Author Archives: brucesmith49

Azure Standard faces challenges in Oregon to its organic farming practices

Posted on May 19, 2017 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith Azure Standard, the world’s largest supplier of organic wheat and grains, has been accused of improper management of noxious weeds growing on some of its wheat fields located in Sherman County, Oregon. As a result, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Culture, Environment, Health, Nature, Politics, Science and Technology, Self Reliance, Spirituality | 12 Comments

TJ, Bill, and 50th Reunions – more tales from the “Stories from my Life”

Posted on April 21, 2017 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith I received an invitation to my high school’s 50th Reunion this month—the same time our most famous alumnus got fired in disgrace from his job at Fox News. Yup, Bill O’Reilly and I are former classmates, … Continue reading →

Posted in Back East, Stories from my Life | 10 Comments

Mount Rainier National Park receives record number of wilderness camping requests for 2017 – halts all further advanced reservations for full-circuit Wonderland Trail trips

Posted on April 5, 2017 by brucesmith49

Editor’s Note: Mount Rainier National Park has been flooded with requests for back-country camping requests via their advanced reservation program. As a result, the park has issued the following press release to the Mountain News-WA and other media: **************************************************************** Mount … Continue reading →

Posted in Mount Rainier, Nature | 3 Comments

The Man Who Divorced His Wife Over a Hat – more tales from “Stories from the Journey” collection

Posted on March 17, 2017 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith I like hats. I have panamas, Stetsons, baseball caps, Indiana-Jones-type hats, and balaclavas. My wife has bought me many of those hats, but not any more since she doesn’t like me wearing them. That woman is … Continue reading →

Posted in Campfire Tales, Moth Stories, Stories from the Jounrey | 6 Comments

Miracle at the Crossroads – another tale of the “Stories From the Journey” collection

Posted on March 13, 2017 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith On a Thursday before Christmas in 1998 I experienced a miracle at a shopping mall in Bellevue, Washington called The Crossroads. It involved a bizarre encounter with a janitor, and it seems that my teacher, Ramtha, … Continue reading →

Posted in Moth Stories, Stories from the Jounrey | 7 Comments

Mail Call – from the “Stories from the Journey” collection

Posted on March 10, 2017 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith Taking the unfamiliar and unsolicited tabloid-sized newspaper out of my mail box, I skimmed through the first few pages until I hit an article about back-to-the-earth folks in Yelm, Washington. After reading their strident fanaticism regarding … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Ramtha, Stories from the Jounrey | 5 Comments

Of Mice and Men’s Groups – another installment from “Campfire Tales – True Stories not Everyone Believes

Posted on March 9, 2017 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith  A few years ago, my friend Jeff telephoned in a rush to say, “You have to come over right now and watch the Bill Moyers show on TV.” I did. It was a telecast titled: “A … Continue reading →

Posted in Back East, Campfire Tales | 8 Comments

There is Justice in this World – more Campfire Tales

Posted on March 8, 2017 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith Back in the 1980s, I needed to sell one of my company’s pick-up trucks. It was a beat-up ol’ Ford with 154,000 miles on it, and I had put an ad in the paper asking $1,000. … Continue reading →

Posted in Back East, Campfire Tales, Family, Folk tales and stories | 3 Comments

On Becoming a Hunter – another selection from the “Campfire Tales – True Stories Not Everyone Believes”

Posted on March 7, 2017 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith Of all the things I did when I had a so-called mid-life crisis, the craziest according to my ex-wife was not leaving her, selling my business, nor relocating to Yelm, Washington to join Ramtha’s School of … Continue reading →

Posted in Campfire Tales, Environment, Folk tales and stories, Mount Rainier, Nature, Self Reliance, Weather | 8 Comments

Death of a Hero – more “Campfire Tales”

Posted on March 6, 2017 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith Some say heroes are made, not born. Perhaps. For me, I’ve only known one true hero, and I say that heroes are simply ordinary guys who know how to do the right thing when trouble happens. … Continue reading →

Posted in Campfire Tales, Folk tales and stories, Moth Stories | 2 Comments