Chinese New Year: 2012 The Year of the Dragon

January 23, 2012 William Carbone

Story from InfoPlease
by Holly Hartman

Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese year 4710 begins on Jan. 23, 2012.

Chinese months are reckoned by the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the darkest day. New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest. In China, people may take weeks of holiday from work to prepare for and celebrate the New Year.

Breathing Fire into the New Year

Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal’s year would have some of that animal’s personality. Those born in dragon years are innovative, brave, and passionate. Salvador Dali, John Lennon, and Mary-Louise Parker were all born in the year of the dragon.
Read more: Chinese New Year: 2012

More from TheHistoryChannel: The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival as it’s been called since the 20th century, remains the most important social and economic holiday in China. Originally tied to the lunar-solar Chinese calendar, the holiday was a time to honor household and heavenly deities as well as ancestors. It was also a time to bring family together for feasting. With the popular adoption in China of the Western calendar in 1912, the Chinese joined in celebrating January 1 as New Year’s Day. China, however, continues to celebrate the traditional Chinese New Year, although in a shorter version with a new name–the Spring Festival. Significantly, younger generations of Chinese now observe the holiday in a very different manner from their ancestors. For some young people, the holiday has evolved from an opportunity to renew family ties to a chance for relaxation from work.

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Miscellaneous

2012 National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado

January 12, 2012 William Carbone

First published January 3, 2012

National-Western-Stock-Show-Heads-to-Denver

2012 National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado: January 7 – 22, 2012

What it is: PRO Rodeo, Mexican Rodeo, MLK Jr. African-American Heritage Rodeo, Trade Show, Livestock, Western Art, Horse Show, Food/Merchandise Vendors and much more.

Where it is: The National Western Complex is located just east of I-25 on I-70 and is easily accessible by taking the Brighton Blvd. or Coliseum exits.

National Western Complex
4655 Humboldt St.
Denver, CO 80216

From the NationalWestern.com website.

EDITORS NOTE: This is the first in a series of four articles recounting the colorful history of the National Western Stock Show, Rodeo and Horse Show, which celebrated its 100th birthday in 2006.

By Keith and Cheryl Chamberlain

The year was 1906. Theodore Roosevelt was in the White House, there were 45 states in the Union, Colorado was getting ready to celebrate its thirtieth birthday and sirloin was ten cents a pound. On the outskirts of Denver, a growing town with a population of 200,000, stockmen from around the West gathered to show their animals, buy and sell breeding stock and encourage a meatpacking center to rival those in Kansas City and Chicago. From this beginning, the National Western Stock Show, Rodeo and Horse Show was born. The grand champion steer that first year was a Shorthorn that tipped the scales at 1,150 pounds and befitting its status, fetched an eye-popping 33 cents a pound.

The West Needs A Stock Show

In the early years of the 20th century, western stock growers faced a problem. They lacked a large market center in the West to receive their animals and the cost of shipping to eastern markets cut into already lean profits. Though there was a small meat packing industry in Denver, it was a poor cousin to its larger rivals in Chicago and Kansas City. There was also the feeling among western stockmen that they weren’t getting fair prices for their cattle, sheep and hogs. Livestock raising in the West was a tougher proposition than in the more humid East where concentrated corn and grain feeds were used to fatten livestock. The solution would be improved breeds that could thrive in this more arid region and a meat packing center in the West to compete with the big eastern packers.

Beginning in the 1890s, there had been efforts to get a regular livestock convention established in Denver, but what was needed was an ongoing stock show that met every year. In July of 1905, Elias Ammons, Fred Johnson and G.W. Ballantine met to talk over ideas for an annual stock show. Ammons was a Douglas County rancher, Colorado State Senator, and newly elected president of the Colorado Cattle and Horse Growers Association. Johnson was the president of the Daily Record Stockman, a livestock industry newspaper, and G. W. Ballantine was associated with the Denver Union Stockyards. Ammons proposed that they organize a show to be held in conjunction with his association’s convention in Denver coming up in January, 1906. January was a practical choice because, coming after the fall harvest and before spring calving, it was a convenient time for stock growers. Denver businessmen liked the idea of a January show because the post-Christmas period was the slowest time of the year for sales. What better fix for the mid-winter doldrums than a convention that would draw large numbers of visitors and get Denverites out of their homes to see the stock show read more…

