"Like, the worst day of my life! What did you think!"
"Sweet!"
Marriage was in the news. Whether it was Brittney Spears (twice), Bennifer (Zero times), or Mark and Kip (illegally in San Francisco, legally in MA). Initiatives to "protect" marriage by inacting the current standard were passed all over the country, where marriage is unsuccessful 50% of the time.
There was Hubub when Janet Jackson flashed the world her boob at the Super Bowl (I watched the Super Bowl and didn't catch it), worthy of weeks worth of primetime news, yet Dick Cheney openly lying in a debate was only exposed by a fake news show.
Speaking of Dick Cheney and indecency, the Vice President uttered the mother of all swear words. On the floor of the U.S. Senate. Directed at a U.S. Senator. And this from the "family values" camp.
While the election wasn't held until November 2, George W Bush locked it up one Monday night, when Democrats moved towards a Candidate with no clear platform, over the candidate that made people stand up and take notice. In the end, John Kerry is still looking for a platform that extends beyond Vietnam.
A bunch of nobodies became somebodies, whether they won Championships (Boston Red Sox), Ran for public office, or just lived in their own little world (Napoleon Dynamite), even if that world is Preston Idaho. But the biggest somebodies continued to fight in Afganistan and Iraq. We hope they can become regular joes again. Soon.
Whether it was four hurricanes (and a Tropical Storm) in Florida or earthquakes and Tsunamis in Asia, mother nature proved she is not to be underestimated.
-Bob
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Monday, December 20, 2004
Please help
I want this to stay near the top for a while. New posts below.
Please donate money to help the Tsunami victims in Asia. You never know when and where tagedy may strike. It could be you or I who needs help of annother next.
To donate online, visit the following sites:
LDS Foundation, Humanitarian Services (They already have a rep on the ground discovering needs/coordinating distribution)
American Red Cross (click on International Response Fund)
-Bob
[edit] edited to move down the list. By now, everyone knows where to go.
Please donate money to help the Tsunami victims in Asia. You never know when and where tagedy may strike. It could be you or I who needs help of annother next.
To donate online, visit the following sites:
LDS Foundation, Humanitarian Services (They already have a rep on the ground discovering needs/coordinating distribution)
American Red Cross (click on International Response Fund)
-Bob
[edit] edited to move down the list. By now, everyone knows where to go.
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Super Size Me ~~ The movie that may have changed my life!
It is rare that a movie brings me to tears. It is even rarer that a movie has led me to go do something -- to set a new goal for myself.
Last night, I went and saw the documentary "Super Size Me" at the Broadway Theater.
For those who are unfamiliar with the movie, this guy, Morgan Spurlock (SP?), goes to eat at McDonald's every day for 30 days. He doesn't just go once a day, but for all three meals. He can't eat anything that is not on the McDonald's menu.
He starts out visiting 3 doctors with different specialities on day 0. They all tell him that he's crazy, but he shouldn't suffer any major health effects as long as he does it for just 30 days.
He gains 10% of his body weight in the first 5 days or so. We gets phisically fatter by the end. He feels fatigued. His girlfriend describes in very PG-13 terms his sexual finction decreasing. We wakes up on day 21 with what feels like heart palpitations.
At the end of the 30 days, his liver shows the same damage as if he had been on a heavy drinking binge for 30 days. His doctors were floored by the tremendous health effects caused by his crazy diet.
I'm not eating fast food for a while, and I'm starting to work out.
-Bob
Last night, I went and saw the documentary "Super Size Me" at the Broadway Theater.
For those who are unfamiliar with the movie, this guy, Morgan Spurlock (SP?), goes to eat at McDonald's every day for 30 days. He doesn't just go once a day, but for all three meals. He can't eat anything that is not on the McDonald's menu.
He starts out visiting 3 doctors with different specialities on day 0. They all tell him that he's crazy, but he shouldn't suffer any major health effects as long as he does it for just 30 days.
He gains 10% of his body weight in the first 5 days or so. We gets phisically fatter by the end. He feels fatigued. His girlfriend describes in very PG-13 terms his sexual finction decreasing. We wakes up on day 21 with what feels like heart palpitations.
At the end of the 30 days, his liver shows the same damage as if he had been on a heavy drinking binge for 30 days. His doctors were floored by the tremendous health effects caused by his crazy diet.
I'm not eating fast food for a while, and I'm starting to work out.
