Business may be the biggest beneficiary of the change that shook up the Colorado Senate when voters recalled two Democratic senators Tuesday night. Legislative observers, some of whom did not want to be identified by name, speculated Wednesday that Senate Democrats, whose 20-15 edge in that chamber has fallen to a razor-thin 18-17 margin, will take a long look at moderating their leadership rather than simply promoting Majority Leader Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, to become the new Senate president. And…
Reported by bizjournals 14 hours ago.
Are more changes in Colorado Senate coming to aid business?
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Alienware Aurora Gaming Desktop Now Has Ivy Bridge-E Processors
Today Alienware announced an update to its flagship gaming desktop. The desktop machine can now be configured with the latest Intel Core i7 processors. There is also an Extreme Edition option available with as many as six cores and[ Continue reading...]
The post Alienware Aurora Gaming Desktop Now Has Ivy Bridge-E Processors appeared first on Geeky Gadgets. Reported by Geeky Gadgets 10 hours ago.
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New Book "Choose Your Energy: Change Your Life!" Explains How to Love Yourself Unconditionally
Stressed out and stuck? Author Deborah Jane Wells gives individuals and organizations the tools to find hope, restore balance and transform possibilities into realities.
Aurora, Colo. (PRWEB) September 12, 2013
What’s love got to do with minimizing stress and getting unstuck? Everything, according to empowerment coach and inspirational speaker Deborah Jane Wells.
In her new book, "Choose Your Energy: Change Your Life!," Wells explains how individuals and organizations can turn possibilities into realities by harnessing the transformative power of love.
Wells has over 30 years experience in four of the world’s largest and most prestigious global professional services firms, but this non-stop work environment took its toll on her personal health and welfare.
“My personal journey, including a sustained eighty-pound weight loss, freedom from a ten year bout of debilitating depression and recovering from burnout, led me to finding my purpose guiding others on their journeys,” said Wells.
Through her own healing and self-exploration, Wells discovered that loving yourself unconditionally is the key to transforming personal lives, work and the world.
“When you love yourself, you get unstuck, reclaim your personal power, recapture your zest for living and move yourself forward,” said Wells. “All it takes is choosing love as your core energy. This book can show you how.”
"Choose Your Energy: Change Your Life!" is a guide for discovering unexplored possibilities and turning them into fulfilling realities. Wells uses her stories and stories from her clients’ lives to encourage readers to embrace the power of loving yourself unconditionally through insights, encouragement, clear strategies and practical tools.
The tools Wells provides to individuals and organizations offer many benefits in life and the workplace, including quieting the critical voices in your head, enjoying harmonious relationships and maintaining optimism in the face of suffering and uncertainty.
"Choose Your Energy: Change Your Life!"
By Deborah Jane Wells
Format - ISBN - Price
Softcover - 978-1-4525-7319-9 - $17.99
Hardcover - 978-1-4525-7321-2 - $35.99
eBook - 978-1-4525-7320-5 - $4.99
Available at many local and online booksellers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Balboa Press.
About the Author:
In 2005, Deborah Jane Wells took a five-year sabbatical to find peace and heal herself.
Through her writing, speaking, singing, radio show, and signature coaching programs, Deborah helps individuals and organizations harness the transformative power of love to step into their greatness.
She currently lives in Aurora, Colorado, with her husband, Wilson, and the three coaching cats who manage her life—SiddhaLee, Mortimer, and Maisy Jane.
To learn more about the life-transforming power of falling in love with yourself, explore Deborah's book, blog, radio show and signature coaching programs at http://www.djwlifecoach.com. Reported by PRWeb 4 hours ago.
Aurora, Colo. (PRWEB) September 12, 2013
What’s love got to do with minimizing stress and getting unstuck? Everything, according to empowerment coach and inspirational speaker Deborah Jane Wells.
In her new book, "Choose Your Energy: Change Your Life!," Wells explains how individuals and organizations can turn possibilities into realities by harnessing the transformative power of love.
Wells has over 30 years experience in four of the world’s largest and most prestigious global professional services firms, but this non-stop work environment took its toll on her personal health and welfare.
“My personal journey, including a sustained eighty-pound weight loss, freedom from a ten year bout of debilitating depression and recovering from burnout, led me to finding my purpose guiding others on their journeys,” said Wells.
Through her own healing and self-exploration, Wells discovered that loving yourself unconditionally is the key to transforming personal lives, work and the world.
“When you love yourself, you get unstuck, reclaim your personal power, recapture your zest for living and move yourself forward,” said Wells. “All it takes is choosing love as your core energy. This book can show you how.”
"Choose Your Energy: Change Your Life!" is a guide for discovering unexplored possibilities and turning them into fulfilling realities. Wells uses her stories and stories from her clients’ lives to encourage readers to embrace the power of loving yourself unconditionally through insights, encouragement, clear strategies and practical tools.
The tools Wells provides to individuals and organizations offer many benefits in life and the workplace, including quieting the critical voices in your head, enjoying harmonious relationships and maintaining optimism in the face of suffering and uncertainty.
"Choose Your Energy: Change Your Life!"
By Deborah Jane Wells
Format - ISBN - Price
Softcover - 978-1-4525-7319-9 - $17.99
Hardcover - 978-1-4525-7321-2 - $35.99
eBook - 978-1-4525-7320-5 - $4.99
Available at many local and online booksellers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Balboa Press.
About the Author:
In 2005, Deborah Jane Wells took a five-year sabbatical to find peace and heal herself.
Through her writing, speaking, singing, radio show, and signature coaching programs, Deborah helps individuals and organizations harness the transformative power of love to step into their greatness.
She currently lives in Aurora, Colorado, with her husband, Wilson, and the three coaching cats who manage her life—SiddhaLee, Mortimer, and Maisy Jane.
To learn more about the life-transforming power of falling in love with yourself, explore Deborah's book, blog, radio show and signature coaching programs at http://www.djwlifecoach.com. Reported by PRWeb 4 hours ago.
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Denver Veterans Affairs Hospital to use Johnson Controls technology integration to advance quality patient care
MILWAUKEE, Sept. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls, a global leader in building technology and services, will design, manage and install efficient building and clinical systems to enhance patient care at the Denver Veterans Affairs (VA) Replacement Medical Center in Aurora,...
Reported by PR Newswire 4 hours ago.
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People Really Want 'Thor' Villain Loki To Get His Own Movie
The people want a Loki movie, and they want it now.More than 19,000 people have signed a petition asking Marvel to make a film based around the "Thor" character portrayed by Tom Hiddleston.
Referring to themselves essentially as "Loki's Army," here's part of the "demands" from the petition:
"We feel Loki (as portrayed by Tom Hiddleston), due to the astounding following both the character and actor have earned as a result of the Marvel films, more than warrants further exploration of his story. We believe such an endeavor would not only be profitable and successful but provide a larger view for general audiences of the incredibly complex and diverse personality a well-known villain of the Marvel universe is gifted with. To explore this darker side of the Thor storyline would be to give credit to a compelling individual, his remarkable portrayer and an appreciative audience that feels a fierce loyalty to both in an unprecedented way."
Since the first "Thor" (2011) and then "The Avengers" (2012) Hiddleston's character has easily become a fan favorite. During a surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con in which he appeared as Loki, he rallied an entire crowd behind him as his army.
While yes, it can be argued that Comic-Con fans will go crazy when any actor takes stage, you have to be a huge draw to get this sort of response:
Honestly, we've been wondering for a while when we would see a movie from a supervillain's perspective. Seems like it would be a fresher, more original take than the surge of superhero flicks we've seen of recent.
Disney, who owns Marvel, already has another movie due out next year from the perspective of an antagonist.
"Maleficent" will tell the story of Disney's classic "Sleeping Beauty" villainess.
According to Disney, the film will "reveal the events that hardened Maleficent’s heart and drove her to curse the baby, Aurora.
It will be interesting to see how Marvel deals with their Loki fan base.
Maybe if "Thor: The Dark World," out this November performs very well in theaters, Marvel will make something more of it.
*SEE ALSO: Fans go wild when Hiddleston shows up as "Avengers" villain Loki at Comic-Con*
Join the conversation about this story »
Reported by Business Insider 2 hours ago.
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Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall Announces $25,000 Sponsorship from Fifth Third Bank
AURORA, Ill., Sept. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Fifth Third Bank Senior Vice President Craig Pratt presented a $25,000 check to Vietnam Moving Wall Committee Chair Herschel Luckinbill during a Sept. 11 press conference on the practice soccer field of West Aurora High School. (Photo:...
Reported by PR Newswire 1 hour ago.
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I-225 at I-70 Still Flooded in Aurora, Colorado
Interstate 225 at Interstate 70 are still deluged with standing water in Aurora, Colorado.Three lanes of I-225 and I-70 in Aurora, Colo., were “consume[d]” with water in some parts, wrote one Instagram user, who posted a startling image …
The post I-225 at I-70 Still Flooded in Aurora, Colorado appeared first on The Epoch Times. Reported by Epoch Times 1 hour ago.
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Colorado Democrats, State Senate President John Morse and Senator Angela Giron, Ousted After Gun Control Recall
HeadlinesNation
Politics
Two Democratic lawmakers who supported tougher gun laws were ousted on Tuesday following a recall vote in Colorado.
State Senate President John Morse and Senator Angela Giron were defeated yesterday after gun rights advocates demanded a recall following the enactment of stricter gun legislation due to a number of gun violence incidents in the state last year, including the Aurora shooting that killed 12 people in a movie theater.
Morse, along with Giron, sought and pushed through legislation that banned magazines with more than 15 rounds, as well as required background checks for all private gun sales. Morse made it clear that despite being voted out, he had no regrets for all of the effort he put into gun control.
"I said at the time if it costs me my political career, so be it," said Morse. "That's nothing compared to what the families of victims go through every single day. We did the right thing."
The recall election that took place was the first in Colorado’s history and, according to Giron, was not supported by the majority of Colorado voters.
“I’ve talked to thousands of voters in their homes and at their doors,” said Giron. “They think this forced recall has been an abuse of the law and an outrageous expense. They want their Senator to address all the things they care about, not just a single issue. That’s what I’ve done and that’s what I’ll continue to do after I win this election.”
Giron did not win the election, however, and gun rights activists are celebrating a victory today. Recall organizer Timothy Knight says that it was the people of Colorado who opposed the tight gun laws and that the Democratic Senators who were voted out did not listen to what the majority wanted.
"If the people had been listened to, these recalls wouldn't be happening," Knight said.
