Whoah! I feel cool now.. I finally gave into some friends and made a widget for the website. Isn’t that exciting? Click the “get widget” at the bottom to add this to your site or your feed!




The LDS Church’s Newsroom widget!



Well, it sure has been awhile since I have updated the site. While my other blogs have been flourishing, I have let this one diminish away.. though I guess that is because I haven’t been doing anything much more with this site. lol.

Life has been good to me though. My family, though we have our struggles, is closer than we have been in a long time. I have a job (though I rarely get to work), and I have most excellent friends. I am grateful to God for the beautiful things in life; especially the springtime!

Yes, there are perhaps a few things I would change if I could, but let’s be honest.. who wouldn’t? lol  I would earn a million dollars this year, spend more time shooting with my friends and solve world hunger. But alas, I get to be reasonable! So my goals for the next few months? Get another job that I am able and wanting to work more at, get back to school and spend more time with my family.

Sounds pretty cheesy, huh?

Is a bizzare person. . .

. . . Now you know

This site is undergoing scheduled maintenance by me. Sooo … it may be up and down for a bit!

Okay, so I am not one to promote Mitt Romney’s politics. Hiis “health care system” in Mass. has gone about as well and the Hindenburg’s flight. He is, however, one heck of a businessman. When it comes to fiscal accountability, I feel that our country needs a good, solid, honest businessman. So I have posted below a portion of Mr. Romney’s ten point plan to “fix” the U.S. economic situation. I have some comments at the end of the quote.

The full link can be found at his website:
http://www.freestrongamerica.com/oped/item/mrpresident_heres_how_to_lift_our_economy

or at his blog on USA Today:
http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/12/column-mr-president-heres-how-to-lift-our-economy.html

“[Mitt Romney's] 10-point plan

The president’s economists insist that technically, the recession is over. But double-digit unemployment was neither prevented nor has it ended. To get people back to work as rapidly as possible and to restore America’s economic vitality, the nation must change course. Here’s the advice I would give:

• Repair the stimulus. Freeze the funds that haven’t yet been spent and redirect them to immediate, private sector job-creation priorities.

• Create tax incentives that promote business expansion and hiring. For example, install a robust investment tax credit, permit businesses to expense capital purchases made in 2010, and reduce payroll taxes. These will reignite construction, technology and a wide array of capital goods industries, and lead to expanded employment.

• Prove to the global investors that finance America’s debt that we are serious about reining in spending and becoming fiscally prudent by adopting limits on non-military discretionary spending and reforming our unsustainable, unfunded entitlements. These are key to strengthening the dollar, reducing the threat of rampant inflation and holding down interest rates.

• Close down any talk of carbon cap-and-trade. It will burden consumers and employers with billions in new costs. Instead, greatly expand our commitment to natural gas and nuclear, boosting jobs now and reducing the export of energy jobs and dollars later.

• [ This is the only one that I disagree with whole-heartedly ] Tell the unions that job-stifling “card check” legislation is off the table. Laying new burdens on small business will kill entrepreneurship and job creation.

• Don’t allow a massive tax increase to go into effect in 2011 with the expiration of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. The specter of more tax-fueled government spending and the reduction of capital available for small business will hinder investment and business expansion.

• New spending should be strictly limited to items that are critically needed and that we would have acquired in the future, such as new military equipment to support our troops abroad and essential infrastructure at home.

• Install dynamic regulations for the financial sector — rules that are up to date, efficient and not excessively burdensome. But do not so tie up the financial sector with red tape that we lose a vital component of our economic system.

• Open the doors to trade. Give important friends like Colombia favored trade status rather than bow to protectionist demands. Now is the time for aggressive pursuit of opportunities for new markets for American goods, not insular retrenchment.

• Stop frightening the private sector by continuing to hold GM stock, by imposing tighter and tighter controls on compensation, and by pursuing a public insurance plan to compete with private insurers. Government encroachment on free enterprise is depressing investment and job creation.

The 10% unemployment crisis hangs like an albatross around President Obama’s neck. Eventually, as with every recession and recovery, the economy will improve and jobs will be created, but those who were unnecessarily unemployed due to the president’s faulty economic program will not forget. In order to most rapidly re-employ all Americans and to speed a strong recovery, the president must change course. If he does not, Republicans will bring a change of their own to Washington in the 2010 elections.”

