Thank You To Everyone at WordPress

I wanted to take a monent to thank you all for the hard work and the confidence you instilled in me as I fumbled thruogh the ins and outs of building this site. I couldn’t have done it without you.

Come by for a visit at the new URL If you get a chance.http://www.utahblue.info/

Moving Day

We’re moving to a new url and hope you’ll come on by.

Plus as a moving day special we’re giving you the oppurtunity ,chance to get the new Tom Russell CD.
We saw him on Letterman last year and got on the net right away for the Borderland cuts.

Don’t be stealing any General’s horses because not that much has changed since 1919.

Hope to see you at the park tonight.

One more thing. If your slogging through this blog on internet exporer maybe you’d like to try this.http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/

And there’s this little gem.

http://gregfelice.com/wiki//x/CwE

Tom Russell

Tom Russell preordering information

Hello to all. We’re coming to you here off cycle just a bit with special news and a limited offer just for our customers. Next month Hightone Records will be releasing the all new studio album from Tom Russell. It features eleven new songs about you guessed it: Love & Fear and what feeds them both. The themes are explored as only Tom can do it. Gretchen Peters, Fats Kaplin, Gurf Morlix, Joel Guzman and of course Andy Hardin all contribute. If his albums “Borderland” and “Modern Love” are your cup of tea then get ready for a full pitcher as he returns to the sounds of the Southwest. Here’s where the fun part comes in. In honor of this release the early pressings will ship with a limited edition EP that contains five tracks. Three of the songs are from the new album, the other two are exclusive covers. Tom takes a swing at Emmylou Harris’s “Red Dirt Girl” and then hits it out of the park on Leonard Cohen’s “Tower Of Song.” Due to the royalties involved with the two covers this EP will be limited to a single run. There are two ways you can purchase the new disc. The album can be purchased with or without the bonus disc. To get the bonus EP the total price is $18.99 plus shipping. If you only want the new album it is $15.99 plus shipping. Placing your order now using the link below will guarantee that you get your copy reserved and shipped about a week ahead of the March 21 street date. As we’ve told you in the past ordering directly from us is the same as ordering directly from Tom. A sale through out site guarantees that Tom will see the largest share of the sale and that the sale will go through SoundScan where it will be tabulated for the label. This benefits everyone and lets Tom and his label know exactly where their sales are coming from. This helps with his touring and advertising clout. Thanks to all of you that support his work that we so strongly believe in. Enjoy the rest of the month and look for a new action packed mailer in a couple of weeks. For those who are interested in acquiring or seeing his original artwork check out this website for all of the details www.yarddog.com .

Vigils

Respect My Authoratayyy!!!

When we were in the fourth grade at Millcreek elementary Mrs. Anticheck stood us up and publicly vilified us for our sins. Sitting at the back of the class, I had ample opportunities to hone my public speaking skills.

One day, after watching David O. Mackay’s funeral on the TV in our class, I was asked to spell English, it was written on the chalkboard.

I still can’t spell very well, but I got a pare of glasses that year, and some one on one time with a very nice older Lady who turned me on to a book called the Mouse and the Motorcycle.

Thank you Ma’am, I really needed those glasses.

Oh, and thanks for the spell checker, it’s awesome.

http://political.moveon.org/event/events/index.html?action_id=34&search_distance=30&search_zip=84047&submit=Search

http://deesings.livejournal.com/185967.html

http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/2006_02_19_firedoglake_archive.html#114055082068377914

Thanks for the pic.
http://www.toast442.org/C236517467/E20050826144602/

Asbestos

Its not like any of this stuff is new. We just wish somebody would put it together, in a way all our bros, and sisters too, could get it with their morning coffee, or whatever.

http://goldenstateblog.latimes.com/goldenstate/2006/02/golden_state_co_4.html

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002035220

http://www.madison.com/tct/opinion/column/index.php?ntid=73283&ntpid=0

http://vuscaria.blogspot.com/2006/01/coming-constitutional-crisis.html

http://www.haloscan.com/comments/firedoglake/114045483031421132/#271088

http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/2006_02_19_firedoglake_archive.html#114046404176196566

http://www.utdemocrats.org/

Thanks for the pic

DCR( Why Read the Comments?)

