Post blogger Michael Conniff gives a thumbs up to Theatre Aspen’s “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” He writes, “Jamison Stern is hilariously stellar as the addled assistant principal and pervert: he and Joan Hess as the Bee moderator are always on the verge of stealing the show, with Hess’s gee-whiz bee performance—how she loves to spell!—forming the emotional heart of a play that would otherwise drown in farce.”
TV Aspen’s Jim Laurence reports: “Aspen’s favorite hiking spot; Smuggler mountain, will be closed to hikers, bikers, and others on Thursday as logging crews begin their work to remove two hundred lodge pole pines.”
JMerri1jr blogs: “To let you all know… They DID NOT serve alcohol in honor of Ben at Eric’s, they served soda, ice tea and water out of respect for Ben.”
The Thursday night free concert series on Fanny Hill features funk band Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. Fireworks will follow.
Post blogger Frosty Wooldridge charts a new course toward doom and gloom. According to him, there’s no putting the cancer genie back in the bottle.
From EatAspen.com comes news of a growing trend, “Mobile food carts are popping up around Aspen. It's great to see. I know that it is not easy getting approvals through the City of Aspen and established Aspen restaurants in commercial space may not be completely on board with the idea but if we really want to make Aspen more ‘affordable’ as discussed in our marketing efforts by both the Aspen City Council and the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, then cheap eats on the street is the way to go.”
The Con Man writes, “The need for younger people to ‘celebrate’ the death of their friends like Cody from substance abuse by committing further substance abuse is sad and even pathetic beyond description.”
In comment #11, Post blogger Mitch Mulhall continues a conversation he started last August regarding Homeland Security’s decision to reclassify knives that can be opened with one hand as switchblades.
“My friend Sophia’s 28 year old son Ben died last week of complications from Oxycontin abuse,” writes Sue Gray. “As I held her close while she sobbed uncontrollably, I couldn’t help but think, ‘there but for the grace of God go I.’ My own son is 32, has a history of substance abuse and also takes prescription pain meds for a back injury. My empathy for Sophia was so strong that I was physically ill when I left her house and have been affected by shock and grief ever since.”
If you want to catch the sold out discussion, “Obama and the Challenge of Expectations: A look at the President’s first six months,” there’s a wee chance you’ll be able to get tickets at the door.
Whenever Mike Vidakovich contributes to the GSPI, it's all good. His coverage of Hoop D'Ville is no exception.
Post blogger Mitch Mulhall examines two recent events in the news: "In the past few days, two events have influenced my thinking about the Obama Administration. The first was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's call for President Obama to apologize for meddling in Iran's post-election upheaval. The second was Manuel Zelaya's curiosity about the U.S. role in the Hondoran military coup the left Zelaya in Costa Rica dressed in his pajamas" writes Mulhall. "I can't help but entertain the notion that Obama's State Department is either crazy like a fox or wholly uninvolved in any of these matters... I think it will be shown that if the Iranian people manage to have their voice heard and real change occurs in Iran, Obama's efficacy as U.S. President will be just being there, in a purely Chauncey Gardner kind of way. As for Honduras, anybody's guess is... Obama's."
"[T]he very idea of totalitarian maintenance is predicated on the guns of 'government' turned towards the masses..."
~Ed Troy,
The Liberal Gladiator
Concerning Iranians’ attitude toward America, Post blogger Cathleen Krahe writes in comment #4, “Many Iranians like American culture, music, etc., but make no mistake they still hold a grudge for our supporting Iraq's 1980 invasion of Iran and the subsequent 8 year war where many Iranians were killed or severely injured by chemical weapons.” The US overthrow of the democratically elected Iranian government in 1953 didn’t help matters either.
After passage of Henry Waxman's HR 2454, Post blogger Frosty Wooldridge may well correctly assert this: "As we overload and overshoot our carrying capacity, Mother Nature will step in with a heavier and heavier hand.
Immigration! She won’t care if you are an American, legal immigrant or unlawful immigrant or a prairie dog. She will crush you with starvation, water shortages, diseases and chaos.
