OCCUPY USA 2011

I am a bit late as a blogger to repeat or dissect the going-ons of Occupy Wall Street and the myriad communities that have jumped aboard the protest. My first reaction was, "Right on!" But, here we are months later and there are so many people who haven't heard or are ignoring the movement. Why? This is important info as all of us suffer through the slings and arrows of the current economy.

For me, I am concerned as a business owner and as a citizen of the USA. How did we get so low? Who did this to us? Why did it happen after years of economic stability? Was it an expensive war? Or just the stupidity of our government?

Naw. None of it matters at this point. None of it. We have such serious concerns in our nation now. What do we tell the people who worked all their lives, who saved exactly as they should, who invested in stable markets and never lived the high life? They have lost their homes, their money, and their position in a middle class society and community.

And, you wonder why so many Americans are supporting the youthful brigade? They support them because we are all in this terrible circumstance. There is no one immune except for the 1% uber wealthy... and guess what? Even some of those folks are desperate to get rid of the baggage and the title of "uber rich" so that they can just look at themselves in the bathroom mirror in the morning.

Now, I am starting to rant... again. This is an emotional issue for someone like me who watched as a little kid the shenanigans of the youthful brigades in the early 70's when Vietnam was on the horizon. I remember later reading about Kent State where the National Guard literally gunned down innocent students protesting at their campus. The video can be found on youtube and it is horrifying.

Is this what will change the mind of our leaders? "Tin soldiers and Nixon's coming; 4 dead in Ohio..."

Four dead in Ohio.

Wikipedia on Kent State Shootings : "At this point, at 12:24 p.m., according to eyewitnesses, a Sgt. Myron Pryor turned and began firing at the students with his .45 pistol. A number of guardsmen nearest the students also turned and fired their M1 Garand rifles at the students. In all, 29 of the 77 guardsmen claimed to have fired their weapons, using a final total of 67 rounds of ammunition. The shooting was determined to have lasted only 13 seconds, although John Kifner reported in the New York Times that 'it appeared to go on, as a solid volley, for perhaps a full minute or a little longer.' The question of why the shots were fired remains widely debated."

Rants from WET office staff belong to this California Whitewater Rafting blog for WET River Trips.

Many thanks to the folks at Wikipedia for sharing the little blurb above.

The Great Valley - Splendor in the Grass

When California is mentioned, the ocean, beaches and surfing are always a highlight of the conversation along with
the beach communities of Malibu. Los Angeles and the glitzy glamour of Rodeo Drive, Hollywood, Getty Museum and music at every club and lounge in that area are something to brag about when talking about the pros of California.

Then there is California's most famous city, San Francisco. Hippies on Haight Street, Golden Gate Bridge, the beautiful bay where whales, dolphins still visit the urban population reminding San Franciscans of the closeness of nature to the City by the Bay. Picturesque Victorian homes dot the hillsides in walking distance to world-class restaurants and culture. An artist and musician's paradise of golden inspiration at every corner of the city. Photographers can spend a lifetime here capturing images unique only to San Francisco.

And, California brags about their mountains. Spectacular Sierra Nevada with Lake Tahoe bordering both California and it's next door neighbor Nevada. Rivers and waterfalls flowing everywhere in the spring where the runoff from the snow brings a sense of urgency to California. Possibilities of whitewater rafting and flooding are paramount in everyone's mind during this time. And, the photo opportunities are legendary as photographers line up to visit Yosemite and other mountainous areas. The Sierras are legendary and draw recreationists, adventurers and explorers from all over the world.

California is my home. I would not live anyplace, but California. But, I want to talk about an area that Californians rarely brag about... and it is unfortunate, because it is one of the most spectacular places in the world.

The Nature Conservancy - Consumnes River, California

The Great Valley. California. The bread basket of the world. Soil that can grow anything. An expanse so huge, that it takes a lonely drive up Hwy 5 to really appreciate the place. Like John Steinbeck and Joan Didion, I have found the beauty and sadness here, too.

I had an errand to run, and I had to meet a friend in Lodi. Remember that old Creedence Clearwater song? "Stuck in Lodi" was a vision of hot, dusty agricultural gloom signaling a valley town that did not warrant a visit. Well, the place was vibrant with grape vines and cherry trees. Vineyard country with world-class wines and wineries and restaurants that support the agriculture there. We had an incredible lunch together at a local restaurant.

The Great Valley at sunset by Stephen L.

