In comment #4, Post blogger Michael Conniff responds to the dry wit of Mitch Mulhall on the pressing issue of Church v. State--or, if you prefer, God v. Satan.
"A simple vinyl banner to let the community know where the church gathers to worship while their future, more permanent home is continually being held up in court by Pitkin County. Check the US Supreme Court rulings over the past decades."
"The church, now visible from Highway 82, has seemed on the verge of completion for months, even though building that has yet to sport the telltale sign of the Cross," blogs the Con Man. "Given the inevitability of yet another Christian Church in the valley, concerned locals simply ran out of protests. A church, after all, is far more benign than a McDonald's, or so the story goes. And that was that, from my perspective--until the wife espied the cheerful green banner in front of the Eagle County municipal building Sunday afternoon, with the words: 'Grace Church Gathers Here,' with the times for 'Sunday worship.'"
Posts filed under 'Basalt'
The arrival of Grace Church at 1776 Emma Road in Basalt--1776 is not a misprint--roiled the community in Emma as they contemplate a megachurch, albeit a teensy one, in their midst. Dead center in the Roaring Fork Valley, the more liberal members of the town were universally concerned at the prospect of hundreds of Evangelicals worshipping in their midst.
The founders of Grace Church were nothing if not resilient, and managed to beat back all challenges. The church, now visible from Highway 82, has seemed on the verge of completion for months, even though building that has yet to sport the telltale sign of the Cross. Given the inevitability of yet another Christian Church in the valley, concerned locals simply ran out of protests. A church, after all, is far more benign than a McDonald's, or so the story goes.
And that was that, from my perspective, was that--until the wife espied the cheerful green banner in front of the Eagle County municipal building Sunday afternoon, with the words: "Grace Church Gathers Here," with the times for Sunday worship.
Continue Reading February 21st, 2010
It seems as though we as Americans have forgotten or never knew what wealth is. So a simple question; Is wealth trillions of dollars stacked to the moon and back or is it factories, bridges, schools, an educated populace, houses, cars, roads, buildings, fields of wheat, sewers, rails, docks, shipyards, airports and power grids? I realize there is a convertability, but what is wealth?
One the groups above is essentially paper or digital accounting and the other represents economy or the products of an economy. If any one out there disagrees with this, I surely would like to understand why and what you consider wealth to be. I just want to understand.
Paper that is convertable by agreement, into wealth has been handed to people whom appear to have created very little of what I call wealth, through the bailout. For a few decades these individuals have been allowed and even cheered on when they have been given the skimmings of the economy. The justification of giving these individuals over many years tens of millions of dollars per year escapes me. Dead weight skimming paper convertable into wealth appears to me to be a fundamental problem in our country at least. For instance, I am not aware of a single insurance executive providing health care. Why do these execs get ten times the pay of an M.D. without having to pay malpractice insurance?
Why does the working man of the Tea Party support this, or just beginning to complain? Where were they when they were being left with the tax burden, because of tax cuts to the rich and famous? Where were these people 2 years ago, 4 years ago, 6 years ago, 8 years ago?
The Tea Party is justifiably angry with government, but dependant on mythological pathos for a foundation. I see them as potential liberals, because if they get informed the fact that they have principles will guide them into the liberal camp. On the other hand, I think they will become very frustrated by the unprincipled Republican stance. I have in my life, never seen a more unprincipled group claiming to be a party, supposedly representing something -- what I have no idea.
�
February 19th, 2010
Edward Troy
If you are Republican;
1) Who proposed it -- not what was proposed. "What" is utterly irrelevant.
2) Make sure you say "no," whether you know or not, what you are saying "no" too.
3) Know the difference between; know no and no know, in the presence of Democrats.
If you are Tea Party;
wun) doo you speak american?
tew) yur a leeder and a leecher (oui) wee hate you. (if you don't get it, this is your party and you can cry if you want to)
If you are Democrat;
1) First find common ground with other parties --
(a) Does the sun rise in the East and set in the West?
(b) If I drop your bowling ball from five feet high on your big toe, will it hurt?
2) Offer spell check to the other parties.
3) Argue with other Dems about including other parties in discussions.
4) Make sure you become reviled, because decisions require consensus and acclamation.
Well there you have it. A brief check list for all who are political!
February 11th, 2010
If you are Republican;
1) Who proposed it -- not what was proposed. "What" is utterly irrelevant.