We might have 10 maybe 20 years to solve our dilemma, but not much more, and probably much less. Will we gallop into the abyss with continued arrogance or will we understand our dilemma sooner and make drastic changes in consumption and population production?"
"The US needs to look at how our Foreign Policy contributes to these two groups of refugees not attaining just solutions,” writes Post blogger Cathleen Krahe.
The Rocky Mountain region is forecast to show significant tourism numbers this summer as well as the possibility of more Colorado residents staying home.
“If media access and freedom of speech were to be shut down in a western country it would be a sure sign of a cover-up,” writes Post blogger Nathan in comment #5.
Three decades old heavy rock band Blue Oyster Cult performs at the Belly Up.
The forecast calls for Mozart, Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major, K. 211, and Mahlers Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor. Benedict Music Tent, 4:00 pm.
In the heated immigration debate, Star Eagle provides the cooler head, “World economics is the heart of illegal immigration. People would not willing leave their homes and families in mass migrations if it were not economically beneficial,” he blogs in comment #7, “Also, let me point out that when the shit hits the fan immigration will be far down the list of priorities. And the real force behind shit hitting the fan? World economics! That is your history lesson as well as your wake-up call for today.”
“Mexicans want to stay in Mexico and Americans want them to stay in Mexico too,” blogs Nathan. “So why not tackle the reason behind their immigration instead of building a wall...”
Immigration activist and Post blogger Frosty Wooldridge describes the dire consequences of the population explosion occurring on the West Coast.
A bomb scare on Tuesday forced the evacuation of the Garfield County Court house, it’s annex across the street, and the Garfield county sheriff’s department next door, but after a two hour search for explosives, none were found.
In comment #2 Post blogger Sue Gray finds irony in the U.S. attitude toward the Middle East; “As with Operation Iraqi Freedom; we just love those people to death.”
In his newest post, Frosty Wooldridge tallies the cost of illegal immigration; “Their children overwhelm schools, medical facilities with anchor babies and tens of thousands fill California jails,” he writes. “A whopping 86 of their hospitals and ER wards bankrupted out of existence in the past six years. A closer look shows Colorado following in California’s footsteps.”
June 24th is “Colorado Bike to Work Day.” Breakfast stations will be located throughout the Roaring Fork valley offering free coffee, food and swag.
KNFO News Director David Bach is reporting that the Aspen Writers' Foundation is hosting the presentation of awards for Colorado writers.
“In two weeks no one will even think about the Iranian election outside of Iran, writes Post blogger Nathan in a critical assessment of Western media. “Iran[ians] will go back to their lives under President Ahmadinejad and the rest of the world will find the next ‘big’ story to cover. It is slowly happening already. All the news agencies are getting away from the poll fraud charges and instead reporting it as a freedom march.”
In typical Troy fashion, the Liberal Gladiator writes, “This is a frightening Orwellian juxtaposition of the analog of reality and a constructed abstraction.”
In his daily News Roundup, Jim Laurence of TV Aspen reports on the latest news both local and statewide.
What's your favorite ice cream? Obama's was "vanilla custard with hot fudge and almonds."
"I either wrote or said on congames" confesses Post Liberal Gladiator Ed Troy "that there was a generation of young Iranians who are aware of the rest of the world through various internet networks and cafes, not interested in continued theocratic dictatorship and those about my age that remember a time before the Ayatollahs. Iran is now a country divided by itself into the Enlightened and the Theocrats. Will the police and military follow orders with near absolute obedience is the question. This represents an opportunity for America to get those results to be safer for Iranians, the region and the world. We can preempt our proclivity for fear mongering."
The amount of 27th annual Food and Wine Classic attendees: more than five thousand---is expected to improve the Aspen economy as the summer visitor season begins.
In comment #5, bost blogger Frosty Wooldridge responds to Ed Troy: "American culture enjoyed a single language and everyone pulling for our country. Today, we've got millions of immigrants that don't know Thomas Jefferson from Al Capone. Most don't know Babe Ruth from John Doe. Beyond that, we simply are overpopulating ourselves into a civilization with water shortages, energy crises, gridlock, air pollution and an unsustainable future. I am astounded that the vast majority of Americans are too stupid, or too lazy or too fat or too apathetic to see what they bequeath to their children. We prove a civilization in decline and ultimate collapse."
