| Monday, March 27, 2006 |
| Stop PFS - Rate My Ad |
I'm working on a small series of ads in opposition to the PFS's proposal to locate a high level nuclear waste storage facility on the Goshute Indian Reservation in Utah (Skull Valley). In a nutshel, it's a dumb idea.
Here's the deal: It's possible that spent nuclear fuel will be transported through heavily populated areas across the Wasatch Front including Davis, Salt Lake, and Utah counties. In fact, spent fuel may be stopped in various rail yards including downtown Salt Lake City.
Private Fuel Storage, LLC plans to store up to 44,000 metric tons of uranium about 34 miles from SLC. The storage of this volume of waste in one location is unprecedented and is about the same volume as all commercial high level nuclear waste in the entire United States cominbed. PFS plans to store the waste in up to 4,000 uncovered concrete storage casks on concrete storage pads.
The state has raised concerns over the potential of military aircraft crashing into the storage facility--not to mention the fact that the military tests large footprint weapons, including cruise missiles, on the Utah Test and Training Range near the proposed storage site.
Three cruise missiles have gone off course and crashed since December 1997, including two outside of military property under the military operating area airspace.*
So like I said, it's a dumb idea. Dumb not only to be storing everyone's waste in our state, but even dumber because it could make us a target for terrorist attacks, weaken Hill AFB since the Realignment Committee will undobutedly consider the idiocy of training next to a big pile of lethal n-waste, and because it would pose an unnecessary danger to the majority of Utah's population in transport alone.
Although the Nuclear Regulatory Committee already approved the plan, we have some time to combat PFS (and the few adult Goshutes who actually want it). Still, the site could be in business as early as 2008.
It's pretty rare that I side with Harry Reid, but I've got to go with him on this one. Reid proposed storing nuclear waste at the facilities where it is produced, providing an alternative to the PFS site in Utah and Yucca Mountain in Reid's Nevada.
"Thousands of tons of deadly nuclear material will pass homes, schools, businesses and churches in communities all across the country, and there is simply no way to safely do this," Reid said.
Agreed. Read a good short article by Jim Matheson here.
Anyway, I wanted to open up for comments on the design of the ad- typography? layout? do the atomic symbols match the type, or should I try barbed wire instead? etc...suggestions appreciated.
*Most of that info comes from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality's fact sheet on the proposal. But you didn't really read that whole thing, did you? |
posted by Brett Crockett @ 12:00 PM   |
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| Wednesday, March 15, 2006 |
| The Future of Radio |
A few days ago, some sort of chemical imbalance or avian bird flu convinced me that I didn't have enough to keep busy, and I started writing a paper about terrestrial (AM/FM) radio and the direction it's headed.
Writing a paper without me being coerced is simmilar to spontaneous combustion, only much less likely to happen without the help of a flame thrower. In any case, I started and now I'm determined to finish.
In an effort to keep from being completely biased, I've put together a short survey to get an idea of the public's habits and perceptions in relation to radio. If you'd like to participate in the survey (25 questions you already know the answer to unless you're generally comotose), you'll be entered to win one of two gift certificates to The Macaroni Grill. They're worth $10 each. At that rate if you take it, you could, in theory, make $60/hour. Your work week is limited to about 10 minutes, though, so don't get too excited.
Please take the survey here. And if you would share the survey with your buddies, hombres, hermanas, family and friends, subjects, and other acquaintances (no pets, please), I'd really appreciate it. Really. Thanks. |
| posted by Brett Crockett @ 12:00 PM |
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| Monday, March 13, 2006 |
| Today's Traffic Brought To You By... |
An inquiry into the increased traffic to my blog today turned up a mention of my opinion of the new state slogan in LaVarr Webb's "Monday Buzz" article on utahpolicy.com.* He spelled my name wrong, but for the honor [insert sarcasm here] of being mentioned in any article along with advice to Bob Bennet or "the inevitable legalization of polygamy," I'll let it slide.*
Thank you Mr. Web.
*This is possibly the longest sentence I've ever written.
*This one beat the first sentence, and is now confirmed as the longest sentence I've ever written.
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| posted by Brett Crockett @ 1:00 PM |
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| Saturday, March 11, 2006 |
| The New State Slogan |
Um, still thinking about this one...
Could be worse, should be better.
As of about 3PM Saturday, there were 57 comments on the KSL article. About fifty of the comments are negative (and although I'm not a huge fan of the slogan, it's clear that about 45 of those are uneducated responses).
If you'd rather watch than read, here's the video. The best part is the communications director of the Utah Travel Council, Tracie Cayford, saying:
"We're not just about altitude, we are about attitude. We are a little edgy."
Wait, we're talking about Utah here- right?
Anyway, the slogan is part of the Utah Travel Council's $10-14 million dollar ad campaign contracted to W Communications. |
| posted by Brett Crockett @ 2:52 PM |
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| Friday, March 03, 2006 |
| Super Dell Finally Snaps |
This is the wierdest thing I've seen in a long time. By far.
Totally Awesome Computers shut down today, and owner Dell Schanze is blaming the media, or more accurately- spouting off like a mad man. A few of my favorite quotes:
"You are angels of Satan,"
"all of the media in Utah are liars and murderers."
The closing of the company will leave around 80 people without jobs, although PC Laptops (another crazy company, if you judge by their advertisements) will be hiring around thirty of Totally Awesome's employees.
In response to the question of what would happen to his employees, Dell replied "The blood of these people is on your hands. You just destroyed the greatest computer company of all time."
Wait...Totally Awesome Computers was the "greatest computer company of all time?" That's probably news to the computer community at large.
My guess as to why "the greatest computer company of all time" is now closed? Dell spent all the profits on trophies and awards for his own company. (Probably got the idea from "personal medals" in this year's Olympics)
And finally, my favorite Dell Schanze quote:
"You're angels of Satan, and that's horrible. I can say to the people of Utah, please pray for all the news people, because if you die right now, your souls and eternal salvation is in serious jeopardy."
To get the full effect, you've got to check out the video from KSL Here (you'll need Real player ). The video is priceless.
Rumors are the IRS is auditing. |
| posted by Brett Crockett @ 6:00 PM |
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