Review: Birds & Belles

Denver, there is a new place to shop for women's fashion.

Birds & Belles opened up on Friday, at 1113 S. Pearl St. Denver, CO 80209.

Tis a chill little place, that you should definitely give a try if you're looking for something new in your wardrobe.

They also buy and trade clothing, so if you've something in good shape, but just not you anymore, can try them for that as well.

With a great collection already, you could very possibly find something that is what you're looking for.

Go give them a look, you never know. You definitely won't regret it.

Santana Throws First Mets' No Hitter

It took more than one hundred and thirty pitches, but Johan Santana set history Friday night.

He threw the first New York Mets' no hitter in team history.

The Mets have been around since 1962.

Since the Mets were founded, there have been 131 no hitters in Major League Baseball.

Seven Mets' pitchers had gone on to throw no hitters after they had left the team, but no one had ever managed to get one for the team.

Thanks to Santana, and the fielders for backing him up, the Mets' left the infamous group of two teams who'd never had a no hitter.

Now only the San Diego Padres have never thrown a no hitter. They were formed in 1969.

Syrian Violence in Lebanon Requires Military Response

Lebanon has been forced to send troops into Tripoli, due to violence between Syrians, in the city.

At least ten people had been killed over the last few days, leaving the government little decision but to crack down.

Luckily for Tripoli the military's presence has caused an automatic ceasefire, with none willing to start that kind of fight.

Fighting has been between Sunnis who support the uprising, and Alawites who support the Syrian regime.

Over the last few months at least twenty deaths in Tripoli have been accounted as being related to the Syrian conflict.

Whitewater Baldy Complex Fire Slowly Being Contained

The Whitewater Baldy Complex Fire is now up to seventeen percent containment.

Over 1,200 firefighters, including fourteen hotshot crews, are involved against the blaze.

It has burned over 241,000 acres, and is the largest in New Mexico history.

Advances have been made against the fire due to changes in the terrain in which the fire is now burning.

Before it had been in narrow canyons that were only accessible by helicopter, now there are areas where trucks and crews have easier access.

Due to that firefighters hope to have the containment a lot further by the end of Monday.

Already some evacuations have been lifted, with more being considered.

Review: Snow White and The Huntsman

Snow White and The Huntsman hit theaters this weekend, and there was no disappointment in it.

An extremely well done movie, in which everything came together. Even the ending credits continued the use of the amazing graphics, accomplishing what very few movies do, making you want to watch them.

Charlize Theron did a superb job as the evil queen. Chris Hemsworth did a great job as the huntsman, though one couldn't help but think of Thor. Kristen Stewart, showed that maybe there is potential there after all, and maybe Snow White will be the turning of a new leaf for her.

Other than Disney's animated Snow White, this is very possibly the best version ever. The attempt at making the story more of an epic succeeded, without ruining it at all.
For those worried about the classic fairytale storyline, have no fear. It's all there, including true love's first kiss breaking the spell of the poisoned apple. Amazingly they manage not to focus on that, actually not even verbally mentioning it, just showing the few moments when it happens.

An almost Narnian level of magic is brought in, with a bit of Druid mythology added, giving the movie a little something extra. With a great soundtrack going along with it, Snow White and The Huntsman isn't just a must see, but very likely a must buy as well.

Remembering: Queen Elizabeth II's Sixty Year Reign

June 2, 1953 Elizabeth II is formerly crowned Queen of the United Kingdom in the ceremony that dates back for a millennium.

Born, April 21, 1926, as the first daughter of Prince George, she saw first her uncle's coronation and then after he abdicated, her father's.

During WWII she and her sister were sent to the countryside for safety. But when she reached eighteen she joined the women's services and as a second lieutenant drove and repaired military trucks.

In 1947, she married Phillip Mountbatten, a prince of Greece and Denmark, who renounced his titles in order to marry her.

On February 6, 1952 whilst in Kenya, on a world goodwill tour, they received word that her father had died. Immediately she was proclaimed Queen, but it would take over a year for the full coronation ceremony to took place.

Today marks sixty years of Queen Elizabeth II's rule. During that time she has set many firsts for the monarchy. Among them being the first reigning monarch to visit many of the commonwealth countries, and the first monarch ever to pay income tax.

