Smaug's Musings

Why I support the Tea Party, and why you should too

2012-02-15T05:49:00.000-08:00

I support the Tea Party movement. It was riding high for a while, but now, due to misinformation promulgated by the media, has become anathema to many people. Once supported by a majority of people, the movement is now looked at as negative by the majority. Why is that? My take is that the media has done a good job of blaming the Tea Party elected members of Congress for the stalemate that has stymied any laws from coming forth from Congress. True, there have been some stalwart Tea Party members of Congress who have resolutely stood by the decision to pass no laws that would raise taxes. So it boils down to this: they are being blamed for doing what is necessary to stop out of control spending and taxation, and to control the budget–to keep your children and grandchildren from having to pay tomorrow, the debts we are incurring today. I find that worthy of commendation, not worthy of condemnation.

This is what the Tea Party believes: they believe in the Constitution, limited government, and liberty. For a good description of what the Tea Party movement stands for, go here: http://www.teaparty-platform.com/

The left-leaning media has done a good job of making the Tea Party folks look like a bunch of racist throwbacks to the stone age. That couldn’t be further from the truth, but those who pay little attention to what goes on around them, other than sound bites, buy into the propaganda that the Tea Party is bad for America. I am a typical member of the Tea Party group. I support all of the tenets mentioned in the link I provided above. So I ask those of you who know me to think about it. Do you consider me to be racist? Do you consider me to be a neanderthal? If not, then why think of the other members of the Tea Party in this way? I urge all of you to do some investigation into what made this country great, and why now, we are on the road to ruin, such as Greece and other nations are traveling down. You will find that our ruin is because government has been drifting from the Constitution. Instead of guaranteeing rights that are specifically mentioned within that document, government is creating new rights that never existed, and that truly don’t exist.

Our government was never meant as a means to ensure that no one would ever go hungry, or go without a job. It was designed to protect the rights of the citizens, and to not interfere in their daily lives. Sadly, the role government plays in the lives of American citizens has increased tremendously. This is one reason Barack Obama must not be re-elected. His policies, including, but not limited to Obamacare, have intruded tremendously into the lives of Americans. His czars he's appointed are clearly unconstitutional, and he has issued decrees when he couldn't get his way with Congress. Clearly he is operating more as a dictator in certain aspects than he is acting as a president.

Why is it wrong for government to help out the citizens with handouts and freebies?

One reason is, because that is going against our great Constitution. Our Constitution which is the law of the land was designed for one purpose only: to make sure the rights of the citizens were protected. And there are only certain rights that are contained therein. There is a list here: http://constitution.org/powright.htm. Notably, there is no right in the Constitution for a person’s access to healthcare or housing. Also notably, there is no right to marry, neither straight nor same sex. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be able to acquire healthcare, housing, nor be married, but what it means is, those things are not guaranteed by the Constitution.

Another reason why it’s wrong for the government to handout freebies etc., is because they are doing it with our money. The Founders knew that there would need to be some taxes raised at times for such things as national defense. But what they didn’t want is a growing monstrosity of government which would raise taxes for anything that Congress deemed necessary. They knew that there would be people in Congress that would try to buy votes, that would feel the need to help anyone (as long as it was help for one of the Congressman’s pet causes) who needed it, all with money that wasn’t their own.

The Constitution was meant to be changed from time to time. This is why the amendment process was designed into it. It has been modified over the years through this process, in fact, since its inception, 27 amendments have been added. But the process is difficult. That’s why there has only been 27 added. The framers made it deliberately difficult to amend the Constitution because it only should be changed for important reasons, and not for “light or transient causes” as Thomas Jefferson put it. For a basic summation of the Constitution, read here: http://www.usconstitution.net/constkids.html

All that being said, there are ways and means to help people who need help. Private citizens can help out any time they’d like. And it doesn’t have to be people like Bill Gates, who have large sums of money at their disposal. Frankly, the government does a horrible job of managing money, and why should we be surprised? It’s very easy to take someone else's money and spend it, which the government does with abandon. But this is the same outfit that paid $400 for a hammer and $640 for a toilet seat. Are they really the group we want taxing and spending our money? Far better for us to do it ourselves, or to combine with others in charitable giving to help those in need.

At this point maybe it would help to define those in need. Those in need are those who can’t help themselves, not those who won’t help themselves. I believe there should be a basic safety net in place to help those who would help themselves if they could, but who through life's circumstances are unable to do so. This is the way Benjamin Franklin put it: “I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I traveled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.”

The question could be asked, if we give handouts to the poor, are we really helping them? In order for mankind to grow, to become stronger, sometimes it is best for them to have to figure out how to help themselves, as Franklin suggests. For the most part, the safety net should come via family members, or members of societal groups, such as church’s or other charitable organizations. This isn’t the federal government’s job, but I can see where there might not be a family available that can help, or the person in need might not be a member of any charitable group.

The bottom line: The Tea Party movement has been trying to hold the line and get back to the original intent of the government–to preserve rights and liberty by not interfering in the lives of America’s citizens. Here’s that link again: http://www.teaparty-platform.com/ . I urge you all to study it and decide for yourselves what kind of a country you’d like to have.

Need any help in deciding whether or not to re-elect Obama?

2012-02-08T05:54:00.000-08:00

In the remote case that some of you reading this have departed from reality, have spent too much time reading Twilight and not enough time looking at the world, have indulged in Dancing with the Stars and other programs, instead of reading news reports–here’s how I would analyze whether or not anyone in their right mind would vote to retain Barack Obama as president.

First I would analyze his foreign policy. In order to do so, I’d look at our relations with other countries and see how they’ve progressed, regressed, or remained unchanged during the President’s term of office. Here’s a partial list of what has happened:

Israel: Regressed. With our strongest ally in the Middle-east, Obama has been a scolding stepfather, and has not supported them with rhetoric in any way, shape or form.

Saudi Arabia: Regressed. Though Obama bowed to a Saudi King, they don’t like the fact that we are doing nothing to dissuade Iran in its nuclear acquisition. The bowing itself was a sign of weakness and not respected by Muslims.

Russia: Regressed. Though Bush had a meager relationship with the Russians, their relationship with us has slipped during the Obama administration, causing them to form an alliance with China in the U.N. against us.

China: Regressed. Our relationship with China continues to deteriorate, largely because there are no talks between us and them.

Egypt: Regressed. Though Mubarak was a dictator who the citizens opposed, he kept the zealots in check. Now, under the Arab Spring--which Obama originally said nothing about, but only later when the Muslim Brotherhood appeared to be gaining the upper hand did he say anything in support of the movement--we have American hostages.

Iran: Regressed. Though Bush called them part of the “Axis of Evil”, the relationship has continued to deteriorate under the Great Uniter.

Pakistan: Regressed. Once tepid allies, Obama’s lack of skill in dealing with other nations has made a simmering cauldron heat up to the boiling point.

Afghanistan: Regressed. Obama’s policies have made the situation worse in that country, not better.

Venezuela: Progressed: Obama has said nice things about Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez.

Cuba: Progressed: Obama has indicated a willingness to remove travel restrictions on many people who wish to travel to Cuba. His willingness to work with nightmarish regimes should be looked upon with a great degree of suspicion.

That’s just a small sampling of the many countries around the world. If I were to grade the man on his foreign policy decisions, he’d be pretty close to an F.
Now, let’s take a look at domestic issues. The question one must always ask at election time, is the traditional “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” I think that most of us can breathe out a collective “No!” in response to that query.

Economics: Regressed. Though Obama inherited a recession, we are stuck in a quagmire, largely fueled by the Federal government’s overreach in regulations. Our economy is tanking, largely on the national debt which reached $15 trillion in November. The president has failed to provide leadership to get the government spending in check and to balance the budget and reduce the deficit. He has wasted billions in supporting green energy companies, singling them out for government aid, only to see them go bankrupt. He has failed to act positively in promoting energy in America, keeping the Keystone Pipeline from being built to please his left-wing base, thus keeping an estimated 20,000 new jobs from happening.

He's dedicated though.He has spent countless hours working on his golf game, or world traveling while millions of Americans are out of work and while Congress has failed to come to agreement on policies that would help. He has been out of the loop, decreeing this or that, issuing edicts because his power of working together to come to common agreement is nil. His way of reaching across the aisle, is to expect everyone to agree with him. He has been an ineffectual failure that has done more harm than perhaps any other president in U.S. history. He has alienated our allies, while strengthening our enemies. He has pushed through Obamacare when the majority of Americans were against it. He is an agenda driven idealogue who cares little for the desires of Americans, only enough that he’ll say what he needs to say to get elected. And then there's the little problem with following the Constitution. He hasn't seemed all that favorable towards doing so, and he will have the opportunity in his second term, should we be so stupid, to nominate as many as three Supreme Court Justices. Don't think he won't nominate more people like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who has no respect for the Constitution--at least the U.S. Constitution. Two peas in a pod--like Ginsburg, Obama doesn't have much respect for it either. (Note: I inadvertently on Facebook said that Ginsburg had be nominated by the second worst president ever, thinking that Jimmy Carter had been the one. I was in error--it was actually Clinton). Anyway, that’s my analysis. You can agree or not, it is after all, one man's opinion.

Your excuse is invalid

2012-02-04T05:57:00.000-08:00

Someone posted this on Facebook the other day. I reposted it, of course. We all come up with reasons for why we can't do something. Let's come up with reasons why we will.

Writing, goals, and how life turns out

2012-01-28T05:17:00.000-08:00

When I was much younger, my expectations of my future life were high. I thought that one day, I'd be a writer, at least be able to make a living as a novelist. I thought that I'd quit my job working for the U.S. Postal Service, and be able to have a lucrative and fulfilling career as a novelist. Now at 52, I look back and am dismayed and depressed that the dream has gone unfulfilled. Of course, one has to realize that other more important things may have kept me from accomplishing that dream. Raising a family and making sure that they were taken care of (which I wouldn't trade for all the writing in the world), doing my duty to God and other responsibilities, exercising for good health, and of course, my full-time job. All those took me away from writing for long stretches of time.
I'm not the kind of writer who can easily sit down for five minutes and have something good written. I need at least an hour or two of free time, which throughout my adult life, has been difficult and sometimes impossible to find. And I get down on myself to easily, whether or not it's the writing aspect or the exercising aspect. Somehow, through all that though, I've been able to write one novel (still unpublished), and complete large chunks of two others (still in the process of completing them), a bunch of short stories, and numerous articles on my real passion in life--outdoors activities. So, I've written. I've even published one of my short stories for money.
But that isn't what my goal originally was. My goal was to be making a living writing. My goal was to be out of the postal service at a young age, living my dreams. So what am I trying to say? That sometimes dreams don't come true. That sometimes a modification is in order, and in order to be happy with those modifications, we need to decide to. We need to try and be happy in other ways. I think I can do that. I just need to figure some things out and decide where I'm going with my writing. Should I continue floundering in the world of fiction, or should I go where I've been more successful in my writing career, writing the outdoors articles? I'm leaning toward the outdoors articles, but then a part of me will always be wondering, could I have been good enough to be a novelist had I only persevered?

Contradictions in liberal thinking

2012-01-26T20:18:00.000-08:00

Just contemplating today that liberals rarely make sense. One liberal point of view is that there should be light-rail trains and high speed trains everywhere in America, replacing cars, trucks, motorcycles and the like. But this idea would never work. The reason why? Other liberals would stop it. Yes, liberal environmentalists would find a gopher burrow, or a rare aphid colony--years of study would need to be done to figure out the environmental impact, new routes would need to be changed, involving more studies of the impact on the newly proposed routes, on and on and on. But wait a minute...it just might work. I nearly forgot that the environment can be overlooked as long as the liberal agenda is pushed forward. Just look at how many windmills around the country went up without a thought in the world about the displacement of kangaroo rats, jackrabbits, or horned toads.

Kind of like...

Liberals are in favor of equality. Take from the rich, redistribute to the poor. In favor of equalizing the money supply. In favor of taking from the haves and giving it to the have-nots. Yep, in favor of equality. So in order to get it, they'd like the rich to pay 30 percent or more of their income in taxes, and the less fortunate to pay next to nothing. How is that equal treatment under the law? So, as long as equality means what they define it to mean, then they believe in it.

Another thing is...

