What's in the Heart, cannot be taken

Excellent, excellent work by Kitty Farmer and Watersong Productions. If you are into film, you might want to study this piece. Story telling at its best.

The story is one of the many U.S. defaults; this one was the promise to provide Indian health care. Not keeping our word to the Indians, as usual.

The fact that this documentary is a call to non-Indians is unusual and refreshing.

H/T to Eve’s Fund for Native American Health Initiatives for putting it on their FB page.


What's in the Heart - Can't be Taken from Kitty Farmer on Vimeo.

Secret THC/DUI meetings held in apparent violation of the law

Great work. Kudos to Bryce Crawford, Robert Chase and all those at the Colorado Springs Independent - Indy Blog involved in producing this report! You nailed it!

Good idea, and it's free!

TEENS TO LEARN LIFE-SAVING DRIVING SKILLS FOR FREE

AS DRIVER’S EDGE NATIONAL TOUR RETURNS TO DENVER.

Non-profit organization continues its mission to help save the lives of young drivers

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of America’s teens according to the National Traffic Safety Administration. In 2009, there were 465 motor vehicle related fatalities in the state of Colorado. Of those fatalities, 94 (or about 20 percent) were young people aged 16 to 24. Driver’s Edge, with its innovative and potentially life-saving instructional program, will make its fifth visit to the Denver area to help tackle this problem. On August 27 and 28, young drivers can benefit from this non-profit organization’s free program as the 2011 Driver’s Edge National Tour visits Coors Field.

Driver's Edge includes the following elements:

• Classroom and behind-the-wheel defensive driving instruction on skid control, evasive lane change maneuvers, anti-lock braking skills and panic-braking techniques, plus written tests designed to test knowledge both before and after students are behind the wheel;
• Local law enforcement participation, including impaired driving awareness and seat belt safety; and
• Proper car maintenance session based on Firestone Complete Auto Care’s Car Care Academies.

WHAT: Driver’s Edge provides real-life training for young drivers in an effort to combat the unacceptably high annual number of teen auto collisions and driving fatalities. This exciting half-day program presented with an “MTV flavor” includes classroom and behind-the-wheel training for young drivers. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend as well.

WHEN: Saturday August 27, 2011 Sunday August 28, 2011

Session One: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Session One: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Session Two: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Session Two: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Coors Field

2001 Blake Street

Denver, CO 80205

WHO: Jeff Payne, Driver’s Edge founder, Steven Tepper, Driver’s Edge president, and the Edge team of professional racecar drivers and performance driving instructors.

**Members of the media are invited to come out and test their skills behind the wheel.**

TO ATTEND: Young drivers, aged 15 to 21, possessing a valid learner’s permit or driver's license, must register in advance at www.driversedge.org. Each day, a total of 200 young drivers (plus their parents) have the opportunity to attend.

While the value of a comparable program is $450 per person, there is no charge for young drivers to attend Driver’s Edge, thanks to private charitable donations and the generous support of community-minded partners such as Bridgestone Americas, Inc., Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC (the “presenting partner” of the Driver’s Edge National Tour), Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC and the IZOD IndyCar Series.

CONTACT: Michael Graham Jeff Payne Steven Tepper

(615) 780-3334 (702) 361-3778 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (702) 361-3778      end_of_the_skype_highlighting (310) 470-9930 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (310) 470-9930      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Michael.Graham@dvl.com jeff@driversedge.org tepper@driversedge.org

re: Dick Cheney, war criminal

(Please keep in mind that this man no longer has a heartbeat, as he had a small pump installed instead.)
(Sorry about the misleading Exxon ad. They forgot to mention aquifers.)

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Central Denver Road Closures

USA PRO CYCLING TRAFFIC ADVISORY

The first USA Pro Cycling Challenge concludes in Denver on Sunday, August 28, 2011, and Denver Public Works Traffic Engineering Services has been working closely with other City agencies and event organizers to create a plan for the race route that allows access for the travelling public and race fans.

Riders are expected to cross the finish line at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Broadway directly in front of the Colorado State Capitol after completing six loops on a circuit that encompasses portions of Speer Boulevard and Colfax Avenue, continuing through downtown next to Civic Center Park and then across the finish line on Broadway. Free festivities for spectators, including concerts and bike demos, will begin at 10:00 a.m. on race day in the park.

