Just One Thing: Iran blinks (for now); Trump announces ceasefire
Good summary of the "12-day war": Trump declares victory as Iran, Israel accept ceasefire
First, wow:
Please read my Substack note for more, including social media posts by Iran and Israel
Another WOW:
Trump is pissed (and swearing in public)
Douglas County Home Rule - my thoughts on this Election Day
I offer this without my highest level of confidence. Nevertheless:
I recommend a "No" vote on DougCo Home Rule
I've avoided taking a public position on this issue and at this late date there's probably little purpose in taking one. I don't mind that because I don't live in DougCo but I've been thinking about the recent interviews we did on KOA with people for and against it. I think I was most convinced by Commissioner George Teal, who is in favor of home rule, but I wasn't convinced in the way he wanted me to be: I did vote in DougCo I'd vote against it. I was also interested in the take of former DougCo Commissioner Steve Boand who said that while he was in office, the commissioners looked at home rule twice and decided not to support it.
My reasoning (and I'm not doing "both sides" here, i.e. not offering the best reasons to support it, and there are a few. Just what has convinced me, for now). In no particular order:
- The process, especially for such a big decision, was rushed and seemed intentionally hidden from the public
- The potential benefits of home rule for a county (which has less independent flexibility than a home rule municipality/city does) have been wildly overstated by proponents, such as claiming that it would allow county residents not to abide by state gun laws or supermarket bag taxes or that it would give the county sheriff a lot more ability to coordinate with ICE. (A home-rule county must still abide by all state laws that are determined to deal with issues "of state concern" and even "of mixed concern" rather than just of county concern, and that will be almost all of the most important state laws.
- If home rule were such a good idea, why have only two counties done it, both in the 1970s?
- When I asked George about trying again later if this fails (and I think it will) because the process has been done badly so far, by which I mean with far too little education of the public, he said "No problem. We'll do this vote again in November." He added, "We'll keep doing it until, quite frankly, the people of Douglas County feel comfortable with the conversation..." On the one hand, I appreciate the commitment to the position. On the other hand, something rubs me the wrong way about "no matter how many times the people of this county vote against my idea, I'm not going to stop trying to push it on them."
You can hear the conversations with Teal and Boand here: Steve Boand and George Teal on DougCo Home Rule | KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM | Ross Kaminsky
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The first pictures from the Vera C Rubin Observatory
(Pics start around 90 minutes into the video)
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Today's Guest
Anthony Apollo is Executive Director of the Wyoming Stable Token Commission. It's gonna be a short nerdy conversation about a technology I don't entirely understand...the "stable token."
Wyoming Stable Token Commission
Stablecoins: Definition, How They Work, and Types
This is timely as far as a national conversation as well: Senate passes landmark GENIUS Act stablecoin bill
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Other Stuff
RIP James "Jimmy" Leprino: ‘Willy Wonka of cheese’ in state created a pizza legacy - The Denver Post
Colorado billionaire once called 'Willy Wonka of cheese' dies
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Yup: Democrats undermined their response to Trump’s strikes on Iran
As I predicted:
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Insane (literally): Former parental evaluator faces four years for custody fraud | Colorado Watch | denvergazette.com
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New York City's mayoral primary election is today. In the past couple of days, polls have shown a real chance for a lunatic socialist anti-Semite named Zohran Mamdami to win. It's a ranked-choice election that includes members of any/all political parties so there is one Republican and the current mayor, Eric Adams, running as an independent.
NYC Mayoral Primaries | Trade on Kalshi (betting platform)
The insanity: Platform — Zohran for NYC
New poll shows Zohran Mamdani beating Andrew Cuomo in NYC Democratic mayoral primary - CBS New York
Corporate leaders rolled over to Zohran Mamdani's rise when they should have tried to stop him
Keep an eye on this: Officials Concede They Don’t Know the Fate of Iran’s Uranium Stockpile - The New York Times
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The threat of inflatable crocodiles: Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez ‘forced to move Venice wedding party’
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You really shouldn't need to spend 5% unless you're wasting an immense amount of money: This chart shows how far NATO allies need to hike to get to 5% of GDP
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Interesting rule change for national forests: Millions of Colorado acres could see changes without roadless rule
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Denver will have a (possibly confusing) vote on repealing the city's ban on flavored tobacco products: With an expensive campaign ahead, opponents of a ban on flavored tobacco have far outraised supporters
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Nice job by the pilot: Pregnant Woman About to Miss Her Flight—Pilot Steps In to Save the Day - Newsweek
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This gal is a MESS. Do you think she actually forgot? (Don't answer that): Woman allegedly hid syringes and fentanyl 'inside her'
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Nope, it's not in the water. It's in the medical procedure: NY high school boasts whopping 15 sets of twins set to graduate: 'There's just something in the water'
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Today's Videos
OK, this actually made me laugh out loud
I admit, it took me a few seconds to catch on
Bulldogs are the best