Al Mansell used to be a Legislator. He's always been a Realtor. Past President of a national realtor's group. He's the lobbyist leading the fight to move the State Prison from Draper. Even though an audit by the State shows that we, the taxpayers, could lose as much as $378 MILLION DOLLARS if we do this, Al Mansell could develop that land, and make a fortune for himself.
Anyone who reads this knows I used to work for the Department of Corruption, er, Corrections. So I have a little insight into this matter. And history will show that the current prison was built in the 1950's when the one that occupied the area that is now, Sugarhouse Park was too old, and decrepit to keep open. In the 50's, the State decided it would make a good place for a park. In this decade? It should be a monetary boon to a Republican, former Legislator who is a realtor. He's actually got the balls to insist that the State not open the land up for bid, that it just, basically, give it to him!
OK, I'm sure there are people in Draper who are not happy that the prison is in their back yard. Too, fucking, bad. You moved in next to a prison. It did NOT move in next to you! And if you think about it, anyone who escapes from it, does their best to get as far away from it as soon as possible. They don't stick around. And the truth be known? After the 80's, I don't think their has BEEN a successful escape from the prison. It's pretty secure these days.
Now, I'm going to tell you all the reasons it's in the right place, right now, and, Al Mansell should go piss up a rope and suck on the wet end, because he's trying to rip us taxpayers off and feather his own bed. And he's an asshole for even suggesting this.
First of all, most of the population of the state lives along the Wasatch Front. Between Ogden and Provo. And the current prison location is Damn near in the MIDDLE of that. Why is that important?
Well, for one thing, if you're in prison, having your family be able to visit, and keep in touch is important to your rehabilitation. Family support is very important to inmates who will get out, and almost ALL of them, eventually get out, if they are going to make it on parole.
When I retired from Corruption, er, Corrections five years ago, almost 80% of the people on probation and parole lived in SALT LAKE COUNTY! That is where they were getting treatment for their addictions, training to help them get jobs, where the job opportunity's are, and where their family is. If you give a damn about these people hopefully changing their lives for the better, and I did as a PO, that was my job, why would you move them to someplace where they couldn't get ANY of that?
So Al Mansell could turn the prison property into, "The Hot Springs Condos"?
When I started at Corrections in 1988 you know what one of the real money makers of Utah Correctional Industries was? Tropical fish. Yeah, I know, you had no idea. But the geothermal springs on prison property made it a great industry to be in. I don't know if they are still in that business, but they should be.
This Legislature is out if it's mind, and not, by any stretch in control of the people who elected them. They are ALL about guys like, Al Mansell being given everything they want. Taxpayers could lose $378 MILLION dollars moving the prison, so Al Mansell could make a few bucks, while we can't afford to fund our schools. WTF?
I don't know if feral animals are a big problem, since I don't live on a farm, but even so, do we want THAT to be our national image? Is trying to take Tenure away from college professors because some nut ball from Provo couldn't attain it when HE was teaching, really a good idea? Do you really want anyone to be able to carry a gun, out in the open, even if they don't have any training on how and when you should use one under Utah law?
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the whole state is full of the kind of nut balls who would vote for, Chris Buttars and, Carl Wimmer, and they live in, "Glennbeckistan" which is, South Jordan, Herriman and Utah County. But I hope not. I hope these people are not just waiting for the feral animal bill to pass so they can take their AR15 with the extra magazines to the local dog park and get in some shots at moving targets.
I have a feeling, and it's not a good one, that I'm right. Guess I should keep packing my concealed gun. If I believed in God, I'd ask him to help us. But that's a sucker bet every time.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Union Busting. Wisconson First, Everywhere Else, ASAP
The American Labor Movement. The People Who Brought You The Weekend! Like your 8 hour day? Thank the Unions. Think a minimum wage is a GOOD idea? Thank the Unions.
Like to be able to hold onto your job, even though you have reached the high end of your earning scale? And truth be told, even if you screw up one time? You BETTER like the Union Movement.
Think teachers should be HARD to fire because EVERYONE thinks that it's the TEACHERS fault that their kid is failing? Even though, the truth be known, it's YOUR kid. Trust me. Been there, it's MY kid. Not his teachers.
The Koch Brothers HATE unions. The Unions cost them money. They have to buy safety equipment for the poor people who work for them. They have to pay them a living wage they negotiated for with the UNION, and they have to provide health insurance to their employees.
And the EPA, and OSHA, cost THEM money! If they didn't have to make a safe workplace for their workers, they could save a BUNCH of money! After all, killing poor people is a LOT cheaper than giving them a safe work place in which they are making you a LOT of money!
I don't know how they did it, but just after we elected a Democratic President, and had a Democratic controlled Congress and Senate, the guys who want to take away the Middle Class, and keep giving tax breaks to the "Super Rich", got everything they wanted! WTF?
Barack! TAX the RICH, PLEASE! I'm RICH and I WANT you to TAX ME! Lay off the middle class. This is just wrong.
Republicans just want everyone else to pay the tab. While they pay nothing. Pricks.
END the tax cuts for the rich, KEEP the tax cuts for the middle class, and you will create jobs. There is no, "Trickle Down" economics. It's just the rich pissing down your back. It's never, ever, worked.
Stay the course, Wisconsin. Union is the WAY to live. Keep the Labor Movement alive in America. It's up to YOU!
I say what I think, that the Company Stinks, because I'm a UNION MAN! It's the movement that gave you the weekend, and made our country. Keep fighting Wisconsin!
Like to be able to hold onto your job, even though you have reached the high end of your earning scale? And truth be told, even if you screw up one time? You BETTER like the Union Movement.
Think teachers should be HARD to fire because EVERYONE thinks that it's the TEACHERS fault that their kid is failing? Even though, the truth be known, it's YOUR kid. Trust me. Been there, it's MY kid. Not his teachers.
The Koch Brothers HATE unions. The Unions cost them money. They have to buy safety equipment for the poor people who work for them. They have to pay them a living wage they negotiated for with the UNION, and they have to provide health insurance to their employees.
And the EPA, and OSHA, cost THEM money! If they didn't have to make a safe workplace for their workers, they could save a BUNCH of money! After all, killing poor people is a LOT cheaper than giving them a safe work place in which they are making you a LOT of money!
I don't know how they did it, but just after we elected a Democratic President, and had a Democratic controlled Congress and Senate, the guys who want to take away the Middle Class, and keep giving tax breaks to the "Super Rich", got everything they wanted! WTF?
Barack! TAX the RICH, PLEASE! I'm RICH and I WANT you to TAX ME! Lay off the middle class. This is just wrong.
Republicans just want everyone else to pay the tab. While they pay nothing. Pricks.
END the tax cuts for the rich, KEEP the tax cuts for the middle class, and you will create jobs. There is no, "Trickle Down" economics. It's just the rich pissing down your back. It's never, ever, worked.
Stay the course, Wisconsin. Union is the WAY to live. Keep the Labor Movement alive in America. It's up to YOU!
I say what I think, that the Company Stinks, because I'm a UNION MAN! It's the movement that gave you the weekend, and made our country. Keep fighting Wisconsin!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
I'm A, "Murray Guy".
I was sitting around the wood stove in the garage this afternoon, smoking cigars and drinking some whiskey with some, "Murray Guys". Jim, EJ, Phil.
The memories we have of growing up in Murray, of being at Murray High, seem to be so much the same even though we are all not in the same class. Phil was two years older than me. Jim a year younger, EJ, ten years younger.
At one point in my life I played football for Ron Haun at Murray High, and later worked for his older brother, Pete Haun when he was the Director of the Department of Corrections. Spent a couple of nights in a car outside, Pete's house guarding it from a guy who had made some death threats.
Worked for, Joe Borich at Corrections. He played football at Murray High with Ron and Pete. Can't remember how many Sundquist brothers I worked with, played ball with or knew over the years. If it weren't for, Jeff Sundquist talking me into it, I might have never gone to work for Corrections and I'd still be a, "wage slave" for the Juvenile Court.
So, I'm a, "Murray Guy". I was born in a little town in West Virginia, but Murray is my home. My daughter was born in Murray. My son has grown up here. We moved back here when he was starting kindergarten, and this is the only place he's gone to school.
In the winter of 2001, before the Olympics started, my son was playing rec league basketball here in Murray. At the, "NEW" high school gym. The one built a few years after I graduated from Murray High. There is a trophy case outside the door of the gym and my daughter was looking at it and said to her brother, "Hey, Danny! Come and look at this trophy, it's got dad's name on it!"
It was the 1976 State AAA Football Championship Trophy. Just happened to be turned the right way that the panel with my name on it was showing.
