Green Jello

• Boner Candidate -- Mayor of Stockton

  I miss X96 and boner awards. In homage to the X96 boner awards, I would like to nominate and award the mayor of Stockton Utah with the Green Jello Boner.
  
  Officer Josh Rowell, who paid his own way through Utah Police Officer training, was running a DUI checkpoint last [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 6:36am EDT
  

• Come on, Dems! Try working in UK Parliment.

  So Democratic house leadership is now going forward with a resolution to rebuke Joe Wilson for having the audacity to shout at President Obama during his health care address. I'm sorry folks, the Dem leadership is wasting time and (I hope the majority of the nation's patience) my patience with [...]
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  Posted: September 15, 2009, 11:58am EDT
  

• American Indians take the Washingon Redskins to SCOTUS

  I'm surprised that this hasn't gone to the high court sooner. Many will remember the NCAA's attempt to crack down on possibly offensive Native American mascots during the 2004-2005 athletic year by banning offending schools from championships (I believe). The NCAA targeted everyone, even if the teams used accurate tribal [...]
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  Posted: September 15, 2009, 10:54am EDT
  

• William Wilberforce -- Healthcare Reform

  I have been going through a bit of a refiners fire for several months -- and things have come to what appears to be a rather serious head. This has led to some awakenings -- and I have come to think on William Wilberforce.
  
  William Wilberforce was a British [...]
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  Posted: September 10, 2009, 11:17am EDT
  

• Healthcare Reform -- Being Careful for What We Wish For!

  View the Barbara Wagner Video

  
  

  Yikes! This story is powerful, and should be sobering as we consider putting the Federal government in the drivers seat of our nations health care. Hattip Ethan Millard on Facebook.
  

  The powerful story of Barbara Wagner demonstrates why this [...]

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  Posted: August 05, 2009, 3:32pm EDT
  

• Healthcare Reform -- The Income Tax circa-1913

  Enclosure: [download]

  I am for health care being made available and affordable to all Americans, and I'm (very cautiously) in favor (at least not completely opposed) to a nationalized health care option. However, I think caution is needed in accepting Congress' current plan and the guarantees the president and congressional leaders make [...]
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  Posted: July 31, 2009, 1:33pm EDT
  

• Madoff -- He has a Projected Release Date

  I found this to be rather interesting. Bernie Madoff received a 150-year sentence for his Ponzi scam. You would think a sentence of 150 years would be treated as a life sentence without the possibility of parole -- the end. However, the Federal Prison Bureau has calculated a projected release [...]
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  Posted: July 14, 2009, 1:37pm EDT
  

• The LDS Church and the Kiss Heard Round the Salt Lake Valley

  Before I write anything I want to express that I am a Mormon, and I support my church's teachings. However, too many Church members view the Church's opposition to homosexuality as a lifestyle as a reason and excuse to discriminate and oppress gays and lesbians individually and as a group. [...]
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  Posted: July 14, 2009, 9:49am EDT
  

• Civil Political Discourse -- Southern Utah Style

  How marvelous! St. Georgians exercised their freedom to assemble this 4th of July by having one of many National "Tea" Parties. Unfortunately, due to my camping trip to Lake Powell, I was unable to attend. Thankfully the crack squad of reporters from the Daily Spectrum were there to cover the [...]
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  Posted: July 06, 2009, 2:18pm EDT
  

• Bravo Supreme Court

  The Supreme Court released a decision yesterday regarding reverse discrimination. The "ruling that New Haven, Conn., wrongly discriminated against a group of mostly white firefighters who lost out when a promotion exam was scrapped because no blacks scored well enough to advance". Interestingly enough, there seems to be a [...]
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  Posted: June 30, 2009, 9:11am EDT
  

• Utah Rental Law -- Mitigating Damages and Written Terminations

  I was in Small Claims Court a couple of nights ago, because of a disputed cleaning bill from an old landlord. I have a few questions for the real lawyers out there. I'm going to provide the basic arguments of my case below and I would like to know if' [...]
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  Posted: June 26, 2009, 9:44am EDT
  

• Cell Phones -- Its about time!

  IRS Commissioner released this statement about laws related to personal and business use of employer provided cellular phones. The current rules require a business use log of cell phone calls:
  
  Statement of IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman

  This month, the Internal Revenue Service asked for comments on ways to simplify [...]

