O:9:"MagpieRSS":23:{s:6:"parser";i:0;s:12:"current_item";a:0:{}s:5:"items";a:14:{i:0;a:7:{s:2:"id";s:42:"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:deesings:6783";s:4:"link";s:42:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/6783.html";s:9:"link_self";s:55:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=6783";s:5:"title";s:15:"Rain Water Tax?";s:9:"published";s:20:"2011-10-07T16:43:06Z";s:7:"updated";s:20:"2011-10-29T13:51:03Z";s:12:"atom_content";s:8861:"There has been a lot of discussion on a proposed "rain water tax" in West Jordan.  The City Council will receive public input and consider for approval Ordinance 06-41,<br>amending the West Jordan Municipal Code, Title 90, Chapter 3, establishing a<br>Stormwater Utility [Tom Steele] PH 6d.<br><br><i>"A Public Hearing will be held before the City of West Jordan City Council on Tuesday, November 14, 2006, at the hour of 6:00 p.m., in the City Council Chambers at 8000 South Redwood Road, Third Floor, West Jordan, Utah, for review and/or recommendation of the proposed<br>amendment to the West Jordan Municipal Code, Title 90, Chapter 3, establishing a Stormwater Utility. <a href="http://multimastertools.net/" rel="nofollow">multimaster tool</a> You are invited to attend the Public Hearing and take part in the discussions and voice any support or concerns you may have. If you desire to speak on an item, the time will be limited to 3 minutes. Items may be moved on the agenda or tabled by the City Council. Copies of the agenda packet for this meeting will be available at the West Jordan libraries and on the City's website www.wjordan.com approximately 4 days prior to the meeting."</i><br><br>What is missing from this announcement:  A Stormwater Utility Fee of $36 a year will be imposed on all residents and thousnds of dollars to businesses. And also missing is the state law on public notifictaion relaative to fee/tax incresses should change, mandating any increase in fee from cities be publicized in detail.<br><br>A participant on the West Jordan discussion list writes in his analysis of this fee proposal <a href="http://7creditcards.com/sears-credit-card.html" rel="nofollow">sears credit card</a>:<br>----------------------------------------------------------------------<br>What is the Rain Tax or Gutter Tax?<br><br>Fee/tax on Mother Nature generated rain that runs off your property to city storm drain pipes that you already paid for by the impact fee on your home when it was first built.<br><br>It is important to understand this is NOT sewer, with the sewer you generate waste and there is a requirement to clean that water, those fee are necessary. This is the storm drain pipes which are separate form sewer pipes that take the rain water that hits your roof rolls down your<br>driveway into the gutter and directed to the Jordan River. You have no personal responsibility in generating the pollution that it might encounter in it's travels from your roof to the river.<br><br>Below is the breakdown of cost of the 1.6 million dollar fee/tax proposed.<br><br><li>Home owners would pay a flat fee $36 per year. No cap on this fee it could increase.<br><br></li><li>Businesses would pay base on a formula:<br>Here are some examples of a business, school, and church fees:<br>- LDS Church (7000 S 2700 W) $1934 per year<br>- Macey's Grocery Store $6,845 per year<br>- Jordan Hills Elementary $2715 per year<br><br>In my limited writing ability I will attempt to explain my opposition to this fee/tax.<br><br><b>Point <a href='https://www.livejournal.com/rsearch/?tags=%231'>#1</a>:</b> The existing storm drainage system is overloaded/Growth west of 4800 West is placing increasing demands on existing storm water facilities<br><br><b>Answer:</b> If this is true and we can't fund the infrastructure why does the city council continually give waivers to businesses on paying their share of the storm drain infrastructure. City council has waived impact fees and now they find they are short on funds to pay for the growth. City council should never waive a fee or offer discounts for any development or construction proposed in the city. This impact fee is a requirement to pay for the infrastructure that their development will need for the services of the city sewer, water, and storm drain.<br>Currently we are the 2nd highest impact fee assed city in the state, where is the money going?<br><br>If there is evidence that proves the storm drain is overloaded and we have a shortfall we should slow the growth. If our system is overwhelmed we need to focus our resources that we do have and prioritize them to solve this problem instead of raising taxes/fees. Instead of raising<br>taxes/fees the proponent should stop spending on expenditures such as the re-landscape city hall, a responsible council would put the $350,000 spent on this blunder in to the storm drain infrastructure.<br><br>It comes down to economic responsibility, city government needs to prioritize and live with the revenue resources.<br><br><b>Point <a href='https://www.livejournal.com/rsearch/?tags=%232'>#2</a>:</b> Phase II NPDES permitting is required by state and federal law requires action by the city<br><br><b>Answer:</b> This is an argument that affects our lives by many of the agencies of the federal government. NPDES is an unfunded mandate of the EPA. It's purpose is to help local governments clean up water pollution. The excuse in using the EPA's NPDES II standards here to raise our<br>fee/taxes violates the "Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995" which means unless the federal government pays they can't really mandate local governments to pay to compile. EPA is not telling us to raise fee/taxes or start a new city department, Phase II NPDES requirements are as<br>follows.