Mircea Oprea and Christopher Wheatley recording Roaring Fork Mountain Air episode 101 in Basalt Library
Roaring Fork Mountain Air with Christopher & Mircea
S:1 E:1Date: Dec 12, 2025
Please join Mircea Oprea and Christopher Wheatley on Roaring Fork Mountain Air as they discuss local outdoor activities Wintersköl!, climate updates (positive only) - the impact beavers have on the area, Wheatley story of the week - the "death" of Wizzo, local entertainment updates - happenings in local Theatre and, unpopular idea of the week - the need for breeding licenses and close with a "Moment of Hope" on affordable housing from plastic waste in the oceans.
Roaring Fork Mountain Air - First Episode 101 (text version)
Roaring Fork Mountain Air - with Christopher Wheatley and Mircea Oprea
Dec 12, 2025
[MUSIC: INTRO]
CHRISTOPHER: Hello, this is Christopher Wheatley
MIRCEA: and Mircea Oprea
CHRISTOPHER: Hosts of the Roaring Fork Mountain Air a positive forward-thinking podcast with the good people of the Roaring Fort River Valley in Colorado.
MIRCEA: and beyond
CHRISTOPHER: We have a great show in store for you today, where we're going to talk about Wintersköl, all kinds of fun and activities. The theatrical and musical happenings of the valley, breeding licenses, beavers, John F. Kennedy, and affordable plastic housing bricks, just a name a few.
MIRCEA: So, sit back and join us as we present to you our first episode of Roaring Fort Mountain Air with Christopher and Mircea.
[MUSIC BREAK]
MIRCEA: And welcome back.
CHRISTOPHER: Welcome. We're gonna be looking at some outdoor activities. A lot of people think that Aspen is all about summer recreation and fun and the valley, and it is, but it's also about winter activity, and lots of fun there too. We feature the snow report, which we don't really have a lot at this point. We're still making snow on all four mountains in Aspen, and sunlight as well. There will be some races coming up, and we'll talk when we get into details about the upcoming Wintersköl celebration, and cross-country trails pervade the valley. In fact, I was told that Aspen, the Roaring Fork Valley had more groomed, tracked, Nordic, cross country trails than any place in the world, until the Whistler Olympics, when they built three kilometers more just so they could have more.
CHRISTOPHER: Yes, it's true, but that's not all. You can downhill ski, you can cross-country ski, and don't forget those snowshoes, they're unbelievably beautiful winter hikes you can take. All up and down the valley and in the surrounding areas.
MIRCEA: What does a, where does one go to get snowshoes?
CHRISTOPHER: There are many places. I know you can check them out at the Aspen Recreation Center and the Snowmass Recreation Center and play it against sports and Aspen sells refurbished items. And I believe also in Carbondale, there's an establishment called the Gear Library where you can check out winter gear in summer gear. It no cost at all. It's just like your library. You check it out and return it in a timely fashion. There's also lots of skating. You know, both at the Louis Ice Arena and the Aspen Recreation Center and the Glenwood Springs Recreation Center has open skating as well. And there's also outdoor rinks off the Katherine Store Road on your way to Carbondale. And I also be remiss if I didn't mention the Aspen Ice Garden where you can pop in for some competitive curling. I like to call it the Game of Stones.
MIRCEA: My grandparents did that curling.
CHRISTOPHER: It turns out that it's not just about beer drinking anymore, but it does help, I think, a lot, with especially with the brushing. Absolutely.
There's basketball. In fact, Aspen High School, you know, is a recently one, the Colorado State Championship in basketball, and their coach Cory Parker shout out to him for another successful season, not just a coach in teacher, but an alumni as well, and so we love Cory. And winter fishing, you know, don't be afraid, you know, the fish don't really get cold, and they keep moving, and arguably, even hungrier in the winter, and you do have the Roaring Fork River, and the Frying Pan river, are gold metal trout streams, that are not to be missed if you are so inclined.
That takes us to a Wintersköl. A uniquely Aspen in Roaring Fork Valley event. Started in 1951 by the citizens of Aspen, and an event to maybe cheer up from the mid-winter, doldrums and sadness sometimes in the sun. You know, we used to call it the "Mushroom Days" where you go to work in the dark, and you come home in the dark, and you're kind of fed, extra nutrients, you know, like a mushroom.
And so to battle that, they started Wintersköl in 1951, and it was in mid-winter, but somehow, over the last 74 years, it's migrated to this weekend in December. And I remember when I first came to the valley here in 20, whatever years ago, there was a parade. They had the Air Force Academy marching band. There were floats. And it was quite the event. The Saturday celebration. There were ice sculptures and all kinds of... My favorite was the K9 fashion show, which I was a dress your dog up and win some treats, you know?
MIRCEA: Did you submit your dogs?
CHRISTOPHER: No, I tried to enter myself. It didn't go well for me. They kicked me out immediately.
MIRCEA: Did you have the reindeer headset on?
CHRISTOPHER: Yeah, I did. With a little dogears on, absolutely. And I even put my best ugly sweater on, but it was to no avail. But Wintersköl is with us. I mean, starts tomorrow. Wink in there.
MIRCEA: Where can they go for to find out more information?
CHRISTOPHER: Oh, you have to kind of hunt it down.
MIRCEA: Okay. We should put links on our website.
CHRISTOPHER: We should.
MIRCEA: All right.
CHRISTOPHER: There's a lot of great events happening on Friday at 6 o'clock. This is all going to be kind of by the gondola Plaza at Ajax. But the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club is having a rail jam at 6 o'clock on Friday. And on Saturday, they're hosting the Torchlight Parade down Aspen Mountain with fireworks after that and that all starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday. And also there is the Aspen Extreme Costume Contest. That would be tomorrow Thursday, December 11th, at a ZigZag and that is at 10 p.m. And interestingly enough, at Snowmass Village at the base Village Park. They are having what they're calling the game of stones curling competition. And there is also free music on the mall with the Hugh Phillips band. And then Saturday, of course, is the big day opening day for Highlands and Buttermilk Mountains. And so that might either make things more crowded or read things out a little bit. I guess we'll have to see.
MIRCEA: I think we could get err on more crowded.
CHRISTOPHER: Undoubtedly. I might mention at one, excuse me, at one o'clock, at 4:40, and 645 pm at Wagner Park. There are the drum bots, which are the precision rhythm artists and electronic beings.
MIRCEA: So this is all part of Wintersköl.
CHRISTOPHER: These are all Wintersköl events.
MIRCEA: So it's like different companies, and like you said Ajax, and I know the Wheeler Opera House has something going on as well.
CHRISTOPHER: And yes, the drum bots, the percussion, is at Wagner Park. And from 2 to 6, well that's going on. There is, oh yeah, a beer festival going on there.
