Dem Rep. Mary Throne holds GOTV lit drop Oct. 28 in Cheyenne

Democrat Mary Throne needs volunteers for a final GOTV lit drop of House District 11 Sunday, October 28 at 3 p.m. 

If you would like to help her campaign and volunteer to canvas, please meet at Mary's house 720 E. 19th Street, Cheyenne, at 3 pm.  

It is very important that we hold Mary's seat this year and she really needs the help and support of all her friends and fellow Dems. 

For more information or to support the campaign, please contact Mary's campaign manager, Kate Wright at 307/220-7447.  

Conspiracists gather in Casper Oct. 27 to hear author of "Behind the Green Mask: U.N. Agenda 21"

As I reported on these pages earlier, Tea Party Slim and his pals are in a
lather about Agenda 21, the United Nations' alleged plot to take over our neighborhoods and force us to live in solar-powered Hobbit homes. The following announcement comes from K2 News in Casper. Why is it always Casper? Must have something to do with the loony legacies of hometown Repub faves Dick and Lynne Cheney:

Cheri Steinmetz, former board member for the High Plains Initiative in
Goshen County says during her time on that board she observed
practices that left her uncomfortable and turned her into a strong
advocate for local control of land use decisions.
 
This weekend, the Parkway Plaza in Casper is the venue for an event
featuring the author of the book “Behind the Green Mask; U.N Agenda
21.″ Author Rosa Koire will talk about how smart growth and
sustainability have become blackened terms for those concerned with
property rights.
 
“Wyoming does need to hear what Rosa Koire has to say, because without
being aware of these things, they’re slipping in underneath the radar
and we don’t recognize them, because the words sound so benign and
innocuous.”
 
The event happens at 6:30 pm, Saturday, October 27th at the Parkway
Plaza. It’s free, but Steinmetz says reservations are recommended.
 
The Parkway Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, is located at 123 West
E Street in Casper (From I-25 take EXIT 188A)
 
Reserve your seats by contacting: Michelle Starkey: chellat919@aol.com
or Judy Jones: (307) 251-5527 or email fueltransport@mail.wyobeam.com

Better reserve a spot now. Tea Party Slim and his fellow travelers in Cheyenne

are planning a caravan to Casper on Saturday. 

Democratic House candidate Joe Fender holds literature drop on Oct. 27

Joe Fender, candidate for Wyoming House District 7, is having a Lit Drop

this Saturday, October 27. Firefighter Joe needs our help for this important

event. He's running against extremist Republican (yes, yet another one) 

Sue Wilson.

Come to 92 E. Ole Maverick Rd., Cheyenne, at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday

to help. He will be serving brats, beer and hamburgers at 2:30 p.m. Let's 

show our support for Joe. 

Read all about Joe here. 

Wyoming Broadband Summit: New generation of Microsoft data centers to be tested in Cheyenne

Microsoft's Gregg McKnight was in Cheyenne today talking about a pilot project for a new kind of data center. He was a speaker at the first Wyoming Broadband Summit at Little America.

Asked McKnight: “Who would have expected Cheyenne to be the place where the next generation of data centers would arise?”

Not me. Maybe not you, or your neighbors. And possibly not McKnight, not until he visited Cheyenne a few months ago.

He was greeted warmly by officials from the University of Wyoming, Cheyenne LEADS, Board of Public Utilities and other members of the community.

“This was a dream” he said, adding that, over the course of several days, he discovered that Cheyenne “was the ideal location to do business.”

Microsoft wants to build a $7.6 million data center that will run off of methane produced by the city’s Dry Creek Water Reclamation Facility. To that end, the city of Cheyenne will apply for $1.5 million from the Wyoming Business Council's Council’s Business Ready Community Grant and Loan Program. Three weeks ago, the Cheyenne City Council’s Finance Committee gave its approval to move the request forward. If approved, the grant would cover up to $1.5 million of the project’s total cost, with Microsoft providing the balance.