-Bob
Sunday, May 30, 2004
I met Howard Dean Today!
Cross-posted on Mormons for America.
I don't throw around the word hero very often. In fact, my list of heroes is very short. Captain Moroni, Joseph Smith, Mr. Rodgers, and Howard Dean. Only one of these men is living. Today, I met him.
It was at a campaign fundraiser for his cousin, Peter Corroon, who is running for Mayor of Salt Lake County. After both he and Peter spoke, I snuck around the back part of the coffee shop, and introduced myself, including the fact that I had organized Mormons for Dean. He thanked me for my efforts.
I then gave him two Mormon Tabernacle Choir CDs. He was surprised and happy to have them.
Some mental notes from Dean's speech:
1) "Democracy is not a spectator sport." We need to actively engage in politics, not just show up in November.
2) The government must start acting like it is the citizen's money, not the government's. We must elect those who recognize this.
3) Dean supports Instant Runoff Voting, which is a major platform point of Mormons for America.
That's all I can think of for now. I'm going to write two entries on Memorial Day to be posted tomorrow, and then head back out of town.
-Bob
he·ro
1. In mythology and legend, a man, often of divine ancestry, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and favored by the gods.
2. A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.
3. A person noted for special achievement in a particular field.
I don't throw around the word hero very often. In fact, my list of heroes is very short. Captain Moroni, Joseph Smith, Mr. Rodgers, and Howard Dean. Only one of these men is living. Today, I met him.
It was at a campaign fundraiser for his cousin, Peter Corroon, who is running for Mayor of Salt Lake County. After both he and Peter spoke, I snuck around the back part of the coffee shop, and introduced myself, including the fact that I had organized Mormons for Dean. He thanked me for my efforts.
I then gave him two Mormon Tabernacle Choir CDs. He was surprised and happy to have them.
Some mental notes from Dean's speech:
1) "Democracy is not a spectator sport." We need to actively engage in politics, not just show up in November.
2) The government must start acting like it is the citizen's money, not the government's. We must elect those who recognize this.
3) Dean supports Instant Runoff Voting, which is a major platform point of Mormons for America.
That's all I can think of for now. I'm going to write two entries on Memorial Day to be posted tomorrow, and then head back out of town.
-Bob
Friday, May 28, 2004
Gas Prices -- How much is it costing you?
All information is courtesy utahgasprices.com.
I average about 1 gallon per day. If you fill your 10 gallon tank every 10 days, that's your average, too. It's actually a pretty low average. But that's what I'll use to figure gas costs in a new, irregular installment.
Today's average gas price in Utah: $2.026 a gallon
Yesterday's average price: $1.993; Annual Cost of this increase: $12.05
One Week ago price: $1.987; Annual Cost: $14.24
One Month Ago price: $1.886; Annual Cost: $51.10
One Year Ago Price: $1.534; Annual Cost: $179.58
-Bob
I average about 1 gallon per day. If you fill your 10 gallon tank every 10 days, that's your average, too. It's actually a pretty low average. But that's what I'll use to figure gas costs in a new, irregular installment.
Today's average gas price in Utah: $2.026 a gallon
Yesterday's average price: $1.993; Annual Cost of this increase: $12.05
One Week ago price: $1.987; Annual Cost: $14.24
One Month Ago price: $1.886; Annual Cost: $51.10
One Year Ago Price: $1.534; Annual Cost: $179.58
-Bob
Picking the Worng Battles
The last several years, we have seen many issues come up where our elected officials "fix" a problem by not changing what's broken.
First, it was the aftermath of Florida 2000. The reason the Supreme Court ended the recount in Gore v Bush was because there was no state standard for recounts. We "fixed" the problem by going to electronic voting where recounts are impossible, and there's no way to tell if you screwed up the ballot. That's not to mention the fact that the computers are prone to crashing, or idiot poll workers not knowing they have to plug in the machines.
Next, we were attacked. So, we go after the guy who was responsible, right? Well, kinda. We spend a few months looking for him. But, we can't find him. So, we keep some troops in that country (a number so small we now only control a few cities there), and we attack annother country. A country whose leader was hated by the guy we were looking for in Afganistan. A country where the group that attacked us had zero presence until they followed us in.
Lastly, a little closer to home, some government employees are abusing their car, er, SUV privlidges. So, instead of better monitoring on the system, they are going to take away the cars, giving everyone a $300-750 car allowance. THAT won't lead to abuses at all.....
