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Show r Dance the night away on your cruise from Northpoint! See the store for details. The VIEWrom here musings from the guest editor S'no business like show business by Amy Maestas Editors note: Due to an unfortunate incident while researching this issues B&B story involving a rubber duckie, an icy hot tub deck and a hot toddy Missy Vntel will not be appearing in her usual editorial space. In her place, we will be featuring Cross Currents Utah correspondent, Amy Maestas. - - It never occurred to me until recently that Utahs ubiquitous slogan Greatest Snow on Earth was a rip-o- ff of the famed Ringling Bros. Circus slogan, Greatest Show on Earth. From the- - moment of conception, native Utahns are taught that the Wasatch Mountains hold snow superior to anyUtah histowhere else. Even our ry textbooks boasted the motto on the cover. Since birth I had repeatedly heard both slogans one more than the other . But with a straight lace, I contend I never made a connection between the two. That must really rankle circus promoters. Because, you see, they want people to be confused. The confusion would have bolstered their legal case against the Utah Travel Council. The circus was hoping that because Utahs slogan is nearly identical to its own that people wouldnt know if you were talking about a staged animal show or a natural substance. But Utahns know better. Theres no mistaking Utahs snow for Ringling Bros. show. And by the graces of the United States Supreme Court, it will remain that way. Recently the court refused to take up the lawsuit Ringling Bros, brought against Utah more than 10 years ago. The legal battle itself was a circus. Ringling Bros, contended that Utahs motto vas diluting the circus slogan. And so it sued. Utah put up a fight and said skiing and the circus are distinct enough that Ringling Bros, couldnt lose money if someone mistook a downhill skier for a dancing elephant, lire fight got uglier, and the circus vowed that it would go to the ends of the earth Utah from 7th-gra- FrceDdtafyki tie Four comas nnandng northpoiot FURNISHINGS OCS HOME 1315 Main Ave. Durango 247-295- 9 IIQl3XRjIJ ( 'UteD fpfrfitcjj iSia (500 iCulianismo! tDQ ? March 12th 7:30 pm 15 piece band C Call The Box Office At-- 247-765- 7 For More Information nmdurangoconcerts.com (fltKK TfUUct OtC&MtM- - March 21st Laying J41L your Javoritcs! 4 Cross Currents aniMTgrmo $2270rchestra oggj5EQ - February 18, - 1872-trademark- ed to-sto- p 7:30 pm fifflflEn de 2000 using the phrase. The best part about the lawsuit isnt that Utah won. No, the best part is that Utah has scientific proof that it really does have the best snow on earth. lire state waltzed into court with solid evidence that Utahs topography is a boon to the 500 inches that falls on its ski resorts each year. Its a simple concept, and it goes like this: In the winter, clouds full of moisture travel east over the Pacific Ocean. As the clouds move across Utahs desert, the heats bakes out the moisture. Then, the clouds and the Wasatch Mountains have a party and meet each other. The remaining moisture in the clouds rapidly cools and the snow begins to dump like an exploding Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder factory. But wait. Theres one more geological advantage that huge reservoir of saline solution known as the Great Salt Lake. Often, the lake is much warmer than the air behind a cold front. As a result, the lake releases water into the air, which then rises into the snow clouds. The clouds move over the Wasatch, circling repeatedly like a Hula Hoop, for days on end. And the result is snow, pow pow, freshies, white gold. Call it what you want, but it is in fact, the Greatest Snow on Earth. Ringling Bros cant hold a candle to such a spectacular event. No g lion, no shapely brunette dangling from the trapeze by her thick strands of hair, and no agile motorcycle trickster can even compare. And its silly for circus officials to think there is even a remote similarity. At one point, the case hinged on the Federal Trademark Dilution Act of 1995. Circus promoters ranted that Utahs slogan was watering down theirs. When people heard it they didnt know if it was a show or snow that was great. Cmon. One trip to Utahs slopes is unforgettable. A circus show is a contrite display of freaks and animals. The circus also had to prove something else: Utahs slogan was tarnishing the circus motto. Tarnishmcnt, according to the law, means the trademark used by the offending party was unsavory or unwholesome, or that the product used is inferior. By these standards, it makes you wonder why the circus even thought it could continue to pursue the legal case. Utahs culture by itself passes as wholesome and savory, thanks to the predominant religion. And perhaps thats what helped Utah rack up winning points. But in the end, this case wasn't about savor, wholesome qualities, giraffes, or even the kind of people that ski Utah's infamous slopes. Nope, litis is about nature, the Great Salt Lake and the west desert. You cant beat geography in the court of law. Utahs best showing yet was over last weekend, when those roaring clouds packed a wallop and dumped 39 inches on the Wasatch Mountains in less than two days. The circus wasnt in Salt Iake City last weekend, but even if it had been, I say nary a soul would have been confused about where they could find the Greatest Snow on Earth. - teeth-barin- long-neck- ed Amy Maestas is a writer living in Durango and Utah native who is recovering nicely from her Wasatch-powdhangover. er |