Ticket Info: Ticket prices for reserved‐seat events range from $8 to $100. Grounds admission per person 12 years old and older is: $7 Jan. 11‐15 and Jan. 19‐22; $12 Jan. 16‐18 and Jan. 23; $10 Jan. 9‐10 and Jan. 24. Children’s admissions (ages 3‐11) are $2 on weekdays and $3 Saturday and Sunday and Martin Luther King Day. Children 2 and under are free. Tickets are available at King Soopers stores from Cheyenne to Pueblo, at Coors Field and Rockies Dugout Stores or at the National Western Ticket Office, 4655 Humboldt Street, Denver. Tickets also can be obtained by calling 1‐ 888‐551‐5004 or at NationalWestern.com.

National Western’s Official Website

Colorado Information

Colorado mother, daughter make Miss America history

January 11, 2012 William Carbone

1974 Miss America Rebecca King Dreman and daughter 2012 Miss Colorado Diana Dreman. — 1974 Miss America Rebecca King Dreman
and daughter 2012 Miss Colorado Diana Dreman.

From Denver’s Fox 31 News

Kim Posey
FOX31 Denver
9:18 p.m. MDT, September 13, 2011

DENVER — Being crowned Miss Colorado 2011 was an amazing experience for Diana Dreman. It was pretty special for her mother, too.

It was 1973 when Rebecca King Dreman was also crowned Miss Colorado, before moving on to become Miss America in 1974.

“It’s been fun to be able to share history with her,” Diana said.

She is now gearing up for the Miss America competition that will be held in Las Vegas January 14.

It is the first time in the Miss America Pageant’s 90 year history that the daughter of a former Miss America will compete for that same title.

The 23-year-old CU graduate is hopeful.

All of this gives the family something exciting to think about during an otherwise tough time. Rebecca has melanoma, but is doing well.

Diana has now made fighting cancer part of her platform.

“It’s touching,” Rebecca said.

Access the MissColorado.Org page
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Colorado Information, Entertainment, Las Vegas Information, Movies

Teen in revealing yearbook photo flap: ‘It’s artistic’

January 9, 2012 William Carbone

This story is from MSNBC

By Michael Inbar
TODAY.com contributor
updated 1/9/2012 9:25:33 AM ET

Teen in revealing yearbook photo flap: ‘It’s artistic’
Aspiring model, 18, objects to fellow students’ decision to reject the photo she submitted

18-year-old Sydney Spies wants a future in modeling, and she figured she would make that clear with her senior picture in her high school yearbook.

But the Durango, Colo., prospective graduate found herself embroiled in controversy when her school’s yearbook editors put the kibosh on running a photo of Sydney posing provocatively in a black shawl and short yellow skirt that exposed plenty of skin.

Sydney and her mother Miki Spies are butting heads with the yearbook staff and school administration over a case they believe smacks of censorship, and they appeared live on TODAY Monday to make their case that Sydney should be able to represent herself the way she wants in the annals of her school’s history.

“I honestly think (the picture) describes who I am,” Sydney told Matt Lauer in an exclusive interview. “I’m an outgoing person and I really do think it’s artistic.” read more from Today.com...
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

This is from LasVegasBuffetClub

Wow, tough call. The school has standards. The girl’s trying to bust out because she know’s she might have it. A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do, so I’ve heard. Good luck girl. WOW!

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Las Vegas Information, Miscellaneous

Full Moon: January 9, 2:32 A.M. Las Vegas time

January 7, 2012 William Carbone

The Moon will be 100% full: January 9, 2:32 A.M. Las Vegas time.

From the Old Farmer’s Almanac
Full Moon Names
January is the month of the Full Wolf Moon. It appeared when wolves howled in hunger outside the villages. It is also known as the Old Moon. To some Native American tribes, this was the Snow Moon, but most applied that name to the next full Moon, in February.

From Western Washington University
American Indians gave names to each of the full moons to keep track of the passing year. The names are associated with the entire month until the next full moon occurs. Since a lunar month averages 29 days, the dates of the moons change from year to year. Here are titles most closely associated with calendar months.

BACK EAST
Cherokee – East Coast, Carolinas

In the Cherokee language the word for January’s moon is unolvtana or cold moon.

OUT WEST
Hopi – Southwest, Arizona

In the Hopi language the word for January’s moon is paamuya or moon of life at it’s height.

