February 29, 2012

SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Armed Colorado Springs doc helps others flee from gunman"

Meet Jeff Ferguson.

Just an average guy, a doctor by trade.  Who at least 50 people in Colorado Springs may owe their lives to.

We sort of think you're an everyday American hero, doc.  So glad you were there.

via Grand Junction Daily Sentinel AP:
"COLORADO SPRINGS — A Colorado doctor with a concealed-weapon permit said he grabbed his gun and guarded an exit at a medical building as dozens of people fled from a gunman who had taken two hostages.

Authorities in Colorado Springs said the hostages were released before police shot and fatally wounded the gunman Tuesday. No one else was hurt.

Police identified the gunman as Dominic Oliver, 28, of Colorado Springs.

A doctor at the practice, Jeff Ferguson, told KKTV he retrieved his gun from its storage place and protected an exit as an estimated 50 people fled down a stairway.
“If this guy opens this door, I’m going to have to shoot him,” Ferguson said. “I was absolutely prepared to shoot him, yes.”..."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Red State "Deja Vu All Over Again "

Erick Erickson:
"I have, for the longest time, been convinced that the Republican candidates have a very slim chance of beating Barack Obama without a struggling economy. And while I still think it is true, I think the Democrats have handed the GOP a gift that could be turned into victory if the GOP plays its cards well.

We are entering deja vu all over again.

On September 12, 2009, Janet Hook wrote in the Los Angeles Times that “[s]ome Republicans worry that the healthcare debate is reinforcing an unflattering image of them as the ‘Party of No.’” Bob Inglis (R-SC), who would go down to defeat in a primary at the hands of the tea party in 2010, gave voice to many

Republican leaders at the time when he said, “People are upset, but they expect leaders to remain calm and find solutions. . . . If you don’t have a plan about how to lead, why would anyone give you the majority?”
By the end of the year it was taken as objective fact. Being the “Party of No” would kill the GOP in 2010.

On television objective analysts, Democratic partisans, reporters, and “Republican leaders on background” all spoke of pending disaster for a Republican Party that refused to work with Barack Obama and said “no” to everything.

On February 15, 2010, Chris Cillizza in the Washington Post wrote of Fred Malek, an aide to President Nixon and big Republican donor starting a group called “American Action.” In an interview with the Washington Post, Malek openly fretted, “We are a center-right-majority nation, but we are not getting through to the American public and we are becoming increasingly defined as a party of ‘no’.”..."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Hot Air Blog "Landrieu blasts Salazar, White House over drilling moratorium"

Ed Morrissey:
"I know, I know — the White House claims they don’t have any drilling moratorium in place.  They claim that they want to increase domestic oil production.  As Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) explains to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, their actions don’t match their rhetoric.  After Salazar insisted that the administration has been processing permits and Sen. Al Franken claimed that Exxon profits show that oil companies are doing well, Landrieu blasts both while setting the record straight in hearings yesterday...."
(Click title to watch videos and read more)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Newsmax "Tough Re-election Road Awaits Michele Bachmann"

Jim Meyers:
"Rebounding from her failed presidential bid, Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann is setting her sights on re-election to the House — but she faces a tough battle to retain her seat in a redrawn Minnesota district.

One recent poll showed Bachmann’s favorability rating among Minnesota voters at just 34 percent.

And the Minnesota congresswoman’s national base of conservative donors may be tiring of her pleas for money, as she carries a $1 million presidential campaign debt from her fumbled bid.

“May God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.” With those words, Bachmann departed the Republican presidential arena in January, following a disappointing sixth place finish in Iowa.

Many were surprised that one of the conservative movement’s newest icons would suffer such a disastrous defeat. But a series of fumbles and gaffes on the campaign trail not only caused her campaign to go into a tailspin, it tarnished her most important asset: her ability to raise funds from the grassroots across the nation...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Summit Daily News "Liddick: Let's move on Syria"

Morgan Liddick:
"...Is there danger in taking sides in Syria? Yes. The Syrian opposition undoubtedly contains Islamist elements, exactly as it did in Libya and Egypt; concern over a possible Islamist takeover is a major reason large ethnic groups in Syria continue to support the government. We too, should realize that such a new government may not be very friendly to us. But should this concern paralyze us, when there are many positive geopolitical results to be reaped from forthright, immediate action in concert with, for example, the Gulf Cooperation Council and Turkey? Call it “addressing humanitarian concerns,” if that sounds better.

Or, we can continue to wring our hands in anguish and chastise Bashar Assad's blood-spattered thugs. And when the Syrian opposition has been ground to dust, vow that this sort of thing will never happen again. I'm sure the dead of Baba Amr will appreciate the sentiment....."  (Read more?  Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News/Nat Hentoff "A reporter lighting up the world’s hells"

Nat Hentoff:
"Urgent global attention is being paid to Syria’s monstrous president Bashar al-Assad as he commits genocide on his people. But another mass murderer remains mostly out of the American press. Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir continues his decades-long reign of terror on his people despite two warrants for his arrest by the International Criminal Court for, among other vile atrocities, war crimes, crimes against humanity — and yes, genocide.
 
