A collection of things I’m reading, writing and thinking about. These are my ramblings and personal thoughts from my travels — all the well thought out stuff is over at my other blog, Ready Fire Aim. Coming to you live from Denver, Dallas, Charlotte, California, or wherever else my travels take me. You can reach me by leaving a comment on this blog, or bill@smallerthoughts.com.Tumblr (3.0; @billda)http://smallerthoughts.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/52385763e6d5ca50ff75f0a9f50379a4/tumblr_mireyf3ddr1qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Foot of snow today in Denver - which means tomorrow is an Elements Brands company holiday ;)</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/43962051264http://smallerthoughts.com/post/43962051264Sun, 24 Feb 2013 21:54:15 -0700<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/59f2451e9a6182eb4b6d7c97231951df/tumblr_mhd5zr7Jpc1qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Winter has arrived and the snow is falling down outside the Skyway offices…</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/41747858829http://smallerthoughts.com/post/41747858829Mon, 28 Jan 2013 18:40:38 -0700<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/465a215fd2620831823c18c4ce5d0b02/tumblr_mg65v0WTKA1qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>First day skiing and first chair at Copper. What a day to be in Colorado.</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/39768351317http://smallerthoughts.com/post/39768351317Sat, 05 Jan 2013 13:21:00 -0700<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/c1859675856454c6d55930934bdf93c3/tumblr_mg4agrvXoL1qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Finally made it to Denver’s famous Jelly for homemade donuts!</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/39676590156http://smallerthoughts.com/post/39676590156Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:05:15 -0700<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_me40xhG8k21qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches, extra gravy. Best ever.</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/36605195500http://smallerthoughts.com/post/36605195500Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:32:04 -0700<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdhcnriHXQ1qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Amazing sunrise in Denver this morning. #nofilter</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/35703376493http://smallerthoughts.com/post/35703376493Wed, 14 Nov 2012 06:40:39 -0700nofilter<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdft7oKJAU1qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>From Southpark, Charlotte last week to South Park, CO today. A little different scene:</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/35643053098http://smallerthoughts.com/post/35643053098Tue, 13 Nov 2012 10:43:00 -0700<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcz65oKPEy1qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Baltimore waterfront - Tom’s wedding weekend</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/34990990452http://smallerthoughts.com/post/34990990452Sun, 04 Nov 2012 11:03:24 -0700<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_magzg1g4dl1qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>More Telluride porn - I can’t help it. Sunset and drinks from the Peaks lodge in Mtn Village. (Taken with <a href="http://instagram.com">Instagram</a> at Palmyra at The Peaks)</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/31700817640http://smallerthoughts.com/post/31700817640Sun, 16 Sep 2012 19:14:25 -0600<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_maf5edJ7rU1qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Telluride sunset from the gondola. (Taken with <a href="http://instagram.com">Instagram</a>)</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/31626280038http://smallerthoughts.com/post/31626280038Sat, 15 Sep 2012 19:27:49 -0600<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mabe5vgZmB1qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Not a bad place to have a beer. Colorado summers can’t be beat. (Taken with <a href="http://instagram.com">Instagram</a> at Mountain Village)</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/31493883360http://smallerthoughts.com/post/31493883360Thu, 13 Sep 2012 18:46:42 -0600<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9nktvnEso1qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Solo camping - just me, a fire and the stars. (Taken with <a href="http://instagram.com">Instagram</a> at Tincup)</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/30633670334http://smallerthoughts.com/post/30633670334Fri, 31 Aug 2012 22:08:19 -0600<a href="http://www.billda.com/political-parties-have-become-religions">Political Parties Have Become Religions, and We Are All Evangelists</a>: <p><strong>I wrote this because I am so sick and tired of our broken political system.</strong> And it’s everyone’s fault. I’m not talking about politicians, or media networks. I’m talking about you. Yes you.</p> <blockquote> <p>It’s election season, and the mudslingers are out in force. I’ve seen commercials claiming Mitt Romney buys whole towns and fires everyone just for fun, and others suggesting Barack Obama wants to deliberately bankrupt our entire healthcare system to advance some socialist agenda. Any thinking person should be able to immediately reject these types of claims as baseless and exaggerated. Clearly neither candidate is some suit-clad agent of the apocalypse, hell bent on destroying America. So why are we bombarded with attack ads constantly during commercial breaks? Why do we find ourselves parroting their sound bites back to our friends at cocktail parties? Why do cars drive down the street with bumper stickers brashly proclaiming “W – not my president” or “Friends don’t let friends vote Democrat”?</p> <p>American political discourse is broken. We’ve reached the logical conclusion of 24/7 news coverage, a population hungry for controversy, and a relentless media hype cycle. No longer do we discuss concrete solutions to the big problems we face as a country; we spend our time pissing at each over who is a “real American” and slinging accusations over where someone was actually born or why they won’t release their tax returns.</p> </blockquote>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/28870889916http://smallerthoughts.com/post/28870889916Mon, 06 Aug 2012 18:15:00 -0600<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7o5181iz21qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Papal throne in St. Peter’s Bascillica - the sunburst is made entirely of amber. (Taken with <a href="http://instagram.com">Instagram</a>)</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/27908583611http://smallerthoughts.com/post/27908583611Tue, 24 Jul 2012 08:17:31 -0600<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7ktekwxNU1qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Pantheon, just outside our hotel. The Romans light it with simulated torchlight for authenticity. (Taken with <a href="http://instagram.com">Instagram</a> at Pantheon)</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/27776928099http://smallerthoughts.com/post/27776928099Sun, 22 Jul 2012 13:13:31 -0600<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7ixjvcz281qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Florence L to R: Ufitzi, Duomo, Santa Croce - one shot. (Taken with <a href="http://instagram.com">Instagram</a>)</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/27709332965http://smallerthoughts.com/post/27709332965Sat, 21 Jul 2012 12:47:54 -0600<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7f8d8GEtE1qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Sunset over Monterroso al Mare from Vernazza (Taken with <a href="http://instagram.com">Instagram</a> at Ristorante Belforte)</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/27568668201http://smallerthoughts.com/post/27568668201Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:51:08 -0600<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7d474p05v1qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Hike from Corniglia (foreground) to Vernazza is worth it. Riomaggiore in background. (Taken with <a href="http://instagram.com">Instagram</a>)</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/27484486005http://smallerthoughts.com/post/27484486005Wed, 18 Jul 2012 09:25:51 -0600<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7cxlapKF01qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Each corner I go around is more outrageous than the next - Manarola (Taken with <a href="http://instagram.com">Instagram</a>)</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/27479215775http://smallerthoughts.com/post/27479215775Wed, 18 Jul 2012 07:03:10 -0600<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7cxjzNmUT1qzpul2o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Manarola (Taken with <a href="http://instagram.com">Instagram</a>)</p>http://smallerthoughts.com/post/27479194135http://smallerthoughts.com/post/27479194135Wed, 18 Jul 2012 07:02:23 -0600