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Thursday, April 30, 2009

Plans for tonight: Hop to it

- Spy Hop Productions holds its annual fund-raiser, from 6 to 9:30 at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City. Performances by Spy Hop recording artists, screenings of student films, food from local restaurants, a live auction and prize giveaway, and a guest appearance from Tony- and Emmy-winning actor Edward Herrmann (pictured) are part of the event. Admission is $60, or $40 for Spy Hop alumni (over 21), available by calling John Boyack at (801) 532-7500.

- California indie-rockers Crystal Antlers shares the bill with Seattle's Cave Singers, starting at 7 at Kilby Court, 741 S. Kilby Court (330 West), Salt Lake City. Tickets are $7, at 24Tix.

- Richard Buckner, an alt-country musician who's gone into abstract directions lately (and is still working on his web site), and opening act Andy Shelton play, starting at 8, at The State Room, 638 S. State St., Salt Lake City. Tickets are $18, at the venue's web site or at the door.

Labels: Tonight's schedule

Hitting close to home

It's been too easy to get a little flippant about the recent spate of stories about outbreaks of swine flu around the world.

We say to ourselves, "Oh, that's happening somewhere else." We assume the cable news channels are blowing the problem out of proportion, because that's what cable news channels do with every other trumped-up "crisis." We try to laugh it off and go on with our day.

But when we hear that it's happening near us, it's not funny any more.

Nobody is laughing in Park City, where (according to this report by the Tribune's Heather May, Lindsay Whitehurst and Christopher Smart) three students got sick with symptoms that resemble those of the swine flu.

One of the students got sick after returning from spring break in Mexico, according to a Park City school board member

The Park City School District is acting fast. All schools there have canceled classes at least until Tuesday. (Monday is a scheduled day off in the district.) All school-related activities are also canceled - including the prom at Park City High School.

Utah health officials won't know until Friday afternoon, at the earliest, whether the three cases are of the new H1N1 strain of flu. Samples have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

So far, according to this AP report, the strain of flu has been blamed for 168 deaths in Mexico and one in the United States. Cases have been confirmed in 11 states, as well as Switzerland, the Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Britain, Germany, Spain, Israel and Austria.

And, as happens with any serious news event, the flu outbreak has also caused a flare-up of Vice President Joe Biden's recurring foot-in-mouth disease. The vice president's office had to backtrack remarks Biden made on NBC's "Today" that he was advising his family to stay off commercial airplanes and subways.

The main weapon against a flu outbreak is information. Here's the CDC's information page about the swine flu outbreak, and here is a handy FAQ sheet that includes this common-sense bit of advice: "First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick."

Archuleta meets Hannah

Poor David Archuleta - so many 'tweener sitcoms, and only one of him to go around.

Last October, the Utah-raised "American Idol" also-ran made his acting debut on Nickelodeon's "iCarly," playing Willy Loman in "Death of a Salesman" - no, really, playing a singing-competition contestant named David Archuleta. (What range!)

This Sunday, the 800-pound gorilla of sitcoms for the under-12 demographic, the Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana," snags Archuleta for a guest appearance. According to CinemaBlend, Archuleta (playing himself) offers Hannah (Miley Cyrus) a chance to record a duet - but it's on the same night as the prom, and Miley has promised to go out with her school's resident dork. (Oh, what will she do?)

Sunday's episode is timed, reports HollyScoop, with the debut, Saturday night on Radio Disney stations, of the new single "I Wanna Know You," a duet between Archuleta and Miley Cyrus.

Here's a preview of the song, and the episode:

Labels: David Archuleta, television

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Plans for tonight: Front lines

- The Salt Lake City Film Center closes out its "Women at War" series with the documentary "To See If I'm Smiling," which follows six female Israeli soldiers stationed in Gaza and the West Bank, at 7 at the Sorenson Unity Center, 1383 S. 900 West, Salt Lake City. Free.

- Dan Deacon & Ensemble plays its brand of electronic music - sharing the bill with fellow Baltimore acts Double Dagger and Teeth Mountain - at 7 at Kilby Court, 741 S. Kilby Court (330 West), Salt Lake City. Tickets are $10, at 24Tix.

Labels: Tonight's schedule

No 'threepeat' for Hough

Partnering with her real-life boyfriend, country singer Chuck Wicks, wasn't enough to keep two-time "Dancing With the Stars" co-champ (and Utah native) Julianne Hough in the competition.

Wicks and Hough were booted from the reality-show competition Tuesday night.

Two other Utah dancers - Julianne's brother Derek (partnered with rapper Lil Kim) and Chelsie Hightower (partnered with rodeo champ Ty Murray) - are among the final five pairings still in the competition.

Labels: Chelsie Hightower, Derek Hough, Julianne Hough

Subliminal product placement

Explain this one to the LDS Church leadership: An ad for Popov brand vodka managed to get itself on the front page of Monday's Deseret News.

In a photo accompanying Amy Joi O'Donoghue's story about biologists repopulating grouse to Antelope Island, a photo shows Utah state wildlife biologist Jolene Hatch releasing two of the birds from a cardboard box. The box, at one point in its life, carried the aforementioned brand of vodka.

Score one for pervasive marketing.

Labels: alcohol, Deseret News, LDS

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

An 'Up'-and-down day

On Monday morning, a promotion team for the new Disney/Pixar movie "Up" was in Salt Lake City, with an armchair rigged with helium balloons - and local media types were invited to take a ride.

The Tribune sent humor columnist Robert Kirby to give it a try. Alas, things didn't go so well. And when things don't go well for Kirby, the good news is that the rest of us get a good laugh.

Here's Kirby's column, and here's the video:

(Photo and video: Francisco Kjolseth/The Salt Lake Tribune)

Labels: marketing, Robert Kirby

An 'Up

Plans for tonight: How we got in this jam

- A screening of documentarian Michael Kirk's latest product for PBS' "Frontline," an examination of the current financial crisis "Inside the Meltdown," screens at 7 at the City Library auditorium, 210 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City. Free.

- The Ryan Montbleau Band will jam - which is what they do - at 8 at The State Room, 638 S. State St., Salt Lake City. Tickets are $15, at the State Room web site or at the door.

Labels: Tonight's schedule

"Fleeting expletives" indeed

At the risk of riling up the FCC even more, what the %&$@ ?

The U.S. Supreme Court was given the chance to rule on the constitutionality of the FCC's authority to regulate profanity on the airwaves - a power that's constitutionally suspect - and instead (as reported here by the Associated Press), the high court punted.

On a 5-4 ruling, the court threw out a ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York - which found in favor of a Fox Television-led challenge to the FCC policy of "fleeting expletives," the idea that one use of the F-bomb or the S-word was enough to get you fined, no matter what the usage.

The appeals court threw the case back to the FCC for a "reasoned analysis" of its tougher line on indecency. Instead, the FCC threw it to the Supreme Court - which promptly threw it back to the appelate level to decide on constitutional grounds.

Even Justice Clarence Thomas argued that past decisions in favor of the FCC policy "were unconvincing when they were issued, and the passage of time has only increased doubt regarding their continued validity." Still, he voted with the majority.

Justice John Paul Stevens, writing one of the dissenting opinions, argued that context is key - and something missing from the FCC's draconian policy.

"As any golfer who has watched his partner shank a short approach knows," said Stevens, an avid golfer, "it would be absurd to accept the suggestion that the resultant four-letter word uttered on the golf course describes sex or excrement."

The problem is that the FCC's policy is arbitrary, and unfairly enforced - and who knows how long it will be before the Supreme Court gets another chance to clean up the bleeping mess.

Labels: government, politics

Monday, April 27, 2009

Plans for tonight: Hot planet, cool jazz

- The John Scofield Quartet plays the final concert in this season's JazzSLC series, at 7:30 at the Sheraton, 150 W. 500 South, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $25, available at 24Tix.