As I drove home the next morning, the sky was a swirl of blue and huge pink, gray, white and bluish clouds were filling the skies space. Massive clouds filled with rain and snow moving across the sky like a heavenly dream. The width of the valley was so apparent. Flat and wide, the valley's structure was quite apparent. A huge valley surrounded by mountains. So huge, that you could see the curvature of the earth when you scanned the sky with your eyes.

I almost got vertigo driving and staring at the huge expanse of sky. Birds flew past the clouds, moving and darting among the wind and then landing along the freeway in the wetlands filled with nutritious food of algae, bugs and critters in the water. I saw egrets... snowy white egrets walking in the water right near the freeway. Picturesque, old barns and

landscape dotted with cows were as painterly as the landscapes that you would see at Crocker Art Museum's collection of old California art.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I spotted Mt Diablo in the distance. What an incredible perfect structure in the flatness of The Great Valley. You could see the coastal mountains off in the distance. The lush green pastures of the farmland and the swirl of the wild mustard coloring everything with a chrome yellow. Old Oak trees at least 100 years old or more were leafing out making each tree look as if puffs of sage-colored smoke were clinging to the end of their branches.

I could imagine wild herds of animals thundering through the flat expanse looking for water in the wetlands before civilization started building cities and suburbs in the valley. Indigenous people hunting the animals and praying to their gods for their skillful capture of fish, animal and birds in the valley. Even then, the valley gave the populations food fit for kings.

The Great Valley is beautiful. It is as spectacularly beautiful as any other place in California. I opened my car windows and sang

along with the radio. I had a smile on my face as I realized how incredibly lucky and privileged I am for living in this state. California has more than just beaches... it is a godly place of incredible beauty. Please respect this place and please help to preserve the natural places as best we can. Even the valley... wonderous... The Great Valley.


The Great Valley resources:

Golden Gate Bridge : http://www.goldengatebridge.org/visitors/

Sierra Nevada : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Nevada_%28U.S.%29

Getty Museum : http://www.getty.edu/museum/about.html

The Nature Conservancy : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbaJHeJ9j6o

California Writing Project's "Great Valley Writing Project" : http://www.californiawritingproject.org/In_The_News/index.html

John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, CA : http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1962/steinbeck-bio.html

Joan Didion was born in Sacramento, CA : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Didion

World Wildlife : http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/na/na0801_full.html

Fresno, CA - The Bread Basket of the Nation : http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/fresno-california-the-bread-basket-of-the-nation-1636814.html

Crocker Art Museum's California Art : http://www.crockerartmuseum.org/art/permanent-collection/california-art

Sacramento Art & Events : http://www.sacramento365.com/


Photo: Off the side of one of the WET River Trips vehicles in California.


This rafting blog and photos belong to W.E.T. River Trips; all contents are reserved.

Thanks to Stephen for his awesome pics and photos of the sandhill cranes.

Thanks to Great Valley for video and links!

California Rafting - 2012

WET River Trips has just finished their 2011 rafting season. What a long season we had, too! We started on the first Friday in March and kept going until last weekend. Geesh, what a year!


Learn how to guide the river in 2012 with W.E.T. River Trips! "Saving a Person in the River"

Here is the upcoming schedule for W.E.T. for this winter:

• Discounts and promotions for 2012 - this week
• Spring rafting - reservations are being taken now
• Guide school - March through June 2012 (only 12 people per session)
• Marketing our trips
  

Oh my! We do have a rather busy schedule...

Discounts are available and we will allow anyone to reserve on the 2011 pricing as long as they call/email us prior to end of this year. (You don't have to schedule your trip yet; but we advise contacting us about 2012 rafting trips prior to the end of the year if you want the 2011 rates!) That means our old customers and guests will get the best rates! Wooo!

Spring rafting will take place starting March 2, 2012 on Friday. Class 4+ North Fork American is usually flowing by then. Guide school program starts on the same day, March 2, 2012. The classes will go on through June or until newbies stop calling for the guide school information. Six (6) days of instruction or you can do the course in three (3) consecutive weekends.

Guide school is a fun, educational course for wannabe, newbie guides. We provide professional guide school information and execution for every student in our course. Most end up being professional guides for W.E.T. and our other associates.

Marketing continues as we sludge through all the media available to W.E.T. including social media. Yes, WET River Trips is on facebook, twitter, youtube, flickr and so many others that most of us are focusing on the day when all platforms are integrated!

Well... it's been a looooong time on the river for WET River Trips in California... and we look forward towards 2012!


