February 9, 2012

SandBox Comments: Denver Channel "Feds Make Largest Mass Drug Arrest In Colo. History"

Thank you to all agencies, officers, agents, task forces and prosecutors who participated in this, the biggest drug and gang  bust in Colorado's history.  You are so appreciated.

Alan Gathright and Kim Nguyen:

"...You have 500 cops at 6 in the morning who are taking suspects into custody who were this violent and this dangerous and have nobody hurt, it's remarkable. It's rare that I've seen a sophisticated operation done so well and done so smoothly," said Aurora police Chief Dan Oates.


There were close too 100 arrest warrants and dozens of commanders and supervisors working with their teams to make sure the arrests came about smoothly,


"This was not easy by any stretch of the imagination," one law enforcement agent said.


"This is a big deal for Colorado. It sends a clear message to people bringing drugs and selling. And that is,

'Your day will come,'" Walsh said.


"The local gangs should be on notice. If they are involved in violence and they are involved in drug trafficking ... they will go down," said Adams County Sheriff Doug Darr.


He said the effort to disrupt and dismantle the criminal organizations responsible for that "is by no means over and will lead to further investigations."


The investigation showed that the drugs were going to streets of metro Denver, and not mean for any other state...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Power Line/Steven Hayward "Liberals and the Constitution"

(See related story here.  Take a look at the Egyptian media outlet she chose. Read a supporting view  of Ginsburg here)

For SandBox, it wasn't just her views of our constitution.  It was the fact that she chose to express herself on MEMRI T.V. and while in Egypt.   She should be impeached and certainly not held in regard for her choice.


Steven Hayward:
"Liberals typically erupt in outrage if you suggest they don’t respect or understand the Constitution, let alone defend it.  But then they let slip that in fact they really don’t respect or understand the Constitution.  Think of Ezra Klein remarking a couple years back on how the Constitution is too hard to understand because, like, it’s over a hundred years old man!*  And this week Barack Obama proved himself once again the perfect epigone of Woodrow Wilson—the first president to criticize the Constitution and the principles of the American Founding—with his remarks to NBC’s Matt Lauer that one reason he hasn’t succeeded in fulfilling his campaign promises to transform the world is that “it turns out our Founders designed a system that makes it more difficult to bring about change than I would like sometimes.”  It turns out?  He’s just discovering this now?  (Well, one thing that “turns out” is that the only constitutional law Obama actually taught at the University of Chicago was the equal protection clause.  Apparently he skipped over that whole “separation of powers” stuff.)

But the prize for this week’s liberal obtuseness about the Constitution goes to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who told an Egyptian television audience that “I would not look to the U.S. Constitution if I were drafting a constitution in the year 2012.”   Instead, “I might look at the constitution of South Africa.  That was a deliberate attempt to have a fundamental instrument of government that embraced basic human rights, had an independent judiciary.”  She added that “you should certainly be aided by all the constitution-writing that has gone one since the end of World War II....”  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Town Hall "The Secular Media Vs. Religious Liberty"

Here's an idea.  Do away with media wars on both sides.

Choose individual spirituality and choice instead.

Brent Bozell:

"The Obama administration is waging war on Christianity. Somehow, the networks haven't seen this as newsworthy..."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Dept of Defense/Bloggers Roundtable "Historian Explains War of 1812’s Impact on National Defense"

Come get acquainted with bloggers for the Dept. of Defense.

You can set up your email to receive alerts from most all of our government departments, military and law enforcement.  Did you know that?

It's a great way to keep directly informed on up-to-the-minute happenings in local, state, regional, national and global security.

Come listen to senior historian at the Naval History and Heritage Command Michael Crawford as he share very interesting insight into the War of 1812.  (Read the article?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Fatal search illegal, judge rules"

Because they deserve our understanding and respect.  Because every day they put their lives on the line for each one of us.

Those are a couple of the reasons SandBox gathers stories like this one sparingly.  When our law enforcement officers get into trouble, they deserve respectful media coverage.

