I thought spring was here and woke to snow this morning. By noon the sun was shining, but it barely got about freezing. Buzz kill.

We went to see Maury Yeston’s Phantom at the Hale Center Theater last night. 6/10. Lee did rather well, as always.

It’s been a long, busy week. We just watched Ricky Gervais’ movie Ghost Town and are about ready for bed. BTW, this was our first Apple TV rental. Seamless.

Paris is kind of dark and dreary in February, but Flat Sally still enjoyed her walk through the Tuileries gardens in her new red couture.

As she exited, she was excited to see the Eiffel Tower in the background.

“Take my picture!”, she exclaimed.

After a long day spent looking at art in the Musée d’Orsay, Flat Sally decided she needed a quiet evening to walk around Paris and take in the sites.

Here she is near the Trocadéro at the Palais de Chaillot overlooking the Tour d’Eiffel (Eiffel Tower).

Click HERE for the link to the Google map to provide perspective.

As one commenter in the SL Trib asked, “Why is diversity a four-letter word in Utah?”

George Mason U. elects drag queen as homecoming queen

The Associated Press
FAIRFAX, Va. » Student Ryan Allen beat out two women for the title at the 30,000-student school in suburban Washington, D.C., famous for its run to the Final Four a few years back.

Allen competed under his drag queen persona of Reann Ballslee.

Allen, who is gay and performs in drag at nightclubs, said he entered as a joke. But he considers the victory one of his happiest moments and proof the school celebrates its diverse student body.

The senior from Virginia’s Goochland County won the pageant about a week ago at a sold-out homecoming basketball game against Northeastern. George Mason’s basketball team pulled off a string of upsets to advance to the Final Four in 2006.

Flat Sally finally made it abroad.

Here she is inside the “London Eye” — the world’s largest Ferris wheel. From this height, Flat Sally is able to see most of London. Note the Houses of Parliament behind her and to the the right as the wheel slowly revolves up and over the Thames River.

A full revolution takes 30 minutes!

“And somewhere at the bottom he fell into darkness. That much he knew. He had fallen into darkness. And at the instant he knew, he ceased to know.”

–from the book Martin Eden by Jack London

Got 7 minutes? Watch this video. A quick introduction and overview of how we got where we are and why it’s not going to end overnight.

The Crisis of Credit Visualized – Part 1

Flat Sally really, really, really enjoys chocolate ice cream. She has eaten so much at our house that we are starting to call her “Fat Sally”.

Some of her clothes don’t fit very well anymore and her favorite red sweater is all stretched out and barely held together by her brass buttons.

She seems to eat more healthy when she is traveling. Perhaps it is time for her to go on the road again….

I waited to post something on this until some of the print press began to chime in. This surfaced on Tuesday and while not surprising, is still shocking that someone of this ilk is still serving in the Utah State Senate.

I can just hear Anti-Gayle Ruzicka chiding him, “Bishop Buttars, what WERE you thinking? You know you shouldn’t be talking to reporters.”

As always, it’s easier to kill the messenger (reporter Cowan) than the real threat to our freedoms and civil rights.

Buttars: Gays ‘greatest threat to America’
Familiar ground » The senator’s says the movement is ‘the beginning of the end’ and worse than Sodom and Gomorrah.
By Rosemary Winters
The Salt Lake Tribune

He called the gay-rights movement “probably the greatest threat to America,” likened gay activists to Muslim radicals and dubbed same-sex relationships “abominations.”

Now Sen. Chris Buttars finds himself in a familiar place: under fire amid demands he step down.
(more…)

Today is the 50th birthday of my twin brothers, 11 months younger than I (I’m still 50 as well, until next month).

Larry–Have a great day and know that we love you and are thinking of you on this momentous occasion.

Jerry–We miss you.

I’m sorry we couldn’t all be together for this day.