Oh No. The Last Working Pay Phone In Yellowstone National Park Is Dead.

 

Oh No. The Last Working Pay Phone In Yellowstone National Park Is Dead.

 

1926 Mobile Telephone

Wednesday, May 10, 1876. Opening of the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine.

The Centennial International Exhibition, the International Exhibition of Arts, Manufactures, and Products of the Soil and Mine, commenced in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Events like this use to be huge.

On the opening day Alexander Graham Bell presented a paper on communicating musical sounds by wire (telephone).

Last edition:

Tuesday, May 9, 1876. Windy City.

Labels: 1870s, 1876, Illinois (Chicago), Japan (Tokyo), technology, The Press, Weather, Wyoming (Casper)

The unlamented passing of a cell phone and the unwelcome arrival of its replacement.

Yesterday some time my cell phone, which was an iPhone 11, died in that it would no longer place or receive telephone calls.  Indeed, communications wise, the only thing it would still do is text another iPhone.  I discovered this when I went to make a work call after I got home.

I've never been a fan of cell phones.  I hate them, actually.  They do some good things, like allow me to be in contact with my family in a way that my father wasn't after I'd left home for college.  That's about the only thing I like about them.  Modern cell "phones" are actually iPods and cameras, and little computers, and I like some of those features, but I'm not fooling myself they have anything to do with cellular telecommunications

The major thing the cell phone has done, however, is to allow my office job, that of being a lawyer, to intrude into my entire life, all day, and every day, long.  Being a lawyer is already a difficult job and it taking over everything all the time is really miserable.  Abraham Lincoln, when he was a lawyer, didn't have his clients sitting at his dinner table or bothering him on Sundays.  Every modern lawyer does.  

I hate iPhones for that.

And for that reason, at age 62, nearly 63, I just decided not to replace it.  Unable to place my call, I came back into the living room, and while I thought twice about it, as I was fearful of the reaction I might and did get, I told my wife "my cell phone is dead".

As soon as she believed it (there is honor in being a prophet, save in one's own household) she sprung into action.  It was already evening.  "Are you saying you want me to go get a new one?"

I answered truthfully, "no, I'm not".

Now, to explain that, my wife loves cell phones.  I think everyone in the family loves them, save for me.  So she takes care of getting the cell phones, not me.  I'd be poorly suited for it at best.

Anyhow, she asked again, "if you want me to go get one I need to know right now so I can do it".

"No, I don't want you to go get one, it can wait".

Not believing that, it was followed up with the same question, at which point I answered truthfully.  "I don't want a new one".

That really sprang her into action, "I'll go to Best Buy right now".  My reply, again truthfully, "I don't want a new one, I hate cell phones and I'm glad its dead."

That was met with a scoff and  she left with my dead phone and returned with a new one.  It's an iPhone 17.  Because of the codes involved in doing that, that meant that I had to finish setting it up, which I reluctantly did last night.

Defeated by technology.  Not in using it, but in being made to use it.

Friday, March 10, 1876, "Mr. Watson, come here—I want to see you".

Alexander Graham Bell successfully transmitted the first intelligible human speech over a telephone system, saying, "Mr. Watson, come here—I want to see you".

Also:

March 10, 1876: Alexander Graham Bell Invents the Telephone

Last issue:

Wednesday, March 8, 1876. Establishing the Crow Reservation.

Labels: 1870s, 1876, Crow people, Montana, Native Americans, U.S. Grant

Tuesday, March 7, 1876. Bell patents the telephone.

Scottish born Alexander Graham Bell, age 29, patented the telephone.

Last edition:

Friday, March 3, 1876. Redistributing horses.

Friday, June 26, 1925. The Gold Rush.

 

Released on this date in 1925.

The hotel in Browning, Montana, is still in business.

Last edition:

Sunday, June 21, 1925. Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth League

Labels: 1920s, 1925, 1929, China, Chinese Warlord Era, Communism, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Blog Mirror: Laying Telephone Wire by Air, 1945

 

Laying Telephone Wire by Air, 1945

The 2025 Wyoming Legislative Session, Part 2. Early bills

Pre filed bills so far.  Keep in mind that these are the ones that have made it through the last legislature.  The new one hasn't been sworn in yet..