The seven-day, 500-mile race, billed as “the most grueling bike race in American history,” will receive national and international media coverage, providing incredible exposure for the Mile High City, and thousands of visitors will be travelling to Denver to witness the conclusion of the race, positively impacting our economy overall.

Street Closures:
The following impacts on Denver streets--Please note-ALL TIMES ARE APPROXIMATE:
In preparation for the race finale and Civic Center Park festivities, these streets will close at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 27, and will re-open on Sunday, August 28, at 10:00 p.m.
Streets include:
· 14th Avenue from Cherokee Street to Lincoln Street
· Bannock Street from Colfax Avenue to 13th Avenue.
· Broadway from Colfax Avenue to 13th Avenue.

On race day, Sunday, August 28, the five mile closed circuit course will result in the following closures from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
· Speer Boulevard closed in both directions from Market Street to 8th Avenue (Market and 8th both remain open)
· Colfax Avenue closed from Logan Street to Kalamath Street (Logan and Kalamath both remain open)
· Grant Street from 12th Avenue to Colfax Avenue (12th remains open)
· 13th Avenue from Logan Street to Bannock Street (Logan and Bannock both remain open).

Rolling closures will help minimize the impact on traffic along the other sections of the course:
· Off-ramps closed at I-25 and Speer Boulevard: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
· Traffic from I-25 will be able to access Downtown during the race by using Auraria Parkway, 20th Street or Park Avenue West exits.

ONLY AFFECTED during the 30 minute race period, these streets will be closed to traffic approximately 20 minutes before the cyclists arrive and will re-open only minutes after the final cyclist passes through (approximately 30 minutes in total):
· North-South access to Auraria Parkway from Market Street and Larimer Street
· Sheridan Boulevard from 32nd Avenue to 29th Avenue
· 29th Avenue to Speer Boulevard
· Speer Boulevard to Lawrence Street

Additional details and suggested alternate routes are available at www.usaprocyclingchallenge.com and www.cotrip.org.

Get Out The Map

Please join

Senator Irene Aguilar • Senator Pat Steadman
Senator Lucia Guzman • Rep. Daniel Kagan
Rep. Jeanne Labuda • Rep. Crisanta Duran
Rep. Lois Court • Rep. Beth McCann • Rep. Joe Miklosi
and Jeremiah Barry, Staff Director, Colorado Reapportionment Commission

for

Get Out The Map
A Town Hall Meeting On Reapportionment

Monday, August 29th
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Quaker Meetinghouse
2280 S. Columbine St. in Denver

Join us for an informative discussion of the provisionally approved new maps for Colorado State Senate and State House districts. The Colorado Reapportionment Commission will meet two days later, on Wednesday, August 31st at 6 p.m. in the Old Supreme Court Chambers at the State Capitol to receive public input. The Town Hall Meeting should be a good opportunity to review the Commission’s preliminary decisions that could receive final approval by the end of the year.

Learn how you will be affected by new State Senate and State House Districts
Hear from Senators and Representatives about their changing districts
Review new maps for Denver State Senate and State House Districts
Learn the effects of Denver losing a State House District
Discuss the logic used in drawing new maps based on 2010 Census data
Prepare for the final Denver hearing for public input two days later at the Capitol

Mayor Hancock Announces Appointment of Manager of Safety

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release


Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011


City and County of Denver
Mayor Michael B. Hancock
Office of Communications
W. 720-865-9016

Wil Alston, Communications Director
C. 720-891-7838
Wil.Alston@DenverGov.org
Amber Miller, Press Secretary
C. 720-220-8165
Amber.Miller@DenverGov.org



DENVER – Mayor Michael B. Hancock announced today that Colorado Supreme Court Justice Alex J. Martinez is stepping away from the state’s highest court to serve as the Manager of Safety for the City and County of Denver.

“The Manager of Safety is one of the most important positions in my Cabinet, particularly at a time when we must restore public trust and confidence in Denver’s safety agencies,” Mayor Hancock said. “Justice Martinez brings the highest level of integrity, a deep commitment to fairness and justice, and a well-earned level of respect from the legal and public-safety communities. I am grateful he has agreed to serve the citizens of Denver in this capacity.”

