. . . nobody told me about this?
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Tracy Morgan Classic
Just thought I'd pass along some real humor to give us a break from the election buzz:
If you liked Brian Fellows you'll dig this.
yeah.
If you liked Brian Fellows you'll dig this.
yeah.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Election '08
I said a long time ago that I would post up some of my thoughts on a few issues I cared about so here it is. Feel free to tear it apart in the comments 'cause I know you want to.
Green means that candidate wins the issue for me.
Education:
I see education as an investment for us as a society. I believe it spurs innovation and progress which pays back society many-fold. I don't support school vouchers. I think it's ok if you want to send your kid to a private school but I see public school as a group effort that improves with more people so I support actions to improve it and that would encourage people to use it. Also, I like to compare social programs to road building. We all need to pitch in to have decent roads. Just because I don't use a road that is across town doesn't mean that I get to take my tax money back and pour myself a new driveway with it. If that were ok, the rich areas of town would have amazing racetrack smooth roads and the poor areas would be rockin' the Escalante washboard (which is sadly the way it is sometimes). I don't get my road money back for my driveway and I don't get my school money back for a private school.
I support metrics to assess the effectiveness of programs. I understand problems with No Child Left Behind and teaching kids with a focus to just pass a test needs to be addressed but I think it's ridiculous to just throw money at schools without benchmarks to track progress. Problems with No Child Left Behind are problems with No Child Left Behind, metrics implemented correctly are vital.
Finally, I'll support teaching intelligent design in a science class as soon as it is a scientific theory which IT IS NOT. Seriously people, at least learn what the word “theory” means before you start throwing it around in its common usage in a scientific setting. Hint: “theory” in common usage barely means “hypothesis”. Until intelligent design folks bring a real theory... Keep it in a theology class.
McCain: Strong support for education but supports vouchers and seems a bit close to the edge on the teaching of intelligent design.
Obama: Strong support for education, no vouchers.
Foreign Policy:
Be open to talking to anyone.
Use trade and commerce to influence countries to act in a way that serves our interests but don't step on peoples toes. Let them run their own show as long as it does not affect our national security.
Do not throw around threats of military force and act like a bully. Be more of a huge nice guy.
Be VERY carful before funding groups/governments to overthrow other governments just because their policies are not inline with ours. This tends to come back and bite us 10-20 years later.
McCain: McCain has made statements about arming groups that oppose governments we don't like that seem a bit cavalier to me. Obviously the military needs to be used in some cases but McCain seems to be more liberal with this option than I would be.
Obama: Obama tends to talk more about negotiations and the use of aid and trade as methods of influence.
Immigration:
I'm down with a very healthy influx of immigration and I'm down to help people who are hear illegally to become legal and get integrated into our system. I've never read a convincing study that showed immigration hurting the economy or society.
I'm also fine with making English the official language just so people have no doubts that they gotta learn it but we don't have to be jerks about it. I didn't have the audacity to go to Japan and expect people to use English. At the same time everyone was very kind and patient with me and, although I didn't expect it, when I was new it was nice that the bigger train stations had cities written in roman characters.
McCain:
Obama:
This is a wash. They both seem pretty good.
Network Neutrality:
This is my nerd issue.
This basically means ISPs cannot discriminate over the type of traffic on their networks. If Comcast sells you 6Mbps internet service, that's it. They don't get serve data from one server faster while artificially throttling data from another server. If our local municipalities laid fiber optic lines and let any business operate an ISP on those lines (like Provo, Draper, and some others) then that would be fine. We'd have competition controlling the situation. But, the way most cities are now with telcos operating as an allowed monopoly/utility, there needs to be network neutrality.
McCain: Against so far saying there hasn't been an instance of abuse yet (there has).
Obama: For
Pork Barrel Spending:
McCain: Has a record of fighting against earmarks.
Obama: Voted for the 1 year moratorium on earmarks but has less of a track record compared to McCain.
Abortion:
My opinion is that the option of abortion is only on the table in cases of rape, incest, when the life of the mother is at risk, or if the fetus will not survive beyond birth. In these cases competent doctors and modern facilities should be available should the mother choose an abortion. I see problems with most legislation regarding abortion in the wording used for these exceptional circumstances. For instance, some purposed legislation put an undue burden of proof on physicians when they asses the situation of whether or not the fetus will survive. If they make a misdiagnosis they might go to prison. This would essentially make no doctor willing to preform an abortion which would likely lead to pregnant women resorting to radical and unsafe means to obtain an abortion. Also, I can envision a long legal battle over whether or not a situation was rape. If this carried on past the time that the baby was born and then the situation was found to be a case of rape, what happens then? A woman was forced to carry the burden of one of the most traumatic situations I can imagine and is then responsible for the result of that. Abortion is obviously not applicable any more and I doubt anyone is in favor of killing the baby.