Although the two Democratic Senators were voted out of their seats, Morse says that it won’t change anything because Democrats still maintain control of the Legislature, adding that the vote is “purely symbolic.”
Republican lawmakers in the state, however, see it as a message to remaining Democrats.
“This should serve as a warning that the Democrats in the Legislature must be more balanced in the upcoming session,” said Republican state Senator Greg Brophy. “Governor Hickenlooper should also realize that his inability to control the Legislature could be very costly.”
1 Reported by Opposing Views 2 days ago.
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From September to November, Apple Self Storage Will Donate $5 from Every New Rental to the ABLE Network
During a three-month period, $5 from every new storage unit rental will be donated to the ABLE Network in an effort to promote healthier, more rewarding lifestyles for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
(PRWEB) September 11, 2013
In the spirit of community, Apple Self Storage will be donating a portion of the proceeds from every new storage rental from September to November to the ABLE Network, a non-profit organization that assists young adults with intellectual disabilities through a series of support programs.
The self-storage provider, with 15 facilities spread throughout Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, has set a goal of $6,000. During September, October and November, $5 from every move-in at every facility will directly benefit ABLE Network participants such as 22-year-old Doug, who has put his workplace training into action at the Apple Self Storage head office.
As a frequent partner of local charities and support groups, Apple Self Storage recognizes the importance of responsible corporate citizenship and uses its unique position to help bridge the funding gaps experienced by many non-profit bodies.
The ABLE Network performs a valuable function by promoting independence and healthy living for its participants, which ultimately benefits the wider community. Participants learn workplace skills, enjoy recreation opportunities and receive literacy support and transit system training – all in keeping with the organization’s stated goal of providing access to better living and employment (ABLE).
About Apple Self Storage
Providing safe, secure and convenient storage in 15 locations, Apple Self Storage strives to deliver a uniformly positive experience across its many facilities. The family-owned company has established close bonds with the communities in which it operates, and regularly pursues opportunities to assist organizations that enrich those communities.
About the ABLE Network
Located in Aurora, Ontario, the ABLE Network assists young adults with intellectual disabilities who are interested in personal growth and development. Program participants receive guidance in healthy living while also being immersed in natural job scenarios designed to boost their confidence and self-sufficiency. The charity operates with the goal of creating opportunities that make it possible for people with intellectual disabilities to participate fully in society, for the betterment of both the individual and their community. Reported by PRWeb 2 days ago.
(PRWEB) September 11, 2013
In the spirit of community, Apple Self Storage will be donating a portion of the proceeds from every new storage rental from September to November to the ABLE Network, a non-profit organization that assists young adults with intellectual disabilities through a series of support programs.
The self-storage provider, with 15 facilities spread throughout Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, has set a goal of $6,000. During September, October and November, $5 from every move-in at every facility will directly benefit ABLE Network participants such as 22-year-old Doug, who has put his workplace training into action at the Apple Self Storage head office.
As a frequent partner of local charities and support groups, Apple Self Storage recognizes the importance of responsible corporate citizenship and uses its unique position to help bridge the funding gaps experienced by many non-profit bodies.
The ABLE Network performs a valuable function by promoting independence and healthy living for its participants, which ultimately benefits the wider community. Participants learn workplace skills, enjoy recreation opportunities and receive literacy support and transit system training – all in keeping with the organization’s stated goal of providing access to better living and employment (ABLE).
About Apple Self Storage
Providing safe, secure and convenient storage in 15 locations, Apple Self Storage strives to deliver a uniformly positive experience across its many facilities. The family-owned company has established close bonds with the communities in which it operates, and regularly pursues opportunities to assist organizations that enrich those communities.
About the ABLE Network
Located in Aurora, Ontario, the ABLE Network assists young adults with intellectual disabilities who are interested in personal growth and development. Program participants receive guidance in healthy living while also being immersed in natural job scenarios designed to boost their confidence and self-sufficiency. The charity operates with the goal of creating opportunities that make it possible for people with intellectual disabilities to participate fully in society, for the betterment of both the individual and their community. Reported by PRWeb 2 days ago.
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Adacel to Continue Work with Lockheed Martin on FAA ATOP Extension
Adacel will continue to collaborate with the Lockheed Martin Corporation on the FAA Advanced Technologies & Oceanic Procedures (ATOP) program. This follows on the heels of the 8-year contract extension awarded by the FAA to Lockheed Martin at the end of July for the continued support of the ATOP program.
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) September 12, 2013
Adacel announced today that the Company will continue to collaborate with the Lockheed Martin Corporation on the FAA Advanced Technologies & Oceanic Procedures (ATOP) program. This follows on the heels of the 8-year contract extension awarded by the FAA to Lockheed Martin at the end of July for the continued support of the ATOP program.
ATOP was a ground breaking initiative by the FAA to enhance air traffic operational efficiency and safety within the vast U.S. controlled oceanic airspaces of the Atlantic and Pacific. The advanced systems are fully operational at the FAA’s New York, Oakland and Anchorage Oceanic Air Route Traffic Control Centers covering 24 million miles of FAA controlled international airspace. The 8-year extension awarded by the FAA is comprised of one base year and seven option years with a period of performance starting August 1, 2013 through July 31, 2021. The total extended value to Lockheed Martin is projected to be more than $500 million if the seven, one-year options are exercised. The resulting flow down value to Adacel is estimated to exceed $75 million if all option years are executed.
The Lockheed Martin ATOP solution utilizes Adacel’s Aurora ATM software and is comprised of hardware and software components that provide an automated platform in support of air traffic control operations. The highly advanced system is a comprehensive air traffic management solution that is enabling significant gains in safety, efficiency, airspace capacity and environmental compatibility and is helping to achieve incremental advancements vital to U.S. NextGen and Eurocontrol SESAR initiatives.
Adacel’s key contribution lies in the design and maintenance of critical software for 4D profile protection, automated conflict detection, dynamic airspace allocation, automated coordination between centers and controller pilot data link communications. The Aurora software provides crucial data and alerts to controllers to improve airspace efficiency and safety in oceanic and mixed surveillance/ non-surveillance airspaces.
In addition to the ATOP program, Adacel’s Aurora ATM technology is in wide use in airspaces controlled by Portugal, Fiji, Iceland, and New Zealand. In January this year Adacel was also awarded a contract by Norway’s Avinor to provide a new ATM system for managing air traffic in the Bodø Oceanic Flight Information Region.
About Adacel
Adacel is a leading developer of operational air traffic management systems, speech recognition applications and advanced ATC simulation and training solutions. The Company’s products are widely used throughout Europe, North America, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific region. Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) September 12, 2013
Adacel announced today that the Company will continue to collaborate with the Lockheed Martin Corporation on the FAA Advanced Technologies & Oceanic Procedures (ATOP) program. This follows on the heels of the 8-year contract extension awarded by the FAA to Lockheed Martin at the end of July for the continued support of the ATOP program.
ATOP was a ground breaking initiative by the FAA to enhance air traffic operational efficiency and safety within the vast U.S. controlled oceanic airspaces of the Atlantic and Pacific. The advanced systems are fully operational at the FAA’s New York, Oakland and Anchorage Oceanic Air Route Traffic Control Centers covering 24 million miles of FAA controlled international airspace. The 8-year extension awarded by the FAA is comprised of one base year and seven option years with a period of performance starting August 1, 2013 through July 31, 2021. The total extended value to Lockheed Martin is projected to be more than $500 million if the seven, one-year options are exercised. The resulting flow down value to Adacel is estimated to exceed $75 million if all option years are executed.
The Lockheed Martin ATOP solution utilizes Adacel’s Aurora ATM software and is comprised of hardware and software components that provide an automated platform in support of air traffic control operations. The highly advanced system is a comprehensive air traffic management solution that is enabling significant gains in safety, efficiency, airspace capacity and environmental compatibility and is helping to achieve incremental advancements vital to U.S. NextGen and Eurocontrol SESAR initiatives.
Adacel’s key contribution lies in the design and maintenance of critical software for 4D profile protection, automated conflict detection, dynamic airspace allocation, automated coordination between centers and controller pilot data link communications. The Aurora software provides crucial data and alerts to controllers to improve airspace efficiency and safety in oceanic and mixed surveillance/ non-surveillance airspaces.
In addition to the ATOP program, Adacel’s Aurora ATM technology is in wide use in airspaces controlled by Portugal, Fiji, Iceland, and New Zealand. In January this year Adacel was also awarded a contract by Norway’s Avinor to provide a new ATM system for managing air traffic in the Bodø Oceanic Flight Information Region.
About Adacel
Adacel is a leading developer of operational air traffic management systems, speech recognition applications and advanced ATC simulation and training solutions. The Company’s products are widely used throughout Europe, North America, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific region. Reported by PRWeb 1 day ago.
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Colorado flood: Aurora residents asked to stay off roads
AURORA — Rain continued to pour throughout the night and morning, causing mudslides and rock slides around the metro area.
Reported by Denver Post 23 hours ago.
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Lawsuit challenging Gaylord incentives angers Aurora officials
Aurora officials Thursday blasted a lawsuit by several hotels seeking to revoke tax incentives given to their Gaylord hotel proposal, with Mayor Steve Hogan calling it the work of people "who can’t stand competition." They also warned that the complaint will have the effect of making companies in all industries leery of coming to Colorado if they know that competitors will try to sue them away. In a suit filed Thursday, eight Front Range hotels asked a Denver County District Court judge to order…
Reported by bizjournals 21 hours ago.
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University of Colorado closes as death toll from flash floods rises to three
Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins and Aurora all hit by flooding, with numerous roads washed out or made impassable
Heavy rains sent walls of water crashing down mountainsides Thursday in Colorado, cutting off remote towns, forcing the state's largest university to close and leaving at least three people dead across a rugged landscape that included areas blackened by recent wildfires.
A warm, moist storm system has been dropping rain on the region for much of the week. Up to 8in fell in an area spanning from the Wyoming border south to the foothills west of Denver. Flooding extended all along the Front Range mountains, including the cities of Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Greeley, Aurora and Boulder.
Numerous roads have been washed out or made impassable by floods, and water has poured into homes. Some buildings have collapsed in the torrent. Parts of several interstate highways in the Denver area were temporarily closed because of standing water.
Boulder County appeared to be hardest hit. Sheriff Joe Pelle said the town of Lyons was completely cut off because of flooded roads, and residents were huddling together on higher ground. Although everyone was believed to be safe, the deluge was expected to continue into Friday.
