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Terry Larson has been working as a driver for Ashland Sanitary for the last 18 years and had the same route for the last 12 years. He drove by my house last week and I was able to catch a quick chat with him as well as stick a magnet on the back of his truck. He had a great quote which I will try to capture which was this: "When I leave my house in the morning I realize the only way I am going to screw up my day is if I do it to myself so I make sure to leave with a good attitude." The job lets me work outside and gives me plenty of time to think. I'm not in a rush and i have a good time. Terry also enjoys snow mobiling and he coaches a local womens softball team. DeCarlo Homes. Editor: Best Treasure Found? Terry:Bikes, Tv's Radios, You name it. I've gotten bikes for my kids in all different sizes. 
Notice the Magnet  As a side note: I know many of you may know or recognize Terry because I have heard some really good stories about him. He sure made my A-list when we forgot to put out or trash cans the night before and he walked up to our house and took them out for us! .. No Joke.. That was really cool of him and probably something you can only get in a small town like Ashland.
Get One If You Can LocalsGuide Magnets Now Available! (If you find one out and about send in a photo)
 
 
Often times when you need a sign or magnet made you have two options:
1. Silk Screen
2. Decal Lettering
Both of these options can get very pricey unless you buy in bulk. Most folks only every need 1-10 signs so here is a better solution which may work for you.
We designed a full color sign on the computer and then had it printed as a full color laser print. We then took this print and laminated it. Once you have the print laminated its ready to be glued to your sign or magnet. It works really well, the quality is great because you get the full color option at a great price
Materials Needed
• Spray Glue (Must Stick To Metal) • Rubber Gloves • Laminated Laser Prints (Both Sides Laminated)
• Metal Sign • Scissors (For Trimming)     
About a two weeks ago I headed into Talent to scout out the territory of the quickly expanding LocalsGuide publication. I ended up meeting with some really nice people including Ian Bagshaw (brother of Sean Bagshaw who provided the Guanajuato photographs for the first LocalsGuide November issue). 
Ian is the owner of The Flywheel Bicycle Shop. Talent's only and best bike shop as he likes to say. It's in a perfect location right on the main street of talent and next to the Talent Cafe. The shop has a nice bike shop feel, and though small has all the supplies you could ever need for fixing or upgrading your bike. You can also see many of Sean's amazing outdoor photographs along with custom frames made by local bike frame maker DeSalvo. 
Ian and I talked about how Talent really is the hub of alot of interesting bike activity, and how riders from the north end and south end of the valley converge on Talent as either a starting point or meeting point of bike riding. In specific Ian talked to me about some cool rides for both mountain bike or road bike that go from Talent up over the mountains towards the Applegate area. Talent is really a cool little community right next to Ashland and though often over looked I am going to make sure that LocalsGuide keeps the spotlight it. So, next time you are riding your bike through Talent, stop in and say hi to Ian!
Ok, Now for some more pictures of the bike shop. 
  
Click Here To View The Video of Fro riding across the rail of Lithia Park Bridge. Filmed Today 12.09.06 -----------------> The unicycle's history began with the invention of the bicycle. Comte De Sivracwas said to have first developed bicycles during the late eighteenth century. His device, called a célérifère, was a wooden horse that had two wheels joined by a wooden beam. However, this 'invention' was actually a hoax created by a French historian just after the French defeat in 1870 (the truth remained hidden until the second half of the twentieth century). Germany’s Baron von Drais really created the design: a wooden horse that had two wheels joined by a wooden beam and a steering mechanism, and introduced his Draisienne or Hobby Horse in 1818. Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a Scottish blacksmith, added cranks and pedals to the front wheel in 1839, and called it the Velocipede. The first mass-produced riding machine, the Michaux Velocipede, was designed in 1863. In 1866, James Stanley invented a unique bicycle called the Penny Farthing with a very large front wheel and a small rear wheel. It is this vehicle that is thought to be the inspiration for the unicycle. One theory of the advent of the unicycle is based on the popularity of the Penny Farthing during the late nineteenth century. Since its pedal cranks were connected directly to the front axle, the rear wheel would go up in the air and the rider would be moved slightly forward. This likely prompted riders to see how long they could ride with the back wheel in the air and the unicycle was born. Evidence for this theory of development can be found in pictures from the late nineteenth century that show unicycles with large wheels. Since the unicycle requires a greater degree of skill to ride than a bicycle, many people that could ride them became entertainers. Over the years, unicycle enthusiasts have inspired manufacturers to create new designs such as seatless (the ultimate wheel) and tall (giraffe unicycle) unicycles. During the late 1980s some extreme sportsmen took an interest in the unicycle and off-road unicycling (MUni) was born. Today, the unicycle remains a relatively obscure vehicle; however there are more people riding unicycles now than ever before. -From Wikapedia.com 
 Red Rides the Rail!
