Only at Vail Resorts?

On Sunday afternoon as I was wrapping up my ski day at Canyons, I got stuck on the Super Condor chairlift for more than 15 minutes. “Mechanical problem” told me the ski patrol in handing me a coupon for a free hot beverage at Park City Mountain. 

Maintenance issues seem to be an epidemic at Vail Resorts that probably has not the sharpest tools in the shed when it comes to his technicians and generally speaking the rest of its mountain personnel. Chairlift stoppage is almost constant and never happened so frequently until Vail Resorts took over or at nearby Deer Valley for that matter. Sometimes I even wonder about my own safety when riding up the lifts… 

Coincidentally, that evening, I learned that the night of January 27, a woman was trapped 15 hours overnight inside a gondola at Lake Tahoe's Heavenly Ski Resort, another Vail Resorts property. Monica Laso survived a freezing night (23 degrees F) on Thursday when she became too tired to go down the hill, approached a worker who guided her to the gondola where she got in at around 4:58 p.m..

Just two minutes later, the gondola stopped, leaving her stranded alone and scared without a phone or a light. All she could do was scream out for help every time she saw an employee below, but no one could hear her. The next morning the resort staff discovered Laso seriously refreshed, but still alive. 

Tom Fortune, chief operating officer of Heavenly Mountain Resort. said the resort was "investigating this situation with the utmost seriousness.” He added, “The safety and well-being of our guests is our top priority at Heavenly Mountain Resort." Of course, hearing that made me feel much, much better. 

What a bunch of incompetent; I just only hope that Monica Laso also got a coupon for a free hot chocolate!

Sundance 40th Film Festival

Sunday saw the last day of the fortieth Sundance Film Festival and as good Parkites, my wife and I took advantage of the annual event to go and see “Ibelin” the Festival’s directing award in the World Cinema Documentary category.

Director Benjamin Ree told the audience that although he did not know the subject of his film personally, he had seen himself on a VHS recording playing with the late Mats Steen in a playpen as a toddler, in Norway. The two were born in the late 1980s and their parents were friends.

Years later, when Ree (The Painter and The Thief, 2020 Sundance) learned of Steen’s passing from complications of Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy at the age of 25, he reached out to Mats’ parents to ask about making a documentary about their child’s fascinating life. 

An emotional film that I encourage every one to see.

Vail Resorts finally doing its job ?

Ever since it purchased Park City Mountain, Vail Resorts has showed very little interest, if no inkling at all, in managing the vegetation near or on its ski runs whether they were fallen or dangerously leaning trees or bush of all kinds, including saplings, aspen shoots or elderberry bushes. 

These obstacles are incredibly dangerous to skiers and so are the “whippers” that inhibit early skiing when the snow cover is still thin… 

Big change might be on its way, as this past summer the resort began cutting vegetation under the Crescent chairlift towers and more recently I was incredibly surprised to see a male and female patrol personnel sawing a fallen tree in pieces on iron mountain, not with a regular chain saw (they're green!), but with a rudimentary hand tool. 

As in Bob Dylan’s song, “the times they are a-changin’” at Park City Mountain… Perhaps!

The Van Deer ski boot…

It took me some time, but I finally noticed Kristoffersen’s grey ski boots and did a quick search to find out that it was a good old Lange. 

While I wasn’t looking for it, or expecting it, that search brought me lot of of other information or “conspiracy theories” about the whole Van Deer project and its opaque relationship with Rossignol. There was first the rumor that the Van Deer ski used by Henrik Kristoffersen, Timon Haugan and the Brit Charlie Raposo was nothing more than a Rossignol. 

For those of you who don’t remember, Marcel Hirscher left Atomic in 2021 for his new baby. the Van Deer-Red Bull Sports program. For Red Bull to be represented in the ski industry, the company must have its own production plant and Van Deer purchased Augment, a small “niche” Austrian ski manufacturer so it could potentially join the Austrian pool after those of Norway and Great Britain. 

Obviously many people who are into conspiracy theories suspect that Kristoffersen always rides on Rossignol skis as Van Deer name is only top-skin deep. This kind camouflage is very easy to do with skis, not so much with boots (well, rumor had it that around january 2019, the French racer Pinturault, not happy with the performance of his Head boot had used a Rossignol boot camouflaged into what appeared as Head product, but who really knows?) 

Perhaps Van Deer just got some inspiration from Rossignol by cutting open one of Kristoffersen’s winning pairs, looked at what was inside and copied it; who knows? Further, Lange and Rossignol are the same company, so it’s also rumored that Kristoffersen had to negotiate with Rossignol to get his custom boot mold back (I didn’t know there was such a thing, and yet, I’ve worked with Lange...), which the brand, according to rumors, refused at first to let go of. 

