by Mark Smiley | Nov 19, 2021 | Feature Story Bottom Left
Karl Honegger
by Karl Honegger
I recently paid $120 to fill up my SUV, bringing back memories of 2012 when I was a college student working two jobs to support my wife and newborn. It was difficult to balance the cost of rent, diapers, food, and gas. It felt like I’d been punched in the gut every time I left the gas station. Because I have a nine-year career under my belt, a master’s degree, and a professional certification, my income is higher. While it doesn’t hurt as much when I fill up my gas tank, I’m still reminded of how much the price of gas impacted my life. It still impacts me because my wife and I drive a full-size passenger van because of my eight-person family.
It is important to understand that it was a strange convergence of events that caused the price of gas to be so low the last decade. Why we used to enjoy low gas prices is because of three factors:
Senator Kevin Priola
Representative Matt Gray
The first is that the United States is one of the few countries where individuals are allowed to own the minerals in the ground. They can then sign contracts with oil and gas companies to drill and sell those minerals. This free market causes oil companies to be fiercely competitive. March of 2011, NATO commenced a seven-month bombing campaign in Libya and the country was tossed into a brutal civil war. This took almost 1,500 barrels per day of oil off the international market and helped support the price of crude oil for the next few years. Here is how this impacted the United States — oil producers decided that they were going to invest billions in exploring and developing shale oil fields where the cost of drilling for a barrel of oil is much higher. The scientists and petroleum engineers working for those companies then figured out ways to drive down the cost of drilling for shale oil. The United States ended up producing a higher percentage of the world’s supply of oil. This innovation was great for the United States but gave Saudi Arabia a headache.
This brings us to the second factor, Saudi Arabia and OPEC decided they would stop working so hard to prop up the price of crude oil by constantly cutting their own production. Instead, they would flood the market. From mid-2014 to early 2016 the price of crude oil dropped 70% as Saudi Arabia entered a risky battle with US Shale oil companies for market share. The Saudi’s won. This led to over 100 oil and gas companies declaring bankruptcy in 2020, including Whiting Oil and Gas which I used to work for. The bright side was that this oil war was saving American’s $180 billion a year.
The third factor that led to the low oil prices was that the world enjoyed some peace during the previous administration. The oil production of Libya came back on-line, and we managed to stay out of war with Iran. The combination of these three synergistic factors led to the low gas prices we used to enjoy. Those times will never return. Saudi Arabia is willing to keep oil prices high after winning their price war and demand for oil has recovered after last year’s government lockdowns. The cost of transporting our food to the grocery store, or driving to visit friends and family, or driving to work will remain expensive.
With this in mind, we must fight any new tax disguised as a fee on gas or transportation. The poor and middle class do not need to pay more at the pump as housing prices and out of control inflation continue to squeeze their budgets tighter and tighter.
The corporatists at Colorado Concern demonstrate how out of touch they are by giving Senator Kevin Priola their “In the Arena” award for his support of Senate Bill 260. This bill, sponsored in the State House by my Representative Matt Gray, creates an additional “fee” per gallon of gas. But the money doesn’t go to just roads, it’s also designed to funnel your money towards electrical vehicle “infrastructure” and to subsidize governments buying electric vehicles. Colorado Concern’s award is for the legislator whose “face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly… who spends himself in a worthy cause…” If politicians like Priola did have any guts, they would have taken this bill to the voters as required by the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Rather they chose the easy way out by calling a tax a “fee.” This form of sniveling cowardice is what big business interests at Colorado Concern want more of. Next time you are at the gas pump, give State Senator Priola or Representative Gray a call and let them know you don’t appreciate their “fee” on the gas you need to live your life. Colorado Concern may be funded by wealthy cronies who want politicians to do their bidding, but it’s time the voters let them know we’ve had enough.
Karl Honegger is on the Steamboat Institute’s Emerging Leaders Council and a board member of the Colorado Union of Taxpayers. He is a Certified Treasury Professional and works for a “tech-enabled” healthcare company as a Financial Reporting Accountant.
by Mark Smiley | Nov 19, 2021 | Main Articles
by Mark Smiley
Looking for a unique holiday gift idea? Longtime Glendale Chamber Ambassador Laura Lieff wrote a book called Wookie Is Not His Real Name which provides a comprehensive look into snowboard culture through the eyes of a local legend and his community. The biography also illuminates how the life-altering circumstances of a professional athlete were handled with heart and humor. Following a career-ending injury, after which he was told he would never walk again, Wookie endured severe physical, mental, and emotional lows that changed the trajectory of his life. Exemplifying his strength and determination, he pushed through to make it back on his feet and back on a board.
The book is easy to ship and the perfect gift for anyone interested in reading about Colorado snowboard history, sports, family, local lore, Vail Valley culture, fatherhood, coming back from an injury, the outdoors, professional snowboarding, and snowskating, among other topics.
Lieff says, “My goal with this book was to demonstrate how far Wookie has come and how he clawed his way back to the top with courage, grace, and a lot of heart. The biography also shows that even with all the press and praise he’s received throughout the years for snowboarding, and his overall outdoorsmanship, being a father is his greatest achievement.”
Before moving to the Vail Valley in 2013, Lieff was an editor for the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle and a Glendale resident for seven years. She now runs her own business, Lieff Ink, and is a writing tutor at Colorado Mountain College and Vail Mountain School. On Friday nights she hosts a radio show on 107.9 Radio Free Minturn.
Wookie Is Not His Real Name can be found in bookstores and retail locations throughout Colorado, including The Bookies. For more information on the book, or to purchase online, visit www.lauralieff.com /book.
by Mark Smiley | Oct 22, 2021 | Uncategorized
Expert: Matthew Kline is a well-respected piano teacher and mindfulness training and meditation expert.
Matthew Kline’s reputation precedes itself. Kline is known around the country as a world class piano teacher who also focuses on mindfulness training and meditation. By bringing his expertise in building communities through outstanding musicianship, Matthew Kline founded Music Lab Dallas in 2016, now known as Now Embodied Sound Studio.
Now Embodied Sound Studio is located in Workshops in the heart of Glendale. He occupied the space in September after moving from Texas. “I’m really impressed by Glendale,” said Kline, owner of Now Embodied Sound Studio. “It’s this beautiful hub in the middle of a larger metropolitan area. This particular location [Workshops] is perfect. I fell in love with this location because of its proximity to everything. It’s so easy to access students of all ages and types. I love being in a multicultural and experimental environment.”
“I’m set up with a larger space [at Workshops] so I can accommodate a few people at a time to experience the calming and relaxing presence of sound as a tool to restore the body into a place of relaxation. This puts the body in a place where it needs to be to heal itself.”
Kline taught piano lessons and piano pedagogy for 15 years at Southern Methodist University (SMU). He honed his skills during his 15 years as Senior Lecturer in Piano Pedagogy, and Executive Director of the Piano Preparatory Department at SMU. But his experience started at an early age.
At age seven, Kline began studying piano with his mother. At age 16 he studied with David Pocock at Western Michigan University, thus undertaking a more formal study.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hope College with majors in piano performance and psychology. While at Hope College, Matthew studied piano with Joan Conway, Jaques-Dalcroze Eurhythmics, and Charles Aschbrenner.
In 1997 Matthew began his Master of Music degree at Southern Methodist University where he studied piano under Alfred Mouledous and Piano Pedagogy under Dr. Sam Holland, the current dean of the Meadows School of the Arts.
Upon completing his Master of Music degree, Mr. Kline returned to Western Michigan University where he completed his Master of Social Work degree. As a Social Worker, Matthew built communities and served as an advocate in hospice care, public school systems, and distributing emergency financial assistance through government agencies.
Kline’s pursuit of excellence has earned him a reputation around the U.S. as an outstanding music educator who strives to meet the personal and musical needs of his students.
“Mr. Kline has a wonderful way of engaging our young son to spark his interest in piano, music, patterns, and rhythm,” said Nicole Kamprath. “Mr. Kline’s methods have taught our son the fundamentals of piano, but also provided a wider knowledge and enjoyment of music.”
Glendale Business: Now Embodied Sound Studio is located at Workshops in Glendale.
His students consistently receive marks of First Class with Honors in the Music Development Program Examinations, while select pupils have even been chosen to perform in the Van Cliburn International Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, as well as the Chicago International Competition for Outstanding Amateur Pianists.
Despite the value of these successes and achievements, Kline’s satisfaction comes from bringing people together through rhythm, motion, and joy. And that is part of the reason he left higher education and started his own company. “I’m really happy to be spreading my own wings away from higher education,” said Kline. “I love what it does and what it offers but it’s really nice to be free and structuring my own world.”
One of the first orders of business for Kline after moving to Denver was to join the Glendale Chamber. “I joined the chamber because it is really important to get my name out in the community,” said Kline. “Also, I love being a part of a community with people who are engaged in the community itself. Who have businesses that serve the community and the population. To me, it’s all about building community. It’s exciting to be part of it.”
That community feel is what drives Kline to take Embodied Sound Studio to the next level. Embodied Sound Studio has what Kline calls three silos of activities: 1. World class piano lessons for students from age 6 to 96; 2. Mindfulness; and 3. Individual sessions that allow people to share what’s in their heart.
Develop The Self Through The Joy Of Playing Piano
The art of studying piano is an art of understanding the self then using that understanding to express universal truths and deepening the connection with the world. Students of piano become skilled at the language of Rhythm, Harmony, and Melody.
“Our son has been studying under Matthew for four years,” said Ling Shiao. “He is a great pianist and a dynamic, engaging, experienced teacher who is committed to his student’s excellence. He makes lessons both interesting and fun for his students using a variety of techniques. He may have a student get up and dance to learn particular rhythms or have the student sing the melody so they can literally feel the music flowing through their body. He’s at once strict and patient, disciplined and flexible, tailoring his lessons to each student’s personality and needs. Our son can go this far on piano and take great pride in it only because of Matthew’s outstanding teaching and remarkable musicianship.”
Play With Others
Making music and performing with others is not limited to those who have studied for many years and have achieved skill and mastery. Anyone can connect with others through the interlocking rhythms and tones present in a community-based rhythm event. This class is intended to build community through listening, interaction and musical exploration. No experience needed.
Enhance Your Presence
Enhance your ability to focus, relax and remain present. A Somatic Sound Bath is a unique and powerful 90-minute experience, combining restorative yoga asana, vocal toning, and sound bath. Sounds produced by singing bowls, the voice, along with other instruments become tools for weaving a tapestry that yokes the mind to the body and individual to the collective. The therapeutic sound practitioner creates an immersive soundscape that deepens relaxation and fosters awareness.
Now Embodied Sound Studio charges $100 per hour for services rendered. They are located at Workshops at 4340 E. Kentucky Avenue, Suite 352A in Glendale. Visit www.nowembodied.com for more information.
