May 14, 2012

SandBoxBlogs:Washington Times "New poll gives Romney biggest lead yet"

Dave Boyer:
"In one of the first surveys since President Obama came out in favor of gay marriage, Republican Mitt Romney holds a seven-point lead over the president in Friday's Rasmussen daily tracking poll — his largest lead in any survey so far.

Mr. Romney reached 50 percent for the first time in the poll, compared with 43 percent for Mr. Obama.

The poll didn't delve into gay marriage; Rasmussen noted that the results came a week after a disappointing jobs report that "raised new questions about the state of the economy." The number of people who fear their personal finances are getting worse increased to 47 percent, up from 43 percent last week...."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Goose Radio "At Liberty – Romney Threads the Needle"

Goose Nissley:
"...In my estimation, the speech was a big success. Romney articulately shined light on the bridge between his faith and that of millions of Americans. Will Mormons and Evangelicals somehow magically agree on theology? No! But do we share a common worldview and common goals in the public sphere? Absolutely. That he struck that tone and needled that thread so well gives me even greater hope for the potential farewell of President Obama from his current home next January....."
(Watch Romney's speech?  Say hello to Goose?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: The Hill/On the Money "Report says 230,000 unemployed losing benefits over weekend"

Vicki Needham:
"More than 230,000 unemployed workers will lose their jobless benefits this weekend as portions of federal programs expire across several states.

All told, 409,300 long-term unemployed Americans in 27 states will have lost upward of 20 weeks of federal unemployment benefits by this past Saturday, even as the many state jobless rates remain high, according to a new analysis by the National Employment Law Project (NELP).

The latest batch of cuts affects 236,300 unemployed people in eight states — California (11%), Texas (7%) Pennsylvania (7.5%), Florida (9%), Illinois (8.8%) North Carolina (9.7%) Colorado (7.8%) and Connecticut (7.7%) — half of which have jobless rates above the 8.1 percent national average posted in April....."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Red State "What the Mainstream Media Isn’t Reporting About Solyndra "

'repmorgangriffith' diary:"After just a short time in Congress, I find myself more keenly aware of the research and reporting failures of the modern mainstream media.  If a story gets more depth and attention than the typical 10 second sound bite, I admit, I’m surprised.  Solyndra is no different.

There are a number of facts surrounding the Solyndra story that don’t seem to be getting any attention.  A significant part of the public outrage regarding the bankrupt company isn’t centered on their failed business model or external factors; it’s the millions of taxpayer dollars that the Obama Administration lost on Solyndra after the business was doomed.

After Solyndra defaulted and they knew Solyndra was in real financial trouble, Secretary Steven Chu’s Department of Energy (DOE) staff made a decision by December 10, 2010, to subordinate $75 million of taxpayer money so more private capital could be injected into Solyndra.  Subordination means that outside private investors are given superiority over taxpayers in the event of bankruptcy.  At that point, $440 million of the $535 million loan guarantee already had been pumped into the company.

By law Secretary Chu wasn’t allowed to subordinate the taxpayers’ money.  The Energy Policy Act of 2005 specifically states that the loan guarantee “shall be subject to the condition that the obligation is not subordinate to other financing.”  It was the clear intention of Congress that taxpayers should be reimbursed first.

For a company that had already been declared in default and had a collapsed business model because the Chinese were selling their solar panels for less, one might question the sanity of private investors who gambled on Solyndra in December of 2010.  Were they after Solyndra’s intellectual property (IP) rights?

 As a private investor and the dominant financier, could Argonaut’s support of President Obama have helped them secure Solyndra’s IP assets?...."  (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Newsy "Greek Coalition Talks Stall, Euro Exit Discussed"

SandBoxBlogs: Citizen Center "Citizen Center Asks Governor Hickenlooper to Veto HB12-1036 (CORA/Elections) "

Marilyn Marks:
"Citizen Center has asked Governor Hickenlooper to veto HB-1036, the tortured merger successor to SB-155 (CORA and elections).