Work. Many liberals believe that traditionally low-income jobs, such as dishwashers, or parking lot attendants, should be getting paid a lot more, like twenty dollars an hour. I heard that from one of the Occupy Wall Streeters. And NBA players should be getting a lot less. The liberals want to take from the NBA players, and Oprah (wait a minute, Oprah is one of the rich that they don't want to take anything from because she agrees with them), and give that money to those on the low end of the financial scale. Sound like a nice concept, only can't we ask the wealthy to help the poor voluntarily? But it's not only that. Liberals would like those who refuse to work to be subsidized in their efforts by those who do the work. That's you and me. As Dennis Miller says, "I'm fine with helping the helpless. I just don't want to help the clueless." Equal work for equal pay, how about that? If you can play a sport well enough to draw thousands to watch you, employing hundreds if not thousands of other employees to sell snacks and beverages, show you to your seats, provide security--well if the job you are doing provides so many jobs for so many other people, maybe you might be worth a little more on the job market than the guy who stocks shelves at Wal-mart for a living.

Here I am writing blog posts again instead of working on my novel

2012-01-14T05:28:00.000-08:00

There are just too many important things to comment on and not enough hours in a day to do it. So my novel sacrifices, and thus my chance of making a living writing, goes out the window with it. Too bad, I guess. I've just got to get certain things out there that are bothering me. I hope you have a great day.

We live in a world of two-year-olds

2012-01-14T05:16:00.000-08:00

"That's mine!"
"No. It's mine!"
The cries are heard everywhere now. Whether or not it's the new Michael Jordan shoes people are fighting about, or violence breaking out over the iPad 2. Here's a clip of another incident in China: Hysteria as Beijing iPhone Release Canceled. Each year we hear of more people being involved in tussling over the good deals on Black Friday. The world has become more narcissistic and it's not pleasant to look at.
Our own Congress has shown plenty of signs of this trend, with Harry Reid of the Senate blocking every spending bill the House sends him. Under Reid's "leadership" the Senate has failed to pass a budget for nearly 1000 days. That's approaching three years. By law, they are required to pass a budget every year.

People everywhere are slowly, inexorably, reverting to the toddler stage. They either want government to take care of them (feed me, clothe me, wipe my rear end), or they expect something for nothing from the world. With an ever increasing pace, more and more people are deciding that they shouldn't have to work for what they get. "Mommy," they seem to say, "Pick me up. Take care of me. I can't do it by myself."

Remember when it was shameful to have someone else do something for you that you could and should be responsible for doing yourself? Remember when your mom made you clean your room? If she did it for you, she's part of the problem we have today.

Whatever happened to self-respect? Whatever happened to character? Somehow, it has been replaced by greed, avarice, and a self-centered "me first" attitude that's destroying the world, slowly, like an advancing cancer. How can anyone have any self-respect when they react in such a manner? They can and do certainly have self love. Sadly, most lacking is the love for their fellow travelers here on the earth. Things have become more precious to them than others. Having "mine" is all that is important.

What to do about it? Well, we could start a war that would send us all back into the stone age. Then people would either have to learn to work again and cooperate again or they would perish. But that's a drastic measure that no one wants. So the only solution is to have a truly vibrant leader, leading from the top, showing the way. That and a return to being a religious and principled people. Not that you can't be principled and void of religion, however, evidence has shown that for the most part, those who follow a code of ethics inspired by godly principles have been more responsible and self-reliant. With them, giving is for the truly needy, not the indolent.

Gorilla glue, plantar fasciitis, and the depths of despair

2012-01-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

Yup. I'm feelin' sorry for myself this morning. I'm tired. Last night I came home from work at about 6:00 and did nothing for myself except take a bath. The rest of the time I worked--dinner, dishes, bills. I finally said, "I'm going downstairs to play my guitar," and then couldn't really play it, because I have a dry-skin crack right under the thumbnail of my picking hand. Frustrating.

So, I woke up this morning tired from yesterday, not really wanting to go to the gym. Well, really, tiredness isn't all of it. I've also developed a nasty case of plantar fasciitis over the past week, and I don't like doing things other than running for my aerobic exercise--things that would cause less stress on my plantar. So I wussed out. Honestly, I'd like to call in sick today, but I won't do that. I'd like to go back to bed, but no. I've accomplished something though--I got my writing done for the day. Worked on my novel a bit. Not much though. Not enough. My depression has deepened and is causing me to lose my drive. I think I'm going to put some Gorilla glue on my crack, so that I can at least be pain free (ha!) for a day. What a whiner I am. I really need a vacation.

Mitt Romney, can you lead us out of this morass?

2012-01-02T06:51:00.000-08:00

I sent this message to the Mitt Romney Facebook page this morning:

We definitely do need to ask these questions. Are we going to continue to be the free-loading loafers who despise the wealthy job creators because they are wealthy, or are we going to kick government out of our lives and stand on our own two feet like the rugged individualists of yesteryear? I propose that those of us who are wimps quit crying, and get to work supporting ourselves, and that we throw those people out of government who want to handcuff future generations with the lead weight of a massive national debt spawned by entitlements. Rise up and be men, you men, and rise up and be women, you women. This is not the day to forget our roots and depend upon a despotic government for our every day care. It's not the time to turn away from our God-given rights guaranteed by the Constitution. It's the time to stop the taking away of a man or woman the right to live and breathe free. It's the time to remove the shackles from the feet of the American businessmen and the citizens. It's the time to return to the Constitutional free market system that made us great. Mitt, I hope you will spend more time talking about returning to a time when our Constitution wasn't battered about like a flag in a hurricane. Many of us would love to vote for you if you would emphasize your desire to return to the laws and rights that were created at the founding of this great country. I pray for such a man to lead us in this great nation of ours.

Time, resolutions, and goals

2012-01-01T09:54:00.000-08:00

As I reflect on the things that I've done this past year, and contemplate what I'd like to do the coming year, I feel that many of them are the same things. I've been thinking about the words Jesus Christ spoke, when he said, "for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." In many ways, my treasure hasn't been where I'd like it to be. I've focused too much on the trivial, and not given enough time to the truly significant. In some ways, this is because my time is so limited that I think I can't do something because I would just get started and have to quit to go and do some mundane task, that however ordinary it is, still needs doing. Many of us have the same challenges, and yet, with a little effort, with a little whittling of the stuff that's of no worth or of small value, we can find more time in our days in which to work on things that are more important. I suggest in my life that the things that are most important are 1) God, and 2) Other people. My focus needs to be strengthened in those two areas.

With that in mind, I go forward, attempting to be a better follower of Christ, and in so doing, I will quite naturally become better at serving others. Sure, I have other goals. I will spend some time on them. But they are far less important than the God I love, and the people I love, who after all, are His children too.

I have always been a reactionary, instead of a good planner. Which lends itself well to rescuing people who are in danger, but does not always bode well in encounters with irate people. Responding to anger with anger isn't a Christlike attribute, and when I do such things, I don't have much self-admiration. So, I guess I need to try and keep the good qualities of being reactionary--such as being able to jump into a burning building should the need arise--but jettison the bad qualities of reactionism--the swift anger response in particular. That's what I will work on this year.

I have other goals, but I will need to think more about them before I can put them down in written form. No one says that you can only start goals at the beginning of the year, after all.

By the content of their character

2011-12-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

When Martin Luther King Jr. said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character," it was a pivotal moment in history--or should've been. The greatness of that one line transcends time, and yet millions of Americans cannot discard the racial divide that has plagued us for so long.

There are groups such as the Black Caucus, and other groups associated with Black Americans. There are Latino groups, such as La Raza. There are many, many different groups all aligned with one race or another. Why? Why do we have to keep dividing each other by the color of our skin instead of only judging each other by the way we act and the things we say?

This isn't a game. This isn't like elementary school when the teacher asked the girls to line up along one wall, and the boys to line up against the other, opposite wall. Why do we have to keep acting the child, instead of the grownup?

Those searching for would-be terrorists are asked not to profile, because profiling sometimes puts more emphasis on one set of physical characteristics (skin color) than another. Yet many of those same people who ask for profiling to be abandoned as a tactic for discovering terrorists, huddle in groups of their own racial type, and fail to meld into society, not as a latino, arab, asian, or black, but as an American. E pluribus unum--from one many. Skin color should only be used as a description of what a person looks like for either solving crimes, or helping to find someone who is lost.

The fact is, King's dream may be fading as those who most prospered by it are forgetting its importance. If racial divisiveness continues, we can never be a united nation. Can we just forget about the color of our skin and think of each other as the human race instead?

Taking a break from the novel

2011-12-28T04:47:00.000-08:00

I don’t feel like working on my novel today. I think it’s because I feel rushed. I have to get ready in about 20-25 minutes, in order to hit the gym before work. For this reason, I’m writing a blog entry instead of working on my novel. I’m looking forward to the day when I can have more time to just relax and write. That should happen in about three months from now when I no longer have to be on the overtime list–at least for a few months. I may have to be on the list for the last three months of the year, but that should put an end to it for good, as we’re only a year and a half away from having our house paid off.

That will be so great to have the house paid off. I’ve been looking forward to that for a long, long time. We have sacrificed in many ways doing upkeep and buying things many of the Joneses have bought. We have tried to stay out of debt, only getting in debt for much needed cars, at least for the last ten years or so. Soon, if all goes well, we won’t even need to get into debt for cars when we need them.

I’m not sure though that we did everything right. I know we tried to be frugal for the most part, but there were splurges. Actually, I think there have to be some splurges–some surprises and rewards for all the hard work from time to time. Otherwise, depression and drudgery can set in.

So really, I kind of needed to take a break from trying to squeeze in a half hour of working on the novel. Actually, it’s going pretty well. It’s my second book and I’ve basically rewritten it through about 38,000 words. I’ll need to at least double that in order for it to have a chance of selling. That’s okay though–the story is far from over. I have many more scenes to add, and an exciting conclusion. I hope when it’s finished, and if I sell it, that you’ll take the time to read Last Stand at Cibola. It is a work of my heart. It’s a fantasy set in the Old West, full of Hopi mysticism and magic. I’ll let you know when it’s available.

As for my already completed novel, I think I’m going to go through it once more and think of a new title for it, as the title I have for it now I’m not satisfied with. I’m looking to publish that too, but maybe as an e-book. I really just need to get some cover art for it.

America and the Reconquista

2011-12-23T06:08:00.000-08:00

I think most of the people coming here illegally from Mexico are trying to escape a bad government, and horrible living conditions. There are some evil people coming as well, that is true. I believe though, that most are fleeing evil.

So, I wonder, if they are fleeing evil, do they want it to follow them? In Pat Buchanan’s book, Suicide of a Superpower, he cites stats that show a majority of Mexicans, even to the second generation, would like to Mexicanize America. I can’t help but wonder, if they’ve really thought it through. Here they are, fleeing corruption, discouraged by the lack of opportunity, only to show up and want to change the United States to be like that?

Not that America isn’t becoming more like that anyway. The corruption in politics has come more and more into the light, and Americans feel powerless in many ways to do anything to change the status quo. Frankly, we don’t need people here who only want to take advantage of the system, live off of welfare, and try to destroy the last vestiges of the idea of America.

I like people who aren’t like that. I like people who want to come here because they love liberty, and because they know that working hard and giving your best yields the best results. So, for those who come here and want those kinds of things, I could be persuaded that they should stay, at least, that they should be given the opportunity to apply for citizenship. For those who want to live off the public dole, who want to commit crimes, who think it’s okay to drive drunk and kill people, who want to trash America and Americans, and who want to reconquista their former lands–well, I have no good words to say for you. Go away. There is no place for you here. Take the drug cartel people and throw them out of the country, forcibly if necessary, maybe even have them break rocks for a few years first.

But let’s preserve the idea of America first. Without the idea, the last remains will escape us, like sand in a whirlwind.

A friend of mine died yesterday

2011-11-20T08:30:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine died yesterday. Charlie Workman, who would’ve been 91 next month passed after many years of health trouble. I’ve known him for probably more than twenty years, and I’ve been his home teacher for maybe fifteen of those years. I really got to know him and love him. Charlie used to tell us about his life as a young boy. Born in Manila, Utah, he lost his mother at the age of five, and was shuffled around from family to family who raised him. He lived through the heart of the Great Depression, served in the Merchant Marines in World War 2, and worked a variety of manual labor jobs throughout his life. He was fond of recalling his experiences about working for the railroad, and in fact had a model train set attached to a board in his garage that he could lower with a crank. He got rid of that several years ago. He told us of one time when he was working for a refinery and the part of it that he was working on exploded and he was miraculously preserved from death.
He spent time in his later life working for the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s department. He loved his motorcycle and could be seen riding around the streets of our neighborhood until old age and health kept him from doing that anymore. Those who saw him thought it was Santa Claus riding a motorcycle.
I remember the times when he would drive up in front of my house in his truck, when I was working outside and would stop and chat for several minutes. As his age and time caught up with him, he needed to get something to help him get around when he went to stores, and he was excited to tell me about his scooter and the lift for it that he had added to the bed of his truck. Eventually, he had stop driving that as well.
As he got older, I began trying to help out more with his yard, especially snow shoveling in the winter time. At first, I tried to be sneaky, doing it in the wee hours when they were asleep, so as not to get caught. Eventually, he caught me at it and chided me for doing it. He was a man of pride and didn’t like to think he needed help. I kept it up though and eventually, he came to appreciate it openly.
He loved his family and took great pride in many of his kids and grandkids. He missed those who had died before him. He had a great heart, and though opinionated, and though he could be prejudiced and cantankerous, he was a good man and will be missed. I have lost a great friend this year, but on the other side, his loved ones are waiting. It will be a great reunion.