The body found in Canyon Creek Orchard is a 38-year-old woman who complained of domestic violence.
Catch stand-up comedian Bill Maher at the Belly Up to benefit the Children’s Health Foundation
In comment #7, post blogger Ed Troy writes: "I believe that was a Palladium tipped umbrella in one case, and a chlorinated compound for the president of Ukraine? The present Russian secret service uses signatures as messeges."
The Valley will be inundated with bicycle riders Thursday and Friday as the Ride the Rockies tour makes its way back to the finishing point in Glenwood Springs.
Michael Conniff posits the idea that cheating is part of our national character, “The news that Sammy Sosa—late of the Chicago Cubs and lesser Major League Baseball (MLB) nines—applied performance-enhancing drugs during his career was about as shocking as the word echoing across the canyons of finance that implied Wall Streeters are greedy to the point of gluttony, with the law little more than a nuisance. Ain’t that America? In baseball and high finance, our citizens are more than welcome to game the system as long as nobody finds out.”
Anti-immigration advocate Frosty Wooldridge claims, “I'm like Edward Abbey, ‘try to save the planet, but have a good time on weekends!’”
“Just what is ‘American Culture?’" queries Post blogger Edward Troy, “Jazz? Red Neckin'? Ghetto crap? Barrio bs? Soccer Moms? Edsels? Hemis? Chevrolet? Hank Williams Jr? Apple Pie? Possum Pie, Dandelion control, shooting a Colt 45, drinking a Colt 45, drinking a Bud, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Pink? McDonalds, McMansions, bigotry? Maybe it is just the cheap crass commercialization of anything Madison Avenue generates?”
Jazz Aspen Snowmass presents acclaimed singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson, one of the Kings of Motown.
Post blogger Edward Troy takes issue with the Supreme Court’s decision to leave it to the states to decide when prisoners get access to genetic evidence that might prove their innocence.
To my disappointment during Bob Scchieffer's conversation with Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren on Thursday afternoon at the Aspen Institute Festival of Ideas there was no mention of the June 30th Israeli Navy abduction of the boat The Spirit of Humanity in international waters. It was headed to Gaza to bring humanitarian aid. Among the 21 human rights workers on board were four American citizens including former U.S. Congresswomen Cynthia McKinney and a friend of mine Huwaida Arraf (a young human rights attorney). Irish Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire was also on board and remains in an Israeli Jail.
According to Israeli authorities McKinney is being uncooperative as she is not willing to sign a document admitting to illegally entering Israeli territory. She was on a boat in claimed international waters when abducted and was forced into Israel. Israel supposidely "gave" Gaza back to the Palestinians in August 2005 but still holds this 25 mile stretch of land with 1.5 million people under a blockade. Nothing enters or leaves Gaza without Israeli approval.
The conversation with Oren, as well as local papers, should have covered this event, but no one seems to want to put Israel in a bad light by bringing up the facts. Political maneuvering should not take precedence over the human rights of a suffering population- the Palestinians in Gaza. To date the U.S. has made no statement on this situation. Justice requires us to hold all nations to he same standards, not always giving Israel a pass.
July 3rd, 2009
Cathleen Krahe
If you were an honest man, you would have to confess that every time you arrive at the Aspen Ideas Festival you come to the conclusion that you are the invisible man.
Look around: there are scores of famous and famously accomplished people brought here by the Aspen Institute, and you are not even close to being one of them. Worse: you would never find a jury of your peers among this group, because these are not your peers. Any glimpses of grandeur you might have felt in better days was undermined when the press pass arrived and you were told you could only go to the second half of the Ideas Fest: without thinking twice, you know you are not even half a man in the all-seeing eyes of the Aspen Institute.
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July 3rd, 2009
Michael Conniff
By Frosty WooldridgeDo you ever get the feeling that your life spins out of control? Your kids run wild? Your spouse doesn’t live up to your expectations? Why won’t the world work in a way you feel appropriate?
For the past 30 years, many things grew worse in the United States. You watch it daily with unemployment rates, bailouts, federal debt and a dozen other ‘predicaments’ bearing down on our country.
