EE FR
5enses Celebrating art and science in Greater Prescott
2013-03, Volume 1 Issue 3
Art Confidential: In the studio with Dana Cohn Alan Dean Foster asks politely, then demands the TV bugs bugger off Ty Fitzmorris bursts with budding flora & fawning fauna info PLUS ... • Bloom & Boom: The science of spring • Ruby Jackson’s out to lunch • Donald Fezziwig’s Buckey Awards fez-tival findings • Highlands Center for Natural History’s springtime musings • Prescott Astronomy Club’s guide to casual astronomy • The Absurd Naturalist’s Darwinian take on kitchen appliances • Jacques Laliberté & Nancy Ibsen’s architectural whimsies
5enses In which:
6 7 8 9 12
14 13 4 1 1 1
Ruby Jackson sees art, sees shows, and seafoods.
Ty Fitzmorris branches into springtime naturalism.
Donald Fezziwig infiltrates the third annual Buckey Awards.
Wyatt Frazee zee turns his iPhone into an astronomy expert.
Alan Dean Foster bugs out and becomes a DOG catcher.
Gene Twaronite ronite naturally selects a toaster oven, naturally.
Angie JohnsonSchmit talks art and space with Dana Cohn.
Jacques Laliberté aliberté & Nancy Ibsen build stairways to heaven.
Jill Craig observes a sight and sights observations.
2013-02, Volume 1 Issue 3
Copyright © 2013 5enses Inc. unless otherwise noted. Publisher & Editor: Nicholas DeMarino Read a new 5enses the first Friday of every month. Visit 5ensesMag.Com, Facebook, & Twitter for more. Contact us at 5ensesMag@Gmail.Com or 928-613-2076.
PLUS Bloom & Boom The science of spring
Left brain/Right brain Le Find ind out what’s what s going on in i Greater Presc Prescott
COVER: Detail from “Mingus “M Mountain,” Mounta painting by Dana Co Cohn. THIS PA PAGE: Detail fr from “Annunciation,” “Annunc painting by Cohn. Dana Co
5ENSESMAG.COM 5E ENSESMAG.COM • 2013 MARCH • CONTENTS • 3
Left brain: mind-full events 2013-03 (month) NATURALIST FIELD WALKS • 10 a.m. Saturdays, at Highlands Center for Natural History, “Spark your natural curiosity and discover more about local birds, geology, plants, and more.” (1375 S. Walker Road; 928776-9550.)
2013-03-12 (Tues.) CENTRAL ARIZONA GEOLOGY CLUB • 6:30 p.m. at Prescott Public Library, Founders Suites. (215 E. Goodwin St.; 928-777-1500.) 2013-03-16 (Sat.) “WHAT’S UP WITH OUR SEEDS” TALK • 9 a.m. at One Root Tea, “Stephen Scott, of Terroir Seeds/Underwood Gardens, will discuss the differences between heirloom, hybrid, and GMO seeds along with the pros and cons of planting each type,” via GMO Free Prescott. (500 W. Gurley St.; 928-221-2533.)
NATURALIST CITY WALKS • 10 a.m. Wednesdays, various locations, “At select City of Prescott trail locations, check website or call for schedule. Spark your natural curiosity and discover more about local birds, geology, plants, and more.” (HighlandsCenter.org; 928-776-9550.)
ART & HERITAGE CONVERSATION • 1 p.m. at Phippen Museum, award-winning illustrator, magazine editor and “all-round Western personality” Bob Boze Bell talk, “Stories from the True West.” (4701 Arizona 89; 928-778-1385.)
SPRING BREAK CAMP • 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., 2013-03-11 through 201303-15, “6- to 12-year-olds day camp.” (1375 S. Walker Road; 928-776-9550; $140 members, $185 nonmembers, registration required.)
2013-03-20 (Wed.) PRESCOTT AREA BOARDGAMERS • 5 p.m. at Prescott Public Library, Founders Suite A. (215 E. Goodwin St.; 928-777-1500.)
2013-03-02 (Sat.) HERITAGE CONVERSATION • 1 p.m. at Phippen Museum, retired cowboy and award-winning speaker Joe Briggs talk, “Cowboy Culture: Lessons from the Old West for Today.” (4701 Arizona 89; 928-778-1385.) 2013-03-03 (Sun.) HOLLY METZ BOOK SIGNING • 2 p.m. at Peregrine Book Co., journalist and author Holly Metz talks about “Killing the Poormaster,” “The shocking true crime story of a Depression-era murder.” (219A N. Cortez St.; 928-445-9000.)
IMAGE: Bill Neely talks about repairing Katsina dolls and carving birds on Thursday, 201303-07, at Peregrine Book Co.; courtesy photo.
2013-03-05 (Tues.) SARAH BROWN TALK • 12 p.m. at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, AC1, Dr. Sarah Brown talk, “From Ancient DNA to Village Dogs: Reconstructing the Evolutionary History of the Domestic Dog,” via the College of Arts and Sciences colloquium series. (3700 Willow Creek Road; 928-777-6985, free pizza.) 2013-03-06 (Wed.) PRESCOTT ASTRONOMY CLUB • 5:30 p.m. at Prescott Public Library, Founders Suites. (215 E. Goodwin St.; 928-777-1500.) PRESCOTT AREA BOARDGAMERS • 5 p.m. at Prescott Public Library, Bump and Elsea conference rooms. (215 E. Goodwin St.; 928-7771500.)
Neely “brings fascinating stories, beautiful examples of his longtime Katsina doll restoration work, and prize-winning bird carvings.” (219A N. Cortez St.; 928-445-9000.) 2013-03-09 (Sat.) CITIZENS WATER ADVOCACY GROUP • 10 a.m. at Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation building. Sandy Bahr, Sierra Club Grand Canyon chapter director talks about “Advocacy 101: How to Make Your Voice Heard in the Arizona Legislature. (882 Sunset Ave.; 928-445.4218.) NAVAJO HISTORY & TEXTILE TALK • 1 p.m. at Smoki Museum, Toh-Atin Gallery owner Jackson Clark “tells the history of the Navajo people using their textiles.” (147 N. Arizona Ave.; 928-445-1230.)
2013-03-07 (Thur.) BILL NEELY PRESENTATION • 5 p.m. at Peregrine Book Co., craftsman Billy
4 • EVENTS • 2013 MARCH • 5ENSESMAG.COM
2013-03-21 (Thur.) THIRD THURSDAY STAR TALK • 6:30 p.m. at Prescott Public Library, Founders Suites, Richard and Dolores Hill, technical staff at the University of Arizona’s planetary science department discuss the Catalina Sky Survey and Target Asteroids! program, via Prescott Astronomy Club. (215 E. Goodwin St.; 928-777-1500.)