Thanks Pachacutec

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/2/19/01542/9703

http://www.haloscan.com/comments/firedoglake/114035502644453175/#269827

http://www.haloscan.com/comments/firedoglake/114035502644453175/#269900

http://www.haloscan.com/comments/firedoglake/114035502644453175/#269923

And I meet new friends. http://www.democratsofsouthernutah.org/

http://www.anamericanscam.com/

http://forum.truthout.org/blog/story/2006/2/17/125130/795

BCR (Before Car Race)

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/17/opinion/17Wright.html?ei=5070&en=e0a0d4f81b0626e2&ex=1140843600&emc=eta1&pagewanted=all

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635185011,00.html

Thanks Ed

http://zelph.blogspot.com/2005/08/where-are-they-now.html

It’s catching

http://oneutah.org/2006/02/16/torture-pros-visit-slc-this-sunday/

http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/2006_02_19_firedoglake_archive.html#114035928446061183

Green Jenni has it right.

The First Step is to Admit….

Fighting desperately, but I just can’t get away. Since the shootouts Thursday night I’ve been pulled back into my opiate of choice, watching both the USAC and the Truck races yesterday. Today its Bushe league, tomorrow the Big One. If I haven’t OD’ed by Monday, I’ll be back to pointing out the obscene miscarriages perpetrated by our paid off Reps and myopic media. Till then, we’re on our own, with a Repub foot on our necks, just the way they like it.

Oh yea, by the way, News of the Weird gives a real news story a different spin. Life sentence huh? No more yachting for you ey, Duke?

Luckily, I read Kirby first thing this morning, so I have a voice of some reason keeping my head from just exploding. Wow, that was close.

My bad, its next to News of the Weird in Nation in Brief.

Thanks Mell for this little heads up.

http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/2006_02_12_firedoglake_archive.html#114027663149812479

Cooler Heads Prevail

Jim Wallis has a chapter in God’s Politics called,”Protest Is

Good:Alternatives Are Better.”

I hope we’ve brought some alternitive thought to the blogosphere here in our beautiful state.

http://wampum.wabanaki.net/vault/2006/02/002410.html

Thanks Sisyphus

http://wampum.wabanaki.net/vault/2006/02/002312.html

http://oneutah.org/

http://www.slcfilmcenter.org/

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/021606R.shtml

http://chronotron.wordpress.com/2006/02/16/the-history-of-404-errors/

http://patriotboy.blogspot.com/2006_02_12_patriotboy_archive.html#114007796354812907

Your Invited to the Party

Friday 17Feb06, Radisson Hotel, Downtown SLC. 1:30-3:00pm, OOh, just hit the first Link. Its All there.

http://blueutah.wordpress.com/2006/02/14/minimum-wage-increase/

http://www.grist.org

http://oneutah.org/2006/02/14/fema-is-just-another-word-for-nothing-left-to-lose/

What we’d like to know is, what’s happening while we’re spending so much time wrestling the shot gun away from ultra super secret tricky Dick?

http://blog.oneamericacommittee.com/section/arguments_analysis

http://www.davidcorn.com/archives/2006/02/no_retreat_no_s.php

http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh021406.shtml

http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/2006_02_12_firedoglake_archive.html#1140061473

85417076

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/article.php?sid=24876&mode=nested&order=0

http://claudialong.com/blog/2006/02/02/guilty_guilty_guilty_mother_lode_of_enron_emails_found.html

http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/2006_02_12_firedoglake_archive.html#114009773678156107

Thanks for the pic.

Flying Desks

We used to know an Air Force Major who’d been an ace in Nam. Back in the early 80s He said,” Never work for an Air Force Officer who flies a desk.”

Do you see any wisdom in that?

http://lefarkins.blogspot.com/2006/02/jesus-the-f-22.html

http://www.balloon-juice.com/?cat=15

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/

http://www.thepoorman.net/

http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/32237/

http://www.oliverwillis.com/2006/02/14/why-i-continue-to-call-out-instapundit/

http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2006/02/why-ann-coulter-matters.html

Then we found a ray of hope.