- NASA climate scientist James Hansen - who battled censorship of his research on global climate change from Bush administration appointees - will deliver a lecture about taking action to solve global environmental problems, at 7:30 at the Social and Behavioral Science Auditorium (just south of the Marriott Library) on the University of Utah campus, Salt Lake City. Free.

Labels: Tonight's schedule

So old it's hip again

As I was leaving the opening-day press conference of this year's Sundance Film Festival, some smiling person handed me a flimsy yellow totebag with a sample of instant cappuccino mix.

Since being given free stuff isn't anything new at Sundance, I folded the tote and stuffed into the messenger bag I was already carrying and went on my way.

Little did I know that the little yellow totebag - with the logo "I (heart) Cafe Bustelo" - was part of a carefully orchestrated marketing campaign, aimed at revitalizing an 81-year-old coffee brand.

As The New York Times reported this weekend, the Miami-based makers of Cafe Bustelo have been laboring for the past few years to make the brand - a blue-collar label familiar in Latino markets - hip and trendy.

The "I (heart) Cafe Bustelo" logo was visible at the recent Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, and samples have been giveaway items at events tied to the Oscars and the MTV Video Music Awards.

Labels: marketing, Sundance

Friday, April 24, 2009

Plans for the weekend: Music and sports

- Singer-songwriter Kate Voegele (pictured at right), who appeared as a musician on the CW's bizarre drama "One Tree Hill," will play tonight at In the Venue, 579 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. Doors open at 6. Tickets are $15, at SmithsTix or 24Tix. (Voegele is also giving a free live performance, being taped by her record label, tonight at 6 at the Graywhale, 390 N. 500 West, Bountiful.)

- The Utah Symphony finishes conductor Keith Lockhart's 10-year Mahler project with a performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 9, tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m. at Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Tickets, from $16 to $51, available at ArtTix.

- WiseGuys comedy club opens its new location in Trolley Square - within the new restaurant Poundcakes, at the site of the former Hard Rock Cafe, on 500 South between 600 and 700 East, Salt Lake City - with shows by Marcus (the "Last Comic Standing" runner-up) tonight and Saturday, at 8 and 10 p.m. Tickets are $15, at SmithsTix.

- New York alt-rock band Making April plays (in April - what are the odds?) Saturday at the Avalon, 3605 S. State St., Salt Lake City. Opening acts are The Record Life and Jimmy Robbins. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10, at SmithsTix or at the door.

- The Utah Jazz try to even up the score against the Los Angeles Lakers, Saturday at 7 p.m., at EnergySolutions Arena, 301 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Tickets available at TicketMaster.

- Real Salt Lake faces the New England Revolution, Saturday at 7 p.m. at Rio Tinto Stadium, 9256 S. State St., Sandy. Tickets available at the Real web site.

- Rocker Chris Cornell, (pictured at left), the Soundgarden and Audioslave lead singer whose latest album "Scream" found him collaborating with hip-hop producer Timbaland, performs Saturday at 8 p.m. at The Depot at 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $35, at SmithsTix.

- Heavy-metal champions Queensryche returns to one of their favorite haunts, The Depo t at 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City, Sunday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35, at SmithsTix.

Labels: Marcus, Real Salt Lake, Utah Jazz, weekend schedule

Eat from your seat

Unlike other sports, soccer doesn't provide enough breaks to let people go to the concession stand.

At a baseball game, there are breaks every half-inning. In football and basketball, you can go between quarters - or, frankly, during the game - without missing much.

But at a soccer match, when there may be only a single goal scored during an entire game, there's always the chance that goal will happen while you're in line ordering nachos.

A service debuting Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium, during Real Salt Lake's match against the New England Revolution, aims to answer that conundrum.

RSLExpress will allow fans to order food via text message - and have it delivered to their seats in the stadium. (You have to create an account online first, so the service can bill your credit card.)

The company behind the service, Mangia, is based in Salt Lake City, and was founded in 2007 by two Brigham Young University grads, Nate Checketts and Blake Ferguson. (Yes, Nate's dad, Dave Checketts, owns Real Salt Lake.)

If they can solve the problem of having to leave to use the restroom, they'll become billionaires.

Labels: Real Salt Lake, Rio Tinto Stadium

A torturous argument

The things Sean Hannity will do for charity.

Two years ago, the conservative yakker came to Salt Lake City to debate Mayor Rocky Anderson about the Bush administration's record on the Iraq war - and Hannity said he wanted the box-office proceeds to go to charity.

This week, on his Fox News show "Hannity" (minus the "& Colmes"), Hannity was buttonholed by guest Charles Grodin about the ethics and effectiveness of torture. Here's the transcript:

GRODIN: You're for torture.

HANNITY: I am for enhanced interrogation. I don't believe waterboarding is torture.

GRODIN: You don't believe it's torture. Have you ever been waterboarded?

HANNITY: No, but Ollie North has, and I've talked to him about it.

GRODIN: Would you consent to be waterboarded so we can get the truth out of you? We can waterboard you?

HANNITY: Sure.

GRODIN: Are you busy on Sunday?

HANNITY: I'll do it for charity. I'll let you do it. I'll do it for the troops' families.

No word yet on whether Hannity is following through on his boast to Grodin.

But over at MSNBC, Keith Olbermann upped the ante - offering $1,000 to charity for every second Hannity endures a session of waterboarding. "A thousand dollars a second, Sean, because this is no game. This is serious stuff," Olbermann said on his show "Countdown" Thursday night. "Put your money where your mouth is, and your nose. Oh, and I'll double it when you admit you feared for your life, when you admit the horrible truth - waterboarding, the symbol of the last administration, is torture."

Not everyone on the progressive side of the argument enjoyed Olbermann's little challenge. Jonathan Leigh Solomon, writing on The Huffington Post, argued that Olbermann and his guest pundit, Lawrence O'Donnell, were trivializing the torture debate - something they accuse Hannity of doing - "by riffing on wrongheaded semi-comedic premises they thought of in the green room." Wendy Davis, on her blog for Talking Points Memo, said Olbermann should "stop playing cutesy with Fox News pundits; you degrade yourself, as well as the issue."

If you want to take the torture debate seriously, Rocky Anderson - who's now running the group High Road for Human Rights - has something for you to do: Sign a petition to protest the idea that those who engaged in and approved torture should get immunity from prosecution.

Or maybe Hannity could come back to Utah and debate Rocky a second time - though maybe that's a torture he doesn't want to suffer again.

Labels: Rocky Anderson, Sean Hannity, television

Thursday, April 23, 2009

One of Milk's men

Cleve Jones - one of the founders of the NAMES Project that memorialized AIDS victims through quilts, and one of Harvey Milk's proteges - will be grand marshal of the Utah Pride Parade, set for June 7 in downtown Salt Lake City, the Tribune's Rosemary Winters reported today.

Jones marched alongside Milk, the San Francisco City Supervisor whose life was depicted in last year's Oscar-winning film "Milk," in marches and rallies - and campaigned to help make Milk the first openly gay man elected to major office in the United States. (In the movie, Jones was played by Emile Hirsch.)

The parade is the capper to a weekend of events, including the two-day Utah Pride Festival (which features comedian Paula Poundstone on Saturday night, June 6).

Plans for tonight: Backs to the wall

- The Organ Loft plays the 1917 anti-LDS silent drama "The Mormon Maid," starting at 7:30 at The Organ Loft, 3331 S. Edison (half a block east of State Street), South Salt Lake City. Admission is $5, at the door - call 801-485-9265 for reservations.

- The Utah Jazz try to dig out of their 0-2 hole against the Los Angeles Lakers, in the first of two home playoff games, starting at 8:30 at EnergySolutions Arena, 301 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Plenty of tickets are available at TicketMaster - which, as the Tribune's Michael C. Lewis points out, is an indication of how uphill the Jazz's task will be.

- Portland indie rockers The Thermals play The Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City. Opening acts are Shaky Hands and Point Juncture, WA. Show starts at 9. Tickets are @12, at 24Tix.

