And in the former downtown location of Borders Books, we’ve got Spirit.

Spirit at the old Borders

Notice the “Cafe Espresso” sign still on the wall. I’d make a Hamletonian lament along the lines of “funeral meats not yet cold,” except, of course, they are. They are so cold. And they’ve been reheated by the warm summer sun. And the flies and crows have long since had their way with them. They are compost.

Not to be outdone, Halloween USA has taken over the ex-Circuit City.

Halloween USA at the old Circuit City

This has been your official warning that, yo, Halloween is coming. Get ready, y’all.

Why?  After talking with Damon over at the original Game On! I came to the conclusion that my attempt at trying to poke 9news into actually responding to me/the social media world was two things.  One is that it was filled with a bit too much vitriol and probably soaked in a bit of bitterness.  And two is that it was probably hopeless.

9news has reached out to me once in regards to a news story via DM on twitter.  I responded and then gave the person some ideas on how they could be involved with the twitter/social media world.  I received no response back to those overtures.  They were not filled with ill intent.  I simply gave ideas.

No response.  Therefore (and based on others in the twitter world I’m not alone) I’m giving up on trying to reach them through the means of the social media world.  It’s become quite clear they don’t (at least at this time) intend to use the tools and services that are in the here and now.

My apologies to 9news for the chip in my shoulder feeling the below article featured.  It was not something I’m particularly proud of as a writer/blogger.

Thanks,

Aaron DeLay

Denver, be the judge. See the following blog posts about a name situation that’s come up between two stores. One is Game On, recently founded by a young man who lost his mother to tragic circumstances. 9news covered this story for their news broadcast and promoted the store.  Read the below blogs to get the full, complete and total story before you read my opinionated reaction.

Damon’s Blog about the issue and Game On!’s blog about it.

In the other corner is Game On! a store founded seven months ago and has been working aggressively in putting their image out into the community. They’re online, they’re twittering, facebooking and everything else you should be doing in the social media world.

In the middle of this is 9news. A station which has not uses twitter in a effective manner and for the most part ignored the social media (as far as I can tell). I have a simple question for 9news. Did you google “Game On” and “Denver”? Cause I did and guess what I found?

This. What research did you do on this story? I understand the underlying emotional impact this young man has experienced and the point of this story. I’m not upset about that. What I am upset about is for all the claims you make about being the best in the business, award winning, most watched and everything else…you couldn’t have one person verify that indeed this is the only store with the name “Game On”? Took me five seconds.

I don’t want to jump the shark (I’ve done that far too many times in my lifetime) but I’d like to know that someone thought this through or at least knows about the long and arduous journey Game On! has been on to make it where they are.

Maybe I’m writing this in anger (there’s a very good chance) but I’d like to see 9news exhibit better skills and talents in running a story.

Hopefully 9news has a opinion on this.

The other issue that I’m leaving alone for now is the name issue. The stores share near exact logos and names. This will need to be solved, but I’ll leave that up to the management at both locations. Hopefully something can be worked out.

Squee #2 – Boulder City Council are urging Amtrak officials to alter that old line a bit. The Pioneer used to run through Greeley, but considering all the local support surrounding FasTracks and the much-anticipated Boulder Transit Village, they suggest the revived Pioneer run instead through Boulder. Direct rail travel from Boulder to Seattle? OMGWTFBBQ!!!1!1!1!!!eleven!

I done saw it in the Daily Camera (also in the Colorado Daily, for more detail, via Twitter feed AmtrakNews) where the sole commenter as of this moment is voicing support for the reinstated line but not for “regular Amtrak trains through Boulder.” I’m not quite sure why. Do they fear the noise and congestion of 20 TRAINS DAY, I SAID TWENTY MILLION TRAINS A DAY, SINGING A BAR OF ALICE’S RESTAURANT– Dude, chill. You got any reason to expect the Pioneer will run more often than the California Zephyr, which is to say once a day in either direction? You think that’ll add any significant hullabaloo to the existing freight traffic that passes daily through town on the BNSF? Or maybe they worry that Boulder will suddenly host a super big amount of car traffic as the new Amtrak Mecca? I am confused. Enlighten me.

As for me, I totally support an Amtrak stop in Boulder. Do you? Squee here! Don’t you? Explain!

As you possibly did not know, ’cause I certainly didn’t know until just now a minute ago when the robo-call came in, portions of Northeast Boulder will experience an interruption of service tomorrow, Thursday May 14th, starting around 12:30 PM.

How Northeast? Think roundabouts where the Bolder Boulder 10K starting line is. Remington Post, sure. Diagonal Plaza? Alterra/The Atrium? Eagles Nest and the various units on O’Neal? Dunno.

Prepare to do something non-electric, go elsewhere for your wi-fi and A/C fix, or just gloat that you’ll be at work anyway and won’t notice a thing. Me, I’ll be taking a nice walk around the block, maybe bring the socks I’m knitting with me. After all, the weather’s supposed to be lovely.

