 24-hour play festival returns to Prescott. Auditions the day prior at 7 p.m. Inquire for details. (TBA, 928-830-9852, Gabaldon34@Hotmail.Com) “Celebrating Our Artists” • 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26: A mass reception for the artists of Van Gogh’s Ear. (Van Gogh’s Ear Gallery, 156 S. Montezuma St., 928-776-1080)

“Night in the Aspens” • Aug. 26-Sept. 21 show run; 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 4th Friday Art Walk reception: New acrylic and pen and ink pieces by Jim Check. (Arts Prescott Gallery, 134 S. Montezuma St., 928-776-7717) COURTESY PHOTO.

Tao Kung • 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 26: A modern Indonesian health system based upon ancient Chinese chi gung movements. (Body Language Studio, 990 N. U.S. 89, 928-710-5983) 4th Friday Art Walk • 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 Monthly art walk including more than 18 galleries, artist receptions, openings, and demonstrations. (ArtThe4th.Com)

Multi-day

“Watson Lake Show” • Aug. 6 & 7: The 42nd annual event presented by the Prescott Antique Auto Club including a car show, old engine ﬁre up, swap meet, and car corral. (Watson Lake, PAACAZ.Com)

Arizona cowboy poetry and music. (Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, 1100 E. Sheldon St., 928-776-2000, $20-$35 per night) “Lend Me a Tenor” • 7 p.m. Aug. 12, 13, 19, & 20; 2:30 p.m. Aug. 13, 14, & 20: A tale of hilarious mishaps at the Cleveland Grand Opera Company in 1934. Directed by Clyde Neville. (Prescott Valley Performing Arts Center, 2982 N. Park Ave, Suite G1, 928-583-4684, $12) “Drag Time” • 7 & 9 p.m. Aug. 26 & 27: A drag show via 4 A.M. Productions. Find out more at Drag Time.BPT.Me. (Stage Too, North Cortez Street alley between Willis & Sheldon streets, $15-$20) Social dance classes • Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, & Sundays: Learn the Argentine tango, West Coast swing, tribal belly dance, Lindy hop swing, ﬂamenco, and Latin dance. (Flying Nest Movement Arts, 322 W. Gurley St., 928432-3068, prices vary) Performance/movement arts classes • Wednesdays & Thursdays: Learn contemporary dance, movement for life, and normative movement. (Flying Nest Movement Arts, 322 W. Gurley St., 928-432-3068, prices vary)

Art Heibel & Warwick • From Aug. 1: New art from Patty Heibel and Pat Warwick. (The Raven Café, 142 N. Cortez St., 928-717-0009) “Fall 2016 Faculty Art Exhibition” • From Aug. 2: Annual exhibition of works by Yavapai College faculty. (Yavapai College Prescott Art Gallery, 1100 E. Sheldon St., 928-776-2031) Krol & Holl • From Aug. 5: Sculpture and jewelry from guest artist Natalie Krol, and paintings and prints from guest artist Gail Holl. (That New Gallery, Gateway Mall near Dillard’s, 3250 Gateway Blvd., 928-445-0788) “Arrangement for a Silent Orchestra” • From Aug. 6: Julie Comnick’s painting

and video project exploring the gradual dissolution of culture in contemporary society. (Milagro Arts Center, 126 N. Marina St., MilagroArtsCenter.Org) “David & Tony are in the Mezzanine!” • Through Aug. 14: Paintings by David Van Gorder and wood turned creations by Antonio Leal. (’Tis Art Center & Gallery, 105 S. Cortez St., 928-775-0223) “Twisted Flora & Fauna: The Art Exhibit You Have Been Waiting For” • From Aug. 15: Steel creations by Leslee Oaks and paintings by Jodi Maas and Suzi Zerbe. (’Tis Art Center & Gallery, 105 S. Cortez St., 928-775-0223) PFLAG • From Aug. 19: Art show featuring pieces by members of PFLAG. (Mountain Artists Guild & Gallery, 228 Alarcon St., 928-445-2510) “Artist’s Visions” • Through Aug. 20: Vision-focused art. (Prescott Center for the Arts Gallery, 208 N. Marina St., 928-445-3286) “Three Visions/One Place” • Through Aug. 20: Photography exhibition featuring the work of Mark Hendrickson. (Prescott College Art Gallery at Sam Hill Warehouse, 232 N. Granite St., 928-350-2341) “Intersections: Art & Words” • From Aug. 22: Visual art using text for graphic impact. (Prescott Center for the Arts Gallery, 208 N. Marina St., 928-445-3286) “Black & White With a Splash of Color” • Through Aug. 23: Annual group art show featuring black and white pieces with, of course, a splash of color. (’Tis Art Center & Gallery, 105 S. Cortez St., 928-775-0223) “Street Photography” • Through Aug. 25: Traditional photography by Vahé Kazandjian. (Arts Prescott Gallery, 134 S. Montezuma St., 928-776-7717) “Objects Found” • From Aug. 25: Annual group art show featuring found objects. (’Tis Art Center & Gallery, 105 S. Cortez St., 928-775-0223)

“The Rainmaker” • 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5 & 13: A laughed-packed treatment of Anton Chekov’s plays by Neil “Doc” Simon. Directed by Catherine Miller Hahn. (Stage Too, North Cortez Street alley between Willis and Sheldon streets, 928-445-3286, $12-$17) “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [Abridged] Revised” • 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6 & 14; 2 p.m. Aug. 14: A tale of madcap lunacy by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Wingﬁeld. Directed by Bruce Lanning. (Stage Too, North Cortez Street alley between Willis and Sheldon streets, 928-445-3286, $12-$17) “The Good Doctor” • 7:30 p.m. Aug. 7 & 12; 2 p.m. Aug. 7: A tale of poetic magical realism in love and humor by N. Richard Nash. Directed by Paul Epoch. (Stage Too, North Cortez Street alley between Willis and Sheldon streets, 928-445-3286, $12-$17) “Savoring the Light” • 5:30 p.m. Aug. 10, 12, 17, & 19: A four-part class series that goes beyond landscape photography. (Milagro Arts Center, 126 N. Marina St., MilagroArtsCenter.Org, $125-$145) “Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering” • Aug. 11-13: The 29th annual gathering of

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“Beat the Heat Belly Dance Festival” • 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 & 8:30-9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27 festival; 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27 performance: Lift the spirit and dazzle the heart and eyes and meet dancers from 20 Arizona groups. Via Prescott-based Why Not? Belly Dance. (Holiday Courtyard, 150 Montezuma St., next to the Grand Highland Hotel, $10 registration, $5 per workshop) COURTESY PHOTO.

