April 23, 2012

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Linman to face Martin for Garfield commissioner seat"

Sonja Linman...is the most absolutely perfect candidate to go up against John Martin.

Sonja is perfect for the job, she is an amazing person of keen perception, high intelligence and the epitome of good 'ol fashioned common sense.  When you know Sonja, it is tough to find words to cover how terrific she is.  Excellent choice, GarCo Dem's. 

'SandBox Nanny' could not be more thrilled (and stunned) that she is diving in to local politics.  Garfield County is very, very fortunate to have such a candidate step up.

Say YES to Sonja Linman for Garfield County Commissioner.


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

SandBoxBlogs: Right Scoop "Bolton: Obama taking credit for killing bin-Laden is like Nixon taking credit for landing on the moon"

Scoop:
"Bolton weighs in on Obama taking credit for Bush’s successes with regard to the killing of bin-Laden, saying that the only thing Obama really did was get out of the way. The intelligence that led us to bin-Laden came from the very thing Obama railed against and thus banned when becoming president, enhanced interrogations. So for him to take credit for killing bin-Laden, Bolton says, is like Nixon taking credit for America landing on the moon...."  (Watch the video?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Summit Daily News "Debra Irvine: A silver lining in politics?"

Actually, Ms. Irvine.

Voters are most likely to put all of your points into the lowest category of priority when choosing a candidate.

What the folks really want is the right person for the job.  Not that person's personality or political skills.  And since character, values and morals are also not part of the job and in this day and age of political enviros nearly impossible to see up front?  They put all that into the category of spin the bottle. 

After doing some digging, I think your campaign would be well-advised to climb down off the moral high-horse and focus on letting us all know what and how you intend to do the job you're seeking. Along that path you may want to go back and revisit what people have actually been saying about you. I think you will see that there has been far less attacks on your 'character' than you think there have been.

just sayin.

Debra Irvine:
"Frequently people remind me, “You have to have a thick skin in be in politics.”

That's not enough — you have to have a strong core.

If you are contemplating running for office, think long and hard. If you want to run because you have a message to get out or for personal gain, think again. In fact, spare us all and forget about it.

I ran for state representative in 2010 because I wanted to make a difference in our district. To offer a different way of helping create jobs, setting our children on a path with quality education and improving the economic landscape of our district and Colorado. My reason for running for state representative for HD61 in the 2012 election remains constant.

Recently there have been public attacks on my character. Some people have said, “That's what you should expect when you run for office.”

No. You should not. Civility should not be a thing of the past. Doing the “right thing” shouldn't be either...."
(Read more?  Click title)

SandBoxBlogs: Right Scoop "Marco Rubio talks illegal immigration on State of the Union"

SandBoxBlogs: Washington Post Politics "Arizona immigration law: Supreme Court again examines federal power"

Robert Barnes:
"The Supreme Court will conclude one of its most significant and controversial terms in decades by taking on one more issue that has divided the nation: Arizona’s crackdown on illegal immigrants.

The court’s final oral argument on Wednesday — Arizona v. United States — provides yet another chance for the justices to confront fundamental questions about the power of the federal government. And the rulings the court will issue between now and the end of June could dramatically alter the nation’s election-year landscape...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Customs and Border Protection "Gang Members, Wanted Felon Arrested"

"Tucson, Ariz. – Four criminals from Mexico were apprehended by Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents in separate incidents during the past week.
 
Last weekend, Border Patrol agents arrested an 18-year-old Mexican national who admitted to being a Sureno 13 gang member during an interview at the Naco Border Patrol station. The individual faces removal for illegally entering the United States.
 
In separate incidents, Casa Grande agents apprehended a member of the MS-13 gang who, according to immigration records, was deported under a removal order in 2006 from Atlanta. He now faces prosecution for illegal re-entry. The second individual, a male Mexican national, was identified as having an active felony warrant for a controlled substance trafficking charge in Las Vegas. He was turned over to Pima County Sheriff’s Deputies for extradition.
 
Yesterday, Ajo Station agents apprehended a group of illegal aliens north of Blankenship, Ariz. During processing, one male Mexican national admitted to being a Sureno gang member. Criminal history checks revealed several convictions including Carrying a Loaded Firearm and being Illegally Present in the United States. He now faces formal removal proceedings for illegal re-entry.
 