<br><br>1. Reduce the discharge of Pollutants to the "maximum extent practicable"<br>2. Protect water Quality<br>3. Satisfy the appropriate water quality requirements of the Clean Water Act.<br><br>I have researched this and have hundred of documents from my friends in Pocatello that repelled this in their city. There is no requirement or mandate for a city to raise fees/taxes and start a new department in the city. In fact West Jordan has done many of the requirements to meet<br>these EPA recommendations. We have built a retention pond on 7800 south and Jordan River as retention of any pollutants that reach the river. The City regularly cleans catch basin in the system that trap pollutants before the pollutants ever reach the river and the city spends $607,367 in the budget on compliance with NPDES II. The State as you all have seen educates the public "don't pollute we all live downstream" awareness campaign. We already comply with this Phase II NPDES requirements. There are many more thing we can do and we should to keep<br>the water clean. But to do these requirements will not require a tax/fee increase and creation of a new city department.<br><br><b>Point <a href='https://www.livejournal.com/rsearch/?tags=%233'>#3</a>:</b> Failure to comply with the permitting requirements could result in costly penalties<br><br><b>Answer:</b> I see no evidence that we don't compile and see no pressure from the EPA on West Jordan City or the State of Utah. This is a scare tactic that Lyle obviously believes. In fact on page 4 of the fact sheet on NPDES II the only penalty is a civil lawsuit of non compliance. This is not a issue since we are compiling and working with the state to keep water clean. I believe we should follow the recommendations of the EPA and clean our water and prevent pollution but not create a forever fee/tax to satisfy spending of a new city department.<br><br><b>Point <a href='https://www.livejournal.com/rsearch/?tags=%234'>#4</a>:</b> Capital improvement project needed to serve the needs of our population at build out is $48,764,000, $30,776,000 of this amount is for new development and will be funded primarily by impact fees, and $17,776,000 is for existing development and musts be funded through<br>issuance of debt.<br><br><b>Answer:</b> Residents need to vote in new council members that will prioritize the spending of the city and study the budget and make sure that the storm drain expenditures are utilized in a efficient way. Short falls should not be answered with we need to raise your fees/taxes. A<br>responsible city council if faced with infrastructure short falls and growth will need to make tough decision to slow down the growth until the revenues justify the expenditures.<br><br>City Council should eliminate the impact fee waivers by ordinance and as we require all developments to pay their share of the storm drain infrastructure, I believe if we will have sufficient revenues to build our storm drain infrastructure and keep water clean without going into<br>debt.<br><br>When elected the team Haaga/Shaeffer/Sheen will be responsible and will find solutions to our growth other than raising taxes/fees. We will be educated on the budget and understand the debt and keep to the minimum any debt that is not mandatory. If the debt is left unchecked it will be<br>many years before we can pay for what we have barrowed. I believe what Thomas Fuller said: "Debt is the worst poverty" it is imperative we control how much debt we have for the benefit of the future of West Jordan City.</li>";}i:1;a:7:{s:2:"id";s:42:"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:deesings:6623";s:4:"link";s:42:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/6623.html";s:9:"link_self";s:55:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=6623";s:5:"title";s:31:"More on Voting Maching Troubles";s:9:"published";s:20:"2011-10-07T16:38:59Z";s:7:"updated";s:20:"2011-10-07T16:38:59Z";s:12:"atom_content";s:1709:"From Kathy Dopp:<br><br>Here is just ONE (1) day of news stories re. electronic voting problems in November 7 election (stories are continuing to unfold).  One county using Diebold voting machines in another state has still not announced their election results due to memory card failures.  Utah county's "glitch" disenfranchised voters and touchscreens caused long lines in Utah. Federal law only requires ONE (1) touchscreen voting machine in each polling place for the disabled to use - Utah could use optical scan paper ballots which are conveniently manually auditable, voter verified, less expensive, cause no long lines; and are not susceptible to power outages, denial of service attacks, and vote flipping attacks.  Is there any reason to trust insufficiently manually audited invisible e-ballots which are secretly counted by proprietary humanly-unreadable machine language software on voting machines whose components are made in China, Canada, and various U.S. states?