Seth Mandel:
"The New York Times has a “news analysis”–usually code for “front-page, signed editorial”–lamenting the American public’s appetite for countering the Iranian regime’s attempts to build nuclear weapons. The conceit of the story is that this is a rerun of the war in Iraq, where the supposed existence of a nuclear weapons program spurred the West to form a coalition to depose Saddam Hussein.
“Echoes of the period leading up to the Iraq war in 2003 are unmistakable,” Scott Shane tells us, “igniting a familiar debate over whether journalists are overstating Iran’s progress toward a bomb.” And who is debating the veracity of reporters’ accounts? “Both the ombudsman of the Washington Post and the public editor of the New York Times in his online blog have scolded their newspapers since December for overstating the current evidence against Iran in particular headlines and stories.” So it is the New York Times accusing the New York Times of beating the drums of war. Let’s take a look at some of the other parallels.
“The intelligence on weapons of mass destruction, which was one of the Bush administration’s main rationales for the invasion, proved to be devastatingly wrong,” Shane writes. Not just wrong, but devastatingly wrong. I’ll leave it to others to check the Times style guide for the spectrum of wrongness, but “devastatingly wrong” must be among the wrongest you can be, in the Times’s opinion....
....In any event, the intelligence on Iran isn’t all that murky. What the Times is saying is that even when we can all agree on what the intelligence shows, we can’t trust it, because of Iraq. The Times is actually building a case here against military action even if Iran is about to achieve nuclear capability. As the article notes, however, that’s a view shared by some academics from Harvard and Columbia, but opposed by a majority of Americans...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
February 22, 2012
SandBox Comments: Pueblo Chieftain "Syria shelling of Homs kills 2 Western journalists"
BASSEM MROUE:
"BEIRUT (AP) — A French photojournalist and a prominent American war correspondent working for a British newspaper were killed Wednesday by Syrian shelling of the opposition stronghold Homs as President Bashar Assad's regime escalated its attacks on rebel bases by strafing from helicopter gunships, activists said.
Weeks of withering barrages on the central city of Homs have failed to drive out opposition factions that include rebel soldiers who fled Assad's forces. Hundreds have died in the siege and the latest deaths further galvanized international pressure on Assad, who appears intent on widening his military crackdowns despite the risk of pushing Syria toward full-scale civil war.
"That's enough now, the regime must go," said French President Nicolas Sarkozy after his government confirmed the journalists' deaths.
French spokeswoman Valerie Pecresse identified those killed as French photojournalist Remi Ochlik and American reporter Marie Colvin, who was working for Britain's Sunday Times...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"BEIRUT (AP) — A French photojournalist and a prominent American war correspondent working for a British newspaper were killed Wednesday by Syrian shelling of the opposition stronghold Homs as President Bashar Assad's regime escalated its attacks on rebel bases by strafing from helicopter gunships, activists said.
Weeks of withering barrages on the central city of Homs have failed to drive out opposition factions that include rebel soldiers who fled Assad's forces. Hundreds have died in the siege and the latest deaths further galvanized international pressure on Assad, who appears intent on widening his military crackdowns despite the risk of pushing Syria toward full-scale civil war.
"That's enough now, the regime must go," said French President Nicolas Sarkozy after his government confirmed the journalists' deaths.
French spokeswoman Valerie Pecresse identified those killed as French photojournalist Remi Ochlik and American reporter Marie Colvin, who was working for Britain's Sunday Times...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Two more arrested following mistaken ID"
Chad Abraham:
"The tampering case against Simmons was dismissed at the request of the Aspen district attorney’s office Feb. 10 after police said further investigation pointed to a different suspect.
By then, however, Simmons had been charged with eight felonies related to the drugs police allegedly found. Those charges still stand, and Chief Deputy District Attorney Arnold Mordkin said in court Feb. 13 that the information that led to the second warrant remains “compelling.”
Simmons’ attorney, public defender Tina Fang, said in court the same day that the original warrant that got her client arrested “completely misidentified” him, a mistake that “raises issues of culpability and whether evidence will be suppressed....” (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"The tampering case against Simmons was dismissed at the request of the Aspen district attorney’s office Feb. 10 after police said further investigation pointed to a different suspect.
