If you're broke, Utah's capital city beckons
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I new ranking of cities finds that, if you're broke, you could do worse than to move to Salt Lake City, where the cost of living is high, but wages are even higher.
What happened to all the talk about low wages in Utah? Click here to read more |
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Utah is one state that gets property taxes right, so don't mess with it
I've yet to meet anyone who likes property taxes. People generally hate all taxes, but they especially dislike one that threatens to take away their home.
In Utah, a law called Truth in Taxation has kept property tax rates steady, and low, for nearly 30 years. Now state lawmakers are trying to mess with it to avoid a direct tax increase for schools. Click here to read more The 1980s are calling, and this time Obama ought to pick up
During the debates in 2012, Barack Obama tried to score points by attacking Mitt Romney's suggestion that Russia posed a big threat to the United States. " The 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back,” he said.
Now it appears only one of the candidates had a clear picture of how the U.S. should view Russia. But while the election is long over, the time has come for the Obama administration to understand that Vladimir Putin doesn't want to be friends. Click here to read more In Utah, citizen initiatives have always had to struggle
When the Count My Vote initiative ended with a legislative compromise, it may have angered a lot of people, but it proved that citizen initiatives still have some power in Utah. That is remarkable, considering the history of the last 114 years.
Click here to read more Has life in Utah gotten worse since 2008?
We can all hope the guy sitting on this ledge doesn't think life is hopelessly bad. He's probably awed by the natural wonders of Utah.
But at least one national ranking has measured the well-being of folks in the Beehive State as coming down over the last six years — although it's still much better than in most states. Click here to read more E-cigarettes — cancel the commercials while scientists study their safety
Watch the commercials and you might think there is nothing wrong with an e-cigarette. It doesn't contain tobacco or tar, and it doesn't stink.
All it has is nicotine, formaldehyde and who knows what else. And that's the point. No one really knows what is in them and what it might be doing to people. Click here to read more Debunking the notion that large families burden society
You often hear the argument that large families burden education systems and taxpayers at-large because each child is a tax deduction. But there is another important side to that argument.
Click to read more Slavery did not die with the 19th century
Most of us were taught that slavery ended with the Emancipation Proclamation, the end of the Civil War and the passage of the 13th Amendment. That's just when it all was forced underground.
The truth is there are more slaves in the world today than every during Abraham Lincoln's day. An arrest last week in Utah shows how all parts of the United States have to come to grips with the problem, as well. Click here to read more Giggles and scorn get in the way of serious morality discussions
Pornography is a massive problem affecting the rising generation, women's rights and the future of families. But Americans apparently can't discuss this because they keep making jokes.
Click here to read more Patriot or traitor? It's time for Edward Snowden to explain himself
Edward Snowden has told us a lot about how the U.S. government gathers information secretly.
What he hasn't done is give us any context or perspective. Click here to read more Do we still need to honor the freedom of religion?
A lot of Americans seem confused on the subject. They act as if religious devotion ought to be confined to churches or synagogues and kept behind closed doors, not paraded through the public square where it might influence public policy or current events.
But it was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King who said religion “must be the guide and critic of the state.” We ignore this to our own peril. Click here to read more Legal gambling is a losing bet for the United States
Look at the photo of New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia smashing slot machines in 1934. Back then, politicians wanted the publicity of being on the side of morality and against the vice of seeking something for nothing.
Today, anti-gambling activists are seen as oddballs who haven't a chance at stopping the flood of legal gambling from washing across the nation. Click here to read more Still saving lives with loans
 Muhammad Yunus (Deseret News photo)
Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus came by the office again this week, still preaching the virtues of solving poverty through entrepreneurial enterprise. His words about profit motives, however, may make Westerners uncomfortable.