According to officials at the computing giant, the project would consist of the data plant, which would be connected to a fuel cell. Both would be in close proximity to the water reclamation facility, which is located on Campstool Road just south of Interstate 80.

The fuel cell would collect excess methane gas from the water reclamation facility’s biodigester and would then convert the gas into about 300 kilowatts of electricity. The data center itself would require only 200 kilowatts to run. Not sure where the remaining 100 Kw would do. Presumably it could be used for other energy needs in Cheyenne.

The plant will test Microsoft's new “siliconization” process, which utilizes silicon to move beyond the era of the microprocessor. McKnight gave a quick explanation which went way over my head. He showed a slide that illustrated this formula: “Si Systems + Fuel Cells + Modularity=Reimagine the Data Center.” Sounds cool to me. Faster technology is needed for the 200-plus cloud services Microsoft now provides. “There will be a twelve-fold increase in the amount of info that flows through the optic fiber backbone in the next five years,” McKnight said. He called the Cheyenne experiment the next step in “the evolving data center.”

The fuel cell data plant is separate from a $112 million cloud data center Microsoft has proposed to build to the west of Cheyenne, near the recently-opened National Center for Atmospheric Research supercomputing facility.

McKnight is quite happy with Cheyenne. And why wouldn't he be? The state of Wyoming has pledged $10.7 million in grants and incentives for the cloud data center project. Microsoft is making an initial $78-million investment and plans to go up to $112 million, according to Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead, who also spoke at Tuesday's summit. He's a big believer in data centers. And I'm beginning to believe that he's on the right track. All of this will change Cheyenne for the better. New technology. New ideas. New people moving in. New energy mixes with old energy. Not sure what the formula is for that, but it could be a heady mix.

New debate meme: Romney/Ryan cavalry charge

From Mother Jones via Cognitive Dissonance

1980s calling to get their foreign policy back

One of the better zingers of last night's debate by President Obama (picked up from Crooks & Liars blog):

Governor Romney, I’m glad that you recognize that Al Qaida is a threat, because a few months ago when you were asked what’s the biggest geopolitical threat facing America, you said Russia, not Al Qaida; you said Russia, in the 1980s, they’re now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because, you know, the Cold War’s been over for 20 years.

But Governor, when it comes to our foreign policy, you seem to want to import the foreign policies of the 1980s, just like the social policies of the 1950s and the economic policies of the 1920s.

You say that you’re not interested in duplicating what happened in Iraq. But just a few weeks ago, you said you think we should have more troops in Iraq right now. And the -- the challenge we have -- I know you haven’t been in a position to actually execute foreign policy -- but every time you’ve offered an opinion, you’ve been wrong.

Check out this cool new site, which also has a playable game of "Asteroids." Talk about your 1980s flashback. 

HD 12 candidate Kathleen Petersen holds meet-and-greet Oct. 29

Kathleen Petersen, Democratic Party candidate for House District 8, will be holding a candidate meet-and-greet on Monday, Oct. 29, 7-8:30 p.m., in the Kiwanis Community House in Lions Park in Cheyenne. Come out and meet Kathleen, ask questions, have a few snacks.

She's the candidate in my state house district. Her campaign has been gathering steam as she walks neighborhoods and makes presentations to groups, as people see that she's the best person to replace Republican Bob Nicholas. We need more Democratic voices in the Wyoming Legislature. We also need a better gender make-up, with the Legislature predominately men of a certain age. She spoke last night at the chili dinner and convinced me.  

Check out her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.petersen.94

Let us now praise famous songs, and those creative types who begat them

Chris and I attended the "American Tapestry" concert this afternoon at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Cheyenne. Our daughter was singing, as she's in the Laramie County Community College Collegiate and Cantorei choirs. She does both well. You're probably not surprised to hear a proud father say that.

