Wyoming
updated
11:45 a.m.
"On the Trail: Jack Kerouac in Cheyenne" is Alan O'Hashi's entry into the Cheyenne Short Film Festival. You can view it http://www.wyomingshortfilmcontest.com/entries/38239 Some background from Alan: Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” is a classic American literature work. Kerouac writes about his experiences in Cheyenne, Wyoming during “Wild West Days” on his way to Denver via Longmont. “The star...
Hummingbird Minds - Thu 7:08 a.m. - 3 clicks 
The latest hubbub surrounding Fox's Glenn Beck is about religion. What does Glenn Beck know about religion? A lot, it seems. And I'm not being facetious. "I beg you, look for the words 'social justice' or 'economic justice' on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words." Glenn Beck is an oddball. But he knows a simple...
Hummingbird Minds - Wed 7:09 a.m.
I suffered through 10 cloying minutes of "Boomer$" (note the annoying dollar sign) on CNBC before Tom Brokaw broke in with a paean to the Boomers' parents "whom I call the Greatest Generation." Yes, Tom, we know that your "Greatest Generation" suffered through the Depression and beat the bad guys in "the Good War" and faced down the Soviets during "40 years of The Cold War." And we know that,...
Hummingbird Minds - Mon 10:09 p.m.
Does the Unobtanium in James Cameron's "Avatar" have anything to do with the struggle over Molybdenum minining in Crested Butte, Colo. during the 1970s? Unobtanium=Molybdenum? Interesting report tonight on Denver's Channel 7. Go to http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/22770743/detail.html You chemistry and/or sci-fi geeks can get your Unobtanium T-shirts at http://www.bustedtees.com...
Hummingbird Minds - Mon 3:07 p.m.
Odd week in publishing. Two anthologies that I sent work to four years ago now have found publishers. One focuses on working class writing and will include my short story, "The Problem with Mrs. P" (the story is in my 2006 collection, "The Weight of a Body"). Coffee House Press will release it in the the fall. An essay about rock climbing with my ADHD son will be in another anthology about familie...
Hummingbird Minds - Sun 12:23 a.m.
Here's my writing group pal Joanne Kennedy as she got ready to sign books March 2 at the launch party for her first novel, "Cowboy Trouble." The Cheyenne Barnes & Noble sold lots of books (five to the Shay family) and Joanne signed them all. A good time was had by, especially when we bugged out of B&N to Uncle Charlie's where we drank beer and ate wings and listened to music by Todd...
Hummingbird Minds - Fri 8:29 p.m. - 6 clicks
Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal announced today that he will not run for a third term. I was at the Capitol Building this morning when the news broke. The last few days of legislative business is filled with salutes to our troops and performances by drum groups -- along with some last-minute votes and bill signings. This morning, Wyoming Poet Laureate David Romtvedt read his poetry in each cham...
Hummingbird Minds - Mar 4 - 9 clicks
As you have surely read Governor Freudenthal announced he will not seek another term.nbsp; He made the announcement today at 10:00 AM and WDP put a statement out soon thereafter.nbsp; Succinctly, we were greatful for his service and leadership and are sad to see him go.nbsp; He thanked Wyoming and indicated he had been leaning in this direction since around Christmas.nbsp; He also said his childr...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Mar 4 - 9 clicks
From a Wyoming Democratic Party press release: Wyoming Democratic Party Chair Leslie Petersen issued the following statement after President Obama today called on Congress to finish the job and take a final up-or-down vote on health insurance reform legislation: “After a long and rigorous debate, it’s time for Congress to act and provide their constituents a final up or down vote on reform. Pa...
Hummingbird Minds - Mar 4 - 8 clicks
A few weeks ago on Keith Olbermann's show, comedian and political commentator Christian Finnegan has a comment about members of the Tea Party Movement. It went something like this: "Teabaggers are a bunch of Baby Boomers scared that the world has passed them by." I took umbrage with this. Normally umbrage is the last thing I take with the proceedings on Keith's show. I'm yelling at my flat-screen...
Hummingbird Minds - Mar 3 - 2 clicks
Every year during the legislative session we gather for meetings and the Nellie Tayloe Ross (NTR) Banquet.nbsp; This past weekend was our 2010 NTR and I think it turned out to be a success.nbsp; We had a number of great speakers, folks from all around the state, and a lot of enthusiasm.Our county chairs had a meeting that helped to evaluate what the basic function of a county party is and how they...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Mar 1 - 2 clicks
I read today's Wyoming Tribune-Eagle almost cover-to-cover. I spend more time reading news online these days than I do in the paper. But the Sunday paper is still a ritual. Something about the tradition -- the rustle of the pages and the smell of the coffee and not having to go to work. Local stories, too. These are tough to find online, especially since the WTE has such a lousy web site. One...