2) Make sure you say "no," whether you know or not, what you are saying "no" too.
3) Know the difference between; know no and no know, in the presence of Democrats.
If you are Tea Party;
wun) doo you speak american?
tew) yur a leeder and a leecher (oui) wee hate you. (if you don't get it, this is your party and you can cry if you want to)
If you are Democrat;
1) First find common ground with other parties --
(a) Does the sun rise in the East and set in the West?
(b) If I drop your bowling ball from five feet high on your big toe, will it hurt?
2) Offer spell check to the other parties.
3) Argue with other Dems about including other parties in discussions.
4) Make sure you become reviled, because decisions require consensus and acclamation.
Well there you have it. A brief check list for all who are political!
February 9th, 2010
Medical consultaion with your M.D. is recommended with any exercise program.
After your 10 minute warm up, seek a peak effort within the next ten minutes. Do this once a week. If you are engaged in multiple exercises, anerobic components of cross training or weight lifting for example, seek those peaks in only one or two exercises a week. Tri-athletes should look for a peak in only one of their disciplines per week, as an example.
Enjoy your active lifestyle!
Your Personal Trainer,
Edward Troy
January 28th, 2010
A few years ago, I enthusiastically entered the Virgin Earth contest to remove a billion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere per year for ten years as part of a profitable enterprise. For comparison purposes, planetary production of steel is about 1.3 billion tons/yr. Surely there must be a way to solve this, I thought. I am reasonably familiar with the sciences necessary to tackle this problem. The scale is of course enourmous.
The sheer size of the requirements eliminated many small possibilities. Only those affecting the entire planet could be considered. I am as close to absolute certitude that no single sovereign nation can solve this by itself.
In short, CO2 is a very stable compound; An atom of carbon covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. Replacing the oxygen would require the use of Fluorine which is the only element with a higher electronegative number (electron affinity). However, fluorine is never found in a pure form outside of chemistry labs, the etching of glass is done with fluorine or fluorinated compounds. It would cost more energy to free up fluorine in compounds to replace the oxygen. No hope there.
Replacing the carbon could also be done using various metallic elements, which easily donate electrons. However these metals are also in compounds. For the same energy cost reasons as is the case with Fluorine, there is no hope here either. Thus no industrial/chemical process will work.
Next I considered the use of solar power, however the energy lost in the conversion of CO2 into C + O2 would be better spent on direct use to replace fossil fuels. That does not win the prize.
That left biology. I considered molluscs and finally oxygen producing coccolithophores. While huge amounts of CO2 can be removed the oceans are left very acidic which breaks down the carbonates formed. The limit is the amount of Ca++ in oceanic solution.
I do not believe there is a way to solve this without a terrestrial solution (non-marine). Humanity and its organizational constructs are in the way; Sovereignty, race(es), ethnicities, religions.
I do believe a genetically modified organism could do it, but there are certainly ethical issues arising from that situation since the cultivation of this organism would have to be done on a truly massive scale. But, I hope I am wrong.
I will not be blogging for a while. I wish all of you the best and a happy new year and decade. �
January 4th, 2010
The announcement!
My wife, Judy Kohl, is now a published author. She has written and illustrated a children’s book. She will be having her first book signing event at the Barnes & Noble in Grand Junction this Saturday. She has another fun event on December 13th at Explore Booksellers in Aspen at 4:00. She will be presenting her book to children (and adults) with a fun filled story time. It will be a really entertaining event. She has created illustrated characters from her book to animate her stories. It will also be amusing because I will be doing the puppeteering and wearing a bee hat too. Yes, that is correct, a bee hat. I just can't imagine wearing this hat for anyone else. The things you do for one another.
Her book is called “Little Heavenly Poems” (Oh, what a wonderful day).
Little Heavenly Poems is an extraordinary enchanting book that captivates a "little one's" imagination and touches the heart of grown-ups. A simple collection of endearing poems that are warm-feeling that captures the essence of angels in our daily lives.
The illustrations are adorable and colorful, arousing the curiosity of young children. Each smiling angel is a sweet round faced child with the beauty of the world's diversity, bringing value and joy to each poem. This lovable and charming book celebrates a wonderful day for every child. It is a unique happy heartfelt book to be shared by children and their loved ones. Snuggles, giggles, hugs and butterfly kisses will surely abound when reading this perfect favorite "Story Book."
