Not Just A Hat Rack

How China Chose the Beijing Olympics Logo

I know some people who take Tibet/China relationship pretty seriously. One of them passed this along.

Free Nepal! Free Nepal!

Enjoy this press release :)


For More Information:
Steve Pastorino
Vice President / Marketing


Snow Lion Expeditions Invites U.S. National Security Advisor on Fall Journey to Nepal and Tibet


(Salt Lake City, Utah – April 15, 2008). Utah-based adventure travel company Snow Lion Expeditions today issued an all-expenses-paid invitation to U.S. National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley on one of its fall departures to Tibet and Nepal.

On a Sunday appearance on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Hadley referred to Nepal at least six times during a discussion of President George W. Bush’s visit to the 2008 Summer Olympics. Hadley said the ongoing situation in Nepal had “nothing to do” with heads of state decisions to attend the Games’ Opening Ceremonies.

He was right! China’s policy towards the region of Tibet, however, is causing several global leaders much consternation.

In a letter sent to the National Security Advisor today, Snow Lion president Ron Barness suggested, “It was probably a slip of tongue, but why don’t you let Snow Lion give you a quick tour of the Himalayas to make sure you don’t confuse the two again? By the way, since Mr. Stephanopoulos didn’t correct you, we’ve invited him as well.”

Since 1992, Snow Lion Expeditions has (www.snowlion.com ) offered multiple trips per year to Nepal and Tibet, in addition to dozens of other Asian destinations. Mr. Hadley and his wife, Ann, were offered two of the last remaining spots on the Journey to the Roof of the World expedition, which departs September 30 from Kathmandu, Nepal.

Tibet and Nepal are historic, distinct, neighboring Himalayan kingdoms. Tibet was largely independent from the 17th century to its occupation by China in 1951, which led to the exile of its spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, in 1959. Nepal, on the other hand, has maintained its independent status for more than 200 years, despite its tenuous position in Asia between China and India.

“Being keenly tuned in to the Tibet situation is of paramount importance to us every day at Snow Lion,” Barness said. “We hope the National Security Advisor will come away from our trip with us with the same awareness.”

Since 1992, Snow Lion Expeditions has been a pioneer in Asian travel, creating enchanting itineraries to 15 Asian nations. Snow Lion now offers more than 40 different itineraries include World Heritage Sites like the Kathmandu Valley, Mt. Everest and Angkor, plus less-traveled spots like Burma and North Korea.

Snow Lion Corporation
Tel: 801-355-6555
www.snowlion.com

What I Miss About Chicago

This is good stuff. Considering Mayor Landek gave me one of the warmest receptions of anyone I saw when I returned to Bridgeview in 2006, the 'Hat Rack is on the record as saying "Leave 'im alone! He did nothing wrong!"

Click Here to read about allegations dropped against Bridgeview Mayor Steven Landek.

Egregious Error!

Many thoughts from the earth-quaking state of Utah, home to the most despicable politician in America:

1) The idiot that runs the telestrator (the expensive thingamajig to write on his TV monitor) for CNN totally misused the "Mendoza Line" in Tuesday night's election re: Wisconsin. I forget the reference, but I was so angry. I know Mario Mendoza. He hit .215 lifetime for the Pirates, Mariners and maybe one other club. Translating the reference to politics is just wrong.

2) But, I'm very excited to recall that Garret Anderson hit just one home run while hitting .323 in 81 games for the Palm Springs Angels in 1992. This is the year he stopped doing community appearances because I didn't have a free hat for him in his size after he did his first appearance of the year. Which is all a long-winded way of saying that www.baseball-reference.com, the greatest baseball statistics website ever invented now has sortable minor league baseball stats going back to 1992 - my first year in baseball with... the Palm Springs Angels.

3) Utah's symbol of hatred and intolerance is state senator Chris Buttars. This guy is seriously embarassing. Click on the pic if you want to see a bigger image of his ugliness. I'm not even going to digress into his racist remarks at Utah's 9-freakin-week-long legislative session. 45 days for the state legislature to debate and pass policy? Whatever.

4) Casper Ghosts have a small lead in the best logo in baseball contest. Go to minor league baseball home page and vote! Go Ghosts!

5) Finally, the media gossip website www.gawker.com calls out Northwestern and its journalism school for a silly scandal involving the dean and unnamed sources. Enjoy.

Barack Rocks Boise

The 'Hat Rack choice for president received a resounding welcome in the most Republican state in America not named Utah this weekend... According to this Barack blog, 15,000 people crammed an arena in Boise to see him. Make sure you click on the photo.

We may be off to see Michelle Obama in SLC tomorrow - if we can get the car out of the driveway.
(I almost skiied at Deer Valley today, but turned back after twice not being able to see the offramp from the white-out conditions freeway.)

O-BOM-BA! O-BOM-BA!

My 2-year-old daughter has picked up her first political phrase tonight...

We're going with the Chicago Kid (and we don't mean Frank Klopas!) This household has followed Barack since before his incredible speech at the convention four years ago. I just wish today were the end of the primary process, not the beginning. With all due respect, John Edwards' populist message is spirited and invigorating, but I'm not sure he's presidential material. As for Hillary, I desperately want to see a woman legitimately challenge for the nomination, and sit in the presidency. For that reason alone, I'd love to see her win. But I think Hillary as President would be a circus, not good for her, the office or our country. This country is ready for a young, dynamic president to bridge, and hopefully further eradicate, the color barrier. Go O-Bom-ba!

