From the Papers

Word on the street is that Lance Armstrong wants to get involved in bicycle racing in Colorado now that he has a home in Aspen. According to the article in the Aspen Daily News, Armstrong wants to bring bicycle racing back to Colorado . . . I am not sure what I have been doing the last few years . . . in reality, the Colorado racing scene, though strong, could use some help. There are some really good races that are put on and then there are some mediocre space fillers on the calendar.

I know it is a thankless job being a promoter, blah, blah, blah, but charging $35-40 for a race in the middle of nowhere, making courses shorter and shorter, cutting prize lists to the point where the bottom step of the podium isn't even getting their race registration covered is pretty weak. I suspect if budgets were revealed, we'd find out that the "cool" races are the least profitable. That's where the organization that supports all of this comes in since they should be serving an advocacy role, helping promoters secure permits and do some coalition building between stakeholders . . . or something like that . . . or they could ensure that everybody gets a medal.

I briefly alluded to the homicide in my neighborhood the other day, but for those of you not in the know, the clerk at the 7-Eleven on Pearl and Louisiana was shot and killed the other night/morning. Sounds like the suspect has been through the doors of the Colorado justice system and in this case, the door was simply revolving.

According to the Denver Post, Dr. Diamond, State Psychiatrist deemed the suspect both "so thoroughly mentally incompetent that he could not stand trial" and "well enough to send home from a halfway house, so he could live without state supervision". Talk about a dangerous and ultimately deadly non sequitur. In the words of my sister, that's about as smart as deeming someone too thoroughly stupid to stay in school, but giving them a diploma as a consolation prize. How about, you are the worst driver in the history of moving vehicles . . . go on, get out of here, just drive yourself home.

"Dr. Diamond assured the parties and the Court that Mr. Baylis 'no longer requires residence at the Princeton House but could proceed to community placement. In a community placement, Mr. Baylis should be of low risk to be of harm to himself, to others or to the community.' The emphasis in this sentence was provided by Dr. Diamond," Chambers said in the release.

This was from the DA's statement in a 2003 case in which said suspect stabbed his neighbor. Nice going Dr. Diamond, as a reward, you should have to fill the slain 7-Eleven clerk's position and all wages go to his family.