A guy tried to get me to fight him today

2011-11-14T12:43:00.000-08:00

So I began my first mail delivery of the day stopping as I usually do at 7-11, which is the first stop on my route. Trying to be courteous to those whose cars were parked in front of the store, I parked in front of two empty stalls. No sooner had I turned off the engine, than I heard a honk. I looked to my left and a guy was trying to get me to move so he could pull into one of the empty stalls that I had parked in front of. I gestured to another empty stall down the way and went in and made my delivery. When I came out he was swearing at me: "You blankety-blank think you can take up the entire blankety-blank parking lot."

I should've just let it drop and ignored him, but I couldn't. I didn't like his attitude, and I didn't like his assumption. I had intentionally avoided causing inconvenience to the people already parked there. As I passed him, I spoke up: "Up yours," I said. And continued to my truck.

That was when he turned around and challenged me to a fight. Okay, I kind of wanted to kick his butt, but I didn't think it was worth losing my job over, which would've happened had I engaged in a fight with him. So I just told him to get lost and drove away.

I'm feeling kind of bad about it though. The guy was a jerk and all, but I shouldn't have escallated the situation. I'm sorry that happened.

The Penn State death threats

2011-11-13T05:20:00.000-08:00

As more and more details of the Grand Jury Testimony in the Penn State child abuse case come out, those of us with any sense of decency are rightly appalled and angered at what took place. Allegedly, Mike McQuery, who has been identified as the graduate student who first caught former defensive coach, Jerry Sandusky sexually abusing a 10 year old boy in the showers, has received multiple death threats in regards to his failure to do something more, like attack Sandusky, or immediately call the police. Sadly, it appears that there have been other death threats made to McQuery, from angered fans who are furious that he did anything at all that led to the firing of Head Coach Joe Paterno. That, my friends, is appalling. That there are actually people out there walking around that put the career of Paterno above the safety of children is simply too terrible to contemplate.
Frankly, McQuery was negligent in not directly attacking and trying to stop the incident when it first occurred. Anyone with children can understand the fury a parent would have at his lack of appropriate action. As Jim Rome put it (and I'm paraphrasing here), "McQueary was 28 years old and 6'5" and Sandusky was 58". He could have and should have done something. It doesn't warrant death threats though. If anything, the death threats should be against Sandusky. As a parent (now grandparent) myself, nothing infuriates me more than someone wanting to hurt my children and grandchildren--or anybody else's for that matter.
Of course, the threats against McQueary for getting Joe Paterno fired are from morons and cretins of the lowest order. These are the kind of people who put sports and winning above all else and make head coaches their personal gods.

Editing Cibola

2011-11-12T05:57:00.000-08:00

I'm back at it again with a fury. Rather, a sputtering fury, but a fury none the less. I've been going through my old novel Showdown at Cibola and trying to get back into the flow through editing what I had already written extensively. It seems to be working. Already it's at nearly 27,000 words, which is about one third of the total length it will end up needing to be in order to get published.

On a related note, I'm thinking of publishing my novel, Dome World (I'm also trying to think of a better title) on Smash Words. I've never published anything in e-book form, so it's finding the time to learn the ropes that's the difficult part for me. I guess the main thing is getting someone to do cover art.

I'm finding some time to do this--maybe 30 to 40 minutes, in the mornings before heading off to the gym and from there to work. At 30-40 minutes it's going slower than I would like, but I think it's good to just plug away with whatever time one has. Hopefully, I can soon dedicate some time in the evenings as well to work on this stuff.

The U.S. Owns the Moon

2011-10-18T20:29:00.000-07:00

So, this argument is a natural progression from the "we were here first" argument put forth by Native Americans. Logically, since they were here first, the land was "stolen" from them. But as an extension of this logic, the Moon belongs to the U.S. on the same basis. The United States owns the moon. So there.

All that being said, I think it's rather ridiculous to assume that because the native peoples were displaced by the Europeans in North America, that it was the first time such a thing has ever happened on this planet. People have been pushed out, conquered, assimilated, and replaced throughout the history of humankind. To the victor go the spoils, as the saying goes, and it's been that way as long as life has existed.

The U.S. Government Needs a New Agency: The People Protection Agency

2011-10-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

Today I'm advocating for a new governmental agency. Yes, I know--that's more government intrusion. However, I'm advocating for a People Protection Agency. This agency would have specific powers, namely, to grab all regulations passed by the EPA by the throat, and stomp them into the ground until they're dead. Well maybe not all of them. My proposal would be to have this new agency oversee the EPA and toss out any law that causes harm to people. For example, an EPA statute that protected an endangered form of snail, would be jettisoned if people were losing jobs because of that statute. My reasoning is simple. Most individuals believe that human beings were the final stop on the evolutionary chain, making man the highest order of animal. It stands to reason that the highest form needs to do whatever it takes to survive. Losing ones livelihood because of a snail, fish, or insect, or any number of lower forms of life, is detrimental to the survival of the species. Therefore, I'm recommending that such an agency be created--to stop the over regulation and red tape associated with protecting endangered species, and that the highest form of life on the chain be given top priority when it comes to survival.

Writing to be writing

2011-10-06T04:43:00.000-07:00

I'm writing here in my blog because to day I'm avoiding writing. In other words, I'm writing to avoid writing. The writing I'm avoiding is my novel, Last Stand at Cibola. The reason I'm avoiding working on my book, is because this morning the furnace went out and I spent all my time replacing the thermocouple, and now it still won't light, so I'm giving it ten minutes and trying it again. Basically, I can't really get into my novel writing in that short of a period of time--at least, I'm telling myself that. The reality is probably different, but as the saying goes, perception is reality. I'm going to try and find some extra time this evening to work on the book.

On taxing the "rich"

2011-09-24T04:47:00.000-07:00

When I've posted links on Facebook, at least in the last several months, several of them have been about President Obama's plan to tax the "wealthiest" among us. Repeatedly in speeches, the president has made references to making sure that "millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share". Several of the links I've referenced to in my Facebook postings have been about how the wealthiest Americans are already paying the lion's share of taxes in America. Here's an example of one of those links: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2039767/Obama-tax-increase-Do-wealthy-Americans-pay-middle-class.html
The answer is simple: those whom Obama considers rich, already pay more than the rest of us, both in total dollars, and in tax rates. But why should that matter? In this time of economic disaster, shouldn't they be asked to pay even more? The answer, again quite simply, is no. Here's why.

Those who earn over $200,000 per year, which seems to be the income level that Obama begins thinking of them as "millionaires", include the vast majority of employers. Entrepreneurs, most of whom are taxed at an individual rate, do most of the hiring in America. The question then becomes, will they still hire as many people if their bills (including taxes) are higher? It's a question that must be asked because it's highly relevant to the discussion. Let's take the average citizen as an example. Let's say Joe Johnson is humming along, happily earning $50,000 per year, buying things as needed, and sometimes as wanted. He's really got his eye on a nice fishing boat, selling for about $5000. Now Joe's a good saver, and has saved most of the money to purchase the boat, but then the unthinkable happens---he loses his job. Try as he might, he can't find a job that pays as well as the job he had before and he winds up at a job paying $42,000 per year. Suddenly the extra he had for paying off the rest of the boat is needed for basic necessities: food, house payment, gas for his car. He decides to put off buying the boat, although he really still wants it.

In the same way Joe has decided not to purchase the boat, employers must make decisions on whether or not to hire future employees. If their bills increase, they have less money with which to do this. At a time in which our unemployment rate is very high, to decide to increase taxes on those who do the hiring is foolish at best. Even President Obama has said this in the past. Obama says you don't raise taxes in a recession

Another reason for not raising taxes, on the rich or anyone else, is that it reduces the incentive to stop the outrageous spending. If I'm getting $1000 more per month, as an individual, am I going to be more likely to spend, or less? I think the answer is clear. And that's even more problematic when the money you're receiving is a gift from someone else. Someone once said that it's always easy to spend someone else's money, and it is. Frankly, as a citizen, I don't trust my government to spend my money wisely. Remember, these are the same people who spent $400 for a hammer and something like $1000 for a toilet seat. Do we really want them collecting and spending more of our money for wasteful things like this? I'd rather stop the inflow and make them reduce the outflow.

All that being said, there's nothing wrong with asking those who have the means to contribute more. Warren Buffet and some others who have a lot of means have said that they don't pay enough in taxes. Fine. They can cut checks and send them in to pay more. It's easy to do. They should put their money where their collective mouths are. Frankly, I'd rather see them contributing to the Food Bank, or the homeless shelters, or any number of privately owned charities that actually do more with less money than our federal government. I'd rather see them going around helping individuals and families, than sending in more money to be squandered by government agencies.

The bottom line is, heaping more taxes on job providers doesn't help in an ailing economy. Cutting spending does. Asking people who have the means to voluntarily help their neighbors goes much further than any increase in taxes ever could. Remember what Ronald Reagan once said: "The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money". Think about it.

I am an American

2011-09-12T05:14:00.001-07:00

I am an American and yesterday was September 11th. For one brief span of time ten years ago, nearly everyone came together in unity. As a nation, we had been attacked. As a people, we seemed in that moment to become united. Sadly, that has drifted away. The liberals fight the conservatives, and politics is a cess pool of invective–civility has fled like animals fleeing from a forest fire. We think it has not always been like that.

I will not forget 9/11. I won’t forget the planes plowing into the towers of the World Trade Center, nor the horror of watching bodies jump or fall from the windows. I won’t forget the heroism of the firefighters, and others, who devotedly continued on trying to save as many as possible, even as the buildings collapsed on top of them. How can one ever forget that?

But there’s another thing I won’t forget. I won’t forget how we came together as a people, united, caring and loving. Determined. I won’t forget how we are all much more alike than we are different. And I would like to think that no matter how you believe, whether you agree with me or not on any number of topics of vital interest, that I would bust down a door to pull you out if need be. For the common cause that unites us all, is freedom and liberty, the sense that humanity matters and people’s opinions are valuable, that the rights of an individual are vital to the continued liberty, and even humanity of us all. I am an American. We are Americans.

The rich and taxes

2011-08-16T05:07:00.000-07:00

So the basic supply-side economist will say that if you raise taxes on the rich, they will create less jobs. The counterargument to that is that trickle-down approaches to the economy have never worked, and that the stinking, evil rich don't create jobs even when their taxes are lowered. They instead pocket the money and make themselves richer.
Don't buy it.
Take the case of the late Larry Miller, former owner of the Utah Jazz. Before Miller owned the Jazz, he was a car dealer, with several dealerships. But he hadn't begun with several. He began with one. As he became more successful, he added dealerships, which added jobs. In time, he bought into the Utah Jazz, and eventually became full owner of the Jazz. Under his ownership, the Jazz became more successful, which created more wealthy for Miller, but also created more job opportunities.
Miller continued his holdings as he bought into other enterprises, like the Salt Lake Stingers (now the Bees), and the Larry Miller Sports Park. All of these created more jobs.
Now, some would say that he would have done the same, even if taxes were raised. Maybe. We don't know. What we do know is this: Larry Miller continued to create jobs instead of lining his own pockets as he grew richer. Yes, he became wealthier, but his wealth helped out normal people who needed work. This is the exact opposite of what the anti-supply-side supporters will tell you. They have argued with me that the rich don't create more jobs, they just line their pockets. Larry Miller is proof that they are wrong.

Old Yeller

2011-08-07T15:22:00.000-07:00

This past week I watched Old Yeller for maybe the 4th or 5th time in my life. What a wonderful story of friendship, growing up, and taking responsibility. Near the end, after Travis has had to put his dog down and he and his pa are sitting there talking to each other, there is a great statement made by the pa. I don't have the book in front of me but he says to Travis: "Now and then, for no good reason, life will haul off and knock a man flat." And then he goes on to say that, and I'm paraphrasing here, "life has good times too. And if we spend all our good times thinking about the bad, then it all becomes bad". I really like to look at life that way, and I thank Fred Gipson, author of Old Yeller for the lesson he continues to give me long after his death.

How I've lost 7 pounds since Christmas

2011-02-19T18:00:00.000-08:00

As someone who has always wanted to be healthy, in order to do the things I love to do, I spend a bit of time every once in a while searching the web for a better exercise program. I have thus created my own program from various sources, and if it can be useful to others, that's great. That's why I posted it here. Granted, this method isn't for everyone...maybe it's not even for me in the long run. One thing's for sure, it works. I have been able to lose weight and become more fit at the same time, and that's important to me.

