Holiday Schedule
We wish all of our Utah Policy Daily readers a very merry Christmas and a safe and terrific holiday season. We will not publish UPD Monday on Christmas day, or New Years Day, Jan. 1. We will publish Tuesday through Friday of next week, but we don’t expect a lot of political activity so those editions might be abbreviated. Most of the UPD staff is going on vacation Jan. 1-7, so those editions might also be shorter than usual.
A Christmas Story
May We All Have Joy
By Ted A. Thompson (Source: How Stuff Works)
The year our youngest daughter, Shelly, was four, she received an unusualChristmas present from "Santa."
She was the perfect age for Christmas, able to understand the true meaning of the season, but still completely enchanted by the magic of it. Her innocent joyfulness was compelling and catching -- a great gift to parents, reminding us of what Christmas should represent no matter how old we are.
The most highly prized gift Shelly received that Christmas Eve was a giant bubble-maker, a simple device of plastic and cloth the inventor promised would create huge billowing bubbles, large enough to swallow a wide-eyed four-year-old. Both Shelly and I were excited about trying it out, but it was after dark so we'd have to wait until the next day.
Later that night I read the instruction booklet while Shelly played with some of her other new toys. The inventor of the bubble-maker had tried all types of soaps for formulating bubbles and found that Joy dishwashing detergent created the best giant bubbles. I'd have to buy some.
The next morning, I was awakened very early by small stirrings in the house. Shelly was up. I knew in my sleepy mind that Christmas Day festivities would soon begin, so I arose and made my way toward the kitchen to start the coffee. In the hallway, I met my daughter, already wide awake, the bubble-maker clutched in her chubby little hand, the magic of Christmas morning embraced in her four-year-old heart. Her eyes were shining with excitement, and she asked, "Daddy, can we make bubbles now?"
I sighed heavily and rubbed my eyes. I looked toward the window, where the sky was only beginning to lighten with the dawn. I looked toward the kitchen, where the coffeepot had yet to start dripping its aromatic reward for early-rising Christmas dads.
"Shelly," I said, my voice almost pleading and perhaps a little annoyed, "it's too early. I haven't even had my coffee yet."
Her smile fell away. Immediately I felt a father's remorse for bursting her bright Christmas bubble with what I suddenly realized was my own selfish problem, and my heart broke a little.
But I was a grown-up. I could fix this. In a flash of adult inspiration, I unshouldered the responsibility. Recalling the inventor's recommendation of a particular brand of bubble-making detergent -- which I knew we did not have in the house -- I laid the blame squarely on him, pointing out gently, "Besides, you have to have Joy."
I watched her eyes light back up as she realized, in less than an instant, that she could neutralize this small problem with the great and wonderful truth she was about to reveal.
"Oh, Daddy," she promised, with all the honesty and enthusiasm and Christmas excitement she could possibly communicate, "Oh, Daddy, I do."
I broke records getting to the store, and in no time at all we were out on the front lawn creating gigantic, billowing, gossamer orbs--each one filled with Joy and sent forth shimmering into the Christmas sun.
CPPA Newsletter
The University of Utah's Center for Public Policy & Administration has posted its latest Policy Perspectives newsletter. This month's edition looks at the state spending limit, Massachusetts' health insurance plan, and the Western Presidential Primary.
Sutherland Adds New Trustees
Sutherland Institute announces "the addition of Representative LaVar Christensen and Stanford D. Swim to the conservative think tank's board of trustees. In their new roles, Rep. Christensen and Mr. Swim will provide leadership and policy expertise that will help Sutherland achieve its goal of making Utah an example of good government as well as a great place to live, work, and raise a family" (see press release).
Podcast Watch
The InsideUtah.com podcast this week by Jennifer Napier-Pearce features year-end conversations with Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon and Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson; and bookseller Catherine Weller gives her picks for the best books of 2006.