Pixels & doodles

Concerning denotations, connotations, & lingual malleability

By Alan Dean Foster eing a writer, you can understand that I am much taken with the science of language as well as with its artful uses. The fact that human beings can make a wide but still finite range of sounds in turn limits the total number of words that can be generated by our modest vocal apparatus. While such limitations and abilities are more commonly discussed in relation to singing (see Yma Sumac) rather than speaking, it remains that they are far more important when it comes to everyday communication. Not all sounds need to be words in order to signify meaning. Among others, the San people of South Africa employ clicking and whistling noises as part of their language. Grunting, which is still with us from our most primitive days, continues to be a means of conveying a wide variety of feelings. Tim Allen based a career on it. I’m not aware that coughing or sneezing are utilized to convey anything more significant than “I’m sick — get away from me!” But I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that there’s a tribe in central New Guinea that makes more extensive use of it. Difficulty and confusion arise not from the noises we make, but from the fact that the meaning we ascribe to them is constantly changing. This is less common with words based on realworld sounds. For example, rana means “frog” in both Spanish and Shona, two entirely unrelated languages that draw the word from the sound made by the animal. Yet much of our language(s) exists in a continual state of flux, and is ever changing. No wonder we have trouble communicating: consistency eludes us.

ake the languages of Polynesia. They all arise from the same linguistic base, yet over the centuries they have continued to morph, even though there’s no scientific or cultural reason why they should. In Tahiti, where the word probably originated, “house” is fare (pronounced “fahreh”). Move a little farther away, to Samoa, and it becomes fale. Travel still farther, to Hawaii, and now it’s hale. Why? What prompts this continuous change? It’s not a question of linguistic improvement. To mean “house”, hale is no better than fale which is no better than fare. What is it with human beings and mutual communication that we continuously need to change the pronunciation of our words? It makes communication more difficult, not easier. The differences between European languages constitute an even better known and more familiar example. Why should a Spaniard say gracias and an Italian

Alan Dean Foster’s

Perceivings

can’t help but giggle when movies like “The Gay Caballero” show up on Turner, or when they encounter a song like “Our Hearts Were Young and Gay.” Poor Disney has to cope with a major song from the wonderful ﬁlm “The Three Caballeros.” (“We’re three caballeros, three gay caballeros” … etc.) Social changes can force shifts in the way we perceive a word just as readily as scientiﬁc developments.

ometimes these changes, like the two mentioned above, take place rapidly. Other times they occur so slowly, and over such long spans of time, that we lose track of the word’s original meaning, and only specialists in language can remember them. Shakespeare, for example, is full of words whose original English meaning has come and gone. Often they’re as surprising as any shifts that take place in contemporary linguistics. For an example of that, I’ll leave you with the Bard’s admonition to “get thee to a nunnery.” Language points for anyone who knows the true meaning of that particular Elizabethan English phrase.

grazi when they mean to say the same thing? Even when the pronunciation of a word remains essentially the same, the meaning can change unexpectedly due to a fresh association with social, cultural, or even more interestingly, scientific changes. My favorite example is “pixelated.” Pixelated was introduced from its New England origins to a wider American public in the 1936 Frank Capra film “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.” (The ***** film also made popular the word “doodling.”) On Alan Dean Foster is author of more than 120 Youtube, you can view clips of the word being books, visitor to more than 100 countries, and used in the film. It means still frustrated by the human species. Follow him “the pixies have got to at AlanDeanFoster.Com. him.” In other words, someone who is not right in the head is pixelated. But today, pixelated has been borrowed to mean something entirely different. Ask any non-film loving teenager for a definition and they’ll immediately point toward the nearest TV or computer or phone screen and they’ll tell you that pixels are the tiny illuminated dots that, taken together, make up the images you are seeing. When the images suffer from pixilation, it means that the pixels are not aligning properly and the images are breaking up. Interestingly, another way of looking at pixilation is that your image is going crazy, which inadvertently refers back to the word’s original meaning. “Pixelated like a fox.” Image component by For another example, The Graphics Fairy. Illustration by 5enses. consider the social morphing of the word “gay”. Kids

10 • COLUMN • AUGUST 2016 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

Mailbag edition

The truth about jetpacks, space elevators, & more

Ask a Rocket Scientist

By Prof. Werner Von Karmann h, it’s the dog days of summer. People holing up in a cool place and thinking of things around them. So I guess that’s why this month we got several interesting questions from our readers. I’ll try to answer some of them and also give you, dear reader, some additional things to think about. … W. Wright asks, “Where’s my jetpack? And shouldn’t I have a hoverboard, at least, by now?” The ability to fly has been a longtime dream, probably since the first hominid. There are different machines today that enable a human to fly — airplanes, gliders, helicopters, and rocket ships. Some believe that the ultimate machine would enable a person to hover (that is float around in mid air) with the smallest of inconvenience and machinery. So, in the 1950s and ’60s the Bell company, the same company that builds helicopters, engineered the first jet pack that was capable of flying up to 33 ft for a duration of 21 seconds. This prototype utilized hydrogen peroxide as a propellant, avoiding the nasty problem of combustion but rather spewing H2O2 around was seen as not a big deal. The short distances and duration seemed a poor promise and the project, funded by the Army, was discontinued. The main problem comes down to how to provide sufficient thrust to first push a person up into the air and then to control the movement. Getting the amount of thrust force from either a jet pack, a helicopter-like system, or even a rocket engine might seem straightforward, but the issue is getting enough thrust from a limited amount of fuel. And then, when you do get that thrust, there’s the problem of a rocket engine or a jet engine or even a helicopter rotor making so much noise that it not only destroys anyone’s hearing who’s anywhere near it, but it also can either singe or slice off a body, limb, or head if it’s not well controlled. In fact, for the first jet pack, the

initial flight tests were all personally performed by the engineer who designed it. In one of those tests the 125-pound prototype failed, shoot off to one side and then fell from a height of around 9 feet, shattering the engineers kneecaps. His intern performed all of the subsequent flights. Now, in the movie “Back to the Future II,” the main character Marty McFly had that awesome hover board, a fictitious machine that just somehow hovers in the air, and with Marty on it. I know you’d really like one, so why don’t we have it? For a lot of the same reasons that we don’t have jet packs. It takes a lot of energy to keep a person up in the air and that energy can cause a lot of damage and the devices could cut you in two. But what about levitation? There is something called magnetic levitation. This technology is currently being developed for trains and requires a track made up of electromagnets. The current is pushed through the electromagnets to control the polarity so that it can either oppose or attract magnets located on the underside of the train car. The magnet, then, can keep the train above and off the train track while at the same time propelling the train down the track. Trains of this sort will probably be first built on a grand scale in Japan. So yes, unless you can find a away to easily

push yourself away for the concrete below, there’s no hoverboard for you for a while to come. A. Shepard asks, “What happened to all those amateurs trying to get into space?” Wow, this was a new one to me, so I had to dig around a little. According to a Wired magazine article published online on Aug. 18 in 2015, there’s a group called “Copenhagen Suborbital” that is planning on sending a person into sub-orbit in the year 2017. This amateur group intends to build its 18 meter tall rocket out of COTS (commercial oﬀ the shelf) components and launch a person into sub orbit over the Baltic Sea. The problem, they claim, is that, “Going up there is easy, and coming down. .. well that is easy as well, but making sure that the man inside survives — that is the hard part.” Seems like a lot this could be achieved, but using COTS parts seems a bit far fetched, especially

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19 >>>

Image by NASA. Public domain.

