Bring back the Magic of Bloggy

Don't poop out. There are lots of things to say. Lots of things to discuss. Lets not leave the long tradition (since March) that we have established. Anyway, where in the world is Aaron? Why doesn't Kris post? Why are Toni, Sam, and Lindsey the only ones pulling the wagon? Onward Blogging Soldiers... Jer? Jake? Tush? Hello?!?

SURVEY...RECORD YOUR THOUGHTS

OK. The worst rock song of all time. It has to be a hit on the Billboard Charts...it has to be well known and successful.

Let me now what you think.

Right now mine are:

Photograph - Nickleback (I hate this band!!!!!)
Why Don't You Get a Job - Offspring (Pretty Fly For a White Guy is awful too!)
God Bless the Broken Road - Rascal Flatts
Higher - Creed
Good People - Jack Johnson

Reading Material

I am reading David McCullough's 1776. Man, the American army was a bunch of thugs and ragamuffins. I am really starting to appreciate the miracle our revolution was.

I Mowed My Lawn

I now own a Mower of Lawn. I have a yard. I just mowed it. I adjust sprinkler heads. I sweep my own driveway. I trim the grass along the fence. I am a homeowner. Woo-Hoo! Homeownership is...well....a wonderful thing!

So Patriotic

For any of you who want to take your kids to a parade this festive time of year (or for any of you who are kids at heart and want to have salt water taffy thrown at you by strangers) I've got the skinny on the valley's happenings for this weekend. There are six between Saturday and Tuesday; take your pick. I'll be riding in all of them so don't forget to yell hi!

Reflections on Nauvoo

So why did these people up and leave their homes time and time again to rebuild? ...only to rebuild again, and again, and again... ...and lose family members along the way... ...and have their very decency taken from them... ...have their women raped, their children contract disease and die...

Why?

There are pilgrimages in all religions...or many of them. Places that are holy. Places that stir the soul. Places that awaken emotions buried deep beneath commercialism, pop culture, selfishness, arrogance, indifference, and pride. Yet they are still there. Like that shiny artifact plucked from the dusty cedar chest in the attic that still has its luster. Or maybe like those gold plates that shone in the sunlight after all those years in concealment as Joseph Smith took them from their burial place.

Nauvoo was that place for me. The initial days were taxing. We had just moved and we were spent. Sydney's schedule was...oh yeah...she didn't have one. I felt discouraged. I felt angry that we had come. I didn't understand why it was so special that we fry in the Missouri sun to look at some old rocks in the ground or at a statue. There was some serious adversity. Why would there be adversity? Why would I hate the trip in Independence. I suppose becuase there are powers that wouldn't want me to experience the magic and sanctity of Nauvoo. There are piercing emotions, piercing thoughts that come to an individual as he reflects on that small city alongside the Mississippi.

The spirit of Joseph is in that place. There is personal transformation that comes as one strolls through the dirst streets, the mosquitos, and the humidity. It transcends the Mormon pop culture. In surpasses the ridiculous shows put on by the missionaries. It overshadows the Mormon merchandise sold in Ma and Pa stores along the main "drag." In engulfs feelings of doubt, wonder, and discouragement. It teaches one that this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He does know who we are.

These feelings aren't dampened by sweaty preachers on TV who profess a belief in Christ and profane his name. These feelings are not limited by thoughts of that annoying member of the church back home who makes us not want to come to church. These feelings are not compromised by discouragement coming from personal mistakes. The feelings in Nauvoo shatter all pretenses and all prideful judgements. This was Joseph's home. This is where he gathered Zion. This is where he sealed his testimony with his blood. This is where Emma wept for her fallen husband. This is the final resting place of the remains of the man who has done more for the salvation of man than anyother person on the face of the earth save Jesus Himself.

I reflect on the pioneers. I hear stories of unimaginable sacrifice. I hear about conditions and circumstances that would take me to the depths of humility. Things that would ruin Scott Winder forever. These people did thiese things to put their posterity in a place that they could succeed. They knew that the things on the pages of the Book of Mormon were true. They knew that despite imperfections in Church Leadership, this was God's work on earth. There are countless stories from Joseph's life and the lives of countless, nameless saints that bring me to my knees...literally.

Why have I found such good fortune in the eyes of the Almighty? Why am I able to appreciate the good things in life and not them? Why do I have the luxuries when they didn't? I don't know.

I just want to be able to live in a way to deserve this. I have brushed aside (and will have to continually do so again) the cloud of doubt that comes from a Mormon Culture. I do not like the publicity of religion. CTR bumperstickers, Book of Mormon action figures, and mormon cookbooks are laughable after being in Carthage and Nauvoo. I think I can put them in their proper places after Nauvoo.

Carthage sealed the deal for me. Seeing the very opening through which Joseph fell. Seeing the room in which he said his last words. Seeing the bullet holes. Seeing the bars of the prison. Seeing the distance he had to travel knowing he was goin like a lamb to the slaughter. Seeing the city he built and had to leave behind. This man was a prophet of God. it just made it all new to me.

These words are cheap. Anyone could write them. Its the feeling inside that I came to know well in Spain. Does this make my salvation sure? Does this trip to Nauvoo make me a better person? No. It is only a physical place. But if I act on these feelings I have I will surely find more joy and happiness with my family in this life and in the next.

Comcastic

We're back! Thanks Nuckolls, Jake, and Toni for the counsel! Better service. Way better.

Sneaky Propaganda

I was reading this article this morning and it got me thinking about the media and public relations and how much we are subjected to what they put in front of us.

"If we understand the mechanism and motives of the group mind, is it not possible to control and dregiment the masses according to our will without thier knowing it." Edward Bernays...
He called this scientific technique of opinion molding the engineering of consent.

I just think its funny that the public relation people manipulate the public opinion so much. That we are swayed without our conscious cooperation.

Other hippie facts (if you believe them)

I've been reading this book called "Skinny Bitch." It's not a diet book, they claim, but a lifestyle book. (It's quite hilarious but a bit crude. Don't read it if you don't want plenty of swear words to pop up.)

Anywho, in the midst of bashing the meat industry they cite many studies demonstrating how harmful meat actually is. They say that, among many other things, it contains chemicals such as pesticides that have been digested by the cows through their diets, and we are in turn ingesting them. They also say that since the animals are being injected with growth hormones, we are consuming them as well, possibly contributing to America's collective weight problem. Another way we do this is by drinking milk and consuming other dairy products. This is because a cow's milk is intended to grow a small animal into a 2,000-pound beast, so it is naturally very fattening. Cows are also pumped full of hormones, again passing them on to us through their milk.

Thus we see the need for the Word of Wisdom, in my opinion: to tell us to eat meat sparingly! I have never been one for vegetarianism, but reading this and other information ("Fast Food Nation", anyone?) is making me think twice.

Songs for you

Hi everybody. I would like to re-excite the molecules that constitute the Blog. I have songs I want to give you. I don't do this too often, but this CD might be my favorite of all time (might). I have put them on my site. If response is good, I think I'll try to put up different songs every week or so, and maybe suggestions from y'all. Kinda like an easy, cheap (free), and centrally located place to distribute songs between us. Just to keep it real, know what I'm sayin? Keep this on the down low, ok Punky?

Here is the new CD from The Format "Dog Problems." I didn't know if I liked it at first, but then all of the perfectly blended sounds (oh so many different sounds), and all the different heavenly sent songs and styles (holy crap, so many styles) have made me listen to it at least twice a day for a month now. Listen to it 2-3 times before judging. It's different, but when something is new, and extremely well-done, it becomes innovative, and ultimately classic. You'll notice some seventies, Queen, strings, bells, funk, and all good old Format.

The whole album Dog Problems is about a relationship the lead singer was in for a couple years with a girl from California who treated him crappily. They bought dogs to hopefully solve the problem, hence the title. Some highlights are: Time Bomb (great!), Dog Problems (sounds like the musical Chicago), The Compromise (about being dropped from their label). I can't pick anymore, I honestly love EVERY song because they're unique. I also included a couple B-Sides from between their first and second album that I like.

Follow this link:

www.nuckollsdesign.com/theFormat

RIght click the song, and download the linked file. It may take a little time, they're bigger files. I'll streamline this if y'all like it. It should work. If you like, then buy the album when it comes out in July. I'll be buying it for the second time.

Boring.

The blog is really boring. Good thing Scott is back and has the internet now.