MIRCEA: Okay . . .
CHRISTOPHER: So we wouldn't want to miss that as well.
MIRCEA: Is there going to be any ice sculpting?
CHRISTOPHER: I believe that has moved over to Snowmass Village. Okay, you know, you bring a knife in. You can sculpt someone's car, I guess. Really?
MIRCEA: What about my chainsaw?
CHRISTOPHER: Yeah, I've been to eat that at home. TSA forbids that, you know. Also at Wagner Park, and not to be missed from 3-5 is a bonfire. And my personal favorite event, "Soup School," which is a competition among chefs and restaurants and caterers in the valley. And to try to win the Giant Silver Spoon Award.
MIRCEA: Wow.
CHRISTOPHER: And it's maybe the best free dinner you'll ever find in the nest, really, I think. Um, and it's just delicious. I mean, I've had smoked trout chowder with a lathe of sweet corn.
MIRCEA: Oh Stop.
CHRISTOPHER: I still have memories of it, right? And um, an homage to Johnny McGuire back in the day who used to make cheeseburger soup.
MIRCEA: Ooooo
CHRISTOPHER: That was a winner as well. But uh, so grab your spoon and come down to Wagner Park and enjoy the, you know, it's super until you get cold and then go to the bonfire. And at 8 p.m. at the Wheeler on Saturday is Chad Goes Deep, which is the comedy show at the Wheeler Opera House with several humorous performance. Sunday is a little more subdued, but I really encourage everyone from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Limelight hotel at Aspen are free puppy portraits.
MIRCEA: Oooo
CHRISTOPHER: Yeah, that's not to be mad like that. My dog is already grooming himself for it. Really, I think all of it's pretty good. And I would also love to plug at the Tacaw, The Art Center at Willets on December 11th and 12th that is Thursday and Friday the Consensual Improv will be doing their holiday shows. And you know, if you need a good laugh, I promise you'll get one there. Absolutely. So, and that I think . . .
MIRCEA: So that's the outdoor stuff?
CHRISTOPHER: . . . and that's all the free outdoor events.
MIRCEA: Oh, wow. Okay. And again, there's multiple probably multiple websites. We'll try to come . . . we'll try to consolidate as best we can on ours.
CHRISTOPHER: There's a pretty thorough one at the Aspen Chamber of Commerce.
MIRCEA: Okay. All right. All right.
CHRISTOPHER: That's where I got a lot of my information. And just, uh, Aspen, Snowmass skiing.
MIRCEA: Will that cover, uh, as well as what's going on in Snowmass as well?
CHRISTOPHER: Yes. If you go to the Aspen Snowmass the Ski Co website.
MIRCEA: All right.
CHRISTOPHER: They cover both of those. And then the Wheeler, of course, has a very rich website.
MIRCEA: Okay.
CHRISTOPHER: As well.
MIRCEA: All right. And again, we'll try to get those up on our website as well, which is, um, uh, roaring fork, uh, mountain air . . . right . . . dot com?
CHRISTOPHER: That's what we agreed upon.
MIRCEA: (Laughing) I think that's ours.
CHRISTOPHER: (Laughing) Yes. Absolutely.
[MUSIC BREAK]
MIRCEA: and we're back. Uh, thank you so much, Christopher. For your update on outdoor activities. I understand that you also have a climate update for us.
CHRISTOPHER: I do. In fact, it's a segment called Climate Update. And today, I'd like to talk about an advocate for beavers. Yes, beavers. Because beavers are our number one check against wildfires. And as the west grows increasingly dry and increasingly warm, wildfires are sadly going to become a fact of life. So, enter the beaver. Beavers are able to cut down kindling and wet down dry areas, which are potential spots for wildfire eruption. They also are 35% roughly of a wolf diet in the wild. And given that we've reintroduced wolves into Colorado, it'd be nice to know how many beavers we have and where they are. So, here in the Roaring for Valley, we've been studying exactly that to the Healthy Rivers and Streams Board of Pitkin County (https://www.pitkincountyrivers.com/) and determining where they are located and where they're working to serve us.
Now, they've gotten a bad reputation in the past, you know, they've disrupted some creeks and streams for ranchers and farmers, but in the age where climate change is becoming, as we say, the largest existential problem facing humanity, bevers in the West are not only a native species and interact with everything we have in our bio, but are also our best check against the wildfires. And so I support more bevers out there and putting them out in those dry places and let them get to work as we like to say, "it's about damn time".
MIRCEA: That's great. Thank you for the climate update.
[MUSIC BREAK]
MIRCEA: Wow, okay. Thank you so much for the Climate Update Christopher. And now we're moving on to our segment of weekly story of the week.
CHRISTOPHER: Yes, this is where I think back of my many years of living on the planet. Actually, I'm going to start as early as I can really remember. And it's a weird story that merges a pretty important historical event with my odd memory and association as a just turned four-year-old. I was a born in St. Joseph, Missouri, and a Methodist hospital, which I mentioned, because it's the same place where Walter Cronkite was born. And so that's the way it is, I guess. But this memory goes back to November 22nd, 1963.
I had just turned four. And every day at one o'clock would be the Whizzo the Clown Show. And he always started with his song, "Who's the clown?" And you know, we'd sing the song, and I would sit in front of the television with my sammy and my sippy cup. And we would sing the Whizzo song. And he would start in, you know, it was a wonderful hour. But then on November 22nd, 1963, Whizzo had just started this song, and was just, the show was just beginning. And all of a sudden, he was no longer on the screen. And there was a man, Walter Cronkite, actually, and I, I felt discovered later, started talking and he's sitting there in a suit and tie and talking during the Whizzo show. And I turned around and I noticed that my mom was crying. And I said, Mom, I'm mad they took Whizzo off too. And she told me that I didn't understand that a great man had been killed so naturally, I assumed they had killed Whizzo. And so there it was all week. Whizzo on the carillon. Whizzo of lying in state. Whizzo going and being interned in Arlington cemetery. It was very powerful and moving for we fans of Whizzo. But then on Monday morning, Whizzo was back. So naturally, I assumed he was Jesus. But that turned out not to be true either. So you know, darn kids, they have those most memorable and interesting memories of events. And, I might add, that it is in fact the first what I would call public event that I do remember. But sadly, I guess I misremembered.
But that's it. That's the, uh, weekly story of the week.
MIRCEA: We'll be right back.
[MUSIC BREAK]
MIRCEA: And welcome back to Roaring Fort Mountain Air. And Christopher has some goings on entertainment updates for us. Take it away, Christopher.
CHRISTOPHER: It's true. Thank you, Mircea. I uh, would make past presents first and talk about the Aspen community theater production that just recently closed the Neil Simon comedy rumors. I mentioned it because one, it was very funny. And, uh, two, it puts community into theater, because, you know, it's kind of where I really got to know Mircea very well. We actually got to play parts in the show. I played a character called Ernie Cusack, and Mircea played Lenny. Lenny, what was Lenny's last name?