Labels: Tonight's schedule, Utah Jazz

Strange bedfellows

Something is weird with the universe when Dr. Laura and Salt Lake City's X96 are on the same side on an issue.

But the conservative moralist praised the home of "Radio From Hell" on her blog, for the station's move to pull ads for an online dating service that caters to people looking for an extramarital affair.

Here's Dr. Laura's take, from her blog:

I don’t see morality, ethics, or character in too many places in our society these days, so when I do, it’s time for rejoicing and handing out kudos. So, kudos go out to G. Craig Hanson, the president of Simmons Media Group, which owns KXRK-FM radio in Salt Lake City, who dumped a morally repulsive and exploitative commercial off his station.

As Tribune readers may recall, Hanson pulled the ads for the Ashley Madison Agency after he heard them on "Radio From Hell" on April 6 - and said they shouldn't have aired in the first place.

Hansen told the Tribune (OK, it was me) that he heard the ads and acted on his own to pull them. This morning on the air, "Radio From Hell" hosts Kerry Jackson, Bill Allred and Gina Barberi said they heard the ads that morning, too, and told their bosses that the ads were below the station's standards.

Labels: internet

We're No. 19!

How does Salt Lake City fare among other cities as an arts destination? Not too bad, but not too great, either.

The readers of American Style magazine voted their favorites, and Salt Lake City placed 19th among mid-sized cities. The top three on the mid-sized list are: Buffalo; Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Pittsburgh.

For big cities, the top three are New York, Chicago and Washington. For small cities, the top three are: Santa Fe, N.M.; Asheville, N.C.; and Sedona, Ariz.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Plans for tonight: Earth Day party

- EarthFest - a free Earth Day concert featuring Michael Franti & Spearhead, Carolina Liar and SafetySuit - starts at 6 at the Gallivan Center, 239 S. Main St., Salt Lake City. Free.

- Three different Earth Day documentary screenings - each of them starting at 7:

"Earth Days," about the pioneers of the environmental movement, at the Tower Theatre, 876 E. 900 South, Salt Lake City. Free.
"Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Nuclear Power* (*But Were Afraid To Ask)" at Brewvies Cinema Pub, 667 S. 200 West, Salt Lake City. A $10 donation to HEAL Utah is requested.
"Who Killed the Electric Car?," an examination of how the first electric-powered car entered and left the U.S. market, at the I.J. and Jeanné Wagner Jewish Community Center, 2 North Medical Drive (across from University Hospital), Salt Lake City. Free.

- Self-described "flower punk" band Black Lips - with opening acts Flowers Forever and FURS - plays, starting at 9, at the Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $14, at 24Tix or at the door.

Labels: environment, Tonight's schedule

Bad book! Naughty book!

So now - nearly three years and untold number of copies since its initial release - Deseret Book finally noticed that Stephenie Meyer's vampire series Twilight might raise moral objections among the bookstore chain's devoted LDS audience.

Isn't that a bit like saying an apple is a bad apple only after you've squeezed out all the juice?

As the Tribune's Ben Fulton reported today, Deseret Book (which is owned by the business arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) is pulling Twilight and its three sequels off the chain's shelves. The books will still be available through special order for pick-up or mail delivery.

"Like any retailer, our purpose is to offer products that are embraced and expected by our customers. When we find products that are met with mixed review, we typically move them to special order status," read a statement by Deseret Book spokeswoman Leigh Dethman.

The books have been popular with many LDS readers, because Meyer (pictured) - who is a Mormon herself - keeps the sexual tension between human Bella and vampire Edward strictly chaste before marriage.

Labels: LDS, Twilight

Sen. "Shecky" Hatch

Orrin Hatch - United States senator, or stand-up comedian?

Utah's senior senator played both roles Tuesday, when he spoke at a luncheon sponsored by the Motion Picture Association of America, Hollywood's lobbying arm in Washington, D.C.

According to this account in The Hollywood Reporter, Hatch talked seriously about politics to the assembled audience - which included the heads of most of the major movie studios - about pushing legislation to fight "the pervasive problem of piracy" of intellectual property. Hatch also opined that President Barack Obama's budget and tax policies will hurt industry, including the movie business.

Then Hatch put on his metaphorical clown nose.

Looking at Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook, Hatch said, "Disney, you meet our standards. The rest of you bums, I'll tell you..."

He also recalled filming a 15-minute scene for Steven Soderbergh's movie "Traffic," which was cut to 11 seconds in the movie. "I'm really resentful of you people," Hatch said.

Here, according to The Hollywood Reporter, was Hatch's capper:

Hatch also earned laughs with a list of things he has learned from the movies. It included: Fleeing heroes can always find cover in a St. Patrick's Day parade any day and soldiers survive wars unless making the mistake of showing someone a picture of their sweetheart back home.

Thank you. You've been a great audience. Tip your waiters.

Labels: Barack Obama, movies, Orrin Hatch, politics

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Plans for tonight: Where will you rock out?

- Franz Ferdinand - the Scottish synth-rock band now pushing its third album, "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand" - performs at the Avalon, 3605 S. State St., South Salt Lake City. (This is a venue change, from Saltair.) Show starts at 7:30. Tickets are $25, at the door.

- Toadies, an alt-rock band that reunited last year after seven years apart, play The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15, at the door.

Labels: Tonight's schedule

An 'Electric' exhibit

It may be the most garish thing Robert Redford has ever worn - and now it's going to be immortalized.

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City has installed Redford's suit from "The Electric Horseman" - a purple suit with gold-lame eagles, flowers on the lapels, and rhinestones aplenty - in its Western Performers Gallery.

"This tells the story, visually and otherwise, of the rhinestone cowboy/urban cowboy craze ... of the 1970s and ’80s,” Don Reeves, curator of cowboy collections, told entertainment columnist Brandy McDonnell at The Oklahoman.

The museum bought the suit in 2005, for $9,000, McDonnell reports. The museum spent another $5,000 for a special mannequin and display case.

Labels: Robert Redford

A pageant of political landmines

Belated congrats to Laura Chukanov, the Bulgarian-born Miss Utah USA - who placed fourth in this weekend's Miss USA pageant in Las Vegas.

(Here's a profile of Chukanov, which was printed recently by the Trib's sassy sister publication, In Utah This Week, pictured at right.)

In the final round, when the judges asked political questions, Chukanov answered positively and assuredly to the idea of U.S. funding for elections in Afghanistan.

Of course, nobody remembers this because Chukanov was up just before Carrie Prejean, Miss California, made YouTube infamy with her condemnation of same-sex marriage in favor of "opposite marriage."

Prejean came in second, behind Miss North Carolina USA, Kristen Dalton - and Prejean has declared that her answer, and the negative response of judge Perez Hilton, cost her the crown. This has made Prejean a cause celebre among the right-wing blogosphere (here's an example), and more famous than if she had won with a noncommittal answer.

Labels: Miss Utah

Monday, April 20, 2009

Plans for tonight: It's 4:20 somewhere

- The Salt Lake City Film Center concludes its "War on Drug Policy" series with the documentary "American Drug War: The Last White Hope," at 7 at the City Library auditorium, 210 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City. Free. (And if you're wondering why this is a particularly appropriate day for this conversation, read this.)

- Three bands - Pretty & Nice, Atherton and Somber Party - play Kilby Court, 741 S. Kilby Court (330 West), Salt Lake City, starting at 7. Tickets are $10, at the door.

- Urban Lounge throws its 420 party, with hip-hop duo Zion I from Oakland and locals Scenic Byway, starting at 9 at the Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $15, at 24Tix or at the door.

Labels: Tonight's schedule

Kisses for Huntsman

Seems like Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman can't keep his name out of the papers these days.

New York Times columnist Frank Rich dropped Huntsman's name on Sunday, praising him for endorsing same-sex civil unions - and noting that such a stance has not hurt the governor's popularity in the reddest of red states.

