These are classic discussions published back in August 2006
My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine . . .
. . . Pizzas. As you’ve probably heard by now, Pluto got hosed. I’m not going to make the decision in anger, but I’m contemplating running a resolution to acknowledge that Utah continues to recognize 9 planets.
Since when do astronomers get to call the shots on this sort of thing? They’re not even awake during the day, for heaven’s sake.
Two points to consider: (1) Has Pluto ever hurt anyone? No. (2) Does the mnemonic work without Pluto? No. “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine” makes no sense at all. Nine what? Nine Pizzas, of course! “P” for Pluto. See? That makes sense.
I’m sticking with the facts I learned at Ridgecrest Elementary in Houston. Pluto is a planet, and Texas won the Alamo.
Highway 18
Bluff Street turns into Highway 18 as it heads north out of St. George toward Winchester Hills, Diamond Valley, Veyo, and Enterprise. The tremendous growth north of town puts a lot of added pressure on Highway 18. Commuters racing to and from work increasingly compete with truck traffic on the road. New developments (like the Ledges and the Trails) will put even more pressure on the road.
The explosive growth on Highway 18 was not anticipated years ago when projects were prioritized for the Centennial Highway Fund and the State Transportation Implementation Plan. And, believe me, it is tough pushing funding to projects that aren’t on those lists (because it basically means that projects that did make those lists would be bumped back).
I am very pleased with the diligence UDOT has shown on Highway 18 (and many other Southern Utah projects, for that matter). Continually, UDOT has scraped together funds from various sources (usually, from the... (read more)
Blogger Boy
I’m in Tennessee speaking on technology and policymaking.
Mostly, I’m highlighting our legislative website.
UPDATE (6 p.m. — back home): One of the questions I get the most about blogging is how much time it takes. To answer that, and to show attendees how easy it is, I wrote and posted the entry above at the start of my presentation (while I spoke).
The theme of my presentation was that blogs (or any other technology) aren’t the show. Rather, they are tools. The three main tasks of a governmental leader are to (1) get elected (to be in a position to unleash his/her particular genius on the state), (2) enact good policy, and (3) promote the institutions of representative democracy. Each of those tasks requires interactivity. Blogging is one of the best tools around to foster that interactivity.
Preparing the presentation, I thought back to 2001 when I entered the legislature. Then, it was very difficult to track... (read more)
Gubernatorial Succession II
How do you interpret the Utah Constitution’s provision regarding Gubernatorial Succession — if a Governor were to leave office after 1 week, would the LG then serve for 2 years or 4 years?
Here is the text (for the hyperlink impaired):
Article VII, Section 11.
In case of the death of the Governor, impeachment, removal from office, resignation, or disability to discharge the duties of the office, or in case of a Governor-elect who fails to take office, the powers and duties of the Governor shall devolve upon the Lieutenant Governor until the disability ceases or until the next general election, when the vacancy shall be filled by election. If, during a vacancy in the office of Governor, the Lieutenant Governor resigns, dies, is removed, or becomes incapable of performing the duties of the office, the President of the Senate shall act as Governor until the vacancy is filled or disability ceases. If in this case the President of the... (read more)
Student Population