MIRCEA: Lenny Ganz
CHRISTOPHER: Leaonard Ganz. That's correct. Yes. And a shout out to all those other fun people we got to do comedy therapy with for eight weeks. Um, I kind of have to admit, I kind of miss it.
MIRCEA: That's right. We were at the Wheeler Opera House from the 13th, the 16th. And then we moved everything, including the set to the Ute Theatre in . . .
CHRISTOPHER: Rifle
MIRCEA: Rifle
CHRISTOPHER: Colorado.
MIRCEA: Right. And it was like 21st to the 23rd, I think, right?
CHRISTOPHER: Absolutely.
MIRCEA: and it did very well there, too.
CHRISTOPHER: Wonderful experience?
MIRCEA: Yeah.
CHRISTOPHER: Lots of lots of laughs going on out there. And I think we need laughter a lot more, maybe now, than ever.
MIRCEA: Yes. I agree.
CHRISTOPHER: So that was the 49th actually anniversary of Aspen Community Theatre. It was their show. They had not done a straight play, as they say, since 1993.
MIRCEA: Wow.
CHRISTOPHER: It was really nice to bring in. It was also Rumors. Then in 1993 I hear. So next year, we'll be there 50th anniversary. And I'm very excited to see what production they put on. Uh, musical play or both. You know why not do both? I'm so, that'll be fun to know.
MIRCEA: Chris and I also did, uh, we were the Butlers.
CHRISTOPHER: Yes. We buttled.
MIRCEA: We buttled. That was back in August though, and that was, uh, through the Wheeler Opera House again.
CHRISTOPHER: Yes. And it was Clue: The Aspen walking experience, which was essentially an escape room with no time limit.
MIRCEA: Everybody had a lot of fun. Yes. Everybody just had such a great time. Uh, what was that we set it up right at the, uh, at the, uh, Wheeler Opera House in the, uh, ticketing area.
CHRISTOPHER: The lobby there.
MIRCEA: and then, uh, we set them loose on Aspen and then we met up with them at The Hotel Jerome, right?
CHRISTOPHER: Yes. About 1.9 miles later. Yes. After. And, you know, Aspen Colorado . . .
MIRCEA: How many places where they found clu es?
CHRISTOPHER: I think there were nine stops.
MIRCEA: That's right. Uh, but everybody had such a fun time. I hope they do it. So look for that in August next year.
CHRISTOPHER: We did lose a few people that used the coupon for the Margarita, at - Mi Chola, and they just would kind of stay there.
MIRCEA: They just phoned in their response.
CHRISTOPHER: Exactly.
MIRCEA: It wasn't Colonel Mustard, it wasn't him.
CHRISTOPHER: But that was a lot of fun. And, uh, it was a pleasure working with you there. And then we both decided to audition for Rumors. And I think it was a win win.
MIRCEA: A lot of fun on the stage with you. Arguing with Ernie.
CHRISTOPHER: He is not a nice person sometimes. Well, like Lenny was too.
MIRCEA: Yeah Lenny wasn't a great person either. His BMW got pretty banged up too.
CHRISTOPHER: He has to work on one finger. But that's a reference to a line in the show.
And other venues in the entertainment community in world, I mentioned Wintersköl earlier, there is a comedy show, Chad Goes Deep at the Wheeler on Saturday, December 13th. And the next day, we have the Aspen Coral Society, who will be presenting their 49th presentation of the Handel's Messiah. And it's a beautiful piece of work. It has survived, I guess, about 300 years. Yeah, it's been a while. And also, at the Wheeler, on the 22nd of December is Dance Aspen, putting on a production called A Snowy Soirée, so it sounds kind of racy. I like that. And then on the next night on December 23rd, Chloe Flower is a pianist, a composer, and a cultural icon is how she's built. So that sounds very interesting, and we would always be looking for that.
MIRCEA: and this is all at the Wheeler Opera House.
CHRISTOPHER: This is all at the Wheeler Opera House. It's right there on the, they call it at the Wheeler Turn at the fountain.
MIRCEA: Oh yeah,
CHRISTOPHER: We all know about the fountain. And I just want to plug that Nick DeWolf was the co-designer, and there's over a million microcircuit in there, circuitry chips in the fountain. So, it's an algorithm that he swears will never ever repeat. So, one of you I think should just go get a lawn chair and sit at the fountain next summer and just wait for it to repeat because you know, then you could prove him wrong, and it'd be great.
Down valley a ways, and not that far, right? In Carbondale, Colorado, there is a wonderful theater and institution called Thunder River Theater Company, TRTC, and they will be putting on some productions. They do a series called "Pink to Black", which is a music series, and on January 16th, at eight o'clock at Thunder River, is a band called Kiltro. And well, I don't know much about them, but we'll find out more for our next broadcast.
Also, on December 14th, actually from tonight, the 10th, through December 14th, is The Stages of Life or Sol Theatre, is putting on Anie Junior. And so, go support those kids and as they grow as actors, from little little ones all the way through high school.
And looking ahead a little further, they just had cast in a production of a play called K2, which begins in February. And it's a two-person show, and this will feature the talents of actors Eli Legut and David Lettingham. And that'll be a lot of fun as well.
MIRCEA: So, I saw two performances at the Thunder River. This is in Carbondale. And ah both of them were excellent. Saw The Secretary. Is that right?
CHRISTOPHER: Yes.
MIRCEA: and what was the one that you were helping out with?
CHRISTOPHER: True West.
MIRCEA: True West.
CHRISTOPHER: Sam Shepherd.
MIRCEA: Wow, that was a . . .
CHRISTOPHER: Messy show.
MIRCEA: and one of those actresses in both, right? What was her name?
CHRISTOPHER: Yes, Libby. Right. Was ah the . . .
MIRCEA: She was . . .
CHRISTOPHER: The mom in True West and then she was kind of a psycho worker at a gun shop.
MIRCEA: She was great. She was very good.
CHRISTOPHER: She scared me, I know. But yeah, absolutely. She has that effect.
I might also put a plug in. I want to put a plug in for our friends at The Arts Center at Willits or TACAW right? And Consensual Improv this coming Thursday and Friday.
MIRCEA: Okay.
CHRISTOPHER: And it's their holiday show in which they'll also be doing it the Wheeler on the 21st. But that shows' sold out because it's also John Oates . . .
MIRCEA: Okay
CHRISTOPHER: . . . And Bev Malone. Yes. Other people who are go, but as I understand, you can no longer buy tickets. So,
MIRCEA: Yeah.
CHRISTOPHER: Unless you can print your own at home or something. I don't know.