2013-03-22 (Fri.) NIGHT SKIES, STORIES, & STARS • 6 p.m. at Highlands Center for Natural History, “family program all about constellations and nighttime adventures.” (1375 S. Walker Road; 928776-9550; $5 adults, $2 kids.) 2013-01-23 (Sat.) RACHELLE SPARKS & FRANK SHANKWITZ BOOK SIGNING • 2 p.m. at Peregrine Book Co., Prescott-native Rachelle Sparks and Frank Shankwitz, cofounder of the Make-A-Wish Foundation discuss “Once Upon a Wish.” (219A N. Cortez St.; 928-445-9000.) 2013-03-24 (Sun.) E. K. PRESCOTT BOOK SIGNING • 2 p.m. at Peregrine Book Co., educator and author E. K. Prescott “creates a festive 1920s atmosphere in costume, accompanied by professional psychic Chereise Pike, who provides a brief reading for anyone purchasing the book,” “9 Squares.” (219A N. Cortez St.; 928-445-9000.)
Right brain: art-full events 2013-03 (continuing) ART SHOW • Through 2013-03 at Raven Café, art by Dana Cohn and Josephine Archer. (142 N. Cortez St.; 928-717-0009.)
2013-03-22 (Fri.) 4TH FRIDAY ART WALK • 5 p.m. at area art galleries. SPRING EXTRAVAGANZA • Today at Ian Russell Gallery of Fine Art, featuring sculptor Tanya Garvis and jewelry designs by Geoff Brown. (130 S. Montezuma St.; 928-445-7009.)
“AN EXPLORATION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES” • Through 2013-03-12 at ’Tis Art Center & Gallery, photography by George Lewis and Carolyn Dunn. (105 S. Cortez St.; 928-775-0223.) “FORM & LIGHT” • Through 2013-03-14 at Mountain Artists Guild & Gallery, art by Betty Carr and Bruce Haughey. (228 N. Alarcon St.; 928-776-4009.) PRESCOTT COLLEGE JURIED STUDENT EXHIBIT • Through 2013-03-15 at Sam Hill Warehouse, Prescott College Art Gallery. (232 N. Granite St.; 928-350-2341.) “PIECE AND A POEM” • Through 2013-03-19 at ’Tis Art Center & Gallery. (105 S. Cortez St.; 928-775-0223.) “GREY MATTER” • Through 2013-03-28 at The Gallery, Prescott Center for the Arts, (208 Marina St.; 928-446-3286.) “ART & SOUL” • Through 2013-03-30 at Mountain Artists Guild & Gallery. (228 N. Alarcon St.; 928-776-4009.) “ARIZONA’S SON” • Through 2013-04-48 at Smoki Museum, “The photography of Barry Goldwater.” (147 N. Arizona Ave.; 928-445-1230.) 2013-03 (month) PRESCOTT JUGGLERS & HOOPERS • 5 p.m. Mondays at Prescott College Granite Performing Arts Center, “Come join the Prescott Jugglers as we throw objects into the air and at each other.” (218 N. Granite St.; 928-350-3218.) 2013-03-01 (Fri.) THEATRE PRODUCTION CLASS • 7:30 p.m. at Prescott College Granite Performing Arts Center, “The Theatre Production Class presents s of their spring play.” (218 N. Granite St.; $10 general, $5 students.)
IMAGE: Art by members of “DA MENTAL VAPORZ,” a French graffiti crew whose show begins Friday, 2013-03-15 at Vigraha Gallery; courtesy photo. 2013-03-02 (Sat.) THEATRE PRODUCTION CLASS • 2:30 p.m. at Prescott College Granite Performing Arts Center, “The Theatre Production Class presents s of their spring play.” (218 N. Granite St.; $10 general, $5 students.) “METROPOLIS” WITH LIVE MUSIC • 5 p.m. at Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, 1927 silent film with live piano by Jonathan Best.” (1100 E. Sheldon St.; 928-776-2000; $10) 2013-03-03 (Sun.) YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL • 2 p.m., 6 p.m. at Prescott Center for the Arts, eight young playwrights. (208 N. Marina St.; 928-445-3286; $7.) 2013-03-06 (Wed.) POETRY DISCUSSION GROUP • 1 p.m. at Prescott Public Library, Elsea Conference Room, “Join Dr. Janet Preston to enjoy and discuss great poetry in an informal setting.” (215 E. Goodwin St.; 928-777-1500.) 2013-03-07 (Thur.) POETS’ COOPERATIVE • 6:30 p.m. at the Prescott Public Library, Elsea Conference Room, “Share Your Poetry and Receive Feedback in a Supportive and Congenial Atmosphere.” (215 E. Goodwin St.; 928-777-1500.) 2013-03-15 (Fri.) “DA MENTAL VAPORZ” • Today through 2013-04-06 at
Vigraha Gallery, art by Bom.K. KAN, ISO, BRUSK, JAW, and LIME, as “Da Mental Vaporz,” a French graffiti crew. (115 E. Goodwin St., Ste. E.; 928-778-2534.) 2013-03-16 (Sat.) “BROAD STROKES” • Today through 2013-04-13 at ’Tis Art Center Mezzanine Gallery, featuring six Prescott area women painters.” (105 S. Cortez St.; 928-775-0223.) 2013-03-20 (Wed.) OPEN MIC POETRY • 5:30 p.m. at Peregrine Book Co., poet Dan Seaman hosts open mic poetry. (219A N. Cortez St.; 928-445-9000.) 2013-03-21 (Thur.) “CHILDREN OF EDEN” • 7 p.m. at Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, presented by the Yavapai College Choral Music Department. (1100 E. Sheldon St.; 928-776-2000; $15) “BLACK GIRL IN SEARCH OF GOD” • 7 p.m. at Stage Too. (Cortez Street alley between Willis and Sheldon streets; 928-445-3286.) CINDY LOU’S HEALTH CARE BENEFIT SHOW • Today through 2013-04-03 at ’Tis Art Center & Gallery, “featuring art by our gallery manager and assistant curator, Cindy Myers, her friends and her colleagues to help raise money for her major health care expenses.” (105 S. Cortez St.; 928-775-0223.)