 Fro about to leap on the rock.
 On the Rock!
This was an email submission which just came in from Sergeant Barrett Smith in Afhhanistan. The Southern Oregon representatives deployed with the 41st Brigade Combat Team are rolling on, providing security for the Combat team in many different areas of Afghanistan. Our train up finished up in May, at Camp Shelby Mississippi, and by the middle of June we were all either on our way or in Afghanistan to endeavor upon our year long mission here. There were many different positions that we stepped into, too many to list you might say. However the one thing that has held true, the Soldiers of A 1-186 improved the security posture immediately.
The people of Afghanistan, have been a pleasant surprise, in that they are very anxious to do whatever it takes to get their country on its' feet and reduce or eliminate the need for US forces to be here as much and as soon as possible. The down side however is that this country has all but been destroyed over the last thirty years either through occupation or civil war among their own tribes. The sewage system here is non existent, the electricity is going back up piece by piece and the infrastructure that remains, has a long way to go in order to become stable and gain the trust of the people.
Through the use of interpreters and the ability to communicate with a growing number of people who have learned to speak English, the soldiers of A Co are doing their part to help piece things back together here. The nice thing about utilizing citizen soldiers is that we can relate to the feelings of the locals and their desire to move on with their lives. There have been no incidents of abuse of our power as armed soldiers in dealing with the locals, and that can largely be attributed to our ability to ask ourselves, would we like to be treated this way? One of the jobs of Company A 1-186 is securing local MEDCAPS. This entails setting up medical areas and allowing the locals to come and receive medical treatment that would otherwise be unavailable to them. At times these are very hectic however and the one thing makes the worthwhile to the soldiers is to see how many people can be helped in a relatively short amount of time. The most recent round was a three day event in which over 3500 patients were seen to. There are many things that we are working at in order to help these people, but the med caps seem to offer the most immediate effect.
Patrolling the areas around our Forward Observation Bases, The soldiers of Alpha are also able to assist in finding out what people need, who is good and who is bad, rumors of troubles, and the positive things that have occurred or that are coming. Not every citizen here is absolutely happy with what is transpiring in their country, but the more we interact with them the more citizens see we are here trying to do right by their country. The religious differences in this country are probably the largest obstacle yet to be overcome completely. Although Muslims and Christians have many views in common, the differences are glaring within the societal structure so there has to be some concession on our part as the faith of these people has really been the only thing they have been able to truly count on over the last thirty years. As with anything you have been able to depend on your entire life, these people are not easily swayed from their societal norms and patterns, as Islam has been their life line for many generations.
Education lies at the heart of establishing a free nation capable of sustaining itself here. Most of the children now have the opportunity to go to school here now where once only the privileged few were able to pursue learning. Moving from mud huts and connexes, these people are now able to see the prospect of stepping out of the third world status they were in, to a land of prosperity calling upon the natural resources of the land to create a future. Many nations are assisting in Operation Enduring Freedom, but it seems they are all looking to America to carry this mission out to the ultimate goal to establish a nation here that stands to secure her own borders and develop her own means of commerce and international trade. All of this will require the people here to educate themselves in the ways of the world and to actively pursue a better future for their selves.
So far there have been many challenges, and the soldiers of A-1-186 have been there to meet them all. Ultimately, the goal of these soldiers is to continue to do our jobs well, while helping the people of Afghanistan to improve their situation and leave Afghanistan a better place than when we arrived here in June. This will make all of our sacrifices and those sacrifices that our families have made for us back home, worthwhile and the soldiers of A-1-186 will be able to return home proud of yet another job well done.