Thanks for the pic.

Act Now

I’m going to have to go back to work soon, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still get together sometimes to discuss our world and the changes being made.

Here’s a list of things we can do, think about, and play with.

See ya on the next one, Clint.

http://www.actionforum.com/forum/index.html?forum_id=266

https://secure.ga3.org/03/contribute_20060214_eitc

http://www.utahjwj.org/index.htm

http://daviscountywatch.blogspot.com/

http://scottmaxwell.wordpress.com/

http://theospeak.wordpress.com/2006/02/14/limbo-goes-to-heaven/

Minimum Wage Increase

http://dickcheneyquailhunt.cf.huffingtonpost.com/

http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/2006/02/14/polls-with-rounded-corners/

http://daoureport.salon.com/synopsis.aspx?synopsisId=f88ec861-e61b-4fc1-8bd1-2059e9878f29

And finally,Happy Valentine’s Day. And good luck Mayor Coroon.

Minimum Wage Increase

Thanks Cory, always happy to help.
utjwj@xmission.com

www.utahjwj.org

MEDIA ADVISORY: FEBRUARY 14, 2006

Contacts: George Neckel, Utah Jobs with Justice. (801) 606-2074

Corey Hilton, Organizer, IBEW Local 354. (801) 319-3144

Dan Belnap, Utahns Against Hunger. (801) 328-2561

UTAH’S WORKING POOR NEED INCREASED MINIMUM WAGE

Low income workers to testify on economic hardship

Salt Lake City, UT. Tuesday, February 14, 2006. Low-wage Utah workers will present testimony before a Workers Rights Board on February 17 on the need for an increase in the State’s minimum wage. The workers will describe their efforts to support their families on less than $7.00 an hour. Utah’s current minimum wage is $5.15 an hour, the same as the federal minimum, which has not been increased in more than eight years. This provides an annual income of only $10,700 for a full-time worker.

Among those testifying will be a receptionist for the United States Forest Service, a fast-food worker struggling to provide for her three children and an oil company worker supporting a developmentally disabled son with substantial medical bills. In addition, the Board will hear expert testimony from economist Dr. Sarah Wilhelm, of Voices for Utah Children.

The testimony will be heard by a panel drawn from the Workers Rights Board of Utah Jobs with Justice. The panel includes Cathy Hoskins, Executive Director of Salt Lake Community Action Program; Salt Lake County Council member Joe Hatch; Glen Bailey, Executive Director of Crossroads Urban Center; and Dee Rowland, Director of the Peace and Justice Commission of the Catholic Diocese. Robert “Archie” Archuleta, Chair of Utah Coalition of La Raza and former Administrator of Minority Affairs under Mayor Rocky Anderson, will moderate the panel.

The hearing is part of the Citizens’ Day at the Legislature, organized by Utah Issues. Legislation introduced by Sen. Ed Mayne would increase Utah’s minimum wage to $7.00 an hour. A full-time worker would need to earn $7.74 an hour to meet the federal poverty line for a family of three.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 19,000 Utahns are working at or below minimum wage. The real value of the minimum wage is near its lowest point in 50 years. If the minimum wage in 2005 was worth what it was in 1968, it would be $8.88 an hour. And if it had gone up at the same rate as average CEO pay in the 1990s, the minimum wage would today be almost $45 an hour.

(MORE)

Nationwide, fourteen states have raised their state minimum wage above the federal minimum, ranging up to $7.65 an hour in Washington. The city of Santa Fe, New Mexico has set minimum wage at $9.80 an hour.

Utah Jobs with Justice is a coalition of 18 labor, community and faith organizations working for economic justice. The Workers Rights Board is a project of Utah Jobs with Justice that unites community, religious and business leaders to enhance and ensure the democratic rights of all workers.

The hearing, which is open to the public, will be held Friday, February 17^th from 1:30 – 3:00 pm at the Radisson Hotel Downtown, 215 South Temple, Parleys Rooms 1 and 2.

- 30 -

PO Box 3151

Salt Lake City, UT 84110

801.606.2074 fax 801.328.2564

Great Job

Kirby Nails it.

