This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
As we finish the first month of 2013, there are a number of things I wonder about.
Why is it, for example, that gasoline always seems to be 10 to 20 cents per gallon cheaper on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley?
How is it that it's so difficult to make a good movie comedy? I can't remember the last time a Hollywood comedy made me laugh out loud.
Why don't I use the county fitness facilities in my neighborhood more? The Gene Fullmer Center in West Jordan has a wonderful indoor swimming pool, and the Taylorsville Recreation Center has a great gym with weights and aerobic equipment.
Will somebody explain to me how the proposed SkiLink lift connecting The Canyons in Park City with Solitude in Big Cottonwood Canyon will do anything to help local skiers?
Why do so many Salt Lake County cities have outdoor amphitheaters, and what are the small venues in Sandy, Murray, West Valley City and Draper used for in the summer months?
Why don't I spend more time on Midvale's historic little Main Street? Driving through there recently, I marveled at the diversity of the place filled with interesting-looking Mexican restaurants, a comedy club and a bar that seemed worth checking out. And is Vincent Drug still open?
Does Salt Lake County have a map of the many urban trails throughout the valley? I know a new Jordan River Parkway map was just posted, but what about places such as Rose Canyon, Draper, Herriman, Decker Lake, Dimple Dell, Parleys Creek, City Creek Canyon and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail? It would be useful to know about trailheads and parking areas to these places.
Why does Magna get such a bad rap? I love going to its main drag because it's filled with an interesting mix of stores, restaurants, parks, churches and bars. And the new combination library and history museum really looks worth checking out.
What will former Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon do now?
Since the only Democrats in the Utah Legislature are from Salt Lake County, the county has a Democratic mayor and Salt Lake City is represented only by Democrats, what will the Republican majority in the Legislature do to punish Utah's largest city and county?
I really like the new "Flex Lane" traffic idea on 5400 South near my Taylorsville home. Since there are so few good east-west traffic options on the west side, adding an extra lane at rush hour without having to widen the road is helpful. That said, and this is my fault, I swear that one of these days I am going to run a red light because I will mistake the green arrow for a green light. It's a good place to not use a cellphone and concentrate on your driving.
Speaking of roads, building the Mountain View Corridor on Salt Lake County's west side before more homes are developed out there is probably a good idea, even if it is underused at first.
One of these days I need to figure out how to download a Salt Lake County Library book to my Kindle. I know it's possible, but I have no clue how.
I wonder if it would be enjoyable to ride the Frontrunner train from Provo to Ogden and back one afternoon. My one experience with Frontrunner, going to Ogden, was enjoyable, though figuring out which bus to take while in an unfamiliar city proved a bit challenging.
Why don't I ever go to a Utah Grizzlies hockey game? I used to love watching the Golden Eagles back in the day, and hockey is a great sport. I even managed to see the University of Utah's club hockey team beat Brigham Young University a few weeks ago. It made me realize I missed watching hockey.
These are just a few things I've wondered about while making my near daily commute. How about you, readers? What are you curious about?
Twitter: @tribtomwharton