Search vehicles and rescue helicopters were standing by, but many were unable to get to mountain communities because of flooding and fog. Residents were asked to drink bottled or boiled water because of possible contamination to water supplies.
"It is not an ordinary disaster," Pelle said. "All the preparation in the world … it can't put people up those canyons while these walls of water are coming down."
In a neighborhood northwest of Boulder, Dave Finn said he had to knock down a fence to release water that had backed up behind it. He said he destroyed his fence to save his house.
"I've never seen it like this," he said. "You know, we sort of roll our eyes when they say you have to be prepared for the 100-year flood, so here we are."
Firefighters performed a daring rescue of two men trapped in vehicles in Rock Creek, east of Boulder. After rushing water collapsed a section of road, rescuers used a raft to reach the men, broke the car windows and lifted them to safety.
Some of the flooding was exacerbated by wildfire "burn scars" that have spawned flash floods all summer in the mountains. That was particularly true near Jamestown in an area scarred by fire in 2010 and another near Colorado Springs' Waldo Canyon that was hit in 2012.
Rain is normally soaked up by a sponge-like layer of pine needles and twigs on the forest floor. But wildfires incinerate that layer and leave a residue in the top layer of soil that sheds water. A relatively light rain can rush down charred hillsides into streambeds, picking up dirt, ash, rocks and tree limbs along the way. Narrow canyons aggravate the threat.
The National Weather Service warned of an "extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation" throughout the region as flooding forced people from their homes and caused mud and rockslides.
At the University of Colorado, about 400 students in a dorm were evacuated, and administrators canceled classes at least through Friday. About a quarter of the school's buildings have some kind of water damage.
One person was killed when a structure collapsed in the tiny town of Jamestown northwest of Boulder. Another person drowned in northern Boulder, authorities said.
To the south, Colorado Springs police conducting flood patrols found a body in Fountain Creek on the west side of the city.
Weather service meteorologist Bob Kleyla said a 20-foot wall of water was reported in Left Hand Canyon north of Boulder, and a firefighter radioed he was trapped in a tree. He said rescuers were trying to get through, but were blocked by debris.
The creek is usually "just a trickle," said nearby resident Carm Say. "You can walk across it and have fun. Now, as you can see, it's hitting houses."
In Broomfield, US Highway 287 collapsed when a culvert washed out, dumping three vehicles into the rushing water. Three people with minor injuries were rescued.
At least one earthen dam gave way southeast of Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, and water levels could rise downstream as authorities release more water to keep more dams from giving way.
Flash flood warnings were issued for multiple counties. Downstream farming areas including Fort Lupton, Dacono and Plateville were also at risk as debris piled up near bridges.
In rural Morgan County, authorities urged ranchers to move cattle to higher ground as the mountain rains emptied onto the plains.
Rain showers and thunderstorms were expected through the night, with some storms capable of dumping an inch of water in 30 minutes, the weather service warned. Reported by guardian.co.uk 20 hours ago.
Heavy rains sent walls of water crashing down mountainsides Thursday in Colorado, cutting off remote towns, forcing the state's largest university to close and leaving at least three people dead across a rugged landscape that included areas blackened by recent wildfires.
A warm, moist storm system has been dropping rain on the region for much of the week. Up to 8in fell in an area spanning from the Wyoming border south to the foothills west of Denver. Flooding extended all along the Front Range mountains, including the cities of Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Greeley, Aurora and Boulder.
Numerous roads have been washed out or made impassable by floods, and water has poured into homes. Some buildings have collapsed in the torrent. Parts of several interstate highways in the Denver area were temporarily closed because of standing water.
Boulder County appeared to be hardest hit. Sheriff Joe Pelle said the town of Lyons was completely cut off because of flooded roads, and residents were huddling together on higher ground. Although everyone was believed to be safe, the deluge was expected to continue into Friday.
Search vehicles and rescue helicopters were standing by, but many were unable to get to mountain communities because of flooding and fog. Residents were asked to drink bottled or boiled water because of possible contamination to water supplies.
"It is not an ordinary disaster," Pelle said. "All the preparation in the world … it can't put people up those canyons while these walls of water are coming down."
In a neighborhood northwest of Boulder, Dave Finn said he had to knock down a fence to release water that had backed up behind it. He said he destroyed his fence to save his house.
"I've never seen it like this," he said. "You know, we sort of roll our eyes when they say you have to be prepared for the 100-year flood, so here we are."
Firefighters performed a daring rescue of two men trapped in vehicles in Rock Creek, east of Boulder. After rushing water collapsed a section of road, rescuers used a raft to reach the men, broke the car windows and lifted them to safety.
Some of the flooding was exacerbated by wildfire "burn scars" that have spawned flash floods all summer in the mountains. That was particularly true near Jamestown in an area scarred by fire in 2010 and another near Colorado Springs' Waldo Canyon that was hit in 2012.
Rain is normally soaked up by a sponge-like layer of pine needles and twigs on the forest floor. But wildfires incinerate that layer and leave a residue in the top layer of soil that sheds water. A relatively light rain can rush down charred hillsides into streambeds, picking up dirt, ash, rocks and tree limbs along the way. Narrow canyons aggravate the threat.
The National Weather Service warned of an "extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation" throughout the region as flooding forced people from their homes and caused mud and rockslides.
At the University of Colorado, about 400 students in a dorm were evacuated, and administrators canceled classes at least through Friday. About a quarter of the school's buildings have some kind of water damage.
One person was killed when a structure collapsed in the tiny town of Jamestown northwest of Boulder. Another person drowned in northern Boulder, authorities said.
To the south, Colorado Springs police conducting flood patrols found a body in Fountain Creek on the west side of the city.
Weather service meteorologist Bob Kleyla said a 20-foot wall of water was reported in Left Hand Canyon north of Boulder, and a firefighter radioed he was trapped in a tree. He said rescuers were trying to get through, but were blocked by debris.
The creek is usually "just a trickle," said nearby resident Carm Say. "You can walk across it and have fun. Now, as you can see, it's hitting houses."
In Broomfield, US Highway 287 collapsed when a culvert washed out, dumping three vehicles into the rushing water. Three people with minor injuries were rescued.
At least one earthen dam gave way southeast of Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, and water levels could rise downstream as authorities release more water to keep more dams from giving way.
Flash flood warnings were issued for multiple counties. Downstream farming areas including Fort Lupton, Dacono and Plateville were also at risk as debris piled up near bridges.
In rural Morgan County, authorities urged ranchers to move cattle to higher ground as the mountain rains emptied onto the plains.
Rain showers and thunderstorms were expected through the night, with some storms capable of dumping an inch of water in 30 minutes, the weather service warned. Reported by guardian.co.uk 20 hours ago.
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Big Story Weather – September 13, 2013
*redOrbit Meteorologist Joshua Kelly*
* *
*Big Story Weather from September 12: *
The heat continued from Ohio to the Upper Mississippi River Valley and southward into the Southern Plains. Severe weather was quite active yesterday. The biggest story and the most dangerous story is the flooding that is taking place in Colorado. What is happening here is that we have warm moist air moving in from the Southwest US converging with cooler air from the high pressure to the north and both air masses are moving from the east right up the side of the Rockies. This has led to upward vertical motion and very strong topographical enhanced moisture over the region. Some places in the Aurora CO and Boulder CO areas have seen near 1 foot of rainfall already with more expected, This is leading to massive flooding with the potential of dams breaking - a very serious situation in the region. Severe weather also hit the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic with multiple reports of wind gusts of up to 60-70mph along with 1 inch hail over New Hampshire, Arkansas and Ohio.
*Big Story Weather Discussion for September 13: *
Surface Map: High pressure near the Great Lakes will bring nice weather to the region. Another day of heavy rainfall will be possible in Colorado. Low pressure over the Southwest will make for another heavy rainfall day as multiple flood watches and warnings are already in place. The Gulf Coast and the West Coast will both enjoy partly cloudy skies.
Severe Weather: There will be isolated pockets of severe weather over the Southeast. This region will see more heavy rainfall. The second area of severe weather will be over the Southwest. This region will mostly see heavy rainfall along with some damaging winds.
Winter Weather: High pressure moving through the Great Lakes will bring an increased chance for frost and freeze conditions from Northern Minnesota to near Detroit this evening.
Flooding: The Southwest will be the focus of more severe flooding. This includes the Denver Metro area along with most of New Mexico and parts of Arizona. There will also be another focus area from Idaho to Nevada where flash flooding will be likely.
Tropical Weather: Hurricane Humberto continues to turn over the Eastern Atlantic with winds around 65kts and pressure near 984mb. The storm is forecasted to move northward and continue to slowly weaken. Tropical Depression Gabrielle continues moving northward towards the marine time region of Canada with winds around 30kts and pressure near 1007mb. The storm will also continue to weaken. Tropical Depression 10 has developed over the Southwest Gulf of Mexico with winds around 30kts and pressure of 1007mb. This storm will develop into a tropical storm prior to making landfall over Northeast Mexico and Southern Texas.
*Select City Forecast:*
Baltimore MD: Partly cloudy with a high near 80F and lows near 64F.
Mobile AL: Partly cloudy and hot with a high near 92F and lows near 73F.
Fargo ND: Partly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. High temps around 80F and lows near 54F. Total rainfall around 0.25 inches.
Billings MT: Partly cloudy and warm with a high near 90F and lows near 64F.
Seattle WA: Partly cloudy with a high near 86F and lows near 63F.
*September 13, 2013 Storm Tracker Update: *
Eastern Pacific Ocean: A tropical wave pushing off the coast of Mexico will bring strong winds and heavy rainfall to the coast of Mexico and will also need to be watched for tropical development. Low pressure over Arizona is drawing moisture from the tropical wave leading to enhanced flooding over the Southwest US from Colorado to Arizona. Low pressure moving into the Gulf of Alaska will bring strong winds and rainfall to the coast.
Atlantic Ocean: Hurricane Humberto currently has winds around 65kts and pressure near 984mb. The storm will continue to move northward. Tropical Depression Gabrielle has winds around 30kts and pressure of 1007mb. This storm will continue to weaken as it moves north. Tropical Depression 10 has developed over the Southwest Gulf of Mexico and will bring heavy rains to Mexico and Southern Texas. Low pressure moving off the East Coast of the US will bring a few thunderstorms to the Southeast US. Low pressure moving towards Greenland will bring showers to the region. Low pressure moving through Central Europe will bring showers to the region.