SandBox is troubled to hear this is the result of appeals filed by the lawyers representing  Kirk Firko and Ivan Lawyer.  With that said, it is now what they have to work within and we wish them the very best as they go forward to trial.
(Read the article?  Click title)


"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Summit Daily News "Bruce Brown: Medical marijuana: Where we go from here"

Big race for district attorney over in 5th Judicial District.  Four contenders aiming for the term-limited seat of District Attorney Mark Hurlbert.

And here is one great reason to NOT vote for Bruce Brown.  (Read article?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Denver Post "10 states get education waivers "

Congratulations, Colorado!

It may not be ideal nor does it meet the ultimate needs.  But for now, this waiver ability will free up much needed revenue that our public schools need.

"WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama on Thursday will free 10 states from the strict and sweeping requirements of the No Child Left Behind education law in exchange for promises to improve the way schools teach and evaluate students...."  (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Congressman Scott Tipton "Congressional Hearing on Western Water Storage Announced Following Tipton’s Request "

Congressional Hearing on Western Water Storage Announced Following Tipton’s Request

"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following a request from Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO), the House Natural Resources Water and Power Subcommittee today announced that there will be a hearing to examine issues surrounding water storage in the West.

The hearing entitled, Water for Our Future and Job Creation: Examining Regulatory and Bureaucratic Barriers to New Surface Storage Infrastructure, is scheduled for Tuesday, February 7th at 10:00 a.m., in room 1324, Longworth House Office Building.

Read more on the hearing here.

In his request for the hearing to Natural Resources Water and Power Subcommittee Chairman Tom McClintock, Tipton wrote last week:
The uncertainties of annual water availability can imperil those communities which are hindered by an unwieldy regulatory framework that hinders the ability to store water for vital purposes. Through prudent supply management and the ability to store much needed water, communities can support jobs that depend on the availability of water, protect food security, control flooding, ensure continued recreation opportunities, provide water for the development of hydropower, and meet environmental protection needs.
View the entire letter here.

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Tipton plans après town hall meeting"

Andrew Travers:

"Rep. Scott Tipton is planning his first public meeting with Aspen constituents since he took office in January of last year.

The Republican congressman will hold an open town hall-style gathering at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 3 at BB’s Kitchen. In traditional Aspen fashion, the afternoon meeting is being billed as an après-ski event.

A group of non-partisan young professionals successfully lobbied Tipton to make the visit. Frieda Wallison, chair of the Pitkin County Republican Party, said the event is focused on meeting local constituents in the under-40 age range.

“He wants to hear from younger people,” she said...."  (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Clarifying county's $1M for Silt infrastructure"

All it would take to permanently stop the tabloid journalism at the Glenwood Springs Post Independent is for every leader we have to do what Garfield County Commissioner John Martin does in this letter to the editor (and) what our local police chiefs did over CIRC's assault on our SRO officers.

Just stand up.  One of the reasons our authorities have so many folks living in the shadows throughout the area is because certain media has become emboldened to the point that causing harm to individuals and the image of our communities is now common place and seen as an entitlement of sorts.

Sooner or later, the word will continue to get back to the PI staff's employer, Swift Communications, and we'll have a full-time respectable local newspaper once again. 

A thank you goes out to Garfield County Commissioner John Martin this morning for standing up and calling a spade a spade.

(Read what John Martin has to say?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "RFTA gets $365,000 grant for cleaner buses"

It's just so hard.

Really, really tough to be RFTA and CEO Dan Blankenship.

To change a career pattern of holding one's hand out to local, state and federal governments for 'on call cash' bailouts and handouts to actually working with private enterprise for funding; is really, really tough to do.

To change the career pattern of crony back scratching in order to hold political power and control is a very scary thing to consider.

Thank you to EnCana Oil and Gas for giving RFTA something to think about.
(Read article?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Snowmass Sun "Barbara Lucks: Coming this summer, AAA baseball"

And it's free.

No tourism marketing funds needed.

No Chamber of Commerce needed.  No Chamber Resort Association needed.

No millions of dollars of public funding needed.

How much would it take to get our local municipalities to each hire a couple of good writers to sit on staff and flood the internet with informative columns like this one from Barbara Lucks up on the Snowmass Sun?

