Peeves, of the pet kind

I could write about the horrible Jazz loss to the Hornets tonight, but instead I will introduce a new feature to Signifying nothing, Peeves, of the pet kind [TM]. This feature, which I will no doubt abandon like a Vacation Macaque on a bender abandons his last Budweiser, struck me tonight as I realized that I really hate it when my fingernails are not trimmed to their bare minimum (without causing pain.) This leads, of course, to another peeve: fingernails that are trimmed too closely (which causes pain and unfortunate bleeding).

Don't you just hate both conditions? Actually, I guess, female readers will be much more conflicted about their fingernail length. Perhaps you can teach me something: how the hell do you deal with long fingernails, women? The feeling of overly-long nails, to me, is like scratching said nails on a blackboard. It is an irritation. It is disturbing.

When they are too short, of course, that is just painful.

Can we have a happy medium? Aristotle, why have you abandoned us to nails that are too short or too long?!

Where are my robot fingernails that trim themselves?! Isn't this 2008?!

Wow! I actually used the "bang" (?!) thrice!

My nails, however, are neatly trimmed. Well not neatly, but at least they don't bug me and I'm not in pain.

How's that for the most mundane post ever? See you can get writing out of trimming your nails.

Next peeve of the pet kind up to bat: how the ?! (bang) annoys the fucking shit out of me.

Bah-dum-dum.

Audio Fame!

This morning a reporter from KSL News Radio interviewed me about the aforementioned possible demise of the Snelgrove sign.

It is to air during the noon news.

We can prevent this!

We can prevent this!
Originally uploaded by Theorris

Sugar House in SLC is under attack yet again: the historic Snelgrove sign is the latest Sugar House landmark under threat. The sign, for those not in SLC, is on 21st South, just before 9th East. It has been there for decades and used to advertise the Snelgrove Ice Cream store that was one of the last pure ice cream fountains that saw its heyday from the early 20th century until about 1950. The Snelgrove store hung around until the late 80's/early 90's when Snelgrove sold their brand to Dreyer's. Dreyer's quickly ditched the store, converting it into corporate offices.

The plot thickens now, since Dreyer's has decided to abandon the Snelgrove brand in favor of its own. This, in itself, is not problematic, but, unfortunately, Dreyer's apparently wishes to so de-brand Snelgrove that it is going to remove this famous Sugar House landmark.

Albeit Dreyer's is seeking to give the sign to a local group, but failing that, it seems the sign's future is in peril. It would, of course, be better if the sign stayed where it was at, but if Dreyer's is bound and determined to remove a local landmark all for the sake of "branding" then so be it. The sign, however, should be preserved--preferably on 21st South somewhere.

Don't let them do what they did to old Sugar House to the Snelgrove sign! See the Sugar House flickr group for more information.

This is what I just sent to the KSL TV and Radio news directors to get some media attention to the matter:

Dear KSL News Director,

As KSL has reported, Dreyer's ice cream has decided to discontinue the Snelgrove brand altogether, and replace it with Dreyer. An acquaintance of, [arts enthusiast], was concerned about what Dreyer's was going to do with the historic landmark Snelgrove sign in on 21st South in Sugar House. She, therefore, wrote to them and inquired about the future of the sign (which was, by the way, recently damaged without explanation). She received the following reply from Dreyer's:

> Dear Ms. [arts enthusiast],
>
>
> Thank you for visiting our website and for your
> e-mail message. It is always a pleasure to hear
> from our consumers whose ideas, comments and
> concerns are very important to us here at Dreyer's.
>
> We appreciate your loyalty to Snelgrove and its
> significance in the history of your area. We hope
> you will be happy to know that Dreyer's is presently
> in talks with a handful of local historical
> societies to see whether we can donate the sign so
> it can be enjoyed by generations to come.
>
> We are delighted to hear that you feel Dreyer's
> produces delicious ice cream. Please watch for our
> follow-up response to arrive shortly by U.S. Mail,
> some coupons for future purchases and a current
> flavor list. We appreciate your interest in our
> company and the time you have taken to contact us.
>
> Sincerely,
>[name withheld to protect the worker]
> Consumer Response Representative
>
> Ref # [withheld]
>

As you may note, Dreyer's is apparently not interested in preserving this landmark on their sight--a sign beloved by many Utahns and an important reflection of our community values.

I believe that the future of the sign is worthy of a story on KSL. It would be interesting to know, for example, who they have contacted to preserve the sign and where it would end up eventually.

Of course as a life-time Utah resident, I am interested in keeping the sign where it is at, but if Dreyer's insists on removing it, I fully understand that it is their right to do so. I believe, however, that it should be preserved.