5ENSESMAG.COM • AUGUST 2016 • COLUMN • 11

It’s a drag (show)

Phoenix-based drag troupe returns to Prescott By James Dungeon

[Editor’s note: The following interview was culled from conversations between the reporter and Coco St. James, a drag queen and performer. See her at 4 A.M. Productions’ “Drag Time” show 7 p.m. & 9 p.m. Friday & Saturday, August 26 & 27, at Stage Too, North Cortez Street alley between Willis and Sheldon streets, $15 online, $20 door. Find out more at DragTime.BPT.Me.] For someone who’s never been to a drag show before, what can you expect beyond the obvious — you know, drag queens? It’s just a good time. We’re there to entertain you. We want you to leave with a smile and to say you had a good time. … You know, it’s drag, so anything can happen. Honestly, it depends on who the host is. Some of them cuss a lot, and of those some of them apologize for it and some of them don’t. Every show is diﬀerent, but it’s always a lot of fun. What are some common misconceptions about drag? A lot of people think that this is what we do all the time. They see us, and they think of us as men who want to become women, but that’s not what it is. We’re here for entertainment value, to make fun of ourselves and make fun of you. A lot of people also think it’s super serious, which it’s not. It’s just about having fun. What’s diﬀerent about the Prescott show? The Prescott show is amazing. Well, the venue’s not the biggest, but it’s nice and we get a pretty great turnout. The people are very respectful and they all seem to be having a good time. The girls we bring up for the show always have a good time. … We do two shows a night, an early show at 7 p.m. then a later show at 9 or 9:30 p.m. The earlier show is usually the older crowd and the later show is usually the younger people, though in Prescott that means 18 to

40s. It’s a huge range of people. The older crowd is definitely a bit quieter, but they’re still having fun. After the show, they ask questions like how I put my performance together. For the earlier show I do a little older songs — maybe Cyndi Lauper or Madonna — and more popular songs like something by Katy Perry or Lady Gaga. For the later crowd, I might do something by Dresden Dolls or Florence and the Machine. … We always try to bring something different every time we come out to Prescott. Me, personally, I try not to repeat anything. If you come out for all four shows in two days, you’ll see four different performances. I want every show to be different just in case you decide to do that. There are 30 sets per show with 12 total members, so when we drive up, I’ve got a backseat full of stuff for the performance. There are headsets, birds, and a bunch of crap. … My partner is the one who picks people. It’s easier for him. He’s got a wider eye for what’s going on in the drag community and who he thinks would look good in the show. If it were up to me, I’d just bring all my friends every time. How did you get started performing in drag? I actually started doing drag because of an amateur drag night. I just went to have fun and ended up winning. It was so much fun that I kept doing it. … I didn’t really know what to expect that night. I’d been to drag shows many times before, but being backstage and working with new people and having a set show — all of that was new, and so amazing for me. Outside of drag, I’m a little more of a shyer person. It’s gotten me out of my shell and I’ve been doing it for eight or nine years now. Were you nervous getting on stage the first few times? Even now, I still get a little nervous before I get on

12 • FEATURE • AUGUST 2016 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

stage, but it’s a different kind of nervous. Of course back then, I had the worst stage fright ever. You never know what the audience is going to think of you and your performances, of what and who you are. How did you come up with your performing name? I got my first name from the old school way of choosing a drag name. It was my first pet and the street that I lived on. That was Coco Gaylord. A little while after I started, I dropped the Gaylord because I thought it was so stupid. Eventually I met my future drag mother, St. James. She took me in, and I took her name as my last name.

IF YOU

What exactly is a drag WHAT: A “Drag Ti mother and what does via 4 A.M. P she do? It’s different for every WHEN: 7 & 9 p.m drag family. Usually a drag WHERE: Stage To mother is there to help you Street alley when you need help, support you when you need support, & Sheldon s and is something to look up WORTH: $15 onli to. … It’s not a competitive thing for us because our WEB: DragTime.B styles are so different. She’s super glam and beauty, and I can be a little more rough and free-spirited. And, actually, that’s kind of rare. Usually, members of the same drag family tend to have similar types of styles and performances. The learning curve with outfits and makeup has got to be pretty steep. Learning makeup was probably the hardest thing to do because I knew nothing about it when I started. I met a local drag queen Savannah Stevens,

who’s actually our current Miss Gay Arizona America, at a bar called The Pump House back in the day. I’d go to her shows all the time and we became friends. I’d sit and watch her do her makeup, which helped a lot. Of course there’s a lot of trial and error. When I started, there weren’t as many YouTube videos for makeup like newer drag queens have. We also didn’t have “Drag Race.”

RuPaul’s show. I imagine that show changed the profile and perception of drag shows. It definitely changed the drag scene and perceptions, in general, in positive and negative ways. Sadly, less people come to shows, ime” show but the people who do are Productions more excited to see the drag queens. It’s definitely m. Aug. 26 & 27 Phoenix up to difoo, North Cortez opened ferent types of drag. Before, between Willis it was very pageant-y, and everyone looked more or streets less the same. The newer line, $20 door queens have different styles of makeup and different BPT.Me aesthetics. So, yes, awareness has created diversity but it’s also frayed the audience.

U GO …

How do you put together your performance? Does the outfit come first? The song? Sometimes, I hear a song that I like and I decide to do it. Other times, I start with a concept. I decided I wanted to do an alien number, but I had no idea for a song or what I even wanted to look like. I Googled pictures of people, aliens, and alien fashion, and went from there. I’m huge into making my own stuff.

I craft a lot of stuff like headpieces and outfits. My favorite stores are Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and Jo-Ann Fabrics — places where it’s easy to buy cheap material that I can use to put an outfit together. Anyway, with the alien look, the outfit was simple, but the headpiece was a little harder. It was a circle with hair all around it that lit up, and my face was in the center of it. The difficult was part was figuring out how to fit it to my head. It was definitely a huge pain in the butt, but once I figured it out, it worked so well. To address the elephant in the living room, the tragedy in Orlando, Florida is still on people’s minds. The drag scene has a lot of overlap with the LGBTQ community. What was the response in the community like? I don’t really know how to answer that. It’s definitely made the club life a little different. It’s definitely opened our eyes to pay more attention to our surroundings, especially being a drag queen. … Before, it always felt less safe outside a club. The club was the safe space. The community at large, their response was so amazing. All the bars did training on gun safety and exit routines. The bars have really stepped up. I did a benefit for Orlando and we raised something like $14,000. Our vodka reps, Tito’s Vodka, matched that, so that was really nice to send them that lump sum of money. You alluded to your experience being a drag queen changing your off-the-stage personality. Can you discuss that a bit more? I’d always been a private person. I was never really big on being out and being active with other people in … hmm, how do I say it, social situations. But

doing drag really opened me up, turned me into a whole different person. If you saw the person I was 10 years ago, you’d think who is that shell of a person? Honestly, I was a gamer who sat at home and just played video games all day. Now, I’ll be at the mall and randomly talking to people for no reason. It’s so weird, thinking back, that I was so scared to do things like that. It’s a confidence thing. ***** 4 A.M. Productions presents “Drag Time,” 7 p.m. & 9 p.m. Friday & Saturday, August 26 & 27, at Stage Too, North Cortez Street alley between Willis and Sheldon streets, $15 online, $20 door. Hosted by Kendra Kouture featuring the amazing talents of Coco St. James, Eva Angelica Stratton, and Eddie Broadway. Find out more at DragTime.BPT.Me. James Dungeon is a figment of his own imagination. And he likes cats. Contact him at JamesDungeonCats @Gmail.Com.

FROM LEFT: Coco St. James, photo by Scotty Kirby; the cast of May’s “Drag Time” event presented by 4 A.M. Productions, photo by Bob Turner; another “Drag Time” line up, photo by Bob Turner; Coco St. James, photo by Bob Turner.