And another little something thats been bothering us lately.

http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_3499337

A special thank you James MacMurtry and the Heartless Bastards. It was a great show, but I didn’t see the Elephant.
thanks Ryan for the pic.

And last, but in no way least, Reddhead gives the farm report.

Spirits and Angeles

This could take all day.

In an attempt to afflict the comfortable, we give you an afternoon’s study.

Again, make sure your bad word censor is properly installed in your brain.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/021106X.shtml#1

http://www.joebageant.com/joe/2006/02/welcome_to_midd.html

http://rigorousintuition.blogspot.com/2006/02/gods-must-be-crazy.html

Not feeling up to it? Speed week starts today. NBC 12:00 noon MST.

Or some spiritual growth, if you have no choice.

Forty-three and some odd years ago I had my tonsils taken out in a doctor’s office. Routine procedure they said at the time. Mom took me home, but by the time Dad got back from work I was looking pretty bad. Finding a screaming child and a toilet full of blood is an experience I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

Long story short, with a pint of Dad’s blood and a blessing, and the eternal vigilance of my Mom, and my Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts, and cousins, the dedicated staff of the local hospital, and Congregations around the world, I’ve been able to lead a fairly normal life.

Years latter, before he passed, Grampa told me this story, but I never really understood his words or the feelings they conveyed. He’d commended my spirit to the service of mankind, and I’ve never been very comfortable about it.

I commend your spirit Boyo, may you someday be able to do the same.

Thank you only begins to show the appreciation we feel to all who have kept us in their hearts. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/013106Y.shtml

Pic by Martha2.blogspot.com

Saturday Night

Going to see Childish Things in Park City tonight. Thanks all for the support and feelings of unity I’ve gotten here over the last few weeks. You’re my Angels.

Interview with James.

http://www.standard.net/xx/74114/

Not feeling like braving the Canyons?

How about a good read with a hat tip to a friend?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/10/72311/3592

Why We Support Mayor Anderson

With all the bigoted commentary and ballyhoo over the Mayor’s stand on Healthcare issues lately, we feel its high time working families figured out what all the ruckus is about.

A while back our dreams of fair treatment toward labor issues were realized by the City’s adoption of a living wage stipulation on new construction and service sector jobs.

Many people worked very hard to make sure this was implemented with an eye on the betterment of all our interests, and not just for the high and mighty Man.

As you read or re-read this article try to see how even our friends sometimes don’t understand or agree with everything we do. But dammit, can you say fiscal responsibility?

http://www.slweekly.com/editorial/2005/city_2_2005-06-23.cfm

And while I’m on this little peeve, when he passed the torch in Turin, we weren’t remembered as the laughing stock of the world.

There, now I can enjoy these Olympic games.

Or see a movie.

Get Well Soon

Get well soon. We never meant it as a personal insult. I don’t know if those guys from Colorado knew you or what, but it was just so painfully obvious. Your a great team player and we’ll miss poken fun at ya.

These are some other great things we found today. Check’em out.

http://partridge.net/blog/

http://americansdeservethetruth.blogspot.com/2006/02/national-news-review.html

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/158322713X/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-9815199-4039858#reader-link

http://www.utahpolitics.org/

Dan and Sam gave us this heads up in the trib today. Hope to see you all there.

“ Texas ‘tude: Talk about growing up in the shadow of greatness – rootsy singer/songwriter James McMurtry is the son of Lonesome Dove author and “Brokeback Mountain” screenplay co-writer Larry McMurtry. James McMurtry is no slouch, though, and his songs are full of intense narrative and stellar guitar work. His latest studio album, “Childish Things,” is a follow-up to the acclaimed “Live in Aught-Three” set that McMurtry recorded at Salt Lake’s own Zephyr Club (R.I.P.). James McMurtry plays Saturday at 9 p.m. at Park City’s Suede, 1612 Ute Blvd. at Kimball Junction. Tickets are $13, available at the door and Smith’s Tix outlets.”

And of course, its always happening at Firedoglake. 

Be Careful Out There

You could be Misconstrued.

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0209-34.htm

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3494491

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3494542

http://patriotboy.blogspot.com/2006_02_05_patriotboy_archive.html#113955511299471176

Great Ideas

Why can’t our Commander come up with better ideas? Too busy working damage control?

