O:9:"MagpieRSS":23:{s:6:"parser";i:0;s:12:"current_item";a:0:{}s:5:"items";a:25:{i:0;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-7044143100858073004";s:9:"published";s:29:"2012-12-08T19:11:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-12-08T19:11:50.138-07:00";s:5:"title";s:39:"Putting the X back in Christmas - redux";s:12:"atom_content";s:3660:"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bPnbKlmsiaI/STp5pZFl68I/AAAAAAAABXg/CAeOvl_3vpw/s1600/labarum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bPnbKlmsiaI/STp5pZFl68I/AAAAAAAABXg/CAeOvl_3vpw/s1600/labarum.jpg" /></a></div><i>Dusting off and updating an old post.&nbsp;&nbsp;</i><br /><br />To many Christian complainers these days, "holiday" is a four-letter word.  They want "Christ" to be in everything related to the month of December.  They want all merchants to stop using secular or generic terms in advertising and to play only music that mentions Christ somewhere in the lyrics.<br /><br />The more they protest, the sillier they become.  People celebrate Christmas all kinds of ways and not all of it is geared to the spiritual--and I'm talking about good practicing Christians here.  For example, why don't they object to Santa Claus?  Talk about taking the Christ out of Christmas!<br /><br />I'm always fascinated at the ones who abhor the use of X in Xmas, thinking it's a slur.  For over a 1000 years, X has been used to mean Christ in religious words and symbol.  <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas">Wikipedia</a>:<br /><blockquote>The word "Christ" and its compounds, including "Christmas", have been abbreviated in English for at least the past 1,000 years, long before the modern "Xmas" was commonly used. "Christ" was often written as "XP" or "Xt"; there are references in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as far back as AD 1021. This X and P arose as the <span class="mw-redirect">uppercase</span> forms of the Greek letters χ and ρ), used in ancient abbreviations for Χριστος (Greek for "Christ"), and are still widely seen in many <span class="mw-redirect">Eastern Orthodox</span> <span class="mw-redirect">icons</span> depicting <span class="mw-redirect">Jesus Christ</span>. The labarum, an amalgamation of the two Greek letters rendered as ☧, is a symbol often used to represent Christ in Catholic, <span class="mw-redirect">Protestant</span>, and Orthodox Christian Churches.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"></sup> Nevertheless, some believe that the term is part of an effort to "take Christ out of Christmas" or to literally "cross out Christ";<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2"></sup> it is seen as evidence of the <span class="mw-redirect">secularization of Christmas</span>, as a symptom of the commercialization of the holiday.</blockquote>And that last sentence, there's the dichotomy.  On the one hand, Christians bemoan the commercialization of Christmas saying businesses make it all about money and profit and forgetting the spiritual nature of the season.  But then those same complainers literally promote more commercialization by insisting that businesses use the word "Christ" in every reference to anything remotely related to the holiday.  Make up your minds, guys.  The poor merchants are just engaging in good old American capitalism and trying to make a buck.  They'll do whatever it takes to get you to spend your money, just please try to be consistent in what you ask for.<br /><br />For decades we have referred to the time from Thanksgiving to New Year's as "the holidays".  Indeed, quite a number of celebratory days fall into that time.  Nobody ever meant anything sinister by wishing you a happy holiday. Those who say otherwise need to chill.  Feel free to say Merry Christmas and decorate your Christmas tree.  But if you're nose is out of joint over hearing Happy Holidays, you need help, brother!<br /><br />Happy Xmas!";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/7044143100858073004/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=7044143100858073004";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/7044143100858073004";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/7044143100858073004";s:4:"link";s:75:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2012/12/putting-x-back-in-christmas-redux.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"1";}}i:1;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-5026080859755498633";s:9:"published";s:29:"2012-11-10T15:29:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-11-11T05:32:44.211-07:00";s:5:"title";s:20:"Turdblossom's Demise";s:12:"atom_content";s:4115:"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bLzkXZAzvss/UJ7UGAFDMjI/AAAAAAAAD_k/Vcq5N__h2XI/s1600/karl-rove-photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bLzkXZAzvss/UJ7UGAFDMjI/AAAAAAAAD_k/Vcq5N__h2XI/s1600/karl-rove-photo.jpg" /></a></div>An <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/04/karl-rove-crossroads-2012-election_n_2072744.html" target="_blank">article </a>just a few days before the election said:&nbsp; <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="title-news"><u><b>Karl Rove-Backed Groups Are Largest Single Outside Force In 2012 Election&nbsp;</b></u></div><div class="title-news">The independent group American Crossroads, a super PAC, and  Crossroads GPS, a social welfare non-profit, set a goal to raise and spend $300 million  on the 2012 election. When all is said and done on Nov. 6, they will,  in all likelihood, have reached or come incredibly close to that once  unbelievable goal.&nbsp; The two groups, founded by Republican political operative Karl Rove  and others in 2010, have already spent $271 million, according to  reports filed with the Federal Election Commission and press releases.</div></blockquote>&nbsp;Formidable, right?&nbsp; So what went wrong?&nbsp; Why was the "Architect" of GW Bush's presidency unable to deliver a Romney victory to the billionaires who donated to his PAC?&nbsp; <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/09/karl-roves-election-loss-justifications-video_n_2103880.html?utm_hp_ref=politics" target="_blank">Watch this video </a>as a fast-talking Rove gives 19 reasons, and blames the election loss on everyone and everything but himself.<br /><br />There are many reasons Romney didn't win the presidency, and Rove comes close to identifying a couple of them in the video.&nbsp; But it's all in hindsight.&nbsp; He didn't foresee those factors as a problem pre-election.&nbsp; And quite frankly, everyone bought his bs, including himself, because he had a track record for delivering a presidency.&nbsp; When it didn't happen, no-one was more in denial than the Turdblossom (GWB's pet name for Rove) himself.&nbsp; You had to love his <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/08/megyn-kelly-karl-rove-obama_n_2094796.html?utm_hp_ref=karl-rove" target="_blank">response to Megyn Kelley </a>on Fox News when she tells him Obama won.&nbsp; "Won what?!"&nbsp;<br /><br /><a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/83658.html" target="_blank">Karl's efforts were a bust</a>:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Of the 31 races in which the groups aired ads, the Republican won only  nine. And, since the groups spent $137 million on the presidential race,  less than 5.7 percent of their total spending went toward helping  winning candidates, according to a POLITICO analysis. </blockquote><br />Karl will continue to struggle, although there will be some <b>pretense </b>that he remains in good favor with his billionaire donors, and that his sterling reputation for buying . . . er, winning elections is intact.&nbsp; But the truth is, Karl is speeding down a slippery slope of obsolescence and irrelevance.&nbsp; I predict he'll pass Sarah Palin in both of their races to the bottom.<br /><br />You see the problem with Karl is that he doesn't really BELIEVE in anything.&nbsp; For him, elections are all about the game:&nbsp; winning and losing.&nbsp; His lack of ideology insulates him from the emotional side of a campaign and allows him to devote all his oversized brain power to scheming and trickery and winning at any cost.&nbsp; Turns out Rove has spent all his tricks.&nbsp; He was a one-trick pony after all, and he spent that trick on Bush.&nbsp; He has no new ideas, nothing to offer, and nothing to show for the big, big bucks that he garnered.&nbsp; The people who donated millions to his PACs are successful business people who expect and get good returns on their investments.<br /><br />Rove failed to deliver.&nbsp; He won't get that chance again.<br /><br />";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/5026080859755498633/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=5026080859755498633";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/5026080859755498633";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/5026080859755498633";s:4:"link";s:61:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2012/11/turdblossoms-demise.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"2";}}i:2;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-2172135635187367573";s:9:"published";s:29:"2012-08-01T18:09:00.003-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-08-01T18:09:47.407-06:00";s:5:"title";s:17:"Under Maintenance";s:12:"atom_content";s:140:"I'm doing a little maintenance on the blog.&nbsp; Please forgive things that appear out of order.&nbsp; I'll try to have them fixed shortly.";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/2172135635187367573/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=2172135635187367573";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/2172135635187367573";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/2172135635187367573";s:4:"link";s:59:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2012/08/under-maintenance.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:3;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-6317735521980277912";s:9:"published";s:29:"2012-07-15T10:06:00.000-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-07-17T20:30:40.793-06:00";s:5:"title";s:46:"Mitt Romney- Outsourcing the 2002 Winter Games";s:12:"atom_content";s:1450:"UPDATE:&nbsp; Even worse, the <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/15/1110239/-A-Retroactive-Look-at-Romney-s-Olympics" target="_blank">torch bearer uniforms were made in Myanmar </a>(which the SLOC didn't even know was Burma).