Sheesh.
-Bob
First, it was the aftermath of Florida 2000. The reason the Supreme Court ended the recount in Gore v Bush was because there was no state standard for recounts. We "fixed" the problem by going to electronic voting where recounts are impossible, and there's no way to tell if you screwed up the ballot. That's not to mention the fact that the computers are prone to crashing, or idiot poll workers not knowing they have to plug in the machines.
Next, we were attacked. So, we go after the guy who was responsible, right? Well, kinda. We spend a few months looking for him. But, we can't find him. So, we keep some troops in that country (a number so small we now only control a few cities there), and we attack annother country. A country whose leader was hated by the guy we were looking for in Afganistan. A country where the group that attacked us had zero presence until they followed us in.
Lastly, a little closer to home, some government employees are abusing their car, er, SUV privlidges. So, instead of better monitoring on the system, they are going to take away the cars, giving everyone a $300-750 car allowance. THAT won't lead to abuses at all.....
Sheesh.
-Bob
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
A Bush Joke
Well, President Bush *IS* a joke on his own, but here's a joke ABOUT Bush:
How many members of the Bush Administration are needed to replace a lightbulb?
The Answer is SEVEN:
one to deny that a lightbulb needs to be replaced
one to attack and question the patriotism of anyone who has questions about the lightbulb,
one to blame the previous administration for the need of a new lightbulb,
one to arrange the invasion of a country rumored to have a secret stockpile of lightbulbs,
one to get together with Vice President Cheney and figure out how to pay Halliburton Industries one million dollars for a lightbulb,
one to arrange a photo-op session showing Bush changing the lightbulb while dressed in a flight suit and wrapped in an American flag,
and finally one to explain to Bush the difference between screwing a lightbulb and screwing the country.
-Bob
How many members of the Bush Administration are needed to replace a lightbulb?
The Answer is SEVEN:
one to deny that a lightbulb needs to be replaced
one to attack and question the patriotism of anyone who has questions about the lightbulb,
one to blame the previous administration for the need of a new lightbulb,
one to arrange the invasion of a country rumored to have a secret stockpile of lightbulbs,
one to get together with Vice President Cheney and figure out how to pay Halliburton Industries one million dollars for a lightbulb,
one to arrange a photo-op session showing Bush changing the lightbulb while dressed in a flight suit and wrapped in an American flag,
and finally one to explain to Bush the difference between screwing a lightbulb and screwing the country.
-Bob
Bush = Liar
Bush is a Liar.
Bush is a Liar.
Bush is a Liar.
White House spokesman Trent Duffy: "It's been raining a lot and the topsoil is loose .... You know this president. He likes to go all-out. Suffice it to say he wasn't whistling show tunes."
The Rain totals for Crawford, TX:
May 22: 0"
May 21: 0"
May 20: 0"
May 19: 0"
May 18: 0"
May 17: 0"
May 16: 0"
May 15: 0"
May 14: 0.03"
May 13: 2.79"
May 12: 0"
May 11: 0.15"
May 10: 0"
May 9: 0"
So, the last significant rain was a full NINE days before the crash. NINE DAYS!!!!
Count with me, class: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine! Nine Days! Wah-ha-ha-ha! (My best Count von Count impersination)
I'm surprised the White House didn't just blame Clinton for this one. Or Saddam. Or John Kerry.
All I can say: Liar, liar, pants on fire, hanging on a telephone wire.
-Bob
EDIT: just to say this a courtesy DailyKos.
Bush is a Liar.
Bush is a Liar.
White House spokesman Trent Duffy: "It's been raining a lot and the topsoil is loose .... You know this president. He likes to go all-out. Suffice it to say he wasn't whistling show tunes."
The Rain totals for Crawford, TX:
May 22: 0"
May 21: 0"
May 20: 0"
May 19: 0"
May 18: 0"
May 17: 0"
May 16: 0"
May 15: 0"
May 14: 0.03"
May 13: 2.79"
May 12: 0"
May 11: 0.15"
May 10: 0"
May 9: 0"
So, the last significant rain was a full NINE days before the crash. NINE DAYS!!!!
Count with me, class: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine! Nine Days! Wah-ha-ha-ha! (My best Count von Count impersination)
I'm surprised the White House didn't just blame Clinton for this one. Or Saddam. Or John Kerry.