Several of the selections were taken from the page -- poetry, to be specific. First came three selections from A.E. Housman's A Shropshire Lad. My accountant father gave me a copy of that book when I was still in high school. He thought it might be an encouragement to my budding poetic soul. It wasn't (I was more attuned to Jim Morrison back then), but it was still a nice gesture. Housman is still not my favorite, but his verse sounds great when set to music and sung by collegiate voices.

Robert Burns made an appearance as the Men's Ensemble sang "My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose." The men, all dressed in black suits, held a rose as they gathered around the piano and intoned Burns. Very nice.

The recessional song was "The Promise of the Living" from the opera The Tender Land. Music was composed by Aaron Copland with libretto by Horace Everett, a pseudonym for dancer and choreographer Erik Johns. Copland was inspired to write the opera after viewing the book Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, with text by James Agee and photos by Walker Evans. The book arose from a 1936 magazine assignment Agee and Evans accepted in 1936. The goal was to document the lives of white sharecroppers in the South. The magazine article didn't pan out, but the book did, and is now one of those volumes studied for its trail-blazing blend of straight reportage, creative nonfiction, poetry and photos.  Another one of those interesting works of art to emerge from the Great Depression.

Fine concert today, and I'm looking forward to the next one. Thanks to talented  singers, and the wonderful teachers who trained them.

interested party blog: On not voting for Sen. McGovern in '72

South Dakota blogger Larry Kurtz had a story today about what it was like to be a young upstart in 1972. We share a similar age and history and interest in Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72." Read more:

interested party: On not voting for Sen. McGovern in '72: In about 1970 or so, my very furious retired Air Force Republican father wrote the Sioux Falls Argus Leader after it ran a photo during ...

R.I.P. Sen. George McGovern, Democrat from South Dakota

Sen. George McGovern died this morning in his hometown of Sioux Falls, S.D. He grew up in the Great Depression Dust Bowl, won the DFC for his actions over Europe's skies during WWII, and was the Democratic Party presidential nominee in 1972.

He was the first presidential candidate I voted for, back when I was 21 and living in Boston.

McGovern's dedication to liberal politics was an inspiration to me then and remains so now.

This comes from an obit this morning on NPR:

President Bill Clinton lauded McGovern's achievements at the 2006 dedication of the McGovern Library in Mitchell, S.D.

"In the storied history of American politics, I believe no other presidential candidate ever had such an enduring impact in defeat," Clinton said at the time.

And this, from Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary:

Yarrow says McGovern inspired an entire generation of Americans.

"There are few and far between that measure up to the dignity, honesty and fantastic commitment of George McGovern that kept this country strong and conscious for all these years," Yarrow said.

Public servant, war hero, anti-war hero, author and fine human being. R.I.P., Sen. McGovern.

Richard Bausch: Each story has "its own demands, and you write to discover what those demands are"

Good, uncomplicated advice for fiction writers (from a Dinty W. Moore Facebook post):

"Each story is different, with its own demands, and you write to discover what those demands are, making the mistakes as you go. Usually, you make a lot of mistakes, because no one is ever in total charge of his own consciousness. So you move through it, accepting that it will be confusing, and even intractable for a time -- you go on each day, trying to be concrete, and to couch things in particulars rather than concepts and abstractions, since the abstractions are mostly inert even though people can kill over them." ~ Richard Bausch

Barack Obama: "If you come down with a case of Romnesia..."

Wyofile: ALEC model bill on healthcare found its way onto Wyoming's November ballot

Read this comprehensive Wyofile article by Greg Nickerson about the right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Nickerson provides examples of ALEC model legislation that has made its way to the Wyoming Statehouse. He also provides an updated list of ALEC members. Hummingbirdminds has published several lists of ALEC members over the years but the Wyofile aricle has the latest ones. Go read it and weep. To whet your appetite and outrage, here are the first two paragraphs:

When the Trayvon Martin shooting made headlines this year, it brought public attention to a little-known group called the American Legislative Exchange Council, also known as ALEC. The conservative group created model legislation that promoted the “stand your ground” law, or Castle Doctrine, invoked by police who didn’t arrest Martin’s killer. ALEC also supported voter ID laws, which some say are an effort to block elderly and minority voters from participating in upcoming elections.