For years, I have reported on his massacres in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan, a place I’ve never been. But Nicholas Kristof of The New York Times has slipped into the infamous region more than 10 times to keep the world informed of Bashir’s endless killings.
 
Kristof does this at considerable personal danger, as he also reports from other devastatingly ruthless regimes. On receiving one of his Pulitzer Prizes, he was accurately described as “giving voice to the voiceless.”...."  (Read more?  Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "King’s pot DUI bill OK’d by panel"

This is terrific news.  A special thank you goes out to State Senator Steve King.  We're pretty sure law enforcement is grateful for this one.  For certain, our roads will be safer.

Charles Ashby:
"It was a battle of the scientists in a Senate committee Monday over whether there is any way to determine if there is a marijuana equivalent to the blood-alcohol level used for DUIs.

After nearly seven hours of testimony, most members of Senate State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee agreed that the science was still murky, but said there was enough to set such a level for toking while driving...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Aspen Times biased against Glenn"

An excellent letter from Glenn Rappaport who is a Basalt Town Councilman and mayoral candidate.  Again, up on the Aspen Daily News.

Goodness, local political races are sure heating up early, aren't they?

"There is ample good sense contained in the first rule of public office: “Don’t respond to people who buy ink by the gallon.” And yet Scott Condon, a prominent Aspen Times journalist, has for years deployed his ink to question my integrity and undermine my moral fiber. His latest dispatch, published last Friday, Feb. 24, does the same. I write to set the record straight.
 
Most of us in and around the Basalt Town Hall are well aware that Mr. Condon, the only valley writer who regularly covers Basalt politics, has had a long and close friendship with Jacque Whitsitt, my opponent in the upcoming Basalt mayoral race.
 
Over the decades it’s been frustrating — and rather frightening — to watch Mr. Condon cast me as the protagonist in a string of fictional scandals, then resurrect those fake scandals as official history in his ongoing coverage of Basalt politics. His latest version of this trick, published last week, revolves around my work as a consultant for the proposed Pan and Fork redevelopment project, a revitalization effort for downtown Basalt. Because of my involvement, I have recused myself from voting on the project as a member of the Basalt Town Council; this is standard procedure for public servants whose private sector work comes up for review. Yet Condon raises doubts about my potential effectiveness as mayor, and even lightly suggests I could be breaking the law.
 
Ultimately he comes up short, leaving observers of Basalt politics to wonder at his timing. Even if there were a scandal afoot, why didn’t he write about it four months ago, when Harry Teague and I first signed on to consult on the Pan and Fork project? Did he hold off to give Jacque Whitsitt, his friend and my opponent, a proverbial bump in the mayoral race?..."  (Read more? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: "Aspen Daily News "City’s hydro push a disgrace to democratic process"

Great advice from Hauenstein.  Up on the Aspen Daily News.

Ward Hauenstein, Aspen:
"...The city does not want to discuss the issues related to the hydro project. They want to divert attention, and cry WMD and Swift Boat. They want the public to be distracted from the city’s deceptive process and lack of fiscal responsibility. The city wants to make the public fear a group that has exercised its legal and ethical rights to oppose the hydro project. 


SOS is not the dark, sinister, extreme right wing boogie man that Mayor Mick Ireland tries to project. The city government is trying to use fear to distract attention from the real issues. WMD, Swift Boat, you are with us or against us. These tactics are despicable and damaging to democracy. I think the citizens of Aspen can see through them if they just see it for what it is.

I am outraged by the behavior and culture of my city government. The many irrational rants delivered by our mayor and condoned by council is a disgrace to the democratic process. My sponsorship of the petition on the hydro project was a protest of the city’s behavior.

Be a critical thinker. Be a skeptic. Be a cynic. Who is engaged in misinformation?...."
(Read the rest?  You should.  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent/Your Letters "Battle pitting farm vs. asphalt plant is hurting economy"

(See related story here)

Commissioner Samson had the best approach to solve the problem.

Commissioners Jankovsky and Martin, fresh off recent and scathing public commentary over  a couple of local issues make a very poor for the highest interests of everyone involved 'political' call and attempt to soothe activists using fear-mongering and bullying tactics.

As precarious as Martin's seat is and as close as he is being watched by conservatives in GarCo, one would think he would stay focused on the job.  This move will surely backfire on him in the political eye he needs.

Thank you goes out to Commissioner Mike Samson for simply resorting to common sense.

Great letter today from Damian Ellsworth of Rifle, Colorado:

"..With all of the knowledge and information that everyone has access to, it is a shame that people would rather rely on fear mongering and terrorism than actual data. All of the slanderous emails that are flying around and erroneous statements in the paper are pitting two much-needed industries against each other, which is doing nothing but hurting this economy on a local level.

Maybe one day, the activists will wake up and realize that all of this nonsense really just wasted everybody's time, including yours and mine.

The staff at the Garfield County Building and Planning department do an excellent job with countless hours of research. Nobody could possibly understand how much they work until they have been through this process themselves....."  (Read the rest? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Udall wilderness proposal includes Hidden Gems land"

And 10 years later, the right answer is still the same:

Just say NO.