Rich concludes that Huntsman's altogether agreeable stance, at odds with the loonier factions of his Republican Party, may eventually save the G.O.P. - and be good for the nation:

As marital equality haltingly but inexorably spreads state by state for gay Americans in the years to come, Utah will hardly be in the lead to follow Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont. But the fact that it too is taking its first steps down that road is extraordinary. It is justice, not a storm, that is gathering. Only those who have spread the poisons of bigotry and fear have any reason to be afraid.

Labels: Jon Huntsman

Friday, April 17, 2009

Plans for the weekend: Vinyl countdown

- The Salt Lake Gallery Stroll takes place tonight from 6 to 9, at various galleries in and around downtown Salt Lake City. (Here's the list of participating galleries.) Some highlights: Spy Hop Productions is showing off its HQ at 511 W. 200 South, with music by Jeremy Chatelain and Spy Hop Records recording artists Sam Burton & Orion Chacon-Hurst; the People With AIDS Coalition of Utah will have its thrift store, called Our Store, open at 358 E. 300 South; and Ken Sanders Rare Books, at 268 S. 200 East, will host the DVD release party of Trent Harris' "Delightful Water Universe," along with an exhibit of Harris' paintings and photographs.

- A benefit screening of Charlie Chaplin silent shorts takes place tonight at 7:30 at The Organ Loft, 3331 S. Edison St. (half a block east of State Street), South Salt Lake City. Proceeds go to the wife and six children of Daniel Spencer Howells, a teacher killed in a recent car accident. Admission is $5 at the door; call 801-485-9265 for reservations.

- Saturday is Independent Record Store Day, and 13 Utah retailers - the seven Graywhale stores, Groovacious in Cedar City, Sgt. Pepper's Music and Video in Moab, and Salt Lake City venues Slowtrain Records, Positively 4th Street Music, Randy's Record Shop and The Heavy Metal Shop - are taking part in the celebrations, with live local artists performing and special vinyl releases by major artists. Go here for a list of events.

- Canadian prog-metal band Protest the Hero - with supporting acts Avenged Sevenfold, Bad Religion and Chiodos - plays Saturday, starting at 6:30 p.m., at the Avalon, 3605 S. State St., Salt Lake City. Tickets are $12, at SmithsTix.

- The Salt City Derby Girls hold court again, with the Bomber Babes squaring off against the Death Dealers, Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Salt Palace, 100 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $10, at SmithsTix or at the door.

- A rap extravaganza - headlined by Tech N9ne, who shares the bill with MURS, Krizz Kaliko, Kutt Calhoun and Illuminati - Saturday at 8 p.m. at Saltair, 12408 W. Saltair Drive, Magna. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 on the day of show, at KTix.

Labels: weekend schedule

'The Prop. 8 Series'

Politics and sports usually shouldn't mix. In fact, sports is sometimes the one place where people with clashing political views can find common ground - whether you're a liberal or a conservative, we can all agree the Yankees suck.

(Feel free to replace "Yankees" with whatever group of overpaid thyroid cases you despise - Red Sox, Mets, Spurs, Manchester United, etc.)

However, a blogger for the L.A. Lakers fan site Lake Show Life has injected politics into the first round of the NBA playoffs, calling the upcoming series between the top-seeded Lakers and the 8th-seed Utah Jazz "The Prop. 8 Series.":

Not too long ago, it was Utah matched up against Los Angeles in another battle - California Proposition 8. Prop. 8, passed in last year’s general election, restricted marriage to heterosexual couples and eliminated homosexual couples' right to marry.

What the hell does this have to do with the Lakers-Jazz opening round NBA Playoffs series? Everything. In my opinion, the state of Utah was responsible for the passing of Prop. 8.

The blogger, who goes by "kareemadbuladam," notes that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (you know, the Mormons) and its members campaigned hard for Prop. 8 - and that 45 percent of the out-of-state donations to support Prop. 8 came from Utah.

The post goes on, accusing Salt Lake City of being "more close-minded than just about any other major city in the U.S.," and decrying late team owner Larry H. Miller's banning of "Brokeback Mountain" from his Megaplex theaters and what he perceives as discrimination in the Jazz organization's treatment of former player John Amaechi (before he came out of the closet).

"I am already a Lakers fan," continues kareemadbuladam, "but because of the bigotry of a lot of Utah I will be rooting twice as hard for my Lake Show to sweep, humiliate and obliterate the unjazzy Jazz."

Labels: Larry H. Miller, LDS, politics, Utah Jazz

"Something on the side"

It may be sad, but not surprising, that a dating web site catering to people already in relationships - and looking for someone with whom they can have an affair - has found a profitable niche in the marketplace.

But one Salt Lake City radio station wants no part of it.

As I reported in today's Tribune, KXRK-FM, a k a X96, pulled ads for The Ashley Madison Agency, after only a few hours. Craig Simmons, president of the Simmons Media Group (X96's owners), ordered the ads removed - and if he had heard them beforehand, he wouldn't have allowed them in the first place. (The ads also are running on The Blaze 97.5.)

The article prompted this e-mail from Bill Mitchell, a nationally-known private investigator based in South Carolina, who worked with "The Dr. Phil Show" on an episode about online infidelity. Here's Mitchell's take on The Ashley Madison Agency:

We set up a sting operation in Los Angeles to see just how their system worked. Within 45 minutes, our female "operative" had 200 men wanting to meet up with her. We caught one of their married members on the streets of L.A. seeking to connect with our producer.

The service they provide is merely driven by RMR (reoccurring monthly revenue), and sadly they are making millions. It’s almost like prostitution. You pay for sex.

Some may find it ironic that such a service is looking for business in conservative Utah. But the numbers - 21,268 members in Utah, with more than half of them joining in the last 12 months - just prove that Utah isn't as different as the rest of the country after all.

Labels: internet

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Plans for tonight: Punk meets reggae

- Jagermeister (which a friend of mine once called "the nighttime sniffling sneezing fall-down-and-get-drunk medicine") is sponsoring the tour of punk icons Pennywise and Hawaiian reggae band Pepper, at In the Venue, 579 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. Show starts at 6. Tickets are $24, at the door. (In the Venue is an all-ages club, so there won't be any actual Jagermeister served.)

- The documentary "Sir! No Sir!," about soldiers who protested the Vietnam War while still in uniform, screens at 7:30 at Malouf Hall at Westminster College, 1840 S. 1300 West, Salt Lake City. The film's director, David Zieger, will lead a panel discussion after the screening. Free.

Labels: Tonight's schedule

The return of Archuleta

As in "The Godfather, Part Three," every time David Archuleta thinks he's out, they pull him back in.

The Murray, Utah, singer will return to "American Idol" - where he came in second last season to David Cook - for next Wednesday's results show.

According to "The Insider," Archuleta will sing his new single, "A Little Too Not Over You."

But Archuleta's appearance won't be the only flashback. Since Tuesday's show will have the remaining seven competitors singing disco songs, Wednesday's show will feature stars of the disco era - Harry Wayne Casey (a k a "KC" of KC and the Sunshine Band), Thelma Houston and Freda Payne - performing a medley of their hits, "Get Down Tonight," "Don't Leave Me this Way" and "Band of Gold."

Where's your mirrored ball when you need it?

Labels: American Idol, David Archuleta

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Plans for tonight: A grand kerfuffle

- Irony alert: Charging $15 for a concert at what's billed as the "Free Speech Area." But that's what's happening with rapper Lupe Fiasco and sampler Girl Talk, playing in the Grand Kerfuffle at 6 at the University of Utah Union Free Speech Area, on the U. campus, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $15, available on campus.

- Canadian band Po'Girl plays starting at 8 at The State Room, 638 S. State St., Salt Lake City. Tickets are $20, available on The State Room's web site or at the door.

Labels: Tonight's schedule

Telling the DABC to cool it

This last session, the Utah Legislature at long last dragged the state's liquor laws into the 21st century - by lifting the rules on private clubs and allowing existing restaurants to tear down the "Zion Curtain" separating drink preparation from patrons.