&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;--------------------------<br />I wondered at first why Romney didn't object at all to the fact that American athletes' uniforms were made in China.&nbsp; Until I heard someone suggest that the uniforms for the 2002 games were made in Canada.&nbsp; Really?&nbsp; That sent me in search of my official beret from 2002.&nbsp; And here's what I found.&nbsp; Romney apparently had no problem outsourcing in 2002.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W-MOl15Kebc/UALpiIPpteI/AAAAAAAAD0o/fi_D1A2cIdc/s1600/Beret+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W-MOl15Kebc/UALpiIPpteI/AAAAAAAAD0o/fi_D1A2cIdc/s400/Beret+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Df7RhrjC1Ss/UALpuHZWulI/AAAAAAAAD00/lSUIEgJ48Xc/s1600/Beret+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Df7RhrjC1Ss/UALpuHZWulI/AAAAAAAAD00/lSUIEgJ48Xc/s400/Beret+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/6317735521980277912/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=6317735521980277912";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/6317735521980277912";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/6317735521980277912";s:4:"link";s:77:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2012/07/mitt-romney-outsourcing-2002-winter.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:4;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-8276241405883055104";s:9:"published";s:29:"2012-03-17T08:34:00.000-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-03-17T08:34:52.223-06:00";s:5:"title";s:99:"Governor Herbert does the right thing - trusting parents to make the right decisions for their kids";s:12:"atom_content";s:1723:"THANK YOU, Governor Herbert, <a href="http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&amp;sid=19616293#.T2RyvX8l9FA.facebook" target="_blank">for doing the right thing </a>and vetoing HB363. I have already sent an email of thanks as well.<br /><br />This bill would allow for sex education but only if it taught abstinence only, no contraception information, and absolutely no mention of homosexuality.&nbsp; A real head-in-the-sand piece of legislation pushed by Utah's Eagle Forum. <br /><br />At last someone in Utah is willing to stand up against the pressure of the Eagle Forum and instead do what what majority want. Remember, parents already can opt their kids out of sex ed, but only 10% do; 90% still want their kids to have knowledge. Ruzicka says, "We had 64 legislators vote in favor of that bill.&nbsp; And one Republican who spends a couple days looking at it caves in to the pressure."<br /><br />I see it differently. We had 64 legislators scared to cross Ruzicka, and one courageous governor who LISTENED to tens of thousands of voters.<br /><br />Gayle Ruzicka, and by extension the Eagle Forum, have an inordinate amount of influence in the Utah legislature simply because of their organization and access.&nbsp; But they represent the extreme viewpoint and not the mainstream--even in Utah.&nbsp; And legislators are afraid of Gayle.&nbsp; She can make or break your election with her infamous calling tree.&nbsp; Don't cross her.<br /><br />Yes, I know.&nbsp; If we don't like Gayle's tactics, we should fight fire with fire and start our own organization.&nbsp; Someone should.&nbsp; But in the meantime, I sure wish legislators would be more inclined to consider ALL of their constituents and not just the noisiest ones.";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/8276241405883055104/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=8276241405883055104";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/8276241405883055104";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/8276241405883055104";s:4:"link";s:75:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2012/03/governor-herbert-does-right-thing.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"1";}}i:5;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-3981963172492149638";s:9:"published";s:29:"2012-03-10T15:28:00.001-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-03-11T13:39:34.083-06:00";s:5:"title";s:26:"Free Speech vs Paid Speech";s:12:"atom_content";s:4201:"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I_J6HI-56-8/T1vUf-xXLiI/AAAAAAAADjc/8NkuFU9WPAg/s1600/limbaugh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I_J6HI-56-8/T1vUf-xXLiI/AAAAAAAADjc/8NkuFU9WPAg/s200/limbaugh.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Since advertisers started <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/10/talk-radio-losing-advertisers_n_1336634.html" target="_blank">pulling their ads </a>from the Rush Limbaugh show in droves, some other talk celebrities are getting nervous.&nbsp; They are worried about ordinary people influencing advertisers to pull those ads--fearing the trend may spread.&nbsp; And an interesting and diverse group they are:<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/06/view-rush-limbaugh-controversy_n_1323441.html?ref=the-view" target="_blank">Whoopi Goldberg</a>:&nbsp; "If you don't like something that somebody is saying, you have the right  to protest. But to take away their livelihood, I think is not the right  way to go."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.inquisitr.com/202344/sarah-palin-defends-rush-limbaugh-over-slut-comments/" target="_blank">Sarah Palin</a>:&nbsp; “I think the definition of hypocrisy is for Rush Limbaugh to have been  called out, forced to apologize and retract what it is he said in  exercising his first amendment rights . . ."<br /><br /><a href="http://electzu.com/2012/03/bill-maher-defends-limbaugh%E2%80%99s-free-speech-rights-responds-to-%E2%80%98false-equivalency%E2%80%99-from-right/" target="_blank">Bill Maher</a>:&nbsp; “I don’t like it that people are made to disappear when they say  something, or people try to make them disappear when they say something  you don’t like. That’s America. Sometimes you’re made to feel  uncomfortable, okay?” </blockquote>I could go on.&nbsp; You've seen others yourself.<br /><br />Some have said the threatened boycott of advertisers' products if they don't pull their ads has put a chill on our right of free speech.&nbsp; FREE speech?&nbsp; See there's the thing.&nbsp; Rush Limbaugh's speech happens to be PAID speech.&nbsp; Advertisers pay handsomely to have spots aired on his program.&nbsp; In turn advertisers get to reach his audience and influence them to buy products.&nbsp; If the advertising is not effective, advertisers will not pay to advertise and Rush will not get paid either.&nbsp; That's a free market thing not a free speech thing.&nbsp; Two totally different things.&nbsp; <br /><br />So if advertisers fear that sponsoring Rush's program will cause them to lose business, it's nothing more than a business decision to pull those ads.&nbsp; As consumers, we vote with our pocketbooks and we have a powerful voice when we choose to use it.<br /><br />Rush Limbaugh is a commodity.&nbsp; He puts on a deliberately outrageous and provocative program that some like and some hate.&nbsp; As his popularity grew, his ability to charge more for advertising grew, too.&nbsp; But when he went too far and people said they'd had enough, his ability to get advertising changed.&nbsp; These are market forces we all understand in a capitalistic system.&nbsp; It didn't happen over night either.&nbsp; Rush has been rude and crude for a long, long time.&nbsp; But the Sandra Fluke three-day attack was the last straw and it broke him.<br /><br />No-one is stopping Rush from saying what he wants to say.&nbsp; He has all the rights we all have to FREE speech.&nbsp; But if he wants to get paid to speak, he may just have to finally learn some manners.<br /><br />I'm not predicting he will go away any time soon.&nbsp; In fact, I've no doubt he will find new advertisers who appeal to his very specific demographic.&nbsp; But we have sent a message to him and to all talk show personalities.&nbsp; You may think you are just exercising your free speech when you blather on without a thought for the consequences, but think again.&nbsp; You are working for the consuming American public, and as a group we are powerful and we will make our wishes known.";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/3981963172492149638/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=3981963172492149638";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/3981963172492149638";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/3981963172492149638";s:4:"link";s:68:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2012/03/free-speech-vs-paid-speech.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"2";}}i:6;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-1690768362312091782";s:9:"published";s:29:"2011-12-04T05:11:00.001-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-12-04T17:13:02.801-07:00";s:5:"title";s:75:"Governor Herbert's tardy response and what that proves about Gerrymandering";s:12:"atom_content";s:4734:"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vvPOt3Jf4nY/TttrouigF_I/AAAAAAAADg8/oEAjGPB31Ts/s1600/herbert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vvPOt3Jf4nY/TttrouigF_I/AAAAAAAADg8/oEAjGPB31Ts/s400/herbert.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Last night on the news Governor Herbert made an <a href="http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&amp;sid=18349362&amp;pid=0" target="_blank">announcement to the press </a>in some cozy location in front of a pretty Christmas tree, warning us that more severe weather lies ahead with predictions of high winds--this time with snow--on Sunday into Monday.&nbsp; And I have one question:<br /><br />Where have you been for two days now, Governor?<br /><br />I drove through the towns of Davis Country yesterday and destruction is everywhere.&nbsp; Pick any random street and you will see property damage.&nbsp; The sound of chain saws is in the air.&nbsp; Neighborhoods have rallied to help neighbors cut up huge trees, repair houses, clean up.&nbsp; I saw a housing construction site in Farmington that will have to be bulldozed.&nbsp; I didn't take pictures as hundreds have already been posted on <span id="goog_985156830"></span><a href="http://www.ksl.com/?nid=960&amp;sid=18327614" target="_blank">news channel web sites<span id="goog_985156831"></span></a>.&nbsp; Some communities are still without power after three days.