“A NEARLY FATAL ILLUSION” • Today through 2013-04-22 at Sam Hill Warehouse, Prescott College Art Gallery, Deborah Springstead Ford’s photography which “is a direct reference to Barry Commoner’s idea from “The Closing Circle” regarding contemporary society’s alleged independence from nature.” (232 N. Granite St.; 928-350-2341.) “BLACK GIRL IN SEARCH OF GOD” • 7 p.m. at Stage Too. (Cortez Street alley between Willis and Sheldon streets; 928-445-3286.) “CHILDREN OF EDEN” • 7 p.m. at Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, presented by the Yavapai College Choral Music Department. (1100 E. Sheldon St.; 928-776-2000; $15) 2013-01-23 (Sat.) “BLACK GIRL IN SEARCH OF GOD” • 1 p.m. at Prescott Valley Library. (Civic Circle; 928-759-3040.) • 7 p.m. at Stage Too. (Cortez Street alley between Willis and Sheldon streets; 928-445-3286.) “CHILDREN OF EDEN” • 2 p.m. at Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, presented by the Yavapai College Choral Music Department. (1100 E. Sheldon St.; 928-776-2000; $15) 2013-03-24 (Sun.) “BLACK GIRL IN SEARCH OF GOD” • 2 p.m. at Stage Too. (Cortez Street alley between Willis and Sheldon streets; 928-445-3286.) 2013-03-27 (Wed.) “FIDDLER ON THE ROOF” • 7:30 p.m. at Yavapai College Performing Arts Center. (1100 E. Sheldon St.; 928-776-2000; $25-$65)
5
Around ... ... the Corner By Ruby Jackson I’d heard mixed reviews about Prescott Lobster & Seafood Co., which opened in January. Located in the Firehouse Plaza in downtown Prescott, this hole-in-the-wall is very inviting. Well-staffed, with an open kitchen, the place was packed when I headed in for lunch on Valentine’s Day. Their mission: to bring a taste of New England to “everybody’s hometown,” and that’s immediately apparent from the glass case of live Maine lobsters next to the cash stand. New England doesn’t normally inspire warm, fuzzy feelings in me, I must admit, and I may be the only person on the planet who doesn’t care for lobster, but curiosity bested me. They’ve got “lobstah,” of course, “chowda” and bisques, crab rolls and crab cake rolls, but also chicken salad and the like for those not fond of crustaceans. I ordered a mini crab cake roll, which came with macaroni salad (you have your choice of sides). A small gelato topped off the meal. The crab cakes were the fluffiest and most flavorful I’ve ever had — so delicious I almost couldn’t stand it. I even liked the macaroni salad, with bits of green olive and egg for a little punch. The “mini” was the perfect portion; I much prefer a smaller por-
tion of good, satisfying food to a big plate of ordinary. My meal also included a Dr. Seuss valentine good for a free cup of chowda on my next visit. … Prescott Lobster, I think I love you. Speaking of Seuss, Theodor Seuss Geisel’s birthday is Saturday, 2013-0302. In celebration, Prescott Public Library is hosting an all-day party as part of Seussville’s Read Across America program, complete with cake and local celebrities reading their favorite Seuss stories. It’s Prescott, so “celebrity” may be a stretch, but there’s definitely a mix of upstanding citizens. Crafts and treats follow each story time. Designed for kids of all ages and the young at heart. Go to PrescottLibrary.Info for the inside scoop. Open Awareness Films presents a free showing of Gary Null’s underground documentary “War on Health” 6-8:30 p.m., Monday, 2013-03-04 at the Yavapai Title Conference room, 1235 E. Gurley St. Basically an expose on the FDA and their (alleged) hidden agenda(s), it looks like an enlightening flick that may scare the pants off you — ’tis the price to be informed. Prescott College’s Deborah Ford has an interesting photographic exhibit going up at the Prescott College Art Gallery at Sam Hill
Warehouse. It begins with an artist reception 6-8 p.m. Friday, 201303-22. Ford’s exhibit explores “the interaction of art, science and nature, chaos and climate.” Combining elements in nature like lichen and algae with multiple exposure techniques and combination printing, the images are arresting and give the impression of looking through a microscope. Inspired by a stay at Biosphere 2, the ultimate message in Ford’s work is one of hope for a better planet and a desire to understand our environment. “I am not a scientist,” she says in a press release. “I am a photographer in awe of the natural world.” And it shows. For your listening pleasure, Folk Sessions is bringing Carrie Rodriguez to the Prescott Center for the Arts on Thursday, 201303-07, as part of her Give Me All You Got album tour. I took a listen and fell hard for the sweet melody on “Tragic.” Most would classify her as roots rock, but the country influence is a lot stronger than the folk, albeit what I would call “good” country. Lucinda Williams (Who am I to argue with Lucinda Williams?) sings praise for Rodriguez’s “smoky and sweet (voice) … with a refreshingly spunky attitude to go along with it.” She plays a mean fiddle on top of that. What more could you ask for in a girl?
Last on my radar this March is the “Coming Soon: Beall’s Outlet” sign on what used to be the garden center of the old Kmart on Willow Creek Road. I didn’t think anyone would ever rent that space, but walls have come down exposing the original brick and major renovations are underway. Beall’s is a store exclusive to Arizona, Georgia, Florida, and Kentucky, specializing in the bargains most of us depend on Ross stores for. I’m a shopaholic (it’s in my genetic makeup) and can’t wait. There’s nothing better than a deal! ***** A native of the Windy City, Ruby Jackson is a freelance writer and collector of Norfin Trolls. In her spare time she is an aspiring actress (drama queen) and millionairess (donations gladly accepted). Contact her at RubyBJackson@Gmail.Com.
TOP: A crab cake lunch at Prescott Lobster & Seafood Co., which opened in January of 2013; photo by Ruby Jackson. BOTTOM: A series of images from Deborah Ford’s upcoming photographic exhibit, which opens Friday, 201303-22 at Prescott College Art Gallery at Sam Hill Warehouse; images by Deborah Ford.
6 • COLUMN • 2013 MARCH • 5ENSESMAG.COM
It’s the Buckeys The ins & outs of Prescott’s finest arts award show By Donald Fezziwig
Glittering
gowns? Teary speeches? What could it be? It’s awards season again. For those of you who just moved to Prescott from Des Moines, Iowa: You’ve heard of the Oscars, the Emmys, the Tonys, etc. — all very nice awards shows in their own way. But have you ever seen the Buckeys? Now there’s a slice of Yavapai County. We’re talking about the Third Annual Buckey Awards for Excellence in the Arts — a celebration of artists, performers, and arts supporters of hometown creativity. The award is named for Buckey O’Neill, who, besides being a sheriff, soldier, lawyer, and rancher, was a writer and publisher in turn-ofthe-century Prescott. This year’s Buckey Awards are at 7 p.m. Saturday, 2013-03-09, at the Prescott Center for the Arts, 208 N. Marina St. Tickets are $10 and seating is limited. Buy them from the Prescott Center for the Arts office or at the door. Windfalls If previous Buckeys are any indication, some of this year’s honorees will be virtually unknown to some. “We weren’t playing in bars; we weren’t as well known as some bands; we almost didn’t go to the awards show,” said Tres Ikner of local altpop group Dutch Holly, which won Outstanding Musical Artists in 2011. “But when they started reading off the finalists, Jen (Jupiter, the other half of Dutch Holly) turned to me and said, ‘You have to do all the talking if we win,’ and, immediately, I hear them say, ‘Dutch Holly wins the Buckey.’” Besides introducing new talent to the community, the Buckeys celebrate veteran creatives with the Lifetime Contribution to the Arts of Yavapai County award. It’s the only honor announced before the show. This year, Don Langford will be feted for his 34 years as an actor,
director, and volunteer at Prescott Center for the Arts. “I learned an awful lot, acting for Don,” said Sean Jeralds, whose worked with Langford on several projects. “But it’s not just that he’s a good director. ... You need a trailer to haul scenery? He’ll be there with a trailer. He’s just the kind of guy you need to make things happen.” Langford was stunned he won. “I’m not usually speechless, but I am right now,” he said, and then, after a moment, talked about the fun of putting on a good show. Perhaps this illustrates the central tenant of the Buckeys. It’s not about who’s best; it’s about honoring outstanding artists, performers and arts supporters — people who’ve inspired, entertained, and maybe even changed the way we see Everybody’s Hometown. The show must go on Andrew Johnson-Schmit, host of KJZA Public Radio’s Prescott Arts Beat returns to the Buckeys as master of ceremonies. Leopard-skin fez rakishly askew, Johnson-Schmit promised another zany sketch — this time involving band tryouts. Speaking of music, this year’s house band is rockabilly/country stalwarts Sky Daddy and the Pop Rocks. If you’re concerned about the integrity of the awards, take heart: Two accountants from Cook, Books & Hyde will return to explain the complicated and thoroughly above-board methods used to arrive at the list of honorees. This satire is at home at the Buckeys. Audience members arrive in everything from tuxedos and gowns to elaborate costumes. Last year, one group wore tails — giant mouse tails. Such is the solemnness of the occasion.