We do it every day. We’re all smarter than any one of us.

Best Medicine.

When things start coming apart, a little humor goes a long way, whether we can put them back together or not.

Taking myself too seriously isn’t my only problem, but it ranks right up there.

Most times a little change of scenery does the trick so here we go into a whole new world of information and possibility.

But don’t just walk out after a chuckle, feeling better, yet not satisfied. Dig in, and maybe send William some denaro.

See, that feels better already.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/020506G.shtml

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/020806B.shtml

Or maybe you want to just get away from it all. That’s ok, but remember the new Code of the West.

Sticking around after all? Then Check out Part of the Plan. I almost forgot.

A Moment of Silence Please-Coretta Scott King

Mrs. Kings funeral.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/2/7/232743/2784

Rotten Apples

So many great people in this world have made contributions and dedicated themselves and their fortunes to the betterment of mankind though charities or little league baseball, team roping and Congressional lobbying. As with most things, the few rotten apples are spoiling the whole barrel. Just a few rotten apples, not much to worry about, until it starts stinking up our system, and spewing vileness onto every thing we hold dear.

It’s our job to comb through the barrel now and then, or we lose it all.

Can you tell a sqwishy, wormy, rotten apple from a crisp, fresh one? I thought you could. Lets start combing though the barrel.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/

Do it for Elmo 

Gaping Holes and Ringing Bells

The undisputed go-to site for Utah news — from headlines to the obscure — is LaVarr Webb’s www.UtahPolicy.com. The sheer volume, on a daily basis, of content (or links to it) is almost suffocating.

That’s why when something is missing, especially when its political, bells start going off — as well they should.

The gapping hole at Utah Policy dot com was a Sunday Tribune article that describes what is possibly the greatest single power grab in recent Utah political history.

Legislature tries to grab more power
Proposed laws: Several bills being considered give state lawmakers more say.

Just “follow the money.”*

* LaVarr Webb's Exoro Group provides lobbying services to the state legislature.

Power Corupts

When the Founding Fathers brought forth this new form of Government, Of, By, and For the People, they did it with one overriding motive.

Power Corrupts.

http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2006/02/hearings-update.html#c113899619818599123

http://claudialong.com/blog/2006/02/02/guilty_guilty_guilty_mother_lode_of_enron_emails_found.html

Commissioners closing a window to Democracy

On Jan. 31, 2006 the Weber County Commission voted to merge the recorder’s office with the surveyor’s office. The Commission was elected to protect our constitution and bill of rights, our democracy. This is why our country and our soldiers are fighting and dying?

The office of County Recorder and County Surveyor serve as a check and balance to hold each other accountable to protect our rights and property.

There is a culture of corruption sweeping across America with our elected officials and lobbyists. Let’s not let it happen here in Weber County.

The commission has been quoted as saying that this merge would save the county $150 thousand to $200 thousand a year. Not long ago our taxes were raised by nearly 30%, and then lobbyists were hired by the commission at nearly $ 300 thousand. To do a job I believe is elected official’s responsibility. We elect state legislators and U.S. representatives to petition the state and federal government in our behalf. By using those resources and not paying lobbyist we could have kept the County Recorder and County Surveyor office’s separate.

The commission was also quoted as saying there are 10 counties in Utah that have these positions combined, but those are the 10 smallest counties and Weber County is one of the largest of 29 counties.

The whole conceived idea of merging these offices together is to cover up alleged illegal activities in the Recorder’s office? Where is the investigation to resolve the land dispute?

Now that these offices have merged it lessens transparency in government and we as voters get less choice and the merge closes one more window of democracy and less of; We the people, by the people, for the people.

Bill Hansen North Ogden

To post a message to this group, send it to: Dem-UT@yahoogroups.com

Little Eyes

Isn’t it funny the things people do when they think no one is watching? Here in Utah I’ve learned, someone’s always watching, whether it be the little eyes of our children, or that all Seeing Eye in the sky.

Then we go the other way, on the National scene, and find Scooter. Why don’t you just go to jail now Louis, then it won’t seem so long, with time already served.