<br>It took over 24 hours for Cook Co. Illinois to count their votes. That's with their brand-new Smartmatic clone Sequoia voting machines. County Clerk David Orr conceded that the hardware and software being used should be re-examined. / One of the striking problems that has come up around the country is the reason for long lines in many places. They just didn't buy enough machines for the turnout they had. Another boon for the vendors when all they really needed to do was buy one Precinct-Based Optical Scan (PBOS) for each precinct and there would have been no need to go out and buy more DRE machines. And the cause of the long lines in Denver; poorly written, poorly tested voter registration software from Sequoia.<br>";}i:2;a:7:{s:2:"id";s:42:"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:deesings:6331";s:4:"link";s:42:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/6331.html";s:9:"link_self";s:55:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=6331";s:5:"title";s:35:"Manual Audit of Summit County Today";s:9:"published";s:20:"2011-10-07T16:37:54Z";s:7:"updated";s:20:"2011-10-07T16:37:54Z";s:12:"atom_content";s:808:"<i>Kathy Dopp, Desert Greens candidate for Summit County Clerk sent this today:</i><br><br>In Summit County, the manual audit is being held today (Monday) at 10 a.m. at the County Building.<br><br>I assume that the manual audits are also being held today in other counties, but please call your own county clerk to find out for sure.<br><br>In Summit County, the final canvass is being held on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the County Courthouse.<br><br>It would be great to go observe the manual audit and final vote canvass for your county.  I've been told that the public may observe the manual audit, even though the written procedures do not require it - except to say a counting poll worker or watcher may observe - which I think means that anyone appointed by a political party or a candidate may observe.";}i:3;a:7:{s:2:"id";s:42:"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:deesings:5932";s:4:"link";s:42:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/5932.html";s:9:"link_self";s:55:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=5932";s:5:"title";s:36:"Rumsfeld to be accused of War Crimes";s:9:"published";s:20:"2011-10-07T16:36:49Z";s:7:"updated";s:20:"2011-10-07T16:36:49Z";s:12:"atom_content";s:927:"Donald Rumsfeld is expected to be accused of war crimes in Germany this week.<br><br><i>The Center for Constitutional Rights will file the suit on behalf of a group of Iraqi detainees as well as the so-called 20th hijacker, who is currently being held at Guantanamo Bay.<br><br>"The former secretary actually authorized a series of interrogation techniques," said Michael Ratner, President of CCR. "They included the use of dogs, stripping, hooding, stressed positions, chaining to the floor, sexual humiliation and those types of activities."<br><br>Those techniques, he says, amount to torture and violate the Geneva Conventions. Ratner will be traveling to Berlin next week and plans to file the suit on Tuesday.<br><br>The suit is being brought in Germany because a "universal jurisdiction" law there allows German courts to claim jurisdiction over war crimes even if they were committed outside that country's borders.</i>";}i:4;a:7:{s:2:"id";s:42:"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:deesings:5784";s:4:"link";s:42:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/5784.html";s:9:"link_self";s:55:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=5784";s:5:"title";s:20:"Buy Local First Week";s:9:"published";s:20:"2011-10-07T16:26:55Z";s:7:"updated";s:20:"2011-10-07T16:26:55Z";s:12:"atom_content";s:6854:"<div align="center"><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">&nbsp;</font><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><b>Second Annual “Buy Local First Week” is November 11<sup>th-</sup>18<sup>th</sup></b></font></span></div>    <p align="center"><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><b><i>Nationally recognized author to provide perspective on what communities can do to support locally owned, independent businesses</i></b></font></span><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><i></i></font></span></p>    <p><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Salt Lake City – Local First Utah celebrates its second annual “Buy Local First Week” (BLFW) November 11<sup>th</sup> through the 18<sup>th</sup>.<span>&nbsp; </span>The purpose of Buy Local First Week is to remind consumers and government officials of the importance of locally owned, independent businesses. The celebration will extend throughout the state with many Local First member businesses offering customer appreciation discounts all week long. Nearly 700 local, independent Utah businesses can be found in our online directory at www.localfirst.org.</font></span></p>    <p><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">This year’s BLFW centers on the importance of government actions and policies that support local businesses and don’t put them at a disadvantage in relation to large national chains.