Now an online petition by Utah beer lovers is asking the Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control (the DABC) to bring the state's liquor stores out of the days of the horse and buggy - by installing refrigeration units.

On the consumer-advocacy web site Tribute to Beer, co-founder Ross Metzger has written an online petition asking DABC to install the coolers because "consumers are tired of paying a premium in Utah for beer that has gone bad!"

Many "heavy beers" go bad from being stored in hot warehouses and room-temperature stores. The petition concludes that refrigeration units in liquor stores will give fans of craft-brewed beer "an opportunity to get good beer from the channels that have been given to them, and stop allowing the UDABC to promote illegal transportation and consumption of out-of-state beer."

(HT: Ted McDonough, City Weekly)

Labels: alcohol, alcohol laws

Happy tax day

Today's the deadline for Americans to get their federal and state tax returns mailed in - which usually is accompanied by the tradition of TV news reporters standing outside a mailbox to capture the oh-so-telegenic sight of a line of cars.

This year, though, we have something else to celebrate - thanks to the AstroTurf (that's fake grassroots) movement, mounted by right-wing lobbying groups and Fox News Channel, to launch "Tax Day Tea Parties" across the country.

As the Tribune's Cathy McKitrick reported today, several such events are scheduled in Utah - the biggest being one at noon at the Federal Building in downtown Salt Lake City, where Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, and U.S. Reps. Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz will suck up to, er, rally the eager (and, one hopes, waterproof) crowd.

What are the "tea party" enthusiasts - or "teabaggers," as they have unfortunately dubbed themselves - protesting? Are they protesting the Obama administration, which is planning to cut taxes for most Americans? Are they protesting government bailouts, most of which were started under the Bush administration? Are they protesting because they can't come up with anything better? Are they protesting because Fox News told them to?

The nature of the protest, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow said Tuesday night, is "amorphous," but "the adoption of their teabag as their symbol - now that is plain as a one-two punch to the face." (Seriously, as any lesbian received as much enjoyment from "teabagging" as Maddow has this last week?)

Here's the web site listing Utah events, and here's a response from the Utah Democrats.

Labels: Jason Chaffetz, Mark Shurtleff, politics, Rob Bishop, television

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Plans for tonight: The circus is in town

- Blues legend B.B. King, still touring at 83, performs at Kingsbury Hall, 1395 President's Circle on the U. of U. campus, Salt Lake City. The opening act is Lukas Nelson & The Promise of the Real. Show starts at 7:30. Tickets are $60 and $65, available on the Kingsbury web site or at the door.

- Canadian guitarist/songwriter/singer/activist Bruce Cockburn brings his music to town, starting at 7:30 at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $35, available at ArtTix.

- What's the difference between Britney Spears' "Circus" tour and the real circus? The real Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, even with its elephants and big cats, parks fewer trucks behind EnergySolutions Arena. Spears' concert, with opening act The Pussycat Dolls, starts at 8 at ESA, 301 W. South Temple. Tickets, starting at $37.50 (and those are the cheap seats), are available at TicketMaster.

- Across the street from the Britney madness, Travis - a Scottish band who happens to do a cover of "Hit Me Baby One More Time" (which you can watch below) - plays, with opening act The Republic Tigers, at 8 at The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $25, at the door.

Labels: Tonight's schedule

What are you doing after the tea party?

It's so hard to be a conservative these days.

As I mentioned in today's Culture Vulture column, right-wingers who are organizing the "Tax Day Tea Party" events for Wednesday have faced ridicule because of the use of the word "teabagging" - a term already in use for a certain sex act.

Now, as comic Andy Cobb points out on this YouTube video (which is both hilarious and for adults only), the National Organization for Marriage's new "2M4M" campaign - signifying a march of two million people for "traditional" marriage - has learned that "2M4M" is sometimes used as chat-room shorthand for a gay three-way (as in "two men searching for a man"). (Hat tip to The Huffington Post for unearthing Cobb's video.)

Labels: politics

Monday, April 13, 2009

Plans for tonight: Feeling the fallout

- Fall Out Boy - whose frontman Pete Wentz is more famous now for marrying Ashlee Simpson and naming their kid Bronx Mowgli - leads the bill at Saltair, 12408 W. Saltair Dr., Magna. Also on the bill: Cobra Starship, Metro Station, All Time Low and Hey Monday. Show starts at 6; doors open at 5. Tickets are $36, available at SmithsTix.

- The Utah Jazz try to get it back together in their last regular-season home game, against the lottery-bound Los Angeles Clippers, at 7 at EnergySolutions Arena, 301 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Tickets available at TicketMaster.

- Julien Temple's rock documentary "Glastonbury," about the legendary music festival, screens at 7 at the Sorenson Unity Center, 1383 S. 900 West, Salt Lake City. Free.

Labels: Tonight's schedule

Father figure

Augusten Burroughs, the memoirist who told tales of his mother in Running With Scissors and his father in the recent A Wolf at the Table, takes note of another father figure - Robert Redford.

Writing a diary entry that ran this weekend on The Times of London's web site, Burroughs described his recent visit to Redford's Sundance resort - and how he found in an eccentric ceiling fan evidence that the resort's atmosphere "is a father's work."

Burroughs writes:

At Sundance, when you need to go down the hill to the store, you do not get into your car. You call the front desk and tell them that you'd like a ride. Then you go outside and wait. And while you wait, it is impossible not to feel like a kid again, waiting for your father to pick you up for soccer practice or violin lessons. After dinner somebody asks: "Do you need a lift home?" If at first this annoys you, it will come to be the thing that charms you most.

A developer, perhaps, would have offered a bus. Only a father, however, would give you a ride.

Burroughs has video online from his Sundance visit posted on his website. Check it out.

Labels: Books, Robert Redford, Sundance

Exposing "America's Outback"

Those Utahns who want to keep the state's natural beauty a secret from the rest of the world suffered another hit this weekend.

An article by author Tony Perrottet in Sunday's New York Times travel section extols the glories of "America's Outback," the remote red-rock canyons of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument - an area that, Perrottet wrote, offers "a seemingly endless choice of natural wonders that lie blissfully forgotten and empty."

For travelers wishing to get away from it all, Perrottet writes an alluring description of what the middle of nowhere looks like:

East of Calf Creek, the landscape becomes even more strange and unearthly. The Creator was having fun out there. Canyons yawn. Arches sprout from nowhere, not to mention spires, buttes, towers and pinnacles. The earth erupts and convulses. There are raw desert lookouts where not one single man-made light distracts from the stars.

If search-and-rescue teams are inundated with pleas to find lost hikers this summer, we know where the hikers got their inspiration.

Labels: travel

Friday, April 10, 2009

Plans for the weekend: Happy Easter

- The Salt Lake Bees try again to start their season against the Reno Aces, starting at 6:35 p.m. at the newly renamed Spring Mobile Ballpark (pictured), 77 W. 1300 South, Salt Lake City. Tickets, from $7.50 to $22.50, available at the Bees' website or at the ballpark.

- Five-piece emo band Alesana is the headliner Saturday at the Avalon Theater, 3605 S. State St., South Salt Lake City. Also on the bill: Drop Dead Gorgeous, Fear Before, The March of Flames, I Set My Friends on Fire and Fall From Grace. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $12, at SmithsTix.

- The Utah Jazz come home to play the Golden State Warriors, Saturday at 7 p.m. at EnergySolutions Arena, 301 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Tickets are available at TicketMaster.

- Brooklyn/Minnesota rockers The Hold Steady - whose "Stay Positive" was Entertainment Weekly's pick as the best album of 2008 - perform Saturday at the Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City. The War on Drugs is the opening act. Show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $17 on the day of show, at SmithsTix and 24Tix. (Read an interview the Tribune's David Burger conducted with The Hold Steady's Craig Finn and Tad Kubler here.)