News From the Wilds Skyward

• Aug. 2: New Moon at 1:44 a.m. • Aug. 11: The Perseid Meteor Shower eaks after midnight. This is one of the year’s brightest and, often, most dazzling meteor showers. The dark skies left when the waxing gibbous Moon sets after midnight will reveal one of the best meteor showers of the year with up to 60 meteors per minute. The average velocity of the Perseid meteors is 39 miles per second, much faster than the meteors of last month’s showers. • Aug. 16: Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The small planet closest to the Sun is at its highest now in the evening sky, to the west above the setting Sun. • Aug. 18: Full Moon at 2:26 a.m. • Aug. 27: Conjunction of Jupiter and Venus. The two brightest objects in the night sky (besides the Moon) are within 0.06 degrees of each other, an extremely close and beautiful conjunction.

By Ty Fitzmorris ugust susurrates with storm and shower, interwoven with the cacophony of resonant thunder and the assonance of cicada song. In the high heat of summer, the monsoon rains turn the land to emerald, and it seems as though living things are everywhere. Many mammals are teaching their young to forage in this time of plenty, while young birds are on longer and longer forays away from their parents. Ectothermic animals, such as lizards and snakes, whose body temperatures are tied closely to ambient temperatures, are at their most active now, chasing insect and rodent prey, while insects, from the minute leafhoppers to the massive saturn moths, enter their time of greatest abundance. The majority of woody plants bear their seeds during this season, including Coﬀeeberry (Rhamnus californica), Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa), and all seven of our oak species. Many herbaceous (i.e. non-woody) plants are growing and ﬂowering now, most of which are specialist monsoon plants and did not appear in the spring. This is the time of plenty for many birds and mammals, as insects of all types proliferate, from giant moths to enor-

Black-tailed Rattlesnakes, considered by many to be the most docile and non-aggressive rattlesnake, are looking for suitable sites for bearing their young. Photo by Ty Fitzmorris. mous strange and beautiful beetles, to dragonﬂies, who reach their peak now, while alien-like cicadas measure the day’s heat with their shrill cries. This second ﬂowering brings with it a glut of insect prey, which sends a wave of life through our ecosystems — from the predatory insects to the lizards, birds, bats, and even terrestrial mammals.

mong the insects August marks the beginning of the time of the giants. Massive moths with 4- to 6-inch (and greater) wingspans, such as the sphinx moths, saturn moths, and the massive Black Witch Moth (Ascalapha odorata), which can have an 8-inch wingspan, ﬂy for miles searching for mates, while Grant’s Hercules Beetles (Dynastes granti), Rhinoceros Beetles (Xyloryctes jamaicensis) and Longhorn Oak Borers (Enaphalodes hispicornis) bumble to porch lights and streetlights. The Grand Western Flood Plain Cicada (Tibicen cultriformis) ﬂies in large numbers, providing many species of birds and mammals with food, while all eight of our preying mantid species can be seen. The proliferation of giants happens now because their larger bodies have required longer to grow to their massive size

14 • FEATURE • AUGUST 2016 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

and so have timed their metamorphism into their adult forms for this resource-rich time of the year, when both food and egg-laying sites are abundant. During the day, butterflies, beetles, dragonflies, and damselflies are at their most prolific during the monsoonal season. Many of the butterfly species out now fly only during this time of year, and the damsels and dragons are groups that are notably absent during the spring, though they are virtually everywhere now, from parking lots to lakes. Our flagship monsoon butterfly is the Arizona Sister (Adelpha eulalia), which glides over riparian clearings near oak stands. Look also for Buckeyes, Queens, Monarchs, and Pipevine and Two-tailed Swallowtails. In all, the wild diversity of living creatures this month is dizzying. ***** Ty Fitzmorris is an itinerant and often distractible naturalist who lives in Prescott and is proprietor of the Peregrine Book Company, Raven Café, Gray Dog Guitars, and is co-founder of Milagro Arts, a community arts nexus, all as a sideline to his natural history pursuits. He can be reached at Ty@PeregrineBookCompany.Com.

News From the Wilds, too A very brief survey of what’s happening in the wilds ... By Ty Fitzmorris High mountains • Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) continue nursing their young. Their roosts are often in caves, or cavities in trees, but sometimes they roost communally in buildings. Amazingly, a nursing mother can eat up to 110 percent of her body weight every night of insects. • The leaves of some deciduous trees, such as Boxelder (Acer negundo), which grow in riparian drainages, begin changing color. The reason for this early change in creekside vegetation is partly that high elevation creeks act as “cold-air drainages,” in which colder (and therefore heavier) air flows down them, creating colder environments than in adjacent uplands. • Convergent Lady Beetles (Hippodamia convergens) gather in the tens of thousands in crevices in rocks and plants in the high mountains. • Snowberry shrubs bear their white berries. These berries are not edible for humans, but many other mammals, and some birds, eat them. Visit: Dandrea Trail, No. 285. Ponderosa Pine forests • Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) in flower. This is one of the most storied of our plants, and has been used as a medicinal plant by many cultures, dating reliably back to the Neanderthals.* • Golden Columbine (Aquilegia crysantha) flowers by cooler mountain streamsides, while sedges bear their seeds and Wright’s Deervetch (Lotus wrightii) continues to flower. Other flowers include Scarlet Gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata), Scruffy Clover (Dalea albiflora), Silverstem Lupine (Lupinus argenteus), and Wild Geranium (Geranium caespitosum), and many others. • Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica) bears its delicious black fruits. The fruits have a sweet coffee flavor and a large coffee-bean-like seed.* • Scarlet Creeper (Ipomoea cristulata) begins growing. Look for vines with two different types of leaves — one is horned and bi-lobed, while the other is longer and trident-shaped. Visit: Aspen Creek Trail, No. 48.

ly, the massive Giant Darner (Anax walsinghami), which has up to a 5.5-inch wingspan, and is the largest dragonﬂy in the U.S. • Arizona Grape (Vitis arizonica) bears fruit. These smal grapes are reminiscent of Concord grape.* Visit: Bell Trail, No. 13

August is the wettest month of the year, and creeks such as Miller Creek (shown here) are flowing exuberantly. Photo by Ty Fitzmorris. Pine-Oak woodlands • Many different types of “June beetles” fly now. Our most distinctive species is the Ten-lined June Beetle (Polyphylla decemlineata), of the scarab family. • Arizona Walnut (Juglans major) seeds mature on these elegant, uncommon trees. These nuts have served as valuable food sources for many indigenous groups, and the husks can be made into a deep black paint.* • Chokecherries (Prunus virginiana) fruiting. These fruits can be small and tart or large and sweet, depending on the year. When they are larger, they rival store-bought cherries for sweetness, and outdo them for flavor.* • Oaks of all species bear their acorns, providing the largest overall food crop of the year for mammals and birds. • Deep blue-purple four o’clocks (Mirabilis spp.) flower on hillsides. Visit: Miller Creek Trail, No. 367. Pinyon-Juniper woodlands • Fendler’s Redroot (Ceanothus fendleri) continues to flower, along with Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus). • Our several species of brickellbush (Brickellia spp.) begin flowering. These inconspicuous flowers are not often seen, but their extraordinary aroma suff uses the dusk air. Visit: Juniper Springs Trail, No. 2 Grasslands • Yellow and white species of eve-

ning primroses (Oenothera spp.) flower exuberantly and are visited by White-lined Sphinx Moths (Hyles lineata). • Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) begin their great seasonal flowering here in the Southwest, where they are native. Look for “longhorn” Melissodes bees, as well as iridescent green Agapostemon and Augochlora bees, foraging on their flowers. • Purple and white-flowered nightshades (Solanum spp.) begin flowering. Visit: Mint Wash Trail, No. 345. Riparian areas • All of our creeks run exuberantly, often overspilling their banks. • Our annual explosion of cicadas continues, bringing ear-shattering noise to the Central Highlands. Even though this species, Tibicen cultriformis, is ubiquitous to us, it is only found in the Central Highlands. • Scarlet Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) and bright Yellow Monkey Flower (Mimulus guttatus) bloom, drawing Two-tailed Swallowtails to their nectar. • Snails become active in streamside vegetation. Arizona is home to more than 200 species of snails, most of which are largely unstudied. • Swallows and bats abound near creeks, consuming large amounts of insects, mainly flies and small moths. • Many species of dragonflies and damselflies hawk over the water, patrolling territories. Look for, especial-

