Utah, perhaps one of the most Republican districts in the US, just announced that they are moving from a 5 day week to a 4 day week.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-06-30-four-day_N.htm

It seems like a no brainer, our society cannot afford to spend 5 days a week in traffic.

One less day of mandatory commuting could save the average driver nearly 20% and would allow governments and businesses to have equal savings in reduced energy demand from having offices heated or air conditioned.

Less energy usage. More time for families and leisures. Why not?

Perhaps it is due to my degree in classical studies, but I am still a purist when it comes to the Olympics.

I think it is one thing to discuss boycotts of the opening ceremonies, but once the torch is lit, I hold the classical greek view that all peoples of the world should put aside their differences and use athleticism and physical skills to celebrate the achievements of individual excellence rather than rely upon aggression and power.

For me it was real disappointing to hear that at nearly the exact time as the Olympics began, a full scale conflict began in Georgia (and South Ossetia). While details are still emerging about who started it all (it seems that Georgia made the first aggression), in either case it is sad that we as a planet cannot even have 10 days every 4 years (or 2 if you count the Winter Olympics) when we can't at least put aside our differences.

I had been waiting almost a year to get my hands on the iPhone and I finally got one today. It's pretty cool. The google maps looks stunning and the keyboard is really neat.

I still haven't been able to use the visual voicemail because fido servers are down.

I have been going door to door with messaging for Fair Voting BC, trying to find out what motivates people to vote and how they feel about our electoral system. The first day I went out, I tried to see how many people supported the referendum we had in 2005. It was kind of sorry, but very few people even remembered voting for it.

The second day I went out, I changed my line of conversation. Instead of asking people what they thought of the referendum or proportional representation, I asked them what they thought of politicians.

Wow, the difference was night and day. After knocking on 50 doors, the response was unanimous. People really thought ill of their elected officials.

Stephane Dion and the Liberals, listening to the Green Party knocking at their door in formerly safe seats such as Vancouver Quadra, finally capitulated and announced their support for a carbon tax! Way to go Greens, one down and only the Tories and NDP to go!

The Liberal's "Green Shift" even went so far as stealing the font and pantone colours off the Green Party brochures. We told voters the by-election was a referendum on the carbon tax and we succeeded.

The Liberal Carbon Tax Plan has now been released, on first glance I like it and also feel that their exclusion of the carbon tax from increasing gas prices for four years is the politically right way to implement this. From an environmental and economic point of view, it covers most of the plans and is leaps ahead of their wimpy carbon budget they released last year.