Now, of course, it is up to you if you think this story is worth pursuing. I believe that many Utahns would be interested in the fate of this sign, given that Sugar House has undergone some very tumultuous changes in the last decade.

Sincerely,

[Theorris Boonasty]
[The Wilhelm]
Salt Lake City, Utah 841[XX]
(801)-[XXX-XXXX]

Arts Enthusiast is going to write to the Utah Historical Society and to SLC Mayor Ralph Becker.

I suggest that if you're interested in preserving a bit of SLC history, you write to someone too.

So is my current blog theme of "Justice" an uncanny prediction of events I'm currently engaged in, or unduly influencing my recent mondo-political blogging?

Thanks again to Cunaldo for sharing his image "Godzilla's Profile" under a Creative Commons license, share and share alike.

----------------
Listening to: Siouxsie & the Banshees - Cities In Dust
via FoxyTunes

Victory!

Well after a very shaky, might I say butter-fingered start to tonight's game, the Jazz came to their senses and pulled out a great come-from-behind victory against the Pistons. I don't know what in the hell was going on in Minnesota (other than the Jazz may have been dazed by the continual howling of the timber wolf sound effect they apparently like to use ceaselessly in Minniapolis), but I'm glad they pulled out of it for a fine 1 and a half quarters tonight.

They actually looked like the playoff contenders they are.

On other victory from defeat fronts, House Bill 188 that I wrote about earlier that had shady intent on UTA, failed by 8 votes in the Utah House of Representatives. I received the following email from previously mentioned Representative X:

After hearing the floor debate today, I voted against HB188. Thanks for
writing and sharing your views on the bill and the role and management of
UTA. [Representative X]

Is this the end of statewide legislative meddling in what should be a locals only concern? Of course not. I still firmly believe that UTA should drop the "Utah" out of their name and switch to "Wasatch Transit Authority."

I also wrote and thanked Representative X for her vote and congratulated her on her service as she is retiring this term.

More photomatagical fame and glory!

Joel Veitch of Quizno's Sponge Monkey commercial fame (among many other things) has used one of my pictures in his ode to Cake: Cake by rathergood.com.

Go eat some cake now. The Hypno Kitten commands it!

Up next: the Idaho Press-Tribune uses one of my photos of Built to Spill for an entertainment piece. No word on when that is coming out, however. The reporter was pretty sketchy about it, and didn't even promise me a hard copy. She seemed young and enthusiastic, however, so I let her have the photo.

More politicking

JMD of the excellent Transit in Utah blog has noted that HB 188: TRANSIT REVISIONS has moved out of committee to the full house:

Here is a surprise to no one. A House Panel has passed the bill that gives the state more control over the Utah Transit Authority. Once again the misguided efforts of the Anti-Hunger Coalition that sees the state as their savior is going to cost them in the long run.

Just look at the two people who are pushing this bill.

First you have Wayne Harper out of West Jordan (what is it about West Jordan?), who has in years past tried over and over to have the state take over operation of UTA and thus steal the sales tax money approved for TRAX and move it to roads.

The other person pushing this is Senator Sheldon Killpack who is also shown to be anti-transit and looking to raid the UTA of funds to give to highways (even though all the TRAX money would only be a drop in the bucket).

Clearly neither of these two men have transit in their best interest. (Transit in Utah, "House Panel OK's UTA Bill"

Now you might say, big deal! It is a great thing that there is more supervision of a quasi-government entity like UTA. I might caution you that, as JMD has noted, these representatives do not have the best in mind for public transit. Only last year they worked to get UTA moved to the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). This would allow UDOT, therefore, to control UTA's sale tax base, which, you must understand, ONLY comes from the Weber, Davis, Salt Lake, and Utah counties. The state, while they should have oversight to the law that allows a multi-county Transportation Authority, should not have micro-management over the authority itself given that they pay no money into it.

In any case, I have written to my representative asking for her opposition to the bill:

Dear Representative [X],

I write to you today to ask for your opposition to HB 188 which would grant "oversight" by the state of Utah to the Utah Transit Authority board of directors. This bill is a misguided attempt to fix a problem that does not exist. As a committed UTA patron and daily commuter, I feel that this move on the part of certain legislators to get "their men" on the UTA board in order to sabotage mass transit in the state of Utah. Unfortunately, this bill has received support from the
Anti-Hunger Coalition who do not seem to understand that the sponsors of this bill have never been in favor of mass transportation in general and have a vendetta against UTA in particular. It is not in the best interests of the Anti-Hunger Coalition to support the intrusion of the state of Utah on an entity that is funded by local/county tax dollars.

