Denver Direct

Denver Police & Crime Stoppers teaming up to get illegal guns off Denver's streets

2012-03-14T17:21:00.001-06:00

DENVER, CO - March 13, 2012-

The Denver Police Department and Crime Stoppers are teaming up to get illegal weapons off Denver's Streets. Crime Stoppers has agreed to pay rewards for information that leads to the arrest of a previous felon in possession of a weapon, a juvenile in possession of a weapon, or the recovery of a weapon used in the commission of a major crime.

This project will surely assist in both solving crimes and preventing others from occurring.

By,

Lt. Matthew Murray

Chief of Staff to
Denver Police Chief Robert C. White

720-913-6192

Lynn Bartels tweeting from the Capitol

2012-03-14T16:58:00.000-06:00

Best thing goin'...

March 12th Rally to Protect Women’s Health

2012-03-09T16:49:00.002-07:00

But just this week the Colorado Supreme Court decided that it will allow Personhood Colorado to move forward in placing a third “personhood” measure on the Colorado ballot again this election season. This means that for the third time Colorado voters will be presented with an anti-choice, anti-woman, anti-family measure that will insert politicians, the courts, and lawyers into the most personal and private medical decisions women in consultation with their doctors and families make every single day.
“No wonder women and men who support women’s health, have been asking themselves, ‘what is going on,’” said Cowart.
It’s time to take a stand, and the PFPC coalition encourages any concerned member of the public to join us on Monday, March 12. We will rally to protect women’s health and our voices will be heard. We will send a strong message to our state’s lawmakers—stop the war on women!

Event Details

WHAT: Rally to Protect Women’s Health

WHEN: Monday, March 12, 11 am -12 pm

WHERE: West steps of the Colorado Capitol (Lincoln & Colfax)

WHO: Speakers to be announced

WHY: It’s time to take a stand and protect women’s health!

A Public Statement to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

2012-03-08T22:04:00.001-07:00

by Dave Felice, March 8, 2012

I am re-stating my staunch opposition to admission based events in public parks.

Your chairperson has stated that the Advisory Board accepts the policy as written and that there would be no further discussion about policy. This is erroneous. In fact, this is precisely the forum, the time, and the body to re-examine this policy.

There is a new administration, new council members, and new members of the Parks Advisory Board. It only takes one of you to have the courage to admit that the admission based events policy is fundamentally unacceptable and should be rescinded.

You all know the policy is wrong, but are willing to accept it because it holds an as yet unfulfilled promise of lucrative revenue. I say again, the parks are not for sale. The tax-payers own the public parks and the parks must be free and open to the public at all times.

Furthermore, City Charter prohibits the lease of public parks. You and other government officials have conveniently chosen to either ignore this fact or be deceived by faulty opinions from the City Attorney and Manager of Parks.

Commercial enterprises have absolutely no prerogative to usurp public property for profit. It is egregiously wrong to close park property and exclude those who do not, or cannot, pay admission.

Parks are public property, not sources of imagined revenue. If you want to generate revenue, find a way to build a dedicated full-time event facility. Perhaps the Greenway Foundation could include a festival park as part of proposals for the River North area.

I call upon you, members of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, to tell the city administration this odious policy needs to be rescinded.

From NORML

2012-03-07T15:11:00.001-07:00

YOU Can Help Legalize Marijuana in Colorado

Join our allies from Colorado's "Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol" at their first ever activist bootcamp in Denver this month to learn how you can help put end marijuana prohibition.

WHAT: 2012 Colorado Activist Bootcamp
WHERE: Casselman's, 2620 Walnut St, Denver
WHEN: Sunday, March 18th, 12pm - 5pm
WHAT: Now that the initiative to regulate marijuana like alcohol has qualified for the ballot, the campaign has exactly eight months to get its message out to Colorado voters and make sure they are ready to vote YES on Amendment 64 this November. To get things rolling, the campaign is holding a huge volunteer boot camp where it will present its game plan, go over some of the resources that will be made available to supporters, and provide useful materials that can be taken back to communities around Colorado.

Registration is required and space is limited, so please register as soon as possible.

Attention women! Just prior to the boot camp there will be a one-hour women's seminar from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., during which we will specifically address the importance of outreach to women voters and discuss some plans for moving forward. Sign up to attend this special session by checking the box at the bottom of the page here:

https://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5559/signup_page/boot-camp

Space is limited. Register today!

Sincerely,
The NORML Team

Congratulations Sen. Mike Johnston

2012-03-07T08:07:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Colorado Senator Mike Johnston for:

1. Effective use of YouTube vidies - keep them coming. Finally, someone gets it!
2. Taking up the "inactive voter" issue with SB 12-109.
3. Starting a new website at www.mikejohnston.org. Nice clean look.

He's an Old Cowhand

2012-03-06T19:55:00.001-07:00

Happy birthday Wes!

Inspiration

2012-03-04T09:30:00.001-07:00

The explanation

2012-03-02T10:45:00.003-07:00

Women's self-defense class

2012-03-01T16:51:00.004-07:00

from INC Safety Committee

From: "Trujillo, Reyes - DPD"
Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2012 11:50:14 -0700

Greetings:

We are hosting another women’s self-defense class at the Denver Police Academy on March 24^th from 0900-1300 hrs. It is for ages 10 and up and is free of charge. Please contact me with any questions. I will need the names and contact phone numbers for anyone interested. They do not need to be Denver residents in order to participate.

All participants need to wear comfortable, workout type clothing and athletic shoes (no slip-ons). The participants are encouraged to bring their own bottled water and a snack if they so desire. The class is part lecture and part hands-on so if someone wants to attend but has physical limitations, they are still welcome. All participants will be required to sign a waiver and those under 18 must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.

Our classes can accommodate up to 50 participants.

Please contact Cpl Stensgaard or me if you want to attend

Cpl. Richard Stensgaard

Denver Police Academy

303-370-1517

Richard. Stensgaard@denvergov.org

What I haven't heard in Colorado's discussion of setting legal limits for "driving while stoned".

2012-03-01T12:55:00.003-07:00

You may be aware that the Colorado Senate is once again trying to impose some kind of limit on "driving while stoned" but continues to struggle with the problem of measuring impairment.

from Westword:

A pair of studies suggest that marijuana users are more responsible drivers: German academics (again with those Germans) stated last year traffic fatalities in medical marijuana states like California have gone down as much as 9 percent. Why? They argued that pot users get stoned-in at home and don't go out drinking and driving as much. Really.

Likewise, researchers at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut and the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine found that stoned drivers did just about as well as sober ones. (High five). Researchers there noted that high drivers slowed down and were more deliberate. (emphasis mine)

Additionally, no one seems to be talking about the cost of determining how many nanograms of THC you have in your blood. I've seen DUI arrests thrown out because the authorities could not prove that the alcohol measuring device was calibrated properly. Nanograms are really, really tiny - 1 billionth of a gram. Imagine the cost of maintaining and calibrating these machines. It makes my head hurt.

Occupy LA getting police action now - Livestream

2012-02-29T11:27:00.001-07:00

11:25 Denver time - Livestream - click here or below.

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;other/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Live broadcast by Ustream

Shut Down the Corporations – A day of action against ALEC on February 29

2012-02-28T12:17:00.003-07:00

Occupy Denver, in solidarity with 60 other cities in the USA, will be holding an anti-ALEC guided tour of downtown Denver. ALEC, the American legislative exchange council is a non-profit free market policy group, with a membership of over 2000 legislators. It works with major corporations to draft and pass legislation that benefits major corporations. It is best known for drafting anti union legislation in Wisconson and SB 1070 in Arizona. Legally it is not considered to be a lobbying group, yet is arguably the most dangerous “lobbyist” in the United States. ALEC’s collaborators include mega corporations such at ExxonMobil, Bank of America, BP, Monsanto, Pfizer, Wal-Mart, any many others. For a complete list of ALEC corporations visit the source watch website. For a complete list of politicians that are involved, click here. For more information on ALEC visit alecexposed.org.

Occupy Denver will be rallying on 2/29 at 3PM in Civic Center park where we will depart on a guided tour/march of ALEC corporations in downtown Denver. Come prepared to learn and protest!

Promises? You still believe in promises?

2012-02-26T13:34:00.000-07:00

Race To Justice Coalition

ACLU – Colorado, the Colorado Latino Forum-Denver Chapter, the National Lawyers Guild - Colorado, Colorado Progressive Coalition, and The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Colorado

Call To Action

When: February 29, 2012 5:30-7:30 pm

Where: Colorado Free University, 7653 E. 1^st Ave in Lowry

What: Denver Police Chief Town Hall Meeting

Chief Robert White promised transparency and open dialog with the community, particularly in his leadership appointments. Instead the city lost a high ranking woman of color committed to improved community police relations, and the community has been denied an opportunity for input into recent leadership decisions that significantly impact communities of color.

Please join in sending a message to Chief White that inclusion, transparency, fairness and gender equality are important values to Denver community residents.

"Let the Good Times Roll" banned from YouTube in 2012

2012-02-23T17:26:00.002-07:00

What in the heck is going on with YouTube? A few days ago I posted (embedded) Shirley and Lee's recording of "Let the Good Times Roll" from YouTube. When I tested it, I was informed that WMG owned it and I should click to go to YouTube to watch it, where, of course, I was subjected to an unavoidable ad. But at least I got to listen to it. A few days later I find this:

Are you trying to figure out how to pay for college?

2012-02-21T17:40:00.003-07:00

College can be expensive, but high cost shouldn’t become a barrier for any student who has worked hard to get a degree. My staff has teamed up with College In Colorado to host a series of college financial aid information sessions across the state to give current and prospective students and their families a better sense of the financial aid options available at the federal and state levels, the eligibility criteria and key deadlines, and the application process.

Two “Funding Your Future” information sessions will be held in Denver, and I hope you will be able to attend one of them. The first is Saturday, February 25, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Tivoli Student Center at the Auraria Campus, 900 Auraria Parkway. The second is Thursday, March 1, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at CEC Middle College, 2650 Eliot Street. For more information on these financial aid information sessions we are holding across Colorado, check out http://bennet.senate.gov/college-opportunity/.

Students often think they can’t afford to go to college, don’t believe they qualify for financial aid or accumulate astronomical debt to attend school. These information sessions will provide current and prospective students and families with information about the college financial aid process, community scholarship resources, federal loan information, and FAFSA completion information. College In Colorado staff will also be available for private sessions.

Additionally, students attending the information session may enter to win a $500 scholarship from College in Colorado.

For questions and information, please call Alexis Harrigan in my office at 303-455-7600. Please RSVP for the information sessions if possible atrsvp1@bennet.senate.gov.

Sincerely,

Michael F. Bennet
United States Senator

Citizens seek sampling of air for radioactivity in area at Rocky Flats intended for construction of the Jefferson Parkway

2012-02-21T16:21:00.001-07:00

News Release: February 21, 2012

Today local citizens asked the elected officials of Arvada, Broomfield, Westminster, Golden and Superior to request that EPA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment test airborne dust for its radioactive content in the area at Rocky Flats intended for construction of the Jefferson Parkway.

"It's no secret that the Rocky Flats site is still contaminated with highly toxic radioactive materials like plutonium and americium," commented LeRoy Moore of the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center. "Some of us are concerned that constructing a highway at Rocky Flats would endanger people's health. We decided to send a letter urging officials of the cities most affected to get EPA and CDPHE to do needed air sampling so we can all better understand conditions out there."

The area at the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge intended for construction of the Jefferson Parkway is contaminated with radioactive materials, including plutonium and americium.

Highway construction there would stir up dust laden with breathable radioactive particles, endangering the health of nearby residents.

Elected officials of the most affected cities are urged to ask DOE and CDPHE to set up an independently monitored program of sampling airborne dust in the area and to analyze it for its radioactive content.

If construction of the highway begins, EPA and CDPHE are expected to continue their sampling around the clock with real-time reports of the results to the public.

The costs of the project will be borne by the Jefferson Parkway Authority or its designee.

Finally, the group asked the city officials to whom their letter is addressed for a definitive yes or no answer to their proposal within 45 days, that is, by April 6, 2012.

A copy of the letter to city officials is attached.
Contact person: LeRoy Moore at leroymoore@earthlink.net or 303-447-2779.

To: City Council, Broomfield, CO, City Council, Westminster, CO, Board of Trustees, Town of Superior, CO, City Council, Arvada, CO, City Council, Golden, CO

From: LeRoy Moore, PhD, Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center

Harvey Nichols, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Biology
W. Gale Biggs, PhD, Meteorological investigator
Chuck Newby, Principal Physicist, Colorado Environmental Analytics, LLC
Paula Elofson-Gardine, Environmental Information Network
Hildegard Hix, Citizen of Arvada
Rick Brownrigg, PhD, Software Engineer
Rob Medina, Citizens Involved in the Northwest Quadrant, Gothebetterway.org

Re: Request that affected cities ask EPA and CDPHE to test airborne dust for plutonium and americium content in the area at Rocky Flats intended for construction of the Jefferson Parkway

Date: February 21, 2012

Building the Jefferson Parkway along the contaminated Indiana St. edge of the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge would endanger public health by stirring up clouds of dust laden with plutonium, americium and other radionuclides.

In 1970 Atomic Energy Commission scientists showed that the area now intended for the proposed highway was contaminated with plutonium released from Rocky Flats. Recent citizen sampling shows that plutonium contamination in the soil in this same area at present is roughly equivalent to what it was in 1970. See:
http://leroymoore.wordpress.com/2012/02/10/pusamplingjeffpkwyrfnwr/

Highway construction in the area therefore would stir up clouds of breathable particles of plutonium and other alpha-emitting radionuclides. DOE and EPA state that inhalation is by far the worst way to be exposed to such highly toxic material, since particles that lodge in the body continually irradiate surrounding tissue. The result years later could be cancer and immune suppression, leading to other chronic illnesses.

This reality, plus the documented deficiency of historic air sampling at Rocky Flats (see Nichols on Air Sampling and Biggs on Airborne Emissions at http://rmpjc.org/rocky-flats/ ) forced us to consider setting up our own project to sample airborne dust for radionuclide content along Indiana St. adjacent to the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge. This would provide baseline data for airborne dust along the proposed route. But we think private citizens should not have to cover the costs of needed sampling; it is the responsibility of the affected communities to safeguard the health of their populations.

If the Jefferson Parkway were to be built, the most affected people, aside from highway construction workers, would be residents of Arvada, Broomfield, Westminster, Superior and Golden. We therefore propose that elected representatives of these cities request jointly or as separate bodies that EPA and CDPHE sample airborne dust on both high-wind and low-wind days at the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge area intended for the Jefferson Parkway, with the samples to be analyzed for plutonium and other radionuclide content. The proposed EPA/CDPHE sampling must meet the following conditions:

1. EPA and CDPHE's sampling protocols and procedures will be transparent and will be monitored and approved by independent specialists designated by the authors of this message. CDPHE sampling will be conducted separately by both its Air Pollution Control Division and its Radiological Division.

