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A quick look at Saturday’s Preakness Stakes Continue reading
A quick look at Saturday’s Preakness Stakes
by All posts by William Carbone
by Sources: Donald Sterling refuses NBA sanctions, threatens to sue
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by Michael McCann
SI.com has learned that Clippers owner Donald Sterling has hired prominent antitrust litigator Maxwell Blecher, who has written a letter to NBA executive vice president and general counsel Rick Buchanan threatening to sue the NBA. The letter, sources tell SI.com, claims that Sterling has done nothing wrong and that “no punishment is warranted” for Sterling. Blecher also tells Buchanan that Sterling will not pay the $2.5 million fine, which is already past due. Blecher ends the letter by saying this controversy “will be adjudicated.” Continue reading
CALIFORNIA CHROME! California dreamer powers down the stretch to win the 140th Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby 2014: California Chrome Owns Favorite’s Role at 5-2 for 140th Kentucky Derby
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From the Kentucky Derby’s official website:
California Chrome Owns Favorite’s Role at 5-2 for 140th Kentucky Derby
Steven Coburn and Perry Martin’s California Chrome, winner of four consecutive races by a combined 24 ¼ lengths, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s 140th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by at Churchill Downs read more…
First Total Lunar Eclipse of 2014: The Complete Skywatcher’s Guide
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First Total Lunar Eclipse of 2014: The Complete Skywatcher’s Guide
By Joe Rao, Space.com Skywatching Columnist | April 14, 2014 06:00am ET
Editor’s update for 2 pm ET: For the latest weather forecast for tonight’s total lunar eclipse, read: Total Lunar Eclipse Weather: Forecast Bleak for Eastern US
No enthusiastic skywatcher misses a total eclipse of the moon, and if weather permits tonight, neither should you.
The spectacle is often more beautiful and interesting than one would think. During the time that the moon is entering into and later emerging from out of the Earth’s shadow, secondary phenomena may be overlooked. You can also watch the eclipse live on Space.com, courtesy of NASA, the Slooh community telescope and the Virtual Telescope Project.
Observers that know what to look for have a better chance of seeing the stunning eclipse, weather permitting. This first total lunar eclipse of 2014 is set to begin tonight (April 14) into the wee hours of Tuesday morning (April 15). The lunar eclipse is set to begin at about 2 a.m. EDT (0600 GMT), and it should last about 3.5 hours. The eclipse should be visible, weather permitting, through most of North America and part of South America. Read more…
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From The Old Farmer’s Almanac
April’s Full Moon, Full Pink Moon, heralds the appearance of the moss pink, or wild ground phlox—one of the first spring flowers. It is also known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon, and the Fish Moon.
This Full Pink Moon rises on April 15. This year, the 15th brings a total eclipse of the Moon—which will be fully visible from North America.
Farmer’s Almanac’s Full Moon Video featuring, Amy Nieskens
“Each month, we will explain the traditional names of the full Moon along with some fascinating Moon facts. In this video, learn about April’s Full Pink Moon. Click below to watch video.”
Space.Com’s Official Website
Farmer’s Almanac Official Website
“An Irishman is never drunk as long as he can hold onto one blade of grass to keep from falling off the earth.”
Las Brisas Restaurant in Greenwood Village, CO
by Las Brisas Restaurant
6787 S Clinton St.
Greenwood Village, CO 80112
Some of the classiest restaurants in the West are the “English” Steakhouses in Palm Springs, CA. Nothing about Denver resembles Palm Springs, although Denver has some (Denver) classy restaurants. Denver also has some classy, Mexican restaurants, such as La Loma in North Denver and Las Brisas south of Denver. I’m not saying that Las Brisas Mexican restaurant – off I-25 and Arapahoe Road – is the classiest Mexican restaurant in the Denver area, but it certainly ranks way up there. I’ve referred to the restaurant as gourmet Mexican.
In a shopping mall across a parking lot from Target, Las Brisas exterior is fairly nondescript; inside, there are two main dining areas. The first is a light, bright space with a white/beige color scheme offering a small turtle pond with a shimmering waterfall, lots of plants and of course turtles.
The other room is steakhouse-dark with dark-woods and a circular, enclosed fireplace with a couple of feet of sand around it – with a few sea-shells to boot.
[The above images are deceiving; the fireplace is only around three or four-feet in diameter.
I’d grab a cozy, corner booth in the “Fireplace Room,” this room is perfectly lit.
Just off the main entrance there is a full bar/lounge with bar-stools, tables and several booths. Happy Hours rule here with an everyday (3:00 to 7:00) Happy Hour with reduced drinks and 1/2 price apps. The excellent, Happy Hour LB Margarita is around $5.50. Full menu ordering is available in the bar.
Speaking of the menu, it’s traditional Mexican with a modern twist. For instance, there’s the traditional: PLATO DE COMBINATION (13.95) “A combination of taco, enchilada,[sic] and burrito with choice of Chicken, Beef, or Pork. Topped[sic] with green chili, cheese,[sic] and enchilada sauce” and the not-so traditional: VEGETABLE FAJITA WITH GRILLED PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS (13.95) “Onions, bell peppers, and topped with a Portobello mushroom. Served in a hot skillet with warm tortillas, lettuce, cheese, olives, pico de gallo, sour cream, and guacamole. With black beans & veggies.”