Western Pacific: Tropical Storm Man-Yi has developed to the southeast of Japan near Iwo Jima and is forecasted to gain strength. Winds are currently around 35kts and pressure near 996mb. This storm has the potential of impacting Japan in the next few days. A second strong area of low pressure to the northeast of Guam is being watched for possible tropical development.
Indian Ocean: The southwest monsoon will bring moderate rainfall to the region of India and Sri Lanka.
Southern Hemisphere: Multiple waves moving through the region will impact Southern Argentina along with Southern Chile bringing snow and rain showers. A second low will bring strong winds to South Africa. A third will bring showers and gusty winds to Southern Australia from Perth to Sydney. This area will see moderate rainfall along with gusty winds.
*Five-Day Storm Index Outlook for September 13-17: *
Baltimore MD: The region will start out impact free. As a frontal boundary moves through around the 16th the region will see slight to moderate impacts.
Mobile AL: The region will have slight to moderate impacts from the 14-15th and then again on the 17th as multiple cold fronts move through the region.
Fargo ND: The region will have moderate impacts today. On the 17th more impacts are expected as another cold front moves through the region.
Billings MT: The region will start out impact free and finish up with slight to moderate impacts as thunderstorms move through the region.
Seattle WA: The region will enjoy nice weather over the next five days.
*Climate Watch for September 8-12:*
Baltimore MD: The period started with temps around 8 degrees above normal followed by a short one day period of temps around 3 degrees below. The period finished with temps around 3-15 degrees above normal.
Mobile AL: The past five days have been warm with temps around 3-5 degrees above normal.
Fargo ND: The period started with temps around 3 degrees below normal. The remainder of the period finished with temps around 1-10 degrees above normal.
Billings MT: The period started with temps around 1-2 degrees below normal and then finished the period with temps around 6-8 degrees above normal.
Seattle WA: The region has seen five days with temps around 7-21 degrees above normal.
*Major Weather Impacts Discussion for September 13, 2013:*
Day 1-3: High pressure building into the Northern Plains and the Western Lakes will bring another cool day along with frost and freeze conditions overnight, especially along the Great Lakes. Low pressure over the Southwest will bring extreme flooding conditions to the region from Arizona to Colorado. An upper level ridge over the Southeast and Gulf Coast will bring another warm and dry day. The West Coast will enjoy a nice day as well. Day two high pressure will push into the Mid-Atlantic. Low pressure over the Southwest will bring another day of flooding rains to the region. A tropical system will be pushing towards Northeast Mexico and Southern Texas bringing gusty winds and heavy rainfall to the region. Showers and thunderstorms will surge northward over the Plains as well. The period will end with the tropical pushing over land over Northern Mexico and Southern Texas, while a new storm system pushes into the Pacific Northwest.
Day 4-7: The period will start with high pressure over the East Coast. A storm system moving over the Northern Plains will bring showers to the region. The tropical moisture will bring another day of heavy rainfall over Southern Texas. The period will end with low pressure extending from the Great Lakes to Texas leading to areas of very heavy rainfall across the region. Another powerful storm system will be pushing into the Pacific Northwest which will lead to moderate rainfall over the Cascades.
Day 8-12: The period will start with low pressure extending along the East Coast with plenty of showers and thunderstorms along the frontal boundary. This will extend into the Gulf Coast. Strong high pressure will build in over Southern Canada and the Great Lakes region bringing more cool weather to the area. Another strong storm system will be pushing into the Pacific Northwest bringing moderate rainfall to the region. Day ten high pressure over the East Coast and a developing low pressure over the Northern Plains will bring very strong southerly winds. Along with that expect to see a high chance of severe weather over the area. A new tropical feature may be pushing off Florida and up the East Coast. The period will finish with a tropical feature moving off shore up the East Coast, while another storm system pushes into the Pacific Northwest.
Long Range Outlook: The period will start with high pressure over the Southeast and another strong storm system moving into the Northern Plains. The period will finish with low pressure moving through the Northern Plains. A new tropical feature will also possibly be moving over the Northern Gulf.
*Today's Spotlight Forecast is for Houston TX:*
Friday: Partly cloudy with a high near 98F and lows near 74F. Winds from the southeast 2-7mph.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy with thunderstorms. High temps around 94F and lows near 76F, Winds from the southeast 9-14mph. Total rainfall around 0.10 inches.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy with thunderstorms. High temps around 90F and lows near 77F. Winds from the southeast 9-14mph. Total rainfall around 0.15 inches.
Monday: Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms. High temps around 88F and lows near 76F. Winds from the southeast 9-14mph. Total rainfall around 0.15 inches.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms. High temps around 88F and lows near 76F. Winds from the southeast 9-14mph. Total rainfall around 0.10 inches.
*Ask The Weatherman for September 13, 2013:*
Question: What does the term "convection" mean?
Answer: Convection is defined as an area of cumulus clouds that develop and begin to cover more area. These clouds can cover the entire sky and also lead to heavy rainfall and severe weather. When we talk about convection, we most often refer to thunderstorms.
*** To have your question of the day answered or have your city spotlighted for the day make sure to visit redOrbit on Facebook. ***
*Green Energy Weather Report for September 13, 2013:*
Wave Energy: There will be moderate to extreme amounts of energy over the Northeast. The Mid-Atlantic will see moderate amounts of energy. The Southeast will have slight to moderate amounts of energy. The Northern Gulf will see slight to moderate amounts of energy as well. The Southwest will have moderate to extreme amounts of energy. The Northwest will have moderate amounts.
Solar Energy: There will be ample amounts of solar energy from the Mid-Atlantic through the Southeast and into the Gulf Coast. There will also be ample amounts of solar energy from the Northern Plains to the Great Lakes and West Coast.
Wind Energy: The best place for wind energy today will be over the Great Lakes and also back into the Northern Rockies.
Hydro-Energy: There will be ample amounts of hydro energy over portions of the Great Lakes along with the Mid-Mississippi River Valley. There will be dangerous amounts of energy that will lead to dam breaking over the Colorado region along with Arizona. This region needs to be on high alert for the situation to possibly get worse over the next few days.
*September 13 Weather and Your Wallet (Denver CO):*
Upslope flow over the region is going to lead to another dangerous day with more flooding rains likely.
Dining: Today would be best to take your lunch to work.
Transportation: There will be delays as many roads are beginning to wash out. There will be delays at the airport due to thunderstorms, turbulence and heavy rainfall.
Shopping: If you plan on shopping today, make sure to take your umbrella and watch out for high water on the roadways.
Electricity: There will be a very small window of cooling this afternoon during the 2-4pm period. Otherwise the clouds and rain will keep it fairly cool over the region.
Yard Work: It would best to just take the day off from outdoor projects as flooding and heavy rain has made the yards super-saturated. There could also be a possible increase in landslides as well along the mountain slopes.
Construction: There will be impacts on any outdoor projects today and an increased need for road construction to fix these washed out roads.
Outdoor Venues: Today will be a good day to re-schedule those outdoor venues as the safety is a high concern with all the rain and flooding going on over the region. Reported by redOrbit 3 hours ago.
* *
*Big Story Weather from September 12: *
The heat continued from Ohio to the Upper Mississippi River Valley and southward into the Southern Plains. Severe weather was quite active yesterday. The biggest story and the most dangerous story is the flooding that is taking place in Colorado. What is happening here is that we have warm moist air moving in from the Southwest US converging with cooler air from the high pressure to the north and both air masses are moving from the east right up the side of the Rockies. This has led to upward vertical motion and very strong topographical enhanced moisture over the region. Some places in the Aurora CO and Boulder CO areas have seen near 1 foot of rainfall already with more expected, This is leading to massive flooding with the potential of dams breaking - a very serious situation in the region. Severe weather also hit the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic with multiple reports of wind gusts of up to 60-70mph along with 1 inch hail over New Hampshire, Arkansas and Ohio.
*Big Story Weather Discussion for September 13: *
Surface Map: High pressure near the Great Lakes will bring nice weather to the region. Another day of heavy rainfall will be possible in Colorado. Low pressure over the Southwest will make for another heavy rainfall day as multiple flood watches and warnings are already in place. The Gulf Coast and the West Coast will both enjoy partly cloudy skies.
Severe Weather: There will be isolated pockets of severe weather over the Southeast. This region will see more heavy rainfall. The second area of severe weather will be over the Southwest. This region will mostly see heavy rainfall along with some damaging winds.
Winter Weather: High pressure moving through the Great Lakes will bring an increased chance for frost and freeze conditions from Northern Minnesota to near Detroit this evening.
Flooding: The Southwest will be the focus of more severe flooding. This includes the Denver Metro area along with most of New Mexico and parts of Arizona. There will also be another focus area from Idaho to Nevada where flash flooding will be likely.
Tropical Weather: Hurricane Humberto continues to turn over the Eastern Atlantic with winds around 65kts and pressure near 984mb. The storm is forecasted to move northward and continue to slowly weaken. Tropical Depression Gabrielle continues moving northward towards the marine time region of Canada with winds around 30kts and pressure near 1007mb. The storm will also continue to weaken. Tropical Depression 10 has developed over the Southwest Gulf of Mexico with winds around 30kts and pressure of 1007mb. This storm will develop into a tropical storm prior to making landfall over Northeast Mexico and Southern Texas.
*Select City Forecast:*
Baltimore MD: Partly cloudy with a high near 80F and lows near 64F.
Mobile AL: Partly cloudy and hot with a high near 92F and lows near 73F.
Fargo ND: Partly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. High temps around 80F and lows near 54F. Total rainfall around 0.25 inches.
Billings MT: Partly cloudy and warm with a high near 90F and lows near 64F.
Seattle WA: Partly cloudy with a high near 86F and lows near 63F.
*September 13, 2013 Storm Tracker Update: *
Eastern Pacific Ocean: A tropical wave pushing off the coast of Mexico will bring strong winds and heavy rainfall to the coast of Mexico and will also need to be watched for tropical development. Low pressure over Arizona is drawing moisture from the tropical wave leading to enhanced flooding over the Southwest US from Colorado to Arizona. Low pressure moving into the Gulf of Alaska will bring strong winds and rainfall to the coast.
Atlantic Ocean: Hurricane Humberto currently has winds around 65kts and pressure near 984mb. The storm will continue to move northward. Tropical Depression Gabrielle has winds around 30kts and pressure of 1007mb. This storm will continue to weaken as it moves north. Tropical Depression 10 has developed over the Southwest Gulf of Mexico and will bring heavy rains to Mexico and Southern Texas. Low pressure moving off the East Coast of the US will bring a few thunderstorms to the Southeast US. Low pressure moving towards Greenland will bring showers to the region. Low pressure moving through Central Europe will bring showers to the region.