The Border Patrol strives to keep dangerous individuals from reaching local communities. All individuals appended undergo a criminal history check using the Integrated Automated Fingerprints Identification System, allowing agents to quickly identify and classify violent criminals and wanted persons.
 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling (877) 872-7435 toll free.


U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws."

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

SandBoxBlogs: Opposing Views "US Soldiers Kevin Corley & Samuel Walker Helped Mexican Drug Cartel"

Well, I guess I'm finally going to have to pick a news source on this story.  It is a difficult one because it is just so hard to put one's arms around members of our military allegedly being part of drug cartel activity. 

Up, down, over and down south on the Colorado Springs Gazette and the Colorado Springs Independent; the coverage on this one has been poor.  Everyone lacking in details, including TV and radio outlets.

'Opposing Views' has a very liberal bent in its avatar community which doesn't aid the dynamic of  this conservative bent forum to have a measure of positive interaction.  We have quite a few liberals who frequent SandBox, but they are rarely what would normally be called extremists. 

With that said, there is often excellent reporting and blogging that comes off 'Opposing Views'.

On the 27th of March, they did the best job I've seen yet on this story.  At best, the interaction between hubs, if dialogue gets started, will be interesting.

Zach Lisabeth:
"The Mexican drug war continues to rage south of the border, and it's drawing in some unlikely participants.
Two U.S. Army soldiers were among three American men busted this week in a drug trafficking sting that targeted one of Mexico's most violent and notorious cartels - the Zetas.

Kevin Corley, 29 (left in photo), and Samuel Walker, 28 (right in photo), both of Colorado Springs, Colorado, were arrested by federal Drug Enforcement agents after a firefight that resulted in the fatal shooting of a third American, Jerome Corley. Jerome and Kevin Corley were cousins.

According to the Daily News, a DEA agent shot Jerome Corley on Saturday in Laredo, Texas, where he was working alongside Kevin Corley and Samuel Walker as the Zetas' hired killers.

Kevin Corley previously served in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army and was discharged on March 13, according to a Pentagon spokeswoman. Walker was an active-duty sergeant stationed at Fort Carson in Denver, Colorado.

As incongruous as the employment arrangement sounds, the Zetas are no strangers to military personnel.

Their criminal syndicate was founded by a group of elite Mexican troops that deserted to work on behalf of a Gulf cartel based just south of the Texas border.

Soon after the desertion, the Zetas left the Gulf cartel to begin their own operation that has been classified as well-armed and extremely violent. In the past few years, the Zetas cartel has been responsible for drug trafficking, kidnapping and extortion, according to the Daily News.

The DEA began the sting operation that eventually brought down Walker and the Corleys in January of 2011. Around that time, two men in South Carolina revealed to undercover agents posing as Zetas that Kevin Corley would be able to procure for them illegal automatic weapons for a price...."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Colorado Springs Gazette "Little-known law pays Vietnam vets for ailments"

"When Ralph Bozella came home from Vietnam in 1972, he was happy he’d survived and was ready to get on with life. Because he had escaped any serious wounds in combat, he never gave a thought to disabilities.

Four decades later, his time in Vietnam is haunting his health.

But thanks to a little-known law, he is receiving thousands of dollars a month in disability pay and free health care for a common heart problem that he may have contracted when exposed to Agent Orange and other chemicals used to kill vegetation and expose the enemy....."

Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/vietnam-137341-came-pays.html#ixzz1ssq7xYR2

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

SandBoxBlogs: Coloradoan "Arrest provides Fort Collins man catalyst for leaving gang life"

Robert Allen:
"By age 9, Anthony DiBenedetto was wearing blue and running with SureƱo gang members.

At age 22, he was harboring a first-degree murder fugitive when the Fort Collins SWAT team arrived at the third-floor apartment he shared with his six-months-pregnant wife on West Elizabeth Street.

He hung up on the negotiator about 3 a.m. Then there was a flashbang. Then tear gas.

"It was like a war zone," DiBenedetto said of the January 2008 incident. "Glass was breaking everywhere."

