SandBoxBlogs: Hot Air Blog "Greek talks collapsed amid anger, insults, “unreality”"

Ed Morrissey:
"This may end up being the political quote of the year, uttered by the president of Greece after talks aimed at forming an emergency government collapsed last week:

“Gentlemen, we are finished,” said the patrician President, calling an abrupt halt to two hours of baiting and cat-calling between furious Greek politicians. “I’m starting to get upset myself now. We are finished.”

The final collapse of talks to forge a new Greek government triggered repeat elections and fears of a chaotic exit from the euro zone. But it is the manner of that collapse, the acrimony and rancor cited by Karolos Papoulias, that bodes ill for efforts after June polls to pull Greece back from the brink.

“It was a complete madhouse,” a source at the socialist PASOK party told Reuters after their leader,Evangelos Venizelos, returned from the May 17 showdown. “The discussion was unbelievable.”

The only people who don’t seem to realize the depth of the truth in that quote are the Greeks themselves:

Voters infuriated by grinding poverty, spending cuts and corruption, punished Samaras and fellow mainstream party leader Evangelos Venizelos. Leftist Alexis Tsipras, 37, emerged with the power to block them. Greece, he said, could ditch its spending cuts and renounce its debts to EU partners, yet enlist their help in keeping the euro currency some 80 percent of Greeks cherish.

“Pythagoras didn’t manage to square the circle and god knows these guys don’t know how to either,” said one EU diplomat in Brussels, echoing widespread sentiment in European capitals.

“The Greeks seem to have no understanding of the seriousness of their predicament and that is a great source of frustration. There’s a breaking point and I think we’re getting close to it.”..."

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

SandBoxblogs: National Journal "Ryan: Obama Will Bring 'European-Like Austerity' "

Alexandra Jaffe:
"House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan said that if President Obama is reelected in November, Europe’s current economic crisis will be America’s future.

“The president, his budget, the fact the Senate hasn't done a budget in three years, puts us on a path towards European-like austerity,” said Ryan, R-Wis., on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday.

He continued: “If the last four years is any indication of the next four years under current management, we'll keep kicking the can. We'll keep making empty promises to voters. And then we'll probably have a debt crisis ... in the next presidency if we stay on this path.”

Ryan offered his own, House-passed budget plan as an alternative, which he said would “preempt” austerity by reducing U.S. debt and reigning in borrowing.

“The whole premise of our budget is to preempt austerity by getting our borrowing under control, having tax reform for economic growth, and preventing Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid from going bankrupt. That preempts austerity,” he said....." (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Town Hall "Hopeless Change for the Young"

Bob Beauprez:
"In 2008, Obama inspired legions of young Americans who bought into his "Change you can believe in" campaign message. According to the Pew Research Center, voters under the age of 30 supported Obama over John McCain 66:31 – by far the largest disparity between young voters and other age groups in any presidential election since exit polling began in 1972. In addition to the critical vote totals, Obama attracted thousands of high energy campaign volunteers that brought unbridled enthusiasm to his campaign of Hope-and-Change.

Sadly, three years later, it is more like Hopeless Change that millions of young Americans face. In exchange for that 2:1 vote of confidence they gave Obama in 2008, the 18-29 year-olds are feeling the brunt of the economic stagnation – often by twice the degree of all other age groups. According to the Wall Street Journal, "The U.S. labor market is in a malaise, but young adults are in crisis."

Maybe you hadn't noticed, but the recession supposedly ended almost three years ago. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, NBER, the economic downturn that began in December 2007, lasted 18 months and officially ended  in June, 2009. NBER defines a recession is a period of falling economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real GDP, real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales. Economists declare the end of a recession when the declining trend is reversed....." (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Right Side News "New Poll: End of Gender Gap or Proof of Credibility Gap?"

Roger Aronoff:

"The Obama campaign is complaining about the latest New York Times/CBS poll, because of its “methodology.” Their real complaint, however, is with the results. Whereas in April, the poll showed that in a general election match-up between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, Obama was ahead among women voters by 49% - 43%, now, in the latest poll, Romney is ahead among women by 46% - 44%, which is within the three-point margin of error, but represents an eight-point swing in one month. After the Sandra Fluke/contraception issue, and the whole “GOP war on women” theme pushed by Obama and his media allies, these numbers seemed surprising. But, in fact, they indicate that a majority of women aren’t buying it.

The part of the poll that upset the Obama campaign even more was the percentage of those polled who believe that Obama made his decision to announce his support for gay marriage for political reasons. That number was 67% versus only 24% who said they believe he did it “mostly because he thinks it is right.” That is hugely significant, and it is a gap, a credibility gap, that reverberates throughout the Obama administration...." (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Right Scoop "Boehner steps up, sends letter to Holder over Fast and Furious"

Scoop:
"It’s about time we get the ball rolling on this. I worry it could just be posturing, but hopefully this will turn into a contempt charge because there is no way Holder’s going to comply:

Washington Examiner – House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and House party leadership confronted Attorney General Eric Holder for not cooperating with the investigation into Operation Fast and Furious in a letter today.
The letter — signed by Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chair Darrell Issa, R-Calif., — increases the likelihood that House Republicans will pursue contempt charges against Holder if he does not turn over documents pertaining to the gunwalking scheme.
“As co-equal branches of the U.S. Government, the relationship between the Legislative and Executive branches must be predicated on honest communications and cannot be clouded by allegations of obstruction,” the House leaders wrote. “If necessary, the House will act to fulfill our Constitutional obligations in the coming weeks.”....."

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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Ranger reports verbal abuse over citation for trespassing"

Chad Abraham:
"A local developer on Friday vehemently denied an open space ranger’s account of what transpired during the issuing of a trespassing ticket in April at an entrance to Sky Mountain Park between Aspen and Snowmass Village.

Nikos Hecht, who has multiple building projects under way in Aspen, is due in Pitkin County Court on Tuesday for the misdemeanor trespassing citation.

That the encounter happened April 7 near the park entrance next to the southwest side of the Aspen airport is about the only common element in Hecht’s version of what happened and that of Trevor Washko, a seasonal ranger for the county open space and trails department...."  (Read more? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Colorado Springs Gazette "Marijuana cases headed to trial, even as other take pleas"

Lance Benzel:
"One is a cancer patient and former restaurateur who says he believes that oil derived from marijuana holds the cure to his leukemia.

The other — a Colorado Springs woman who left a corporate job to join the state’s booming medical marijuana trade, only to be swept up in a 2010 raid on growers who shared a local warehouse.

In June, Robert Crouse and Elisa J. Kappelmann — defendants in two of El Paso County’s most closely watched marijuana prosecutions — are headed for jury trials at a time when many similar cases quietly end in plea agreements.

Kappelmann, 52, is due for a June 4 trial. Crouse, 63, is to be tried June 25.

The cases, which are otherwise unrelated, have attracted notice from medical marijuana advocates who staged demonstrations and packed the 4th Judicial District courthouse hallways during their court appearances. According to court records, the District Attorney’s Office contends that Crouse and Kappelmann were operating marijuana nurseries without proper licensing, charges both deny.

Crouse was arrested in May 2011 after police seized 6 pounds of marijuana and more than 50 plants from his home on North Weber Street. Crouse is charged with two drug felonies, including possession with intent to distribute.

According to an arrest affidavit, Crouse told authorities he was part-owner in a recently opened dispensary called God’s Own Garden. Crouse said he wasn’t involved in day-to-day operations but told police that he occasionally supplied a business partner with marijuana that Crouse grew at home, the affidavit said.

Crouse had invested $7,000 in the venture, court records said.

Police say Crouse was also trying to produce marijuana-infused barbecue sauce, modifying the same barbecue recipe he used at Yakibob’s, the Colorado Springs restaurant he owned until handing the business off to a family member in 2009....."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Summit Daily News "Summit lends hand to building Mexico's K9 rescue"

Thank you so much to our Red White and Blue guys over in Summit County for participating in this terrific program.  You are awesome.

Janice Kurbjun:
"A storm ravaged part of Mexico nearly a decade ago, scattering forest timbers, smashing cars, leaving several dead.

One particular family lost its husband and father, and that family became the reason eight rescue dogs are now in place in the country. Rescue dogs could have made the difference of life and death for that man, and Jesse Rodriguez promised he'd put a program in place.

Though it's nearly a decade later, Rodriguez is starting from “below scratch,” he said, adding that about 31 dogs are being trained in all of Mexico to add to the contingent of eight currently in existence. Which is why he and eight team members drove up from Hermosillo to train with Colorado's Emergency Response K9 teams this weekend. They have been training their dogs for about three months, and they're considered a senior team. Rodriguez is also overseeing programs in Columbia and Peru.

By comparison, the United States has 231 Federal Emergency Management Agency-certified canine teams in place throughout the country and have been training for years.

The eight handlers and their pups passed through Utah for training before arriving at Frisco's High Country Training Center on Thursday, nearly 18 hours away from home — by a direct route.

“We don't have rubble piles in Mexico,” Rodriguez said. “We don't have a lot of things.”

What he's doing is largely coming out of his pocket, from a minimal International Emergency Response K9 fund and some recent help from various firefighting agencies — but he's getting a lot of outside support....."
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"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "A case for high density downtown living"

Here's to Don Ensign of Carbondale.

For voicing the the most sound option to date for prosperity and growth in downtown Glenwood Springs.

And the simplest, along with being nearly zero cost to taxpayers. 

Private development that builds high density downtown living.  Something that a few in the construction industry have been shouting out for years trying to achieve.

Don Ensign:
"...High density living is not for everyone, but my experience and that of others demonstrates a strong market for downtown housing, especially on sites proximate to natural amenities, recreation activities, quality shopping and dining, schools, libraries, etc., with all of which downtown Glenwood is richly endowed.

Glenwood Springs has the opportunity to be a model smart growth community due to an absolutely unique set of circumstances: a river confluence, wonderful scenery, trail system, excellent transit, downtown amenities and unparalleled public services. It would be a shame to squander such a rich legacy due to irrational or uninformed fears of density...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Efficient lighting helps preserve formations in Glenwood Caverns"

(See related posts, links within posts and public comments on the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park expansions  here)

Bob Ward:
"GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — At Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, the decision to install energy-efficient lighting was a home run both environmentally and economically.

Owner Steve Beckley had known for years that the incandescent lights in the caves actually put out more heat than light, and that Kings Row, one of the most dazzling formations on the popular cave tour, was beginning to dry out as a result.

The key to all of the caverns' strange and beautiful rock features — not to mention the 54 unique species that live in the caverns — is water, which percolates and drips through fissures in the stone.

Under normal circumstances, the temperature inside the caverns is a cool 52 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. If the drying were allowed to continue, Beckley explained, “You get a dusty, dry cave instead of a wet, living cave.”.........

.......Today, work is under way to expand the tour options in the park's namesake caverns, which Beckley can illuminate at a lower cost and with less risk to the cave's ecology.

“We began with 7,800 linear feet of passageway, and now we have about 16,000,” he smiled. “This cave has been open since 1999, and I want to make sure your grandkids can still come. Our job is the stewardship of this cave.”......" (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "CMC weighing $63.1M budget for 2012-13"

Hmmm....let's see.......$12,000 a year that could be income off the Source Gas compressor station lease...would buy....the entire projected budget for financial aid funds!!.....1/3 more than is projected to be spent on academic support and student services!!!!....hmmmm....support a college education for the kids of all the little guys by protesting the 'fauxtrage' directed at CMC!!!.....hmmmm......"one ringie-dingie"...."two ringie-dingie"....(see recent related posts, links within posts and public comments here)

Here's to the little guy.

Let freedom ring.

John Stroud:
"GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — The Colorado Mountain College board of trustees is in the process of reviewing a proposed $63.1 million general fund budget for next year.

And the general public can do the same between now and the CMC board's scheduled budget vote on June 18, according to CMC officials.

The draft 2012-13 budget can be viewed at any CMC location, including locally in Glenwood Springs, Spring Valley, Carbondale and Rifle. It can also be found online at http://www.coloradomtn.edu/, under the “Communities & Friends” tab (click on Board of Trustees/Budget & Audit).

The proposed spending budget represents a $4 million increase over the current fiscal year. That's due in part to revenues being slightly higher than projected for this year and continuing into the next fiscal year, according to a summary of the budget proposal.

Total revenues are projected at about $63.3 million, including $46.9 million from property taxes within the multi-county special community college district......"  (Read more? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: KDNK "Weekly News Brief: Compressor Conundrum"

Terrific interview by Erick Skalac  of longtime local journalist Lynn Burton on the kerfuffle over the Source Gas compressor station.

Folks have been raising their eyebrows over a couple of  points.  One could say those points are facts.  If that offends, then one could simply say current opinions of the common man over the 'one ringie-dingie' campaign to ban Source Gas off the map in Spring Valley are simply realistic expectations based on the little guy's experiences with leaders of that campaign.

SandBox runs with Lynn Burton on one point.  That there's a high probability that it's really about the money and power.  Though Lynn did say same in fancy speak with a more diplomatic edge. 

And also runs with Eric Skalac on the spot in question being the perfect location for a public utility.  It's a weed patch, folks.  One that is never maintained, the building would obstruct no views and there is little to no proof that it would have a negative environmental impact.

Again, strong appearances that what this is really about is the money and the power capable of bullying CMC.

See related posts and links within posts along with public comments by clicking here and here.

To listen to Eric's interview, click title.

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

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Biodiversity: Report touts Endangered Species Act wins"

Bob Berwyn:
"SUMMIT COUNTY — Like it or not (and some people definitely don’t), the Endangered Species Act does what it’s supposed to do when it’s implemented the way it’s supposed to be, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.

The conservation group last week released an analysis of how the ground-breaking environmental law has been effective in recovering at least some species that are threatened or endangered. Read and download the full report at http://esasuccess.org/.

While some critics will quibble about the species selected for the study, the fact remains that, if habitat is protected, the act can work. Release of the report comes against a backdrop of renewed attacks on the Endangered Species Act, most recently when Congress unilaterally acted to de-list wolves in the Northern Rockies — the first time lawmakers have succeeded in making a political end run around the law.

Additionally, Congress has repeatedly sought to defund the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s ability to list and recover species that clearly need protection.

“There are Endangered Species Act success stories in every state in America,” said Kierán Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity. “No other law in the world has done so much to rescue species from the brink of extinction and put them on a path to recovery. Simply put, the act has been remarkably successful.”

On the other side, critics of law often make vague charges that the law “destroys rural American communities,” without ever showing any specific examples, like in this coment on a post in the New Century of Forest Planning blog (scroll down to the comment section).

The review examined population trends of plants and animals protected by the Endangered Species Act in all 50 states, including gray wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains, Florida panthers, Aleutian Canada geese and California condors. Again and again, the analysis finds species on a positive trajectory toward recovery — and in some cases exceeding expectations..."  (Read more? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs; Summit County Citizens Voice "Colorado: 2012 Solar Eclipse photos"

All credit Daniel McVey via Summit Voice (Click title):