Why Do I Hate Utah?

Hmmm...good question. For the most part, the people are nice, if not more than a little homogeneous; where I work there are only 4 African Americans out of a workforce of over 500. But that's not why I hate Utah.

The local politics are gut-wrenchingly conservative, and significantly influenced by the dominant religion, the Mormon Church. For example, despite US Supreme Court rulings to the contrary, one popular member of the state legislature introduced a bill to re-establish mandatory flag salutes in public schools, along with mandatory school prayer. He's an idiot and the bill failed to pass, but he's indicative of the kind of moron's that run this state. But that's not why I hate Utah.

The local microbrew beers are pretty good, Squatters and Cutthroat being my favorites, and they're 4% alcohol. But you can't buy anything stronger 4% in the grocery store, and mass market beers like Budweiser, Coors, etc., are limited to 3.2% alcohol. Anything more than 4% has to be purchased in a state liquor store, where a 6-pack of Sam Adams, for example, will set you back nearly $12.00. But that's not why I hate Utah.

I hate Utah because, notwithstanding all of the above, it is fucking cold in the winter!! Depressingly cold. The sun doesn't shine (unless you drive up to the ski resorts, which lay above the Salt Lake Valley). And the snow turns to an ugly, dirty, brown & white mush after a few days. It's actually pretty nice, weather-wise, in the spring and summer. They just don't last long enough.

And all of that is why I hate Utah. Oh, and my in laws live there. I guess that's the main reason.

Bye!

Podcasts I Like

I've recently discovered podcasts, although I've had an iPod Nano for a couple of years. My favorite podcasts are long form interviews and documentaries from NPR, American Public Media and C-SPAN. I also download podcasts to my computer, and I can listen to them though my Tivo DVR.

I found a series of radio documentaries on the "American Dream" from American RadioWorks on the APM website that are really interesting: "A Better Life: Creating the American Dream", "Hard Times in Middletown", and "Foreclosure City".

Take a listen to them, I think you'll like them. And browse around APM's other podcasts, you'll enjoy those, too..

- jlh