Summer rafting fun with WET River Trips in California's South Fork American

Visit us here: http://www.raftwet.com
Like us here: http://facebook.com/wetrivertrips
Follow us here: http://twitter.com/wetrivertrips
Buy now!: http://raftwet-store.com

All photos and content are property of W.E.T. River Trips for this California Whitewater Rafting W.E.T. River Trips rafting blog.

SPAMMER, SCAMMER and CON-MEN

Greed. The holidays are coming and, wow, does it bring out the worst sometimes! Anyone else getting the emails? You know which ones I am talking about, don't you?

So far, I have won the following:

• 1 million dollars
• 2 million dollars
• $520,000.00
• an island
• an abandoned bank account
• a possible lottery
• an inheritance

The lottery wins are amusing. How in the world did I register for that lottery all the way in the UK? Or Nigeria? Or, how about the abandoned bank account that the bank employee wants to siphon off to me? The employee is clearly a criminal, and he wants me to participate in his devious plan. And, then there is the inheritance from a long lost uncle, and the attorney who needs details to transfer the funds to me.

I do understand why these scammers, spammers and con men approach us. They make money doing this, and in a way, this is their job. But, why do some of us respond? Greed.

The offers have a glimmer of hope for some, I suppose. There might be a fantasy dream of actually winning a lottery or inheriting a large sum of money. And, those who work in concert with a possible bank employee to rip off the bank deserves to get this spam. But, for others, it is a hopeful but hopeless dream.

Be careful out there folks. Life has no guarantees, but I am 99.99999% sure of this. I did not win a million dollars.




Rants from the WET office staff... for California Whitewater Rafting W.E.T. River Trips blog.
All photos and content belong to W.E.T. River Trips
'Fool' image from Google Images.

South Fork American for 2011

2011 South Fork American River, a photo by W.E.T. River Trips on Flickr.

Summer rafting and now into fall... South Fork American is a standard whitewater trip out here in the western United States. From early March through October, the whitewater rafting season continues out here in California through October...

or until demand wains!

Buy it Now!
Online rafting store
Like us!
WET Facebook
Visit us!
WET website

California COMBO River Trips!

2011 has been an incredible year for California whitewater rafting... true; but, did you get on a river? If you did, are you ready to get back out there?



Summer is winding down and soon the rivers will too. Don't be caught with "rapid-remorse"....AKA: "I should have gone rafting!"



The South Fork American River will flow through October and the Middle Fork of the American will flow through the first weekend in October with the good flows that we are used to seeing in July!



Late summer and early Fall is the prime-time 'shoulder-season" of California whitewater and W.E.T. River Trips is ready with 1-2 day trips on the South Fork and Middle Fork American River as well as the mighty "American River Combination" 2-day trip: both the South and Middle Fork rivers in 2 days while based in our camp at Camp Lotus.



Don't be caught with rapid remorse and get out there while you can!



da Boss : Steve Liles

NOTES from the office staff:
American River Combo is South Fork American the first day; Middle Fork American the next day! $269/person Buy it here http://raftwet-store.com/sofoamcotr.html Place the date of your trip in the comment box at the bottom of the billing page. We will confirm you within 24 hours! Also, note; we wear helmets on every rafting trip!

Like us here : http://facebook.com/wetrivertrips
Follow us here : http://twitter.com/raftwet



Our California Whitewater Rafting blog was uploaded by WET River Trips office Staff using da Boss, Steve's photos.
All content was created for W.E.T. River Trips blogs and other content related sites.

Music, Rafting and More! James Israel Band Releases New CD!

Good friends over at "James Israel Band" just finished their latest CD. A lot of work went into the project and WET River Trips would like to share their tunes with you. Check them out!
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The James Israel Band releases new CD, "Good Enough"

Hello music lovers! We finally finished our CD, which is available for streaming on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/JamesIsraelBand. (Please "like" us there, if you haven't already.)

If you like what you hear, individual songs (just 99 cents) and/or the whole CD are available on our CD Baby page at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jamesisraelband.

