Yes you read that right. Coming home Thursday from walking the dogs I was greeted with the news that my brother-in-law Whit MacLaughlin was shot coming home from work Thursday night.
link to story Whit shot by mugger
Sadly this kinda stuff happens all the time. So much so that we stop giving it much attention. When it hits your family you take notice in a whole different way, and it makes your want to scream WTF.
Why mug anyone these days? No one carries any cash, and using the credit cards it a pretty good way to get caught. Taking the victimes phone is even stupider. In this case the mugger took Whit's phone and the find my iphone feature morphed into a capture my mugger app. Whit was IDing the mugger in the trauma ward before even being admitted to the hospital.
But that is not the WTF. WTF NRA. WTF 2nd amendment evanglistist. WTF about not being able to have an evidenced based argument.
To paraphrase Lynyrd Skynyrd handguns ain't good for nothing but putting a man 6 feet in a hole.
The declaration of independence was signed in Philadelphia not far from where Whit was shot. It states that 'we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.' A heavily armed society infringes directly on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. While I don't believe we should be taking away people's shotguns (2 rounds max) or single shot rifles, handguns and rifles with magazines are good for one thing ---putting a man 6 feet in a hole. Having a society full of people a trigger pull away from taking your life absolutely contradicts the words and intent of the declaration of independence.
Let me take a minute to poke some holes at the 2nd amendment advocates:
1. How often do you hear of a 6 year old kid stabbing their 4 year old brother to death? Every home has kitchen knives readily accessible, yet kids are not stabbing each other to death. Shooting each other, ya betcha.
2. When was the last mass shooting that didn't involve a high capacity rifle and or handgun? I'm not sure I can name a single one.
3. Ratio of good guys shooting the bad guys and saving lives vs criminal gun deaths--- I can't give you this number because the NRA has successfully lobbied Congress to prevent the study and creation of a database of gun violence. What does that tell ya?
4. Guns are necessary to protect citizens rights against the government. Don't be stupid like Whit's mugger--if you want to fight the US government you do it either at the ballot box or with IEDs. Taking an AR-15 to fight the US army is as stupid as walking around with a stolen iphone in your pocket.
I have a number of Aspen friends who hunt. I am not telling you to switch to a bow (although that is a very sporting choice) but I am telling you an unwillingness to improve your aim and supporting an unrestricted approach to the second amendment costs lives, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I hope you don't come home to the news that a family member has been shot walking home from work. And I hope that you would be willing to entertain a real conversation about limits on guns.
Saturday, January 13, 2018
Friday, January 12, 2018
fun things --aspen style
Travel
Saturday I drove my daughter to and from hockey games in Vail. I returned driving through snow. total miles 210.
Sunday I drove my daughter to and from hockey games in Eagle. I left in a bunch of ice and snow.
total miles 155.
Sunday I flew to St. Louis to help my mom out with some stuff. time between returning from hockey and getting to airport to pack bag---3 minutes. Time I arrived at airport before flights --28 minutes. Time spent arguing with ticket agent to let me on plane when I was checking in less than 45 minutes before flight --5 minutes. Number of stops to get to St. Louis from Aspen --1 stop in Denver. Fun-----oh you betcha.
Return flight on Wednesday from St. Louis by was of Chicago. Delay--yup. Seatmate on flight smelling worse than any of the homeless people I served in Chicago over 15 years---you betcha. And he was angry and drunk too. But after take off and seat belt light came off (1 hour) I was able to move into an empty seat next to a guy. Nice guy. Modest guy. Asked about maybe going for a ride with me someday. He likes to ride road bikes. And his son skies with my son. Sure maybe a ride. His name is Scott Mercier ----yea that one. The one who refused to dope ---with US postal service. Humm think he might punish me just a bit for crowding him on flight. I think yes. Another one of those ohhh too modest Aspen folks. no dope scott
Skiing
Yesterday I skied with my wife. I gotta say I am starting to find skiing a bit dull. Is it me or the conditions? Great question and a bit of luck gave me the answer. I got off the gondola and ski patrol was announcing that they had just opened up Walsh's. I was maybe the 10th person all season down it. Steep, fresh deep powder (a bit heavy but who the heck cares) big flying superman turns. huge shit eating grin as snow blew in my face and flew from my tails.
Answer is the conditions were taking away some of the fun---bring back the snow and the fun comes with it.
And it's snowing today.
Warning --tomorrow's post is deadly serious.