<span>&nbsp; </span>As the central event of BLFW, <b><i>Stacy Mitchell</i></b></font></span><span> <font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">will lead a governmental roundtable for planners, elected officials, Planning Commission members, and Economic Development officials cosponsored by the Utah League of Cities and Towns on November 14<sup>th</sup> (See details below). Mitchell, the author of a new book, <b><i>The Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America’s Independent Businesses,</i></b></font></span><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> will<b><i> </i></b></font></span><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">discuss the ways our communities are in danger of becoming “Anywhere, USA,” and the things city planners and citizens can do to nurture and rebuild the unique place we call home. </font></span></p>    <p><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">The same evening Local First Utah and The King’s English Bookshop are sponsoring an hour long presentation by Stacy Mitchell for the public followed by a question and answer period (again, see details below).</font></span></p>    <p><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">“Stacy Mitchell knows more about the issues involving community and commercial development than anyone on the planet!” said Betsy Burton, Local First Board Chair and proprietor of The King’s English.<span>&nbsp; </span>“All of us care about community</font></span><span><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">¾</font></span></span><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">which is why none of us can afford to miss this event.”</font></span></p>    <p><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">Local First Utah, a 501(c)3 non-profit<span> is working to strengthen communities and local economies through public education and the promotion of locally owned independent businesses throughout Utah.</span> </font></span></p>    <p><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">“Buy Local First Week is a way of focusing our attention on an extremely important part of our community and its economy</font></span><span><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">¾</font></span></span><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> locally owned independent businesses,” said newly re-elected Salt Lake County Councilman, Jim Bradley. “If we <b><i>do</i></b></font></span><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><b> </b></font></span><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">buy locally, our community will remain healthy, diverse and vibrant.”</font></span></p><div align="center"><img src="https://imgprx.livejournal.net/f89b35469a1345cb6295e2724021ae46332592ae/83lCDDVL0af0h5SybxmrYJaML6tQI-1Dvf7KhTcw5s0tq2uIDdOE7kGEeQpagDdnFgYvXeOj3mv0j9OBrJpPV2naEDvRGwCt9U2qhQXVz7Y" alt="$Account.OrganizationName" border="0" height="65" vspace="2" width="65"></div><p align="center"><span><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><b>Buy Local First Week Events</b></font></span></p>  <ul><font size="2" color="#000000" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"> <li><span><b>Caputo’s Winter Market</b></span><span>- Make a new tradition this holiday      season...buy local on<i> </i></span><span>Saturday,      Nov 11th, and Saturday, Nov 18<sup>th</sup>, 11 AM-1 PM at 314 W 300 S      (the Local First Office). This farmer’s market will continue every      Saturday through the off-season. Vendors include: Morgan Valley Lamb<span>&nbsp; </span>and G Bar Ranch selling lamb and      beef products, Fower’s Fruit selling a variety of apples and pears,      holiday pie orders will be available from Carlucci’s, Caputo’s will have      local goods in stock, including Crumb Bros. bread, Colosimo Sausage, and      more. Turkey, vegetable, and egg vendors will be announced soon. This      event is jointly sponsored by The Downtown Alliance, Tony Caputo’s, and      Local First Utah.</span></li>  <li><span><b>Stacy Mitchell Planners’ Roundtable</b></span><span> Nov 14<sup>th</sup> 3:30 PM, 4<sup>th</sup>       floor of Main Library. The press is welcome to attend this invitational      event cosponsored by the Utah League of Cities and Towns and Local First      Utah. A press conference will precede the event at 3 PM (details coming      soon.)</span></li>  <li><span><b>Stacy Mitchell</b></span><span> <b>Public Presentation</b></span><span>: Nov 14<sup>th</sup> at 7 PM at Westminster College’s      Gore Business Auditorium. This is the<span>&nbsp; </span>main event for the public during BLFW, which is      sponsored by Local First Utah and the King’s English.</span></font></ul>";}i:5;a:7:{s:2:"id";s:42:"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:deesings:5407";s:4:"link";s:42:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/5407.html";s:9:"link_self";s:55:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=5407";s:5:"title";s:30:"Impeachment is "off the table"";s:9:"published";s:20:"2011-10-07T16:25:18Z";s:7:"updated";s:20:"2011-10-07T16:25:18Z";s:12:"atom_content";s:796:"<h1><font size="1">The day after the elections, Nancy Pelosi is telling the press:</font></h1><h1><font size="3"> Pelosi: Bush Impeachment `Off the Table’</font></h1><i>House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi promised Wednesday that when her party takes over, the new majority will not attempt to remove President Bush from office, despite earlier pledges to the contrary from others in the caucus.<br><br>“I have said it before and I will say it again: Impeachment is off the table,” Pelosi, D-Calif., said during a news conference.</i><br><br>I think she has been assimilated.