Vegan stoner munchies

or perhaps trade gatherings. While the evidence seems to support temporary or intermittent occupancy, no one knows for sure.

Pueblo Bonito, built in stages between 850 - 1150 AD, is the largest and most comprehensively excavated ruin in Chaco. With an estimated 700 rooms and 35 kivas (round ceremonial structures), it may have towered 5 stories above the canyon floor. Covering almost 2 acres, this building rivals the Roman Coliseum in size.

A trail winds visitors through the site, pointing out important aspects of the engineering and construction. Pueblo Bonito would be a staggering architectural achievement for any ancient people. Yet for the Anasazi, a people without the benefit of a written language, it is that and more. Skillfully aligned to east-west cardinal directions, a wall bisecting the center of its large courtyard is perfectly aligned north-south. On either side of the wall is a great kiva, also precisely aligned in cardinal directions. This symmetry is common to all Great Houses of Chaco Canyon.

Kivas, kivas, everywhere

A kiva (from Hopi), is a round ceremonial structure. Each Great House features at least one large central kiva (or more), and perhaps a dozen smaller ones. The number of kivas is proportional to the number of rooms in the house. Whether integrated into the larger complex or built as a freestanding, isolated structure, there are hundreds of kivas in Chaco Canyon, including the six “great kivas.” While most would seat fewer, the great kivas accommodated hundreds of people. They are round, often semi-subterranean (partially underground) structures, with a bench situated along the length of the inside wall surrounding a central fire pit. Small niches in the wall are evenly spaced above the bench.

While modern pueblo people use the kiva for spiritual or ceremonial practices, they may have served other functions as well, such as a gathering place for social, political, or other events.

Typical of Chacoan kivas are the meticulously placed T-shaped doorways, and the niches set into the round wall. The shape of the door, as well as the purpose of the wall niches are a mystery. However, in at least one Great Kiva (Casa Rinconada), there are 6 additional niches, offset and slightly below the others.

One in particular stands out: It is illuminated during the solstice sunrise as light enters through the doorway. Debate surrounding the original door placement makes this somewhat speculative, however the preponderance of evidence strongly suggests this is no accident. It is not an isolated example - there are many more instances of skilled, thoughtful engineering features that could only have been inspired by solar and lunar cycles.

That Chacoan people were adept sky watchers is undisputed. Precision placements of their buildings as well as the extant petroglyphs bear witness to this.

Chaco is for the adventurous traveler. The canyon is desolate: 60 to 75 miles from the nearest modern towns with services, depending on the direction one enters, north or south.

Visitors to Chaco Canyon will leave with more questions than answers: Why did people settle in this harsh environment with so few natural resources and such environmental extremes? Without the wheel, writing, or pack animals, how did they build on such a grand scale? Why would they build roads 30 feet wide with parallel, seemingly redundant, road segments? Why position monumental architecture with such precision to cardinal directions? What was the main function of Chaco Canyon; was it primarily residential or just for special occasions? Why did they leave so soon after engineering and building such sophisticated structures?

These questions may never be answered, and perhaps that is how it should remain.

» Are you a stoned vegan who’s craving something junky? Don’t worry; there are plenty of munchie options to pick from.

We tend to forget about the vegan stoners out there, at least when it comes to junk food. We don’t mean to, but when we’re in the munchie zone, we go hard — and it usually includes beef jerky. Let us live, thanks. And while vegan food has been proven to have a ton of health benefits, there’s just something very NOT alluring about the idea of a tall glass of kombucha and a salad with kimchi when you’re stoned.

But as we learned recently, vegan food doesn’t have to be inherently healthy — which means that we can start stashing some away for a stoned munchie day. In fact, all it takes to be vegan is to omit animal products like meat, egg, dairy, and gelatin. Everything else goes. Who knew?

And, there’s even such thing as vegan junk food, which is perfect for someone who’s vegan for reasons of ethics not necessarily health. But even if you’re not a vegan, these tasty and very unhealthy treats are often already part of your everyday diet — so you may even have some sitting around right now.

Anyway, without further ado, here are a few junk food treats that you may not have realized were vegan. You can toss them into the cabinet so they’re readily available for the next time you overdo it on the good ol’ weed.

Oreos are vegan because life doesn’t make sense.

Yes, yes, the brand that claims to be “Milk’s Favorite Cookie” is vegan. In order to stay shelf-stable and fresh for who knows how long, Oreos don’t contain any dairy. Their creamy center is made of vegetable oil. This makes all flavors and types of Oreos vegan.

Potato chips are, too. Salty and sweet? Hell yah.

Obviously, plain chips are just potatoes and oil. However, many other flavors are also vegan. Check the back of the packaging to be sure, but most BBQ flavors are vegan. Just make sure they don’t include honey. Salt and vinegar, flamin’ hot, and other common flavors often don’t have any non-vegan ingredients.