Hummingbird Minds - Feb 28 - 4 clicks
Douglas McDaniel writes an intriguing article for the Phoenix Performing Arts Examiner on the origins of the Cactus League. Very timely as Major League Baseball starts spring training in Arizona and Florida. Read the entire article at http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-2040-Phoenix-Performing-A When baseball "broke ...
Hummingbird Minds - Feb 27
Video clip of the day from Health Care Reform Summit (via a TPM post): POTUS vs. The Colossus of Casper. No contest! ...
Hummingbird Minds - Feb 26 - 3 clicks
Thanks to Ellie Chamberlain and Kevin Shay of Tucson for referring me to this beautiful vid about "real poetry in the real world." ...
Hummingbird Minds - Feb 25 - 2 clicks
Something weird happens to physicians when they're elected to the U.S. Senate. Especially Republican physicians. I thought Sen. Barrasso's remarks at today's Health Care Summit would be just as thoughtful and as succinct as Sen. Enzi's. They are both conservative Republicans from Wyoming -- Barrasso from Casper and Enzi from Gillette. They have both been in lockstep opposing Pres. Obama's healt...
Hummingbird Minds - Feb 25 - 7 clicks
Since I've been jabbering on about Wyoming's obstructionist GOP senators, I thought it would be wise to reprint in full Sen. Mike Enzi's remarks today at the Health Care Summit in D.C. This was billed as an exercise in bipartisanship, so it was interesting that Sen. Enzi took the theme seriously (see boldface section) and recounted ways he worked together with the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, as liber...
Hummingbird Minds - Feb 25 - 4 clicks
Anyone who doubts that Repub ideas have been included in Pres. Obama's health care reform proposal -- check this out: It’s clear that the American people want health insurance reform. They aren’t interested in Democratic ideas or Republican ideas. They’re interested in the best ideas to reduce costs, guarantee choices and ensure the highest quality care. They’re interested in ideas that will ...
Hummingbird Minds - Feb 25
Today the Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill (HB 61) that would create a statewide legal services funding program.nbsp; There is currently no program in the state the offers legal service in civil cases such as divorce, child custody, or domestic violence.nbsp; The program would be funded by raising court fees by $10.The committee room was packed and a variety of groups stood in favor of the...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Feb 24 - 2 clicks
Hope spring eternal, eh? From the Wyoming Democrats: The Wyoming Democratic Party calls on Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso to make honest efforts to negotiate in good faith with Democrats to find solutions to the health care crisis during the White House summit on Thursday. Senate Republicans announced Tuesday that Enzi and Barrasso would be two of the seven senators the party will send t...
Hummingbird Minds - Feb 24 - 4 clicks
A budget amendment was brought today in the Wyoming House that would provide funding for the school lunch program. The amendment was brought by Rep. Cathy Connolly (D-Laramie), but failed in a voice vote.nbsp; It would have provided $3.6 million in funding.nbsp; Connolly argued that this problem has come about because costs of programs have increased by 20% in the past few years and that there ar...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Feb 23 - 3 clicks
Susan Greene wrote a column in today's Denver Post about the now-infamous banning of the ADL's "No Place for Hate" banners by the Platte County School Board in Wheatland. This is the first place where I've seen the term "Hategate." I, for one, am disappointed that we've come to the point where this incident is now a "-gate." I thought we'd all outgrown Watergate and Plamegate and Troopergate and...
Hummingbird Minds - Feb 23
This comes from Bill Luckett, WyoDems E.D.: Nearly 200 Democrats from across the state will gather in Cheyenne on Saturday, Feb. 27, for the 2010 Nellie Tayloe Ross Banquet, the state party’s annual celebration of Diversity in Politics and Government. This year’s keynote speaker will be Colorado State House Speaker Terrance Carroll, a dynamic speaker who is both an ordained minister and an att...