Western Pacific: Tropical Storm Man-Yi has developed to the southeast of Japan near Iwo Jima and is forecasted to gain strength. Winds are currently around 35kts and pressure near 996mb. This storm has the potential of impacting Japan in the next few days. A second strong area of low pressure to the northeast of Guam is being watched for possible tropical development.
Indian Ocean: The southwest monsoon will bring moderate rainfall to the region of India and Sri Lanka.
Southern Hemisphere: Multiple waves moving through the region will impact Southern Argentina along with Southern Chile bringing snow and rain showers. A second low will bring strong winds to South Africa. A third will bring showers and gusty winds to Southern Australia from Perth to Sydney. This area will see moderate rainfall along with gusty winds.
*Five-Day Storm Index Outlook for September 13-17: *
Baltimore MD: The region will start out impact free. As a frontal boundary moves through around the 16th the region will see slight to moderate impacts.
Mobile AL: The region will have slight to moderate impacts from the 14-15th and then again on the 17th as multiple cold fronts move through the region.
Fargo ND: The region will have moderate impacts today. On the 17th more impacts are expected as another cold front moves through the region.
Billings MT: The region will start out impact free and finish up with slight to moderate impacts as thunderstorms move through the region.
Seattle WA: The region will enjoy nice weather over the next five days.
*Climate Watch for September 8-12:*
Baltimore MD: The period started with temps around 8 degrees above normal followed by a short one day period of temps around 3 degrees below. The period finished with temps around 3-15 degrees above normal.
Mobile AL: The past five days have been warm with temps around 3-5 degrees above normal.
Fargo ND: The period started with temps around 3 degrees below normal. The remainder of the period finished with temps around 1-10 degrees above normal.
Billings MT: The period started with temps around 1-2 degrees below normal and then finished the period with temps around 6-8 degrees above normal.
Seattle WA: The region has seen five days with temps around 7-21 degrees above normal.
*Major Weather Impacts Discussion for September 13, 2013:*
Day 1-3: High pressure building into the Northern Plains and the Western Lakes will bring another cool day along with frost and freeze conditions overnight, especially along the Great Lakes. Low pressure over the Southwest will bring extreme flooding conditions to the region from Arizona to Colorado. An upper level ridge over the Southeast and Gulf Coast will bring another warm and dry day. The West Coast will enjoy a nice day as well. Day two high pressure will push into the Mid-Atlantic. Low pressure over the Southwest will bring another day of flooding rains to the region. A tropical system will be pushing towards Northeast Mexico and Southern Texas bringing gusty winds and heavy rainfall to the region. Showers and thunderstorms will surge northward over the Plains as well. The period will end with the tropical pushing over land over Northern Mexico and Southern Texas, while a new storm system pushes into the Pacific Northwest.
Day 4-7: The period will start with high pressure over the East Coast. A storm system moving over the Northern Plains will bring showers to the region. The tropical moisture will bring another day of heavy rainfall over Southern Texas. The period will end with low pressure extending from the Great Lakes to Texas leading to areas of very heavy rainfall across the region. Another powerful storm system will be pushing into the Pacific Northwest which will lead to moderate rainfall over the Cascades.
Day 8-12: The period will start with low pressure extending along the East Coast with plenty of showers and thunderstorms along the frontal boundary. This will extend into the Gulf Coast. Strong high pressure will build in over Southern Canada and the Great Lakes region bringing more cool weather to the area. Another strong storm system will be pushing into the Pacific Northwest bringing moderate rainfall to the region. Day ten high pressure over the East Coast and a developing low pressure over the Northern Plains will bring very strong southerly winds. Along with that expect to see a high chance of severe weather over the area. A new tropical feature may be pushing off Florida and up the East Coast. The period will finish with a tropical feature moving off shore up the East Coast, while another storm system pushes into the Pacific Northwest.
Long Range Outlook: The period will start with high pressure over the Southeast and another strong storm system moving into the Northern Plains. The period will finish with low pressure moving through the Northern Plains. A new tropical feature will also possibly be moving over the Northern Gulf.
*Today's Spotlight Forecast is for Houston TX:*
Friday: Partly cloudy with a high near 98F and lows near 74F. Winds from the southeast 2-7mph.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy with thunderstorms. High temps around 94F and lows near 76F, Winds from the southeast 9-14mph. Total rainfall around 0.10 inches.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy with thunderstorms. High temps around 90F and lows near 77F. Winds from the southeast 9-14mph. Total rainfall around 0.15 inches.
Monday: Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms. High temps around 88F and lows near 76F. Winds from the southeast 9-14mph. Total rainfall around 0.15 inches.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms. High temps around 88F and lows near 76F. Winds from the southeast 9-14mph. Total rainfall around 0.10 inches.
*Ask The Weatherman for September 13, 2013:*
Question: What does the term "convection" mean?
Answer: Convection is defined as an area of cumulus clouds that develop and begin to cover more area. These clouds can cover the entire sky and also lead to heavy rainfall and severe weather. When we talk about convection, we most often refer to thunderstorms.
*** To have your question of the day answered or have your city spotlighted for the day make sure to visit redOrbit on Facebook. ***
*Green Energy Weather Report for September 13, 2013:*
Wave Energy: There will be moderate to extreme amounts of energy over the Northeast. The Mid-Atlantic will see moderate amounts of energy. The Southeast will have slight to moderate amounts of energy. The Northern Gulf will see slight to moderate amounts of energy as well. The Southwest will have moderate to extreme amounts of energy. The Northwest will have moderate amounts.
Solar Energy: There will be ample amounts of solar energy from the Mid-Atlantic through the Southeast and into the Gulf Coast. There will also be ample amounts of solar energy from the Northern Plains to the Great Lakes and West Coast.
Wind Energy: The best place for wind energy today will be over the Great Lakes and also back into the Northern Rockies.
Hydro-Energy: There will be ample amounts of hydro energy over portions of the Great Lakes along with the Mid-Mississippi River Valley. There will be dangerous amounts of energy that will lead to dam breaking over the Colorado region along with Arizona. This region needs to be on high alert for the situation to possibly get worse over the next few days.
*September 13 Weather and Your Wallet (Denver CO):*
Upslope flow over the region is going to lead to another dangerous day with more flooding rains likely.
Dining: Today would be best to take your lunch to work.
Transportation: There will be delays as many roads are beginning to wash out. There will be delays at the airport due to thunderstorms, turbulence and heavy rainfall.
Shopping: If you plan on shopping today, make sure to take your umbrella and watch out for high water on the roadways.
Electricity: There will be a very small window of cooling this afternoon during the 2-4pm period. Otherwise the clouds and rain will keep it fairly cool over the region.
Yard Work: It would best to just take the day off from outdoor projects as flooding and heavy rain has made the yards super-saturated. There could also be a possible increase in landslides as well along the mountain slopes.
Construction: There will be impacts on any outdoor projects today and an increased need for road construction to fix these washed out roads.
Outdoor Venues: Today will be a good day to re-schedule those outdoor venues as the safety is a high concern with all the rain and flooding going on over the region. Reported by redOrbit 3 hours ago.
↧
Boulder Flooding: Remembering Warnings From Weather Report
On Thursday as I was reading about war and peace, headlines about a flash flood in Boulder kept arriving all through the day: "At least 3 dead in Colorado flooding; Boulder 'overwhelmed with water'" (LA Times), "Flood threat still strong as 3 killed in Colorado" (USA Today), "Boulder flood: 2nd death confirmed, county calls in National Guard to assist with rescues" (Boulder Daily Camera), "Boulder Flooding: Deadly High Waters in Northern Colorado Force Evacuations, Cause Mudslides" (Huffington Post), ...
Soon I'll talk about the flood, but first the warning.
Six years ago, on September 14, I had walked along the Boulder Creek, following the blue discs in artist Mary Miss' outdoor art installation "Connect the Dots: Mapping the Highwater Hazards and History of Boulder Creek." Both Mary and I were participating artists ("29 women, 12 men, 10 collaborations") in what was quite possibly the first comprehensive art exhibition on climate change: "Weather Report: Art and Climate Change." The exhibition idea was conceived by Marda Kirn of EcoArts; was organized by renowned curator, writer and activist Lucy Lippard; and was presented by the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA) in collaboration with EcoArts.
My photographs from the Arctic were presented at BMoCA and University of Colorado's Norlin Library. I also gave a lecture at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), focusing on climate change issues in the far North. In addition to NCAR, Boulder also has the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). Marda Kirn told The New York Times that Boulder has the "highest density of climate scientists in the world," which the Times affectionately mocked in their review of the exhibition, "as if climatology Ph.D.'s were stacked like rolls of paper towels at Costco." Boulder was indeed a perfect home for Weather Report.
On that September 14, I had difficulty imagining: A deadly flood in that little creek, really?
Mary Miss wrote in her artist statement in the accompanying exhibition catalog:
"How can the imagination be provoked to envision an event outside our daily experience, one that completely alters the landscape we occupy? How can the predicted flooding of Boulder Creek be made tangible to the residents of this city? ... Looking from one point to the next, connecting the dots [painted blue discs], the level of a flood [500-year flood] is no longer abstract. This is one part of a larger study about the flooding of Boulder Creek that would more fully reveal additional aspects of the nature of a flood, and how future floods would affect the city."
Her blue discs became very popular. Residents were not only enjoying seeing those attached to trees while walking or biking along the creek, but discs were disappearing too -- vandalize would be too harsh a word, instead it's more like people were taking a few back home like we take sand dollars from a beach. I helped Mary replace a few, fast. Mary Miss' art was "a deceptively simple outdoor installation that powerfully illustrated the potential danger of climate change in the immediate locale," art critic Suzanne Boettger wrote in Art in America special issue "Art & Politics."
For the installation, she had worked with scientists from the University of Colorado at Boulder and the US Geological Survey. In fact, art-science collaboration was one of the key strengths of Weather Report. "One of the principles of this exhibition... was to give artists access to scientists working in the fields that they hoped to address," Lucy Lippard wrote. "This process was at once fruitful and delicate. (Scientists are determined to remain politically neutral in order to retain their objectivity; artists chafe at constrictions)."