Mondays: On Mondays I have to be to work a half hour earlier, so I do one of my easier workouts. I get on the treadmill and run at a fairly easy pace for a while, then I speed it up incrementally, like up a tenth every four to five minutes. I do this for 40-45 minutes with the goal to use up at least 500 calories, according to the treadmill instrument panel. Depending on the treadmill--there are some made by different companies at the Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center--I either burn 500+ or 600+. I imagine the real total is somewhere in between.

Tuesdays: I begin again on the treadmill, running gently for five minutes to get warmed up. Then I jack up the pace, going from about a 9:30 mile pace to about an 8 minute per mile pace for about a minute. I slow back down, but not quite to the 9:30 pace, maybe 9:20 or so for four minutes, and then run 1 minute at about 7:50. I keep this up, each time slowing down but slowing down a little bit less, and speeding up a little bit more, until I've used up 600 calories. Then I go to part B of Tuesdays workout when I do a variety of pushups, found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPLoCnuam7c . After that I do two sets of bench dips, and two sets of any kind of triceps exercise. Sometimes my interval training changes to a slower pace but with a steep incline, changing the incline every four minutes instead of changing the pace. It adds variety when I'm feeling like not doing my workout.

Wednesdays: Once again I'm on the treadmill, this time to run at a comfortable pace for the entire time, not too fast, not too slow...more of a recovery day, so I try to keep it slow enough that I could still talk if I wanted to, without getting out of breath. Since Wednesdays are my arm and back workout, I then move to the machine and do two sets of 12 bent "V" rowing, with 100 lbs. Then, because I'm having trouble with my left elbow and biceps tendons, I do two sets of 12 on the lat pull-down machine with 60 pounds. Then I do two sets of 12 curls with the curl bar at 45 pounds. So much for the easy day! When I really need a break, I eliminate all the cardio on Wednesdays, but I haven't done that in February because it's fitness month at the gym and I'm trying to go every day except Sundays. The 12 reps is just what I'm on now. I'm building from 10, trying to make it to 15, but going up a little at a time.

Thursdays: This is another killer day! It begins with ten minutes of a warm up jog on the treadmill. Then I walk around and stretch for a few minutes getting real loose. After that I do M100s, which you can see here: M100s . BTW, I cannot do 100 without stopping. The most I've been able to do without at least stopping for a few seconds is about 34. So, when I get to that point, I walk to the next corner in the basketball court area, and go again until I can't do any more, on and on moving to another corner until I complete the 100. After that I go back into the treadmill area and try to get my 600 calories burned off (I estimate the M100s burn off about 200, but I have no way of knowing how accurate that estimate is). Then I do a variety of abdominal exercises that I don't know the names of, except one is called "Roman Chair Situps". Then I'm done. I was so worn out after Wednesday this past week that I abandoned the M100s and instead did an extra interval workout.

Fridays: By Friday, I really need an easier workout so, like Wednesday, I run at a fairly easy pace for 45 minutes. Then I do two sets of leg press with 200 pounds, two sets of lunges with each leg, two sets of 20 calf raises, two sets of leg extensions, and two of leg curls. Then Friday is done.

Saturday: The gym opens at 7 on Saturday and I have to be to work at 8. So I do a five minute warm up run, and then do a race pace 5k on the treadmill. That's it and the week is done I can go on to Sunday when I

REST!!! It's not enough rest, but it's REST!!

For my diet, I just try to eat healthfully, avoiding red meats more than I used to, eating less goodies, eating Clif Bars to supplement my diet. More bananas for potassium etc. Yes, I still eat desserts, but I keep it under control. That's about it. I'm needing a break, so after next week I'll do an easy week, and hopefully be back to killing it by the next week.

I hope this has helped anyone looking for an exercise program. In a perfect world, I would definitely recommend alternating this with an easier week, as far as the treadmill stuff goes.

Utah Bear Trial: Questions that affect us all

2011-02-13T05:59:00.001-08:00

This week the trial began in the case of the Ives family who lost their son to a bear last year versus the U.S. Forest Service. Sad though it is that this family lost their son, it brings up two questions in my mind that must be answered. Number one is, who has responsibility for the death of the boy? And number two is, should the parents be suing?

So, who has the responsibility? First of all, the family does. As the Forest Service claims, there are signs everywhere reminding people that bears frequent the area, and to use precautions necessary for such an area. That being said, the area in which the people were camping was in particular danger–increased danger, because a bear had been in the very campground earlier in the day on which Samuel Ives was dragged from the tent and killed. This specific danger required specific warnings.

Here’s an example of why. Suppose that on your street in your neighborhood a known child molester had been spotted earlier that day trying to get a kid into a car. Now, suppose that nobody let the families living on that street know about the incident. Suppose further that your child was abducted and killed by this creep. What if you then found out that the police had known about the molester trying to pick up another kid earlier that day, and didn’t bother to tell anyone. Would not the authorities share the blame for what happened for not warning the people about a specific threat in the area? Sure, they could use the excuse that there are always bad guys out there, and people need to be vigilant all the time. They could say that. But there are times when people need to be more vigilant than at other times.

Like the anecdotal child molester story, the bear incident shows that in this case, more stringent warnings should’ve been given. And who should they have been given by? The people who knew what had happened earlier in the day–the U.S. Forest Service.

That brings us to question two: Should the family be suing? My initial response is yes. That’s the only way the Forest Service will do things differently when confronted by a similar situation in the future. On the other hand, maybe the things they do differently will effect large numbers of people, like closing whole canyons down because a bear has been seen–just to avoid potential law suits. And another thing that bothers me about suing, is that it comes out of taxpayer’s pockets. Granted, there are a bunch of things that my money goes for via the Feds that I don’t like, that I probably don’t like much more than giving this poor family who has lost a son some money.

It’s a complicated question with no easy answers. Now that it’s in court, I’m not even sure that I hope they win the lawsuit. I’d like to see the Forest Service admit they should’ve done more to warn people, but I don’t want to see more and more people suing for incidents such as this.

Questions of Life

2011-02-04T04:41:00.000-08:00

The questions of life...why are we really here? Obviously, I have my own thoughts on this. For many years of my youth, I struggled with various opinions and theories, flitting this way and that like some kind of bird that had lost its bearings. It’s not easy being sure about things in life. What I became more sure of as time went by is that things matter. What a person does effects not only himself, but those around him. When I act, there is a reaction, and it’s not always what I intend it to be.

Funny, but people can change over time, without a really good explanation as to why, or at least, maybe we don’t know what happened in their life to make them change. That can make it difficult for those of us trying to understand why that person changed. Was there an event that triggered it? Was it the influence of persuasive friends or mentors? Did they just drift because they weren’t sure about things, finding themselves much further off course than they had originally intended?

I ask myself this knowing that when some people reject God, they not only become ambivalent towards believers, but eventually come to despise them. Atheists, who don’t believe in God, many times make it a large part of their lives to convince, or at times, even force people to not worship the God they believe in. Why is this? Could it be that some become atheists because of their trials, and can’t believe that a loving God would’ve put them in this situation, therefore making it easy to rail against the God they once believed in, or at least tried to believe in? That’s really the only way to explain the irrational hatred of believers by non-believers.

I pity those who have lost their way. I hope for a change in them. It bothers me to see such railings against people whose desires are basically good—Christians want to love others, and serve them. They want to be good and moral people. Yet we often fail in these attempts because mortal weaknesses get in the way. Mortal weaknesses also plague atheists, but since they profess no beliefs, they are not failures at living up to them.

I wonder, who is better off, the man who has ideals and tries to live up to them, but fails often, or the man who has no ideals to live up to, and thus never fails to live up to any because he doesn’t believe in any. For example, a guy might believe that it’s wrong to lie, and then find himself doing just that for fear of telling someone the truth. He has failed, true, in not lying, but perhaps he has lived a higher ideal, like not hurting someone’s feelings. Who can know? On the other hand, a guy who has made no such goals as to not lie, has not failed at anything if he lies. Kind of like, if I don’t plan on exercising, I haven’t failed when I don’t do so. The other guy who made an exercise plan and failed to strictly follow it has failed. He may have exercised only five days of the week instead of six. Yet which person is better off really? The guy who exercised some, but not up to his goal, or the guy who never had the goal, and never exercised?

Well, I’m drifting. Needless to say, there’s a lot that goes into life. But let’s not get off track for the wrong reasons. If we don’t make an exercise plan ourselves, let’s not rail against those who have the compunction to do so, for the bigger failure is not the guy who takes a day off from his plan once in a while, but the person who never makes the plan in the first place.

Aaarrgghhh! My computer is down!

2011-01-25T12:50:00.000-08:00

I have so much to say and less than ten minutes to say it. My computer went down at the end of last week and I'm rushing--using the library computer to make this post, check my e-mail, and a whole bunch of stuff--all on my half hour lunch. I've got another computer on order from Best Buy, but I don't know how long it's going to take to get here--they estimate January 29-February 5--so I'm not able to do as I'm used to doing. We're just too dependent upon these machines! Needless to say, I won't get my world changing post posted today, but maybe soon.

I'm not really sure what went wrong with my desktop, only I was having a lot of problems with freezing, and trying to fix them caused more problems until I'm where I'm at now...computerless.

But on the bright side, I've practiced my guitar a whole lot more, and got a lot more reading in, so there is that.

Goal: Reducing body fat

2011-01-17T09:11:00.000-08:00

In researching the optimal way in which to lose body fat, I've found a couple of important facts. First of all, it's the total calories you burn through exercise, or through a reduction in intake, that are important, not the kind of calories. In the past, many have suggested that by exercising aerobically at low-intensity, one could enter a "fat-burning zone", while exercising at a more intense rate would put a person out of the fat-burning zone, and into the carb-burning zone. Research has not proven this to be true.

Simply put, less calories in and more calories out is what creates fat loss.

The argument persists between low to moderate intensity workouts versus high intensity workouts. Which is better? The answer is, both can be productive at reducing fat. There is a simple equation that illustrates what I'm trying to say, and that is, the higher intensity exercise a person can safely maintain for as long as the person can maintain it will burn the most calories. So if you're time is limited, a high-intensity cardio workout for 20 minutes, may be the equivalent of a moderately intense 30-40 minute workout--at least as far a burning calories goes.

An excellent article on the subject can be found here: http://www.mens-total-fitness.com/cardio.html

The bottom line is, to lose fat effectively, you need to exercise at a pace that you can continue doing 5-6 days a week for the rest of your life. Increasing duration or intensity will speed up the overall fat burned during any one particular session of exercise. Once fat-loss goals have been reached, you can generally back off a bit on the total amount of exercise.

Key also in this is diet. My best advice is this: Avoid fast foods, eat desserts sparingly, get enough protein in your diet in a form other than red meat, eat a lot of veggies. Also, choose good snacks to eat throughout the day, and that doesn't mean Oreos or Twinkies!

Good luck on making your fitness goals in 2011! I'm right there with ya.

Starting to write again

2010-12-27T04:48:00.000-08:00

All this stoppage and restarting is killing me. I'm going to develop a habit of writing every day. I'm not sure what my New Year's goals will be yet, but they will involve writing a certain amount of time daily, or at least, five days per week. I don't know why I have to limit it to five--if I don't have access to my computer, I still can carry a notebook in which to write things down.

Wow, I used to use a notebook all the time. What the heck. We've evolved.

Getting ready to get fit in the New Year

2010-12-26T07:24:00.000-08:00

Well, Christmas and Thanksgiving are both past, and I'm hoping my dependence upon "goodies" has receded as well. Of course, New Year's Eve can also be a time of eating large and putting on unwanted poundage. With my New Year's goal of losing 20 pounds by the end of March, I can't wait until I get past December 31st to start. In the past, I've found that the most effective ways of burning calories include first, controlling what you eat, and second, doing some high-energy burning form of exercise. Eating is the most important. There have been times when I've exercised like a mad man for weeks on end and had the pounds slowly trickle off, one or two ounces at a time. However, when combined with healthy eating habits, such as abandoning french fries, shakes, and donuts, the pounds seem to come off much faster. So, my health tip of the year for you is to stop eating poorly, and only partake of sweets on rare occasions, maybe once a week eat a cookie or two. Also, plan your menus to include lots of veggies, and a lot less fat. I'm going to do it. Join with me for a fit New Year.

The Christmas You Get You Deserve?

