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Archive for November, 2009

Day 200 - On the Mountain

November 30th, 2009 No comments

Yesterday we got a pad in Mammoth.

I can see our pad from here
I can see our pad from here

Today, we’re outfitting and giving a little back.

For starters, I’m putting $100,000 into a travel/mountain fund that covers gas, meals, lift tickets and gear for the next five years.

This year we’re going at least three weeks, five if we can swing it. And we’re updating all the equipment we can.

For the little guy we’re trying out Sport Chalet’s Season Pass, one fee, always tuned gear for the whole season. Great deal.

The other $100,000 is going to the National Forest Foundation, specifically to their Ski Conservation Fund. The fund does a lot of great work in addition to what the State and Federal Park Service and Conservation Corps are able to do.

They raise money from people who use the areas. Having something to contribute to their efforts is a privilege.

Categories: The Prosperity Game Tags: , , ,

Day 199 - Mammoth Condo

November 29th, 2009 No comments

It’s Winter.

We love the snow and the mountains.

Ski Home
Ski Home

The last few years I haven’t gotten my son up to Mammoth for snowboarding nearly as much as either of us would like.

So, today, we’re grabbing a Condo of our own.

This one.

Here’s a brief description as it showed up in the listing:

South Facing, Amazing Sun, Million Dollar Views, and on Mammoth Creek. Newly developed highly energy efficient units include all Energy Star Appliances and much more. Mammoth Lakes Housing has down payment assistance available to eligible buyers.
And here’s a short boarding video to get us all in the spirit of just how RAD it is to be on the mountain day after day, jump after jump.

Mammoth is an amazing place to be for the terrain, the air, the trees and the wildlife. Summers here are tremendous too. Now we have a place, so we can always come back. This one listed at exactly $199,000 so, with experience I’m sure we got that to include all the fees, taxes, commissions and stuff that people include in these kinds of deals. Tomorrow we’ll get the mountain passes and gear.
Categories: The Prosperity Game Tags: , , ,

Day 198 - Inventing History

November 28th, 2009 No comments

I’ve noticed that I have two very common threads in this game. At least, the ones I see.

  1. I’m fascinated by inventing new technology and discovering ways that can connect people more authentically.
  2. I’m also really caught up in preserving craftsmanship.

There’s a part of me that wants us to totally reinvent ourselves. And a part that wants me to make absolutely certain we don’t abandon our best accomplishments in the process.

So, how do I apply $198,000 to that today?

Is there a way to innovate preservation?

There must be, he said to himself.

Is that what I’m really, truly here for?

Could be, again, to himself.

Am I mad?

Let’s not go there.

Research and development is the primary concern of any enterprise with a will to surpass.

Think Think Think
Think Think Think

So, today, I establish a Think-Tank designed to innovate on the preservation of culture. How do we move the activity of appreciating our heritage outside of the Smithsonian and the History Channel and into something visceral and engaging?

Or, is that really even the question?

Family honor preserved tradition for centuries. Is that what we need in this new era to create a reverence for the excellence that has allowed evolution to continue?

So many standards have been crushed in the name of progress, only to be rediscovered and adopted by the conquerors of once great nations.

Is the question a little further upstream? How do we satisfy Mankind’s need to proliferate and analyze while eliminating the disastrous effects of our tendency to destroy?

Hmmm… definitely time for a think tank. Climb in brainiacs. When you figure it out, I’ll split $198k between you. Maybe more.

Categories: The Prosperity Game Tags: , ,