Global Economic ABCs
Utah economist Jeff Thredgold’s Tea Leaf economic update this week highlights global economic conditions, A through Z. Some highlights:
A-Anxiety--found in big doses around the globe, tied primarily to subprime mortgage securities bought by global investors and the still erratic performance of global financial markets.
B-BRIC Nations--you will hear more and more about these four growth nations of Brazil, Russia, India, and China...now conveniently packaged under one descriptor.
C-China--powerful economic growth continues, with leaders still trying to slow the economy down. China could challenge Japan's position as "number one" in the Pacific Rim within a decade.
Workers Comp Rates Low
This week's issue of Economic Review, EDCUtah's e-newsletter, says Utah has the third lowest workers compensation rates in the U.S., only behind Arizona and Indiana. The workers comp rates are a key ingredient in attracting businesses to the state. What's more, the Workers Compensation Fund, Utah's carrier of last resort for workers compensation insurance, is paying a dividend of $41 million to its policy holders this year. Since 1992 the WCF has paid $291 million in dividends to its policy holders.
Utahns Generous to Charity
Did you know Utahns with incomes over $200,000 were the fifth most generous in the nation in 2005? The Zions Bank Business Resource Center newsletter reports that Wyoming residents with incomes of $200,000 or more per year gave the most to charity in 2005, followed by residents of Oklahoma, South Dakota, Arkansas and Utah. This is the giving season and the Business Resource Center newsletter provides tips on how Utah's small businesses can give back to their communities through charitable contributions.
2007 Hinckley Achievements
This year the Hinckley Institute provided 216 interns with more than $197,000 in internship scholarships, $55,000 in academic scholarships, and brought 68 Hinckley Forums to the University of Utah and surrounding community. The Hinckley Institute’s 2007 Hinckley Fellows Kay King and Congressman Lee Hamilton briefed students on foreign policy matters, including the Iraq War, Iran, and the Middle East. Hamilton gave an informative Hinckley Forum address on The Future of American Foreign Policy (audio here) and an inspiring Dialogue on Democracy keynote address (audio and video available here, text of speech here).
Washington Watch
Hatch, Cannon Mourn Hyde
In separate press releases, Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rep. Chris Cannon pay tribute to Illinois Rep. Henry Hyde, who died Thursday of complications from heart surgery.
George H. W. Bush and the Mormons
Bush admired the Church and once wrote to Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley: “The fact that your church has an active mission program around the world is a wonderful thing. Not only does the program project commitment by the individual missionaries, but it also shows the church’s concern for this wonderful but troubled world in which we live.” (From Mike Winder’s Presidents and Prophets: The Story of America’s Presidents and the LDS Church)
Today in Political History
Nov. 30, 1782: Britain signs agreement recognizing U.S. independence.
Nov. 30, 1874: Winston Churchill is born. (Source: Perspicuity)
Wise Words
“A politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn't happen.”
–Winston Churchill (Source: Brainy Quote)
Utah Political Trivia
Q: Which Utah congressman represents the largest geographic area and the most counties?
A: Rep. Jim Matheson, in Utah’s 2nd District, represents all or parts of 16 counties, and has by far the largest geographic area. Rep. Rob Bishop, in the 1st Congressional District, is second with all or part of 10 counties. Rep. Chris Cannon, in the 3rd District, represents all or part of 7 counties.
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- The Politico: "After seven debates in which the Republicans mostly took shots at Hillary Rodham Clinton and the Democrats, the presidential hopefuls who gathered [in Florida] Wednesday finally trained their fire on one another."
-- Wall Street Journal: "The Republican presidential race is becoming even more unstable, as a surging Mike Huckabee has caught up in Iowa with Mitt Romney, long seen as the front-runner in the first-in-the-nation caucuses."
-- USA Today: "Bill Clinton's assertion Monday that he'd opposed the Iraq war 'from the beginning' triggered outbursts across the political spectrum. From the left, the right and the media establishment, the judgment was the former president had committed a gaffe that could hurt his wife's presidential bid."
-- Weekly Standard: Columnist Fred Barnes: "President Bush says the presidency is still 'a joyous experience' for him. 'People ask if I would do it again. I would.' And one reason for his upbeat mood in talking to a dozen journalists Wednesday is progress in Iraq...."
Blog Watch
-- At Salt Blog, Ted McDonough notes: "Ogden's election brouhaha has caught the attention of a national voting rights researcher. In his blog, Scott Novakowski, a researcher for the democracy promoting organization Demos, points to Ogden's confusing November mayor election as further evidence that the country's voting system remains broken, particularly when it comes to use of provisional ballots."