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  Posted: June 22, 2009, 12:45pm EDT
  

• Universal Healthcare -- Why and how?

  Universal health care, one the socialist ills that Ronald Regan spoke out against is currently one of the hot button issues in Congress this year. There is draft legislation circulating to create a national health insurance through medicare, expanded SCHIP, and Medicaid. Due to the fact, the final bill hasn't' [...]
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  Posted: June 11, 2009, 9:24am EDT
  

• The Journal of an Unemployed American -- Month 1

  Hello everyone,
  
  It has been some of the roughest weeks of my life. I was laid off in February, and at that time I almost looked at it as an opportunity to go back to what I loved doing. I have a high opinion of my credentials in small [...]
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  Posted: March 27, 2009, 10:59am EDT
  

• PCU -- Dixie State College...Red Storm?

  I grew up with parents who were fanatical Dixie College alumni (ironically neither of them actually received degrees from the school). Dixie College Rebels was a mascot that fit the schools name and the nickname of the region.
  
  I understand the connection that the [...]
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  Posted: January 27, 2009, 1:36pm EST
  

• A Tax Cheat to Run the Treasury Department

  So Treasury Secretary Nominee, Timothy Geithner, has passed the Senate Finance Commitee Hearing despite the fact he appears to be a reformed tax cheat.
  
  He apparently has made numerous tax errors, including failure to pay SE Tax for 4 years. His excuses are pitiful and self-serving, the kinds of [...]
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  Posted: January 22, 2009, 9:55pm EST
  

• The Presidency of George W Bush

  With the new Obama administration coming in, and the "supposed" worst president in history going out I've been reflecting on the Bush presidency -- how bad was it?
  
  Did George Bush accomplish anything?
  
  Keeping America safe post 9-11: Agree or disagree with his tactics and decisions, we have' [...]
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  Posted: January 17, 2009, 11:53am EST
  

• Florida concedes the Title to Utah

  I have not received a response from Urban Meyer. Therefore by not addressing the challenge, he has conceded to title to the Utah Utes (in the world of Phramahaphil) [...]
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  Posted: January 17, 2009, 11:51am EST
  

• An open letter to Urban Meyer

  Dear Coach Meyer,
  
  Congratulations on your win last night. Your team had a wonderful season.
  
  I am and always will be a big fan of yours. You brought Utah Football the next level while you were here and Kyle Whittingham is continuing that legacy. You are truly a [...]
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  Posted: January 09, 2009, 8:31am EST
  

• The BCS, the Opponant Utah doesn't need.

  Mike Sorensen at DesNews seems to believe the BCS needs to be upheld. He suggests that Utah should be rooting for a lower ranked BCS conference champion in whichever game it plays in. I assume this is because he holds to the BCS motto that non-BCS teams are inferior and [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2008, 7:23am EST
  

• The BCS, Utah v. BYU, Boise State & Utah are the only legitimate contenders to face Bama in the Title Game.

  I'm waiting for the game to start. I am a loyal U fan (I attended SUU, and they haven't been worth watching) I've been U fan since my older brother was a BYU fan as a kid (although he ended up as a cheerleader at the U and switched alligiences).' [...]
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  Posted: November 22, 2008, 2:46pm EST
  

• Are we on the verge of Great Depression II?

  This opinion piece was on CNN.com:
  
  "Every time the economy and stock market turn down, financial historians get predictable calls from reporters. Could this be the start of another Great Depression? Could "it" possibly happen again? My stock answer has always been no.The Great Depression resulted from a" [...]
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  Posted: October 09, 2008, 5:24pm EDT
  

• McCain -- Claims he will cut spending but than proposes to buy mortgages in order to write down over-valued mortgages

  John McCain has derided Obama, and Democrats in general, as big spenders. However, no doubt in an attempt to seems like a friend to the middle-class, John McCain has just suggested that the Federal government buy $300B in over-valued mortgages in order to refinance and write-down those mortgages at current [...]
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  Posted: October 09, 2008, 1:05pm EDT
  

• Shame on you PITA!