Ideas from ALEC’s model bills have also made their way into Wyoming statehouse, notably in a constitutional amendment on healthcare that will be up for vote this November.

Help forward-thinking Democratic candidates blunt the power of the legislature's Blunt Skulls

I'll be walking neighborhoods for Democratic Party House candidate Lee Filer this morning. He's not in my district but he will be a thoughtful, young rep for those who live in HD 12.

Our legislature, you see, has hardening of the arteries and hardening of the heart. The Know Nothings who run the Republican Party who run the legislature want to make sure that Wyoming stays inconsequential. They spend an embarrassing amount of time ranting about Obamacare and pushing regressive social legislation. Remember the 2011 session? That was embarrassing. I should know as I blogged about it extensively. Remember what happened in 2012? The Republicans didn't want health care for its citizens but they did want an aircraft carrier to protect its sovereignty. Really?

No wonder our young people leave the state in droves, eager to find a place that will respect their need to contribute to the future. My fellow blogger Rodger McDaniel put it so well in today's post (and WTE op-ed):

That’s why Wyoming’s greatest export is neither coal nor gas but our youth. The millions we invest in educating children becomes an investment in the future of other states. Communities pretend to bemoan the loss of these young people...  Clinging to the past and its symbols assures that anyone with an urge to think about the opportunities of the future will find themselves elsewhere, contributing to some other community somewhere else. 

Sad, isn't it, that the calcified thinking of one generation can lead to a dubious future for an entire state -- or an entire country.

It doesn't have to be this way. There are a number of fine Democrats running for the legislature, mainly in Laramie County. You can walk for Lee Filer this morning or for Mary Throne. You can help get Marguerite Herman on the county commission. You can vote for recent grad Misty Heil for the LCCC board. You can vote for Kathleen Petersen and Joe Fender and the Esquibel brothers and Jim Byrd and Gary Datus. Imagine a Dem-majority county delegation. It still would be a challenge to blunt the power of the Blunt Skulls from Natrona County and the north country. But it's a start.

Obama speech launches flood of Romnesia memes

Here's one, for example

Democrats' campaign events: Canvassing for Lee Filer and Mary Throne and chili dinner for all

Here are the Democratic Party campaign events planned for this weekend in Laramie County:
 

SATURDAY: 10/20 9:30 am Canvassing for Lee Filer HD-12. Meeting at Lee's Home 265 Bent Avenue. BREAKFAST WILL  BE SERVED. For more information contact campaign manager Calob Taylor at 307/640-3360

SATURDAY: 10/20 10 am Canvassing for Mary Throne HD-11. Meeting at Mary's home, 720 E. 19th Street. For more information or to support the campaign campaign manager, Kate Wright at 307/220-7447. 

SUNDAY: 10/21 4-7 pm. Annual Chili Dinner for Dems. Old Community House in Lion's Park. Bring side dish/dessert if able. For more information contact Linda Stowers at 307/220-1219. 

SUNDAY: 10/21 6 pm. Lee Filer Supporter House Party. 10/21 6 pm. 1602 Ragtime Drive.

State Archaeologist Dr. Mark Miller previews new book in Oct. 25 lecture in Cheyenne

This sounds great -- and I can't wait for the book by this fine Wyoming writer:

Dr. Mark Miller, Wyoming’s State Archaeologist, will celebrate National Archaeology Day with a lecture at the Wyoming State Museum, October 25 at 7 p.m.

From the earliest carved and painted images on stone cliffs to locations dating to the 20^th Century, Wyoming is dotted with hundreds of sites that bear witness to military activities. In his talk, Dr. Miller draws from his recently completed book, “Military Sites in Wyoming 1700-1920.”