Any significant change in abortion policy would need to first begin with the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. I really don't see this happening. The top level of the Judicial branch doesn't have a habit of overturing it's own rulings. It makes them appear weak and in a way gives up some of their power which no branch of government tends to do. The Supreme Court has upheld Roe v. Wade time and again so this essentially makes the argument moot.
But, lets say that Roe v. Wade was overturned. Then the decision would just fall back to the states and we'd get into the legislation issues I mentioned above. Now, imagine legislation was written that did not hold doctors unduly responsible when they make a diagnosis that the fetus will not survive and allowed a woman to have an abortion when she claims the pregnancy was the result of rape, but then held her responsible if it was found that she was lying? That seems like a moderate position to me. But then you'd have some doctors willing to say a fetus won't survive with any kind of complication. Also, people are still able to just drive to another state and get an abortion anyway and you probably will have more instances of unsafe abortions.
My point in writing all this is to basically say that the issue of abortion as it relates to elected officials is not really up for debate. I have no doubt that Obama and McCain both love li'l babies and regardless of the Justices they appoint I don't think Roe v. Wade will be overturned to the states. So, this leaves us as citizens to influence other citizens to respect the institutions of marriage and parenthood in order to reduce the occurrence of out of wedlock pregnancy and abortion. And, that's about it. Like many things we need to do our best to be an influence to those around us of what is right.
This issue doesn't come into play in my consideration of who to vote for president.
Green means that candidate wins the issue for me.
Education:
I see education as an investment for us as a society. I believe it spurs innovation and progress which pays back society many-fold. I don't support school vouchers. I think it's ok if you want to send your kid to a private school but I see public school as a group effort that improves with more people so I support actions to improve it and that would encourage people to use it. Also, I like to compare social programs to road building. We all need to pitch in to have decent roads. Just because I don't use a road that is across town doesn't mean that I get to take my tax money back and pour myself a new driveway with it. If that were ok, the rich areas of town would have amazing racetrack smooth roads and the poor areas would be rockin' the Escalante washboard (which is sadly the way it is sometimes). I don't get my road money back for my driveway and I don't get my school money back for a private school.
I support metrics to assess the effectiveness of programs. I understand problems with No Child Left Behind and teaching kids with a focus to just pass a test needs to be addressed but I think it's ridiculous to just throw money at schools without benchmarks to track progress. Problems with No Child Left Behind are problems with No Child Left Behind, metrics implemented correctly are vital.
Finally, I'll support teaching intelligent design in a science class as soon as it is a scientific theory which IT IS NOT. Seriously people, at least learn what the word “theory” means before you start throwing it around in its common usage in a scientific setting. Hint: “theory” in common usage barely means “hypothesis”. Until intelligent design folks bring a real theory... Keep it in a theology class.
McCain: Strong support for education but supports vouchers and seems a bit close to the edge on the teaching of intelligent design.
Obama: Strong support for education, no vouchers.
Foreign Policy:
Be open to talking to anyone.
Use trade and commerce to influence countries to act in a way that serves our interests but don't step on peoples toes. Let them run their own show as long as it does not affect our national security.
Do not throw around threats of military force and act like a bully. Be more of a huge nice guy.
Be VERY carful before funding groups/governments to overthrow other governments just because their policies are not inline with ours. This tends to come back and bite us 10-20 years later.
McCain: McCain has made statements about arming groups that oppose governments we don't like that seem a bit cavalier to me. Obviously the military needs to be used in some cases but McCain seems to be more liberal with this option than I would be.
Obama: Obama tends to talk more about negotiations and the use of aid and trade as methods of influence.
Immigration:
I'm down with a very healthy influx of immigration and I'm down to help people who are hear illegally to become legal and get integrated into our system. I've never read a convincing study that showed immigration hurting the economy or society.
I'm also fine with making English the official language just so people have no doubts that they gotta learn it but we don't have to be jerks about it. I didn't have the audacity to go to Japan and expect people to use English. At the same time everyone was very kind and patient with me and, although I didn't expect it, when I was new it was nice that the bigger train stations had cities written in roman characters.
McCain:
Obama:
This is a wash. They both seem pretty good.
Network Neutrality:
This is my nerd issue.
This basically means ISPs cannot discriminate over the type of traffic on their networks. If Comcast sells you 6Mbps internet service, that's it. They don't get serve data from one server faster while artificially throttling data from another server. If our local municipalities laid fiber optic lines and let any business operate an ISP on those lines (like Provo, Draper, and some others) then that would be fine. We'd have competition controlling the situation. But, the way most cities are now with telcos operating as an allowed monopoly/utility, there needs to be network neutrality.