Shouting out: Did you get a robo-call today? Write in and tell us so, and roughly where you live. No, don’t give out stalkeriffic personal data; just give an intersection or something. Comment anonymously if you like. It might be cool to try to predict via Super Blog Community Powah! exactly how wide the area affected should be.

Jefferson County recently sent out their assessments for this year.  Ours went up by a ridiculous amount and I had to ask a few of my friends whether they had seen similar increases.  They all reported the same thing.  Their assessments were raised by $50,000, $60,000, even $150,000 from the previous year.

Needless to say, we are all going to appeal.

The question is – why?  Given what we all know to be a major drop in real estate values, why would Jefferson County have picked this year to increase our assessments by such large amounts.

We all came to the same conclusion – they need the money….  I think this is also why there are so many police cars out their handing out speeding tickets.  They need the revenue.  And they are taking it out on us.

The realtor told me that he is as busy as ever, but the average closing price is much lower than at this time last year.  Last year, his typical home sale was in the $200,000 – $300,000 range.  This year it is much closer to $100,000.  He says that many of the home buyers are first-time buyers trying to take advantage of the $8,000 stimulus checks being cut by the federal government.

My other friend’s construction business has been at a standstill for the last several months.  He is barely hanging on.  However, he did say that he has a new project beginning in a month.

I plan to keep my ear to the ground and report on what other business owners in the Denver area are telling me about their businesses over the coming weeks and months.

I believe that the Stimulus and Recovery package that President Obama recently signed provides for $8,000 to be paid to any first-time home buyer. Apparently, the Federal Government is getting that money out pretty quickly.

I wanted to jump in here and announce that AMC Theatres has given me a great chance to do some blogging, vlogging, intervewiing, twittering and all kinds of fun stuff for the upcoming “Best Picture Showcase” going on on the 21st of Feb all day at Westminster Prom and Highlands Ranch 24.  30 bucks gets you five films for review before the Oscars.  Cool, huh?

Well, I’ll be at the Westminster Prom doing live blogging, twittering, vlogging when I can and whatever else I can to take advantage of being able to report on a local event.  Who knows, maybe we’ll have a streaker or something.  You never know in the crazy town of Denver.

Well, odds are not in my favor on the whole streaker thing.  But I could pay a guy…

You’re welcome to seek me out, email, comment or whatever manner of contacting me suits you (no stalking please, I do have scruples) so we can meet up, discuss and hell, even vlog if you’re up for it.

Also, the Denver Metblogs Vlog project is still alive and kicking.  I rendered a instro (see below) and will be working on putting together ideas and thoughts for that part.  You’ll see a video from me here in the next few days on that topic.  So, you have my sexy hot mug to look forward to here in the next few days.  That’s motivation enough to check back or even add us to your feed readers.

Ok, at least give us a chance?

More to come in the next few days.

New Fancified Intro:

Twestival is going on February 12th, 2008 and involves twitter-ers in respective areas.  Thanks to Chuck Blakeman, we’ve got a Denver Twestival in the works.  If you’re looking for details, check out the website and also see Chuck on twitter for more information as well.  See below for some more information and check out the site as well.  I am going to try to be there, but it all depends on work hours.

On 12 February 2009 105 cities around the world will be hosting Twestivals which bring together Twitter communities for an evening of fun and to raise money and awareness for charity: water. Join us by hosting a Twestival in your city, attending an event, or participating online. The Twestival is organized 100% by volunteers in cities around the world and 100% of the money raised from these events will go directly to support charity: water projects.

The other big nerd deal is Wordcamp Denver!  Yep, it’s here!  The Wordpress Camp Phenom has been going for a few years and now we’re getting our own!  Check out the website for details on registering, who is going to be where and all the good stuff.  I’ll be there with bells on and excited to meet people in the Denver area who are Wordpress focused.

I’m not bagging on Metblogs or the Denver Metblog.  That’s far from the case.  I think we as a team o’ writers (which reminds me, where the eff is everyone besides me, Nicole, Abisset, John and John’s wife) are trying to figure out just what in the world the purpose of the Denver Metblog is in the long run.

As a Metblog we are supposed to report on the things happening in our city and blog from a local perspective.  Trouble is, Denver’s already got that covered five ways to Tuesday with the aforementioned items in the first paragraph.  The voice of Denver Metblogs has become something of a meandering drunken homeless person on Colfax (apologies to all homeless drunken people on Colfax).

So the question is, what is the Voice of the Denver Metblogs supposed to be?  Are we simply parrots of the endless streams of blogging material already out there?  Do we need to take on a project for the next few months to craft and attract attention, eyes and in the end loyal readers?  This question is open to everyone reading this right now, so feel free to let loose in the comments.  Mind you, you’ll have to register and all but I’m curious to see what/if anything y’all have to say.

Also, if Metblogs management is reading/watching/reacting to this, please don’t take offense.  I’m just of the opinion that my city needs some different ideas on where this blog may or may not go.  Besides, I’m not the captain.  That’s John Wilker and he’s right over there…*runs away hands flailing like a school girl*

With apologies to all school girls.