The 19th Hole

Is Golf a sport?  That's a good question.  It's certainly a game (like Checkers) and a skill (like Bridge)----but is it a sport?  The only time we've ever worked up a sweat on the links ----is at the 19th hole.  We've tried to embrace Golf, and we have a collection of broken clubs to prove it. 

We know there are a lot of serious Golfers in Aspen, and it was great to see them show up for the GrassRoots
The Medalists from Rico Suave: Boone Schweitzer, Jeff Sivess, John Dresser, Jeff Hansen TV's FREE RANGE GOLF OPEN (F.R.O.G) last week.   It stopped snowing long enough for the "sold out" tournament to take place at the Snowmass Club.   30 teams competed vigorously for a variety of prizes and awards, and it was big time fun.  The RICO SUAVE (pictured) fore some eventually triumphed over an extremely competitive field.  Second Place went to the Aspen Daily News and Rasmussen Construction finished third.

Most importantly, $15,000 was raised for GrassRoots TV.   We support GrassRoots because they promote Freedom of Speech and open communication in our Valley.  User generated content (UGC) is a "very hot" commodity in the technology space right now.  GrassRoots TV has provided a platform for UGC since 1971. 

If you've got something to say-----roll on over to GrassRoots TV, book the studio
The Aspen Club Team: Dr. D'arcy Brown, Casey McConnell, Chef Clark Church, Kevin Smiddy.and go ON AIR.  We did it, it's fun.  Serious or funny----you can be seen and heard on GrassRoots TV.    
Resort Quest: Geoff Lubin, Michael Cook, Dan Sartain and Joe Jenkin.Click the pix to enlarge them.

          
The Young Guns from Woody Creek Cellars: Kevin Doyle, Tommy Doyle (long drive winner), Caddy, Coulter Young and Bobby Moyer.                           

D is for Destiny

D is for Destiny.  The D isn't hurting as badly this morning.  The Cup is back home in the 313.  For the 4th
Destiny for DETROIT.time in 11 seasons THE DETROIT RED WINGS are Stanley Cup Champions.  The playoff beards can get shaved and the hard-core fans can go back to worrying about their next mortgage payment.
The "perfect human" sprays it. 

D is also for DAVID VICTOR, a Detroit native and Aspen semi-local.  "Fall Line DAVE" ---as he's known in the gondy is a hard charger in all aspects of life.  He's a ripper (for an old guy), he's a successful entrepreneur, he's a mentch, he's a loving son, brother, husband and father-----and now he's the most politically influential Jew in the USA.  David Victor was sworn in as President of AIPAC on Tuesday in Washington D.C.  He is the first ever---second generation President of the Organization.   Aspen Spin is not qualified to offer political commentary---but we could not let this honor go without a proper acknowledgement.  AIPAC is one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the world, and our boy DAVE is now driving the bus.   You can learn
Dave smoothly strokes home his point at AIPAC.more, see vids and contribute at AIPAC.ORG.

All the biggest playas showed up to honor Fall Line Dave and AIPAC.  Johnny John McCain, O-Bee-bomb, Hill-Rock and more than half of Congress pressed flesh (palms up--no fist bumps) at AIPAC's Annual Meeting in D.C.  Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stated firmly before 8,000 checkbook waiving AIPAC supporters "We must stop the Iranian threat by all means possible".  The crowd agreed.

On a completely unrelated matter:

D is for disclaimer.  Jabba the Hutt is a fictional character created by George Lucas in the movie Star Wars.  Read more about his repulsive decadence at JabbaSpin.com .  We've used Jabba metaphorically to represent some of the pro-growth cartel/development practitioners and their henchmen in Aspen.  Any similarities or comparisons to real people or events are purely coincidental and solely from your own imagination. 

Jabba does not exist, and bigger is not always better---especially in ASPEN.

Brains over the Bay

Click for Web 2.0 pixWe thought the whole "geek squad" image of the High-Tech Industry was just a nasty stereo-type.  Now, Aspen Spin is among them. Just like Edgar Winter (see pix) some of them only come out at night.