Tilting At Windmills

Like Cervantes and Douglas Adams always remembered,

Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition.

I wish Dirk Gently was here. What am I saying? He is here.

As long as there’s an A section in the Sci-fi isle.

http://villagerecords.com/

Fox news is reporting a computer viris to hit tonight at midnight. Eastern time? Don’t have protection?

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

Reddhead shows us why we may want to work together.
http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/2006_01_29_firedoglake_archive.html#113891564443034383

Please insert automatic bad word censor in your brain.

http://kfmonkey.blogspot.com/2006/02/just-stay-down.html

And maybe the Deseret news would like to meet Mr. Kettle.

http://utahbeehive.blogspot.com/

Agreeing with the Des. News

I’ve learned to keep my mouth shut about the papers of choice throughout the state.

All work equally as well on that oil stain in the drive, or to line the birdcage, and familiar harmony demands it.

On the other hand, subscribing to them all could get expensive, and I’d be filling the recycling bin at the elementary school about once a week.

Luckily, other people get up way earlier than I each weekday morning, and put together a nice collection of greatest hits.

Thank you all for the dedication and I commend you for thinking ahead of the curve.

That said, I humbly submit my own abbreviated list.

Today’s offering on the doorstep was a particularly enjoyable read, especially the letters.

I didn’t even have to kick the cat.(It’s a Joke!)

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635180408,00.html

http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/163050/4/

http://www.standard.net/xx.php/73408/?printable=story

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3459788

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3459811

http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3459783

http://deesings.livejournal.com/159425.html

http://www.utahpolicy.com/

Childish Things

We know GWB listens to James on his I-pod, but have you heard the new CD? No? Maybe its because radio isn’t playing relevant. Remember the Dixie Chicks?

We don’t want an agenda, just Skinny Johnny Mitchell under the pillow on the transistor.

http://www.krcl.org/

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/

http://partridge.net/blog/

http://www.wyso.org/excursions.htm

http://jamesmcmurtry.com/

SOTU

I wrote this after a fit of righteous indignation last October.
My best intentions leave me feeling cold and blue. May we all take into consideration the state of our spinning planet, as well as our spinning emotions?

First, let me apologies for the anonymous post. I just wanted to get the information to you and others asking these tongue in cheek questions, or so it seemed to me at the time. My intentions were to shed light and offer hope, not start fights.
The Ladies at firedoglake have been busting it wide open, so I thought they might offer you and your readers another point of view. Votehouse.org was there as a harbinger of my hope for good things to come.

Today I bring you the sad, sad facts.

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1021-26.htm

Clint

p.s. Can we still be friends?

A Moment of Silence Please-Shane Jacobson

We’re Not Gonna Take It

The Senate is debating Alito on C-SPAN in the real world manner he deserves. Our Governor stood up to Cap. Chaos last week, to the relief of us all. Got a head ache Sen. Bennett? Go lie down for a moment. Take a nap. The day will come when you may wish you had.

Sen. Bob Bennett 202-224-5444

Politics is about solving problems. Give your representatives a call.

What you can do.
Why all this matters to you.

Why War Sucks

Kidnapped women

You take our women, we take your women.

Utah Culture Shock 105

Like Joe Young in Orgazmo we sometimes get into things we don’t understand and find ourselves in the outhouse. Thanks to Sundance Channel for the analogy.
Blogging can be like that too. Security and control vs. free exchange of ideas.
Some places make it pretty obvious they want more info before you swim in the pool.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/

Others let you feel at home and welcome you to the group, but if you post and get two or three idiot call outs, sit back and watch for a while to find out what’s what, and who’s who.

http://www.haloscan.com/comments/firedoglake/113843199545068818/#236628

Different software packages offer different options as well, so keep abreast of the situation and remember you’re in a stranger’s home. Nobody likes the home teachers stopping by at dinnertime to teach a lesson. Apologize sincerely when the going gets tuff but being banned for life from the site is about the worst that can happen and that may turn out to be a badge of honor some places.

Colleen said it yesterday so clearly.

Respect brings people together; fear drives them apart.