To edge his bet, the Norwegian also tested Nordica at length around Livigno, and was negotiating in earnest with the Italian brand. 

But Van Deer got an agreement going with Lange and this appears to be the reason for these grey Lange racing boots, reminescent of the old and successful Lange XLS or “Soft” from the 80s and for the moment, that’s the end of this speculative story!

Park City ducks and macro socio economics

In recent years, our wildlife population has exploded in Park City. Too many deer, elks, or ducks that are starving during our harsh winter months. 

Since humans don’t really care, what is Mother Nature to do about it? Drastically reduce their numbers through starvation, predators or infectious diseases. She knows the drill and is very effective at getting the job done. 

Quite unlike the human species that has invented shelter, food storage, shamans, doctors and pharmaceuticals to keep everyone alive, even if that number is far in excess of our planet’s ability to sustain this human overflow. 

Well, in case you haven’t paid attention, this unnatural, overpopulation is what is making our earth buckle under pollution, natural resources depletion and global warming. Why in the world is humanity unable to see that all these ills are caused by unbridled human expansion? 

It would be nice, for a change, to address the cause and not the symptoms…

Trump's sainthood...

Since 2015, I have written on that blog everything I hate about Trump and I think it would be just fair, before the man gets convicted of crimes and finally moves to jail, that I submit to my readers a concise inventory of Donald Trump positive qualities. 

To begin with his physical attributes, let me recognize that he’s tall (6’3”) and that I’m not even in his league! His hair is also impressive and beautifully combed and likewise, I can’t compete in that category; I’m bald and whatever hair is left on my head is mostly white. 

Then, from a character standpoint, I must admit that Trump isn’t afraid of saying anything that goes through his mind. Let’s call this a positive trait and give him the benefit of the doubt. This might be the result of another great trait of his, an unlimited self-confidence. 

Finally, he is obstinately determined and relentless. That said, I must add that these few positive traits are what amplifies Trump’s ocean of flaws. 

With this, I’m done with the good sides of Trump. 

Brief but spectacular. 

If I’ve missed something good about him, let me know, and I’ll take it under advisement...

Snow-pack comparisons…

I should have titled this blog, what is snow-pack, but that subject came to my mind as I was watching our local weather news and was shown a map of the snow depth in our US western states. It showed a diverse range of snow-pack conditions across its various regions, influenced by complex interplay of factors like latitude, elevation, proximity to the Pacific Ocean and local topography. 

In western North America, Mountain snow cover is a serious, vital matter in our high-desert climate and plays a crucial role in storing water during winter when the snow falls and releasing it as runoff in spring and summer as snow melts. 

Western populations depend on the melting of mountain snow for hydro power, irrigation, and drinking water. So every winter day, there’s a snow-pack index published that compares the current snow-pack amount for a specific date to the average snow depth on record at that time of the year. 

On the chart, it shows that of the 11 states listed, both Oregon and Utah are doing better than the average numbers. The 9 other states are lagging behind and below their historic average. 

This means that, so far, our winter snow cover in Utah is finally average after an extremely poor beginning. 

Let’s hope it continues!

Why we have Trump?

That’s not just a good question, it’s a fundamental interrogation. Many of us don’t understand the seemingly stupidity of Trump’s agenda and the religious fanaticism of its supporters, but there might be a good reason for that collective madness. 

Trump and his supporters from the alt-right have a very precise, racist agenda. They want to stem the flow of brown and black people into the United States, by bringing a dictator (Trump) that will have the nerves to suspend or abolish the constitution and run the country as he sees fit. 

Why? Because the folks pulling Trump’s strings are super racists who only believe in white supremacy and can’t afford to let the principles of democracy derail their plans. It is therefore essential for Trump and his allies to act now, before the white US population becomes a minority. 

According to the Brookings Institute, between now and 2060, the racial minority population will continue to grow by almost 75 percent. While during this same time-frame, the aging white population will have modestly gained through this year, and will experience a long-term decline through 2060, a consequence of more deaths than births (Figure 1).

The same census population projections confirm the importance of racial minorities as the primary demographic engine of the nation’s future growth, which will eclipse an aging, slow-growing and soon to be declining white population. 

The new statistics project that the nation will become “minority white” in 2045. During that year, whites will comprise 49.7 percent of the population in contrast to 24.6 percent for Hispanics, 13.1 percent for blacks, 7.9 percent for Asians, and 3.8 percent for multiracial populations (Figure 2).

All this means is that Republicans are desperate to win, no matter the means or the cost to them, as time is now running out. This is what really explains their irrationality, their lies, their hypocrisy and their intent to suspend democratic rules by electing a dictator like Trump.

Cyprien Sarrazin, downhill king!

