March 20, 2012

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Israel’s need to buy time"

Richard Cohen:
"Nations have doctrines. The Soviet Union had the Brezhnev Doctrine and the United States had the Monroe Doctrine, among others. Even little Israel has one. I call it the Maybe the Dog Will Talk Doctrine and it is based on a folk tale of the rabbi who makes a preposterous deal with a tyrant: If the tyrant spares the lives of local Jews, the rabbi will teach the tyrant’s dog to talk. When the rabbi tells his wife what he has done, she calls him a fool. But, he says, “A year is a long time. In a year, the tyrant could die or I could die” — and here he gives her a sly wise rabbi smile — “or maybe the dog will talk.”

All sorts of people — defense intellectuals, military officers and even the president of the United States — either have not heard of the Maybe the Dog Will Talk Doctrine or do not recognize its importance. (It was cited to me by an Israeli official.) Both Barack Obama and Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have characterized any Israeli attempt to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program as a short-term affair. An Israeli raid “wouldn’t achieve their long-term objectives,” Dempsey said on CNN — and he is surely right.

But Israel also has a short-term objective — and that is to play for time. Israel notes that its 1981 bombing of a nuclear reactor in Iraq set back Saddam Hussein’s program — and did not result in some sort of massive retaliation. Something similar happened with the 2007 bombing of a Syrian installation. Neither operation was conceived as a long-term solution, but both accomplished short-term goals. In a year or two, much could change in the Middle East. The region’s in turmoil. Dogs are talking all over the place.....

.......Sanctions may cause Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program, if indeed that’s where it is now heading. But critics of Israel’s approach have to understand that Iran’s program looks different from Tel Aviv than it does from Washington. In the long run, an Israeli attack on Iran will accomplish nothing. In the short run, it could accomplish quite a lot...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Unlikely Voter "Senate Races 2012"

'SandBox' is linking you to the home page site of Unlikely Voter.

With the intense focus on all the hyperbole surrounding the GOP primary season; one of the most important Senate election cycles is not getting a lot of press coverage.

These are the most politically charged and important elections of our time.  Please stay informed on who is falling to the sidelines and opting for retirement instead of running for senate or congress again.  Keep up with the primary races per state so that you can be fully informed.

A good site to do some of that on is the Unlikely Voter.

Click title.

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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Thanks from the Mulcahys"

Lee Mulcahy, Aspen:
"Editor:

A tip of the hat to the two Basalt police officers that helped my parents in downtown Basalt and a big thanks to Paradise Bakery for their donations to our community. The Mulcahy family, in partnership with the interfaith communities in both Aspen and Texas, invites anyone to travel with us to Kenya and volunteer building homes and a water well starting April 27 at http://www.africawaterwells.org/...." 
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Hot Air Blog "New documents: ATF had “Fast & Furious” prime suspect in custody in 2010 — and let him go"

'Allahpundit':
"He told them he was in contact with Mexican cartel members at the time, too. But he promised them — cross his heart and hope to die — that he would help them with their imbecilic gunrunning operation if they let him go. Which they did. And of course, they never heard from him again.

If that sounds insane to you, I’d gently suggest that perhaps you need a bit more brainwashing...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "DEA used informant in Chitty case"

Chad Abraham:
"Federal drug agents used a confidential informant, phone taps and photographic surveillance in their investigation into a former Aspen resident accused of distributing kilos of cocaine.

Montgomery Chitty, 60, of Big Pine Key, Fla., pleaded not guilty on Monday in U.S. District Court in Denver. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

In a pretrial motion filed Monday, Chitty’s attorney Matthew Belcher asked that federal prosecutors provide documents, photographs and other evidence the government plans to use at trial.

“The government states there was a confidential informant who was a participant in or a witness to the crime charged and that the informant may be called as a witness at trial,” the motion says.

Agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration spent a year investigating a Los Angeles-to-Aspen cocaine ring, and a grand jury indicted in April 10 people, six of whom live in the upper Roaring Fork Valley. Charges against one defendant were dropped, and the remaining Aspen-area residents have reached plea deals.

On Dec. 13, what may have been the same grand jury indicted Chitty, who was a friend of the late Hunter S. Thompson and a longtime political pundit in Aspen before he moved to Florida.

His role in the drug-trafficking operation happened from January 2000 until May 2011, though more specific allegations have not yet been released...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Limit eminent domain, secure right to private property ownership"

James Kellogg via Glenwood Springs Post Independent: 
(On the author's request, “Right Angles” will appear just once a month, on the third Tuesday. James D. Kellogg of New Castle is a professional engineer, the author of the novel E-Force, and the founder of LiberTEAWatch. com. Visit JamesDKellogg.com or email jamesdkellogg@yahoo.com.)

"Throughout the United States, government and quasi-government bodies are chipping away at private property rights. This is exemplified in western Colorado by property acquisitions of the Roaring Fork Transit Authority (RFTA) to build new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations. The town of Basalt and city of Glenwood Springs endorsed RFTA's tactic of condemning private parcels within their municipal limits to advance the $46.2 million BRT project.

In the Glenwood Springs instance, RFTA claimed that a strict deadline attached to a $25 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration meant a competing private use proposed for the property needed to be quickly quashed.

Through their support, the message from local leaders is loud and clear: It's more important to help RFTA spend taxpayer dollars than secure the rights of private property owners.

The founders of our nation believed the right of citizens to acquire and possess property is as unalienable as the right to free speech. Thomas Jefferson declared, “All power is inherent in the people. … They are entitled to freedom of person, freedom of religion, freedom of property, and freedom of press.”

