One Utah

No need to rush, the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iraq that Congresss asked for back in August may be almost here. For those who remember, in September 2002 the 90-page secret NIE on Iraq’s supposed weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs was prepared in just a couple of weeks, with an unclassified version [...]

You know how sometimes you hear something that rings true? This certainly did for me.

Here’s a video response from a real Marine.

There are so many tragic stories about the occupation of Iraq, involving Iraqis and Americans as well as people of other nationalities. I’m mentioning this one because of the Utah connection and the need to look at the role of private contractors in a war zone. KSL-TV has covered this because Dan Laguna, [...]

We are in the depths of the annual circus of the State Legislature and I find myself pondering the need for a better system.
Utah is one of a group of states that have part-time legislatures.  Having been at the State Legislature as a citizen advocate every year for 7 sessions in a row, I’m increasingly [...]

Unlocking the secrets of the Zeitgeist is hazardous for the untrained humanist. But this one was easy. The controversial experiment on “gay sheep” is a firestorm that, of course, was started by bloggers and was eventually picked up by corporate media. As NYT discovered, the reality of the story is less interesting than what it [...]

I know that you guys get a raw deal sometimes. Most of humanity’s problems (rightly or wrongly) get laid on your doorstep. I’ve been quick in my life to point out the wrongs done to me and mine by men.
So, I just wanted to give credit where credit is due. I’ve noticed lately that there’s [...]

Ken, Don’t let the Mormons scare you. They are but a stumble away from the rest of us deep down.

Anyone who gets offended with be disfellowhipped before Sunday.
P.S. See Ken’s first post below.
P.S.S. This one’s for Frank.

Apologies to Mick and Keith, but “Sympathy for the Devil” is an appropriate backdrop for the mission Cliff Lyon has tapped me for: taking on environmental issues with a focus on Utah governments and certain powerful and influential elements, among them: gold, copper, carbon and Mormonium, which I believe is #263 on the periodic table. [...]

What does the Utah legislature’s annual attack on queer students have to do with a fight in Arkansas to remove books from school libraries? The answer is everything.
Yet again, the rocket scientists in the legislature have decided that gay-straight alliances must be bad for students and have decided to write a law that would [...]

First, allow me to thank Richard for a superb assessment of one aspect of the situation on the ground under the “Surge Strategy.” I was on-line a week or so ago and came across an news report that honestly made me sick to stomach. Perhaps, the PTSD and suicides of returning Iraq Veterans ought to [...]

This morning, I watched the confirmation hearing for LTG Petraeus, who will be taking over the command of ground forces in Iraq. Although the plan to secure Baghdad is not as new and original as it has been presented, there will be a change in tactics that threatens to increase casualties because more American [...]