Deserts/Chaparral • Prickly pears (Opuntia spp.) bear their fruits. These spiny fruits provide food for many species, including humans. • As Coyote Gourd (Cucurbita palmata) and other squashes flower, native Xenoglossa and Peponapis bees begin pollinating them, and sleeping in the flowers in the afternoon. Look for the flowers of any of the squashes or gourds once they have closed in the afternoon, and pull them open gently to look for these bees. They are extremely gentle and will not sting unless harassed. • Paloverdes and mesquites bear their seeds now, as do Southwestern Coral Beans (Erythrina flabelliformis), the poisonous seeds of which are sometimes used for jewelry. Visit: Algonquin Trail, No. 225. *Always consult with a trained professional before ingesting any part of a wild plant. This information is not intended to encourage the attempted use of any part of a plant, either for nutritive or medicinal purposes.

Weather Average high temperature: 86.1 F (+/-2.4) Average low temperature: 56.4 F (+/-3.3) Record high temperature: 102 F (1905) Record low temperature: 32 F (1968) Average precipitation: 3.20” (+/-1.93”) Record high precipitation: 10.51” (1971) Record low precipitation: 0.11” (2002) Max daily precipitation: 3.15” (Aug. 22, 1960)

Higher-level thinking

Carpetbag Brigade’s Global Stilt Congress returns to Arconsanti the East side of the area brought to life like that before. Ultimately, the performance is a synthesis of Carpetbag Brigade’s unique cultural expressions through acrobatic stilt walking and Paolo Soleri’s architectural vision.

By Robert Blood [Editor’s note: The following interview was culled from conversations between the reporter and performers Jay Ruby and Helen Goodrum, the director and logistics coordinator of The Carpetbag Brigade, respectively. Find out more about the Global Stilt Congress — Sept. 10-24 with public performances Sept. 17 & 24 at Arcosanti — at CarpetbagBrigade.Com. Tickets are available at GSCFuse.BrownPaperTickets.Com, $20-$40] So what exactly is the Global Stilt Congress, and how are the FUSE! public performances related? Ruby: This’ll be the fourth annual congress. It started in California, but moved to Arcosanti in 2014 during its second year. It’s an arena where stilt-oriented performers gather to exchange skills and develop craft through classes with master teachers, culminating in a public performance. Those performances are Sept. 17 and 24. The Carpetbag Brigade started here in Prescott in 1997 and left in 2003 and began touring the world. We’re also the founding group of Tsunami on the Square, which most people here are familiar with. Carpetbag Brigade has been touring pretty consistently since the summer of 2004. So, for the last decade, we have been teaching and sharing our work in different places around the world. Global Stilt Congress is the event where our larger family, network, community, and society can come together to share different approaches and styles. We invite different master teachers to share their secrets. People come from all over the world to learn and practice these different techniques. The first week is technique exchange, which is followed by a week of composition creating a performance. FUSE! — The Festival Uniting Spectacle & Ensemble — is the public side of the event where spectators can come and see the amazing work these artists do with their live performances. FUSE! Encompasses two weekends of presentation. On the first weekend in conjunction with Arcosanti’s Italian Night we are having “ACADIANA” that reflects art of the Acadian diaspora. A collective of artists from Quebec and New Brunswick are coming to perform “The Robes of St. Anne.” St. Anne is an icon revered by the Acadian and the M’kmaq people of the maritme region of present day Canada. To round out the night, Nick Slie of New Orleans’ Mondo Bizarro will also be performing “Loup Garou”; part performance, part ritual, part howl of the werewolf singing a song of love and hope to the world about the plight of southeast Louisiana. Goodrum: The recognition of diverse cultures is really important. Global Stilt Congress is one of the

So, component-wise, what does a performance look like? What was it like last year? Ruby: Last year we had 30 performers plus musicians. It’s a total cast of about 40, which includes a bi-lingual poet from Tucson. This year we’ll have two poets: Logan Dirtyverbs Phillips, again, from Tucson, and Leah Marché, from Phoenix, who works with BlackPoet Ventures. Goodrum: It’s a procession of an organized series of performances with a natural ﬂow and is easy for the audience to follow.

Carpetbag Brigade courtesy photos. Bottom right by Lights View Photo. only places in the world where so many stilt teachers come together to share their knowledge. It’s really the only thing like this in the entire world. How does the architecture of Arcosanti play into the performance? Goodrum: It’s a site-specific, well, site-responsive performance. It’s a procession around the grounds. Each year we try to change the actual route so the audience gets to experience Arcosanti in different ways. Just to be clear, it’s not a guided tour; it’s a performance. We create a performance so every individual can express themselves in the architecture as they see fit. We try to capture that in the overall performance by weaving everyone’s work together. ... It’s a show that travels throughout the entire community. Ruby: It’s an embellishment of the natural world, architecture, and uniqueness of Arcosanti. Even for the people who live there, they’ve said we’ve illuminated parts of the place that they walk by every day. Last year, Mary Hoadley, who’s been at Arcosanti since the 1970s, said she’d never seen

16 • FEATURE • AUGUST 2016 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

How different are the cultural interpretations of stilt walking? Will people be able to see the differences between traditions? Ruby: That’s a big question. Some of the oldest stilt walking traditions in the world come out of Africa. Because of slavery and the African diaspora stiltwalking migrated to the Caribbean. There’s a style in Trinidad, called Moko Jumbie, that involves huge, like 6- to 8- foot-tall stilts. This year, we’ve invited Adrian Young of TouchDSky, whose style derives from the Moko Jumbies. Threads of all the techniques involved help to form the performance. It’s called “The Legislation,” in the same way that Congress is supposed to enact legislation. The idea is that these people gather, share this specialized knowledge and create different pieces with their own skills and new ideas. Goodrum: The overall performance is a mixture of circus, theater, and dance. You’re going to see people swinging through the air, on stilts, on apparatuses. It’s mesmerizing!