Common Sense

As a young man growing up in rural Utah, sunday afternoons were set aside for spiritual growth and study. Thanks Dad.
“A nation can survive its fools and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gate is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banners openly against the city. But the traitor moves among those within the gates freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in the accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their garments, and he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation; he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of a city; he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared.”
~Cicero, 45 BC

Desperate Attempts

Moving on

Duty

Thanks so much for all the support and encouragement this week.

Now do your duty and increase our tribe.

Educate Liberally

Mr. Bush Doesn’t care, Captain Chaos goes from bad to . A kid hasn’t got a chance without turning to crime. Its no accident people don’t trust the system. That’s the plan.

A Balanced Diet

Also being residents of SLC, UT, USA, Planet Earth, and still feeling a little lost in the universe, we were able to come up with a meal to power you though a Saturday’s action.

Jenni sorts it all out, Dee sees the forest from the trees, Ed keeps our spirits up, while Heal Utah gives directions. One Utah lets us listen where we weren’t able to be, and for dessert something imported, but sweet.

Don’t drink the kool-aid, somthing’s in the punch.

Goals

With all the people on the Internet every day it’s almost impossible to sort thru the noise and find intelligent and entertaining sites without spending a lot of time or getting a head ache. My goal is to give working families a place to find relevant content, and discuss the issues of the day.

Filibuster Friday

So many reasons to take a few minutes and denigh these bullies their thunder.

Good Neighbors

Going thru the comments at FDL last night fed my hungry soul. Anybody feeling the heat?

Maybe just doing somthing gets the ball rolling. Your support is always appreciated.

New West

As I was dragging through the junk mail a few minutes ago I got a nugget

A Nightmare, and a Job well done.

Good Call Todd

They really called?    And since we’re on the Trib,Holly, we hardly knew ye.

Grampa and the new Baby.

So many of the websites I visit are written by people with young children, and of course this holds true here in our state. She’s a real pro.

I finished a job recently, so with a little time on my hands, it was decided I could be trusted for some supervised babysitting. This boy’s first words better be Grampa loves me, but if not, I probably still will.

What prompted that last bit of sugar is how much this site feels like a child. Good burp dude, Ohhh where are those wipies?

Then I get a heads up like this and, now where did I put that kid?

Utahtrueblue

There are 366 trueblues at google.   Nothing when I add Utah.  Comments? How do we change the name?  Just do it?

I Googled Utah on Images. Our hearts are in these Places.

Can it get any more corrupt?

When I was young, people used to say, “Dems work for everyone, Repubs only care about themselves“. Can it get any clearer?

And then I find hope.

And People with answers.

25Jan06

Good Morning All. Updating as we go. Haven’t even read the news yet.

I sent out some E-mail last night, but no word yet from the original site manager.

Jane is hot on the WaPo. Cliff is sending me homework, and the monkey business continues up the street.

Update; Rob says “Run with it”.

Update; Our name is allready being used. Lets put our heads together and come up with something else.

All Hands On Deck

Thank you to everyone who was able to come to the hearing at the Capitol on such short notice. The vote was close, but Senate Bill 70 passed out of the committee by a vote of 3-2 and will now move on to the Senate for a full vote.

As you know, SB 70 rewrites state law to make it easier for nuclear and hazardous waste dumps to expand or develop in Utah by taking away the need for gubernatorial approval. The bill effectively removes power from the Governor and gives it to Envirocare.

In an effort to remove the public from the process, this bill has been on a fast-track and will most likely be voted on THIS WEEK. We need a lot of help to defeat this legislation in the Senate. If you have any time at all this week, your involvement could stop an effort to make it easier for nuclear and toxic waste to be dumped in Utah. This is truly urgent. Can you help with any of the following?

1) Hand out flyers in legislative districts (2 hour commitment)

2) Write a letter to the editor (15-30 min.)

3) Call, write, or email key legislators (15-30 min.)

4) Help call our volunteers and members to ask them to contact their legislators (1-2 hours)

5) Join us at the Capitol to talk to legislators directly (1 hr)

Please let me know if you can help with any of the above. You can join volunteers going out to flyer Tuesday afternoon and Thursday evening, and we’d also like to fill in the rest of the week.