Notice that President Obama expects to pass an amnesty this year! Notice that he resembles a six foot tall man who cannot swim but jumps into the 12 foot deep end of a swimming pool with no lifeguards.
He needs some help because he and the U.S. Congress stand nostril-deep in water. I suggest they follow the wise council of the following book: The Immigration Solution: A Better Plan Than Today’s By Heather MacDonald, Victor Davis Hanson, Steven Malanga, Ivan R. Dee, 2007
In the summer 2008 issue of The Social Contract Quarterly, page 287, 288, veteran journalist out of Chicago, Dave Gorak enlightens the public to the solutions provided in the book.
“This collection of essays by Heather MacDonald, Victor Davis Hanson, and Steven Malanga, which originally appeared in the quarterly City Journal during 2002–2007, belongs on the bookshelves of everyone seriously concerned about this nation’s worsening immigration crisis,” said Gorak. “Using plenty of statistics — but not so many as to make one’s eyes glaze over — the authors leave no doubt in the reader’s mind that our present immigration policy has become a nightmare that won’t end until our politicians begin to take seriously the public’s growing disgust with mass immigration. The people we’ve been sending to Washington to represent our interests are more concerned with kissing up to the Mexican government and not offending Hispanics than they are with fulfilling their responsibilities to their constituents, a majority of whom continue to tell them they have had it with large numbers of foreigners — more than half of them from Mexico — pouring into this country.
“These immigrants, while like previous newcomers in certain respects, are in fact dramatically different because they have the luxury of a welfare safety net to prop them up if they fail to achieve their version of a better life. This luxury wasn’t available to many of the 24 million immigrants who came here during the 1880–1924 “Great Wave” but returned to their own countries during economic downturns. Malanga writes, for example, that almost 60 percent of foreigners in this country during the Great Depression packed up and left.”
That welfare safety net costs U.S. taxpayers, according to the Edwin Rubenstein Report of 2008, a whopping $346 billion annually across 15 federal agencies.
“In short, immigrants in the past arrived willing to risk all for the opportunity to better themselves; today’s arrivals come with a sense of entitlement because of the services now available to them, including “free” education and health care and (in certain states) driver’s licenses and in-state tuition rates,” said Gorak. “Our government’s willingness to spare no effort to coddle Hispanics, which includes refusing to enforce its own immigration laws, has done much to shatter the unity and quality of life in many communities, including Selma, Calif., Hanson’s own hometown. What’s taken place in Selma during the past 50 years led to Hanson’s celebrated work, Mexifornia.
“Hanson writes that since illegal immigration became a flood in the quiet valley in which he lives, five drivers have driven into his vineyard causing thousands of dollars in damage. “Our farmhouse in the Central Valley has been broken into three times. We used to have an open yard; now it is walled, with steel gates on the driveway.”
Los Angeles mirrors the Mexican invasion with drug gangs numbering in the thousands. Neighboring states like Arizona suffer 57,000 stolen cars annually. Unlawful immigrants shop lifting in the millions of dollars. Daily, shoplifters steal $35 million across the USA.
“Most notably, the authors say, the majority of today’s immigrants are poorly educated and unskilled and contribute nothing to an economy that’s increasingly knowledge driven,” said Gorak. “As a result, they remain in low-paying service sector jobs that are a dead-end street for them and their descendants. Europeans during the last century, however, brought with them important skills needed in a growing young country that offered the potential for personal advancement.
“This lack of upward mobility in the Hispanic community, MacDonald writes, is helping to fuel crime rates and increased membership in gangs that have grown more organized and violent.
“All three writers agree that the assimilation process that worked so well in the past is virtually nonexistent among Hispanics, who also bring with them negative attitudes toward education and the English language. Thanks to multiculturalists and our own government, Hispanics are encouraged to retain their own culture at the same time our schools are teaching them that their new country has much to be ashamed of.
“What can be done to deal with the problems associated with today’s laughable and dangerous immigration policy?” asked Gorak. Malanga offers this two-part solution:
First, this country has to wise up and follow the examples of countries like Canada, Ireland, and Australia that have de-emphasized the outdated idea of family reunification in favor of admitting those immigrants with skills beneficial to their respective economies. Second, the U.S. must also turn off the welfare magnet.