Burritos, rellenos, tacos, chimichangas etc. (9.00 to 12.00) are on the menu as well as: chicken, pastas, Prime Rib, lamb, salmon and vegetarian specials. View Las Brisas’ complete menu here
We’ve been in attendance twice now; the first time we enjoyed the VEGETABLE FAJITA WITH GRILLED PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS; last night we shared the COMBINATION RANCHERA (13.00) “A combination of beef, chicken, and cheese enchiladas made with corn tortillas topped with ranchera sauce, scallions, olives, tomatoes, and sour cream (below.)” Both of these dishes were swell, good enough to bring us back for more. The ranchera/enchilada sauce is superb.
The Full Snow Moon: February 14, 2014
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The Snow Moon will be 100% full February 14, 2014 at 4:54 P.M. Mountain time.
The following information is from The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Full Moon Names
February’s full Moon is traditionally called the Full Snow Moon because usually the heaviest snows fall in February.
Hunting becomes very difficult, and so some Native American tribes called this the Hunger Moon.
Other Native American tribes called this Moon the “Shoulder to Shoulder Around the Fire Moon” (Wishram Native Americans), the “No Snow in the Trails Moon” (Zuni Native Americans), and the “Bone Moon” (Cherokee Native Americans). The Bone Moon meant that there was so little food that people gnawed on bones and ate bone marrow soup.
Farmer’s Almanac’s Full Moon Video featuring, Amy Nieskens
“Each month, we will explain the traditional names of the full Moon along with some fascinating Moon facts. In this video, learn about February’s Full Snow Moon. Click below to watch video.”
Full Moon Names
Native Americans full Moon names were created to help different tribes track the seasons. Think of it as a “nickname” for the Moon! See our list of other full Moon names for each month of the year and their meanings.
Why Native Americans Named the Moons
The early Native Americans did not record time by using the months of the Julian or Gregorian calendar. Many tribes kept track of time by observing the seasons and lunar months, although there was much variability. For some tribes, the year contained 4 seasons and started at a certain season, such as spring or fall. Others counted 5 seasons to a year. Some tribes defined a year as 12 Moons, while others assigned it 13. Certain tribes that used the lunar calendar added an extra Moon every few years, to keep it in sync with the seasons.
Each tribe that did name the full Moons (and/or lunar months) had its own naming preferences. Some would use 12 names for the year while others might use 5, 6, or 7; also, certain names might change the next year. A full Moon name used by one tribe might differ from one used by another tribe for the same time period, or be the same name but represent a different time period. The name itself was often a description relating to a particular activity/event that usually occurred during that time in their location. read more from The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Trader Joe’s to open two Denver stores on Valentine’s Day (the Snow Moon will be 100% full in the afternoon)
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The very cool and (a-bit) exotic with touches of the Pacific Islands in the decor, as well as being the inimitable purveyor of Two Buck Chuck in the 90s, which is probably Four Buck Chuck in 2014 if they still carry it, Trader Joe’s, will open three specialty, grocery stores in the Denver/Boulder area on February 14, 2014. For the virgins in the group, Two Buck Chuck is a working-class wine that became an icon for Trader Joe’s in the 80s-90s… It was selling, of course, for $2. BTW, it’s barely drinkable.
The Boulder location is at the Twenty Ninth Street Mall, 1906 28th St Boulder, CO 80301. The Denver locations, include a store at Eighth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard, and one at the Cherry Hills Marketplace, 5901 S. University Blvd. The Grand Opening on Valentine’s Day will be marked with a “ceremonial lei cutting” according to local papers.
Plan on watching cooking demos with food tastings and deals, deals, deals. Get ’em while you can.
The doors open at 8 A.M. on February 14, 2014. More stores are to open around the state later this year.
National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado
by First published January 12, 2014
National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado
January 11 – 26, 2014
Background: In its 108th year, the National Western Stock Show is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides college and graduate level scholarships in agriculture and medicine for practice in rural areas. It is also our mission to serve producers and consumers throughout the world by being the premier Stock Show, Rodeo, Horse Show and center for year-round events. The 16-day show also serves as an entertainment arena, hosting one of the world’s richest regular season professional rodeos, largest horse show and Colorado’s largest tradeshow.
Attendance: Overall attendance in 2013 was 628,366. The attendance record was set during the Stock Show’s 100th anniversary in 2006 at 726,972.
Exhibits: More than 15,000 head of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, llamas, alpacas, bison, yak, poultry and rabbits step foot on the grounds of the National Western Stock Show each year. The National Western Stock Show is noted for hosting the world’s only carload and pen cattle show, held in the historic Denver Union Stockyards.
Trade Show: More than 350 vendors fill the nearly 100-acre show grounds with a variety of food and shopping opportunities. The National Western Trade Show offer a variety of products including fine art and jewelry, clothing, household items and agricultural products and equipment.
Ticketed Events: National Western hosts close to 50 performances in the Stadium Arena, Denver Coliseum and National Western Events Center. Among these are the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza, PBR Bull Riding Touring Pro Finale, Pro Rodeos, Martin Luther King, Jr. African-American Heritage Rodeo, the Gambler’s Choice Open Jumping Stake, National Western Wild West Show, RAM Invitational Freestyle Reining, Grand Prix show jumping, Super Dogs shows, An Evening of Dancing Horses® and Draft Horse and Mule Shows.
National Western Stock Show Official Website
More later…