By then, however, Simmons had been charged with eight felonies related to the drugs police allegedly found. Those charges still stand, and Chief Deputy District Attorney Arnold Mordkin said in court Feb. 13 that the information that led to the second warrant remains “compelling.”
Simmons’ attorney, public defender Tina Fang, said in court the same day that the original warrant that got her client arrested “completely misidentified” him, a mistake that “raises issues of culpability and whether evidence will be suppressed....” (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Aspen man pleads guilty for role in cocaine ring"
Aspen Daily:
"An Aspen man pleaded guilty Tuesday for his role in a local cocaine-trafficking ring and could be sentenced to nine months of house arrest.
Jack Fellner, 62, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine.
Fellner was arrested in May along with five other residents of the upper Roaring Fork Valley and three people from Los Angeles. They were accused of aiding a drug operation between Los Angeles and Aspen that federal agents said brought more than 200 kilos of cocaine to the valley over 15 years.
Charges against one Aspen woman were dropped, another California man remains a fugitive. The others have entered guilty pleas and have either been sentenced or are awaiting their fates.
As a result of the same federal investigation, former Aspen resident Montgomery Chitty, 60, was arrested Feb. 13 in Big Pine Key, Fla. Chitty is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"An Aspen man pleaded guilty Tuesday for his role in a local cocaine-trafficking ring and could be sentenced to nine months of house arrest.
Jack Fellner, 62, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine.
Fellner was arrested in May along with five other residents of the upper Roaring Fork Valley and three people from Los Angeles. They were accused of aiding a drug operation between Los Angeles and Aspen that federal agents said brought more than 200 kilos of cocaine to the valley over 15 years.
Charges against one Aspen woman were dropped, another California man remains a fugitive. The others have entered guilty pleas and have either been sentenced or are awaiting their fates.
As a result of the same federal investigation, former Aspen resident Montgomery Chitty, 60, was arrested Feb. 13 in Big Pine Key, Fla. Chitty is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Encana shifting focus to natural gas liquids"
John Colson:
"PARACHUTE, Colorado — One company drilling for natural gas in this region believes that it will continue to be a profitable venture, despite the low prices gas is bringing on the international market.
Doug Hock, spokesman for Encana Oil and Gas (USA), on Tuesday said the company plans to spend up to $130 million on operations in the Piceance Basin in 2010.
The company also has started work on a new office building in Parachute.
Much of the confidence behind those plans, Hock said, comes from the increasing value of what are known as “natural gas liquids,” or NGLs.
Natural gas liquids are found in the same deposits where oil and gas are located, said Hock.
“They are heavier than methane molecules and come out of the well as liquid, rather than gas. They include ethane, propane, butanes and pentanes,” he said...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"PARACHUTE, Colorado — One company drilling for natural gas in this region believes that it will continue to be a profitable venture, despite the low prices gas is bringing on the international market.
Doug Hock, spokesman for Encana Oil and Gas (USA), on Tuesday said the company plans to spend up to $130 million on operations in the Piceance Basin in 2010.
The company also has started work on a new office building in Parachute.
Much of the confidence behind those plans, Hock said, comes from the increasing value of what are known as “natural gas liquids,” or NGLs.
Natural gas liquids are found in the same deposits where oil and gas are located, said Hock.
“They are heavier than methane molecules and come out of the well as liquid, rather than gas. They include ethane, propane, butanes and pentanes,” he said...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBox Comments: Snowmass Sun "Should homeowners' association managers be licensed?"
Barbara Lucks:
"Since HOA boards are often noted for taking the lowest bid, this often puts the value and lendability of many people's homes in the hands of people with no skills except the ability to suck up to a board and cheap out an operation.
Tell the board anything they want to hear just to keep the account. This is apparently how a large Pitkin County employee housing complex found itself literally rotting in place with no funds for remediation. The board did not want to hear about increasing assessments to provide for future needs. Their residents had important bar tabs to pay.