A few of the songs featured on the album are:

• Codependent Blues: A raucous and fun romp, about a subject most -- if not all -- of us are quite familiar with!
• Good Enough: Ok, it's only "white man's" reggae, but still a fun song!
• Just a Little (Can Do a Lot): A yin-yang kind of tune, all about love.
• Sweet Dark Princess: This tune features a beautiful piano opening by our wonderful Carrie McNabb and a very tasty guitar solo by our other wonderful lead instrumentalist, Sue Kasper. A love song many tell us is their favorite tune on the album.
• Deal With It: You know you must.
• The Kin of Ata: A spiritual tune inspired by the book The Kin of Ata Are Waiting for You by Dorothy Bryant.
• Aliens On Ice: Tongue-in-cheek song about the Roswell Incident.

Thank you!

James

(Sonicbids EPK: http://www.sonicbids.com/JamesIsraelBand)

Notes from WET River Trips: August is rolling in along with many musical festivals throughout California and the entire West coast. River rafting, whitewater rafting and more on the American River coming up next!

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More music on the West Coast:

AUGUST 2011
July 31-Aug 7 Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation - Seattle, WA; http://www.sfadi.org
July 31- Aug. 7 Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival - Port Townsend, WA; http://www.centrum.org/blues/bl-festival.html
Aug. 5-7 The Gaia Festival - Laytonville, CA;http://www.thegaiafestival.com
Aug. 5-7 Reggae Rising - Garberville, CA; http://www.facebook.com/ReggaeRisingFestival
Aug. 5-7 Pickathon - Happy Valley, OR; http://www.pickathon.com
Aug. 6 - Petaluma Music Festival - Petaluma, CA; http://www.petalumamusicfestival.org/
Aug. 11-15 Beloved Festival - Tidewater Falls, OR; http://www.belovedfestival.com
Aug. 12-14 Northwest World Reggae Festival - Marcola, OR; http://www.nwworldreggae.com
Aug. 12-14 Indijinus - west of Eugene, OR; http://bhumsiva.com/indidjinus-gathering
Aug. 12-14 Summer Meltdown - Darrington, WA; http://www.summermeltdown.com
Aug. 12-14 San Jose Jazz Festival - San Jose, CA; http://jazzfest.sanjosejazz.org/
Aug. 12-14 Outside Lands - San Francisco, CA; http://www.sfoutsidelands.com/
Aug. 17-21 Sierra Contact Festival - Sierraville, CA; http://www.bodyresearch.org/contactfestival
Aug. 19-21 Northwest Herbal Fair - Mt. Vernon, WA; http://www.nwherbalfair.com/
Aug. 20-21 Art and Soul - Oakland, CA; http://www.artandsouloakland.com/
Aug. 26-28 The Eugene Celebration - Eugene, OR; http://www.eugenecelebration.com
Aug 29- - Sept. 5 Burning Man - Black Rock Desert, NV; http://www.burningman.com

SEPTEMBER 2011
Sept. 2-5 Singing Alive - Cosmopolis, WA; http://www.tribesofcreation.com/events.html
Sept. 2-5 Northern California Women's Herbal Symposium - Laytonville, CA; http://www.womensherbalsymposium.org/pages/symposium.html
Sept.3-6 Strawberry Fall Music Festival - Yosemite, CA; http://www.strawberrymusic.com
Sept. 3-5 Bumbershoot - Seattle, WA; http://bumbershoot.org/
Sept. 4-5 Scottish Highland Games - Pleasanton, CA; http://www.caledonian.org/games.html
Sept. 8-11 Bhakti Fest - Joshua Tree, CA; http://www.bhaktifest.com/
Sept. 9-11 Newport Music Festival - Newport, WA; http://www.pvbluegrass.com/
Sept. 9-11 Sisters Folk Festival - Sisters, OR; http://www.sistersfolkfestival.org/sff.php
Sept. 13-18 Somafest Somatic Movement Arts Festival - LA, CA; http://www.somafest.org
Sept. 16-18 Monterey Jazz Festival - Monterey, CA; http://www.montereyjazzfestival.org
Sept 16-18 American River Music Festival - Coloma, CA; http://www.americanrivermusic.org/musicians.php
Sept. 17-18 Mendocino Rejuvenation Festival - Mendocino, CA; www.RejuvenationFestival.com
Sept. 23-25 Earthdance - Vallejo, CA; http://earthdancelive.com/
Sept. 23-25 Art of Community - Occidental, CA; http://www.indybay.org/uploads/2011/03/18/art-of-community-pr-jan-2011.pdf
Sept. 24-25 Adams Ave. Street Fair - San Diego, CA; http://adamsaveonline.com/StreetFair/


Content created by James Israel, W.E.T. River Trips, and WestCoastFest.com for this rafting blog.
Photos by : WET River Trips on Flickr