&nbsp; Property damage is expected to exceed $20 million.<br /><br />As I watched the governor last night, it occurred to me that we had heard not one word from any state official nor any state-level representative--let alone a congressman.&nbsp; Not so much as a gratuitous photo-op in front of a downed tree.&nbsp; No promises of help.&nbsp; No offering of resources.<br /><br />Maybe I missed something, but the highest officials I have seen making public announcements are the mayors of the cities affected.<br /><br />And we in northern Utah are not surprised, as I'm sure our counterparts in southern Utah would not be either.&nbsp; The powers that be in this state are so ensconced in Salt Lake, it's almost as if their world ends at the county boundaries.&nbsp; If it didn't happen in Sandy, it didn't happen.<br /><br />Well thanks for the weather report, gov.<br /><br />And it got me to thinking further about this whole problem of representation and the gerrymandering fiasco recently perpetrated on us by a legislature intent on becoming a one-party state (as if it's not already that).&nbsp; Our representation is not local, it's stretched over many counties with a meaningless mix of rural and urban areas.&nbsp; There is no way our representatives can focus on the unique problems and issues affecting their constituents in individual communities when the district covers such diverse and expansive areas.&nbsp; And so, the result is the smaller communities or the minorities in general get overlooked--are not heard.<br /><br />As Utah heads further and further into the realm of single-party rule, there will be fallout.&nbsp; Not just failure to act when people need help.&nbsp; That's something that is easy to see and photograph.&nbsp; But there will be greater corruption of public officials who will have too much power and no fear of being ousted from office.&nbsp; There will be less concern about the real needs of the people of Utah and more focus on padding the bank accounts of elected officials and their families and cronies.<br /><br />Because it always comes down to money.<br /><br />And I don't blame the officials.&nbsp; We know it's not their fault that <i><b>power corrupts</b></i>; that's a law of nature.&nbsp; I blame the silly voters of Utah who just lazily check that "R" box because they think it's all about unborn babies and fail to see the real big picture of politics in Utah.<br /><br />Cross-posted at <a href="http://oneutah.org/" target="_blank">OneUtah&nbsp;</a><br /><br /><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">UPDATE: The gov may have read  my blog.  Today he activated the National Guard to help with cleanup  and rolled up his own sleeves for TV reporters.  But I still wonder why  this didn't happen on Friday.  Still tardy.  <a href="http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&amp;sid=18352901&amp;title=davis-county-hopes-to-beat-storm-in-clean-up-effort" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://www.ksl.com/</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span><span>?nid=148&amp;sid=18352901&amp;title</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span><span>=davis-county-hopes-to-bea</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>t-storm-in-clean-up-effort</a></span> <br /><br />";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/1690768362312091782/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=1690768362312091782";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/1690768362312091782";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/1690768362312091782";s:4:"link";s:78:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2011/12/governor-herberts-tardy-response-and.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"4";}}i:7;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-4745236086642068510";s:9:"published";s:29:"2011-12-04T05:00:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-12-04T06:36:18.473-07:00";s:5:"title";s:26:"Where are those old posts?";s:12:"atom_content";s:218:"Just FYI, I took down hundreds of my old posts some time ago in a moment of sheer frustration with the blogging world.&nbsp; I may at some point make some of those available again.&nbsp; I have to give it some thought.";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/4745236086642068510/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=4745236086642068510";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/4745236086642068510";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/4745236086642068510";s:4:"link";s:67:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2011/12/where-are-those-old-posts.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"2";}}i:8;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:58:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-583716280442100249";s:9:"published";s:29:"2011-11-10T12:56:00.001-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-11-11T19:29:51.024-07:00";s:5:"title";s:21:"Finished with the War";s:12:"atom_content";s:3524:"Time to bring this one out again.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/395/2192/1600/sassoon.0.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/395/2192/320/sassoon.0.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a> <span style="color: #3333ff;"><b style="background-color: white;">Finished with the War</b><span style="background-color: white;"> - A Soldier's Declaration</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">"I  am making this statement as an act of willful defiance of military  authority, because I believe the war is being deliberately prolonged by  those who have the power to end it.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">"I am a soldier, convinced  that I am writing on behalf of soldiers. I believe that this war, upon  which I entered as a war of defence and liberation, has now become a war  of aggression and conquest. I believe that the purposes for which I and  my fellow soldiers entered upon this war should have been so clearly  stated as to have made it impossible to change them, and that, had this  been done, the objects which actuated us would now be attainable by  negotiation.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">"I have seen and endured the suffering of the  troops, and I can no longer be a party to prolong these sufferings for  ends which I believe to be evil and unjust.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">"I am not protesting  against the conduct of the war, but against the political errors and  insincerities for which the fighting men are being sacrificed.</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">"On  behalf of those who are suffering now I make this protest against the  deception which is being practised on them; also I believe that I may  help to destroy the callous complacence with which the majority of those  at home regard the continuance of agonies which they do not share, and  which they have not sufficient imagination to </span><span style="background-color: white;">realize</span><span style="background-color: white;">."</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">-- S. Sassoon</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">July 191</span>7 </span><span style="color: blue;">(</span><i style="color: blue;">Regeneration</i><span style="color: blue;">, Pat Barker, 1993)</span><br /><br /><br />A few pages later, his psychiatrist asks Sassoon, "Would you describe yourself as a pacifist?" Sassoon replies, <span style="color: #6633ff;">"I  don't think so. I can't possibly say 'No war is ever justified',  because I haven't thought about it enough. Perhaps some wars are.  Perhaps this one was when it started. I just don't think our war aims--<i>whatever they may be--and we don't know</i>--justify this level of slaughter."</span><br /><br />I can't add anything to improve on this.<br /><br />Credit: Pat Barker, <i>Regeneration</i>, 1993. Regeneration is a fictionalized portrayal of real life poet Siegfried Sassoon and historical events of World War I.";s:12:"link_replies";s:144:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/583716280442100249/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=583716280442100249";s:9:"link_edit";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/583716280442100249";s:9:"link_self";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/583716280442100249";s:4:"link";s:59:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2011/11/finished-with-war.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"1";}}i:9;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-3120791692150247459";s:9:"published";s:29:"2011-02-21T13:38:00.004-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-07-27T14:46:42.508-06:00";s:5:"title";s:45:"Kern River Pipeline work closes freeway lanes";s:12:"atom_content";s:2585:"Kern River Pipeline company has been working on this area quite a long time.&nbsp; See my earlier post, <a href="http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2010/11/kern-river-pipeline-problem.html">Kern River Pipeline Problems </a>when part of the frontage road was damaged and closed last November.&nbsp; This is a major natural gas pipeline that runs very near homes in my community.&nbsp; Too near, if you ask me.<br /><br />All I know is that Kern River had approval to increase the capacity of its pipeline.&nbsp; I assume this ongoing construction work may be related to that.&nbsp; But there seems to be no way of getting more details about what is going on.&nbsp; Every day a highway patrolman is parked at the site with emergency lights on to warn drivers to slow down on the busy frontage road.&nbsp; Sometimes a lane is closed.&nbsp; I wonder what the work is they are doing, what the risks are, why it's taking so long, and who is paying for highway patrol presence.&nbsp; <br /><br />Today, part of the freeway was undermined and lanes again had to be closed.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&amp;sid=14460120">KSL.com</a><br /><br /><blockquote>The Utah Department of Transportation originally closed two lanes between the US-89 off-ramp and the I-215 on-ramp. Crews drilling under the interstate for a natural gas pipeline  caused holes in the roadway's supporting base. So Sunday night UDOT  closed the lanes to fix the problem. Crews also closed parts of Beck  Street for the same reason. They have opened one lane on northbound I-15, but will keep one closed until at least 3 p.m.     </blockquote>&nbsp;UPDATE:<br />An <a href="http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&amp;sid=14460120">updated news story </a>tells us that apparently tunneling under the freeway has resulted in collapses.&nbsp; What kind of operation is this?&nbsp;&nbsp; Does this inspire confidence?&nbsp; So it does sound like they are replacing existing pipe with highter capacity pipe.&nbsp; But it seems we should be paying attention to the poor quality of the work being performed here.&nbsp; A natural gas pipeline that crosses a fault line in six places close to populations should be of great concern to our local governments.&nbsp; I see little response to this comedy of errors from my community or others.&nbsp; The highway department is going to suspend the permit to drill, and that's something.<br /><br />By the way, note to the reporter: North Salt Lake is not Ogden, not even close -- but Salt Lakers are always pretty vague on anything north of the county line.&nbsp; Come on KSL --- Ogden?";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/3120791692150247459/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=3120791692150247459";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/3120791692150247459";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/3120791692150247459";s:4:"link";s:81:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2011/02/kern-river-pipeline-work-closes-freeway.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:10;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:58:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-242298991821152229";s:9:"published";s:29:"2011-02-21T13:10:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-02-21T13:10:59.679-07:00";s:5:"title";s:58:"Kennecott expansion and air quality problems in the valley";s:12:"atom_content";s:1610:"A friend of mine provided the following information and asked me to share  with my readers and urge you to pass it along to others as well.<br /><br /><br />Kennecott is requesting approval to expand their ore removal operation which, among other things, will result in increased pollutants in the Salt Lake valley.&nbsp; A speaker at a meeting my friend attended stated that Kennecott is already responsible for 30 percent of the pollution in the valley.&nbsp; If they are allowed to expand as requested, that contribution will increase accordingly, and we will either have a big increase in dirty air or will have to find other ways of reducing pollution that already reaches unacceptable levels many times during the year.&nbsp; This is a matter of health for all of us and our families.&nbsp;<br /><br />Here’s the website for the Utah Division of Air Quality regarding the proposed approval of Kennecott’s request to expand their ore removal efforts by 25%.  It explains the expected increase in pollutants.<br /><a href="http://www.airquality.utah.gov/Permits/DOCS/IN0105710028-11.pdf">http://www.airquality.utah.gov/Permits/DOCS/IN0105710028-11.pdf</a><br /><br />There will be a Public Hearing at 6 :00 pm, Tuesday, February 22, 2011, Utah Air Quality Boardroom 1015, 195 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City, Utah.<br /><br />Please send your written or e-mailed comments by close of business on March 8  to: Nando Meli Jr., Engineer, Phone: (801) 536-4052,  e-mail: <a href="mailto:nmeli@utah.gov">nmeli@utah.gov</a>, or the address above. Put this number on all correspondence:  DAQE-IN0105710028-11.";s:12:"link_replies";s:144:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/242298991821152229/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=242298991821152229";s:9:"link_edit";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/242298991821152229";s:9:"link_self";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/242298991821152229";s:4:"link";s:77:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2011/02/kennecott-expansion-and-air-quality.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:11;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-4007336401824761277";s:9:"published";s:29:"2011-01-30T10:17:00.003-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-01-30T10:21:23.506-07:00";s:5:"title";s:19:"Nothing More to Say";s:12:"atom_content";s:3210:"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/TUWZTauQpwI/AAAAAAAADOI/Ga9e5bdG1MQ/s1600/blank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/TUWZTauQpwI/AAAAAAAADOI/Ga9e5bdG1MQ/s320/blank.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>&nbsp;There's an oldie, "This page left blank intentionally."  I seem to remember it originated in the 80's, was it IBM who did it first?, and then we all jumped on the bandwagon -- just as we were also dressing for success and trying to be upwardly mobile.  <br /><br />When I think about those days, I just sigh and shake my head.  How silly we were about things that just didn't matter.  How temporary the "wisdom" of the time.<br /><br />In the technical writing world, this practice has been all but abandoned.&nbsp; We leave pages blank at the end of a section or the end of a document and feel no need to explain why. <br /><br />This page was part of a mailing from my insurance company received just yesterday advising me of its privacy practices.&nbsp; There were, in fact, two such pages in the packet.&nbsp; I supposed they figured if they didn't put that statement there, I might think something was missing -- that I might not simply understand they had nothing more to say.<br /><br />And I thought immediately about this blog of mine, so neglected for so long.&nbsp; Perhaps I need to post one of those "intentionally blank" pages.<br /><br />It's not so much that I've run out of things to say.&nbsp; It's more a matter of lack of fire, lack of passion.&nbsp; I have felt extremely subdued for a long time now.&nbsp; A month or so ago I went back and read old posts in this blog and realized how irrelevant most had become.&nbsp; I had passion then, but the topics were temporary, and my words now sound empty even to my own ears.&nbsp; As a result, I took down nearly all the posts on this blog except those with videos I like and posts that still get a lot of Google hits.&nbsp; By "take down" I mean I put them back into edit mode rather than delete them.&nbsp; I can still see them myself but I no longer publish them publicly.<br /><br /><br />I thought when the Utah legislature convened this month I would surely feel passionate enough to start writing again.&nbsp; There are plenty of idiotic things happening up on the hill this year, like every other year.&nbsp; But it just keeps occurring to me how temporary all of it is.&nbsp; Next year it will be something else, and the next year something else.&nbsp; And suddenly I'm not sure if it's my discouragement that we never see any improvement, or simply that it just seems not worth expending personal energy and strength to write how I feel about it.&nbsp; I just can't bring myself to pick a topic and write.<br /><br />It feels wrong to be silent.&nbsp; I feel some obligation to speak.&nbsp; But without the fire that moves me to do it, anything I write is just hollow.&nbsp; So for now, this page is left blank intentionally.&nbsp; Until I find my old voice or a new one and a passion for the topics that belong on this page.";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/4007336401824761277/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=4007336401824761277";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/4007336401824761277";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/4007336401824761277";s:4:"link";s:61:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2011/01/nothing-more-to-say.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"6";}}i:12;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-6189107149169905848";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-12-15T21:40:00.003-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2010-12-15T21:52:45.867-07:00";s:5:"title";s:35:"Would you shop at Barnes and Noble?";s:12:"atom_content";s:3381:"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/TQmYKTcb3KI/AAAAAAAADME/jSkterWpwFE/s1600/BN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/TQmYKTcb3KI/AAAAAAAADME/jSkterWpwFE/s1600/BN.jpg" /></a></div>I like book stores and prefer them to online shopping when it makes sense.&nbsp; However, today, thinking of the fast approaching Christmas, I thought I would just order some books for my grandson online.&nbsp; There were 40% discounts on the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" books.&nbsp; I ordered those and a couple more.&nbsp; But when I entered my member number to get my discount, it said my membership had expired.&nbsp; <i>Sigh</i>.&nbsp; Okay, I'll run down to the store after work.<br /><br />At the store they checked and said indeed my membership had expired.&nbsp; So I renewed the membership and proceeded to check out a pretty good stack of books.&nbsp; But the "Wimpy Kid" books were all ringing up at full price.&nbsp; Wait a second, I told the cashier, aren't those 40% off?&nbsp; She tells me, oh these are the hard cover, you probably want the paper backs.&nbsp; As there was no helper around who could go and get them at the time, I paid for all the other books except those and returned to look for the paperbacks .<br /><br />Alas.<br /><br />They do not come in paperback.<br /><br />I learned this when I returned to the front of the store and spoke with two other workers.&nbsp; So I questioned why the books we not on sale in the store when they were online.&nbsp; Forty percent is a significant difference in books that are $16 and $17.&nbsp; Well!&nbsp; The two workers were eager to inform me that in the store we have to pay their wages and the light bill.&nbsp; They got a bit huffy.&nbsp; So I thanked them and said I'd just order them online in that case.<br /><br />Or so I thought.<br /><br />When I again entered my member number online, it again informed me that my membership had expired.&nbsp; So I called the customer service line and asked if they would help me with the order.&nbsp; I was told by the nicest of people that even though I had, in fact, paid my $25 in a store to renew my membership, the computer system wouldn't be updated for 24 to 48 hours.&nbsp; But . . . but . . . but . . . it's nearly Christmas and these books are for my grandson.&nbsp; Oh, she assured me, the books will definitely arrive by the end of next week.