Hey Phil,
It sounds like you're on the way to getting that $400 hat!  GRIN!
Kathy

At 04:54 PM 7/20/2006, you wrote:
>John,
>
>We did have a red alert a month ago or so due to poor air conditions.
>That's the first one we have had for a super long time, as I recall, because
>generally, if there is such an alert, the wind, off the mountains, blows it
>out on to  the prairie.  Of course, everyone out there really appreciates
>Denver's air then.  when I first moved here almost 35 years ago, they had
>red alerts two and three times every week.  It mostly happens during the
>winter months, if at all, because of temperature inversions.  Denver itself
>is in a valley so they bad air can be trapped closer to the ground.  they
>cracked down on factories and car emissions so much, it has really made a
>big difference.  Unless, of course, we get to many forest fires and the
>winds blow the smoke into the city.  Speaking of smoke, on July first, a
>state law was passed.  Now, no one can smoke cigarettes in any public or
>government building.  All bars, including restaurants, are now smoke free.
>The odd thing about this is the casinos.  We have several now about 50 miles
>up into the mountains from Denver in two old mining towns, Blackhawk and
>Central City.  This used to be just tourist towns with train rides, old
>shops in the original buildings, and a lot of historical type stuff.  Now
>they are worth millions due to the gambling places.  but guess what?  The
>casinos are not smoke free.  They were exempt from the state wide band on
>smoking.  I thought the whole thing was stupid in the first place, that is,
>telling private business owners what they can, and cannot do, relating to
>smoke in their establishments.  I wonder what's next.  Probably booze?  Wow,
>then some churches using wine won't be able to have communion.  I have to
>leave now.  I'm taking one of the senior citizen buses up to Blackhawk to
>play the nickel slots.  It's ok, though, because it is a Christian group all
>going together.  We'll have prayer on the way up there and ask the Lord to
>bless each of us so we come home as winners.  Then, of course, we can put
>ten percent of our winnings in the offering Sunday.
>
>Phil.
>
>
>Has He Ever Crossed Your Mind?
>www.SafePlaceFellowship.com