<br><br>Other articles:<br><font>Guest Editorial: Nancy Pelosi Is Not My Hero</font><br><font size="1">Bush, Pelosi pledge cooperation</font><br><font size="1">Pelosi falls victim to Bush’s 'Domestic Abuse'</font>";}i:6;a:7:{s:2:"id";s:42:"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:deesings:5356";s:4:"link";s:42:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/5356.html";s:9:"link_self";s:55:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=5356";s:5:"title";s:43:"Socially Conscious Gift Giving - in general";s:9:"published";s:20:"2011-10-07T16:24:07Z";s:7:"updated";s:20:"2011-10-07T16:24:07Z";s:12:"atom_content";s:5304:"<b>Socially Conscious Gift-Giving</b><br><br><b>Weddings</b><br><br>Planning to get married and want to add a creative, socially conscious element to the festivities? Trying to find a meaningful gift for a special person or couple? Making donations to worthy charities is the answer.<br>* JustGive's Charity Wedding Registry allows soon-to-be-married couples to create a list of non-profits that they would like to help. Wedding guests can then choose to go online and make a donation to one of the organizations in lieu of a traditional gift. www.justgive.org<br>* The I Do Foundation charitable gift and donation registries help couples donate to charity in lieu of wedding favors. In addition, when honeymoon trips are booked through its site, 5 percent of the package cost is donated to the couple's chosen charity.<br>www.idofoundation.org<br>* Married for Good offers smart suggestions for socially conscious weddings. www.marriedforgood.com<br>* Couples can donate favor money directly to charity in the name of each guest and indicate the donation on guest cards placed on the tables.<br>* Charities would all appreciate sharing in the bounty of cash given to couples as presents as well as during the money dances that are part of some weddings. <br><br><b>Helping people:</b><br><br>* Donate leftover food from receptions to a food bank.<br>* Donate leftover flowers to hospitals, nursing homes.<br>* Donate used bridesmaid dresses to a charity like Glass Slipper Project, which provides evening wear for disadvantaged high school girls to wear to their proms. www.glassslipperproject.org <br><br><b>Gifts for Children:</b><br><br>*Simple book about the child, written and illustrated by you!<br>*The makings for hand puppets -- brown lunch bags, googly eyes, scissors, markers etc.<br><br><b>Homemade Gifts:</b><br><br>*Record interviews of parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles on audio or video tape; you can ask them to discuss their memories of the person you plan to give the tape to, or your family's history, especially funny or meaningful anecdotes.<br>*Make your own cards and send them to relatives and good friends.<br>*Frame one of your best photographs. Buy a frame from a local business or artisan. Or make one yourself out of stiff paper or cardboard, decorated with colored paper, old wrapping paper, beads and/or natural products (like leaves, small pinecones, or seeds).<br>*Make your own calendar using cut-out pictures, photos, and/or drawings.<br>*Assemble a collection of favorite recipes. Gifts of Time:<br>*Special activities with a significant other--a candlelit dinner, massage, or outdoor activity.<br>*A monthly lunch date with an elderly relative or friend.<br>*A handwritten letter or card sent to a long-distance friend or relative once a month for a year.For more iteas on how to give the gift of time, read Good Gifting: Spend Time Instead of Money.<br><br><b>Family Gifts:</b><br><br>*A jigsaw puzzle for the whole family.<br>*Tickets to a favorite cultural or sporting event<br><br><b>Gifts for the Environment:</b><br><br>*Assemble a gift basket with compact fluorescent lightbulbs, forms for getting rid of junk mail, delicious recipes and a note about how the recipients can log on to www.turnthetide.org and see exactly how much of a positive impact they're having on the environment.<br>*Buy a potted Christmas tree and replant after the holidays.<br>(You can also have a tree planted elsewhere in someone's honor through American Forests.)<br>*Instead of new wrapping paper, reuse old paper the Sunday comics section, old maps, decorated brown grocery bags, or a colorful piece of material.Donations in the name of a Loved One:<br>*Alternative Gifts International offers a wide array of global gifts that can be given in the name of your friend or relative. Their partner organizations include 33 projects such as Fuel Efficient Stoves in El Salvador, Conquering Tuberculosis in North Korea, Literacy Training in Senegal, Land Mine Awareness in Vietnam or Organic Gardening in Belize. Contact Alternative Gifts at 1-800-842-2243, P.O Box 2267, Lucerne Valley, CA 92356. Free catalog from altgifts@sisp.net or www.altgifts.org.<br>*Give a donation to a local cause such as a soup kitchen, a shelter for battered women, a local environment group, etc. Call local churches, synagogues, and charitable organizations for ideas.<br>18: Give a friend a membership to a non-profit organization. JustGive.org allows you to donate online to thousands of charities. Give a gift membership to the Center of a New American Dream.<br><br><b>Regifting without Guilt</b><br><br>Have some nice item lying around that you bought on impulse but regretted purchasing the minute after it was too late to return it?  Or maybe something you received as a gift yourself?  