Western Washington University

Miscellaneous

Help Protect the Pryor Wild Horses – BLM Now Accepting Email Comments

January 1, 2012 William Carbone

Original email from the Cloud Foundation

2-year old Adelina, granddaughter of Blue Sioux & Red Raven

Dear Cloud Friends;

The Billings BLM has decided to accept emails (BLM_MT_Billings_FO@blm.gov) and faxes (406-896-5281) for comments on their Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA) which calls for the permanent removal of 30 young horses (ages 1-3 years) from the Pryor Wild Horse Range during 2012. Comments are due by close of business (4:30 pm MST) January 6th.

The removal will bring the herd to the “Appropriate” Management Level of 120. This drastic plan is completely unacceptable and dangerous for the future survival of the Pryor Wild Horse Herd.

The herd currently numbers only 150 adults (one year and older), the bare minimum to maintain genetic viability.
In 2011, mortality equaled births which is exactly what BLM states as their goal for the herd.

The PEA includes an alternative (which was considered but not analyzed – why?): “This alternative consists of initially removing ten wild horses and re-assessing every year until the recruitment rate is equal to the natural mortality.” This is already the case! In 2011 mortality equaled recruitment (surviving foals).

Bottom line, it is dead wrong to remove any horses of any age before knowing how many foals are born in 2012, how many horses survive the winter, how many foals survive going into the fall, and the level of predation.

We urge you to write, email or fax (currently broken according to Billings BLM). Please encourage BLM to select the No Action Alternative.

Stand up for Cloud and the young horses of the Pryors, including Cloud’s look-alike grandson, Echo (Killian) and so many other youngsters who are the future of the herd. They deserve to live their lives in precious freedom!

Happy Trails!
Ginger
Regular post letters can still be mailed to:
Jim Sparks
BLM Field Manager
Billings Field Office
5001 Southgate Drive
Billings, MT 59101

Further confirmation:
I confirm that the Billings Field Office will accept electronically transmitted public comments, but definitely do encourage comments being mailed or hand delivered since malfunction of the electronic means when receiving a high volume of comments can lead to comments not being successfully received in their entirety. Thank you.
– Richard Hanes, Ph.D.
BLM Acting Assistant Director, Washington D.C.
_________________________________________

The above article was copied verbatim, including photo (cropped) and punctuation.
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Miscellaneous

Action Alert: Your Help Needed to Protect the Pryor Mustangs BLM Sets Sights on Cloud’s Herd Once Again

December 20, 2011 William Carbone

The following is an email I received from the cloud foundation.

Dear Cloud and Pryor Wild Horse Defenders;[sic]

The BLM is proposing another significant removal of wild horses on the Pryor Mountains. I know. Just when you thought it was safe… they’re back!

BLM’s recently released Environmental Assessment (EA) seeks to remove via bait trapping and potentially water trapping, 30 young Pryor mustangs, ages 1-3 years. Bait and/or water trapping could begin as early as mid-January. Comments are due by January 6, 2012. We urge you to comment and to support the NO Action Alternative, the only alternative that keeps a viable population of horses on the mountain.

Here are the points we feel you may want to mention in your remarks. Make sure to use your own words.

1) Making decisions on a 30 horse removal now could put the Pryor Wild Horse Herd in jeopary of a die-off. Natural mortality in the winter of 2011-2012 is an unknown. The number of foals to be born and survive in 2012 is also unknown.
2) The population of the Pryor Wild Horse Herd is currently stable with only 150 animals one year of age or older. According to Gus Cothran, PhD, the foremost equine geneticist in the U.S., “A census population size of 150-200 is required to achieve the minimum effective population size (usually 1/4 to 1/3 of the of the total population).” Currently, the Pryor population is at this bare minimum level.
3) In 2011 there was no population growth. Births equaled deaths—18 births versus 18 deaths.
4) Removing 30 young horses in one year alone is risky, unnecessary and threatens the genetic viability of the herd, diminishing their ability to survive into the future.
5) We urge BLM to wait and see what winter brings as far as mortality, and what the foal crop looks like in August of 2012. Late summer would be the time to assess herd growth and health as well as range health and decide on whether removals are really necessary.
6) No details have been provided in this EA regarding the disposition of young horses once they are caught, other than their transport to the Britton Springs corrals at the base of the mountain. What then? Where and when would the young horses be available for adoption? These details need to be revealed to the public.
7) There are no criteria cited which ensure that young horses with narrow genetic representation in the herd, unique or underrepresented colors and markings, and rigorous physical characteristics (i.e. size, health) would be retained on the range. Consideration must be given to these removal criteria to ensure that the “best” are left on the range in order for the herd to perpetuate itself into the future.
8) Urge BLM to adopt the No Action Alternative.

