Education Is So Important, So Lets Make It More Expensive

I heard today about a press conference George Bush gave and he was saying how important going to college and getting an education is for our country and the main way we can improve our economy is to be education. He went on to say how the job market is slowly turning into a market for only college graduates so the more of an education we have the better the economy will be and the jobs will be filled and how we need to focus more on community colleges and ways to get people to understand that they really need to go to college to have a chance the way economy is heading. However with tuition increases lately and the way they are headed its really contridicting. I go to the community college and the tuition is barely a few hundred dollars less than the universities, and they just keep increasing them. They say by the time our children are in college it will be insanely expensive ( I heard a number but I am not sure the accuracy.) Its just kinda funny, hey college is more important than ever so let's make it even more expensive.

GREAT, Yet Simple Insight

More Than Simply "Going"

"The issue is not going to church; rather, the issue is worshipping
and renewing covenants as we attend church. The issue is not going to
or through the temple; rather, the issue is having in our hearts the
spirit, the covenants, and the ordinances of the Lord's house. The issue is not
going on a mission; rather, the issue is becoming a missionary and
serving throughout our entire LIFE with all of our heart, might, mind, and
strength."

( David A. Bednar, "Becoming a Missionary," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 45)

The Journey...

Bringing Hope to Dental Assistants Everywhere

I know I'm probably going to Hades for this... but it's pretty funny. Here is a link to some guys AOL member page.

members.aol.com/jesusimages/

He is an artist... or at least he fancies himself a drawer. Not a dresser drawer, he just likes to draw. His pencil drawings are pretty accurate, but his content is... how do you say... Hilarious! He feels that the working man in his everyday job needs a little help identifying with the Savior, so he made these images. You know those times when you are weight lifting, laying carpet, or tying a balloon animal and you're thinking "Does anyone care what I'm doing? What's the meaning of life after all?" Now you can pull out a printout and feel the hope wash over your sweaty, bark-inspecting body. Yes there's even one for down-trodden bank tellers everywhere... ehem, Scott.

I can totally applaud more of the Savior in the world, especially from someone who's doing it out of the goodness of his heart. I just question the "taste."

Linguistic Purity

I read an article today that said a group is pushing for the phonetic spelling of words in the English language. It wuud maek spelling eezeeur and redoos illiturasee raets, thay say.

To this, I have to say, it will not make children and adults smarter, it will make them lazier. Spellings would suddenly vary widely according to the will of the writer. Reading would become more difficult, like deciphering a code or trying to read another language entirely.

There must be proper form in order to standardize language. Several years ago I got into an argument with an English professor who believed that we should expand the dictionary to include ebonics. Although it is a now-recognized dialect, I don't believe we need to make inclusions for any dialect--or for slang, for that matter. It's enough that these words have become part of our vernacular; they are widely understood as it is. I will probably piss people off if I say this, but, if we validate language that is simply made up and is, to some extent, a product of laziness, we are contributing to the denigration of the English language. Would we be able to address anyone in a proper manner, with respect? For example, if everyone spoke jive, would that be the language in which we addressed esteemed leaders, distinguished individuals--say, the prophet, or even God?

The more we include in our dictionaries the more we change a language. There are reasons for which we have Standard English (of the newscaster variety). Throughout China, three different dialects are spoken. However, their characters that they write with hold the same meanings throughout in order to be understood. This is why we must preserve proper English: so that no matter where you are in the country, you will be understood.

Or maybe I am just a pretentious English elitist and am dead wrong. This subject is open for debate.

Homeownership Galactica

(realize the un-handy nature of the author)

I have:

Cut drywall
Installed low voltage boxes
Purchased an appropriate lawn mower based on terrain--or lack thereof
Installed blinds throughout the whole house
Made custom shelves for our TV niche
Installed a garage storage system

More to come.

No really, I AM patriotic

Most of you might never guess that Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays. Mostly because we celebrate it through traditions every year, but also because of the strong emotions it evokes.

I probably give off the impression that I am anti-American. That couldn't be further from the truth. It's because I love this nation that I fight for its preservation (and/or restoration to greatness).

This morning I led the pledge of allegiance (in Miss Murray's stead) at Murray's Sunrise Ceremony. As we sang the national anthem and they played the armed services' tribute, I couldn't help but get choked up--ME, who doesn't cry for ANYTHING!

I love patriotic music and I love parades. I love the spirit of oneness they evoke, whether it be by standing in unison, hand over heart, or by coming out to greet our troops, our politicians, our beauty queens, our local sports teams. I love hearing the bagpipes in these parades, as it reminds me of my ancestors who came here for a better life. July 4th is one of the only holidays that the entire country celebrates together, regardless of race or religion.

I truly believe that this IS a choice land, as Amber remided us, and we are all blessed for living here. I am reminded in a simple way, as I get on the parade float and wave and smile at hundreds of kids, that I am living the American Dream, if only the dream of a little girl who wants to grow up to be a princess. I got to go to college and I have the career of my choice (for the most part). I get to marry the person of my chosing. And my church is waiting for me any time I decide to go. I can only imagine what awaits me here if I am more steadfast in serving God.

Brand New | July 15th | Be There

Just a gentle reminder that my #2 band, and one that you all love as well, is coming in concert on July 15th to In the Venue. It's pretty much gonna be a bully event, as I'm sure they will be playing new songs from their upcoming album. So, come, listen, and reach nirvana. It'll be the cat's pajamas.

National Security

It's as common a buzz word as "WMDs" and "the war on terror": National Security. What will we do in its name, or rather, what will be forced upon us in its name? Wire taps. Illegal detention of suspected terrorists. Torture. FBI surveillance of average citizens. How far will it go?

Miss Murray is headed to the Miss Utah pageant, and as we were waiting for Saturday's parade to start, she asked me to mock interview her to prepare. I was surprised at her replies to questions about our basic freedoms in this country. She believes that too many "sacrifices" are necessary to protect us as a nation; that in times of war, drastic measures should be taken.

But at what cost? Are we really being protected? How much more safe are we than pre-9/11? True, we haven't had any similar attacks since. But now anyone who dares make a public display of dissent faces arrests and investigations into every aspect of their lives. Even the freedom of the press is hindered by the scathing attacks of the adminstration as seen of late. The average citizen is no longer safe and free from the persecutions our ancestors left their home countries for as they headed to this Land of the Free.

So let's say that these things are keeping us safe. Miss Murray also believes that torture--the abuse and degradation of our fellow human beings--is acceptable. She believes that occupying a foreign country and taking control over its citizens, and even making war against innocent people (as was evident in the initial Baghdad bombings and incidents such as Haditha) are warranted. So does this mean we only look after our own kind? That humanity as a whole is not under our protecting wings?

We are one species and should be of one mind. If we truly want to protect our people we should protect the world at large as well, not by occupying and controlling them, not by torturing them, not by taking away basic freedoms. Our efforts toward world peace should not be akin to world domination. There must be a better way.

Revamp of the Vietnamese Family Shack

So I spent my saturday doing vinyl siding on the 15 yr. old playhouse in my parents backyard. We got it about 60% done and are going to finish on monday. The old man said he'd put a "For Rent" sign up when he got it finished. I asked him "Again?" Randall the prankster had put one up a while back, and then later told me we could fit a whole Vietnamese family in there. Anywho... what's everyone's plans for the 4th? This is my vain attempt to satisfy Scotts plea for more bloggage (at least from my end). I'll post some pics of the playhouse on Monday or maybe later today.