Why not regift?  Your white elephant is someone else’s treasure.  If done in the right spirit, you can pass those items onto someone who will enjoy them more and save yourself the trouble of hitting the malls.  It's even more fun if you agree to regift as a group, encouraging everyone to repackage some nice but unloved item.  Just be mindful of what potential giftees might really want, not just what you really want to get rid of! (Oh… gosh, thanks, Uncle George for the um… Betamax machine.)";}i:7;a:7:{s:2:"id";s:42:"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:deesings:2678";s:4:"link";s:42:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/2678.html";s:9:"link_self";s:55:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=2678";s:5:"title";s:17:"More Party Biases";s:9:"published";s:20:"2011-10-07T15:27:38Z";s:7:"updated";s:20:"2011-10-07T15:27:38Z";s:12:"atom_content";s:669:"In my reading this morning I saw a prevailing theme that stood out in the media - nationall and locally. <br><br>I kept reading opening sentences in articles that referred to  "THE" two parties - not by name, mind you, but as "THE" two parties.<br><br>When I voted the other day, I as expecting candidates to be listed alphabetically by name.  they weren't.  "THE" two parties were listed first in each race and then the "other" parties alphabetically by party name.  Not very equitable in my opinion.<br><br>The two-party system has got to change.  It is clearly corporate in nature and not equitable at all, as evidenced by how the media protrays politics in the U.S.";}i:8;a:7:{s:2:"id";s:42:"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:deesings:2348";s:4:"link";s:42:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/2348.html";s:9:"link_self";s:55:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=2348";s:5:"title";s:13:"Common Circle";s:9:"published";s:20:"2011-10-07T15:26:34Z";s:7:"updated";s:20:"2011-10-07T15:26:34Z";s:12:"atom_content";s:716:"I recently joined Common Circle, which has as its tag line, "Redefine civilization, one action at a time".  <br><br><i>We envision a world based on the  10 key green movement values: grassroots democracy, social justice, equal opportunity, ecological wisdom, non-violence, decentralization, community-based economics, economic justice, feminism and gender equity, respect for diversity, personal and global responsibility,  future focus and sustainability. <br><br>Powered by a mix of solar/wind energy and pure love, Common Circle exists to help support the movement. Another world is possible. We must bring it about. It is up to us, and only up to us. Let us together redefine the world, one action at a time.</i>";}i:9;a:7:{s:2:"id";s:42:"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:deesings:2291";s:4:"link";s:42:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/2291.html";s:9:"link_self";s:55:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=2291";s:5:"title";s:86:"COINCIDENCE? Liddle Daily Kos &amp; Exit Poll Secrecy Announced by NY Post on SAME DAY";s:9:"published";s:20:"2011-10-07T15:23:36Z";s:7:"updated";s:20:"2011-10-07T15:30:16Z";s:12:"atom_content";s:1165:"<i>This came across my desk today from Kathy Dopp of Utah Counts Votes:</i><br /><br />Background: Elizabeth Liddle&#39;s work was widely quoted by U.S. press to support dismissing the evidence of outcome-altering vote miscount in the US 2004 presidential election.<br /><br />Coincidence that these two were posted on the same day?<br /><br />&quot;How to read exit polls: a primer&quot; by Elizabeth Liddle<br />Sat Nov 04, 2006 at 11:48:26 AM PST<br /><br />Is there ANY doubt who Elizabeth Liddle is employed by?<br /><br />Is anyone else curious why Liddle has revived, in her Daily Kos article, a previously disproven hypothesis that Liddle formerly disavowed vehemently, in numerous harranging emails to myself and my academic colleagues?<br />If Americans don&#39;t think that our upcoming Tuesday election is going to be targeted for vote fraud, then we must be hopelessly naive, given that our current U.S. election system is not independently audited; hides the evidence of vote miscount in aggregated election results data, and uses vote casting and counting equipment that is ideal for undetectable tampering!<br /><br />What do U.S. experts say?<br />";}i:10;a:7:{s:2:"id";s:42:"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:deesings:1889";s:4:"link";s:42:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/1889.html";s:9:"link_self";s:55:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=1889";s:5:"title";s:41:"Utah's KSL Political Advertising Policies";s:9:"published";s:20:"2011-10-07T15:21:06Z";s:7:"updated";s:20:"2011-10-07T15:21:06Z";s:12:"atom_content";s:1609:"Apparently something is "amuck" with Utah's KSL Radio political advertising policies.  Here are some conversations I've heard recently:<br><br><li><b>From an office holder:</b><i>There is an apparent discrepancy in the way KSL Radio was accepting ads from political candidates. Candidates for office in Salt Lake County were told that only ads for federal candidates would be sold, but then the campaign of Democratic sheriff's candidate Jim Winder got wind that the station agreed to sell ads to his Republican opponent, Sheriff Aaron Kennard. KSL quickly agreed to sell ads to Winder. Well, it has happened again. When other local candidates heard Kennard and Winder had spots, they asked if they, too, could buy time. But they were told the situation with the sheriff's candidates was a fluke: No other local ads. Then, last week, members of the campaign of Democratic District Attorney candidate Sim Gill heard an ad on KSL Radio for his Republican opponent, Lohra Miller. When they complained, KSL said it was a mistake they were not notified about the policy change, and they were allowed to buy time.