Vacation Next Week
Note to readers: UPD will not publish on Monday, New Year’s Day. Most members of the Webb clan who produce UPD will be on vacation next week. My brother, Dave Webb, will put together UPD in our absence, Jan. 2-8. It will not contain all the usual features. Dave’s e-mail address is dave1webb@msn.com if anyone needs to send him calendar items or other things. I may have some access to e-mail at lwebb@exoro.com. Happy New Year to everyone!
Wise Words
“Do the Hokey Pokey once a week, just in case that’s really what it’s all about.”
—Scott Friedman (Source: Jeff Thredgold’s Tea Leaf)
2007 Tax Summary
The Utah Taxpayers Association has posted a 2007 Utah tax easy reference guide that "summarizes major Utah state and local taxes and is updated to include FY2005 actual revenues and FY2006 estimated revenues."
Blog Watch
Paul Rolly says: "Last year, the Republican majority in the Utah State Senate launched a Web site with the aspiration of encouraging dialogue and publicizing the positions of the majority to explain what would happen in the Legislature and why. They were careful to explain it was not a formal Senate Web site, but the 'unofficial voice of the Senate Majority.' In case someone is not sure, that would be the Republicans. When Republican leaders launched the site, though, they probably didn't realize the potential quick sand they were creating for themselves. Case in point: The Senate site recently posted an opinion piece ... commenting on the proposal, generated from the House, that sales tax on food be completely eliminated. The piece was titled: 'Ain't Gonna Happen.' It went on to say the best taxing policy is to keep taxes low in all areas of taxation rather than having extremes with some areas not taxed and others taxed higher to make up the difference. 'The senate approved reducing the tax on food (to take effect next year) because that will lower the rate while it keeps the base constant,' it said. 'As a group, we're not okay with doing away with it altogether. That would be shrinking the base, making our revenue stream incrementally more volatile.' That, apparently, was seen by House leadership as a shot across the bow. The Senate Republican staff was then notified by the House Republican staff that this means war. It was considered a slap in the face to the House, which, traditionally is a challenge to a duel. Stay tuned. The upcoming legislative session could be fun to watch" (see also here).... At Out of Context, Heather May reports: "When Rocky Anderson said this week he couldn't distinguish Sandy from any other suburb in the nation, he wasn't kidding. The Salt Lake City mayor, who had just hired Sandy's top planner to lead the capital's planning division, noted that the suburb was trying. 'There have been some good things happen in Sandy. They scored the E Center.' Oops. That was West Valley City that snagged the hockey arena away from Salt Lake City just in time for the 2002 Winter Olympics. When corrected, Anderson laughed and replied, 'Good one.' Anderson pointedly didn't name the venue Sandy did steal from Salt Lake City: Real Salt Lake's proposed Major League Soccer stadium."
Casual Friday
The big event of New Year’s Eve is First Night Salt Lake, Sunday, 6 p.m. – midnight, Gallivan Center
Outdoors Report
-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website. Panguitch Lake is a hot ice fishing spot.
-- Tribune on Salt Lake City’s dog friendly parks
-- Utah’s resorts cook up something for the adventurous in the Tribune
-- Explore Fisher Towers Trail in the Tribune’s Hike of the Week
-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook and Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week
New Films
-- Dreamgirls: Tribune review
Concerts
-- First Night on Temple Square, Saturday, 6 – 10 p.m.
-- Ballet West’s “The Nutcracker” through December 30, Capitol Theatre
-- First Night Salt Lake, Sunday, 6 p.m. – midnight, Gallivan Center
Theater
-- “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
-- 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 through January 28, Utah Museum of Fine Art
Et Cetera
-- Discovery Gateway Kwanzaa Celebration, Friday
-- Park City Gallery Stroll, Friday, 6 – 9 p.m.
-- First Night Salt Lake, Sunday, 6 p.m. – midnight, Gallivan Center
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