2010-12-26T06:28:00.000-08:00

In the famous song I Believed in Father Christmas, originally recorded by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, the closing line in the lyrics is, "Hallelujah noel, be it Heaven or Hell, the Christmas you get, you deserve." The sentiment is well-thought out, and applicable in most situations. The contention of the author who penned those lyrics seems to be that our attitude controls what our perception of Christmas will be like. Ninety-nine percent of the time, that is true. But some times, events happen that are out of our control--bad things. For example two people I know--one because she was my neighbor and is still my Facebook friend, and the other because we share an internet forum together and who is also my Facebook friend--both lost loved ones just days before Christmas. The first woman's husband unexpectedly died. He was a young man leaving his wife and two children behind. The second woman had carried her baby to near full-term, feeling its movements up until the last, only to have the baby die in the womb just a few days before the due date. Here is a link to that story: Some losses are unsurvivable. In both cases, tragedy struck in the merry time of the celebration of our Savior's birth.

Now, I don't know how they are coping. I don't believe either one of them, though, deserve to have hell for Christmas. They are people who have just experienced great loss. My heart and prayers go out to them as I call on the Lord to bless and help them through all that has happened in their lives.

That being said, most of us do get the Christmas we have earned. I hope yours was filled with happiness, as mine was, knowing that the Lord is there for me in my times of need. I celebrate not the innocent child, born in a manger, but the risen Lord who knows my frailties, faults, and feelings. Who comforts me and lifts me. Who took all the sins of the world, including mine, upon him in the greatest act ever performed--the Atonement. I love Him. Though I don't always show it through my actions, I love Him. I hope he will forgive me for my sins and help me to be a better person.

Democratic Leaders are Lying Through Their Teeth

2010-12-06T12:56:00.000-08:00

So, what the dems are trying to lead people to believe is that the Republicans want to give a huge check to the rich in the form of a tax cut. They're telling people that the eeeeevvvil wealthy people in America are getting a rebate if the Republicans get their way, that $43,000 will go into the rich folks' pockets soon and the middle class will suffer because of it.

BALDERDASH!

No, the Republicans are trying to get tax rates to remain the same as they have been since President Bush lowered them. The "rich" and everyone else, won't be getting any tax cuts they will paying the same amount in taxes that they have been. That $43,000 the dems would have you believe they are getting, is a $43,000 job that most probably will vanish if those who provide most of the jobs, i.e., those making over $250,000, are paying higher taxes.

Sometimes the idiocy of the left is sincerely frightening. It's always damaging to our country.

Two hikes this week: Gobbler's Knob and Bald Mountain

2010-08-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

This week I climbed to the top of two mountains. On Tuesday I went hiking with Ben to the top of Gobbler’s Knob. The trail begins at Bowman Fork in Millcreek Canyon and is pretty smooth and shady for quite a distance. Then about .9 miles from the top, the trail changes and becomes a monster of steepness and really wears you out. Up on top though, the view was amazing. We could see all the way to the Uintas in the east, and to the far side of the Great Salt Lake to the west. We also saw a couple of hawks soaring around below us, and then a third hawk dived out of the sky from above to join the others. It was really awesome. I was sore though for several days afterwards, and can still feel the effects in my thighs.

The other hike I went on was with Sam and Brad (Richmond), and that was to the top of Bald Mountain in the Uintas. The hike is two miles up to the top, which sounds easy until you realize that the trail is quite steep in some parts, and very rocky over much of it. We also came unprepared for the wind, which made it very chilly. I guess we should’ve planned on that as the weather is always unpredictable up there, and there were scattered storms in the weather forecast for the entire state. Still we made it up there, and like Gobbler’s Knob, the view was amazing. Far to the west we could see the skyline of the Wasatch Mountains, and we could see nothing but mountain ranges as far as we looked in any direction. Many lakes were in view in all directions as well. We didn’t stay up there very long though, because a storm appeared to be heading quickly in our direction and none of us wanted to be caught in a downpour up on top, nor did we want to be exposed to lightning should that occur. On the way home, we stopped at what used to be Dick’s Drive-in, but now is called the Uinta Drive-in, although they’ve kept the name “Dick’s” up on the outside of the building. It used to be a place that we would always stop at and get a shake on the way home from a camping trip or something. Sam said that it wasn’t as good as Dick’s used to be, and I agree though I’m not really sure...I don’t know how long ago it was that I tried the original Dick’s food and couldn’t really remember it, only the shakes–and I didn’t have a shake this time to be able to compare. One thing that we saw on the way to the trailhead that morning though was really awesome. As we rounded the corner on the highway, just past Trial Lake, a bull moose was in the road and I had to slam on the brakes. We watched as the moose finished crossing and headed up into the trees. Simply something you don’t see, but maybe once or twice in a lifetime.

New scientific discovery: The Moon IS made of green cheese

2010-06-11T05:12:00.000-07:00

AP - Stockholm. Sources indicate that what was formerly thought of as a "fairy tale" is in fact, true--the moon IS made of green cheese. Scientists have gathered from around the world to attend the We Were Wrong Symposium in Stockholm this week.
"This definitely puts global warming on the back burner," said one scientist. "It changes our entire concept of the universe."
Former astronaut, Neil Armstrong could not be reached for comment, but another unidentified NASA official stated that, "We always believed that the stuff on the moon was crushed rock. Now after further review, it seems that it is in fact, mold."
The powdery substance has long puzzled scientists, but now new information is coming forward after many long years of scientific drought. "You see, the moon is hot on one side, and the other side is a refrigerator," said one NASA official, "perfect conditions for mold to get a hand hold."
Senator Barbara Boxer of California chimed in, "There are doubters, but most of those people don't believe in fairy tales either. I bet they don't even believe the Goldilocks story actually happened." She declined further comment on the issue.
A significant segment of the scientific community, however, doubts the findings. "There are many of these supposed 'scientists'," Yale professor Stewart Pacman said, "who have invested in moon mining companies and other related firms. Funny how these are the same ones who insist that the moon is made of green cheese."
Said another, "Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, our government is going forward with taking steps to mine the moon for cheese. Incredibly stupid, I would think, especially considering those fraudulent e-mails on the matter."
And what about those "fraudulent e-mails"?
It seems that a couple of "green cheese" advocates were caught sending e-mails about trying to fabricate evidence when their science was unable to prove their green cheese theory. Our research has found that scientists Robert Fullerbrush and Dick Amway who wrote the e-mails in question are both heavily invested in "Green Cheese Technologies", a firm devoted to the creation of space mining equipment.
Said Pacman, "They've sold us a bill of goods. Too bad nothing will come of it, but a broken economy."

Ann's Animal Names

2010-06-01T06:14:00.001-07:00

These are the "Animal Names" that my sweet, talented, wonderful wife creates. (I removed her artwork because for some reason it kept showing up as my photo in links to my blog I posted on other sites.)

Persistence: Your Key to Winning in the Writing World

2010-04-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

I was just thinking today about how much available time I've had since I had shoulder surgery. A lot. And how much writing have I done? Not as much as I'd have liked to have done. Oh, I've done some articles for examiner.com, and that's pretty much it. Personally, I need to get back into the daily habit of writing, especially if I want to sell anything, especially my novels. I've found that nothing happens without persistence. Well, I take that back, nothing happens without persistence unless chance takes a wild hand in things and luck happens. Since I don't believe luck can be counted on, there's only one thing that can--my own hard work and dogged determination.
That's the key to success in any worthwhile endeavor.

My Examiner Gig

2010-03-25T05:45:00.000-07:00

I've been writing for several months now for Examiner.com. I haven't made much off of it. Maybe thirty bucks. Then again, I'm not writing in the most popular or fashionable subject categories. Maybe I need to shake things up and write on movies, or dvds, or popular music, instead of outdoor sports. There's a lot of interest in outdoor sports, but it's scattered and few people know about my articles. That's why I'm posting about them here. To read my articles, go here.

Then, let me know if you like them. I'd love to have some feedback or suggestions as to how to improve my articles, or even some things you'd like to see covered by my articles. Remember, for the most part, it must have a local angle, meaning pertaining to Utah.

I think I have high blood pressure...

2010-03-25T05:39:00.001-07:00

I think I have high blood pressure. Well the last couple of times professionals have taken it, it’s been high. So I went out and bought a blood pressure checker. Couldn’t resist tormenting myself with a day by day log of my BP. Guess what? It’s high. I’m thinking that it mostly involves my lack of sleep, due to my recent rotator cuff surgery. I can only sleep on my left side now. My right side was the one operated on, and I can’t sleep on my stomach because my right arm would need to be in a position that’s just not comfortable nor sustainable. That leaves my back and left side. My back is out because for some reason, I get bad sleep apnea when on my back.

Which brings me back to my high blood pressure. I think it’s because I’m not sleeping. Then again, it could be because I have all this time off from work and I’m not accomplishing much. I thought it would be a time to work on my novel, but I haven’t done so. Too worried about the cost of ink to print it off, so that I can really read through it and see what needs to be changed. You know, medical expenses being what they are, and with a planned vacation this summer, I don’t want to do anything that’s going to jeopardize that. That could be raising my BP too.

Then again, I’m worked up about the new health care bill, and how it was passed against the will of the people. That angers me. My doc says that stress doesn’t really cause BP to rise, at least, not as much as it was once thought. It’s generally something to do with a poor diet, little exercise, or lack of sleep. I don’t really have a bad diet, and I get exercise (although, not as much as I was getting before the surgery), so that pretty much leaves lack of sleep as the culprit.

Maybe if I spend the time not sleeping, working on my novel, it will be time well spent. Then again, I’d have to print it off.

Apolo Ohno and His Korean Crybaby Counterparts

2010-02-20T17:02:00.000-08:00

It's been with great interest that I've watched the Olympics this year. One thing that has been of particular interest to me is the continuing poor sportsmanship of the Korean short track speed skaters in their approach to Apolo Ohno. Don't get me wrong. I have it from an excellent source that Ohno isn't the nicest guy to the average employee working at the ice rink. Maybe he thinks a bit too highly of himself. That being said, in public, and in the spotlight, he seems to conduct himself rather well. Not so the Korean skaters. In the 1500m race held earlier in the week, Ohno collected the silver medal, and his teamate, J.R. Celski collected the bronze. Said gold-medal winner, Lee Jung-Su, "He [Ohno] did not deserve to stand on the podium".

The bad blood goes back to Salt Lake City, 2002, when apparent winner of the 1500m race, Kim Dong-Sung, was disqualified for blocking Ohno. Kim supporters deluged the IOC with complaints. It's been Hatfields and McCoys ever since, with the Koreans mostly sounding like a bunch of crybabies. Take the gift that they handed Ohno and Celski in the 1000m final. With three Koreans in the lead going into the final turn, the two in second and third took themselves out of the race by crashing into each other, allowing the two Americans to medal. That sound you heard was the collective slaps in the embarrassed faces of the Korean team and its supporters. Too embarrassed to admit their own culpability and failure, they tried to put the blame on Ohno.

Look, let your skating do the talking. If you're better than him, go out and win. If not, be gracious in defeat like the hundreds of other Olympic athletes who have done so.

I Look at Trash Part Two

2010-02-04T10:58:00.000-08:00

I just found this interesting link, along the lines of fun and exciting trash. Check this out!Bottomless Trash Bin

Struggling with the Shoulder

2010-02-04T06:27:00.000-08:00

Last night I had excruciating pain in my shoulder, probably the worst I've had since the surgery. I was just heading out the door to a meeting, which I probably should've canceled. This morning I've been doing a lot of research, and found several sources that basically said that this is normal. Here is one such source: Recovering from Rotator Cuff Surgery. It looks like it's going to be a long, hard road, and I'd better be careful not to try and push things too far, too fast, or I'll end up on that hospital operating table once again.

On the bright side, the doctor gave me permission to play my guitar, which I was excited about, but which may have led to the pain I was enduring last night. I think I may go with the electric guitar next time as it's thinner than my acoustic and probably won't strain my sore shoulder as much...I'm hoping anyway.

I Look at Trash

2010-02-03T10:28:00.000-08:00

Yup. I just discovered something again about myself, that I'd forgotten. Now that I have to slow down and walk, instead of run, and doing it outside, instead of on a treadmill, well, I find that I'm looking at the trash along the side of the road, hoping for discovery of something cool. Today I thought I'd found an MP3 player or something, but it ended up being a part to a Verizon cell phone. I thought I saw a free sandwich coupon for Quizno's, but it ended up being a "buy one sandwich and a drink, get a second sandwich free" card. I found a rusty steel ball though. I didn't keep it. I was actually not real excited about the veritable cornucopia of paper cups, empty energy drink bottles, and assorted other garbage left over from those whose IQ is nearer 50 than 100.

There are too many cretins in the world that just dump their trash anywhere. Half of them are probably junior high school kids (since I was walking near the school) who learn in their half-baked educational system about the "realities" of climate change , and probably scream at people for using too much oil, then drop their twinkie wrapper along side the road, without a care in the world.

