Hits & Misses: 2015 Is a (Fish) Wrap
Also: Chaffetz Eyes His Future and The Smart Helmet
By Katharine Biele @kathybiele
2015 Is a (Fish) Wrap
Maybe they have to do it, what with the year-end festivities, staff vacations and a general lack of breaking news. But the New Year's news rehashes are frankly boring and predictable. People who died are still dead, people who lost political races are still defeated and the LDS Church is still making news in the LGBT community. Even Paul Rolly felt it necessary to continue his glorification of a recalcitrant teacher who bucked a system she just didn't like. Read The Salt Lake Tribune's letters to the editor, however, if you want to know how year-end wrap-ups should be done. One suggested making a poster of homicide victims, highlighting gun deaths. Another thanked the Trib for remembering a friend who died in an avalanche. Thanks, but it would have been nice to highlight avalanche dangers. In fact, that's it: Put the events of 2015 in context and tell the reader why they were important.
Chaffetz Eyes His Future
Is there no end to the ambitions of Rep. Jason Chaffetz? Now he's testing the waters for a 2020 run for governor, according to the Deseret News. It's not out of the question, of course. Gary Herbert likely won't be a factor, and unlike Chaffetz's quest to become Speaker of the House, there will be plenty of time for him to campaign. Here is the guy who started as then-Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s chief of staff, ran a stunningly successful social media campaign to join Congress, latched onto some high-profile committees and then sought the speakership. Never mind that he spouts misinformation about Benghazi and Planned Parenthood. He's out there to serve. What's next? President of the U.S.?
The Smart Helmet
Perfect timing for the University of Utah to be developing a concussion football helmet, noted by the Deseret News. Good timing if you consider that more people will see Will Smith in the movie Concussion than will read the D-News. Smith plays the pathologist who diagnosed degenerative brain disease in football players. The U researchers are working on a "smart helmet" that will release air from bladders in the helmet, absorbing the shock of hard hits. Not that any blow to the head is good, but at least the helmet might soften the impact. Of particular interest would be "built-in radar" to give players warning of a "blindside" hit. The helmet could take up to 100,000 hits, which makes you wonder just what football players endure.
About The Author
Katharine Biele
A City Weekly contributor since 1992, Katharine Biele is the informed voice behind our Hits & Misses column. When not writing, you can catch her working to empower voters and defend democracy alongside the League of Women Voters.
More by Katharine Biele
-
Deseret News poll shows Donald Trump skating to another victory in Utah.
Hits & Misses
- Apr 17, 2024
-
LDS General Conference dominates local news while stories on diversity and discrimination take a back seat
Hits & Misses
- Apr 10, 2024
-
Utah's GOP Senate candidates try to out-MAGA each other in a race to the bottom.
Hits & Misses
- Apr 3, 2024
- More »
Latest in Hits & Misses
