TresSugar

Can You Hear Me Now Yogi Bear? Cell Phones in Yellowstone

CitizenSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 06:00:04 -0700

Yogi Bear is about to have his eye out for a pic-a-nic basket with an iPhone in it. Yellowstone National Park officials have just released a plan to provide cell phone coverage and wireless Internet for parts of the park, while minimizing cell towers from the more remote areas. The environmental impact has been found negligible in terms of flora and fauna, though visitors of the human variety may be affected a little more.

A first draft of the plan, which contained a cell tower next to the Old Faithful geyser has been changed, moving it more out of sight, and they're trying to balance all the pretty nature with protecting public safety and allowing the park staff to communicate. The program manager for the National Parks Conservation Associate says,

One of the things that it comes down to in an increasingly noisy and hectic world is that it's critical that Yellowstone continue to provide the solitude and peace and quiet that our first national park has to offer.

View 5 Photos ›

Of course the peace and quiet could be the first casualty. While they have plans to encourage courteous use of the electronic gadgets, the park averages 15,690 visitors a day during peak season. That's a lot of "can you hear me nows."

Does the park have to modernize for safety and convenience, or should some places stay cell-free?

Source

Wild West! 22% Think States Have Right to Secede-Some Did!

CitizenSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:30:16 -0700

Ride 'em cowboys! Here's a little poll for you state's rights-ers out there: a new Zogby poll shows that one in five Americans believe that any state or region has the right to "peaceably secede from the United States and become an independent republic." Those in the South and East agreed a little stronger with the notion of ditching the "United" part (perhaps because they've done it before?) and young people agreed with the notion much more strongly - 40 percent of them in fact.

It's one thing to believe in it - but would they support an secession effort by their state? Yup, 18 percent would buy in, with another 10 percent not being sure.

Though the South Carolina secession could be the most famous historical example of breaking away, the Times has a smashing tale of a rogue state fantasy of rebels in 1939 to grab chunks of Wyoming, South Dakota, and Montana to form a new state, Absaroka. The plan was complete with license plates, a Miss Absaroka 1939, and a visit from a foreign King (of Norway.)

If this tale, combined with the fact that 22 percent believe a state can secede - should the US be fearing for the union? Would you support an effort to secede?

View 5 Photos ›

Source

Wyoming Republicans Attack, Say Democrats Are All Wet

CitizenSugar — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 11:00:35 -0700

Were you a Republican in Wyoming yesterday? If you were, had $5 in your pocket, and happened to be swinging by the Jackalope Days festival in Douglas, you'd have had a chance to tell a Democrat go soak his head - literally.

The local Democratic Party hosted a "Dunk a Democrat" booth to raise money for the party - $5 bucks buys 6 balls and a chance to slam a donkey into the drink. Though it might seem like an exercise in self-loathing, with a 4-to-1 ratio of Republicans to Democrats, it means the soggy Ds are laughing all the way to the bank.

The dunking booth is the Democratic party's biggest fundraiser of the year - they're hoping to double the $400 they pulled in last year. The head of the Wyoming Democratic Party had this to say about the brave souls facing the firing squad, "it's a commitment. It's a sacrifice. It's one of those things that needs to be done if we're serious about this election." If Dunking a Dem isn't your style, the Jackalope Days also feature pig wrestling, wiener dog races, and a monster-truck mud bog. I've already got my ticket for next year.

Is trying to drown a Dem for cash a slam-dunk idea - or troubling partisan warfare?

Source

Awaiting Results: Obama Rounds Up Wyoming

CitizenSugar — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:12:51 -0800

Barack Obama is now projected to win the largest portion of Wyoming's 18 delegates today. Hillary Clinton will get a proportionate share of the delegates, currently taking about 41 percent to Obama's 58 percent. About 7,000 voters came out to caucus today.

Meanwhile, Republicans in Guam are having an "other." (That's according to the Times. I just report 'em like I see 'em.) Results are not yet available for the race's nine delegates.

Source

Say What?

TresSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:00:00 -0700

"The hate crimes bill that’s called the Matthew Shepard Bill is named after a very unfortunate incident that happened where a young man was killed, but we know that the young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. It wasn’t because he was gay. The bill was named for him . . . but it’s really a hoax."

-Republican representative Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, on the approval by the House of Representatives Wednesday to include sexual orientation in the Federal Hate Crimes Bill. It's also known as the Matthew Shepard Act, for the University of Wyoming student who was tortured and murdered in Laramie, WY, in 1998 for being gay.

Source

Who Will Be the Next President? Watch the Results With Us!

CitizenSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:21:46 -0800

Election Night is finally here! We've followed the 2008 Presidential campaign trail from primaries, conventions, debates to every hilarious and unexpected moment in between. East Coast polls have started to close, and we'll be here updating you on the electoral votes as they come in using predictions from pollster and major networks. Join us as we wait for the next American president!

Senator Barack Obama

338

Senator John McCain

156

You can check out all the major headlines of the night right here, and I'll be filling in the results for each state as they come in. To see results, read more.

State	Electoral Votes	State	Electoral Votes
Alabama	9	Montana	3
Alaska	3	Nebraska	5
Arizona	10	Nevada	5
Arkansas	6	New Hampshire	4
California	55	New Jersey	15
Colorado	9	New Mexico	5
Connecticut	7	New York	31
Delaware	3	North Carolina	15
D.C.	3	North Dakota	3
Florida	27	Ohio	20
Georgia	15	Oklahoma	7
Hawaii	4	Oregon	7
Idaho	4	Pennsylvania	21
Illinois	21	Rhode Island	4
Indiana	11	South Carolina	8
Iowa	7	South Dakota	3
Kansas	6	Tennessee	11
Kentucky	8	Texas	34
Louisiana	9	Utah	5
Maine	4	Vermont	3
Maryland	10	Virginia	13
Massachusetts	12	Washington	11
Michigan	17	West Virginia	5
Minnesota	10	Wisconsin	10
Mississippi	6	Wyoming	3
Missouri	11

Headline: Romney Wins the First Delegates

CitizenSugar — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 10:07:25 -0800

Republicans in Wyoming voted in the shadow of Iowa-mania, forgoing half of the state's delegates by ignoring party's date rules, in favor of being the first to weigh in. Though voters and reporters are conditioned to look to Iowa for the first response of the primary season, the eight delegates award to Romney while first, were a quiet blip on the noisy Iowa-radar.

Also gaining delegates, Fred Thompson with one, and-mark this down, as it might be his only one-Duncan Hunter scored one as well.

Wyoming Democrats will hold their contest in March.

Source

News to Me: Most Depressed States

DearSugar — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:00:00 -0800

Depression is a serious condition that affects 16 percent of the US population. Genetics play a large role, but so could where you live.

A survey produced by Mental Health America named the most depressed states. Here are the top 10:

Utah
West Virginia
Kentucky
Rhode Island
Nevada
Oklahoma
Idaho
Missouri
Ohio
Wyoming

Want to know which states are the least depressed? Then read more

South Dakota
Hawaii
New Jersey
Iowa
Maryland
Minnesota
Louisiana
Illinois
North Dakota
Texas

Check out the article called Ranking America's Mental Health: An Analysis of Depression Across the States to see the full list.

This study, funded by Wyeth pharmaceuticals, was not conducted to point fingers or to say that just because you live in one of the top 10 depressed states that you are automatically predisposed to depression, rather it's meant to bring attention to the high need for people to have access to mental health services and preventative treatments.

Dear's Advice: If you are suffering from depression, talk to someone so you aren't dealing with these sad feelings on your own. Tell a friend, relative, or your doctor, so they can help you get the treatment you need.

Source