MIRCEA: But we don't, we don't encourage that.
CHRISTOPHER: We do not encourage that at all. Yes. And I'm sure there's lots other events and celebrations going on throughout the valley that I have omitted, but we will do more research and get back to you with more events in our next podcast.
MIRCEA: That's right. So, what else do you have here?
CHRISTOPHER: Nothing.
MIRCEA: Nothing else? That's it?
CHRISTOPHER: That's everything. Just us.
MIRCEA: and that wraps up the Entertainment Updates from Christopher. Thank you so much.
CHRISTOPHER: Up, up, up I lied.
MIRCEA: You lied?
CHRISTOPHER: I lied.
MIRCEA: I knew it.
CHRISTOPHER: I'm so sorry. But, I would be a failure if I failed to mention that Theater Aspen is running a Holiday Cabaret. It's at Jerome Theater and some pretty…
MIRCEA: Jerome Theater, you mean Hotel Jerome.
CHRISTOPHER: Hotel Jerome, which they turned the ballroom kind of into with theater.
MIRCEA: Is that right? Okay.
CHRISTOPHER: But the band, the orchestra and these are some heavy theaters like, yeah, I think the guy who played Aaron Burr and Hamilton. Is going to be there
MIRCEA: Okay.
CHRISTOPHER: Some big names that, you know, people without memory lost would know. But that's my story and I'm sticking with it.
MIRCEA: Well, that's great. So, a lot of the things to look forward to this month alone, packed a lot of coming out from the Wheeler Opera House, which you can find more information on their website as well. Of course, Thunder River. The Aspen Community Theatre theater doesn't have anything coming up.
MIRCEA: No, not yet.
CHRISTOPHER: Until next fall.
MIRCEA: and what about CMC? Don't they have.
CHRISTOPHER: Oh, yes. Sopris theater. At Colorado Mountain College at the Spring Valley campus.
MIRCEA: Great campus.
CHRISTOPHER: Is doing shows regularly. The one coming up now. Most recently, I think is a chip called chips.
MIRCEA: That's right. That's in February.
CHRISTOPHER: Then they're doing a show in the spring called The Cottage. Which I understand is a very humorous British piece.
MIRCEA: Oh, yes, of course. Very nice. I just did a reading of a play called the Dolores by Julia Whalen, who is affiliated with CMC. So we did a stand-up reading four of us. And it was great. People really liked it, and it was a lot of fun. Very serious play.
But still, there's things going on all over the place, and we're going to try to bring as much of that as we can here and keep our website updated with links to take it to these events that are going on.
CHRISTOPHER: Try to do a better job of bringing you information on a musical artist and venues in the future.
MIRCEA: Exactly.
CHRISTOPHER: They're tough to track down sometime.
MIRCEA: So, this comes to a segment that Christopher decided to have, which I like very much. It's called ‘Unpopular Idea of the Week' where Christopher would like to discuss, once per week an unpopular idea, but kind of makes sense. So, take it away Christopher.
CHRISTOPHER: Well, Unpopular Idea of the Week, we're going to start at the top of the list, because there's a very long list. And, uh, we're going to do one, a show. But I think this one is, well, let me back track. Uh, I retired in 2019 from middle school and high school mostly, mainly high school teaching. And so that was after like 38 years, 37 years, something like that. And someone, you know, at my retirement party said so, what's your big takeaway from teaching? And my first response was more people should have pets. And, uh, that made me think of, that was a quick cheap lap. But it made me think that, uh, in our society, we require a license for anything it seems like to fish, to hunt, to drive a car. But for some reason, the most important thing that a person could decide to do, IE, have a child, requires nothing.
So, today's unpopular idea of the week is a firm advocacy of breeding licenses. Yes, and I want to put out there that if you have prior convictions for domestic violence and abuse, you're not going to get a license for breeding, because you know, that's not a home you want to bring a child in. And so I think that would be a minimum. Obviously, you have to be careful about the restrictions in place. But maybe that would be a good start, because you know, they put out all these invasive species lists all the time. And yet, have you ever seen humans on any one of them? No, you don't. And I would think that maybe we are a major invasive species. And I think that you know, your child is the most precious thing you have. And bringing that child into a world should include support and an understanding of the responsibilities involved. And I think maybe a licensure system might help words that.
MIRCEA: Very interesting. Have you ever seen the movie Idiocracy?
CHRISTOPHER: Yes. And when it came out in the 1990s sometime, I thought it was a very good and interesting comedy, funny comedy. And I watched it recently, rewatched it, and realized I was horrified at what a documentary it had become.
MIRCEA: Yeah, especially the opening segment. It's a family treat.
CHRISTOPHER: Yes. Fun at the trailer park. Yes.
MIRCEA: Okay, we'll be right back.
[MUSIC BREAK]
MIRCEA: and welcome back to Roaring Fork Mountain Air, and Christopher would like to close up our first episode with a Moment of Hope.
CHRISTOPHER: Thank you. In this episode, we like to identify a problem that's been facing our country, our planet, the world, anybody. And show how there is action being taken towards resolving our perhaps even eliminating the problem. For the last several years, when I would teach geography, I was always taken aback by what they called the giant plastic gyre out in the Pacific Ocean. Now, this is where ocean thermals and currents take trash and plastic bits of plastic and work them in the current where they get closer and combine and become essentially this giant island of plastic. Now, to give you a sense of the size of it, it's larger than the state of Texas. Yeah I think about that for a moment. And it was getting larger and larger. Until I hear it was like a sixth, what would be a sixth grader in the English British educational system came up with a solution to eliminate or massively reduce this giant plastic island. And that is to take a boat out to it that would then take the plastic and convert them into plastic bricks that you could then take back and build affordable housing units with, which seems like to solve a couple of 3, 4,000 problems at once. So once again, it is in the words of someone "Youth will be served" and it takes maybe a child's view to create a world in which you would want a child to live in. So I'll try to find the name of this individual. You can find it on just a basic Google search as how I found it, but I'll try to find his name so I can give my shout out at the next time for maybe helping us all not be comprised of plastic as it moves into our DNA.
So, thank you for the bricks and affordable housing on the side. It's like win, win, win.
MIRCEA: That's great. That is A Moment of Hope. Thank you, Christopher.
[MUSIC BREAK]
MIRCEA: Well, that concludes our show, but we would like to give big shoutout to the Basalt Library for providing great space for this taping. The Basalt Library is more than just your average library. Where your library card opens more than just books. E-books, audio books, online magazines, streaming videos, arts and craft classes, language learning, lectures, concerts, and so much more. Located just over the bridge in downtown Basalt, the library hours, Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can visit them at basaltlibrary.org.