I never started a Varsity game at Murray High. I played sophomore, and JV, and was on the team as a senior. But I was slow, and when I got in as a senior, the game was already more than decided. But that was OK, because I played on the scout team, and I showed up for practice everyday, so I got to play football everyday. And I loved it. I did my part. And for that, I was rewarded with my name on that trophy, and a varsity letter for having played all three years I was there.
My daughter showing my son that trophy might be the proudest moment of my life. I still tear up when I think of it.
I'm a, "Murray Guy". And we were talking about what that meant this afternoon around the wood stove.
My son has had three of his friends leave his Murray Max Soccer Team over the years to go play for teams that had a better shot at playing in a Premier League. He gets a ton of mail every spring asking him to try out for them, but I won't let him.
The purpose of the Murray Max program is to get these kids to play together all the way to high school, so they are good at that level. Not to win national competitions.
His buddies are now back trying out for the Murray High team. What, you couldn't make the, "Impact High" team, or the, "Sparta High" team? Oh, they don't exist? No kidding. Well, then you're not a, "Murray Guy" so maybe you shouldn't get the privilege of playing for Murray.
EJ's son is a good hockey player. He could go play somewhere else with more prestige, but no, he's going to stay here and be a, "Murray Guy".
Phil's son, Alex is the reason I sold my home in West Jordan and moved back. Watching Alex pitch for the home side his last summer in Legion ball just made it too hard to stay in West Jordan. I didn't like it there anyway, even though we built the house the way we wanted it. I just never felt comfortable there. Too Mormon, to Republican. Just not my kind of place.
Alex just bought his first house. In Murray. He's a, "Murray Guy".
My friend, Alphonso and I bought, unknown to each other, new Camaro's within 3 days of each other last spring. What color did we both buy? Orange and black for hell sake! What would you think?
Al's a, "Murray Guy" too. He lives just up the hill from me, and not far from, Phil. In Murray.
When we got to move back here, ten years ago, my daughter was in 8Th grade. At the first parent teacher conference at Riverview Jr. High in September it seemed to my wife, who grew up in California, that I knew everyone else's parents from high school. At the end of the evening, as we were walking out, she said, "My God, this place is, Brigadoon! You people never leave!"
Guilty as charged. Even when my son was playing baseball at Grant Park, where I played Little League baseball, he was on a team with a Rompus. When over the speakers we heard, "On deck, Rompus, in the hole, Stickley" I turned to, Dino and said, "Just like 40 years ago, huh?" And it was.
We are all, "Murray Guys". We don't leave, and if we have to? We come home to make it better than we left it. We hope.
Flip Nielson, Phil Markham, Greg Hill, Kevin and Lynn Potter, are all, "Murray Guys" who stayed here to make Murray a better place to live. I'm sure there are a lot more I don't know about.
I noticed a few years ago when my son started to play baseball and soccer I had come full circle in my clothing colors. When I started school at the, "U" most of the shirts and jackets I had were orange and black and said, "Murray Football" on them. Now, 40 years later, I have an inordinate amount of clothing that's orange and black, and says, "Murray" on it somewhere.
I don't think there is any place quite like this. Not in Utah, not anywhere. And that's OK. I hope it never changes. The Greeks, the Italians and everyone else who came here in the 1800's made it a great town. And it's awesome that most of them stayed. I'm glad we're diverse, and accepting, such a great place to live.
My State Legislator, State Senator, and Congressman are all Democrats. Anyone else in Utah who doesn't live in Salt Lake City who can say that might live in a city as cool as mine.
Danny thinks I bought the Camaro in orange and black so he could drive it to high school. Fat chance. That's 406 bhp he's NEVER going to get to drive. But I'm proud to drop him off at soccer practice in it.
Last spring, the boys played, and beat, a team from Park City down here by my house at the Willow Pond Soccer Complex. And as we were loading the chairs and stuff into the back of the big orange and black beast, one of the Park City moms walked buy and took a good, long look at the car, and said to my wife, "Boy. You must REALLY love your team."
Lady, you have NO idea how much.
If you're not a, "Murray Guy", you will never know how cool it is to be one. We might not always win, but even when we don't, we get to come home to Murray. And that's better than any place YOU get to go home to.
The memories we have of growing up in Murray, of being at Murray High, seem to be so much the same even though we are all not in the same class. Phil was two years older than me. Jim a year younger, EJ, ten years younger.
At one point in my life I played football for Ron Haun at Murray High, and later worked for his older brother, Pete Haun when he was the Director of the Department of Corrections. Spent a couple of nights in a car outside, Pete's house guarding it from a guy who had made some death threats.
Worked for, Joe Borich at Corrections. He played football at Murray High with Ron and Pete. Can't remember how many Sundquist brothers I worked with, played ball with or knew over the years. If it weren't for, Jeff Sundquist talking me into it, I might have never gone to work for Corrections and I'd still be a, "wage slave" for the Juvenile Court.
So, I'm a, "Murray Guy". I was born in a little town in West Virginia, but Murray is my home. My daughter was born in Murray. My son has grown up here. We moved back here when he was starting kindergarten, and this is the only place he's gone to school.
In the winter of 2001, before the Olympics started, my son was playing rec league basketball here in Murray. At the, "NEW" high school gym. The one built a few years after I graduated from Murray High. There is a trophy case outside the door of the gym and my daughter was looking at it and said to her brother, "Hey, Danny! Come and look at this trophy, it's got dad's name on it!"
It was the 1976 State AAA Football Championship Trophy. Just happened to be turned the right way that the panel with my name on it was showing.
I never started a Varsity game at Murray High. I played sophomore, and JV, and was on the team as a senior. But I was slow, and when I got in as a senior, the game was already more than decided. But that was OK, because I played on the scout team, and I showed up for practice everyday, so I got to play football everyday. And I loved it. I did my part. And for that, I was rewarded with my name on that trophy, and a varsity letter for having played all three years I was there.
My daughter showing my son that trophy might be the proudest moment of my life. I still tear up when I think of it.
I'm a, "Murray Guy". And we were talking about what that meant this afternoon around the wood stove.
My son has had three of his friends leave his Murray Max Soccer Team over the years to go play for teams that had a better shot at playing in a Premier League. He gets a ton of mail every spring asking him to try out for them, but I won't let him.
The purpose of the Murray Max program is to get these kids to play together all the way to high school, so they are good at that level. Not to win national competitions.
His buddies are now back trying out for the Murray High team. What, you couldn't make the, "Impact High" team, or the, "Sparta High" team? Oh, they don't exist? No kidding. Well, then you're not a, "Murray Guy" so maybe you shouldn't get the privilege of playing for Murray.
EJ's son is a good hockey player. He could go play somewhere else with more prestige, but no, he's going to stay here and be a, "Murray Guy".
Phil's son, Alex is the reason I sold my home in West Jordan and moved back. Watching Alex pitch for the home side his last summer in Legion ball just made it too hard to stay in West Jordan. I didn't like it there anyway, even though we built the house the way we wanted it. I just never felt comfortable there. Too Mormon, to Republican. Just not my kind of place.
Alex just bought his first house. In Murray. He's a, "Murray Guy".
My friend, Alphonso and I bought, unknown to each other, new Camaro's within 3 days of each other last spring. What color did we both buy? Orange and black for hell sake! What would you think?
Al's a, "Murray Guy" too. He lives just up the hill from me, and not far from, Phil. In Murray.
When we got to move back here, ten years ago, my daughter was in 8Th grade. At the first parent teacher conference at Riverview Jr. High in September it seemed to my wife, who grew up in California, that I knew everyone else's parents from high school. At the end of the evening, as we were walking out, she said, "My God, this place is, Brigadoon! You people never leave!"
Guilty as charged. Even when my son was playing baseball at Grant Park, where I played Little League baseball, he was on a team with a Rompus. When over the speakers we heard, "On deck, Rompus, in the hole, Stickley" I turned to, Dino and said, "Just like 40 years ago, huh?" And it was.
We are all, "Murray Guys". We don't leave, and if we have to? We come home to make it better than we left it. We hope.
Flip Nielson, Phil Markham, Greg Hill, Kevin and Lynn Potter, are all, "Murray Guys" who stayed here to make Murray a better place to live. I'm sure there are a lot more I don't know about.
I noticed a few years ago when my son started to play baseball and soccer I had come full circle in my clothing colors. When I started school at the, "U" most of the shirts and jackets I had were orange and black and said, "Murray Football" on them. Now, 40 years later, I have an inordinate amount of clothing that's orange and black, and says, "Murray" on it somewhere.
