Roxanne Bank Leaves Museum

The head of public relations at the Aspen Art Museum has called it quits.

Continue Reading Add comment May 31st, 2006

Dead For The Mountains

I never had one and now I never will.

I’m talking about an Aspen Edge beer, the late low-carb concoction that bore only a passing resemblance to our fair city. Not that my aversion was to the low-carb thing: the only beer that passes my lips is non-alcoholic, so Aspen Edge was a non-starter with me for that reason alone. But even as a newcomer to the local scene—with an Aspen locals content of just 2.75 years—I found myself more than mildly offended by a beer that took a piece of our heart without paying anything back.

Continue Reading 1 comment May 30th, 2006

CON GAMES: Love The War You’re With

We here in the United States love war not wisely but too well.

Think of 9/11 in this context and we can perhaps understand the vast red-white-and-blue reaction to a tragedy beyond comprehension. Remember the lapels and ballparks, the posters and front lawns, the T-shirts and ready-to-wear patriotism?

Where have they gone, Joe DiMaggio?

Continue Reading 19 comments May 29th, 2006

My Top 5 Musical Moments in the Valley

I’ve been on-air, on and off, at KSPN 103.1 for the ten years I’ve lived here; I’ve had the opportunity to talk with many, many musicians and listen to so many more. I’m a frequent flier to the New Orleans Jazz Festival, a convert to Rock Jam in Grand Junction and I’ll travel anywhere to see Bruce Springsteen, but some of my most memorable musical moments have been right here, in Aspen.

I was sick recently and a friend loaned me a stack of DVDs. I found myself re-watching, then re-watching again, Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous”, especially the last scene where our protagonist finally gets his interview with the elusive and totally rock star lead guitarist, Russell Hammond. “Russell, what do you love about music?” he asks. “To begin with…everything,” answers Hammond, with a knowing smile on his face.

I feel that way, too. But I don’t like every type of music.

Continue Reading Add comment May 27th, 2006

Living in the Land of Lite Rock

I am writing from a public library in Tampa, FL. I am here for a wedding in Sarasota tomorrow, but visiting my grandparents for a few days beforehand. My grands don't have a computer, hence the visit to the library.

A few observations -- my grandparents say "pish" instead of pee. "Are you going to take a pish before leaving the house?" At almost all times they are listening to "WDUV, playing Tampa Bay's continuous relaxing, easy favorites." Sadly, I hate to admit that it's not that offensive, only in small quanitities of course. I'm a music person. I should be horrified by this station. For the demographic here (I'm guessing their target is age 50+ and doctors' offices) it's quite a hit. Anytime I tell someone I am from Florida or visiting Florida, often the response is "oh, my grandparents live there."

Continue Reading 1 comment May 27th, 2006

New Law For Maroon Corps: Make A Difference

Nowadays, when he moves about the wilderness, the celebrity from Aspen is a man on a mission: to walk the roadless areas of the national forest now under siege from a Bush Administration that would open them to development.

To that end, Ralston and about fifty of his outdoor mates have decided to form the Maroon Corps, a bunch of twenty- and thirtysomethings determined to make a difference. The idea goes like this: the group will move from issue to issue, trying to marshall their forces. With an important hearing coming up in Glenwood Springs in June 2006, the issue de jour is keeping the roads out of the wilderness.

Continue Reading Add comment May 26th, 2006

Skip The African Scam

Thanks to Michael Miracle for cluing me into this story in The New Yorker about an African scam factory.

Beware those emails promising riches.......

Add comment May 25th, 2006

Screensaver No Lifesaver For Dubya

Oh, baby, you're going to love this, a loose-limbed President George W. Bush in freefall as a screensaver right under your nose.

My thanks to Kit of Woody Creek for this heartbreaking work of pure genius!
 

1 comment May 25th, 2006

The Tao, Martial Arts, And The War In Iraq

The Taoists believe that life is like a river. Events unfold in a way reminiscent of water flowing eternally downstream. There are falls and eddies, narrow rapids and wide, meandering meadows. We are part of the great flow of life and our actions will have an effect on the quality of our future world – how much effect we can have as individuals or collectively is a great topic for debate.

Continue Reading 1 comment May 24th, 2006

Thanks To All My Rich Relatives For Thinking Of Me

I don't know about you, but every couple of days I get one of these emails from Africa saying I am the long lost something of somebody unfortunate enough to share the same last name. I don't get it. I thought my ancestors came from Ireland, not Africa, and no one has accused me yet of being black Irish.

Continue Reading Add comment May 24th, 2006