We are encouraging you to speak up on behalf of this small, isolated, genetically unique, world-famous herd. BLM will not accept emailed comments but feel free to send your comments via email to info@thecloudfoundation.org and please put in the subject line, “Pryor EA comments.” We will print out your emails and mail them with our Foundation comments. Or you can send your letters directly to:

Jim Sparks
Field Manager
BLM Billings Field Office
5001 Southgate Drive
Billings, MT 59101

Thanks for speaking out to ensure that the Pryor herd and Cloud’s family line will continue into the future! Stay tuned for an update on our latest visit.

Happy Trails!
Ginger

Colorado Information

A Tale Of Two Cities: Tim Tebow’s Denver and Pat Sullivan’s Denver

December 16, 2011 William Carbone

Early morning talk-radio in Denver was buzzing with tales of sheriffs and judges gone bad, church pastors visiting male-prostitutes for meth and sex, underage boys (10-12 years) blindfolded and performing sex acts for adult males in a social-club, a wealthy business man flying his private jet to Denver for drugs and sex with boys, alleged rooms with (hidden) drugs, rumors of the newly elected mayor visiting prostitutes, and it goes on and on… NFL, and NBA stars, police officers, judges, lawyers, educators, and prominent Denver business “leader’s” names reportedly on a “sex & drugs (mostly meth) with boys” list.

Denver’s Tom Martino writes about it on his website.

Thursday, December 15, 2011 – Tom Martino
CCC SEARCHED – ARE WE TWO STEPS AHEAD?

The Troubleshooter Network has known for some time that the Community Country Club (Triple C, for short) was linked to the Pat sullivan case.

That’s because our informants, all who claim to have been victimized by Sullivan, say he visited there often to hook up with young men.

A few weeks ago, Troubleshooter investigator Jonathan Elinoff, went undercover inside triple CCC.

What he found were young men lined up waiting for sex. And he found what looked like drugs more from troubleshooter.com

Here’s another story from Tom’s website.

Friday, December 02, 2011 – Tom Martino
THE SULLIVAN SAGA & MORE

By now you’ve probably heard of the incredible story of a former decorated and respected sheriff who traded methamphetamine for sex. You may have also heard that my initial research and investigation into these allegations and a subsequent meeting with law enforcement authorities was the primary reason for the recent hasty police investigation that resulted in Pat Sullivan’s arrest.

I say “hasty” because two weeks after we met with police, Sullivan was arrested. Did police have hints of Sullivan’s wrongdoing prior to our meeting? We think so. But we felt the information was not so eagerly pursued until police felt I was going to air the the story.

First, some background: It all began with a phone call to my office from a young man who claimed Sullivan was engaging in “drugs-for-sex” prostitution involving mostly young men. It sounded too crazy to be true. But one of my investigators (Jonathan Elinoff) decided to check it out. His investigation led him to other alleged victims of Sullivan. Eventually we had what I felt was incriminating evidence, including some audio and video tape that appeared to capture Sullivan saying things that could incriminate him.

We gathered the interviews, hidden videos, hidden audio recordings and various documents — that appeared to tie Sullivan to young homosexual men and methamphetamines!

Here are some of the bare bones items being alleged by various young meth addicts: read more from Martino

On the other side: Tim Tebow’s Official Website

———-o———-

Here’s where the latest sex scandal began – originally posted here on December 2, 2011.

As bad as it gets: Ex Colorado one-time “Sheriff of the Year” in Meth-for-Gay-Sex-Scandal.

From KHOW AM Radio in Denver
Friday, December 2, 2011

Sullivan to face more charges in meth for sex scandal
Former Arapahoe County Sheriff will face a new set of charges when he returns to court on Monday.

Former Arapahoe County Sheriff Pat Sullivan is already being held in jail for one count of distributing a controlled substance but now more charges are being filed against Sullivan including three felony counts and one misdemeanor.

Among the new charges are a count of attempting to influence a public servant, a count of pocession[sic] and a count of soliciting a prostitute.

Meanwhile, authorities say they have arrested the man who they believe supplied the meth Pat Sullivan used to exchange drugs for sex.