The letter transmitted to the Governor is linked here, and attached as well. Citizen Center also supports the veto request made by the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe in their poignant letter to Governor Hickenlooper. Colorado Voter Group also filed a request for a veto. We anticipate that other non-profit groups and concerned citizens will file similar requests.
The flawed legislative process resulted in a high-impact bill that by design of the sponsors (Heath/White/Court/Murray) allowed almost no debate, and ignored the expert input of the non-partisan Lawyers Committee Task Force on Elections.

It resulted in anti-transparency election process legislation that:
·    
  •  degrades Colorado’s already substandard election transparency   
  •  institutionalizes voter intimidation
  •  strips ordinary citizens of their rights to verify elections, while creating a special insider status for partisan and special interests
  • undermines voters’ constitutional rights to a secret ballot
  • was passed in an illegitimate nonpublic process that intentionally obstructed  the expression of citizens’ objections. 
We have confidence that Governor Hickenlooper will undertake a serious review of the negative impacts of the bill on Colorado’s elections. We trust that he will conclude that this legislation is contrary to transparency principles of good government and use the power of his veto to send a message about the need for transparent and verifiable elections.  

We encourage you to join Citizen Center and others in requesting this veto on this matter that affects every Colorado voter.  You may fax your request to Governor Hickenlooper at (303) 866-2003.

Marilyn Marks

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Enforcement Officers Memorial Week"

Rebecca Hodgson:
"Editor:

National Police Week, also known as Enforcement Officers Memorial Week, occurs each year during the week of May 15 and recognizes the service and sacrifice of U.S. law enforcement.

Established in 1962 by a joint Congressional resolution, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.

You may notice blue ribbons pinned to citizens or flying from car antennas around town. The blue ribbons are reminders of law enforcement officers who have fallen and to honor the men and women who serve their communities 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year in and year out.

The Aspen Elks Lodge is hosting a dinner for law enforcement officers and their families on May 15 at the lodge. We welcome the opportunity to show our appreciation for the dedication and personal sacrifices of our law enforcement officers in the Roaring Fork Valley and hope that many officers and their families from Aspen, Pitkin County, Snowmass Village, Basalt, and Eagle County will be able to attend.

Please consider saying thank you to the officers in your community during National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Week, May 13 –19....."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Customs and Border Protection "Two CBP Employees Named Finalists for Service to America Medal"

"WashingtonTwo U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees have been named as finalists in the annual Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Homeland Security Medal for their contributions to keeping America's borders safe and secure.

The employees, Nael Samha and Thomas Roland Jr., were nominated for the award in recognition of their efforts to create a specialized smartphone application that remotely links CBP personnel on the frontline to vitally important databases. Use of the application has directly led to enforcement actions against more than 450 drug traffickers, weapons smugglers, potential terror suspects and others since it was introduced in May 2010.
 
The application Samha and Roland created makes it easier for officers and agents to access information without being in front of a computer terminal or having to communicate via radio with someone who is. That means those officers and agents can focus fully on their mission.
 
In addition to CBP's enforcement mission, the application affords new efficiencies for CBP to keep legitimate trade and agriculture moving quickly by allowing officers to release shipments that have been inspected on the spot instead of hours later once they return to a computer terminal.
 
Samha, a program manager in CBP's Office of Information and Technology and Roland, a program manager in CBP's Office of Field Operations, are among four individuals or groups who are finalists for the medal. The Service to America Medals program is sponsored by the Partnership for Public Service, and the finalists' announcement coincides with Public Service Recognition Week.
 
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 13. Previous winners from CBP and its legacy agencies include Robert Rutherford, winner of the 2002 Justice and Law Enforcement medal and Kevin McAleenan, winner of the 2005 Call to Service Medal.

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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws."

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Summit Daily News "Heroin ODs spike in Summit County this year"

Caddie Nath:
"Local law enforcement is working to locate the source of what might be a more potent batch of heroin, but the investigation is more difficult without the help of the now-defunct Summit County Drug Task Force.

“We don't have the intelligence gathering that we used to have,” Minor said. “With the drug task force we had a pulse on the drug community and what was going on. We're just purely reactionary now.”

The task force was dissolved in 2010, when the state Justice Assistance Grants program, one of the organization's major funding sources, cut it off to refocus the money on rehabilitation and prevention efforts.

Local governments also contributed to the task force, which once staffed two full-time agents and a part-time administrative employee, but couldn't afford to keep the organization running after the state money was lost.