Also, we'd like to give a big shoutout to Zuma Lounge Productions, our Producer. Zuma Lounge Productions brings fun audio and video productions to an internet near you. Through podcasts such as this one or ZLP Presents! and Zuma Cafe Show. You can watch or listen to short stories, podcasts, dramas, radio shows. Visit Zuma Lounge Productions for more information on this show and upcoming shows at ZumaLounge.com.
And one more time, Christopher and I would like to say. . .
MIRCEA AND CHRISTOPHER: thanks for listening!
[MUSIC CLOSE]
Roaring Fork Mountain Air - with Christopher Wheatley and Mircea Oprea
Dec 12, 2025
[MUSIC: INTRO]
CHRISTOPHER: Hello, this is Christopher Wheatley
MIRCEA: and Mircea Oprea
CHRISTOPHER: Hosts of the Roaring Fork Mountain Air a positive forward-thinking podcast with the good people of the Roaring Fort River Valley in Colorado.
MIRCEA: and beyond
CHRISTOPHER: We have a great show in store for you today, where we're going to talk about Wintersköl, all kinds of fun and activities. The theatrical and musical happenings of the valley, breeding licenses, beavers, John F. Kennedy, and affordable plastic housing bricks, just a name a few.
MIRCEA: So, sit back and join us as we present to you our first episode of Roaring Fort Mountain Air with Christopher and Mircea.
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MIRCEA: And welcome back.
CHRISTOPHER: Welcome. We're gonna be looking at some outdoor activities. A lot of people think that Aspen is all about summer recreation and fun and the valley, and it is, but it's also about winter activity, and lots of fun there too. We feature the snow report, which we don't really have a lot at this point. We're still making snow on all four mountains in Aspen, and sunlight as well. There will be some races coming up, and we'll talk when we get into details about the upcoming Wintersköl celebration, and cross-country trails pervade the valley. In fact, I was told that Aspen, the Roaring Fork Valley had more groomed, tracked, Nordic, cross country trails than any place in the world, until the Whistler Olympics, when they built three kilometers more just so they could have more.
CHRISTOPHER: Yes, it's true, but that's not all. You can downhill ski, you can cross-country ski, and don't forget those snowshoes, they're unbelievably beautiful winter hikes you can take. All up and down the valley and in the surrounding areas.
MIRCEA: What does a, where does one go to get snowshoes?
CHRISTOPHER: There are many places. I know you can check them out at the Aspen Recreation Center and the Snowmass Recreation Center and play it against sports and Aspen sells refurbished items. And I believe also in Carbondale, there's an establishment called the Gear Library where you can check out winter gear in summer gear. It no cost at all. It's just like your library. You check it out and return it in a timely fashion. There's also lots of skating. You know, both at the Louis Ice Arena and the Aspen Recreation Center and the Glenwood Springs Recreation Center has open skating as well. And there's also outdoor rinks off the Katherine Store Road on your way to Carbondale. And I also be remiss if I didn't mention the Aspen Ice Garden where you can pop in for some competitive curling. I like to call it the Game of Stones.
MIRCEA: My grandparents did that curling.
CHRISTOPHER: It turns out that it's not just about beer drinking anymore, but it does help, I think, a lot, with especially with the brushing. Absolutely.
There's basketball. In fact, Aspen High School, you know, is a recently one, the Colorado State Championship in basketball, and their coach Cory Parker shout out to him for another successful season, not just a coach in teacher, but an alumni as well, and so we love Cory. And winter fishing, you know, don't be afraid, you know, the fish don't really get cold, and they keep moving, and arguably, even hungrier in the winter, and you do have the Roaring Fork River, and the Frying Pan river, are gold metal trout streams, that are not to be missed if you are so inclined.
That takes us to a Wintersköl. A uniquely Aspen in Roaring Fork Valley event. Started in 1951 by the citizens of Aspen, and an event to maybe cheer up from the mid-winter, doldrums and sadness sometimes in the sun. You know, we used to call it the "Mushroom Days" where you go to work in the dark, and you come home in the dark, and you're kind of fed, extra nutrients, you know, like a mushroom.
And so to battle that, they started Wintersköl in 1951, and it was in mid-winter, but somehow, over the last 74 years, it's migrated to this weekend in December. And I remember when I first came to the valley here in 20, whatever years ago, there was a parade. They had the Air Force Academy marching band. There were floats. And it was quite the event. The Saturday celebration. There were ice sculptures and all kinds of... My favorite was the K9 fashion show, which I was a dress your dog up and win some treats, you know?
MIRCEA: Did you submit your dogs?
CHRISTOPHER: No, I tried to enter myself. It didn't go well for me. They kicked me out immediately.
MIRCEA: Did you have the reindeer headset on?
CHRISTOPHER: Yeah, I did. With a little dogears on, absolutely. And I even put my best ugly sweater on, but it was to no avail. But Wintersköl is with us. I mean, starts tomorrow. Wink in there.
MIRCEA: Where can they go for to find out more information?
CHRISTOPHER: Oh, you have to kind of hunt it down.
MIRCEA: Okay. We should put links on our website.
CHRISTOPHER: We should.
MIRCEA: All right.
CHRISTOPHER: There's a lot of great events happening on Friday at 6 o'clock. This is all going to be kind of by the gondola Plaza at Ajax. But the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club is having a rail jam at 6 o'clock on Friday. And on Saturday, they're hosting the Torchlight Parade down Aspen Mountain with fireworks after that and that all starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday. And also there is the Aspen Extreme Costume Contest. That would be tomorrow Thursday, December 11th, at a ZigZag and that is at 10 p.m. And interestingly enough, at Snowmass Village at the base Village Park. They are having what they're calling the game of stones curling competition. And there is also free music on the mall with the Hugh Phillips band. And then Saturday, of course, is the big day opening day for Highlands and Buttermilk Mountains. And so that might either make things more crowded or read things out a little bit. I guess we'll have to see.
MIRCEA: I think we could get err on more crowded.
CHRISTOPHER: Undoubtedly. I might mention at one, excuse me, at one o'clock, at 4:40, and 645 pm at Wagner Park. There are the drum bots, which are the precision rhythm artists and electronic beings.
MIRCEA: So this is all part of Wintersköl.
CHRISTOPHER: These are all Wintersköl events.
MIRCEA: So it's like different companies, and like you said Ajax, and I know the Wheeler Opera House has something going on as well.
CHRISTOPHER: And yes, the drum bots, the percussion, is at Wagner Park. And from 2 to 6, well that's going on. There is, oh yeah, a beer festival going on there.
MIRCEA: Okay . . .
CHRISTOPHER: So we wouldn't want to miss that as well.
MIRCEA: Is there going to be any ice sculpting?
CHRISTOPHER: I believe that has moved over to Snowmass Village. Okay, you know, you bring a knife in. You can sculpt someone's car, I guess. Really?
