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Show hee pean ' IT’S NOT A TRAM..IT’S ‘THE MOAB SKYWAY’ By early April, the long-anticipated tram, now officially called "The Moab Skyway," will begin operation on Kane Creek Blvd. near The west side of The Portal. The towers are up, the cables strung and the grand opening just around the corner. As far as I can see, Moab City has done absolutely nothing in the way of improving access on 500 West or Kane Creek Blvd. The bizarre intersection of those two streets, just south of the chairlift, looks about the way it did 20 years ago. If the predictions of Portal Recreation, Inc. are correct and tens, even hundreds of thousands of tourists start making their way through the heart of Moab’s residential districts to ride the "Skyway," then traffic UIT B TILES problems along that stretch of road are going to create nightmarish conditions for motorists, bikers, and pedestrians alike. And if those high number predictions come true, who’s going to pay for all those ONLY IN UTAH...CHECK YOUR GUNS AT THE DOOR It is a frightening thing to be 10,000 miles away from Utah, surrounded by spinifex and an emu or two and hear over the scratchy distant transmission of (The Australian Broadcasting Corporation), the voice of DeeDee Corradini. Where wrong, I thought to myself as my little truck swerved sickeningly from side to attempted to re-gain my composure and control of the vehicle. I came all this way DeeDee in the outback. Life really had become too ridiculous. But in Australia, the Salt Lake olympic scandal is big news, since it’s turned the Aussies were almost as winning bids. But then the righteous. They’re descended olympics (in this publication, improvements? We are. This is nothing new. This was all raised at City Council meetings only the the ABC did I go side as I forthis? out that unethical and illegal as Utahans were in their respective Australians make no claim to being particularly pure and from criminals and proud of it. The organizers of the Utah you won’t be seeing that word spelled with anything but a four years ago. When Mr. Mays says he has met all the requirements established by the city, he is absolutely right, because the "requirements" were a joke. I don’t even want to think about the long-term damage and impacts to the land of the Portal, or what impacts will be created farther downstream along the river As for the visual intrusion of the "Skyway" itself, from some parts of town, the is negligible. In an interview in the Salt Lake Tribune, Emmett Mays said, "We chose scheme that blends with the background." on top road. impact a color Maybe so. But they can’t paint the cables. Take a look for yourself. What do you think? Does it "blend with the background"? (The horizontal cables are power lines) small ‘o.’) were thought by some to be pillars of the highest moral standards---turns out they’re just like everyone else. In fact, hasn’t that been a defense of some sort? "Well... THEY did it. Why not us?" Breaks your heart doesn’t it? But Utah Ethics is not what this little diatribe is all about. It’s about guns. As most of you know, this state has one of the most liberal concealed weapon laws in America. Any damn fool can go to a state office and fill out a form explaining why he or she needs to pack a heater, and in no time at all, Utah citizens can slip a roscoe in their belt and go anywhere they please. Olympic organizers were concerned about the law and with good reason. From the kidnapping and slaughter of athletes at the olympics in Munich to the bombing in Atlanta in 1996, the last thing we need is more bloodshed. The state legislature, concerned about our image as a bunch of gun-toting morons (they’d hate for the world to see us as we really are), decided to pass special legislation that would ban the carrying of firearms inside sporting venues from January 25 to April 1, 2002. Before or after those dates, you can conceal any damn cannon you can slip under your coat. No problem. But the legislature is going to cramp your style for a few weeks. But instead of writing language into the bil] that could have banned firearms within 500 feet of a sporting venue, it only says they are not allowed inside. So shades of Wyatt Earp and the Long Branch Saloon, olympic officials are trying to figure out how they’re going to check guns at the gate. Incredible. As tens of thousands of olympic spectators file into the different arenas and viewing areas, there will be someone at the entrance, sort of like a hat check guy, who will take your snub-nose and give you a little ticket so you can pick it up after the event. Imagine the confusion this could cause... "Excuse me, Ma’m, but I turned in a Smith & Wesson .357 and you gave me back a Browning 9mm.” "I’m sorry sir, but this is the ticket that you gave me. I really can’t be responsible for the mixup." "What're you talkin’ about little lady? I know what kinda gun I have and I didn’t mix up the tickets. Now where’s my .357?" "Don’t raise your voice with me, sir. I just work here!" Moments later...shots fired. This sure is a fun place to live. BROWNTROUT PUBLISHERS P.O. Box 280070 San Francisco, CA 94128-0070 800-777-7 812 www.browntrout.com Browntrout was founded in 1986 as a book and calendar publisher. Our success with calendars (almost 500 titles in 1998---the largest in the country) has kept us very busy. In 1994 we launched our book program. The books we publish fall into two categories: photographic portfolios and trade books. Look for many of our books and calendars at: Back of Beyond in Moab or call us direct. Ten? Ten years old? Yeah, Stiles...you ACT like you're about ten. |