Sergeant Barrett Smith
Co A 1-186th IN SECFOR
 
Many of you will remember hearing about or attending this summer’s Chi Healing Spiral. This was North America’s first ever spiral. This event was led by Master Mingtong Gu of Ashland’s Chi Healing Center.
I spent an evening with Master Gu in reflective discussion. Here is an account of some of our conversation. I think you’ll find this story interesting, and in the next issue, I promise to include more illustrations and notes of our discussion.
Mingtong Gu was born to a family of farmers in a small village in China, a village so small that its only significant reference point is a nearby historic landmark.
Mingtong Gu grew up in this rural location with a great exposure to the natural world and its beauty. As the cultural revolution occurred, educated teachers ventured into more rural areas of China, spreading education and ideas of a larger world. Mingtong was thus given the opportunity to attend high school and was eventually able to go to college. He was the first person in his family to do either. He entered college studying mathematics. While there, he was given another opportunity to travel with his professor to the United States to continue his studies.
When he arrived, Mingtong relates, despite the vast cultural differences he automatically felt at home. With an appetite to explore, Mingtong began his journey of healing and self-exploration that led him from UCSD to Harvard to Ohio State. His studies in mathematics eventually shifted into the fine arts. He was also introduced to the practice of Qigong, a practice which would complete the circle for Mingtong, taking him into a level of mastery and connection to his cultural past while rooted in the Western World.
Now located in Ashland, Master Gu has founded the Chi Healing Center. Why Ashland? Mingtong says Ashland has a good energy. That energy naturally pours out of the ground and is contained by the mountains. Ashland is a natural “Chi Pot.” We both laughed at that concept, so I thought I would create this illustration.
Next issue, we’ll pick up part two of this interesting interview.
Wow! snow in Ashland today!. I just got back from two weeks in Tulum Mexico. Here's my travel overview part 1. If you are looking for a nice escape from the cold weather you might want to consider Tulum, Mexico. Located in the Yucatan Peninsula, you will find white sand beaches with dense jungle and unique wildlife. If you catch a flight into Cancun, you can then easily catch a bus for around $8 to Tulum. Getting from the airport to the bus station is a bit of a hassel.. we ended up paying about $18 for a shuttle into the town center. A taxie was around $40 and you are kinda at the mercy of the lack of availability... but once you are in town its a differnt story.  We stayed over night at a simple hotel called Hotel Colonial. It cost $35 with air conditioning and $30 without. It's clean and pretty quite. I would recommend it as an inexpensive place to stay in Cancun. You can see it here: HotelColonialCancun.com The photo above of the fountain is at the hotel. This was the best looking part of the hotel but it works! The first class bus is probably the best and easiest way to travel. What better than to kick back and watch a good Kung Fu Movie... yeah they play movies on the bus!
 Tulum is about the size of Talent, and has a central strip of tourist spots and restaurants. However if you want to rent a bike and ride around you can really get to some interesting areas in the town.
We stayed at a little house my wife rented on the internet which cost us around $60 a night. Unfortunately it was right next to a disco so we it was very noisy but other than that it was nice to have a kitchen to cook in and a bit more space to stretch out. We did find some really prime and affordable hotels around the beach, specifically Cabanas Tulum was decent enough to have a front seat at a reasonable cost... plus warm shower water. Cost was actually $50 a night. The actual town is not on the beach so you have to take a taxie out to the beach strip. The average cost is $4 each way. We went to the fisherman's beach a few times. This was a really mellow place to take kids, small waves and of course clear blue water with white sand. Now my favorite hotel was this Italian hotel / Restaurant called Nero di Sole!! These guys deserve an award for cleanliness as well as making the best seafood lasagna I have ever had. This place was a deal for $40 a night and that even included the toilet seat on the toilet. No Joke! Just make sure you wash your hands alot and take it all in stride. A really fun thing to do is to go snorkling. We rented a boat and went out to the reef. The water is about 9-12 feet deep and once you are out there it is absolutely amazing. The cost was around $30 but you could probably just buy yourself a little $5 raft and float out there. The reef is only about 50 feet out in some areas. Fish abound, as well as large undwater coral formations, plants and more. Anyhow if you are thinking you may want to go to Tulum, send me an email and I would be happy to share more with you. It's easy and fun... DO IT!