McCain: Against so far saying there hasn't been an instance of abuse yet (there has).
Obama: For
Pork Barrel Spending:
McCain: Has a record of fighting against earmarks.
Obama: Voted for the 1 year moratorium on earmarks but has less of a track record compared to McCain.
Abortion:
My opinion is that the option of abortion is only on the table in cases of rape, incest, when the life of the mother is at risk, or if the fetus will not survive beyond birth. In these cases competent doctors and modern facilities should be available should the mother choose an abortion. I see problems with most legislation regarding abortion in the wording used for these exceptional circumstances. For instance, some purposed legislation put an undue burden of proof on physicians when they asses the situation of whether or not the fetus will survive. If they make a misdiagnosis they might go to prison. This would essentially make no doctor willing to preform an abortion which would likely lead to pregnant women resorting to radical and unsafe means to obtain an abortion. Also, I can envision a long legal battle over whether or not a situation was rape. If this carried on past the time that the baby was born and then the situation was found to be a case of rape, what happens then? A woman was forced to carry the burden of one of the most traumatic situations I can imagine and is then responsible for the result of that. Abortion is obviously not applicable any more and I doubt anyone is in favor of killing the baby.
Any significant change in abortion policy would need to first begin with the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. I really don't see this happening. The top level of the Judicial branch doesn't have a habit of overturing it's own rulings. It makes them appear weak and in a way gives up some of their power which no branch of government tends to do. The Supreme Court has upheld Roe v. Wade time and again so this essentially makes the argument moot.
But, lets say that Roe v. Wade was overturned. Then the decision would just fall back to the states and we'd get into the legislation issues I mentioned above. Now, imagine legislation was written that did not hold doctors unduly responsible when they make a diagnosis that the fetus will not survive and allowed a woman to have an abortion when she claims the pregnancy was the result of rape, but then held her responsible if it was found that she was lying? That seems like a moderate position to me. But then you'd have some doctors willing to say a fetus won't survive with any kind of complication. Also, people are still able to just drive to another state and get an abortion anyway and you probably will have more instances of unsafe abortions.
My point in writing all this is to basically say that the issue of abortion as it relates to elected officials is not really up for debate. I have no doubt that Obama and McCain both love li'l babies and regardless of the Justices they appoint I don't think Roe v. Wade will be overturned to the states. So, this leaves us as citizens to influence other citizens to respect the institutions of marriage and parenthood in order to reduce the occurrence of out of wedlock pregnancy and abortion. And, that's about it. Like many things we need to do our best to be an influence to those around us of what is right.
This issue doesn't come into play in my consideration of who to vote for president.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Memories
So I was walking home from hometeaching today and started thinking about my favorite Mr. Webb quotes.
Speaking about the drains in the men’s room at Catalina Island: “They’re probably clogged with axillary and pubic hair.”
After approaching our group one day in class: “Oh, oh my hell . . . If you have to fart then go to the bathroom. I have to air out this room everyday after class because of you guys.
After I farted in line at the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland: “In these closed quarters . . . that’s horrible.”
Describing what happened in our dorm room at Catalina Island one night: “A flatus fight, my friend.”
When Ammon, Ryan, and I were lying on the grass at Catalina Island and farting: “Don’t you dare! Most teachers don’t have to put up with this kind of shit.”
Feel free to share some of your favorites.
Speaking about the drains in the men’s room at Catalina Island: “They’re probably clogged with axillary and pubic hair.”
After approaching our group one day in class: “Oh, oh my hell . . . If you have to fart then go to the bathroom. I have to air out this room everyday after class because of you guys.
After I farted in line at the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland: “In these closed quarters . . . that’s horrible.”
Describing what happened in our dorm room at Catalina Island one night: “A flatus fight, my friend.”
When Ammon, Ryan, and I were lying on the grass at Catalina Island and farting: “Don’t you dare! Most teachers don’t have to put up with this kind of shit.”
Feel free to share some of your favorites.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Is this thing still on?
I stumbled across this little number.
In tandem with the Lady J this would be quite formidable.
PS. Jek, I got one of the escalante vids. Send the rest if you want them rotated and posted.
In tandem with the Lady J this would be quite formidable.
PS. Jek, I got one of the escalante vids. Send the rest if you want them rotated and posted.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Ted Talks - Kinetic Art of Theo Jansen
These are amazing, check out a couple more vids and pics here.
Guess the crew has either run out of material or we're all just summerin' it up heaby. It's too late for grandview ball, the buildings already begun to be smashed. It's difficult for me to look at it when we go to my parents, seems to early in life to already be losing a place of so many childhood memories to development.