Although, her book is now available on www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com we hope you can join us and support our local bookstore.
Thank you Explore Booksellers! We are looking forward to the event.
Bring your family! It is going to be a memorable event!
December 3rd, 2009
Many of you don't know that I am a personal trainer. I am also teaching Power Fitness (boot camp type) classes I designed, at the WIN Institute 10:30 -11:30 AM Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Saturdays at 9:30 AM. I am generally very fit and healthy. I just got over the flu, I am not sure which one it was. The influenza viruses attack muscular tissue. My resting pulse rate went from 40-41 to 49-50. I lost 8-9 lbs, considerable aerobic fitness capacity and anaerobic glycolysis capacity, I can't tolerate as much "burn" as before. Near maximal strength appears to be relatively intact.
I mention this because the flu is nothing to dismiss. Your health, wellness and fitness going into the flu, if you are unlucky enough to get it, are very important. I can see how ones health could be very seriously compromised. For the first time, I wish I had taken a flu shot.
November 18th, 2009
Qittle Tweetup
In Aspen on the 27th, plan on attending. We’ll have some food and drinks as well. Be sure to confirm over on Facebook, click here
* when: October 27th 2009, 9am – Noon
* Where: Wheeler Opera House, Aspen, CO
* What: Qittle New Media Conference
* Cost: FREE
* RSVP: Text TWEETUP to 32075
Please invite, Retweet or Facebook this event. We want to make it a lot of fun for everyone. Thanks, Casey
September 21st, 2009
It was in 1970 that an Aspen city council first asked the State of Colorado to hold off on the expansion of Highway 82 to four lanes so that they could study mass transit as an alternative to highway construction. Forty years later there will still be a traffic jam at the entrance to town - despite tens of millions of dollars in annual transit spending.
In 1984 a group called the “Traffic Committee”, organized by the City of Aspen, recommended a new four lane entrance to town which was later approved by Aspen voters in 1990. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project was nearing completion, and Scott McInnis had secured a special appropriation from the state to begin construction.
What happened next, the history of why the new entrance was not completed either then or over the next 19 years up to today, is a microcosmic example of just about everything that currently doesn’t work in the governing process of the United States.
Understanding this one example of the total breakdown of our system serves as a primer for why so much cynicism exists regarding the point or purpose of participation, and provides a crystal clear example of why our country is bankrupt.
Beginning with their refusal to honor the clear outcome of that perfectly reasonable 1990 electoral decision, and continuing through the corruption of federal oversight processes designed to protect the public from waste and mismanagement, transportation planning throughout the Roaring Fork Valley is totally compromised by the original sin of the Aspen city council in 1991.
Anyone interested in the failure to reach a solution for the Entrance to Aspen, the current condition of state transportation planning - or why the United States is bankrupt - may not be surprised to learn that these subjects are closely related.
The letter below was recently sent to members of the Colorado Transportation Legislation Review Committee (TLRC). The TLRC is made up of members of the Colorado legislature, and they have the responsibility to provide, “guidance and direction” over all phases of the operation and planning of state transportation projects.
The report mentioned in the letter is available online at: http://www.entrancesolution.com/History.htm
Dear [TLRB Member],
The enclosed report is directed to your attention as a member of the Transportation Legislation Review Committee.
Though the context of the report is an analysis of the planning and funding process for one section of a Colorado state highway, the findings are significant for transportation projects throughout the state.
As you know, most major state highway and transit projects rely on federal funding, and as a consequence are subject to federal oversight and review. That oversight and review is intended to provide protections to taxpayers in all jurisdictions from waste, fraud, and mismanagement in the application of public funds.
Based on the example of the various federal processes which have failed to protect the public in the Roaring Fork Valley, and the near certainty that these failings are far more widespread, the State of Colorado needs to take action.
It is not sufficient to say that federal oversight of transportation spending has been lacking; federal oversight has collapsed to the degree that there is none.
The recommendations for your committee contained in the report are modest in relation to the magnitude of the problem. However, any increase in the awareness of the void left by federal malfeasance, and the need to fill that void with greater local and state diligence, will provide immediate benefits to the citizens of Colorado.
The TLRC can be contacted through:
Kurtis T. Morrison
Colorado Legislative Council Staff
Room 029, State Capitol
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 866-3140
kurt.morrison@state.co.us
September 14th, 2009
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