Artists, however, are often not taken seriously when it comes to addressing the climate crisis. Lawrence Wechsler had written an article on "artistic responses to global warming" in The Nation. Lippard pointed out that Wechsler "pretty much dismisses artists who address the issue 'head on'." She strongly objected to Wechsler's "oversimplification" and wrote:
"At best [artists] can make the hot breath of climate change both vivid and immediate to this visually oriented society... They can also deconstruct the ways we are manipulated by the powers that be and help open our eyes to what we must do to resist and survive."
Weather Report did "deluge the populace with artwork" exhibited all across town in numerous venues and outdoors. I surmise that no one in Boulder had imagined then that the real "deluge" would arrive -- so soon.
Colorado was plagued with devastating wildfires this summer. Now come the floods. A large storm system dumped up to 10 inches of rain, since Monday, in central Colorado, causing flash floods. "Flooding extended all along the Front Range mountains, including the cities of Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Greeley, Aurora and Boulder," the Associated Press reported. Boulder has been hit hardest though.
"This is not an ordinary day, it is not your ordinary disaster," Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said on Thursday. Referring to flood warning he said, "You know, we sort of roll our eyes when they say you have to be prepared for the 100-year flood, so here we are."
"The University of Colorado-Boulder campus was closed for the remainder of the week after a torrent of water from Boulder Creek flooding damaged about 40 buildings, or about a quarter of the campus. Hundreds of students were forced to evacuate residence halls. Officials also closed Boulder Valley and St. Vrain District schools," the USA Today reported on Thursday.
About 11 p.m. Thursday night I spoke with Anurag Agrawal, a doctoral student at the University of Colorado Electrical Engineering department. He told me over the phone:
"I attended my class on Wednesday afternoon while it was still drizzling. I went back home from school at around 6 pm with the rain getting worse. At about 8 pm, I got a text message about the flash flood warning from the National Weather Service (NWS). Then every 30-60 minutes I was getting texts from NWS as well as the university alert system regarding the status of the floods. People were advised to stay away from the Boulder Creek and try and stay at high-rise areas. I had never seen anything like this in my 7 years at Boulder, and rarely back in India. Being on the 3rd floor of a building, I felt safe inside the house but a friend of mine who lived close to the campus was evacuated like many others. The campus was declared closed on Thursday and Friday. The small boulder creek where we used to go tubing in summer has turned into a river with water flowing at 5000 cubic feet per sec!"
The Los Angeles Times reported that "officials are seeing flooding in areas that are not even close to water. Many major roads in and out of Boulder were closed or impassable, and officials were asking people to stay in their homes."
So far three deaths have been confirmed in central Colorado. Boulder's Daily Camera reported that the sheriff's office "feared that more fatalities would be discovered as crews tried to make their way into the mountain towns and heavily affected areas."
There is more rain to come though. USA Today reported that on Thursday morning the National Weather Service "posted a bulletin warning of 'Biblical' rainfall in some areas, forecast 6 to 10 inches could fall through the weekend."
The AP article made a connection between wildfire and flood -- both are becoming more frequent and more extreme with climate change:
"Some of the flooding was exacerbated by wildfire...That was particularly true near Jamestown in an area scarred by fire in 2010 and another near Colorado Springs' Waldo Canyon that was hit in 2012. Rain is normally soaked up by a sponge-like layer of pine needles and twigs on the forest floor. But wildfires incinerate that layer and leave a residue in the top layer of soil that sheds water."
Furthermore, climate change induced bark beetles infestation during the last decade killed tens of millions of pine and piñon trees, all across the southwest. As I wrote in 2010 that between 2001 and 2005, more than 54.5 million piñons -- 90 percent of mature piñons died in New Mexico from bark beetles infestation.
In 2011 the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth presented as exhibition of my desert photographs, Where I Live I Hope to Know. In the accompanying catalog I wrote:
When I started my walks [in 2006], I did not realize that the piñon-juniper stands across the Desert Southwest are actually old-growth forests, ancient woodlands that support an amazing diversity of wildlife, including 250 bird species, 74 species of mammals, 17 species of bats, 10 amphibian species, and 27 species of reptiles. Sadly, as I continued my photography, I began to realize that the old-growth piñon forest in New Mexico is mostly dead due to recent climate change.
The massive death and destruction of trees -- from bark beetles and wildfires -- turn a forest that used to be a carbon sink -- to a carbon source, further contributing to climate change.
We can connect many more dots like this. But the point I'm trying to make here is that we can keep arguing whether the devastating still-unfolding flood in Colorado was caused (or amplified) by climate change (or not) or we could get serious about addressing the climate crisis. Sadly, there is no such luck in the horizon, however, as I wrote in a recent article, "Obama in the US, and Harper in Canada, in tandem, are turning North America into a petro-imperial and petro-despot continent. This does not bode well for solving the climate crisis."
The Obama presidency has all but finished off the environmental movement in the US. The movement has essentially become what I'd call -- the glass is half-full movement. The concept is most clearly exemplified by the Keystone XL pipeline issue. Environmentalists who are Obama supporters cheerily point out that he delayed the construction of the northern half of the pipeline, while critics like myself keep pointing out that he gave approval for the building of the southern half. It is a great irony that the Keystone XL pipeline has become -- the Kardashian -- the celebrity of the environmental movement. Under the cover of the Keystone XL Obama's environmental policy is causing great troubles everywhere else: from drilling in the Arctic Ocean, to super-deep-water-drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, to fracking (onshore and offshore), and a recent Mint Press News investigative report stated: "many key pipeline and oil and gas industry marketing projects are currently up for expedited review, making up for -- and by far eclipsing -- the capacity of Keystone XL's northern half."
More than a decade of wars abroad has hollowed out the U.S. economy. Now, responding to frequent climate change disasters -- wildfires, floods, hurricanes -- will further empty out the government's coffer. The Empire might not need clothes to survive (bombs and drones will do), but people and all other species will still need a healthy environment -- to survive.
The Weather Report: Art and Climate Change exhibition, which happened in 2007, visually gave warnings about a deadly flood in the Boulder Creek. Six years have passed. America is yet to take any meaningful action on climate change. Will the death and devastation from this week's flood in Colorado simply pass us by as a mere spectacle?
Subhankar Banerjee's latest book Arctic Voices: Resistance at the Tipping Point will be published in paperback on October 8 (Seven Stories Press). Reported by Huffington Post 4 hours ago.
Soon I'll talk about the flood, but first the warning.
Six years ago, on September 14, I had walked along the Boulder Creek, following the blue discs in artist Mary Miss' outdoor art installation "Connect the Dots: Mapping the Highwater Hazards and History of Boulder Creek." Both Mary and I were participating artists ("29 women, 12 men, 10 collaborations") in what was quite possibly the first comprehensive art exhibition on climate change: "Weather Report: Art and Climate Change." The exhibition idea was conceived by Marda Kirn of EcoArts; was organized by renowned curator, writer and activist Lucy Lippard; and was presented by the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA) in collaboration with EcoArts.
My photographs from the Arctic were presented at BMoCA and University of Colorado's Norlin Library. I also gave a lecture at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), focusing on climate change issues in the far North. In addition to NCAR, Boulder also has the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). Marda Kirn told The New York Times that Boulder has the "highest density of climate scientists in the world," which the Times affectionately mocked in their review of the exhibition, "as if climatology Ph.D.'s were stacked like rolls of paper towels at Costco." Boulder was indeed a perfect home for Weather Report.
On that September 14, I had difficulty imagining: A deadly flood in that little creek, really?
Mary Miss wrote in her artist statement in the accompanying exhibition catalog:
"How can the imagination be provoked to envision an event outside our daily experience, one that completely alters the landscape we occupy? How can the predicted flooding of Boulder Creek be made tangible to the residents of this city? ... Looking from one point to the next, connecting the dots [painted blue discs], the level of a flood [500-year flood] is no longer abstract. This is one part of a larger study about the flooding of Boulder Creek that would more fully reveal additional aspects of the nature of a flood, and how future floods would affect the city."
Her blue discs became very popular. Residents were not only enjoying seeing those attached to trees while walking or biking along the creek, but discs were disappearing too -- vandalize would be too harsh a word, instead it's more like people were taking a few back home like we take sand dollars from a beach. I helped Mary replace a few, fast. Mary Miss' art was "a deceptively simple outdoor installation that powerfully illustrated the potential danger of climate change in the immediate locale," art critic Suzanne Boettger wrote in Art in America special issue "Art & Politics."
For the installation, she had worked with scientists from the University of Colorado at Boulder and the US Geological Survey. In fact, art-science collaboration was one of the key strengths of Weather Report. "One of the principles of this exhibition... was to give artists access to scientists working in the fields that they hoped to address," Lucy Lippard wrote. "This process was at once fruitful and delicate. (Scientists are determined to remain politically neutral in order to retain their objectivity; artists chafe at constrictions)."
Artists, however, are often not taken seriously when it comes to addressing the climate crisis. Lawrence Wechsler had written an article on "artistic responses to global warming" in The Nation. Lippard pointed out that Wechsler "pretty much dismisses artists who address the issue 'head on'." She strongly objected to Wechsler's "oversimplification" and wrote:
"At best [artists] can make the hot breath of climate change both vivid and immediate to this visually oriented society... They can also deconstruct the ways we are manipulated by the powers that be and help open our eyes to what we must do to resist and survive."
Weather Report did "deluge the populace with artwork" exhibited all across town in numerous venues and outdoors. I surmise that no one in Boulder had imagined then that the real "deluge" would arrive -- so soon.
Colorado was plagued with devastating wildfires this summer. Now come the floods. A large storm system dumped up to 10 inches of rain, since Monday, in central Colorado, causing flash floods. "Flooding extended all along the Front Range mountains, including the cities of Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Greeley, Aurora and Boulder," the Associated Press reported. Boulder has been hit hardest though.
"This is not an ordinary day, it is not your ordinary disaster," Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said on Thursday. Referring to flood warning he said, "You know, we sort of roll our eyes when they say you have to be prepared for the 100-year flood, so here we are."
"The University of Colorado-Boulder campus was closed for the remainder of the week after a torrent of water from Boulder Creek flooding damaged about 40 buildings, or about a quarter of the campus. Hundreds of students were forced to evacuate residence halls. Officials also closed Boulder Valley and St. Vrain District schools," the USA Today reported on Thursday.