And the nominees are ... Outstanding Visual Artist David Cottle, photography Summer Henry, tattoo Maria Lynam, print making/mixed media Chelsea Stone, jewelry Linne Thomas, oil painting Outstanding Literary Artist Chris Hoy, playwright Michele McFadden (Micki Shelton), playwright (second nod) Dina Mountcastle, blogger Karen Murphy, playwright Dan Seaman, poet Outstanding Media Artist/ Broadcaster Jacques Laliberté, freelance journalist Ken Byers, KPPV Kevin Rose, Magic 99.1 Steven Ayres, KJZA Tom Agostino, KJZA (second nod) Outstanding Arts Educator Judy Clothier, youth choir director, at Prescott Center for the Arts Steph Griffin, guitar and voice Lisa Kaiser, art at Prescott Mile High Middle School Bruce Lanning, drama at Yavapai College (second nod) Cason Murphy, drama at The@trics Outstanding Performing Artist Rebecca Antsis, actor Laura Jeanine Prosseda, actor Dina Mountcastle, actor Cason Murphy, actor (second nod) Troupe Salamat, improvisational tribal belly dancing
Outstanding Arts Activist Barry Barbe Ida Kendall (second nod) Clyde Neville Brad Newman Marnie Uhl Outstanding Arts Organization Chaparral MusicFest Mountain Artists Guild and Gallery (second nod) Prescott Center for the Arts (second nod) Prescott Film Festival (second nod) Yavapai College Performing Arts Center Outstanding Arts Event “Cabaret” at Prescott Center for the Arts Chalk It Up, Prescott! (second nod) Prescott Film Festival (second nod) thrifTheatre by The@trics Tsunami on the Square Performing Arts Festival (second nod) Outstanding Musical Artist Drew Hall, blues/rock/flamenco guitarist, singer High Country Chordsmen, barbershop singing Jonathan Best, improvisational keyboardist, singer (second nod) Storm of Perception, heavy metal band The Gurley Girls, fem/folk pop rock band Lifetime Contribution to the Arts of Yavapai County Don Langford, 34 years acting, directing, and volunteering at Prescott Center for the Arts
***** Donald Fezziwig is an awards correspondent deeply embedded within the Buckey Awards for Excellence in the Arts. Find out more about the Buckeys at BuckeyAwards.Blogspot.Com or Facebook.Com/BuckeyAwards.
5ENSESMAG.COM • 2013 MARCH • FEATURE • 7
Perceivings
The perniciousness of DOGs and bugs By Alan Dean Foster
My
previous columns have been about art and about science. This one’s about what sometimes happens when science meets art. Or, to put it in simple rhyme: Not everything that can Be done is good; And just because you can, Doesn’t mean you should.
TV manufacturers like to boast about the size of their “viewable area.” What no one seems to note is that, while the devices have increased in size, the actual viewable area for many, many programs is continually being reduced. This is the fault of a technology called digital on-screen graphics, or DOGs. More colloquially, they’re called bugs. They are a true plague that has spread to television in every country. Unfortunately, as with any technological development that can be short-handed to “$ $,” the U.S. is the leader in this ongoing aesthetic
regression. They started out innocently enough. That little channel identifier in the lower right-hand corner of your screen? That’s a bug. Originally just a number, the channel ID bug now usually includes the name of communications company that owns the channel, or some other additional identifier. They’re irritating and distracting, like most bugs. If you think your channel ID bug is irksome, consider our poor neighbors to the north. Canadian stations that import U.S. channels often have two such bugs: one identifying the original U.S. station and a second of their own, rebroadcasting channel that usually appears in the upper right corner of the screen. Lower and upper right — doubly distracting. Alas, the channel ID bug was but the forerunner of the visual catastrophe that was to come. It soon got worse. Much, much worse.
To
the dismay of viewers everywhere, stations and companies quickly discovered that bugs can
8 • COLUMN • 2013 MARCH • 5ENSESMAG.COM
be used for advertising. I am (or was) a big fan of nature shows. But the commercial channels. … Recently Discovery ran a BBC Nature series on Africa. DOGs rendered it virtually unwatchable. There was the Discovery Channel bug in the lower right corner. OK, fair enough. But behind, around, and above the logo were ads for upcoming shows I had no interest whatsoever in seeing. Usually these ads had the word “gold” in the title. As in “Bering Sea Gold,” “Black Gold,” “Gold Rush,” etc. I await with dread the debut of the Discovery network’s GOLD channel, wherein every show will have the apparently inescapable mnemonic “gold” in the title. Not only do these channel IDbacking ads continue to grow larger and larger, eating up more and more of your precious viewable image, but instead of appearing on screen for a bit and then going away, they remain throughout the entire program. Plus, now they’re animated. Moving clouds, roiling seas … I shudder to think what The Comedy Channel is working on. What could be more aggravating to someone trying to engage in enthralled contemplation of elephants in a bai, or a surfing hippo, or a herd of a million wildebeest, than animated junk ads flashing continuously from one corner of the screen? Well, they’ve figured it out.
In
addition to occupying increasing real estate in the lower right corner of your TV, animated DOGs are now increasingly spread across the remaining bottom sixth of your viewing territory. Not only does the lower right corner remain permanently occupied by advertising, additional ads splash across the
lower portion of the screen. Performing actors. Dancing cartoons. At least with Discovery you have some idea of what you’re going to get. … Whatever unrelated show they’re promoting, it’s gonna have “gold” in the title. That’s exactly what I’m eager to learn about while I’m watching a high-class nature documentary on Africa: some reality show about a bunch of unshaven dorks trying to get rich quick in Alaska, or Ghana, or Guyana instead of getting real jobs. These bugs don’t take you out of the moment; they shatter it, obliterate it, and are an insult to the hard-working camerafolk and scientists and inhouse production teams who spend years making those moments available to you at home. They constitute an unapologetic assault on every creative talent behind whatever show you happen to watch, be it a BBC Nature documentary that took years to film or a Hollywood half-hour comedy. DOGs have created advert anarchy.
I
can see where this is going: Soon the adverts will expand until they occupy the major portion of your screen while the actual show shrinks to take the place of the channel ID bug in the lower right corner. The FCC regulates the volume of commercials. But, as far as advertising bugs are concerned, it appears that this one increasingly uninterested government regulatory agency has gone to the DOGs. ***** Alan Dean Foster is author of more than 120 books, visitor to more than 100 countries, and still frustrated by the human species. Follow him at AlanDeanFoster.Com.