MIRCEA: What about my chainsaw?
CHRISTOPHER: Yeah, I've been to eat that at home. TSA forbids that, you know. Also at Wagner Park, and not to be missed from 3-5 is a bonfire. And my personal favorite event, "Soup School," which is a competition among chefs and restaurants and caterers in the valley. And to try to win the Giant Silver Spoon Award.
MIRCEA: Wow.
CHRISTOPHER: And it's maybe the best free dinner you'll ever find in the nest, really, I think. Um, and it's just delicious. I mean, I've had smoked trout chowder with a lathe of sweet corn.
MIRCEA: Oh Stop.
CHRISTOPHER: I still have memories of it, right? And um, an homage to Johnny McGuire back in the day who used to make cheeseburger soup.
MIRCEA: Ooooo
CHRISTOPHER: That was a winner as well. But uh, so grab your spoon and come down to Wagner Park and enjoy the, you know, it's super until you get cold and then go to the bonfire. And at 8 p.m. at the Wheeler on Saturday is Chad Goes Deep, which is the comedy show at the Wheeler Opera House with several humorous performance. Sunday is a little more subdued, but I really encourage everyone from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Limelight hotel at Aspen are free puppy portraits.
MIRCEA: Oooo
CHRISTOPHER: Yeah, that's not to be mad like that. My dog is already grooming himself for it. Really, I think all of it's pretty good. And I would also love to plug at the Tacaw, The Art Center at Willets on December 11th and 12th that is Thursday and Friday the Consensual Improv will be doing their holiday shows. And you know, if you need a good laugh, I promise you'll get one there. Absolutely. So, and that I think . . .
MIRCEA: So that's the outdoor stuff?
CHRISTOPHER: . . . and that's all the free outdoor events.
MIRCEA: Oh, wow. Okay. And again, there's multiple probably multiple websites. We'll try to come . . . we'll try to consolidate as best we can on ours.
CHRISTOPHER: There's a pretty thorough one at the Aspen Chamber of Commerce.
MIRCEA: Okay. All right. All right.
CHRISTOPHER: That's where I got a lot of my information. And just, uh, Aspen, Snowmass skiing.
MIRCEA: Will that cover, uh, as well as what's going on in Snowmass as well?
CHRISTOPHER: Yes. If you go to the Aspen Snowmass the Ski Co website.
MIRCEA: All right.
CHRISTOPHER: They cover both of those. And then the Wheeler, of course, has a very rich website.
MIRCEA: Okay.
CHRISTOPHER: As well.
MIRCEA: All right. And again, we'll try to get those up on our website as well, which is, um, uh, roaring fork, uh, mountain air . . . right . . . dot com?
CHRISTOPHER: That's what we agreed upon.
MIRCEA: (Laughing) I think that's ours.
CHRISTOPHER: (Laughing) Yes. Absolutely.
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MIRCEA: and we're back. Uh, thank you so much, Christopher. For your update on outdoor activities. I understand that you also have a climate update for us.
CHRISTOPHER: I do. In fact, it's a segment called Climate Update. And today, I'd like to talk about an advocate for beavers. Yes, beavers. Because beavers are our number one check against wildfires. And as the west grows increasingly dry and increasingly warm, wildfires are sadly going to become a fact of life. So, enter the beaver. Beavers are able to cut down kindling and wet down dry areas, which are potential spots for wildfire eruption. They also are 35% roughly of a wolf diet in the wild. And given that we've reintroduced wolves into Colorado, it'd be nice to know how many beavers we have and where they are. So, here in the Roaring for Valley, we've been studying exactly that to the Healthy Rivers and Streams Board of Pitkin County (https://www.pitkincountyrivers.com/) and determining where they are located and where they're working to serve us.
Now, they've gotten a bad reputation in the past, you know, they've disrupted some creeks and streams for ranchers and farmers, but in the age where climate change is becoming, as we say, the largest existential problem facing humanity, bevers in the West are not only a native species and interact with everything we have in our bio, but are also our best check against the wildfires. And so I support more bevers out there and putting them out in those dry places and let them get to work as we like to say, "it's about damn time".
MIRCEA: That's great. Thank you for the climate update.
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MIRCEA: Wow, okay. Thank you so much for the Climate Update Christopher. And now we're moving on to our segment of weekly story of the week.
CHRISTOPHER: Yes, this is where I think back of my many years of living on the planet. Actually, I'm going to start as early as I can really remember. And it's a weird story that merges a pretty important historical event with my odd memory and association as a just turned four-year-old. I was a born in St. Joseph, Missouri, and a Methodist hospital, which I mentioned, because it's the same place where Walter Cronkite was born. And so that's the way it is, I guess. But this memory goes back to November 22nd, 1963.
I had just turned four. And every day at one o'clock would be the Whizzo the Clown Show. And he always started with his song, "Who's the clown?" And you know, we'd sing the song, and I would sit in front of the television with my sammy and my sippy cup. And we would sing the Whizzo song. And he would start in, you know, it was a wonderful hour. But then on November 22nd, 1963, Whizzo had just started this song, and was just, the show was just beginning. And all of a sudden, he was no longer on the screen. And there was a man, Walter Cronkite, actually, and I, I felt discovered later, started talking and he's sitting there in a suit and tie and talking during the Whizzo show. And I turned around and I noticed that my mom was crying. And I said, Mom, I'm mad they took Whizzo off too. And she told me that I didn't understand that a great man had been killed so naturally, I assumed they had killed Whizzo. And so there it was all week. Whizzo on the carillon. Whizzo of lying in state. Whizzo going and being interned in Arlington cemetery. It was very powerful and moving for we fans of Whizzo. But then on Monday morning, Whizzo was back. So naturally, I assumed he was Jesus. But that turned out not to be true either. So you know, darn kids, they have those most memorable and interesting memories of events. And, I might add, that it is in fact the first what I would call public event that I do remember. But sadly, I guess I misremembered.
But that's it. That's the, uh, weekly story of the week.
MIRCEA: We'll be right back.
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MIRCEA: And welcome back to Roaring Fort Mountain Air. And Christopher has some goings on entertainment updates for us. Take it away, Christopher.
CHRISTOPHER: It's true. Thank you, Mircea. I uh, would make past presents first and talk about the Aspen community theater production that just recently closed the Neil Simon comedy rumors. I mentioned it because one, it was very funny. And, uh, two, it puts community into theater, because, you know, it's kind of where I really got to know Mircea very well. We actually got to play parts in the show. I played a character called Ernie Cusack, and Mircea played Lenny. Lenny, what was Lenny's last name?
MIRCEA: Lenny Ganz
CHRISTOPHER: Leaonard Ganz. That's correct. Yes. And a shout out to all those other fun people we got to do comedy therapy with for eight weeks. Um, I kind of have to admit, I kind of miss it.
