Much has been made of several high-profile incidents of alleged police brutality involving the Denver PD, culminating in the resignation of Denver Manager of Safety Ron Perea. Number crunchers even suggest Denver’s number-one for excessive-force complaints. But while the focus may be on Denver, the incidents may be tied to…
A few weeks ago news outlets across the nation, including Westword, reported on what appeared to be the first-ever pot commercial on regular TV, a spot for a California dispensary on Sacramento station KTXL. But as it turns out, irregular TV around Colorado has been running dispensary ads for some…
America loves its wounded soldiers. So much so that the Colorado Wildlife Commission will offer free big-game hunting licenses this fall to Colorado veterans severely wounded in action overseas over the past nine years. Still, that might not be much consolation for possibly thousands of soldiers the Army has apparently…
Several police-brutality incidents and the resignation of Denver Manager of Safety Ron Perea have cast a harsh light on the Denver PD. Chief Gerry Whitman doesn’t think the department’s out of control, telling the city safety committee, “Our use of force per arrest is less than most major police forces.”…
CU’s Peter McGraw, subject of our feature “The Nutty Professor,” has come up with a new general theory of humor — the “Benign Violation Theory” — that scholars say could be a major step forward in the field. Maybe it’s time for McGraw to team up with a group of…
Cannabis Festiva, an event booked for Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City on August 21, was designed for thousands of attendees — but only hundreds showed. Could it be that potential attendees were already at the THC Music Festival that same weekend in Alma? Or perhaps folks were feeling…
Medical marijuana ads are everywhere these days, from Denver billboards to local radio spots. But is Colorado ready for MMJ television commercials? That day could come soon, since what’s reported to be the first-ever marijuana commercial on regular TV is now airing on Sacramento, California station KTXL…
As noted in last week’s cover story, “The Nutty Professor,” CU prof Peter McGraw has come up with what he sees as a new theory of humor — the benign violation theory — and some scholars think it’s a major step forward in the field. Others, however, aren’t so convinced,…
Denver is ground zero for pedal-powered programs, from its flourishing pedicab scene to B-cycle, the city’s innovative bike-sharing program that’s drawn the ire of Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes. But is it ready for the next step in gear-and-chain conveyance that’s turning heads across the pond — the pedibus?…
According to Christopher Fichtner, a psychiatrist and former Illinois mental health director, the country’s on the verge of radical marijuana policy change (i.e., legalization) — something Fichtner writes about in his new book, Cannabinomics: The Marijuana Policy Tipping Point. And it looks like Colorado might just push the country over…
As detailed in this week’s cover story, “The Nutty Professor,” CU-Boulder prof Peter McGraw thinks he’s discovered the answer to what makes us laugh. His conclusions are based on lots of data — i.e., jokes. Check out a sampling of zingers collected from his friends and colleagues, as well as…
It’s hard not to be excited about the 10:30 a.m. groundbreaking today of the FasTracks East Corridor rail line at DIA. After all, that means in a few short years folks will be riding the rails from Union Station to the airport, and passing through fantastic creations by Calatrava along…
Peter McGraw walks into the Squire Lounge just as the bar is starting its Tuesday open-mike comedy night. Looking around, he cracks a delighted grin.”This is fantastic!” he exclaims, sounding like a field biologist who’s just discovered a strange new breed of animal. The mirrored walls proudly display awards for…
This week’s cover story, “The Nutty Professor,” profiles Peter McGraw, a CU-Boulder professor who believes he’s discovered the answer to what makes things funny — a conundrum that’s stumped academics for centuries. To test his theory, McGraw got on stage at the Squire Lounge’s open-mic comedy night, aka the hardest…
While most ganjapreneurs have been focused on dispensaries and grow facilities, Vincent Palazzotto stands out for focusing on the needs of struggling patients. He’d already helped to start the non-profit Medical Marijuana Assistance Program of the Rockies (MMAPR) to provide low-cost services for indigent patients. Now he’s launched a new…
Update, 5 p.m., Monday: We’ve picked our winners, so congrats to Latest Word readers Anne Vickman, Josh and Jazzy. You’re so funny you win a prize! As part of an upcoming Westword story detailing the topsy-turvy world of scholarly humor research, we have a very important question for you, dear…
Dr. Ned Calonge, who’s spent the past eight years serving as Colorado’s chief medical officer, will be leaving at the end of 2010 to take the top post at the Colorado Trust, a health foundation. During his tenure, Calonge has tackled health calamities as varied as anthrax scares, water-contamination crises…
Colorado has a long, strange connection to LEGO blocks. In 1965, Denver company Samsonite built the first U.S. LEGO manufacturing plant in Loveland, and now the Louisville-based NetDevil is putting the finishing touches on the massive online game LEGO Universe. Our LEGO lovin’ continues with a special event starting tomorrow…
When you stop in at Heaven Dragon, the popular Thornton eatery that served President George W. Bush on three separate occasions, you’ll likely notice two things missing. One is Dan Tang, the restaurant’s workaholic owner, since on Monday he went to prison to start an eighteen-month sentence for his part…
Which medical marijuana patients deserve financial assistance — and how long should they wait for it? This question arose during debate over House Bill 1284, part of the state’s new package of medical marijuana laws. Now, the health department’s new medical marijuana advisory group is trying to come up with…
Another chapter begins today in the long and tawdry tale of Operation Fortune Cookie, the largest weed bust in Colorado history that imploded in allegations of crooked cops, paid-off politicians and bureaucratic cover-ups. Dan Tang, prominent Thornton restaurateur and the drug ring’s suspected kingpin, heads to prison for eighteen months…
In the pantheon of video games, Leeroy Jenkins is a legend. Leeroy, the World of Warcraft character of mild-mannered Lafayette native Ben Schulz, shot to stardom thanks to a 2006 YouTube clip (seen below). His gaming fame earned Leeroy a Howard Stern reference, a mention on Jeopardy and a spot…
