BIG Monday

Freshies in JUNE on AJAX.Two huge announcements hit the tape today.  A-Spin was on top of both of them early.

Aspen Mountain, aka, AJAX is opening up for Summer Skiing.  June 13-15, 2008.  "If you've got it, ski it" said Ski Co's operations czar, Rich Burkley as he joked about  the "early summer" conditions.  Be advised tickets are not free, even for pass-holders, so bring some cash.  The "foodies" probably won't be ridin' those days, but we predict a long line anyway.  Locals and pass-holders should take care of their ticketing early.   The window opens on Thursday June 12. Click Aspen/Snowmass for the details.

A-Spin's tech staff attended the Apple WWDC 08 in SF.  We were excited to cover the story.  But we were under whelmed by Apple's presentation , and apparently so was Wall St.  In a nut-shell, on July 11, consumers
Jobs Spins it.will get a newer, cheaper more powerful I-Phone. The new 8GB models are priced at $199. $299 for 16 GB.   ATT will be raising their service fees too.   Techno- philes and first adapters have nothing to really get excited about---except maybe longer battery life.   The lower price should stimulate demand for the touch screen phones, but where were all the bells and whistles?   We expected more from AAPL.

We've been considering a company-wide switch to Apple lappies and phones.  But after today, we're not so sure the perceived brain damage is worth the switch.

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.