All that being said, I think there is some virtue in looking through trash for the serendipitous random cool thing.

Shoulder Surgery Going to be a Set Back

2010-01-21T17:48:00.000-08:00

In more ways than one. By the time I heal up, I'll be out of shape--at least as far as weightlifting goes. My callouses will be gone on my guitar fretting hand. And I'll no longer be able to throw the 97 mph fastball. Life sucks sometimes.

Swedish Pancakes and Sausage

2010-01-21T17:38:00.000-08:00

That's what's for dinner tonight. I've got a great recipe that I got off the web for Swedish Pancakes. Then, just a little lingonberries, some butter, and some cream and it's right tasty. So, to go with it, there's the Hormel link sausage, original flavor.

I'm trying to get in some good eating and some good cooking before I go under the knife on Tuesday. I'm getting my shoulder operated on, and I'm not looking forward to it at all. But before then, I've got to make the best hot chocolate recipe I have in my collection. Come on over and try some!

The U.S. Shouldn't Be a Charitable Organization

2010-01-16T05:57:00.000-08:00

Within the past couple of days, President Obama has pledged 100 million dollars to the aid of Haiti. Now, I'm not against helping at all, but I am against a president pledging our tax dollars to do it. I heard a guy say, that he was all excited to help out, but then heard about the $100 million and figured, "looks like the government is taking care of it", which is the problem with governmental charity---it stops individual charity, or severely reduces it.
I must admit that when I heard about the gift we are all a part of giving through our taxes, I felt that there was less desperate need for my personal donation.
There's a second reason for my uneasiness at this transaction. That is, it's not possible for us to do this for every nation that has trouble, unless we are prepared for a huge tax increase to pay for it. With a monstrous tax increase already on the table because of the out of control spending by this administration--that seems like something we just can't afford to get into.

Let private citizens contribute and only private citizens. Let the government step in with the military or whatever to help in the distribution, and the heavy equipment needed, but donations will stream in from charitable people everywhere, unless they think, as myself, and the guy mentioned above, that the government is doing it for them.

Needing a Break

2009-12-18T12:35:00.000-08:00

I need a break. I'd like to be out somewhere, amongst the trees, dressed warm, but feeling the cold wind touch my face. I'd like to smell the crisp, December air of the mountains, and sit by a warm fire, sipping hot chocolate, or maybe ice fishing at Strawberry in a tent village with my compadres.

Instead, I'm delivering mail during the Christmas season, working all my days off, finding no time to relax or enjoy.

Yup, I'm whining.

Napster Relics Must Go

2009-11-28T05:26:00.000-08:00

I'm currently going through my MP3 list and attempting to single out all the ones I once downloaded from the original free Napster. I'm methodically deleting them. I can't live with the idea of having illegal downloads--it kind of gnaws at the conscience, pestering me to get rid of them, which I intend to do.

I guess the reason I'm doing so is because it doesn't take much waffling in any area to find yourself on a slippery slope, and I'm climbing off that slope, one measly step at a time. Give it a try. You'll be happy you did.

Climbing Denali

2009-11-28T05:22:00.000-08:00

I've been mulling over trying to climb our nation's (and continent's) highest peak...Denali in Alaska, a.k.a. Mt. McKinley. I just got some info from a guy at bogley.com who was a guide there for quite a few years. It looks like it's feasible if I can come up with the money to do it. It looks like it'll cost $7000 to $8000 when it's all said and done, counting the guide, the equipment, the flights to and from Alaska and everything else. I think I'm going to have to sell a book first before I'll be able to do it. That and get a bunch of practice climbing in between now and then. I guess I'll make those two things my goals: climbing a bunch of mountains, and getting a book published. And if anyone wants to come along, let me know.

The Guitar Life: Starting Back In

2009-11-19T06:23:00.000-08:00

I've made up my mind that I need to get back to my guitar playing with a lot more dedication. I've just been letting it slide, maybe doing too many other things that kept me from playing. I'm working a lot of ten hour days now and that really has cut into my free time, so I need to be more organized. I'm thinking that if I prioritize things I can get them done more to my liking. I really want to become a good player, so I need to dedicate more time to it. If not now, when?

My New Article at Examiner.com

2009-11-19T06:11:00.001-08:00

So, my new article "Winter Camping: Eight Tips to Staying Warm" is up. Check it out and let me know what you think on the comment section at the bottom.

Barack Obama is a God

2009-11-09T20:44:00.000-08:00

Many people have come to look at our President as some kind of god-like figure. They seem to almost worship him. Even songs have been written about him that seem to deify him. I've actually come to believe that he is god like. He's like Loki. According to Norse mythology, Loki was a trouble-maker and represented change and chaos. Sounds like our esteemed leader a bit, doesn't it?

I Can't Stand You. Prepare to Be Silenced.

2009-10-15T20:09:00.000-07:00

In the midst of listening to the Michael Medved Show today, I was floored by what I heard. Medved was talking with a spokesman for the Alliance Defense Fund about the new hate crime legislation that is awaiting the President's signature when a female caller called in. She stated that she was a lesbian and proceeded to state that anybody who said homosexuality was immoral, was wrong and should go to prison for saying such things. Medved continued to query her about freedom of speech and freedom of religion, but the woman went on saying that no, if someone denies that homosexuality is good, they should have to do time. Medved said, and I'm paraphrasing, "so you think that someone who stands up before their congregation in a church and preaches that one man and one woman is the only way a marriage should be, that person should got to prison for saying that?" The woman replied, "I most certainly do."

That's the way of people on the left, isn't it? If your opinion doesn't agree with theirs, you are in need of some jail time. You are the most hideous person on the earth for stating what you believe. I don't know about you, but to me, that sounds like the old Soviet Union or Castro's Cuba. Funny, I kind of liked the old America that I grew up with, where people could say anything they wanted and not have to worry about the thought police corralling them and jailing them for the crime of speaking their minds.

On the Eve of the Utah Elk Hunt

2009-10-01T06:12:00.000-07:00

I remember several years ago when I went on my first elk hunt. I had been lucky enough to draw out for a cow tag. As the hunt progressed, I found myself in a clearing, watching and waiting for some elk to come through. It wasn't long before I heard the cracking of brush, and the sound of many large animals coming directly toward me through the trees. They broke into the clearing and I aimed my 30-30 at a nice, fat cow, then pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. It suddenly dawned on me that I had failed to jack a shell into the chamber. By the time I now did so, the elk heard me and took off at a run. I fired a shot at a running elk, but missed, and then they were gone, over the ridge.
I can look back and laugh at that now, but at the time I was kicking myself for missing a golden opportunity. I guess the moral of the story is, when opportunity knocks, we need to be ready.

My Outdoor Articles

2009-08-29T05:38:00.001-07:00

So, I'm writing these articles on the outdoors for examiner.com. I hope you'll take a look and subscribe, or comment and let me know how you like them. They can be found here: clicky-clicky

Utah's Budget Shortfall

2009-08-29T05:34:00.001-07:00

Utah Governor, Gary Herbert seems to be on the right track when he says: "I think raising taxes at a time of economic downturn is absolutely the wrong thing to do. We want to grow the economy, we want to stimulate opportunity in the business community. To put taxes of any kind on top of a repressed market would have, I think, the negative result of actually repressing the economy even more and styming the ability for us to turn the corner."

I hope he sticks with it. To raise taxes to cover our bases is what California has routinely done, and look at their economy. Better to cut things to the bone now, and hope thing get better in the future to avoid the upward spiral of more and more taxes to cover more and more services, or even to cover current services. In my family, when we can't afford something, we don't do it. Utah should do the same.

The Power of Good Health

2009-07-06T06:09:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, a good friend of mine and I were discussing exercise. Somewhere in the conversation, my friend said, "But you like to run, I don't." I replied back that, no, I don't like to run. I like being healthy. There is a difference between liking exercise and liking the benefits of exercise. I exercise because it allows me to remain young, to do things most people my age cannot, or won't go through the effort to accomplish. Here's an example. On Saturday, I ran my first 5k race in 13 years. My time was 25:15--not world class, but it was within one minute of times I ran 14-15 years ago. I guess my message is, start to day to turn back the clock. You'll be glad you did.

Who's Your Daddy?

2009-04-23T05:51:00.000-07:00

I continue to be surprised and chagrined at the number of people who want the government to provide all things for them. It's as if they want the feds to be their "daddy", instead of working hard to be successful on their own. Whatever happened to the can-do spirit of America? Now we seem to be saying, I can't make it on my own. I need help. I need to rob from Peter to pay Paul. The government under the U.S. Constitution, was never meant to be like that. I think we have a large percentage of Americans who would advocate for throwing away the Constitution if they really understood what it meant.

It's frightening, really, what's happening within our government right now. Banks being taken over by the feds, Barack Obama passing out handouts with no means to pay for them. The largest deficit spending in history---four times the amount spent during the Bush administration.

This administration is quickly becoming the worst in American history.

So, who's your daddy? Do you have the courage to stand up for the principles that were set forth on this continent more than two centuries ago? Or will you let the country slide into socialism, where all of us are taken care of by a benevolent government, but none of us has any further reason to try and excel? Think about it.

Miss California Gets Slammed for Answering Honestly

2009-04-23T05:45:00.000-07:00

When Miss California, Carrie Prejean, was asked the question regarding whether or not she believed in "gay marriage" and answered honestly, and bravely that no she did not, the outcry from the left was deafening. She is so hateful some said, what an intolerant person. Now, it seems, you can't even voice your opinion without being taken to the cleaners for doing so. I, for one, am glad she had the courage to answer that question honestly. And what a ridiculous question it was any way. I don't watch beauty pageants, but some of the low-lifes they have on those panels tick me off in their smugness. I hope brave people will continue to speak out for what is right. The term "marriage" means a man and a woman joined together in matrimony. If two men or two women want to have the same kind of relationship, it needs to be called something else. Sort of like, we shouldn't call a cow a dog.

We Need Background Checks Now

2009-04-12T10:22:00.000-07:00

In light of California Angel's young pitcher, Nick Adenhart's death because of a drunk driver, and the thousands of other deaths caused by inebriation, I propose that all those wishing to purchase alcoholic beverages be first asked to provide their thumb print. This thumb print could then be run through a national database to find out if the potential buyer had anything in his or her background, such as an arrest for DUI, or any kind of obnoxiousness or disturbing the peace complaints. This person would then be denied the ability to buy the alcohol. As it is currently, anyone over the age of 21, and sometimes younger, can purchase alcoholic beverages, no questions asked. Many of these same people go out and drink, and injure or kill innocent people on the roads.

I'd also like to apply this to cell phone users who've been ticketed for traffic accidents that occurred while texting or talking and driving at the same time. These people should be stripped of their cells and forced to use only land lines or pay phones.

Hiking the Bonneville Shoreline Trail

2009-03-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning, myself, my son, and my son-in-law went on a small hike along the old Lake Bonneville Shoreline Trail. The part we were on was from Bountiful to Centerville, but the trail is actually much longer than that. I basically stumbled upon one geocache, then I pulled out the GPS and found out which one it was. We hadn't started looking for any of them yet, but after I wandered off in the trees, I turned around and there it was. We found two others that I had downloaded the coordinates for earlier that morning.
The hike itself was pleasant, although I think I'd much rather be up among the pines and quakies somewhere--or even above timberline. Oh well, that's still a couple of months away. It was just nice to get out.

What the #!%**@ is happening to our country?

2009-03-04T09:43:00.001-08:00

I don't know about you, but I'm peeved, frustrated, and wanting a bunch of people impeached. This bailout/stimulus package is horrifying beyond belief for the future of our country. The people in control are sending the future of our children and grandchildren out the window--either through unparalleled debt, run away inflation (perhaps their plan to solve the debt), and socialism. The New Deal never worked when FDR tried it, and throwing the nation into horrendous debt because its citizens are over their heads in debt will not solve any thing either. Better to let people fall, then help them pick up the pieces.
Frankly I can't believe enough people were bamboozled by the Democrats to allow this to happen. But I see it on several fronts. Those who were tired of Bush cutting taxes and at the same time raising expenditures, the unpopularity of the Iraq war (fueled by many, but not all Richard, members of the press) and those who wanted to make history by helping to elect the first black president. Heck, I have no problem with electing a black president, but we should've made sure he wasn't a socialist before doing so. We should've looked at his campaign promises and seen the light, we should have realized that with Nancy Pelosi in charge of the House, that a veritable cornucopeia of socialist programs would make it through as a blank check to be signed by President Obama.
Then there are those who wouldn't vote for McCain because he's liberal for a Republican, supposedly. So instead, they voted for a third party candidate, helping to ensure the election of the most liberal regime in American history. I hope you can one day justify this to your grandbabies. Warren Buffet said that the stock market was in a shambles the other day. He was right, but not complete. The country is in a shambles. Hold on to your hats, it's a long ride down. I hope in the next few years we can see this as a wake up call and make the changes necessary before it becomes too late--if it isn't already.