Boxed cake mixes are also vegan — and that includes chocolate.

Boxed cake mixes are the easiest way to make a vegan cake. Most box mixes tell you to add milk, butter, and/or eggs to the batter yourself. This allows them to stay on the shelf for a long time. It’s also a lot cheaper for the manufacturer. Even some chocolate flavors don’t contain powdered milk. A good brand for this is Dunkin Hines, which even has a vegan boxed Chewy Fudge Brownie mix. Yum!

You will have to figure out how to make the cake without the ingredients they ask for, but it’s usually not difficult. Once you pick up an accidentally vegan cake mix from whatever brand is common in your area, head online. There are plenty of vegan bloggers who post recipes for transforming boxed cake mixes into beautiful vegan cakes.

So, it turns out snack pies are also mostly vegan. Bobby Hill would be proud.

Snack pies are another commonly accidental vegan food. Once again, the companies’ desire to make cheap products that don’t spoil works to our advantage. Junk food vegans rejoice to see snack pies made with vegetable oil and margarine. Just make sure that any gelatin listed also says “pectin.” Pectin is a plant-based thickener that works like gelatin. Unlike gelatin, however, it doesn’t contain any animal products.

Eating vegan can be a healthy choice, of course but not every day has to be kale chips and plain oatmeal — and you may not want kale when you’re stoned. We sure don’t.

Either way, anyone can grab a vegan treat to satiate the cravings when they’re high. Plus, these things will typically last forever, so you don’t have to worry about making a grocery store run or summoning up Instacart to get them. You can just grab ‘em and toss them into your pantry for a rainy, blazed day. Sounds like a great plan to us.

— DGO Staff

» Let’s all blaze up and head out to one of these three excellent AZ national parks

Arizona is the geographic and cultural center of the American Southwest — and how lucky we are that it’s right next door to our fair state. For starters, the Grand Canyon is an unrivaled attraction — but it’s hardly the only outdoor spot that Arizona has to offer.

Throughout the state, visitors are wowed by some of the United States’ most enchanting scenery, open spaces, and wildlife. And, now that weed is legal in Arizona, it’s a great time to blaze up and hit the trails at three of the state’s excellent national parks.

Rugged desert beauty in the Southwest

Arizona is the sixth-largest U.S. state but hosts just the 14th largest population. The state’s residents are clustered in Phoenix, Tucson, and a few other urban centers. Most of the state consists of wide-open spaces and incredible natural beauty.

Fortunately, many of Arizona’s geological and ecological points of interest are well-preserved and enjoy protected status. The state is home to 11 national wildlife refuges, six national forests, one national monument, and 31 state park units.

Of course, the pinnacle of protected status is national park designation. National parks in the United States fulfill a dual mission — to preserve natural resources while accommodating public visitation.

In Arizona, there are three unique and fascinating national parks. Visitors to these sites are treated to some of the world’s most majestic landscapes. Planning a trip to the Grand Canyon State? Here are the basic facts on Arizona’s three national parks.

Petrified Forest National Park

Size: 221,391 acres

Location: Eastern Arizona; 26 miles east of Holbrook, Arizona, and bordered to the north by the Navajo Nation

Main Attraction: petrified wood deposits

Petrified Forest National Park is home to one of the world’s best-known deposits of petrified wood. This type of fossil comes from ancient trees or tree-like plants. Petrified wood is created when minerals replace a plant’s organic material. Thus, a three-dimensional replica of the original plant specimen is formed.

Along Petrified Forest National Park’s hiking trails, you’ll see entire logs of preserved petrified wood, an incredibly rare bit of geologic sightseeing. In addition to the fascinating fossils, the park is full of beauty and history. You’ll encounter petroglyphs, mesas and buttes, and badlands. Featured wildlife includes coyotes, bobcats, mule deer, badgers, and desert cottontails.

Grand Canyon National Park

Size: 1,217,262 acres

Location: Northwest Arizona, 80 miles northwest of Flagstaff, Arizona, and 130 miles east of Las Vegas, Nevada

Main Attraction: Grand Canyon South Rim

It’s impossible to overstate the splendor and significance of the Grand Canyon. It’s considered one of the great wonders of the natural world. Grand Canyon National Park is the quintessential national park, visited by nearly six million guests per year.

At over 1.2 million acres, Grand Canyon National Park is the 11th largest U.S. national park and the fourth-largest outside of Alaska. The national park provides camping, rafting, wildlife viewing, helicopter tours, and all levels of hiking.

The Grand Canyon itself is a 277-mile-long and 18-mile-wide canyon of the Colorado River. Millions of years of geological processes are laid bare in the canyon’s enormous splendor — providing some of the planet’s most spectacular and prized views. The top tourist viewpoints occur on the park’s south rim, at Mather Point and Yavapai Point.

