OK so I was on a downer bender when I wrote this. Thanks to everyone who commented.
The Jazz did end up sucking, lots of people are upset about Bob Bennett being kicked to the curb (see my favorite newspaper's opinion section today) and I still maintain we as a society would do better if we focused on curing cancer rather than putting instructions on plastic grocery bags.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
All Hope Is Lost
I had a boss who used to say "If you are a hammer everything looks like a nail". I guess I was a hammer this morning because everything I looked at seemed to fit the title of this post - All Hope is Lost.
I opened my favorite newspaper and saw this headline plastered in big type on the front of the sports page. Way to support the Jazz. They were referring to the fact that the Jazz lost it's third game in a row to the Lakers. The Jazz are facing elimination but once again "Salt Lake's Independent Voice" shows it is a class act (scarcasm).
Entry number two in this category is the elimination of 3 time Senator Robert Bennett from consideration as candidate by the delegates at the Republican Convention this week. Are we really that short sited that we can push a public servant to the curb that quickly without at least having the people have their say? If this is the future of our political system maybe "All Hope is Lost".
The last concept in this thread is the scariest one. It refers to nothing less than all of humanity. When I went shopping this weekend I found a plastic bag with directions on it. Are we really that stupid or lazy that we need instructions on a plastic bag? Next thing you know there will be a disclaimer that the provider of the bag will not be responsible for its improper use; oh yeah, we already have this with dry cleaning bags. I say we need to let people suffer from their own mistakes and maybe we can thin out the herd enough that we won't have to have directions on plastic bags. If this is the way things are going 
maybe "All Hope is Lo
st".
maybe "All Hope is Lo
st".Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Vote Carroon
Yesterday Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Carroon chose his running mate. She is Republican state representative Sheryl Allen. Nice move Mr. Mayor.
I am a fan of Peter Corroon's work as Mayor of Salt Lake County. He has been active in the green movement and has set fiscal restraints on the County that were needed. I have a friend who works for him and has only good things to say about him. He is for small, transparent, effective government. The City Weekly likes him.
I am not a fan of the present Govenor, Gary Herbert. He is a clone of the Utah legislature and was not voted in (he was Lt. Gov when John Huntsman Jr. resigned to be emperor of China) Herbert has been absent on critical issues and seems wishy-washy. His greatest public appeal has been to be a flu fighter. He could have been a stand up gov this past legislative session but chose to just let bills slide through, he signed 400 bills and vetoed only 3.
Other reasons that Ms. Allen is a good choice as a running mate for Peter Carroon; she is from Davis County, one of the more moderate counties in Utah (unlike the one behind the Zion Curtain), she is an educator and will most likely keep education in the forefront of her political asperations and most of all she has made a career of opposing the dominant thought pattern in the Utah Legislature. That makes her OK in my book.
Another reason to vote for Carroon/Allen is that they are 20 points behind the present Govenor. I am always a fan of the underdog, particularly if they are better than the favorite.
Anyway, here is to a fun political season and if nothing else hopefully I have sparked some interest.
I am a fan of Peter Corroon's work as Mayor of Salt Lake County. He has been active in the green movement and has set fiscal restraints on the County that were needed. I have a friend who works for him and has only good things to say about him. He is for small, transparent, effective government. The City Weekly likes him.
I am not a fan of the present Govenor, Gary Herbert. He is a clone of the Utah legislature and was not voted in (he was Lt. Gov when John Huntsman Jr. resigned to be emperor of China) Herbert has been absent on critical issues and seems wishy-washy. His greatest public appeal has been to be a flu fighter. He could have been a stand up gov this past legislative session but chose to just let bills slide through, he signed 400 bills and vetoed only 3.
Other reasons that Ms. Allen is a good choice as a running mate for Peter Carroon; she is from Davis County, one of the more moderate counties in Utah (unlike the one behind the Zion Curtain), she is an educator and will most likely keep education in the forefront of her political asperations and most of all she has made a career of opposing the dominant thought pattern in the Utah Legislature. That makes her OK in my book.
Another reason to vote for Carroon/Allen is that they are 20 points behind the present Govenor. I am always a fan of the underdog, particularly if they are better than the favorite.
Anyway, here is to a fun political season and if nothing else hopefully I have sparked some interest.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Hi There
Hello,
I have been absent from the blogosphere for a month now. Not intentionally, not due to injury or dementia, but due purely to a lack of interest on my part.
I have been on a few trips into the outback without my trusty blog machine, but each time I resurfaced I thought more about getting my work done than regaling you all with the details of my exploits.
To those who are followers of this blog, both of you, I hope my absence has not caused any emotional inconvenience. I thank you for your continued support and hope you have not completely lost interest.
More to come . . . .
I have been absent from the blogosphere for a month now. Not intentionally, not due to injury or dementia, but due purely to a lack of interest on my part.
I have been on a few trips into the outback without my trusty blog machine, but each time I resurfaced I thought more about getting my work done than regaling you all with the details of my exploits.