Hummingbird Minds - Feb 22 - 4 clicks
A couple of lawmakers were sitting around the Wyoming Capitol Building. Lawmaker 1: What we need is a new Code of the West. Lawmaker 2: We already have a Code of the West. Lawmaker 1: But that's an old Code of the Old West. We need a new Code of West, one that seems old but also is up to date. Lawmaker 2: What's wrong with the old one? If it ain't broke... Lawmaker 1: Just seems like some of ...
Hummingbird Minds - Feb 22 - 6 clicks
Great idea I read about in the Billings Gazette : The Western Sustainability Exchange of Livingston will provide information on the production, distribution and purchase of local foods during a workshop from 1-5 p.m. Monday at the Mansfield Health Education Center at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings. The organization’s Local Foods Commerce Day is advertised as the state’s premier trainin...
Hummingbird Minds - Feb 20 - 2 clicks
On Keith Olbermann the other night, guest commentator Christian Finnegan made an interesting comment about Tea Party attendees (a.k.a. teabaggers) who happen to be white and middle-aged and elderly and angry, etc. He called them "a bunch of Baby Boomers scared that the world has passed them by." I've been thinking about this. I'm a Baby Boomer that is quite certain that the world is passing me by...
Hummingbird Minds - Feb 19
Guest blog written by James DuPont of Teton County.nbsp; James is serving as a high school intern for Rep. Pete Jorgensen (D-Jackson) during the first two weeks of the session.nbsp; Many thanks for his insight and perspectives. On February 12, 2010 House Bill 55 passed the House with a vote of 49 to 9. The bill was introduced by the Joint Education Interim Committee with the intention to eliminate...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Feb 19 - 2 clicks
From an AP story (via Billings Gazette ): The Wyoming Department of Health reports that the number of Wyoming adults with diabetes more than doubled in the past 13 years. The department said Thursday that more than 7 percent of Wyoming adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, up from 3 percent in 1997. Diabetes prevention and control manager Star Morrison said the disease is the sixth-leadin...
Hummingbird Minds - Feb 19 - 4 clicks
Guest Blog written by Gus Harrison of Teton County.nbsp; Gus is serving as a high school intern for Rep. Jim Roscoe (D-Wilson) during the first two weeks of the session.nbsp; Many thanks for his insight and perspectives. House Bill 113 is one step closer on it's way of becoming a law after the House Judiciary committee passed it with the recommendation it do pass the General Committee. The Bill fi...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Feb 18 - 10 clicks
The AFL-CIO, Wyoming Contractors Association, ABC Wyoming, National Electrical Contractors Association and Wyoming Building and Construction Trades are supporting an important bill that is on general file in the Wyoming House.nbsp; nbsp; HB 89, Resident Contractor Preferences, would support Wyoming jobs and the Wyoming economy by requiring all public contracts to be let to a Wyoming resident as l...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Feb 18 - 8 clicks
Alan "Big Al" Simpson, a senator from Wyoming back in the day when GOPers and Dems would sometimes lie down together, lion-and-lamb-like, has been named by Pres. Obama as co-chair of a commission on reducing the federal deficit. His Dem co-chair is former Clintonian Erskine Bowles. I sighted Sen. Simpson Friday evening at the annual Governor's Arts Awards in Cheyenne. Big Al is a big arts support...
