Duane McGuire Blog

When the neighbors built a white vinyl fence along the north property line a triangle of land was mostly fenced off and of little value for gardening.  When I built the shop, I thought that space would be good for storing trailers.   With the help of a fence along the property, I took the initiative to build a fence and gate.   Given how time gets away, I actually got a bid from a contractor to put in a white vinyl fence with a 10-foot gate.   When I saw the bid of $1500, I immediately re-thought the process.    I thought I could build something pretty nice for less money.   Given the price of high grade cedar, it wasn’t cheap but it wasn’t $1500.

Here’s the results of my efforts:

Where’s the worst air?  Oh.  Right here.  In the little known State of Utah.  Also known, perhaps,  as the State of Denial.

This time of year brings temperature inversions to the valleys along the Wasatch Front Mountains of Utah, and pollutants from 1.7 million cars is trapped – it just cannot be dispersed to the surrounding desert!   This week cities in Utah have repetitively made the EPA’s chart of Top 5 Worst air in the United States.

Here’s today’s current conditions and forecast  (this just shows the top 5 in the nation):

From the EPA's website: airnow.gov

From the EPA's website: airnow.gov

Is this unusual?  No.  It’s January in Utah!

Earlier this week, a group of health care professionals delivered a letter to the Governor of Utah, requesting that the Governor take immediate action and declare a healthcare emergency.  The doctors stated, “We know from thousands of medical studies that people are dying in our community right now because of air pollution and its role in triggering strokes, heart attacks, congestive heart failure and infant mortality.”  Reference:  kuer.org

The governor’s office responded:

“Ally Isom is a spokeswoman for Governor Herbert. She says he would not characterize current air quality conditions as a health emergency, but acknowledges it is unhealthy for some groups. She says the governor encourages everyone to exercise individual responsibility to combat the pollution.”

The Governor does seem to be the Governor of the State of Denial.  “Unhealthy for some groups” is quite the understatement.  The red designation in the graphic above is an EPA Air Quality Index greater than 150.  The EPA defines this category as, “Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.”   This is a marked contrast in definition.  Maybe the good doctors are right and the Governor is wrong.

I take exception to the Governor’s solution. He “encourages everyone to exercise individual responsibility to combat the pollution.”  It wasn’t the individuals who built the twelve lane freeways along the Wasatch Front, enabling a lifestyle which is reliant on cars.  It was the elected government.  It’s time for the government to take action.  As the doctors say, this stuff isn’t just an irritant.  It’s costing lives.

Earlier today, I sent my proposals to my State Representatives.   They are harsh, but would be effective.   The “individual responsibility”  approach has not worked.   We need real plans now.   Here’s my proposals:

Parking Enforcement Gone Beserk!

Alert: Avoid Salt Lake City

While enjoying some laughs at Wise Guys Comedy Club in Salt Lake,  more “humor” awaited me on the windshield of my car!  I was cited for “Month Decal Faded”.   What???

That’s right.  It seems that the Utah DMV has recently been issuing license plate decals that fade to the point they are unreadable.   And, Salt Lake City, seizing on the opportunity is issuing citations to car owners.  Oops! Come on folks, this is ridiculous. This does not pass the Ho Ho test.

No I’m not alone.  Have a look at this article in the Salt Lake Tribune.

Here’s my very calm email to the folks at Salt Lake City Parking Enforcement.  Do you think they’ll respond?

On Sat, Jul 14, 2012 at 11:07 PM, Duane McGuire <biz@duanemcguire.com> wrote:
Folks:

I received a citation while spending money in Salt Lake City this evening for “Month Decal Faded”.  Yes.  It is faded.  I didn’t know that was a problem.  The registration is valid, and the month of expiration is discernible.   I’ve attached a photo of the plate.

Please rescind this violation notice.  Really, it cannot pass a common sense test.

Citation: AA039766

Thank you.

–
Duane McGuire
801-830-5858

1077 N 1285 W
Clinton, UT 84015

Sometimes, the little joys in life just sneak up on you!  And while reporting today’s little joy, I do want to affirm that the Internet enables our cultural connections in a very positive way.

Terri, my wife is a committed bargain shopper at DI (if you aren’t from around here, translation:  “thrift store”).  The other day she dragged home a pedestal for a clothes dryer, which she said would be perfect as a planter for some potatoes.  Five dollars.  Thank you DI. Attached to the pedestal was a 30 AMP dryer cord, which she deposited in my shop, and said, “I thought maybe you could use this!”   I could only smile at the gift.

This afternoon, I took two photos of the dryer cord and listed it for sale on ksl.com (if you aren’t from around here, synonym: craigslist.org).  Eight dollars, please!    An hour later, I got the phone call.

“Hi, do you still have the 4-prong dryer cord for sale?”

“Yes, I do!”

“Well, do you ever get down to Clearfield?”

“Uh … yeah … but I’m just a couple miles away here in Clinton.”

“Well, I have no way of getting there, but if you’d like to bring it by this week some time, I’d sure buy it.”

Being a kind hearted soul, with a small profit motive, and a natural curiosity about what would happen next, I said, “OK.  I can make that work.”

My caller responded, “Good. The address is my dad’s place.  He’ll pay eight dollars cash.”

As I thought about it then, I realized I wanted to go for a bike ride anyway, so joy!  I was going to get paid a dollar a mile to ride the bike.  The next smile I got was when I turned the corner to the address and saw the sign proclaiming “Appliance repair.  Used appliances”.   I guess I didn’t need ksl.com to find the buyer, but it got me there.   The appliance shop was out back of the house, and the proprietor  was clearly 80 or better.  And indeed he found joy in giving me that eight dollars, which was clearly better than a wholesale price for the dryer cord.   He enjoyed my recumbent bike, inquiring, “Is that thing electric?”

“Uh no.  I do have some wiring on it for headlight and tail light.”

“That’s quite the contraption!  Did you buy it like that?”

I explained that it is indeed a commercial product and a great bicycle.  I think we both enjoyed the moment.

After pedalling home the four miles, I went out the the garden to find Terri.   I said “I have something for you”, and pulled the eight dollars out of  my wallet.

When I explained that I sold that dryer cord for eight dollars, she gave me her very best smile.  Joy!