2.  The sampling will begin without delay.

3.  EPA and CDPHE will issue bi-weekly reports of their sampling results, providing a baseline for airborne radionuclide-bearing dust in the area.

4.  If highway construction begins along the eastern edge of the Wildlife Refuge, sampling by EPA and CDPHE of dust for gross alpha content must occur in this area around the clock with computerized real-time report of gross alpha measurements to be disclosed immediately to the public. Gross alpha measurements are important because both thorium and uranium, also alpha-emitters, are present in this soil and thus pose additional inhalation danger, though less than plutonium or americium.

5.  All costs of sampling, analysis, reporting and monitoring are to be borne by the Jefferson Parkway Authority or by some party it designates, such as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. In December 2011 USFWS issued a "Finding of No Significant Impact," giving itself permission to transfer land to the Jefferson Parkway Authority.

Finally, the parties to whom this message is addressed are asked to provide the signatories of this message a definitive yes or no answer to our proposal within 45 days, that is, by April 6, 2012.

Thank you for your attention to this proposal. Comments or questions can be addressed in writing to LeRoy Moore at leroymoore@earthlink.net.

Cc: Senator Mark Udall
Senator Michael Bennet
Representative Jared Polis
Representative Ed Perlmutter
Governor John Hickenlooper
Steve Guertin, Director, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Region 6
Michael D. Dix, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Steve Berendzen, Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge
James B. Martin, Administrator, EPA Region 8
Martha E. Rudolph, Environmental Program Director, CDPHE
Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners
Boulder County Board of County Commissioners
Boulder City Council
Jefferson Parkway Public Highway Authority
Rocky Flats Stewardship Council

Supporters of this letter
Tom Hoffman, Friends of the Foothills
Anne Fenerty, MS, Chemistry
Jenna Hirsch, Lakewood resident, chemist, Air Pollution Testing, Inc.
Jane Bunin, PhD, ecologist
Tanya Ishikawa, Federal Heights, Buffalo Trails Multimedia
Dave Chandler, Arvada resident
Ron Forthofer, PhD, retired professor of biostatistics
Cody Spyker, student at Naropa University
Steven C. Moore and Martha Griffin, residents of Boulder
Carole Gallagher, American Ground Zero: The Secret Nuclear War
Dave and Doris Depenning, Blue Mountain
John Lodenkampe, The Environmental Group of Coal Creek Canyon
Oak Chezar, professor
Joy Boston, artist
Kim Homer, restauranteur
Cynda Collins Arsenault, resident of Superior
Christopher Hormel, resident of Boulder County
Greg Marsh, Citizens Against Rocky Flats Contamination
Debra Odom, concerned voter
Stephen Thomas, professor
Daniel James, MA
Roy Young, conservation geologist, Boulder
Andrew Tirman, Nederland resident & student.

************************************************

2012-02-20T15:13:00.001-07:00

DENVER POLICE DEPARTMENT

The mission of the Denver Police Department is to deliver high quality public

safety services so all people may share a safe and healthy environment.

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Date: February 19, 2012

To: Denver Police Officers, Denver City Council

Media, Denver Community Organizations

Contact: Sonny Jackson

Address: Office of the Chief

1331 Cherokee St., Denver, CO 80204

Email: dpdpio@ci.denver.co.us

Phone: 720-913-6028

Fax: 720-913-7021

On February 19, 2012, at approximately 8:00 p.m. prisoner Samuel Lee Govea (DOB 02/11/90) escaped from Denver Health Medical Center. Govea was in custody and being treated for a gunshot wound to his left leg.

Govea is wanted for: Felony Escape; Felony Burglary; Felony Assault; Felony Menacing; Criminal Mischief; Violation of a Protection Order; and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

Description:

Samuel Lee Govea DOB: 2-11-90

AKA: Govea, Diablo; Govea, Sam

Height: 5' 9" Weight: 180lbs Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown

The Denver Sheriff’s Department and the DenverPolice Department is asking for the community’s assistance to locate this suspect. Anyone with information regarding this suspect is asked to please contact The Denver Police Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). You can text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter your message. If the information you provide leads to the arrest and charging of a wanted individual, you can receive a cash reward up to $2,000.

Occupy Denver livestream rap

2012-02-18T19:39:00.001-07:00

"Let the Good Times Roll" - banned at the College Park, Maryland record store in 1956

2012-02-17T18:13:00.000-07:00

(sorry about the forced ad - just turn the sound off for the first 15 sec)

I don't know if it was banned elsewhere, but I was just getting into Rock and Roll in 1956 and was hot for this song. I think it was the fact that it made sex sound like fun.

Lee:
C'mon, baby, let the good time' roll.
C'mon, baby, let me thrill your soul.
C'mon, a-baby, let the good time' roll,
Roll all night long.

C'mon, a-baby, yes, this is this.
This is somethin' I jus' can't miss.
C'mon, a-baby, let the good time' roll,
Roll all night long.

Shirley:
C'mon, baby, while the thrill is on.
C'mon, baby, le's a-have some fun.
C'mon, baby, let the good time' roll,
Roll all night long.

C'mon, baby, jus' close the door.
C'mon, baby, le's a-rock some more.
C'mon, baby, let the good time' roll,
Roll all night long.

Shirley: Feels so good when you're home.
Lee: C'mon, baby, rock me all night long.

Lee:
C'mon, a-baby, let the good time' roll.
C'mon, a-baby, let me thrill your soul.
C'mon, a-baby, let the good time' roll,
Roll all night long.

Shirley:
Feels so good when you're home.
Lee:
C'mon, baby, rock me all night long.

Lee:
C'mon, a-baby, let the good time' roll.
C'mon, a-baby, let me thrill your soul.
C'mon, a-baby, let the good time' roll,
Roll all night long.

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL
Written by: Shirley Goodman & Leonard Lee.

Another Colorado Time Waster (CTW) - TBD

2012-02-16T15:56:00.000-07:00

From a press release

Make Your Voice Heard!
Get Involved with TBD Colorado

Your organization provides valuable services that strengthen our communities and improve the quality of life in our state. Your work is important not only to the people you serve, but to Colorado's future. Now, you can get involved in TBD Colorado, a nonpartisan effort to engage Coloradans in discussions about the biggest issues facing our state.

Last week, Governor Hickenlooper launched TBD Colorado, an effort to initiate community conversations about P-12 and higher education, health, transportation, the state budget and the state workforce. TBD Colorado will host three meetings about these issues in 40 regions, beginning in March and ending in May. For more information, visit www.TBDColorado.org.

TBD Colorado's short-term goals are to:

Invite Coloradans to talk about their vision and priorities for the state. For example, how can Colorado become the healthiest state in the nation? How can educational outcomes for children be improved? How should the state handle the increasing health care needs of our aging population? How can the state address growing transportation and infrastructure needs?

Obtain various perspectives from all regions of the state

Build momentum in Colorado for working together to solve complex problems

Create a process and a culture for engaging Coloradans in ongoing constructive and non-partisan conversations.

TBD Colorado is a tremendous opportunity for you to provide a valuable perspective about key issues facing your community and your organization.

To participate in the regional meetings, submit your name or nominate someone else at www.TBDColorado.org. If you interested, sign up today! Regional meetings will begin in early March, just a few weeks from now.

I'm sorry, but this latest announcement by Governor Hickenlooper, called TBD (To Be Determined) seems like another of these fake "listening" sessions where citizens tell their government what they want and government acts like it is listening and then does whatever it wants, or had planned, to do anyway. In a time when bold leadership is needed, government is all ears.

What Colorado really needs is a Constitutional Convention, to solve some persistent problems once and for all. You can make your own list of what these problems are, but I'd include school finance and the fiscal "Gordian Knot" for starters. Here's how such a Convention could be convened:

Section 1. Constitutional convention - how called.

The general assembly may at any time by a vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house, recommend to the electors of the state, to vote at the next general election for or against a convention to revise, alter and amend this constitution; and if a majority of those voting on the question shall declare in favor of such convention, the general assembly shall, at its next session, provide for the calling thereof.

The number of members of the convention shall be twice that of the senate and they shall be elected in the same manner, at the same places, and in the same districts. The general assembly shall, in the act of calling the convention, designate the day, hour and place of its meeting; fix the pay of its members and officers, and provide for the payment of the same, together with the necessary expenses of the convention.

Before proceeding, the members shall take an oath to support the constitution of the United States, and of the state of Colorado, and to faithfully discharge their duties as members of the convention. The qualifications of members shall be the same as of members of the senate; and vacancies occurring shall be filled in the manner provided for filling vacancies in the general assembly.

Said convention shall meet within three months after such election and prepare such revisions, alterations or amendments to the constitution as may be deemed necessary; which shall be submitted to the electors for their ratification or rejection at an election appointed by the convention for that purpose, not less than two nor more than six months after adjournment thereof; and unless so submitted and approved by a majority of the electors voting at the election, no such revision, alteration or amendment shall take effect.

Upcoming

2012-02-14T14:25:00.001-07:00

Livestream from Greece

2012-02-12T12:18:00.000-07:00

3 live feeds here

Denver time
12:15 pm - Loud explosions

Spring Tours by Phil Goodstein

2012-02-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

Here is the schedule of spring tours by Phil Goodstein. Note that there are several Park Hill activities.

SPRING 2012
Tours by Phil Goodstein

Sunday, March 18: Bicycle Tour of Montrose, 11:00 am–1:00 pm
Meet in front of Ashley School at the northeast corner of 19th Avenue and Syracuse Street. (Montrose is the eastern section of Park Hill. The tour will also touch on parts of Stapleton.) The cost is $10.00. A copy of this schedule and information about books by Phil Goodstein is on the Web site of WWW.LeonardLeonard.com/neighborhoods/ walkingtours.

Saturday, March 24: Ghosts of Cheesman Park, 11:00 am–1:00 pm
Meet at the gazebo along the 12th Avenue loop of the park near South Gilpin Street. (This is a quaint wooden structure just south of the RTD bus stop. Park just east of the bus stop. This tour is $10. It will be repeated on May 6, September 16, and October 13.

Sunday, April 1: Bicycle Tour of Northwest Park Hill, 11:00 am–1:00 pm
Meet in front of Stedman School on the east side of Dexter Street between 29th and 30th avenues. (Dexter is seven blocks east of Colorado Boulevard.) The cost is $10.00.

Saturday, April 7: Quality Hill, 11:00 am–1:00 pm
Meet at the Zang Mansion, 709 Clarkson Street. (Clarkson Street is eight blocks east of Broadway). The cost is $10.00.

Saturday, April 14: Jefferson Park, 11:00 am–1:00 pm
Meet in front of the Adams Mystery Playhouse at the northeast corner of West 24th Avenue and Federal Boulevard..

Sunday, April 15: The History of North Denver, 12 Noon
This is a free half-hour lecture at the Gardens at St. Elizabeth’s, 2835 West 32nd Avenue (the highrise two blocks east of Federal Boulevard). It is part of Open Doors Denver, including a chance to peak in the historic chapel and an overview of the neighborhood. The talk will be repeated at 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm.

Saturday, April 21: Platt Park, 11:00 am–1:00 pm
Meet in front of the Decker Library at the southwest corner of Florida Avenue and South Logan Street. (Florida Avenue is four blocks south of Mississippi Avenue and six blocks north of Evans Avenue. Logan Street is four blocks east of Broadway.) This tour is $10.

Saturday, April 28: The Smiley Neighborhood, 11:00 am–1:00 pm
Meet in front of Smiley Middle School on the east side of Holly Street between 25th and 26th avenues. (Holly is one mile east of Colorado Boulevard and one-half mile west of Monaco Street.) This tour is $10.

Wednesday, May 2: Morgan’s Addition/Congress Park, 6:00–8:00 pm
Meet in front of the Fred Mazzulla House at the southwest corner of Eighth Avenue and Race Street. (Race Street is three blocks west of York Street.) This tour is $10.

Wednesday, May 9: Sloans Lake/West Colfax, 6:00–8:00 pm
Meet at the torpedo near the northeast corner of Sheridan Boulevard and 17th Avenue. This tour is $10.

Saturday, May 12: Ghost Walk, 7:00–9:00 pm
Meet in front of the statue of the Indian on the east side of the Capitol on Grant Street between 14th and Colfax avenues. It will be repeated on June 9, July 14, August 25, September 15, October 19, October 20, October 26, October 27, and October 31. The cost is $20.00.

Wednesday, May 16: South of the Country Club, 6:00–8:00 pm
Meet in front of Steele School on the east side of South Marion Street between Alameda and Dakota avenues. (Marion Street is one block east of Downing Street.) This tour is $10.

Wednesday, May 23: Park Hill, 6:00–8:00 pm
Meet at the gazebo of Ferguson Park at the southeast corner of 23rd Avenue and Dexter Street. (Dexter Street is seven blocks east of Colorado Boulevard) This tour is $10.

Thursday, June 7: Park Club Place, 6:30-8:30 pm
Meet at the real estate offices of Leonard Leonard & Associates, 420 Downing Street. This tour is $10.

Phil Goodstein 303-333-1095

Global Nuclear War has already happened - they called it testing.

2012-02-06T16:35:00.001-07:00

Occupy DC being taken down by hazmat/police now

2012-02-04T08:02:00.001-07:00

Live stream here: http://www.ustream.tv/occupydc

Denver time:

7:59am Hazmat team (independent?) taking down tents if they contain sleeping materials. Occupiers were going to be given a chance to remove their materials (per Captain), but that's not happening. Mellow yellow. They are even removing tent poles from the tents.

Live streaming from Egypt

2012-02-03T16:08:00.002-07:00

Here: http://www.ustream.tv/egypt

Denver time:

4:07pm - gunshots, fires burning, tear gas

The Return of Ginger Baker (to this blog)

2012-02-01T15:52:00.000-07:00

Keen observers of this space may remember the original vidies of Ginger Baker that were posted here, like the one above. They were quite popular, receiving tens of thousands of hits, and then they disappeared. What was that all about?

The story behind my originally posting the vidies in 2008 is here, and I won't bother repeating it. In August of 2010 I received a call from director Jay Bulger (himself quite a character) who said he had seen my vidies and wondered if I would like to be interviewed for the film and possibly make some of my footage available for inclusion in the movie he was making about Ginger Baker. Well of course!