<br /><br />I couldn't help it, I just started laughing.&nbsp; We both laughed.&nbsp; I told her it's pretty hard to imagine in this day of instant everything when I can surf the internet on my phone, that it takes up to 48 hours for a store computer to update the company computer.&nbsp; Boggles the mind.&nbsp; I asked her if she would please submit a complaint on my behalf at this unbelievable lapse in service for their good and loyal members.&nbsp; (I did not go so far as to say the word "Amazon".)<br /><br />But with her assurances, I am waiting and will try again tomorrow and maybe the next day and try to order.&nbsp; If I am successful, I can get three books for less than the cost of two in the store.&nbsp; If I'm unsuccessful, I'll go back to the store.&nbsp; But then, will the computer know that I've updated my membership?";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/6189107149169905848/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=6189107149169905848";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/6189107149169905848";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/6189107149169905848";s:4:"link";s:76:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2010/12/would-you-shop-at-barnes-and-nobel.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"8";}}i:13;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-8824124812445677152";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-12-03T23:41:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-12-08T18:06:02.903-07:00";s:5:"title";s:38:"Eagles: Please Come Home for Christmas";s:12:"atom_content";s:415:"<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/stbbEB9O_nc?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XeShHAZk3to" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>&nbsp;</p><p>I promise to stop missing my special friend any day now.</p></object>";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/8824124812445677152/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=8824124812445677152";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/8824124812445677152";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/8824124812445677152";s:4:"link";s:79:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2010/12/eagles-please-come-home-for-christmas.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"3";}}i:14;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-3652793551805659992";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-11-14T08:46:00.002-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2011-07-27T14:45:21.632-06:00";s:5:"title";s:28:"Kern River Pipeline Problem?";s:12:"atom_content";s:3215:"What's wrong with this <a href="http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&amp;sid=13272616">story</a>?<br /><blockquote><b>Portion of US-89 closed through Monday</b><br /><br /><div style="padding: 0px;">NORTH SALT LAKE -- UDOT is closing a portion of Highway 89 over the weekend to work on repairs. </div>The closure will affect the northbound stretch of highway between the  Beck Street ramp in North Salt Lake and Eagle Ridge Drive.  UDOT says  the closure comes after word that maintenance work on the Kern River  natural gas pipeline in the area may have weakened the roadway  subsurface.&nbsp; UDOT expects to reopen the road by 6 a.m. Monday.&nbsp; Drivers are advised to take Interstate 15 to 2600 South to avoid the closure.&nbsp;</blockquote>&nbsp;Something tells me there's more to this story than we see here.&nbsp; What maintenance?&nbsp; How exactly did it undermine the road?<br /><br />Let's remember what we're talking about here.&nbsp; The Kern River pipeline is a natural gas pipeline that received special permission to cut through the foothills above Bountiful and run along the south end of North Salt Lake to save 20 miles on its way to California, in so doing crossing the Wasatch Fault line 6 times and coming within 50 yards of residences in North Salt Lake.&nbsp; The company was <a href="http://www.kernrivergas.com/InternetPortal/BackDesktop.aspx?TabID=128&amp;TabParentID=142">granted and recently put into place </a>an increase of delivery from 1200 psi to 1333 psi.&nbsp; <br /><br />Since they aren't telling us the whole story, we can only read between the lines.&nbsp; Something went wrong.&nbsp; Something unexpected happened.&nbsp; But what?<br /><br />Here in North Salt Lake, we were assured when the pipeline was originally built that it was extremely safe and not a threat to anyone.&nbsp; I didn't buy it then and I don't buy it now.&nbsp; Our representative at the time, Jim Hansen, was silent and refused to become involved -- I think because he thought it might stain his anti-environment/pro big oil reputation.&nbsp; But that's just my thinking.&nbsp; Despite huge public opposition, the pipeline easily won the government approval it needed.<br /><br />The pipeline right-of-way is easily visible as a long straight scar across the mountains and foothills of Bountiful and North Salt Lake going south, and then turning west and running past the site of the defunct gravel pit currently being developed commercially.&nbsp; Looking at Google maps, it appears that houses may be even closer now with more recent construction.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/TOADfmuFFQI/AAAAAAAADEU/yJD186tqI-0/s1600/kern.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/TOADfmuFFQI/AAAAAAAADEU/yJD186tqI-0/s400/kern.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I'd like to know more facts about this latest incident.<br /><br />Also see an update to this post here. <a href="http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2011/02/kern-river-pipeline-work-closes-freeway.html">http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2011/02/kern-river-pipeline-work-closes-freeway.html</a>";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/3652793551805659992/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=3652793551805659992";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/3652793551805659992";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/3652793551805659992";s:4:"link";s:69:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2010/11/kern-river-pipeline-problem.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:15;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-5072294605724952344";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-09-24T22:15:00.001-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2010-09-24T22:41:18.134-06:00";s:5:"title";s:10:"Tenderness";s:12:"atom_content";s:869:"A great little tune, from a great little movie.  <span style="font-style: italic;">Try a Little Tenderness</span>, by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Commitments_%28film%29">The Commitments</a>, from the movie of the same name, 1991.<br /><br /><div><object height="414" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/k4bSb8LPPUf9nZvxOg&amp;related=1&amp;canvas=medium"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/k4bSb8LPPUf9nZvxOg&amp;related=1&amp;canvas=medium" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="480" height="414"></embed></object><span style="font-size: 85%;"><br /><b><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4h514_the-commitments-try-a-little-tender_music"></a></b></span></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/5072294605724952344/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=5072294605724952344";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/5072294605724952344";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/5072294605724952344";s:4:"link";s:52:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2010/09/tenderness.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"1";}}i:16;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-4772396587413827863";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-09-01T12:57:00.001-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-01-22T06:01:56.014-07:00";s:5:"title";s:41:"Protecting America from Religious Zealots";s:12:"atom_content";s:868:"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/TH6hx-mLdeI/AAAAAAAAC_Y/ZiYk1ewgtaA/s1600/islamsign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/TH6hx-mLdeI/AAAAAAAAC_Y/ZiYk1ewgtaA/s320/islamsign.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Glenn Beck and his followers, the Tea Party folks, and all those who scream loudly opposing the New York City mosque have a warning for us:&nbsp; Religious zealots want to take over our country and impose their extreme religious beliefs on the rest of us.<br /><br />Maybe these folks should look in the mirror.&nbsp; I'm more worried about the extreme Christian movement taking over our government -<br /><br />- and imposing their beliefs on the rest of us.";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/4772396587413827863/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=4772396587413827863";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/4772396587413827863";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/4772396587413827863";s:4:"link";s:75:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2010/09/protecting-america-from-religious.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"2";}}i:17;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:58:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-644408975248807459";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-08-15T10:59:00.004-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-01-22T06:02:43.590-07:00";s:5:"title";s:21:"Press "1" for English";s:12:"atom_content";s:2608:"To activate my credit card recently, I had to press '1' for English. And you know what? It was really easy. Bink! Done! No big deal at all.<br /><br />Unlike those who complain about such things, I am pleased that businesses are willing to help my friends who don't speak English well to clearly understand business and financial transactions. It doesn't mean my friends aren't willing to learn and speak English to the best of their ability. It just means that many subtleties of the English language escape them, and when it comes to doing business, clarity can be very important to all involved.﻿<br /><br />English is a difficult and sometimes funny language.  People who have spoken nothing else their entire lives still often fail to speak correctly (another post for another day).  I can't take credit for the following - I copied these from the internet.  