Click here to read more |
The Mormon Moment
 Brigham Young on Temple Square (J. Evensen photo)
The "Mormon Moment" may have ended with the defeat of GOP candidate Mitt Romney, but interest in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues. Here are links to some recent media stories of interest:
Fascinated by dress rules
Business Insider Australia reports on dress and grooming standards suggested for young members of the Mormon Church and for missionaries.
Link: Here's how Mormons are supposed to dress Let us clear up confusions
The "Book of Mormon" musical hit Durham, N.C., and Mormons there told the Herald Sun what it's like to really be a missionary.
Link: In reality, being a missionary is hard The viral anti-porn video
Time Magazine did what other online publications haven't done. It contacted BYU-Idaho's president to ask questions about the video that has gone viral, producing silly over-reactions by people who ignore pornography's destructive powers.
Link: University president explains WWI anti-porn video An ex-Mormon's lark
In England, a former church member is trying to charge President Thomas S. Monson with fraud, claiming parts of the Mormon faith are demonstrably false. Legal scholars say the claims have no chance.
Link: Mormon Church president charged with fraud Missionary work expands
Lucky Severson reports on the expansion of Missionary work since The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lowered the minimum age for serving.
Link: Mormon Missionary Expansion Watch video below (hit full-screen for best experience). School choirs and church
The ACLU is complaining that it is wrong for Montana public school choirs to sing in a community Christmas celebration to be held at a Mormon church. Even though the schools have said singing in the event is voluntary, the ACLU says it gives the appearance that the schools are endorsing a religion.
Link: ACLU complains HS choir to sing in concert Navajos and Mormons
The New York Times reports on how many Navajo tribal members are joining the LDS Church, seeing it as a link to true Navajo values.
Link: For some, path to Navajo values weaves through the Mormon Church. Women and priesthood
The Pew Research Center says Mormons overwhelmingly oppose women in their church being ordained to the priesthood. Interestingly, women oppose it to a larger degree than men.
Link: Big majority of Mormons oppose women in priesthood Are religion jokes funny?
Bob Fischbach of the Omaha World Herald explores religious humor and "The Book of Mormon" musical.
Link: Are religion jokes funny or offensive? 'Lois Lane' still feels guilt
Amy Adams, who plays Lois Lane in the new Superman Man of Steel movie, was raised in the LDS Church. She no longer attends church but told The Sun she still can't have a good time without feeling guilty.
Link: Mormon values still with me Good, clean, animated fun
The New York Times reports on BYU's computer-animation program, which has won several awards and has caught Hollywood's attention.
Link: When Hollywood wants good clean fun An unusual conversion
If Liza Hemingway of Boston hadn't gone to see "The Book of Mormon" musical, she might not have become curious enough to investigate the church she now has joined.
Link: Made me want to know more Undocumented missionaries
The website Fronteras reports on the church's struggles with sending out missionaries who are undocumented U.S. citizens.
Link: Mormon missionaries without papers Church ads in Britain
The "Book of Mormon" musical has hit Britain, and so have ads the church has bought to capitalize on the attention. The ads are similar to the ones that have followed the show in the United States, and they are getting media attention abroad, as well.
Link: Book of Mormon sparks church activity Now read the book
Lewis Lazare of the Chicago Business Journal writes about the LDS Church's marketing campaign involving ads in the playbill for the Book of Mormon musical.
Link: Mormons see marketing opportunity |
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This is the Web site where you'll find everything written and published by Jay Evensen, as well as links to interesting things. Look around. If you have comments, drop me an email at even@desnews.com
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The Author
Jay Evensen is the Associate Editorial Page Editor of the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has 30 years experience as a reporter, editor and editorial writer in Oklahoma, New York City, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. He also has been an adjunct professor of journalism at Brigham Young and Weber State universities.
Ha! Ha! Ha!
Everyone likes to laugh, or to occasionally groan from a painful pun. On Second Thought is a feature published every Monday in the Deseret News. Go to the Second Thoughts page and read the lighter side of current events. Then submit your own. They might end up in print.
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