Reading Liberally’s next meeting is March 2nd at 8:00pm at Fiddler’s Elbow. If you’re interested in Reading Liberally and you’re not already on the e-mail list for it, contact the host of RL: jedelison [at] hotmail.com and let him know you’d like to be part of the e-mail list.

The book this month is “The Republican War on Science” by Chris Mooney. Even if you haven’t read the book you can attend these meet-ups, as the discussion is sure to be enlightening and engaging.

Could it be that our legistators have some sense? 46 to 28, Senate Bill 96 was shot down after being first slashed down to simply: “The State Board of Education shall establish curriculum requirements relating to scientific instruction” by Rep. Stephen Urquhart, R-St. George. As this is a small victory for reason, it might be good of us to thank our lawmakers that voted it down. Yes, even the republican ones.

If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the priceless picture of a pouty Chris Buttars at http://www.sltrib.com/ci_3554104

This story even made it to Slashdot, an online geek/technology news feed. Generally when Utah is on Slashdot its for something Orrin Hatch said about intellectual property protection (blowing up computers with pirated material on them) or more recently, the video games as felony controversy. Pete Ashdown’s open source campaign made Slashdot, which I think is rare exception to the ridicule.

I found this in the comments from the Slashdot article:
“Most LDS members that I know kind of shrug their shoulders at the whole “intelligent design” thing. Sure, we believe God had something to do with it, but we’re a) not going to force it down someone else’s throat, based on the 11th article of Faith:

11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.”

Widely reported is the fact that Georgie authorized phone taps on phone calls. “It’s vital to our national security” they say. Many people believe this, not caring that any civil liberties we give up for “security” are still liberties lost.

Less reported is that the huge government database program, Total Information Awareness or TIA, continues to exist, despite the fact that it was seemingly stopped by congress before it even started two years ago. This truly Orwellian program captures and logs the credit card purchases, Internet usage, reading materials, bank transactions and phone calls of American citizens, who, last I checked, had Constitutional provisions protecting from just this thing.

That this program continues was first reported by National Journal reporter Shane Harris, who was on Democracy Now on 2/27/06. Download the show and give it a listen. I’ve heard many-a-time from my friends and, unfortunately, family: “I have nothing to hide”, as if that’s all the reason in the world for the government to poke around in someone else’s business. If only that same mentality (workingforchange.com) could be applied to the Bush administration.

So now the question is: What are our means to combat this blatant disregard of civil liberties? It seems there are few lawmakers who care, or at least who care to take up the issue. Possbily this is because no one has made much of a stink about this- it’s just not well known yet.

DL Group Photo

Originally uploaded by roving_prole.

Drinking Liberally recently celebrated its sixth month of existence in Salt Lake City. We were also celebrating passing the 200 registered member mark- quite a few members for such a short time. Though our main organizer – Jess – wasn’t able to make it, we still got a pretty good showing.

Not long after this photo was taken, the Critical Mass contingent arrived, swelling our group to a size that tested the critical mass tipping point of the support structures of the Desert Edge loft.

Thanks to everyone who showed up to make the night a success, and to those that couldn’t: we’ll always have our 1 year celebration in a short 6 months.

Monday, February 27th from 6-9:30 p.m. at Squatters Pub Brewery (147 W 300 S)

Come celebrate the Year of the Dog (and cat!) with lots of other party animals! No More Homeless Pets in Utah and Squatters (super brewer of Chasing Tail Ale) are joining together to celebrate “Mardi Paw”

For a mere $15 you get all the food and soda pop you can consume as well as a glass of award-winning Chasing Tail Ale. Plus, you’ll find barking beads and other reminders of the New Orleans original celebration. So tell your pet you’re going out to celebrate a good cause and join us.

All proceeds will benefit Utah’s homeless pets.

Willie Nelson has generally stood behind progressive, populist causes and is someone most people can agree on when it comes to music, country fans or not. Except for that song with the jingoistic Toby Keith, I can’t fault him for much. True to his “outlaw” moniker, he released a song on Valentines Day on the iTunes music store, going against the grain of country music.

The song was written in 1981 by songwriter Ned Sublette. The release of Brokeback Mountain provided the perfect opportunity to release it. A clip can be found here.

Lyrics:
“There’s many a strange impulse out on the plains of West Texas;
There’s many a young boy who feels things he can’t comprehend.
Well a small town don’t like it when somebody falls between sexes,
No, small town don’t like it when a cowboy has feelings for men.

Well I believe in my soul that inside every man there’s the feminine,
And inside every lady there’s a deep manly voice loud and clear.
Well, a cowboy may brag about things that he’s done with his women,
But the ones who brag loudest are the ones that are most likely queer.

Cowboys are frequently secretly fond of each other,
Say, what do you think all them saddles and boots was about?
And there’s many a cowboy who don’t understand
the way that he feels for his brother,
And inside every cowboy there’s a lady that’d love to slip out.

And there’s always somebody who says what the others just whisper,
And mostly that someone’s the first one to get shot down dead.
So when you talk to a cowboy don’t treat him like he was a sister,
You can’t fuck with the lady that’s sleepin’ in each cowboy’s head.

Drinking Liberally is going bowling! Friday, March 17th Utah Democratic Progressive Caucus is hosting a fundraising bowling event. Those who are interested in attending may contact us by email or in person at our Friday meetings to sign up. Price of admission includes bowling, pizza, and soda (beer is extra). For a team of 5, the cost is $25 a person. For solo bowlers, the price is $30, $35 at the door. If you RSVP by March 15th, we will be able to place you on a team with fellow liberal drinkers. Contact Heather or Jess for more information at saltlakecity@drinkingliberally.org

When: Friday, March 17th; 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: Sue Rich Lanes- 1376 E. 3300 S., Salt Lake City
Who: Utah Democratic Progressive Caucus

To register, send a check to: UDPC, PO Box 520578, Salt Lake City UT 84152

Most of us, despite the conservatives’ best efforts to paint us as anti-American troop haters, support our troops. But most of us aren’t so keen on the war in Iraq.

From The Army Men Project:

“We’re spreading plastic Army Men around the country and around the globe as small, everyday reminders of the ongoing horrors of the war in Iraq and to serve as tools to foster dialogue, action and resistance to the war. Here in the United States we’re encouraged to forget about the war, to go on with our lives, to “go shopping.” But what if everywhere people went there were little plastic Army Men nudging them to remember that we’re waging war? At Home Depot, on the gas pump, in the 7-11, at the post office, on the hood of the car, in the public restroom, at the movie theatre, in the produce section of the grocery store … in your neighborhood …?

Help these little messengers appear everywhere— to be green plastic pin-pricks to the American conscience, to help create an environment in which it becomes increasingly difficult to ignore the war, the loss of life and the unending destruction. The war is not going away. We want people to realize that by doing nothing they contribute to a war that has cost the lives of almost 2,000 American soldiers and many, many thousands of Iraqi civilians (conservative estimates put the Iraqi civilian death toll, as of September 7th, 2005 at 27,718. Source: iraqbodycount.net).
Join the Army Men Project – spread the plastic everywhere!

Particpate! Distribute Army Men Near You!
Send us Photos! Join the Dialogue!”

Maybe another activity for Drinking Liberally?

The Salt Lake City arm of Drinking Liberally has reached its six month anniversary, and we have 200 people signed up for our mailing list; it’s time for a celebration. Feb. 24th at our usual spot and time, we will have a sheet cake to celebrate our existence and success! Be sure to come out and celebrate with us — we wouldn’t be here without you!

From MoveOn.org:

The president is breaking the law. Momentum is already mounting in Congress for a real, independent investigation into the president’s illegal wiretapping program. But unless Congress knows that citizens are concerned, they’ll shrink from their responsibility to act as a check on the president’s power.

To turn up the pressure on Congress, we’re organizing nationwide “Constitution Vigils” on Wednesday, February 22nd, to bear witness to the president’s lawbreaking.

We’ll get together with other MoveOn members and read the Bill of Rights to remind Congress about what’s at stake.

Thousands of us will gather together to send a strong message to our elected representatives that they won’t be able to ignore–especially since many of them will be home in their districts for the Presidents’ Day holiday. The more of us that participate, the louder our message will be.

Where: Pioneer Park
When: Feb. 22 6:00pm
Who: Hosted by Jess Brown
More information: MoveOn.org