May 31, 2012

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Times "Charlie Leonard: Show Germany the way, Obama"

Charlie Leonard:
"On Tuesday, it was reported that the Obama administration sent one of its top Treasury officials to Europe to tell government officials there that they need to take decisive actions now to solve their fiscal problems or risk causing another global economic crisis.

In a statement announcing the trip, the Treasury Department said the U.S. official “will meet with senior government officials in each country to discuss their plans for achieving economic stability and growth in Europe.” No additional details were provided.

Can you imagine how those talks are going?

“President Obama asked me to tell you that he really thinks the time has come for several of your countries to get control of your fiscal situation and to adopt policies that can help get your economies growing again.”

After seeing the constant threat of government defaults in Ireland, Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy, one can only imagine what a welcome relief Obama's advice to European officials must be this week.

Can't you just picture a profoundly grateful Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, saying to herself: “Fiscal stability and pro-growth policies — now why couldn't I have thought of that?”

Imagine, also, how profoundly embarrassed Germany must now be at having gone through a decade of painful reforms, including raising its retirement age, reducing unemployment benefits, lowering its deficits and easing hiring and wage restrictions in order to achieve its current prosperity. It seems all of that could have been avoided if Germany had just followed Obama's advice to pursue “growth and economic stability.”

This kind of extraordinary insight — from such a unique individual as Barack Obama — seems like the kind of advice from which others could benefit as well.

For instance, the president might consider sending one of his emissaries to the New York Yankees to advise the bullpen to improve their pitching if they want to have a chance at the playoffs. Or he could counsel the management of Kodak to adapt its products and services better to the digital age in order to escape bankruptcy. He could even urge contestants on “Survivor” and “Dancing With the Stars” to avoid being voted off their shows if they want to win their respective competitions....."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Red State "The Extraordinary Nature of the Texas Runoff "

Erick Erickson:
"It is hard to overstate just how extraordinary Ted Cruz’s underdog entry into the Texas runoff is and just how the odds are still stacked against him unless conservatives rally quickly with lots of money.

David Dewhurst has been Lt. Governor of Texas for more than a decade. He has massive name ID throughout the state. Ted Cruz started this race with a three or four percent showing in polling.

More so, Dewhurst is a multimillionaire who can write large sums of money to fund his campaign. Ted Cruz cannot. Texas has several of the most expensive media markets in the country and the state is too large to go door to door across the state.

Dewhurst’s political team is Governor Rick Perry’s highly successful (in Texas) political team. I know a number of them and consider them friends. They are formidable.

To the chagrin of Texas tea party activists, Governor Perry himself is backing Lt. Governor Dewhurst publicly.

All the stars aligned for David Dewhurst — a deep well of money to draw from, high existing name id, statewide incumbency, support from the Governor and his winning political team. Still, the tea party rallied behind Ted Cruz and got him into a runoff.

Now, the variables are largely the same. Ted Cruz must raise a ton of cash quickly to compete. He has eight weeks. Media will be ridiculously expensive. He will have some of the biggest guns in Texas firing in his direction....."(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: ElectAd "American Crossroads Ad: Public Equity"

SandBoxBlogs: Washington Post "Mitt Romney’s nomination marks milestone for Mormon faith"

and :
"America quietly observed a major milestone in its history Tuesday when Mitt Romney became the first Mormon presidential nominee of a major political party.

The achievement comes four years after a spate of firsts, culminating with the election of the first African American president. This one has been greeted with little fanfare. And that is just how Romney and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints want it....." (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Grand Junction Daily Sentinel "DA: No charges in case of alleged trooper bias"

Paul Shockley:
" former Colorado State Patrol trooper, under scrutiny for alleged bias in his handling of impaired driving cases over four years, will not face criminal charges following a three-month investigation, District Attorney Pete Hautzinger said Wednesday.

However, Hautzinger said he intends to throw out 10 convictions stemming from cases investigated by ex-State Trooper Donald Moseman between 2008 and 2011.

Hautzinger, who hired a retired FBI agent to investigate 382 closed cases involving Moseman, said he doesn’t feel he can prove the ex-trooper committed any crimes. Those crimes, potentially false imprisonment, perjury, or official misconduct, among others, would require proof Moseman acted “intentionally or knowingly,” Hautzinger said.

“There’s no evidence proving he knowingly or intentionally framed innocent people or was trying to manufacture evidence,” Hautzinger said. “He just tended to see a case when we didn’t see it and others didn’t.”

Hautzinger’s non-charging decision comes as his own investigation, undertaken by retired former FBI Special Agent Jane Quimby, highlighted new concerns about the trooper’s work.

Hired in 1991 in a career that saw a break in patrol duties before again being assigned to roadways in Mesa County in 2008, Moseman left the State Patrol last December after records obtained by The Daily Sentinel showed an internal State Patrol investigation found “bias” in DUI cases....."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Colorado Cannabis Blog "Always Remember That Cannabis Is Safer "

Let's see how much blogosphere attention we can give to these guys:

"Always remember that cannabis is safer. Safer than cocaine. Safer than PCP, LSD or bath salts. Definitely safer than zombies.If you have no idea what we’re talking about, read this and this and then head over to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to brush up on your zombie preparedness skills… just in case...."

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

SandBoxBlogs: Customs and Border Protection "Federal Authorities Recover and Seize 1.4 Tons of Cocaine"

A special thank you to all of our DEA and Customs, Border protection agencies.  You are appreciated. 

"San Juan, Puerto Rico – Federal law enforcement authorities seized Monday 1,288 kilograms (1.4 tons) of cocaine packaged in 50 large bales that were recovered from the sea south of St. Croix.
 
The announcement was made today by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Coast Guard, Puerto Rico Police Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
In the late Sunday evening hours, a CBP Caribbean Air and Marine Branch surveillance aircraft detected four men aboard a suspicious vessel, approximately 50 nautical miles south of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Upon detection the persons on board started to throw items overboard.
 
The crew of the Coast Guard Sapelo arrived on scene and began to recover the jettisoned cargo from the water. After searching all night and the following day with the assistance of a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Borinquen, the crew of the Sapelo was able to recover 50 bales of suspected illegal contraband that had been thrown overboard from the suspect vessel. A further inspection and testing of the suspected drug shipment revealed the contraband to be cocaine.
 
The crew of a Coast Guard Cutter Sapelo transported the illegal drug shipment to Coast Guard Base San Juan Tuesday night, where they transferred custody to awaiting Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agents.
 
“This interdiction is part of CBP's continued effort to work with fellow federal, state, local, and international partners to combat individuals and criminal organizations that pose a threat to our communities,” indicated Johnny Morales, Director of Air Operations for CBP’s Caribbean Air and Marine Branch.
 
“This massive seizure of 1.4 tons of cocaine is a clear indication of the hard work and dedication that the DEA, the U.S. Coast Guard, Puerto Rico Police Department and Customs and Border Protection have in combining our resources,” said Drug Enforcement Administration, Caribbean Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge Pedro Janer. “We will continue to stop these groups who think they can smuggle narcotics into Puerto Rico with flagrant disregard of our enforcement capabilities and our laws.”
 
“The outstanding efforts and collaboration between federal law enforcement authorities are responsible for this successful disruption and seizure, which prevented a major drug shipment from reaching our shores,” said Coast Guard Capt. Drew Pearson, Sector San Juan commander.
 
The combined federal law enforcement authorities believe that this is among the biggest drug seizures in the area for the past three years.
 
The Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CAMB) is the only Federal law enforcement agency in the Caribbean Basin with integrated air and marine interdiction capabilities. It is charged with detection and interdiction of airborne and maritime smuggling and uses our organic radar facilities to detect and intercept air smuggling attempts, and airborne radar tracking aircraft to detect maritime smugglers.

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: Huffington Post "Lindsay Sandiford Smuggled $2.6 Million In Cocaine To Indonesia, Faces Firing Squad, Cops Say "

Andy Campbell:
"A British housewife faces the firing squad in Bali after she allegedly tried to smuggle $2.6 million worth of cocaine into Indonesia.

Cops said Lindsay Sandiford, 55, hid a whopping 10.4 pounds of the drug in a suitcase, and was caught at an airport on her way to sell it to three Britons and an Indian national, BBC reported.

Indonesian authorities are tougher on drug smugglers than most countries in the world. Many drug pushers have faced the death penalty for such crimes, and a lot of them are foreigners, according to BBC.

Customs agents spotted Sandiford's alleged haul on an X-ray machine at the Indonesian airport on May 19.
They reportedly found the drugs in the lining of her suitcase.

Sandiford, of Gloucester, told customs agents she was a housewife, and that she'd just come from Bangkok, SMH reported.

She reportedly cooperated with police and helped net the three Britons and the Indian man she was scheduled to meet up with.

"It's an international network controlled from abroad," Mulyadi, the head of Bali's drug squad, told AAP....."

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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "The lodging Aspen needs"

What makes Aspen Daily News stand so far and above either the Aspen Times or the Glenwood Springs Post Independent?

Sure, being the only locally owned and locally operated  print news media in the Valley goes a long way toward the Daily holding it's spot as 'local favorite'.    

But where the bar stays set so high is in the quality of the Daily's opinion columnists and reporters. 

Terrific column from Jeremy Madden this week.  Speaking up once again about "The Other Side of Paradise".

Jeremy Madden:
"In last Friday’s Aspen Daily News, Curtis Wackerle wrote a piece titled “Can high-priced Aspen support a low-priced lodge?” Curtis’ story chronicled the endless debate about what direction Aspen should take when it comes to optimizing its lodging options in regards to its past, present and future.      

As usual, the dialogue of the discussion seemed to deviate somewhere between those who want to embrace exclusivity, elitism, and all the accouterments the 1 percent reign down upon the town when they so givingly grace us with their presence, and those who want Aspen to be a more affordable and accepting destination that is accessible to the less entitled.

Unfortunately, as I read the story, I didn’t see anything about the lodging that Aspen needs. We like to think Aspen is a model community and a leader in living, and the rest of the world should strive to stand in our shadow. We like to see Silver City as a shining city on a hill and an example for others to emulate. With mind, body and spirit we want to believe it is a better place. But as much as we try, we all know that’s not quite true. In fact, it has now become quite clear that Aspen is no leader at all.      

It used to be some sort of a secret. Not so many people knew. Well, at least it was seldom, if ever, spoken about. But over the last few years that has all changed. Finally, it has gotten the attention it deserves
. It had to happen. After all, death is something that cannot be completely ignored.     

After years of simmering under the surface like some dark family secret, discussion and dialogue about the local suicide rate have started to come to a boil. After years of thinking that Aspen is a great place to live, we are starting to realize that Aspen may be an even better place to die.        

With her sky-high suicide rates, Aspen has a serious problem. Say what you want about how wonderful Aspen is, but as a city, a society and a community, Aspen is obviously failing. Too many friends, family and loved ones are falling victim to their own hand.     

While some may be wondering what suicide has to do with lodging in Aspen, to me it is clear. As a resort community we’re so concerned with the welfare of our guests that we often overlook the welfare of ourselves and our own loved ones. Maybe it’s time we take a break and stop thinking about the tourists to take a little time to think about ourselves.      

If you do, you’ll realize the lodging Aspen needs is not for tourists or any other far-flung guests. Nor does it have anything to do with how much one can pay for a night’s stay. That’s because the lodging that Aspen needs is a permanent, well-funded homeless shelter....." 
(Read more?  You should.  Click title)    

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

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Running for their lives"

Jeff Casperson:
"Nanci Limbach was the child who would bring home a squirrel that had been hit by a car, hoping to nurse it back to health.

As an adult, she's tending to animals of all species and sizes.

Limbach, founder and executive director of the Pauline S. Schneegas Wildlife Foundation in Silt, is one of the state's few caretakers of ailing and displaced wild critters.

Bears, bobcats, elk, hawks, eagles and pretty much any other wild animal you can think of have passed through the foundation since it opened in 1984. An estimated 5,000 wild animals have been rehabilitated and released.

And Saturday's Run/Walk For Their Lives 5K footrace is your chance to help out. The annual race is one of the chief fundraisers for the foundation, a nonprofit named after Limbach's animal-loving grandmother, that relies on the community's financial support to remain afloat.

Perry Will, Glenwood Springs area wildlife manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, is certainly a Limbach backer. He's worked closely with her for the better part of three decades.

“Rehab was in its infancy at the time she got started,” he said. “Nanci expressed a desire to do that. It morphed into the whole wildlife foundation she now has.”

Without the foundation, area critters would meet a cruel fate....."
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Aspen Daily News "Ideas Festival lineup set"

Carolyn Sackariason:
"This summer’s Aspen Ideas Festival lineup includes roughly 300 speakers, and topics of discussion are as diverse as contemplating how to deal with the pressures of an exploding world population, the roots of societal values, and America’s obsession with sports and athletes.

New this year will be a block party for the public, on July 1, at Rio Grande Park, said Kitty Boone, vice president at the Aspen Institute and the primary organizer of the Aspen Ideas Festival, which also is presented by The Atlantic magazine. There will be numerous activities at the block party, as well as music and zumba dance lessons, Boone said.

Boone said programming for the public during the week-long conference is currently being scheduled; tickets go on sale June 20. There will be events open to the public held all over town during the week.

Passes to the eighth annual festival, which runs June 27 to July 3, have been sold out since the spring and cost $2,750 each. Six hundred people purchased passes...." (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Silt mineral rights leased to Antero for four more years"

John Colson:
"Trustees unanimous in spite of a citizen's objections"

So stands one part in the honor of legacy that is Town of Silt Mayor Dave Moore.

A man and his Trustees who came into office a few years ago through a good 'ol fashioned barn burner of a political race. 

With the stunningly bold strategy of simply publicly revealing the truths of how protracted, dysfunctional and preventive of any positive growth for Silt the powers that had been for years were, Moore and company seized their spot in Silt's history.

And have finally narrowed down the need for a 'babysitter' to just "a citizen". 

Congratulations to the Town of Silt on the re-up of four more prosperous years working the the Antero team.  You rock.

John Colson:
"Industry officials have long maintained that there is no proof that hydraulic fracturing or other drilling activities are harmful to those living near the rigs...."  (Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Grand Avenue Bridge down to four options"

Yes, Virginia.

There really is going to be a new Grand Avenue Bridge.  All the weeping and wailing done over the years trying to prevent really was pushed through well over a year ago when the folks 'staged a coup' and sat a near-clean sweep of city council via 'whispering campaigns' and the democratic process held in the power of the individual voter.  Not to mention some pretty nifty strategy of keeping the best candidates unopposed.

A special thank you goes out to CDOT for having the patience of Job.

Here's to the little guys.

Let freedom ring.

Heather McGregor:
"GLENWOOD SPRINGS — Engineers and community leaders have winnowed the 11 alignment options for a new Grand Avenue Bridge down to four, including one option to build a new bridge right where the current bridge is today.

The Colorado Department of Transportation is slated to present the four options at a community open house and meeting next week, with time for people to ask questions and express their views on the bridge options.

The agency has budgeted $59 million to design and build a new bridge replacing the city's primary route across the Colorado River.

If all goes as planned, the planning process will run through fall 2013, followed by a full year to develop the final bridge design. Construction is expected to take up to two and a half years, from early 2015 until fall of 2017....."  (Read more?  Click title)
"Unapologetic pursuit and tracking of patterns within the news others make since 2010."

SandBoxBlogs: Steamboat Today "Howlin' Howelsen kicks off 2012 Steamboat Springs Town Challenge"

Luke Graham:
" — Peter Kalmes quickly realized his advantage probably was everyone else’s, as well.

Like many Steamboat Springs mountain bikers, Kalmes took advantage of the light winter, biking up Emerald Mountain on hardpack snow. By February he was in Moab to ride on dirt, and come March 1, he was a fixture on his road bike.

“I feel a lot stronger because of the dry spring,” said Kalmes, who proved to be the fastest rider Wednesday in the opening event of the 2012 Steamboat Springs Town Challenge Mountain Bike Race Series. “I knew, and now I really know, that everyone took advantage of that. It made a difference for everyone.”

Wednesday’s Howlin’ Howelsen race predictably saw a little of everything. Old stalwarts battled the Emerald Mountain course that began at the Brent Romick Rodeo Arena and meandered its way over a series of trails before finishing the ascent to the Quarry via Blair Witch and then heading back down.

The race even featured one rider sprinting across the finish line, flat tire going one way and chain going the other.

Then it had the final competitor across the finish line — long after everyone left to have a post-race beer — sporting an old-school Nishiki mountain bike with fenders and no sign of any suspension....." 
(Read more?  Click title)

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

SandBoxBlogs: Vail Daily News "Teva Mountain Games start today"

Chris Freud:
"VAIL — Try to top that.

It's a game that the Teva Mountain Games has been playing rather successfully since its inception as the Jeep Whitewater Festival many years ago. That said, rafting toward a keg of beer at the end of Dowd Chute, no matter how noble the pursuit, wasn't hard.

But how do you top last year's steep-creek championships, which start the 2012 edition of the Mountain Games, today at 10 a.m. up at Homestake Creek near Red Cliff?

Honza Lasko, of the Czech Republic, and New Zealand's Michael Dawson tied for first in the two-run race down to the hundredth second — 3 minutes, 34.62 seconds.

Try doing that again.

OK, probably not, but the Homestake race kicks off four days of mountain sporting events, which should provide plenty of chills and definitely some spills. What was originally a rafting event is now a confluence of biking, running, whitewater, climbing, fishing and dog sports....." (Read more?  Click title)

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

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

All credit Bob Berwyn (Click title):
"SUMMIT COUNTY — Today’s #FriFotos Twitter chat asks the intriguing question, what is paradise? After a long day of reporting environmental stories yesterday, I didn’t have a whole lot of time to spend on creating a photo essay for the theme, but luckily I didn’t need it! A quick two-finger scroll through my archives revealed paradise at nearly every stop, from the wildlands of Arizona and Utah, to the beaches of the Caribbean and right here in my own backyard. As a photographer and traveler, I feel like I see a little bit of paradise each day. Share your own version by uploading pics to the Twitter stream and giving them the #FriFotos hashtag. See you there!...."