Hummingbird Minds - Feb 18 - 4 clicks
Wyoming's Legislature may have worked on being more transparent by making all bills available online and streaming proceedings live, but there is still a long way to go.nbsp; Last week the legislature took a big step by allowing people to testify by video conference.nbsp; According to the Equality State Policy Center, committee chairs are now questioning whether testimonies should be permitted by ...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Feb 16 - 4 clicks
Today in a morning press conference Gov. Dave Freudenthal discussed some of the pieces of legislation passing through the Wyoming Legislature.nbsp; The Governor's proposed excise tax on wind energy was one of the most discussed proposals since lawmakers amended the legislation to $1 per megawatt hour versus the proposed $3, but did not change the 60-40% split between state and local governments.n...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Feb 16 - 3 clicks
The House Revenue committee met this morning to discuss the excise tax on wind energy (HB 101) brought forward by the Governor. The proposed tax was $3 per megawatt hour of energy produced, but following amendments it was reduced to $1 per megawatt hour. According to the Casper Star Tribune, "If a $1-per-megawatt-hour tax existed last year, wind companies would have paid just over $4.9 million." ...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Feb 15 - 3 clicks
The Legislature has been in session for a week and things are moving along quickly. Friday was the last day for bill introductions and a number have moved through the three readings in their house of introduction and are being sent to the other chamber for consideration. If you are unfamiliar with the process you can learn under the "Legislative Process" section of thenbsp;Citizen's Guide to the L...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Feb 15
Today a resolution asserting the US constitution 10th amendment and amending the Wyoming Constitution directly aimed at health reform and Wyoming opting out of any national health reform initiative was killed on a party-line vote. Rep. Debbie Hammons stood and spoke against the resolution saying that it is not a reasonable approach to amend the Wyoming constitution to completely "deal us out." S...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Feb 11
Rep. Lorraine Quarberg (R-Thermopolis) introduced a bill giving concealed weapon authority to Wyoming residents over the age of 21.nbsp; This would do away with the current requirement that residents show knowledge of firearm use and register and receive a concealed weapon permit from the state of Wyoming.nbsp; This proposal changes the standard considerably by making the requirements to carry a c...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Feb 11 - 4 clicks
Rep. Bagby (D-Rawlins) introduced a bill to raise the minimum wage for tipped employees from $2.13 an hour to $5.00.nbsp; He brought this last year and it failed and the same with this year.nbsp; Three Republicans stood up in opposition and said things like:nbsp; "If a waitress is making $100/hour in tips why would we want to pay her more on top of that?" nbsp;Find me a Wyoming waitress that made ...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Feb 10 - 2 clicks
The movie "Temple Grandin," about the life of Temple Grandin, the Colorado writer, animal expert, and advocate for people with autism, premiered on HBO this weekend. The movie stars Claire Danes, a casting choice that Grandin told Erin O'Toole of KUNC she was "absolutely delighted" with. Grandin spoke with O'Toole as she was in the midst of traveling around the coun...
New West Jackson Hole - Feb 10
The 2010 Budget session has officially begun and currently each house is considering which bills will be accepted onto the General File. It takes a 2/3 vote for bills to reach general file. A few to note: HB 37 and HJ 04 introduced by Rep. Keith Gingery (R-Jackson) - These bills would remove the current law that Wyoming Judges and Justices must retire by the age of 70. Passage of both would ultim...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Feb 9 - 3 clicks
They're not on the ski slopes. They're not in the bars. Have all the ski bums left Big Sky? "A lot of guys are skiing backcountry now because it's free," said John the physical therapist. "Also, a lot of them worked construction to support their skiing habits. Those jobs don't exist any more." A footnote to the current recession is its effect on Big Sky's ski bum culture-...
New West Jackson Hole - Feb 8
The budget session of the 60th Wyoming Legislature convenes today.nbsp; Governor Freudenthal will be delivering the State of the State at 10:00 AM and you can listen in here:nbsp; http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2010/audio/AudioMenu1.htm.nbsp; These blogs will be regularly posted throughout the budget session on topics important to Wyoming's Democrats, working families and informed citizens.nbsp; If ...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Feb 8 - 2 clicks
Ghosts of Wyoming By Alyson Hagy Graywolf Press, 192 pages, $15 Some places feel more haunted than others. As Alyson Hagy explores in her new collection of short stories, Ghosts of Wyoming, Wyoming is one of those places where the past seems to overlap with the present, where the rough frontier that she writes of in "The Sin Eaters," set in 1889, seems to have plenty in common...
New West Jackson Hole - Feb 1 - 2 clicks
Narrative Magazine, a leading online literary journal, is currently offering some new work by prolific Montana author Rick Bass. Bass has published a number of stories and essays in Narrative, and currently you can hear Bass read his story "Eating" for free, or for twelve bucks you can order The Blue Horse, a new novella available only at Narrative. It's 56 pages long, and the pric...
New West Jackson Hole - Jan 6
I'll start the final Roundup of the year with a look ahead at some intriguing books by regional authors set to come out in 2010. In January, Then Came The Evening, the debut novel by Idaho native Brian Hart, hits bookstores. According to Hart's bio, he "spent years working as a janitor, carpenter, welder, and commercial fisherman before earning his M.F.A. from the Michener Center for ...