Representative [X], if this bill passes, I fear for the future of mass transit in Utah.

--[Theorris Boonasty]
[The Wilhelm]
Salt Lake City, Utah [withheld]

Of course, as with my previous letters posted here, I did not write under my pseudonym. If you want to protect public transit in Utah from carpetbaggers who only want to see it dismantled, I suggest you write to your representative.

Update 5:44 pm, the same.

I received the following response from my representative (and this is a first via email for any political contact I've made in the past, save for a brief email discussion with Rocky's Director of Environmental Concerns):

Thanks for this information. What is your role with UTA? [Representative X]

Now I appreciate Representative X's cordial opening, but all such cordiality is shattered by the rather rude second sentence. I mean, come on, X could have just asked me if I worked for UTA or was on their board or something. The presumption that I am writing against having the legislature micromanage UTA must mean I have a vested interest in it, is understandable, but does X have to be so presumptuous.

Being the level-headed, don't-fly-off the handle easily kind of guy I am, I immediately said "screw you" Representative X and briefly plotted how I was going to respond to her in the following election cycle when she visited my house again (yes she did do a walk and knock and seemed a very cordial, considerate person.) I also considered upping the ante a bit by writing a "HOW DARE YOU" missive in all caps.

Nevertheless, my training got the better of me and I came up with this:

Dear Representative [X],

I have no role with UTA. I am neither employed by them or have any interest other than the fact that I am just a commuter, UTA patron, and concerned citizen. I am concerned because of the shenanigans various legislators over the years have pulled with UTA. Last year it was an ill-considered attempt to throw UTA under the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) with the not-so-hidden intent to raid its sales tax base for the funding of new roads rather than the development of better mass transportation alternatives. To me this bill is yet another attempt to "reform" public transportation in Utah, which, basically, means in the eyes of those who think public transportation destroying it because, (based on comments from people I've argued with in Utah over the yeas about public transportation) it is "socialist,"
"wasteful," and "harmful to highway construction--the only alternative there should be to our public transportation woes."

While, again, it may seem innocuous to allow for board members appointed by the state, I trust you will note how odd it is that rather than the governor appointing these new members with consent of the Legislature or Senate (which is the standard practice in representative democracy) you have 2 members appointed by political leaders in the Senate and the House of Representatives and one by the governor. This all just seems very, very odd to me.

I believe this is the thin end of the wedge that will allow the anti-public transit politicians to raid UTA's treasury in favor of more and more highway projects that will lead to more and more sprawl and more and more pollution.

Where do you stand on the issues of open space, public transportation, and urban sprawl, Representative [X]?

--[Theorris Boonasty, Esq.)

Ok, I will admit that last question was over-the-top, a sort of "have you quit beating your wife" sort of question, but, come on, I think she deserved it.

Representative X might be reading this, as well, given that I left my URL at the bottom of the response.

Ok, I probably am over-reacting to a perceived slight. She, no doubt, didn't mean anything bad by it. Still, it seems awfully odd way of asking if I work with UTA.

--30--

Unknown future

Unknown future
Originally uploaded by Theorris

This is a recovered photo using Scott Kelby's 7-Point System for Adobe PhotoShop CS3 that I started on last weekend. It is well-thought-out instruction manual, that has the reader actually doing the projects instead of the normal explanation of what the PhotoShop function does. As the title suggests, Kelby has a 7-point system. In each lesson you pretty much do the same thing over and over and over again. The value of repetition in teaching cannot be underestimated. While you run the risk of boring your students, doing things over and over and over again is the sure way to know that a person is going to learn how to do it, and, more importantly in my book, why they are doing it.

You should see the original of this image--it is nearly black because I way underexposed it (due to my inability to think fast and change the shutter speed in manual mode on my camera.)

While still not a very good picture, at least I could pull something out of it.

Using blur, I was able to obscure, as well, how freaking dirty my kitchen floor is.

For Richelle

For Richelle
Originally uploaded by Theorris

Remember when I brought your Irises? And then a chinese candle? And we talked of books and poodles and, I do believe, apricot bread?

Now I give you fennel.

My favorite so far

Barack Obama Is Your New Bicycle:

"Barack Obama baked you a pie"

There is something so friendly about that--nearly as friendly as his folding my laundry.

Now this is more like it

Click on this: Barack Obama Is Your New Bicycle. You will be hypnotized for at least 5 minutes by its wily ways.

