SandBoxBlogs: Hot Air Blog "Egyptian poll: Romney 73, Obama 25"

'AllahPundit'
"Needless to say, as Brookings notes, this is emphatically an anti-Obama vote rather than a pro-Romney one. If even one percent of Egyptian voters are capable of picking Romney out of a line-up, I’d be surprised.
Still, an amusing result. Because I’ll bet you that a huge chunk of those who “prefer” Mitt here do so on the assumption that he’ll be more hostile to Israel than Obama is. Lots of rude awakenings in Cairo happening these days.

Attitudes toward the United States continue to be unfavorable (85%).
Asked to name the two steps by the United States that would improve the views of the US the most, 66% identified brokering Middle East peace and establishing a Palestinian state, 46% identified stopping economic and military aid to Israel, and 44% identified withdrawal of American forces from the Arabian Peninsula. Only seven percent identified withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan as one of the two top steps, 12% identified an American push to spread democracy in the Middle East, and 18% identified providing more economic assistance to the region.
Although Egyptians in the past year have been understandably preoccupied with their own political and economic situation and have not been paying as much attention to the American elections as usual, and they probably know less about the republican candidates for president, that has not prevented them from giving their opinions. Presented with a choice between President Obama and likely Republican candidate Mitt Romney, 73% said they preferred Romney, and only 25% chose Obama. It is unlikely that most Egyptians know much about Romney, and the choice is more likely to be an expression of disappointment with Obama. When Obama first came to office in 2009, even before his important speech in Cairo, Egyptian public opinion of the President was more favorable than unfavorable. This contrasted with Israeli public opinion, which was more suspicious of Obama. Since then, there has been a reversal of fortune, where in a poll we conducted in Israel last February, Israeli Jews expressed preference for Obama over all the leading Republican candidates (although his lead over Romney was within the margin of error)....." (Read more? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "The Mitt you see is what you get"

Richard Cohen:
"For all of Mitt Romney’s talk of what he would do on day one in the White House — bomb Iran or was it Planned Parenthood? — there’s just as good a chance he would be tacking up two pictures on the wall. One would be of George H.W. Bush and the other of Jimmy Carter. They both became one-term presidents after they were challenged in the primaries. This is a lesson for Romney.

It is also a lesson for everyone who thinks that if Romney becomes president, he would govern from the center. This is a widely held belief, encouraged by the Romney camp itself and the supposed gaffe of Eric Fehrnstrom that the world would see a different Romney in the general election: “Everything changes. It’s almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and we start all over again.” This is not a gaffe, but a feint. Romney would be able to restart nothing.

In the first place, Romney would likely have a Republican House, and maybe a Senate, too. This means he has to work with a party that has just recently punished Richard Lugar for excessive moderation and is willing, at this very moment, to bring down the country’s credit rating another notch rather than budge on the debt ceiling. To Romney, who made a fortune with the clever prestidigitation of debt, this has to make no sense, but he would go along because (1) he’d have to and (2) he always does.

Congress, though, would be the least of President Romney’s troubles. The real threat to him will come from the very core of a Republican Party, which likes him little and trusts him less. The moment he shows the slightest moderate or rational tick, someone such as Rick Santorum will come barreling out of the GOP’s piney woods, screaming oaths (in Latin) and enter the 2016 Iowa caucuses that, you might remember, he won in 2012. Santorum must be itching for such a fight, having already called Romney “the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama.” That, folks, is not a fudge....."
(Read more?  Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: National Journal "If It Hits the Fan"

Charlie Cook:
"Talk to economists and people who work in the financial markets these days   and what you’ll hear is reminiscent of the ominous warnings that you occasionally hear from pilots about strong weather fronts. We’re facing not one wave of turbulence, but several.