Law-enforcement officials said without the task force, they are relying on the public to help them track down the source of the heroin.

“As in any drug issue, someone knows something about the person who's bringing this stuff into our community,” Minor said. “We have plenty of resources up here to help people, but we want the person who's (distributing) it to be held accountable....” (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: The Eagle "49 bodies discovered along Mexican highway"

PORFIRIO IBARRA RAMIREZ:
"MONTERREY, Mexico -- Forty-nine decapitated and mutilated bodies were found Sunday dumped on a highway connecting the northern Mexican metropolis of Monterrey to the U.S. border in what appeared to be the latest blow in an escalating war of intimidation among drug gangs.

Mexico's organized crime groups often leave multiple bodies in public places as warnings to their rivals, and authorities said at least a few of the latest victims had tattoos of the Santa Muerte cult popular among drug traffickers.

The bodies of 43 men and six women were found in the town of San Juan on the non-toll highway to the border city of Reynosa about 4 a.m., forcing police and troops to close the highway. ....

......De la Garza said he did not rule out the possibility that the victims were U.S.-bound migrants.
Mexican drug cartels have been waging an increasingly bloody war to control smuggling routes, the local drug market and extortion rackets, including shakedowns of migrants seeking to reach the United States...."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Pueblo Chieftain "Woman suspected of injecting teen with heroin "

Nick Bonham:
" 41-year-old woman has been arrested for reportedly injecting a teenage boy with drugs and supplying him with syringes of opium.

Diana Larimore was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, contributing to the deliquency of a minor and violating a protection order....."  (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Sheriff has provided info to the media"

I'm pretty sure most Garfield County supporters of Sheriff Lou Vallario are aware that he is not all that comfortable in the political aspects of his role.  As he states in every election cycle, 'he's a cop, not a politician'.

But his personal feelings do not change the fact that citizens feel more secure and more at ease with the changes and issues they see all around them when it is Sheriff Lou's voice they hear first and his presence that they see.

The folks feel the same frustration with local news reporting that Sheriff Lou is speaking of in his Letter to the Editor today.

Allow me to lend a hand toward the mutual effort of open communications within the county.

In addition to the information provided by Sheriff Vallario in his letter to the PI today, here are some links to direct to source news releases:

Garfield Public Info:           http://garcopublicinfo.org/

GarCo Sheriff website:      http://www.garcosheriff.com/press_release.html (and)                 http://www.garcosheriff.com

Grand Junction Daily Sentinel:  http://www.gjsentinel.com/ (Dennis Webb covers Garfield County)

KMTS:   http://www.kmts.com/

Garfield County official site:   http://www.garfield-county.com/index.aspx

Police blotters are also found on all Swift Communications publications by clicking this link and then scrolling down the list until you get to the 'Police' section: http://www.postindependent.com/SECTION/&Profile=1074

Blotters can also be found (usually) on direct access to your local law enforcement agency websites.

This post of mine will reach over 10,000 unique readers and followers this month.

Wonder if self-gratification in using the power held in a news editor's hands, by having the controls of the only local newspaper is worth the damning public relations that upset voices raised in alternate media bring to our community?

Wonder if it will be all that much longer before the employers of the staff of the Glenwood Springs Post Independent start taking serious stock of the major problems they continue to have at the PI?

Wouldn't it just be easier and in the public's best interests for the Glenwood Springs Post Independent to just do the job they choose to have,  in ways that serve the overall good of the majority? 

Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario:
"I recently read a story in the Post Independent about the Garfield County Sheriff's Office (GCSO) investigating the naked man or men on some of the local trails in the Carbondale area. The story profiled an anonymous victim who made a comment about why we haven't been getting this information out to the public.

We certainly understand her concern and fears. That's why, since the first reported incidents in 2008, all responses on the part of the GCSO that have warranted an offense report have been provided to the local media via our regular press release process. Further, a Crime Stoppers flyer, complete with a photo taken of a possible suspect, was also provided more than once.

Have you seen any of this information in the local media? The fact is we do provide the information to the media, but the sheriff's office has no control over what they deem newsworthy.