About 11 p.m. Thursday night I spoke with Anurag Agrawal, a doctoral student at the University of Colorado Electrical Engineering department. He told me over the phone:
"I attended my class on Wednesday afternoon while it was still drizzling. I went back home from school at around 6 pm with the rain getting worse. At about 8 pm, I got a text message about the flash flood warning from the National Weather Service (NWS). Then every 30-60 minutes I was getting texts from NWS as well as the university alert system regarding the status of the floods. People were advised to stay away from the Boulder Creek and try and stay at high-rise areas. I had never seen anything like this in my 7 years at Boulder, and rarely back in India. Being on the 3rd floor of a building, I felt safe inside the house but a friend of mine who lived close to the campus was evacuated like many others. The campus was declared closed on Thursday and Friday. The small boulder creek where we used to go tubing in summer has turned into a river with water flowing at 5000 cubic feet per sec!"
The Los Angeles Times reported that "officials are seeing flooding in areas that are not even close to water. Many major roads in and out of Boulder were closed or impassable, and officials were asking people to stay in their homes."
So far three deaths have been confirmed in central Colorado. Boulder's Daily Camera reported that the sheriff's office "feared that more fatalities would be discovered as crews tried to make their way into the mountain towns and heavily affected areas."
There is more rain to come though. USA Today reported that on Thursday morning the National Weather Service "posted a bulletin warning of 'Biblical' rainfall in some areas, forecast 6 to 10 inches could fall through the weekend."
The AP article made a connection between wildfire and flood -- both are becoming more frequent and more extreme with climate change:
"Some of the flooding was exacerbated by wildfire...That was particularly true near Jamestown in an area scarred by fire in 2010 and another near Colorado Springs' Waldo Canyon that was hit in 2012. Rain is normally soaked up by a sponge-like layer of pine needles and twigs on the forest floor. But wildfires incinerate that layer and leave a residue in the top layer of soil that sheds water."
Furthermore, climate change induced bark beetles infestation during the last decade killed tens of millions of pine and piñon trees, all across the southwest. As I wrote in 2010 that between 2001 and 2005, more than 54.5 million piñons -- 90 percent of mature piñons died in New Mexico from bark beetles infestation.
In 2011 the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth presented as exhibition of my desert photographs, Where I Live I Hope to Know. In the accompanying catalog I wrote:
When I started my walks [in 2006], I did not realize that the piñon-juniper stands across the Desert Southwest are actually old-growth forests, ancient woodlands that support an amazing diversity of wildlife, including 250 bird species, 74 species of mammals, 17 species of bats, 10 amphibian species, and 27 species of reptiles. Sadly, as I continued my photography, I began to realize that the old-growth piñon forest in New Mexico is mostly dead due to recent climate change.
The massive death and destruction of trees -- from bark beetles and wildfires -- turn a forest that used to be a carbon sink -- to a carbon source, further contributing to climate change.
We can connect many more dots like this. But the point I'm trying to make here is that we can keep arguing whether the devastating still-unfolding flood in Colorado was caused (or amplified) by climate change (or not) or we could get serious about addressing the climate crisis. Sadly, there is no such luck in the horizon, however, as I wrote in a recent article, "Obama in the US, and Harper in Canada, in tandem, are turning North America into a petro-imperial and petro-despot continent. This does not bode well for solving the climate crisis."
The Obama presidency has all but finished off the environmental movement in the US. The movement has essentially become what I'd call -- the glass is half-full movement. The concept is most clearly exemplified by the Keystone XL pipeline issue. Environmentalists who are Obama supporters cheerily point out that he delayed the construction of the northern half of the pipeline, while critics like myself keep pointing out that he gave approval for the building of the southern half. It is a great irony that the Keystone XL pipeline has become -- the Kardashian -- the celebrity of the environmental movement. Under the cover of the Keystone XL Obama's environmental policy is causing great troubles everywhere else: from drilling in the Arctic Ocean, to super-deep-water-drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, to fracking (onshore and offshore), and a recent Mint Press News investigative report stated: "many key pipeline and oil and gas industry marketing projects are currently up for expedited review, making up for -- and by far eclipsing -- the capacity of Keystone XL's northern half."
More than a decade of wars abroad has hollowed out the U.S. economy. Now, responding to frequent climate change disasters -- wildfires, floods, hurricanes -- will further empty out the government's coffer. The Empire might not need clothes to survive (bombs and drones will do), but people and all other species will still need a healthy environment -- to survive.
The Weather Report: Art and Climate Change exhibition, which happened in 2007, visually gave warnings about a deadly flood in the Boulder Creek. Six years have passed. America is yet to take any meaningful action on climate change. Will the death and devastation from this week's flood in Colorado simply pass us by as a mere spectacle?
Subhankar Banerjee's latest book Arctic Voices: Resistance at the Tipping Point will be published in paperback on October 8 (Seven Stories Press). Reported by Huffington Post 4 hours ago.
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Police Chief Steve Bracknell Agrees George Zimmerman Is Potential Mass Killer, Then Walks Back Comment
LegalNation
Steve Bracknell, police chief in Lake Mary, Fla., where George Zimmerman resides and where he got into a nasty domestic dispute with his estranged wife and father-in-law Monday, appears to be no fan of the acquitted Trayvon Martin killer, even though Bracknell did not charge him with anything after Zimmerman allegedly threatened his wife with a gun, smashed her iPad and punched her father in the nose.
After Zimmerman (pictured on Monday) was let go this week, an angry Lake Mary resident, Santiago Rodriguez, fired off an angry e-mail to the police chief. In the e-mail, Rodriguez accuses the police department of somehow being influenced by the Zimmerman family, saying, “either his father is pulling strings for him or his uncle who is also a Sheriff in Orange County.”
Rodriguez implores Bracknell to arrest Zimmerman who, the e-mail scribe says, “is a Sandy Hook, Aurora waiting to happen.”
The references of course are to the gun massacres that took place in a Sandy Hook, Conn., elementary school and an Aurora, Col., movie theatre in December and July of last year, respectively.
Bracknell’s reply, in e-mails obtained by the liberal web site Think Progress and reproduced online, is to stress that, “REST ASSURED, the last thing on planet earth I want is ANY relationship with the Zimmermans.” (Capitalization original.)
And in response to Rodriguez’s comments about last year’s gun massacres, Bracknell says, “Your reference to Sandy Hook.....................I agree.” (Punctuation original.)
Asked about the e-mails yesterday by Think Progress, Bracknell appeared to walk back his agreement with Rodriguez. He said he was merely “referring to the fact that [Zimmerman] seems to be involved in incidents” with guns.
However, Rodriguez, clearly amazed at receiving a response from the chief, wrote back and reiterated his belief that, “sooner or later another mother and father is going to be on CNN lashing out against the system due to this man snapping.”
Again, Bracknell replies, “on a personal note.....I agree.”
SOURCES: Think Progress, WTSB, Scribd
1 Reported by Opposing Views 2 hours ago.
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George Zimmerman 'a Sandy Hook waiting to happen', Florida police chief suggests
Series of indiscreet emails reveals how Lake Mary chief Steve Bracknell believes Zimmerman, 29, to be 'ticking time bomb'
A series of indiscreet emails by a Florida police chief has revealed his belief that Trayvon Martin's killer George Zimmerman is a volatile character who is "a Sandy Hook waiting to happen".
Steve Bracknell is the chief of the Lake Mary police department, which is investigating Zimmerman, 29, for allegedly threatening his estranged wife, Shellie, and his father-in-law with a gun on Monday.
In an email exchange with a Lake Mary resident critical of the department's initial decision not to arrest or charge Zimmerman, Bracknell appears to agree with the writer's description of Zimmerman, acquitted in July of murdering Martin, an unarmed black teenager, as "a ticking time bomb".
"Zimmerman is a Sandy Hook, Aurora waiting to happen," the resident, Santiago Rodriguez, told Bracknell in his first email, seeking an explanation for why Lake Mary officers did not charge Zimmerman.
"Your reference to Sandy Hook … I agree," Bracknell replied.
At the end of a follow-up email urging Bracknell not to "give up" on the investigation, Rodriguez wrote: "Sooner or later another mother and father is going to be on CNN lashing out against the system due to this man snapping."
Bracknell replied: "As for your final thoughts, again, on a personal note, I agree."
Neither the police chief, nor his department's spokesman, Zach Hudson, responded to a request from the Guardian for comment Friday, but the political blog ThinkProgress, which published the email exchange on Thursday night, said Bracknell confirmed the messages were authentic.
It followed an off-the-cuff comment Bracknell made to a reporter from Los Angeles on Monday in response to the massive media interest in the confrontation between George and Shellie Zimmerman at her father's house in Lake Mary.
"Man, it would be fantastic if you had an apartment out there [in California] for George Zimmerman. This guy is killing me," he said.
And in one of the emails to Rodriguez, he insists: "Rest assured, the last thing on planet earth I want is any relationship with the Zimmermans. Period."
Police said on Wednesday that no decision would be made for many weeks if Zimmerman should face charges over the incident, in which Shellie Zimmerman called 911 to report he was threatening her and her father with a gun.
"He's just threatening all of us with his firearm, and he's gonna shoot us. He punched my dad in the nose. My dad has a mark on his face," she said in the recording of the call, made as the couple argued over their belongings.
Shellie Zimmerman filed for divorce last week and, according to the police report, had gone to the house they once shared to pick up some of her possessions when her husband also turned up.
At some point during their confrontation, Shellie Zimmerman began recording him on an iPad, which he then allegedly smashed on the floor and cut with a pocket knife. Detectives say it could take months for forensic investigators to establish if any of the footage is retrievable.
The investigation stalled when Shellie Zimmerman, after talking with her lawyer, Kelly Sims, and her husband's attorney, Mark O'Mara, decided she did not want to press charges. She and her father, David Dean, then told police they had not seen George Zimmerman with a weapon, apparently contradicting what she told police dispatchers.
"I do not know why she changed her story. I could only guess, and that would be improper," Bracknell said in his email.
However, Shellie Zimmerman is serving 12 months' probation for perjury stemming from a lie she told a judge about the couple's finances at her husband's bail hearing last year. George Zimmerman told police that she hit him on the back with the iPad and that he smashed in to stop her.
Her backtracking left detectives relying on the iPad, which Hudson said was "in really bad shape."
"At this point, we do not have the tools available to effectively look at the video. As it stands right now, there will not be any charges anytime soon without that iPad," he said.
Bracknell described Monday's incident as "a very unusual occurrence" but denied there was any conspiracy or cover-up into why Zimmerman was released without charge after only a brief period "in investigative custody".