You've seen similar lists, I'm sure. <br /><br /><blockquote>You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which an alarm goes off by going on.<br /><br />And how is it that people recite at a play and play at a recital.<br /><br />You can be given a number of injections to make the pain number.<br /><br />You can ship by truck and send cargo by ship.<br /><br />We have noses that run and feet that smell.<br /><br />When the stars are out, they are visible. When the lights are out, they are invisible.<br /><br />If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?<br /><br />The wind can be too strong to wind the sail.<br /><br />There is no time like the present to present you with this present.<br /><br />How can 'A Slim Chance' and 'A Fat Chance' be the same?<br /><br />How can 'You're so cool' and 'You're not so hot' be different?<br /><br />Why are 'A Wise man' and 'A Wise guy' opposites?<br /><br />What if a seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.<br /><br />The bandage is wound around a wound.<br /><br />I do not object to the object.<br /><br />The insurance was invalid for the invalid.<br /><br />Boxing rings are square.<br /><br />A soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.<br /><br />There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple.<br /><br />Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.<br /><br />A farm is used to produce produce.</blockquote><br />Need I continue?<br /><br />(Presented in the hope that Americans really are kinder, more helpful, and more understanding than they sometimes sound.)";s:12:"link_replies";s:144:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/644408975248807459/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=644408975248807459";s:9:"link_edit";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/644408975248807459";s:9:"link_self";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/644408975248807459";s:4:"link";s:61:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2010/08/press-1-for-english.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"5";}}i:18;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-2414326620016085207";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-07-25T11:23:00.004-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-08-01T17:08:39.180-06:00";s:5:"title";s:20:"Greening up my world";s:12:"atom_content";s:5308:"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/TExy5FKCMNI/AAAAAAAAC-s/ddx995OWr_4/s1600/Patio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/TExy5FKCMNI/AAAAAAAAC-s/ddx995OWr_4/s400/Patio.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I was stunned when I saw my power bill yesterday -- in a good way.  It has to be the lowest bill this house has ever had in a July, just $56.  The KWH used this year was 17 per day compared to 27 last year, even though the average daily temperature was two degrees higher THIS year at 77.  <br /><br />After the new windows, roof, siding, furnace, and a/c over the past six years, my energy bills had already dropped significantly.  More than one-third after the windows alone.  I set the a/c at 78 when I'm home, and the heat at 68.  I thought I'd maxed out my ability to reduce energy consumption and still live comfortably.  But this summer I've made a concerted effort to utilize open windows and capture cool night air.  Some days the a/c doesn't kick on until 4 p.m.<br /><br />It's something we've forgotten how to do -- keep the house cool without a/c.  I remember in the 50's I didn't know anyone who had air conditioning in the house.  People used strategically-placed trees, awnings on windows, opening and closing windows at just the right times, with shades and draperies to block out heat from direct sun.  Late afternoons were spent outdoors on the shady side of the house.  We acclimated to the temperatures and found ways to cool down when things were the hottest.  <br /><br />This year, I decided to use some of those techniques again since I work from home and can easily do simple things like open and close windows and shades.  Sitting at my desk with its north-facing window, many mornings I need a sweater as the breeze is quite cool.  I've thoroughly enjoyed many more hours of fresh air flowing through the house (even though the downside is having to dust more often).  Even this week, with temperatures near 100, I may go to bed with the house closed up, but when I wake up at 2 or 3 a.m., as I often do, I'll walk around and open windows then.  When the temps drop into the 60's at night, you can collect a lot of nice cool air in the house which will last many hours into the day.  <br /><br />I'm a little nervous to see my July water bill, however.  The yard is fully landscaped for the first time ever, and everything is getting watered with a new sprinkling system.  I have no idea how my water usage compares to the past.  The June bill was so low, I didn't exceed the regular monthly usage which applies year-round.  But June was extra cool.  July has been hot and dry.  Still, most of the yard is in drought-tolerant, low-water plantings with the annuals mostly clustered around the patio where I like to hang out.  I apply the tough love principle on the lawn and drought-tolerant areas.  They get water, but they aren't allowed to become lush.  The landscaper set each watering station to 15 minutes, but I backed them off to 12 each.  I water early in the morning only, but on some particularly hot evenings, I'll manually cycle through all the stations after sunset, giving them each a minute or two of water to cool down the parched plants and earth.  The bonus is that the temperature drops for the entire yard and house at the same time.  I do water every day, which I know is not recommended.  But I live on sand and water is not retained in the soil.  Watering for longer periods does no good as it drains off rapidly.  It's the nature of where I live.  I do give the newer trees some deep watering once or twice a month, however.  The established trees don't seem to need it.  I'll report back on the July water bill when it arrives in August. <br /><br />I used to feel a little guilty about occupying a rather large house and yard by myself, and yet requiring heating and cooling just the same as if a whole family lived here.  But when I see the results of my efforts at reducing energy consumption, there is no need for guilt.  I realize it's not about the size of the space I occupy, but how I utilize resources to make my life comfortable.  <br /><br />I didn't do this all overnight.  It has taken about six years for me to get to this point.  But I think this is proof that if people care and if they really want to do it, we could all drastically reduce our need for fossil fuels while we improve our environment.  Of course, the cost savings is a happy bonus.  <br /><br />(Just as an after note, since I work from home, I consume far less fuel for my car.  I also conscientiously recycle, which has become more convenient with my city's curbside recycling program.  And I carry those reusable grocery bags with me when I shop.  These are just a few other things I'm doing to help green my world).<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/TExy_krzX2I/AAAAAAAAC-0/8LPlhMdAHeQ/s1600/Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/TExy_krzX2I/AAAAAAAAC-0/8LPlhMdAHeQ/s400/Sunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/2414326620016085207/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=2414326620016085207";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/2414326620016085207";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/2414326620016085207";s:4:"link";s:62:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2010/07/greening-up-my-world.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"3";}}i:19;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:58:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-582168344330912881";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-07-14T07:27:00.004-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2010-09-24T22:40:17.179-06:00";s:5:"title";s:21:"The McCartney Concert";s:12:"atom_content";s:2631:""And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make."<br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aKngFiuA4As&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aKngFiuA4As&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />I want to write this while still basking in the afterglow.&nbsp; It was a thrill to be among the 40,000 fans at the Paul McCartney concert last night.&nbsp; We were there!  By "we" I mean three of my sisters and one brother-in-law, my son and his wife, two of my friends and their husbands -- those are the ones I know of.&nbsp; We didn't all sit together, we were scattered about.&nbsp; Where I was sitting, the seats were wonderful -- I had a great view of the stage.&nbsp; I knew this would be good, but had no idea how truly fantastic it would be.<br /><br />From the time McCartney took the stage around 8 p.m. until he exited at 11-ish, he was singing, dancing, playing all kinds of instruments, telling stories, and entirely positive and upbeat.&nbsp; We all felt that he really was thrilled to be performing for us.&nbsp; And the band members, too.&nbsp; Each one appeared to not only be really into the performance, but also truly having the time of their lives doing it.&nbsp; <br /><br />I feel infused with so much positive energy today, I am practically floating.<br /><br />And speaking of the band, really, what a sound from the most basic group.&nbsp; A drummer, a bass, a lead guitar, and a keyboard -- and Paul switching off with every tune.&nbsp; The band did the backup singing too.&nbsp; The synergy of the group was marvelous.&nbsp; You could tell they liked being together.<br /><br />This was an event I've waited for for 46 years.&nbsp; I've been a Beatles fan since there were Beatles.&nbsp; The experience was everything I expected and more.&nbsp; And now it's a memory, but it will be among the treasured memories of my lifetime.<br /><br />And one thing I take away from the experience is the importance of producing positive energy in our lives.&nbsp; Paul has certainly suffered tragedy and trial.&nbsp; But he emerges smiling and happy, and then proceeds to make thousands of people around him feel happy too.