Saturday I drove my daughter to and from hockey games in Vail. I returned driving through snow. total miles 210.
Sunday I drove my daughter to and from hockey games in Eagle. I left in a bunch of ice and snow.
total miles 155.
Sunday I flew to St. Louis to help my mom out with some stuff. time between returning from hockey and getting to airport to pack bag---3 minutes. Time I arrived at airport before flights --28 minutes. Time spent arguing with ticket agent to let me on plane when I was checking in less than 45 minutes before flight --5 minutes. Number of stops to get to St. Louis from Aspen --1 stop in Denver. Fun-----oh you betcha.
Return flight on Wednesday from St. Louis by was of Chicago. Delay--yup. Seatmate on flight smelling worse than any of the homeless people I served in Chicago over 15 years---you betcha. And he was angry and drunk too. But after take off and seat belt light came off (1 hour) I was able to move into an empty seat next to a guy. Nice guy. Modest guy. Asked about maybe going for a ride with me someday. He likes to ride road bikes. And his son skies with my son. Sure maybe a ride. His name is Scott Mercier ----yea that one. The one who refused to dope ---with US postal service. Humm think he might punish me just a bit for crowding him on flight. I think yes. Another one of those ohhh too modest Aspen folks. no dope scott
Skiing
Yesterday I skied with my wife. I gotta say I am starting to find skiing a bit dull. Is it me or the conditions? Great question and a bit of luck gave me the answer. I got off the gondola and ski patrol was announcing that they had just opened up Walsh's. I was maybe the 10th person all season down it. Steep, fresh deep powder (a bit heavy but who the heck cares) big flying superman turns. huge shit eating grin as snow blew in my face and flew from my tails.
Answer is the conditions were taking away some of the fun---bring back the snow and the fun comes with it.
And it's snowing today.
Warning --tomorrow's post is deadly serious.
Friday, January 5, 2018
new years resolutions and record breaking snow
A kinda interesting observation. In NYC and Chicago the first couple of weeks of January the gyms had about 200-300% more people than 'normal'. Everyone makes their resolution to eat right, drink less, and work out. And for about 10 days they are on it. And then they drift away and by the middle of February you are back to the same old gym rats.
In Aspen the gym population surges maybe 20-30% post new years. Seems the folks out here that are committed to working out work out. Resolutions are not made about working out in Aspen. They might revolve a bit more around the drinking, drugging and pooping on the floor of Bootsy Bellows (all of which should be done less or maybe even not at all).
There was a recent article in the paper talking about our recording setting snowfall---19 in total for Nov and Dec and nothing a week into January. Maybe not an all time low but pretty close. The snow conditions stink, but at least there are fewer people around post holiday opening up a bit more room on the limited terrain that is available.
And when you mix crap snow with argro parents who are paying for their kids to be on a big mountain freeride ski team as a coach you feel you have got to justify-explain what the kids are doing. So they shot a video of the big mountain team in action (my kids are missing because one was playing hockey and the other sailing during the shoot). Still enjoy.
AVSC big mountain team--drop into no snow
In Aspen the gym population surges maybe 20-30% post new years. Seems the folks out here that are committed to working out work out. Resolutions are not made about working out in Aspen. They might revolve a bit more around the drinking, drugging and pooping on the floor of Bootsy Bellows (all of which should be done less or maybe even not at all).
There was a recent article in the paper talking about our recording setting snowfall---19 in total for Nov and Dec and nothing a week into January. Maybe not an all time low but pretty close. The snow conditions stink, but at least there are fewer people around post holiday opening up a bit more room on the limited terrain that is available.
And when you mix crap snow with argro parents who are paying for their kids to be on a big mountain freeride ski team as a coach you feel you have got to justify-explain what the kids are doing. So they shot a video of the big mountain team in action (my kids are missing because one was playing hockey and the other sailing during the shoot). Still enjoy.
AVSC big mountain team--drop into no snow
Monday, January 1, 2018
I found my calling
my higher calling----my job---my passion ---my mission in life is................
to be a bouncer-doorman.
I worked the door at Shlomo's for the AVSC event Saturday and it seems I finally found what I was meant to do. Namely say No. My wife and kids would tell you I have been practicing the big No for years around the house but now I got to put it to work. Fantastic.
"My kids are inside, can I go in and find them? " No.
"I was on the Super G team--we won let me in." No.
"I am screwing the captain of the super G team. Let me in." No.
"I am setting up the lights for the party tomorrow let me in"No. Wait leave me your wallet and you can go in. (see how flexible I can be).
