Hazlehurst's Blog

Romney flipped 2012 primary? You decide.

6. November 2012

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Hate to rain on your parade, Obama supporters, but it looks as if the election results may be very different from what you happily anticipate. According to this analysis, the Romney campaign managed to successfully manipulate the 2012 Republican primary results. As the mathematician who sent me the link noted, “This paper might be a [...]

City attorney to ask for money to settle Carrier lawsuit

6. November 2012

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Here’s the full text of a press release from Mayor Steve Bach’s office this morning. “On Tuesday, November 13, 2012, City Attorney Chris Melcher will propose to Colorado Springs City Council, an ordinance for a supplemental appropriation to the General Fund Administration Department in the amount of $3,400,000 for the settlement of certain litigation claims [...]

When five is more than 50,000

5. November 2012

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I save stuff – old coins, letters, stamps, campaign signs, newspapers and anything else that seems interesting. I enjoy my unintended and untended “collections,” but it’s dismaying to think that my spouse and/or kids will have to sort through all this junk when I shuffle off this mortal plane. Hoping to dispose of some [...]

Will zombies rule on Election Day?

5. November 2012

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If you’re a cynical, sourly non-partisan journalist, nothing can delight you more than the prospect of what New York Magazine’s John Heilemann calls a “zombie election.” Zombie scenarios include: -Obama wins popular vote, Romney wins electoral vote, or vice versa. A replay of 2000, which would be especially juicy if the Dems were the ones [...]

Here’s a different peer city for Springs to emulate

2. November 2012

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We love to compare ourselves with other cities, don’t we? Austin, Portland, Oklahoma City, Huntsville — line ‘em up! Let’s send delegations of businesspeople, politicians and nonprofit execs to visit with their counterparts, and let’s try to learn from the successes of our peer cities. Oh that’s right — we’ve already done that. Our teams [...]

Looking at the real Mitt Romney

31. October 2012

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His foes describe him as cold, robotic, inauthentic and entirely lacking in empathy for the less fortunate. His supporters say that he’s cool, calm, unflappable and focused. His family clearly adores him. His close associates say that he’s a man of sterling character, a man who looks and is presidential. Other acquaintances say that he’s [...]

Clarity rules in the devious world of business language

25. October 2012

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Business communications should be … well, businesslike. They should be clear, concise, and convey an understandable message. They should be crisp and clean, brief and to the point. For guidance, look to the past. Henry Ford: “History is bunk.” W. Edwards Deming: “The aim of management should be to help people to do a better [...]

City redistricting might not solve biggest problems

22. October 2012

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About 70 Colorado Springs residents attended a public hearing Saturday morning at the Hillside Community Center. The subject: City Clerk Sarah Johnson’s preliminary redistricting plan. In November 2010, city voters approved a charter amendment that increased the number of district Council representatives from four to six, with a corresponding reduction in at-large representatives from five [...]

TV’s treasure: Such is life in an election swing state

12. October 2012

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“The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.” — Edgar Allan Poe, The Cask of Amontillado How many political TV spots are too many? Most of us would say one, especially if they’re takedowns aimed at the guy you’re supporting. What about [...]

Rates go up, bills go down

9. October 2012

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At today’s city council meeting Colorado Springs Utilities filed a proposal to increase residential, commercial and industrial gas and electric rates, beginning Jan 1, 2013. Base residential electric rates will increase by 3.5 percent, but the impact on customer bills will be negligible, utilities officials said. That’s because lower prices for coal and natural gas [...]

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