&nbsp; I have a desire to do the same with my small life -- to greet each day with a positive energy that feels good to me and influences those whose lives touch mine that day.";s:12:"link_replies";s:144:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/582168344330912881/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=582168344330912881";s:9:"link_edit";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/582168344330912881";s:9:"link_self";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/582168344330912881";s:4:"link";s:59:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2010/07/mccartney-concert.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"2";}}i:20;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-8293299222500521246";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-07-08T12:10:00.005-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-08-01T17:09:43.664-06:00";s:5:"title";s:42:"So you think you've come a long way, Baby?";s:12:"atom_content";s:3548:"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/TDX3CugI4sI/AAAAAAAAC6U/y-j3PMlQyFA/s1600/women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/TDX3CugI4sI/AAAAAAAAC6U/y-j3PMlQyFA/s400/women.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>Feminism is a four-letter word in today’s American culture.  It’s exploited by right-wing zealots to scare conservatives into opposing all pro-female thinking lest their daughters become lesbians and have abortions right and left.  In Utah in the 70’s, we proudly declined to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment that would have given women equal rights under the law.  Many believe women already have such rights and the ERA was never needed (or so they say).  <br /><br />But discrimination can be subtle.  I was reminded of this yesterday when I accidentally locked myself out of my America First Credit Union account by entering the wrong PIN number online and needed to call the credit union to get it unlocked.<br /><br />I was asked numerous specific questions about myself and my account, all of which I had expected and freely answered.  But my customer service agent still seemed hesitant.  And after putting me on hold, returned to tell me she was now going to ask me questions unrelated to my account, taken from information that is in the “public record”.  And she proceeded to ask me questions about my late ex-husband’s extended family—things like where was this one born, and where is this one living now.<br /><br />I was stunned.  <br /><br />I told the woman questioning me that in the first place, I didn’t know the answers to her questions.  That not only have I been divorced for three years, but my ex-husband has also been deceased for a year.  I only ever met a few of his extended family and have kept in touch with only one - his brother.  <br /><br />Why would I be expected to know this information in order to prove WHO I AM?<br /><br />I wanted to know why questions that were selected from public records did not relate to me personally, but only to someone to whom I was married.  She could only explain, after consulting with her supervisor, that this was a service that the credit union uses and that many other banks and other types of businesses use it as well – the credit union has no control over the questions selected.<br /><br />All I could do was to register my complaint that such questioning disrespects women.  That we are people and customers in our own right and not just auxiliaries of our sometime-husbands (even if we are still married).  I have had this same credit union account for 45 years, since I was a teenager.  I was even an employee of that credit union for a number of years (they could have asked me that question).  To think that after all those years, that an account in my name could only be unfrozen by my ability to answer obscure questions about someone else.<br /><br />It probably isn’t the credit union’s fault.  And maybe no woman ever complained before this.  As I said, discrimination is subtle.  But it’s still wrong.  I don’t know if my complaint will reach any ears that can do anything about this particular issue.  But if you’re a woman and you’ve ever been married, just know that random questions taken from public records, intended to allow you to prove you are who you say you are, may very well not be about you at all.<br /><br />Equal rights for women, indeed!";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/8293299222500521246/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=8293299222500521246";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/8293299222500521246";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/8293299222500521246";s:4:"link";s:79:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2010/07/so-you-think-youve-come-long-way-baby.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"4";}}i:21;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-2586276253660063713";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-07-04T10:42:00.003-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-08-01T17:10:12.521-06:00";s:5:"title";s:31:"Crown thy good with brotherhood";s:12:"atom_content";s:514:"As the immigration debate advances, I hope we think of these words.<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ghz4_kikLkE&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ghz4_kikLkE&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/2586276253660063713/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=2586276253660063713";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/2586276253660063713";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/2586276253660063713";s:4:"link";s:73:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2010/07/crown-thy-good-with-brotherhood.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:22;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:58:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-332288835245196955";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-05-12T16:23:00.002-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-07-04T15:31:21.753-06:00";s:5:"title";s:14:"Naturalization";s:12:"atom_content";s:4489:"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/S-sqHeMNd6I/AAAAAAAAC0M/y8LJjZs9lUk/s1600/Simone_Citizenship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/S-sqHeMNd6I/AAAAAAAAC0M/y8LJjZs9lUk/s400/Simone_Citizenship.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;(Copyright 2010 Becky Stauffer, no reproduction of photos or text without the express permission of the author)</span><br />Today was a very special day in our family.  My daughter-in-law, Simone,  became a U.S. citizen.  We attended the naturalization ceremony in the  Rose Wagner Theatre in Salt Lake.  So many impressions as I sat and  watched the proceedings.  Two hundred new citizens today - people of  many different countries and ethnicities.  Of course, our little group  was focused on just one - the lovely and courageous Simone.  In the  audience were her husband (my son), their two little boys, and her  parents visiting here from Brazil.<br /><br />As we said the Pledge of Allegiance and a chldren's chorus sang the  national anthem, people stood with hand over heart or arms at their  sides.  And I thought of the recent kerfuffle at Utah State University  when an audience member shouted out to chastise the guest speaker at  commencement excercises for having his arms at his side during the  anthem (as we of a certain age were taught to do).  Such rudeness did  not occur today - everyone was happy and were helpful and supportive of  one another.  Everyone seemed to understand that patriotism was not  about which hand did what during what recitation, nor what pin one wore,  nor what bumper sticker one sported.  It's about a humble grateful  feeling, as well as a sense of loyalty, commitment, and respect.  Things  that you might not see as easily unless you are paying attention.<br /><br />Patriotism, I mused, is not demonstrated by symbols, nor even by words  or songs.  It is demonstrated by personal actions.<br /><br />After singing, each one of the children from the chorus told why they  were glad to be American, and the comments ranged from hilarious to  profound, as is so often the case with children.  The judge was kindly  and accommodated all of us who wanted to get pictures of our loved ones  taking the oath, allowing us to crowd onto the stage to do so.  The  video of President Obama welcoming the new citizens was special to my  daughter-in-law, as she said she had wanted to vote for him, and now she  may get that opportunity when he runs again.<br /><br />After the administration of the oath, many new citizens were invited to  say a few words.  It was touching to listen.  Some had worked hard and  waited a long time for this day.  For everyone, it seemed, this was a  realization of something they had deeply desired.  Simone said the man  beside her cried throughout the oath, he was so moved at that moment.  <br /><br />Later we went to a Brazilian restaurant to celebrate - a good choice as  all the servers spoke Portuguese and it made for a very enjoyable time  for Simone's parents along with the rest of us.  Seven-year-old Kevin,  as always, had memorable remarks for the occasion.  He asked his mom if  she was she was glad she was an American now.  And he offered to teach  her some American things now that she was a citizen.  He wondered why  she didn't offer to say a few words (he remembers exact phrases like  that).  I think our quiet Simone would never volunteer to make a public  speech, but Kevin would welcome the chance!  <br /><br />But we were all surprised to realize how closely Kevin had been  listening to the speakers, when he said, "I'm going to remember that  freedom isn't free."  <br /><br />And therein lies the most important way of demonstrating our patriotism -  working to preserve freedom.  Freedom isn't free.<br /><br />Today I'm very proud of my daughter-in-law.  I know she thought about  this for years before deciding to do it.  She takes it very seriously.    She is a hard-working, smart, beautiful, and courageous woman.  Our  family is better because she is in it.  And now our country is even  better because she is one of its newest citizens.<br /><br />Photo: Simone along with her husband (my son) Steve, and sons Kevin (unhappy at having had to relinquish the flag to his brother) and Brandon (hidden by the flag).