- Tea Party Convention kicks off with some good ol’ fashioned crazy.  And comedy.

- Sen. Urquhart on implementing a two-track sex ed system in our schools.

- Utahns for Ethical Government weighs in on House Ethics Reform bill and Constitutional amendment.

- Republican Senator holds up entire Senate to demand his earmarks. (See his ransom note — no joke — here.)

- Adding to the already large list of “Books I Want to Read”:  The Strategic Presidency.

- Flexible schedules often lead to happier — and more productive — workers.

- People voted for this guy? Quote: Sometimes when we don’t know the answers to the questions out there, we need to have the courage to do nothing.

- Why bipartisanship is a futile, pointless, gigantic waste of time (which leads to bad bills getting worse).

- More people should be listening to James Galbraith.

- Some guy is trekking Antarctica, and blogging about it.  It’s surprisingly interesting.

We’ve avoided it, but finally, tonight, in our first FM broadcast, we’ll attempt to make sense of Tim Tebow and his Superbowl ad.  The keyword there is attempt.

An ethics bill was passed!  An ethics bill was passed!  But what does it mean?

Utah Association of Counties says if jails don’t get more money, felons will go free.  Assuming we don’t have any more money to give them, how do we decide who gets out?

And in the 5pm hour we’ll speak with author and commentator Amity Shlaes, best known for her book The Forgotten Man, providing a history of FDR’s post Great Depression policies some call illuminating, others call rendition.  We’ll get to the bottom of it, and find out what brings Shlaes to USU tomorrow. (Hint: speaking tour!)

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Your calls are welcome.

Podcasts of this and past shows are available here.

From the Senate Site’s “Floor Action” updates:

House Bill (HB26): Brine Shrimp Royalty Act Amendments

Just a reminder.  Behind the controversial, sponsored-by-Carl-Wimmer headline grabbing, sexy bills, the legislative process overall can be very, very… boring.  But it all still needs a-doin’, and these people deserve a lot of respect for doing it.

UPDATE: Not these two.  These two should be mocked indefinitely.

Perhap’s you’ve heard of the “FUBO” campaign initiated by Clear Channel’s Bob Lonsberry:

I was trying to think of a way to show that I wasn’t happy. That I was tired of bailouts. That I didn’t want to pay my neighbors’ mortgage. That I didn’t want to live in a socialist country. That I didn’t think the government should take over the banks. That I didn’t want a White House committee running the car industry, or putting a union consultant in charge of the process. That I didn’t think throwing 17,000 more troops into Afghanistan without a clear objective was a bright idea.

Basically, one month in, I’ve already had a bellyful.

Sure, on Inauguration Day I was all hope and change. He wasn’t my candidate, but he was my president, and I was going to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Then he went on Al Arabiya.

And stole the census. And decided my confidential medical records had to be in a federal database. And tripled the deficit in three weeks while condemning George W. Bush for doubling it in eight years.

Basically, I got a bad attitude.

….

And when I should have been listening to Ron Chapman, I got an idea.

I was sitting there in the studio, waiting for him get done and my turn to come, and a word came to me. A newly coined word. Four letters. Pronounced “foo-bow.” Like in “food” and “bow and arrow” – “foo-bow.”

So I googled around a bit and found a bumper sticker company. They had a template for those little oval stickers people have. The ones with some sort of abbreviation in there. I think they come from Europe.

Anyway, I found a template for one of those and I typed in my new word – “foo-bow.” I liked how it looked so I put it in my cart and proceeded to checkout. I ordered 20 because I got a good price.

And right about then, Ron Chapman was done and my microphone came on and I told the producer, Nick, what I had done.

I told him I had made a bumper sticker. I described the oval – black background with white letters – and my new word – foo-bow – spelled FUBO.

It took him about five seconds.

Then the phones lit up. Dozens and dozens of people called. They wanted a bumper sticker just like mine.

….

Basically, people either love the idea, or hate it, or stare blankly at me saying, “I don’t get it.”

Don’t know what “FUBO” stands for? Still don’t “get it”?

Here’s a little context:

I’m sure Bob means “fetch.”

Bob, that is a great question.

I thought this was pretty interesting:

“What Mundie is proposing is to impose authentication. He draws an analogy to automobile use. If you want to drive a car, you have to have a license (not to mention an inspection, insurance, etc). If you do something bad with that car, like break a law, there is the chance that you will lose your license and be prevented from driving in the future. In other words, there is a legal and social process for imposing discipline. Mundie imagines three tiers of Internet ID: one for people, one for machines and one for programs (which often act as proxies for the other two).

Now, there are, of course, a number of obstacles to making such a scheme be reality. Even here in the mountains of Switzerland I can hear the worldwide scream go up: “But we’re entitled to anonymity on the Internet!” Really? Are you? Why do you think that?

from here:   http://curiouscapitalist.blogs.time.com/2010/01/30/drivers-licenses-for-the-internet/

I think they tried this in China:

Chinese bloggers will not have to register their real names online, after the government backed down over plans to enforce the proposals.