After becoming recently a consistent downhill winner, Cyprien Sarrazin, 29, wasn’t an instant success. Instead, he’s been toiling since 2016 on the French Ski Team. Beginning as a technical skier and dealing with multiple injuries, he switches to speed events in 2021 before he revealed himself as a domineering athlete in both downhill and super G this season and collecting six world cup wins to date, including a parallel victory in 2017 in Alta Badia, three downhills and one super G this very season. 

Unlike slalom or giant slalom, downhill is very elusive as it embodies a complicated blend of factors affecting both physical and mental performance, making it a truly demanding and thrilling event. It starts with its extreme speed placing huge pressure on the body to maintain control in navigating a complex terrain and forbidding the slightest error that could be catastrophic.

From extreme G-forces, to the duration of the event, the demands of precision in the trajectory and the fear of fall and injury add to the athlete’s mental pressure and messes up their focus. Then, there’s the mental part of downhill. The athlete must meticulously memorize the course's every feature, anticipating bumps, jumps, and changes in slope to shave crucial hundredths of second off their run. 

Likewise, the need to react instantly to changing conditions like wind gusts or variations in snow surface is vital for keeping both speed and line. The fact there’s only one run, compared to slalom or GS, adds mental pressure and the event’s long duration also demands total concentration and the ability to block out any distraction. 

Finally, there are weather conditions, like changing wind or snowfall, the choice of equipment (Sarrazin uses 223 cm skis instead of the regular 218 cm length) and good preparation can dramatically alter the course's dynamics and necessitate on-the-fly adjustments. I haven’t mentioned experience that is the asset of veteran skiers who can use it to make up for other shortcomings. 

Well done Cyprien!

Say unpleasant things to hear, nicely…

My old street neighbor has the terrible habit of throwing his snow into the street instead of shoveling it somewhere on his property. This, to me, has always been a matter of basic common sense, but it’s also illegal anywhere in Park City and in our entire county, as well as in any place where there snow in winter. 

The other day, when we saw him shoveling the bank left by the snowplow into the middle of the street. I asked him what he was doing and he said: “I’m getting rid of it” I said, “Not really, you’re merely displacing it…” He still didn’t not understand that what he was doing was senseless. He simply added, “In Sun Valley [Idaho] they let you do that and then later they collect it…” I verified when I got home and this couldn’t be further from the truth, it’s illegal there too. 

At no point did I dare telling that 79 years old man that this practice was illegal and frowned upon by all moderately smart folks. This short story is to say that it’s often tricky to deliver a difficult messages in ways that's both honest and considerate. 

I’ve done some research on ways to be able to say nicely, things that are hard for some to hear. Ways like trying to focus on the behavior, not the person. Instead of attacking my neighbor’s character, I’ll focus on his action and how it may cause difficulties to pedestrians and cars, how it sets a bad example for people living on the same bloc, not too mention the fact that it negates the purpose of plowing the street in the first place. 

To keep the conversation productive. I should also use "I" statements instead of “you”, that way I express how the behavior is affecting me, rather than making accusations. I should also make sure to convey empathy and understanding by acknowledging that my neighbor might have his own reasons for acting in that manner and then explain how counter-productive these reasons are. 

Offering solutions instead of just pointing out the problem is equally as important, like, “Why don’t you store that snow one either sides of your driveway?”. Finally I must be smart enough pick the right moment and circumstances to intervene, remain respectful at all times and find a creative way to end my remarks on a positive note, like “Your neighbors will be impressed that you aren’t spilling your snow all over and keeping the street clean”. 

Now, I need to remember all this and if I’m patient enough, I might solve that little irritant.

Music and songs, pathways to eternal life?

When I hear “Imagine” by John Lennon, I think about him as if he was still around, alive and well, even though he was stolen from us almost 45 years ago. 

All this to say that if one wants to leave a legacy or aim for eternal life, he or she should become musician or singer. Music never dies and constantly reminds us of its creator! 

I’m not saying we should become musicians or singers for this sole reason, but let’s face it, if we seek fame or an endless recognition, this path sure beats being a head of state, a scientist, a top athlete or even a novelist! 

Music is such a broad and widespread medium that it touches all of us, at any moment and anywhere from our living room, car or elevators and waiting rooms. It reminds us of old memories and revives strong emotions. 

This doesn’t mean that music fills only that need. It’s also an act of creation and sharing with others in the present moment. In sum, it’s a journey of artistic expression, connection, and growth that enriches our lives and the lives of others while never extinguishing itself. 

To me, right there, it truly is the only pathway to eternal life I can truly bank on!

Milestone in meditation

As of today, I’ve been meditating daily, without missing one single day for four years. What can I say about the practice? Quite a few things. First, there is no best practices for meditating that I know of, or have been able to discover. For me, it’s been a random voyage of exploration and there seem to be endless ways of practicing, which made even more difficult for me to be reassured that I was on the “right path”. 