And Here's Another Uinta Photo

2009-01-30T20:48:00.001-08:00

This is my son Ben and I atop King's Peak, Utah's highest point.

View from Bald Mountain

2009-01-30T20:40:00.000-08:00

Here's one of my Uinta pictures, a view from landmark, Bald Mountain.

Not to Leave Out the Uintah Mountains

2009-01-30T20:37:00.000-08:00

I have recently added a group on Facebook called "High Uinta Lovers". The Uintas are a unique mountain range that runs east and west in the northeast corner of Utah. They are stunning and Utah's highest point, King's Peak, can be found within these rugged peaks. I will post a picture here, but if you go to the Facebook page, there is already a link to some amazing pictures of the Uintas.

Thinking About the Mountains

2009-01-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

Wow, the Wasatch Mountains are beautiful when they're snow covered. Actually, they're stunning any time of year. I love living near them and am impatiently awaiting spring, so that I can once again traverse their wooded paths and climb their rugged peaks. I'm not looking forward to the annual inversions that we have around here, that obscure my view of those fantastic spires. The lower photo is of the Big Cottonwood Canyon area, covered in snow, shrouded in clouds. I have a better winter picture somewhere--I'll just have to dig it up. The photo on the right is Sun Dial Peak, with Lake Blanche in the foreground.

The Puppet President Begins?

2009-01-08T04:29:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama's naming of Leon Panetta as CIA director can only be interpreted as a cave in to the extreme left. Why else would the President-Elect name someone with zero experience to head the organization charged with finding out plots against America and Americans? It's not only a huge risk for America, but a huge risk for Obama as well, for if American's are attacked and killed because of an intelligence gaffe, he and Panetta will be squarely to blame. Unbelievable, that at a time when terrorism plots and attacks are at their highest, our new President selects a rookie for the job.

What Will You Do in the New Year?

2009-01-05T06:44:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking I might actually try and achieve something this year. Like last night I asked my friend Boyd, who is an artist, if he'd be willing to try and illustrate my cowboy Christmas poem "The Cowboy's Mile", and he said, "sure". I'm thinking it might do best if we put together the book, and then try and sell it. I'm not really much of a self-publishing fan, but I'm thinking in this case, it's a book that needs to be seen first, gather a following, and then it may just take off. At least that's what I'm hoping.
Another thing I want to do this year is work on becoming a better musician. To do that I have to be organized and that isn't my strong point. In fact, I told some the brethren in PEC yesterday that I was one of the five most disorganized people on the face of the earth. That may be an exaggeration, but it's not much of one. Anyway, I plan on playing my guitar and banjo daily, on a regular schedule in order to accomplish this goal. I've already printed out some free daily schedules. All I need to do is fill them in.
I will become a better writer this year. Whether or not I will actually sell something this year is questionable--back to those organizational skills----but I will write a lot, and I will improve. I will learn how to be a better newsletter editor. I'm the current editor for The Lariat, which is the newsletter for the League of Utah Writers, and I just completed my first one in November. It's a quarterly newsletter, so the next one is coming up soon.
I will do several hikes, mostly in Utah. I love hiking and seeing things, so I will also do some road trips, or maybe a flight or two, though flying isn't really my thing.
I think that's about enough for one year, though it won't be all. There are home projects and church assignments, family gatherings and all sorts of fun and exciting stuff awaiting me in 2009. I hope the same is in store for you.

The Utes Rip the Tide

2009-01-03T12:17:00.000-08:00

It wasn't supposed to happen. The University of Utah Utes were supposed to lose to the vaunted Alabama Crimson Tide. At least, that's what all the "experts" said would happen. But it didn't. Millions of stunned fans watched as the Utes jumped out to a 21-0 lead and never looked back. For those of us who are Utah fans, even though the lead looked good, we worried. In earlier games this season, Utah had rushed to an early lead, only to see that lead crumble in the second half, pulling miracles out of nowhere to get some of their victories. No miracle was needed this night! And my family and I watched and waited for the experts to eat their crow. And they did. Already though, the excuses are happening. Alabama's offensive line was missing its best player is being heard time and again. Funny, but they knew he was missing before the game and they still thought Utah would get crushed. Stop making excuses and start realizing that Utah belongs with the big boys.

Bird Watcher

2008-11-24T19:40:00.000-08:00

Our first cat, Ralph, was a true hunter. Even in winter, he dreamed of being out there, catching prey.
Ralph died about four years ago of squamous-cell carcinoma--caught from too much sun exposure. Well, actually he was dying from it when we had him put to sleep. But he was a great cat with superb feline reflexes.
This is looking out the south window of our house. The trees are quakies, and I believe the birds are finches.

2008-11-24T19:34:00.000-08:00

This was me, just after finding my first geocache. I'm looking kind of bald in this picture, but it's only because my Peruvian hat was pushed back. This is in Arizona, on the slopes of Mt. Graham.

Out Near Middle-of-Nowhere

2008-11-24T19:31:00.000-08:00

This is near my home in Middle-of-Nowhere. The mountains in the background are the Oquirrh Mountains, and the mine is Bingham Copper Mine.

This is Scout.

2008-11-24T19:25:00.000-08:00

Scout was named after the little girl in "To Kill a Mockingbird", one of my wife's favorite films. Scout's actually a pretty cool cat--she rarely brings home mice, but I think our previous cat did more than his share in that area. Anyway, in this picture, Scout is looking out our front window.
More pics to come.

Conservatives Are Nicer Than Liberals

2008-11-22T05:39:00.000-08:00

Okay, okay. I know you're out there cursing at me, saying how ignorant I am about the reality of it all. I mean, don't conservatives want to keep the poor from getting food and shelter? Don't conservatives want to take away rights for gays to get married? Aren't conservatives more often than not, in favor of capital punishment? Well, the answers are a bit more complex than that. Conservatives want to feed the poor, but they want to do it by private donations, not tax dollars. We believe that the best form of charity is that that is given willingly, and not forced upon us by a tax increase. In my second example, yes, conservatives are much more in favor of not changing the definition of marriage to include two people of the same sex. Marriage, by definition, is the union between two members of the opposite sex. On the other hand, most conservatives are in favor of extending gay couples all the legal rights that married couples have--a position with which gay entertainer, Elton John, concurs.
Finally the third example--capital punishment. Yes, conservatives by and large, are much more interested in seeing vicious murderers, or even child rapists, killed. Conservatives are much more interested in using punishment to "fit the crime" instead of using it to rehabilitate the offender.
So that brings us to, why I think liberals are meaner. This is why: because they use every means possible to push their agenda upon the country--including enlisting the press. Despite contrary protests, it is a given fact that there were more positive news stories about Barack Obama, and more negative news stories about John McCain in the days leading up to the recent Presidential election. Liberals also regularly complain about their rights being violated, but when a majority of citizens of California voted for Proposition 8, the liberals on the left were the first to try and take away these citizens rights to vote for something they believed in. Liberals are in favor of free speech, as long as it's their free speech and not conservative free speech--just see how many of them want the "Fairness Doctrine" implemented.

I think Americans as a whole worry too much about what the rest of the world thinks of us---and the vast majority of Americans focus too much on the press and how it interprets the way things are going in the country. Worrying too much about a national self-image is going to lead to the demise of our country. We need to forget about it.

It's Crunch Time

2008-11-02T15:15:00.000-08:00

Thomas Jefferson once said, "And to preserve their independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude." How true that appears now, as we look back with perfect vision hindsight. Did the Founders have vision to last through the ages, or was the document and nation they created, an entity destined to last only a couple of centuries? I've watched the march through history, the increasing intrusiveness of the welfare state, the plodding toward the removal of "freedom of speech" from our society, the steady trudging away from that divine document, and toward a "living and breathing" interpretation which allows for nearly any kind of change of the original intent.
Sad to see that our nation, once proud and free, is quickly becoming a mirage of her former self, our freedoms ripped from us with ever increasing frequency as we march toward socialism with slumbering steps. Should we haste its demise with a poor election choice, or try to slow the collapse with a one that might not be perfect, but might stall the slippage of our liberty. You make the call.

The Failing American Press

2008-10-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

The institutions which the Founders of our great country thought would protect us against the corruption of government, namely our newspapers and other sources of news, have become the American equivalent of Pravda. I don't say this lightly, but the news sources of today have become left-wing propaganda machines, many of them openly routing for Obama to win the presidency. Pravda Amerika now rules the roost and has played a huge role in this year's election. I haven't seen a single investigational report on Barack's ties to Bill Ayres. Not one. And if anyone tries to bring it up, it's pooh poohed as bringing up the past. "Forget about that," they seem to say, "we've got a black man running for president for the first time. A legitimate candidate at least."
Which brings up my next point. Why are we so concerned about skin color in this country? Many are voting for Obama only because he's black and it's time for a black man to be president so we can prove to the world how far we've come as a nation. Have we become so insecure that we need to vote in thisblack man? The other day someone I heard on a radio program made the analogy that if O.J. Simpson were somehow running for president, would people vote for him simply because he's a black man? I find that ludicrous. Vote for a person because you agree with him or her politically, not because he's black, white, or because she's a woman. Think instead of immersing yourselves in the constant blathering of Dancing With the Stars, House, or American Idol. This isn't some kind of popularity contest, or a game we're playing here. It's the future of our society as we know it.
Another thing that's troubling me is that too many people are letting their emotions rule the way they're voting. They're angry because of the economy, or the war, or whatever else. Wow, I let me anger rule my decision once, and I threw a lawn spreader and then needed surgery. That's the kind of thing that impulsive emotion gets you. Think and reason calmly. Turn off the cell phones, the video games, the TV, and make an informed decision. It will be the best thing you could do for your country.

Congressional Wimps Fighting to Save Our Country and Their Votes

2008-09-26T06:58:00.000-07:00

The recent financial crisis in the U.S. Is the result of several years of neglect and greed. Neglect by the very people we vote in to protect us from things like that, and greed of the banking and mortgage industry in trying to bring in every possible dollar from every prospective home buyer. Once again our do-nothing Congress has let something slide that should've been handled years ago. Looming on the horizon is the Social Security crisis, which Congress again refuses to do anything about, and the illegal immigrant crisis---again, Congress neglecting their responsibility. Though there are a few good and courageous members of Congress, for the most part, they are a collection of moral cowards whose soul goal of staying permanently in office precludes them from making any hard decisions that might alienate voters. And now it has brought us to the verge of a financial meltdown. Thanks cowards. I appreciate all you've done for the future of my children and grandchildren. Geez I wish I had the money to run for Congress.

Can George Blanda Still Kick It?

2008-09-26T06:55:00.000-07:00

George Blanda turned 81 on September 17th. Fans of the NFL know who Blanda is, but for the uninitiated, he was once a quarterback/placekicker for first, the Chicago Bears, second the Houston Oilers, and third, the Oakland Raiders. Blanda once threw for 7 touchdowns in a game, while with the Oilers, and became the oldest player in the NFL. I remember him kicking field goals when in his fifties. I wonder if old George could still kick it now. He's probably out there practicing a kick or two.

Which of course brings up the question, how long should we be doing things like sports and other activities? And the answer, as long as we want. As long as we like what we're doing, there's no reason to stop other than injury. So my message is--keep following your dreams.

Authentication

2008-07-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

Okay, this is here for authentication purposes only: Undergoing MyBlogLog Verification

Why We Vote

2008-06-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I heard one woman, being interviewed by a reporter say that she couldn't decide if she was going to vote for Obama, because he's black, or if she'd vote for Hillary, because she's a woman. Wow. I wonder whatever happened for voting someone because you believe in their policies. No wonder our country is in trouble if we vote for some based upon the color of their skin, or their sex. Or maybe even voting for a particular candidate seems the popular thing to do. That really saddens me. We already have enough of the do-nothing types working for our federal government without voting for people for the wrong reasons. Just my take.

Sorry for the Length Between Posts

2008-06-18T07:40:00.001-07:00

Well, we had a wedding in May (my son Ben got married), and then in May all of us got sick, especially my wife who ended up in the ICU for 8 days with pneumonia and 11 total days in the hospital beginning June 2nd. So it's been a harried last couple of months and posting to my blog hasn't been tops on my list. I hope to post on a continuous basis now.

One thing I'd like to mention is the best banjo players website. That's banjohangout.org
It's got great tips for the beginner to the experienced banjo player. I'll be posting more later, probably tomorrow. I feel the need to vent.