  
  This pisses me off. Autism is something that leaves families affected by it full of questions and little answers. There are real scientists researching causes of autism, and hopefully they will continue to make some solid discoveries that may help decrease the number of individuals [...]
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  Posted: October 02, 2008, 4:39pm EDT
  

• The Bailout Bill Fails

  In a blow to Paulsen and the Bush administration, Congress voted down the 700 billion dollar bailout package. I'm not really sure how to feel about that -- on the one hand I'm glad that Congress saw that bailing out a corrupt Wall Street was a heavy-handed move against the [...]
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  Posted: September 29, 2008, 4:03pm EDT
  

• The Economy -- McCain Takes the Lead...at Least a Moral High Road

  McCain called off campaigning in order to return to Washington and do his job as a Senator in working towards a solution to the financial crisis. He requested that Friday's debate be postponed so that Senator Obama could return to Washington as well, to which the Democratic nominee declined and [...]
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  Posted: September 24, 2008, 4:23pm EDT
  

• The Economy -- Where should the blame lie?

  At Political Civility, Lyall is discussing the economy, government bailouts, and financial regulation. He infers that if elected Barack Obama will over increase regulation (somehow missing the past several hundred billion dollars the Bush administration has expended in market intervention) and Democrats will push more government intervention into the [...]
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  Posted: September 17, 2008, 3:22pm EDT
  

• Sarah Palin Baby Name Game

  One of my biggest issues with Sarah Palin is her Child Naming Convention. Well now you can have an orginal Palin-esque name!
  
  Mine is Slicer Mission Palin! I might use this one for child number 4 -- at least I'll suggest it for craps and giggles.' [...]
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  Posted: September 16, 2008, 4:19pm EDT
  

• The Economy -- Who will take the lead?

  The past few days have been unnerving to say the least. The size and number government bailouts that have happened over the last few months is incredible. One of the largest and once most stable investment banks has filed bankruptcy, AIG has become a US Government subsidiary, and other once [...]
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  Posted: September 16, 2008, 4:19pm EDT
  

• Issues That May Decide My Vote in the Presidential Election (as if my vote mattered) I

  Even though my vote will be swallowed and given to John McCain anyways, I'd like to give some consideration to what I find important in a candidate this year. I've been trying to decide how to go about this, whether to list pros and cons of each candidate, or to [...]
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  Posted: September 03, 2008, 1:27pm EDT
  

• Nice Try, But I Don't Think So

  Obama has actually contended that he has more executive experience than Sarah Palin because of running his presidential campaign.
  
  “Well, my understanding is that Governor Palin’s town of Wasilla has, I think, 50 employees. We’ve got 2,500 in this campaign. I think their budget is maybe $12 million a [...]
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  Posted: September 02, 2008, 1:11pm EDT
  

• Palin -- Maybe I was a little harsh.

  Okay, maybe my last post was a tad harsh regarding Sarah Palin as the VP pick. There is still one issue with which I'm not comfortable about her, (i.e. the ethics investigation underway in Alaska) but I think she may actually be the perfect addition to the McCain ticket. I've [...]
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  Posted: September 02, 2008, 10:49am EDT
  

• McCain Buries Himself

  I think McCain may have dashed his chances of winning with his VP pick. Who could McCain have chosen from? Lieberman, Romney, Huckabee, heavens even our own Jon Huntsman Jr. all of whom have more popularity and better political resumes. Who does he choose? An 18 month governor of Alaska [...]
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  Posted: August 29, 2008, 11:28am EDT
  

• Stimulus Payments -- Rapid Refunds (RAL and RTs) Screwing the Poor Again

  I know I said i wasn't going to write but getting a tad pissed off at the government is as good a reason as any.
  
  I was expecting my stimulus check today in perfect timing to cover some of the myriad of bills I have incurred over the past' [...]
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  Posted: May 16, 2008, 3:40pm EDT
  

• The Start of a Blogging Sabbatical

  It has been a while since I have written and I thought I would like to explain why.
  
  The past few months have been rather trying. Earlier this month my wife and I finally learned why my son has been developmentally delayed. While we were grasping a straws trying [...]
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  Posted: April 29, 2008, 11:32am EDT
  

• My First MotoQ Post

  I purchased a new Moto-Q phone this weekend, and it is sweet. I thought I would try blogging with it. [...]
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  Posted: April 04, 2008, 11:06pm EDT
  

• Super Dell: You So Crazy!