Lighter Side
Q: What is a recent economics graduate’s most common question in his first job?
A: Would you like fries with that burger? (The Economist’s Joke Book by Jeff Thredgold)
Casual Friday
Fishing Report
It is time to break out the ice fishing gear, as more and more of our trout waters freeze up. Huntington Reservoir was one of the first to go and it is offering good hard-water fishing for tiger trout. Other similar small, high elevation reservoirs may also have safe ice.
Scofield is usually our first major water to freeze. It now has thin ice near the dam, and people have been out on it, but open water in other areas. Ice should firm up quickly near the dam and we expect safe conditions in that area this weekend. Use caution and test carefully before committing yourself.
Strawberry is developing ice along shorelines, but probably won't offer safe ice fishing for a couple more weeks. Open-water fishing is still good but it is getting difficult to get to the water. Here’s a Deseret Morning News report on ice fishing conditions.
There will be a free ice fishing clinic Tuesday, Dec 11, 7-9 pm at Sportsman's Warehouse in Riverdale. All areas of ice fishing will be covered. Also, redrockadventure.com has good ice fishing articles and photos. Flaming Gorge, Bear Lake and our brown trout streams are still good choices if you don't want to ice fish.
Outdoors Report
-- Resort facelifts in the Morning News
-- Tribune looks to the future of the Jordan River parkway
-- Morning News takes a peek at ice fishing conditions
-- Discover Mesa Arch in the Tribune’s 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
-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website
New Films
-- Enchanted: Tribune review
-- No Country for Old Men: Tribune review
Concerts
-- Michael Lucarelli & Friends, acoustic music, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Vieve Gore Concert Hall, Westminster College, $10
-- Panoramic Steel, percussion, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Madsen Recital Hall, BYU, Provo, $10
-- BYU International Folk Dancers, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Marriott Center, BYU, Provo, $12-$25
-- “Children's Nutcracker Ballet,” Utah Artists, Junior Ballet Company, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; also Saturday, 2 p.m., Juan Diego Catholic High School, Draper, $8
-- “Christmas Around the World,” Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, 2 p.m., Marriott Center, BYU, Provo, $12-$25
-- University of Utah Lyric Opera, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall
-- BYU Chamber Orchestra, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., de Jong Concert Hall, BYU, Provo
-- KUTV Holiday Pops Concert, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Cottonwood High School, 5715 S. 1300 East, $12
-- “Messiah” Sing-In, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 111800 S. 300 East, free
-- “The Very Best Time of Year,” Sally Bytheway Chorale, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free
-- “Savior of the World,” through December 19, Conference Center
-- “Christmas on Temple Square,” through December 23
-- “Christmas at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building,” through December 23
-- Organ Recitals, every Saturday, noon, and every Sunday, 2 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall
Theater
-- “Return to Christmas” through December 1, SCERA Center
-- “Billion Dollar Baby” through December 2, Salt Lake Acting Company
-- “Blithe Spirit” through December 8, Pinnacle Acting Company
-- “1940’s Radio Hour” through December 22, Rodgers Memorial Theatre
-- “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” through December 22, Valley Center Playhouse
-- “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” through December 22, Academy of Performing Arts
-- “Santa’s Elves, A North Pole Musical” through December 22, Pickleville Playhouse
-- “Scrooge, A Christmas Carol” through December 22, Terrace Plaza Playhouse
-- “Christmas Carol 2” through December 29, The Off Broadway Theatre
-- “Gutenberg! The Musical!” through December 30, Plan-B Theatre Company
Museum Exhibits
-- The Bear River Exhibition through December 30, Utah Museum of Natural History
-- Picturing the West: 19th Century Landscape Photography Exhibition through December 30, Andy Warhol’s Dream America Exhibition through January 6, Cinderella: Masks, Magic, and Mirrors Exhibition through March 31, Utah Museum of Fine Arts
-- SF Recycled and Masters of West Coast Assemblage and Collage Exhibitions through January 26, David Kimball Anderson: To Morris Graves Exhibition through February 2, Salt Lake Art Center
-- Minerva Teichert: Pageants in Paint Exhibition, through May 26, Brigham Young University Museum of Art
Et Cetera
-- Park City Gallery Stroll, Friday, 6 – 9 p.m.
-- Festival of Trees, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., South Towne Expo Center
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