WATERLOGGED The states of Nevada and Utah are leading the nation in two undesirable categories, sprawl and water usage. In Utah’s case, population growth is the primary culprit. More people and more houses use more of everything, including water. Lots of water. As the second driest state, Utah is the second largest consumer of water per person in the nation (295 gallons p … [Read more...]
Great Salt Lake Flirts with Record Low Level
It’s the worst of times. It’s the best of times. We are suffering a severe drought, we are suffering from torrential rains. While this weird weather is somewhat common in Utah, really weird weather especially causes one man terrible grief. But the nonchalant harbormaster for Great Salt Lake, Dave Shearer, doesn’t seem to sweat it too much. Ninety days ago, Shearer was warni … [Read more...]
Salt Lake City’s Architectural Masterpieces
Historically Mormons have dominated both the religious and political scenes in Utah and Salt Lake City. It’s always interesting to see how the main-stream media and outsiders view Salt Lake City. Most assume that the entire city is dominated by the LDS Church, a recent quote from the Huffington Post is a good example: “All things in Salt lake City are centered in Temple S … [Read more...]
Meet Photojournalist Richard Menzies
In 1971, photographer Richard Menzies, on assignment for the Salt Flat News (SFN), took what would become the iconic image of legendary New Zealand motorcycle racer Bert Munro, on Bonneville Salt Flats. With no other photographer around, Menzies sensed there was something extraordinary about Munro. It would be more than 30 years before the rest of the world would take notice … [Read more...]
Upgrade Your Lawnmower and Be Part of the Solution
Summer months are a bad time for Wasatch Front air pollution. Ozone (PM 2.5) is the major culprit. Ozone is the invisible pollutant, a by-product of exhausts from smokestacks, cars and small engines like lawnmowers reacting to the sunlight. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says one gas-powered lawn mower releases as many pollutants as eight new cars driving 55 miles … [Read more...]
Meet Moab’s 92-Year-Old Trail Runner
The Mill Creek Trail on the south side of Moab is a popular hike for tourists and locals alike. Longtime Moab local, 92-year-old Jean McDowell, has regularly hiked this trail for the past 30 years. Just above the trail, McDowell lives in a house with a façade of river rocks the size of cinder blocks. There are no river rocks this size anywhere near Moab. When Jean built her h … [Read more...]
Rescued Horses In Utah Need Your Help
Noble Horse Sanctuary’s Catherine Kirby is very down to earth and friendly, so much so that her title of executive director seems pretentious. Kirby and one employee, Tracey Bagley, take care of 10 horses at the sanctuary currently with the help of 14 volunteers. Though Bagley is a paid employee Kirby does not collect a salary. She estimated that she works 55 hours a week and t … [Read more...]
Legislative bill encourages the purchase of electric cars
On Wednesday, the House Revenue and Taxation Committee unanimously (13-0) moved closer to creating a new $2,500 tax credit (HB47), which would encourage the purchase of electric cars. Meanwhile the Senate Transportation Committee approved SB139 (2-1), which would triple the registration fee for those electric cars, as well as hybrid and natural gas vehicles. The SB139 … [Read more...]
Pinhole Cameras: A Utahn’s Unique Perspective
In the time it takes photographer Matthew Allred to capture a single image with his pinhole camera, more than 1.8 billion digital images are uploaded to Facebook. Allred’s work is as non-digital as it could be. Allred, a Salt Lake City artist, has used sections of PVC pipe to build cameras and at present is building tiny pinhole cameras out of old 35mm film canisters. He l … [Read more...]
The Rose Establishment
When Erica O’Brien opened The Rose Establishment in 2010 she deliberately chose not to provide free internet with her coffees and teas. “We wanted to create a social atmosphere to encourage interaction and be more disconnected from the electronic world.” This retro idea resides within a former meat packinghouse that was painstakingly restored by O’Brien and her father. Even be … [Read more...]