Public lands, public use, public access.

Andrew Travers:
"U.S. Sen. Mark Udall is working on new wilderness legislation that could include 13 areas covering more than 60,000 acres in Pitkin County within the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal.

In all, Udall announced on Sunday in Frisco, he is seeking public input on new wilderness designations for 236,000 acres of land in western Colorado. It also includes Gems areas in Eagle and Summit counties.

In coming months, the senator plans to do widespread outreach to locals in the areas at issue. A comment page is open on his website, which includes detailed maps and a list of the sites he is considering.

“Before we do anything,” Udall said in a statement Sunday, unveiling what he’s dubbed the Central Mountains Outdoor Heritage Act, “it’s important to me to hear from as many Coloradans as possible about how the land is used today and their vision for the future of these special places.”

The Gems proposal went through a years-long public debate in the Eagle and Roaring Fork valleys, spearheaded by the Carbondale-based Wilderness Workshop, before going to Washington. The wilderness advocacy organization negotiated with groups like snowmobilers and mountain bikers, who opposed protections that would curb recreation in certain areas or limit future trail construction.

The proposal sparked controversy in some recreational factions of western Colorado, as all mechanized and motorized uses are banned in federally-designated wilderness areas.

After dropping hundreds of thousands of acres from the proposal and attempting to build community consensus, Wilderness Workshop sent a draft bill to Colorado’s congressional delegation in 2010...."
(Read more?  Click title)

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





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

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "G forces to increase at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park this summer"

And therein lies the rub (see related stories and public commentary here):

John Stroud:
"The new attractions are part of Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park's five-year expansion plan, which was approved last week by the Garfield County commissioners."

Other items  in Stroud's piece today that sound like they're going to stir the pot of public commentary:

"...The new coaster is modest by steel roller coaster standards. The Cliffhanger tops out at about 54 feet, compared to the tallest roller coaster in the world, the Kingda Ka, at 456 feet, located at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey...."

"....A portion of the coaster will be visible from parts of Glenwood Springs extending above the piñon-juniper tree line, according to the master plan that was presented to the county last week. However, the steel framework is to be painted a dark color and should blend in with the hillside, according to the plan....."

"...“The good thing about this is it will double our capacity, from 1,100 rides per hour to 2,600 rides per hour,” he said. “That will significantly help with the line waits.”...."
(Read the article?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Microsoft teams up with World Tourism Organization"

Bob Berwyn:
"SUMMIT COUNTY — Web 3.0 technologies and cloud computing could help grow small and mid-size tourism businesses, especially in emerging-economy countries, officials with the UN’s World Tourism Organization said this week as they announced an innovative partnership with Microsoft. Under the agreement, tourism businesses could become testbeds for emerging information technologies.

“The tourism sector has undergone a drastic transformation over the past years and has been evolving towards Tourism 3.0, where users connect to travel websites and interact by sharing their experiences,” said Microsoft International president Jean-Philippe Courtois. “That directly influences the perceptions and decisions of other users and potential travelers. Because of this, it is more and more important for tourism sector enterprises to develop their online businesses by looking to the most advanced technology. In this regard, the adoption of cloud computing is key, as it provides access to a solid web platform that will make it possible to offer more productive, efficient and competitive services,” he said.

The agreement was signed Feb. 28 in Madrid, making Microsoft a strategic partner of UNWTO that will propose, coordinate and spearhead technological innovation initiatives. The deal will also make new technologies available to the international tourism sector in order to enhance its competitiveness...." 
(Read more? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Wound from spinner shark ends in heart surgery for Lasser"

Chad Abraham:
"Jason Lasser may have the ultimate fish story.
 
Kitesurfing Sunday off the coast of Florida, the Aspenite hit the top of a big wave that happened to have another inhabitant.
 
Lasser said Tuesday he believes his right foot struck a spinner shark in the mouth, opening a gash that severed tendons and ligaments.
 
“It felt like I hit a concrete pier,” he said. “I hit him, lifted my foot out of the water and thought, ‘Uh-oh.’”
 
Blood had not yet begun to flow out of the still-white wound when Lasser decided to get to the beach as soon as possible.
 
“I went in so fast my shorts came flying off,” he said. “I was mostly worried about my winky hanging out and something biting that.”
 
A surfer nearby helped him land his kiteboard, and his father took him to the emergency room — first, though, he took a group photo with his friends, the bloody foot featured prominently — at JFK Medical Center in West Palm Beach, where the story gets more interesting.
 
Before foot surgery that would leave him with 26 stitches, Lasser was given an electrocardiogram test.
 
The exam showed he had Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a heart condition that can lead to episodes of rapid heart rate. Lasser said he had periodically experienced a rapid heartbeat since childhood but had never been diagnosed with the syndrome.
 
And so on Tuesday, two days after the shark encounter, Lasser underwent heart surgery to alleviate the syndrome.
 
Lasser spoke about the incident before heading into the operating room, where he was worked on by a surgeon named, of course, Robert Fishel..."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice " Morning Photos"

All credit:  Bob Berwyn: