SandBox Comments: Aspen Times/Charlie Leonard "President should lead more and whine less"

Thank you, Charlie Leonard!

"But despite all that, here are three very important things to remember:

1. Being president is a hard job. It might be the hardest job in the world. The president acts as if he's surprised and more than a little frustrated by this reality.

2. The president also acts as if partisanship came about on his watch. The fact is that our politics have been extremely partisan for a very long time, but it hasn't stopped others from making progress. Look no further than some of our state capitals, where governors of both parties have been extremely effective at working with legislative opponents.

3. Our politics — and the makeup of the Congress following the 2012 election — are not likely to change in a way that favors the president. In fact, if he is re-elected, it will likely be harder given the president's decision to base his campaign on attacking Republicans.
(Charlie Leonard)

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

SandBox Comments: SkyHi Daily/William Hamilton "Peace: What was it like?"

"...In 2011, it seems difficult to believe that the bombs and rockets of Adolf Hitler almost succeeded in destroying Great Britain. Ironically, The British Isles and all the European democracies now face a more insidious peril from the high birth rates of their burgeoning immigrant populations. If present demographic trends continue, by 2050, Christianity will be Englands minority religion and English Common Law will be just a memory.

During this process, it might be well for us to remember the words of George Orwell: “We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would harm us.” Pray for our men and women in uniform."

(Nationally syndicated columnist, William Hamilton, was educated at the University of Oklahoma, the George Washington University, the U.S Naval War College, the University of Nebraska, and Harvard University.)

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

SandBox Comments: Pueblo Chieftain "Motorists accused of meth possession "

A very, very special thank you to the K9 Officer that assisted in this bust.  Good dog!

Here's a reminder of the fantastic K9 teams Colorado has that we know of.   If commentators know of more, drop an anonymous link into comments on this post so we can give them credit.

http://uspca14.homestead.com/uspca14.html

http://www.uspcak9.com/

http://www.garcosheriff.com/k9.html

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/StatePatrol-Main/CBON/1251593176135

http://sheriff.mesacounty.us/K9_unit.aspx

http://www.gjcity.org/K-9_Patrol.aspx

http://www.ci.glenwood-springs.co.us/pd/1b-3.htm 


Nick Bonham:
"Two Californians were arrested Tuesday after more than 7 pounds of suspected methamphetamine were found hidden in their car.

Silvestre D. Manjarrez, 20, of Baldwin Park, and Carlos G. Meza, 38, of Los Angeles, were arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

Pueblo police narcotics officer Dusty Dodge was driving north through town on Interstate 25 when he stopped an Acura following a truck too closely.

An affidavit by Detective Chris D'Amour said the car was driven by Meza and also occupied by Manjarrez.

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

SandBox Comments: KJCT News 8 "Traffic Stop Nets Over $40K, Leads To Child Abuse"

'Fretterd':

"you know what's really stupid...knowing your transporting a federally illegal substance with a minor in the vehicle and SPEEDING!"

"EAGLE, Colo. -- Around 8:00 a.m. Sunday, a deputy with the Eagle County Sheriff's Office pulled over a rental car which was traveling close to 100 m.p.h. on I-70 outside of Eagle.

After searching the car, police say they seized over a pound of marijuana and more than $40,000 in cash.


According to police, the driver was identified as Erin Colove, 25, of Olathe. The passenger was Chase Esrich, 22, of Alton, MO. Police say the suspects admitted that the money had derived from previous drug transactions...."
(KJCT)

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SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent/Local News Briefs "Bucks put back into public art"

(See related story here)


Carbondale has an extraordinary display of public art.  Professional, aesthetically pleasing, tourist attracting and a pleasure to stroll down Main Street enjoying.


It is also enough for at least this one year.  There is no need for more when we have valley-wide  homeless, hungry and jobless citizens. 

The originally pledged $6,000 for maintenance was more than enough for the Carbondale Trustees to pitch in this year.  Cajoling them to go the full $12,000 is unconscionable in this economy.

ART (Art aRound Town) should be ashamed of themselves knowing that they have done this at potentially the expense of a human service need that would be better suited.

At the very least, the Carbondale Trustees should make this organization finally get to work and produce within one year's time the detailed performance reports that shows the Town of Carbondale is actually drawing in revenue from the pieces of art bought in the 2012 cycle with this money.

Again, our thanks to the ART group for such a beautiful display of public art.  You definitely have beat Glenwood Springs in that department and have truly set a wonderful example.

Now, all you need to do is figure out how to earn $6K in some kind of event that can be given to Carbondale's hungry and homeless.

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News "Shafted by the Beav"

(Note from Nanny 12/2:  Time out on the last two days of Skico press is lifted.  Behave, please.)


When it gets this bad.

Anyone with the ability to speak up, even if it's with a box of crayons and a piece of poster board that you then 'fly a sign' with on Hwy. 82 has a community obligation to help get the 'news' out.

(Insert public notice here:  Refer to all SandBox and public commentary from archive of 11/30)

Curtis Wackerle:
"With a lack of snow in Val d’Isere, France, where women’s and men’s alpine World Cup races were to be held on Dec. 10-11, Beaver Creek and Aspen both submitted bids to the International Ski Federation (FIS) to take on the events.

FIS essentially delayed its ultimate decision by telling Aspen it would go forward with the French races, SkiCo spokesman Jeff Hanle said..." 

..They took us out of the running knowing full well they would have Beaver Creek as a fall back” if cold temperatures in Europe didn’t hold up as officials were hoping, Hanle said. “It was a time game they were playing....”

(whisper...whisper...actually....we heard it was 'George Bush's' fault...whisper...whisper...no, wait!!....Lee Mulcahy and Marilyn Marks fault!!....whisper...whisper....no, wait!!!...the "bitching locals" fault.....whisper.. whisper...no--no--no!! that's right, it's God's fault for not sending enough snow to cover up 26" rocks!!....whisper...whisper...)

"..SkiCo also gave FIS a hard deadline of Sunday to come to a decision on whether or not the races would be held here, Hanle said. Aspen hosted its annual women’s World Cup stop last weekend, where the ladies raced a giant slalom (GS) and a slalom. SkiCo needed an answer by Sunday so it could know whether or not to start breaking down some of the World Cup infrastructure, Hanle said..."

(Insert sounds of a nursery full of crying infants here.  whisper....whisper...has anybody ever noticed how whether its 'free snow' gifts from the gods coming weeks early before opening day....whisper... whisper...or there was only 5 to 10 million profit on the bottom line instead of just like Vail who had a 35 million profit on their bottom line.....whisper...whisper...or 'we just don't have the ability to prep and groom for changes in the way we schedule...whisper...whisper...that the Aspen Ski Corp just doesn't 'get it' that they are in a competitive industry and they have thousands of local workers and businesses that depend on them to thrive??!!....whisper...whisper...insert here the sound of the nannies soothing the nursery of sobbing adults who are at near poverty levels...)

You weren't 'shafted' by FIS or The Beav, Mr. Hanle.

Unfortunately, the Aspen Ski Corp. and all of its representatives do a fine job of doing that to themselves.

Please don't forget that you have actually been at odds for years with FIS over whether or not Aspen should even be allowed to retain the women's race we do have (sounds like X-Games, doesn't it?).

Do you really think that insulting them, dissing them is the best way to go here?

We think not and instead spin your efforts around and off the locals, our American athletes and their sponsors and right back on to where the fault truly lies.

Be Bolder, Mr. Hanle.  It pays.

(Read the article?  Click title. Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Crested Butte News "Free skiing draws large crowds to opening day "

"Crested Buttians who hit the slopes on opening day at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) may have experienced something they’re unaccustomed to: lift lines. The resort’s birthday bash kicked off the season with free skiing on November 23, drawing 3,106 skiers and snowboarders to the mountain...."
(Alissa Johnson)

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SandBox Comments: Hot Air Blog "Holder a little testy over that whole, “why don’t you resign” thing'

'Jazz Shaw':

Eric Holder has had enough of you peasants asking pesky questions about whether or not he should remain in his job as Attorney General and he’s not going to take it any more. Further, his unique investigative skills as a law enforcement expert have been put to good use and helped him identify where all of these nasty rumors are coming from… the reporters at The Daily Caller.


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SandBox Comments: Denver Post/Breaking News "Bail increased for former Arapahoe sheriff Pat Sullivan in sex-for-meth case"

SandBoxBlogs will post this one up because it is such a huge, huge story.

There will be no more postings done on this case unless there is significant and truly updated news reported.

Our reasoning is simple.

Our beloved everyday heroes in law enforcement have to be reeling from this news.  There are just some circumstances in alleged crime reporting that serve no purpose to post except to bring further heartache or harm.

Try to remember that his name is just Patrick Sullivan.  He no longer has anything to do with Arapahoe County or the S.O. there.  A building's name can simply be changed.

Try to remember that we are a nation of law and the presumption of innocence is what those everyday heroes are supposed to be out there fighting for. 

They are and until shown otherwise, we must believe and trust in that no matter how it looks on the surface.

Comment ability on this post is blocked.

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SandBox Comments: Colorado Independent "Lack of financial services putting MMJ businesses in a bind"

Jared Polis (D-Colorado) should be impeached over this.

For any elected official to both thumb their nose repeatedly at federal law and waste taxpayer resources in the type of economic crisis we are in simply to present useless legislation that would never pass until that federal law changes; is bad enough.

But what is unconscionable is Polis continuing to beat the drum of encouragement to these barely making it small businesses in the MMJ industry. "If" Jared Polis was truly a lawmaker, a leader of Coloradans, he would do his job.

Which is to follow the rules of law.  We have processes to go through and he has just wasted years worth of time that these now headed for failure MMJ businesses did not have.

Shame on you Congressman Polis.

Shame, shame on you.

(Read the article?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Silt approves budget, ‘B/I zone,' subdivision rewrite"

What....in the world is Silt Mayor Dave Moore up to??

Every time we turn around, the guy gets closer and closer to shooting himself out of a cannon and rocketing to stardom.

(Let's poke some fun at Dave---he's a great sport)....'He's definitely not the best-looking Mayor on the Western Slope.  And his people skills really are non-existent.  The man has zero tact and could really care less what people think of him.'

And oh, good lord.  When it comes to politics he can be near rabid in sharing his views.  Does conservatives in the trenches proud every time he opens his mouth.  Plus, he really annoys local liberal media spin doctors and is a great read wherever he shows up.

But this.

Throwing out and starting over on all of Silt's codes?

This man should be in the White House.  Or at least in Perry's cabinet.  "We don't need no stinking badges". 

Go, Dave!

(Read Colson's bullet points on Silt's most recent successes?  Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Glenwood Springs Post Independent "Post Independent opinion: Shop locally with your holiday dollars"

It may not be two in a row....but it is two in the same month.

We now have the second 'Post Independent Opinion' that we feel the folks can live with reading all the way through.

Times are a-changing.  Thank you to the editorial staff on the PI.

This one is a great read.  It's sincere, for one thing.  No dominating press-op campaign for one or two local organizations.  In fact, the well-said (and well spotted) mild criticism of 'buy local but comes from China?' is duly noted.  Maybe our downtown merchants will pay attention to that and start spending the few dollars they have for inventory on unique, local or regional inventory.  They need to restore the high caliber of quality shopping downtown instead of just filling shelves with what they can afford. 

Is there any way you could use the power of your ink to help them with that?  Like really do some investigative reporting on how effective (or not) our local ordinances and leaders really are?  Get away from some of, if not all of, the canned PR and really get to know the readers and their lives?

Who knows.

Maybe it really is a whole new world out here.

just sayin.

(Read the PI's holiday shopping suggestions? Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Times "New patrol shack at Buttermilk a model of efficient energy use"

Of course it is.

It was built by Beezer and Bud.

(See an example of some of the best building in the Valley?  Click title.) 

SandBox Comments: Steamboat Today "Steamboat to host Nordic combined event Saturday"

Still haven't introduced yourself to Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp.?

Even more so than Vail and Breck, Steamboat Springs has pushed through the ski scene in recent years and become one of the best venues in Colorado.

Year round, world class sport competitions, wide range of live music and entertainment offerings, incredible food and drink offerings, friendly folks who are genuinely glad to see you and want you to feel at home.

International flights right next door.  Easy and affordable access.

Introduce yourself, your friends, guests and family to Steamboat Springs.

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

SandBox Comments: SkyHi Daily "USA Pro Cycling organizers need more time"

Go, Colorado!

SandBox Comments: Roll Call/Race Details "Race Rating Map"

'SandBox Nanny' found these amazing race statistics over on Roll Call.

She especially likes the details of their 'Race Rating Map'.

Here, is their 'Mountain Region Roundup' page.

Very, very interesting...

(Learn more? Click title.  Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Aspen Daily News/Steve Skinner "American consumers occupy Black Friday"

"Dear Lord it can be embarrassing to be an American these days. Even now, when Americans are supposedly tightening belts and bemoaning the state of the economy, some are charging over unconscious people in a rush to get to the Christmas holiday deals.

According to the Huffington Post, some shoppers allegedly stepped over a collapsed man in a Target store in West Virginia as they hurried in for the best Black Friday savings. The man later died.

They say that American consumers don’t have confidence. They say that we need to purchase more stuff to grow the economy. They say we are in dire shape. But American consumer spending is up significantly over last year and some American consumers have not received the message that we are supposed to be hurting..."
(Steve Skinner)

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

SandBox Comments: Weasel Zippers "Iran: Satellite Images Show Revolutionary Guard Missile Base Completely Destroyed After Mysterious Explosion…"

Our thanks goes out to that "mysterious explosion".

(Incredible photos.  Click title. Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Eagle County Times "Out of Touch and in need of a Reality Check"

'Dick Tracy' reports.  Over on the Eagle County Times.  In 'his' never-ending quest to make sure no spin is ever allowed to snowball the folks...we once again watch the Eagle County School Board admin's 'Tall Tales' debunked....

(by Dick Tracy)
Awareness for our Eagle County School District Board and School District employees.

Background:

Consider this former (letter to the Fishwrap’s Editor), written by the former President of your Eagle County School District Board - Connie Kincaid-Strahan, President of the Board of Education and Sandra B. Smyser Superintendent of Eagle County Schools,November 3, 2011 (Click Here).

”We asked you (our community) to tell us if you supported a mill-levy increase to adequately reinstate funds eliminated by the state, and you said ‘no.’ As always, we will keep our budget solvent, and unfortunately it will now come at a more profound and painful cost.”

Responsibly,  the ‘painful cost’ will be on these non-classroom non-student expenditures, for these are what we all said no to.

Or is it going to be  a case of “You get behind me, we all profit; you challenge me, we all go down‘ – by  Big Boy Caprice?

August 2011:  the same month our school board decided to ask for another permanent property tax increase-here is what they continued to spend our tax money on - (Note-no teacher pizza’s here!):...."

(See the real expenditures?  Read more?  Learn more?  Click title. Comment to discuss)

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

SandBox Comments: Pueblo Chieftain "Gov. launches innovation office "

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper is doing a great job.

Even conservatives think so.

"DENVER — Gov. John Hickenlooper announced an initiative Monday that aims to connect innovators with entrepreneurs in order to convert ideas into products more quickly. The governor said he hopes the construct will result in more manufacturing jobs in Colorado.

“We had this idea that we wanted to have a center of innovation, an innovation office, and what should it look like?” Hickenlooper said.

The Colorado Innovation Network will be folded into the Office of Economic Development and International Trade. It aims to link public and private researchers with development groups with an eye on quickly getting new ideas to market, creating jobs along the way...."
(Patrick Malone)

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