Slam dunk: During WordPerfect's first companywide business meeting, executives held a drawing for five basketballs signed by Jazz star Karl Malone. As Vice President Ad Rietveld drew the name of the fifth and final winner from a box, he said: "And the winner is . . . Bill Gates."
NOT! Gates is president of that other software company, Micro-soft.The real winner was Andre Mus-grave.
Read my lips: Malone also revealed a deep, dark secret during his live satellite appearance at WordPerfect's business meeting. Malone was in Sacramento to play the Kings.
Every one wants to know what he says at the free throw line, Malone said.
Malone said the magic words are "the Mailman and WordPerfect are going to kick Microsoft's butt."
Will they go or will they stay: Since Joe Jenkins took over the state's economic development office, Gary Golightly, Provo's economic development director, has been rumored to be on his way to Salt Lake City. The latest rumor has Golightly on his way to the Utah Economic Development Corp., a private firm subsidized by the state, county and city.
Golightly's reaction to what he read in last Wednesday's Salt Lake Tribune? "That's the best one yet. There's no truth to that. I had a good laugh over that one," he said.
But that doesn't mean Golightly's not opposed to moving on if the offer's right.
"There's always that possibility, but I'm really entrenched in what I'm doing," he said.
Also, rumor has it that LeRoy Dennis, Provo parks and recreation director, is signed, sealed and delivered to take the same post with the state. Not so, says Dennis. At least not yet.
"I am being considered for the position along with four other folks," he said. He said no one's handed him the job.
Even so, some city officials think Dennis is going to take a 45-mile hike to a new post.
Walking papers: There's a whole lot a shakin' going at the Utah County Journal, the free newspaper that lands on your doorstep twice a week. It used to be three times a week, but lack of money forced it to cut back last year.
The paper's owners decided they needed to drastically reduce expenses further.
Now, the paper has cut loose two of its top editors, Michael Morris and Lane Williams, and part-time copy editor Kevin Jenkins.
To save money, Morris offered to quit as editor but to still write columns. Apparently that wasn't good enough.
The owners handed Williams, the city editor, and Jenkins their walking papers Thursday afternoon. For Williams, the notice came one day before his wedding.
Pajama party: Rep. Norm Nielsen, R-Orem, doesn't seem to want to wear his clothes, especially when he's standing at a busy Orem intersection.
Whenever Norm wants to call attention to a cause he dons his pajamas and stands outside holding a sign. He did it last winter at the corner of 1300 South and State Street to drum up support for making Utah Valley Community College a four-year school.
This time he's resorting to "pajama power" to raise money for a sundial sculpture at SCERA Park. He also challenged the Orem City Council to join him in their jammies.
What is it with Norm? Is this his way of showing off the new sleepwear he gets for Christmas each year?
"Loose Change" appears in the Deseret News on Mondays. To reach Dennis or Brooke, call 374-1162 or send us a fax at 377-5701.)