China Demands Apology

2008-04-19T17:40:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well. China has demanded an apology from CNN's Jack Cafferty for calling them "thugs and goons". Here's the link: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/15/cnn.china/index.html

Cafferty should apologize. He should apologize for not calling them thieves and murderers as well. I'm going to apologize for him. China, I'm sorry that you poisoned people in Latin America, by cutting costs. I'm sorry you murdered those people. China, I'm sorry you put lead in many products you shipped to America and around the world. I deeply apologize for that. I'm sorry that you fill the air with more pollution than any country in existence. I feel real bad that you swindle software makers by not cracking down on software piracy. I'm sorry you are using the Olympics as a propaganda tool, reminiscent of the Nazi propagand machine of the 1930s. I'm sorry you keep killing children if they aren't male. I'm sorry you oppress millions, including, but not limited to those who dare protest in Tienemen Square, and the people of Tibet.
Hey China--if one of your blue-coated thugs tried to brutally stop me from getting too close to the Olympic torch in my own country, he'd be in the hospital. I'd apologize for that of course.

The Cowards of the Country

2008-03-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

Once again Congress shows its spinelessness in passing a huge budget without reductions in earmarks. Our beloved representatives also would pass on to us an increase in taxes, again, failing to reduce spending. Here's a related article from USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-03-13-senate-tax_N.htm?csp=34
Of course, what else is new with the Cowards of the Country?

Now everyone considered them
the cowards of the country.
They never did one single thing
to prove the country wrong.

I can hear that tune now, as sung by Kenny Rogers. Just think of how our country would be if the federal government got back to Constitutional principles and only had their fingers in those things that they are supposed to have their fingers in. Geez, how did it get to this point? I'll tell you how. The do-gooders found an outfit that actually had the power to help everyone--at least so they think. Never mind that this isn't the responsibility of our government, but the responsibility of the citizens themselves. These are the same liberals that think society has more of a claim and responsibility for children than parents, and increasingly, the generational effect of this mindset is reaping its destruction amongst America's families. These are the same liberal, teacher's union supporting freaks that have taken away home-schooling rights from parents in California--creating a law in which parents who would teach their children at home must have a teaching degree. Never mind that many of the people who have such degrees couldn't teach a kid how to butter bread.
So with the cowards in charge, anything and everything is happening. And it ain't good.

We the Sheeple

2008-02-23T05:33:00.001-08:00

I keep wondering what the attraction is for Barack Obama. He's done nothing to make anyone think he could be a good president. His one message is repeated constantly--albeit, it's a hopeful message, but what substance is there behind it? Have we become a nation that's so easily fooled into doing the foolish? Do we respond so readily to the emotion and enthusiasm of a train that is on tracks to who knows where, simply because he's a fresh face and speaks words of encouragement? Are we so bereft of our own optimism that we need to grab on to whatever form of optimism comes our way? We seem to have become a nation of unthinking, idol-worshipping, Hollywood idolizing, followers instead of people who spend some time thinking. Put away the cell phones, the ipods, the headphones, the American Idol, and actually do some thinking and looking at the issues as they really are. Stop following like sheep or lemmings some leader whom you know nothing about. I guess charisma is what drives people these days---instead of well-though out selections at the voter booth. May God save us all.

Now That's Funny!

2008-02-23T05:30:00.000-08:00

I was listening to the Dennis Miller radio show the other day and a caller called in and said that Mike Huckabee reminded him of the black knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, because he virtually has no arms or legs and he's still trying to win. Funny!

For Some Good Music. . .

2008-02-06T05:34:00.000-08:00

Consider listening to Blackmore's Night. It's a band formed by former Deep Purple Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, and features his wife (I forget her name), as the lead singer. It's really kind of an acoustic, classical band, very melodic and easy to listen to. Here's a youtube link, but you could also just go to youtube and type in the bands name yourself. Anyway, here's the link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=7I49R72EnSQ

Super Tuesday - Fat Tuesday for McCain

2008-02-06T05:26:00.000-08:00

So my thoughts on McCain taking a commanding lead in the Republican Primaries of Super Tuesday? Well, I'm a bit ambivalent on McCain. I vote for him, but in Utah, 90 percent voted for Romney, so I basically tossed my vote out into the wind. I think I'd have voted for Romney if he'd had any chance of beating Clinton or Obama. He just couldn't make himself well-known enough, and I think in large measure it was due to the negative campaign commercials he ran, instead of running strong ads that showed his strengths and his passion. He hasn't ever infused the public with any fire--there's nothing that he's laid out a strategy to accomplish. I feel bad for the guy, really. I think he's a good man. What I don't think is good is the number of Mormon bashers that are still out there. What a bunch of bigots.
Anyway, once this primary season settles down and McCain is firmly the Republican candidate, conservatives must unite behind him to stop whichever of the Democrats is nominated. Look at this for example. At American Conservative Union, McCain has a lifetime 82 rating, while Clinton's lifetime rating is 12, and Obama's is 8. That should be enough to scare you.

A Great Light Winks Out

2008-01-28T06:15:00.000-08:00

President Gordon B. Hinckley, leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints died last night. I am a member of that church and I have loved President Hinckley for many years. He was a moral man with a great sense of humor that was down-to-earth. He was human and expressed the weaknesses that we all have as imperfect human beings. I'm not here to eulogize him--that has been and will continue to be done in other quarters, but I do want to profess my love of him and testify of my knowledge that he was a prophet of God, and a great man. His friendly, cane-waving manner will be missed by all.

It Takes a Village

2008-01-08T05:19:00.000-08:00

After the polls came out showing Barack Obama leading in the New Hampshire Primary, Hillary did an interview in which she appeared to nearly break down and cry. I'm not sure if she was going for the sympathy vote or not, but Hillary, never fear. If Obama wins, you can still be part of the village.

I used to be a big Mitt Romney supporter--and I still like the man. But one thing about me really bothers him--actually there are more than one, but this one disturbs me tremendously, and that is that he seems to get rattled very easily. I'm not sure I want a man at the head of the greatest nation on earth that gets easily rattled. My bet's on McCain for today's primary.

This political year is interesting. No one seems to be grabbing the primary season by the horns as of yet--though Obama has caused quite a stir. Still, remember Howard Dean in the last elections? He looked good to the dems at the beginning too--then he self-destructed.

When Bill O'Reilly moved a really big dude out of the way of his cameraman the other day, I thought it was actually a good thing. All other major news services were having no problems taking footage of Obama--so why was this Barack supporter trying to keep Fox from filming his guy? That's in violation of Constitutional principles guy.

Whazzup?

2007-12-18T13:25:00.000-08:00

Hey, I'm just thinking about the whole Christmas thing. I'm a mail carrier, and often find the Christmas season to be stressful and hard to take. I've often thought about quitting the postal service so that I can begin liking Christmas as I once did long ago. It was like that this year too. But then the last couple of days I've had some things happen to me that have changed my perspective just a bit. Last night I was able to go to Temple Square with my wife and my RM (Returned missionary). We checked out a few of the displays and of course, the lights. What a beautiful night it was. We had taken Traxx, which is our public light rail system, downtown and as we waited to return, the three of us broke out into some Christmas carols. An older couple who were standing next to us commented on how good we sounded. Maybe it was the attitude of the people around us, or perhaps it was the act of spontaneously singing, or even the company I was with, but somehow that feeling of stress that had predominated the last couple of weeks fled, and I was left feeling exhilarated.
And then again, maybe that's what God wants me to feel this time of year and perhaps the whole year. As I further contemplated life, I felt the greatest sense that He is involved in our lives and cares about us as individuals. I know He lives. I know this. I know Jesus Christ atoned for our sins that we could live with Him again. I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, that the Book of Mormon is true and that Gordon B. Hinckley is our living prophet today.
Those things that I know give me comfort in this world of turmoil and sin.

w00t ain't a word, irregardless of Meriam Webster

2007-12-12T13:19:00.000-08:00

The internet word w00t, that's "w" followed by two zeros and a "t" has been named "Word ऑफ़ the Year" by Meriam-Webster. Check this link: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071211-the-wisdom-of-crowds-w00t-voted-word-of-the-year.html However, this "word" isn't really. English words can only be created using the 26 letters of the alphabet. A zero isn't a letter. If I can't spell it using Scrabble tiles or Boggle cubes, it ain't a word.

Racial Hatred in Louisiana

2007-09-20T19:24:00.000-07:00

The recent racial tensions that have erupted in Jena, Louisiana show that some of us in America aren’t all that far removed from the tenets of radical Islam. Think of what spawns incidents such as these–it is the way children continue to be raised to hate. In much the same way that Wahabism is preached to the school children of Saudi Arabia, so too racial hatred is still preached in many homes across the south and other areas of our country. Shame on all of you who continue to build hate instead of bridges. Shame on you for your shortsighted doctrine that only leads to bloodshed and violence and never to peace. One day, you will grow up and become a caring human being. Until then, shame on you.

And Now a Proud Grandpa Brags

2007-07-05T21:21:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of pics of my two grandchildren. . .That's Gillian with the Easter basket, and the other cutie is Anna.

A Visit to the Shrine

2007-07-05T19:33:00.000-07:00

On July 4th, my wife Ann and I visited one of my family's old hunting grounds. I added a postscript to my dad's old "Roe Clan" tree. Here's the pic:

Here's a Picture of My Son Sam

2007-06-30T21:23:00.001-07:00

That's him on the right. The other two people are President and Sister Ringwood of the Korea Seoul West Mission.

Here's a Picture of My Son Ben

2007-06-30T21:17:00.000-07:00

This is Ben on his mission in Peru.

Death of a Good Man

2007-06-27T05:30:00.000-07:00

My dad died Sunday, June 24th. Here's my journal entry from Monday: My dad died yesterday. For genealogy purposes, it was June 24, 2007. I don’t know if it’s sunk in yet. It’s hard to have your father die. I keep thinking about him and all the things he did, and the places we went together and that kind of thing. He died of a heart attack, and I think that’s what it would have had to have been to kill him as he had a big heart. He may not have gone to church, and he may have actually turned against religion, but he was good to his family and he had reasons why he turned away from God. His life was mixed up in some ways, and I think those ways formed him in the way he was—kind at times, rough at other times, smart, yet letting reason and intellect get in the way of intuition and allowance for there being a God. In many ways he was heroic, but in some ways, he was childish. Like all of us, he had his moments of greatness–and his moments of blackness. I loved him, but disagreed with him on any number of important issues.
Dad was the finest hunter and fisherman I knew. He knew more about the woods and the wildlife in them than most people who have ever lived. He knew how to make things with his hands–he was a very creative person, one who figured out how to do things and then did them. I think everyone close to him has something that he gave to them that he created. He was generous, and thought little of his money, thought of it as a means to share good times with his family and others—not as something to horde for a future time. He lived life big and he lived life hard at times, but he was my dad, and by golly, I’m going to miss him.

The NBA Playoffs part two

2007-06-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

It looks like I was right about Cleveland finishing off Detroit. Now the question is, will the Spurs win in a sweep, or will Cleveland somehow squeak out a win or two? Only time will tell.

The NBA Playoffs

2007-06-02T05:24:00.001-07:00

With the demise of the Utah Jazz, losing 4-1 to the San Antonio Spurs, we need now only wait for the ending to the exciting Eastern Conference series between the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers. My prediction is that LeBron James and the Cavs go on to beat Detroit, only to lose to San Antonio and the great Tim Duncan in the finals. I'm not sure about the popularity of this match up across the nation, but to those of us who are basketball lovers, it sounds like a great match up. And should the Pistons handle the Cavs, that shapes up to be a good match as well.

Kansas Abortion Doctor and Boulder School Fiasco

2007-06-02T05:06:00.001-07:00

If you want to be outraged, check out this transcript of the Bill O'Reilly Show.
Here's the link: Dr. George Tiller Performs Late-Term Abortions for Any Reason
I heard the young girl interviewed who had been forced into getting an abortion by her parents. Talk about a profound influence on a life. Great parents she has. Speaking of great parents, in Boulder, Colorado recently, there was a mandatory school assembly, in which the panelists recommended that the high schoolers have any sex they wanted with anyone they wanted to have sex with. They also recommended experimenting with drugs, including ecstasy and other drugs. Basically, to these panelists, anything goes. If that isn't bad enough, there doesn't seem to be any parents in that town who care enough to demand the resignations or the firing of the school administrators who allowed these people into the school. Hmmm. More great parenting.
I guess my bottom line is that if people don't speak out, then, like the rise of Adolf Hitler, things continue to spiral downward (yes, I consider Hitler's rise to power to be a downward spiral in the larger scheme of things--something that could've been stopped in its early stages but wasn't). I guess too many of us are engaged in the latest reality show to make the effort to speak out against some of these things. Too bad really, because the world we get is the one of our own making.