A few days later Jay and his very tired crew of two rolled in around 10pm and we did the interview. "Ginger Baker was the Mohammad Ali of rock and roll", I said, "he could move faster than everyone else" (we used to call it speed). And what about the 8-hours of tape that I had (mostly inherited from Clark Burch, who spent two years following Baker and eventually becoming a good friend of Baker's and who created his own music vidie, which YouTube won't let me publish, called "Falling Off the Roof" after a Baker jazz CD of the same name)? After a little arm-twisting I agreed to make copies of my footage for them to review.

Unfortunately, much of the footage was of Ginger playing polo in Parker, Colorado, shot with a standard 12-120 zoom lens and a non-HD Sony VX-2000 from the sidelines of the polo field and not able to really get at the action. Some footage of Baker, when he got off his horse, was good - as usual, he played two sets of drums at the same time - and included a duet with his son Kofi.

I asked if it was ok for me to write about the interview, but Jay said they wanted to keep everything under wraps until the release - at an unspecified date and location. I decided to take down my own vidies from this blog in anticipation of the big buildup.

Another call just a few weeks ago informed me that they were going to use 1 minute of the footage I provided (I forgot to ask about the interview - we'll have to wait and see). I agreed that screen credit for both myself and Clark would be sufficient reward, and asked about their plans to create internet-buzz. It seems that they hadn't given that much thought, but welcomed anything I might do to start the ball rolling.

Here is the announcement in the SxSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas, March 9-17, 2012. "Beware of Mr. Baker" (a sign posted at the gate to his current abode in Africa) is the name of the feature length documentary, one of 8 selected from 845 submissions. I'm not very hip to the film festival scene anymore (after having tickets #1 and #2 to the very first Telluride Film Festival and smoking a joint with Jack Nicholson there) but I had been dreaming of a theatrical release in NYC.

I'll be posting more vidies here along with some of the stories of both Baker and Burch.

Broncomaniacs OK, Occupiers a threat

2012-01-31T08:21:00.000-07:00

Commentary by Phil Goodstein

The latest Bronco hoopla might be the very worst since the beginning of Broncomania. As much as ever, this is the religion of ruling Denver. The level of hype for a most insubstantial team and topic is a reflection on the essential character of the community. The real issue is to what degree is this completely manufactured and how much is actually popular emotion.

Of course, if the newspapers/television gave Bronco games all the attention they do to symphony concerts, there would be minimal interest. But then if there were nonstop news about concerts, the hall would be packed and the musicians would be celebrities. As it is, the overwhelming defeat of the Broncos was good news. It kept us from being barraged with even more of this. Meanwhile, if budget cuts are urgent, where the does the money come from for the city-sponsored football hoopla?

Football frenzy is not limited to Denver or the Broncos. It is part of our culture. Still, it is also a reflecting of ruling class values. Nobody more revealed this than Richard Nixon. First, during mass anti-war protests, he announced he was ignoring them for watching football. Then, when he actually sought to meet protesters, instead of discussing the war, he talked about football. This is what Nixon and his ilk know and can discuss.

This reflects also on the Occupy movement. It is something that so upsets the system because esblishment powers cannot understand the Occupy movement in the slightest. Besides, we need the occupiers out of the Civic Center so we can have football rallies.

One last consideration: On Martin Luther King Day, the Denver Post had a good picture of the police staring down protesters in the 1960s. Of course, the paper did not note the difference of today. The current police would have on riot gear. If the Occupiers are so dangerous as to force the police to wear riot gear, why are not the police in riot gear at Bronco games and football rallies? The drunken football crowds are far more violent than any of the protesters.

But saying this is banal. The fact that it is not even said or asked is typical of the censorship of our times.

Occupy Denver Solidarity with Oakland Tonight

2012-01-29T15:35:00.002-07:00

Tonight - Sunday 1/29/12, 7:00pm, Civic Center Park, after more than 400 arrests last night in Oakland.

Live streaming now at Occupy Oakland

2012-01-28T16:20:00.000-07:00

Occupy Oakland riot here now - 4:17 pm Denver time.

4:21 here come the fuzz

4:34 cops running towards protesters

8:27pm OPD haas kettled over 100 protesters in front of YMCA and are bringing in buses to take them away. Occupy Oakland Live has a cool night-vision live stream. Over 4700 people watching online

8:46pm Helicopter shot of city hall arrests being made.

Now this is just dumb, and a waste of time and money

2012-01-28T08:50:00.001-07:00

Denver Recycles Presents:

“I HEART My Purple Recycling Cart” Photo Contest

Submit a photo showing your love of recycling in the Mile High City!

DENVER, CO — January 27, 2012 — As Valentine’s Day approaches, Mayor Michael B. Hancock and Denver Public Works’ Denver Recycles announces a way for residents to “show their love” for recycling with the “I Heart My Purple Recycling Cart” photo contest. Denver residents are encouraged to submit creative photos showing their support for, and love of, recycling; however submissions must share a common theme: all photos must include the signature Denver “purple recycling cart.”

With more than 111,000 households choosing to “Go Purple” by recycling paper, bottles, containers, cans, etc., everyday, it is clear that Denver loves to recycle. Now it is your chance to show how much you love your purple recycling cart by submitting a photo that captures this love and creatively shows how your household recycles.

Mayor Hancock, Denver Public Works Manager George Delaney and Denver Recycles Operations Manager Charlotte Pitt will select a first, second and third place winner, and the best submittal under 13 years old. Prizes include four tickets to Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, four tickets to Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance (theatre tickets are courtesy of Arts and Venues Denver), Colorado Avalanche tickets and a ParkSmart Denver gift card.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO:

1. Email your digital photo to DenverRecycles@DenverGov.org by noon, Tuesday, February 14^th

2. Include your name, phone number and home address in your email

3. Photos must include your Denver Recycles purple cart, without any permanent markings on it (no stickers, no spray paint, etc.)

4. Photo should illustrate your appreciation for your purple recycling cart, how or what you recycle at home, etc.

5. Digital photo should be a minimum of 500 KB and a maximum of 1000 KB

6. One photo per household

Please note that by submitting your photos you are giving the City and County of Denver permission to post them on Facebook, websites and in other promotional and printed materials. Winners will be notified through their submittal email on February 14, 2012. Also, City and County of Denver employees are not eligible to win prizes, but are welcome to submit photos.

Now that's just crazy! YouTube ad scam?

2012-01-27T14:33:00.001-07:00

Did you see the video I posted of the MLK marade?

Shortly after posting, I received this notice from YouTube:

Copyright Info: The Complete 2012 MLK Marade

Your video, The Complete 2012 MLK Marade , may include content that is owned or administered by this entity:

Entity: Music Publishing Rights Collecting Society Content Type: Musical Composition

What should I do?

No action is required on your part. Your video is still available worldwide. In some cases ads may appear next to your video.

What can I do about my video's status?

Please note that the video's status can change, if the policies chosen by the content owners change. You may want to check back periodically to see if you have new options available to you.

Under certain circumstances, you may dispute this copyright claim. These are:

if the content is mistakenly identified and is actually completely your original creation;
if you believe your use does not infringe copyright (e.g. it is fair use under US law);
if you are actually licensed by the owner to use this content.

I need more information. I want to learn more about the dispute process.

Please take a few minutes to visit our Help Center section on Policy and Copyright Guidelines, where you can learn more about copyright law and our Content Identification Service.

A Google search revealed:

"It's not so much a claim against your video per se; it's a notification that royalties are being collected on behalf of the original artist.
This has nothing to do with not getting permission -- that's a separate issue. Basically, royalties are payable on any public performance of any music registered with the appropriate collecting societies. In other words, if you write a song and somebody gets up on stage and performs it (even a cover), or broadcasts it in a video, or whatever, you can claim royalty payments. You're being compensated for the fact that it was all your work, but somebody else is being paid for it.
This mysterious "Music Publishing Rights Collecting Society" isn't one organisation: it's a generic term for all collecting societies, which collect and distribute money on behalf of artists -- organisations like ACAP and BMI in the US, PRS for Music in the UK, GEMA in Germany and so on.
You don't need to worry about anything, because you're not the one having to pay royalties -- it's YouTube, who have to buy broadcasting licences in different countries in order to be allowed to broadcast music. The "claim" is merely a notification that this is happening. Similarly, if you are at a karaoke bar as a performer, you don't have to worry about royalties and such: that will have been taken care of on your behalf by the owners of the venue or the organisers of the event, who will have had to have bought a licence.
That said, if your video contains any third party material at all, including cover versions (a capella or not), you actually still do need the permission of the copyright owners, quite separate from the issue of royalty payments. If you do not have this permission, then that is a possible case of copyright infringement, and the copyright owners then have the legal right, if they so wish, to order YouTube to take your video down. It doesn't matter if you credit the author or write a disclaimer or make no money from it: it's very likely copyright infringement if you don't get permission (the YouTube Help Center has a whole section devoted to copyright issues).
So, in short, there are two related, but different, issues here:
Copyright: You must get the permission of the original creator of the work you are using before you upload.
Royalty payments: If the original song is registered with a collecting society, royalties on all performances are likely due -- but this is taken care of by YouTube."

I haven't identified anything in the video that might be the culprit. Can you? Comments appreciated. Further reading here.

Update: After posting the above, I continued to research the question and found this Facebook page.
It sure looks like a fake to me. Putting an ad next to your video is the punishment? Reading the 79 comments, I found the suggestion that anyone receiving the notice should go ahead and dispute the claim. That's what I did - clicked through a form and submitted my challenge to the claim to YouTube. To my amazement, the notice next to my video DISAPPEARED WITHIN 30 SECONDS. Gone, gone.
So YouTube sends you a notice of possible copyright infringement and the punishment is that THEY PUT AN AD NEXT TO IT?? Smells like a scam to me. Try disputing it and see if your notice disappears. Please comment.

Occupy Denver livestream at 10:00 am this morning from

2012-01-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

Live streaming video here from Obama's visit to Aurora.

Things that make you go hmmm...

2012-01-25T11:01:00.003-07:00

(click below to go to article on King World News)
With gold and silver exploding to the upside on the Fed announcement, today King World News interviewed legendary Jim Sinclair, to get his take on where things are headed. Sinclair told KWN he now expects mainstream entities to enter the gold market. Here is what Sinclair had to say: “Today is an important day. There are many days we talk but this is a mile-marker. What the Fed did today. what the Fed did today is they turned on the light of what will be QE to infinity. Today the light went on with regards to the intentions of the Fed. They did that for very specific reasons, we have troubles people can’t see and this is one of the ways out.”

Another Inmate for the Denver Zoo

2012-01-24T16:34:00.002-07:00

The latest "Toyota" elephant added to the animal prison, aka Denver Zoo, (see story here) and earlier blog post here.

Denver Zoo/Charlotte Bassin

Additional opinion here.

The Earth is Currently Being Hit by a Large Solar Flare

2012-01-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

3:38 pm - Watch it live via the Aurora Borealis in Sweden here.

New American car purchase becomes adventure

2012-01-23T16:51:00.000-07:00

By Dave Felice

Buying an automobile in Michigan isn't much different than in Colorado, but purchasing Chevrolet's newest model where the cars are built adds an interesting and intriguing dimension to getting a new car. And the people who make Chevrolet Sonic are as pleased to be producing the car as I am to own one.

Using advanced techniques and some of the world's largest robotic equipment, members of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 5960 produce the Sonic subcompact hatchback and sedans, along with a new Buick small car, at the General Motors Orion Assembly Center. The huge production plant is set amid rolling hills and lakes between Detroit and Flint, in the town of Lake Orion (OR-ee-uhn).

I read of GM’s plans for Sonic earlier in the year and was waiting for production to begin. Since I would have needed to order the car for delivery in Denver anyway, I decided to make the trip to Michigan. I ordered a crystal-red Sonic LT hatchback with automatic transmission. I picked up the car at the (Wally Edgar) dealership, less than a mile from the production facility, then drove 1550 miles back to Denver.

Chevrolet's Sonic is the only subcompact built in the United States. Ford's entry in the market segment, Fiesta, is made in Mexico. All the other cars in this class are produced overseas. GM and the UAW have a new two-tier pay structure designed to make it profitable to produce the cars domestically.

As a Steward for Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7777 and Delegate of the Denver Area Labor Federation (DALF), it was important for me to purchase a car from an American company, made in the United States by union workers.

Modern production in “car country”
Orion Assembly Center has “the latest and greatest production techniques,” according to Local 5960’s Communications Director Tony Hufford. He explains that the plant was idle for the past year while undergoing complete renovation to take advantage of the newest methods of auto making. Instead of producing just one model at a time, Orion workers can build a Sonic sedan, followed by a Buick Verano and a Sonic hatchback in the same assembly run.

Hufford says there are 1,750 hourly and salaried employees at Orion Assembly, on two ten-hour shifts four days a week. Another 300 third party employees work in the plant on processes which formerly were performed at outside locations. The facility produces about 40 cars per hour. According to Hufford, about 90 percent of the cars are built on outstanding orders from customers and dealers, with the rest being made for dealer inventory. All of the Sonic and Verano vehicles made for North America are produced at Orion Assembly.

Pride in production
Hufford says members of UAW 5960 are proud to be making the cars at Orion Assembly. “It’s what we do; we build quality cars,” he remarks. “The workers love the car (Sonic). It is a significant improvement over small cars of the past. We are pleased to be building this car in the U.S.” The motto of Local 5960 is “Build It Like We Own it” and Hufford says plant workers live by their motto.

He tells me Orion Assembly workers are also gratified to be part of GM’s recovery. “The company is really on the mend and the cars we are building are truly state of the art. We’re continuing the great history of this plant for high quality along with health, safety, and environmental considerations.”

Referring to the innovative two-tier wage scale agreement, he says “We brought production here (to Orion) and we think it’s a new beginning (for the company).” About 60 percent of the Orion workers are Tier One veterans, while the others are Entry Level with a lower starting wage scale.

Hufford says the Sonic has wide appeal because of its smaller size, higher fuel efficiency, attractive styling and features, and smooth handling. “Dealers nationwide are expressing demand,” he says. “Driving the Sonic doesn’t feel like driving a small car.”

Plant workers built my car on November 15. Jeff “Weebie” Webb of UAW 5960 and Orion Quality Operations Manager Carter Sperry did the final inspection before arranging delivery of the car to the Wally Edgar dealership, down the road and around the corner.

President Barack Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak were the plant in late October to promote a trade agreement. Sperry says GM Chief Executive Dan Akerson also visits Orion Assembly and talks directly with workers.

Plant approaches three decades
General Motors opened Orion Assembly in 1983. The sprawling facility is nestled in the countryside of Oakland County, on land considered unsuitable for agriculture. Originally, trains provided the transportation to and from the facility. Now, almost everything is moved by truck. With the exception of occasionally heavy truck traffic, it’s hard to tell that a major industrial complex sits just beyond the main north-south road through Lake Orion.

