Avatar. Man of Steel. The Avengers. Jarom Sidwell worked on digital visuals for each of those blockbusters and others. But he was far – far – from the only biggie to speak at the Silicon Slopes Summit 2018, “the largest tech event in Utah history,” SS Executive Director Clint Betts said, in Salt Lake City. There was also Stewart Butterfield, Steve Young and Mitt Romney. … [Read more...]
Post-Mormons—There Are Place to Find Your People. Here are Some of Them.
There are actually a handful of hubs where folks damaged through leaving the church can meet and find association and community. Those I have visited have been better than others I’ve attended. (None have been bad.) The Good PostMos: Deep in Utah County, at least, Steve and Chris Holbrook have managed to carve out a quite-successful organization, with lunches during the week a … [Read more...]
At Salt Lake Tech Summit, Feminism Leads Themes
Attendees tripled over the prior year at Silicon Slopes Tech Summit 2018. It wouldn’t be surprising to learn that feminist talk did, too. “We don’t have enough women in IT … we need more women in senior leadership positions,” said Carine Clark, Banyan CEO. “And I need the women to step up.” The summit was comprised of guest speaker-discussions and one completely had to … [Read more...]
Meet Shireen Ghorbani, the Half-Iranian Utah Transplant Running for Congress
Shireen Ghorbani's parents were separated during the Iran U.S. embassy crisis made famous in the film “Argo”, and so she ended up being raised by a single mother. She has two masters degrees and works for the University of Utah and has her own family. Ghorbani is now running for Congress, I have learned, to represent Utah’s 2nd congressional district. Check out why she belie … [Read more...]
LDS Church Has No Plans to Weigh In On Charitable Deductions Tax Reform
Dallin Oaks, an apostle for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, testified in a Senate committee in 2011, saying that any change to the United States tax code should not lessen or eliminate the deduction for charitable giving. "We are grateful for charitable deductions, which encourage donations to churches and other charities," Oaks said. "The effect of this tax … [Read more...]
‘Ethics’ and ‘Racist Undercurrent’ Issues Mark 2017 Campaign Season in Utah
Ironies and shocking comments among aspirers for U.S. congress and a city council seat figured into the latest campaign cycle this year in Utah. John Curtis and Steve Smith also were not transparent and dishonest, respectively. John Curtis and ‘Ethics Awareness Week’ The email said that Curtis would give a keynote address titled “cultivating positive dialogue in public d … [Read more...]
A Kaysville Videographer Mobilized His Fellow Locals to Get a Feature Film Onto the Big Screen
What now has an original soundtrack started as a Davis County, Utah-based man thinking that he could convince his fellow citizens to volunteer to make a movie that would qualify for theaters. Lucas McGraw spoke with me after he had pulled an all-nighter a few days earlier to prepare the film for a critics’ showing. “I got it exported and went to bed – and then I got sick ove … [Read more...]
Over Seven Days at Disney World, Rep. Mia Love Used a lot of Campaign Funds
Records from an independent regulatory agency that enforces campaign finance law show that Rep. Mia Love tapped her campaign account over seven days in Disney World from early March to early April. Among the $9,727 she spent was $1,655 for lodging and $4,780 for food and beverage, according to Federal Election Commission records. (See the chart below.) Love was at the … [Read more...]
‘We Will See The Status Quo Challenged’ and Utah Millennials Want In
The Utah state legislature has zero millennials. Don Willie has some feelings about that. “We need the perspective and experiences of younger leaders now,” he wrote. “We will see the status quo challenged.” “We believe that diversity in government has the potential to bring about meaningful public policy,” he added. Willie may have the manpower and momentum to make it … [Read more...]
This Guy Went From Fired to Public Figure in Five Months—LinkedIn Advertising Advocate A.J. Wilcox
A.J. Wilcox was terminated by Domo. Five months later, the Utahn was at an after-party with an idol and making significantly more money than ever before. Now, 40 percent of his work involves public visibility, with perhaps a full one-third of that in the super-sexy spaces of public speaking, advocacy and podcasts. Over the past two years, he was a speaker at at least 15 … [Read more...]