This said, my practice from rather random in its approach as evolved into something that is a search for a state of “Prana”, that is finding my whole being immersed into that vital life force or cosmic energy and once present, let it infuse into my whole body, in search of reaching physical strength, sound judgment and creative thoughts.

The reality, though is that each session is a new adventure, without a clear pathway to repeat, maintain or exceed what was reached in the previous sessions. There’s never any guarantee and it’s still hard for me to articulate what need to be done to get to that stage, even though through patience and trial and errors, I frequently get there, but am still woefully unable to come with a sure-fire step by step procedure. 

The results to this day have been a manifestation of greater peace of mind, huge burst of creativity and episodes of “good luck” in which stars seemed to be aligning for me. That’s all I can say for now, except that I very much regret not having pursued meditation diligently when I dip my feet into it, in Geneva, some 55 years ago...

Regrets, part and parcel of our experience

The thing we often do when asked about our own regrets is stay mum. Just like the answer given to the question: “Do you have any regret after all these years?” and often quip: “Absolutely none whatsoever. We’re just fine!” 

Yet, with every regret, comes a memorable experience that often is seared into our psyche and represents another building block towards our accumulated wisdom. When we look at them this way, regrets are an important part of our personal makeup and without them we wouldn’t have learned much. 

At least that’s the way I see things. Our experience is built in a small part with regrets. Sure, accidents, pains and suffering probably play a bigger role yet, while success and joy don’t even come close. Since we live in an imperfect world without much foresight, every choice we make involves some risk, and it's impossible to always predict outcomes. 

Some decisions will inevitably lead to results we wish we could change, resulting in regret. But the flip side of this is that regrets are often powerful learning tools. By reflecting on past mistakes, we understand ourselves better and avoid repeating them. 

I’m convinced that learning from regrets is a vital part of personal growth and development. I just don’t dwell on them and don’t allow them to spoil my life, I accept them as some of the building blocks of experience. 

Just like me, put your regrets to work for you!

The right way to make one’s bed

Back in 2017, I had read a book titled “Make your bed” by Admiral William H. McRaven. 

Initially, I had rated that book well below average, yet there was the title of the book and that quote inside that both stuck with me: “If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another.” 

The author, a retired military officer, ex-Navy SEAL with a 37 year military career, postulated that making one’s bed every morning is a simple act that can have a ripple effect on one’s day and ultimately, on one’s life. He used this metaphor to illustrate the importance of discipline, consistency, and small wins in achieving larger goals. 

For more than four decades of living together, my wife and I would get up, do our morning things and only later, one of us, overwhelmingly my wife, would then make the bed. 

A few years ago, we finally moved from a Queen to a King size bed (76" x 80") and one person alone had much more work to do in making that larger bed as it’s a long back and forth trips on both sides to correctly do the job. 

So, for the last couple of months, we’ve been making our bed immediately as we rise in the morning, and this signals a dynamic start of the day that gets us going on the right foot and with a salutary burst of energy!

Park City’s exponential ski line growth!

There used to be no lines at Park City, but that was yesterday, before our small mountain town became so famous and so popular. 

This past Saturday, while I was skiing with my grandson, a main lift was shut down at nearby Canyons Village, creating a huge congestion at the only gondola available to get where we wanted to ski, so we left our car on the parking lot, boarded the direct bus to Park City Base and found these astounding lines.

It took us 15 minutes of patience we thought we didn’t have, but we got to the top and from there had a wonderful day skiing new powder with virtually no line and few skiers anywhere we went. 

We were outraged at first, then we calmly adapted before enjoying the luck and privilege that we had to be skiing together on such a great snow...

The result of weird experiences

After the helmet-in-the-sink incident, I was reminded that exceptional events make remarkable imprints on our memory and that there’s always an emotional component attached to long-lasting memories. 

Then, there's the teaching moment that often comes with exceptional events, triggering strong memories which goes a long way in making these experiences not just remarkable, but also useful and powerful catalysts for high-level learning and most importantly for impressing on us what to do and what to avoid doing in the future, with the latter being generally the most frequent result. 

My nature is such that I love to experiment or try new pathways, almost on a daily basis, call this intense curiosity, if you will. 

With that frame of mind come all sorts of surprising and unforgettable outcomes, both good and bad. I would admit that I am incorrigible and remain always tempted to try unexplored ideas even if they seem to be downright bizarre. I love to go outside my comfort zone and encounter unfamiliar situations, hoping to find a key to a problem or a better way to address a situation that bothers me. 

Not only do I gain a positive or negative experience, but the process also forces me to question my existing assumptions and viewpoints, allowing for new insights and understanding, and giving me a chance to see the world in a more nuanced and complex fashion. 