Having nowhere to go, everyone surrendered, walking downstairs into an array of riot gear with red, gun-mounted lasers pointing at them.

"I was screaming and yelling, 'My wife's pregnant! My wife's pregnant!' and I heard back, somebody said, 'Well you should have thought about that,'" said DiBenedetto, now 27....." (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Summit Daily News "In Breckenridge, women now lead fire, police departments"

This is wonderful!

I am reminded of Steamboat Springs Cmdr. of the USS Higgins Nicole Shue and her work with women in military

Thank you all, ladies!

Caddie Nath with photo credit to Kay Beaton:
"Last year when Lori Miller was named chief of the Red, White and Blue Fire Protection District, she was an anomaly: the first and only female fire chief of an all-career department in Colorado.

But, in Breckenridge at least, she seems to have started a trend as more and more women join her ranks among the town's top leadership.

Last month, Shannon Haynes became Breckenridge's police chief when former chief Rick Holman was promoted to the post of assistant town manager. Haynes is the only female police chief in Summit County.

Just a few weeks later, voters put Wendy Wolfe up alongside Jennifer McAtamney on the town council, giving Breckenridge the most female representation its had since 1994.

“I think it will be great for this town,” Wolfe said of the rise in lady leaders in Breck. “I think it's important to inspire woman to do that, because they do have the skill set.”

They're off to a strong start....."  (Read more?  Click title)


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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Mountain Rescue Aspen extracts stranded paraplegic snowmobiler"

Please remember to do an annual purchase of a CORSAR card for you and everyone in your family.  Remembering all of our regional Search and Rescue volunteers when you are looking for someplace to charitable donate your cash to, is always deeply appreciated.

Familiarizing yourself with their experienced advice before you head out there is always the best idea.

These men and women are true heroes and rise far above even our public servants.  They volunteeer their lives and skills to rescue you.  Thank you so much to all the men and women of  Mountain Rescue Aspen for your service.

Two Mountain Rescue Aspen members and Wright left from the base of Aspen Mountain on two snowmobiles around 12:15 a.m. Sunday, according to the press release, which was issued by the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office Sunday morning.

“Due to the risks to rescuers, nighttime search and rescue operations are rare and are usually only taken on in cases of serious injury or illness,” according to the release. “However, due to the potential risk of frostbite or other cold-related injury to Murray, a night time rescue was deemed acceptable.”

By 2 a.m., Wright was able to guide rescuers to Murray’s location, and they arrived back at the base of Aspen Mountain at 3:20 a.m., according to the release.


Both Wright and Murray praised the efficiency, kindness and professionalism of the Mountain Rescue team. They said it was the first and hopefully the last time they will need to call on the agency’s services.

They acknowledged that some might think them foolish to set out on a backcountry snowmobile trip alone, but they said on that particular day, no one was available to join them. With in-town highs in the upper 60s Saturday, most have given up on winter activities, Murray said. They recognized they were taking a risk but set out anyway, as the weekend’s trip in the stunning backcountry scenery was expected to be the last of the year.

“It’s melting fast up there,” Murray said, noting occasional bare spots on Richmond Ridge Road...."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: ABC News "UN: Human Trafficking Victims in the Millions"

Every mass movement has to have at least one "asset" to fuel its course.

Every mass movement leaves "something" behind in its wake.

What "fuels" gangs, drug cartels, bullies and extremes related to both sides of the crime ledger in criminal and civil law?

What are the consequences of the actions of  a gang leader, gang member, kingpin, mule or a bully at any level of society?

The subject of the last question shouldn't be a "what".  It should be "who are".

What do you think, really think, about the culture of society in the Roaring Fork Valley and surrounding area?

(See related stories and public comments here and here)
AP via ABC:
"A senior U.N. official says that as many as 2.4 million people may be victims of human trafficking worldwide at any given time.

Yury Fedotov calls human trafficking "a shameful crime of modern-day slavery."...."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Defense attorney questioning DA's eligibility for re-election"

(sighs...rolls eyes)

Note:  SandBox disclaimer below.