- Hip-hop performer Atmosphere brings his "When God Gives You Ugly" tour, Sunday at In the Venue, 579 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. Opening acts are P.O.S. and Attracted to Gods. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.50, at SmithsTix and 24Tix.

Labels: weekend schedule

More summer music

Just as Red Butte Garden's summer schedule is released, so is the slate for Deer Valley's outdoor concert series - dubbed the St. Regis Big Stars, Bright Nights series.

Tickets - at $31 for general admission lawn seating, or $56 for reserved seating - go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. in person at the Eccles Center (1750 Kearns Blvd., at Park City High School), or by calling the box office at 435-655-3114. Tickets go on sale online next Friday.

All shows start at 7 p.m. (except the last one, which starts at 6 p.m.). Here's the slate:

July 3 - Blood, Sweat & Tears.
August 2 - Simone with Ryan Shaw.
August 16 - Madeleine Peyroux and Lucy Wainwright Roche.
August 29 - Chuck Berry (opening act to be announced).
September 7 - Robert Earle Keen with Jill Sobule and John Doe.

Labels: Deer Valley

Jammin' in the Garden

Red Butte Garden has unveiled its summer concert lineup - and, as always, it's an eclectic mix of artists. Here's the lineup:

May 31: Neko Case (pictured), with Joey & John of Calexico
June 4: Etta James & The Roots Band
June 14: Femi Kuti, with Bela Fleck and Toumani Diabate
June 19: Smokey Robinson
June 21: David Byrne
July 7: Indigo Girls
July 13: Death Cab for Cutie, with Andrew Bird & Ra Ra Riot
July 19: The Wallflowers
July 31: Diana Krall
August 4: Chicago
August 14: Chris Isaak
August 19: The Brotherhood Tour, featuring Los Lobos and Los Lonely Boys
August 25: The Avett Brothers
September 1: Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal (The "BonTaj Roulet - Alone & Together" tour)
September 3: Booker T. and the Drive-By Truckers

Tickets go on sale April 20 for Red Butte members, and May 4 for everybody else. Since many shows sell out, becoming a member isn't a bad idea, says the Tribune's David Burger.

Tickets for the Smokey Robinson show, which is also The Garden Gala benefit, are on sale now.

Labels: Red Butte Garden

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Plans for tonight: Take me out to the ballgame

- The Airborne Toxic Event, an L.A. indie-rock quintet, plays at 6:30 at the Murray Theater, 4916 S. State St., Murray. Tickets are $10, at the door.

- If the weather clears up, the Salt Lake Bees will begin their pursuit of the Pacific Coast League title with their season-opener against the Reno Aces, starting at 6:35 p.m. at the newly renamed Spring Mobile Ballpark (pictured), 77 W. 1300 South, Salt Lake City. Tickets, from $7.50 to $22.50, available at the Bees' website or at the ballpark. UPDATE: Tonight's game is rained out.

- The Oscar-nominated documentary "The Garden," about efforts to save a community garden in south-central L.A. from developers, will screen at 7 at the City Library auditorium, 210 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City. Director Scott Hamilton Kennedy will take questions after the movie. Free.

- Miami funk/soul band The Lee Boys plays at 8 at The State Room, 638 S. State St., Salt Lake City. Tickets are $25, at The State Room's website or at the door.

- English pop duo The Ting Tings - whose "That's Not My Name" was a No. 1 hit in the UK - perform at In the Venue, 579 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. (This is a venue change, as the group was originally scheduled to play at the Urban Lounge - so now the under-21s can go, too.) Doors open at 9. Tickets are $15, at SmithsTix and 24Tix.

Labels: sports, Tonight's schedule

Cancel the reservation

More on the "things are tough all over" front:

The Progress & Freedom Foundation, a conservative DC-based "market-oriented think tank that studies the digital revolution and its implications for public policy," has canceled plans to hold its 15th annual Aspen Summit this August at the Sundance resort in Utah's Provo Canyon.

PFF President Ken Ferree issued a statement that reads, in part:

"In light of the current economic environment, we do not think it prudent to spend our supporters' money, or ask others to spend scarce dollars, on a lavish conference at a remote facility."

Those supporters include most of the big corporate players in the telecommunications, media and computer industries. According to the Center for Media and Democracy's SourceWatch, their big issue is deregulation of the media.

Labels: internet, Sundance, television

Feed your ears

Want to buy good food and help a good cause?

Do your shopping today at the Whole Foods Market in Sugarhouse (1100 E. 2100 South, Salt Lake City), where 5 percent of today's sales will go to Utah's community radio station, KRCL 90.9 FM.

Labels: KRCL

Tightening belts at USO

As has been observed many times before, things are tough all over.

That cruel truth has hit the Utah Symphony and Opera, whose executives decided this week to trim $1 million from its $19 million operating budget - with cuts of up to 10 percent to executive salaries and programming reductions.

The symphony's 83 full-time musicians also agreed to return two weeks' salary, half of their pension contribution, a week's vacation and some of their personal days.

The unpalatable option, said both symphony and musicians' union leaders, is Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

With luck, Utah Symphony and Opera can weather the current downturn. What good would it be to climb out of this economic hole if there was nothing beautiful available to us when we did?

Labels: Utah Symphony

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Plans for tonight: Not in Kansas anymore

- The touring Broadway production "Wicked" opens its monthlong run tonight at 7:30 at the Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. The entire run is sold out, but there are scalpers, and there is the ticket lottery: Get your name on the list two hours before showtime, 10 names will be drawn 90 minutes before showtime, and those 10 each can buy a pair of tickets for $25 each, cash only. (And, for $25 each, you'll be in the nosebleed section.)

- British singing sensation and tabloid terror Lily Allen plays at In the Venue, 579 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. The opening act is Natalie Portman's Shaved Head. Show starts at 8. Tickets are $30, at SmithsTix and 24Tix. (Allen is trumpeting her visit to Utah on her Twitter page, with this entry: "I've just been on Wikipedia and still can't figure it out. What is a Mormon?")

- Southern singer-songwriters Jason Isbell (with his band, The 400 Unit) and Justin Townes Earle (son of Steve Earle) share the bill at 8 at The State Room, 638 S. State St., Salt Lake City. Tickets are $17, at The State Room's website or at the door.

Labels: Tonight's schedule

Kudos for an iPhone app

People at a Provo company are celebrating because one of their products got a rave review in Macworld magazine.

Macworld called the iPhone app Showtimes the "best movie finder" application available. It's made by Avantar, a Provo phone-directory company.

Here's what Macworld's Jonathan Seff wrote about Showtimes:

When it comes to finding a movie, the free Showtimes is my favorite iPhone app of the bunch. Avantar’s app figures out my location, shows me theaters in order of proximity, and ties into the Maps application to give me directions from my current location. It even offers movie trailers and summaries; shows movies by popularity, user rating, or newness; and includes links to MetaCritic, RottenTomatoes, and IMDB pages for movies using an integrated browser.

Labels: internet

Mormon history, a la Colbert

Fans of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" got a quick - and hilariously exaggerated - lesson in Mormon history on Tuesday night.

Introducing the 55th installment of his 434-part series "Better Know a District" (in which Colbert attempts to interview every every member of Congress), Colbert launched into the history of New York's 25th District with this fun fact:

"The district contains the town of Palmyra, where in 1827, Joseph Smith discovered the source for The Book of Mormon, the Golden Plates. The Golden Plates also won him a free tour of Jesus' chocolate factory."

Here's the video:

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Better Know a District - New York's 25th - Dan Maffei

comedycentral.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

NASA Name Contest

Colbert fans may recall that Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz appeared in the "Better Know a District" segment in January - where Colbert bested the former BYU placekicker in a leg-wrestling bout.

Labels: Jason Chaffetz, LDS, politics, television

Videogame crusader not giving up

Jack Thompson - the disbarred Florida attorney and anti-videogame activist who wrote a draconian "truth in advertising" bill that Gov. Jon Huntsman vetoed last month - isn't giving up yet.

GamePolitics reports that Thompson did two hours on the conservative Utah Eagle Forum's radio show on K-Talk, bashing Huntsman and tossing out some tired accusations tying a school shooting in Germany and the Columbine massacre to videogame violence.

Thompson was introduced as "an attorney from Florida." Nowhere, as both GamePolitics and the blog Joystiq point out, was it mentioned that Thompson is actually an ex-attorney. Truth in advertising only goes so far with the Eagle Forum, apparently.

Labels: politics, Utah Legislature, videogames

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Plans for tonight: Straight outta Denver - and Seattle

- Colorado hip-hop/electronica duo 3OH!3 (pronounced three-oh-three, named for the Denver area code) headlines the AP Tour - along with Family Force 5, The Maine, Hit the Lights and A Rocket to the Moon - starting at 6 at In the Venue, 579 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $17, at SmithsTix and 24Tix, or at the door.

- The monthly Science Movie Night - presented by the City Library and the Utah Museum of Natural History - offers up "Hoot" (2006), based on Carl Hiaasen's young-readers' novel about teens protecting an owl habitat from developers, at 6:30 at the City Library auditorium, 210 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City. Jen Hajj from HawkWatch International will talk about Utah's burrowing owls after the screening. Free.

- Seattle songwriter Eric Elbogen, who records as Say Hi (formerly Say Hi to Your Mother, which would make him Mark Wahlberg's favorite recording artist), performs with fellow Seattleite Telekinesis at 7 at Kilby Court, 741 S. Kilby Court (330 West), Salt Lake City. Tickets are $10, at 24Tix. (By the way, here's a free MP3 download of a Say Hi track, from Spin magazine.)

Labels: Tonight's schedule

A national rave

Don't think that Ballet West, Salt Lake City's premiere ballet troupe, is just for locals. It's getting some national recognition - a rave review in The New York Times - for its current production, "Treasures of the Ballet Russes."

Here are the first two sentences of Alastair Macaulay's review:

"Triple or quadruple bills of ballets created between 1909 and 1929 for [Sergei] Diaghilev's Ballets Russes are not uncommon. All the more remarkable then that Ballet West's current 'Treasures of the Ballets Russes' triple bill proves the most stimulating Diaghilev anthology I have seen in more than 30 years."

Macaulay goes on to praise the dancer's athleticism in the demanding works, the "adventurous programming" of works seldom staged in the United States, and the "enlivening effect" of Ballet West's artistic director Adam Sklute.

"Treasures of the Ballet Russes" has finished its run at Salt Lake City's Capitol Theatre, but Ballet West is performing it at 7 p.m. tonight and Wednesday at the Val A. Browning Center at Weber State University, Ogden. It's worth the trip.

Labels: Ballet West

Not throwing stones

I have to feel for the kids at The Daily Universe, the student paper at Brigham Young University.

As The Salt Lake Tribune reported, Monday's edition of The Daily Universe featured what editorial manager Rich Evans called "the worst possible mistake" - a photo of leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, with a caption that referred to the group as "the Quorum of the Twelve Apostates."

(Glossary for the non-religious: An apostate is someone who speaks against the doctrines of a church - and, in LDS circles, is about the nastiest thing you can call a good upstanding Mormon.)

The Universe staff tried to retrieve the 18,500 copies printed, and reprinted a corrected version. They also issued an apology to church leaders, and explained that the error was due to the paper's spell-checking software substituting "apostate" for a misspelled version of "apostle. (Lesson to young journalists: Spell-check doesn't fix everything.)

Lest the Tribune be accused of, as scripture says, noting the mote in its neighbor's eye while ignoring the log in its own, I'll note that such blundering happens at every paper. A week ago, a Tribune story about a speech by LDS Church President Thomas Monson carried a headline that called him Gordon Monson - who happens to be one of the Trib's sports columnists.

I will leave it to theologians to debate which is worse: To be called an apostate or to be called a sportswriter.

Labels: Brigham Young University, journalism, LDS, sports

Monday, April 6, 2009

Plans for tonight: Thirst for knowledge

- The documentary "Blue Gold: World Water Wars," about the threat to the world's water supply as water becomes a commodity, will screen at 7 at the City Library auditorium, 210 E. 400 South, Salt Lake City. After the film, author Terry Tempest Williams and Jeff Niermeyer, director of Salt Lake City's Department of Public Utilities, will talk about the issues raised by the film. Free. Here's the trailer:

- Alexander-Clayton-Hamilton - which is a jazz trio (pianist Monte Alexander, bassist John Clayton, drummer Jeff Hamilton), not a brokerage firm - is tonight's JazzSLC performer, at 7:30 at the Sheraton, 150 W. 500 South, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $25, at 24Tix.

Labels: Tonight's schedule

If you can't stand the tweet...

Being a Republican from Utah County, maybe newly minted Congressman Jason Chaffetz isn't used to the notion of people disagreeing with him.

That's one explanation for why the tech-happy Chaffetz has blocked a well-known Utah Democratic activist from his Twitter feed.

Misty Fowler, who runs the blog Saintless and was Utah chairwoman for the Obama campaign, reports today that she is no longer allowed to follow Chaffetz' Twitter feed when she's logged in - though she can still read all of Chaffetz' 140-character pearls of wisdom when she doesn't log into her account.

"So, if I really want to, I can still see his updates," Fowler wrote. "Not that it's important enough to me that I'm going to bother, but I do find it childish that a public official would act this way."

Fowler theorizes that a string of Twitter exchanges, where she asked Chaffetz to stop complaining about President Barack Obama's budget and propose his own plan, may have gotten under the rookie congressman's skin.

Chaffetz has forgotten Vito Corleone's sage advice about keeping your friends close but your enemies closer.

Labels: internet, Jason Chaffetz, politics

Best band name ever!

Ladies and gentlemen, I present: LeE HARVeY OsMOND!

They're kind of a country-blues band from Ontario, Canada - founded by Tom Wilson and his former Junkhouse bandmate Ray Farrugia, along with some members of Cowboy Junkies and Skydiggers.

Check them out - and remember, no actual Osmonds were harmed in the making of this video:

Labels: Osmond

Friday, April 3, 2009

Plans for the weekend: Glory and victory(?)

- Florida pop/punk/emo band New Found Glory - with opening acts Set Your Go als and Verse - plays tonight at In the Venue, 579 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. Doors open at 5:30. Tickets are $22, at SmithsTix and 24Tix.

- The Utah Jazz play host to the Minnesota Timberwolves (or, as Hot Rod Hundley always calls them, the Pesky Timberwolves), tonight at 7 at EnergySolutions Arena, 301 W. South Temple. Tickets available at TicketMaster.

- The Sundance Institute's Short Film Showcase, featuring nine short films with ties to Sundance - including the 2009 Sundance Film Festival's jury prize winner "Short Term 12" and a new work by "Napoleon Dynamite's" Jared Hess - runs Saturday, with screenings at 5 and 8 p.m., at the Rose Wagner Center for the Performing Arts, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City. A panel discussion, featuring the directors of all nine films, takes place between the two screenings, at 6:30 p.m. All free.

- Hip-hop rockers Kottonmouth Kings are the headliners at a big rap show, Saturday starting at 7 p.m. at Saltair, 12408 W. Saltair Drive, Magna. Also on the bill: La Coka Nostra (Ill Bill, Slaine, Everlast, DannyBoy, Dj Lethal and Big Left) and Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Big B, Potluck and Short Dawg. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 day of, at SmithsTix outlets only (not online).

- California folk-pop singer-songwriter Brett Dennen performs Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Murray Theater, 4916 S. State St., Murray. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 day of, at SmithsTix and 24Tix.