This contributes to enriching my personal inventory of varied experience. No, I won’t place my ski helmet inside a sink again, unless I’m certain that the faucet won’t drown it when I least expect it!

Another weird experience of mine…

Last Friday, I went skiing with my grandson Finn. It was cold, snowy and blowing, but the snow was fabulous. After lunch, I went to the bathrooms and since I wear a long, thirty-five years old, Descente coat when the weather is too harsh, I needed to see myself in the mirror to be able to correctly close some of the many garment snaps located right under my chin. 

My skiing companion was waiting for me outside where we had left our skis. I placed my gloves on the basket over the sink, but when I laid my helmet upside down on the counter it wasn’t stable and kept on rolling in all directions, so I decided to secure it by placing it momentarily inside the sink. 

Suddenly, to my horror, I saw the faucet gushing water into my helmet. I took it out as fast as I could, but its interior was entirely soaking wet. These are photo-cell-activated faucets that turn on when the hands or anything foreign gets tin the way between the cell and the inside of the sink. 

I shook up my helmet, tried to dry it the best I could with paper towels and facial tissues and had no choice but put it back on my head and resume skiing in spite of the horrible wetness and freezing cold that day. Thank god, I’m a tough cookie! 

Tomorrow, I’ll tell you about the meaning of that incident...

Good or bad, the power of memories!

Memories, good or bad, have played a huge role in my life. They’re defining my personal history, act as great markers and a source of comfort, as instinctively I seem to prioritize the good ones over the rest. In many ways good memories provide the fuel to go forward, to be more active and to embark on dreams and projects. These kinds of memories, you guessed it, are all positive in nature. 

They bring me positivity and resilience. They’re also a source of joy as they mark my accomplishments and act as great confidence boosters. They remind me of what I’m capable of in overcoming challenges and are my emotional batteries in difficult times. 

When I’m with others, sharing positive memories helps me connect, understand and feel part of the group. Remembering personal successes also inspires me to set new goals and persevere. On the other side of the coin, even if they play a hidden role, bad memories remain my constant reminders of valuable lessons. 

They’ve taught me about myself, others, and my surroundings, building resilience, empathy, and problem-solving skills. At times, they’ve pushed me as catalysts, forcing me to alter my behavior, work on my relationships, or even add career skills for the better. It’s obvious that hardship builds strength as well as character, and is a stepping stone to greater strength and maturity. 

In the end, road, good and bad memories contribute to building our own story and shape who we end up being. Our ability to integrate them constructively leads to growth, self-awareness, and resilience.

Avalanche on open ski run

On January 10th, at around 9:30 a.m, an avalanche occurred on the Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw-Valley) side of the ski resort, specifically above the GS bowl area of KT-22. 

The Olympic Valley Fire Department responded to the resort’s avalanche alert, contacted ski patrol, who confirmed the mishap. Placer County Sheriff’s Office assisted Olympic Valley Fire and Palisades Tahoe with the search and rescue operation. More than 100 Palisades personnel participated in the search, and two probe lines were completed. 

The mountain was closed for the remainder of the day. The avalanche debris field is approximately 150 feet wide, 450 feet long and 10 feet deep. The slide caused one fatality and one injury. Our thoughts and prayers are with their family members at this difficult time. 

It’s a bit shocking that an avalanche kills on an open ski run. Usually ski patrol makes sure to detonate explosive charges to move any unstable layer prior to opening a run. It would appear that the responsible individuals mistook what they thought was the usually dense “Sierra cement” snow for fluffy powder with low water content. 

Of the 243 avalanche fatalities in the US in the past decade, only 7 were reported in-bounds at ski areas, according to the National Ski Areas Association. 

One could wonder if Palisades Tahoe, that is part of the Alterra huge conglomerate of ski areas, is as well managed as traditional tightly-owned and operated resorts of yesteryear, and if its new managers have the wisdom, experience and know-how, to run these resorts as well as they used to be handled? 

Having fun driving in snow again!

It took us until January 10 to return to serious winter with a series of abundant snowfall, finally bringing us back into normal season. 

We were getting used to travel on dry street, to drive an almost clean car and to have decent garage floor, but all would eventually change... 

Today, the road have become precarious again with winter driving and some sliding now and then, cars are filthy and my garage floor is a mixture of salty melting goo that behaves just like mud and requires to jump around in order to get in and out of the car! 

Welcome back to winter and I’m not at all ready for this. I just forgot that skiing is (finally) going to be fabulous!

Will the Supreme Court find Trump eligible?

With three recent judges appointed by Trump, and now a super conservative majority, it seems almost impossible for the Supreme Court to deny Trump a run for the presidency. That’s almost become conventional wisdom. 