Who's in for soccer tomorrow? outdoor @ centennial or grandview?
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Numb Nut
Kristen and I were watching the national spelling bee championship a couple weeks ago when...
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Down a Man
Dogs-
Helene and I are going to be outski in August. I have been accepted to Dalhousie's dental school program. It is in Halifax (Nova Scotia) It has been a wild ride trying to make it in and we are super excited to be hittin it up. I think some quality stunts are in order before we split. We are going to be way out.
Are we still rollin tokyo style this year? Or are we hittin a new spot to camp? Let me know...Triple T
Thursday, May 22, 2008
American Idol Finale
I'm embarrassed to admit I watched American Idol last night. I don't expect that any other crew watches American Idol, except for Graham, so I thought I'd post the second best happening from last night's finale (the first being that Archuleta lost).
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Now rockin it father-style. Grace gave birth to Sloane on May 9 and all is well. If you want to see more pics of this little cutie then you can check out our English blog at lanceandgrace.blogspot.com. We'll be in Utah around July 4 if any of ya'll want to hang. I would post more on this blog if it took less time.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Ah, Good Times
This article, sent to me by my brother Rob, brought back some good memories.
"What's the worst that could happen: She won't want to go to the dance with me?"
I still cannot believe how awesome we were.
"What's the worst that could happen: She won't want to go to the dance with me?"
I still cannot believe how awesome we were.
Friday, April 04, 2008
'08 fleer perforated edge series
Chelsea got a bunch of stuff for a Health Dept. health fair and this li'l gem was brought to my attention.Enjoy.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Friday, March 07, 2008
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
"I Hear My Stock Rising" What?
I was looking at some older posts on the blog and came across "I hear my stock rising" composed by K3 on Nov 17th 2007. K3 was talking about goog or google I told him gold was the way to go.
On Nov 17th goog was at about 630 today it is at 444 giving you a net loss of just under 30% In just over 15 weeks. On Nov 17th the gold spot price was about 800 today it is at 960 giving you a net gain of about 20% in just over 15 weeks. K3 thanks for letting me give you hard time.
War Yellow-fever
On Nov 17th goog was at about 630 today it is at 444 giving you a net loss of just under 30% In just over 15 weeks. On Nov 17th the gold spot price was about 800 today it is at 960 giving you a net gain of about 20% in just over 15 weeks. K3 thanks for letting me give you hard time.
War Yellow-fever
Monday, March 03, 2008
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Rail Session @ the U
There was a rail session outside the Union at the U on Thursday. The Campus Rail Jam is touring around inviting local amateurs to compete. A lot of the best rail riders in the world come out of Utah and man some of these guys were throwing down. I know a couple of people in the audience would have really brought the pain but it was still nuts! It got me so stoked and I went out yesterday to hike rails and had one of the funnest sessions of my life. Just some jibs, some hip hop on the pod, and a windless snowstorm.
Here are some of the best shots I got. The guy on the bottom held that tweaked nose press through the entire thing. Click on the pics for bigger ones and to see some of the other shots I took.
Here are some of the best shots I got. The guy on the bottom held that tweaked nose press through the entire thing. Click on the pics for bigger ones and to see some of the other shots I took.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The Audacity of Hope
I just finished reading Barack Obama's book and I must say I was left impressed. I like his pragmatism and lack of ad hominem attacks. There were a few things I did not agree with and some topics that I felt uneducated about so could be easily swayed but I liked it.
I'm compiling a list of issues, determining my opinion, and then seeing who most closely matches. I'm trying to be as methodical and unemotional as possible and so far Obama is doing the best. I'll post up my list when it's a bit more complete and after the front runners are more obvious so you guys can shoot holes in it.
What are your thoughts on the political scene?
I'm compiling a list of issues, determining my opinion, and then seeing who most closely matches. I'm trying to be as methodical and unemotional as possible and so far Obama is doing the best. I'll post up my list when it's a bit more complete and after the front runners are more obvious so you guys can shoot holes in it.
What are your thoughts on the political scene?
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Buzz
Sweet ride!
I was just reading up on some tips for the ride breaking a million should be easy now.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
I can still see the mug
and it's getting to me. Here's some more white space.
Sorry about the eye Duane.
P.S. I'm still in for some camping.
Sorry about the eye Duane.
P.S. I'm still in for some camping.
My Apologies to Duane
Mostly I'm posting this because I'm sick of Dallin's mug being the first thing I see when I pull up the blog, but, more importantly, I need to apologize to Duane. I recently learned that his syndrome is real and that he wasn't just making it up. For more proof see this. Please forgive me.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Friday, February 01, 2008
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