"I'm dale Earnhardt Jr." Yes you are and No. Wait I've got a wrist band---then Ok.
"I'm a fucking Kennedy and Shlomo has a table for me." No. After Shlomo dressed me down anyone who said they were a Kennedy got in (new secret password) including one guy with more grey chest hair than anyone should show off (shirt and ski jacket undone to navel) and one older women who flipped me the bird while rolling past me at 20 mph.
Best look might have been Bode Miller with child in one hand and bottle (baby bottle of milk) in other.
Toughest question I was asked. "on a scale of 1 to bumping how bumping is this party' ohhh its bumping and the answer is NO unless you pay for a ticket.
On the plus side I was able to direct many No's to another volunteer who sold them a wrist band of fun which allowed them to join the party. We raised an additional 2k with a firm yet friendly approach to access to the best party of the year.
I was also offered a job working security. I gave that a firm maybe.
And I got to work Lesley and Huner Hill who were most excellent and maybe even find a backup sailing teammate for my son (the youngest Hill).
Happy and healthy new year to you ---and there is no snow. My daughter spent the day in the park mastering her 180s and 360s but for the rest of you out of town skiers skip CO for now---its bare.
to be a bouncer-doorman.
I worked the door at Shlomo's for the AVSC event Saturday and it seems I finally found what I was meant to do. Namely say No. My wife and kids would tell you I have been practicing the big No for years around the house but now I got to put it to work. Fantastic.
"My kids are inside, can I go in and find them? " No.
"I was on the Super G team--we won let me in." No.
"I am screwing the captain of the super G team. Let me in." No.
"I am setting up the lights for the party tomorrow let me in"No. Wait leave me your wallet and you can go in. (see how flexible I can be).
"I'm dale Earnhardt Jr." Yes you are and No. Wait I've got a wrist band---then Ok.
"I'm a fucking Kennedy and Shlomo has a table for me." No. After Shlomo dressed me down anyone who said they were a Kennedy got in (new secret password) including one guy with more grey chest hair than anyone should show off (shirt and ski jacket undone to navel) and one older women who flipped me the bird while rolling past me at 20 mph.
Best look might have been Bode Miller with child in one hand and bottle (baby bottle of milk) in other.
Toughest question I was asked. "on a scale of 1 to bumping how bumping is this party' ohhh its bumping and the answer is NO unless you pay for a ticket.
On the plus side I was able to direct many No's to another volunteer who sold them a wrist band of fun which allowed them to join the party. We raised an additional 2k with a firm yet friendly approach to access to the best party of the year.
I was also offered a job working security. I gave that a firm maybe.
And I got to work Lesley and Huner Hill who were most excellent and maybe even find a backup sailing teammate for my son (the youngest Hill).
Happy and healthy new year to you ---and there is no snow. My daughter spent the day in the park mastering her 180s and 360s but for the rest of you out of town skiers skip CO for now---its bare.
Saturday, December 30, 2017
aspen sightings
bald eagle, 12 point buck, coyote as big as a wolf----all in 2 hours in the AM
paris hilton, mariah carey (not yet warming up for the big new year's redemption) and VP Pence
Some bozos from LA who seem to think that my yoga class is the best place in the world to chat, gossip and groan
Many many tourists who are totally flummoxed by two way stop signs at 4 way intersections (plus ice) in the core of Aspen
crowds walking up and down smuggler in all their best purchases from the LUX Aspen stores---more like slipping up and down and sweating in things not designed to be sweated in
the exact same crowds walking around town at night asking 'where is the caribou club' --to which I honestly was able to answer 'no fucking clue'
Today I am bouncing at the high roller tent at Shlomo's post Ajax cup and let me warn you now Mr. Bode Miller---no wristband means no entry (I think .....right???)
paris hilton, mariah carey (not yet warming up for the big new year's redemption) and VP Pence
Some bozos from LA who seem to think that my yoga class is the best place in the world to chat, gossip and groan
Many many tourists who are totally flummoxed by two way stop signs at 4 way intersections (plus ice) in the core of Aspen
crowds walking up and down smuggler in all their best purchases from the LUX Aspen stores---more like slipping up and down and sweating in things not designed to be sweated in
the exact same crowds walking around town at night asking 'where is the caribou club' --to which I honestly was able to answer 'no fucking clue'
Today I am bouncing at the high roller tent at Shlomo's post Ajax cup and let me warn you now Mr. Bode Miller---no wristband means no entry (I think .....right???)