Saguaro National Park

Size: 91,716 acres

Location: Southeastern Arizona, on both sides (west and east) of Tucson, Arizona

Main Attraction: Sonoran Desert landscapes

Saguaro National Park is named for the giant and iconic Saguaro cacti that speckle its landscapes. Saguaros, native to the Sonoran desert, can grow up to 40 feet tall and survive for 150-year lifespans. There are nearly two million Saguaro cacti in the National Park. Some of the park’s most exciting wildlife includes mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, javelinas, and roadrunners.

The park consists of two separate areas, one 10 miles west of Tucson in the Tucson Mountains and the other 10 miles east, below the Rincon Mountains. Saguaro National Park offers excellent hiking through the unique cactus-covered landscape.

The enormous cacti cutting into the desert sky create some of the most fabulous sunsets you could ever hope to catch.

Touring Arizona’s unique landscapes

Arizona is the land of the Grand Canyon and Southwestern deserts. But the state’s landscapes offer so much more. Many visitors are surprised to learn that the state is heavily forested and teeming with fascinating wildlife.

From end to end, Arizona is an amazing land to explore. The state’s three national parks provide perfect focal points for any southwestern adventure.

— DGO Staff

» Want to indulge in a little sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll — from a distance? Well, well. We have found your unicorn.

It’s no secret that the world of rock ‘n roll comes fertile with disaster. Long stretches on the road, professional uncertainty and every nasty vice that comes with the lifestyle (everything from overdoses and STDs to revolting eating habits) primes the pump for depression and interpersonal conflict.

When money and pride are on the line, fistfights and firings become very real possibilities. And when they do, the fireworks can be intense. Here we examine five unique documentaries that catch metal acts in the process of melting down and how they recovered — or burnt out forever.

Some Kind of Monster

Perhaps the granddaddy of heavy metal rock docs, 2004’s Monster looks at icons Metallica in the midst of an existential crisis. Directors Joe Berliner and Bruce Sinofsky captured the interpersonal tension, particularly that between lead vocalist / guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich. The vitriol was palpable.

The film also includes their search for a fresh bassist after the recent departure of Jason Newsted. By film’s end, they settle upon former Suicidal Tendencies member Robert Trujillo, whose style and decent juju helps breathe new life into the band.

Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone

Although you’ve likely never heard of them before, Fishbone remains extremely influential. Loosely described as a blend of rock, R&B, punk, metal and ska, their distinctive logo can often be spotted in the form of T-shirts donned by discriminating listeners. As their popularity grew in the early 90’s, it seemed they were destined to become megastars.

Upon the death of his mother, guitarist Kendall Jones abruptly quit and left to live with his father in what’s been described as a cult, renouncing his former band and even calling them “demonic”.

After his band mates attempted an intervention, they suddenly found themselves in court on attempted kidnapping charges. Thus began a downward slide that continues to this day, despite their persistent musical greatness.

Quiet Riot - Well Now You’re Here, There’s No Way Back

Everybody remembers “Cum On Feel the Noize” and “Metal Health” from Quiet Riot’s smash hit, Metal Health, the 6x platinum album released in 1983. What casual fans don’t know is the tragicomic tale behind the rotating cast of players that has turned the group into a revolving door. The picture centers upon drummer Frankie Banali, whose desire to make the goup work is spurred on by the death of singer Kevin DuBrow. His desperate desire to fill DuBrow’s absence and heal his past is equal parts sad, funny and heartwarming.

Anvil! The Story of Anvil

it was initially released in 2008. Director Sacha Gervasi’s lauded rockumentary about Canadian metalers Anvil details how a band can be intensely loved and often imitated, yet never acquire financial success.

Thin crowds, missed trains and lack of promotion all become sources of frustration and tensions fray. In the end, their desire to perform overcomes all obstacles.

Breaking a Monster

If you’re not familiar with Unlocking the Truth, you’re not alone; after all, they never really got off the ground. When a group of African-American seventh-graders began shredding in the middle of Times Square for tips, a video of the talented youngsters went viral and soon they had the industry breathing down their necks, hungry to capitalize upon the next big thing.

Eventually, they signed an astronomical $1.8 million record deal with Sony. During the contract signing, they toyed with their phones and generally spaced out, resulting in a tongue lashing concerning their immaturity, as if a bunch of middle schoolers should be expected to act like twenty-somethings.

Director Luke Meyer’s crew captured the kids at the center of the maelstrom and documented the endless series of unwise decisions that caused the promising act to flame out like a Roman candle.

Many great documentaries concerning musicians exist, but when one narrows the focus specifically to heavy metal these are some of the best. Anybody absorbing these cinematic tales of caution will have their suspicions well-confirmed. Yes, living the life of a hardcore artist is dangerous territory. If you haven’t already, seek out one of these recommended gems and see for yourself what can go wrong when heavy metal is your business.