New West Jackson Hole - Dec 30
Please see below for a fact check on false claims made by Senator Barrasso on the Senate floor today on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act today: RHETORIC: Barrasso Said That The Senate Health Care Bill Would Add $1 Trillion To The Deficit. Sen John Barrasso: "The President said this wouldn't add a dime to the deficit. Well, it's going to add a lot of dimes to the deficit. This is goin...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Dec 21
The following perspective by Brianna Jones was printed in the Casper Star Tribune, 12/20/2009,nbsp;http://bit.ly/5jF80yOur nation's health care debate has gone from civil, to raucous, to downright ridiculous, but the truth is that there are millions of people across the nation -- more than 72,000 in Wyoming -- who cannot go to the doctor because they cannot afford or do not have adequate insurance...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Dec 21
No Place Like Home: Notes from a Western Life by Linda M. Hasselstrom University of Nevada Press, 211 pages Linda Hasselstrom knows what you've been flushing because your sewage backed up into her basement. She knows how long you've been in the shower, wasting precious western water resources. She knows which punk kid lopped the tops off of all of the irises growing around her Che...
New West Jackson Hole - Dec 21
Please see below for a fact check on the erroneous claims made by Senator Barrasso on FOX News this afternoon: RHETORIC: Sen. Barrasso: Americans Don't Support Reform, Reform Cuts Medicare, Premiums Will Go Up: "That this is not the right prescription for america. The majority of people in america do not support this. The reasons are because it cuts medicare and health care for our seniors that d...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Dec 1
This is a heads up that Senator Enzi's staff will be holding sessions in the followingnbsp;communitiesnbsp;over the next few weeks and starting tomorrow.nbsp; Please share this information! nbsp; Buffalo - Thursday, Dec. 10 - Town Hall - 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Cowley - Tuesday, Nov. 24 - Town Hall - 10:30-11:30 a.m. Kaycee - Thursday, Dec. 10 - Town Hall - 9-10 a.m. Torrington - Thursday, Nov. 19 - Platt...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Nov 18
Sweetwater Station, Wyo.--If you blink once or your attention drifts for an instant on the two-lane highway between Muddy Gap and the Lander, Wyoming, you may miss one of the world's great road signs, a weathered, wooden square flanked by an American flag: "Old Books Fresh Eggs For Sale." And if you don't stop and go inside the two-story, structurally-reinforced, climate-controll...
New West Jackson Hole - Nov 17 - 2 clicks
Components of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) Increasing choice and competition. The bill will protect and improve consumers' choices. If people like their current plans, they will be able to keep them. For individuals who aren't currently covered by their employer, and some small businesses, the proposal will establish a new Health Insurance Exchange where consumers can ...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Nov 5
Below is a letter we are circulating in support of a public option.nbsp; You can copy and paste the text below into a one-page word document and then circulate it to your friends and family.nbsp; Once you have the ten signatures please return the letter to the nbsp; Wyoming Democratic Party PO Box 1963 Casper, WYnbsp; 82602 nbsp; ____________________________________________________________...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Oct 30
A public health insurance plan should be an option for everyone, alongside private health insurance plans. However, U.S. Sens. Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, along with U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis, are siding with Big Insurance and HMOs over the citizens of Wyoming and the American people. They have teamed up with private health insurers and are fighting to make sure no public health insurance plan cut...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Oct 21 - 2 clicks
By: Mike Bell, Vice Chairman of Wyoming Democratic Partyhttp://www.trib.com/news/editorial/forum/article_7303a0 A series of new reports from the Treasury Department, the Census Bureau and independent organizations underscore something we've known in Wyoming for a long time - we can't wait another year for health insurance reform.Recent Census data reveals that 46...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Sep 29 - 2 clicks
Away.com, a leading website for travel planning, has listed a Montana and a Wyoming destination on its latest list of top resorts. The "Best Resorts & Lodges Guide," as described by the Away.com press release, offers "in-depth profiles of 200 of the world's best destination resorts across ten popular travel categories," chosen by a team of travel experts. And the experts li...
New West Jackson Hole - Sep 10 - 2 clicks
Fellow Democrats, nbsp; Below are a number of ideas of how you personally can make an impact in the movement for health insurance reform.nbsp; I know many of you have done or are doing these things and for that, thank you!nbsp; It is through individual action that we accomplish our goals.nbsp; nbsp; As President Obama has said, "Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Aug 31
Representatives from the Wyoming Democrats and the Young Democrats of Wyoming attended the first Project New West Summit in Denver, August 12-14.nbsp; The summit was designed to bring together leaders from around the West to discuss the opportunities, challenges, and important issues facing the West as we enter a new decade. Project New West (PNW), founded in 2007, is an organization dedicated to ...
Wyoming Democratic Party - Aug 19 - 4 clicks