Ruby: You’ll see the evolution of new and shared forms. This is like a Petri dish where different cultures come together and they start to vibrate at a higher frequency, and out of that, new possibilities emerge. “The Legislation” is where we share the fruits of our time together. It’s kind of designed to be a little bit like an equinox ritual. It brings people together joyfully at the end of summer. And, of course in Arizona, that’s something to celebrate. Someone who’s never seen this kind of work before is going to be mystified by the exchange. We want that person to just be present with us in the moment, go with the flow and enjoy the situation. A theater aficionado — especially a street theater or open air spectacle connoisseur — will see a mixture of techniques and witness the evolution of the art form of acrobatic stilt walking. Do people’s perceptions about stilts as kind of “a circus thing” work for you or against you? Ruby: It works for us and against us. We try to find things that can only be down with the stilts. We’re not interested in doing things in the air we could also do just as well on the ground. One of the biggest misconceptions about stilts is that people think it’s someone in a costume making goofy clown faces. And, to be honest, that’s how most people encounter stilt walking. We’re trying to change that. Goodrum: That misconception is so widespread, I find it hard to say that I’m a stilt walker. I don’t know exactly, but I’m not that kind of stilt walker. Ruby: We’re actors and dancers investigating the expressive potential of stilts. Goodrum: We also like to have a narrative. It’s not just about spectacle without meaning. Ruby: Which is why we work with poets and commission pieces for the performance. They bring narrative structure through their poetry. It supports the larger action. This year, I’m asking them to write about how you integrate diverse narratives, which is a real problem for our time. Everybody has their own story and it’s very hard for other people to integrate all of the stories being told around them and the story they’re telling themselves. By having two poets this year, it’ll

Carpetbag courtesy photos. Top right by D. O’Doul Photography, bottom left by Karel Moonen. force the audience to recognize that there’s more than one narrative going on and that the intermixing of narrative is the work of the congress. Goodrum: One of the great things about stilts is that it’s a medium that takes you to a different place. It changes your perception of body and space. Ruby: It forces you to be awake. You can’t take your steps for granted. Goodrum: Because everything is so much more exaggerated, you have to be more attentive to what you’re doing. Ruby: And you’re carrying extra weight, so any sense of imbalance is amplified. Walking on stilts also helps you discover the lack of structural integrity of your body, something that can lead to a life changing injury if it’s not properly addressed. There’s a back story there, and I mean that literally. Anyway, you have more and more of this 360 degrees of awareness. You’re not just moving forward, you’re also spinning. When that happens, your brain stops looking at the world in a grid and in more of a spiral. It fractal-izes your perception. Organizing an event with so many moving parts plus culminating performances must be stressful. When do you finally feel at ease and relaxed in the process? Ruby: After the performance when Logan Dirtyverbs deejays the dance party. The rehearsal process is very intense and focused and during the performance I am holding the focus of the piece. Once all these people who were strangers two weeks ago are celebrating and dancing I can relax. Goodrum: The registration is probably the most frustrating and challenging time, and it’s also the time when everyone is just arriving at Arcosanti, getting their bearings, and a little nervous. People aren’t always sure what they’re

getting into. To go from that and fast forward to the after-party, it’s amazing. We’ve come so far in such a short period of time. Ruby: And I should mention that the dance party is part of the ticket for “The Legislation.” After the performance there’s a break, and people are welcome to buy food at the Arcosanti Café. After that meal is the after-party. Everyone is welcome to come and dance with us and I have no doubt that it’s the best dance party in the entire Western Hemisphere. ***** The Global Stilt Congress is Sept. 17 & 24 at Arconsanti. Find out more about the event, the Carpetbag Brigade, Jay Ruby, and Helen Goodrum at CarpetbagBrigade.Wordpress.Com. Tickets are available at GSCFUSE.BrownPaperTickets.Com. Tickets for Sept. 17 are $40 and include “ACADIANA” at Arcosanti’s Italian Night featuring the work of Circus Stella (New Brunswick) Co. Julie Danse (Quebec) in the “The Robes of St. Anne” and Nick Slie of Mondo Bizarro presenting “Loup Garou.” Ticket includes dinner. The performance starts at 6 p.m. and is followed by dinner. Tickets for Sept. 24 are $20 and include a 6:45 p.m. performance of “The Legislation.” A preshow dinner at 5:30 p.m. is available for an additional $20. Poets Logan Dirtyverbs and Leah March are part of the performance, which will be followed by the best dance party in the western hemisphere with DJ Dirtyverbs. Robert Blood is a Mayer-ish-based freelance writer and ne’er-do-well who’s working on his last book, which, incidentally, will be his ﬁrst. Contact him at BloodyBobby5@Gmail.Com.

Diagnosis: Technology

By Paolo Chlebecek ow big is your hard drive? All snickering aside, how much actual data are you using right now in your personal computer? What’s considered a good investment in storage technology? I’ve written several columns about hard drives and solid state media, but how much is too much, or not enough, or just right? Let’s see. Back in the 1980s, when home and small business computers started to become the norm, the average size hard drive was only about 10 megabytes. Yes, just

Junk in the digital trunk

How much storage space does your computer really need?

10 megabytes. That’s fewer than 10 pictures, five songs, or about 300 to 400 average sized documents. That’s nothing nowadays when even our phones have an average of more than 6,500 times that. We waited until 2001 to get the first 100 GB hard drive from Maxtor and it cost $300. It wasn’t until 2005, when the first 500 GB hard drive by Hitachi started shipping, that we saw the average storage space on the home PCs significantly increase. How convenient. Consider today, and researchers in the Netherlands who’ve developed an atomic-scale rewritable data-storage device. This

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18 • COLUMN • AUGUST 2016 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

“mon-storage” hard drive is capable of stuﬃng 500 terabits onto a single square inch. That’s enough to store every book written by humans on a surface the size of a postage stamp. While still in development, it oﬀers an entirely new dimension in storage technology with incredible potential. What an amazing feat of nanotechnology!

ut after over 20 years of working with personal and business data, I have noticed storage size has increased but storage use is lagging behind. I’m not saying we don’t need more storage space than even just a few years ago, but with the ubiquitous nature of streaming data from the internet how much do we need to keep with us? Naturally, there are exceptions. Those who take many photos or movies and/or edit them as well as get and keep many digital songs usually need lots of space. I’m currently using just over 4 terabytes, not including backups, which is over 4 million times than the aforementioned ﬁrst hard drive. But even then, most PCs come with 1 TB or more of hard drive space. Keep in mind that that is lessened once you factor in formatting — i.e. making the hard drive recognizable to the operating system and the space that operating system and programs itself takes. That usually leaves almost 800 GB left for personal storage. What you do with all of that space is entirely up to you. But the question remains, do you need it?

The rule of thumb was to get the largest size you can aﬀord because you will eventually run out of room. When was the last time you even heard of that happening to someone? When’s the last time you said or heard someone complain they couldn’t use their computer because it’s full? That probably was a while ago. After working with thousands of businesses and home users computers, I ﬁnd the magical number to be only about 30 to 80 gigabytes of personal data. And many are far below that usage.

hile it doesn’t hurt to over plan, you don’t need to get carried away with concern for storage. One crucial point to ponder is the need for backing up or copying your precious data for safekeeping, as a previous column mentioned. (Didn’t stash away a physical copy? Well, it’s stored online at 5ensesMag. Com.) Most any personal computer nowadays will already have enough storage for your needs. The typical system has between 500-1,000 GB, i.e. 1/2 TB to 1 TB. That’s plenty of room for most of us. For now. ... ***** Paolo Chlebecek is founder and owner of PaoloTek, which he started in 2003. He loves dogs of all sorts and oddly ﬁnds himself driving around town between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. every weekday. Wave hi when you see him or contact him at Paolo@PaoloTek. Com.

into orbit, etc. Now that’s just in orbit, near Earth. Can you image the costs to build structures on the moon which is 238,900 miles away from Earth?