First, there’s Europe and the eurozone. It’s possible that the situation could be worse in Greece, but not that much worse. There’s a pretty good chance that country will be exiting the eurozone soon, but either way, Greece is putting enormous stress on its economy. Then there’s Spain, which has an economy larger than Greece, also in trouble. With Europe teetering on the edge of recession, there are limits to how much even Germany can do to keep the eurozone—now the world’s largest single economy—from going into a serious tailspin. Europe contributes 21 percent of global economic growth, so there is rather obvious significance for the U.S.

Then, there is China, whose economy is slowing. Acknowledging the problem, the Chinese government just announced that it was placing greater emphasis on economic growth. Its central bank is expected to lower rates soon. It’s unlikely that China will go into a recession, but don’t expect purchases of U.S. goods there to match those of the last few years.

But it’s the fragile nature of America’s own economy—and questions about whether our political process is capable of coping with immediate and simultaneous challenges—that make things so much worse. The Federal Reserve Board has acted heroically to pump up the economy. As the International Strategy and Investment Group reports, the Fed’s efforts put the trade-weighted dollar at close to a record low, making it almost as competitive as it ever has been. But a weak world economy still limits the U.S. advantage to sell.
The term “fiscal cliff” has been rapidly entering the economic lexicon. People using the phrase may not know exactly what is scheduled to happen at the end of this year. Probably more than anything else, though, they may know that the George W. Bush-era income-tax cuts will be eliminated both for earners above and below the $250,000 level if not renewed by Dec. 31. They also may know that some significant spending cuts will automatically be made, unless Congress takes action, that will cut defense and nondefense funding pretty much evenly. Of course, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, the real drivers in the increase of federal spending, are exempted from those cuts....."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Novel Politics "Plot Twist? Will Obama dump Biden?"

MC Lewis:
"You may have heard the rumors over the past few weeks—the suggestions that Obama might replace Biden on the ticket, perhaps with Hillary Clinton. The recent gay marriage announcement seemed to put more distance between the President and Biden. Just before, the NYT ran a lengthy piece about Sunday night strategy sessions in the Obama campaign, sans Biden. Ominous signs for Biden.

If the President were 75 years old with a heart condition, the choice of Vice President would certainly be more of a consideration. Since Obama is relatively young and apparently healthy does anyone really care who his Vice President is?

The old pols will tell you that the choice of Vice President is seldom a consideration for most voters. Voters react to the choice for President.

Yes, but what if the election is really close?

And, if Obama’s slide in the polls continues, changing VPs could be a Hail Mary pass.

What if Biden makes a really big, unforgivable gaff?

Or, another new embarrassing revelation?...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: The Hill "Issa might not have the votes to push forward Holder contempt charge"

Jordy Yager:
"Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) might not have the votes in his own committee to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. 



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

SandBoxBlogs: Canon City Daily Record "Police Chief Duane McNeill Resigns"

(Update to this post:  Canon City's release of former Police Chief Duane McNeill's resignation can be found here. Comment ability is now blocked on this post.)

Carie Canterbury:
"Cañon City Police Chief Duane McNeill has submitted his resignation, about six weeks after the city placed him on paid administrative leave following an audit report of the department.

"We will have additional information later in the week on how we plan on moving the police department forward," said Interim City Administrator Doug Dotson during Monday's regular council meeting.

Dotson said he has been working with the department's two captains on developing a plan, which will be brought to the general government committee at an undetermined time.

"We want to involve the community as to what kind of steps we'll be taking to go forward," Dotson said.
McNeill's response to the 24-page audit has not yet been made available to the Daily Record.
Also Monday, Dotson gave an update on the closure of Macon Avenue between Fifth and Sixth streets.

The street is scheduled to be closed beginning June 1. The engineering department has developed a Phase 1-closure plan that involves the instillation of movable barriers at each end of the block.

Dotson is meeting with Sunflower Bank representatives to get permission for the city to repaint and reconfigure the traffic flow in the parking lot east of the Cañon City Public Library. The plan would ensure the owner of the bank property would have suitable access to the parking lot long-term.

Dotson also gave an update on the proposed Regional Dispatch Center. He said the committee has been looking at staffing and shift requirements, space requirements, facility safety and security requirements and location options for a combined facility.

"We did look at what it might cost the city to move forward with capital improvements for its own dispatch center, and our IT people had indicated that that expense is probably going to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $450,000," he said. "...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Denver Channel "ACLU: Victims of Domestic Violence Deported"

SandBox's guess on this story is going to be that the first thing GarCo Sheriff does on any domestic violence call is assist, protect, aid and give victim's assistance.

Probably, knowing GarCo Sheriff, simultaneously stopping the perpetrator, arresting them and housing them at the county jail.  Then assisting the entire process on both sides through the judicial system.

Finally, knowing GarCo Sheriff, after making sure that everyone is safe and the law is met dotting their i's and crossing their t's by continuing to follow law and assisting ICE with the deportation of the individual(s) who are committing criminal acts by being here in the USA illegally.

Interesting comments thread starting over on the Denver Channel on this story.

Click title to read the article.

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

SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Colorado immigrant advocates plan driver’s license push"

Absolutely!

Finally, there is a CIRC campaign everyone should be able to embrace with eager, open arms!

Drivers licenses for everyone!  Including illegal foreign nationals on american soil.

Just walk into any drivers license bureau, tell them you have no ID and are here illegally.  Let's then issue a drivers license that is electronically flagged the minute it goes into the system for any reason (just like legal folks DL's....).

Want to cash a check?  Get a job?  Admit yourself to the ER? Drive a car?  Register a child in school?

Just pull out your handy drivers license that is electronically coded and the United States of America will know exactly where you are.  Just like they know where every legal American is.

This.....is an excellent idea.

Now all liberal supporters of illegal foreign nationals, we've just documented so let's stop inhumane human smuggling, secure the borders and sit down at the table for a conversation on humane immigration reforms.

via Grand Junction Daily Sentinel:
"DENVER — Immigrant advocates in Colorado want public support for allowing illegal immigrants to seek licenses to drive.

The activists say they will seek a ballot measure to change a law that requires proof of legal residency to be issued a Colorado driver’s license. They say illegal immigrants are driving anyway, and that the public would be safer if those drivers could seek licenses and auto insurance.

Critics say granting driving privileges to illegal immigrants creates an incentive to violate immigration laws.

New Mexico and Washington are the only states that allow illegal immigrants to obtain the same driver’s license as a U.S. citizen. Utah grants immigrants a driving permit that can’t be used for identification, unlike a driver’s license that helps people open bank accounts or board a commercial airliner..."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: USCIS "Electronic Immigration System"

In the age of WikiLeaks, failure to pass SOPA or any other ability to enforce internet crime, surely they jest with this:

"U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today launched the first phase of its electronic immigration benefits system, known as USCIS ELIS. The system has been created to modernize the process for filing and adjudicating immigration benefits. 

“Today marks a significant milestone in our agency’s history,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas.

“We have launched the foundation for the web-based future of our agency and our immigration benefits system. USCIS ELIS will transform how we interact with our customers and how we manage the 6-7 million applications we receive each year.”

This initial launch brings the agency closer to realizing the future of immigration services. Beginning today, individuals can establish a USCIS ELIS account and apply online to extend or change their nonimmigrant status for certain visa types. Eligible individuals include foreign citizens who travel to the United States temporarily to study, conduct business, receive medical treatment, or visit on vacation. USCIS ELIS will also enable USCIS officers to review and adjudicate online filings from multiple agency locations across the country.

Historically, USCIS customers have had to apply for most benefits by mail and USCIS employees then review paper files and ship documents between offices to complete their adjudication. Today’s launch signifies an important step forward and is the first of several releases. Future releases will add form types and functions to the system, gradually expanding to cover filing and adjudication for all USCIS immigration benefits.