Investigators followed Sullivan to the home of Timothy Fasse in Denver. He was arrested on Tuesday and was charged with being in pocession[sic] of more than 2 grams of methamphetamine. Fasse is being held on $25,000 bond.

Sullivan is accused of offering methamphetamine in exchange for sex from a male acquaintance.

The 68-year-old former Arapahoe County sheriffis being held on a $500,000 bond. His next court date is December 5th where it’s expected he may face additional charges.

Sullivan appeared in court on Wednesday morning using a cane to walk. He appeared to have a bad limp. He was dressed in a jail-issued orange jumpsuit.

On 630 KHOW, Tom Martino and an investigator were onto the story weeks ago. They talked with meth addicts who say its was well known Sullivan would trade meth for sex.

A probable cause document released by authorities says two informants claim they had sex with Sullivan for meth or cash.
A sting was set up at a home that was outfitted with video and audio equipment. Sullivan was handling meth in the bedroom when he was arrested. There was a bag of meth on the bed and another bag on his person. Access this story
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Memo from the editor of this blog: This story has just begun. Rumors of a murder are out there. The ex-sheriff was last employed at the Cherry Creek School System in Southwest, Denver.

“The investigation into Sullivan, 68, started with a traffic stop in Englewood on Nov. 17.”

“The man who was stopped consented to a search of his vehicle and police found drugs inside. The man then told police he had information about a high-profile figure. Sources tell 9Wants to Know that detectives were asked to come down to the Englewood Police Department in the middle of the night to hear the man’s story.”

“The information he provided jump started the investigation and lead to Sullivan’s arrest.” More from 9News.Com…

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Las Vegas Information

Army vet shot by Vegas police was ill, sought help

December 14, 2011 William Carbone Leave a comment

Story from Las Vegas Sun
The Associated Press
Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011 | 4:48 p.m.

The 43-year-old Gulf War veteran gunned down by Las Vegas police in a weekend parking lot confrontation felt like his life was spiraling out of control and sought help from a veterans advocate days before he was killed. Full story: The Las Vegas Sun

Miscellaneous

Full Moon December 10th, 2011

December 9, 2011 William Carbone

First posted December 8th.

The Moon will be 100% full December 10th, 2011 at 06:36:24 am Las Vegas time.

From The Old Farmer’s Almanac
“Each month, we will explain the traditional names of the full Moon along with some fascinating Moon facts. In this video, learn about the Full Cold Moon, ancient rituals of the winter solstice, and lunar eclipses,” featuring Amy Nieskens from The Old Farmer’s Almanac. [In the video Ms. Nieskens mentions a Full Moon on December 21st – on the Winter Solstice. How can this be? – UPDATE December 9 – Ms. Nieskens sent mail explaining that the video was shot last year.]

From The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Historically, the Native Americans who lived in the area that is now the northern and eastern United States kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to the recurring full Moons. December’s moon is called The Full Cold Moon: This full Moon is also called the Long Nights Moon by some Native American tribes. This is the month when the winter cold fastens its grip and the nights become long and dark.

From Western Washington University
“American Indians gave names to each of the full moons to keep track of the passing year. The names are associated with the entire month until the next full moon occurs. Since a lunar month averages 29 days, the dates of the moons change from year to year. Here are titles most closely associated with calendar months.”

Two Native tribes are mentioned here – click the WWU link to access more information.

OUT WEST
Zuni – Southwest, New Mexico
The Zuni name for December’s moon is “ik’ohbu yachunne” or “sun has traveled home to rest,” according to Western Washington University.

Back East
Mohawk – Eastern Woodlands
The Mohawk name for December’s moon is “tsothohrha” or “time of cold” according to Western Washington University.

Past Top Model winner Wawa Standing. northcountrypublicradio.org — Past "Top Model" winner Wawa Standing. northcountrypublicradio.org

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LasVegasBuffetClub's Blog

Chinese New Year: 2012 The Year of the Dragon

2012 National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado

Colorado mother, daughter make Miss America history

Teen in revealing yearbook photo flap: ‘It’s artistic’

Full Moon: January 9, 2:32 A.M. Las Vegas time

A Tale Of Two Cities: Tim Tebow’s Denver and Pat Sullivan’s Denver

Army vet shot by Vegas police was ill, sought help

Full Moon December 10th, 2011

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