HB0002	Hunting license application fees increase.	Travel	Bill Number Assigned
HB0003	Animal abuse-predatory animals.	Travel	Bill Number Assigned
HB0004	Snowmobile registration and user fees.	Travel	Bill Number Assigned
HB0005	Fishing outfitters and guides-registration of fishing boats.	Travel	Bill Number Assigned
HB0006	Advance health care directives-dementia.	Larsen, L	Bill Number Assigned
HB0007	K-12 post secondary education options.	Harshman	Bill Number Assigned
HB0008	School finance-average daily membership.	Harshman	Bill Number Assigned
HB0009	Young entrepreneurs-limiting license requirements.	Harshman	Bill Number Assigned
HB0010	Limited mining operations-amendments.	Minerals	Bill Number Assigned
HB0011	Manufacturing sales and use tax exemption-amendments.	Minerals	Bill Number Assigned
HB0012	Industrial production equipment-deferral.	Minerals	Bill Number Assigned
HB0013	Integrated test center-governance.	Minerals	Bill Number Assigned
HB0014	Solid waste municipal cease and transfer funding.	Minerals	Bill Number Assigned
HB0015	Limited mining operations-bonding amendments.	Minerals	Bill Number Assigned
HB0016	Used nuclear fuel storage-amendments.	Minerals	Bill Number Assigned
HB0017	Career technical education equipment grants amendments.	Education	Bill Number Assigned
HB0018	Career technical education funding.	Education	Bill Number Assigned
HB0019	Social media-parental consent for minors required.	Harshman	Bill Number Assigned
HB0020	K-12 school facility leasing.	Sel Sch Fac	Bill Number Assigned
HB0021	School finance-routine maintenance worker calculation.	Sel Sch Fac	Bill Number Assigned
HB0022	Water and wastewater operator-emergency response.	Campbell, E	Bill Number Assigned
HB0023	Surrender driver's license-repeal.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
HB0024	Alternative fuel tax-electricity amendments.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
HB0025	Vehicle accident reporting-amendments.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
HB0026	Highway safety-child restraints.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
HB0027	Disabled parking windshield placards-revisions.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
HB0028	Commercial driver's licenses-revisions.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
HB0029	Severance tax distribution-highway fund.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
HB0030	Driver's licenses and IDs-revisions.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
HB0031	School safety and security.	Pendergraft	Bill Number Assigned
HB0032	What is a Woman Act.	Lien	Bill Number Assigned
HB0033	Vehicle sales and use tax distribution-highway fund.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
HB0034	Department of transportation-efficiency study.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
HB0035	Vacancies in elected office.	Harshman	Bill Number Assigned
HB0036	Hathaway scholarship-amendments.	Harshman	Bill Number Assigned
HB0037	Expulsion for possession of a deadly weapon.	Harshman	Bill Number Assigned
HB0038	Ad valorem taxation-payment and credit of penalties.	Revenue	Bill Number Assigned
HB0039	Property tax refund program-revisions.	Revenue	Bill Number Assigned
HB0040	Sales and use tax revisions.	Revenue	Bill Number Assigned
HB0041	Environmental quality-irrevocable letters of credit.	Lawley	Bill Number Assigned
HB0042	Regulation of surgical abortions.	Lawley	Bill Number Assigned
HB0043	Age verification for websites with harmful material.	Lawley	Bill Number Assigned
HB0044	Loren "Teense" Willford Memorial Highway.	Davis	Bill Number Assigned
HB0045	Removing otters as protected animals.	Byron	Bill Number Assigned
HB0046	Homeschool freedom act.	Strock	Bill Number Assigned
HB0047	Secretary of state-expedited filings.	BlockChain/Technology	Bill Number Assigned
HB0048	Department of family services-confidentiality amendments.	Judiciary	Bill Number Assigned
HB0049	Treatment courts-amendments.	Judiciary	Bill Number Assigned
HB0050	Disclosure of sensitive information-law enforcement.	Judiciary	Bill Number Assigned
HB0051	Municipal courts-maximum penalties.	Judiciary	Bill Number Assigned
HB0052	State's right of appeal in criminal cases.	Judiciary	Bill Number Assigned