This important transition for America’s immigration benefits system will take time and continued dedication to fully implement. Following this first release, USCIS anticipates making adjustments and improvements in response to user feedback. This process will enable USCIS to continually enhance the user experience for both customers and USCIS employees. It will also allow the agency to smooth the transition to electronic filing over time, mindful of those individuals without computer access and the agency’s commitment to serve our diverse customer base.

Benefits of using USCIS ELIS include filing applications and paying fees online, shorter processing times, and the ability to update user profiles, receive notices, and respond to requests electronically. The system also includes tools to combat fraud and identify national security concerns.

Mayorkas attributed today’s successful launch to the steadfast dedication of the USCIS workforce.

“USCIS employees believe in the transformation of our agency from a paper-based to an online environment. It is through their vision, unwavering commitment, and hard work that we have reached this important milestone,” Mayorkas said.
(Read all about it? Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Town Hall/Chuck Norris "IRS Gives Billions in Tax Refunds to Illegals"

(See related video here)

Chuck Norris:
"WTHR, the NBC affiliate in Indianapolis, recently reported about how millions of illegal aliens are getting billions of dollars in U.S. tax refunds without having paid a dime in income taxes. The story instantly went viral because it's true. You won't believe what illegals are getting away with, and our government is enabling them.

Here's how it works.

Illegal immigrants cannot qualify for legitimate Social Security numbers, which would entitle them to work legally in the U.S. and file income tax returns, but the Internal Revenue Service allows them to apply for nine-digit individual taxpayer identification numbers, or ITINs, which also are used to file federal income tax returns.

In addition, a provision in the tax code permits illegals to claim "additional child tax credits," which grant families $1,000 per "dependent" child. Roughly three-quarters of tax returns filed by illegals include these ACTCs. With the ITIN, illegals are able to get tax credits and refunds for nephews, nieces and other family members who never have touched U.S. soil.

For example, an illegal immigrant who makes $13,000 a year not only pays no taxes but also can receive a refund of $5,000 by simply filling in five ACTCs. One illegal used a fake address and said four illegal aliens lived there with 20 relatives as dependents, for a grand total tax refund of $29,000!

According to the Center for Immigration Studies, in the 2010 tax year alone, more than 3 million returns were filed with ITINs. About 2.3 million of them paid no federal income taxes and also collected a cumulative $4 billion from the Treasury in tax refunds for claiming ACTCs.

FactCheck.org confirmed: "The (Treasury Department's inspector general's) report stated that more than 2.3 million persons who did not have Social Security numbers valid for working in the U.S. got an average of roughly $1,800 each in 2010 in child tax credit refunds. That included 9,000 illegal immigrants who each got a total of $10,000 or more by retroactively claiming credits for tax years prior to 2010."

A tax consultant snitched to WTHR News: "We've seen 10 (or) 12 dependents, most times nieces and nephews, on these tax returns. The more you put on there the more you get back. ... Here's a return right here: 'We've got a $10,300 refund (for) nine nieces and nephews.'"

And if you think this is a relatively new IRS scam, consider the report for the Center for Immigration Studies prepared by Peter A. Schulkin, who holds a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University and has taught at several universities. It was a follow-up to a November 2010 memorandum titled "Child Tax Credits for Illegal Immigrants."

In it, Schulkin "highlights new information contained in a report of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) dated July 7, 2011, (titled) 'Individuals Who Are Not Authorized to Work in the United States Were Paid $4.2 Billion in Refundable Credits.' The $4.2 billion is entirely the product of the Additional Child Tax Credit ... for the 2010 tax processing year."

Furthermore, Schulkin reported: "The July 7, 2011, TIGTA report echoes the message contained in the earlier March 31, 2009, TIGTA report in the statement: 'Although the law prohibits aliens residing without authorization in the United States from receiving most Federal public benefits, an increasing number of these individuals are filing tax returns claiming the Additional Child Tax Credit ... a refundable tax credit intended for working families. The payment of Federal funds through this tax benefit appears to provide an additional incentive for aliens to enter, reside, and work in the United States without authorization, which contradicts Federal law and policy to remove such incentives.'"

In fact, Schulkin's memorandum reports a long history of IRS abuses of ACTCs by illegal immigrants -- at least seven years....." (Read more?  You should.  Click title)

"Truth goes through three stages. First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident."

SandBoxBlogs: Vail Daily News "Local man among rescuers in Everest tragedy"

This is an incredible story of survival and human compassion alongside courage.

Randy Wyrick:
"EAGLE COUNTY, Colorado — The window to summit Mount Everest was death's door for at least four climbers, but a few others may live because a local man was helping with rescue efforts.

Jon Kedrowski was near the summit of the world's tallest mountain Saturday when the weather changed and 100 mph winds trapped dozens of climbers, Kedrowski said.

It's being called the worst Everest tragedy since 1996, when eight people died. That event was the subject of Jon Krakauer's book, “Into Thin Air.”

Kedrowski said there was a two-hour wait at one of the main chokepoints near the summit, as more than 150 climbers attempted to summit during Friday and Saturday's brief weather window.

High winds moved in and trapped folks who were ascending and descending. Some folks had already been climbing for 18 hours or more.

Many climbers had been waiting at a staging camp for several days for their chance.

“Jon was ascending while others were descending from 18-hour climbs to the summit,” said Chris Tomer, Kedrowski's climbing partner for 15 years and a meteorologist with Denver's Fox 31 television. “They were exhausted, sick from altitude, hallucinating, frostbitten and disoriented.”

Kedrowski spotted four climbers on the verge of death and did everything he could. One man had his hat and gloves off, and was completely frozen.

“He reach out to Jon like a zombie for help,” Tomer said.

Another person was lying face-down in the snow with his headlamp still on.

“Another climber was so sick, Jon and a Sherpa stuck that guy with a needle full of DEX (an altitude drug),” Tomer said....."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Cop hit on her as teen, woman says"

Paul Shockley:
"A Grand Junction Police Department officer in 2000 struck up a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl whom he met investigating a runaway case, which led to trysts in the officer’s patrol cruiser and at police facilities at then-Mesa State College, among other locations, according to court records made public.

The affair continued another 11 years, the records allege.

Eric Janusz, 42, of Fruita, is charged with four counts of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, and another count alleging a pattern of abuse.

The arrest affidavit — authorities redacted the name of the accuser victim and identifying information — was unsealed by court order on May 15.

Daniel Shaffer, Janusz’s attorney, could not be reached for comment.

Grand Junction police in August 2011 opened an investigation into Janusz’s activities after the woman filed a report. She alleged they had an off and on sexual relationship ending in August 2011, the affidavit said.

She said it started in July 2000 when she was 16, when Janusz was assigned to investigate a runaway case involving the girl’s brother. Janusz at the time worked at the department’s substation at Mesa State.

Janusz was in uniform conducting official police business when they met, the affidavit said...."
(Read more?  Click title.  Comment ability on this post is blocked)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Two felonies dismissed as judge sanctions prosecutor"

(See Swift Communications coverage of the same story here: http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20120522/NEWS/120529981/1077&ParentProfile=1058)

Chad Abraham:
" A Glenwood Springs man who was facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 36 years in prison now is facing only four and a half years if found guilty, after a judge again sanctioned an Aspen prosecutor on Monday.

In her ruling, Judge Gail Nichols of Pitkin County District Court dismissed the two most serious felony charges against Asa Robinson, 30.

In addition to a felony count of false reporting of an explosive — a count that still stands from his alleged bomb threat last fall at the Belly Up — Robinson was charged with two related felonies of assault on a police officer.

Nichols dismissed the latter two charges as part of a sanction related to the handling of pretrial evidence, or discovery, by the prosecution’s offices in Glenwood and Aspen. An evidence custodian for the Aspen Police Department also erroneously handled discovery, Nichols found....." (Read more?  Click title)

Reminders of SandBox 'Rules, Regs and Worth':
http://sandboxcommentators.blogspot.com/2012/04/sandboxblogs-note-from-nanny-some.html
http://sandboxcommentators.blogspot.com/p/rules-regs-worth-and-time-outs.html 

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. All 9th Judicial news articles are DA Beeson's articles )"

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Lofgren relatives seek to unseal evidence used in grand jury probe"

Chad Abraham:
"The attorney for relatives of the Denver family who died from carbon monoxide poisoning in a mansion east of Aspen in 2008 is seeking to unseal grand jury evidence for use in their civil lawsuit.

The deaths of Parker and Caroline Lofgren and their young children, Owen and Sophie, sparked a year-long grand jury investigation that led to felony charges against two Pitkin County building inspectors and a Glenwood Springs business owner.

Chief Judge James Boyd of the 9th Judicial District in November dismissed the criminal cases against former county inspector Erik Peltonen and Marlin Brown, the owner of Roaring Fork Plumbing and Heating (the misdemeanor case against the other county worker was dismissed earlier). The cases were dismissed because of a statute-of-limitations issue.

The ruling freed the civil lawsuit, which had been stayed until the criminal case had been resolved, to resume.

Denver attorney William Hansen is representing Hildy Feuerbach, Caroline Lofgren’s sister; Jean Rittenour, the mother of Parker Lofgren; and Frederick Feuerbach, Jr., the father of Caroline Lofgren. Hansen filed the petition to unseal the grand jury material on Friday in Pitkin County District Court.

“We want to see everything” that Chief Deputy District Attorney Arnold Mordkin used in the criminal prosecution, Hansen said Monday. Mordkin does not oppose the release of the material but cannot do so without a court order, Hansen said...."  (Read more?  Click title)

Reminders of SandBox 'Rules, Regs and Worth':
http://sandboxcommentators.blogspot.com/2012/04/sandboxblogs-note-from-nanny-some.html
http://sandboxcommentators.blogspot.com/p/rules-regs-worth-and-time-outs.html 

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. All 9th Judicial news articles are DA Beeson's articles )"

SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "Federal agents seize 56 pounds of meth in Utah"

via Grand Junction Daily Sentinel:
"SALT LAKE CITY — Authorities say they believe a 56-pound methamphetamine bust in Salt Lake County over the weekend marks the largest meth seizure in Utah history.

A spokeswoman for the federal Drug Enforcement Agency says the drugs were found in a car at about 10 p.m. Sunday. The Salt Lake Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/KhCoiR ) the bust came as part of a year-long investigation into the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico’s dominant drug cartels.

DEA spokeswoman Sue Thomas says the meth had a street value of up to $5 million.
She tells the newspaper that the drugs were smuggled across the U.S. border packed in PVC pipe and in the ceiling of a car.

U.S. Attorney spokeswoman Melodie Rydalch, in Salt Lake City, would not disclose the number of people being charged but expects charges to be filed Tuesday....." (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Brooke Mueller ordered to pay more than $2,400 in court costs"

Chad Abraham:
"Brooke Mueller, ex-wife of actor Charlie Sheen, was ordered on Monday to pay more than $2,400 in court costs and sentenced to a year of supervised probation for possessing cocaine in Aspen in December.

The Los Angeles resident listened to her sentence on the phone from Utah, where she is in drug rehabilitation. Mueller, who was originally charged with possession with intent to distribute, received a one-year deferred sentence. She also must complete 24 hours of community service in California.

She pleaded guilty in March to possessing less than 4 grams of the drug as part of a plea agreement that saw the distribution count and a misdemeanor assault charge dropped.

Mueller was arrested Dec. 3 after police say she punched a woman in the back during a concert at the Belly Up. She had 3.8 grams of cocaine in her wallet and told officers she “bought that coke for all my friends, I was just trying to impress them,” according to a police report. That led to the distribution charge.

During her arrest on the Hyman Avenue mall, police said Mueller became belligerent, screaming, “You think you have power, you will see,” and poking an officer in the chest, the report says.

Judge Gail Nichols of Pitkin County District Court ordered Mueller to pay a $1,500 drug offender surcharge, a $600 probation supervision fee and $326 to two victim funds, among other fees...."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

Reminders of SandBox 'Rules, Regs and Worth':
http://sandboxcommentators.blogspot.com/2012/04/sandboxblogs-note-from-nanny-some.html
http://sandboxcommentators.blogspot.com/p/rules-regs-worth-and-time-outs.html 

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. All 9th Judicial news articles are DA Beeson's articles )"

SandBoxBlogs: Summit Daily News "Liddick: Regulatory hits and misses"

Morgan Liddick:
"This about regulation, the good and the bad. We'll leave the ugly for November.

Recently, a small outbreak of common sense descended on Washington, D.C., a town that seems to partake more of Wonderland than wisdom.

A popular outburst among farm folk and those who represent them has apparently derailed — for the moment, at least — a really bone-headed rule from the Labor Department concerning child farm labor.

While the term “child labor” invokes images of toddlers tending power looms, that's not what's involved here. The proposed restrictions would have prevented children from doing almost any farm work, save on “family farms,” defined as a farm owned by mom or dad, or both. As an aside, this is a little confusing: A group that has no problem with Heather having two mommies doesn't think Uncle Bob should be considered family. In farm country, that's a real problem.

I grew up on a family farm. We raised hay, grapes, horses and cattle. My grandparents had a vegetable garden that, to an 8-year-old charged with weeding, seemed to stretch from the banks of the Columbia River to Cleveland, Ohio. Or at least, Boise.

When I was 12, I took command of a 1958-vintage two-cylinder John Deere tractor. I towed rotary discs, ditchers, harrows, an antique hay-baler and when the time came, a trailer for baled hay or 40-pound boxes of grapes. Friends helped; sometimes, we spelled each other driving and hoisting. Was it potentially dangerous? Yes. But we respected the equipment, understood the downside, and came away unscathed, as the vast majority of farm kids did, and do.

None of this would have been possible under the proposed regulations. Instead, we would have had to hire help; the extra cost would have forced us out of the farming business in short order. Perhaps that's what the Department of Labor had in mind, small businesses being so pesky to regulate and all....."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Facts not coming out of City Hall"

Another special shout-out of thanks to Maurice Emmer.  For once again sticking to just the facts.

"Editor:

Mitzi Rapkin recently wrote a letter complaining about an article reporting on Matt Rice’s Congressional testimony. To be charitable, I assume Mitzi does not really know first-hand any of the facts, but that information is supplied to her by city managers and possibly City Council and she writes the information up in a pleasant, direct and professional way. So I do not blame Mitzi for distortions in her recent letter.

The main distortion of concern is the repeated claim that the penstock (pipeline) from Thomas Reservoir to the proposed Castle Creek hydro site was necessary because the city’s consulting engineer advised there was danger that required an emergency drain line. 

This is a pretty important matter because federal law prohibits the construction of any part of a power plant system without FERC approval. That approval could be avoided if there really was a pre-existing conduit (pipeline) that was going to be used for the power plant, but in this case there wasn’t one by any stretch of imagination.

So the city drew up plans for a penstock and related structures, including increased inflow to Thomas Reservoir from Maroon Creek (yes, they propose to take water from Maroon Creek, too), and then the engineer advised that those changes would create risk. The city thought it could call this proposed penstock a pre-existing conduit needed to reduce the risk and use the exemption, but of course that was silly.

How do I know this? I asked the city questions about the project. When I got their answers I asked for the documents supporting their answers. Guess what? The documents contradicted many of the city’s answers, rather than supporting them. You can read the documents too, if you want. If Mitzi wants to convince anyone the city is right, she easily can cite to specific documents that she thinks support the city’s assertions, rather than parroting claims that are fed to her by city management....." (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News/Community Briefs "Talk about changing the script on climate change conversation"

via Aspen Daily News:
"The Aspen Global Change Institute will present a free public lecture titled “Changing the Script on Climate Change: Transformative Views on Humanity’s Role” today at 6:30 p.m. at the Limelight Lodge. The lecture will be delivered by Dr. Karen O’Brien of the University of Oslo.

In this solutions-oriented presentation, Dr. O’Brien will share highlights from research that is leading to new ideas about how individuals, organizations and whole societies can make decisions and change habits that lead to a more sustainable, thrive-able future.

A wine and cheese reception will follow the talk. This event is co-sponsored by the Aspen Skiing Co.

O’Brien is a professor in the department of sociology and human geography at the University of Oslo in Norway. Her research focuses on climate change impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation and the implications for human security, as well as on the relationships between globalization and environmental change.

The Aspen Global Change Institute is an independent Colorado nonprofit with a mission of furthering the scientific understanding of Earth systems and global environmental change....." (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Colorado: Landscape-level preservation eyed in San Luis Valley to protect wetlands, riparian corridors & wildlife"

Bob Berwyn:
"SUMMIT COUNTY —The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is taking some first steps toward a large-scale preservation effort in Colorado’s San Luis Valley that could ultimately protect up to 530,000 acres of wetlands, riparian corridors, and important upland habitats through voluntary conservation easements.
The agency recently held public meetings to get input from landowners and other stakeholders in the region, helping to formulate the framework for a locally-led, voluntary, cooperative partnership that will also help preserve traditional land uses.

“This project represents another opportunity for the Service to partner with the people of the San Luis Valley to protect this important landscape for both wildlife and the people that have worked these lands for generations,” said regional USFWS director said Steve Guertin.

“By beginning our partnerships in the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains, we can determine the level of interest among landowners before exploring whether to broaden those partnerships to other partners elsewhere in the Valley.  At every step, we want to listen, learn, and do all we can to support the goals and vision of local landowners and the local community,” Guertin said.

The goal of the draft land protection plan is to work with landowners to buy perpetual conservation easements for up to 530,000 acres of land. Conservation easements maintain traditional uses and protect natural resource values, but extinguish most development rights.

Initial efforts will focus on the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains, where, because of the stewardship efforts of private landowners, there are opportunities to protect important wildlife migration corridors over federal, state, and private lands.  If partnerships in the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains are successful and of interest to private landowners, the Service would – at a later date – consider whether to pursue similar partnerships with private landowners in other parts of the proposed San Luis Valley Conservation Area......."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Jimmy Westlake: Partial lunar eclipse on horizon"

All credit Jimmy Westlake:
"In an eerie re-creation of last December’s sunrise lunar eclipse, the full moon once again will slip into the Earth’s dark shadow by the dawn’s early light on the morning of June 4. This eclipse, however, will not be total for anyone on Earth. It is a partial eclipse of the moon, which means the moon’s path only takes it through the edge of the Earth’s shadow, not completely into it.

An eclipse of the moon occurs when the moon passes through the Earth’s long shadow cast into space, either partially or totally. This can occur only during the full moon phase when the moon is opposite the sun in our sky, but it doesn’t happen at every full moon because of the 5-degree tilt of the moon’s orbit relative to the Earth’s orbit. The full moon usually passes slightly above or slightly below the shadow cone of the Earth.

June’s full moon is known in folklore as the Flower Moon. It will rise at sunset on the evening of June 3 and will show no hint of an eclipse until just before 4 a.m. the next morning. That’s when the lower-left edge of the moon will begin to darken as it enters the Earth’s umbral shadow. Then it becomes a race against sunrise as dawn brightens the sky. Maximum eclipse happens at 5:03 a.m. when 37 percent of the Flower Moon will be shadowed. The sun will rise at about 5:39 a.m. and the partially eclipsed moon will set only nine minutes later, at 5:48 a.m....." (Read more? Click title)