Friday Donuts

Friends, Winter’s arrival has been conspicuously… wintery. Sudden snow accompanied by an unabashed blast of arctic air. A blatant change so shameless one could be forgiven for suspecting it a deliberate flaunt. The change of seasons kicks-in our door and calls us to attention howling “Denver, I’m hoooome!” We knew Wednesday’s wonderful weather was too good to last, still it was easy to distrust the foretold 40 degree drop. It was warm enough for a pleasant lunchtime stroll down 16 th street. Warm enough, for a turtleneck-clad lady with an ancient typewriter on a rickety tray table to sit outdoors selling bespoke poetry. Warm enough, it seemed like a good idea to blow my entire weekly donut allowance on one such a poem -a present for you. Not a dozen donuts but Abigail Mott’s poem about them. As you snuggle in your warm corner, sip on warm cocoa and gaze out your window at a landscape that’s beginning to look a lot like winter, enjoy these fanciful lines written on a whim at the req

Friends, The end of network neutrality has me thinking. If Internet content is like donuts and telecommunications networks are roads, then, the FCC’s new ruling has given the private road owners the ability to add tolls to their lanes -with a twist. The relevant tolls we’re talking about are for the side streets where people live. That’s the scarce resource, not the main freeways where excess capacity exists. If you are a donut delivery service you can either buy a toll pass to ensure your donuts get there while they’re still hot or you can take your chances on the free lanes. Your donuts will get there, perhaps a little cold, but they’ll still get there. Of course, now I’m thinking about real donuts, so I’m going to hit send and grab myself a sweet treat. They may not be hot, but they got here. Happy Friday!

Friends, Did you notice the scores for the building remodel at the Tabor Center are in? They’re posted permanently for all to see –and the judges were brutal! While I realize the project has taken an eternity and I appreciate the use of a prime number as the scale used, a two out of nineteen feels overly harsh. They have, after all, tried to be accommodating, closing-off construction zones and trying not to inconvenience tenants with work during the day. That ought to be worth three or four points at least. Then again, I can see where the judges are coming from. The lobby has, after all, been a construction zone for well over six months. On the other hand, the sunrise outside the Dunkin’ Donuts this morning was spectacular. In my humble opinion, it’s deserving of a perfect 13/13! As for the donuts, I will let you be the judge (all I ask is that you use a prime number scale to score your selection). Happy Friday!

Friends, Driving into Denver, I am often tempted to take-out my phone and snap a shot. Most often I check myself and forgo the phot opportunity. While safety is a concern, the biggest reason is that the angle on the lens, the quality of the sensor and the movement on the car make for disappointing results (buildings look small, shots look blurry and texture is grainy). There is this spot on 84 th and I-25 where I have decided I need to bring a good camera with a longer lens and a tripod for sunrise photos. Another good view comes on the ramp from I-25 to Park Avenue. It’s this latter spot where I will sometimes indulge and sneak-a-pic. This week was unusual as I gave-in twice. Wednesday, the clouds painted the city a tangerine orange and yesterday, the cloudless sunrise made the buildings glisten like jewels on silk. These dramatic changes in appearance for what is basically the same cityscape got me thinking about light and perspective. Were days gone by really better, or is