IT'S NOT THE GUNS, OR RACE, IT'S THE VIOLENCE What happened to Tyre Nichols is horrific. If you haven't watched the video I think you should, although it is very, very hard to watch. You can see it here. The beating is shown best at the 51 minute mark and it's horrible. Four cops beating a man with handcuffs on like it's a sport. I hate to say it like this but thankfully these cops were black, or we'd have another round of "this is white supremacy" though the issue to me is our culture of violence. Even Tyre's mother said she "hates" that black men did this. Just the same as it when there is a mass shooting, it's the culture of violence we have created that made these men think it was okay to beat this man to death because they were angry he ran and they had to run after him. It's cops who are steeped in street created violence every day, taking out their frustrations and aggravations on a man who is now dead. When we were in Canada there was a warning on the television about violence before the tv show NCIS and I sort of laughed, but now I'm wondering if we need to be more conscious of what we're consuming in our country. My friend Nick Ferguson is on today at 2 to talk about this entire situation. This is a really good explanation of the charges and legal proceedings around the five former Memphis cops who killed Nichols.
GIVING RESTAURANT WORKERS A STAKE IN THE GAME Chef Justin Cucci Cucci has implemented a pioneering, self-funded 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan at his Edible Beats restaurant group. He has started some of Denver's most interesting restaurants including Root Down, Linger, El Five, Vital Root, Root Down DIA, and Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox. I'm interested to speak with him about it, as the only restaurant I've ever been to that has an employee ownership plan literally has the worst service of any restaurant I've ever been to (Casa Nueva in Athens, Ohio) so I want to know how he plans to keep things working well under this type of arrangement. Super cool for his employees though! He's on at 12:35 to discuss.
A VERY INSPIRATIONAL EVENT IS HAPPENING NEXT MONTH And I've got Kim Easton from the National Sports Center for the Disabled on today to discuss their annual Wells Fargo Cup to raise money for their incredible cause. I've been privileged to broadcast from this event in prior years and am looking forward to being there again this year. It's incredible to watch people with significant physical disabilities fly down the mountain skiing. Just a great event, find out more here.
LEARN ABOUT AROD'S INSPIRING WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY First off you need to listen to our health and fitness guru Michelle Zellner's Better Beings podcast anyway, but this episode with ARod is especially good. I'm so proud of him and this gives you a window into the head of Anthony.
COLORADO DEMS KEEP USING AN ILLEGAL SECRET VOTING SYSTEM TO KILL BILLS Even though they have been told that doing so is a clear violation of the law. I'm taking about what they call "quadratic voting surveys" that leadership then uses to decide what bills will even get a hearing. Defenders of the secret process say it's merely a way to gauge what is important to lawmakers before the session, but why not release the results then? KUNC has tried to get the results for years and have been told no, which makes this a secret ballot which is a clear violation of every transparency rule in government. Either make it public or stop it. There is no in between. Read more here.
ANOTHER STUPID RULE THAT COULD MAKE BEING A LANDLORD WORSE And this one is about pet deposits and aggressive breeds of dogs. Alex Valdez, who recently shut down his solar business without paying his staff, now wants to prevent rental property owners from being able to charge a pet deposit or hold a renter responsible for damage done by a pet. At the same time, he wants to prevent rental owners from banning dog breeds. We already know that we don't have enough affordable housing here, why do Democrats want to make being a landlord even more expensive? If I can't charge a pet deposit, I'm going to raise the rent to cover the damages, which almost certainly would be higher than the $1000 Valdez has decided to allow for such things. If I have to replace the carpet in a rental, that is over a thousand bucks easily.
NEED SOME HELP RAISING KIDS? WATCH THIS.
AT LEAST BRING BACK THEIR DEAD RELATIVES, THIEF This story is so sad but not at all surprising, as one family who was trying to move out of crime ridden Denver had all of their possessions they had packed into a UHaul stolen in one fell swoop. And when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING, including the remains of their dead relatives. Way to go Denver! The family is asking for their dead family members back at least.
AND ANOTHER LIBRARY SHUT DOWN FOR METH This one in Arvada, which proves how widespread this problem really is. Read more here.
HOW THE PUSH FOR EQUITY DESTROYED SEATTLE Seattle used to be one of my favorite cities in the US. Not so much now, as homelessness and drug addiction has been allowed to flourish in the city, all in the name of "equity". This column does an outstanding job of pulling back the curtain on the damage "equity" has done to the city and I highly recommend you read it, as we are pursuing the same policies here.