All I can say: Liar, liar, pants on fire, hanging on a telephone wire.
-Bob
EDIT: just to say this a courtesy DailyKos.
Friday, May 21, 2004
Iraq Torture
I've resisted the temptation to post on the torture of Iraqi prisoners.
However, this post is not on the tortur itself, which was cruel, unusual, and worthy of sending people to the Hague for war crimes.
It's about the current PR going on from the right.
They are showing pictures of Saddam's torture, at the same prison.
It's as if to say that "Hey, it could be worse!"
Well, I say "The lesser of two evils is still evil."
-Bob
However, this post is not on the tortur itself, which was cruel, unusual, and worthy of sending people to the Hague for war crimes.
It's about the current PR going on from the right.
They are showing pictures of Saddam's torture, at the same prison.
It's as if to say that "Hey, it could be worse!"
Well, I say "The lesser of two evils is still evil."
-Bob
Now, with comments!
Now, blogger has comments! So, Comment away! Let me know how much of a nutjob you think I am!
-Bob
-Bob
Friday, April 30, 2004
A Number Is Just A Number, But A Name Isn't Just A Name
739.
I want you to ponder that number for a moment.
739.
739 days ago it was April 22, 2002. Just over two years ago. Annother 739 from now it will be May 9, 2006. But, I give you those dates as a reference as to how big a number 739. The significance? 739 is the currant number of dead reported since the beginning of the Iraq war.
Viet Nam used to always seem distant to me. Even after seeing a traveling, half-scale replica of The Wall Sept 13, 2001 here in Salt Lake, it still didn't seem concrete.
Last summer, annother traveling wall came to Salt Lake. This one contained all the names from The Wall in Washington. There, I took the opportunity to rub the name of the person closest to my family to have died in Nam.
His name was Shirl. He was engaged to my Aunt. At the time, I had never met anyone from his family (I now happen to work with his sister). Suddenly, I instantly became connected to not just a name, but a person.
739 represents people, not just names. Tonight, Ted Koppel will read a list of names 739 or so names. He will also show the pictures. Even if we do not watch tonight (I probably won't), lets bow our head in a moment of silence to respect those we've lost.
Here is a random sampling of names. At the end of a few selected posts, I will add a few names, as a tribute. These young men a women are not respected enough. I do this to honor them.
2nd Lt Therrel S Childers, Age 30, Harriston, Miss., Mar 21, 2003
Staff Sgt. Thomas W Christensen, Age 42, Atlantic Mine, MI, Dec 25, 2003
Sgt. Michael D Acklin II, Age 25, Louisville, Nov 15, 2003
I want you to ponder that number for a moment.
739.
739 days ago it was April 22, 2002. Just over two years ago. Annother 739 from now it will be May 9, 2006. But, I give you those dates as a reference as to how big a number 739. The significance? 739 is the currant number of dead reported since the beginning of the Iraq war.
Viet Nam used to always seem distant to me. Even after seeing a traveling, half-scale replica of The Wall Sept 13, 2001 here in Salt Lake, it still didn't seem concrete.
Last summer, annother traveling wall came to Salt Lake. This one contained all the names from The Wall in Washington. There, I took the opportunity to rub the name of the person closest to my family to have died in Nam.
His name was Shirl. He was engaged to my Aunt. At the time, I had never met anyone from his family (I now happen to work with his sister). Suddenly, I instantly became connected to not just a name, but a person.
739 represents people, not just names. Tonight, Ted Koppel will read a list of names 739 or so names. He will also show the pictures. Even if we do not watch tonight (I probably won't), lets bow our head in a moment of silence to respect those we've lost.
Here is a random sampling of names. At the end of a few selected posts, I will add a few names, as a tribute. These young men a women are not respected enough. I do this to honor them.
2nd Lt Therrel S Childers, Age 30, Harriston, Miss., Mar 21, 2003
Staff Sgt. Thomas W Christensen, Age 42, Atlantic Mine, MI, Dec 25, 2003
Sgt. Michael D Acklin II, Age 25, Louisville, Nov 15, 2003
Saturday, April 24, 2004
My Day at the Salt Lake County Democratic Convention
Today was my first experience at a political convention. It was pretty much what I expected, for the most part. However, some observations:
1. If someone's going to come into the educators' caucus, please talk about what YOU can do for education.
2. My favorite shirt of the day: "Democrats are sexy. Have you ever heard of a nice piece of elephant?"
3. The pledge. Only about half the crowd said "under God." I should have said "Under Heavenly Father," but I didn't.
4. Kudos to the Peter Corroon Campaign. (DISCLAIMER: I am a Coroon volunteer.) They were the only campaign to use the multi-media capabilities of the Skyline High Auditorium. Most candidates probably hadn't even looked at that.