  Hat tip Tom Grover
  
  Superdell has, and I was praying he would, started a blog. In his inaugural post has describes his vision for his first fundraising event:
  
  "Hello fans and curious others. Thanks for visiting. This is where you will be getting the inside story" [...]
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  Posted: March 19, 2008, 12:46pm EDT
  

• Moderation in Utah Politics

  Some of the events of this past legislative session have made me reflect heavily on my party affiliation, and the ways that public policy decisions are (or should be) made. I have been officially affiliated with the Republican party since my 18th birthday, I was picked as a delegate to [...]
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  Posted: March 07, 2008, 12:46pm EST
  

• Buttar's Quoted on a White Supremacist's Blog

  Hat-tip Salt Lake Crawler:
  
  I hope fellow 10th State Senate District voters take note, Chris Buttars' gaffe is being fondly quoted by white supremacists. The Alaskan white supremacist blogger referred to Buttars as his "favorite" state senator while quoting the infamous "This baby is black" comment. The blogger' [...]
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  Posted: March 05, 2008, 2:41pm EST
  

• HOLY CONFLICT OF INTEREST

  Interesting........ [...]
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  Posted: March 04, 2008, 2:18pm EST
  

• Mortgage Crisis -- Bernake, and Negative Equity

  I caught a few moments of a Ben Bernake Speech while I was walking out the door, he was discussing defaults and delinquency issues and the issue that many homeowners face of negative equity. The major question he was raising is what can be done about negative equity issues? So [...]
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  Posted: March 04, 2008, 10:09am EST
  

• If Buttars' Faux Pax Created So Much Ire, I'm Surprised This Flew Under the Radar

  The Trib had an article about Buttars getting back to work -- he is quietly trying not to say anything else that would raise the eyebrows of the public. One comment from Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem caught my attention regarding a bill to create a registry for minority-owned businesses that [...]
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  Posted: February 21, 2008, 10:21am EST
  

• Chris Buttars is My State Senator

  So I saw a post on The Bloghive about looking up Chris Buttars on Wikipedia, and so I looked him up on Wikipedia and discovered that my new home happens to be in his voting district. What fun!
  
  I don't think I would be the man to run [...]
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  Posted: February 21, 2008, 9:54am EST
  

• Anyone Wonder Who Votes for Buttars

  This comment was a follow-up from a comment that I deleted for being less than civil. I decided to give this comment top posting, because it demonstrates what kind of individual agrees with and supports the policy agenda and decisions of Chris Buttars:
  
  "another free speech phoney. can't take [...]
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  Posted: February 15, 2008, 11:02am EST
  

• Marine One Flying by The Washington Memorial -- Your Tax Dollars at Work

  I went to DC last August, and I barely caught this photographic opportunity as I was walking to the Jefferson Memorial -- unfortunately the throw away camera had no zoom.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [...]
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  Posted: February 14, 2008, 2:35pm EST
  

• Romney to Endorse McCain......I Wonder

  I just heard that Mitt Romney is planning to endorse John McCain. This change of events begs the question, "Is McCain possibly tapping Romney as his running mate?"
  
  It could be a very wise decision given the fact that Romney has such a large bank account, and that he [...]
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  Posted: February 14, 2008, 12:28pm EST
  

• Buttars' Statement Out of Context

  Before I begin I would like to reiterate that I find Chris Buttars to be the very epitome of the Taliban in Utah. The man is an extremist to the utmost degree. However, I think everyone is mis-characterizing the man's supposed racist comment.
  
  Most media outlets (and lets face [...]
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  Posted: February 14, 2008, 10:39am EST
  

• The State Senate's Attempt to Thwart Benefits for Domestic Partners

  Okay, when the nefarious Rocky Andersen pushed the "domestic partners benefits" idea I viewed it as a proverbial "F#@* off" after Utah passed Amendment 3. However, I'm not so sure that the right is right in this matter either. The 1930's throwback Chris Buttars and a cast of bloated social [...]
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  Posted: February 12, 2008, 12:18pm EST
  

• Romney has bowed out!

  CNN is reporting that Mitt Romney will suspend his campaign for the Republican nomination.
  