"The 911 tapes needs [sic] to be supported by physical evidence of the alleged physical violence. Since Shellie and her father refused to prosecute, we were powerless to arrest anyone," he wrote.
"Remember, we were the agency that wrote him a $256.00 [speeding] citation last week! No freebies here in Lake Mary." Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 hours ago.
A series of indiscreet emails by a Florida police chief has revealed his belief that Trayvon Martin's killer George Zimmerman is a volatile character who is "a Sandy Hook waiting to happen".
Steve Bracknell is the chief of the Lake Mary police department, which is investigating Zimmerman, 29, for allegedly threatening his estranged wife, Shellie, and his father-in-law with a gun on Monday.
In an email exchange with a Lake Mary resident critical of the department's initial decision not to arrest or charge Zimmerman, Bracknell appears to agree with the writer's description of Zimmerman, acquitted in July of murdering Martin, an unarmed black teenager, as "a ticking time bomb".
"Zimmerman is a Sandy Hook, Aurora waiting to happen," the resident, Santiago Rodriguez, told Bracknell in his first email, seeking an explanation for why Lake Mary officers did not charge Zimmerman.
"Your reference to Sandy Hook … I agree," Bracknell replied.
At the end of a follow-up email urging Bracknell not to "give up" on the investigation, Rodriguez wrote: "Sooner or later another mother and father is going to be on CNN lashing out against the system due to this man snapping."
Bracknell replied: "As for your final thoughts, again, on a personal note, I agree."
Neither the police chief, nor his department's spokesman, Zach Hudson, responded to a request from the Guardian for comment Friday, but the political blog ThinkProgress, which published the email exchange on Thursday night, said Bracknell confirmed the messages were authentic.
It followed an off-the-cuff comment Bracknell made to a reporter from Los Angeles on Monday in response to the massive media interest in the confrontation between George and Shellie Zimmerman at her father's house in Lake Mary.
"Man, it would be fantastic if you had an apartment out there [in California] for George Zimmerman. This guy is killing me," he said.
And in one of the emails to Rodriguez, he insists: "Rest assured, the last thing on planet earth I want is any relationship with the Zimmermans. Period."
Police said on Wednesday that no decision would be made for many weeks if Zimmerman should face charges over the incident, in which Shellie Zimmerman called 911 to report he was threatening her and her father with a gun.
"He's just threatening all of us with his firearm, and he's gonna shoot us. He punched my dad in the nose. My dad has a mark on his face," she said in the recording of the call, made as the couple argued over their belongings.
Shellie Zimmerman filed for divorce last week and, according to the police report, had gone to the house they once shared to pick up some of her possessions when her husband also turned up.
At some point during their confrontation, Shellie Zimmerman began recording him on an iPad, which he then allegedly smashed on the floor and cut with a pocket knife. Detectives say it could take months for forensic investigators to establish if any of the footage is retrievable.
The investigation stalled when Shellie Zimmerman, after talking with her lawyer, Kelly Sims, and her husband's attorney, Mark O'Mara, decided she did not want to press charges. She and her father, David Dean, then told police they had not seen George Zimmerman with a weapon, apparently contradicting what she told police dispatchers.
"I do not know why she changed her story. I could only guess, and that would be improper," Bracknell said in his email.
However, Shellie Zimmerman is serving 12 months' probation for perjury stemming from a lie she told a judge about the couple's finances at her husband's bail hearing last year. George Zimmerman told police that she hit him on the back with the iPad and that he smashed in to stop her.
Her backtracking left detectives relying on the iPad, which Hudson said was "in really bad shape."
"At this point, we do not have the tools available to effectively look at the video. As it stands right now, there will not be any charges anytime soon without that iPad," he said.
Bracknell described Monday's incident as "a very unusual occurrence" but denied there was any conspiracy or cover-up into why Zimmerman was released without charge after only a brief period "in investigative custody".
"The 911 tapes needs [sic] to be supported by physical evidence of the alleged physical violence. Since Shellie and her father refused to prosecute, we were powerless to arrest anyone," he wrote.
"Remember, we were the agency that wrote him a $256.00 [speeding] citation last week! No freebies here in Lake Mary." Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 hours ago.
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Holly Madison's Magical Disneyland Wedding as Reported by ExploreTalent.com
Explore Talent Pushes New Blog: Holly Madison's Magical Disneyland Wedding
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 12, 2013
Explore Talent pushes new blog: Holly Madison's Magical Disneyland Wedding. Clips from the piece:
Former Playboy bunny Holly Madison married her boyfriend and the father of her baby, Pasquale Rotella, in a lavish ceremony in Disneyland on Tuesday, Sept. 10. In a wedding described by a source to People magazine as "truly a fairly tale," the duo exchanged vows at Disneyland's New Orleans Square. Their six-month-old baby, Rainbow Aurora, accompanied her parents.
"After a turn on the Pirates of the Caribbean, a train carried guests to the reception where they were treated to a private showing of Fantasmic!, the evening show that features pyrotechnics, live actors on the water surrounding Tom Sawyer Island."
Explore Talent is a professional site that connects actors, models, singers and dancers with jobs in the United States. The online community has been responsible for new collaborations and business ventures in entertainment. Explore Talent also helps aspiring entertainment professionals further their careers with contests that showcase their profiles to members of the social media community. Furthermore, the Explore Talent site features celebrity videos, exclusive interviews with actors, actresses, and musicians, such as Joan Rivers, Usher, Akon and T-Pain.
Anyone can create a profile on Explore Talent where they can upload their photos, videos, songs, etc., to show off their talent in the hopes of landing gigs, such as movie auditions and casting calls, in entertainment. Explore Talent's proprietary software and vast infrastructure is the most advanced entertainment-based technology of its kind. The site's popularity is based on the fact that there are many ways for talent to network, make friends and connect with other industry players, participate in wide variety of contests and earn prizes for being active on the site. The easy access to a pool of over 7.8 million members attracts industry players who are posting every month about 50,000 new auditions and job openings which is 30 times more than any other site.
For more information, visit us. Reported by PRWeb 4 days ago.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 12, 2013
Explore Talent pushes new blog: Holly Madison's Magical Disneyland Wedding. Clips from the piece:
Former Playboy bunny Holly Madison married her boyfriend and the father of her baby, Pasquale Rotella, in a lavish ceremony in Disneyland on Tuesday, Sept. 10. In a wedding described by a source to People magazine as "truly a fairly tale," the duo exchanged vows at Disneyland's New Orleans Square. Their six-month-old baby, Rainbow Aurora, accompanied her parents.
"After a turn on the Pirates of the Caribbean, a train carried guests to the reception where they were treated to a private showing of Fantasmic!, the evening show that features pyrotechnics, live actors on the water surrounding Tom Sawyer Island."
Explore Talent is a professional site that connects actors, models, singers and dancers with jobs in the United States. The online community has been responsible for new collaborations and business ventures in entertainment. Explore Talent also helps aspiring entertainment professionals further their careers with contests that showcase their profiles to members of the social media community. Furthermore, the Explore Talent site features celebrity videos, exclusive interviews with actors, actresses, and musicians, such as Joan Rivers, Usher, Akon and T-Pain.
Anyone can create a profile on Explore Talent where they can upload their photos, videos, songs, etc., to show off their talent in the hopes of landing gigs, such as movie auditions and casting calls, in entertainment. Explore Talent's proprietary software and vast infrastructure is the most advanced entertainment-based technology of its kind. The site's popularity is based on the fact that there are many ways for talent to network, make friends and connect with other industry players, participate in wide variety of contests and earn prizes for being active on the site. The easy access to a pool of over 7.8 million members attracts industry players who are posting every month about 50,000 new auditions and job openings which is 30 times more than any other site.
For more information, visit us. Reported by PRWeb 4 days ago.
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Srinivasa Erramilli, 'Serial Groper,' Sentenced To 9 Months Following THIRD Fondling Conviction
A serial groper who's been previously described as "the very last person on the face of the Earth that a female would want to be seated next to on a flight" was sentenced Wednesday to serve nine months in federal prison after being convicted, for the third time, of fondling a sleeping female passenger while aboard a Southwest Airlines flight.
Srinivasa Erramilli, 45, from Aurora, Ill., was convicted of abusive sexual contact last December of groping the inner thing of a female passenger he was seated next to on a flight from Las Vegas to Chicago in June 2011, Patch reports.
The woman, now-65-year-old Susan Domino, told the Chicago Sun-Times she felt Erramilli got off easy with his sentence -- which also included a $5,000 fine. He faced a sentence of up to two years in prison.
“I would have chopped his hands off!” Domino told the paper.
Domino had been returning to Chicago after celebrating her 34th wedding anniversary with her husband at the time of the assault, according to Patch.
As the Chicago Tribune previously noted, Erramilli was convicted of the same offenses two other times since 1999.
He was sentenced to probation after being convicted of touching the breast of a female passenger sitting in front of him during a Detroit-Chicago flight in 1999 and, in 2002, he was sentenced to three years' probation for groping the breast of another female passenger on a San Jose-Detroit flight. Reported by Huffington Post 4 days ago.
Srinivasa Erramilli, 45, from Aurora, Ill., was convicted of abusive sexual contact last December of groping the inner thing of a female passenger he was seated next to on a flight from Las Vegas to Chicago in June 2011, Patch reports.
The woman, now-65-year-old Susan Domino, told the Chicago Sun-Times she felt Erramilli got off easy with his sentence -- which also included a $5,000 fine. He faced a sentence of up to two years in prison.
“I would have chopped his hands off!” Domino told the paper.
Domino had been returning to Chicago after celebrating her 34th wedding anniversary with her husband at the time of the assault, according to Patch.
As the Chicago Tribune previously noted, Erramilli was convicted of the same offenses two other times since 1999.
He was sentenced to probation after being convicted of touching the breast of a female passenger sitting in front of him during a Detroit-Chicago flight in 1999 and, in 2002, he was sentenced to three years' probation for groping the breast of another female passenger on a San Jose-Detroit flight. Reported by Huffington Post 4 days ago.
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Florida Police Chief Agrees George Zimmerman is Another ‘Sandy Hook Waiting to Happen’
In a series of emails obtained by ThinkProgress, Police Chief *Steve Bracknell* appears to agree in a series of emails that Zimmerman is a “ticking time bomb” and another “Sandy Hook” or "Aurora""waiting to happen." As the head of the Lake Mary Police Department, Bracknell is in charge of the Florida area where Zimmerman and his estranged wife currently live.
Reported by Mediaite 3 days ago.
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