The Manager of Safety provides civilian oversight of the Police, Fire and Sheriff’s departments. Justice Martinez’s appointment will be effective Nov. 1. Interim Safety Manager Ashley Kilroy will continue to serve in this capacity until Justice Martinez assumes his new role. At that time, Kilroy will become Deputy Manager of Safety.

During this time of transition, Martinez will assist in the search for a new police chief for the City.

Read more »

We all know that recycled water is going to Washington Park and City Park, so how come we don't see any signs posted?

Tucked away in a FAQ bullet item (How will I know if water being used for irrigation is recycled water?) on the Denver Water site is this gem.

Places using recycled water are clearly marked with signs identifying the water as recycled. Denver Water valve boxes, manhole covers, and newer sprinkler heads are purple. Some customers receive recycled water from ditch systems that are classified differently. Customers using these systems are not subject to Regulation 84 and are not required to post signs or use purple irrigation equipment. (Emphasis added)

They do use purple irrigation equipment but apparently the signs are deemed unnecessary. People might start asking questions, and find out that the Lowry Landfill Superfund Site water is a component of this recycled water. Imagine the horror when they find out what is in that component.

This duplicity explains the odd item I remember from the T-Rex days. As I recall, $50,000 was paid for the right to cut the old Denver (City) Ditch, carrying mountain water to our city lakes, where it crossed I-25. At the time I thought that was strange, but of course I had no idea it was part of the overall plan to spread the pollution from the polluters, (Coors, Lockheed-Martin, Rocky Flats, etc) from where it collects at the bottom of the Lowry Landfill, into our lakes and on to our park lawns.

I guess you could call it "water laundering". This recycled water is "laundered" of its status as recycled water once it is fed into the northern part of the Denver Ditch, and that's why the rules for recycled water don't have to be followed. But I don't care if the clever Denver Water attorneys have figured out a way to "launder" this water and to keep us from knowing that it is recycled water. I think we have a right to be informed.

Of course the water hasn't actually changed, and the same reasons for stringent rules governing the use of recycled water should apply to this "laundered" recycled water. Until the citizens wake up, this will not change - we are in year 6 of this evil pact, and it's slated to run for 50 years.

This is a simple issue - We want recycled water to be labeled where it is used. (We don't even have to mention the 157 pollutants and 10 radionuclides in that hidden component.)

So dear readers, are you or anyone else you know willing to take up this issue at your community level, especially at your Neighborhood Organization? The Registered Neighborhood Organization's master organization is called INC and they have already started to move on this issue (parksandrec@denverinc.org).  It is time to start organizing to get this crime-in-progress stopped.  Don't we have enough cancer without spreading these carcinogens where our children play?

Thank you Sen. Bernie Sanders

Getting serious                                  (Photo: Reuters)

Press Release
Office of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders
Friday, August 19, 2011

Sen. Bernie Sanders offered the following statement after having reviewed a list of speculative oil traders responsible for the 2008 spike in oil prices. This list was compiled by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

"This report clearly shows that in the summer of 2008 when gas prices spiked to more than $4 a gallon, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and other speculators on Wall Street dominated the crude oil futures market causing tremendous damage to the entire economy," Sanders said. "The CFTC has kept this information hidden from the American public for nearly three years. That is an outrage.

The American people have a right to know exactly who caused gas prices to skyrocket in 2008 and who is causing them to spike today. The CFTC claims they need more data to impose speculative position limits as required by Dodd-Frank. That is laughable. The American people need action to bring down gas and oil prices and they need it now, which is why I have introduced legislation with eight co-sponsors to do just that."

On June 15, 2011 Sen. Sanders introduced a bill titled the "End Excessive Oil Speculation Now Act of 2011", which would force the Chairman of the CFTC to impose strict limits on the amount of oil speculators can trade in the commodity and futures markets.

Excessive oil speculation is widely considered to have been a major contributor to high gas prices at the pump and unnecessary volatility in the oil commodities and futures markets. Sen. Sanders' bill currently has eight co-sponsors: Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV).

"We have a responsibility to do everything we can to lower gas prices so that they reflect the fundamentals of supply and demand and bring needed relief to the American people," Sanders said.

* * *