HB0053	Governmental claims-negligent investigations.	Judiciary	Bill Number Assigned
HB0054	Chancery court judges-district and circuit court assistance.	Judiciary	Bill Number Assigned
HB0055	Court automation fee-amendments.	Judiciary	Bill Number Assigned
HB0056	Cities and towns notice for zoning changes-amendments.	Filer	Bill Number Assigned
HJ0001	Amending Wyoming's act of admission for earnings.	Cap Fin & Inv	Bill Number Assigned
SF0002	Hunting licenses-weighted bonus points system.	Travel	Bill Number Assigned
SF0003	Mule and whitetail deer-separate hunting seasons.	Travel	Bill Number Assigned
SF0004	State park peace officers-definition and scope of authority.	Travel	Bill Number Assigned
SF0005	School district vehicles-flashing lights authorized.	Cooper	Bill Number Assigned
SF0006	Residential property-removal of unlawful occupant.	Judiciary	Bill Number Assigned
SF0007	Protection order amendments.	Judiciary	Bill Number Assigned
SF0008	Protection orders-effective during appeal or review.	Judiciary	Bill Number Assigned
SF0009	Restoration of rights amendments.	Judiciary	Bill Number Assigned
SF0010	Settlement agreements for minors-parental authorization.	Judiciary	Bill Number Assigned
SF0011	Use of fraudulent documents to wrongfully possess property.	Judiciary	Bill Number Assigned
SF0012	Permanent protection orders.	Judiciary	Bill Number Assigned
SF0013	Reading assessment and intervention amendments.	Education	Bill Number Assigned
SF0014	Wyoming imagination library program.	Education	Bill Number Assigned
SF0015	Oil and gas conservation commission-regulation of pits.	Minerals	Bill Number Assigned
SF0016	Industrial siting-tribal notification.	Minerals	Bill Number Assigned
SF0017	Carbon dioxide-enhanced oil recovery stimulus.	Minerals	Bill Number Assigned
SF0018	Enhanced oil recovery-severance tax exemption.	Minerals	Bill Number Assigned
SF0019	Impact assistance payments-maximum percentages and review.	Minerals	Bill Number Assigned
SF0020	Oil and gas bonding-options and bonding pools.	Minerals	Bill Number Assigned
SF0021	Ban on cell phone use in schools.	Schuler	Bill Number Assigned
SF0022	Ground for termination of parental rights-guardianship.	Schuler	Bill Number Assigned
SF0023	Handicap placards-health care providers' approval.	Labor	Bill Number Assigned
SF0024	Special license plates for multipurpose vehicles.	Barlow	Bill Number Assigned
SF0025	Electronic lien and title system.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
SF0026	Protection of military equipment.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
SF0027	Wyoming national guard member referral-amendments.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
SF0028	ROTC endowment program.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
SF0029	Firearm hold agreement-limited liability.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
SF0030	Wyoming's investment in veteran's mental health.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
SF0031	Boards and commissions veteran ex officio members.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
SF0032	Unpaved roads speed limits-amendments.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
SF0033	Noncitizen driver's license and ID card-revisions.	Transportation	Bill Number Assigned
SF0034	School finance-routine and major maintenance calculations.	Sel Sch Fac	Bill Number Assigned
SF0035	Governmental claims-maximum liability amounts.	Judiciary	Bill Number Assigned
SF0036	Music therapy-use of title.	Labor	Bill Number Assigned
SF0037	Enhanced concealed carry in school zones.	Cooper	Bill Number Assigned
SF0038	Performance compensation-investment performance amendment.	Appropriations	Bill Number Assigned
SF0039	Automatic transfer of automobile title upon death.	Olsen	Bill Number Assigned
SF0040	Zoning protest petition-amendments.	Appropriations	Bill Number Assigned
SF0041	Federal acts-legal actions authorized.	Agriculture	Bill Number Assigned
SF0042	Resort hotel liquor licenses.	Gierau	Bill Number Assigned
SF0043	Temporary water use agreements amendments.	Agriculture	Bill Number Assigned
SF0044	Fairness in sports-intercollegiate athletics.	Schuler	Bill Number Assigned
SF0045	Wyoming state guard-amendments.	Laursen, D	Bill Number Assigned

