Freaky Friday, Luck, Phobias, and Superstitions – Take the Phobias Quiz!

Posted on January 13, 2006 | Leave a comment

Happy Freaky Friday!

Today when I awoke I was glad yesterday was over because if ever there was an “unlucky” day, yesterday was it, for a variety of reasons (I’ll spare the details….).

So I got to thinking about Friday the 13th and why it is considered by many to be “unlucky”. I did some research.

Don’t “be afraid” to take the Phobias Quiz to see how much you know about phobias! I never knew there were so many “phobias”! I took it and my total score was 9 right, 2 wrong (82%). I missed the question on Phobophobia, which is a fear of phobias. I also missed the question on Anglophobia, which is a hatred or fear of England or anything English.
I wish more of our “leaders” and soldiers had this phobia: Ballistophobia is a fear of bullets or missiles.

Here is some additional historical information and statistics on Friday the 13th:
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Utah Legislature set to open Monday

Posted on January 13, 2006 | Leave a comment

Although I’ve had this on my links list for quite some time, be sure to regularly check out my Political Resources List to keep tabs on Utah issues. The Utah Legislature opens Monday, January 16th and you will want to keep tabs on what is happening on Capitol Hill. I have included the bill tracking link on that resources page as well.

The Green Party of Utah has organized a “Rally for Legislative Justice” for that day during the lunch hour, noon to 1pm, to “welcome back” our Utah legislators and remind them to listen to their constituents. There will be leaflets with information, cheerleaders and lots of positive energy and enthusiasm!

Hope to see lots of folks there on Monday!

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Speaking of phobias: Brokeback Mountain and Larry Miller.; Bob Redford weighs in

Posted on January 13, 2006 | Leave a comment

Supporters of Larry Miller are calling for support of the local business owner while human rights activists call for a boycott Larry Miller for pulling the film Brokeback Mountain from his Megaplex Theater complex.

There is a section in this article that has links to all the media coverage in the Salt Lake Tribune about the issue. One of the links was to an opinion piece entitled “Why ‘Brokeback Mountain’ is so frightening”. The title frightened me, so I didn’t read it for fear of becoming ill over that opinion. (Is that a “phobia”? See my post on phobias and superstitions above!).

Meanwhile, Robert Redford has weighed in on the issue.
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Katrina Aid has failed to reach victims

Posted on January 13, 2006 | Leave a comment

Today’s Salt Lake Tribune has published an article on financial contributions to helpHurricane Katrina Victims that migrated to Utah that are still being held by Utah’s United Way and American Red Cross Chapters.

While that money is being unspent, the folks that moved to Utah from New Orleans are struggling to make ends meet.

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Today in history

Posted on January 13, 2006 | Leave a comment

January 13

1874
The depression of 1873-1877 left 3 million people unemployed. In the winter of 1873, 900 people starved to death, and 3,000 deserted their infants on doorsteps. A public meeting was called in New York City’s Tompkins Square Park, for January 13, 1874, to lobby for public works projects.
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Atomic Bombs

Posted on January 12, 2006 | Leave a comment

Teachers in my school are making use of a poster exhibit, loaned to us by HEAL Utah on the atomic bomb blasts of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The posters were obtained from and can be viewed at the Hiroshima Peace Site.

There are 30 large posters and teachers are using them to facilitate discussions around the decision to use the bomb, the purpose in using it, and if it was a justified decision. The intent of the history teacher, for example, is to attempt to look at all sides of the issue and the posters will be one way to look at the human impacts it had.

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Today in history

Posted on January 12, 2006 | Leave a comment

January 12

1957
SCLC founded by Martin Luther King and other Black clergymen

1962
Federal workers were guaranteed the the right to join unions and bargain collectively after President Kennedy signed Executive Order 10988.
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Now we can question Alito!

Posted on January 11, 2006 | Leave a comment

Planned Parenthood has come out with an online game called Ask the Nominee. Here is how the announcement was presented in an email I received:

Samuel Alito’s Supreme Court nomination hearing kicked off Monday, giving senators a chance to ask Alito tough questions. But the court’s decisions affect all Americans. Why shouldn’t all of us be able to ask him questions?

Well, now we can. Planned Parenthood’s new online game makes it possible to ask Alito all those pesky questions he’d rather avoid.

Questioning Alito — it’s not just for senators any more!

Go ahead and try it. It’s fun!

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A Billion

Posted on January 11, 2006 | Leave a comment

I received this in an email today. I thought it was especially timely given my posted poll and article post eariler on Utah’s budget and the $1 billion new money being haggled over.

A Billion is a difficult number to comprehend. The next time you hear a Politician use the word “Billion,” casually — think about whether or not you want the politician spending your tax money.

One advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into perspective in one of its releases.

A Billion Seconds ago — it was 1973.

A Billion Minutes ago — Jesus was alive.

A Billion Hours ago — our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.

A Billion Days ago — No-One walked on two feet on earth.

A Billion Dollars ago — was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government spends it.
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Military Recruiters: They Just Won’t Give Up

Posted on January 11, 2006 | Leave a comment

A woman came to my door and asked if my sons were at home. When I inquired as to why, she stated “I’m from the Department of Peace and I’d like to leave some literature so that they might consider joining and working towards peaceful resolutions of conflict.” When I asked about sign-on bonuses like the military offers she said, “Oh, there aren’t any of those. We use our money towards real efforts towards achieving peace, without inflated promises.” [Hmmmm, I thought…] I accepted the literature and she wished me a peaceful day.

Then I woke up. Drat, it was a dream.

An article was forwarded to me yestserday in an email from Altertnet entitled US Army achieves minimal December recruiting goal. It looks like recruiting efforts are only strengthening.
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