So, to the victim interviewed in the Post Independent story as well as all of our citizens, please ask the question of our media, “Why aren't they getting this information out?” The GCSO has been providing it and will continue to provide timely information as this active investigation continues. If anyone would like to receive the same information that we regularly send to the media about all GCSO cases, contact Tanny McGinnis at tmcginnis@garcosheriff.com or go to our website, http://www.garcosheriff.com/, for a complete listing of public releases.

As I understand your frustrations, I would like to personally invite every citizen to attend a personal safety meeting to address any concerns. Join us at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15, at the Carbondale Fire House. This will be a 45-minute personal safety presentation followed by a 45-minute open discussion for citizens to voice their concerns...."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Red State "Florida investigation reveals 180,000 non-citizens may be registered to vote "

Dan Spencer:
"Florida officials have discovered that 180,000 registered voters may be non-citizens.

A CBS4/Miami Herald analysis of information supplied by Miami-Dade shows a large number of the potential non-citizens voters cast ballots in the past — including the 2000 election, when the presidency was decided by just over 500 votes.

According to Deputy Supervisor of Elections Christina White, there are a “lot of non-citizens on our registration rolls.”

Florida’s Division of Elections is checking the citizenship of voters by comparing drivers license records, which show whether a licensed driver is also a U.S. citizen.

Non-citizens are able to become registered voters in Florida because if a non-citizen checks the box on the voter registration form that says they are a citizen they are registered to vote, because the form is signed under oath.

Those registered who are identified as possible non-citizens are reported to the State Attorney’s office The States Attorney may charge anyone who unlawfully registered to vote with a felony.

According to the Heritage Foundation’s Hans Von Spakovsky, Florida’s investigation is only looking at legal immigrants, not illegal aliens, who may have registered to vote even though they are not citizens. Von Spakovsky, a former member of the Federal Elections Commission, says that Florida is doing the right thing with this investigation, but is only scratching the surface. Florida can’t check for illegal aliens who registered to vote because the Federal government is not giving Florida access to Immigration and Naturalization Service records which would help identify illegals who have registered to vote.

You can watch Bill Hemmer and Hans Von Spakovsky discuss Florida’s investigation of non-citizens illegally voting in the accompanying video here......"  (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Criminal acts have consequences"

Marty Lich:
"Having read Debbie Centeno's May 8 letter, “Sister worried about gang colors at Strawberry Days,” I feel safe in reassuring Ms. Centeno that if she and her nephews do not have active warrants out for their arrests, are not self-proclaimed Sureños gang members wearing blue bandanna gang colors, do not possess marijuana, drug paraphernalia, nor have forged IDs with another active warrant due to their illegal status in the U.S., and multiple deportations already, they will have a good time at Strawberry Days. And finally, that they do not attempt to flee from police, as her brother David Centeno did in June 2011, for that is a crime as well.

To refresh her memory, please refer to the Glenwood Springs police report published in the Post Independent June 22, 2011. Ideally Ms. Centeno's brother will be deported once again after he serves his time....."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Looking for a Related compromise"

Now this, is the Johnny Boyd the folks like to read.

Johnny Boyd:
"The recent announcement that Related Companies intends to repurchase Base Village immediately brings to mind the possibilities of Snowmass Village. Snowmass can become anything it wants, if only it has a benefactor with vision to master plan it as something new. It is like a blank canvas that can now be painted as whatever the artist desires. Related has that power. It will be interesting to discover how it wields it.

I’m pretty sure that everyone agrees that the plan that was sought and approved back during the real estate bubble is finished. Banks aren’t loaning money to purchase condominium-style real estate in second-home markets even if the marginally wealthy had the inclination to buy. The truly wealthy don’t need banks to get money because they probably own them.

If this is the conclusion, then I’m fairly sure that Related will approach the town of Snowmass Village with a proposal for constructing something it feels will sell in the new market reality. That means, of course, the bank owners will be the target market. High-end condos are the only short-term solution to our long-term recession....."  (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Beaver Creek gets final OK for race course upgrades"

Congratulations to Beaver Creek Resort!

Bob Berwyn:
"SUMMIT COUNTY — Beaver Creek Ski Area last week got the final Forest Service OK for a several on-mountain projects that will help the resort prepare for the 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships.

