DENVER -- Police confirmed Wednesday that they found about a pound of sodium cyanide in a Denver hotel room where the body of a Canadian man was discovered earlier this week.

Police spokesman John White identified the white powder as sodium cyanide, the crystal form of cyanide. Fire officials say they found a bottle containing about a pound of the white powder, or between a pint and a quart by volume.
An expert told the Denver Post that the amount of cyanide is enough to kill hundreds of people.

On Tuesday, firefighters and hazmat crews joined the FBI at the hotel, where they cordoned off the neighborhood surrounding the hotel for a second time, and used the case as a "training exercise" in preparation to the Democratic National Convention.
The upscale Burnsley Hotel is about two miles away from the Pepsi Center, where the DNC will be held from Aug. 25-Aug. 27.

However, it is not on the list of hotels where delegates are staying.The last day of the DNC will be held at Invesco Field at Mile High, which is three miles away from the hotel.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/17181011/detail.html?rss=den&psp=news

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/08/13/cyanide-dirie.html

Its weird because we Canadian's usually only poison ourselves with beer eh!

Cheers,

Well, they are still trying to deny it is terrorism linked. Wouldn't want to scare off teh convention goers after all....there's dollars involved!

I hope we invade Canada next for aiding terrorism.

Well, they have better beer than we do. And oil! Let's go!

The FEMA folks who were supposed to leave Denver at the beginning of the month (when the local wildfires got under control) ended up having to stay in town for the rest of the month. They were pissed that hotel rooms have jumped to around $600/night. They are expecting something really nasty. The local blood bank called me up to make sure I came in before the convention because they too are expecting something nasty.

I'll be surprised if something bad doesn't happen at, near, or during the DNC, honestly.

There have been tons of videos floating around for a month or so of the drills they're practicing there. Flying helicopters around, dropping dummy tear gas grenades, and practicing rounding people up in a huge detention building they've got nearby.

It seems like they're expecting rioting, for some reason. Seems weird.

I'll be surprised if something bad doesn't happen at, near, or during the DNC, honestly.

There have been tons of videos floating around for a month or so of the drills they're practicing there. Flying helicopters around, dropping dummy tear gas grenades, and practicing rounding people up in a huge detention building they've got nearby.

It seems like they're expecting rioting, for some reason. Seems weird.


And strangely, with all the vitriolic spewings and disgusted rhetoric aimed at the Republican Party this past couple of years, I am hearing nothing that would compare to what is happening in Denver here in the vicinity of the RNC.

Has anyone else ever wondered why it is that the majority of violent protests against political parties/conventions have been against the party that does the most to protect those liberties allowing for the ability to exercise free speech and protest?

Anyway, I guess it makes sense that the Denver site would have more worries than St Paul. After all, there are not many groups around that get worked up over an old white haired gent with a strong military record who is running for President.

Yes, Byl I have often wondered why the DNC gets rioted and not the RNC. It seems, illogical. What is the big deal about the DNC this year except Obama is the most likely choice? Is this the KKK or something that is going to be rioting? Wow, I feel majorly out of touch with national news lately =\

I suppose if you're going to make some noise about something, it makes sense to do it around Obama instead of McCain. He has such dramatically greater media exposure, you'd be getting more bang for your buck.

I hope we invade Canada next for aiding terrorism.


Its been in the planning stages for years. Operation Leaf Blower.


We've actually borrowed a tactic from Iran, we will have thousands of kids rushing the border to create a "hole" that our main forces can drive through.

I have photo proof of the training of these tiny patriots of ours. They are called mini marines.

http://www.netmediazone.net/eddie-leafblower.jpg

I'll be surprised if something bad doesn't happen at, near, or during the DNC, honestly.

There have been tons of videos floating around for a month or so of the drills they're practicing there. Flying helicopters around, dropping dummy tear gas grenades, and practicing rounding people up in a huge detention building they've got nearby.

It seems like they're expecting rioting, for some reason. Seems weird.

I think it is the whole "Recreate '68" nonsense that has people expecting the worst. Plus pretty much any large political event these days gets the attention of the usual crew of anarchists, anti-globalists etc. whose real joy in life is rioting. Given the lawsuits by the ACLU to force Denver into revealing security arrangements well ahead of time (presumably so protestors/rioters can prepare countermeasures), I fully expect some truly ugly happenings to take place here. I know I'm leaving town that week.

I think it is the whole "Recreate '68" nonsense that has people expecting the worst. Plus pretty much any large political event these days gets the attention of the usual crew of anarchists, anti-globalists etc. whose real joy in life is rioting. Given the lawsuits by the ACLU to force Denver into revealing security arrangements well ahead of time (presumably so protestors/rioters can prepare countermeasures), I fully expect some truly ugly happenings to take place here. I know I'm leaving town that week.