Note:  Because both men in this article are showing absolutely zero regard to the general population they serve, by placing themselves and their flaming controversy(s), (that just so happen to deeply affect the lives of folks in three counties) into the hands of the least trustworthy print news and reporter around (which renders the data they're football tossing around as suspect) 'SandBox Nanny' calls 'Time Out' on both men, blocks comment ability on this post (it would be like sending lambs to the slaughter to let the 'kids' at them in comments)  and sits back to wait patiently on the balanced, firm hand of the Aspen Daily News.  "If" the Daily doesn't report on this new direction for DA Beeson's political race to run, 'SandBox Nanny' will open comment ability and  bless each man as they head into the ring they keep insisting on shoving in the folks faces. Take note of disclaimer below again, please.

John Colson:
"........At issue is whether the three years Beeson served as district attorney when he finished the term of a recalled DA, from 2006 through 2008, counts as his first term in office, or if his first term started when he was elected in 2008. Under state law, district attorneys are limited to two terms in office..........

........Local defense attorney Tom Silverman of Glenwood Springs, a Democrat, contends that the coming four-year term for which Beeson is running would be his third term.

Silverman cited the Colorado Constitution, which states that district attorneys are restricted to two, four-year terms in office.

Beeson, however, maintains that he has yet to serve two full terms in office.

“He is simply wrong,” Beeson said of Silverman's position.

According to his reading of state law, Beeson said, “a term for a district attorney is a full term, and a full term is four years.”

He cited a 2000 legal opinion issued by then-Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar, which concluded that DAs can serve no more than two full terms.

The opinion did not specifically address the issue of how partial terms count toward the term limits allotment. The opinion states that term limits “have no application to partial terms of office, but rather apply only to full terms.”.....

......Silverman, however,
cited a section of the state Constitution, which states that anyone elected “to fill a vacancy ... and who serves at least one half of a term of office shall be considered to have served a term.”

Although that section specifically addresses term limits on U.S. senators and members of Congress, Silverman maintained that the same limitation applies to district attorneys.

“He was elected to a three-year term,” Silverman said, referring to Beeson's initial time in office. “It was more than half a term, so it does count.”.........

.........Silverman questioned why Beeson did not, as state law allows, ask the voters to allow him to serve more than the two-term limit.

In 2009, for example, Mesa County voters decided that those holding the offices of sheriff, DA and coroner could each serve three, four-year terms, rather than the two-term limit imposed by the state..........

.........“Saying I should go to the voters to get permission to run for a second term is like saying I should go to the voters to get permission to drive the speed limit while I'm already driving the speed limit,” Beeson said in an email to the Post Independent. “I am going to the voters. This November.”........

.........Beeson contends
that Silverman's questioning of his eligibility to run again stems from courtroom conflicts.

“Let's be clear. Mr. Silverman's issue is not with the law or with the fact that I am in full compliance with the law. His issue is with me,” Beeson wrote in an email. “He is a criminal defense attorney who simply does not like the fact that my office does not coddle his clients, does not accede to his wishes in cases, and does not treat his clients with kid gloves.”

Beeson questioned why Silverman didn't seek another candidate to run, or run for the office himself.

“His failure in this regard speaks volumes,” Beeson wrote. “The adage ‘put up or shut up' is an apt one here.”........"
(Read the rest of this?  Click title)

Disclaimer:
"Now that DA Beeson has thrown his hat in the ring for district attorney in the 9th, please take note that there will be no special treatment given to any news press surrounding his race. His articles, if they are SandBox worthy or chosen in the daily agg run-up; will be put up just like anyone else in a political race. What SandBox Commentators will continue to do, is heavily moderate his articles. We are the only news media that provides the courtesy of moderating commentary from the general public on 9th Judicial District and Mr. Beeson's articles. )" 

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Banned"

(whisper...whisper...yes, this is a "whispering campaign"....whisper...whisper...shucks, Galvis is starting his career in editorial writing the same way Bruno Kirchenwitz did....whisper...a little off mark and shocking, then hitting his stride....whisper...wanta bet he keeps improving on getting his points across?...whisper...whisper....shh...and he's from woody creek...yikes!....whisper...whisper..here's to the little guy....whisper...whisper....) 