Improvements include:
  • A new women’s downhill racecourse
  • A women’s giant slalom racecourse using portions of existing ski trails on Grouse Mountain
  • Modifications to the existing men’s downhill racecourse
  • Replacement of Red Tail Camp and expanded finish area
  • A new domestic water tank to supply the new Red Tail Camp facility and Beano’s Cabin
The final environmental study and formal record of decision by White River National Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliam are online at the White River NF website.

Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams said improvements will help showcase skiing on national forest lands and touted public collaboration in the review and decision-making process.

The project was designed to enhance and sustain Beaver Creek’s ability to provide a world-class venue for Alpine ski events. All activities are within Beaver Creek’s Forest Service-administered Special Use Permit boundary....."  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Chamber to set policy on special event funding"

In light of the news that Vail and Beaver Creek have just been approved (see next post) for game-changing and major infrastructure improvements to their mountains, a move very similar to roughly fifteen years or so ago when they blew right past the Aspen Skico with the their "Be Bolder' campaign that grew into their "It pays to be bolder'  intiative; it will be interesting to see how long the tourism marketing vendor of ACRA holds out on this news today off the Aspen Daily.

Sounds like the same greed-based tunnel vision of 'Aspen's trough hogs' who privately think more of their bottom lines than they do investments for the future.

Want to bet that Vail Resorts blows right by the Crown Family once again?

With 'flat sales' and numerous other woes that come from finally having the general population stand up to the big power and big money controls,  the Aspen Ski Corp just might be in their first ever precarious financial position.

Carolyn Sackariason:
"After allocating $200,000 this year to two upcoming special events, officials from the chamber of commerce believe it’s time to set a policy that will dictate whether funding for future requests meets the organization’s mission of marketing the resort.

“A lot of requests have been coming at us and we’ve been responding to them,” said Julia Theisen, vice president of sales and marketing for the Aspen Chamber Resort Association. “There will be times that we have to say ‘no’ to special event requests.”

She is currently writing a funding policy, that in part will address what the return on investment is for certain events. Theisen said there has been a significant uptick in financial requests from organizers of small events, along with a few big ones.

“We are close to capacity in terms of what we are spending on events,” she said.....:"
(Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Aspen’s hydro process is criticized before Congress"

There is a plethora of related 'Aspen Hydro Project' stories to choose links from  in our archives.

So many choices that back up Matt Rice's testimony before Congress that it's difficult to narrow down to just one.

(sighs...rolls eyes....)

'SandBox Nanny' thinks the Aspen 'Mick Laws' should be rewritten to include:

"Always listen to what the folks have to say, especially Maurice Emmer."

(See related story by clicking here)

Brent Gardner-Smith:
"The city of Aspen’s proposed hydropower plant was used an example of what not to do when a project critic gave testimony last week in front of a House subcommittee in Washington D.C.

The Colorado conservation director for American Rivers, Matt Rice, on May 8 called into question the city of Aspen’s initial approach toward gaining approval for its proposed Castle Creek hydro plant. He testified in person and submitted written testimony to a subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in support of the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2012 (H.R. 3680). The bill seeks to reduce the regulatory hurdles for certain types of hydropower projects, including “conduit” projects. Conduit projects involve installing small hydropower generators in existing pipelines, canals and tunnels that were not designed or built to generate power....." (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Hot Air Blog "In the American west: An ocean of oil"

Jazz Shaw:
"In case you missed it – and you very well might have, since the media was too busy talking about gay marriage to be bothered – a rather remarkable thing happened in Washington this week. An auditor from the GAO testified before the House Science Subcommittee on Energy and Environment on the subject of energy. But instead of hearing about how horrible things are, she calmly delivered something of a bombshell.
“The Green River Formation–an assemblage of over 1,000 feet of sedimentary rocks that lie beneath parts of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming–contains the world’s largest deposits of oil shale,”Anu K. Mittal, the GAO’s director of natural resources and environment said in written testimony submitted to the House Science Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
“USGS estimates that the Green River Formation contains about 3 trillion barrels of oil, and about half of this may be recoverable, depending on available technology and economic conditions,” Mittal testified.
“The Rand Corporation, a nonprofit research organization, estimates that 30 to 60 percent of the oil shale in the Green River Formation can be recovered,” Mittal told the subcommittee. “At the midpoint of this estimate, almost half of the 3 trillion barrels of oil would be recoverable. This is an amount about equal to the entire world’s proven oil reserves.”
Read those last two sentences again and think about it for a moment. The largest remaining reserves of oil on the planet are not in Saudi Arabia or buried under the frozen steppes of the former Soviet Union. They’re here in the United States. Combined with the massive resources in western Canada, that means that North America is the King of Oil for the future. But what – if anything – will we do about it?...."
(Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: KUNC "Inspector Shortage in Colorado Oil Fields Sparks Concerns"

Kirk Siegler:
"Each day, Jim Precup of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission logs about 400 miles criss-crossing the oil and gas fields of northeast Colorado.

“It’s absolutely staggering,” he says.

Not just the mileage, but also the workload.

Precup has to supervise his agency’s inspectors, but because there are so many wells, he’s also in charge of inspecting 12,000 himself.

“It’s not an easy job, it doesn’t suit everyone,” Precup said one early morning after making a quick coffee run at the Johnson’s Corner truck stop off Interstate 25 in northern Colorado.

From there, it was east into booming Weld County, where he spends most of his days.

Drill rigs, storage tanks, hauler trucks seem to be everywhere once you’re east of I-25 in the county; now home to one of the highest concentrations of oil and gas wells in the country. Drilling operations are sandwiched between homes, schools and stores and in the middle of farm fields.

Precup hops out of his truck to have a look at one of them. Inspectors can show up whenever they want, unannounced, and he climbs a ladder to the top of a large green, well tank. Precup pops the hatch to one of the tanks’ lids and peers inside.

He’s looking for potentially harmful gasses escaping from the well itself, and for spills seeping into the ground that could contaminate water below.

Things here look pretty good.

“All of this stuff is looked at by an inspector at a glance, just like that,” Precup says clapping his hands together. “Five to seven minutes we’d assess this, another 10-15 minutes we’ll be onto our next one....”
(Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Eagle County Times "Belt Tightening – at our Eagle County School District?"

Did you know that you too can access the detailed summary of your school district's check register?

Don't know how to do that?  Email staff@eaglecountytimes.com and they will be glad to lend a hand.

Looks like the Eagle County School District admin didn't learn a thing over the past few years of deep budget cuts, does it? 

Posted by 'Weight Watchers':
"A quick sample from the School Districts – April 2012 – Check Register
Master Transaction Consolidation Debit Total USD  $78,381.67
Credit Total USD  -1,817.28
Total USD  $76,564.39
To review their entire Expense list – (Click Here)
District office Administration
4/25/2012 XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-0025 ELEMENTARY EDUCATION Moe’s Original Bbq – E Purchase Moe’s Original Bbq – E $110.75

Preschool 5/1/2012 XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-0302 HEADSTART/CPP Gourmet China Purchase Gourmet China $362.50
(let’s hope our Preschoolers got their Fortune Cookies!)

District office Administration 
4/3/2012 XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-0294 HEADSTART/CPP Smiling Moose Deli Purchase Smiling Moose Deli $439.44

What is “Learning Services”?
4/10/2012 XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-0175 LEARNING SERVICES Smiling Moose Deli Purchase Smiling Moose Deli $58.44
4/28/2012 XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-0100 LEARNING SERVICES Southpark Wine & Seafood Purchase Southpark Wine & Seafood $32.00
4/29/2012 XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-0100 LEARNING SERVICES Starbucks Corp00004747 Purchase Starbucks $11.60
4/27/2012 XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-0076 LEARNING SERVICES Starbucks Corp00066159 Purchase Starbucks $44.85

A “Special Hyatt/Marriott Rate” for Special Ed?
4/15/2012 XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-5630 SPECIAL EDUCATION Hyatt Hotels Denver Cc Lodging for CEC Conference in Denver Hyatt Hotels $717.00

4/13/2012 XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-5853 SPECIAL EDUCATION Marriott 33759 Denver Cc Lodging for CEC Conference in Denver parking WiFi  room tax Marriott $506.66...."
(Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Vail Daily News "School board rejects first in line of teacher appeals"

In addition to teacher led foreign language programs being replaced by the equally high caliber of learning foreign languages  through technology based teachings; our public school systems could also outsource physical education departments at significant savings to the education system.

Especially in outdoor rich environments such as what we have here in Colorado.

Middle School and High School Athletics could instead be revenue generating, tourism drawing athletic clubs.  Volleyball, basketball, golf, skiing, tennis and so much more.  Highly likely to have a lot more participation from kids due to the social aspects.

Read the next post following very closely and coming off the Eagle County Times.

How about you?  Would you rather find superior education means for a number of programs in our public education system and return their funding to the basics of education or continue to do nothing unless budget cuts force the issue while meantime, back at admin the lavish spending of tax dollars continues?   

Randy Wyrick:
"EAGLE, Colorado — In the middle of Teacher Appreciation Week, the school board Wednesday upheld a decision to lay off Nancy Bujnowski.

The foreign-language teacher has spent her entire 21-year career at Eagle Valley High School. She's four years from retirement.

She and the district's other two foreign-language teachers are all being replaced by a computer program, Aventa, for which students must pay at least $150 per semester, the district said.

The board's unanimous vote followed almost two dozen people — students and adults, alike — asking the school board to save Bujnowski and the other foreign language teachers, citing the importance of foreign language learning in an increasingly global economy. They pointed out that foreign-language classes are where students learn English-language grammar and syntax.

“They're not getting it in English classes,” said Dr. Chuck Vogel, one of Bujnowski's Eagle Valley teaching colleagues, citing several university studies...."  (Read more? Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times "Time to occupy ourselves"

Paul Anderson:
"A cynic remarked that the Occupy Wall Street movement only wants the 99 percent to become the 1 percent. If that were so, they would be occupying the White House with pitchforks and flaming torches instead of city parks with tents and placards.

The occupiers' revolution is nuanced by their quest not to destroy the corporate-political infrastructure but to temper the greed and selfishness of Wall Street by spreading egalitarian virtues through peaceful cultural evolution.

Never mind that capitalism is antithetical to the idea or that human nature seems hardwired for scarcity and entitlement. And while spreading the wealth is a great idea, the 99 percent also should realize that they too must pony up for the Third World's share, not just the 1 percent. They might feel impoverished, but they're still richer than most.

I'm all for the viral spread of fairness, but I wonder if the disenfranchised 99 percent is compromising its message through social media. Marshall McLuhan warned about this in 1967 — “The medium is the message.”

Social media are incredibly popular and supposedly breathing new life into civic and political participation. Perhaps one day they will even stitch together a deep human connection instead of spamming the world with minutiae.

To my thinking, a different kind of revolution is needed before social networks rise above the superfluities of chat to take on real significance.

Rather than Occupy Wall Street, dissenters first ought to Occupy Ourselves. Inner resources should be developed before social networking can propel us into the new realms of altruism the 99 percent stridently endorses......"  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Pitkin County archaeology discovery includes prehistoric tools and weapons"

Andrew Travers:
"More than two dozen prehistoric tools and weapons found on an undeveloped plot in Pitkin County could provide archaeologists information about hunter-gatherer toolmaking in the West.

The find, on private property in the Emma area, on Bear Ridge Road, was reported last week to the Pitkin County commissioners. The owners of the site, David Brown and Jody Anthes, have building rights on the property. They asked the local government last week to place it, instead, on the county’s historical register and grant them two transferable development rights.

An archaeological survey of the site, conducted in December and made public last week, concluded the artifacts are from the Archaic Period, which ran roughly from 6400 to 400 B.C.

Archaeologists who surveyed the site for its owners recommended it as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.....'  (Read more?  Click title)

"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

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

All Credit Bob Berwyn:
SUMMIT COUNTY —Alpenglow is one of those visual feasts best best observed in the mountains, thanks to the vertical topography. While the term is sometimes applied loosely to any sunset or sunrise light on the mountains, true alpenglow refers to a special moment when particles in the air scatter the sun’s light while the sun is still below the horizon — essentially highlighting the red-orange part of the spectrum. For more, read this discussion at photo.net.