Our anniversary.
by Greta deJong
Twenty-five years ago this month, the first issue of CATALYST hit the newsstands, born out of a party and a dare. Who would have guessed we'd be celebrating this most stable and accomplished of anniversaries?
But here we are. Look for reminiscing (and revisits to great old covers) in future issues. 
Spring is upon us (though it snows as I write, we can still depend on this) and, pausing for a moment, you're sure to sense the unfurling energy: power of bodies, leaves and seedlings pushing upward and outward. We step outside and feel more alive. It's no coincidence that Earth Day comes in April.
I remember the first Earth Day. I was a senior in high school. I put together a slide show of images from a local auto junkyard. I remember the delirious joy of tramping through tall dead weeds, redwing blackbirds in the gnarled apple trees edging the country fenceline, shooting rusted old Fords and Chevies beneath billowy clouds.
I recall first reading the phrase "greenhouse effect" in the mid-'70s and thinking, "That's crazy." Greenhouse gasses make climate change. And now, 27 years later, we have an additional day devoted specifically to that: April 14, millions of Americans are gathering for the express purpose of catalyzing our elected officials to positive action on issues of human-induced climate change.
Check out the information in this issue, and show up at one or more of Utah's Step it Up events (info online at www.stepitup2007.org).
I just got back from my first-ever visit to Las Vegas-a quickie road trip to see the Tragically Hip at House of Blues, with a few thousand crazy Canucks, allowing me to reconnect with my French-Canadian ancestry.
I was prepared to tolerate Vegas at best. I was not prepared to be smitten by a venue. Yes, I know there are other Houses of Blues. For once, and maybe only once, I'll say it doesn't matter-I love it anyway. "Unity in Diversity" is painted above the stage, along with depictions of the world religions' symbols surrounding the heart logo. On a wall, while wandering, I found "the five Vedic principles of House of Blues: Love, Peace, Truth, Righteousness & Non-Violence." It didn't feel like a mindless commercial gimmick. It felt like somebody knew what they were doing. I am intrigued.
I'm running out of space, but not words. Thank goodness for the Web; I may meet you there if I decide to keep writing, and you want to hear the rest of the story. It's www.catalystmagazine.net, and worth visiting with or without me.
I won't keep you-read all the good stuff in this issue. Let me know what you think. I hope you enjoy this beautiful spring.
Greta Belanger deJong is the editor and publisher of CATALYST. greta@catalystmagazine.net.
(Late addition: At the time that page went to press, we did not have John Renteria's Web address [see p. 20, "Your Guide to the 2007 SLC Mayoral Candidates, Pt. 2, by Zach Abend.] His address is: electrenteria.com.)