MIRCEA: That's right. We were at the Wheeler Opera House from the 13th, the 16th. And then we moved everything, including the set to the Ute Theatre in . . .
CHRISTOPHER: Rifle
MIRCEA: Rifle
CHRISTOPHER: Colorado.
MIRCEA: Right. And it was like 21st to the 23rd, I think, right?
CHRISTOPHER: Absolutely.
MIRCEA: and it did very well there, too.
CHRISTOPHER: Wonderful experience?
MIRCEA: Yeah.
CHRISTOPHER: Lots of lots of laughs going on out there. And I think we need laughter a lot more, maybe now, than ever.
MIRCEA: Yes. I agree.
CHRISTOPHER: So that was the 49th actually anniversary of Aspen Community Theatre. It was their show. They had not done a straight play, as they say, since 1993.
MIRCEA: Wow.
CHRISTOPHER: It was really nice to bring in. It was also Rumors. Then in 1993 I hear. So next year, we'll be there 50th anniversary. And I'm very excited to see what production they put on. Uh, musical play or both. You know why not do both? I'm so, that'll be fun to know.
MIRCEA: Chris and I also did, uh, we were the Butlers.
CHRISTOPHER: Yes. We buttled.
MIRCEA: We buttled. That was back in August though, and that was, uh, through the Wheeler Opera House again.
CHRISTOPHER: Yes. And it was Clue: The Aspen walking experience, which was essentially an escape room with no time limit.
MIRCEA: Everybody had a lot of fun. Yes. Everybody just had such a great time. Uh, what was that we set it up right at the, uh, at the, uh, Wheeler Opera House in the, uh, ticketing area.
CHRISTOPHER: The lobby there.
MIRCEA: and then, uh, we set them loose on Aspen and then we met up with them at The Hotel Jerome, right?
CHRISTOPHER: Yes. About 1.9 miles later. Yes. After. And, you know, Aspen Colorado . . .
MIRCEA: How many places where they found clu es?
CHRISTOPHER: I think there were nine stops.
MIRCEA: That's right. Uh, but everybody had such a fun time. I hope they do it. So look for that in August next year.
CHRISTOPHER: We did lose a few people that used the coupon for the Margarita, at - Mi Chola, and they just would kind of stay there.
MIRCEA: They just phoned in their response.
CHRISTOPHER: Exactly.
MIRCEA: It wasn't Colonel Mustard, it wasn't him.
CHRISTOPHER: But that was a lot of fun. And, uh, it was a pleasure working with you there. And then we both decided to audition for Rumors. And I think it was a win win.
MIRCEA: A lot of fun on the stage with you. Arguing with Ernie.
CHRISTOPHER: He is not a nice person sometimes. Well, like Lenny was too.
MIRCEA: Yeah Lenny wasn't a great person either. His BMW got pretty banged up too.
CHRISTOPHER: He has to work on one finger. But that's a reference to a line in the show.
And other venues in the entertainment community in world, I mentioned Wintersköl earlier, there is a comedy show, Chad Goes Deep at the Wheeler on Saturday, December 13th. And the next day, we have the Aspen Coral Society, who will be presenting their 49th presentation of the Handel's Messiah. And it's a beautiful piece of work. It has survived, I guess, about 300 years. Yeah, it's been a while. And also, at the Wheeler, on the 22nd of December is Dance Aspen, putting on a production called A Snowy Soirée, so it sounds kind of racy. I like that. And then on the next night on December 23rd, Chloe Flower is a pianist, a composer, and a cultural icon is how she's built. So that sounds very interesting, and we would always be looking for that.
MIRCEA: and this is all at the Wheeler Opera House.
CHRISTOPHER: This is all at the Wheeler Opera House. It's right there on the, they call it at the Wheeler Turn at the fountain.
MIRCEA: Oh yeah,
CHRISTOPHER: We all know about the fountain. And I just want to plug that Nick DeWolf was the co-designer, and there's over a million microcircuit in there, circuitry chips in the fountain. So, it's an algorithm that he swears will never ever repeat. So, one of you I think should just go get a lawn chair and sit at the fountain next summer and just wait for it to repeat because you know, then you could prove him wrong, and it'd be great.
Down valley a ways, and not that far, right? In Carbondale, Colorado, there is a wonderful theater and institution called Thunder River Theater Company, TRTC, and they will be putting on some productions. They do a series called "Pink to Black", which is a music series, and on January 16th, at eight o'clock at Thunder River, is a band called Kiltro. And well, I don't know much about them, but we'll find out more for our next broadcast.
Also, on December 14th, actually from tonight, the 10th, through December 14th, is The Stages of Life or Sol Theatre, is putting on Anie Junior. And so, go support those kids and as they grow as actors, from little little ones all the way through high school.
And looking ahead a little further, they just had cast in a production of a play called K2, which begins in February. And it's a two-person show, and this will feature the talents of actors Eli Legut and David Lettingham. And that'll be a lot of fun as well.
MIRCEA: So, I saw two performances at the Thunder River. This is in Carbondale. And ah both of them were excellent. Saw The Secretary. Is that right?
CHRISTOPHER: Yes.
MIRCEA: and what was the one that you were helping out with?
CHRISTOPHER: True West.
MIRCEA: True West.
CHRISTOPHER: Sam Shepherd.
MIRCEA: Wow, that was a . . .
CHRISTOPHER: Messy show.
MIRCEA: and one of those actresses in both, right? What was her name?
CHRISTOPHER: Yes, Libby. Right. Was ah the . . .
MIRCEA: She was . . .
CHRISTOPHER: The mom in True West and then she was kind of a psycho worker at a gun shop.
MIRCEA: She was great. She was very good.
CHRISTOPHER: She scared me, I know. But yeah, absolutely. She has that effect.
I might also put a plug in. I want to put a plug in for our friends at The Arts Center at Willits or TACAW right? And Consensual Improv this coming Thursday and Friday.
MIRCEA: Okay.
CHRISTOPHER: And it's their holiday show in which they'll also be doing it the Wheeler on the 21st. But that shows' sold out because it's also John Oates . . .
MIRCEA: Okay
CHRISTOPHER: . . . And Bev Malone. Yes. Other people who are go, but as I understand, you can no longer buy tickets. So,
MIRCEA: Yeah.
CHRISTOPHER: Unless you can print your own at home or something. I don't know.
MIRCEA: But we don't, we don't encourage that.
CHRISTOPHER: We do not encourage that at all. Yes. And I'm sure there's lots other events and celebrations going on throughout the valley that I have omitted, but we will do more research and get back to you with more events in our next podcast.
MIRCEA: That's right. So, what else do you have here?
CHRISTOPHER: Nothing.