Getting all political on all y'all

Looks like Mrs. Frank Burns is alive and well in the Utah Legislature:

"Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, is familiar with this criticism. It prompted her comments Thursday that helped kill a bill to provide more funding for Utah's IB programs. In voting against HB266, she said she is 'opposed to the anti-American philosophy that's somehow woven into all the classes as they promote the U.N. agenda.' Dayton acknowledged Friday that she has never witnessed an IB class in session. She also said it's possible 'good things' are happening in the program. It's the language she says is associated with IB that galls.
She has a problem with the program's association with the International Baccalaureate Organization, based in Geneva. She issued a written statement Friday that contends Switzerland's replacement of its arbitration rules in 2004 with those of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law taint by extension the IB itself.
This means, she said, that high schools signing on to the IB program must also by extension submit any program disputes and frustrations at the local school level to U.N.-inspired regulations and the goal of creating 'global citizens.'
'I would like to have American citizens who know how to function in a global economy, not global citizens,' Dayton said." (Students say good things about IB - Salt Lake Tribune)

Remember that episode of MASH where Frank Burns rants about the UN?

When are Utahns going to wake up and kick these Birch society throwbacks out of office?

Damn that's several political posts in a row. The Utah Legislature must really be getting under my skin this year.

At a loss for words

Something is compelling me to share this story with you, dear reader, but at the same time I can think of nothing to say about it. I want to make a joke, but joking just seems wrong--very wrong:

The victim's mother, Teresa Emery, said her son rejoined her at the cash register with the man after she asked store staff to page him over the loudspeakers. Over his clothes he was wearing white coveralls designated for LDS temple wear, she said.
"He can barely dress himself on his own," Emery said. "[The man] basically had to force him to do that."
When the man offered to pay for the jumpsuit at the cash register, Emery tried to take it off her son. When she unzipped it, she said, the man intervened.
"He zips it back up and buckles it . . . right in front of me," Emery said. "He says, 'I want to buy this for you.' . . . He hugged him and told him he'd see him again, that he loved him."
Emery said she had never seen the man before. The man returned to the dressing rooms to search for a cell phone before leaving the store, she said.
Emery said she takes her son to the store regularly, and workers there know him well.

Emery said she returned with her husband to discuss the incident with store managers and call police. When officers arrived, the man appeared in the store parking lot, wearing his own white jumpsuit under a trench coat and a hockey mask on his face. Police arrested him and are seeking a charge of unlawful detention.
Emery said her son cannot communicate what happened in the dressing room.
'He gets upset,' she said. 'When we mention the man from D.I., he cries.'
Police wrote there is no evidence of sexual assault. (Disabled man target of bizarre assault - Salt Lake Tribune)

What the fuck?

"Covering all angles of a simmering issue" - Salt Lake Tribune

The SL Trib's Reader Advocate Connie Coyne, has a thoughtful exploration of the response the Trib gets on the immigration issues:

"Currently considered a 'third rail' in politics - or a concern that can kill a political career - the issue of immigration is one that often draws emotional, sometimes irrational, public comment.
Don't believe me? Take a look at the comments on Jessica Ravitz's story on the break room for cabbies at Salt Lake International Airport -- closed after controversy developed when Muslim cabbies were using the quiet room for daily prayers. Now they are out on the pavement for the five-times a day religious duty. And, no cabbies can use the little building with toilets and snack machines." (Covering all angles of a simmering issue - Salt Lake Tribune)

She then goes on to delve into the hateful commentary that gets spewed in the comment section of stories that involve immigration.

Xenophobia is alive and well, my friends.

Smack down

If you are wondering why comment moderation has been turned on it was because I had to lay the smackdown on a racist commenter on the previous post. I immediately deleted his or her insensitive comment. All I have to say is if you are in my house you play by my rules. I had variations on the theme that I could have written, of course, and the best of them was "Hey ditto-head racist: get the fuck off my lawn."

It was easier just to delete the comment.

"We don't support Chris Buttars Petition"

You might want to go sign the We don't support Chris Buttars Petition given that according to Utah political blogger Bob Aagard there is a pro-Buttars Eagle Forum petition out there.

----------------
Listening to: Billie Holiday (Tricky Remix) - Strange Fruit
via FoxyTunes


Update 7:44 pm, the same: petition signer #59 left this comment:

59.

Unless you are citizens of West Jordan

90702

your arrongant opinions are irrelavant !!

While I don't live there now, considering my ancestors pretty much founded the town, does that give me extra-cred in voting?

Obviously #59, a resident of Artesia, California, doesn't understand freedom of speech. Just because a person is not your elected representative, does not mean you cannot sound off about that person and their scurrilous behavior. Then again, #59, doesn't seem to have any problem with mouthing off about Utah politics from his or her wannabe Orange County home.

