THIS JUST IN
Website dedicated to all things papal
“All Pope, All the Time.”
That’s the slogan for www.BenedictXVI.biz, a timely new website offering Vatican and pontiff-related links, books and DVDs.
Greg Robinson, a Denver- based Web developer for National CineMedia, purchased the rights to BenedictXVI.biz a mere 10 minutes after the new pope was announced.
“I’m not a religious person,” Robinson said. “I usually look around for different domain names to purchase once a news event comes up. The whole idea is to have people take an interest in it, maybe get some charities involved.”
All proceeds from merchandise sales will be donated to Denver Urban Ministries “at the risk of going to hell,” as Robinson puts it on his website disclaimer. But Robinson insists he’s not mocking Catholics or trying to sell the domain name for thousands of dollars.
“It only cost me eight bucks to do,” he said.
So why BenedictXVI.biz? Because BenedictXVI.com was already taken.
Tax-cheating behavior scrutinized
Ever wonder if more people cheated on their income taxes this year than ever before?
If you answered yes, there’s an increased chance you considered cheating Uncle Sam yourself, according to a recent study.
“Whether people are willing to participate in this kind of behavior is related to the perception that everybody’s doing it,” said Tom Petee of Auburn University in a statement.
The study, conducted by six teams of sociologists in the U.S. and Iceland, found that those who thought “everybody is doing it” were more likely to contemplate cheating on their taxes than people who thought tax- cheating was rare.
The latter group tended to hold harsh opinions of those who considered cheating.
Increased enforcement of tax laws could deter people from engaging in the practice, the report concluded.
“If people see low odds of getting caught and if they see other people getting away with it, their respect for the law declines,” Petee said.
Aviation pioneer on airport wall of honor
Elrey Jeppesen now will be properly remembered as an aviation pioneer. The Retired United Pilots Association’s local chapter – the Denver Good Ole Boys – has contributed $100 to place Jeppesen’s name on the National Aviation and Space Exploration Wall of Honor, located on the walkway leading to the Udvar-Hazy Center at Washington Dulles International Airport.
“Jepp” came up with the idea of charting obstacles and landmarks in a book for pilots, which led to the creation of the Arapahoe County company now known as Jeppesen Sanderson Inc. The charts are widely used by pilots around the world.
Jeppesen had more influence on aviation “than anyone in recent history,” said Ted Wilkinson, coordinator for the Denver Good Ole Boys.
Travelers may know Jeppesen’s name from the Jeppesen Terminal at Denver International Airport. The retired United pilots wanted the entire airport named for Jeppesen, but it didn’t happen.
CU beats top schools in design competition
The University of Colorado isn’t usually considered in the same academic class as Ivy League schools such as Harvard or Columbia.
But this month, a team of CU graduate students won the Urban Land Institute Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition, a national real estate design contest. The CU team beat 71 schools, including Harvard, Columbia and the University of Texas at Austin, in the finals.
CU’s five-student team earned $50,000 for claiming top honors, $5,000 of which was donated to the university.
All the teams were charged with crafting development plans for one of two 2,000-plus-acre sites in the Salt Lake City area. CU’s plan called for extending existing light rail through one of the sites, thus connecting the site with the greater Salt Lake area and acting as an economic engine.
CU’s plan won by a unanimous decision.
“To prevail over 71 teams, including a final four that included Harvard, Columbia and Texas, is the academic equivalent of winning the NCAA basketball championship,” said Stephen Lawrence, dean of CU’s Leeds School of Business.
$100,000 commission for Stapleton art ideas
Do you have the perfect sculpture in mind for that new park down the street? Now’s your chance to submit your brilliant idea.
Stapleton, the former Denver airport and ongoing redevelopment project, is offering a $100,000 commission for public art to be located at the ellipse at East 29th Avenue Parkway and Xenia Street.
According to Stapleton officials, it’s the perfect location for art that speaks to “the diverse urban community that is Stapleton.”
Interested artists can attend informational workshops May 5 and June 4 at 7351 E. 29th Ave. Visit www.callforentry.org or www.StapletonDenver.com for more information.
FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