This evening I went to the Lithia Artisans Market Christmas faire and I have to say.. that I feel a very warm feeling when I go there. To do something simply for the sake of self expression has to be one of the greatest things to witness and be in the presence of... and I see this occurring everytime I visit with the Artisans.
Beyond, lifestyle, and pure skill is a deep love for self expression. I get such a huge smile inside me when I think about this because so much of how I have created what I have done today has been based in the roots of working and building style within a community that supported this type of expression.
For example, When I was doing the market about 6 years ago myself selling greeting cards and journals it was the ultimate experiement of just being available and real to the moment.
Idea after idea I would think up and then I would go out and test it. Did people like, how would they react to it. What would they say? And needless to say its a fine tunning process that all of the artisans move thru in building their craft. Some days were very good, many were minimal.. but we always came back to do it again and again.. and one of the main reasons more than anything would probably be the mere companionship of the other artisans.
anyhow... what a great pleasure it is for me always to get to see so much creativity.
Then I cruised over to the coop.. I always get very lonely feeling right around the Umpqua bank and armory as if someone has been lost and waiting to get home for a long time....Any one else ever sence this?
Inside the Coop for a quick drink and then outside to meet Justin who was moon gazing in the middle of the walk way. I should have his picture up later today.
Thats it for now.
I got back into Medford last night around 5:00pm after a quick flight from San Fran. One thing that continues to amaze me is just how damn small this planet really is and just how quickly ideas let alone people can travel.
On the plane flying into Medford there were people coming from all around the country and the world. One guy had just flown in from Taipei, another couple from Key West Fl, Myself from Cancun, another woman from Georgia, Denver etc. etc.
What is Local? That is the question isn't it.
We have created the idea that local is simply defined by our relationship to space, but what if there is no such thing as space?
hmmm.. thats an idea now.
So Today I have been getting things very organized to pull off the master symphony of building the next issue of LocalsGuide in one week.
Its all a matter of following the beat, swimming with the current and knowing when to rest. This next issue will be very different as I will be documenting much of the process of its creation for greater deployment and emulation.
Plans are currently being created to launch an east coast version of LocalsGuide towards the first quarter of 2006 and it will depend heavily on a system to support. --- onwards
We had decided that today would be the day we hit the beach early.... well we kinda slept in and that turned out to be just fine. It was very over cast but still just perfect for swimming in the ocean. I think one of the best aspects of swimming for me is that I feel completely relieved of thinking of anything else except swimming. Eliah and I had purchased a little floaty and for a kid who can´t swim he sure enjoyed floating all around and surfing in on the waves.. that was really amazing to watch. To be so happy and capable of expressing it is an amazing thing. I forgot to mention yesterday we went to swimming in the Cenotes... These are fresh water lakes in the jungle which have undwater caves. We just did some swimming and snorkling but were still treated to some interesting small fish... oh yeah and an attack of about 200 mosquito bites for myself. Back to the beach....I could swim all day long, and for days on end. I think I must have been a dolphin in my last life, cause its just a natural fit for me. If Oregon had warm water beaches it would be by far the best state to live in the country...but even without its still my favorite. It started to get a bit cooler and that meant, stay in the water... then the wind picked up around 12:00 and then the rain started to come in. We packed it up and went over to the Don Cafetos for a little lunch. After about an hour or so a taxie showed up and then we hopped in it to get back to town. Once we got back to the house we were really tired... Eliah hasn´t napped in about a year but today he konked right out and we were all treated to a nice 2 hour nap. Night life here is pretty happening and we strolled the town tonight, having a nice little meal for around $16. Sarah got a shrimp soup, Eliah had a Chicken soup and I had some sort of beef stew. This was probably some of the best food we have had so far. If you want to hear some really intersting stories, the cab drivers have got tons to tell you... and the interesting thing is you never know until you ask.. ok more details coming soon. - Shields
Well... we made it to Tulum, Mexico and it was sure worth the trip. The weather is great and the beach is wonderful. Our house that we rented just happens to be right next to the most happening night spot in Tulum.. so I will be well versed in the Mexican top 40 upon my return. Tomorrow we hit the beach for an early morning swim and will also be building sand castles. More Updates coming soon.. got to run before I have to pay the internet guy an arm and a leg here. - Shields
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