  Where does that leave us here, in Utah? If Obama can pull off the nomination -- I think we may see a blue state come November (at least more than it has been in 4 [...]
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  Posted: February 07, 2008, 11:40am EST
  

• Vote Obama

  Need I say anymore.
  [...]
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  Posted: February 06, 2008, 2:21pm EST
  

• Utah Will Go To a Democrat in November -- Like it Really Matters

  So for this Super Tuesday hasn't been kind for Mitt Romney. Although the night is young, I'm going to make a few predictions:
  
  1. Mitt Romney will be finished tonight. (unless he soundly wins California)
  
  2. If Romney does hang up the towel, and the race becomes a [...]
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  Posted: February 05, 2008, 8:23pm EST
  

• I'm back, and in Salt Lake.

  It has been many moons since I have written, and there has been many changes in my life. I would like to send a HUGE thank you to Jesse Harris and Brad Ross for helping me unload my Uhaul at my basement apartment.
  
  I have started working for Huntsman [...]
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  Posted: February 05, 2008, 8:08pm EST
  

• R.I.P. -- My Video IPod 2005-2007

  It was great while it lasted. I got my first IPod for Christmas 2 years ago, a 30 GB video IPod. It was a good friend, it helped me loose 70 lbs, it accompanied me on business trips, and long drives to Salt Lake. Today, it played its last song [...]
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  Posted: December 14, 2007, 3:28pm EST
  

• Romney: Huckabee Lets Out His First Negative Comment About Mormomism, and MSNBC's ODonnell is a Religious Bigot

  Huckabee, a former Southern Baptist minister who has become a Republican front runner in the Presidential race, finally broke with his policy of silence regarding Mitt Romney's Mormon faith. He was quoted as saying, "don't Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?" Huckabee's comment isn't all that bad, [...]
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  Posted: December 12, 2007, 3:08pm EST
  

• Huntsman Proposes to Enforce Health Insurance

  Governor Huntsman is proposing to pass legislation that would require all Utahns to have health insurance. While I agree that it is an important goal to have all Utahns insured, mandating all Utahns have health insurance does little to address affordability and accessibility to quality health insurance coverage. The Governor [...]
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  Posted: December 08, 2007, 8:14am EST
  

• Iran -- No Nuke Program

  I have for the most part been a supporter of the Bush administration, and when I have found the Bush administration wanting I have looked the other way. No weapons of mass destruction in Iraq -- fine. Saddam Hussein was an evil dictator who needed to be removed from power [...]
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  Posted: December 04, 2007, 3:16pm EST
  

• Utah No Longer Hearts Families of Disabled Utahns

  This past week I attended a seminar on tax changes -- gearing up for the 2008 tax season. During the seminar, a representative from the Utah State Tax Commission presented tax changes for 2007 and 2008. For 2007 the tax changes aren't all that significant, if your rich ($150k+ incomes) [...]
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  Posted: December 02, 2007, 12:11pm EST
  

• 2007 Tax Year Approaching

  We just received our early release version of our 2007 tax software. With all of the tax changes in the state legislature, I wasn't quite sure whether the state was using the credit/flat tax system, dual system, or the traditional system for 2007. In case anyone else was wondering the [...]
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  Posted: November 27, 2007, 3:19pm EST
  

• Wrongful Conviction Reimbursment Proposal

  There is a proposal being floated to reimburse wrongfully convicted prisoners 40,000 dollars for each year they were wrongfully imprisoned, and an additional 30,000 dollars if the individual was on death row. One of the positive features that is being touted about this bill is it will avoid multi-million dollar [...]
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  Posted: November 26, 2007, 2:08pm EST
  

• BYU - Utah: Testosterone in the Beehive State

  The rivalry game was once again a great game -- until the bitter end. BYU played solid ball at the end, but it was irritating to see the Ref's make such crappy calls during such a pivotal moment in the game. (i.e. the alleged PI call, and the personal foul [...]
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  Posted: November 26, 2007, 1:09pm EST
  

• Veterans Day

  I found this video on Dave Fletcher's blog. When I reflect on the sacrifices of our men and women of the Armed Forces I feel fairly undeserving of the freedom which these individuals have ensured. We are forever indebted to these individuals, and may we seek to better honor [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2007, 9:59am EST
  

• Vouchers -- Mr. Byrne Should Crawl Under a Rock

  I didn't know much about this fellow during the voucher debate, but he has shown what he is made of since vouchers were shot down.
  
