AP Photo

Nicely done!

The Colorado Rockies rose to the occasion in the bottom of the 13th inning to beat the Padres 9 to 8 with the winning score coming from Matt Holliday.

The controversial question out there and being blogged across the sportosphere is… “Did he touch the plate?“.

Well, did he? The best view has got to be from the ump but Holliday could have done a great deal more to reassure us as his post game response was basically “I don’t know, but the ump said I did”. Okay that is the same answer we all have. I almost wish we could have gone on for another couple hitters (and gotten another run) just to leave no doubt.

I think he did hit the plate right when his hand was also getting stepped on. But isn’t that what folks expect our bias to be… the Rockies fans think it was a good call and the Padres fans don’t. But ultimately it is the ump standing a mere couple feet away that has the best view. And the biggest reason I believe he did touch the plate is not the ump’s call, as we all know those can be wrong. But the comment by the Padres manager Bud Black: “It looked to me like he did get it.” That seals it for me.

I am dang proud of our Rockies and they did one heck of a job tonight. And once again (or maybe for the first time that I can remember) the city is full of Rockies enthusiasm. Seats are full and I heard cheers ring across the CPV tonite after the game as the celebration continued. This is another great thing to be a part of a city, the celebration of your heroes or in this case the creation of them. What do you want to bet that a whole batch of kids are running around in Rockies jerseys over the next week. It’s nice to have heroes without bullets too. And of course, the fact that the Rockies were counted out makes it even sweeter. They were even refused when asked to prepare for post season tickets, unlike other teams that were “expected” to make it. Why, I feel just like when I first watched Rocky.

Apparently some of our fans had already given up after the Padres scored that 2 run homer in the top of the 13th. Someone who was passing by the stadium while the Padres were still jumping around celebrating (jinx) said the roads were packed with grumpy looking people dumping out of Coors Field at a record pace. She didn’t know what had happened but said the crowd looked upset. This, ladies and gentlemen, is why I hate to leave until the very last play. Even if it means you fight the crowds getting out (whoopie) isn’t that you want to bear witness to, one of those awe inspiring come backs in the face of dangerous odds. Where people simply do something wonderful.

Midway through the 6th inning I got online and picked up tickets to all the possible future games just in case the Cinderella story comes true. I can tell how far out the confidence level goes because each game out my available tickets got better and better. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that I have a reason to use every last ticket and need to buy some more.

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I set off for Tokyo on Monday morning to see another part of the world. Tokyo has always been one on my list of places to see, and certainly to eat. I even held off on Sushi for a week beforehand just to get ready (Tokyo Training). I had saved up some points on my United Mileage plus to save me some bucks and with a little schedule adjustments found dates for a week of exploring.

My early morning flight out of DIA took off a little after 8 am. With little sleep from the night before, either from nervousness or excitement, it was an easy crash on the plane. I slept the entire way to my midway stop in Vancouver. [Read more →]

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It is funny how the mass media of today has so much based upon the childhood hobbies many had growing up. If geeks rule the world as Bill Gates sets an example of, their former hobbies rule entertainment. Look at the comic book take over of the movie industry. From those old comic books to the big screen the X-men, Spider Man, the Fantastic Four, Batman, and even Ghost Rider are common place today. Don’t forget TV where the “Heroes” series commands a large market share just like the Sopranos did. It must be this generations version of the X-files. Of course until Cerebus (a warrior aardvark) makes it to the screen perhaps the conversion from comic to screen isn’t entirely complete.

The New York Times even had an article a few days ago (sorry I didn’t save the link) about an author who was paid millions for a trilogy of Vampire and superpower style stories and the movie rights. The catch… the buyer never even got to read them. This is all hedging on the huge popularity of Harry Potter and the idea that a trilogy that captures the imagination will generate a huge fan base and millions upon millions of dollars in revenue.

Imagination rocks and it appears we all want to stay kids as much as we can. Sounds right up my alley.

It seems only logical that the next big wave would be literature. And my most recent read, catering to those childhood comic book hobbies, is a wonderful and fun read called “Soon I will be invincible”. Better than a comic, this has all the fun and wild world of superpowers, magic, and super robots that kids just love. In addition there is are real characters with their own stories and a two part perspective hopping back and forth between the perspective of the not so perfect heroes and the easily likable super villain

The book is great. I couldn’t put it down and while some folks may have trouble grasping the idea of a comic converted into a novel I can tell you it just plain works. It entertains you. It dangles that crazy world of make believe right in front of you and lets you just have fun.

And if folks keep shelling out millions for these style of books I just might have to have a little fun and put to print those wild imagination ideas I had as a kid. And if you remember your childhood well you will also remember how fun make believe can be. Life is serious enough as it is.

Happy reading. If you check out the book come back and let me know what you think.

I found it in the New York Times Book review. Read their full review here.

Here is an excerpt published on the Denver Post.

Here is the official website.