</i><br><br></li><li><b>From a candidate:</b><i>I saw the KSL "oddity" firsthand. My campaign was told that KSL would not take any ads for County Council candidates -- only D.A., Sheriff, and Federal races. So . . . I committed my remaining funds to other media. When it was too late to come up with any more $$ I heard the first KSL ad for my opponent. When I pressed the issue, they told me they could still "fit me in" with a few spots.But . . .as I said . . . my funds were committed elsewhere.</i>";}i:11;a:7:{s:2:"id";s:42:"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:deesings:1633";s:4:"link";s:42:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/1633.html";s:9:"link_self";s:55:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=1633";s:5:"title";s:23:"Opinions on Proposal #3";s:9:"published";s:20:"2011-10-07T15:17:56Z";s:7:"updated";s:20:"2011-10-07T15:17:56Z";s:12:"atom_content";s:4705:"I participate in a discussion forum for residents of West Jordan.  Participants represent a variety of political viewpoints.  There has beena lot of discussion on the Ballot Proposals.  Here are some of the opinions expressed (other than mine):<br><br><li><i>on <a href='https://www.livejournal.com/rsearch/?tags=%233'>#3</a>--I'm still deciding but have a concern about holding back because the moneys are not specifically identified. <br><br>Perhaps we need to get the money and in the meantime go to work on the representatives to put the pressure needed to get the job done right. The Westside Plan for WJ development is nearly finalized -- PZC sent a positive recommendation to CC on Wednesday; I think CC works on it on the 14th. Over the next few years 50,000 to 60,000 more people will be living west of 5600 West. They can't all get through WJ on 78th and 90th - the streets to connect to major thoroughfares. Those of us that are here have trouble now. We are going to need Mtn View Corridor much sooner than later. The TRAX line west through WJ would certainly help the situation as it goes to the fast-growing population west and south of 40th West. If the moneys went elsewhere last time -- perhaps they were more needed elsewhere then.</i><br><br></li><li><i>Well, I do have some strong feelings on the props.. <br><br>Prop 1 I am going to vote no because according to the mailer I received yesterday they are going<br>to do it any way the vote goes so why have it on the ballot. Prop 2 now that West Jordan has put funds aside for green space the county wants us to help the rest of the county pay for their green space. Prop 3 until I can see exactly where the money is going my vote will be NO. So you might say I am not a yes man like the majority of the candidates running for elected office.</i><br><br></li><li>I will not be voting for Proposition <a href='https://www.livejournal.com/rsearch/?tags=%233'>#3</a>. Not only do we not know where the money is going to go, but where did the money go from the previous tax increase?<br><br>We had the same promises last time and they didn't happen. Why is this proposition any different? Until there is better accountability to the public, I will not be voting for this proposition. My personal opinion, the roads are more important than Trax and a Commuter Rail. I also believe the Commuter Rail should be completed before any additional Trax lines. I believe that it will have the<br>greatest impact on our commuting problems and should pay for itself. The key is to make it just as timely if not faster than using private transportation. However, I still feel that the Mountain View Corridor needs to be completed first and maybe even plans for a second West Side Route. Last weekend I was out west and realized I had forgotten how spacious the west is.&lt;/i&gt;<br><br></li><li><i>With regards to the props:  I find it interesting that a panel discussion is being held on the 9th (two days after the election) to discuss the Mountain View Corridor - Tolling options and yet we are being told the sales tax increase is to help build the roads. <br><br>I'm voting NO on Prop 3 and urge everyone else to do the same. I'm not so concrete on Prop 1 and 2 seeing as Prop 1 is not supposed to have any financial impact on my property taxes. Prop 2 seemed miniscule, but a raise is a raise and I'll vote NO at this time until I can see concrete plans on how they plan to use the money.<br><br>It has been mentioned before that UTA has not fulfilled their promises made the last time we raised the sales tax. But it looks as though this raise is not just for UTA, and it doesn't look like it's mandated to help just the SL County either. I don't want a raise in SL County Sales Tax to be used<br>"along the Wasatch Front." If they are to be charged, those funds need to go to benefit SALT LAKE COUNTY transportation, and that includes the Mountain View Corridor (if it is to be built) other things besides UTA's pet projects that may or may not help West Jordan. They've already cut services to our city and may do more to justify their TRAX initiatives.