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Photo by 5enses.
Art Confidential: In the studio with
Dana Cohn An artist’s studio is more than simply the place where art is created. It’s also often an external manifestation of the artist’s creative mind that reflects process and inspiration.
By Angie Johnson-Schmit
One
step over the threshold of Dana Cohn’s home leads directly into the heart of his art studio. The front room that doubles as the Prescott artist’s studio is small but organized. From the table loaded with books and bits picked up from nature walks, to the portable work lamps attached to the ceiling, it’s obvious this space is devoted to creative work. An enormous, glass-topped taboret (i.e. an artist’s cabinet and workstation) dominates the room. Oil paints are already squeezed onto the palette and clean brushes are within reach. A small picture of an elephant is taped to one of workstation legs. It’s
upside down — a residual reference for a previous painting. Cohn’s artistic style is difficult to pin down. Most of his work looks like a collage of painted images, each one a fragment of his passion for nature, art, and the internal landscape. Cohn’s art is a cross between surrealism and hyper-realism; it creates a dreamlike snapshot of inner and outer universes. “I like conceptual art, minimalism, all of that. ... It’s nut not something that I’ve ever done,” Cohn says. “I love it all, because it’s all connected.” His pieces often incorporate elements of works by Renaissance and early art masters, animals, and Prescott’s landscapes. Cohn is adept at photorealism, but it’s not unusual to find abstractions and
aspects of different painting techniques within a single painting. The resulting art exudes a complex simplicity, one appreciated on multiple levels from multiple viewpoints. Cohn enjoys letting the viewer interpret his images and intent without outside input. While he can point to areas inspired or based on ideas, he’s not particularly interested in an in-depth explanation of what a painting is supposed to mean. “I never try to tell anybody what a painting is supposed to be about,” Cohn says. “Even I don’t know what a painting is really about until it’s finished. … Sometimes I don’t know until much later.”
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5ENSESMAG.COM • 2013 MARCH • PORTFOLIO • 9
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Now and then Hanging on the wall next to the taboret is Coh latest work in progress. For this painting, he incorporated a section o a shark, a bit of a bird, the head of a Zeus statue and some imagery from previous sketches, all s against space and stars. Some parts are clearly fined while others idle as sketches. Next to the canvas, a pencil drawing is taped the wall for reference. There’s a significant evolu in process from one medium to the next. “I always start with a drawing,” Cohn says. “C is so emotional. … A drawing lets me get the im right first, although the painting always change and surprises me.” He walks a few steps to the table on the other side of the room and pulls out numerous sketch to show how the final composition has evolved. magazine photo of a shark, a book with photos Greek statues, a sketchbook — all hold the germ a completely original image. The space and star background is anchored in life, Cohn explains. He had an epiphany while h ing recently. While looking at a tree, he was stru
10 • PORTFOLIO • 2013 MARCH • 5ENSESMAG.COM
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LEFT TO RIGHT: “Seachange” and “Starcloud With Forest,” painting by Dana Cohn; Dana Cohn poses for a portiat in 2012 with “Her,” photo by Chad Castigliano. by the enormity of the idea that every single thing he saw was essentially made of the same thing: stardust. His creative mind lept into overdrive. As Cohn thought about “everything being made of the same stuff,” he noticed how often circle shapes appear in nature. “When you think about it, when you shrink it down, almost everything is round, like cells,” Cohn says. “And then you look up, and everything is round: The stars are round; the moon is round; the earth is round; we’re round when we’re in the embryo stage.” Circles and dots are the unifying visual motif in his latest work. An artist’s path Although there’s a clear relationship between Cohn’s last series of paintings and his latest pieces, there’s an optimism and openness that’s new. His current compositions are less crowded. The additional space allows for deeper reflection on the relationship between the shapes and images. Through his paintings, Cohn can better communicate that the enormity of the universe makes everything in life “seem so much more special, even if it’s painful,” he says.
When asked what he considers the most important part of making art, Cohn demurs at dogma. “I don’t think the magic is in anything more than in your heart and your need to do it,” he says. But Cohn is clear that what separates the artist and the wannabe is the work that person puts into the process. “It’s 99 percent work, like Edison said,” Cohn says, adding, “I never knew it was such a huge reward for having pushed so hard for so long.” Cohn worked in restaurants off and on for more than 18 years to make ends meet while he created art. Then he was commissioned to paint a mural on a yacht in La Jolla, Calif. When he finished, he returned to Prescott to care for his parents and began teaching art classes. Cohn’s grateful his restaurant days are over, that now he can devote substantially more time to his work. Left to his own devices, he says he would “probably be a hermit … (and would) stay home and paint for 10 to 12 hours a day.” He’s kidding. Partially. One of the reasons Cohn likes having his studio at home is because he can get up and work whenever the spirit moves him. It’s not uncommon for him to wake up in the middle of the night with an idea. His
workspace is only a few feet from his bedroom, so he can roll seamlessly into work. Cohn’s artwork has shown locally in several venues. You can see the fruits of his current creative labors through mid-March at the Raven Café. It’s a rare opportunity to view an artist’s work as he transitions from one style and focus to another. Cohn’s art is also on perpetual display at the Prescott Public Library; he’s one of the four artists who worked on the “Beyond Words” mural that was dedicated in 2009-09. Cohn currently teaches art as an adjunct professor of printmaking at Yavapai College. Find him online at DanaCohn.Com. ***** Angie Johnson-Schmit is a Prescott-based freelance writer and movie producer who works with the arts and zombies. She is deeply amused that these “about” bits are typically written in third person. Follow her online at DeadVotesSociety.Com. Visit 5ensesMag.Com in mid-March to see and discuss more of Dana Cohn’s artwork.
11
Outdoor Highlands Center for Natural History’s Outings
Little by little By Jill Craig
I’d
been hiking uphill with my dog for a while and was getting to the point where I needed to head back home. Yet, I’m a sucker for corners. I have to know what’s around the next one so I don’t miss something good — a beautiful view, perhaps. So, I explored one last bend. This was a few years back, and I had an experience that forever changed the way that I view the natural world. Soon after the turn, I noticed something off to the side. For whatever reason, I ducked behind a tree on the opposite side of the trail. Peering cautiously around the tree, I spotted the disturbance.
A small junco laid quietly on the ground, its chest pumping rapidly as if trying to catch a breath. Slowly I emerged from my hiding spot and perched closer to the bird. As I stood a few feet away, the junco drew one last breath and then exhaled. I cannot describe the enormity of this moment. I’d never witnessed anything take a final breath. After some reflection and reverence, I noticed that ants had already started covering the junco’s body. The natural process was already at work, as it should be.