... FROM PAGE 11 with custom-made rocket engines built using additive manufacturing processes — fancy word for 3D printing. There exists an amateur team at University of California San Diego (SEDSUCSD. Org) who have built a sounding liquid fueled rocket. This team of engineering students successfully designed and built their sounding rocket (sub-orbital) using a 3D printed rocket engine. This project took several years to complete and involved some sophisticated equipment, and this was not a manned rocket. So, my guess is that it will probably take some doing to build a rocket straight from a garbage can and copper plumbing parts at the local hardware store.

R. Goddard asks “Is an elevator to space really feasible?” First stop: Gatica Space Station. … The idea for an elevator to space is more real than you might think. NASA actually had a “workshop” back in 1999 to investigate the probabilities. (There’s a writeup on NASA’s website, if you’re really interested.) A NASA workshop is a gathering of experts within a given field to discuss and investigate a given topic. In this case, the workshop was held at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, the place where the Saturn V rocket was developed, and was sponsored by NASA’s Advanced Space Transportation Program and the Advanced Concepts Office at NASA Headquarters. New concepts for space elevator construction were presented and it was concluded that this could now be brought from science fiction books into reality in the late 21st century. During the workshop, the scientists created a baseline concept consisting of a sea-based platform and tower structure that is connected via a tether structure to a space station at geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) or orbiting at a radius of 26,199 miles which allows it to rotate at the same rate as the earth rotation. The 26,199-mile ride from the tower to the orbiting station would utilize an electromagnetic-propelled vehicle that

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J.P. Blanchard asks, “Why isn’t there a hotel on the moon yet?” Like most things, I think the adage “just add money” may apply. Let’s take a look at some current examples of space-built items where people are able to stay for a long time. That would be the International Space Station. According to Space. Com, the total cost to build the space station is $150 billion dollars in the year 2010. The station was available for occupation on Nov. 2, 2000; a total of 5,734 days available for occupancy since its opening. Dividing the total cost by number of days of occupancy we arrive at about $26 million per day. And that’s just the building costs. You still need to add the crew costs, and the cost to get

would travel at several thousands of miles per hour, most likely using a sort of suspended track system. In 2013, the International Academy of Astronautics published a paper, “Space Elevators: An Assessment of the Technological Feasibility and the Way Forward,” which you can find online fairly easily. The academy is a nongovernment organization recognized by the United Nations that was founded to foster the peaceful purposes of astronautics. One of the key findings of this report was that, “Its (the space elevator’s) inherent strengths will improve the environment and reduce space debris in LEO (Low Earth Orbit) and beyond. It can be accomplished with today’s projections of where materials science and solar array efficiencies are headed. The critical capability improvement is in the space elevator tether materials growth, currently projected to achieve the necessary strength to weight ratio in the next 20 years. Space elevators will open up human spaceflight and decrease space debris and environmental impacts.” So yeah, in the next 100 years or so we just may have an elevator to space.

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5ENSESMAG.COM • AUGUST 2016 • COLUMN • 19

Space is the place Patty Heibel’s cosmic art orbits The Raven Café

By Robert Blood [Editor’s note: The following interview was culled from conversations between the reporter and Patty Heibel, whose art will be on display with that of Pat Warwick from July 31 through Sept. 11 at The Raven Café, 142 N. Cortez St., 928-7170009. Find out more at HeibelGallery.Com and PatWarwick.Com.] What’s the impetus behind the show and what can people expect? I know Maria (Lynam, in charge of art at The Raven Café) through Prescott Center for the Arts. I was in a group show there in the past. She liked my work and invited me to bring in some new paintings, especially my cosmic art. There are several new pieces I’ll be showing based on images from the Hubble Space Telescope. Most of the paintings are mixed media, so they’ve got a third dimension to them. I use many materials and they’re all very textural. I don’t know what images Pat (Warwick) is showing. She does beautiful photography so it’ll be interesting to see how the show comes together.

TOP: Painting by Patty Heibel. Courtesy image. BOTTOM: Patty Heibel. Courtesy image. That’s a pretty scientific subject matter for an art show. How did you end up focused on that? It’s really an evolution, as is most art. It’s based on experimentation and life experiences. I have a science background, so I’m always interested in experimenting and exploring new things. My first art was as a photographer, so I have a very strong photographic background both behind the camera and in the darkroom. As far as cosmic art, I started seeing the images that were coming back from the Hubble Telescope and was fascinated by them. It’s amazing how they assign colors to all the different emission gasses and produce beautiful color images. What I do in my artwork is use various materials — metals, garnet stones, etc. — and metallic and iridescent paints with many, many layers to reproduce that feeling of floating in space. I create them so you can view them at any angle. I rotate the ones in my home all the time. When you’re in a spaceship, where’s up and where’s down? Who knows? Sometimes I hang them diagonally. Many of the pieces are 12” x 12” and 16” x 16”, so it’s easy to turn a square into a diamond.

20 • FEATURE • AUGUST 2016 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

Those early Hubble images must’ve had quite an eﬀect on you. When you see those images they can make you feel very small. It gets you thinking about what’s out there and how inﬁnite — or is it? — and beautiful the universe is. There are some images that, when you look closely at them, you’ll see galaxies next to more galaxies and stellar nurseries. We’re just one little (beautiful) planet on an arm of one spiral galaxy! When you really look at it … well, it’s really hard to express. I started learning more about nebulae, stellar nurseries, galaxies etc. I buy books, search the internet and watch all the science shows about the universe. If you remember from school, the Milky Way is a spiral galaxy, and we’re one planet within a solar system that is within one arm of the galaxy. What do you suppose is in our neighboring galaxy Andromeda? When you look at the Ultra Deep Field images from Hubble, you see hundreds of galaxies in the image, it goes on forever. Just think of the possibilities. I feel like a really, really tiny speck when you look at the big picture. I’m in awe of that. It’s awe inspiring. It’s art inspiring.

Is that the same effect you’d like your art to have on viewers? I want people to look at my paintings and wonder. It could be the color that draws them in, and if they look closer, they may realize that is a galaxy or that is a nebula. Maybe they don’t realize that and just enjoy it. A lot of the feedback I get, questions from people, is about how I made a given piece. There’s some secret elements to it, but if you look closely, you’ll see many, many layers with reflective and iridescent paints and other materials including glass and gold. You alluded to a background in science. What is it and how does it inform your art? I have a varied scientific background that started in chemistry and ended in genetic engineering. It’s taken quite the path and feeds my need to learn more. At one point, I was working with a scanning electron microscope exploring at the head of a fly. It was like flying around in a spaceship — all those different facets of the eye and going down into the hair follicles, very cool. That was on the micro level. On a macro level, it works the same way. There are designs and patterns found in both levels. It’s about curiosity, about really seeing something and wanting to know how it’s made and what makes it tick. It’s about experimentation and wonder, and that’s my art. Each piece is an experiment, whether that’s in the subject, the materials used or how the paint or materials are applied. When you’re working on topics that are so large and so vast, how do you keep things interesting? I’m always searching for new materials and new subjects. In this lifetime, I’ll never get to the end of my list. There’s literally an infinite amount of things to explore. I want to do this; I want to try that; I want to see what happens if I do this. I guess that’s just my personality. I get bored very easily. I remember when I was a kid going out in the yard to look at bugs, rocks, and up at the sky. I would go to the same places but there was always something new or different about it. Because I base my astronomy art on realism, the patterns and stars in my pieces are always placed correctly. That’s something only an astronomer or astral photographer usually notices. If I didn’t, the painting would be nebulous. These celestial bodies have names to identify them. I never thought that if you said “NGC6188” a beautiful image would come to my mind. Google it. Could you share a little more about your process and inspiration? I’m a morning person. I have a studio in my home, I start in the morning and usually have two furry (cat) helpers. I seem to do a lot of celestial pieces of Orion and the Milky Way. In the case of Orion, I have a huge image of it, and I’ll make paintings out of small sections of it. You can just float around in there forever and find new things. I’m always searching for new materials, new inspiration. I go hiking in the morning and today