  Mr. Patrick Byrne, founder and CEO of Overstock.com asserts that Utahn's who voted vouchers down are child-hating, racists. He now states that he will [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2007, 10:40am EST
  

• Mitt Romney Hearts Home-Schoolers

  Mitt Romney suggested an idea that I found rather interesting. He suggested (I suppose in connection with Utah's voucher vote) tax credits for home school families. Although this would likely never have a viable chance of passing muster in any state legislature let alone the halls of the US Congress, [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2007, 10:09am EST
  

• Vouchers -- Thats All I Have To Say About That

  It's over.
  
  I hope innovative education reform innitiatives don't die with it, but at least the annoying UPS and PCE ads will stop. The UPS ads with the teacher with the annoying Utah soccer mom accent was driving me insane, and up until few weeks any time a PCE [...]
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  Posted: November 07, 2007, 9:21am EST
  

• Vouchers -- Will the REAL Legislative Fiscal Analyst Please Step Forward?

  In my last voucher thread, Rep. Urquhart stated that the voucher math is rather straight forward. However, judging from the debate the Legislative Fiscal Analyst's report has created in the blogosphere I would respectfully disagree.
  
  I would like to offer top posting to the Legislative Fiscal Analyst to explain [...]
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  Posted: October 23, 2007, 10:11am EDT
  

• For a Laugh

  Apparently I'm having a rough time posting YouTube video today. Brian Regan is one of my favorite comics, and one of my favorite diversions from work. This bit rocks even though it is voiced over some Japanimation film.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2007, 4:26pm EDT
  

• Romney: Either not much of a Mormon, or Not Much for Intellectual Honesty

  Okay, this comment by Mitt Romney struck me as particularly disingenuous.
  
  "No president could possibly take orders or even input from religious leaders telling him what to do," Romney, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation" program. "My [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2007, 3:06pm EDT
  

• Rangel & the AMT

  One of the most daunting issues facing American taxpayers is the alternative minimum tax. This piece of the American Internal Revenue Code came about in 1969, when Congress heard testimony that 155 wealthy individuals paid little or no tax in 1966 (the average inflation-indexed income of the 155 individuals [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2007, 3:13pm EDT
  

• Vouchers -- Humble Pie

  I have been swamped at work still finishing off returns from the 2006 filing season. (I have two days left thanks to an underhanded trick of the trade) :) As the month begins to progress work has continued to pile and I'm doubting that I will have the time to [...]
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  Posted: October 18, 2007, 1:05pm EDT
  

• Vouchers -- Legislative Fiscal Analyst's Report

  Ric Cantrell has provided me with a full breakdown of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst's Report. I don't know that this complete of a copy has been published anywhere. Take a look. I think it provides some clearer insight into one of -- if not the most important arguments [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2007, 8:26am EDT
  

• Vouchers -- Thoughts on the New Approach the Legislature Should Take When they Pass Another Voucher Bill in a Few Years

  I'm close to throwing in the towel on referendum one due to the abysmal way PCE has conducted the campaign to support vouchers. I can only do so much and reach so many people on my humble little blog. Now I do plan on completing the spreadsheet I have mentioned [...]
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  Posted: October 10, 2007, 2:30pm EDT
  

• PCE -- Possibly HB148 and HB174's Worst Enemy

  So PCE hasn't done a very good job in bringing to light the positive aspects of vouchers. They started out with a proven winner, associate the opposition with the far left, a campaign strategy that led to John Swallow being elected to the House of Representatives over Jim Matheson..... oh [...]
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  Posted: October 08, 2007, 4:01pm EDT
  

• Vouchers -- Financial Analysis "Its About the Money"

  This is a revision of the post I wrote last night.
  
  Yesterday I was reading some comments at Steve Urquhart's blog and I noticed there seems to be confusion on how much savings there will or will not be from voucher implementation. I spent some time last night [...]
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  Posted: October 06, 2007, 10:39pm EDT
  

• Best Tounge n' Cheek Comment of the Month -- Vouchers

  Very Sincere Hattip to Alienated Wannabe,
  
  With the voucher vote coming up, I have been trying to muster up the energy to get back into the debate. I'll probably start writing heavy on the issue after the extended tax deadline on October 15th. Till then read the bills (which [...]
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  Posted: October 05, 2007, 2:22pm EDT
  

• Dixie State College -- Administration V. Alumnus

  Posted below is an email detailing the rancor in the discussions to make DSC part of the University of Utah. Although, I am personally in favor of Dixie becoming a full part of the U of U. I would agree that racism is being drummed up as an issue where [...]
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  Posted: October 04, 2007, 10:28am EDT
  

• U of U-Dixie vs. U of U-Saint George: What's in a Name?