I
suppose I should’ve been saddened by this loss of life, but I came away with a profound sense of awe. I felt privileged to have shared that moment — a moment probably
most of us never get to experience. Since then, I’ve wondered at the constant cycle of life in nature. It brings to mind an old philosophical question: If a tree falls in the forest but no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Of course it does! These things don’t just happen when we’re there; eggs are laid, prey is captured, and seeds are germinated all the time. Not only do these things constantly occur, but many occur at precise times, fulfilling specific duties. When the snow melts and the air warms, leaves bud, birds nest, and caterpillars emerge from their cocoons. But what if the air warms earlier than anticipated and the caterpillar emerges before the leaves do? What does the caterpillar have to feed on? Farmers and gardeners rely on the last frost date to plant seeds and annual rains to support crops. If trends change, what, then, do they rely on? These questions are relevant to the study of the recurrence of events in nature, called phenology. It’s about when buds first appear, when migratory birds return, and when insects emerge from their winter homes. Others have asked similar questions. Aldo Leopold, Henry David Thoreau, John Muir and other naturalists were acutely aware of their natural surroundings
and penned observations about plants blooming, birds nesting, and insects emerging. These observations are used as preliminary data to help lay the groundwork for future phonological studies.
This
spring, the Highlands Center for Natural History joins the ranks of citizen phenology programs. Our volunteer naturalists will make continued observations on a small plot here several times a week. This information will tell us about local conditions and, additionally, will be reported to the National Phenology Network and added to national data. Using this and historical data, the NPN hopes to determine exactly how important timing is to nature. As we move toward spring, I hope that we all pay more attention to the details that make all the difference in nature. Notice the fresh buds on oak trees, the yellow wind bursts of pollen and the telltale sign of spring: the morning song of the robin. ***** Jill Craig is education director at Highlands Center for Natural History. She oversees all educational programming for the center and facilitates the Highlands Naturalist Volunteer Program. In her spare time, Jill can be found hiking in the Bradshaw Mountains with her two dogs and husband.
TOP: Bud and acorn; via Highlands Center for Natural History, courtesy photo. BOTTOM: Oak Creek Canyon junipers, Sedona; via National Oceanic and Atomspheric Administration, courtesy photo. 12 • FEATURE • 2013 MARCH • 5ENSESMAG.COM
March weather
News From the Wilds By Ty Fitzmorris
March
is a deceptive month in the Central Highlands. Temperatures routinely reach 70 degrees, and the sunny, lengthening days seem to suggest that spring is finally here. But March is one of our wettest months, and most of that moisture comes in the form of snow. Large storm systems over the Pacific Ocean throw off snow storms that sweep into our area from the north, dropping anywhere from inches to feet of snow, bringing us firmly back into winter. March is also one of the more dangerous times for creatures in the wilds. Many mammals are bearing young, some insects are emerging from creeks and pupae as winged adults, and the birds are making nests or migrating back into the area from the tropics. Dramatic cold snaps can cause severe temperature and food stress, sometimes leading to death. Most of the native plants of the highlands don’t trust the warm times enough to begin growing or flowering just yet. They’ll wait until the days are reliably warm and frost-free, though exactly how they determine this is a mystery. In the lower deserts, such as the western slopes of the Sierra Prieta Mountains, the frosts have passed, and plants are emerging to greet their early hummingbird, butterfly, moth, fly, and native bee pollinators.
In our high desert landscape, water scarcity determines what happens more than anything else. But water scarcity takes different forms: too little precipitation or too little available for plants and animals at the right time of year. Water is most useful to plants as liquid and when air temperatures are high enough for photosynthesis. Plants (and animals) can’t use much of the precipitation that falls in the Central Highlands throughout the year because the water falls in torrents, as in the monsoon season of later summer, and washes through the landscape in erosive floods. Sometimes they can’t capitalize on precipitation because it falls as snow, when temperatures are too low for photosynthesis, too. Snow, however, proves to be the more valuable source of water for our region. That’s because it melts slowly from north-facing slopes, saturating soils and filling rivers slowly but continuously. Long after the lowlands are warm enough for plant growth, patches of snow remain in the mountain shadows, providing this precious, scarce resource. ***** Ty Fitzmorris is an itinerant and often distractible naturalist who lives in Prescott and runs the Peregrine Book Company and the Raven Café as a sideline to his natural history pursuits. He can be reached at Ty@PeregrineBookCompany.com.
High mountains • Black Bears give birth to young in their dens. • Mountain Chickadees move upslope as temperatures rise, scrutinizing trees for insect larvae. As other bird species migrate through the region, they find the chickadee flocks, and forage before moving on. Visit: Maverick Mountain Trail, No. 65.
• Foxes begin bearing cubs, but the young stay in dens for now. Visit: Trails No. 326 & No. 392, north of Thumb Butte.
Ponderosa Pine forests • Peregrine Falcons have paired off, and now establish nests on high cliff faces. Look for them flying singly near their nests. • House Finches form pairs and begin breeding and making nests. Visit: Granite Mountain.
Grasslands • Pronghorn young are able to walk and run adeptly, though they stay in the center of the herds or hide in tall grasses. • Harvester Ants become active and begin maintenance of their circular colonies, which are critical for soil oxygenation and seed dispersal. • Some flowers, such as fleabanes, appear. Visit: Mint Wash Trail, No. 345.
Pine-oak woodlands • Manzanitas begin flowering, and iridescent native mason bees (Osmia) begin visiting flowers.
Pinyon-juniper woodlands • Pregnant Badgers dig dens and line them with grasses in preparation for bearing young. • Junipers in full flower. Very few celebrate. Visit: Tin Trough Trail, No. 308.
Riparian areas • Creeks run strongly. • Aquatic-stage dragonflies and damselflies forage for insect larvae and prepare for metamorphosis into winged adults. • Waterfowl, such as Ruddy Ducks, Canvasbacks, Pintails and Shovelers, migrate north, leaving the Central Highlands lakes, where they’ve overwintered. Visit: Granite Creek Trail, downtown Prescott. Deserts/Chaparral • Flowering starts in force, led by Brittlebush (Encelia). • Some hummingbirds, including Black-chinned, Rufous, and Broad-tailed, return from southern overwintering. Anna’s Hummingbirds have remained through winter, but now move to higher elevations. Example: Lower west Spruce Trial, No. 264.
Average high temperature: 59.2 F, +/-4.54 Average low temperature: 28.45 F, +/-3.41 Record high temperature: 83 F, 2007 Record low temperature: 2 F, 1913 Average precipitation: 1.7”, +/-1.56” Record high March precipitation: 7.11”, 1918 Record low March precipitation: 0”, 1933, 1956, 1959, 1972, & 1997 Maximum precipitation in one day: 3.21”, 1938-03-03 Maximum March snowfall: 34.2”, 1973 Source: Western Regional Climate Center
March skies March 12 & 13 A newly discovered comet, Comet Pan-STARRS, is most visible in the evening sky. Look for it in the twilight with the brand new moon, to the west just after sunset. March 17 The waxing moon passes closely by Jupiter. Look overhead at sunset, or to the west near midnight, to see this rare sight.
IMAGE: Osmia lignaria, the local manzanita pollinator, often emerges in March; photo by Ty Fitzmorris.