Funny, that.

Jumping the Shark

Wednesday night clip show for you or a blast from the past from the Signifying nothing channel while you wait for the writer's strike to work itself out:

August 5, 2004
Fun for the whole family

"It hurts me when you give me the silent treatment!" she sobbed. She had been going at him since 17th South. Evidently he had applied for something related to school, but was turned down because he didn't have a high school diploma. "Why do you have to do that? Why? Look at me!" and she grabbed his jaw. Early on I had heard him whisper that he didn't think the bus was the right place to talk. "Well you won't talk about this at home either, so why not here?" She wasn't sobbing then, just irritated. He obviously gave her the silent treatment quite a lot, since he was so good at it. That did not stop her, however. "It hurts me to see you fail! It hurts! Why do you do that? Why can't we just get off at the next stop and cross the street and go right back? Answer me! I don't want to worry about the future!"

By the time they got off, that stop was long past, but she had gotten more and more upset, continually sobbing with a beet red face. All the while I stared out the window, just pretended to be asleep. After getting off, she continued in on him, and he moved father away from her and she moved closer.

"The things you hear on UTA," the guy across from me said. Indeed.

(Signifying nothing: journal)

It is nice having material to pull from when cousin Oliver isn't around to make the plot move.

Playing nice

A very tiny rendition of an Okur 3 pointer.
Originally uploaded by Theorris

Well there was no reason to run up the score and create animosity, so the Jazz didn't. Over all it was still a very good game, despite the Jazz being a bit loose on defense.

Clippers up next? Jazz move ahead of San Antonio in the rankings.

Boo yeah.

Yeltsin!

Half time speculation, or What in the name of all that is holy?*

The Jazz score 77 points in a half?

Are we looking at a return to their early-season massive scoring streak?

This bodes well, my droogies.

Now if they can just contain Golden State and Yeltsin (Don Nelson), I would be much happier. Allowing 64 points is not good, even if you are scoring fools.

* (Bill Lambier)

Nearly there

Nearly there
Originally uploaded by Theorris

I spent a large portion of the long weekend learning what I should have known about PhotoShop a long time ago. When I took these pictures of the Spiral Jetty back in 2002, I was sorely disappointed in how they turned out. My camera color-corrected the hell out of them and the sky lost all of its saturation. Needless to say, I was quite disappointed that I wasn't able to catch the intensity of the sunset. It was certainly one of the most surreal, ethereal moments I've spent on the planet to date.

I was quite pleased, however, to learn that PhotoShop could come to the rescue on badly exposed image. This rendering of the scene is as close an approximation of what this really looked like at the time. The sky, however, needs to be more raspberry, but this is as close as I can get now.

Expect to see more of this image and its Spiral Jetty companions over at flickr as I refine my color processing technique.

This really is what it looked like. Stunning, isn't it?

Update (2/19/2008)

As per Conidment's request, here is the original:



Note how blue the sky is and how the saturation is next-to-nothing. It was not like that at all. It was that intense. My camera was trying its hardest to make the scene look "normal." Stupid camera.

Godzilla vs. Old Sugar House: Aftermath

Aftermath
Originally uploaded by Theorris

Tokyo is not the only city to be destroyed by the mighty Godzilla!

If you can't laugh about this culture/history destroying madness, then we might as well just go slam our heads into the pavement. You should see the print out of this. It looks great. And note: Godzilla is charging up for a blast of his green plasma breath. It had something to do with his back spines.

Godzilla's Profile by Cunaldo used in compliance with the images Creative Commons share and share alike license.

"My brother's a framer"

"My brother's a framer"
Originally uploaded by Theorris

The only purpose for this image was that the folks in the circle were discussing various vocations. None of them spread beyond anything not related to construction. Nothing wrong with that, in all, but I sense the "working man's" distrust of anything beyond his (and it very much as a male dominated conversation) point of view.

I've always been pissed off by this small-minded blue collar perspective on what is acceptable work. I grew up in this shit, you see.

Oh boy it still rankles.

The most powerful hand

Five simple candles,
Gaudy with sanctimony,
Punish me with fear.

La Mano Mas Poderosa

La Mano Mas Poderosa
Originally uploaded by Theorris

Look down

Look down
Originally uploaded by Theorris

You might see something.

What better way is there to say I love you?

I just received this from West Valley inimitable E Center:

Take your Sweetheart to the PBR!

Make Valentine's Day last more than a day. Take your sweetheart to the PBR Bullnanza on February 29 and March 1 at the E-Center!

Click on the following link for a special Valentine's Day offer. Print one page for each ticket you are intending to purchase and redeem them ONLY at the E-Center Box Office.

http://www.lazye.com/storage.axd?entry=35

Regular tickets may be purchased at the E-Center box office or at all Smithstix outlets. To purchase on-line,click on the next link or copy and paste it into your browser:

http://ev8.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=ECBUL0301&linkID=datatix&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=

PBR! Bullriding! Romance!

I'm so there.

Avalanche Terror!

You never know when terrorists will strike! Perhaps it will be while I, and my big wig colleagues will be sojourning at Deer Valley. They might cause an avalanche: UAC Avalanche Advisory. Scroll down to the bottom of that page to read this:

This advisory provided by the Wasatch Cache National Forest, in partnership with:
Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation, The Friends of the Utah Avalanche Center, Utah Department of Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Salt Lake County

My italic emphasis. Be on the look out on the slopes for Osama. (Actually he apparently did like to ski back in the Regan Era.)

Oh and hello, Homeland Security blog censor/reader/operative. I know you've been assigned to this duty. I'm just a regular guy. I don't know nothing. Sorry for making fun of and being frightened of you.

Friends, Utahns, and Countrymen...

Heyo...some immediate action needed, dear Utah readers. Take a gander at the email I received from Jessica at HEAL Utah:

Dear [Theorris],

Your State Senator, [Sen. X], will be voting on Renewable Energy Provisions (SB 173) this Friday during a committee meeting. This bill sets a target for 25% of our energy in Utah to come from renewable sources by 2025. Can you please contact Sen. Fife and urge him to vote for SB 173?

Below is a sample message you can use, and here is Sen. [X's contact info [find it yourself at the Utah State Senate site.]

Make sure to say you are his constituent and to vote “Yes on SB 173, Renewable Energy Provisions.” Here is a sample message/e-mail note:

Subject: From Constituent: Vote Yes on SB 173, Renewable Energy Provisions

Body: Dear Sen. X,

As your constituent, I ask that you please vote “yes” on SB 173, Renewable Energy Provisions. I believe this is the bill Utah needs to develop the clean energy resources we have in our state. SB 173 creates a market for renewable energy to attract the clean energy jobs and investment now flowing into other western states. Renewable energy is already economical to conventional sources and this bill would protect ratepayers should it ever prove to be too costly.

Sincerely,
Your name

Thanks again for contacting your state senator. For more information about the bill, visit our website: http://www.healutah.org/files/RealMcCoy.pdf. Feel free to contact me with any questions or if you get back a response.

Jessica Kendrick
Field Organizer
HEAL Utah
801-355-5055

Here is what I wrote (and despite the rhetorical flourishes, I really do believe it):

Dear Senator [X],

As your constituent, I ask that you please vote "yes" on SB 173, Renewable Energy Provisions and to encourage your fellow State Senators to join you. This is the bill Utah needs to develop clean energy resources. SB 173 creates a market for renewable energy, attracting clean energy jobs and investment now flowing into other western states. Renewable energy is already more economical than conventional sources, and this bill would protect ratepayers in the unlikely event that renewable energy ever prove to be too costly.

Support of renewable energy is a means of ensuring that we will be able to pass on to future generations a livable and sustainable world. Ultimately, it is up to us all to ensure that our progeny, both distant and immediate will be able to live in the Utah that wise-minded people like my ancestors (pioneers of 1847) left. In their brief respite on Earth, they planned a community that was sustainable and passed it on to their children. I fear that the road we travel down now is ignoring their essential wisdom and common sense about how to live in a place like Utah and flourish, for the sake of "convenience" and, I hate to say, greed.

Senator Fife, I am a proud Utahn, the scion of pioneer stock, and I feel SB 173 is essential to our future.

Sincerely,

[Theorris Boonasty]
[The Wilhelmn]
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, The Universe 84109
gardnecl@gmail.com

Prospecting

Selenite
Originally uploaded by Theorris

My grandfather was a prospector in Southern Utah and consequently was a rock hound. He had thousands of specimens which he would enter into mineral and rock shows.

Here is one of his specimens, a piece of selenite (a gypsum). It was not the easiest thing to photograph, as I wanted its translucence and ability to spread light to be shown. Selenite is the same chemical composition as alabaster, in case you wanted to know. Selenite is just the clear, well clearer, version of it.

You can see some of my grandfather's rock collection and his entire arrowhead collection at Southern Utah University.

Cloverfield

I went to this movie on the off-chance. While it was not in anyway narratively interesting, I am stunned by its visual impact. I don't give a flying fuck about its story, in fact. I just want to experience it again. Interestingly enough, the movie does destroy the possibility of narrative and takes it right down to the personal, visual experience.

Wonderful set-pieces here. Stunning movie.

Stunning.

I like the idea of a popular movie destroying narrative but keeping it all the same. I know that makes no sense, but you have to experience the movie to understand, I fear.

Now, that said, I think I was compelled by this movie, because it tried to establish a story (and that silly purpose remained throughout) but what really became important was how the visual becomes the sole purpose.

To me this movie was a very expensive art movie that someone got away with it.

That stuns me.

Analysis hat is on tight. Stay tuned for some pop-culture analysis.

Get on this, readers:

Earlier this month, the Utah Radiation Control Board was the first state agency to take a stand against EnergySolutions’ plan to import 20,000 tons of nuclear waste from Italy. Now you can make your voice heard, too.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is taking public comments starting today on EnergySolutions’ request to import nuclear waste from Italy’s defunct reactors. Help us send a message to the NRC that importing another country’s nuclear waste sets a bad precedent for Utah and the U.S. to become the world’s nuclear waste dump and endangers our health, safety, and security.

You can email your comments through our web-form here: http://www.healutah.org/energysolutions/ItalianWasteComments

You can also mail your comments to:
Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555
Attention: Rulemaking and Adjudications

The federal government has been at Utah’s door in the recent past, asking for our approval to let nuclear waste or nuclear fallout into our state. But thousands of Utahns turned back Private Fuel Storage’s nuclear waste plan for Skull Valley and thousands more stopped Divine Strake.

Now we need to speak out again for the health and safety of our state. Please submit your comment today. Thank you!

Here is a sample comment you can use:

Dear Office of the Secretary,

I’m writing to urge the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to deny EnergySolutions’ request to import 20,000 tons of Italian nuclear waste into the U.S. It is my understanding that this single request is many times larger than previous import licenses granted by the Commission and would therefore represent a serious departure in this country’s policies for handling nuclear waste.

Granting this request would set a dangerous precedent for the U.S. to become the world’s nuclear waste repository at a time when our own low-level waste disposal capacity remains uncertain. Filling up our domestic resources for low-level waste disposal with another country’s nuclear waste will put considerable pressure on existing U.S. disposal sites to expand and create a need for new sites to open up. The emergence of new and larger low-level nuclear waste sites due to foreign waste disposal constitutes an unreasonable risk to public health and safety. Having to safeguard these sites from terrorist attacks or other acts of intrusion will put considerable strain on our national defense and security. Furthermore, the transportation of this waste into our ports and through our cities and towns presents an unacceptable risk to our health, safety, and security.

EnergySolutions states in its application that “the sources of this material are not fully known” and that some of the waste may be above allowable contamination for processing and disposal in Utah. The Commission should not agree to allow this import when the nature and hazards of this material remain unclear.

Because of the concerns stated above, I strongly urge the Commission to reject the application submitted by EnergySolutions. Thank you.



John Urgo
HEAL Utah, Outreach Director
68 S. Main St, Suite 400
SLC, UT 84101
(801) 355-5055

"Do you realize?"

"Do you realize?"
Originally uploaded by Theorris

Listen to the Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize," as soon as possible, please.

January Thaw

January Thaw
Originally uploaded by Theorris

It is in the 40s today. I'm wearing my hoodie, and am perfectly warm. Funny, that.

I hope it will snow some more.

Coffee at midnight

Coffee at midnight
Originally uploaded by Theorris

What in the hell am I thinking? Like I get enough sleep as it is and I go and amp myself up when I should be fast asleep.

Shipler revisited

Shipler revisited
Originally uploaded by Theorris

This was taken roughly from the same spot as Shipler's photograph from December 1950.

I think in 2010, I'll go to the same spot in December and take another. I should have taken this one in December 2007, given that the buildings (now demolished) would have still been there. A kid walked by while I was taking this and said in reference to the demolition: "Its sad, isn't it?"

Note the big differences--B&N, no more Redman Movers sign, no more buildings to the right. Shipler also had a real panorama camera. I just have its digital equivelant (therefore the stitching.)

Note the similarities: cars and precious-few pedestrians.

Which do you like better?

You Asked for it: Dostoevsky!

Dostoevsky
Originally uploaded by huxleyesque

Good choice*, readers. While I think Underground Man (or Notes from the Underground) is probably the most essential reading of Dostoevsky, I think The Possessed is probably my favorite work of his. I spent many a dark winter night pouring through the text while writing one of the best papers I wrote in college on that book. I'm hesitant to dig into my box of juvenilia (which I retrieved some time ago from my mother's basement) to see if it is as good as I remember.

Somehow, I think my recollection glorifies and distorts my perception, making my existence a cruel joke. My lack of authenticity astounds.

See, I have read a lot of Dostoevsky.

*I voted for Tolstoy, by the way.

Acquainted with the night

Acquainted with the night
Originally uploaded by Theorris

We have lots of snow at the Wilhelm. Quite enjoyable, really. Not a speck of inversion.

Sloan lays down the law

'A lot of people think just the opposite, that's the best time to trade people,'' Sloan said. 'If you listen to everybody, but I don't listen to everybody.' (Salt Lake Tribune - Utah Jazz: Korver ignited Shaq trade)

That said, they better not trade anyone but Collins, if they suddenly Sloan starts listening to everybody.

10!

No doubt the wankers at the SL Trib will be whinging (yet again) about how the Jazz blew a 16 point lead, but those nit wits thrive on stirring up discontent. The Jazz, while losing that lead, were hammered, but calling on the strength they've gained since this streak began, the withstood the sledgehammer. I particularly liked Harpring's no-compromise play against Anthony et al which was interesting since Milsap and Okur were the ones to foul out. Anthony was just taking advantage of anyone who didn't play him hard.

Lesson learned since the come-back: they lean on you, lean back.

Jazz win, in overtime, 188 to 115. See you in Salt Lake, punks.

Record Store Day

I saw this on WFMU's Beware the Blog: -Record Store Day-. Given the recent demise of Orion's Music here in SLC, I think it only fitting that we try to keep the few independents left in town such as Slow Train alive.

chocolatevanillaliberty

chocolatevanillaliberty
Originally uploaded by peluda2007

Woo hoo! I've been Creative Commonsed (well almost.) I've emailed the dude letting him know he has to give me credit and must remove his "All Rights Reserved" bullshit. Creative Commons! Boo yeah!

9 Straight!

9 Straight!
Originally uploaded by Theorris

Three point fest tonight. Rock on. A comment was made that "we won't see that happening again for a long time from a Jerry Sloan team" by, I think, Jeff Hornacek. Despite his experience with Sloan, I certainly hope that is not the case. It has been nice watching the Jazz develop the long bomb game, along with a strong inside presence over the last 2 years. Sloan has been unfairly categorized as a inside game guy. Perhaps he's changing in his old age. Perhaps he can develop a full-court sense. Perhaps he skillfully works with the players he has on hand. I think that is the case. With Okur, Korver, Kirilenko, Miles, and Williams as potential long ballers, I think he is set. Given that Okur has suddenly ramped up his inside game, I think we're golden.

Round 3* in the finals, here WE (as in the Jazz) come! Now if the Jazz pull of a Conference win, oh my.

*Parker's out. Marbury won't get in the groove for the playoffs. The Jazz will be lucky if the first round in the playoffs is either New Orleans or San Antonio. They will be cruisin' to the third round if that's the case.

Giants!

Giants!
Originally uploaded by Theorris

And you know why New England didn't win? Because nobody, and I mean nobody is ever going to beat my 72 Miami team.

Another new feature

Given that I am getting tired of missing literary readings here in good old SLC, I decided to make a Google Calender devoted to that subject. You can find it over there -->

If you want to join the calender and you have a Gmail account, just click on the + sign next to the Google logo (it is at the bottom). If you want to add events to it, let me know and I'll add you as a calender participant.

I was flickr even before flickr

Man, it is easy to forget. I've been throwing my inane pictures up on the web for so long, that I even forget when I aggregate them. Way back in 2004 (May to be exact). If you have the gumption, enjoy a fascinating trip: eye of orris. After I joined flickr, I ditched The Eye and have been using it to post interesting pictures I've seen on flickr. Man, I'm a sucker for flickr. Now that Yahoo is selling out to Micro$oft, I should probably find a new picture home, I suppose.

Cheers!

Cheers!
Originally uploaded by Theorris

Happy Groundhog Day!

Quite

Hopefully the Jazz won't fall to pieces after the all star break (as they did last year). Given that Boozer had a horrible night, the Jazz team performance shows strength (unlike last year). They are back on track for my first game prediction.

Salt Lake Tribune - Utah Jazz: Utah overcomes off-night from stars:

"The Jazz have rebounded from a dismal December to one of the hottest teams in the NBA in 2008:
92.9: Average points against during winning streak, which is about 10 points better than before the streak.
7: Number of consecutive Jazz victories, including three on the road."

Love

Come to think of it, all the things I've posted recently I love. Even the DMV. You should consider all my posts around this as things I love.

How's that for an easy way out?

More of the love

The snow
Originally uploaded by Theorris

This is another love post. This, I love.