Sunday, March 26, 2006

WorldMapper WorldMapper: "Worldmapper is a collection of world maps, where territories are re-sized on each map according to the subject of interest." Thanks to 2020 Hindsight for the link. 9:20:20 AM

Where there's a will... Rapid City Journal: "Oglala Sioux Tribe President Cecelia Fire Thunder says a clinic on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation could provide abortions if South Dakota's new abortion ban goes into effect. 'We're working on it,' Fire Thunder said in a telephone interview Friday. 'This is a free-choice issue. If I were in that situation, I'd want somewhere to go where I'd be taken care of.' The new South Dakota law bans all abortions except to save the life of the mother - with no exceptions for rape or incest. Fire Thunder said the state law would not apply to the reservation. 'We're a sovereign nation,' she said." Thanks to Don Surber for the link. Category: 2008 Presidential Election 9:12:49 AM

Biden for President? Oval Office 2008: "The Spartanburg Herald Journal in South Carolina has decided that Delaware Democratic Senator Joe Biden is 'officially in the game.' Biden himself gave them every reason to assume that he would be a candidate. 'My intention is to run,' he said after speaking to the Spartanburg County Democratic Convention earlier this week. 'South Carolina will be the ballgame,' Biden told the Herald Journal. 'I think you'll see a couple of people or maybe three come out of New Hampshire, and they have to be able to prove they can appeal to voters in a Southern state.'" Category: 2008 Presidential Election 9:08:48 AM

Going Dirty: The Art of Negative Campaigning Political Wire: "Going Dirty: The Art of Negative Campaigning by David Mark. For the serious student of political campaigns, this book includes nearly everything you wanted to know about negative campaigning and has some very interesting case studies as tactics changed during the the television and Internet era. A chapter titled 'What Good Old Days' reminds us that negative campaigning is an American tradition." Category: Denver November 2006 Election 9:06:20 AM

4th World Water Forum Here's the recap of last week's 4th World Water Forum. They write, "The 4th World Water Forum convened in Mexico City, Mexico from Thursday, 16 March to Wednesday, 22 March 2006. The Forum is the largest international event on freshwater, and seeks to enable multi-stakeholder participation and dialogue to influence water policy-making at a global level, in pursuit of sustainable development. "The 4th Forum's main theme, 'Local actions for a global challenge,' was addressed through five framework themes: water for growth and development; implementing integrated water resources management (IWRM); water supply and sanitation for all; water management for food and the environment; and risk management. Over 200 thematic sessions were held, and almost 20,000 participants attended, representing governments, UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academia, business and industry, indigenous groups, youth and the media. "The Forum concluded with a Ministerial Conference on 21-22 March, with some 140 ministers and high-level officials gathering in both closed and open sessions, which included dialogues and roundtables on various aspects of water management. A Ministerial Declaration was adopted, calling for international action on water and sanitation issues." Be sure to read the entire article. Category: Colorado Water 8:59:06 AM

HR 4437 Rocky Mountain News: "More than 50,000 people gathered downtown Saturday as part of a national protest against a crackdown in immigration laws, including federal legislation aimed at criminalizing illegal immigrants and building more walls along the U.S.-Mexico border. Protesters also came out to urge the state Senate to reject a resolution supporting a ballot issue that would deny many government services to illegal immigrants in Colorado. The large crowd surprised police officers, who were expecting only a few thousand people at Civic Center Park next to the Capitol and Denver city and county buildings, said Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson. But the crowd, mostly made up of families and older people, was respectful and the four-hour rally ended without incident, he said... "The Senate on Monday will begin debating on legislation would make it a felony to be in the U.S. illegally, impose new penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants and erect fences along one-third of the U.S.-Mexican border. Lisa Duran, of Denver-based Rights for All People, called the federal proposal inhumane because it would make 1.6 million children felons and would kill more people who are trying to cross the border. Illegal immigrants want legislation that would protect illegal immigrants, unify their families, and would address future flows of immigrants, Duran said." Talkleft reports that, "The Senate Judiciary Committee will begin debating the Senate version of H.R. 4437 on Monday. It has already passed the House." Category: 2008 Presidential Election 8:39:19 AM

Southern Utes to Bayfield: Cease and desist The Southern Ute tribe has asked the state of Colorado to issue a cease and desist order to the town of Bayfield alleging that the town is polluting the Lost Pinos River. From the article, "The Bayfield Sanitation District has exceeded discharge limits on several occasions, said Sam W. Maynes, lawyer for the tribe. The tribe's drinking water intake point is 1.2 miles downstream from Bayfield's sewage treatment plant discharge point. The plant is also at or exceeding capacity, he said... "Bayfield Mayor James Harrmann said he just learned about the tribe's cease and desist request Friday. 'I'm concerned, yes, but I think it's too early to tell just what's coming down the pipe,' Harrmann said. 'I think it will be taken care of.' Harrmann said the tribe is not overreacting. 'I think their concerns are legit...' "Bayfield is undergoing something of a growth spurt. According to state law, a sanitation district must start planning for a plant expansion when a facility reaches 80 percent of capacity. At 95 percent of capacity, the district must have started construction. Maynes said evidence indicates the district has done nothing more than orally plan for a plant expansion. Smith said the plant operates at 70 percent to 80 percent of capacity on average. There are times, he said, where capacity is lower, and other times when capacity is more than 90 percent because of high ground water. But the district is in full compliance with planning for a plant expansion, he said. Construction on an expansion is expected to start within a couple of months, Smith said." Category: Colorado Water 8:25:29 AM

SB37 A vote on SB37 - Concerning the Adjucation of Recreation In-Channel Diversions, will not occur until the week of April 3rd, according to the Durango Herald. From the article, "Last-minute negotiations continue to delay a vote on water rights for kayak parks. The House agriculture committee heard debate on the bill in three hearings this week, but bill sponsor Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison, said the vote won't come until the week of April 3. Legislators will be busy next week with the state budget. At issue is the 'call threshold,' which specifies that water will not be delivered unless at least 85 percent of the requested water is available. Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, put the threshold into the bill to keep cities from asking for more water than they need. The city of Durango has requested water to support a whitewater park in Smelter Rapid near Santa Rita Park. The city has asked for 185 cubic feet per second of Animas River water during some parts of the year and up to 1,400 cfs during the peak boating season - about 15 days in June." Category: Colorado Water 8:01:26 AM

© Copyright 2009 John Orr. Last update: 3/14/09; 8:06:32 PM.