Denver Images & Impressions

Here's one way that Denver is different, beside the well-know fact that this Colorado city is a mile high. When you look down streets, facing westward, you just might catch a glimpse of the Rockies in the distance.
Downtown Denver has a pedestrian shopping mall, 16th Street, that was very pleasant to wander along at night--great people watching! Here's the view down 16th Street late at night. I found most of the people I met in Denver to be very cheerful and helpful. This is always nice to encounter when traveling.

My time at the NANPA summit was enjoyable--lots of photographer friends I had not seen in a while. On Wednesday night I ventured out for dinner with a flock of photogs, including Marie Read, Richard & Susan Day of Daybreak Imagery, and Connie Toops. I should point out that this is not the Susan Day (Dey) that starred on The Partridge Family. This is Illinois Susan Day, who, in my opinion, is much more talented....We enjoyed a yummy, laff-filled dinner on Wednesday night. Funny, I was the only one toting along a camera.

Leaving Denver today, at the airport, the US Airways agent that helped me was happy and seemed to be unaffected by the horribly rude, impatient, and too-tan-for-their-own-good departing ski tourists. I actually had to say to one angry older man (who could have smuggled a six-pack of Coors in his nose hair) that I though he needed to calm down. I've been late for a flight before, and very upset at the glacial pace at which things move when you are impatient to get going, but, having waited tables and worked in retail, I know what it's like to be treated poorly by a customer, so I just don't ever go there. On the other hand, I won't tolerate being treated poorly by a customer service person, either. But there's no need to yell and scream. That'll just get you a security guard on each elbow. The worst thing I'll say to someone is: "You seem to be really having a bad day. I know I'm not the cause of it, but maybe I should talk to someone else." This usually gets a dumbstruck look, then a half smile, and often, an apology. But it always gets a change in attitude.

While I am pet-peeving...why is it that there's free wireless access at every Motel 5-1/2 in the country but the Hyatt Regency, where you pay $200 a night, hits you up for another $10 a day to get online?

Heading to Lost Wages, Nevada now. Sitting in the Denver airport, where there is NOT free wireless access. What is wrong with these airports and hotels? Shouldn't free wirelss Internet access be an inalienable right?

How to Find Me in Denver

If you are an aspiring nature photographer at the NANPA Summit in Denver, here are three great suggestions for how to find me (in the event that you are interested in finding me, that is).

1. Look for the handy (and attention-grabbing) table-top signage at my review table.

2. Read all name tags until you see this one, heavily adorned with status-shouting event participation ribbons that are actually just pieces of flair.
3. Find a huge glass building with a giant blue bear staring in the window.

Bird Flu

A BBC story today describes the recent discovery in Africa of the first case of bird flu in poultry. Though it has not been proven, some scientists are hypothesizing that migratory birds may be vectors in spreading the disease.
Nearly all the birds affected have been domestic fowl--chickens and geese. Through early February, nearly 150 human cases have been diagnosed, and more than 70 humans (primarily in East Asia) have died from the human strain of bird flu, known as H5N1. Nearly all of these deaths involved people who were in close proximity to poultry.

Here is an excellent compilation of articles and information about bird flu on the BBC web site, including an informative Q&A section.

On the World Health Organization web site you can see the worldwide compilation of all bird flu cases.