DISNEY TRIES TO REGAIN ITS MAGIC AFTER PRICING MOST OF US OUT OF THE PARKS This is a good story about the miserable experience that has become a trip to Disney. Wildly overpriced (and I say this as someone who has been to Disneyworld so many times I can't count them all) and overcrowding that means long lines all day, the backlash is beginning. Let me just say this. Instead of spending $10,000 to go to Disney, go to Europe instead. It's money well spent versus a super hot and humid week of misery. Just saying.
WE TIED A COLD RECORD FOR TODAY And I don't want any more of this nonsense anytime soon. Read more here.
BEWARE OF FROSTBITE TODAY And this is a good article of how you can tell if it's setting in and what to do.
WINTER PARK IS CREATING WORKFORCE HOUSING And unlike Vail, where opposition used big horn sheep as an excuse to keep the poors out, Winter Park Resorts is already moving forward to create 350 beds in housing to accommodate their workforce. I think this makes Winter Park the preferred destination for the young ski bums who want to work the slopes. Read more here.
PEOPLE ARE LEAVING COLORADO OVER POLITICS And this editorial talks to a real estate agent who is confirming this but is anyone really surprised? Chuck and I are already talking about where we are going to retire, because when all the bills come due for the progressive laws being passed right now, I'm not going to be here to pay them. See the above column about Seattle to understand what full Democratic governance brings.
THE SURGEON GENERAL SAYS KIDS ARE TOO YOUNG AT 13 TO BE ON SOCIAL MEDIA I don't disagree with this, by the way, but I find it outrageous that he says kids can't be on social media because it's bad for their mental health but we should offer children suffering gender dysphoria gender affirming care without question.
VACCINES HAVE HAD NO MEASURABLE EFFECT ON COVID DEATHS Now we know they don't prevent us from getting it, they don't prevent us from giving it, and they don't reduce the overall mortality from covid. So what are we doing with vaccines other than making Pfizer richer?
CAN WE TALK ABOUT MANNERS FOR A MINUTE? I saw this article reminding people about basic manners and at first I was distressed that such an article was necessary but then I was glad someone did it. Are you up to speed on common manners these days? Read about them here.
HIIT IS OUT, WEIGHT TRAINING IS IN And I think this is a good idea because I hate high intensity cardio with the fire of a thousand suns. Read about the exercise trends towards sculpting and yoga and walking as people realize that working until you vomited is not only necessary but not something that is sustainable for more people.
USED CAR PRICES ARE COMING BACK DOWN TO EARTH After the pandemic created a huge shortage of new car parts, used cars jacked WAY UP in price. Now the prices and sales numbers are coming back down to reality, which is good news for someone who needs a new ride. Read more here.
PFIZER'S RESPONSE TO PROJECT VERITAS IS EXTREMELY WEAK And the fact they dropped this on a late Friday afternoon is a big indication to me that they may be guilty of the gain of function (directed evolution is gain of function even if they tell you it's not) that was exposed by a Project Veritas video last week. Read this for more.
CNN HIT IT'S LOWEST RATINGS IN NINE YEARS And if they are going to right the ship, this might not be horrible news. As CNN tries to regain it's status as the most trusted source in news they have to shed the hyper-partisanship that drove people in the center or the right away in droves. If they are trying to move back to the center, it's bound to drive away those hyper-partisans who were the only ones watching. This is a good interview with CNN Chief Chris Licht about what they are trying to accomplish. I hope he gets to stay and see it through.
NORMALLY I JUST GO AND GET THE LAUNDRY BUT WHATEVER These people have too much time on their hands. Click here if it doesn't load.
THE GREAT PEN DEBATE OF 2023 IS ON But I have a hard time disagreeing with the Tweeters original choice. What is your choice?
SCHOOL SENDS OUT FUNDRAISING EMAIL TO PAY A COYOTE For bringing the student into the country illegally. Be sure and read the email, and make note of what they call the people who traffick human beings.
I'VE BEEN TELLING JINX TO GET A JOB But I didn't have this in mind. Click here if it doesn't load.
A NEW DOG SECRET LANGUAGE! This guy gets it. Click here if it doesn't load.
MY BIRTHDAY IS IN JULY YOU KNOW Because I need these. Now. They will be $1399 and you can pre order them here. I for real want these. Bad.
THE PERFECT FANCY GIFT FOR VALENTINE'S DAY! Click here if it doesn't load.