Accountability to a licensing entity should provide some cause for pause before a manager nods enthusiastically as the board approves a totally untenable plan. I expect some pushback from boards, because increased professional standards and accountability to a license may dilute their power over the manager.
I also expect pushback from current managers, because they will have to spend a little time and money. How much? Well, if Colorado follows the lead of other states, the whole process should take about a month and $1,000, plus about $500 every two years for some continuing education.
Could that small investment go a long way in protecting the public? In my opinion, yes..."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"Since HOA boards are often noted for taking the lowest bid, this often puts the value and lendability of many people's homes in the hands of people with no skills except the ability to suck up to a board and cheap out an operation.
Tell the board anything they want to hear just to keep the account. This is apparently how a large Pitkin County employee housing complex found itself literally rotting in place with no funds for remediation. The board did not want to hear about increasing assessments to provide for future needs. Their residents had important bar tabs to pay.
Accountability to a licensing entity should provide some cause for pause before a manager nods enthusiastically as the board approves a totally untenable plan. I expect some pushback from boards, because increased professional standards and accountability to a license may dilute their power over the manager.
I also expect pushback from current managers, because they will have to spend a little time and money. How much? Well, if Colorado follows the lead of other states, the whole process should take about a month and $1,000, plus about $500 every two years for some continuing education.
Could that small investment go a long way in protecting the public? In my opinion, yes..."
(Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBox Comments: Pueblo Chieftain "Over the River set back to 2015"
Tracy Harmon:
"CANON CITY - New York artist Christo has opted to delay plans for Over the River by pushing back the exhibition a year to allow more time for planning and installation.
Christo's Over the River will be displayed in August 2015 instead of 2014. It will consist of the suspension of 5.9 miles of silvery translucent fabric panels above the Arkansas River in eight segments of a 42-mile stretch between Canon City and Salida.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management gave the project a green light after a lengthy environmental impact statement review.
"The thoroughness of the BLM's environmental review process resulted in the decision being issued several months later than originally planned. As a result, the BLM's final environmental impact statement authorized 28 months for installation, but only 24 months remained," said Steve Coffin, Over the River project team spokesman.
Since November, Christo and the Over The River team have been focused on the next phases of the project including development of the event management plan, which will detail the initial phases of the project including staging, anchor and anchor transition frame installation. The team also is working toward applying for a Chaffee County permit and will hear whether the Fremont County Commission will grant its permit in March.
The county commission is continuing its deliberations and and a final decision may come either March 13 or March 27, said Debbie Bell, the commission chairwoman...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"CANON CITY - New York artist Christo has opted to delay plans for Over the River by pushing back the exhibition a year to allow more time for planning and installation.
Christo's Over the River will be displayed in August 2015 instead of 2014. It will consist of the suspension of 5.9 miles of silvery translucent fabric panels above the Arkansas River in eight segments of a 42-mile stretch between Canon City and Salida.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management gave the project a green light after a lengthy environmental impact statement review.
"The thoroughness of the BLM's environmental review process resulted in the decision being issued several months later than originally planned. As a result, the BLM's final environmental impact statement authorized 28 months for installation, but only 24 months remained," said Steve Coffin, Over the River project team spokesman.
Since November, Christo and the Over The River team have been focused on the next phases of the project including development of the event management plan, which will detail the initial phases of the project including staging, anchor and anchor transition frame installation. The team also is working toward applying for a Chaffee County permit and will hear whether the Fremont County Commission will grant its permit in March.
The county commission is continuing its deliberations and and a final decision may come either March 13 or March 27, said Debbie Bell, the commission chairwoman...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBox Comments: Summit County Citizens Voice "Morning photo: Slovenia"
All credit: Bob Berwyn
"SUMMIT COUNTY — Slovenia may not be the biggest country in Europe, but it has a lot to offer, from alpine vistas and world heritage caves, to a tiny sliver of Adriatic coastline that is a melting pot of Venetian and Balkan culture — all within a few hours of major European capitals..." (Read more? Click title)
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