Thursday, December 14, 2017
and in local news...............
its snowed. We got the angry inch (or 3 maybe). We are still in jeopardy of having a green and brown x-mas. Which I am told by local weather luminaries would be a first EVER. Not a good first.
Remember the 12.5k lift tickets that Aspen Ski Co sold to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Snowmass. Well the bill comes due on that little bit of marketing genius tomorrow with maybe 100 acres of open terrain on Snowmass. I will be skipping the angry mosh pit tomorrow. To be honest I have skied one day for all of 2 hours.
In other news Woodbridge LLC is under investigation for fraud by the SEC and also hiding behind bankruptcy law to protect themselves. They own a ton of real estate in Aspen (and roaring fork valley) along with Southern CA. Bankrupt? WTF
In other WTF news the Aspen Club project is also having major financial difficulties. They haven't paid their builders in months, construction has halted, and there are liens piling up. Seems they didn't pre sell enough units to satisfy their lender who halted loans and is trying to wipe the equity holders out. But seriously WTF.
Why WTF--well if you didn't notice the price of every asset in the US except for Chicago real estate has been on a tear. How do you lose money and need bankruptcy protection when real estate is exploding. It's like losing money owning bitcoin this year. Not an easy trick to pull of.
Recent news also includes Aspen Ski Co starting a soup kitchen to feed employees most nights. This line came straight from the Aspen Times newspaper ' ski co has started a soup kitchen to feed unemployed workers'. Unemployed workers? Sounds like an oxymoron to me, but it seems SkiCo's seasonal employees working lifts, on mountain restaurants, base retail had to been here to start work under the assumption that the mountains would open. They didn't, so they don't get paid. And yet they can't really do anything else because they have to be ready to work. Oh yea, and most of them are in SkiCo housing so they owe rent to SkiCo while not getting paid to work and having to be ready to start work at a moments notice. Sounds like the old company store in the mining town movies. And then someone like Clint Eastwood (or Karl Marx) appears to get the man of their backs.
What was the SkiCo marketing message this year ---oh yea love (your employees by providing them a soup kitchen), unity (with your employees who you aren't paying), respect (your employees and by requiring them to be on standby and collecting rent checks from them while not paying them) and commit (to way out of the box thinking by bringing back the soup kitchen to feed your unemployed workers).
Mr Kaplan (CEO SKI CO) I know it's tough when the snow doesn't come as planned, but really a poor start to the season shouldn't be that surprising. And while you talk the community talk, and have a really new age marketing message and a lot of righteousness in your op ed pieces on the Wall St Journal, maybe you could figure out something a bit more creative than a soup kitchen to feed your 'unemployed workers'.
Remember the 12.5k lift tickets that Aspen Ski Co sold to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Snowmass. Well the bill comes due on that little bit of marketing genius tomorrow with maybe 100 acres of open terrain on Snowmass. I will be skipping the angry mosh pit tomorrow. To be honest I have skied one day for all of 2 hours.
In other news Woodbridge LLC is under investigation for fraud by the SEC and also hiding behind bankruptcy law to protect themselves. They own a ton of real estate in Aspen (and roaring fork valley) along with Southern CA. Bankrupt? WTF
In other WTF news the Aspen Club project is also having major financial difficulties. They haven't paid their builders in months, construction has halted, and there are liens piling up. Seems they didn't pre sell enough units to satisfy their lender who halted loans and is trying to wipe the equity holders out. But seriously WTF.
Why WTF--well if you didn't notice the price of every asset in the US except for Chicago real estate has been on a tear. How do you lose money and need bankruptcy protection when real estate is exploding. It's like losing money owning bitcoin this year. Not an easy trick to pull of.
Recent news also includes Aspen Ski Co starting a soup kitchen to feed employees most nights. This line came straight from the Aspen Times newspaper ' ski co has started a soup kitchen to feed unemployed workers'. Unemployed workers? Sounds like an oxymoron to me, but it seems SkiCo's seasonal employees working lifts, on mountain restaurants, base retail had to been here to start work under the assumption that the mountains would open. They didn't, so they don't get paid. And yet they can't really do anything else because they have to be ready to work. Oh yea, and most of them are in SkiCo housing so they owe rent to SkiCo while not getting paid to work and having to be ready to start work at a moments notice. Sounds like the old company store in the mining town movies. And then someone like Clint Eastwood (or Karl Marx) appears to get the man of their backs.