You're kidding me right? This type of bullshit is exactly why I feel the ACLU has become a agenda driven gang of thugs anymore.

More importantly....

Well, they have better beer than we do.

They have better what!! You live in a state that has one highest micro-brewery to people ration in the nation, and say Canada has better beer!!;)

I'm south of Denver, and I couldn't care less about the DNC. I'll be busy getting schools opened that week.

BTW, I've stayed in that hotel...liked it...great food!

You're kidding me right? This type of bullshit is exactly why I feel the ACLU has become a agenda driven gang of thugs anymore.

It sounds like they're just trying to find out what the situation will be for people who want to picket/demonstrate/whatever:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_11710.cfm

What they're asking for is part of the security planning (like everything happening in Denver at that point in time will be), but they're not asking for the security plan.

They shouldn't ask for any of the security planning, that's just plain silly.

What they should ask for, and be given, is an area that is open for protests.

Actually they sued to disclose the exact purchases on security gear the city of Denver made using the funds provided.

Not direct plans per se, but certainly enough to reveal capabilities and give a good indication of the plans.

I would have released "documents" outlining all the bayonettes, assault rifles, and attack dogs we purchased to "welcome the protesters with open arms".....:devil

They shouldn't ask for any of the security planning, that's just plain silly.

What they should ask for, and be given, is an area that is open for protests.

The point is that it all falls under security. Anything regarding the event is under the jurisdiction of that security plan. By definition, asking any question about where to go is technically digging into the security plan.

Easy to paint it as prying, when it's harmless.

In the interview, he specifically said they tried several times to get info on where they were supposed to assemble, but were denied. The DNC organizers could just tell them "hey, you can wave your signs over there", and there probably wouldn't be an issue.

Actually they sued to disclose the exact purchases on security gear the city of Denver made using the funds provided.

Not direct plans per se, but certainly enough to reveal capabilities and give a good indication of the plans.


That's not harmless San, it's over the line and another sign that perhaps some of the judges ruling over such cases aren't capable of thinking outside their party lines.

No, I agree that's getting into too much. I found no reference to anything like that though. The ALCU guy was very clear about what he wanted, and it was all harmless.

Got a source, Gulor?

Found this:

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/6/30/aclu_sues_denver_for_security_equipment

Here we go: http://www.aclu-co.org/news/pressrelease/release_dnc_police_purchases_052808.htm

“I do not believe that the public records at issue here contain the kind of ‘tactical security information’ that Denver is reluctant to disclose,” said Mark Silverstein, ACLU Legal Director. “Even if the requested documents did contain such information, the Colorado legislature addressed this issue in a 2005 amendment to the open records laws. The statute states that ‘specialized details of security arrangements’ can be deleted, but the remainder of the documents—the portions that reveal how the government is spending our money—must be disclosed.”

Silverstein added that “Denver’s unjustified penchant for secrecy” has led to speculation and rumors about the nature of the equipment Denver is acquiring. He said that more than one Denver reporter as well as a New York City radio station have all contacted the ACLU to ask about a report that Denver had acquired a “sonic ray gun” for crowd control purposes similar to one that the New York Police Department police acquired in preparation for the 2004 Republican Convention.

“If Denver is buying such a device, or any other new-fangled so-called ‘less lethal’ weapons,” Silverstein continued, “the public is certainly entitled to know. And the public is entitled to ask whether Denver has adequately evaluated the manufacturers’ self-serving claims of safety, has established appropriate policies to regulate how and when officers may use such weapons, and has adequately trained its officers.”

No, I agree that's getting into too much. I found no reference to anything like that though. The ALCU guy was very clear about what he wanted, and it was all harmless.

Got a source, Gulor?

I'm paraphrasing the Rocky Mountain News. I'll see if I can find an article for you online.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/may/28/aclu-files-suit-against-denver/

On the radio last week, they had an interview with someone who was opposed to all the security theatre that's going on. One of the things that Denver recently outlawed was carrying a bicycle lock. Allegedly, protesters like to padlock themselves together to make it hard to haul them away, so instead of dealing with that, the city council outlawed bike locks. No time limit on the ban, nor any sunset provision, so bike locks banned forever. Bike thieves are rejoicing.

I don't know if I mentioned it, but a number of streets have recently been resurfaced. Colorado Blvd is one such. I guess the city was embarassed at the declining condition of the roads that they resurfaced most streets with hotels on them, because some journalist might take a picture of the craptacular condition of the streets here. This street is 4 lanes in each direction, and a several mile stretch was resurfaced in 2 days. Last time it was resurfaced (4 years ago, I think), it took about 6 weeks to do the same stretch.

Yeah I noticed that too. Still, I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth. I don't much care why its being resurfaced as long as it is being done.

It will be interesting to see how long it holds up before the potholes start showing up again.