Michael Galvis:
"Editor:

Regarding Jeremy Madden’s column, “Beware the Banned Wagon” — now, if the Aspen City Council would just “ban” its own stupid and idiotic behavior....."
(Read the original letter?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times "School: Only one suspect in kidnapping plot attends Basalt High"

And the adults in this Valley wonder why they keep getting sandbagged by kids valleywide bringing forward very serious issues.  From drugs to gangs to inappropriate sex crimes, to now alleged attempted murder.

Could it possibly be that the trickle down effect of corruption, power abuse and the most entrenched social hierarchy in the region (all the problem of adults, BTW) has oozed its way all the way down to the kids?

The only new news for them is the escalation of violence and still yet more intimidation to perform.

Wonder what the kids have on their minds?  All their minds and not just the outside perceptions being stroked and cultivated by adults who are placed into their lives.

Wonder how important it is to local investigative reporters to start rattling some cages and getting the real, the tough and the hard questions asked?

One way or the other, for sure we can count on the kids and the parents/adults who refuse to back down to those same pressures will be the ones eventually letting us all know.

From 'SandBox Nanny's' perspective and experiences with Basalt High School, it doesn't sound like much has changed in the past aprx. 15 years.  The same social serving, rather than student serving positions of trust seem to still be in place.

Scott Condon:
"BASALT — Four boys facing possible criminal charges in an alleged kidnapping and beating plot against another youth live in the Basalt area, but only one of them attended Basalt High School, authorities said last weekend.

Adriana Hire, assistant principal of Basalt High School, said Sunday she had learned that only the young man identified by police as the prime suspect in the kidnapping plot was attending the school.

“That was a very short period of time,” Hire said.

Hire said none of the other three suspects in the case is currently a student. She said she was prohibited by school policy from discussing if any of the three students previously attended Basalt High School. Authorities could offer limited information about the suspects because they are juveniles.

A Basalt Police Department spokesman said Friday that all four kids attended Basalt High School. Hire said she wanted to correct that information because it could affect perceptions of the high school...."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Eagle County Times "EC School District’s–Legal Trouble with your Tax Dollars?"

ECT’s Investigative Reports and Clayton Moore:
"It was time to check in:  The ECT wanted to know more about where the Eagle County School District is spending your Tax Money today – so we looked.

A review of Open Records can be an enlightening experience.

Background:  In November 2006 Eagle County Voters rejected a ballot issue (1A) that would have caused County Taxpayers to pay more in Taxes on what is collectively known today as “Early Childhood Development”.  (Click Here)  Their Ballot Issue/plan was to collect then spend new Taxes on/for children not old enough to attend Public School in Kindergarten.  Recall that Colorado State Statute provides for a “free” and legal Public School Education for children once old enough to attend K-12.  Their (1A) Ballot issue (it didn’t pass) would have LEGALLY allowed your Tax money to be spent on children before they were old enough to attend Public School Kindergarten.

Eagle County Voters overwhelmingly rejected (1A) in 2006.

The ECT chooses to describe the District’s rejected Ballot Issue 1A as “Taxpayer funded Daycare”.

According to Public Tax Records – soon after that 2006 vote, Eagle County saw the creation of a new 501(c)3 local non-profit known today as – “Early Childhood Partners”.

Your Eagle County School District (the President – of our Elected School Board) Jeanne McQueeney is listed as that non-profits “paid – Executive Director”....."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "County demand for food stamps continues on its four-year climb"

Andrew Travers:
"Demand from Pitkin County residents for federal food assistance has increased more than five-fold in recent years.

The number of low-income locals using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) continued its dramatic rise in 2011, demonstrating continuing economic hardship for some area residents. Since 2007, the number of clients has gone up 558 percent, while the funds used have risen 836 percent.

A total of 171 county households took part in the program in 2011. They were granted a total of more than $453,000 in food vouchers.

“We are deluged,” said county health and human services director Nan Sundeen. “The demand for public assistance has grown, and staying on top of it is our biggest challenge.”

The SNAP program — which no longer uses actual stamps, but debit cards instead — allows participants to purchase bread, vegetables, meat and other food products. It blocks purchases of non-food items like vitamins, tobacco and liquor.