Secure private property rights are a cornerstone of economic growth and sustainability in a free market economy. Our government is responsible for upholding laws, contracts, patents and copyrights to protect private property owners from infringement by others, including government itself...." 
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent/Your Letters "Condemnation as bad as communism"

John Korrie, Glenwood Springs:
"I cannot believe that our city council has agreed with RFTA to condemn Wayne Rudd's building on South Glen Avenue if a sale agreement does not work out.

Condemnation is nothing shy of communism just like when the Re-1 school district took the True Value building.

It is wrong on every level of democracy. It is no different than if someone knocked on your door and said, “I want to buy your house,” and you say, “It is not for sale,” and they say, “OK, then we will just condemn it and take it away from you.”

In that sense, I bet everyone out there feels that is stealing, and totally wrong.

But as soon as it is a public agency or government agency doing it, it's OK. Hogwash, it is still wrong. Are there no other options for a bus station elsewhere?..."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Unemployed affordable housing resident could lose her residence"

Curtis Wackerle:
"A woman who has been unemployed since battling cancer could be forced to sell her employee housing unit for not having a job.

Heidi Mines will go before the Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Authority board on Wednesday evening to plead her case. The housing office sent Mines a “notice of violation” on Feb. 13, informing her that she would have to either sell her three-bedroom East Hopkins Avenue apartment or request a hearing before the APCHA board. The violation notice was a follow up to a January letter asking Mines to prove she had been working an average of at least 29 hours a week in Pitkin County, as residents of APCHA-controlled units are required to do.

Mines, 50, acknowledges that she has not worked for most of the last four years, beginning with her breast cancer diagnosis in October 2007. She was in treatment for two years, including numerous surgeries and chemotherapy. As she got back to being healthy enough to work, the economy was in the grips of a recession.

Mines said she’s applied for dozens of jobs since then, including positions with Pitkin County and the Aspen Skiing Co., but to no avail. Employers tend to look for younger people when they bring on new staff, she said.

Prior to battling cancer, Mines worked in retail, real estate and property management, among other lines of work. The Aspen native said that 80 to 90 percent of the job applications she has submitted are not acknowledged by the prospective employers...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Carbondale wins 2012 Governor's Arts Award"

"DENVER — Gov. Hickenlooper announced Monday that Carbondale and Lafayette will receive the 2012 Governor's Arts Award by Colorado Creative Industries, a division of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

The annual Governor's Arts Award recognizes a Colorado town or city for its efforts to enhance their community and their economy through strategic use of the arts.

Carbondale Mayor Stacey Patch Bernot and Lafayette Mayor Carolyn Cutler will be presented with the awards, original oil paintings by artist John Lintott of Fruita, at the Creative Industries Summit to be held April 13 in Breckenridge.

“Extremely honored only begins to describe our reaction to being named a recipient of the 2012 Governor's Art Award,” said Mayor Bernot. “Art and creativity are attributes that have been interwoven into the fiber of Carbondale for generations.

“Our community prides itself on our ability to appreciate, teach and engage in arts and creativity in a multitude of ways. Whether viewed through the beauty of our public art program, our cultural centers and businesses, or witnessed by the creative spark that is ignited in the minds of our youth through our programs, Carbondale values art and creative expression. We are grateful and proud to be this year's award recipient,” Bernot said.

Colorado Creative Industries, a division of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, annually convenes a panel to review nominations. In selecting Carbondale and Lafayette as the recipients, the review panel cited each city's detailed plans for making the arts central to economic and community development.

Review panel members included Marianne Virgili, president and CEO of the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association....."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "CMC, Isaacson partner for new media program"

This is terrific news!  Kudos to CMC on the launch of his new digital media program.  SandBox especially likes the ".. and also valley-wide professionals in need of new media skills..." part.

Andrew Travers:
"The Roaring Fork Valley’s community college and Aspen Institute CEO Walter Isaacson are launching a local program to teach digital media and production skills, they announced Monday.

The new Isaacson School for New Media at Colorado Mountain College (CMC) will begin offering classes this fall.

Isaacson and college leaders, at a morning press conference, called the program a step toward making the valley a leader in digital and mobile technology.

CMC President Stan Jensen said the program would help make ours a “digital valley,” with the new program attracting students from across the country to the Aspen area and becoming a national leader in new media.

“We want to be on the cutting edge,” Jensen said.

Though lending his name to the school and assisting in the curriculum development, Isaacson is not expected to teach regularly at CMC.

“I believe deeply in the mission of community colleges and, especially, in the important role this school will play for generations to come in the Roaring Fork Valley,” Isaacson said in a video message from Washington, D.C.

Classes will focus on digital journalism, digital media production and digital marketing/design.

The college will offer full credit courses, as well as certifications for non-students, including one-day workshops for professionals.

Jensen said they are aiming the program at college students and also valley-wide professionals in need of new media skills...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Vernal equinox 2012 arrives: Spring has sprung"

Bob Berwyn:
"Given the unusual early heat wave that’s gripped most of the country, perhaps it’s fitting that the spring equinox makes it’s earliest arrival in more than 100 years — since 1896, to be exact.

In the mountain time zone, the moment of equinox is actually late Monday night, which means it will officially be spring by the time you wake up.

It’s also a day you can check your iPhone GPS and compass against the sky because the sun rises due east and sets due west.

The equinox marks the moment when the sun is directly above the Earth’s equator. Days and nights are about equal in length in both the northern and southern hemispheres — but not exactly the same, as some people believe.

The exact time and date of the equinox changes for very simple reasons. The division of the year into 365 days doesn’t exactly match up with celestial rhythms. The Earth’s orbit around the sun isn’t exactly circular. This archaeoastronomy website has detailed info on the timing of equinoxes and solstices...."
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"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Morning photo: Spring!"

All credit Bob Berwyn: