December 27, 2011

SandBox Comments: Dept. of Defense "Face of Defense: ‘Santa’ Delivers Fuel to Overseas Troops"

"....I just wanted to bring a little holiday cheer to the men and women of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and help out with a very special holiday delivery," chuckled ‘Santa,’ portrayed by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Mike Morris, the 816th squadron’s loadmaster flight noncommissioned officer in charge and native of Charleston, S.C.

The delivery -- 160 barrels of fuel -- was loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft under Santa's command.

The fuel will be used for generators, vehicles and heaters to keep service members warm in the frigid mountains of eastern Afghanistan, said Air Force Staff Sgt. Mike Folk, 816th EAS loadmaster and native of Frazeysburg, Ohio.

"This fuel is going to help keep them warm and let them continue to accomplish their mission," Folk said...."

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SandBox Comments: KKCO 11 News "Drawing up laughter, cartoon after cartoon "

What's found in nearly all of Mesa County's law enforcement agencies?

Posted on walls, cubicles, desks and possibly secret spots known only to those who serve and protect?

Gil Stone knows.

For a good laugh and some keen insight into one of the more light-hearted yet sort-of, kind-of humor only a cop can really understand fully...check out his website.

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SandBox Comments: Aspen Times/Maurice Emmer "A million here, a million there"

Maurice Emmer:

"...The hydroelectric plant's financial projections are only as good as the assumptions. Reality puts the lie to assumptions. Movement in a few assumptions could make the plant a financial disaster. Consider, for example, the 70 percent increase in project costs already acknowledged.

Why is Aspen marching down this risky road? It claims that the success of existing aged hydroelectric plants proves the wisdom. But the facts of the city's other hydroelectric sites are entirely different.

Aspen can buy renewable electricity generated elsewhere at affordable rates and resell it to Aspen's residents. This could happen in months, not years. Large utilities, capturing much greater economies of scale than Aspen's tiny operations, employing professional utility management that knows how to mitigate risk, could provide reliable streams of renewable energy indefinitely. Such utilities' future rates might increase — or decrease, given that supplies of traditional and renewable energy are increasing.

Moreover, any price risk from buying energy should be compared to the numerous risks of constructing another city-owned hydroelectric plant and being stuck with the costs and uncertainties associated with it for 50 to 80 years. It's not as if there isn't a price issue with the plant itself; even now there is strong evidence that hydroelectricity will be more expensive than other renewable electricity.

Let's get greener now: Buy existing renewable energy from a

reliable source, shut down the hydroelectric-plant boondoggle, and, this being Aspen, prepare for the next one. "

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SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Chamber board considers its legal liability exposure"

"According to an article on San Diego-based Aspen Risk Management Group’s website, “charitable immunity,” which is based upon the notion that charitable organizations and individuals should be exempt from legal liability, has faded over time.

The website also says that general liability policies only cover basic exposures, such as premises and operations, and directors and officers may not be protected under a stand-alone liability policy.

When considering how much insurance to carry, nonprofits ought to consider all of their resources and financial strength, as well as the organization’s activities and what can go wrong at any of them, according to the website...."
(sack@aspendailynews.com)

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SandBox Comments: Aspen Times/Letters to the Editor "Christmas skiing at Snowmass"

 
 
 
See today's Vail Daily story on slope groomers over on Vail Resorts turf that are grooming for nearly 'full-up at the Inn' crowds. 
 
 
"Dear Editor:

I was on the lift at 8:30. Beautiful day. No crowds at all. Bluebird skies. Very warm.

After skiing Snowmass, I thought it may be time for a name change. There is a famous bluegrass song from my home state of Tennessee. So let's change the name to “Good Old Rocky Top.”

I'm out again this week, but this time instead of taking my ski poles, I take my weed eater...."
(Harry Temple III, Basalt )