Have an Oreo
I understand that plenty of Oreo cookies will be featured at the Parents for Choice in Education election night party.
On-Line Debate Today
Incumbent Nancy Saxton and Challenger Luke Garrott from SLC Council District 4 will debate at noon today in the Salt Lake City Library. But you don’t have to be in attendance to watch or to ask questions. RunPolitics.com will provide video of the debate over the Internet, and viewers can submit questions, vote on which questions to ask the candidates, and even rate and comment on each candidate’s responses.
To participate, go to www.runpolitics.com and follow the links. Participants must register by clicking on the “Create Account” link at the top right corner of the web page.
Washington Watch
Hatch: Combat Cyber Crime
The Senate Judiciary Committee votes to advance key provisions of Sen. Orrin Hatch's Cyber Crime Act of 2007, which would "boost the federal government's ability to fight cyber crimes such as computer hacking, theft of confidential information, and spreading computer worms and viruses" (see press release); Hatch introduces a bill to help the feds combat super-bugs (press release).
Cannon: No to Mining Act
Rep. Chris Cannon says of his opposition to The Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007: "This unconstitutional and dangerous legislation will economically devastate many western economies and leave us more dependent on foreign sources of mined materials. ... Democrats are, once again, putting eco-alarmism ahead of America's working families and national security" (see press release); Cannon attends White House signing ceremony for Internet Tax Moratorium bill (see press release).
Benjamin Harrison and the Mormons
After the 1890 Manifesto renouncing polygamy, Harrison issues amnesty to many Saints, including First Presidency member Joseph F. Smith. For the first time in seven years he is now able to speak publicly in the Tabernacle: “I spoke briefly,” he said “for I was so overcome by my feelings that I could scarcely restrain them.” (From Mike Winder’s Presidents and Prophets: The Story of America’s Presidents and the LDS Church)
Utah Foundation Research Report
The Utah Foundation's latest research report examines Utah's standardized school test scores and "finds that Utah is scoring well below what would be expected for a state with its demographic profile. ... With per-pupil funding $3,000 lower than its peer-group average, financial limitations are a likely limiting factor."
Sierra Club Endorsements
The Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club has endorsed Salt Lake City Council candidates J. Michael Clara and J.T. Martin.
Today in Political History
November 2, 1734: Daniel Boone, one of the nation's most famous frontiersmen, is born just east of Reading, Pennsylvania.
November 2, 1889: The states of North and South Dakota are admitted to the Union. (Source: Perspicuity)
Nov. 2, 1976: Former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter defeats Republican incumbent Gerald R. Ford, becoming the first U.S. president from the Deep South since the Civil War. (New York Times)
Wise Words
“He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.”
-- Benjamin Franklin (Source: Quotations Page)
Utah History Spotlight
Westminster College
Salt Lake City’s WestminsterCollege, originally a mission school of the Presbyterian Church, is a significant part of Utah's educational heritage. It first opened in 1875 with 63 pupils but grew in spurts to about 2,000 students today. The 27-acre campus at 1300 East and 1700 South in Sugar House and includes 14 major buildings. Emigration Creek winds through the south end of the property making it one of the most attractive campuses in the state.
The college was first known as the Presbyterian Preparatory School and offered instruction from kindergarten through high school. Three rooms in the old Presbyterian Church at 200 South and 200 East housed the first classes. From this humble beginning, the school has emerged as a four-year liberal arts college, fully independent, nondenominational, privately funded and functioning under its own board of directors. It also offers master's level programs in business and education. (Source: Utah.Edu)
National Politics
Best Stories From …
-- USA Today: "Call us the Unhappy States of America. One year before Election Day 2008, most Americans are dismayed by the country's direction, pessimistic about the Iraq war and anxious about the economy. Two of three disapprove of the job President Bush is doing. Nearly a year after Democrats took control of Congress, three of four Americans say it isn't achieving much, either."
-- The Politico: "Congressional Democrats certainly know the power of a throw-the-bums-out message. It vaulted them to power a year ago this week. Little wonder anxiety is boiling over inside the new majority as lawmakers ponder a succession of polls and reach an inescapable conclusion: Lots of people think they are bums, too."
-- Los Angeles Times: "After searching for ways to rattle Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and stem her momentum in the Democratic presidential race, her chief rivals believe they have found an opening: what they cast as her evasiveness on several key issues.
-- Washington Times: "Some Republican activists hope New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will make a third-party run for the presidency -- predicting it would siphon votes from the Democrats' nominee and greatly help the party's contender next year."
Blog Watch
-- Ed Morrissey, in response to this John Stossell column on Utah's voucher fight, says: "What Stossel misses is why voucher programs have become a burgeoning movement, along with home schooling and the demand for charter schools. It springs from the loss of power from parents and the local communities to the federal government over the last four decades. The shift of control over curricula, standards, and mandates from local school boards to a vast federal bureaucracy -- abetted by the NEA -- has provoked this reaction. Parents want as much influence over the education of their children as possible, and federal control gives them no influence or say over how their children are taught. Power has shifted into the hands of the lobbyists, like the NEA, who represent teachers and administrators first, and children secondarily if at all ... Vouchers simply provide parents with the power always envisioned by the public school system. It simply replaces the school board with a capitalist lever on quality of delivery. ... The NEA and the Department of Education drove parents to voucher programs." (For more on the voucher issue, see BoardBuzz, Utah State Democratic Party, David Rodeback, The Third Avenue, and Davis County Watch.)
Lighter Side
“There should be a tax on every man that wanted to get a government appointment, or be elected to office. In two years that tax alone would pay our national debt.”
—Will Rogers (Patriot Post)
Casual Friday
Fishing Report
By Dave Webb
A group of us fished Strawberry last weekend and had a great time. Action wasn't super fast but it was steady and the size of the fish kept things interesting. Most ran 16-20 inches; we hooked into one that was probably about 24. That was during the afternoon after a full moon. My experience says success picks up as the moon wanes. Expect success to be good there until snow and ice shut down the launch ramps.
Other reservoirs are also fishing well, for both trout and walleye. Our trout streams are also good. Dry fly fishermen wish we would get a little stormy weather because that would help hatches. Streamers, jigs and lures are working well, even on bright sunny, days. Remember to leave spawning brown trout alone.
The pheasant hunt opens Saturday with success expected to be fair.
DWR has scheduled a series of meetings to gather public input on proposed changes to deer and elk hunting seasons. The changes could be significant and so we encourage interested parties to attend and participate in the process. Here are articles on the proposals: Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret Morning News, DWR.
Outdoors Report
-- Tribune fishes for pike at Yuba Reservoir and provides some tips for hooking that fish
-- News’ Ski and Snowboard School celebrates 60 years and equips students with correct techniques for future progress
-- Morning News’ Bike Notes highlights cycling happenings around the state
-- Enjoy the beautiful fall weather in the Tribune’s Hike of the Week
-- Find out about upcoming events in the Morning News’ Outdoor Notes
-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook and Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week
-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website
New Films
-- Bee Movie: Tribune review
-- American Gangster: Tribune review
-- The Martian Child: Tribune review
Concerts
-- Melinda Lambert Baird, piano, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free
-- Scott Holden and Ruth Ellis, piano and soprano, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Madsen Recital Hall, BYU, free
-- BYU Women’s and Men’s Choruses, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., de Jong Concert Hall, BYU, $10
-- Schubert’s “The Great,” Utah Symphony, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., Abravanel Hall
-- “Rainbow of Colors” family concert, U. School of Music Preparatory Division, Saturday, 3 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall, U., free
-- Sounds Choir from Idaho Falls, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free
-- Stephen Beus, piano, Saturday, Libby Gardner Concert Hall, U., $8
-- The Fourteenth Annual Eccles Organ Festival, Sundays, 8 p.m., through November 4, Cathedral of the Madeleine
-- “The Three Musketeers,” Ballet West, through November 10, Capitol Theatre
-- Organ Recitals, every Saturday, noon, and every Sunday, 2 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall
Theater
-- “Lucky Stiff” through November 3, Draper Historic Theatre
-- “Exposed” through November 4, Plan-B Theatre Company
-- “The Big Friendly Giant” through November 9, SCERA Center
-- “Anne of Green Gables” through November 10, Grand Theatre
-- “Harry Botter and the Curse of Dracula” through November 10, Off Broadway Theatre
-- “Little Shop of Horrors” through November 10, Rodgers Memorial Theatre
-- “Once Upon a Mattress” through November 10, Terrace Plaza Playhouse
-- “Picasso and the Lapin Agile” through November 10, Weber State University
-- “Spamlet, Where Mystery Meats Comedy” through November 10, Desert Star Cabaret Theatre
-- “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” through November 17, Empress Theatre
-- “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” through November 17, Center Street Musical Theatre
-- “It’s Christmas Time Again” through November 19, Valley Center Playhouse
-- “Cinderella” through November 24, Children’s Theatre & School of the Arts
-- “Thoroughly Modern Millie” through November 24, Hale Center Theater Orem
-- “Once On This Island” through November 24, Hale Centre Theatre
Museum Exhibits
-- The Bear River Exhibition through December 30, Utah Museum of Natural History
-- Picturing the West: 19th Century Landscape Photography Exhibition through December 30, Utah Museum of Fine Arts
-- Andy Warhol’s Dream America Exhibition through January 6, Utah Museum of Fine Arts
-- Cinderella: Masks, Magic, and Mirrors Exhibition through March 31, Utah Museum of Fine Arts
-- Minerva Teichert: Pageants in Paint Exhibition, through May 26, Brigham Young University Museum of Art
Et Cetera
-- Fat Flake Festival, Saturday, 4 – 10 p.m., Gallivan Center, free
-- Moab Folk Music Festival, through November 4
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