</i><br><br></li><li><i>I am voting the same way ; for the same reason's as mentioned people on this network. <br>Yes on Proposition <a href='https://www.livejournal.com/rsearch/?tags=%231'>#1</a>, No on Proposition <a href='https://www.livejournal.com/rsearch/?tags=%232'>#2</a> and No on Proposition <a href='https://www.livejournal.com/rsearch/?tags=%233'>#3</a>.</i><br><br></li><li><i>I will support Prop. 1. I will also support Prop. 2. I will most begrudgingly vote no to Prop. 3 due to the legislature's lack of accountability in stating how this money will be spent and where.</i>";}i:12;a:7:{s:2:"id";s:42:"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:deesings:1453";s:4:"link";s:42:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/1453.html";s:9:"link_self";s:55:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=1453";s:5:"title";s:42:"I voted today......and used a paper ballot";s:9:"published";s:20:"2011-10-07T15:14:57Z";s:7:"updated";s:20:"2011-10-07T15:14:57Z";s:12:"atom_content";s:833:"My voting experience today was pretty uneventful.  Probably because I was anticipating a confrontation.<br><br>I stood in line for about 1/2 hour and when I finally was up to the registration table I asked for a paper ballot and was cheerfully accommodated.  The poll worker **did** ask my why, stating that he had to document that (I should have taken issue with that, but I didn't).  I simply stated that I was uncomfortable with the electronic voting machines.  The poll worker got me my ballot, I voted, submitted it in a folder labeled "secrecy envelope" (who came up with <b>that</b> name?) and left.<br><br>While I was voting on my paper ballot, people appeared to be having problems with the machines they were using (the "access card" wouldn't work right, etc.). It feels good to have voted and not used the Diebold machines";}i:13;a:8:{s:2:"id";s:41:"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:deesings:426";s:4:"link";s:41:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/426.html";s:9:"link_self";s:54:"https://deesings.livejournal.com/data/atom/?itemid=426";s:5:"title";s:27:"My dad always advised me...";s:9:"published";s:20:"2011-09-27T20:23:39Z";s:7:"updated";s:20:"2011-10-07T15:19:57Z";s:2:"lj";a:1:{s:5:"music";s:5:"Radio";}s:12:"atom_content";s:2874:"My dad always advised me to vote "no" on issues and candidates in elections where uncertainty (on <a href="http://asa5505.com" rel="nofollow">overview asa5505</a>) prevailed. I've taken that advice before and am using it again this year.<br><br>This year in Salt Lake County residents will have the opportunity to vote for Proposition 3, which proposes to fund new TRAX lines, roads, and commuter rail with a one-quarter of 1% sales tax increase.<br><br>I have thought long and hard about this. In a well-designed website by the Salt Lake Chamber, with well-designed lawn signs being seen all around, ardent proponents of Proposition <a href='https://www.livejournal.com/rsearch/?tags=%233'>#3</a> claim that:<br><i> The state of Utah is facing a very real transportation crisis. Utah’s population is increasing at double the national average (it’s like adding a city the size of Draper and Riverton to the state every year), and traffic is growing twice as fast. Traffic congestion on our roads and highways will triple over the next 25 years. By voting for Proposition 3, Utahns will fund the building of more TRAX lines, roadways (including the new Mountain View Corridor), and commuter rail. The exact order and priority of the projects will be decided by local government officials. With Proposition 3’s increased funding, many road and rail projects planned for completion 30 years from now can be finished by 2015.</i><br><br>The website also cleverly and urgently informs readers why it is important to vote on this NOW - without much detail.<br><br>There is no question what is needed. The SL Chamber has carefully outlined the facts on its website.<br><br>But here is my issue: Proposition <a href='https://www.livejournal.com/rsearch/?tags=%233'>#3</a> is too vague. I don't like voting on issues that are not carefully thought out and do not outline specifically how my tax dollars will be used. SEveral years ago I voted FOR a TRAX line to be built in West Jordan. Other communities have done the same. Bus routes have been cut in my neighborhood. Where are we in the processes of those projects? Before I vote on an initiative, I want to see the precise <a href="http://asa5505.com" rel="nofollow">asa 5505</a> budget proposal with an itemized list of how funds will be used, along with a timeline.<br><br>I am a very vocal and strong advocate of reducing traffic and diverting funds to more bus routes and better mass transportation overall. I would vote for Proposition <a href='https://www.livejournal.com/rsearch/?tags=%233'>#3</a> if as much time and money went into a better outlined proposal as is being spent on ads for its current vague proposal. As it is, while I have not 100% made my decision, I am at this point inclined to vote "no" on Propostion <a href='https://www.livejournal.com/rsearch/?tags=%233'>#3</a> in its current proposed state";}}s:7:"channel";a:9:{s:2:"id";s:37:"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:deesings";s:5:"title";s:8:"deesings";s:8:"subtitle";s:8:"deesings";s:6:"author";s:8:"
    
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