  Dixie State College is trying to gain approval to become a part of the University of Utah. Most people believe this would be a huge benefit to the town. For years, it has been a frustration that the largest metropolitan area south of Provo has limited higher education. If you [...]
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  Posted: October 01, 2007, 1:39pm EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Subprime Mortgages and the Bankruptcy Protection Act

  Number of comments: 2
  There was an interesting post at Utah Amicus. The title of the post, "Did Orrin Hatch cause the Sub prime Mortgage Meltdown,"made me wonder what kind of BS Steve Olsen was peddling. But the post brought up a solid point that the Bankruptcy Protection Act may have helped fuel [...]
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  Posted: October 01, 2007, 7:17am EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Parents for Choice in Education Recent Campaign ad a Big Miss

  Number of comments: 4
  Okay -- I'm all for vouchers. However I was extremely disappointed with the only pro-voucher ad I have seen here in Sant George. I found the closest version I could on YouTube. This ad is about as pathetic as John Swallow's (I think that was the name of the loser [...]
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  Posted: September 27, 2007, 12:41pm EDT
  by pramahaphil

• I'm Back -- Sort of....

  Number of comments: 1
  Well I have been on a two-month apathy hiatus, and frankly I've really enjoyed it. However, it is time to return to my neglected child. Really not much has been interesting me lately in politics. The voucher debate has fueled up more, however I am so out of touch with [...]
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  Posted: September 24, 2007, 11:21am EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Fair Tax -- Would it Rid Us of the IRS?

  Number of comments: 5
  Today was the Republican Debate's, and with three kids running around I wasn't able to listen to much of the debate. One part I was able to listen to was regarding the idea of a fair tax. Under the fair tax, we would pay a national sales/consumption tax of 23% [...]
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  Posted: August 05, 2007, 8:35pm EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Three Cheers for Rangel -- Comprehensive AMT Reform

  Number of comments: 2
  It appears that Charles Rangel (D-NY) is still working to keep his word regarding reforming the dreadful Alternative Minimum Tax. Although Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) is pushing for another one year patch, Congressional leaders Rangel and Neal are pushing for and AMT exemption for couples with [...]
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  Posted: August 02, 2007, 12:51pm EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Healthcare -- My Paradigm Shift

  Number of comments: 8
  As most paradigm shifts occur, mine comes due to very difficult personal issues.
  
  Out of school my first job (the one which I am still employed) is in a very small firm that hasn't provided health care coverage for its employees. I don't curse my employer -- small employer [...]
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  Posted: July 31, 2007, 10:44am EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Strong Evidence of the Need for the Death Penalty

  Number of comments: 3
  Do you own a gun? [...]
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  Posted: July 27, 2007, 12:08pm EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Utah State Tax Commission Motor Vehicle Division -- DEFENDERS OF PUBLIC MORALITY

  Number of comments: 4
  I've gone through a bit of an apathetic spell in regards to my blog. I've said all that can be said, and more, about vouchers and haven't really had anything else that I've cared to write about. I'm trying to come back.
  
  This story was a bit over the [...]
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  Posted: July 27, 2007, 11:37am EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Vouchers -- Jeremy's Arguments

  Number of comments: 4
  I have appreciated that Jeremy has stuck with the voucher debate here. In my last voucher post Jeremy commented and eloquantly laid out a notable and powerful argument against vouchers. The argument isn't one that I can truly refute. Although I disagree with him (depending on his definition of [...]
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  Posted: July 03, 2007, 10:44am EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Transformers Rock!!!!

  
  I am a ten year old boy at heart. My wife and I caught the sneek preview of Transformers, and it was sweet. Might I suggest playing hooky to catch a matinee. [...]
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  Posted: July 03, 2007, 10:52pm EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Arnold v. Commissioner -- A Strong Case for Regulation of Unlicensed Tax Return Preparers

  I have been regularly reading Tax Court Decisions, in preparation of taking the Tax Court exam for admission of non-attorneys. It is considered one of (if not the) most difficult tests in the field of taxation. Yesterday, the U.S. Tax Court released TC Memorandum 2007-168 Arnold V. Commissioner. This case [...]
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  Posted: June 28, 2007, 11:06am EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Vouchers -- The Ad Hominem's Continue.......