Blog Watch
In response to this Senate Site post, Rep. Craig Frank says: "Utah's economy will not become 'unstable' because the Legislature removes an additional 2.75% of the state's portion of sales tax collected on non-prepared foods. On the contrary, it is the tendency of the food purchasing public -- everyone -- to take their tax cut dollars from additional reform (disposable income) and re-inject those dollars immediately into the local economy by spending it ... Removing the remaining State Sales Tax component (2.75%) on Non-Prepared Foods will not damage our state's economy -- and, heaven willing, the Senate will be no worse for the wear".... At Out of Context, Derek P. Jensen reports: "The following zingers come courtesy of Salt Lake County Councilman Randy Horiuchi's annual lunch-turned-roast, held recently at Lamb's restaurant: Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan roasted Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon as a student of the Mike Leavitt-Jon Huntsman Jr. school of government: Do nothing and get rewarded. Corroon can go into a bathroom, urinate, and The Salt Lake Tribune headline would read, 'Corroon goes up 10 points,' Dolan said. The Sandy mayor could achieve world peace and the headline would be, 'Dolan goes down 10 points.' -- Lobbyist Alan Dayton, roasting House Speaker Greg Curtis, joked that despite the speaker's 20-vote win, the Sandy Republican has a mandate. Dayton said he looked up (Jay) Seegmiller, Curtis' opponent, and found a Dutch origin for the name. The direct translation: Curtis should be damn glad I'm not Pat Jones. -- Democratic Sen. Ed Mayne roasting conservative GOP bulldog Curt Bramble: Bramble doesn't know humility, Mayne said. That liberal stuff is for people like, you know, Ghandi, Jimmy Carter and Jesus. -- With Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson leaving, Joe Hatch is the new, left-wing, radical whipping boy, according to a prescient observer. Hatch also was teased for his disheveled attire, including his two-haircuts-a-year habit. Barbers are happy, the roaster continued, since their scissors get a free grease job".... In the comment section of this Dean Barnett post about Mitt Romney, commenter Scarlet Pimpernel says: "I will not hold Romney's Mormonism against him. I am evangelical and southern. I dislike the impression that we are stubborn to the point of shooting ourselves in the foot over something like this. I can understand the notion but I can't picture, when it gets right down to THE VOTE, evangelicals sitting it out or pulling the lever for any stinkin' Dem. As for me, I want to encourage my fellow evangelicals to remember we are spiritually descended from Abraham. Abe was practical and wiley. He wouldn't refuse a smart deal unless it imperilled(?) his faith. I don't feel any threat to my faith coming from Mormons. Hot secular chicks, sure, but not Utah. The worst that I could see happening is that Mormons take over and force us all to start drinking Sprite" (Hat Tip: Article VI Blog) (see also here, here, here, and here).
Casual Friday
Outdoors Report
--Top skiers and resort owners receive recognition in the Morning News
-- Tribune reports on tracking animals at Jordanelle State Park
-- Morning News reports on the Canyons’ new program featuring early tracks with Olympians
-- Head to the wild Uinta Mountains in the Tribune’s Snowshoe Hike of the Week
-- Find out about upcoming events in the Morning News’ Outdoor Notes
-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook and Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week
-- Use the Morning News’ interactive map of Utah to plan your outdoor pursuits across the state
-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website
Weekend Events
New Films
-- Rocky Balboa: Tribune review
-- We Are Marshall: Rotten Tomatoes
-- Night at the Museum: Tribune review
Concerts
-- Jazz Solstice Concert, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Cathedral Church of Saint Mark, 231 E. 100 South, donations accepted
-- Utah Symphony: Debby Boone - Tribute to Rosemary Clooney, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., Abravanel Hall
-- Utah Symphony: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Concert, Saturday, 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Abravanel Hall
-- “A Ceremony of Carols,” Choir of the Cathedral of the Madeleine and The Madeleine Choir School, Friday, 12:15 p.m., Cathedral of the Madeleine, free, donations accepted
-- Christmas on Temple Square, through December 23, times and locations vary, free admission
-- “The Nutcracker” through December 23, 7:30 p.m.; also Saturdays, 2 p.m., SCERA Center
-- Ballet West’s “The Nutcracker” through December 30, Capitol Theatre
Theater
-- “A Christmas Carol” through December 22, Terrace Plaza Playhouse
-- “A Christmas Carol” through December 23, Hale Center Theater Orem
-- “A Christmas Carol” through December 23, Rodgers Memorial Theatre
-- “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” through December 23, Center Street Musical Theatre
-- “It’s A Wonderful Life” through December 23, Odyssey Dance Company
-- “You Can’t Take It With You” through December 23, Pioneer Theatre Company
-- “Forever Scrooge” through December 29, The Off-Broadway Theatre
-- “The Santaland Diaries” through December 30, Tooth & Nail Theatre Company
-- “Savior of the World” through December 30, LDS Conference Center
-- “Spirit of the Holidays” through December 30, Desert Star Dinner Theatre
-- “White Christmas” through December 30, Egyptian Theatre Company
-- “Jack Frosty: He'Snowman to Mess With” through January 6, Desert Star Cabaret
Museum Exhibits
-- Five Outer Planets Exhibition through December 27, Unseen Shores: The Post-Vietnam Era from the U.S. Navy Art Collection through January 13, Peace Garden Exhibition through January 27, Salt Lake Art Center
-- Painters of the Wasatch Mountains Exhibition through January 28, Museum of Utah Art and History
-- Sideshow Exhibition through January 28, Utah Museum of Fine Art |
