TBWAIN - AKA Jeff Svare's Blog

Politics can be an ugly business to be in. At the best of times it is unpleasant, and at the worst of times, it's personal. Mean-spirited criticism never did anything positive for anyone. It hurts the person it's directed to, and shows to everyone else how petty and small-minded the assailant is. Recently, Pete Ashdown, the owner of my ISP, announced he was going to run as a Democrat against Orrin Hatch in the next election. Personally, I think it's great that someone wants to get involved in politics because they feel they can make a difference. I've probably had enough political involvement to last me the rest of my life. Just this morning, I learned that someone sent out an e-mail to "Republican activists" asking them to discontinue their service and "sign up with another provider." The logic in this? "...it still is not a good idea to support a Republican challenger like this Democrat XMission owner by using his services." A lo...

It must be June. The AP teachers are packing their bags and heading to Daytona Beach, Florida, for their annual "reading of the essays." Essays...the AP students have already forgotten them. Yearbooks are being traded around the senior tables, pages easily being filled in shiny glitter pens. There must be some larger plot there, the seniors think. Writing down feelings is so unnatural for most of them, but something about the glossy paper in back of a book full of mug shots makes it easier. Especially for the seniors. It's raining outside. The first time in forever that it's rained on the last day of school. The seniors wonder if it's a bad omen. Only rain in their futures? Perhaps. But as time passes, so will the horror surrounding the class of 2005, and this summer will be one to remember. The first time they were really free. Didn't have to go back to the same old building come the last week of August. There were choices to be made now. My daugh...

Sounds like a joke, right? Well, I was watching the news from the local Fox affiliate this morning while getting ready for work. One of the segments was talking up the Salt Lake City Reads program, and they were telling about the current young adult reader choices, City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle. The punch line to this joke? They were in a bar. Yep, that's where every kid I know goes to read.