  Number of comments: 6
  Rob at the Amicus posted the latest of posters from (I believe) Utah Democrats. This one is a winner. This poster is titled "White Flight," in reference to Southerners use of tax-funded private schools in the early days of desegregation as a means of continuing segregation despite Brown v. Board [...]
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  Posted: June 27, 2007, 9:26pm EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Mormonism & Hamas (The LDS Church's Response)

  The LDS church responded to the allegation of providing aid to Hamas through Islamic Relief Worldwide. The church points out among other things, "the blog post neglected to mention the purpose for the donation, or the fact that it was made predominantly in the form of relief items such as [...]
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  Posted: June 26, 2007, 7:09am EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Big Brother?

  Number of comments: 7
  This was a little creepy.
  
  My boss, whose office is right next to mine, said he saw a SUV drive by snapping pictures of my office. I didn't see it in the act because I was in the lobby with a client, but I went outside and saw the [...]
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  Posted: June 26, 2007, 7:08am EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Mormonism & Hamas? What the H@#$ ?

  The Boston Globe had an article the other day about a Republican meeting in Iowa. In this meeting a representative of John McCain discussed, among other things, an article that alleges that the Mormon church is supporting Hamas. Initially I was going to lambast the McCain camp for making such [...]
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  Posted: June 22, 2007, 12:35pm EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Vouchers -- Bureaucratic Turf War

  At Steve Urquhart's blog he commented on some of the bureaucratic infighting that seems to be the norm between the Board of Education and legislative committees. State Board Chairman Kim Birmingham in an email respectfully, although in my opinion with a little spite, refused to come to the table [...]
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  Posted: June 18, 2007, 9:39pm EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Southern Utah Boy Scouts Exercise Freedom of Speech

  Number of comments: 1
  
  I opened the The Spectrum.com to this picture on their homepage, I was taken back until I read the headline. HAHA. Just a little bored today. [...]
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  Posted: June 15, 2007, 2:57pm EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Vouchers -- Censorship by the Davis County Clipper

  Number of comments: 3
  This is a pretty cool cartoon.
  
  I can't believe it wasn't printed by the Davis County Clipper, it is probably one of the most insightful local politcal cartoons I have seen. [...]
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  Posted: June 13, 2007, 10:57pm EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Vouchers -- Let the Ad Hominem Arguments Begin

  Number of comments: 9
  It started a few weeks ago, with a local article where SLC's NAACP chief Jeanetta Williams equated Utah's voucher program with segregationism. Today, Rob over at Utah Amicus took the ad hominem arguments another direction. In Rob's post today he posted a video of Friedman arguing for the [...]
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  Posted: June 12, 2007, 8:53am EDT
  by pramahaphil

• 6 Years Later

  Number of comments: 3
  
  (John Canlas Photography the photographer's blog)My wife and I had faux engagement photos for our anniversary. Six years later, and I'm hairless and very happy. [...]
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  Posted: June 07, 2007, 7:55am EDT
  by pramahaphil

• For a Laugh

  
  [...]
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  Posted: June 05, 2007, 5:25pm EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Vouchers -- Steve Urquhart's Proposal

  Number of comments: 5
  On Steve Urquhart's blog he has laid a couple of proposals in overcoming the confusion with the 2 voucher bills. Basically his proposals are this:
  
  1 - Hold a Special Session and through HB148 and 174 out the window.
  2 - Pass a new HB1001 with basically the [...]
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  Posted: May 30, 2007, 10:20am EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Vouchers -- The Fiscal Effect of School Choice Programs

  Number of comments: 4
  It is time to start talking about vouchers. A few weeks ago Utah Policy.com had a link to the results of a study conducted by the Milton Friedman Foundation regarding the financial impact different voucher programs across the country. It was an interesting read. This study suggests that voucher [...]
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  Posted: May 22, 2007, 9:26am EDT
  by pramahaphil

• Vouchers -- HB174 and the 500 Pound Gorilla in the Corner

  I have read recent posts and articles about the State School Board's decision refusing to enact HB174 before the HB148 referendum vote, as well as calls for a special session to attach HB174 to the referendum vote. Steve Urquhart has recently made his opinion of a special session known [...]
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  Posted: May 17, 2007, 11:59am EDT
  by pramahaphil