Due to the historically scant number of Aspenites using food stamps, the county has not typically devoted many resources to the program. The county partners with Eagle County to oversee food cards for the mid- to upper-Roaring Fork Valley. Demand has stretched both governments’ resources thin. Pitkin County paid to add a new staff position in 2010 to meet the unprecedented demand.

While the feds pay for the benefits, local governments pay to administer the program...."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Foreclosures give rise to evictions"

Amy Hamilton:
"This is a scene playing out with increasing regularity around the Grand Valley as Mesa County remains in the grip of the state’s highest foreclosure rate. By law, the Sheriff’s Department carries out evictions, and this year has been especially busy with 66 completed in the first three months. That amount is nearly 40 percent of the 172 evictions the Sheriff’s Department handled all of last year, putting Mesa County on pace for 264 evictions this year.

“I used to make someone’s bad day a better day,” said Sgt. Rich Acree, who was transferred from patrol to the Sheriff’s Department’s civil division, overseeing two deputies in charge of evictions. “Now we’re making someone’s bad day a worse day. It’s a job you have to perform. All you can do is make the best of the job and try to be compassionate.”

Evictions occur if landlords boot out renters for not paying rent or through foreclosures, but most evictions in Mesa County lately tend to be from foreclosures, deputies said. And, compared with the past couple of years, fewer homeowners appear to be getting last-minute stays that allow residents to remain in their homes at least until homeowners are able to work out an agreement with their bank.

By the end of next week, Mesa County will have logged 402 foreclosures this year. The number is higher than last year at the same time, but fewer than 2010, Mesa County Public Trustee Paul Brown said...."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Town Hall "Rationally Green"

Paul Jacob:
"Environmental laws are very human constructs. They are not examples of divine intervention set to doing one thing and one thing only, “saving the environment.” (Indeed, it's a truism of ecology: “You cannot do just one thing.”) There’s been a problem with the laws that came into being right around the first “Earth Day” in 1970. And this original “sin” is getting more and more obvious.

The trouble with environmental legislation in the U.S. has been the will to micromanage. Instead of setting standards (cleaner water, cleaner air) or procedures (property rights, tort rules, standing in pollution cases) the federal government, along with the bulk of the states that piled on, has prohibited some activity or technologies, and mandated others.

This cleaned up some of the worst abuses. But it did so at great cost, and it set up bureaucratic rules doomed to obsolescence. As economist Bruce Yandle puts it,
Students of regulation know there are three types of regulatory instruments that may be used when governments choose to regulate: performance standards that set limits or goals without mandating how the outcomes must be achieved, technology standards that specify how the goal will be achieved, and incentives such as fees, prices, and taxes that put a price on the activity to be limited. . . . Any one of the three can generate a desired outcome, but it is generally agreed that technology standards — the approach mandated by our basic environmental statutes — are the most costly and therefore least effective regulatory choice."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Global positioning network is mapping Earth's interior"

This...is very interesting.  Did you know west Garfield county was home to the Plate Boundary Observatory?

Marian Lyman Kirst:
"RIFLE, Colorado — On a chilly morning, Fred Jenkins strides across the West Garfield County landfill. Past hunkered-down dumptrucks and mountains of appliances alive with chattering magpies, he stops at what appears to be a tripodal alien spore.

It's a global positioning system (GPS) monument that Jenkins helped install in this sage-speckled swath of western Colorado five years ago. With practiced hands, he replaces the monument's antenna and receiver box, which have stopped transmitting data.

“Probably a lightning strike,” he muses, scratching his cinnamon-sugar goatee.

Dubbed P031, the station is one in an array of more than 1,100, scattered around the country from wilderness peaks to airports to prison yards.

Together, they comprise the National Science Foundation's nine-year-old Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO), a project overseen by the nonprofit UNAVCO, which facilitates geoscience research in the U.S. The PBO is the second-largest global positioning network in the world, right behind Japan's GPS Earth Observation Network.

It's also one of the largest efforts to survey and map the Western U.S. since the Lewis and Clark expedition, said David Kasmer, a PBO field engineer working the Eastern Sierra and the Rocky Mountain states.

“Except that we are focused on mapping the interior of the Earth, its inner workings. It's the evolution of surveying,” Kasmer said...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Morning photo: Morning glory"

All credit Bob Berwyn: