The Web: Power and Poison
The Internet has become an indispensable part of political campaigning. But the Web can also be used to hurt a candidate. A Thursday Washington Post story notes that, “Candidates use the Internet to generate buzz, draw grass-roots support and raise record amounts of money. But in the intense, round-the-clock world of online presidential campaigning, the good comes with the bad.”
Mindy Finn, chief online strategist for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign, tells the Post: “The pool of negativity is much bigger, and it spreads virally. The Web can be hateful.” For Hillary Clinton, in particular, the Web “draws equal parts cash and vitriol.”
Underlying Economy Still Strong
Utah economist Jeff Thredgold’s Tea Leaf economic update this week says the U.S. economy has some underlying strength. “Score two more for the beleaguered and oft-criticized American economy. Even as much of the national media bemoans U.S. housing market weakness and the economy's inevitable move toward recession, the overall economy just keeps pluggin' along.” Overall economic growth was strong in the July-September quarter and October job gains were twice the consensus forecast. “We continue to suggest only a 25% chance of a U.S. recession during the next 12 months, with housing’s nationwide turnaround still perhaps a year away. And as a constant, much of the national media will continue to badmouth the economy at every opportunity…”
Warren G. Harding and the Mormons
One of Harding’s closest advisors was apostle-senator Reed Smoot from Utah. Smoot shared a Book of Mormon, and Harding called him in the middle of the night to see if he could come administer to the ill First Lady, which he did. Harding visited Utah, golfed at the Salt Lake Country Club, and went horseback riding in Zion National Park. (From Mike Winder’s Presidents and Prophets: The Story of America’s Presidents and the LDS Church)
Today in Political History
Nov. 9, 1965: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is inaugurated
Nov. 9, 1989: East Germany lifts the Iron Curtain and allows the Berlin Wall to be torn down. (Perspicuity)
Wise Words
“Neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.
-- Samuel Adams, essay in The Public Advertiser (Patriot Post)
Utah Geography Spotlight
The HenryMountains of GarfieldCounty in southeastern Utah were one of the last-surveyed and last-named mountain ranges in the lower 48 states. The Henrys are located in the middle of the Colorado Plateau, a sea of sandstone cut by deep canyons. The surrounding country for miles is arid and supports little vegetation. It is a rugged region that left the HenryMountains isolated and unknown until after the Civil War. Even today, the Henrys and the surrounding regions remain sparsely settled. Ironically, however, among geologists the Henrys are known world-wide because of a classic study of their geology done during the 1870s.
The Henry Mountains are about 60 miles long by 20 miles wide. The nearest settlement is Hanksville to the north. The range is bounded on the east and south by the Colorado River and its tributary, the Dirty Devil River; on the west by the Waterpocket Fold; and on the north by the San Rafael Swell. The vertical relief between the Henrys and the surrounding plateau regions ranges from 6,000 to 8,000 feet. From north to south the highest peaks of the Henrys are: Mount Ellen, 11,506 feet above sea level; Mount Pennell, 11,371 feet; Mount Hillers, 10,723 feet; Mount Holmes, 7,930 feet; and Mount Ellsworth, at 8,235 feet. The latter two peaks are separated from the main range by a valley, and are sometimes referred to as the Little Rockies because of their rugged appearance. All of these names were given to the peaks by U.S. government surveying parties in the 1870s. (Utah.Edu)
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- The Hill: "Congress for the first time reversed one of President Bush's rare vetoes after the Senate Thursday voted 79-14 to override the president's veto of the Water Resources Development Act."
-- New York Times: Rudy Giuliani and Pat Robertson "could compete for strangest bedfellows of 2008."
-- NBC News: Columnist Chuck Todd: "Just how angry is the electorate? Perhaps angrier than any of us imagined. It's not just anger, however, that voters are expressing toward politicians. It appears to be downright distrust with the government itself."
-- Roll Call: Columnist Mort Kondracke explains why immigration won't work as a wedge issue for the GOP in '08.
Lighter Side
“I’m just glad it’ll be Clark Gable who’s falling on his face and not Gary Cooper.”
-- Gary Cooper, on declining the lead role in “Gone with the Wind.” (Great Quotes)
Casual Friday
Fishing Report
Dennis Breer at Trout Creek Flies reminds fishermen that many guide services offer discounted rates during the off-season. As the month progresses and the weather turns cold, most waters will be virtually deserted. "If you ever wanted the river virtually to yourself, this is the time," he said.
Streamers are working well right now on our brown trout streams. Strawberry, Jordanelle, Scofield, and most of our reservoirs are good for trout. At Lake Powell there is surprisingly good late season bass fishing on the upper San Juan arm. Read the complete fishing report at Red Rock Adventure.
Outdoors Report
-- Trim your own Christmas tree this year in the Tribune
-- Morning News tries out Ogden’s extreme sports
-- Local mountaineer-photographer’s work at the Kimball Art Center in the Tribune
-- Morning News finds Noah’s ark in southern Utah
-- 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
-- Fred Claus: Tribune review
-- Lions for Lambs: Tribune review
Concerts
-- Del Parkinson, piano, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free
-- Fry Street Quartet and cellist Paul Katz, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Performance Hall, Utah State University, Logan, $5
-- Irvin Mayfied and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Kingsbury Hall
-- “Art with Heart,” Dance Impressions, Friday and Saturday 7 p.m.; also Saturday, 2 p.m., Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
-- “The Rite of Spring,” Utah Symphony, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., Abravanel Hall
-- “The Three Musketeers,” Ballet West, through November 10, Capitol Theatre
-- An Evening of Flute Music, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free
-- Utah Ballet, through November 17, Alice Sheets Marriott Center for Dance, University of Utah
-- Organ Recitals, every Saturday, noon, and every Sunday, 2 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall
Theater
-- “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
-- “The Winter’s Tale” through November 18, Babcock 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
-- “Billion Dollar Baby” through December 2, Salt Lake Acting Company
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
-- SF Recycled and Masters of West Coast Assemblage and Collage Exhibitions through January 26, David Kimball Anderson: To Morris Graves Exhibition through February 2, Salt Lake Art Center
-- Minerva Teichert: Pageants in Paint Exhibition, through May 26, Brigham Young University Museum of Art
Et Cetera
-- Jewish Art and Food Festival, Saturday and Sunday, Jewish Community Center
-- Silent Film Series, Friday, 7:30 p.m., The Organ Loft
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