5ENSESMAG.COM • 2013 MARCH • FEATURE • 13
Bloom & boom: The science of spring Spring
has sprung, or, rather, will spring in Prescott this month. Well, maybe. It all depends on your perspective. If you’re a devotee of the Gregorian calendar, spring starts with the vernal equinox, Wednesday, 2013-03-20, as the center of the sun passes over the equator. That’s the date there’s supposed to be equal day and night, although the curvature of the earth and atmospheric conditions favor solar supremacy. If you’re a meteorologist, spring starts Friday, 2013-03-01 — the first day of a three-month cycle. That’s also related to the Gregorian calendar, which has its roots in the Catholic Church. It appears all that smoke blowing contributes to more than just global warming. Speaking of warmth, days should start getting hotter, but more nighttime freezes can kill plants, which is why many wait to bloom. Whatever your affiliation, the inexorable march of spring signals the same things. Days are getting longer, animals are giving birth, rivers are flooding, and plants are budding. It’s a time for growth and rejuvenation. Like to add some o’ that springtime springiness to your step? Science has your covered. The following ideas draw on scientific data and studies. The technicalities have been omitted for the sake of readability (and entertainment), except where they haven’t been (for the sake of readability (and entertainment)). With a little ingenuity, you can put these tips, tricks and nuggets of qualified-truth to use in your own life. You experience the world through sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. Why not use those five senses to explore and exploit spring?
Smell Flowering plants and, um, flowers, smell nice, but they can also cause sneezing and runny and stuffy noses. Keep tabs on allergy season by checking out Google trends. Allergy symptoms and pollen types are being tracked by allergists via Google search data thanks to Dr. Leonard Bielory, who presented research using this data during the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology’s annual meeting in 2012. Is this a slippery sleuthing slope into “A Scanner Darkly” territory? Time will tell. Then again Google overestimated the 2013 flu peak by almost twofold. GIGO. If you stop and smell the flowers — the real, not-proverbial ones — you might notice they’re not as potent as they once were. But, in reality, your
Sight More sunlight means warmer air, and that warmer air triggers a gene in flowers called PIF4 that causes them to bloom, according to Norwich Research Park’s Johns Innes Center in a 2012 study in Nature. Warm weather means flowering plants, but it also means poisonous flowering plants. Keep your pets and livestock away from nascent locoweeds and milkweeds. Their roots spawn perennial crowns, they’re poisonous, and they’re sometimes an issue in Yavapai County, according to Jeff Schalau University of Arizona’s Cooperative Extension.
relative sense of smell might be compromised when it comes to flowers because of genetically modified varieties. In 2008, scientists at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University discovered how to enhance flower scents and add scents to unscented flowers. Their study, published in a 2008 issue of Plant Biotechnology Journal, details their patented method, which has the potential for wide commercial application. This kind of manipulation has been
14 • GUIDE • 2013 MARCH • 5ENSESMAG.COM
It’s going to be sunnier — if not in intensity, at least in duration — which can throw off your circadian rhythm. If you rise with the sun, you may have more daylight to enjoy, but be prepared to get groggier earlier than you did all winter. The body’s pressure to sleep causes significant inattentiveness just 10.5 hours after waking, according to a 2009 study in Science from Belgium’s Université de Liège. On the flip side, notes one of the researchers in a 2010 Live Science article, night owls face “sleep inertia” after late nights and less rest than their morning lark counterparts.
around since the advent of farming (or, rather, was the advent of farming), although it’s more sophisticated than ever before. Speaking of smell manipulation, you might not have to wait for the long-fabled smell-o-vision to wreak (and reek) havoc on your friends, loved ones, and not-so-loved ones. In 2012, the Japanese company Chaku Perfume announced an app and accessory that turns your iPhone into a smell factory. Look for it this fall. It’s probably going to cost about $62.25, assuming the exchange rate holds steady. Meanwhile, work on the smell-o-vision continues. Smell and cinema go way back, according to Wired’s John Brownlee, who tells of a 1916 incident in which a Pennsylvania theatre “deluged the audience of a Rose Bowl game in the scent of rose oil” in “A Brief History of the Smell-O-Vision.”
Sound Even if you can’t get outdoors, you can still reap the benefits of awakening nature inside your Hobbit hole. Nature sounds can help reduce physical pain. Granted, non-granola, scientific studies mostly focus on specific medical procedures. Nature sounds reduce blood pressure and anxiety and agitation levels in medical patients under mechanical ventilator support, according to research from m Iranian universities in a 2012 issue of the International Journal of Nursing Studies. Similarly, a combination of nature images and sounds can ease the pain of bone marrow extraction by as much as fivefold, according to John Hopkins University researchers in a
2010 issue of the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. In case you’re wondering, the reverse isn’t true; music doesn’t have an effect on nature, at least not as far as small, non-human primates are concerned. Tamarin monkeys — test subjects of a landmark 2009 study in Biology Letters by a University of Wisconsin-Madison psychologist and University of Maryland musician — don’t respond to human music. They do, however, respond to monkey music based on their own physiology, i.e. rhythms based on their heart rates and tones based on their vocalizations. Music appears to be species-specific.
Touch If you’re suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder, help is on the horizon, as long as you get outside. For SAD people, more sunlight on the skin means less melatonin production and more get-up-and-go, according to a National Institute of Mental Health study published in 2001 in Archives of General Psychiatry. If you’re not afflicted, more sun simply means more vitamin D, which increases calcium absorption. Most Americans have a Day Light Saving Time sunlight setback, but, here in Arizona, we get a reprieve. If you’re feeling randy about spring, don’t get caught up in a college stereotype gone wild: 30 years of data shows young adults don’t act much different during spring break than during any other typical weekend on campus. The Penn State study appears in a 2013 issue of Tourism Review International. One glaring caveat: The research is largely based on self-reported data. Another glaring caveat: your definition of a typical campus weekend.
Taste Once overnight freezing stops, it’s the perfect time to enjoy early crops or plant some of your own. One lowmaintenance vegetable that falls into both categories is asparagus. You can easily plant seeds or crowns in your own backyard garden. Not keen on the taste? There’s a practical reason
to acquire a taste for asparagus: A 2009 study in Journal of Food Science by researchers from South Korea’s Institute of Medical Science and Jeju National University shows the amino acids and minerals in it may protect the liver and help alleviate the ever-dreaded alcohol hangover.
IMAGES, FROM TOP, COUNTER CLOCKWISE, OPPOSITE PAGE: “Land of Heaven Astronomical Travel to Other Worlds and Description of Current Conditions of Life on the Different Planets of the Solar System,” French illustration, 1884; illustration from “Various Styles of Gardens, Large and Small Models, Residences on the Decorative Art of Gardens,” by Marcel Fouquier, 1911; “Vertumnus, a Portrait of Today,” by Giuseppe Arcimboldo, 1590-91; all images public domain, manipulated. 15
Prescott Astronomy Club Presents:
Astronomy 101: The sky’s the limit By Wyatt Frazee
When
I was 15, my family moved from Riverside, Calif., to Chino Valley. The first time I looked skyward, I was blown away. What was that funny-looking cloud? Turns out it was the Milky Way. I’ve always had a fascination with the night sky. It wasn’t until recently that I decided to make my curiosity into a hobby. I joined the Prescott Astronomy Club and bought a telescope. It’s pretty easy to get started in astronomy. The first, obvious way is to go outside, find somewhere dark, and look up. With Prescott’s altitude, dry climate, and modest light pollution, there’s a lot to see with just the naked eye. Curious what constellations you’re seeing? The single paid app on my phone is “Star Chart” by Feel Great Publishing Limited. You just point your phone toward the sky, and it tells you what you’re looking at. And there are many more like it. They’re great tools for learning some of the constellations and other bright objects in the sky. It also has a wealth of information about certain
objects and a huge catalog of items to be observed. The next step after naked-eye observing is looking through binoculars. I have a pair of Nikon 7x40 that do a wonderful job of bringing the Orion Nebulae, the Andromeda Galaxy and a few star clusters into focus. They also work really well for scanning the Milk Way and the rest of the night sky. I’ve surprised myself so many times just by scanning the sky. Many astronomers prefer 10x50 binoculars, which give you a little more magnification and a little more light-gathering ability. You can usually get a decent pair of binoculars from a store or online for less than $100.
What
if you’ve made it this far, but aren’t satisfied? A telescope may be just the ticket. The sky is quite literally the limit when it comes to telescopes. You can spend $100 or $100,000 if you want. I have a fairly modest 5-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain. If you have no idea what that is, don’t worry: most people don’t. One of the best ways to get familiar with telescopes is to go to a star party. The Prescott
Astronomy Club hosts one somewhere nearby every month or two. A star party is basically a gathering of local amateur astronomers and their telescopes. Everybody at these events is eager to show you their telescope — who doesn’t like to show off their toys? Check out PrescottAstronomyClub. Org for upcoming events.
There
are many ways to get started in astronomy, and different people have different opinions about it. Does it matter how you get started, though? Not really. Just enjoy yourself. Hopefully this has been helpful. Clear skies, my friends. ***** Wyatt Frazee is manager at Think4Inc, a science student at Yavapai College, and a hopeful future science teacher.
TOP: A mosaic view of the dark, dusty heart of Sagittarius, within the Milky Way galaxy, 2009-12-11; image by European Souther Observatory/Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy. BOTTOM: “Herschel’s Great Telescope” illustration, 1814; iPhone illustration; composite image by 5enses. 16 • FEATURE • 2013 MARCH • 5ENSESMAG.COM
On the Origin of Toaster Ovens by Means of Artificial Selection By Gene Twaronite
Of
the millions of organisms estimated to be alive today, most occur in the tropics. In describing this diversity, biologists often use such words as “staggering,” “incredible,” and “outta sight!” I wonder, though, how many of them have ever ventured alone into the urban jungle to purchase a new toaster oven. Within the world’s city centers can be found another kind of diversity — a diversity composed not of exotic orchids and tree frogs but of people and their artifacts, and the complex, interrelated systems of structures and urban spaces where we go to buy such artifacts. These systems — otherwise known as malls or shopping centers — present a dizzying array of products and services and are as diverse in their own way as any tropical rainforest. So, needing to buy a new toaster oven one day, off to the mall I went. Simple enough, but for someone who has not bought a new toaster oven in decades, it was a daunting task. Just choosing a store took the better part of the morning. Sears, Wal-Mart, Target, Filene’s, JC Penney, Best Buy, Home Depot, Nordstrom’s, and scores more: None gave the slightest clue as to where the best toaster oven might be. Finally, I managed to locate a store having a good selection of models and prices — or rather, a “staggering” selection. Indeed, one whole wall of the store was given over to various toaster ovens in every possible size, shape, and price. It was then that I began thinking about toaster ovens in Darwinian terms.
I
must have stood there in the aisle for a full hour, staring in wonder at this assemblage of toaster ovens. So, this is what the forces of a free market system have bestowed upon us. I suppose I should feel thankful. In other, less-fortunate parts of the world, I would be standing in line for weeks or would be playing the black market for one of those coveted American models. But here was the opposite side of the coin. How exactly does one choose?
All I wanted was your basic, every day, dependable, and of course cheap toaster oven. Yet, even though there was a considerable range in price, most of the models on display were, on closer inspection, remarkably similar in outward appearance and purported function. And just as “nature is prodigal in variety, though niggard in innovation” (Darwin, “The Origin of Species”), so, too, did there seem to be little real change here evident since the last toaster oven I had purchased. Oh sure, there was this or that gizmo, or some new kind of coating, but all were just slight variations on a theme, displaying fewer real differences among them than did Darwin’s Galapagos finches.
I
reflected a while about the mechanism at work that must have produced these variations, slight as they were. Gradually, I came to the conclusion that each toaster oven is not independently created (as was commonly thought by most scientists, just a few generations ago), but is the end result of countless artificial selections made, over what seems like eons, by bewildered consumers like me. During this long evolutionary period of trial and error, there must have existed thousands, or even millions, of intermediate toaster oven types on the road to these more successful models. Perhaps they will be uncovered some day in the trash record of our past. These selections are artificial because they are based not on any significant morphological differences in the ovens, but on the shiny contrivances of the merchandiser’s magic. A new knob here, a new temperature setting there and — Voila! — a “new variety” is born. And for only $59.95. Darwin forgive me, but I see a slow, inexorable “descent of man” in all this, at least in our dignity.
The Absurd Naturalist
Resisting the wave of maniacal laughter that rose within me, I shrugged and replied, “Because this is the brand I bought last time.” © Gene Twaronite
Gene Twaronite’s writing has appeared in numerous literary journals and magazines. He is the author of “The Family That Wasn’t,” “My Vacation in Hell,” and “Dragon Daily News.” Follow Gene at TheTwaroniteZone.Com.
*****
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As
for my own dignity, it suffered a descent of its own as I stood at the checkout counter with the model I had finally chosen. The woman behind me, having undergone the same ordeal, asked me how I had managed to choose from all those models, and why I had chosen my brand as opposed to hers.
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18 • FEATURE • 2013 MARCH • 5ENSESMAG.COM
www.buckeyawards.blogspot.com
Saturday, March 9th, 7pm Prescott Center for the Arts
Come on and celebrate the outstanding artists, performers and arts supporters of Yavapai County
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The Peregrine is Prescott’s largest locally owned bookstore. We are located (physically) at 219A North Cortez, and (digitally) at www.PeregrineBookCompany.com. Swing by, one way or the other! Phenomenal Books – New & Used Such Types As: SciFi, Gardening, Field Guides, Travel, Painting, History, Literature, Poetry, Comics, Books for Teens, Young-uns, and Littles. There are even Books on Dragons, Wolves, & Happiness. And a lot more besides.
Events of all kinds Author Talks & Signings, Book Clubs, Workshops, Children’s Storytime, Panel Discussions with local and regional experts, Open Mic Poetry, and (again) much more!
3/7 Bill Neely
Dustbowl Revival: March 8
3/23 Once Upon A Wish
3/23 Issa
3/2 Killling the Poormaster
Lance Canales & The Flood: March 16
Silver Thread Trio with Dylan Ludwig: March 29
3/9 Michaela Carter
3/20 Open Mic Poetry
3/24 9 Squares
More information at www.PeregrineBookCompany.com
THANKS FOR READINGS 5ENSES • VISIT US ONLINE @ 5ENSESMAG.COM