A freshman legislature is introducing a bill that will ban sanctuary towns and counties in Wyoming, of which there are none.

Some interesting bills:

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0019

 

 

Social media-parental consent for minors required.

 

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Harshman, Lawley, Washut and Wharff and Senator(s) Barlow and Olsen

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to trade and commerce; requiring parental consent for minors under age eighteen (18) to use a social media platform; providing definitions; requiring rulemaking; and providing for effective dates.

 

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

 

Section 1.  W.S. 40‑32‑101 and 40‑32‑102 are created to read:

 

CHAPTER 32

SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION

 

40‑32‑101.  Definitions.

 

(a)  As used in this chapter:

 

(i)  "Account holder" means a person who has or who creates or opens an account or profile to use a social media platform;

 

(ii)  "Minor" means a person who is a resident of Wyoming, who is under the age of eighteen (18) and who is not married or has not become emancipated as provided in W.S. 14‑1‑201 through 14‑1‑206;

 

(iii)  "Social media company" means a person that is an interactive computer service that provides a social media platform for use;

 

(iv)  "Social media platform" means an online forum that a social media company makes available for an account holder to create a profile, upload posts, view the posts of other account holders or interact with other  account holders or users.

 

40‑32‑102.  Social media platforms; parental consent required; remedies.

 

(a)  No social media company shall allow a minor to be an account holder on the social media company's social media platform unless the social media company obtains the express consent of the minor's parent or guardian.

 

(b)  Each social media company shall deny access to its social media platform for each account holder who fails to meet the verification requirements specified in subsection (a) of this section until the social media company receives the express parental or guardian consent required under subsection (a) of this section.

 

(c)  The attorney general shall promulgate all rules for:

 

(i)  The process by which a social media company can obtain parental consent for a minor seeking to open or create an account and be an account holder on a social media platform;

 

(ii)  The method by which a parent or guardian of a minor can provide consent for a minor to open or create an account and be an account holder on a social media platform;

 

(iii)  The methods by which social media companies shall verify the authenticity of the parental or guardian consent provided for a minor to open or create an account and be an account holder on a social media platform;

 

(iv)  The methods by which a social media company shall allow parents or guardians to revoke or withdraw consent previously given for a minor to open or create an account and be an account holder on a social media platform and for parents or guardians to revoke or withdraw nonconsent previously expressed and thereafter consent for a minor to open or create an account and be an account holder on a social media platform.

 

(d)  The attorney general may pursue any remedy authorized under the Wyoming Consumer Protection Act against a social media company that fails to comply with this article.

 

Section 2.  The attorney general shall promulgate all rules necessary to implement this act.

 

Section 3.

 

(a)  Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

 

(b)  Section 1 of this act is effective July 1, 2025.

SENATE FILE NO. SF0021

 

 

Ban on cell phone use in schools.

 

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Schuler and Representative(s) Brown, L, Clouston and Larson, JT

 

 

A BILL

 

for

 

AN ACT relating to education; requiring school districts to adopt policies prohibiting students from using cell phones and smart watches in schools as specified; providing exceptions; providing a definition; specifying applicability; and providing for effective dates.

 

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

 

Section 1.  W.S. 21‑3‑110(a) by creating a new paragraph (xliv) is amended to read:

 

21‑3‑110.  Duties of boards of trustees.

 

(a)  The board of trustees in each school district shall:  

 

(xliv)  Adopt policies to prohibit students from using cellular telephones and smart watches during instructional time. For purposes of this paragraph, "smart watch" means a wearable computing device that closely resembles a wristwatch or other time keeping device with the capacity to act in place of or as an extension of a person's cellular telephone. "Smart watch" does not include a wearable device that can only tell time, monitor a person's health information or track a person's location. Policies adopted under this paragraph shall not prohibit students from using cellular telephones and smart watches under any of the following circumstances:

 

(A)  In the case of an emergency or in response to a perceived threat of danger;

 

(B)  When an employee of the school district authorizes a student to use a cellular telephone or a smart watch;

 

(C)  When using a cellular telephone or a smart watch is included in a student's individualized education plan or plan developed under section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended;

 

(D)  When a health care provider determines that the use of a cellular telephone or a smart watch is necessary to manage a student's health care.

 

Section 2.  Not later than July 1, 2025, each school district board of trustees shall establish policies in accordance with this act.

 

Section 3.

 

(a)  Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2025.

 

(b)  Sections 2 and 3 of this act are effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

 

(END)

December 21, 2024

Chuck Gray is backing proof residency and ballot box banning efforts again this session.

It's ironic in the Trumpiest state in the union the paranoia about people illegally casting votes remains.  If they are doing that, they'd be ironically illegally voting, for the most part, for Trump.

Last edition:

The 2025 Wyoming Legislative Session, Part 1. And we've already started. . .

Labels: 2020s, 2024, 2025, 2025 Wyoming Legislative Session, Democratic Party, Electrical Power, Highways, Petroleum, Populism, Republican Party, Wyoming, Wyoming Freedom Caucus