May 15, 2012

SandBoxBlogs: Newsmax/Money News "S&P: '$46 Trillion Perfect Storm' Closing in on US' "

Julie Crawshaw:
"A new report from Standard & Poor’s estimates up to $46 trillion in
refinancing and new financing needs by companies during the next four
years — and credit markets may not be able to handle it, the Business
Insider reports.

According to the report, the global "wall" of non-financial corporate debt
maturities coming due from 2012 to 2016 isn't new to market observers.

Less discussed is the incremental financing that corporate debt issuers
will need during this period to fund capital expenditure and working capital
growth. S&P’s ratings services estimates the total amount of refinancing
and new money requirements during the next five years at between $43
trillion and $46 trillion......" (Read more? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Town Hall "How Romney and Our Republic Can Win (Part 2)"

(See related post here)

Chuck Norris:
"Last week, I showed how the Republican Party likely would lose the presidential election in November if it were to use conventional campaign tactics. However, I also explained an unconventional strategy that could usher in victory for the GOP and our republic -- a tactic used by President Abraham Lincoln.

This week, I want to elaborate more on Lincoln's concept of a team of rivals -- and who could be a part of it -- and also share with you the inspiring dream my wife, Gena, had that we both hope comes true.

For those who missed Part 1, a book that highlights Lincoln's brilliant action is titled "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln," by Doris Kearns Goodwin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and presidential historian. Lincoln's idea and action was simply this: Once elected, Lincoln brought together his former GOP competitors (each representing a political faction in the country) and created a united force that ultimately healed the divisions in the land and propelled America forward.

Why couldn't that happen again, especially in a country as divided as ours? And why couldn't the GOP nominee propose such a plan to boost his election probability?..." (Read more? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Craig Daily Press "‘Where I was meant to be’: Craig resident keeps family close to heart while serving in Afghanistan "

Joe Moylan:
"On May 1, President Barack Obama marked the one-year anniversary of U.S. forces locating and killing Osama bin Laden by visiting Afghanistan.

In a televised address from Bagram Air Base, Obama discussed an agreement he signed with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to pull U.S. combat forces out of the country by 2014.

But, the president also pledged to continue to send an undisclosed number of soldiers to train Afghan forces and carry out limited counterterrorism operations until 2024.

For the next 12 years American servicemen and women will continue to travel to a far away country to engage the enemy, leaving behind friends, family, husbands, wives and children.

On April 28, three days before the president's address, Pfc. Ethan Tyrel Robinson, 21, of Craig, was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan....."  (Read more? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Washington Examiner "Border agents dispute claim that illegal immigrant tide is slowing"

Sara Carter:
"The once red-hot issue of illegal immigration has cooled considerably in recent months, in large part because of studies like one from the Pew Hispanic Center that said the flood of people entering the U.S. from across the Mexican border has slowed, and that the number actually returning to Mexico from the U.S. has increased, reversing a decades-long trend.

But federal law enforcement agents on the border are skeptical that the illegal immigrant tide is slowing. And new information from the U.S. financial sector shows that more money is flowing from American cities to Mexico in the form of remittances from immigrants than last year.

Federal law enforcement officials interviewed by The Washington Examiner say security is being compromised as the government seeks to keep a lid on the border as a campaign issue during the presidential election cycle. Department of Homeland Security's Border Patrol agents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are being told not to make arrests of noncriminal illegal immigrants, and not to patrol areas of high traffic along the roughly 2,000-mile Southwest border.

A Border Patrol official working along the Texas border said administration officials are deliberately failing to document what is actually happening on the border. "In many cases my supervisors make it clear that they don't want increased apprehension numbers, which means no arrests," he said.

The government is also failing to patrol hundreds of miles of federal wildlife reserves that fall under the jurisdiction of the Interior Department. That has given smugglers and illegal immigrants a clear corridor to enter the county and has skewed national arrest figures, an official said. The U.S. is allowing "drug and human smugglers in without a fight" in parts of the Southwest, he said...." (Read more? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Greeley Gazette "Sheriffs to lose arrest power in Delaware"

A must read and very scary report.

Matt Lacy:
"Private meetings, political chicanery and the resurrection of a dead bill under a different name were all part of the tactics employed by the Delaware state legislature who were in fear of a single sheriff who was simply doing what his constitutional duties allowed.

On a 36-2 vote the Delaware state House approved  a bill that states the sheriff or his deputies are only considered to be law enforcement officers when the court says so. The bill now moves to the senate where it is unclear if Republicans will oppose it or not.

Senate Majority leader Gary Simpson told a consituent, “Regardless of the outcome of this particular piece of legislation, I am convinced the issue will eventually be decided by the Courts and I can live with their decision either way in regards to their interpretation of the Constitution.”

Unlike police chiefs, who are hired by government officials, sheriffs are elected by the people and historically have been recognized as a highest-ranking law enforcement officer in their counties.

There have been several threats to the authority of sheriffs recently. In Montana, a proposal would have required all federal law enforcement officers to coordinate any activities in counties with the local sheriff.

And in Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio continues to give the administration headaches with his investigation of whether Barack Obama is perpetrating a fraud on county voters by running for president without being an eligible candidate....."  (Read more? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Customs and Border Protection "Nogales CBP Officers Seize Nearly $600,000 in Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Heroin"

"Nogales, Ariz. — An 18-year-old Mexican national attempting to smuggle approximately 57 pounds of cocaine, three pounds of methamphetamine and 2.5 pounds of heroin into the United States was arrested Wednesday by U.S. Customs and Border Protectiom (CBP) officers assigned to the Dennis DeConcini Port.
 
Officers referred the man for a secondary inspection of his Ford Expedition after a CBP canine alerted to the presence of drugs. During the secondary inspection, officers located 22 packages of cocaine, two packages of methamphetamine and one package of heroin. The drugs have a combined value of more than $595,000.
 
The drugs and vehicle were processed for seizure. The subject was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
 
Individuals arrested may be charged by complaint, the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity, which raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
 
CBP's Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

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.

SandBoxBlogs: Customs and Border Protection "CBP Officers in Pharr Seize Cocaine Worth Half Million Dollars, Reynosa Woman Arrested"

""Pharr, Texas— U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations at the Pharr/Reynosa International Bridge seized more than 15 pounds of cocaine and arrested a Reynosa woman on Wednesday.
 
The estimated street value of the cocaine is $503,680.
On Wednesday a 2005 Nissan XTrail driven by a 42-year-old female Mexican national arrived at the Pharr International Bridge accompanied by her 14-year-old son. The woman presented a Mexican border crossing card for herself and the boy to the CBP officer who subsequently referred the vehicle and occupants to secondary for further inspection. Officers discovered six packages of cocaine, weighing approximately 15.74 pounds, hidden within the vehicle’s dash area. CBP seized the cocaine and vehicle.
 
The driver was turned over to U.S. Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation. The boy was released to an adult family member.
 
“This load of hard narcotics was intercepted due to excellent enforcement and observational skills by our officers,” said Efrain Solis Jr., Hidalgo Port Director. “CBP’s commitment to help keep dangerous drugs from crossing our border is how we engage in the fight against drugs.”

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.

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

SandBoxBlogs: Crested Butte News "Molybdenum mining company open to leaving in exchange for other land "

Mark Reaman:
"It was announced Monday that negotiations have been taking place for the last year that might lead U.S. Energy Corp to give up its right to mine molybdenum on Mt. Emmons. The mining company announced on May 14 that it is open to some sort of “land exchange or similar process with the United States for the mining claims associated with the Mt. Emmons Project.....” (Read more? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Study affirms newer West Divide seep is ‘naturally occurring'"

I can remember clear back as far as the late 1960's when natural seepage of gas was something we had to study for science classes in the North Fork Valley area.

Now the only question that remains is if we will be given any freedom from yellow journalism pushing scare and fear tactics in the daily newspaper.

A shout out of thanks goes to Colorado's big oil and gas and our Garfield County BOCC for sticking to just the facts.

**Correction on May 16th:  'I Like Facts' has accurately pointed out that I made an error while giving byline credit.  This article on the Post Independent should be proudly attributed to reporter John Stroud, not John Colson.  Bylines and credit for output is lifeblood in the newspaper industry.  'I Like Facts' is correct implying that 'SandBox Nanny' knows that.  With sincere apologies to John Stroud for overlooking him and to John Colson for not being able to snag credit for the article; the byline error I made is now corrected.  See below:  
John Colson:  John Stroud:
"“Methane gas samples collected in the area of the reported 2008 seep yielded only biogenic [naturally occurring] gas,” Garfield County Oil & Gas Liaison Kirby Wynn reported to the Board of County Commissioners on Monday.

Biogenic gas occurs when organic material breaks down and bubbles to the surface, while the “thermogenic” type of gas detected in the 2004 seep is released as a result of drilling activity in deep rock formations.

Wynn's quarterly update of oil and gas activity in Garfield County included an overview of the findings by independent consultant Geoff Thyne. The University of Wyoming geologist was hired by the county last year to study ongoing concerns by West Divide Creek resident Lisa Bracken.

Thyne reported that recent testing indicates no presence of “thermogenic” gas, and that the 2004 seep “is on a path toward being remediated.”

“I think we have reached the point of diminishing returns in terms of expending county resources unless there is a big change,” Thyne reported. “The reality is that the 2004 seep is relatively small, has been remediated as best they can manage, been sampled a lot and had several studies associated with the seep and surrounding area....”  (Read more? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "CMC trustees dump SourceGas lease agreement"

Disappointing at best, that our CMC Trustees decided to punt instead of lead.

Once again, commentators appear to have been spot on in their observations over the compressor station issue. Nothing is going to satisfy the small minority that have made protests.

What they really appear to have been after is a complete withdrawal from Source Gas yet no interruptions to their quality of life served by Source Gas fueling their homes. 

In addition, perfectly content to be 'non-involved' with CMC admin to the extent that Jensen had no concerns or any inkling of an idea that he was creating a public protest when he negotiated the original lease. 

Folks could also observe now that the 'shaming' of CMC by Marianne Ackerman that raised such a ruckus was completely ineffective and negative in outcome.  Simply getting in touch with the trustees and expressing a respectful opinion would have sufficed.

Can our CMC trustees really be blamed now for taking the easier road out and simply letting the courts be the bad guys?  Not really.  As that is exactly what is going to happen now with the only outcome being the same one at the onset of all this controversy.

Source Gas is a public utility that has a critical need that takes care of many people, not just the few that wanted a big show yet somebody else to handle the leadership and legalities.  There will be a compressor station up on Spring Valley.

Only question that remains is if it will now be force placed onto one of these protesters private property or if it will be placed in the best spot all along. 

Which is right where CMC negotiated it to be in the first place.

Predictable and not surprising that our trustees decided to punt, take the easier road. 

Yet disappointing that they decided in the end to not lead. 

John Colson:
"During a public comment session, the board's decision drew a mixed response...."
(Read more? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Steamboat Today " Jimmy Westlake: The Centaur peeks in"

All credit Jimmy Westlake:
"Centaurs figured heavily in the mythology of the ancient Greeks — so much so that two of them are immortalized in the stars as our constellations of Sagittarius the Archer and Centaurus the Centaur. The legend of these half-man, half-horse beasts might have originated when someone long ago first saw humans on horseback and imagined them to be some sort of human-equine hybrid.

Centaurus is one of our most ancient constellations, first mentioned in Greek literature from the fourth century BC. It is thought to represent the centaur named Chiron. He was a wise old centaur that served as the personal tutor of Greek heroes like Hercules, Theseus and Jason.

During one of Hercules’ many rowdy scuffles, Chiron accidentally was nicked by one of Hercules’ poisoned arrows. Being immortal, Chiron could not die, but the agony of the wound was so severe that he begged Zeus to revoke his immortality. This Zeus did, and Chiron was mercifully allowed to die. Zeus then immortalized the image of Chiron among the stars as our constellation of Centaurus...."
(Read more?  Click title)