Our internship in San Fran started at the Google I/O conference at the Moscone Center last week.  What an eye-opener for a small town boy!!!  3500 web engineers, developers, programmers,coders and analysts, plus Aspen Spin.  What time does the party start???

The brain power and tech savviness was apparent and palpable.  Actually it felt great to be the coolest guy in the room for once.  Many thanks to the few attendee's who actually looked up from their lappies to engage us in a conversation.  Tech-speak is a whole new language for us and we never really felt "in the flow".  One well-worn t-shirt caught our attention,  "will code for bananas", the well worn guy wore it two days in a row.

We want to thank GOOGLE for putting us in the loop and showing us the future of the internet.  We're already planning our customized Gadget for Open Social, and we tried out 1-800-GOOG-411--------Awesome!!  Click the WEB 2.0 pix to review the action.

Tonight we caught the SEX and the CITY movie -----along with 350 ladies.  San Fran has a lot of positives---right?.  The girlz at the Century Theatre gave it a standing O.  It's gonna be HUGE---women were watching it back-to-back-to-back, discussing the DVD release date in the lobby-- and every single show was sold out.  Our take---it's a vapid spectacle and completely watchable, although a little snoooozy.  A bit more depth wouldn't have hurt, with these fully developed characters-- but hey it's Hollywood.  They'll do $55 million this weekend.

Jabba Time

It's quiet in Aspen right now, but the underground network is abuzzzzz. 

Soon it will be Jabba Time.

It's no secret that Jabba the Hutt and his LLC brethren will soon be running the swingin'-est place in Aspen, and we're not talkin' JUNK.  "Good food and good friends" predicted one insider.  The big fella (& getting bigger?) is about to open up his new joint in Aspen.  It's on the  corner where for the previous 50 years a historic landmark thrived.   Now, it's a brand new world.  Our little ski town is getting Jabba's Hutt. 

We'd love to be one of the flies on the wall over there---but A-Spin is already permanently banned from the place.  The menu may include "spraying the infield", steak for "8",  "Dinosaur" Ribs, and Kobe Sliders with "twice chewed" onion rings.  Mmmmmm mmmm good.  You can probably wash it all down with some fine wine from the former collection of ---- old what's his name---- that short, abrupt, Aussie dude who used to run Ford---- and traded away their trademark.   You can't make this sh*t up if you tried.

The restraining order on A-Spin will no doubt still be in effect for the HUGE grand opening---- but we'll get pix anyway.  One of Jabba's closest advisors summed it up with this tidbit of wisdom--- "it's always good on the way in". 

Look out Aspen----it's Jabba Time.

Free Range Golf

Click to EnterGrassRoots TV 12 is hosting one of the best events of the summer on May 30, 2008.  It's a perfect excuse to take the day off from work to support a great cause---and play 18 holes.

The FREE RANGE OPEN GOLF (F.R.O.G.)Tournament @ the posh Snowmass Club is GrassRoot TV's Annual golf throw down--- so don't miss it.

The Texas Scramble style tourney is open
Click to Enterto EVERYONE.  You can enter as an individual or with your own team of four golfers. The $100 per person entry fee is a substantial discount from the regular Snowmass Club greens fee.  So support GrassRoots and get a great deal too.

All proceeds from the event go to support GrassRoots TV 12,  the first and oldest non-profit community access TV station in America---founded way back in 1971.   GrassRoots TV's mission is to "protect and nurture open channels of communication for the citizens of the Roaring Fork Valley."  If you recently watched the Aspen Spinnie Awards on TV 12 (or see below) --you know that freedom of speech is important on GrassRoots TV 12.  

It's not to late to enter---click or call.   www.grassrootstv.org  or 970-925-800.

Click OFF-OFF-Season to see great pix from the following local shooters.

Adam Dennis    www.adamseye.com                         

Emily Palm        www.emilypalm.com

Jordan Curet    www.SportsShooter.com/jcuret

Dina Bloom       www.DinaBloomPhoto.com

Kate Olson       www.katekolson.com

Zach Ornitz      www.SportsShooter.com/zornitz