O-speaking of those other guys, no tears were shed here that Mitt's millions weren't nearly enough to save him from himself. As for Huckabee, one of the nicest things I can say about him is that at least he's funnier than Jay Leno. He's very likeable - as my preacher, maybe. Good Luck Grandpa McCain.

This is going to be a fun primary season, huh? Too bad it will be over in a month!

Great Races, My Writing & The Zion Curtain

Congrats to Mrs. 'Hat Rack who successfully completed her umpteenth marathon last Sunday. Along with a dozen "Crazy Marathon Maidens" from Salt Lake City, she finished the Nike Women's Marathon from downtown San Francisco to the Great Highway on the Pacific Ocean. The 'Hat Rack road trip included a stop at Sugarpine Point State Park in Lake Tahoe where the 'Hat Racks were wedded almost seven years ago. The entire race is a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and 12,000+ runners raised nearly $20 million for the cause. It was profoundly moving to see so many purple running shirts in one place - the cause has grown so much since Teri and I met while running and fundraising for the Midnight Sun Marathon in Anchorage in 1999.

Back in SLC, I am submitting my 40,000-word manuscript to Fodor's today - the basis for a 2008 book tentatively titled "Pocket Guide to Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks." It's been a huge project for me and I'm eager to get some editing feedback and put the final touches on it in the weeks to come. To say it's kept me busy is an understatement.

The October edition of Connect hit newstands (libraries, at least!) and features my 2,000-word story on Utah's $1 billion winter sports scene entitled "Turning Powder to Profits."

Finally, in luscious local politics, one member of the ultra-progressive Utah Liquor Commission wants to sequester inanimate bottles of liquor at state restaurants and bars because the sight of alcohol might offend members of the predominate religion here. Bottles would have to be placed behind partitions being referred to as "Zion Curtains." I hear they might put all computers in dark closets too, because Utah has one of the worst records in the nation for googling pornography related terms. And did you know this is the #1 consumer in the nation for candy? Maybe they need a gate on that aisle in the grocery store?

Godfrey III

I interviewed Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey this week for a story that will run early next year in a SLC-based publication. The long advance deadline for the article, plus the unexpectedly close primary challenge that Godfrey faced last week, make for an interesting quandary for the magazine's editors. Will he or won't he be mayor by the time the article runs?

(Photo c/o Connect-utah.com)

Godfrey's CEO approach to economic development in Ogden for the past eight years (he's seeking a third term in November) has raised the city's profile and attracted outdoor industry companies like Amer Sports (Salomon, Suunto, Atomic and other brands), Descente USA and Goode to relocate their headquarters to a city once known as a railroad boom town; and more recently as a land of no opportunity. I don't know enough about him to and the issues in Ogden (crime and key public services such as police and fire coverage seem to come up a lot) to be sure - but from what I've read over the past three years, and after meeting him, he seems to have done very productive work on behalf of Ogden, and deserves another term.

He also gets my vote for citing two of my favorite business leadership books as influential tomes - Good to Great and The Tipping Point.

Decide for yourself by visiting www.votematthew.com. His election day opponent is named Susan Van Hooser, and she's at www.susieformayor.com.

By the way, both mayors are running first-name campaigns... How cute. Matthew vs Susie.

Falwell, Romney & Roosevelt in the same entry!

I'm realizing this blog is taking on more and more of a Utah spin with every passing week but, hey, the subject matter is plentiful. Two pieces on the Salt Lake Tribune's editorial pages caught me eye today.

First, the editorial board analyzes Jerry Falwell's legacy. The board ultimately concludes that Falwell's explosive mix of right-wing politics and religion was ultimately far more divisive than inclusive under the false moniker "moral majority."

In large part, Falwell's legacy was to cast compromise as a sign of weakness and to make the demonization of political opponents, based on "moral issues," a common, effective, often cynical, and utterly divisive, political ploy.

If America is not up in arms about Falwell's politicization of the religious right, then they are hypocritical to fear the potential mix of the LDS Church in Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. Retired East HS professor Q. Michael Croft writes about a dozen instances of LDS involvement in state and national politics in his op-ed piece today, ironically opposite the Falwell editorial.

Under LDS Church President Heber J. Grant, the church publicly endorsed, through the Deseret News, Republican presidential candidate Alfred M. Landon over Franklin K. Roosevelt. (Roosevelt still carried Utah.)

In 1960 church President David O. McKay personally endorsed Richard Nixon for president. Although he emphasized he was doing this as an individual citizen, his position as head of the church would certainly have an impact.

According to President Ezra Taft Benson, "Those who would remove the prophet from politics would take God out of government."

I say he's just stating the obvious. If you don't think the LDS Church is involved in (primarily Republican) politics, you're just naive. But the LDS church is no less guilty than the religious right.

Finally, this question: Does the structure of the LDS local church units (wards and stakes), presided over by lay people adding "ecclesiastical" duties to their business, family, community and political obligations - further the perception that the Mormon Church can't help but meddle in politics?

Good Riddance Pinochet

"In Chile, we have always known the truth about this evil man. It does my heart well that jail was his immediate future, and that he knew it." This is right. Any public humiliation Pinochet received at the end was the result of a movement of ordinary folks who never gave up.

These words come from Dave's Zirin's LA Times article about Chilean dictator Agustin Pinochet's recent, long overdue, demise.  And it's an article about soccer - such is life, such is soccer, in so much of the world.

I am relieved that Real Salt Lake has an ongoing relationship with the Universidad Catolica, not Colo Colo.  I am reminded about my university-era interest in Chilean politics, economics and literature - part of a fairly dramatic turn in my personal politics.