Is it possible that a number of the bells and whistles pushed to our esteemed decision makers in fancy power point presentations could be eliminated?  And significant chunks of change saved for use in actually bringing draws, events and growing our tourism infrastructure?

Glenwood Springs has a paltry 1.7% increase in sales revenues for the year 2011.  Yet we spent a half million dollars+ in 2011 on tourism marketing.  Another near clean sweep has occurred on the tourism promotion board and GSCRA has serious internal issues.  Snowmass has serious internal issues in their tourism marketing efforts. With outlying communities throughout Western Colorado experiencing similar.

Yet here comes Barbara Lucks with a no cost, upbeat and straight to the point information that will draw folks to the Grand Junction and Mack area this year.

Wonder how long it took her to pump out the piece?  Wonder how much exposure it would get if it was positive viral link baited to the right news outlets?  Wonder how long it would take to get all that done?

Two hours?  Three?  Even at a full day of work we would be far better off than dropping millions on glossy ads and high dollar salaries for tourism marketing vendors.

(Read the article?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Glenwood Springs retail sales end year up 1.7 percent"

Of all the little victories and breakthroughs for the little guys here in the Roaring Fork Valley over the past four years; this one from John Stroud over on the Glenwood Springs Post Independent makes 'SandBox Nanny' feel the best.

Look at this.

He even has graphics.  Talk about smoking right on by the guys up on the Aspen Daily News!!!  Yowza!!

Will this be enough, all you avatars in commentary?

Has John Stroud finally done enough to satisfy your shout outs for details when it comes to revenue reporting from the City of Glenwood Springs?

Has he ever.  Thank you, Mr. Stroud.  This is very, very well done.  Let's see if the 'kids' buy it.

Hooah.

(Take a look?  Ready?  Click title.)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Fashionista, sister sue Texas multimillionaire’s trust over rental of Shadow Mountain mansion"

It's all a question of priorities, isn't it?

Imagine a world...where everyone had a home....no one was hungry.  How far would $20,000 a night, for 15 nights, go toward goals such as those?

Just imagine.

Chad Abraham:
"A London fashionista and her sister are suing a Texas multimillionaire’s trust and a local vacation rental company in Pitkin County District Court, alleging the $365,000 they paid for a 15-day stay in an Aspen mansion has not been paid back after their contract was canceled.

The lawsuit by Mounissa and Nafissa Chodieva says they had arranged to pay $20,000 a night to rent a 9,331-square-foot home near Shadow Mountain over the recent holiday season...."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Aspen has never been hotter"

Yes, 'SandBox Nanny' has all of your requests to "bring back the page feature" here on The Box.

Do you people have any idea how much work that is in Blogger format??!!

But...if she does do it...yes, she is considering a page titled "Classic Madden".

Jeremy Madden this morning.  Up on the Aspen Daily News.

"When one thinks of the hottest of places imaginable, fiery locations like the Sun and Hell come quickly to mind. After that other sizzling spots like steel mills, Death Valley, the deserts of Libya and Egypt, the legendary town of Timbuktu and yoga studios all follow. But now, you can add Aspen, Colorado, to that list of extremely hot places...." (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Summit Daily News "Writers on the Range: When an avalanche comes calling"

This story has been buzzing around the mountain region since Greg Collins knowingly triggered this massive avalanche on Mount Taylor.

Who's right?  Who's wrong?  There really is no answer to this one.  The moral to the story is spoken very well by Writers on the Range columnist Molly Loomis.

"Instead, why don't we thank the powder gods that it didn't take a fatality to get this conversation going? All too often in an event like this, tears drown out the sounds of dialogue. Let us hope that this avalanche –- which harmed no one –– will wake us up to our responsibilities as backcountry skiers. Let's remember that although we choose to ski in a wild place, we are not always alone –– so let's make sure that our fun remains as safe as we can make it...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Crestone Eagle "Front Page Photo"

The monthly publication of the Crestone Eagle is a great place to stop in for the news down south.  And because it is one of the places we find a couple of our favorite  photographers.

This month we find:  (all credit)  "Jackrabbit in Snow. photo by Wendy Shattil/Bob Rozinski" .