To those who are followers of this blog, both of you, I hope my absence has not caused any emotional inconvenience. I thank you for your continued support and hope you have not completely lost interest.
More to come . . . .
Thursday, March 11, 2010
The Rightouslature
I snuck into my local tobacconist yesterday and heard a funny thing.
After I parked several stores away, looked like I was confused about where I was going and appeared to stumble into the Tinder Box across from Fashion Place Mall, I was safely inside. Luckily they have dark windows and lots of kitch in front so no one can see you.
I headed directly to the room sized humidor in the back to fondle some cigars. I mumbled "hi" to the clerk and spotted the door of the giant cigar keeper, when I was stopped by a stupid looking railing.
The railing barred entry to the humidor with the ominous warning "No One Under 19 Allowed". It was about three feet high with swinging gates strategically located about 5 feet from the door of the humidor so if you bolted for the entrance to cigar heaven you would probably be tackled by the elderly lady clerk before you were able to brake the plane of the "adults only" area.
I felt less embarrassed heading for the back room at the Blue Boutique (just kidding honey, I have never been there).
I confidently (after all I was 19 when Jimmy Carter was in office) strode thru the barrier and asked out loud, "what the heck is this?"
The kindly lady behind the counter said "That's the work of the Utah Rightouslature". I congratulated her on this keen observation and asked if I could use this name, after all it applies to so many more instances than just tobacco tax. She gladly granted me a lifetime, royalty free license to use this wonderful name for our esteemed law makers.
So I sit here, in the privacy of my back patio, smoking one of the last cigars in Utah unencumbered by the huge increase in taxes. I salute you mighty men and women of our law making body. If it weren't for you ,we, the poor humble populous, wouldn't know it wasn't right to be doing this. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, or the heart of my bottom.
After I parked several stores away, looked like I was confused about where I was going and appeared to stumble into the Tinder Box across from Fashion Place Mall, I was safely inside. Luckily they have dark windows and lots of kitch in front so no one can see you.
I headed directly to the room sized humidor in the back to fondle some cigars. I mumbled "hi" to the clerk and spotted the door of the giant cigar keeper, when I was stopped by a stupid looking railing.
The railing barred entry to the humidor with the ominous warning "No One Under 19 Allowed". It was about three feet high with swinging gates strategically located about 5 feet from the door of the humidor so if you bolted for the entrance to cigar heaven you would probably be tackled by the elderly lady clerk before you were able to brake the plane of the "adults only" area.
I felt less embarrassed heading for the back room at the Blue Boutique (just kidding honey, I have never been there).
I confidently (after all I was 19 when Jimmy Carter was in office) strode thru the barrier and asked out loud, "what the heck is this?"
The kindly lady behind the counter said "That's the work of the Utah Rightouslature". I congratulated her on this keen observation and asked if I could use this name, after all it applies to so many more instances than just tobacco tax. She gladly granted me a lifetime, royalty free license to use this wonderful name for our esteemed law makers.
So I sit here, in the privacy of my back patio, smoking one of the last cigars in Utah unencumbered by the huge increase in taxes. I salute you mighty men and women of our law making body. If it weren't for you ,we, the poor humble populous, wouldn't know it wasn't right to be doing this. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, or the heart of my bottom.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Global Warming is For Sissys
The Flat Earth Society, Utah chapter, has finally found someone willing to risk their reputation to say that there is no scientific evidence that humans are causing global warming. Really.
In a half page colour advert (you will see my reason for the English spelling) on page A20 of this past Sunday's "The Best Newspaper Ever" the Viscount Monckton (or is that Mockn') of Brenchley (a small town 100 miles SE and 100 million years away from London in the UK ) will amaze and dazzle us with his expertise in the area of the science, economics and politics of global warming (whom Al Gore refuses to debate - so the article says).
The article goes on to say - and I am quoting here - "'Global Warming' is No Global Crisis. Is there really an apocalyptic threat to the planet requiring a complete transformation of the US government? Does Congress really need to shut down five-sixths of the US economy and impose on you a 19th century standard of living?"
First notice the inner set of quotation marks around the words "Global Warming" like it is a false label. What is he talking about with the governmental transformation and 5/6 economic elimination? Sounds like someone was stuck with a lot of buggy whips when that thing the automobile came along. Will he produce his Jules Verne time machine also.
As as scientist (I got my BS in geology) I know the earth is a living organism. I also can intuitively deduce that 6 billion people burning fossil fuels will have an impact on that organism. I know science can take many forms and with something this complex it is reasonable to think there will be conflicting results from studies done, but I don't want to risk my future on something that looks inevitable to me.
If nothing else, we will some day soon run out of fossil fuel and will need an alternative. Why not do something proactive and beneficial for the living organism we call home now, rather than react when things get really bad?
We already see the effects of something. The water shortages, the polluted rivers, shrinking glaciers, weather extremes and natural disasters. Wouldn't it be best to do something to improve our lot as a whole civilization and make our stay here more sustainable for us and our descendants than come to the end of the road, stair off a cliff and wish we had read the map?