- A benefit show for Salt Lake City film student Paul Gibbs - to raise money for a kidney transplant - is set for Saturday, starting at 8 p.m., at The Woodshed, 60 E. 800 South, Salt Lake City (across the street from Sears). The lineup includes music by The Gearbox, Rev. Mayhem, Jen and Danny Tarasevich, Ginger Bess and the Heathen Highlanders, along with poetry slam artist Jesse Parent, stand-up comic Ricky Kimball and the Laughing Stock comedy improv troupe. Admission is $7, at the door.

Labels: Tonight's schedule, Utah Jazz

Talking 'Uranium'

Big props to author (and former Salt Lake Tribune reporter) Tom Zoellner, who appeared Thursday night on "The Daily Show" - and succeeded at making fascinating conversation out of a rock.

Zoellner touted his new book, Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock That Reshaped the World, a history of the element and its role in our nuclear lives. He and Stewart, who was clearly engaged in the topic, talked for several minutes about the history of uranium, and mankind's unfortunate ability to use any newfound material to, as Stewart put it, "blow s*** up."

Zoellner's appearance Thursday night made up for a previously booked appearance three weeks ago, when Zoellner was bumped so Stewart could have his notorious showdown with CNBC's Jim Cramer.

Here's Zoellner's appearance on "The Daily Show":

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

M - Th 11p / 10c

Tom Zoellner

comedycentral.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Economic Crisis

Political Humor

Labels: Books

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Plans for tonight: Making waves

- Real Salt Lake, Utah's Major League Soccer franchise, plays its fifth-season home opener against the defending MLS champs, the Columbus Crew, at 7 at Rio Tinto Stadium, 9256 S. State St., Sandy. Tickets, from $18 to $60, are available on the Real web site.

- Utah artist Amy Caron unveils her performance-art piece "Waves of Mu" - billed as a "two-room show offers an experiential understanding of mirror neurons" - for a three-night run, starting at 8 at the Rose Wagner Black Box Theatre, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $20, or $15 for students, available at ArtTix. (The show continues Friday and Saturday.)

- Dark Star Orchestra - who don't like being called a Grateful Dead "tribute band," but folks who are "keeping the vibe alive" - will re-create a Dead show, starting at 8 at The Depot, 400 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $25, at the door.

Labels: Real Salt Lake, Tonight's schedule

BFFs no more

There have been stories of relationships that began at the Sundance Film Festival - for example, the actor Tim Roth met his wife, Nikki Butler, at the '92 festival.

Alas, this is a story of a relationship that, according to insiders, ended at this year's Sundance Film Festival: That of socialite Paris Hilton and her "BFF" (best friend forever, for those not up on the lingo), Brittany Flickinger.

Flickinger became Hilton's BFF the way most people become friends - through the rigorous vetting process of a reality show on MTV. What could go wrong?

According to this item from the Gossip Girls blog, Hilton came to believe that Flickinger wasn't really her BFF - and that, according to a source, "all that girl wanted was the free trips, the goodie bags, staying at Paris’ mansion and the parties and clubs."

Hilton had this epiphany at Sundance, when "Paris realized everything everyone was telling her was the truth."

I guess BFF doesn't mean forever any more. Who could have predicted it?

Labels: Reality show, Sundance

'Idol': Megan's final 'caw'

Megan Joy seemed to know - from mugging for the camera to her overdramatic pop-eyed look during Ryan Seacrest's announcement - that this "American Idol" episode would be her last.

Joy, the 23-year-old single mom from Sandy, Utah - she of the tattooed arm and quirky hip swivel - was eliminated on Wednesday night's results show, with a gratuitously cruel flourish from lead judge Simon Cowell.

In shutting down hopes of a "judges' save," even before Joy re-sang her rendition of Bob Marley's "Turn the Lights Down Low," Cowell seemed upset that Joy didn't care about the judges' criticism.

"Megan, with the greatest respect, when you said that you don't care, nor do we," said Cowell - the judge who, more than any of the four, championed Joy's offbeat singing style in the early rounds.

Cowell's disaffection for his former favorite is another indication of "Idol's" central paradox: The judges demand originality from the singers - but when confronted with a singer who breaks the mold, the judges seem determined to shove that singer right back into the mold. (Take, for example, judge Kara DioGuardi's suggestion that Joy should have chosen "Chasing Pavements," a recent hit by Adele, rather than the Marley number.)

Now Joy gets to come back home to Utah and her little boy, and prepare for the "American Idols" tour this summer. Then she can go about applying that original voice, away from Cowell's disapproving stare.

Labels: American Idol, Megan Joy Corkrey, Reality show

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Plans for tonight: No foolin'

- Trade food for laughs at a "Night of Fools" benefit show for the Utah Food Bank, starting at 7 at Wiseguys Comedy Club, 2194 W. 3500 South, West Valley City. The bill includes Marcus (pictured, from "Last Comic Standing"), Keith Stubbs, Rodney Norman and host Big Budah. Admission is a can of food, or a cash donation.

- Ten Out of Tenn, a collection of 10 solo artists from Tennessee performing each other's indie-rock songs from Nashville, plays at 7:30 at Kilby Court, 741 S. 330 West, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $15, at SmithsTix or 24Tix or at the door.

- Seattle one-man band Astronautalis - with opening acts Bluebird, Lapsed and Non + Non - play at the Urban Lounge, 241 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City. Show starts at 9. Tickets are $7, at 24Tix or at the door.

Labels: Marcus, Tonight's schedule

Osbournes reviled

A handful of Utah "American Idol" viewers may have been surprised Tuesday night when Fox 13's 9 p.m. newscast popped up 35 minutes early.

Without explanation, a crawl across the top of the screen informed KSTU's viewers that the show scheduled to follow "American Idol" - the debut of the variety program "Osbournes Reloaded," which Ryan Seacrest dutifully teased - would be shown instead at 12:05 a.m.

"Osbournes Unloaded" - which stars rocker Ozzy Osbourne, manager/wife Sharon Osbourne and talent-free kids Jack and Kelly - had already offended the folks at WPGX, the Fox affiliate in Panama City, Fla. That station pulled the Osbournes' completely, replacing it with an episode of "The Simpsons."

(According to Broadcasting & Cable, an industry trade publication, 16 Fox stations didn't air the show - while another 10, like KSTU, pushed the show to a later time slot.)

Insomniacs who stayed up past midnight to watch "Osbournes Reloaded" got to see a celebrity train-wreck of lowbrow pranks - blindfolding a lothario and having him kiss an old lady, having Kelly work a fast-food drive-through window and shout obscenities at the customers, or confronting a reluctant boyfriend with his long-suffering girlfriend in a wedding dress - and bleeped-out profanity. It may not have been the worst use of videotape ever, but it's in the Top 5. (Don't believe me? Tom Shales of The Washington Post called it "must-flee TV," while Ken Tucker at Entertainment Weekly opined that "the stink of this show will last a long time.")

Awful as it was, the offensiveness level of "Osbournes Reloaded" wasn't out of line for the network that gives us "Family Guy" every Sunday. But as a follow-up to "American Idol" - whose multi-generational audience includes teens, tweens and their grandparents - the Osbournes' profane hijinks were woefully out of place.

Labels: American Idol, television

'Idol': Ruining reggae

Oh, for the love of all that's holy - Bob Marley?!?

On a week when the nine remaining "American Idol" contestants could choose pretty much any song they wanted (under the vague corporate-happy umbrella of top iTunes downloads), Sandy, Utah, singer Megan Joy - the perky blonde with the smoky jazz voice - picked Marley's "Turn Your Lights Down Low" and bombed with the judges.

"It was like watching paint dry," declared Randy Jackson. "Boring, indulgent and monotonous," said Simon Cowell. Kara DioGuardi said Joy was in trouble.

Expect Joy standing at center stage tonight, awaiting the bad news from Ryan Seacrest. My picks for joining Joy in the Bottom 3: Scott MacIntyre, for his screechy rendition of Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are"; and Anoop Desai, who gave a funk-free version of Usher's "Caught Up."

Labels: American Idol, Megan Joy Corkrey, Reality show

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