Giving Thanks

Well, I spent Thanksgiving on my couch in Tahoe, sick as a dog. Too sick to make my anual dinner with Wade, Kelly and her parents....but what can ya do. First of all, I never get sick. Ever. But I awoke Tues feeling like I got hit by a truck. After feeling sorry for myself Thanksgiving morning, I realized that, compared to many others, I am blessed.

And, the skies have opened up and it is dumping right now! 2 feet expected out of this storm. I am chomping at the bit to get out and do some storm skiing today, but I know that will just set me back. So I will stay in today, rest, and hit Alpine first thing tomorrow morning to sample the bounty.

Let us all give thanks......

Ski Movie Stoke this week

2 Ski movies this week: MSP's "Yearbook" is Tuesday night in Larkspur:

https://www.skimovie.com/wwwx/tourdates.cfm

TGR's "Soul Purpose" is Wed night @ Palace of Fine Arts:

http://www.tetongravity.com/

Plan is to meet up for a few beers post-show @ Liverpool Lil's

A Plea to Canada

"Canada, Oh Canda..."

OK, Canada, time to step-up. We really want to become part of the great white north. Think about it: you would get California, OR and WA on the west coast, and most of New England on the east coast. Good old IL, WI & IA in the middle would round out the deal.

Edit: this is classic: http://www.fuckthesouth.com/

Why Kerry & the Dems Lost

My friend Ian from NY sent this article to me this morning. It hits the nail right on the head IMHO as to why the DNC can't connect with voters in the "red states", and how the GOP has essentially taken what should be the DNP's natural base and turned it against them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/03/opinion/03kris.html?x=1100500772&ei=1&en=c0ed46fd7d0af01a

I think this opinion piece from Electeblog does an even better job of distilling this: framing. The GOP has cornered the market on "values". It's how they frame the issue, not about actual values per se.

http://www.electablog.com/2004/11/picking-reason.html

Vote

Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard.
H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956

"The outcome of Washington Redskins football games has correctly predicted the winner of every U.S. presidential election since 1936. The Redskins have proved to be a time-tested election predictor. In the previous 15 elections, if the Skins have lost their last home game prior to the election, the incumbent party has lost the White House. When they have won, the incumbent has stayed in power. This election year, that deciding game takes place on Sunday, October 31 ... vs. Green Bay." Original article @ Ben Maller.com

Well guess what? The Pack whupped-ass on the Redskins yesterday! Combined with the Red Sox winning the WS, the lunar eclipse, & skiing powder in October, could this mean JK is our next presidnet?

The electoral college update is all over the place, changing every day as new polls are released....
see for yourself: http://www.electoral-vote.com/

Sugar Bowl 10/30/04: First Turns of the Season

Sugar Bowl: Palasides

What a way to start the season! Sugar Bowl was the call this past Sat as they were opening the Lincoln chair to the top. The day cracked blue-bird and I was there @ 8am to get in line with all the other powder-crazed locals. Jerome spun first, and I took a quick look around and hit a north facing tree covered run down to Lincoln: wow, light and blower, i couldn't believe it. 6 big fast turns later I was in line @ Lincoln with a big grin on my face. What a first run of the season.As the line and anticipation built @ Lincoln, I kept staring in amazement at the all snow up here. This is October 30th? Looked more like Jan 30th.

more goodness

DougMan from Cottonwood and Me

After Lincoln started spinning, I hooked up with "DougMan" (a bartender from the Cottonwood and legandary powder junkie) as I knew he would know where to find the goods. We hit the Palasides area (was closed from the top) by traversing just below the chair out skiers left. It was untracked, shaded and ohhh soo good in there. Shin-deep turns all the way down, light and fast. Kept expecting to hit some rocks or other hidden nastiness, but never happened. We session'ed this area for 5-6 runs, and every one was faster, smoother and better than the last as my legs got back into the groove after a long season off.

Bottom Line: this was an epic opening day in October! Let's hope this portends good things for the season and the storm door stays wide-open. El Nino is muy bueno!