Located on 5,000 acres of property, Orion Assembly is 80 acres under one roof. By comparison, the entire property of Elitch Gardens in Denver is 72 acres. An acre is roughly equivalent to a football field.

After General Motors decided to produce the Sonic, engineers and members of the UAW Skilled Trades started rebuilding Orion Assembly in late 2010. The company spent about $545 million dollars upgrading and retooling, putting about 1,000 employees back to work in the Detroit metropolitan area. Every aspect of the sparkling-clean facility was custom built for the latest production technologies with lowest cost and highest efficiency and environmental standards, according to Hufford. He says there is actually enough space in the plant for a second assembly line.

Production of the 2012 Sonic started in third quarter this year. Chevrolet sold about 300 cars nationwide during the first month of sales in August. Through November, about 9,000 Sonic cars had been sold around the country.

Innovative processes
Some suppliers are located right in the assembly plant. Parts and sub-assemblies are delivered to the point they are needed by what’s called the minomi system, using large bins guided by electric tracks in the floor. The cars are assembled like a kit. Each car has a set of assembly specifications and the correct pieces are delivered and installed when required.

Paint shop specialist Anton Busuttil says Orion Assembly is the first U.S. facility to use the economical “three wet” paint process, eliminating the need for a primer baking oven. Three coats of paint can be applied before a single trip through the oven. While producing a high-quality product, the process reduces assembly space and time, as well as lessening solvent emissions by over 100,000 pounds each year. In addition, the rust-proofing film is thinner than other vehicles while retaining the same or higher quality.

New fluorescent lighting at Orion Assembly saves nearly half-a-million dollars. According to published information from General Motors, the plant produces 80 percent less solid waste, uses 20 percent less water, and powers some operations by methane gas from nearby landfills.

The Sonic itself uses high-strength but lighter weight steel to be less costly and more fuel-efficient. Sonic buyers can choose a 1.4 or 1.8 Liter (85 or 110 cu. in) engine. The 1.4L engine is available with an optional turbocharger. GM factories worldwide build the engines.

At some locations along the line, there are “practice cars” set aside where workers can look for new techniques and resolve difficulties.

Auto work part of community
Orion Assembly has a close relation with historic automobiles. Hufford says the plant has produced several models of Buick Riviera and LeSabre; the Oldsmobile Aurora, 88, and 98 models; Pontiac Bonneville; Cadillac DeVille and Brougham; Chevrolet Malibu; and the Pontiac G6.

There are numerous other auto production and supply facilities in the area. Well known locations such as Detroit, Flint, Auburn Hills (Chrysler), Lansing, Pontiac, and Dearborn (Ford) are all within a short drive. The FANUC Automated Robotics Systems used at Orion Assembly are manufactured in nearby Rochester Hills.

Many residents of the Lake Orion area either work at the plant, are retired autoworkers, or have relatives involved in auto production. The new Marriott Springhill Suites hotel, about five minutes from the plant, has a special room rate for autoworkers.

Brand expansion in GM revival
As part of a new age for General Motors, Sonic is a major component in the worldwide expansion of the Chevrolet brand. Sonic is produced and sold under the Chevrolet brand in North America, Europe, and Asia, even in Japan. The Sonic, with right hand drive, is sold as a Holden Barina in Australia and New Zealand. Right hand drive cars are also made for Britain and Ireland, India, South Africa, and Japan. Even though Sonic is a different car than the previous Chevrolet Aveo subcompact, the Aveo name continues to be used in some overseas markets, such as India and Chile.

The Sonic is specifically designed to compete directly with foreign brands such as Honda, Nissan, Suzuki, and Volkswagen. Engineers and designers have melded American features with European and Japanese elements.

While it may not have been intentional, some observers see some retrospective design elements, reminiscent of cars such as the PT Cruiser, Chevrolet HHR, and even London taxicabs. “Sporty,” “jaunty,” and “cute” are adjectives people use often in referring to my Sonic. Almost everyone likes the round headlights. People also like the crystal red color, and the solid way the doors close.

Because of production advancements, GM expects to have a profitable entry in the subcompact market. Sonic has a base price of about $14,500. At present, Sonic is GM’s smallest car available in the U.S. It also gets best gas mileage for a conventionally-powered vehicle. UAW President Bob King was recently quoted as saying the union is committed to the success of the company with a workable business plan that makes sense for everyone.

Chevrolet corporate headquarters has chosen to forego traditional broadcast and print advertising. The company is using more Internet resources, such as social media, e-mail, and web sites.

Getting to Lake Orion unusual
Denver-based Frontier Airlines has a daily flight from Denver to Flint, with a change of planes in Milwaukee. The flight description doesn’t really specify what kind of aircraft are involved. Because Flint is a smaller airport, the plane out of Milwaukee is a Brazilian-made Embraer commuter jet, painted with the Midwest Airlines name, operated by Chautauqua Airlines. Frontier, Midwest, and Chautauqua are all subsidiaries of Republic Airways of Indianapolis.

Leaving Denver, I had one carry-on suitcase. Because of the shape of the overhead bin on the Frontier plane, the bag wouldn’t fit and was checked as baggage. Apparently, everyone except me knew that getting on the smaller Chautauqua plane involved checking a small bag at the plane. Since a single Frontier-Chautauqua employee at Flint does everything except fly the plane, passengers pick up their bags when leaving the aircraft. I had to wait until the Frontier employee returned to the ticket counter with my bag because it was the only one which went through an inside baggage-handling process.

Once I had retrieved my suitcase, a driver from the Chevrolet dealership picked me up for the 45-minute ride southeast to Lake Orion. The driver was a retired autoworker, and we chatted mostly about the automobile business.

While in Lake Orion, I had lunch with an old acquaintance, Buick historian and author Larry Gustin. He had just completed work on the Second Revised Edition of this book David Buick’s Marvelous Motorcar. We ate at Palazzo di Bocce, an Italian restaurant which has bocce courts indoors next to the tables.

Easy to make the deal
After making the decision to order the Sonic hatchback, I contacted sales consultant Tom Blythe at Wally Edgar Chevrolet in Lake Orion. I had a good idea of the Sonic’s market price, and Blythe presented an attractive, fair, and unwavering offer in the first of numerous phone calls and e-mails. I jokingly told Blythe this was the second easiest sale he had ever made. Every aspect of the process went about as smoothly as possible.

Ironically, the day workers produced my car coincided with the opening of deer hunting season in Michigan. Because he had long-standing plans to go hunting, Blythe turned the matter over to his associate, Jeff Anderson. When the car was delivered to the dealership, Anderson handled all the final details.

I had to pay extra for a front license plate mounting bracket. Unlike Colorado, Michigan does not require a front plate.

The biggest shock of the entire deal was the amount of sales tax and fees I had to pay to register the car and get Colorado license plates.

Returning to Denver
The route from Lake Orion to Denver runs northwest Flint and Lansing, then south to Indianapolis and west across Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado.

I stayed overnight in Indianapolis, Columbia, Missouri, and Salina, Kansas. In Indianapolis, I had dinner with a high school classmate who is a tax attorney. He’s very busy because of the adverse impact of the economy on individuals and small businesses. The Indianapolis International Airport, just seven miles southwest of downtown, was rebuilt in 2008.

In Salina, I met with Herb Hackenburg, a former co-worker and founder of the Telecommunications History Group, a Denver museum and archives relating to all aspects of telephony.

Although there are federal standards for Interstate road signs, each state seems to have a different interpretation. The signs in Missouri were most informative, while I found it difficult to rely on signs in Indiana and Illinois. Signs which say “Gas-Food-Lodging Next Exit” are just about useless unless the signs specifically describe the services and where they are. In some cases, the gas station was four miles from the main highway.

It was appropriate that the satellite radio in my car was broadcasting “Roll Over Beethoven” by Chuck Berry while I drove through Wentzville, Missouri. But I saw no signage recognizing one of the town’s most famous residents. General Motors has a truck assembly plant in Wentzville, a suburb of St. Louis.

In Kansas City, Kansas, the Interstate dips under the downtown area and suddenly splits into five different directions. Without warning, I found myself in the wrong lane. I ended up going southward until I could get out of traffic and find my way back westbound. Ford has an assembly plant in Kansas City, Missouri, while GM has a plant in Kansas City, Kansas.

Driving through Kansas, I passed by the birthplaces of former President Dwight Eisenhower and former Vice President Bob Dole. I also learned former U.S. Senator Arlen Spector of Pennsylvania is a Kansas native.

I left Lake Orion at mid-day on Wednesday and arrived in Denver at mid-afternoon on Saturday, having driven a few hundred miles the first day and about 400 miles on each of the other three days.

Benzene leaking into Sand Creek? What about the benzene from Lowry Landfill being pumped daily into Washington Park and City Park by Metro Wastewater?

2012-01-22T09:03:00.001-07:00

Recent articles have revealed that benzene, a toxic carcinogen, is leaking from the Suncor refinery into Sand Creek in Denver. Steps have been taken to investigate the source and reduce the flow. But records show that benzene is among the many carcinogens being pumped into our parks and lakes in the guise of recycled water.

Metro Wastewater Reclamation District (MWRD) issues permits to allow pollutants to be flushed into Denver and Aurora sewers. After a secret deal (later made public by Westword) between the major polluters (Coors et. al.) at Lowry Landfill Superfund Site (LLSS) and then-Mayor Webb in 1996, a permit was granted by Metro Wastewater Reclamation District to allow over 60 toxic chemicals (including radionuclides like plutonium) to be flushed into Denver's sewer about a mile from Lowry Landfill. Pages 5 and 6 from the current permit, obtained from MWRD by a Colorado Open Records request, are reprinted below. Note that benzene is on the list. (Click to enlarge)

Back in those days, this toxic sewer water mix flowed into the Platte River. When Denver started to recycle it's sewer water in 2004, those contaminants flowed instead to the Robert W. Hite water recycling plant at 6450 York St. There the mix is treated to remove organic contaminants, but nothing is done to remove the toxic chemicals, which flow unabated (through purple pipes) to Washington Park (Grasmere Lake) and City Park (Ferril Lake and Duck Lake).

Remember when they put a rubber bottom under Grasmere Lake? That was necessitated by the fact that this contaminated effluent exceeds the allowable limits of ground water and the lake was leaking into the ground water.

Denver Water steadfastly maintains that these "allowable" limits are safe and acceptable. They even blatantly lie about the plutonium, claiming to have "disproven" the fact that plutonium is in the water. The permit tells no lies.

See also:

Recycling Plutonium: How the EPA is Disbursing Toxic and Radioactive Waste From the Lowry Landfill to the Sewage System and onto CO Farmlands and Public Parks

and for much more type "pollution" into the search box at the upper right on this blog.

There goes the neighborhood, again

2012-01-21T09:28:00.001-07:00

PCEOC

Pinon Canyon Expansion Opposition Coalition

We NEED YOUR HELP - There is another expansion attempt as well as an attempt to take other private property surrounding Pinon Canyon.

PLEASE COME TO THE COMMENT MEETINGS NEXT MONDAY, TUESDAY, AND THURSDAY.

Recently the Army released an Environmental Assessment (EA) for theCombat Aviation Brigade (CAB) scheduled to move to Ft. Carson. This is important since the EA proposes CAB training at PCMS not previously stated.

The proposed action amounts to 22,957 flight hours annually over entire SE Colorado. Estimated flight time of 38-40 helicopters maneuvering over SE Colorado 5 hours per day for 120 days. So much for the peaceful enjoyment of our rural lifestyle and our cultural and biological integrity.

Flights over SE Colorado will include low-level and Nap-of-the-Earth (NOE) training. NOE is defined as: "flight conducted at varying airspeeds as close to the earth's surface as vegetation and obstacles permit". In many cases this means flights between 50 and 300 feet over OUR properties, not just the maneuver sites.

Unmanned drones are also part of a CAB and are expected to add significantly to the number of hours of air traffic in our region.

PUBLIC COMMENT MEETINGS ARE SCHEDULED FOR 6 to 8 pm EACH EVENING:

Monday, January 23^rd at TSJC in Trinidad
Tuesday, January 24^th at Otero JR College in La Junta
Thursday, January 26^th at Crown Plaza in Colorado Springs

Please sign the private property airspace rights declaration* and bring with you to submit at the meeting - Please be sure to send a copy to our legislators also!

You can download that form from the PCEOC website by clicking on either of these links:

www.pinoncanyon.com/documents/Privairspace.doc (Word version)

www.pinoncanyon.com/documents/Privairspace.pdf (Adobe version)

Copies will also be available at the meetings

*Numerous courts have ruled in conformity with the 1946 Supreme Court decision that the hyper-adjacent airspace (under 500') belongs to the land and to the landowner. The attempt by the Army to use this airspace constitutes the taking of private property - but we must advise them that we are 'posting' our property and giving them notice or lose our rights from our own inaction - If the Army is allowed to create these low fly ways they could perhaps have legal standing to maintain them even if that means curtailing wind power production and limiting private property rights in SE Colorado.

Local Good News

2012-01-20T17:05:00.002-07:00

The South City Park Neighborhood Association has overwhelmingly approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Rosen Properties for the redevelopment of the old car dealership at Colfax and Garlfield. The matter now goes to City Council in mid-January for approval of the rezoning request.

The developer is planning to put up a building to house a Sunflower Market grocery store and other commercial buildings.

In the MOU, Sunflower reserves the right to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week

The proposal has already been approved by the Planning Commission.

Preview Colorado Environmental Film Festival

2012-01-18T20:36:00.001-07:00

On January 20th, 2012, The Mercury Cafe will host an event to promote the 6th annual festival, including film previews and a music performance by Gabrielle Louise, emceed by Jonny 5 of The Flobots.

The 6th annual Film Festival will be held in Golden, CO on February 23-25, 2012.
CEFF organizes an annual film festival, screening world-class environmental films, and featuring representatives from local and national organizations and companies through topical forums and discussions.

Throughout the year, CEFF sponsors fundraising events for the festival as well as other community activities that will provide forums for individuals to interact with local businesses and artists and find educational resources and accessible solutions for environmental issues.

The Mercury Café, located at 22nd and California Street in Denver, CO, serves as the perfect eco-friendly venue, with its alternative power and its rich menu of organic fair. They have been serving local and organic produce for years, including the beer, which is locally brewed at Asher Brewery.

They use 100% Excel Wind Energy and their own rooftop wind turbines generate 800 watts independently of Excel. 36 solar voltaic panels contribute another 6300 watts. Since moving into the building, the café has planted 43 trees, built living walls of vines to help with cooling, designed other passive cooling systems, and implemented LED and other eco-friendly lighting solutions.