And here is a link to buy it.

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Nope, this isn’t a continuation of the scooter story saying I only go 10 mph. This is about a movie being done by some Denverites called 10 mph that will be playing here starting August 9th and going through the 12th.

The story is based upon a documentary by a couple guys who, basically, decided not to give up on their artistic ambitions for a regular paycheck. So they did what so many aspire to do and quit their jobs to go hit the road. Their method of hitting the road, however, may not be what many of you aspire to.

These two adventurous spirits set out to conquer the world, from coast to coast, on a segway. You heard me right (or read me right) that these two friends, Josh Caldwell and Hunter Weeks, carried on this quest at a mere 10 mph. They had a crew following them the entire way, sought out sponsors, and had both good and bad run ins with local law enforcement. From Seattle to Boston, their 200+ hour trip was documented and the best 90 minutes or so is making to a screen for your entertainment.
They claim that the movie will make you want to quit your jobs so maybe you should see the movie on a Friday night to give yourself time to reflect. Or not, its really up to you. Either way, it looks like a great story.

One point they make is that we just need to SLOW DOWN. Since we now cruise across the country at 70 mph in our steel boxes we have lost touch not only to the feel of our surroundings but even to the enjoyment of the details. I agree. Even just going from my car to my scooter or bicycle I suddenly notice more about everything. I see the neighborhood better, the little restaurants, shops, people. Everything. I also notice the person on the cell phone who almost runs me over but that is a different detail. It’s a good point that is based upon the premise that with the very first travelers across America their average speed was 10 mph and it was a better speed for living and, at that speed, for smelling the roses.

Hunter Weeks and Josh Caldwell met in college while studying abroad in Indonesia. This exotic adventure served as a precursor to the exploratory path the two friends would lead as business partners and eventually co-producers of 10 MPH, a feature-length independent documentary and their debut as filmmakers.

They began their entrepreneurial journey in Tucson, Arizona with the launch of a non-profit organization aspiring to explore the world through a web-based interactive experience rich with multi-media content including audio interviews, video, photography and writing. Throughout the next few years, they realized several periods of growth and transition until the time came for them to leave their nine-to-five web marketing jobs to pursue careers in film and multimedia.

They moved to Denver, Colorado to launch their production company, Spinning Blue, and soon after began production on a documentary following a whirlwind coast-to-coast 10 mph road trip that would solidify their passion for that thing they knew they were meant to do: filmmaking.

Their previous professional endeavors armed Hunter and Josh with the business knowledge, strategic sense and logic they needed to successfully undertake a feature-length production. Their sense of adventure, curiosity and passion for telling stories gave them the courage they needed to dive in head-first.

With virtually no connections in the film industry, no formal training and no financial backing from investors, Hunter and Josh whole-heartedly embraced the independent nature of this first production. Taking a grassroots approach to building a web of supporters throughout communities across the country, Hunter and Josh were able to create a qualified film while defying conventional means to filmmaking.

They used one Sony PD-150 with a 16:9 lens as well as some additional microphones during production, logging 180 hours of footage after an intense 100-day period of principal photography. They rallied a small post-production team, soliciting help from the Denver film community for special effects, sound engineering, and other postproduction needs. They edited the film using Final Cut Pro.

Interested in tickets, check out the film site at the Denver Film Society.

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Why is this person so happy. Because while it is dumping rain outside and other poor souls are driving with white knuckles fighting traffic, the elements, and sleep she is cozy in her train cabin sipping a drink, reading a book, and watching the beautiful outdoors go by.

This is what we need from Denver to Vail (With a stop in Summit of course). I just drove down from another mountain excursion this morning and while I was blown away as always by the view, I couldn’t help but think how nice it would be to have been sitting and reading my paper while making the journey.

And this was a beautiful uncrowded day. But when I went up on Sunday I-70 was PACKED with cars heading down. Nothing compared to the ski season but certainly another reason to get on a train.

Just picture this. You head over to Union Station and grab a nice warm cup of coffee, a newspaper or book, and some of your best buds. You load all of your stuff onto your train car and grab a wonderful cabin with benches and curl up. The snow outside is dumping and the weather is freezing. The roads are going to be icy, if open at all. But you will make the trip to Vail in bliss surrounded by laughter, warmth and friends.

When you are hungry or thirsty you eat and drink. When you have to use the bathroom you do (but leave your cabin for this). When you are tired you sleep. You are safe.

The train might even have a dining or bar car where you can grab a bite or a drink. The folks going to and from the mountains might be the perfect audience to make this work. Or who knows what other luxury is possible. Perhaps a massage after hours of pow pow skiing or rock hopping biking.

Or maybe the train simply has seats that look out the mountains and allow all of these comforts with gorgeous views. Either way, it is a better experience than driving in a car.

And would you like to know what makes it even better? If it is planned out right we can

1: Promote alternative transportation

2: Reduce many many carbon footprints (my biggest violation is that drive to and from the mountains)

3: Make it a fun, fun journey for many people.