This said, some qualified legal scholars argue that Trump's actions surrounding the January 6th Capitol riot constitute "insurrection" under the 14th Amendment, making him ineligible to hold office again. There are opposing voices suggesting that disqualification on these grounds sets a dangerous precedent and violates due process, raising concerns about the separation of powers. 

Others also claim that such a decision would spark a huge, popular revolt. I believe that there will be more pragmatic trends at play that might disqualify Trump. They start with with John Roberts, the Court’s Chief Justice, that might see there a golden opportunity to get rid of Trump and his antics, particularly his demented ideas about revoking the constitution and other weird and dangerous moves that would force his Court to make damning decisions that would irremediably destroy its credibility.

Just five votes are needed to deny Trump another run for the presidency and John Roberts would only need to persuade Bret Kavanaugh to weigh against the former president to reach that majority. Both Roberts and Kavanaugh are considered conservative justices, though Roberts has occasionally displayed a willingness to break from strict conservative ideology and so has Kavanaugh at least on one voting rights issue. 

Further Roberts has consistently expressed concern about the Supreme Court being perceived as a political body. He might try to persuade Kavanaugh that disqualifying Trump, despite potential ideological alignment, could be necessary to maintain the Court's legitimacy and public trust. 

Clearly, the specific legal arguments for and against disqualification will be crucial. Roberts, as Chief Justice, will play a key role in shaping the Court's discussion and interpreting the Constitution, potentially influencing Kavanaugh's final vote. I still think and hope it works out that way.

Trusting reasoning over beliefs!

A former schoolmate shared that thought with me a dozen years or so ago, but the way it was formulated never hit me as important or fundamental in the ways I conduct my life. Then, early this week, I heard the same idea packaged in a slightly different way, from yet another friend, and this time it finally hit me. 

This, in fact, is a fascinating statement that raises some important differences between belief and reasoning. Our beliefs are formed through cultural upbringing, personal experiences, and emotional biases. As a result, deeply held beliefs, can become comfortable blind spots. 

Sure, there are some basic beliefs, like the scientific method or the rule of law that are crucial for thriving in society and questioning these can be counterproductive. This is why we should step back, critically examine our beliefs and not simply accept them as truth, by questioning their origin, considering alternative perspectives, and seeking evidence to support them. 

We need the courage to prioritize rationality over the influence of our deeply-held beliefs and if needed, develop convictions based on logical analysis and sound evidence. Our beliefs cannot be static either. We need intellectual curiosity and openness to constantly question our understanding of the world based on new information and experience. 

Reasoning allows us to learn and adapt, while unwavering belief can lead us to stagnate and become overly rigid. A healthy approach involves both strong beliefs (to guide our actions) and a willingness to critically examine them in light of new information and reasoning. 

Ultimately, this is a call for intellectual humility and a commitment to ongoing learning. It reminds us that while beliefs can be valuable, they should never be taken for granted.

Welcome to the “Clusian Goulag!”

When I was in 8th grade at the Saint Jean D’Aulps middle school I wasn’t doing anything or going anywhere. Perhaps, not motivated, bored and uninterested by the teachers and the subjects taught to me. Very soon my scholastic performance when from good to terrible to the point that going to school became a deep, constant and daily anguish. 

One day of May or June 1961, as I was sitting in the school bus next to Marcel Losserand, then in 7th grade, he told me that he had applied for the entrance exam at the “Ecole National d’Horlogerie de Cluses” (Cluses’ National School of Watchmaking). Since I desperately needed an exit strategy from that middle school and the inner workings of clocks and watches had always intrigued me, I see that opportunity as perfect a match for me. 

Marcel and I took the exam and, lo and behold, I succeeded while he flunked. So, without a known buddy of mine, I went to the Cluses boarding school the following September. I quickly discovered that this place was hell. The discipline was harsh, we couldn’t wear blue-jeans, just a drab gray overcoat, and had to wear a military type uniform when we left the perimeter of the school.

We also had to work hard (40 hours of tuition per week), deal with a variety of cruel punishments pushed on to us, plus widespread hazing administered liberally by the senior students. At first, I was to come home (20 miles away) every two weeks and the weekends in the school enclosure were awful. 

This is what I titled this blog the goulag of Cluses (the town) and Clusians (the inhabitants, anglicized). Now, some folks that are placed into delinquent camps will testify how much good it did to them while others will simply loathe these institutions. For me, it was a godsend as it finally told me order, discipline and organization that have served me well all life long. In spite of all that suffering, 

I must admit that the venerable Cluses’ institution contributed enormously to my professional success! So, as the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche first stated in 1888, “Out of life's school of war—what doesn't kill me, makes me stronger.”

Fixing America’s problems (conclusion)

Like in all countries, America has a large share of Selfish-Imbeciles in its population that make all the changes we need almost impossible to implement, unless a dire crisis forces us to do so. 

