Coyote Gulch

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Independent Media
Twin Cities Independent Media Center: "TWIN CITIES GRASSROOTS MEDIA FAIR March 24-25 - Macalester College, St. Paul - Whether you're fighting injustice or spreading the word about a cultural event in your community, local independent media covers our blind spots when the corporate media turns a blind eye. At the Grassroots Media Fair we will make connections to strengthen local independent media, explore the important role of independent media in a desolate capitalist mediascape, learn about the upcoming battles in the fight for a democratic media, build ties between activists and independent media producers, celebrate the re-launch of Twin Cities Indymedia, learn how to make our own DIY media, and discuss Media Justice and the power of self-representation. All are encouraged to attend this series of panels and presentations showcasing the rich Twin Cities grassroots media scene in the global movement for a democratic cultural environment."

Thanks to Hellchild for the link.

8:08:52 PM

Weblog Conversation: Holtman vs. Beauprez
Coyote Gulch thinks that the Beauprez campaign and Holtzman campaign should start a weblog conversation. Republicans deserve the chance to see where each candidate stands on the issues. Both campaigns have a weblog. It's a match made in heaven. Representative Beauprez could answer the "Both Ways Bob" accusation with the facts. Mr. Holtzman would get a chance to explain his side in more detail and share his vision of governing.

So that's the challenge to you staffers. Find someone to post every day. Tell us all about the guy you're working for and why. You can still spend most of your dough in the ways known to work.

We'll pose the first questions for y'all, "Where will Colorado build more water reservoirs? What areas of the state are going to benefit economically? What are the impacts to sustainable development?"

Coyote Gulch will help any campaign start a weblog or beef up publishing, free of charge. You'll need $2,500 or so for a MacBook Pro and $39.95 for Radio UserLand. You'll be up and running in a couple of hours. You'll be able to do all the cool stuff a campaign needs like email lists, website, tip jar, RSS, events calendar and links. Throw down a few more bucks for .Mac and you'll have a calendar you can share with staffers who need access.

Category: Denver November 2006 Election

5:59:16 PM

Aurora watering restrictions?

Aurora will likely impose watering restrictions this summer while Denver and Colorado Springs residents are off the hook, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "Each snowstorm that powders the mountains eases water worries for the Denver metro region, but some municipalities are faring better than others as summer approaches. Fact is, in Colorado, snowstorms aren't equal providers. Because of this, Aurora, the state's third-largest water provider, likely will impose watering restrictions this summer. And Denver and Colorado Springs - the top two providers - probably won't. Though Denver and Aurora abut each other on the map, they get their water from different regions in the mountains. In Aurora's case, snow hasn't fallen enough around its reservoirs, most of which are in the Upper Arkansas River Basin, to allow city officials to avoid imposing restrictions...

"Denver is in the opposite position. In fact, it snowed so much above Dillon Reservoir that Denver Water officials may release water before the spring runoff to prevent flooding."

Category: Colorado Water

7:20:32 AM

Precinct caucuses tonight
Here's an article from today's Denver Post about the precinct caucases being held tonight. They write, "In order to make it onto the ballot, a candidate must get 30 percent of the delegate votes at the assemblies. The candidate who receives the most support gets 'top line' on the ballot, meaning that candidate's name is the first one listed."

Here's the link to the state Republican party caucus finder application and state Democratic home page with information

Category: Denver November 2006 Election

7:13:49 AM

Holtzman or Beauprez for governor?
Bob Beauprez and Marc Holtzman were in Montrose Saturday, according to the Montrose Daily Press. From the article, "Congressman Bob Beauprez, R-Wheat Ridge, and Marc Holtzman headlined Saturday's Montrose County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner...

"Beauprez said if elected he would work for an employee identification system, eliminate all non-emergency social services for undocumented immigrants and stop local governments from having don't-ask don't-tell policies that create sanctuary cities. He also pledged to lead a coalition of governors that would push Washington to strengthen border security. Holtzman also came out strongly against illegal immigration. He said Colorado's 400,000 undocumented immigrants had cost the state more than $600 million, calling it an 'intolerable burden on our population and our economy.' He linked illegal immigration to crime problems, stating that 70 percent of the methamphetamine in Colorado originates from Mexico...

"The two candidates also spoke about the state's water policy, but with fewer specifics. Beauprez, referencing his agricultural background as a dairy farmer near Louisville, emphasized that the state had to build more reservoirs for storage before its water moved downstream. Holtzman, for his part, reminded the audience that he was the only candidate in the race for governor who opposed Referendum A, a 2003 state ballot measure that many on the Western Slope feared would have led to increased trans-mountain diversions."

Category: Denver November 2006 Election

7:03:46 AM

Ritter for governor?
Bill Ritter was on the stump in Fort Morgan, according to the Fort Morgan Times. From the article, "Ritter, who arrived in Fort Morgan with State Rep. Angie Paccione, D-Fort Collins, a candidate for U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave's congressional seat, said many illegal immigrants who come into the United States have such good paperwork that while employers do look at their resumes, they don't notice they are, in fact, illegal. 'We need to have a rational immigration policy, and a national solution should be required to help this problem,' Ritter explained.

"Talk of a water use bill has heightened some people's concerns as a serious economic issue for the state right now, Ritter said. Unless the state does something fast about its water storage and conservation for rural communities, it is 'going to dry up.' 'As a state, we have to look at the re-use, conservation and storage of our water as a package,' Ritter said. 'Using less water is important and focusing on underground water storage expansion is right. We are going to need statewide leadership on this issue.' Ritter said he plans to keep his eye on growth across the Front Range in terms of conserving water and also using well water as a resource."

Category: Denver November 2006 Election

6:56:23 AM

Upstreaming problems
We're having problems upstreaming to Radio Userland's server this morning. Images may not be available and posts may not appear for a while.

6:41:13 AM

4th World Water Forum

Here's a recap of yesterday's sessions at the 4th World Water Forum in Mexico. From the article, "On Monday, 4th World Water Forum participants addressed the theme of 'Water for Food and the Environment,' convening in plenary and thematic sessions held throughout the day. They also heard a keynote presentation by Carlos Slim Helú, Chairman of Grupo Carso, and a regional presentation on the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, a region experiencing the greatest water scarcity on the planet."

It's a long article, be sure to read the whole thing.

Here's another report on the forum. From the article, "In Bangladesh, wells drilled over the last two decades to supply rural communities with water have brought cancer to the internal organs and painful, scarring lesions to the hands and feet of their supposed beneficiaries-the result of natural arsenic leeching into the depleted water-table. In Kenya, women who once sent their children and livestock to fetch water from streams within sight of their homes, now undertake weary treks of up to 45 km to reach the nearest water. When they do manage to fill a 20-litre jug, the murky water takes two hours to settle out as much as a third of its volume in silt, leaving only the diminished remainder for drinking, cooking, washing or watering herds. And that is in good times, unlike the grinding drought that since last year has reduced some of the country's tribes to warring over water, with 40 people killed in one January clash."

Category: Colorado Water

6:35:02 AM

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