My worst nightmare

... is being trapped in a small tube or narrow cave unable to move or get help.

This is the closest thing to it.
A man thought by doctors to be in a vegetative state for 23 years was actually conscious the whole time. I shudder to think about it.

Still Enthused?

Yee haa! Double six-shooters at the draw, SP is goin' rougue! Her book, imminently to be a success in right wing shoot-em-up circles, is already on sale at Walmart for $8.99 (at least accordin' to KO -- Keith Olbermann for you neophytes). This woman has more screws loose than a 2009 GM automobile! Suddenly a writer again, SP claims that she wants to get back to her writin' roots. Even John McCain and former staff are scratching their heads.

Heaven help us! Palin-Huckabee 2012!

He does it again

Why is this man bowing?
This breach of protocol is really quite embarrassing.
At least it was the Japanese this time, who will be perplexed but will nevertheless try to set the incident in the best light. Only citizens of Japan bow to the Emperor so deeply. The Emperor does not expect it or want it from other Heads of State.

One important fact that I try to teach my students in terms of language and culture is "You should not learn a language and culture so that you feel comfortable in the language. You should learn a language and culture so that the person you are speaking to feels comfortable with your language." Obama is an example of how to make others feel uncomfortable with him.

Veteran's day recognition

Just a note to recognize our brother Kim on this Veteran's day to honor him for his wartime service. Thank you for your sacrifices to serve our country. I am very proud of you. Of course, I am very proud of Dad too for his many years of honorable service in the Military. Thanks to you both.

Mormons back gay rights law

Mormons back gay rights lawJust minutes after reading Doug's blog entry this was the leading story when I signed on to yahoo to check my email. Just thought I would share the article incase anyone missed it. I did take offense though to the picture that accompanied the article. Such a positive article only to be diminished with controversial photos. Just didn't seem to fit the article about cooperation between the church and the gay community.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints makes an historic announcement

Tonight I attended and spoke at the Salt Lake City Council meeting during which the Church announced that it supported a proposed ordinance that would ban discrimination against gay people in employment and housing. This is the first time the Church has formerly supported such an initiative at any level of government. Prior to this announcement, the Church had made statements against discrimination in a global fashion, but nothing so specific. From this point of view, it was not a departure from current public policy statements. In no way does this announcement indicate approval of any kind of one's claim to be gay, but it does make a strong commitment to non-discrimination. The representative of the Church mentioned in his carefully scripted comments that this ordinance would 'do no violence' to marriage.

I was very proud of the Church this evening and said so in my comments to the Council.

The ordinance passed unanimously. Three of the council members who are very active members of the Church spoke at length after the vote about their support of the ordinance and about their pride in being members of the Church.

Man makes living by selling the shirt on his back

Impressive! He really earned $85,000 this year doing that? Very impressive!

Pay-by-the-mile car insurance

California is considering pay-as-you-drive policies that would allow motorists to buy insurance like they do gasoline — only when the tank runs dry. The California Insurance Commissioner released regulations that permit mileage verification for pay-as-you-drive, but it's not clear how this would be implemented. The goal is to use per-mile pricing to entice Californians not to drive as much so as to reduce air pollution, ease traffic congestion, and lower the number of traffic collisions. Texas recently started a similar system, but it's too earlier to determine its effect. In Texas, you can get a six-month policy with allotments of insured miles ranging from 1,000 to 6,000 miles. When the "tank" runs dry, you buy more miles.

I rather like this system in that I would pay for the miles I drive. Since I don't drive much, I currently still pay for insurance while my car sits in the garage, so knowing I can save money by riding the bus or riding my bike to work would encourage me to leave my car in the garage. I have questions about implementation, but the most sensible system would be check the mileage at inspection, or have the agent check your mileage when you buy more miles. What do you all think?

Zelaya returned to power

Manuel Zelaya will return as the president of Honduras due to American diplomatic pressure. This singular diplomatic triumph of President Obama's first year in office will restore to power the lawfully deposed Honduran thug and friend of Fidel Castro, Daniel Ortega and Hugh Chavez. It is contrary to the national interest of the United States and a setback for the supporters of democracy. It is also a defeat for the rule of law. The Honduran Supreme Court remains steadfast in its opinion that Zelaya was attempting to remove term limits on the President and install himself in dictator-like presidency similar to Chavez. Once Zelaya actually regains power, I suspect he will be looking for revenge against his enemies. Don't be surprised to see news of arrests and assassinations of opposition leaders. This is a boneheaded position for the US to take IMHO.

Prisoners to the front of the line?

Apparently, prisoners and inmates are being moved to the front of the line in many states to get the N1H1 vaccination. Even in front of high risk, honorable tax paying citizens.
Should inmates get H1N1 shots before the general population? I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts.

Pilots engaged in conversation

Just wanting to know Brian's perspective on this situation. How often does this happen?....not the over shooting their destination, but pilots being so involved in their conversation that they tune everything else out, including the radio traffic trying to hail them. Did they literally turn the radios off? Or did they just tune their ear out? If the plain were on auto pilot, wouldn't it have told them that it was approaching it's destination? How did they miss that? Very curious indeed.

Olbermann tells an Apostle of God he should shut the ______ up!

Yikes! I wouldn't want to be in Olbermanns shoes on his judgment day. Noticed too that he conviently left the name of "Jesus Christ" out of the title of our church. He is angry guy. I never liked him...and I have even less respect for him now. He is high on my list of "Worst People". I hate how he twists the truth...and demonizes people. But don't all the talk show pundits do that on both sides of the spectrum. That is why we just have to be level headed and not take everything they all dish out as fact...because most of it is demonized trash talk about the people on the other side of the line.

'Bout sums it up.

Deficit Hits $1.4 Trillion

The Obama administration said Friday the deficit for the fiscal year just ended was $1.4 trillion, the largest relative to the size of the economy since 1945. The administration has a huge challenge to reduce the deficit while considering further steps to stimulate the economy. This is why it is critical that the health insurance reform be revenue neutral. The problem is that it is obvious to all that it won't be. It is entitlement spending at a time that we can least afford it. Note that if any version of the bill currently under consideration in congress gets passed, taxation starts immediately, but the program itself is slated to start in 2013 (after Obama's presumed re-election). It's a running head start, but it won't survive the ballooning deficit. Also, there are rumors of a second stimulus bill. The Democrats are quietly desperate about the economy. GB's fault or not GB's fault, it's a well-known phenomenon that that party in power gets drubbed at the polls if the economy is bad.

Trick or Treat