In response to Mr. Romney’s statement of Republican’s bringing “a change of their own to Washington”, I just want to point you back to my previous blog. I don’t care who is in office: Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green, Catholic, Mormon, Atheist, Married, Single, Jew, Heterosexual, Homosexual, Communist, Socialist, Doctorate Professor or High-School Dropout. I don’t care. Those are just titles and history shows us that a title is nothing more than a mask to wear during an election.

We do need change. Unfortunately, President Obama and the Congress are doing what was promised by the Obama presidential campaign and much, much more. I am sad to say that I am not getting the “Change” that I voted for. Let us pray together. With that sense of prayer in our hearts, let us write to our elected officials and share our dissatisfaction with the way things are going.

In regards to health care, I just want to point out that France and Japan still spend roughly half of what we do and they insure every citizen with equal or better benefits than the U.S. federally funded insurances do. They also have higher overall approval ratings for the health care provided than many U.S. private sector insurance companies. Are their systems perfect? Absolutely not. But we could most certainly learn a thing or two from their systems

We are responsible for not only ourselves, but for each and every one of our Brothers and Sisters around us! That is how God has always intended it. So let us write those prayerful letters to the decision-makers in our Government!

It is time for change; It is time for the GOD CHANGE!

I was recently asked what I thought about Scott Brown defeating Martha Coakley. Quite honestly, I don’t care. What I care about is what the people in office do with their time there — regardless of what their political affiliations are.

I believe that just about every member of our Congress, the Executive office and the Supreme Court, as well as the local governments for our states, counties and cities have let us down.

They are putting their own motives (which has been is “die Democrats” or “die Republicans” for far too long) ahead of people getting the quality health care they deserve. It sickens me that they are so busy trying to make the opposite party look to be “wrong” that they don’t take the time to sit down together and make something work.

People are dying from cancer, suffering from Alzheimer’s and children are still dying from SIDS. Kids are unable to get cavities fixed because their parents cannot afford healthcare through their employers or get it through the government; and they cannot afford the prices charged by dentists. People are STARVING for Heaven’s sake!

Honestly, I don’t care who is in office. I really don’t. I just want them to do something– anything to help those who currently cannot help themselves.

Yes, some people will abuse the system. But quite honestly, I don’t give a damn. Let them do it. If that means that we can prevent premature death and enliven a real quality of life through healthcare and preventative medicine, let’s do it! If a some people “sponging” means that the mother of five can take her kids to the doctor when they are sick, and she can get herself a mammogram once a year, then that is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!

Our society has become too obsessed with “me! me! me!” to even see the suffering that is right in front of them. 1 in 8 children in America is suffering from malnutrition of some kind! How can we let this happen?? The entire nation of Haiti is in unrest because of the recent events. And we are bickering about political offices .. It makes me sick.

Perhaps the Mormon Law of Consecration should be nationalized so that us self-proclaimed “Christians” can see exactly how badly other people need our help; and how often we can actually help them.

If you care for yourself, your family and your neighbor, please write to your Senators and House Reps. Tell them to WORK TOGETHER to come up with a viable, long-lasting and cost-effective plan to ensure that every person gets taken care of. Not just the people in your family or on your street or in your city. But across the cities and states of this great nation; reaching down into the slums and ghettos, and out to the “hickvilles” and metropoleis, and across the world. If one of us fails, we all do.

It is all of us, or none.

The past several days I have heard several conversations both at work and at local stores regarding “proper” association between people. A man said that he has not told his mother that he Loves her since he was a child because it just isn’t right for a man to show that kind of weakness. Two friends said that it isn’t appropriate to use the word “love” to define them simply because they share the same gender. People have said that they shouldn’t “have” to shoulder the burden of caring for people that they don’t even know. A woman at work said that it is inappropriate to talk about religion of any kind, because someone may be offended.

They are wrong.

I Love my mommy, daddy and big brother. And I am not ashamed to say it! They are my strength, and they give me hope when there appears to be none. With just as much ardor, I Love my friends and their families.

My mother is the strongest woman alive; she has experienced more than her fair share of trials and beat them all. I admire her Love, courage and faith in God. If I could emulate even one iota of my Mother’s Love and desire to keep her family happy and together, then I will be a successful man indeed. I Love You, Mommy.

My father is the greatest example of loyalty, love and protection. He has always ensured that our family is cared for and, even though it wasn’t always convenient, has made sure to spend time with us each and every day. He works hard, even when his body hurts and his mind is weighed down with the worries of life. I admire his example and hope to someday be even just half the man that he is. I Love You, Daddy.

