John R Wilsdon (john000)

John Wilsdon

Accolades: BA University of Arizona 1975

MAed University of Phoenix MA 1992

Major areas of study: Mathematics and English

United States Navy, 1968-1973

Taught middle school,1976-1996

Areas of interest: gold prospecting, reading about health, gardening

I feel fortunate to live in Arizona. The weather (even summer) is the best I have experienced. When traveling in the Navy I saw a lot of interesting places, but never had any doubt that Arizona would always be my home. After working for 25 years in Tucson, I moved to Superior (small mining town with wonderful people). The pace is slower and I am smack dab in the middle of the Copper Triangle and the attendant rock formations and high desert.

I enjoy writing informative articles, and have been extremely pleased with the way HubPages works. I have become an avid Hub reader and am impressed with all the talented people out there.

Since the idea of making a litte extra money in retirement is compelling, I have found many articles on SEO at HubPages valuable. I hope, as many others do, to be able to incorporate SEO ideas into my writing. Writing a well-structured article melded with a dash of search friendly concepts is the goal.

Recently I started a blog directory of webpages offering free plans for building your own gold prospecting equipment. Having built a number of tools myself, I decided others might like to save a little time and money by reading my blog notes and going to a variety of websites with a tremendous variety of how-to information. See my other writing at:

http://freeprospectingplans4u.blogspot.com/

If you would like to become a part of the HubPages Community of writers and watch how dedicated staffs works (it's free), put this address in your browser http://hubpages.com/_2e0gpc46itpdd/user/new .

My wife and I enjoy short trips to the sites of Arizona. Visits to my two daughters (Tucson and Phoenix) are always a treat. They are without a doubt the most wonderful daughters a father could want to have. And now, drum roll, in February, 2010, I became a grandfather for the first time. My little granddaughter is opening up a whole new aspect of life to me. She rocks!

Post Script 09/26/2013: I now have a second granddaughter - one granddaughter per daughter. It's great to be a grandpa!

Post Script 07/19/2016: I now have a third grandchild, a boy. It's still great to be a grandpa!

Post Script 1/2017: I now have a fourth grandchild, a boy. It's still great to be a grandpa!

Post Script 3/1/2019: I now have a smooth-coat Chihuahua. She is 2 years old, rescued, and her name is Minnie. She is a wonderful dog, trained, and very smart and attentive.

In the Spotlight

Adventures and Surprises in Apache Country, 1869

The region in Arizona where Nell and were riding had been relatively peaceful recently. Cochise, the leader of the Chiricahua Apaches, resisted European American settlers in southeastern Arizona. The couple were anxious to begin a new life. Desert encounters were unpredictable.

In the Spotlight

An Arizona Boom Town: The Draw of Silver after the Civil War

Jack and Nell had avoided mistakes at a shootout in Patagonia. They had ridden the Arizona desert and fretted about Apache, and now they were heading to their new home. Full of anticipation, Harshaw, AZ was a boom town, and silver might just be the way they would prosper.There is joy in what is new.

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  0
  Short Stories

  An Arizona Boom Town: The Draw of Silver after the Civil War

  4 weeks ago

  Jack and Nell had avoided mistakes at a shootout in Patagonia. They had ridden the Arizona desert and fretted about Apache, and now they were heading to their new home. Full of anticipation, Harshaw, AZ was a boom town, and silver might just be the way they would prosper.There is joy in what is new.

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  2
  Flash Fiction

  Adventures and Surprises in Apache Country, 1869

  11 months ago

  The region in Arizona where Nell and were riding had been relatively peaceful recently. Cochise, the leader of the Chiricahua Apaches, resisted European American settlers in southeastern Arizona. The couple were anxious to begin a new life. Desert encounters were unpredictable.

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  0
  Financial & Economic Crisis

  Iceland's 13 Year Recovery: A Struggle to Survive

  15 months ago

  Volcanic refers to a turbulent event. Volcanic Iceland's turbulence of 2008 dissipated in about 3 years. With the extent of its depression, the resolution of its financial problems is nothing short of remarkable. By 2011, gross domestic product was rising at 2%. Debt sank and salaries rose.

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  4
  Geology & Atmospheric Science

  Find Placer Deposits, Gold Quartz Veins, Piedmonts & Minerals

  11 months ago

  Finding gold in the wild is hard, and where you pan is of paramount importance. Here are some gold geological considerations to give you an edge.

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  7
  Geology & Atmospheric Science

  Making Arizona Placer Gold-Mining Easier: The Dry Washer

  8 months ago

  Some basic gold prospecting supplies are essential for large mining companies and the recreational gold-miner. Dry washers are a type of equipment useful in the dry southwest, particularly Arizona.

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  6
  Safety Issues

  How to Decrease Forest Wildfire Risk in and Near Your House and Structures

  3 years ago

  The rash of current wildfires (particularly in Arizona and Colorado) should spur one to think of ways to keep the home safe. Whatever you can do to protect your home is worth doing now.

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  2
  Financial & Economic Crisis

  Iceland Citizens and Icelandic Private Banks Repudiate Debt Financial Bailout

  3 years ago

  In 2008 and 2009, the Iceland economy suffered a collapse brought on by a lapse in overseeing mortgages and failing banks. Icelandic banks offered CD rates to English customers that were very inviting.

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  5
  History of the Americas

  See Pre-Columbian Artifacts in Ancient Besh-Ba-Gowah, Arizona

  22 months ago

  Pre-Columbian art, relics, and stone buildings were first excavated at Besh-Ba-Gowah in 1935. Arizona is full of exciting sites to see, and Besh-Ba-Gowah is one such hidden treasure.