It only makes sense to think of this planet as a finite resource and one that will need our management to be sustainable. We do it with forests, game, birds and water, why not see the whole planet as something we need to preserve.
Back to Lord Crackpoton. On Tuesday March 23rd you can choose to listen to a ney-sayer and feel good that the sky isn't falling and that you don't have to cut back consuming, or you can choose to do something to preserve this earth.
I recommend we do some act of service for the earth on March 23rd to counteract the effects this "Major Utah Forum" will have on the state. Let's hope it doesn't convince too many people and maybe it will get some to thinking about preservation of resources.
As a side note this Utah Event is being held in Utah valley. I'm surprised it isn't being held in conjunction with a certain university down there. For those who care, that isn't a religious barb, it is borne out of pure guile from many decades of rivalry with that university. You see, I got my degree from THE University of Utah.
In a half page colour advert (you will see my reason for the English spelling) on page A20 of this past Sunday's "The Best Newspaper Ever" the Viscount Monckton (or is that Mockn') of Brenchley (a small town 100 miles SE and 100 million years away from London in the UK ) will amaze and dazzle us with his expertise in the area of the science, economics and politics of global warming (whom Al Gore refuses to debate - so the article says).
The article goes on to say - and I am quoting here - "'Global Warming' is No Global Crisis. Is there really an apocalyptic threat to the planet requiring a complete transformation of the US government? Does Congress really need to shut down five-sixths of the US economy and impose on you a 19th century standard of living?"
First notice the inner set of quotation marks around the words "Global Warming" like it is a false label. What is he talking about with the governmental transformation and 5/6 economic elimination? Sounds like someone was stuck with a lot of buggy whips when that thing the automobile came along. Will he produce his Jules Verne time machine also.
As as scientist (I got my BS in geology) I know the earth is a living organism. I also can intuitively deduce that 6 billion people burning fossil fuels will have an impact on that organism. I know science can take many forms and with something this complex it is reasonable to think there will be conflicting results from studies done, but I don't want to risk my future on something that looks inevitable to me.
If nothing else, we will some day soon run out of fossil fuel and will need an alternative. Why not do something proactive and beneficial for the living organism we call home now, rather than react when things get really bad?
We already see the effects of something. The water shortages, the polluted rivers, shrinking glaciers, weather extremes and natural disasters. Wouldn't it be best to do something to improve our lot as a whole civilization and make our stay here more sustainable for us and our descendants than come to the end of the road, stair off a cliff and wish we had read the map?
It only makes sense to think of this planet as a finite resource and one that will need our management to be sustainable. We do it with forests, game, birds and water, why not see the whole planet as something we need to preserve.
Back to Lord Crackpoton. On Tuesday March 23rd you can choose to listen to a ney-sayer and feel good that the sky isn't falling and that you don't have to cut back consuming, or you can choose to do something to preserve this earth.
I recommend we do some act of service for the earth on March 23rd to counteract the effects this "Major Utah Forum" will have on the state. Let's hope it doesn't convince too many people and maybe it will get some to thinking about preservation of resources.
As a side note this Utah Event is being held in Utah valley. I'm surprised it isn't being held in conjunction with a certain university down there. For those who care, that isn't a religious barb, it is borne out of pure guile from many decades of rivalry with that university. You see, I got my degree from THE University of Utah.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Marathon
In a fit of disgust over my present condition (I am about 25 lbs overweight) and in talking to my son and daughter in law who have both run several marathons, I think I committed myself to running the St. George Marathon.
I have been running for several years and have participated in a number of 5Ks and a few 10Ks. I am feeling like recently I have not gotten the exercise I wanted so when the topic came up I put my chips in and said "call".
The good thing about the St. George Marathon is that it is about 27 weeks away. That gives me a lot of time to prepare. The even better thing is that so many people want to run this Marathon that places are given out by lottery. That means I could not get picked.
Really I have always wanted to run a marathon, I just didn't have the patience when I was younger. With the help of some online coaching, schedules and prayer for a more relaxed temperment, I will start the process. There are several 5Ks this summer and my wife has expressed an interest in a Triathalon (we did a few several years ago). Even if I don't draw out on the St. George Marathon I can put my training regimen to work on these other events.
So here is to a healthy and injury free summer. Wish me luck.
I have been running for several years and have participated in a number of 5Ks and a few 10Ks. I am feeling like recently I have not gotten the exercise I wanted so when the topic came up I put my chips in and said "call".
The good thing about the St. George Marathon is that it is about 27 weeks away. That gives me a lot of time to prepare. The even better thing is that so many people want to run this Marathon that places are given out by lottery. That means I could not get picked.
Really I have always wanted to run a marathon, I just didn't have the patience when I was younger. With the help of some online coaching, schedules and prayer for a more relaxed temperment, I will start the process. There are several 5Ks this summer and my wife has expressed an interest in a Triathalon (we did a few several years ago). Even if I don't draw out on the St. George Marathon I can put my training regimen to work on these other events.
So here is to a healthy and injury free summer. Wish me luck.
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