I don't think there is any place quite like this. Not in Utah, not anywhere. And that's OK. I hope it never changes. The Greeks, the Italians and everyone else who came here in the 1800's made it a great town. And it's awesome that most of them stayed. I'm glad we're diverse, and accepting, such a great place to live.
My State Legislator, State Senator, and Congressman are all Democrats. Anyone else in Utah who doesn't live in Salt Lake City who can say that might live in a city as cool as mine.
Danny thinks I bought the Camaro in orange and black so he could drive it to high school. Fat chance. That's 406 bhp he's NEVER going to get to drive. But I'm proud to drop him off at soccer practice in it.
Last spring, the boys played, and beat, a team from Park City down here by my house at the Willow Pond Soccer Complex. And as we were loading the chairs and stuff into the back of the big orange and black beast, one of the Park City moms walked buy and took a good, long look at the car, and said to my wife, "Boy. You must REALLY love your team."
Lady, you have NO idea how much.
If you're not a, "Murray Guy", you will never know how cool it is to be one. We might not always win, but even when we don't, we get to come home to Murray. And that's better than any place YOU get to go home to.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Lawrence O'Donnell, D. (Douche) MSNBC
Did anyone else watch Lawrence O'Donnell turn into Bill O'Reilly tonight while he interviewed, Jason Chaffetz? For crying out loud, the guy was an absolute asshole!
I'm no fan of, Chaffetz. Hell, I've even called, Paul Rolly on him when I knew about some of his hypocrisy. But O'Donnell made him look like the voice of reason and decorum with his rudeness tonight.
O'Donnell has been watching too much, "Faux News" it appears. He's learned that when you interview someone, you don't let them give the whole answer to the question. You cut them off before they can explain themselves, and you put words in their mouths. You also make shit up by pulling accusations of impropriety out of thin air.
This interview reminded me of, "Bill-O's" interview of the President before the Super Bowl. How a nut job like, O'Reilly was allowed to treat a sitting President of The United States so rudely and inappropriately, except that the network carrying the game was, Fox is beyond me. It was horrible.
And O'Donnell did the same thing to Chaffetz tonight. He put words in his mouth, he cut him off, he insinuated stuff. Just like, "Faux News".
When Stephen Colbert does it on his show, it's supposed to be funny. He's doing satire. But even at that, when his guest is someone who has written a book I might actually like to read? I find it totally annoying. Even though I get it that, "annoying" is what he's going for. He is a better, more obnoxious and ill informed, inflexible, "character" than O'Reilly is in reality.
O'Donnell was channeling, Stephen Colbert tonight! He was a total jerk! And even though I don't like the guy he was a jerk to, it's not news, and it's not journalism, and it's not right when you pull that shit, and you're not doing a comedy show.
Yeah, Chaffetz is a cheap bastard that ought to get a room, and not be sleeping in his office. It shows a total lack of class, and is demeaning to the Office of Congressman. But since he's from Utah County, home of the cheapest people in the country, it plays well with his constituents.
That is no excuse for MSNBC to quit being a news channel, and start being, "Faux News". And if this is the direction they are going to take, I'll start watching, "COPS" reruns on, TruTV instead of, O'Donnell at 1800 hours MST.
And, O'Donnell? You should be ashamed of yourself! You have the credentials and experience to be the true voice of reason on TV. And with your experience, you should have been able to make a political light weight like, Jason Chaffetz, look like a dope. But, nope. He turned the table on you, and made you look like a total douche by not losing his cool, and giving reasonable answers, at least as much of an answer as you would LET him.
When Keith Olbermann eviscerated you, to your face or not, he was a gentleman about it. He let you answer the question because after you did, he probably had more ammo to use against you. He didn't need to shout you down. When you came to a battle of wits with him, he made you look totally unarmed.
Mr. O'Donnell, you sir, are no, Keith Olbermann. And I hope you change your ways before you and your network can't get anyone with, "R" after their name to appear on your shows, and like, "Faux News" you are no longer a real news channel.
Liberals don't need our own network to reinforce what we believe. We know we are right, and are proven so all the time by the REAL NEWS! That's why, "Air America" failed. If you are preaching to choir, you're not convincing anyone else.
Faux News has to reinforce, to the dummies that watch it, every day, and every hour that they are right, despite all the information from legitimate news sources that they are wrong about everything, and voting for rich people is not in the best interest of the poor, and downtrodden.
Faux News fans don't KNOW they are the poor and downtrodden. Liberals know what reality is. So, MSNBC, and Lawrence? Quit preaching to the choir and just report the news.
I'm no fan of, Chaffetz. Hell, I've even called, Paul Rolly on him when I knew about some of his hypocrisy. But O'Donnell made him look like the voice of reason and decorum with his rudeness tonight.
O'Donnell has been watching too much, "Faux News" it appears. He's learned that when you interview someone, you don't let them give the whole answer to the question. You cut them off before they can explain themselves, and you put words in their mouths. You also make shit up by pulling accusations of impropriety out of thin air.
This interview reminded me of, "Bill-O's" interview of the President before the Super Bowl. How a nut job like, O'Reilly was allowed to treat a sitting President of The United States so rudely and inappropriately, except that the network carrying the game was, Fox is beyond me. It was horrible.
And O'Donnell did the same thing to Chaffetz tonight. He put words in his mouth, he cut him off, he insinuated stuff. Just like, "Faux News".
When Stephen Colbert does it on his show, it's supposed to be funny. He's doing satire. But even at that, when his guest is someone who has written a book I might actually like to read? I find it totally annoying. Even though I get it that, "annoying" is what he's going for. He is a better, more obnoxious and ill informed, inflexible, "character" than O'Reilly is in reality.
O'Donnell was channeling, Stephen Colbert tonight! He was a total jerk! And even though I don't like the guy he was a jerk to, it's not news, and it's not journalism, and it's not right when you pull that shit, and you're not doing a comedy show.
Yeah, Chaffetz is a cheap bastard that ought to get a room, and not be sleeping in his office. It shows a total lack of class, and is demeaning to the Office of Congressman. But since he's from Utah County, home of the cheapest people in the country, it plays well with his constituents.
That is no excuse for MSNBC to quit being a news channel, and start being, "Faux News". And if this is the direction they are going to take, I'll start watching, "COPS" reruns on, TruTV instead of, O'Donnell at 1800 hours MST.
And, O'Donnell? You should be ashamed of yourself! You have the credentials and experience to be the true voice of reason on TV. And with your experience, you should have been able to make a political light weight like, Jason Chaffetz, look like a dope. But, nope. He turned the table on you, and made you look like a total douche by not losing his cool, and giving reasonable answers, at least as much of an answer as you would LET him.
When Keith Olbermann eviscerated you, to your face or not, he was a gentleman about it. He let you answer the question because after you did, he probably had more ammo to use against you. He didn't need to shout you down. When you came to a battle of wits with him, he made you look totally unarmed.
Mr. O'Donnell, you sir, are no, Keith Olbermann. And I hope you change your ways before you and your network can't get anyone with, "R" after their name to appear on your shows, and like, "Faux News" you are no longer a real news channel.
Liberals don't need our own network to reinforce what we believe. We know we are right, and are proven so all the time by the REAL NEWS! That's why, "Air America" failed. If you are preaching to choir, you're not convincing anyone else.
Faux News has to reinforce, to the dummies that watch it, every day, and every hour that they are right, despite all the information from legitimate news sources that they are wrong about everything, and voting for rich people is not in the best interest of the poor, and downtrodden.
Faux News fans don't KNOW they are the poor and downtrodden. Liberals know what reality is. So, MSNBC, and Lawrence? Quit preaching to the choir and just report the news.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Herrod Must Be Stopped. The Stupid Needs to Stop NOW!
Chris Herrod, R. (Rat bastard) Provo, is up to his neck in stupid again this week. How do we put a plug in this guy? And I mean his mouth, not some vaguely, scary, "Second Amendment Solution", Republican map with cross hairs on it, kind of way. Just shut him the hell up before he causes any more damage with his idiocy!
Last week, "Mr. Too Cheap To Buy A Car Seat" perposed that if the speed limit on any road were 45 MPH, or less, you should just be able to cram as many kids, yours, or your neighbors, into what ever vehicle you have, and be on your way. And to prove his point that this was OK, he lied about the statistics. I detailed this, and his academic/work history (which will become important in a moment) in my blog of February 8, 2011 (Spring For A Van For Crying Out Loud! truthstick.blogspot.com).
Now this guy, who by admission on his own web site, flunked out of a PH.d Program at BYU (and has his Bachelors and Masters Degrees from that same institution. Which is NEVER a good way to show you have a well rounded, and well diversified educational experience) wants the University Of Utah, and Utah State University (lets face it, that's who he's, "gunning" for, no one else) to be prohibited from offering tenure to professors! WTF? How do Universities, REAL Universities, not BYU, ever hope to attract, and keep the best Professors, if they can't be offered tenure?
He says he wants Universities to have have flexibility, and he would hate to see them have to fire a, "Young up and comer" over a tenured professor who's, "Barely there". Paraphrasing from the Tribune article about this, in times of budget crisis.
I'm going to call, "Bullshit" on, "wanna be" professor, Chris Herrod. Despite his teaching overseas, and then coming home to teach at UVSC, he never achieved a Doctoral Degree. He never achieved tenure. Anywhere. Not even in the former Soviet Union.
He came home with a wife (not so hard to do from a former Communist Country. Those girls are HUNGRY! Was she a legal imigrant? I have to ask) but not tenure. That's MUCH tougher to get. Even over there.
And the flexibility part is also Bullshit. He doesn't want the University of Utah to be able to dump used up professors like an NHL team can get rid of it's old guys to stay under the salary cap when times get tough. He wants the Legislature to be able to put pressure on the University to fire a professor who happens to teach something he doesn't agree with! Like science, or evolution.
The, "U" just got accepted into a group of some of the finest Universities in the world by being invited to join the PAC 10, and make it the PAC 12 (yes BYU fans, 10+1=11. Do I really have to remind you that you were left behind for Colorado? Do I?). We are a great research University with a world renown Medical School, law school and a football team that kicks some ass, too. Does anyone really think this would have happened if we couldn't, by LAW, offer our professors, tenure? I think not.
Hell, if THAT were the case, our University might have ended up like Chris Herrod's "University" and shooting itself in the foot by going independent in football, where they will be playing New Mexico State every year, and dropping all their other sports to a 1AA Conference (trust me, football is going to follow them there soon) The West Coast Conference with a bunch of other religious schools, because no one else will have them.
Trying to pass this silly, and ridiculous law is nothing more than a BYU fan trying to get back at, "The U" for being able to do what his school could never, in their wildest dreams pull off. Being thought of nationally, and internationally, as a REAL, University.
This is exactly what a high ranking official at the, "U", who shall remain nameless, warned me about years ago when we were talking about a possible move to the PAC 10 over a sandwich at a basketball game. He said that the biggest hurdle to our acceptance was that we had to do it in such a way that the PAC didn't have to take, BYU, Ala the, Big XII being forced to take, Baptist, Baylor by former, Texas Governor, Ann Richards.
I don't know the whole story, but according to this source, no one in the soon to be new, Big XII wanted, religious, and poorly thought of academically, Baylor to be part of the mix. In steps, Governor Richards, a Baylor Alumni. As the story goes, she threatened to pass what ever law was necessary to keep Texas, Texas A&M, And Texas Tech out of the new conference, if they didn't also take the, "also ran", Baylor. Well, the new conference wouldn't work without Texas. Screw the rest of those guys, but they NEEDED Texas, so they had to take, Baylor.
They could piss on the other religious schools, SMU, and TCU and academicly well regarded, but poorly attended, Rice. But they had to take, Baylor.
And this was the dilemma faced by the, "U". How to get out of the MWC without having to have the albatross of a crappy school like, BYU around our neck? Do it quickly, in the summer while the Legislature was not in session, and not give them a chance to change the situation.
Well, it didn't stop them from trying to hurt OUR situation, even if they can't improve theirs, and this stupid bill by, Herrod is just the last gasp of a BYU football fan who can't stand it that the, "U" is a MUCH more important athletic institution in every way than his will ever be again. And has the chance to be much more then BYU ever WAS.
Now, he's come up with another crackpot plan. Put the Legislature in charge of KUED TV? Why? Right wing, Mormon Republicans don't WATCH it? Why do they care? They have KBYU to show them, Lawrence Welk reruns, Parry Mason and all the ballroom dancing they can stand. And they can be guaranteed not to see any REAL news on that channel. It's perfect for them and their 1950's view of America. Why bother with KUED?
Herrod should have spent a lot more time out of the country. He might actually understand how THIS one works, if he had. The guy is a moron, and needs to be stopped.
I mean, if he was REALLY educated, at a University level? He'd welcome differing viewpoints being available, even if he didn't agree with them, instead of trying to suppress anything he didn't agree with.
If we reinstated, "The Fairness Doctrine" in broadcasting, that was tossed out by the, Reagan Administration, "Faux News" would be history, because, Fox News actually claims to be a NEWS organization, which they are not. But you would still have Rush, and, Glenn, and Hannity, and, The New Republic and tons of right wing leaning publications and broadcast outlets.
But Herrod wants to kill Public Broadcasting, which is bias free, and just tells the truth? He's a nut.
So, two stupid laws limiting the ability of, "smart" people to stay smart in one week. Nice work, Rep. Chirs Herrod, R. (Rat Bastard), Glennbecksitan, for trying to undermine the American way of life. If I were a Tea Party guy, I'd tell you to back to Russia!
Last week, "Mr. Too Cheap To Buy A Car Seat" perposed that if the speed limit on any road were 45 MPH, or less, you should just be able to cram as many kids, yours, or your neighbors, into what ever vehicle you have, and be on your way. And to prove his point that this was OK, he lied about the statistics. I detailed this, and his academic/work history (which will become important in a moment) in my blog of February 8, 2011 (Spring For A Van For Crying Out Loud! truthstick.blogspot.com).
Now this guy, who by admission on his own web site, flunked out of a PH.d Program at BYU (and has his Bachelors and Masters Degrees from that same institution. Which is NEVER a good way to show you have a well rounded, and well diversified educational experience) wants the University Of Utah, and Utah State University (lets face it, that's who he's, "gunning" for, no one else) to be prohibited from offering tenure to professors! WTF? How do Universities, REAL Universities, not BYU, ever hope to attract, and keep the best Professors, if they can't be offered tenure?
He says he wants Universities to have have flexibility, and he would hate to see them have to fire a, "Young up and comer" over a tenured professor who's, "Barely there". Paraphrasing from the Tribune article about this, in times of budget crisis.
I'm going to call, "Bullshit" on, "wanna be" professor, Chris Herrod. Despite his teaching overseas, and then coming home to teach at UVSC, he never achieved a Doctoral Degree. He never achieved tenure. Anywhere. Not even in the former Soviet Union.
He came home with a wife (not so hard to do from a former Communist Country. Those girls are HUNGRY! Was she a legal imigrant? I have to ask) but not tenure. That's MUCH tougher to get. Even over there.
And the flexibility part is also Bullshit. He doesn't want the University of Utah to be able to dump used up professors like an NHL team can get rid of it's old guys to stay under the salary cap when times get tough. He wants the Legislature to be able to put pressure on the University to fire a professor who happens to teach something he doesn't agree with! Like science, or evolution.
The, "U" just got accepted into a group of some of the finest Universities in the world by being invited to join the PAC 10, and make it the PAC 12 (yes BYU fans, 10+1=11. Do I really have to remind you that you were left behind for Colorado? Do I?). We are a great research University with a world renown Medical School, law school and a football team that kicks some ass, too. Does anyone really think this would have happened if we couldn't, by LAW, offer our professors, tenure? I think not.
Hell, if THAT were the case, our University might have ended up like Chris Herrod's "University" and shooting itself in the foot by going independent in football, where they will be playing New Mexico State every year, and dropping all their other sports to a 1AA Conference (trust me, football is going to follow them there soon) The West Coast Conference with a bunch of other religious schools, because no one else will have them.
Trying to pass this silly, and ridiculous law is nothing more than a BYU fan trying to get back at, "The U" for being able to do what his school could never, in their wildest dreams pull off. Being thought of nationally, and internationally, as a REAL, University.
This is exactly what a high ranking official at the, "U", who shall remain nameless, warned me about years ago when we were talking about a possible move to the PAC 10 over a sandwich at a basketball game. He said that the biggest hurdle to our acceptance was that we had to do it in such a way that the PAC didn't have to take, BYU, Ala the, Big XII being forced to take, Baptist, Baylor by former, Texas Governor, Ann Richards.
I don't know the whole story, but according to this source, no one in the soon to be new, Big XII wanted, religious, and poorly thought of academically, Baylor to be part of the mix. In steps, Governor Richards, a Baylor Alumni. As the story goes, she threatened to pass what ever law was necessary to keep Texas, Texas A&M, And Texas Tech out of the new conference, if they didn't also take the, "also ran", Baylor. Well, the new conference wouldn't work without Texas. Screw the rest of those guys, but they NEEDED Texas, so they had to take, Baylor.
They could piss on the other religious schools, SMU, and TCU and academicly well regarded, but poorly attended, Rice. But they had to take, Baylor.
And this was the dilemma faced by the, "U". How to get out of the MWC without having to have the albatross of a crappy school like, BYU around our neck? Do it quickly, in the summer while the Legislature was not in session, and not give them a chance to change the situation.
Well, it didn't stop them from trying to hurt OUR situation, even if they can't improve theirs, and this stupid bill by, Herrod is just the last gasp of a BYU football fan who can't stand it that the, "U" is a MUCH more important athletic institution in every way than his will ever be again. And has the chance to be much more then BYU ever WAS.
Now, he's come up with another crackpot plan. Put the Legislature in charge of KUED TV? Why? Right wing, Mormon Republicans don't WATCH it? Why do they care? They have KBYU to show them, Lawrence Welk reruns, Parry Mason and all the ballroom dancing they can stand. And they can be guaranteed not to see any REAL news on that channel. It's perfect for them and their 1950's view of America. Why bother with KUED?
Herrod should have spent a lot more time out of the country. He might actually understand how THIS one works, if he had. The guy is a moron, and needs to be stopped.
I mean, if he was REALLY educated, at a University level? He'd welcome differing viewpoints being available, even if he didn't agree with them, instead of trying to suppress anything he didn't agree with.
If we reinstated, "The Fairness Doctrine" in broadcasting, that was tossed out by the, Reagan Administration, "Faux News" would be history, because, Fox News actually claims to be a NEWS organization, which they are not. But you would still have Rush, and, Glenn, and Hannity, and, The New Republic and tons of right wing leaning publications and broadcast outlets.
But Herrod wants to kill Public Broadcasting, which is bias free, and just tells the truth? He's a nut.
So, two stupid laws limiting the ability of, "smart" people to stay smart in one week. Nice work, Rep. Chirs Herrod, R. (Rat Bastard), Glennbecksitan, for trying to undermine the American way of life. If I were a Tea Party guy, I'd tell you to back to Russia!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Do I Know You? Or, Should I?
OK, here's a question I need answered. Where do you draw the line on Facebook friends? I mean, who do you, "friend" or not?
I just friended a woman who I knew in high school. I've know her and her sister since Jr. High school. One of these women, I actually took out a couple of times. The older of the sisters.
But now, FB is telling me I should, "Friend" her husband. Well by all accounts, he's a great guy, but I've never really, MET him. I don't know what he does for a living. We have nothing in common. But hey, I want to be friendly. I'm not on FB to get a bunch of friends, I'm on to connect with old friends.
So if I DO friend him, even though we have nothing in common except his wife, is that weird? Will he think that I'm trying to get close to his wife even though we're Friends on FB because we went to school together, that I have some other desire, like getting closer to his wife?
Because I don't.
Oh, man. This is getting tough. I WANT to connect with my old high school friends since I spent 20+ years trying to stay UNDERCOVER because of my job. But now, how do I treat their husbands and wives I've never met?
"How do you do? I knew your spouse 40 years ago. Would you like to be friends?" That's weird. Isn't it?
My friend told me to go ahead and, "Friend" her husband because he rarely goes on FB. But then, again, why would I do that? We have nothing in common except his wife.
And it's not like you think. Me and his wife were not THAT close. We went out a couple of times. I took her to a Black Oak Arkansas Concert. I like to think I was a Gentleman, and she was a total Lady. So nothing happened.
But still. Makes me feel weird.
I guess we can all figure this out together. Eventually.
I love not having to be undercover anymore. But that being said, I don't always know the rules of polite society any more. I'm still learning.
I just friended a woman who I knew in high school. I've know her and her sister since Jr. High school. One of these women, I actually took out a couple of times. The older of the sisters.
But now, FB is telling me I should, "Friend" her husband. Well by all accounts, he's a great guy, but I've never really, MET him. I don't know what he does for a living. We have nothing in common. But hey, I want to be friendly. I'm not on FB to get a bunch of friends, I'm on to connect with old friends.
So if I DO friend him, even though we have nothing in common except his wife, is that weird? Will he think that I'm trying to get close to his wife even though we're Friends on FB because we went to school together, that I have some other desire, like getting closer to his wife?
Because I don't.
Oh, man. This is getting tough. I WANT to connect with my old high school friends since I spent 20+ years trying to stay UNDERCOVER because of my job. But now, how do I treat their husbands and wives I've never met?
"How do you do? I knew your spouse 40 years ago. Would you like to be friends?" That's weird. Isn't it?
My friend told me to go ahead and, "Friend" her husband because he rarely goes on FB. But then, again, why would I do that? We have nothing in common except his wife.
And it's not like you think. Me and his wife were not THAT close. We went out a couple of times. I took her to a Black Oak Arkansas Concert. I like to think I was a Gentleman, and she was a total Lady. So nothing happened.
But still. Makes me feel weird.
I guess we can all figure this out together. Eventually.
I love not having to be undercover anymore. But that being said, I don't always know the rules of polite society any more. I'm still learning.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Who Do We Hate Now?
My 14 year old son came in to the living room the other day from his basement, "Man Cave" where he plays video games, and said to me, "Dad, who do we hate next?"
I was perplexed, so I said, "What do you mean? Why should we hate anyone?"
He said, "Well, after we start treating Gay people the right way, like we did, Black people. Who's next? It seems like we always have to hate someone."
Good question. Who DO we hate next?
Well, I told him that the next candidate for hate would probably be Muslim's, since we already had a pretty good start on that. And that the bottom line on hate of any kind, was who the people who were doing the hating thought their, "Imaginary Friend who lives in the sky" TOLD them to hate. And if you didn't believe in a, "God", you were not obligated to HATE anyone for any reason.
Unless they went to the college that YOUR college hates in football. Then, that HATE lasts a lifetime, and will never, ever leave you.
He laughed at my, "Imaginary Friend" reference, but he got what I was saying.
Every time someone says that religion/Jesus/God is, "LOVE", they should be shot. Like an abortion doctor in Kansas. Because it's just plain, unadulterated BULLSHIT!
Liberals don't SHOOT people who don't agree with them. We don't hate Gay people, and we want them to have the same benefits as the rest of us when it comes to marriage. At least as far as the STATE gives them to us. Your church? Not so much. We don't care what your church believes, or wants to do or honor.
But if, "Married" people get tax breaks, and other rights that are given by, The State, then everyone needs the right to marry.
Yeah, yeah, I hear all you Tea Party, Sarah Palin, Faux News watching idiots yelling about people marrying their dogs, etc. When the dog can sign the marriage license, get back to me. Otherwise, fuck off.
You know you're up in the night about this, but you won't just realize truth. You bitch about too much government, until you want it to protect your religious views.
Can we stop hating? Can we just agree to disagree? Do we have to mark politicians we don't agree with, with rifle sights? Do we have to keep hating Gay people, or Muslim's or who the hell ever because they don't believe in the same, "Imaginary Friend In The Sky" as you?
As my son said, who DO we hate next? And why go we always have to have someone to hate?
I was perplexed, so I said, "What do you mean? Why should we hate anyone?"
He said, "Well, after we start treating Gay people the right way, like we did, Black people. Who's next? It seems like we always have to hate someone."
Good question. Who DO we hate next?
Well, I told him that the next candidate for hate would probably be Muslim's, since we already had a pretty good start on that. And that the bottom line on hate of any kind, was who the people who were doing the hating thought their, "Imaginary Friend who lives in the sky" TOLD them to hate. And if you didn't believe in a, "God", you were not obligated to HATE anyone for any reason.
Unless they went to the college that YOUR college hates in football. Then, that HATE lasts a lifetime, and will never, ever leave you.
He laughed at my, "Imaginary Friend" reference, but he got what I was saying.
Every time someone says that religion/Jesus/God is, "LOVE", they should be shot. Like an abortion doctor in Kansas. Because it's just plain, unadulterated BULLSHIT!
Liberals don't SHOOT people who don't agree with them. We don't hate Gay people, and we want them to have the same benefits as the rest of us when it comes to marriage. At least as far as the STATE gives them to us. Your church? Not so much. We don't care what your church believes, or wants to do or honor.
But if, "Married" people get tax breaks, and other rights that are given by, The State, then everyone needs the right to marry.
Yeah, yeah, I hear all you Tea Party, Sarah Palin, Faux News watching idiots yelling about people marrying their dogs, etc. When the dog can sign the marriage license, get back to me. Otherwise, fuck off.
You know you're up in the night about this, but you won't just realize truth. You bitch about too much government, until you want it to protect your religious views.
Can we stop hating? Can we just agree to disagree? Do we have to mark politicians we don't agree with, with rifle sights? Do we have to keep hating Gay people, or Muslim's or who the hell ever because they don't believe in the same, "Imaginary Friend In The Sky" as you?
As my son said, who DO we hate next? And why go we always have to have someone to hate?
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Spring For A Van For Cryin' Out Loud!
Look, you want to have ten kids? OK. I think it's a dumb idea for a LOT of reasons, including I'm paying taxes for them to go to school, building the infrastructure they will need to get around and think that after the first two kids, if you're not raising foster children, you should pay taxes to send them to school, not get a break for bringing more spirits over from the Spirit World to this one, or how ever it goes.
But go ahead, have as many as you can afford. The Government, or me, or any one doesn't have the right to tell you to, "take your cigar out of your mouth once in a while" to paraphrase, Groucho Marx. Knock your self out. Have ten kids, or more and your own reality show, too if it works out for you.
But at least take the responsibility to do everything you can to do the number one job of any parent: Keep you kids safe, and healthy, fed, clothed and living with a roof over their head while giving them an education. Pretty basic stuff.
But Rep. Christopher Herrod, R-Provo (when I get on a rant it's always, "R-Someplace" isn't it? I'm noticing a pattern here. I promise to try to find a, "D" I disagree with before the Legislature is over for this year) seems to think that as long as your intentions are good, and you are not on a road posted for more than 45 miles an hour, you shouldn't have to put your kids in a car seat.
He sights statistics that he says, shows it's not any more dangerous for kids to be unrestrained in accidents that occur at under 45 miles an hour. But according to the Salt Lake Tribune article that will come out this morning, the NHTSA report he used shows that unrestrained kids are 15% MORE likely to suffer serious injury in an accident under 45 mph. I had two statistics classes while getting a liberal arts degree that's not supposed to lead to a job, and I can tell you, 15% is a VERY significant number. This is not +/- 4% margin of error. 15% is HUGE. So he's lying about the statistics.
Does anyone remember that accident that happened a few years ago (and I don't remember the exact year, or I'd go look in newspaper archives so I could be more informative about this) in Draper where a, Domino's Pizza delivery driver hit a car in Draper at 700 E. and 114th S. and killed a bunch of kids? But the kids were crammed, six or seven of them, I don't remember, into a Geo Prism with only four seat belts. A tragedy, for sure. But the family of the kids was trying to blame the delivery driver. Well, even if the driver ran a red light, the real tragedy is that the parents of these kids, despite all the evidence since the 1960's that seat belts save lives, let their kids get into a car without one available for them.
I won't take my son's friends in my cars without enough seat belts. And it's not just because I spent 20 years in law enforcement, and know what can happen. I don't want the LIABILITY! If I take four kids in the back seat of my Audi, with only three seat belts, and get in a crash and one of those kids gets hurt I won't be rich any more. But that kids parents will be.
When I was coaching my son's soccer team when he was little, I would wait at the practice field until a kid's parents or siblings showed up to take him home. I would never leave a kid alone, and I wouldn't put him the car without seat belts for him.
Just as an aside, I found out sometimes the kid wanted me to leave so he could walk home as soon as I was out of sight because even though he TOLD me someone was coming for him, it wasn't true. But that's a whole other blog about how we treat our children as a society.
Seat belts and child safety seats save lives. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. It's just good law to make it required. So, let's look at why someone would sponsor this type of crazy assed legislation, shall we?
And we will begin our examination with guy who introduced it: Representative Christopher Herrod, Republican, Provo. He has a Bachelor's and Master's Degree from BYU. Flunked out of a PhD program down there, too. According to HIS web site. Taught in the former, Soviet Republic after he got his degree's. Came home, taught at UVSC. He's a Utah County boy, through and through. Even though he was born in Chicago. His dad was a Dentist in the Military in Viet Nam, so he lived in Chicago and San Diego, but not for long. He's a Provo boy. Attended elementary, Jr. High, High School and college all in the same town.
You can see where this is going, can't you?
So his world view, even though he studied in Austria, and lived and taught in Russia, is pretty much focused between Orem and, "Y" Mountain.
And you know the slogan, "down to the, B-Y-U"? The world is our campus. Well, those of us who have had any dealings with that particular institution know that the truth is, "The Campus is their WHOLE world", and they think everyone should think like they do.
So, I'm pretty sure that the Honorable Representative Herrod has been approached by his constitutes about this pressing issue. And they have told him, that with their limited resources, and many, many kids, they just can't afford a vehicle with enough seat belts for the whole family, and besides, when I take the neighbor's kids to school, I don't have enough belts or seats for them, and moving the seats from vehicle to vehicle is a pain, and well, we just don't have time for it.
So he's just doing what he was elected to do. Represent his constituents.
I'm calling BULLSHIT! If you want to move 15 people around, whether they are yours or your neighbors, buy a VAN with enough seat belts, and learn to move the child seats, you lazy, dumb ass! And if you can't afford a minivan, or a Suburban, DON'T HAVE MORE KIDS THAN YOUR CAR CAN SAFELY HOLD!
Why was this man, with so much education, not able to politely tell his constituents, that they were out of their minds? Well, because the Eagle Forum was for the bill. They sent someone named, Dalane England to the hearing at the Legislature to speak in favor of the bill.
Well, any bill the Eagle Forum is for, I'm against. Just on principal. They are dumb. Excuse me, Dumb. With a capitol, D.
And the Honorable Representative can't get elected in Utah County if he's smart enough to tell the Eagle Forum that their bill is crazy. Just because, oh, I don't know, it's crazy?
And while we're at it, I was kicking another, "R's" ass the other night for hating on Liberal Arts Degrees, and couldn't find out what he did for a living. This guy, Herrod? The same thing!
He talks big about his teaching in Russia, his teaching, for a while at least at UVSC. But now? He says, and I quote his web site, "For the past 10 years, I have worked primarily in the real estate development and mortgage Industry". For WHO? Who writes your checks? How do you earn a living? And why don't you want anyone to know?
Are you developing a gold mine in the mountains above Springville and selling stock? Do you have a garage full of, Noni Juice? Flipping houses in Eagle Mountain? WTF? Why won't you tell people how you make a living?
I don't mean to sound to partisan here, but if you ran for office in any other state, and wouldn't tell people how you earned your money, they wouldn't elect you. Well, except in Massachusetts if your name is Kennedy. Or Romney.
Damn it, he's a Mormon too? Well, at least I know he worked for someone called, Bain and Company. So he HAD a JOB.
If you look me up, and it could be on any place, Google, I don't know. You would find out that I had a lot of jobs in my life, but for the last 23 years I worked for the State Of Utah. And when I retired, I inherited a bunch of money from my father, and I'm not ashamed of it. It's why I can do what I do now.
Why do all these Utah, "R's" have to to hide who they work for?
Well, at least this stupid bill didn't get out of committee. Good. 6-5 vote, bad. Our legislature is Dumb. Capitol, "D".
But go ahead, have as many as you can afford. The Government, or me, or any one doesn't have the right to tell you to, "take your cigar out of your mouth once in a while" to paraphrase, Groucho Marx. Knock your self out. Have ten kids, or more and your own reality show, too if it works out for you.
But at least take the responsibility to do everything you can to do the number one job of any parent: Keep you kids safe, and healthy, fed, clothed and living with a roof over their head while giving them an education. Pretty basic stuff.
But Rep. Christopher Herrod, R-Provo (when I get on a rant it's always, "R-Someplace" isn't it? I'm noticing a pattern here. I promise to try to find a, "D" I disagree with before the Legislature is over for this year) seems to think that as long as your intentions are good, and you are not on a road posted for more than 45 miles an hour, you shouldn't have to put your kids in a car seat.
He sights statistics that he says, shows it's not any more dangerous for kids to be unrestrained in accidents that occur at under 45 miles an hour. But according to the Salt Lake Tribune article that will come out this morning, the NHTSA report he used shows that unrestrained kids are 15% MORE likely to suffer serious injury in an accident under 45 mph. I had two statistics classes while getting a liberal arts degree that's not supposed to lead to a job, and I can tell you, 15% is a VERY significant number. This is not +/- 4% margin of error. 15% is HUGE. So he's lying about the statistics.
Does anyone remember that accident that happened a few years ago (and I don't remember the exact year, or I'd go look in newspaper archives so I could be more informative about this) in Draper where a, Domino's Pizza delivery driver hit a car in Draper at 700 E. and 114th S. and killed a bunch of kids? But the kids were crammed, six or seven of them, I don't remember, into a Geo Prism with only four seat belts. A tragedy, for sure. But the family of the kids was trying to blame the delivery driver. Well, even if the driver ran a red light, the real tragedy is that the parents of these kids, despite all the evidence since the 1960's that seat belts save lives, let their kids get into a car without one available for them.
I won't take my son's friends in my cars without enough seat belts. And it's not just because I spent 20 years in law enforcement, and know what can happen. I don't want the LIABILITY! If I take four kids in the back seat of my Audi, with only three seat belts, and get in a crash and one of those kids gets hurt I won't be rich any more. But that kids parents will be.
When I was coaching my son's soccer team when he was little, I would wait at the practice field until a kid's parents or siblings showed up to take him home. I would never leave a kid alone, and I wouldn't put him the car without seat belts for him.
Just as an aside, I found out sometimes the kid wanted me to leave so he could walk home as soon as I was out of sight because even though he TOLD me someone was coming for him, it wasn't true. But that's a whole other blog about how we treat our children as a society.
Seat belts and child safety seats save lives. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. It's just good law to make it required. So, let's look at why someone would sponsor this type of crazy assed legislation, shall we?
And we will begin our examination with guy who introduced it: Representative Christopher Herrod, Republican, Provo. He has a Bachelor's and Master's Degree from BYU. Flunked out of a PhD program down there, too. According to HIS web site. Taught in the former, Soviet Republic after he got his degree's. Came home, taught at UVSC. He's a Utah County boy, through and through. Even though he was born in Chicago. His dad was a Dentist in the Military in Viet Nam, so he lived in Chicago and San Diego, but not for long. He's a Provo boy. Attended elementary, Jr. High, High School and college all in the same town.
You can see where this is going, can't you?
So his world view, even though he studied in Austria, and lived and taught in Russia, is pretty much focused between Orem and, "Y" Mountain.
And you know the slogan, "down to the, B-Y-U"? The world is our campus. Well, those of us who have had any dealings with that particular institution know that the truth is, "The Campus is their WHOLE world", and they think everyone should think like they do.
So, I'm pretty sure that the Honorable Representative Herrod has been approached by his constitutes about this pressing issue. And they have told him, that with their limited resources, and many, many kids, they just can't afford a vehicle with enough seat belts for the whole family, and besides, when I take the neighbor's kids to school, I don't have enough belts or seats for them, and moving the seats from vehicle to vehicle is a pain, and well, we just don't have time for it.
So he's just doing what he was elected to do. Represent his constituents.
I'm calling BULLSHIT! If you want to move 15 people around, whether they are yours or your neighbors, buy a VAN with enough seat belts, and learn to move the child seats, you lazy, dumb ass! And if you can't afford a minivan, or a Suburban, DON'T HAVE MORE KIDS THAN YOUR CAR CAN SAFELY HOLD!
Why was this man, with so much education, not able to politely tell his constituents, that they were out of their minds? Well, because the Eagle Forum was for the bill. They sent someone named, Dalane England to the hearing at the Legislature to speak in favor of the bill.
Well, any bill the Eagle Forum is for, I'm against. Just on principal. They are dumb. Excuse me, Dumb. With a capitol, D.
And the Honorable Representative can't get elected in Utah County if he's smart enough to tell the Eagle Forum that their bill is crazy. Just because, oh, I don't know, it's crazy?
And while we're at it, I was kicking another, "R's" ass the other night for hating on Liberal Arts Degrees, and couldn't find out what he did for a living. This guy, Herrod? The same thing!
He talks big about his teaching in Russia, his teaching, for a while at least at UVSC. But now? He says, and I quote his web site, "For the past 10 years, I have worked primarily in the real estate development and mortgage Industry". For WHO? Who writes your checks? How do you earn a living? And why don't you want anyone to know?
Are you developing a gold mine in the mountains above Springville and selling stock? Do you have a garage full of, Noni Juice? Flipping houses in Eagle Mountain? WTF? Why won't you tell people how you make a living?
I don't mean to sound to partisan here, but if you ran for office in any other state, and wouldn't tell people how you earned your money, they wouldn't elect you. Well, except in Massachusetts if your name is Kennedy. Or Romney.
Damn it, he's a Mormon too? Well, at least I know he worked for someone called, Bain and Company. So he HAD a JOB.
If you look me up, and it could be on any place, Google, I don't know. You would find out that I had a lot of jobs in my life, but for the last 23 years I worked for the State Of Utah. And when I retired, I inherited a bunch of money from my father, and I'm not ashamed of it. It's why I can do what I do now.
Why do all these Utah, "R's" have to to hide who they work for?
Well, at least this stupid bill didn't get out of committee. Good. 6-5 vote, bad. Our legislature is Dumb. Capitol, "D".
Friday, February 4, 2011
Don't Think! Just Do As You Are Told!
Utah State Senator Howard Stephenson wants our State Universities to quit teaching, "thinking". Eliminate liberal arts, Humanities, Philosophy and specialize in teaching science, technology, engineering and math. Because, getting a degree in, "thinking" instead of science won't get you a job. Really?
I had to have a degree in behavioral sciences to get my job with the State in 1983. My Bachelor Of Science in Sociology (Certificate within the Department of Sociology in Criminology and Corrections, minor in psychology) got my foot in the door with Youth Corrections. Closing down the old State School in Ogden and opening the new, Decker Lake Youth Facility in West Valley City. From there I went on to be a Juvenile Court Probation officer for five years, and after that, spent the last 18 years of my career as an Adult Probation And Parole Agent.
Would the Senator prefer that the probation and parole Agent's of the State, and the Police Officers, Highway Patrol Troopers, and other law enforcement officers in Utah NOT have a degree in a field like sociology or psychology, or social work? Maybe they should study, oh, I don't know, engineering?
Or not an education at all? Give them the ability to use deadly force and enforce the law, but don't teach them anything about the history of their job, or the law they are enforcing?
When I became an Adult Probation and Parole Agent a degree was required. By the time I retired, the, "something for nothing" folks had decided that four years of working in the field was as good as a degree. It was a major mistake. I worked with a bunch of guys who could kick down doors, and chase bad guys but could not, under any circumstance take off the COP hat and put on the Social Worker hat that is needed when working as a probation and parole agent. And since they were being led by a bunch of guys with no education either, these guys kept getting put in charge. I was so discouraged by the state of affairs in Corrections by the time I left, I was thrilled to death when they told me I could retire two years earlier than I had planned.
A liberal arts education, even though Senator Stephenson doesn't think so, is the cornerstone of ALL education. Would he have the high schools quit teaching arts and humanities? Would he eliminate the Debate programs since it teaches kids to look at BOTH sides of any issue, because depending on the draw any week, you might be called on to defend or condemn that years debate topic?
My father had an engineering degree from West Virginia University. You know how if someone is not too smart, you would say, "He's no rocket scientist"? Well, my dad WAS a rocket scientist. He had a hand in designing the Polaris and Poseidon intercontinental ballistic missiles while working for Hercules Aerospace.
He also spoke Latin. And he designed those missiles with a slide rule. He never owned a calculator. Let alone a computer.
I've read that Senator Stephenson has a Bachelors Degree in Psychology, and one in Aerospace Studies from BYU. His web sight also says he has a Masters In Public Administration from, "Down to the BYU" too. It does not, nor do ten or so other web sights I've checked, tell me what he does for a living. It says he's a Public Administrator. But it doesn't say for who. Kind of sounds like, "Community Organizer"? Suspicious I'd say.
It says he's been the head of the Utah Tax Payers Association. And in a biography you can listen to from KCPW, it says he enjoys spending time on his houseboat at Lake Powell and listening to Coldplay.
But it doesn't say how he earns his money.
Now, here's a man with one degree in humanities, who is not a Psychologist. One degree in Aerospace Studies, who's never been a rocket scientist. And a Master's Degree in Public Administration, all from a PRIVATE "University" (and I use the world loosely, because I believe that BYU stands for, But, You're Uneducated?) who wants to turn our public Universities into, de facto Technical Schools.
This does not surprise me. After all, he's all for Charter Schools. Where the teachers don't really have to have been educated as TEACHERS! And he's OK with the person in charge of education for the state, not really having the qualifications the job requires, so the Legislature will just change the job requirements. And as a committed Republican, I assume he's in favor of Gayle Ruzika and her lap dog, Chris Buttars plan to eliminate Boards of Education and put the, "Righteouslature" in charge of the curriculum because, God forbid, the kids might learn to think, and not just accept, "Utah Values".
And we all know what, "Utah Values" is code for. Anything that isn't Mormon, isn't, "Utah Values".
This guy got his education at a private school and thinks he knows best how our public Universities should be run. He doesn't have a job in Public Administration, even though he has a Master's Degree in it. He's the head of the Utah Taxpayers Association. He's not a public administrator, he's a lobbyist and legislator for a bunch of rich people who don't want to PAY their taxes! And they pay him enough to own a houseboat on Lake Powell.
Look, I'm all for having more engineers and scientists. But you can't HAVE them, unless you pay people to TEACH them. Make going into mathematics as a major worth it's time and effort, and pay math teachers, and ALL teachers (those who actually get a degree in teaching, not some guy drug in off the street at your local Charter School) a living wage!
I was not a great student. I spent my first two years at the, "U" on academic probation while a journalism major. A professor, who I now thank for her insight, called me into her office one day and said, "You can't write, and you can't spell, and you really should find another major." It hurt at the time, but it turned out to be a good thing. I loved sociology, and I loved the criminology aspect of it, and 23 years after getting my degree, I retired as the most decorated Agent in the history of Adult Probation and Parole (Four Medals of Merit, two Certificates of Commendation, and Executive Directors Award and I was the only Agent in the Department named, "One of Utah's Good Cops" by KSTU Channel 13).
I would argue that a Degree in the humanities is not a degree to nowhere. I would however, suggest that Senator Stephenson is going nowhere fast with this crazy proposal.
I had to have a degree in behavioral sciences to get my job with the State in 1983. My Bachelor Of Science in Sociology (Certificate within the Department of Sociology in Criminology and Corrections, minor in psychology) got my foot in the door with Youth Corrections. Closing down the old State School in Ogden and opening the new, Decker Lake Youth Facility in West Valley City. From there I went on to be a Juvenile Court Probation officer for five years, and after that, spent the last 18 years of my career as an Adult Probation And Parole Agent.
Would the Senator prefer that the probation and parole Agent's of the State, and the Police Officers, Highway Patrol Troopers, and other law enforcement officers in Utah NOT have a degree in a field like sociology or psychology, or social work? Maybe they should study, oh, I don't know, engineering?
Or not an education at all? Give them the ability to use deadly force and enforce the law, but don't teach them anything about the history of their job, or the law they are enforcing?
When I became an Adult Probation and Parole Agent a degree was required. By the time I retired, the, "something for nothing" folks had decided that four years of working in the field was as good as a degree. It was a major mistake. I worked with a bunch of guys who could kick down doors, and chase bad guys but could not, under any circumstance take off the COP hat and put on the Social Worker hat that is needed when working as a probation and parole agent. And since they were being led by a bunch of guys with no education either, these guys kept getting put in charge. I was so discouraged by the state of affairs in Corrections by the time I left, I was thrilled to death when they told me I could retire two years earlier than I had planned.
A liberal arts education, even though Senator Stephenson doesn't think so, is the cornerstone of ALL education. Would he have the high schools quit teaching arts and humanities? Would he eliminate the Debate programs since it teaches kids to look at BOTH sides of any issue, because depending on the draw any week, you might be called on to defend or condemn that years debate topic?
My father had an engineering degree from West Virginia University. You know how if someone is not too smart, you would say, "He's no rocket scientist"? Well, my dad WAS a rocket scientist. He had a hand in designing the Polaris and Poseidon intercontinental ballistic missiles while working for Hercules Aerospace.
He also spoke Latin. And he designed those missiles with a slide rule. He never owned a calculator. Let alone a computer.
I've read that Senator Stephenson has a Bachelors Degree in Psychology, and one in Aerospace Studies from BYU. His web sight also says he has a Masters In Public Administration from, "Down to the BYU" too. It does not, nor do ten or so other web sights I've checked, tell me what he does for a living. It says he's a Public Administrator. But it doesn't say for who. Kind of sounds like, "Community Organizer"? Suspicious I'd say.
It says he's been the head of the Utah Tax Payers Association. And in a biography you can listen to from KCPW, it says he enjoys spending time on his houseboat at Lake Powell and listening to Coldplay.
But it doesn't say how he earns his money.
Now, here's a man with one degree in humanities, who is not a Psychologist. One degree in Aerospace Studies, who's never been a rocket scientist. And a Master's Degree in Public Administration, all from a PRIVATE "University" (and I use the world loosely, because I believe that BYU stands for, But, You're Uneducated?) who wants to turn our public Universities into, de facto Technical Schools.
This does not surprise me. After all, he's all for Charter Schools. Where the teachers don't really have to have been educated as TEACHERS! And he's OK with the person in charge of education for the state, not really having the qualifications the job requires, so the Legislature will just change the job requirements. And as a committed Republican, I assume he's in favor of Gayle Ruzika and her lap dog, Chris Buttars plan to eliminate Boards of Education and put the, "Righteouslature" in charge of the curriculum because, God forbid, the kids might learn to think, and not just accept, "Utah Values".
And we all know what, "Utah Values" is code for. Anything that isn't Mormon, isn't, "Utah Values".
This guy got his education at a private school and thinks he knows best how our public Universities should be run. He doesn't have a job in Public Administration, even though he has a Master's Degree in it. He's the head of the Utah Taxpayers Association. He's not a public administrator, he's a lobbyist and legislator for a bunch of rich people who don't want to PAY their taxes! And they pay him enough to own a houseboat on Lake Powell.
Look, I'm all for having more engineers and scientists. But you can't HAVE them, unless you pay people to TEACH them. Make going into mathematics as a major worth it's time and effort, and pay math teachers, and ALL teachers (those who actually get a degree in teaching, not some guy drug in off the street at your local Charter School) a living wage!
I was not a great student. I spent my first two years at the, "U" on academic probation while a journalism major. A professor, who I now thank for her insight, called me into her office one day and said, "You can't write, and you can't spell, and you really should find another major." It hurt at the time, but it turned out to be a good thing. I loved sociology, and I loved the criminology aspect of it, and 23 years after getting my degree, I retired as the most decorated Agent in the history of Adult Probation and Parole (Four Medals of Merit, two Certificates of Commendation, and Executive Directors Award and I was the only Agent in the Department named, "One of Utah's Good Cops" by KSTU Channel 13).
I would argue that a Degree in the humanities is not a degree to nowhere. I would however, suggest that Senator Stephenson is going nowhere fast with this crazy proposal.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Cold!
The national news is reporting that the everyone from Colorado to New York is getting clobbered by a nasty storm. True story.
But where is the circling Cold Front, driving it across America? Right over my freaking house! It' was 22 degrees IN my garage today, with a wind out of the NORTH EAST! That NEVER happens! We get our COLD winds from the North WEST. We get our hot, summer fire causing, and fall leaf blowing wind from the south. Everyone in the neighborhood's freaking leaves into MY yard, in the fall.
Right now? Not so much!
Right now, it's 4 degrees, according to, The Weather Channel, at 12:57 am. When I drive the boys to school tomorrow, it's going to be 4 degrees. Could get up to 8 tomorrow morning.
By, "The Boys" I mean, Danny and his buddy, Jaden and Jaden's little brother, Brighton.
In all the years I went to school, I only remember it being below zero one time. Seventh grade, left the house at minus 5. But living at Three Fountains (and I'm holding up FOUR fingers when I say this. Those who know, know. Those who don't, I'll explain it later), I never walked more than two blocks for a bus.
Global Climate Change. It's real. And we caused it. Live with it. Now? What are we going to do about it? I'd be happy to buy a windmill. Anyone else.
But where is the circling Cold Front, driving it across America? Right over my freaking house! It' was 22 degrees IN my garage today, with a wind out of the NORTH EAST! That NEVER happens! We get our COLD winds from the North WEST. We get our hot, summer fire causing, and fall leaf blowing wind from the south. Everyone in the neighborhood's freaking leaves into MY yard, in the fall.
Right now? Not so much!
Right now, it's 4 degrees, according to, The Weather Channel, at 12:57 am. When I drive the boys to school tomorrow, it's going to be 4 degrees. Could get up to 8 tomorrow morning.
By, "The Boys" I mean, Danny and his buddy, Jaden and Jaden's little brother, Brighton.
In all the years I went to school, I only remember it being below zero one time. Seventh grade, left the house at minus 5. But living at Three Fountains (and I'm holding up FOUR fingers when I say this. Those who know, know. Those who don't, I'll explain it later), I never walked more than two blocks for a bus.
Global Climate Change. It's real. And we caused it. Live with it. Now? What are we going to do about it? I'd be happy to buy a windmill. Anyone else.
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