Malanga argues that we must adopt the recommendations calling for reduced levels of immigration and protection for American workers made by the Jordan Commission during the mid 1990s, recommendations that were ignored “when political opposition arose from an unusual alliance of business interests, open-borders ideologues, ethnic and racial activists, and Mexican politicians.”
“It is this last group of those bent on impeding all efforts to control immigration, says MacDonald, that is particularly worrisome,” said Gorak. “Quick to defend its own sovereignty, Mexico on a daily basis is meddling in this country’s affairs. From publishing a “survival guide” for those planning to violate our borders to pressuring local communities to accept its matricula consular as a valid form of ID (a de facto amnesty), the Mexican government has become more determined to control American immigration policy.”
“The Mexican government will push to control as much U.S. immigration policy as it can get away with,” MacDonald says, “but the Bush administration, [and now the Obama presidency], simply winks at foreign attacks on immigration laws that it itself refuses to enforce.”
Gorak said, “Mexico’s increasingly aggressive meddling in this country, seeking to influence school boards and even local elections, is nothing new, according to Hanson, who says this country’s desire to “maintain cordial relations” with Mexico overlooks the fact that “no government in the last fifty years has been more hostile. Mexico’s policy for a half-century has been the deliberate and illegal export of millions of its poorest citizens to the United States, which is expected to educate, employ, and protect them in ways not possible at home.”
Americans must push for a 10 year moratorium on all immigration. After the time-out, a maximum of 100,000 annually allowed into the USA! Other countries must become responsible for their birth rates, education and citizens. And, those citizens of Mexico must be accountable for their actions and their country.
##
July 2nd, 2009
Frosty Wooldridge
Thursday July 2, 2009
The Colorado bureau of investigation has confiscated a police computer---a laptop model designated to former aspen police officer Joe Holman. Holman, 38, resigned his post last week when arrested on charges of attempted sexual exploitation of a child, criminal invasion of privacy and tampering with evidence.
Holman HAS admitted to placing a small video camera in his step daughter’s shower on April 29th. He’ll face charges on July 20th…and CBI investigators want to determine what exactly Holman might have done –if anything---with images that could be on that laptop.
Tree cutting on Smuggler Mountain begins today. Crews with chain saws, and helicopters to take out the felled timber, will be working throughout today----removing 200 lodge pole pines infected with the mountain pine beetle. The work should be finished today but it could restart again tomorrow if necessary.
Vail Ski Vacations.com, founded by Tommy Z. Hoffman---is expanding into four other Colorado markets------including Aspen.
Lucas Baier of Snowmass Village has been hired to lead the development of the new local company---with those strong ties to aspen’s biggest competitor Vail---
Watch for the launch of the Aspen division (Vail Ski Vacations.com) in August.
July 2nd, 2009
Jim Laurence
Yup two more stand up principled mighty christian men (gee I didn't capitalise "christian", how thoughtless). Our standard bearers for the American way fill the vacuum left by Vitter and Craig;
Behold! http://trueslant.com/level/2009/06/16/poll-should-senator-john-ensign-resign-for-having-an-extramarital-affair/
and lust but not left ; http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/06/flashback-sanford-voted-to-impeach-bill-clinton.php
Somewhere Argentina is crying with a silver chalice under a bathroom stall; tapping a steady beat. A beat for the sheeple under the steeple. A cry of agony. Well enough already.
July 1st, 2009
Edward Troy
Okay, I’m a convert to Theatre Aspen. At the end of the day—at the end of the night—if it ain’t on the page it ain’t on the stage, but if it ain’t on the stage you’ve got bupkus.
Of course, Theatre Aspen has its own page to turn: Paige Price, the singer-actor-labor official-artistic director now responsible for the pages that end up under the tent on the stage on the edge of Rio Grande Park. First recruited as a performer to Theatre Aspen by former bossman David McClendon, she has not only raised expectations for a regional-caliber troupe but has begun to deliver this season with “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” a raucous and occasionally raunchy musical comedy now well underway under the tent and running through August.