The slide show and lecture summarizes a study of more than 300 sites that have been incorporated into this historic context, beginning with early evidence of military activity in Native American rock art.

FMI: http://wyomingarts.blogspot.com/2012/10/dr-mark-miller-speaks-about-military.html

When it comes to voting, the county clerk explains it all for you w/update

Everything you need to know about voting in Laramie County is available on the county clerk's web site at http://www.laramiecountyclerk.com/elections.aspx.

One thing I couldn't find is the cut-off date for early registration. While it is true that Wyoming allows you to register to vote on election day, there is a cut-off date prior to the Nov. 6 election so the clerk's office can compile the voter rolls used at the polling places. These are thick binders full of women -- and men too.

You can vote downtown on weekdays during business hours in the atrium located between the courthouse and the county admin building.

Couldn't be easier, could it? Then how come so many voters sit out elections? If you do, don't expect any of us voters to listen when you start complaining about the gubment.

UPDATE: Cut-off date for early registration in Wyoming is Monday, Oct. 22.

Iraq vet and writer David Abrams returns to Jackson with his novel "Fobbit"

I'm always a bit dubious when a new novel is compared to Catch-22 or M*A*S*H or is labeled "definitive." However, I am always ready for a new reading adventure, especially if the book features a darkly humorous take on war, any war, and the author is from Wyoming.

So here's some info on Jackson Hole H.S. grad David Abrams and his new novel, "Fobbit," and the author's upcoming appearance in his old stomping grounds:

The Jackson Hole Writers Conference & Teton County Library Present: David Abrams, 7-8:30 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 2. David Abrams, who graduated from Jackson Hole High School in 1981, spent 20 years in the Army and then came back to the states to write what is being acclaimed as the definitive novel of the Iraq War. His novel about the Iraq War, "Fobbit," was published by Grove/Atlantic in 2012. Location: Center for the Arts, Dancers Workshop, 240 S. Glenwood Street, Jackson, WY 83001. Free. Adult Humanities Coordinator, Oona Doherty, 733-2164 ext. 135, odoherty@tclib.org. 

From the author’s web site:

In the satirical tradition of Catch-22 and M*A*S*H, Fobbit takes us into the chaotic world of Baghdad’s Forward Operating Base Triumph. The Forward Operating base, or FOB, is like the back-office of the battlefield – where people eat and sleep, and where a lot of soldiers have what looks suspiciously like an office job. Male and female soldiers are trying to find an empty Porta Potty in which to get acquainted, grunts are playing Xbox and watching NASCAR between missions, and a lot of the senior staff are more concerned about getting to the chow hall in time for the Friday night all-you-can-eat seafood special than worrying about little things like military strategy. Of all the fobbits stationed at Baghdad’s Forward Operating Base Triumph, Staff Sergeant Chance Gooding is the fobbitiest. His M-16 is collecting dust, he reads Dickens and Cervantes instead of watching NASCAR with the grunts, and the only piece of Army intelligence he really shows an interest in is the mess hall menu. Gooding works in the base’s public affairs office, furiously tapping out press releases that put a positive slant on the latest roadside bombing or strategic blunder before CNN can break the real story. Another soldier who would spend every day at the FOB if he could is Captain Abe Shrinkle, but unfortunately for him he’s a front-line officer, in charge of a platoon of troops. Abe trembles at any encounter with the enemy and hoards hundreds of care packages, brimming over with baby wipes, foot powder, and erotic letters from bored housewives. When Shrinkle makes a series of ill-judged tactical decisions, he ends up in front of his commanding officers, and Gooding has his work cut out trying to make everything smell like roses--and that’s just the start of the bad news.

Divine Intervention the real source of Binders Full of Women

Meme seen on Binders Full of Women Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/bindersfullofwomen/?ref=ts&fref=tscaption