While this is true of America it also applies to a great number of “developed” Nations. What do I mean by “Selfish-Imbecile”? A group of either racist, fanatics, ignorant, idiots, gullible that lack good judgment. 

When I look at the more recent presidential election in 2020, I can see it as an iceberg representing 239 millions Americans eligible to vote, 159 who did vote (66.8%) and 80 (33.5%) who didn’t. I would put these inside the same bag as the ones (31%) who voted for Trump, that is a total of 154 million (65.5%) of Americans that woefully lacked “good judgment”. 

That’s about two-third of our population and while my personal vote is worth 50% more than it should because of all these stupid folks who don’t even vote, it’s a sad modicum of consolation.

Fixing America’s problems (part three)

Obviously there are many more American problems that remain to be fixed. This said, I see the first one we discussed as the screen that hides the rest of the problems we must wrestle with. On the economic front there is the widespread income inequality and wealth gap that has been widening for decades, hindering economic mobility and threatening social unrest. 

Then there’s a crying need for affordable healthcare that consumes almost 18% of our GDP with a huge cost of medical care and lack of good insurance for all. Our national debt and budget deficit are also terrifying, creating long-term economic uncertainty and tying up the government’s hands. If we look at the social landscape, our politics under Trump have become sick, polarized and overly partisan, creating a widespread national discord. 

There’s of course America’s gun violence and mass shootings with 400 million guns for 350 million people. A daily mass shooting seems a small price to pay for maintaining an anachronistic second amendment! All this takes place on a background of racial and ethnic inequities that stubbornly don’t want to go away and poison American society.

We are also left with a climate change and environmental degradation that were largely responsible for, but that too many American chose to ignore. Its increasing consequences of climate change, such as extreme weather events and rising sea levels, pose major environmental and economic challenges. 

We talked yesterday about education. My countrymen don’t take full advantage of it, but remain unequal and not adequately funded. Drug addiction and mental health are other issues that need fixing along with a still crumbling, old and obsolete infrastructure. This, as you can see, is a long, long list. 

Tomorrow, I’ll share my conclusions, but will have few remedies to offer…

Fixing America’s problems (part two)

My second answer to America’s problems also applies to resolving a major planetary plague: Social Media. At first, around 2008, I embraced the concept and used it a lot. Yet, very soon, I realized the extent of its insidious problems. 

Sure, I loved it at first, as a powerful tool for connection and communication with family and friends, but I rapidly discovered its dark sides. One of them is its ability to generate and spread misinformation or “fake news” that too many believe because they’ve never been taught to think critically and verify their sources. 

It’s also known that social media's algorithms are creating echo chambers that confirm what people already tend to believe, speeding up the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories as well as political polarization or extremism.

Then, there are all these beautiful stories, photos and videos of others that seem to lead a perfect life, far away from the daily grind and down-to-earth problems most folks must contend with. This often contributes to feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, and depression. 

There’s also the highly addictive aspect of the platform, encouraging users to spend ever more time scrolling through feeds and engaging with content. Unfortunately, the addictive nature of social media is what will keep it alive for long. Incivility, cyberbullying and harassment are also part and parcel of social media through on-line anonymous nature and lack of accountability. 

Should I mention privacy concerns and data misuse as vast amounts of user data is collected by social media platforms that are then used for targeted advertising, profiling, and even manipulation. While I still use YouTube for storing and sharing my videos and WhatsApp for instant messaging, I have left Facebook/Instagram in 2018 and Twitter (now X) last year. 

These were not easy decisions, but I’m glad I made them!

Fixing America’s problems (part one)

Quite often, when I’m complaining, I’m asked what my personal ideas to fix America’s problems are. Fair enough! 

Since this is a rather open-ended question that calls for a long list of answers, I will begin with a single one, which I think, if applied, would go a very long way in solving most current American’s problems. My answer goes like this: “Let’s spend the time used up in Church, in school, instead!” What does that mean? 

By applying this rational learning precept to the letter, the entire Nation would become less irrational, better educated, people would gradually begin to think for themselves, appreciate scientific evidence and their own ignorance, instead of remaining gullible and falling prey to smooth talking politicians and a universe of conspiracy theories...

Ski harder to become better?

This year for me will be that of quality over quantity. 

That said, I went skiing on Wednesday. The weather was cold, gloomy and just uninviting, plus I had a lot of paperwork to do, yet I forced myself to go out and decided that it would be an excellent opportunity to “Put some quality skiing into my life!” 

The idea sounds good and the goal makes sense, so how do I get to it? 

Here’s my custom-tailored recipe to the way I ski. I pick the most challenging area for me on the mountain, and when conditions are what they have been until now, I’ll focus on skiing as safely as I can, also as smoothly and fluidly as possible, while avoiding the many obstacles (rocks, stumps, trees small and tiny, icy spots, as well as the ugly moguls we currently have). 