At the age of eighty-six she is still going strong. Despite beginning to give some of her duties to her children, she is showing no signs that she'll stop anytime soon.

Venezuela Bans Private Gun Ownership

Venezuela has announced a new law that makes owning a gun illegal if you are a private citizen.

Under the new law only the military, police, and licensed security will be allowed to have firearms.

An amnesty period, of unknown length, is in currently in place for all citizens to turn in any firearms that they might own.

Once the period is up, anyone found possessing a gun will be jailed for the offense.

Legislators say that they voted for the law in order to cut down on the murder rate in Venezuela. Over 18,000 murders were committed during 2011.

But President Hugo Chavez's government is completely honest about what their goal is, stating that eventually they will disarm all civilians.

Opponents state that it is further attempt by Chavez to continue his dictatorship. They also point out that violence has continuously grown worse under his reign.

IDF Service for All Israelis

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will face a struggle as he seeks to expand who is called to serve in the Israel Defense Forces. Members of the IDF have led calls for reforms that they be joined by all Israelis in defending the country.

Officially all able bodied men and women age 17-49 must serve three (men) or two (women) years of active service, and then up to a month each year in the reserves. However in reality two groups have been given exemptions.

Haredi Jews are very orthodox, and do not take part in the military service. Their argument is that their full time study of sacred Jewish texts adds to Israel's defense.

They likely will be the greater challenge, as some of their number have already pledged to protest, and go to jail rather than serve. Their promised mass demonstrations will hurt the Prime Minister abroad.

The larger group makes up more than twenty percent of Israel's population, Israeli Arabs. They were given the exemption by former Prime Minister Ben-Gurion, who stated it was unfair morally for Arabs to be forced to fight against their fellow Arabs. Many, especially Beduins, though do volunteer already. With their addition, come security concerns, mostly due to the large numbers of previously unknown individuals that they will add.

Due to the Arabs lack of automatic service, many have come to view them as second class citizens. However, international ideas that all Arab Israelis would rather be part of Palestine have been repeatedly shown as false. Time and time again Arab Israelis have fought not just for Israel, but against the idea of their being separated from their beloved country.

In the long term Israel can only grow more unified by the inclusion of all into the IDF. Already viewed as having the best trained military in the world, the increased diversity and greater numbers will only make it stronger.

International Cooperation in The Drug War

Since the beginning of 2012 US drug enforcement agencies have been partnering with their counterparts throughout most of the Americas to stifle drug trafficking.

Already the affects have been seen, as any all flights by drug traffickers have been targeted, and arrests have been made as soon as planes have landed.

Thanks to the fading out of the US in Middle East conflicts, money has been able to flow in other directions, and so the drug war has seen a vast increase in US active involvement.

In one raid, the US worked with Guatemalan and Honduran forces in the seizure of a large amount of cocaine.

The US is continuing to press other governments to further their involvement, pooing intelligence so that the crackdown can become even more effective.

Governments that help have gained extra funding, specifically for schools and police training, from the US.

However, some members of Latin American governments are expressing their displeasure with the arrangements. They disapprove of what they see as growing US control of their own resources.

Concerns also have been raised, about an increase in violence in countries that are fighting the drug trade. But most recognize this as a stepping stone in a war.

Countries that have been fighting the trade for years are seeing declines in the violence as drug runners consider those places just too dangerous to try. Some see this as a sign that the war is truly being won.

Hewlett Fire Could Affect Ft. Collins Water Supply

A survey completed by The Forest Service's Burn Area Emergency Response, or BAER, Team has determined that the Hewlett Fire will affect the Poudre River.

The fire, which burned more than 7,000 acres to the north west of Fort Collins, Colorado.

According to the survey, increased erosion on the burned areas will add sediment to the river, that could add a smoky taste.

Extra purification procedures should be able to handle the lower quality of the water. The city also has the option of adding water from the Horsetooth Reservoir.

It will take around five years for enough growth to take place for the area to be stabilized from erosion.

The Forest Service is also looking into removing expected weeds and burnt trees from the area, especially along hiking trails. Aerial seeding and mulching are also options being considered to speed the recovery of the forest.