Gabrielle Louise is a Colorado singer songwriter deeply rooted in Folk who performs an eclectic selection of songs in many different musical styles. Whether she’s serenading or belting out a tango, she relies on her vocal prowess as well as her capacity for entertaining.

Her lyrical songs and storytelling have garnered much praise from the musical community: she’s a two-time John Lennon Songwriting Contest finalist and winner of the Jack Maher Songwriting Award.

Gabrielle Louise will also be submitting a film to this year’s film festival.
Jonny 5 is founding member of Flobots. a Denver-based band whose Top 40 single “Handlebars” led to a major label record contract, multiple tours of the US and Europe, and appearances on late night television (The Tonight Show, Conan O’Brien, Carson Daly).

Founded on a belief in music as a medium for social change, Flobots is committed to using its exposure as a platform from which to advocate for peace, justice, and sustainability.
The show starts at 6 p.m. and runs until 10 p.m., for a ticket price of $15 which includes free desert.

There will be opportunities for speakers, and CEFF will show clips of some of the films screening at this year’s festival.

CEFF will take the opportunity to recognize sponsors and partners at this event, such as Natural Awakenings, a local healthy living magazine.

They have many other exciting partners who will share with the audience and answer questions.
For additional information, please visit the website, www.ceff.net, or contact Danette Dacey Bohl atceffchair@ceff.net.

The Complete 2012 MLK Marade

2012-01-16T23:06:00.001-07:00

See if you can find yourself. Hint: camera was on the north side of Colfax at Gaylord.

Stop Line Infractions

2012-01-11T12:20:00.001-07:00

What with Denver City Council taking up the issue of stop line infractions and their associated fines again, I thought it might be interesting to actually watch traffic to see what people are doing. I set up at 17th and York, which is not one of the 4 current photo locations. I edited out all of the green light passing traffic, and added my own buzzer for those I judged had crossed the line, using the center of the tire as a marker. Note that this intersection has two right-turn-on-red lanes.

17th and York

I noticed some trends:
1. Drivers in the right-turn-on-red lanes hardly ever came to a complete stop before turning. The reason for this is that they can clearly see north on York to determine if it is safe to make the turn on red, and, because of the timing on York, it usually is. I've turned here hundred's of times.
2. Many of the drivers who are not turning stop well behind the line.
3. The first car to stop at the light seems to set the standard for subsequent cars.
4. Many people are driving on under-inflated tires.

When walking, I'm often amazed at drivers who show no concern for the crosswalk and pedestrians. If this is a matter of safety (especially for the blind and handicapped as Councilman Lopez pointed out), let's put these cameras at all stop lights. Of course another issue is whether or not people will actually pay these "fines by mail". If you don't pay, do you think the City is just going to forget about it? City Council should contemplate removing the requirement that these tickets actually be served on the drivers, and thus remove the ambiguity of this so-called "Dumbo tax".

As to whether or not this is a "revenue grab", well, of course it is. What else do you expect from a failing government? As I've said before, get used to it.

Occupy Denver Revealed

2012-01-09T15:43:00.000-07:00

As you know I've been supporting Occupy Denver since the beginning, with my video work at first and by now about 10 food and supplies trips, one using the now-famous Drive-by Drop Off technique (jk). But I've found the GAs tedious - I'm not a big fan of mic check - and although I've talked to some good people "on the row", I haven't really gotten a feel for it, and I've often been turned off by the antics of druggers and drunks.

So it was with a great hurrah that I discovered "Thick socks and Picket Signs", a blog by Locke in Socks, aka Jo Newton. She is a good writer who is reporting from the ground, aka "The Row". Go to the site and scroll down to read some of her entries and you'll get a good feel for what is going down.

AND...the Occupy Denver townhall meeting held yesterday was livestreamed. Unfortunately, much of it was during the Bronco's game and it went on for about 6 hours. Not very many people are going to watch for that long. But thanks to Rob Witte (rwitte42 at ustream.com) for the effort. It's now recorded and broken into 5 segments for viewing.

So to those complaining about lack of direction and/or intrusive personalities, this is your chance to catch up. That's what I've been doing and I'm actually quite impressed and more hopeful for the future of Occupy Denver.

And don't forget Occupy Denver, the official site which has ramped up recently to full-scale relevance.

Occupy Denver Meeting Livestreaming Now

2012-01-08T17:29:00.002-07:00

5:29pm http://www.ustream.tv/channel/occupyden

McKinley's Trail Ride Continues

2012-01-05T16:47:00.000-07:00

A Fund Raiser for Wes McKinley

Wes McKinley has reached his term limit this year (4 terms as Representative - this will be his 8th and last year), but he will be continuing his efforts to protect property rights, maintain accountability in government, ensure liberty and justice for all and guarantee the rights of individuals, as defined by The Constitution. Wes is running for County Commissioner of Las Animas County where property rights, environmental protections and western lifestyle values and heritage are issues upon which he will be able to have a major impact.

Please come and support Wes in his next political endeavor.

Milwaukee Tavern
201 Milwaukee St.
Denver, CO 80206
Friday, January 6th @ 5:30 P.M.
Contact Information: Wes McKinley 719-324-9292

What the Occupy Movement is about

2012-01-05T15:56:00.002-07:00

Local squabbles should not distract us from remembering what the Occupy Movement is all about.

Note that the meeting announced below (from OccupyDenver.org) is not at Civic Center Park. This is a good chance to get involved.

Future of Occupy Denver Meeting 1/8

There will be an open forum, town hall style, meeting THIS Sunday to discuss the future of Occupy Denver.

The meeting is open to anyone who would like to come. This includes occupy friends old and new, who are, or would like to be, invested in the future of Occupy Denver. Those that have a voice and opinion to lend and would like to participate in a respectful open dialogue with their peers are welcome.

Details:
Future of Occupy Denver Open Forum
Sunday January 8th
2:30 pm
1201 Sante Fe Drive
Denver, CO 80204
(this meeting will likely take a long time, plan for 6 hours)

For those interested but not able to make it in person, The meeting will be livestreamed and we are also considering skyping participants in. Due to space constraints, this is likely a good option and is encouraged.
Please contact us if you are interested in the skype option, general@occupydenver.org

Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (INC) News

2012-01-05T10:05:00.001-07:00

www.denverinc.org

HAPPY 2012 TO ALL!

JANUARY MONTHLY DELEGATE MEETING

When: Saturday, January 14, 2012 marks the first delegate meeting for the year!

Where: The Uptown Lofts, 1509 Pearl St (Near NW Corner Colfax & Pearl) Community Room on 2^nd Floor (Above Pizza Fusion)

Parking: Metered parking on street (Handicap stickers: don’t have to pay), behind Tom’s Diner (across from the Lofts) has paid parking

830A – Coffee & Networking

900A – Welcome and INC program begins

Tour of the building project after the meeting

ANNUAL DINNER RESERVATION REMINDER

INC’s Annual Neighborhood Awards Dinner is January 19. Reservations are required to attend. Please call or email your reservations by January 9. dinner@DenverINC.org or call 303.331.9241

PRECINCT LINES FINALIZED FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER

Boundaries redrawn in response to population changes following 2010 Census

(Denver) – All new precinct boundaries have been finalized for Denver. Denver will have 344 precincts, versus the 429 precincts it currently has. The new precinct lines follow state house and senate district lines and also follow the city’s major neighborhood lines.

By law, precincts may have no more than 1,500 active voters in them. Denver’s new precincts average 670 active voters or 805 total active and inactive-failed-to-vote voters. Larger precincts are located in low-growth areas of the city. In high-growth areas, smaller precincts were created to allow for expected growth in the coming years.

Redrawing of political boundaries occurs every ten years, following the federal Census, in response to population and demographic shifts. Congressional districts are finalized first, then state districts, after which counties redraw their precincts.

The Denver Elections Division held a public hearing December 1 and received public response on two different alternatives for redrawing precinct boundaries. This was followed by additional discussion with the two major parties. The final plan included a number of changes in response to all feedback received.

The new precinct lines will go into effect January 6, 2012, one month ahead of party caucuses. The Elections Division will mail a notification to all voters in mid-January, informing them of their new districts and precincts.

Denver City Council redistricting will occur in spring 2012 based upon the new precinct lines. Denver Public Schools will also redistrict in 2012. Maps of the new precinct lines are available atDenverVotes.org.

LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE (LEPC) QUARTERLY MEETING

When: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 2:00 PM-4:00 PM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time (US & Canada).

Where: Denver Police District One Community Room - 1311 W 46th Ave, Denver, CO 80211

Quarterly meeting of the Local Emergency Planning Committee. Anyone is welcome to attend these meeting but must RSVP to ensure adequate seating, food and handouts.

RSVP to Pat Williams, patricia.williams2@denvergov.org by Jan 22nd.

FREE TREES OFFERED TO ALL DENVER RESIDENTS THIS SPRING

Applications Due Feb. 15, 2012

DENVER, CO – This spring only, all Denver residents are eligible for free trees regardless of where they live within the city. This rare opportunity is made possible by two tree distribution programs: The Park People’s annual Denver Digs Trees street tree program and the City’s Mile High Million tree planting initiative.

Any resident of the City and County of Denver can apply for free trees to plant along the street in the public right-of-way. Additionally, those who have space for trees on the west side of their homes – whether in front, back, or side yards or along the street – are eligible to have trees delivered and planted for them.

Availability will be limited, so apply no later than February 15, 2012. Visit www.theparkpeople.org or call 303-722-6262 for application information.

The Denver Digs Trees program is able to offer free street trees to all Denver residents this spring thanks to a partnership with Denver Parks and Recreation Forestry Division and the sponsorship of Xcel Energy Foundation and the City of Denver’s Office of Economic Development. The Mile High Million’s Trees for Energy Savings program is made possible with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

DENVER HOMELESS TRANSITION PROGRAM

DHTP exists to provide the offender who is paroling homeless an opportunity to establish employment and residence prior to parole release.

DHTP is a program that serves offenders within 9 months of their release date who would otherwise parole homeless. The program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Corrections, Division of Criminal Justice, the Denver Community Corrections Board, and the Denver Sheriff Department that provides improved transition and discharge planning for individuals who would otherwise parole homeless to the City and County of Denver.

DHTP is based out of the Denver County Jail, under the command of Captain Phazaria Koonce. Two case workers and support staff, work with the community partners and others to assist offenders in preparing for release and in locating both housing and employment prior to offenders’ parole, and in the process, enable participants to access a wide variety of helpful services.

Participants have the assistance of the DOC re-entry and Phase I staff in preparing for and securing employment, budget planning, locating housing and other resources, and help participants secure necessary identity documents, etc.

For more information: Susan Herschel, Denver Sheriff Department

Office: 720-865-4035, susan.herschel@denvergov.org

The Naysayer - Jan 2012 - Phil Goodstein

2012-01-04T15:33:00.000-07:00

(Click to enlarge or use control+)

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who visited Denver Direct to give us our best year yet. May we all survive another year in the crumbling empire!

Occupy Albany - Great Video

2011-12-30T08:55:00.001-07:00

In Denver, be sure to come to the March to End the War on Drugs tomorrow, Saturday, Dec 31, noon, at Civic Center Park. It's going to be a beautiful windy day - time for all the jokers, tokers, and midnight smokers to get off the couch and join the march!

March to End the War on Drugs (Occupy Denver)

2011-12-29T12:14:00.001-07:00

Saturday, Dec. 31 - 12:00pm until 3:00pm - Start at Civic Center Park - Colfax and Broadway

Like most wars, we think this one has done more harm then good and has gone on for way too long. It needs to END!!!!!!!!!!!

Alcoholism... Drug Addiction... These are HEALTH issues, not legal ones. So why has money been endlessly poured into convicting drug crimes rather than educating people and paying for treatment of these conditions??!! Because there is BIG PROFIT to be made on the enforcement of drug laws and the punishment for breaking them. Not to mention big business/ government relationships with foreign cartels!

The War on Drugs has filled our prisons with nonviolent "offenders" and has cost this country Billions. It's been used to trample civil rights and profit from misery all around. Drug addiction is a disease that needs to be treated by medical professionals or any of the many 12-step programs out there. It's a giant waste of time and money to treat addiction in jails and prisons.

Drug addicts are treated unequally, under current law. Rush Limbaugh got a pass for gobbling down Vicodin and Oxycontin like it was popcorn. Then, he bragged about how he was morally superior to other addicts, espousing how "poor" addicts go to prison. For once, he spoke the truth.

There is a massive disconnect in our country between the reality of substance problems and they are treated. But we now see who benefits from the way it has been for so long.

.................................. The 1% ...........................................

We think it's time to end this benefit to our oppressors.

Won't you stand with us?

#Occupy

Recreation Centers

2011-12-27T10:04:00.002-07:00

Memberships & Fees

REGIONAL CENTERS
Membership at this Level includes full access to all Regional Centers as well as all Local and Neighborhood Centers.
Age Group	Annual Membership	30 Visit Pass	15 Visit Pass	Single Visit Pass
Youth (2-17)	$50.00	$42.00	$25.50	$2.00
Young Adult (18-24)	$270.00	$105.00	$63.75	$5.00
Adult (25-64)	$369.00	$126.00	$76.00	$6.00
Person with Disability & 65+	$119.00	$84.00	$51.00	$4.00

LOCAL CENTERS
Membership at this Level includes full access to all Local Centers, as well as all Neighborhood Centers.
Age Group	Annual Membership	30 Visit Pass	15 Visit Pass	Single Visit Pass
Youth (2-17)	$42.00	$31.50	$19.00	$1.50
Young Adult (18-24)	$180.00	$84.00	$51.00	$4.00
Adult (25-64)	$249.00	$115.50	$70.00	$5.50
Person with Disability & 65+	$99.00	$63.00	$38.50	$3.00

NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS
Membership at this Level includes full access to all Neighborhood Centers.
Age Group	Annual Membership	30 Visit Pass	15 Visit Pass	Single Visit Pass
Youth (2-17)	$35.00	$21.00	$12.75	$1.00
Young Adult (18-24)	$135.00	$63.00	$38.25	$3.00
Adult (25-64)	$190.00	$105.50	$64.00	$5.00
Person with Disability & 65+	$85.00	$42.00	$25.50	$2.00

Occupy Denver Driveby Drop Off

2011-12-23T16:24:00.000-07:00

If you've been following Occupy Denver, you may be aware that police have been ticketing supporters for stopping to drop off contributions and/or honking in support. I had dropped off supplies during the early weeks but couldn't rationalize getting a ticket with this new DPD selective enforcement policy in place. So I tried to figure out a way I could get some supplies to them (by myself) and minimize the chances I'd be ticketed. The vidie above demonstrates how I did it.

(Sorry I missed the "money shot" of the bag falling from the window, but you can hear the window opening and the Occupier shouting thanks.) I'm not recommending that anyone else try this. Obviously there are other infractions for which I could have been stopped - littering comes to mind.

I am also aware that there has been considerable complaining from those who disagree with what OD has been doing lately and how they have been doing it. Yes, I've been down there and witnessed drunkenness, pot smoking, and crazies yelling at each other. But know this: as long as there are people of any description continuing to Occupy Denver, I will do my damnedest to support them in any way I can.

More current Livestreaming now

2011-12-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

Update: 5:19pm OWS at Times Square - cops preparing for another mass arrest attempt. This is getting addicting. WALL STREET, TIMES SQUARE, OCCUPY EVERYWHERE!!

Update: 4:43pm - Cops on horseback.

Update: 4:25 pm (Denver) Police kettle failed, occupiers back in the streets.

Update: OWS running on 7th Ave against the traffic. Cops helpless.

Update: NYPD screwing up big time now - 1:47pm (Denver)

If you are interested in the livestreaming phenomenon, check this out ttp://www.ustream.tv/theother99. It's the best I've seen so far. Tim says he is using an iPhone (4s) with external battery, and a 4G connection.

Livestream from Occupy Denver - 11:31 am

2011-12-15T11:33:00.001-07:00

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/denver99

Also see http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-occupy-denver-protesters-homeless-told-to-move-their-stuff-or-else-20111214,0,5475348.story

Update from OccupyDenver FB:

Occupy Denver

Police Chief White just came down himself and stated that he wishes to have a conversation with us (up to 10 of our committee representatives) on Monday. He said that the encumbrances are a problem and they must go, or else action will be taken. He said he's coming back for the 7:00 PM G.A. Here's some recorded video... mostly audio actually... Chief White starts about 01:30 in, gets on the people's mic at 05:30 >>> http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/19166171 <<< Not sure what's going to happen next!!! -- #Occupy Forever

From Occupy Denver Facebook Page

2011-12-14T16:16:00.001-07:00

Occupy Denver

Sure, it MAY be a coincidence that we had just announced to march on our state Senators tomorrow AND that it just so happens to be 'National Bill of Rights Day' and we got served this notice. Either way ------ WE STAND!!! ---- First off .... 24/7 (Family of Love) is asking for donations of wood to fortify their part of the occupation camp. Second.... We 'll be growing some Tent Monsters on site (Grrrr....) to welcome our oppressors ~~~ Please come down by 10:00 am if you want to be a tent monster. And Lastly... This Saturday is #D17 National Day of Action in which Occupy Wall Street will be officially re-Occupying at Duarte Park in New York. Isn't it fitting that one of the first cities to get violently evicted (Denver) is called to stand up for their 1st Amendment right to Occupy space first, again??? COINCIDENCE??? ~ Hope to see you ALL TOMORROW!!! -- P.s. this march is STILL ON ----> http://www.facebook.com/events/150180398417919/ -- (take THAT, 1%)

Flash Mob Merry Christmas

2011-12-12T09:35:00.002-07:00

Occupy Singer

2011-12-07T17:16:00.001-07:00

Sometimes it's really great being the editor/videographer for this blog. Like when an unexpected email comes in from someone you've never heard of who is talented, bright, and creative, and who supports the Occupy movement. The vidie below blew me away, not just because of its cinematic art, but because of the talent and beauty of Gabrielle Louise. Thank you, Gabrielle, for sharing with us.

I spent the next hour enjoying her work, and then this:

Just the singing

Author Welsome to speak

2011-12-06T09:13:00.001-07:00

Editor's note: Eileen Welsome wrote the Westword 3-part series "Lowdown on Lowry" revealing the secret deal that allowed the major polluters to flush toxic waste into Denver sewers, which now flow to our lakes and fields through the Purple Pipes.

Denver Chapter Annual Meeting

When:
Saturday, December 10, 2011 from 10 am -12 Noon
Where:
The Kirk (Church) of Bonnie Brae, 1201 S. Steele, Denver, CO

Special Speaker:
Pulitzer Prize Winning Writer
Eileen Welsome
Topic:
Denver's Healthcare Roots

Eileen Welsome

Eileen Welsome is an author and investigative reporter who lives in Denver, Colorado. She has won more than two dozen national awards for her work, including the Pulitzer Prize in national reporting, the George Polk Award, and two PEN awards. Her previous books were The Plutonium Files, and The General and the Jaguar.

Her latest book, “Healers and Hellraisers” tells the history of health care in Denver and specifically the story of the institution that is now Denver Health. It begins in March of 1860, before Denver even had a city government and tells how a small frontier hospital, which provided medical care to the injured and indigent and was largely supported by charitable contributions, grew to become Denver Health. Healers and Hellraisers is not a corporate history, but an absorbing tale that recounts the hospital's near-death experiences, its numerous rebirths, and the internal struggles that helped shaped it into the powerhouse that it is today. Through epidemics and pandemics, economic recessions and depressions, extraordinary technological and medical changes, Denver Health survived. Eileen's presentation will include great early photos.

Following the program you will have an opportunity to purchase a copy of her book and have it autographed. The book was published by the Denver Health Foundation and is part of their fund raising program.

If we are going to successfully reform health care it is important to understand our history of health care.

Occupy DC Livestream now

2011-12-04T18:15:00.001-07:00

Livestream here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/occupywashdc

Denver time
6:14pm Cops attempting to remove (with cherry picker) an occupier from roof of structure occupiers built today

Philly cops use "Trigger" in Occupy crowd control

2011-11-30T10:01:00.001-07:00

Occupy LA preparing for police invasion

2011-11-29T22:54:00.001-07:00

Denver time
10:54pm Livestream here and here.

Occupy Unity takes over Washington State capitol in Olympia, WA

2011-11-28T20:35:00.001-07:00

Live stream here: http://www.livestream.com/occupyunity

Denver time
8:36pm Cops picking off protestors and hauling them off.
8:43pm Softly singing "which side are you on". Good percussion. Cops continue to quietly removed seated occupiers.
8:47pm Cop grabs uplink laptop - livestream stopped.
8:57pm Occupiers being taken away in buses - reportedly not being arrested but "detained".

Occupy Denver Friday, Nov 25, 2011

2011-11-28T16:52:00.001-07:00

We went down to the Civic Center Park Friday evening for the Sand Creek Healing Ceremony held at the Wheel sculpture in front of the Art Museum. A group of about 50 Indians gathered to conduct this solemn remembrance of the Chivington Massacre in 1873.

We strolled over to the Occupy Denver site and caught some footage of a GA with a group of about 20 talking about getting a source of power to recharge their batteries, and their dedication to the movement. It was cold, and about 20 other Occupiers had turned in for the night, doing the best that they could under the circumstances dictated by Mayor Hancock and the Denver Police Department (no structures!)

Knowing that these folks are out there every night weighs heavily on me. I've taken coats and tarps and plastic and food donations down there from time to time, but much of it has been swept away by the DPD raids. They are down to a bare minimum, and you'll get a ticket if you stop on Broadway to drop off donations. A minimum of 6 police cars seems to be there all the time. Selective enforcement of the law to the max!

It takes dedication to subject yourself to these conditions if you have a choice. Some of these folks have little choice, and some could go home tonight if they wanted to. But they don't. I've heard that there is an Occupy Denver house where some are staying, but I've had no verification of that.

The biggest crowd was in the park for the Christmas lighting of the City and County building. I've never understood Denver's urge to light this building with the most garish display of all time, and I marvel at those who come out to see it every year. I could hear the crowd oooing and the bells playing, but I really had no desire to participate.

The 3 events added together in an unpleasant way. America - land of contradictions!

PRESS RELEASE

2011-11-28T14:05:00.001-07:00

DENVER POLICE DEPARTMENT

Gerald R. Whitman, Chief of Police

The mission of the Denver Police Department is to deliver high quality public

safety services so all people may share a safe and healthy environment.

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Date: November 22, 2011

To: All Denver Police Officers, Media, Denver City Council, and Denver Community Associations.

Contact: Sonny Jackson

Address: Office of the Chief

1331 Cherokee St., Denver, CO 80204

Phone: 720-913-6534

Fax: 720-913-7021

Purse Snatching

On November 21, 2011, Denver Police responded to the Cherry Creek Mall on a purse snatching. The investigation revealed the suspect was loitering in the vestibule. As the elderly victim was leaving the store, the suspect ran his shoulder into the victim knocking her to her knees, causing injury. He then grabbed the victim’s purse and dragged the victim out the exterior doors. The victim released her purse and the suspect ran Southbound across the parking lot.

The Denver Police Department is asking for anyone who witnesses this for the suspect to Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).

Holiday Safety Tips Reminder

As we are approaching the holiday shopping season. The Denver Police Department would like to wish everyone a Safe and Happy Holiday Season. We would like everyone to take some special precautions to assure their personal safety and have an enjoyable Holiday Season. We have listed some tips to help keep you safe while shopping.

Dress Down:
Dress casually and comfortably. Avoid wearing expensive jewelry.

Shop Together:
Shop with friends and family. Try not to shop alone, especially at night.

Educate Your Kids:
Teach kids what to do if you get separated. Tell them to find a store clerk or security person.

Communicate:
Tell someone where you are going and how long you will be gone. Let them know if you change your schedule.

Park Smart:
Park close to the store. Avoid dark and secluded areas.

Lock the Car:
Keep doors locked and windows closed. Remember your keys.

Stay Alert:
Remember where you park your car. Be aware of suspicious cars and people.

Watch Your Purse:
Hold your purse close to your body or use a front pocket if carrying a wallet. Preferably wear a fanny pack.

Avoid Cash:
Never flash large amounts of money. Try to use checks or credit cards instead of cash.

Use Credit Cards Safely:
Beware of identity theft and keep receipts safe. Record credit card numbers at home and guard PIN numbers.

Shop in Small Doses:
Make regular trips to the car. Avoid carrying too many packages that put you off balance and make you a target.

Returning to the Parking Lot:
Have your car keys out when returning to your car. Check the back seat and under the car before getting in.

Hide Packages:
Store packages in the trunk of the car. Put your packages in the trunk before you drive to your next location not when you arrive. Never leave them visible inside the car.

Act:
Never go home if you think you are being followed or if you feel threatened. Go to a busy well-lit safe place.

Don’t Play Hero:
Comply with a thief’s demands. Record an accurate description for law enforcement: height, weight, eye color, hair color, scars, tattoos, clothing, and license plate.

Sonny Jackson

Occupy

2011-11-26T16:40:00.001-07:00

HOLIDAY IN THE POINTS LIGHTS UP WELTON STREET

2011-11-22T08:45:00.001-07:00

DENVER – The Five Points Business District will host their second annual holiday celebration, “Holiday in the Points,” on Saturday, Nov. 26.

Open to the public, Holiday in the Points will kick off the holiday season with an array of festive, family-friendly activities and a wonderful lighting display.

Key features of this year’s celebration include photos with Santa Claus, holiday-themed arts and crafts stations provided by the Colorado Creative Giving T.A.B.L.E. and a light display called “Art of Light.” Firefighters from Denver Fire Department Station No. 3 will make an appearance with their fire engine. Live music performances and holiday specials will be featured at Coffee at the Point.

Dante James, interim executive director of the business district said, “We are thrilled to host Holiday in the Points for the second year. This event is really an extension of our larger vision to promote a diverse community by making Welton Street and surrounding areas a great place to live, work, shop, learn and play. We encourage any and all to attend to get into the holiday spirit and soak up a little of the history Welton Street has to offer.”

WHO: The Five Points Business District
WHAT: Second Annual Holiday in the Points celebration
WHERE: Arts and crafts and Santa Claus: HALO Center for Youth, 2758 Welton St.
Art of Light: On Welton Street between 25th and 28th Avenues
WHEN: Saturday, November 26, 2011
Arts and crafts and Santa Claus: 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Art of Light will follow
At 6:00 pm.
ADMISSION: Free

Holiday in the Points is part of a larger, ongoing effort by the Five Points Business District to promote awareness, use and revitalization of the historic Welton Street corridor.

About the Five Points Business District
The Five Points Business District (FPBD) is responsible for the growth and development of Denver, Colorado’s historic Welton Street and the promotion and economic empowerment of the broader Five Points community. Funded in part by Denver’s Office of Economic Development, the office is part of the city’s Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative. The work of the FPBD is a comprehensive effort that incorporates Business Development, the Promotion of Art and Culture, Historic Neighborhood Preservation and the Greater Good of the community. For additional information on FPBD, visit www.fivepointsbiz.org.

Sponsors: Five Points Business District, Councilman Albus Brooks, Civil Technology, Inc., Welton Street Pedestrian Maintenance Mall District, Whittier Neighborhood Association, Coffee at the Point and Halo Foundation.

13th Annual Sand Creek Massacre Spiritual Healing Run

2011-11-22T08:36:00.001-07:00

The 13th Annual Sand Creek Massacre Spiritual Healing Run begins Thursday November 24, 2011, at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site. The run is an annual event coordinated by the Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana with support from the Northern Arapaho Tribe of Wyoming, the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, the National Park Service, Town of Eads, Kiowa County, the Denver organizing committee, and History Colorado to honor those killed at the massacre. This year’s event marks the 147th Anniversary of the Sand Creek Massacre.
Activities associated with the run will commence with a Prayer Ceremony at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site. The event will conclude in the afternoon of Saturday, November 26, on the steps of the west lawn of the Colorado State Capitol, followed by a reception for participants at the Denver Indian Center.

Schedule of events: (all times are approximate)
Thursday, Nov. 24
9 AM - Pipe Ceremony and prayer at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site 55411 County Road W - Approximately 8 miles north of the intersection of Kiowa County Road 54 and State Highway 96, near the town of Chivington CO.
Runners will be blessed and the annual Spiritual Healing Run to Denver will commence, followed by a meal in Eads, CO.
Friday, Nov. 25
7 AM - Sunrise Ceremony – To Be Determined, The ‘Healing Run’ will continue on to Denver.
7 PM - Candlelight Vigil at the Denver Art Museum Wheel sculpture,100 West 14th Avenue Parkway, Denver, CO.
Saturday, Nov. 26
8 AM - Honoring Ceremony at Riverside Cemetery, 5201 Brighton Boulevard, Denver, for Captain Silas Soule, and Lt. Joseph A. Cramer, U.S. Army. Both men instructed their troops not to fire at the massacre.
9 AM - Continue ‘Healing Run’ from Riverside Cemetery to 15th and Arapahoe, Denver, CO.
9:50 AM – At 15th and Arapahoe — near the site where Captain Silas Soule was assassinated — the runners will join with walkers and continue on to the Colorado State Capitol Building.
11 AM - Presentation on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol Building (West Lawn side) 4 miles distance – MUST REGISTER TO RUN
Noon reception - Location To Be Determined
For additional information about the Annual Sand Creek Massacre Spiritual Healing Run/Walk, please call run organizer Otto Braided Hair (406) 749 4325.

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™
The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.

To learn more contact Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site at 719-438-5916 or www.nps.gov/sand .
The Sand Creek Massacre site is located at 55411 County Road W, 23 miles from Eads, CO. To drive to the site take Colorado Hwy. 287 near Eads, or west off Hwy 385 at Sheridan Lake. Near Chivington, turn north onto Chief White Antelope Way (County Road 54) or at Brandon, turn north onto County Road 59. Follow either road to its entrance with County Road W, one mile east (right) of its intersection with County Road 54, or several miles west (left) of County Rd. 59. Hours of operation at the site are from Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM. The park headquarters is located at 910 Wansted, in Eads, CO. The hours of operation at the park headquarters are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM except Federal holidays.

Denver Police Urge Reporting Suspicious Actions Downtown

2011-11-19T15:15:00.001-07:00

For Immediate Release

Date: November 16, 2011
To: Denver Police Officers, Denver City Council
Media, Denver Community Organizations
Contact: Detective John White #98046
Address: Office of the Chief
1331 Cherokee St., Denver, CO 80204
Email: dpdpio@ci.denver.co.us
Phone: 720-913-6028
Fax: 720-913-7021

(Denver) Denver Police are reminding citizens to be vigilant and report suspicious activity while in downtown area.

Over the past several months, groups of individuals have displayed predatory behavior while in the Denver downtown area. In some instances, victims have been assaulted and/or robbed. These suspects instigate contact with the victims and create confrontational situations. The suspect is then joined by several other individuals and assault and/or rob the victim(s). There have been 15 incidents reported from August 1, 2011 through November 9, 2011 in the downtown area.

Information on several of these assaults has been released previously by the Denver Police Department and do not appear to be racially motivated. While there has not been a recent assault over the past few weeks, the previous attacks were occurring almost weekly and at least one suspect has been involved in multiple incidents.

Ch31 news report here

We do believe that there have been instances where the assaults have been captured on camera by bystanders. We are asking those people to come forward and provide us with the footage. This new information could assist investigators and prevent others from possibly being victimized.

No arrests have been made at this time.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents or if you have been a victim of this type of crime, please call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). You can text to: CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter your message or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com. If the information you provide leads to the arrest and charging of a wanted individual, you can receive a cash award up to $2,000.

*Please find the attached map. Video footage is also available upon request at the Denver Police Headquarters information desk.

Below is a list of safety tips while walking:

· Be aware of your surroundings.
· Walk only on busy, well-lighted streets, even if it makes the trip a little longer.
· Avoid shortcuts through parking lots, alleys or parks.
· If you feel you are being followed, cross the street or begin walking in a different direction. Walk toward lighted, more populated areas.
· If a vehicle is following you, turn and run in the opposite direction. The driver will have to turn around before continuing to follow you, buying you time to make it to safety.

Occupy Denver live stream now

2011-11-19T13:11:00.001-07:00

Go to Ustream (30 sec ad)

Freezes up, inconsistent, but the best we've got.

1:49pm Offair - but thanks for trying. Upgrade and come back.
2:03pm Back up

Occupy

2011-11-19T11:40:00.001-07:00

Occupy Denver 11-17-11

2011-11-17T17:34:00.001-07:00

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/denver99 (6 viewers)

OWS taking over the streets in NYC

2011-11-17T14:14:00.001-07:00

http://www.ustream.tv/theother99 (22,000 viewers)

"Whose streets? Our streets!"
Police trying to set up barriers in front of crowd. People knocking down barriers. DAY OF ACTION!

100 cops trying to hold back 3000 marchers. FAIL.

2:29pm Black Block spotted.
2:36pm Marchers back in action with drums at front.
3:26pm Marchers still at it - about to converge with unions at Foley Square.

Helicopter shot at http://www.ustream.tv/cbsnews

Marchers are going to head toward the bridges. Police are said to be waiting for them. This real-time live streaming is exciting.

3:58pm Tim (live-stream operator) is denied access to speaker by OWS security. Group now headed toward Brooklyn Bridge.
4:00pm Air space reportedly being cleared.
4:04pm Union workers with linked arms surround and block police.
4:10pm Police gathered to block bridge. (Your edit in italics - This is what a police state looks like. Can martial law be far behind?)
4:14pm Marching band ahead in march, providing nice sound track.
4:22pm Police blocking bridge. More barricades being delivered. (Are the police going to arrest thousands?)

Nov 17th - A day of live streaming

2011-11-17T08:02:00.001-07:00

If you can't come to the Webb building today for the International Day of Action, try the next best thing - live streaming.

Denver - http://www.thescoop303.com/denver-live-stream/

NYC - http://www.livestream.com/owsnyc

NYC helicopter - http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/livenow?id=8435340

Occupy Denver - Be There

2011-11-16T18:37:00.001-07:00

November 17: 60 Days of Action
We have reached a pivotal moment in history, as we find ourselves on the threshold of a great and lasting change. We at Occupy Denver stand in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and all occupations across the country and around the world. The accelerated and coordinated efforts to destroy the Occupy movement, evidenced by the forceful actions taken against the occupiers in Zucotti Park and other cities, are confirmation that the Occupy movement is working.
These actions will not stop us; they will only make us stronger. This has brought us to the precipice of tremendous change, a change for the better. We believe and know what is right and good and thus we will take that next step.
The Occupy movement stands in sharp contrast to the forces that are being marshaled against us. When they use force, we use nonviolence. When they try to isolate us, we build community. When they move against us, we call for peace and cooperation.

Together, we are standing up and speaking out for the rights guaranteed by our Constitution: the right of free assembly, the right of free speech, the right of free press. We affirm that all people are created equal and have the right to share in the prosperity of our great nation. Without such rights, then what have we? We are committed to ending the corruption of our government and restoring political power to the people. We believe that our country, and our world, can be a better place and that we must work together to make this happen. To those already standing with us: we ask that you continue to stand strong. You are making the difference. To all the rest: we need for you to join us. We need individuals and organizations from every corner of the country to join the Occupy movement now.

We call upon you who have been silent: Speak and be heard.
We call upon you who have not stood up for what you believe in: Stand and be seen.
We call upon you who have yet to put your needs on paper. Write and be counted.

Make the difference and bring about the change you want to see! Join us at noon tomorrow, November 17, at Civic Center Park as we celebrate the two month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street and the nearly 2,000 Occupy movements that have sprung up around the world. There has been a coordinated effort to silence the voices of the 99%, Mayor Hancock and the Denver Police Department are scared of an awakened populace. We will call attention to the Mayor’s decision to violently crackdown on Occupy Denver. We will present alternatives and show the contrast with other communities around the country and how their local governments have supported the 99% rather than attempt to silence the voice of their constituents. There will then be a 6 p.m. rally at Occupy Denver after which we will conduct a General Assembly where we will discuss the Occupy movement as a whole and how we should progress over the coming months. So come out, have your voices heard and once again stand up for freedom, for justice, and for the future of our world. United we stand!

Living (and driving) in a police state

2011-11-15T12:09:00.001-07:00

I was down at Occupy Denver (Colfax and Broadway) a few weeks ago and saw a woman making a new sign. The sign read "Are we living in a police state?" I paused, and she looked up, smiling. Conversation ensued. I realized that she had no idea that she was already living in a police state; the here and now of Denver Colorado. See also.

It is not that hard to live in a police state if you know the rules. You must know and live by their rules. This is for your own health and safety, as the authorities have pointed out to you countless times.

1. Spend most of your free time at home. You are probably already doing this.
- do not raise your voice or play your music loud.
- don't get falling down drunk or beat your wife or children.
- be aware that your neighbors already find you suspicious and are poised to dial 911.
- go outside and walk around your house at night. See how much can be seen. Note dark areas of your property. Carry a maglight as needed.
- protect yourself against home-invasion (which is becoming increasingly popular). I'll be expanding on this theme later in a separate post.

2. If you must go out by car, make sure you have every last regulation regarding the use of your vehicle on their streets fulfilled and executed down to the letter. For example,
- did you know it's a $90.00 fine if you have your registration in the car BUT HAVE NOT SIGNED IT. That's right, check yours, turn it over and see if you have signed it properly.
- and, hello, no outstanding tickets, warrants, or other things that can easily be looked up by an officer with a laptop. You must inquire for yourself and pay all of this off before you drive. If you don't, you are asking for it.
- do not slow down or stop to drop off supplies at Occupy Denver on Broadway. They are now ticketing for this infraction.
- At stoplights and signs, stop your vehicle completely and well back of the crosswalk line. This is hard to learn after a lifetime of rolling stops but the photo cameras are already in place and being used to ticket you for this infraction. Denver City Council even discussed whether or not there should be some allowable (1 or 2 inches) infraction. Their answer was NO, and be aware that the camera angle can make a difference, so stay back far enough that you can see the entire line on the street in front of you.

Yes, that's me going 40 mph in a 30 mph zone on 17th.
And yes, I paid the ticket (aka Dumbo tax)

- know the speed limit and never exceed it, even when passing. Beware of speed limit change-ups designed to catch you going the wrong speed, and mismatched speed limits much lower than the physical road was designed for.
- make sure your license plate is tightly mounted with slot-less bolts, and that all of your car lights are working.
- if stopped, never consent to a search - actively say that you do not consent.

3. If you must go out on foot, again, you must obey all the rules.
- do not jay-walk. Selective law enforcement makes its use rare but available if they want to "detain" you.
- do not walk on the grass in parks.
- do not wear outlandish or unusual clothes or outfits. Unless of course, you want to be singled-out and beaten.
- do not wear jewelry or expensive shoes, unless you can afford to loose them.
- always carry photo ID.
- never carry more cash than you can afford to lose. You may risk offending the holdup man if you have nothing, so take just enough to satisfy him so he won't kill you for being so cheap. A $20 bill will do.
- never carry any hidden weapons. Carry your gun in a visible holster if it is legal in your state.
- never carry any contraband, which by definition, is stuff you shouldn't carry.
- do not even think about going out if you are intoxicated beyond control in "keep your mouth shut" situations.
- always be aware - look out your window before you go out your door.
- assume there are people out there who mean to do you harm.
- walk with a purpose, your body language is important and can be a deterrent.
- keep your head up and scanning. In Denver (Capitol Hill) thugs hide behind large trees in the street verge with aluminum baseball bats and take you down in one blow from behind. True.
- pay attention to the traffic lights. Do not cross against the light even if there is no traffic.
- remember that you may be on camera. See "halo" cameras on Colfax.
- beware of any curfews that prohibit your presence at certain times of day.

4. General considerations:
- don't fool yourself.
- all phones (landlines) are tapped, i.e., they all go to the Central Office where they can easily be picked out and listened to or recorded. Don't imagine that they need a warrant to do this - those days are gone.
- all emails are examined by computers for key words. Those containing key words are then read by humans.
- all emails are saved, and deleting them on your computer does not remove them from the email servers.
- act as if you are under surveillance. You may be. The good news is that you are probably not important enough to warrant specific surveillance.
- in the city, someone is always watching.
- prepare for the worst. When it doesn't happen, you'll feel good. If it does happen, you'll be prepared.

If you think things might get worse before they get better, you may want to read this book - Surviving in Argentina.

Occupy Wall Street under siege

2011-11-14T23:16:00.001-07:00

11:15pm "Zucotti Park, NYC is getting evicted. Spread the news. Tweet, FB. Whole world needs to know it RIGHT NOW. They are attacking heart of our movement."

1)http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution - mayhem

11:28pm 2)http://www.ustream.tv/cbsnews view from above - looks live - police walking around in park

11:29pm Zuccatti Park surrounded - eviction soon?

11:37pm Cops in small groups arresting individuals and marching them away.

11:43pm site#2 has two camera. One woman screaming "don't touch me".

11:46pm site@2 - NYPD white shirts in evidence. Banjo music playing. Site#2 showing picture of US Capitol.

11:53pm New site - http://www.livestream.com/occupywallstnyc. Site #2 reportedly refueling helicopter.

11:56pm - Site#2 has helicopter back in the air - but no picture.

12:03am - Site#1 - Cops destroying camps - arresting individuals without take down.

12:05am - News helicopters reportedly ordered out of airspace.

12:06am - Large dump trucks pulling up.

12:19am - Loud bangs - smoke/teargas?

12:24am - Radio on the ground - trying to get to park but press not allowed. http://www.wbai.org/

12:31am - People massing at Wall Street Bull.

12:34am - Police reportedly denying credentialed press access.

12:51am - 300 people at Broadway and Pine pushing back against police - blocking trash trucks from leaving.

1:20am - If only the people running the live stream knew how to operate a camera. Over and out.

ACTION ALERT: Board of Health Patient Rulemaking Hearing (11/16)

2011-11-14T14:00:00.001-07:00

The Colorado Board of Health will hold a rulemaking hearing on Wed., Nov. 16, concerning changes to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's rules and regulations regarding medical marijuana. One of the main topics is a proposal to lower the patient Registry fee from $90 to $35. The Board will also discuss modifying the patient indigence standard and clarifying the definition of "in good standing" for physicians, in accordance with House Bill 11-1043

FULL DETAILS HERE:
http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/op/bh/

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1) ATTEND HEARING
Board of Health Public Rulemaking Hearing
Wed., Nov. 16, 2011
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Sabin Conference Room, Building A - 1st Floor
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, CO
Time: Approx. 10:30am. The agenda says the MMJ rulemaking hearing will commence at 10:30am, but this is only an estimate, so if you want to testify in person, please show up early.

2) EMAIL COMMENTS
1) Cut and paste the CTI's Sample Comments, or write comments of your own.
2) Email it before Nov. 16, 2011 at 9:00am to: cdphe.edobohcomments_IndigenceFeesDoctorLic@state.co.us

SAMPLE COMMENTS
To: cdphe.edobohcomments_IndigenceFeesDoctorLic@state.co.us
Subject: MMJ Rulemaking Hearing (Nov. 16, 2011)

Dear Colorado Board of Health:
I support lowering the fees for medical marijuana patients from $90/year to $35/year. However, I am concerned about the security of the Registry and its confidentiality. I understand CDPHE is currently working to make parts of the Registry accessible online to the DOR Medical Marijuana Criminal Enforcement Division and other law enforcement agencies. Once any portion of the Registry is available online to other agencies, it opens the Registry up to possible compromise. Given that there have been several unexplained breaches of the Registry security in the past, I would like to know how you will prevent hackers from going online and stealing the Registry or parts of it? What portion of the patient's fees currently goes to making sure the Registry remains confidential? Patients will only use the optional state Registry if they are certain their identity will remain private and secure.

Sincerely,

Your Name

3) COPY AND REDISTRIBUTE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT

---
Provided as a Public Service by the:
Cannabis Therapy Institute
P.O. Box 19084, Boulder, CO 80308
Phone: 877-420-4205
Web: http://www.CannabisTherapyInstitute.com
Email: info@cannabistherapyinstitute.com

Paul M. Levitt: Homage to Adrienne Anderson

2011-11-14T11:15:00.001-07:00

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Camera staff

Anderson teaching at CU. Picture from DenverDirect files.

In 1952, the university of Colorado fired Morris Judd, an instructor in the Department of Philosophy, for failing to answer President Robert Stearns’s question, “Are you or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?” On November 7, 2002, in the old Fleming Law building, an SRO crowd heard the university, in the person of Philip DiStefano, honorably apologize for the injustice and establish a scholarship in the name of Morris Judd.

Will it take another fifty years for the university to acknowledge the shame of firing Adrienne Anderson, an instructor in Environmental Studies, for exposing toxic waste dumps and the perpetrators, some of whom were patrons of the university? Adrienne had taught at C.U. for twelve years, had been an instructor in good standing, and had offered classes that were always over-subscribed; but when she and her students went public with their research findings, she was suddenly persona non grata.

The university immediately distanced itself from her research without asking its myriad scientists to check her findings, although repeated requests were made to do so. Her department suddenly decided “to go in a new direction,” cancelled her classes, and discontinued her contract. One can only hope that the newly formed committee to protect the rights of instructors will have the power to prevent further injustices.

To this day in the United States, we do not know where all the bodies are buried. Dumping sites holding toxins turn up periodically. Adrienne, part historian, part archeologist, part geographer, part epidemiologist, part sleuth, unearthed and studied federal and state documents to discover the location of the toxins. She instructed her students in the fine art of detection and imbued them with a sense of civic responsibility.

Adrienne’s students thought that the training they received from her was first-rate, and the New York Times thought enough of her work to run an article on it. Thanks to her research and that of her students, we know, for example, that several Denver locations are cancer hot spots because homes were built in areas where aquifers and water pipelines were contaminated, a fact that the usual suspects have gone to inordinate lengths to hide.

Adrienne died a few weeks ago from a brain tumor, whether caused by the nature of her work or for some other reason we will never know. But let us not wait fifty years to remember the debt that we owe her and to make amends. A scholarship in her name is the least we can do.

Paul M. Levitt
Boulder

DPD war on tents (and tables)

2011-11-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

Occupy Denver reponds to ongoing police brutality and state oppression against all occupies

2011-11-13T20:54:00.001-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

It is clear that the occupation movement has the government terrified of the emerging "people power" in America and is willing to suppress this movement by any means. In the past 24 hours, major Occupies across America were attacked and forcibly evicted. Word is that the newly emerging class consciousness in America is bad for business and must be stopped. Last night, once again, public safety and health was evoked by legal officials as a mob of Riot Police marched into Civic Center Park. In the past weeks Occupy Denver members were legally sleeping on the sidewalk without tents. A warning notice was given to the protesters late Friday night by police officials stating that "encumbrances" must be removed from public sidewalks, though no official notice of enforcement, or a time, was given. Again the government decided to change the rules and enforce its most belligerent action to date, to remove everyone from the sidewalk that in prior notices from the state were approved. When asked if ample time would be given to remove personal property, the officers responded in the affirmative. Moments later, the police moved in.

Once again, the DPD reaffirms its position as the most violent police force in the United States. Officers assaulted demonstrators who were just standing on the sidelines. An officer waited until a protester turned around and hit him in the back three times. They assaulted people verbally, including threats to "break the teeth" of protesters. One officer told another officer to "SHOOT EM!! SHOOT EM NOW!" One protester was struck by an officer on a motorcycle and was hospitalized. Protesters were kettled and shot with pepper-balls, according to Colorado Street Medics, who found pepper-ball shells at the scene of last night's incident. The shooting took place at 14th and Speer, eventually forcing the group to move to 16th St. Mall, where diners and theater-goers were present. The police action resulted in the closing of the 16th St. Mall bus system for civilian safety. Police actions put the general public in harms way, for no reason. All of this dangerous mayhem, completely instigated by police under the orders of our Mayor, was directed at peaceful protesters. Protestors were followed, intimidated and hunted by the police for hours after the eviction, proving that this was not about Civic Center park, but an attempt to aggressively confront the Occupy movement. These are certainly the kind of actions one might expect from the Egyptian Police in the last days of the Arab Spring, but not in Denver....

Our calls for the state to respect our first amendment rights have apparently fallen on deaf ears. Our attempts to negotiate through the city council, the mayor, and the governor have turned up nothing concrete. The first amendment states that it is illegal for the state to make any laws "abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." For the Occupy Movement, the ability to assemble in tents is a form of free speech, and our constitutional rights have clearly been violated. The state and local governments are both in violation of the U.S. Constitution, as they are also in violation of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We call on the Department of Justice and the UN Human Rights Commission to look into these allegations as we assert our right to freely assemble peacefully.

So far almost 4,000 folks have been arrested at Occupy demonstrations around the country, yet not a single one of the Wall Street criminals responsible for the financial ruin we find ourselves in has. We have mobilized against the greatest concentration of power known to man, and like all empires of the past, we know this one will not go down without a fight. It's been little over a month, and we can already see the tremendous positive impact the Occupy movement has had. For the fourth time in a month, they may have blocked off our park from us, but we are not going anywhere.

-Occupy Denver General Assembly
11/13/2011

Occupy Portland - Live streaming

2011-11-13T14:16:00.001-07:00

2:18pm - Go here http://www.kgw.com/live-stream and here http://www.livestream.com/occupyptown.

3:14pm - Park cleared - street to be cleared next. Police announcement "...you may be subject to the use of force, including chemical weapons and blunt-force weapons." Crowd chanting "we are peaceful people".

3:21pm - People locking arms in the street. KGW has the best stream.

3:40pm - Another source - http://www.emergencystream.com/video_streams/OR/Portland6.html

same as KGW but a few seconds earlier. Looks like about 300 people standing in the street defying police order. If they are waiting to be arrested, they should sit down and lock arms.

3:57pm - Additional riot police joining. http://www.emergencystream.com/video_streams/OR/Portland6.html has 2 cameras running.

4:47pm - Police seem content to play the waiting game. The park has been cleared using front-end loader and dump trucks and is being fenced off. Occupiers set up tent in front line.

4:53pm - Police numbers suddenly double - now 4 deep at front line. Cops have not put on their gas-masks yet.

Occupy Denver Live Stream

2011-11-12T14:00:00.001-07:00

Go here for live streaming from State Capitol now

Update: 3:35pm - Police said to be gathering for their weekly "war on tents" at Civic Center Park with a 5:00pm launch time. Streaming is somewhat spotty, but hey, it's the best we've got, and thanks to those responsible.

Update 4:27pm - 14th and Broadway is an armed camp of Denver Police preparing for ....?

Update 4:43pm - Bobby of Scoop303 needs a charged laptop. Police are said to be ready to "permanently evict" Occupy Denver. Every time Bobby goes off the air, another ad is shown to the viewers. That's because they are using the free version of Ustream. Time to upgrade.

Update 5:21pm - Bobby operating from his car with a camera that is not low-light.

Update 5:24pm - Chanting in background. Police moving in right now.

Update 5:31pm - Bobby gives up - try this http://www.ustream.tv/channel/occupy-denver1

Update 5:40pm - Sound only.

Update 5:55pm - Cops surround park. People headed towards mall.

Update 6:00pm - Better stream here http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution

Update 6:29pm - Over and out.

Adrienne Anderson's Memorial - Nov. 6, 2011

2011-11-09T16:25:00.009-07:00

A memorial was held to commemorate the life of environmental activist Adrienne Anderson. Over 100 friends gathered at the Altona Grange Hall in Boulder County. A last-minute failure of our camera was rescued in part by Juliette Mondot who recorded what she could with her flip camera. Apologies to those we were not able to record. If you want to review clips of Adrienne in action, type her name in the search box on this blog.

Godspeed to Adrienne. May she rest in peace.

Developers are targeting open land on the north end of Golden

2011-11-09T13:04:00.000-07:00

Developers are targeting open land on the north end of Golden that will bring more traffic on SH93. If you care about Golden and Jefferson County, please come to this important community meeting tonight!

Tonight (Wed, Nov. 9 at 6:15 pm) is a Jeffco planning commission meeting at the Taj where the planning commission will make a decision on the Draft North Plains Area Plan. This plan affects open space lands from Golden north to the county boundary and especially those critical open space lands on the west side of Highway 93. It is very important that a lot of people show up in person to communicate the importance of leaving our last open space lands undeveloped and to not commit the Hwy 93 corridor to an urban sprawl future. If you cannot make it, please send an email today to rclark@co.jefferson.co.us. He is the Jeffco planner and will forward your email to the planning commission. Some points for your consideration are below. If you attend, the hope is there would be a lot of people testifying so all you would have to do is say you agree with the other guy. When big crowds show up, it really makes an impact on the planning commission members, five of whom I am told are new and are in that learning phase. - Vera Smith

Please pass this on to your friends and neighbors who might be interested. Thanks!
Nov. 9, 2011, 6:15 p.m.
Jefferson County Courts and Administration Bldg. (the Taj)
100 Jefferson County Parkway
Golden, CO

Some points you could make or reinforce in regard to the Foothills Highway Corridor (SH93):
We do not have the infrasturcture to support more developmnet. SH93 is already too dangerous, and more traffic make this road worse.
To support home values, no urban development (sprawl) west of SH 93 to protect the mountain backdrop and views
Keep Area 30 rural - no urban island in the mountain backdrop and foreground. (proposed development at 58th and SH93 on the west side)
Designate Areas 19, 20 and 24 as open space - they are on the western boundary of the Rocky Flats Wildlife refuge
Think of the future - do not continue the old 1980's plan to urbanize the highway 93 corridor
Guide growth to infill the already urbanized areas to the east
Tax base in the already urbanized areas is tax base for the county
Open space improves our property values, requires few services, has its own revenue stream and doesn't demand "tax breaks and incentives" and it’s what the citizens want

Check out Friends of the Foothills web site at www.FriendsoftheFoothills.com and details on Jeffco’s plan at http://jeffco.us/planning/planning_T59_R163.htm

You may still send email input to Russell Clark, Jeffco Planning and Zoning Dept. - his email is rclark@co.jefferson.co.us

Additional Information from Don Moore, Plan Jeffco Board Member:

1. Area 30 - Area 30 has been designated as a very large free standing urban activity area. This area is approximately 1,010 acres and would in effect amount to a small city in size. By comparison, the City of Edgewater is only 640 acres or a mile square. What would be the impact on traffic, water and wastewater, schools, recreation and other needed public facilities? Does the County need this development when there are thousands of acres vacant land already zoned for development and public infrastructure in place? Does the County really want a large free standing community located in the location at this time? Does the County want a large free standing community located at this location disrupting the billion dollar views of the Front Range Mountain Backdrop?

With thousands of acres of vacant land and properties in need to be redeveloped located within existing Jefferson County municipalities zoned for similar uses, this designation seems to be unnecessary and unneeded for many decades to come. It is unlikely that Area 30 would be ready or needed for development for the life of the proposed North Plains Community Plan and therefore should not be so designated until a latter date when there is truly a demonstrated need for this area to be developed and traffic impacts are better understood.

Development of this area for urban uses would greatly negatively impact the visual importance of the Front Range Mountain Backdrop. Every effort should be taken to preserve most of the rural character of lands located west of State Highway 93 and in particular the foreground and toe of slope of the Mountain Backdrop.

2. Area 24 – Area 24 has been designated for industrial uses as a long narrow strip of land adjacent to and east of State Highway 93. This designation could not be more incongruent with the large investment the County and others had made to preserve the open space lands surrounding Area 24. Further, a long strip of industrial uses along SH 93 would greatly diminish the otherwise valuable scenic qualities of the highway corridor.

3. Front Range Mountain Backdrop – Over a number of years the Jefferson County Government has stated the importance of protecting the Front Range Mountain Backdrop. The current North Plains Area Plan designates locations for urban development that will greatly impact the Mountain Backdrop. The County needs to complete a comprehensive visual impact analysis of these designated urban areas. This is a relatively easily task that the County’s GIS staff can accomplish with existing computer mapping.

4. Area 21 - Area 21 has been designated for Office, Research and Development as a transition from existing preserved open space lands to the industrial uses within the City of Golden. Given that Area 21 is nearly completely surrounded and badly bisects lands currently preserved as open space, while only sharing a small boundary with the City of Golden this designation deos not provide for a real transition between open space and the existing Golden devleopment.
Distributed by the steering committee of Citizens for Golden

OCCUPY DENVER ELECTS LEADER

2011-11-08T12:38:00.001-07:00

In response to Denver Mayor Michael Hancock's insistence that Occupy Denver choose leadership to deal with City and State officials, and drawing inspiration from the notion that corporations are people, Occupy Denver's General Assembly has elected a leader: Shelby, a three year old Border Collie. "Shelby is closer to a person than any corporation: She can bleed, she can breed, and she can show emotion. Either Shelby is a person, or corporations aren't people," said a Shelby supporter at the time of her election.

Occupy Denver reserves the right to alter leadership status, but for now, Shelby exhibits heart, warmth, and an appreciation for the group over personal ambition that Occupy Denver members feel are sorely lacking in the leaders some of them have voted for on national, state, and local levels. Accordingly, Occupy Denver looks forward to communication with Mayor Hancock and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper sometime this week to introduce their leadership.

Newly-elected leader Shelby will be leading this Saturday's Occupy Denver march against Corporate Personhood, and invites all other civic minded dogs (and their leash-holders) to join.

Occupy Denver 11-3-11:"Livin' in the Land Where the Whip Still Cracks"

2011-11-04T11:29:00.002-06:00

I went to Occupy Denver yesterday because Michael Moore was going to make an appearance, and I did get some footage of the statement he made. But before he arrived, this gentleman appeared, and made one of the most moving statements I have heard from the Occupy movement to date.
(Tech note: I'm having some difficulty with the auto-focus on my new camera, but I would encourage you to stick with it to the end. It's well worth it.)

If anyone knows the poet's name, please leave a comment.

Update: His name is Noah Gauthier. Thank you Noah Gauthier, you are a splendid and powerful poet.