Of course, it will require my undivided attention, with no “robotic skiing” allowed as is generally the case on perfectly manicured ski runs. I do that for as long as my body or my allowed time can stand. I even found it fun (obviously, I’m a ski fanatic) and returned home fully satisfied. I slept very well that night. 

Try it, you just need to have the heart for it!

Are we becoming irrelevant at 75?

The holiday season is generally our biggest and more complete get-together of the year, and as we find ourselves in the midst of youth, we can often feel out of place and no longer at the exact same wave-length as the younger generations that surround us. 

Have we gradually become irrelevant, since our age is now perfectly visible and our contribution to the world around us is assumed to have stopped? Whatever the true answer is, this is frequently the impression that we perceive. We know that becoming irrelevant depends of course on what’s meant by "relevant" and our individual circumstances. We also know that what's relevant to one person or area might not be relevant to another.

Is it about contributing to society? maintaining personal connections? finding personal fulfillment? There can be specific answers to each one of these questions. What remains true is that, deep inside, there’s a huge value in our wisdom and experience. We’ve all lived through decades of change and seen numerous challenges, so our insights can be precious to younger generations. 

We also have skills and expertise to contribute, some of us still continue to work, even if it’s less, and pursue their passions and hobbies. We’re still available to our family with our love, our time and our view points to share and we still have plenty of room left to focus on personal growth and fulfillment. Sure, there are challenges and limitations that can get in the way. 

Some of us have to face physical or cognitive limitations that limit their participation in some activities. However, even with these challenges, there’s room for being engaged and connected. Ultimately, it is all about personal choice and adaptation: age is not an absolute signal if an individual keeps the mindset and willingness to adapt. It's a matter of individual choices, perspectives, and how we navigate the opportunities and challenges of aging. 

Our lives have meaning and value at any age. Let’s not allow anyone to tell us otherwise!

As another Holiday Season ends…

The Christmas and New Year period is something we usually look forward to, but that quickly takes its toll on the most resilient of us. When it’s over, I tend to breathe more freely and reconnect with my precious routine and gladly return to our regular way of living. 

I think that when the Holiday Season is over, and when it involves being hosted, hosting and traveling, it gets the best out of us, leaving us exhausted and depleted. It’s now time to rest and recharge by beginning to take a mental vacation at least of the whole whirlwind of events. 

So, over the next few days, I’ll try to do just that by slowly easing back into my daily routine, without being too harsh about it. I’m now looking forward to the new snow in the forecast to resume skiing in good winter conditions, unlike the one we had to face until now with bad snow and huge crowds. 

One thing for sure is that I will eat and drink much less and that’s welcome news. I will also gently integrate my goals for the new year in taking my time to fine-tune them and make sure they fit well in my normal life. I can appreciate that it's normal to feel a bit down after the holidays, and I plan to be patient with myself and allow my body and mind enough time to recover. 

Hopefully this will work and if it doesn’t, I’ll ask you for further help!

When skiing is really bad…

To ring up the new year the right way, I went skiing with my daughter on Monday, the first day of 2024. As much as possible, we chose places that were off of the beaten path, free of crazy, speedy vacationers and definitely not on groomed runs. 

We decided to go in the morning as we figured that a large number of skiers would be far too hungover to ski that early in the day. True assumption, but still quite a large number of devoted skiers who had behaved the night before thought the same way we did! 

On the challenging slopes we usually prefer, it was therefore a game of avoiding ugly moguls, twigs, saplings and rocks and it demanded that we paid super attention and considerably slowed down our normal, fast pace. 

For what little skiing we did that morning we were tired and glad to call it quit around noon. So what was the takeaway of this first run of the new year? 

Those terrible skiing conditions are a fantastic opportunity to improve one’s skiing as long as no one gets hurt. 

Hopefully, the drought should end soon, if the weather forecast is any indication!

Right way to begin the year?

Before we dive head first into a new year, willy-nilly, let’s begin by being grateful to be able to do so! Then, it might be helpful to ask ourselves the question, “how to make it a good year?” or better yet “a very good year…” 

Since I don’t consider myself an expert in this particular field, I’ve done some research in an effort to help us all discover the perfect answer for a magic formula, if there’s one. Experts say to begin by reviewing the past year, including victories, challenges, and lessons learned. in an effort to understand what has worked well for us. 

After doing it, we should be ready to set some meaningful goals after defining what "good" means to us and making sure whichever objective we choose to pursue, they align with our values and aspirations. We should make them specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. I could add more advice, but let’s keep this light and simple to just get us thinking, if not going hard and fast into 2024. 

Happy New Year!