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July 1st, 2009
Michael Conniff
Wednesday July 1, 2009
High winds this afternoon from the southwest to about 25 mph will be the norm each afternoon through the fourth of July----that’s going to dry things out quite a bit---and fire officials are hoping there won’t be any big issue for the upcoming fireworks displays over the holiday weekend.
Now we’ll be partnering with our new sister station KSNO to bring you coverage of all the goings on over the fourth of July----which will be celebrated with a big parade in Aspen on Saturday ----Watch for our march down main street---atop segways---to greet you and give you some goodies!
Aspen’s favorite hiking spot---Smuggler mountain---will be closed to hikers, bikers, and others on Thursday----as logging crews begin their work to remove two hundred lodge pole pines: part of a joint city of aspen/private enterprise to restrict the impacts of the mountain pine beetle=----Can’t get rid of the pesky insects which have killed vast sections of forests throughout Colorado=---is the effort on Smuggler mountain worth it? Send your opinions to news @ aspenglenwood.com.
The recession will start to recede in only about one month!---that’s the word from CEO Eric Schmidt of search engine giant Google---which saw 21 billion dollars in revenue last year.
Speaking at the Aspen Ideas Festival this week, Schmidt says the current economic downturn will turn up, as the recession nears the bottom and the economy sluggishly recovers…and when the economy again reaches the top---that’s the time to sell!---says Schmidt----how to time all that is the trick.
And what’s the latest and greatest idea in the computer world from the top dog at Google? ------------- Something called “cloud computing”. Something Schmidt says Google is now making a big part of its look of the future.
Cloud computing, which allows any computing device to more quickly and easier than ever before access information, will enable more millions of users---and will be possible soon-----as the reliability of going online increases.
July 1st, 2009
Jim Laurence
Tuesday June 30, 2009
Aspen elected leaders meet tonight at city hall to talk about the largest affordable housing project in the city’s history---Burlingame Ranch---and—how to make it just a little bit bigger.
Voters have given the green light to increase density at one phase of the project from 236 housing units to 300=----but it is essential that current residents say okay or it’s a no –go
Don’t expect any construction at the area by the maroon creek club until next summer at best..
Trucker Mark Chamness described his sheer relief at not being convicted on charges of vehicular homicide---after a jury decided he was innocent of those charges after blocking highway 82 in January of 2008 near Katherine store. Two people in a Kia Sophia sedan hit the rig and were killed in the early morning hours.
What about a mortgage? That’s the cry from many lenders and those who arrange lending for homes in the area.
Marilyn Foss is the president of Mountain Mortgage---in business in aspen for the last 22 years. But business is lagging.
A good borrower today? That means whether buying or refinancing----you need three years of no income drop----at least 20 percent equity in your home and a great credit history-------meet those qualifications and it’s still tougher than ever.
First time home borrowers can still apply at slightly higher raters---but, says Foss, in a buyer’s market like this one----if you’ve thought about getting your home---try and do it now.
It’s also a good time to refinance before the expected hike in interest rates.
June 30th, 2009
Jim Laurence
Mobile food carts are popping up around Aspen. It's great to see. I know that it is not easy getting approvals through the City of Aspen and established Aspen restaurants in commercial space may not be completely on board with the idea but if we really want to make Aspen more "affordable" as discussed in our marketing efforts by both the Aspen City Council and the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, then cheap eats on the street is the way to go. Don't worry Aspen won't turn into Mumbai anytime to soon just because we have some mobile food units. I do remember a few years back when the City put the kabosh on the peddling ice-cream girl. A sad day for the "funky" in Aspen, but now is the chance to turn the corner.
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June 29th, 2009
EatAspen.com
By Frosty Wooldridge
This past week in Denver and cities across America, men and women walked, marched, biked and hiked to cure cancer. Cancer survivors spoke, cheered and prayed. Supporters waved banners and held pink ribbons. Last weekend in Frisco, Colorado, countless women marched 15 miles to Breckenridge, Colorado to raise money to find a cure for cancer. Americans run triathlons to stop cancer. Lance Armstrong rides in the Tour de France next month to bring more attention to the ravages of cancer.
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June 29th, 2009
Frosty Wooldridge
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