With more and more stories surfacing regularly about web censorship, China’s estimated 20 million bloggers will be pleased with the news that they will not be compelled to register their real names.

from here:  http://www.bigmouthmedia.com/live/articles/china-backs-down-over-blog-id-proposal.asp/3781/

Security is a big deal on the internet:

“Digital artifacts may be collected from live systems (traditional computers, personal digital assistants, and/or distributed information systems such as ‘cloud computers’), from wired or wireless networks, or collected storage media. The format may include electronic documents or software (to include malicious software – malware).

The Cyber Genome Program will encompass several program phases and technical areas of interest. Each of the technical areas will develop the cyber equivalent of fingerprints or DNA to facilitate developing the digital equivalent of genotype, as well as observed and inferred phenotype in order to determine the identity, lineage, and provenance of digital artifacts and users.”

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/01/26/cyber_genome_project/

http://www.thinkdigit.com/Internet/The-Cyber-Genome-Project–pieces-of_3985.html

But I think for some,  anonymity is essential to the free flow of ideas.  For many, that is what the internet is.

The Autonomous Region’s Public Security office has stated, for using the Internet and tools such as mobile messages to make up and disseminate harmful information, the Public Security department will investigate in full and punish according to the law. At the same time calling for everyone to make a unified and stable Xinjiang, and a good environment of public order needs to be sustained by everyone. They hope that the different ethnic groups and people of different circles will not believe the rumors, will not spread rumors, will not create rumors and use the Internet is a civilized way. They will automatically reject bad mobile messages and when discovering an Internet or mobile message that contains harmful information, will report locally to 110 in a timely fashion.

On January 17th, Ma XX sent text messages with content about splitting the country to numerous mobile phones. After sending the text message, he received a notice from China Telecom rejecting the spread of harmful information. But Ma XX did not take note and continued to send text messages to other people containing writing about splitting the country. The Public Security department, after receiving reports from the masses, quickly caught Ma XX. At present, Ma XX is in criminal detention. The case in being investigated further.

From here:   http://www.danwei.org/crime/xinjiang_text_messaging_spread.php

It’s a brave new world on the internet :

The world’s largest Internet search company and the world’s most powerful electronic surveillance organization are teaming up in the name of cybersecurity.

from here:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020304057.html?hpid=topnews

The libertarian in Jonathan is giddy over Sen. Margaret Dayton’s firearms exemption bill — which would release firearms made and used here in Utah from federal regulations.  But lawmakers, including our own Sen. Lyle Hillyard, feel the bill is just a lawsuit in waiting.  What do you think?

It’s Tuesday, which means it’s time for Sutherland Institute President Paul Mero’s latest contribution of conservative pontification in the latest installment of the Mero Moment.  On what?  You’ll know as soon as we do… we haven’t received it yet.  That’s how we roll here… last minute, seat of the pants, completely dependent on using the latest technology, even if it doesn’t work!

And yesterday there was a tragic accident in Sardine (Wellsville) Canyon. We’ve seen additional barriers in the canyon, but can we be doing more to increase safe travel in our canyons?  We want to hear from you.

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Your calls are welcome.

Podcasts of this and past shows are available here.

My first day back from the Sundance Film Festival.  Tyler and I will discuss the controversy (that wasn’t) over 8: The Mormon Proposition which premiered at the festival, and my reaction to the film.

(Video of the crowd reactions on opening night posted by IndieWire were almost more interesting than the film itself)

And Utah is now a finalist for the 2010 GOP Convention.  What would this mean for Utah, and what does it say about the direction of the GOP?  We want your thoughts.

A SL Tribune poll shows public support for an outright ban on cell phone use while driving.  Would this seriously improve driving conditions in our state?

And finally, we’ll hear from Planned Parenthood on their upcoming Chocolate Festival fundraiser, and thoughts on two controversial pieces of legislation moving through the state capitol this session regarding reproductive rights.  We’ll discuss, and touch on other bills up for consideration this session, and ask listeners to jump in with anything we’re missing.  What are you watching this session?

Tune in, or Log in.

Your calls are welcome.

Podcasts of this and past shows are available here.

- Putting a human face on cuts to services.

- Utah Senate Media Q&A stream at 11:45am daily. (via The Senate Site)

- Christopher Hayes explains the rationale behind Obama’s spending freeze.

- State Dept. slams US corporations selling surveillance equipment to China.

- GOP leadership backs deficit panel, until Obama endorses it.

- Make a Snuggie You’d Be Proud to Wear.

- White House aims to scrap $36.5 billion in subsidies to oil and gas producers.

- GOP Senator calls on Holder to resign for upholding the Constitution.

- When Is a Terrorist Not a Terrorist?

- Kim Jong-il’s regime is even weirder than you thought.