MIRCEA: Nothing else? That's it?
CHRISTOPHER: That's everything. Just us.
MIRCEA: and that wraps up the Entertainment Updates from Christopher. Thank you so much.
CHRISTOPHER: Up, up, up I lied.
MIRCEA: You lied?
CHRISTOPHER: I lied.
MIRCEA: I knew it.
CHRISTOPHER: I'm so sorry. But, I would be a failure if I failed to mention that Theater Aspen is running a Holiday Cabaret. It's at Jerome Theater and some pretty…
MIRCEA: Jerome Theater, you mean Hotel Jerome.
CHRISTOPHER: Hotel Jerome, which they turned the ballroom kind of into with theater.
MIRCEA: Is that right? Okay.
CHRISTOPHER: But the band, the orchestra and these are some heavy theaters like, yeah, I think the guy who played Aaron Burr and Hamilton. Is going to be there
MIRCEA: Okay.
CHRISTOPHER: Some big names that, you know, people without memory lost would know. But that's my story and I'm sticking with it.
MIRCEA: Well, that's great. So, a lot of the things to look forward to this month alone, packed a lot of coming out from the Wheeler Opera House, which you can find more information on their website as well. Of course, Thunder River. The Aspen Community Theatre theater doesn't have anything coming up.
MIRCEA: No, not yet.
CHRISTOPHER: Until next fall.
MIRCEA: and what about CMC? Don't they have.
CHRISTOPHER: Oh, yes. Sopris theater. At Colorado Mountain College at the Spring Valley campus.
MIRCEA: Great campus.
CHRISTOPHER: Is doing shows regularly. The one coming up now. Most recently, I think is a chip called chips.
MIRCEA: That's right. That's in February.
CHRISTOPHER: Then they're doing a show in the spring called The Cottage. Which I understand is a very humorous British piece.
MIRCEA: Oh, yes, of course. Very nice. I just did a reading of a play called the Dolores by Julia Whalen, who is affiliated with CMC. So we did a stand-up reading four of us. And it was great. People really liked it, and it was a lot of fun. Very serious play.
But still, there's things going on all over the place, and we're going to try to bring as much of that as we can here and keep our website updated with links to take it to these events that are going on.
CHRISTOPHER: Try to do a better job of bringing you information on a musical artist and venues in the future.
MIRCEA: Exactly.
CHRISTOPHER: They're tough to track down sometime.
MIRCEA: So, this comes to a segment that Christopher decided to have, which I like very much. It's called ‘Unpopular Idea of the Week' where Christopher would like to discuss, once per week an unpopular idea, but kind of makes sense. So, take it away Christopher.
CHRISTOPHER: Well, Unpopular Idea of the Week, we're going to start at the top of the list, because there's a very long list. And, uh, we're going to do one, a show. But I think this one is, well, let me back track. Uh, I retired in 2019 from middle school and high school mostly, mainly high school teaching. And so that was after like 38 years, 37 years, something like that. And someone, you know, at my retirement party said so, what's your big takeaway from teaching? And my first response was more people should have pets. And, uh, that made me think of, that was a quick cheap lap. But it made me think that, uh, in our society, we require a license for anything it seems like to fish, to hunt, to drive a car. But for some reason, the most important thing that a person could decide to do, IE, have a child, requires nothing.
So, today's unpopular idea of the week is a firm advocacy of breeding licenses. Yes, and I want to put out there that if you have prior convictions for domestic violence and abuse, you're not going to get a license for breeding, because you know, that's not a home you want to bring a child in. And so I think that would be a minimum. Obviously, you have to be careful about the restrictions in place. But maybe that would be a good start, because you know, they put out all these invasive species lists all the time. And yet, have you ever seen humans on any one of them? No, you don't. And I would think that maybe we are a major invasive species. And I think that you know, your child is the most precious thing you have. And bringing that child into a world should include support and an understanding of the responsibilities involved. And I think maybe a licensure system might help words that.
MIRCEA: Very interesting. Have you ever seen the movie Idiocracy?
CHRISTOPHER: Yes. And when it came out in the 1990s sometime, I thought it was a very good and interesting comedy, funny comedy. And I watched it recently, rewatched it, and realized I was horrified at what a documentary it had become.
MIRCEA: Yeah, especially the opening segment. It's a family treat.
CHRISTOPHER: Yes. Fun at the trailer park. Yes.
MIRCEA: Okay, we'll be right back.
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MIRCEA: and welcome back to Roaring Fork Mountain Air, and Christopher would like to close up our first episode with a Moment of Hope.
CHRISTOPHER: Thank you. In this episode, we like to identify a problem that's been facing our country, our planet, the world, anybody. And show how there is action being taken towards resolving our perhaps even eliminating the problem. For the last several years, when I would teach geography, I was always taken aback by what they called the giant plastic gyre out in the Pacific Ocean. Now, this is where ocean thermals and currents take trash and plastic bits of plastic and work them in the current where they get closer and combine and become essentially this giant island of plastic. Now, to give you a sense of the size of it, it's larger than the state of Texas. Yeah I think about that for a moment. And it was getting larger and larger. Until I hear it was like a sixth, what would be a sixth grader in the English British educational system came up with a solution to eliminate or massively reduce this giant plastic island. And that is to take a boat out to it that would then take the plastic and convert them into plastic bricks that you could then take back and build affordable housing units with, which seems like to solve a couple of 3, 4,000 problems at once. So once again, it is in the words of someone "Youth will be served" and it takes maybe a child's view to create a world in which you would want a child to live in. So I'll try to find the name of this individual. You can find it on just a basic Google search as how I found it, but I'll try to find his name so I can give my shout out at the next time for maybe helping us all not be comprised of plastic as it moves into our DNA.
So, thank you for the bricks and affordable housing on the side. It's like win, win, win.
MIRCEA: That's great. That is A Moment of Hope. Thank you, Christopher.
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MIRCEA: Well, that concludes our show, but we would like to give big shoutout to the Basalt Library for providing great space for this taping. The Basalt Library is more than just your average library. Where your library card opens more than just books. E-books, audio books, online magazines, streaming videos, arts and craft classes, language learning, lectures, concerts, and so much more. Located just over the bridge in downtown Basalt, the library hours, Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can visit them at basaltlibrary.org.
Also, we'd like to give a big shoutout to Zuma Lounge Productions, our Producer. Zuma Lounge Productions brings fun audio and video productions to an internet near you. Through podcasts such as this one or ZLP Presents! and Zuma Cafe Show. You can watch or listen to short stories, podcasts, dramas, radio shows. Visit Zuma Lounge Productions for more information on this show and upcoming shows at ZumaLounge.com.
And one more time, Christopher and I would like to say. . .
MIRCEA AND CHRISTOPHER: thanks for listening!
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