What was the SkiCo marketing message this year ---oh yea love (your employees by providing them a soup kitchen), unity (with your employees who you aren't paying), respect (your employees and by requiring them to be on standby and collecting rent checks from them while not paying them) and commit (to way out of the box thinking by bringing back the soup kitchen to feed your unemployed workers).
Mr Kaplan (CEO SKI CO) I know it's tough when the snow doesn't come as planned, but really a poor start to the season shouldn't be that surprising. And while you talk the community talk, and have a really new age marketing message and a lot of righteousness in your op ed pieces on the Wall St Journal, maybe you could figure out something a bit more creative than a soup kitchen to feed your 'unemployed workers'.
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
x mas tree shopping
Chicago wins this one hands down. Which is kinda weird, right? Chicago is a big city surrounded by a lake and suburbs. Aspen is a small town in the mountains surround by pine trees and yet........
In Chicago I had my X mas tree guy. They brought in fresh trees from Wisconsin twice a week. They gave me a couple of shots of whiskey. They gave my kids candy. They gave the tree a fresh cut, netted it tight and mounted it on my car or offered to deliver to my house (all in the same price). Oh yea and that price was 10-12 bucks a foot depending on how drunk the dad was.
End of the day I would walk out with a super fresh 9 foot tree, (5 feet wide at base) for $100 bucks and a little buzz. Wooooo Hooooo.
I've found 5 options around Aspen:
Clarks market in Aspen---7 foot tree for $385 bucks --yea you read that right a bit more than $50 a foot and the tree looked like it might have starred in Charlie Brown's Christmas.
Whole Foods in Basalt ---50 bucks for a 6-8 foot tree. Trees were cut down before Thanksgiving, you can get a fresh cut but not netted tight for drive 20 miles home, and the trees looked like crap.
City Market in Basalt --$85 for a wrapped up 7-8 foot tree cut around Thanksgiving. No fresh cut. No way to open tree up and see how it looked. Needles falling from tree when touched.
Eagle Nursery in Basalt-- $15-20 a foot. Pretty good looking trees but also cut around Thanksgiving and brought in from.........Minnesota? Yes fresh cut, no on netting tree to ease transport. This is what we went with --more than I wanted to spend but the trees and City Market and Whole foods just looked horrible and wouldn't be able to hold half our ornaments (unhappy wife --bad way to start Christmas season). The tree is not that fresh---post cut it is not gobbling up water.
Option 5 is interesting if you can handle it---for $10 you can get a permit to cut your own tree in designated areas of the national forest. Assuming you have the means to cut the tree and transport it this is obviously the best and maybe even better than Chicago. But what Chicago transplant owns a chain saw? Not this one.
Happy start to the crazy season.
In Chicago I had my X mas tree guy. They brought in fresh trees from Wisconsin twice a week. They gave me a couple of shots of whiskey. They gave my kids candy. They gave the tree a fresh cut, netted it tight and mounted it on my car or offered to deliver to my house (all in the same price). Oh yea and that price was 10-12 bucks a foot depending on how drunk the dad was.
End of the day I would walk out with a super fresh 9 foot tree, (5 feet wide at base) for $100 bucks and a little buzz. Wooooo Hooooo.
I've found 5 options around Aspen:
Clarks market in Aspen---7 foot tree for $385 bucks --yea you read that right a bit more than $50 a foot and the tree looked like it might have starred in Charlie Brown's Christmas.
Whole Foods in Basalt ---50 bucks for a 6-8 foot tree. Trees were cut down before Thanksgiving, you can get a fresh cut but not netted tight for drive 20 miles home, and the trees looked like crap.
City Market in Basalt --$85 for a wrapped up 7-8 foot tree cut around Thanksgiving. No fresh cut. No way to open tree up and see how it looked. Needles falling from tree when touched.
Eagle Nursery in Basalt-- $15-20 a foot. Pretty good looking trees but also cut around Thanksgiving and brought in from.........Minnesota? Yes fresh cut, no on netting tree to ease transport. This is what we went with --more than I wanted to spend but the trees and City Market and Whole foods just looked horrible and wouldn't be able to hold half our ornaments (unhappy wife --bad way to start Christmas season). The tree is not that fresh---post cut it is not gobbling up water.
Option 5 is interesting if you can handle it---for $10 you can get a permit to cut your own tree in designated areas of the national forest. Assuming you have the means to cut the tree and transport it this is obviously the best and maybe even better than Chicago. But what Chicago transplant owns a chain saw? Not this one.
Happy start to the crazy season.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)