So why am I bringing this up again? Because I want to get started with planning, designing, and more before we go and add another lane of traffic to I-70. Or at the bare minimum we can try and send a message that we support this direction and promote the idea that it might happen (hopefully sooner rather than later).

And yes, I know there are challenges. But those challenges become greater every day that we continue doing short term solutions such as expanding lanes. Let’s support a long term solution with environmental responsibility.

Plus it will be more fun. And just to see if there is an interest out there please show your support at this ipetition here. Maybe it will even show enough support to encourage a private investment firm to get involved as discussed in the Denver Post. It doesn’t matter who does the train, what matters is folks get out of their cars.
Pass it on!!

Here is the scoop from when it was voted down from High Speed Monorail

Colorado I-70: state says highway, not monorail (1/13/05)
Denver, Colorado. Colorado transportation officials are sticking to their belief that a high-speed monorail is not the way to solve highway congestion from Denver to Vail. Their vision is for more pavement, by widening Interstate 70 through the busy mountain corridor. Last month the state released a draft environmental review that favors widening I-70, while rejecting both a high-speed monorail or a conventional rail line as too costly. In the first of ten public hearings on the I-70 mountain corridor study, almost 200 people showed up Wednesday to voice their opinion. Most of them favored monorail and said CDOT’s idea to widen the highway will be outdated when completed by 2025 as proposed. A plan for a Colorado High-Speed Monorail using inverted-T rail technology lost steam when Colorado voters turned down money for a test track in 2002. That proposal was described derogatorily as a “Disneyland ride” by Governor Bill Owens, which helped sway voters against the ballot measure.

The vote below is for the blog…. the real vote is available

clicking here!.

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On Sunday we enjoyed another wonderful dinner at Sushi Sasa (does this place rock or what) celebrating a birthday and then continued over to Forest Room 5 for a little after dinner cocktail. What a pleasant suprise we got when we arrived and learned that they were holding their weekly movie nights.

So here is the scoop. Every Sunday and Monday FR5 (Forest Room 5) takes full advantage of their great outdoor paito and sets up a projector and launches a movie against the big brick wall opposite them. What a great idea! Just take a sight sore vacant wall and turn it into drive in style entertainment.

Whatever movie was playing on Sunday was definitely from the offbeat path. A mix of artsy and Kill Bill style gore, it was if nothing else some great background for in depth discussions over slowly sipped tequila or tasty micro brew beers.

If you want to know what kind of movies you can regularly expect, the answer is anything goes. Apparently all requests are considered and the joint is not so busy yet that you can’t have your own screening occur.

So check it out, pick a good flick, and swing back to the Urban Brain Forum to please let us know what you are planning or what is playing next.

P.S. photo take on iphone.

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Yep, that’s right… I jumped on the iphone band wagon and went down to 1001 16th street right on the 16th street mall to get myself an iphone. I hadn’t made up my mind 100%, maybe 95%, that I would be getting one but once I got there I could not resist. It was just so exciting and fun, like being a kid again waiting for the first release of a favorite movie.

When I got there I at first got all excited. Unable to get going until 6 pm I was worried how late I might be. Stores were opening at 6 pm across each time zone and across the country and I was well aware that the volume of hype was great. But I thought to myself… “maybe everyone is thinking there will be alot of hype and won’t go” and “it is alot to pay for a phone”. One of the two and probably a few others items might have been occurring. [Read more →]

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Just a sad FYI that I am guessing most everyone knows… There ain’t no snow in them there hills.

Yep. I was up in the mountains over the Easter Weekend and this shot of the Bachelor Gulch lift shows what everyone knows. The snow is mostly gone. It was a low snow year for the mountains and a record breaking snow year for Denver. Could it be climate change or does everyone still believe that this is a hoax?

I am using the climate change term after a colleague pointed out that it was a safer term that global warming. Whatever is happening and with all the disputes about global warming one thing is clear. [Read more →]

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Yep, someone pulled the ultimate trick in Riverfront Park today with a Jet Pack. Taking off from the deck on the Bridge this Rocket Man took off and flew about 200 feet down to a meeting spot on the 16th. And this was LOUD!! the Jet Pack was reported to give off 150 decibels and my ears are still ringing.

Cool. Apparently the Rocket Man was in Central Park yesterday and now Denver has made his list.

And here is the landing

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There are some very cool things going on with the new Union Station Neighborhood. Today I got a chance to see the model for this great vision on display over at the Union Station Neighborhood Co. office (which is, conveniently enough, in Union Station). With the lights on in this building people can’t help themselves but to poke their head in with curiosity (just like me).

This just looks cool. A great pedestrian plaza down the Union Station corridor takes shape along with the transit lines and building shapes. Wow!

Visit and contribute to the wiki detail for Union Station Neighborhood Co.

or check out a poorly done video at

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