My brother is my closest and most trusted friend. I know that God gave him to me so that I can seek his counsel and be guided by someone that has experienced many paths. He is not perfect, but neither am I. And through our many failures in life we stand together as brothers; which is the greatest bond of all. I Love You, Brother

My brother’s kids are some of the most awesome and intelligent kids I know! The two oldest boys are growing into good, honest young men. The youngest nephew is quite the flirt with the ladies (it seems that every girl he has met is his “sweetheart”), shows great concern and Love for his family, and kicks my butt at video games. They all are fantastic kids, and their parents are good, hard-working people.  I look forward to seeing them grow into their potential as leaders and men of God. I Love each of you boys. Keep up the good work!

Recently, my good friend (he is a brother to me) and his wife had a beautiful baby boy! To them, our parents (the new grandparents), our beautiful little sisters (the new aunts!) and the whole family I say, “CONGRATULATIONS!” They are some of the most loving and well-humored people that I know. I Love you all for your help and influence in my life; every day and in both the difficult and easy situations. I Love each of you, Brother, Sisters, Mom and Dad.

If a man does not have his family and friends, then he must stand with God; and glory be to that man for having the strength to stand by the side of God. But when he does have family and friends, and they all stand with God, nothing can keep them from living full, happy and successful lives; and nothing can stop the work of God from progressing!

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints by CHOICE. I am not forced. I Love my God, and I love all that seek Him and His glory. With that in mind, I love all of my friends, and I thank them for the influencial and amazing roles that they have played in my life; the Christians, the LDS, the Jews, the Muslims, the Buddhists, the Atheists, the Hindu’s, the Agnostics, the Anti’s, the Wiccans; the educated, the wise, the un-educated and the “otherwise”; I have learned from each of you. For that, I Love you, brothers, sisters and friends.

If there is anyone that I have omitted, it is not intentional and I beg your forgiveness. My Love goes out to you as well. I am a Child of God; we all are Children of God. I Love you all as my brothers and my sisters; as my friends and family. Every person is special, every person is unique. We all have talents to share, Love to give, joys to embrace, pains to endure and struggles to overcome. Let us share with eachother our good times, and those we would perceive to be bad times. With that in mind, I hope and pray that we will realize that there are people out there that are really suffering –truly suffering. People are starving both physically and spiritually. They are insecure, both emotionally and financially. Recent events in Haiti have once again brought to our attention how important it is to care for one another.

The past few days I have felt rather frustrated with the selfishness I have seen in myself and in those around me. For the most part, those of us in the United States (and other “developed countires) are so blessed to have our homes, access to seemingly unlimited paths of knowledge and wealth, clean water, sanitary living conditions and reasonably accessible health-care. Yet there are those that drink mud because they have no systems to filter their water. They die of smallpox and polio while the vaccine lies perhaps only a few hundred miles away. Even in my own area, I have heard people say that they should not be responsible for the care of another person’s health.

Well, my friends, I have to say that enough is enough. God has blessed us with such potential! A mother of four with a severely disabled child; Should she be told that she cannot work a part-time job because if she does, she will lose all of the health benefits that her disabled child needs and deserves; not to mention that she will not be able to provide for her other three children.  A family of four working hard to pay their mortgage after their Father lost his job; should we just let them fall by the wayside because of hard economic times? The child born into a family that cleans homes for a living; should they receive any less of an education than the rich because they make less money, but have worked twice as hard for their dollar?

No way!

Friends, it is our time to wake up and hear the call! We are meant to care for each other, to uplift each other, to love, assist, bless and feed each other. I Love each of you; each and every one. God has been impressing on my mind how important it is that we take more concern for our own families, for our own friends and for our own communities; rather than expecting someone else, from somewhere else to do it for us. When we have done that, then we are to reach out beyond our local boundaries and assist those that for whatever reason cannot assist themselves.

How much joy is possible? How much healing is possible? How much happiness, friendship and blessings are we able to receive? There is no limit! As we seek out and LOVE each other, UPLIFT each other, HELP each other and BLESS each other by constant prayer for and with each other, we will see the glory of God, and He will take care of the rest.

Let us Love, Uplift, Help and Bless. For if one of us is failed, we all have failed. It is, indeed, all of us, or none.

For anyone wanting to give a financial contribution to assist the people of Haiti, I have included a few links below. The Red Cross’ website (redcross.org) has been really bogged down, so I found these other sites. Feel free to check out legitimate charities at CharityNavigator.org .

http://www.salvationarmy.org

http://www.care.org/

Spring of 2010! Be excited; be VERY excited!!!