Access Utah

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"Dataclysm" And The Ethics Of Clicking On Access Utah Sep 11, 2014

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Seventy percent of the country uses Facebook each month—50 percent of Americans under 35 check it first thing every morning. By 2015, people will have tweeted more words than in every book ever printed. A third of all marriages in the United States now begin online—meaning one in three children in the class of 2032 will have been facilitated by an algorithm. Social media has become essential to the fabric of our society. We know that companies and the government are using our data, sometimes in ways we’re uncomfortable with.

#CutTheCarls: Sexual Objectification In Advertising On Access Utah Wednesday Sep 10, 2014

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Two Utah sisters are pushing back against a Carl’s Jr. advertising campaign they say objectifies women. The ads feature bikini-clad women eating the fast-food chain’s burgers in a seductive manner. Lindsay and Lexie Kite hold doctorate degrees from the University of Utah and run a nonprofit called Beauty Redefined, focusing on issues surrounding women’s body image and media influence. Their social media campaign uses the hashtags: “#CutTheCarls” and “#MoreThanMeat” They are asking consumers to boycott Carl’s Jr. in order to involve the company in conversation about sexual objectification in advertising. Carl’s Jr. has said the ads, which began in 2005, are aimed at catching the attention of young, hungry boys (ages 18 - 35). The company said it respects the contribution of women to society.

Canyonlands 50th Stirs Debate on Preservation or Industrialization Sep 04, 2014

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On September 12, 1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed legislation creating Canyonlands National Park: “...in order to preserve an area...possessing superlative scenic, scientific, and archeologic features for the inspiration, benefit and use of the public…”

Geek Sublime: Computers And Coding On Access Utah Wednesday Sep 03, 2014

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Vikram Chandra says that even though “computing has transformed our lives...the processes and cultures which produce software remain largely opaque, alien, unknown. He says “whenever I tell one of my fellow authors that I supported myself through the writing of my first novel by working as a programmer and a computer consultant, I evoke a response that mixes bemusement, bafflement, and a touch of awe, as if I’d just said that I could levitate...Many programmers, on the other hand regard themselves as artists.”

Eboo Patel And Interfaith Action On Wednesday's Access Utah Aug 27, 2014

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Eboo Patel founded the Interfaith Youth Core to counter the growing problem of religious intolerance and violence at home and abroad. IFYC trains students to bridge the faith-divide through interfaith cooperation. Patel says that “interfaith interactions can be a bomb of destruction, a barrier of division, a bubble of isolation, or a bridge of cooperation.” He says that he’s inspired to build a bridge of cooperation by his faith as a Muslim, his Indian heritage, and his American citizenship.

Living Off The Grid On Access Utah Monday Aug 25, 2014

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The grid is everywhere, sending power to the light switch on the wall and water to the faucet in the kitchen. But is it essential? Must we depend on it and the corporate and government infrastructure behind it? My guest on Monday’s AU is Nick Rosen, who has traveled the United States, spending time with all kinds of individuals and families striving to live their lives free from dependence on municipal power and amenities, and free from dependence on the government and its far-reaching tentacles.

Frankenstein: A Commentary On Humanity And Nature On Friday's Access Utah Aug 22, 2014

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Frankenstein brings to mind Boris Karloff’s character in the 1931 film, or monster masks worn for Halloween. The book, however, surprises those who think they know the story. It’s a thought-provoking tale examining education, knowledge, and society. Goodreads says “Frankenstein, an instant bestseller and an important ancestor of both the horror and science fiction genres, not only tells a terrifying story, but also raises profound, disturbing questions about the very nature of life and the place of humankind within the cosmos: What does it mean to be human? What responsibilities do we have to each other? How far can we go in tampering with Nature? In our age, filled with news of organ donation, genetic engineering, and bio-terrorism, these questions are more relevant than ever.”

Suicide And Hope: Moving From Darkness To Light On Access Utah Tuesday Aug 19, 2014

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Robin Williams’ apparent suicide has us not only remembering his life and talent but trying to come to terms with the reality of suicide. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, "Suicide claims more than 38,000 lives each year in the United States alone, with someone dying by suicide every 13.7 minutes. A suicide attempt is made every minute of every day, resulting in nearly one million attempts made annually." Utah author and suicide prevention advocate Wendy Parmley knows this reality all too well. Her new book “Hope after Suicide: One Woman's Journey from Darkness to Light,” details her journey following the suicide death of her mother nearly 40 years ago. She was 12-years-old at the time, the oldest of five children, and her mother was just 31. For years, Ms. Parmley locked away the pain of her mother's death. But after a disabling bike accident in September 2011 that left her unable to return to her nursing career, she began to write her mother's story--and her own healing journey began.

The Legend Of Old Ephraim On Monday's Access Utah Aug 18, 2014

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The legendary conflict between sheepherder Frank Clark and Old Ephraim the giant bear is one of the most widely-told stories in the Logan area. Old Ephraim was a very large grizzly who roamed the Cache National Forest from about 1911 until his death on August 22, 1923. Old Ephraim stories are still told. We’re going to talk about local legends on Monday’s AU. Our guests include Daniel Bishop, The Storyteller; and Daniel Davis, Photograph Curator at the USU Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections. We want to hear your Old Ephraim story. Maybe you can tell us about the Bear Lake Monster. Tune in Monday and share with us a legend from your hometown or family.

The Life and Times of Charles Manson on Thursday's AU Aug 14, 2014

Show notes

Jeff Guinn, author of “Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson” (now out in paperback) says he wanted to answer two questions with the book: “Why does Manson’s name still resonate with us, all these years after those famous murders? And what happened in his life to make him the way he turned out?” Guinn says that in answering those questions “it was really like a trip across American history because Manson represents so many aspects of American society.” More than 40 years ago Charles Manson and his mostly female commune killed nine people, among them the pregnant actress Sharon Tate. It was the culmination of a criminal career that Guinn traces back to Manson’s childhood. Guinn interviewed Manson’s sister and cousin, neither of whom had ever previously cooperated with an author. Childhood friends, cellmates, and some members of the Manson family provided new information about Manson’s life. Guinn made discoveries about the night of the Tate murders, answering unresolved questions, such as why one person near the scene of the crime was spared. “Manson” puts the killer in the context of the turbulent late sixties, an era of race riots and street protests when authority in all its forms was under siege.

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