&nbsp; I love these people!";s:12:"link_replies";s:144:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/332288835245196955/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=332288835245196955";s:9:"link_edit";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/332288835245196955";s:9:"link_self";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/332288835245196955";s:4:"link";s:56:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2010/05/naturalization.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:2:"12";}}i:23;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:58:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-698255063646139338";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-04-16T17:17:00.005-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-08-01T17:11:33.829-06:00";s:5:"title";s:15:"The earth moved";s:12:"atom_content";s:3469:"We had an earthquake here in Utah yesterday.&nbsp; Rated at 4.9 on the Richter scale, it centered about 4 miles NE of Randolph, Utah - near the northern border close to Idaho and Wyoming.&nbsp; The area is somewhat remote and sparsely populated.&nbsp; Randolph is usually known in Utah for frequently having the lowest temperature in the state on a given day.<br /><br />The earthquake was felt in three states, but I did not feel it.&nbsp; The event brought out lots of speculation - will there be another one, a strong one?&nbsp; And lots of stories of prior earthquakes we each have experienced.&nbsp;&nbsp; I've felt a couple of earthquakes in the past, one significant one centered in Yellowstone in the 60's which caused a huge amount of damage there.<br /><br />We suffered no damage here apart from a few pictures that fell off walls and items off of store shelves.&nbsp; No injuries.&nbsp; We were lucky this time.<br /><br />Some people have commented on how many earthquakes there seem to have been this year.&nbsp; But the experts tell us we are right on track for the average number of strong earthquakes annually.&nbsp; The difference this year is the number that have occurred in more densely populated areas, resulting in greater human tolls.&nbsp; Those experts assure us this is not unusual or unexpected earthquake activity.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/S8jxoFYyYvI/AAAAAAAACzM/hLgdsV4c_zc/s1600/Utah_earthquakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/S8jxoFYyYvI/AAAAAAAACzM/hLgdsV4c_zc/s400/Utah_earthquakes.jpg" width="335" /></a></div>Indeed, I heard on the news last night that Utah has thousands of <a href="http://www.quake.utah.edu/EQCENTER/LISTINGS/UTAH/utahmaps.htm">measurable earthquakes </a>in a year, but that most of those are too slight to be felt.&nbsp; But every couple of years we have one like yesterday's event.&nbsp; Our mountainous state has several significant faults.&nbsp; Earthquakes are on the minds of state officials who coincidentally have been promoting earthquake preparedness recently.&nbsp; It makes sense to be prepared in case of an itnerruption of utilities and other services.&nbsp; They keep talking about "the big one" that we all expect to come someday.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />If you are from California, yesterday's little shaking would have been scarcely noticed.&nbsp; But here, it's rare enough to warrant lots of news coverage and excitement among those who are eager to share what it felt like to them.<br /><br />(By the way, I have to say at least the earthquake saved us from those annual news stories with TV reporters standing by mailboxes as people drop off their taxes just under the deadline.&nbsp; Haven't we all seen that one enough?) <br /><br />And to be entirely predictable, here's today's video to go with our theme.<br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-JYkQo1Qxt0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-JYkQo1Qxt0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>";s:12:"link_replies";s:144:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/698255063646139338/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=698255063646139338";s:9:"link_edit";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/698255063646139338";s:9:"link_self";s:70:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/698255063646139338";s:4:"link";s:57:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2010/04/the-earth-moved.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"3";}}i:24;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:59:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649.post-4627555870799567305";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-03-13T16:49:00.006-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-08-01T17:10:59.033-06:00";s:5:"title";s:30:"More standing ovations in Utah";s:12:"atom_content";s:3521:"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/S5wgrhQl7JI/AAAAAAAACt4/zX7T5Jc_fJM/s1600-h/desnewsGarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_--6fTJ1pajE/S5wgrhQl7JI/AAAAAAAACt4/zX7T5Jc_fJM/s400/desnewsGarn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Back in <a href="http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2009/09/in-utah-standing-ovations-are-us.html">September </a>I wrote about how here in Utah we're such a happy and supportive bunch, we just stand and applaud for anything and everything.&nbsp; But this just goes too far.&nbsp; I'm so disgusted not only with the slimy Garn (Majority Leader, Kevin Garn) who paid off a girl to the tune of $150 grand (who has that kind of money to spend to keep someone silent?), but also with all the f--king fools in the Utah state legislature to who stood and applauded him for reading his confession statement.&nbsp; Please people, the woman had gone to the media, he was only trying to be one step ahead of the story.&nbsp; This guy is no hero.<br /><br />And to make the story even more disgusting, Mormon church-owned Deseret News newspaper knew about the story back in 2002 and <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700016111/D-News-takes-lumps-in-Garn-story.html">decided not to print </a>it.&nbsp; And their reason?&nbsp; Because the guy lost in a congressional primary election and was no longer a candidate for office.&nbsp; Can someone explain to me why they continued to sit on the story when he ran for and was elected to the state legislature where he sat until his resignation today? And since when does a story only become a story if a guy's a candidate.&nbsp; There was a big coverup here, and I'd bet dollars to doughnuts, money changed hands.<br /><br />This whole story reeks to high heaven and is a perfect example of the complete breakdown of ethics in this state so populated with religious zealots.&nbsp; Here's just a sample of what his fellow Republican leaders had to say:<br /><br /><span id="slt_site"><span id="slt_article">House Speaker <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14667197">David Clark</a>, </span></span><span id="slt_site"><span id="slt_article">"I know not of the man you speak, but I know the man I consider a friend, a leader and an asset to the State of Utah. ... We hope you would remain with us."&nbsp;</span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&amp;sid=9987196">Republican chair </a>for Davis County. She says as long as there aren't legal ramifications with Garn's confession, she will continue to support him in a re-election campaign. <span id="slt_site"><span id="slt_article">&nbsp;</span></span><br /><br />The people in this state just really do not get it.&nbsp; They think God, the Mormon Church, and the Republican party are all just one big perfect package of all that is right and good and holy.&nbsp; But when you start to peel back the layers of that onion, things start to really stink.&nbsp; How are people so blind and stupid?<br /><br />Now if the guy had been a Democrat . . . whole different story.<br /><br />Oh, and as a postscript, would someone please explain why the Utah Highway Patrol still will not release video and other records related to former legislator Sheldon Killpack's DUI arrest?&nbsp; More coverup.&nbsp; <br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/home">Deseret News</a></span>";s:12:"link_replies";s:146:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/4627555870799567305/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21653649&postID=4627555870799567305";s:9:"link_edit";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/4627555870799567305";s:9:"link_self";s:71:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default/4627555870799567305";s:4:"link";s:72:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/2010/03/more-standing-ovations-in-utah.html";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"7";}}}s:7:"channel";a:14:{s:2:"id";s:34:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21653649";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2013-09-12T05:15:03.804-06:00";s:5:"title";s:13:"RedStateBlues";s:8:"subtitle";s:81:"Double entendre intended.  The sojourn of a liberal in the reddest of red states.";s:42:"link_http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed";s:48:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default";s:9:"link_self";s:60:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default?alt=atom";s:4:"link";s:29:"http://slcblues.blogspot.com/";s:8:"link_hub";s:32:"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/";s:9:"link_next";s:90:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/21653649/posts/default?alt=atom&start-index=26&max-results=25";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Bekkieann";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/13058996951400003081";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:9:"generator";s:7:"Blogger";s:10:"opensearch";a:3:{s:12:"totalresults";s:3:"344";s:10:"startindex";s:1:"1";s:12:"itemsperpage";s:2:"25";}}s:9:"textinput";a:0:{}s:5:"image";a:0:{}s:9:"feed_type";s:4:"Atom";s:12:"feed_version";N;s:8:"encoding";s:5:"UTF-8";s:16:"_source_encoding";s:0:"";s:5:"ERROR";s:0:"";s:7:"WARNING";s:0:"";s:19:"_CONTENT_CONSTRUCTS";a:6:{i:0;s:7:"content";i:1;s:7:"summary";i:2;s:4:"info";i:3;s:5:"title";i:4;s:7:"tagline";i:5;s:9:"copyright";}s:16:"_KNOWN_ENCODINGS";a:3:{i:0;s:5:"UTF-8";i:1;s:8:"US-ASCII";i:2;s:10:"ISO-8859-1";}s:5:"stack";a:0:{}s:9:"inchannel";b:0;s:6:"initem";b:0;s:9:"incontent";b:0;s:11:"intextinput";b:0;s:7:"inimage";b:0;s:17:"current_namespace";b:0;s:4:"etag";s:42:"W/"9177e1e0-27f7-42fe-8f2d-5c971fd17e53"
";s:13:"last_modified";s:31:"Thu, 12 Sep 2013 11:15:03 GMT
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