Here is a list of legislative leadership we need help contacting. You can reach all of them by calling the senate at 538-1035. You can also call them directly on their home numbers (call after 6:00pm and no later than 9:00pm). You can find a sample email and a link to more talking points at the bottom of this email.

1) Senate President John Valentine, jvalentine@utahsenate.org

2) Senate Majority Leader Peter Knudson, (435) 723-2035, pknudson@utahsenate.org

3) Senate Majority Whip Dan Eastman, (801) 295-5133, deastman@utahsenate.org

4) Senate Assistant Majority Whip Bev Evans, (435) 454-3719, bevevans@ubtanet.com

Thank you to everyone who has already contacted a legislator. Please continue to contact the above legislators this week. They need to hear from you.

We’re always thankfully amazed by the time people take out of their lives to get involved. That’s how the three of us can accomplish what we do. If there was ever a time when we needed your help, it’s now. So please, take the time this week to get involved and make sure our government is accountable to the people it represents, not the bottom-line of one company. Thank you,

-John, Jason, and Vanessa

HEAL Utah

68 S Main St, Suite 400
SLC, UT 84101
(801) 355-5055

Here’s a sample email you can copy and send. For a full list of talking points, visit http://www.healutah.org/what/envirocare/takeAction.html.

Dear Sen. _____,

I strongly urge you to oppose Senate Bill 70. This bill would make it easier for nuclear and hazardous waste dumps to expand or operate in Utah and rewrites a law specifically put in place to protect our health and environment. By taking away the need for the Governor to approve the expansion or development of nuclear waste sites, this bill takes power away from the one person in the state who represents all Utahns. This law benefits Envirocare and makes it easier for more nuclear and toxic waste to be dumped in our state. If Envirocare says they’re not asking for this bill, and the public is clearly against it, the legislature should vote against it as well. We live with the dangers of nuclear waste for generations. Please vote down SB 70 and protect the interests of the public, not the bottom-line of one company. Sincerely,

-Your name and contact info

Sam Alito, What’s not to like?

As some of us must know by now,the Judge would find himself very well at home here in Utah.

Absolut authority? No Problem.

Got anything more pressing to do? Probably not.

Want to see whats happening in the free world?

And here at Home.

Utah Suffers National Ridicule Again. Thanks Gail!

They talking about us again on one of the largest national blogs

Can’t see this

“A movie theater owned by Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller abruptly changed its screening plans and decided not to show the film “Brokeback Mountain.” The film, an R-rated Western gay romance story, was supposed to open Friday at the Megaplex at Jordan Commons in Sandy, a suburb of Salt Lake City. Instead it was pulled from the schedule… read more and the comments…

This Divided State also has the whole story here.

Sometimes its hard to laugh, but we must try.

Good belly laugh

Not One Thin Dime From Abramoff to Democrats

On what might be considered in “these parts”, a slightly hyperbolically named blog there is a video of Howard Dean on CNN’s Late Edition in which he forcefully corrects the now over-sung republican talking point that the Abramoff thing is just more partisan politics, and that democrats took money from Jack too. NOT TRUE!

Not a single democrat has been implicated in any part of the Abramoff scandal.

Utah Most Certainly Does ROCK!

There was an opinion letter in today’s Trib about Ed Firmage.

I was reminded that despite being a deeply conservative state buried deep in the mountain west, we have in our midst some of the greatest thinkers and teachers in the world.

I look forward to hearing from and engaging with Ed Firmage at his new blog

What I think

I think somewhere along the line, we stopped listening to the smartest people in the village, until we got to the point where we only heard the voices of our elected leaders, and media.  With few easy options in sight, and in fear of losing our humanity, I think we began looking for moral leadership from politicians.

I think we expect too much when we do that.  Lets hold our elected leaders responsible for spending our tax money effectively, and to one “moral value”–civic responsibility — to protect us from the influence of powerful interests, in favor of what is best for our communities now, and in the future.  That’s ALL!

I say, lets find and define our moral values in our own communities, and through our relationships with and neighbors, friends, church, and family.

You don’t “find” humanity damn it, you GIVE IT!