a doe and baby pronghorn joined me on the trail. That was inspiring. I often take reference photos and find materials for sculpting when I’m hiking. I’m also a sculptor. How does sculpting inform your mixed media pieces and vice versa? Well, sculpting is relatively new for me. I’ve only being doing it for a few years, but it seems to have really taken off. Because my art began in photography and then painting, I started off thinking two dimensionally, but then I began to get textural in my paintings and a new course was charted. I think a lot of my mixed media pieces always had a 3D look to them. Now that I’m sculpting, I think I’m bringing more of that third dimension in to my paintings. It’s hard to describe, going back and forth between the two mediums, but I think it makes both of them better. It just gives me more opportunity to experiment and try new things. ***** Patty Heibel and Pat Warwick’s art will be on display July 31 through Sept. 11 at The Raven Café, 142 N. Cortez St., 928-717-0009. Find out more at HeibelGallery.Com and PatWarwick. Com.

Paintings by Patty Heibel. Courtesy images.

Robert Blood is a Mayer-ish-based freelance writer and ne’er-do-well who’s working on his last book, which, incidentally, will be his ﬁrst. Contact him at BloodyBobby5@Gmail.Com.

Not-asholy days

he end of summer is as good a reason as any to cram as much fun into the month as humanly possible. Consider celebrating ... Aug. 7: Lighthouse Day • Eat your heart out, Virginia Woolf. Aug. 9: Book Lover’s Day • A real page-turner romance. Aug. 10: Lazy Day • [Insert joke here.] Aug. 15: Relaxation Day • Take it easy. Aug. 16: Tell a Joke Day • So, a guy walks into a bar and ... Aug. 17: Thriftshop Day • New olds aren’t old news. Aug. 18: Bad Poetry Day • We’re sure you’re well-versed. Aug. 23: Ride the Wind Day • Air? Ere power. Aug. 24: Vesuvius Day • Vulcanism is a mounting topic. Aug. 30: Frankenstein Day • Let’s play doctor, god.

nown as the Bathytyphlops Marionae, this bizarre little fish lives at depths well over a mile deep. It has tiny teeth which is unusual for a deep water predator since running into a meal is chancy at best. The gill-rakers are also very small and ineffectual, which rules out the possibility of its being a filter feeder. ODDLY ENOUGH … Its head is completely covered with scales, and it has no eyes at all. This makes most observers wonder how this fish survives at all.

*****

or more than 100 years, cats have been a part of the hired staff at the British Post Office! During the mid-1800s rodents so badly chewed up the mail — as well as lunches left around these public buildings — that cats were actually hired and paid to police the mice population. ODDLY ENOUGH … Measures were taken in 1953 to guarantee that female felines received the same pay as male felines and were provided adequate maternity benefit. ***** Russell Miller is an illustrator, cartoonist, writer, bagpiper, motorcycle enthusiast, and reference librarian. Currently, he illustrates books for Cody Lundin and Bart King.

Lotus Bloom Yoga Studio 22 • FEATURE • AUGUST 2016 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

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August 2016 events Children’s story time • each saturday at 11 am!

FeAtured MusiCAl events AUGUST 6

• Katie Haverly & the Aviary

Fri AUG 5 • 5-9 pm • Board Game night • Calling all gamers! We’ll be hosting an open game night for enthusiasts of all ages and origin stories. All table top, card, and board games are allowed. Refreshments included!

K atie H averly & tHe aviary SAT Aug 6

thU AUG 11 • 5:30 pm • death Cafe discussion Group • More details: www.DeathCafe.com. Fri AUG 12 • 10:15noon • Bob White • The Tom Mix Cord: Saga of a Western Film Star’s Classic Motorcar • reading, Q&A, Booksigning • Western enthusiasts and classic car collectors will love learning about the ownership history of the car (with some surprises), the additions made to the car by Mix, a history of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Co., a history of Mix’s other endeavors such as owning a circus featuring Wild West Shows, and a detail of the restoration of the Cord to its current show quality state.

AUGUST 12

• Keith okie & Friends

K eitH OKie & FriendS Fri Aug 12

AUGUST 18

• Walter salasHumara AUGUST 20

Fri AUG 12 • 5-8 pm • special Coloring Book night! • Materials will be furnished by the Peregrine. All coloring books and materials have a 20% discount for participants. Refreshments provided.

• Matthew o’neill Also FeAturing • 46 taps of Craft Beer • organic espresso Bar • local, grass-fed Beef

Walter SalaS-Humara Thu Aug 18

Find the link to our new Facebook page—it’s on our updated homepage www.RavenCafe.com

m attHeW O’neill SAT Aug 20

sAt AUG 13 • 11 am • Zoo day! • live Animals from heritage Park Zoological sanctuary • Bring the Kids! Staffers from the Heritage Park Zoo will bring animals for the audience to see up close. Note: This will replace our regular Storyime today.

More info at 928.445.9000 www.PeregrineBookCompany.com

sAt AUG 13 • 2 pm • Pulitzer Prize Winner Paul Brinkley-rogers • Please Enjoy Your Happiness • reading, Q&A, Booksigning • An evocative memoir. A beautiful journey to half a century and half a world away. An ageless love story. Paul Brinkley‑Rogers has lived an adventurous life all over the world. But there is one story he cannot forget: that of his haunting love affair with a mysterious older Japanese woman in 1959. Join journalist and veteran war correspondent Paul Brinkley‑Rogers as he discusses his celebrated memoir. sAt AUG 20 • 2 pm • tony taylor: Counters, & The Darkest Side of Saturn • reading, Q&A, Booksigning • Both of Taylor’s novels, Counters and The Darkest Side of Saturn, won awards in the prestigious international 2016 Eric Hoffer Book Award contest. The Hoffer Award honors the memory of the great American philosopher Eric Hoffer by highlighting salient writing, as well as the independent spirit of small publishers. The Darkest Side of Saturn went on to win First Place for the Commercial Fiction category, while Counters won Honorable Mention for the Legacy Fiction category (published prior to 2014). Wed AUG 24 • 5:30 pm • open mic Poetry Fri AUG 26 • 5-8 pm • 4th Friday Art Walk • dani Fisher, Featured Artist • On the evening of the 4th Friday of every month, Prescott’s Art Galleries and shops invite everyone to a night out to mingle with local artists, share food and libations and purchase new artworks.

Find us on Facebook Twitter @PeregrineBookCo