5. On a sad note, my friend Shaun lost at the Republican Convention. Well, he bowed out, endorsed Patti Florence, who then got creamed by Mark Crockett. That will give me more time to persue other things, including blogging here.
-Bob
1. If someone's going to come into the educators' caucus, please talk about what YOU can do for education.
2. My favorite shirt of the day: "Democrats are sexy. Have you ever heard of a nice piece of elephant?"
3. The pledge. Only about half the crowd said "under God." I should have said "Under Heavenly Father," but I didn't.
4. Kudos to the Peter Corroon Campaign. (DISCLAIMER: I am a Coroon volunteer.) They were the only campaign to use the multi-media capabilities of the Skyline High Auditorium. Most candidates probably hadn't even looked at that.
5. On a sad note, my friend Shaun lost at the Republican Convention. Well, he bowed out, endorsed Patti Florence, who then got creamed by Mark Crockett. That will give me more time to persue other things, including blogging here.
-Bob
Sunday, April 18, 2004
OK, so I've been gone a while...
Yeah, it's been a while, but I've been busier and busier. Who knew that Kindergarteners could be so exhausting. Further proof that the movie "Kindergarten Cop" was fake. The Govenator would have died of exhaustion halfway through the movie.
But, they took the kindergartners away from me, so I have more time to think of other things. Fifth Graders are a whole new ballgame, but at least they know the name of "8."
Of course, my frien Shaun decided to run for County Council, and I'm his campaign secretary, so that has me busy as well.
OK, now for some general questions:
1) Who the heck are we going to turn Iraq over to June 30?
2) Why can Bush flip-flop but Kerry can't?
3) Why isn't Kerry campaigning more?
OK, that's all for now. I hope to post a few times a week.
-Bob
But, they took the kindergartners away from me, so I have more time to think of other things. Fifth Graders are a whole new ballgame, but at least they know the name of "8."
Of course, my frien Shaun decided to run for County Council, and I'm his campaign secretary, so that has me busy as well.
OK, now for some general questions:
1) Who the heck are we going to turn Iraq over to June 30?
2) Why can Bush flip-flop but Kerry can't?
3) Why isn't Kerry campaigning more?
OK, that's all for now. I hope to post a few times a week.
-Bob
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Why I'm voting for John Edwards
I have liked Howard Dean ever since I first saw him speak on TN last June. I have been spending hours per week blogging, volunteering, and doing other things towards helping Dean.
However, I've asked myself the following question: What's more important -- electing Howard Dean, or taking the country back from George W Bush?
After much fasting and prayer, I have decided that the answer is the latter, taking the country back. While Howard Dean is the best position-wise, he is no longer the best candidate to win. He has allowed the media and DLC to steal this election from him, and change his style.
John Kerry scares me. He has changed positions every 16 months or so throughout his political career. His campaign is now against everything he voted for: NAFTA, NCLB, Operation Iraqi Freedom, to name just a few. He is a member of Skull and Bones, a large secret combination (of which GWB is a member of as well).
John Edwards can defeat John Kerry. He has Charisma. He has energy. He doesn't have the easy labels that Dean got stuck with.
Howard Dean is still my first choice. John Edwards gets my vote.
I will not be starting a "Mormons for Edwards" group, as I will be involved helping a friend. I have been asked to be a political advisor to Shaun Kruger who is running for Salt Lake County Council. It has also been suggested to me to start a "Mormons for Honorable and Just Men" PAC. If the Kruger Campaign gets shot down early, maybe I will do that.
Please contact me at bobiscookiemonster@yahoo.com, as I will no longer be checking my Mormons for Dean address. You can check out my new blog, covering just about everything, at http://bobiscookiemonster.blogspot.com
-Bob
However, I've asked myself the following question: What's more important -- electing Howard Dean, or taking the country back from George W Bush?
After much fasting and prayer, I have decided that the answer is the latter, taking the country back. While Howard Dean is the best position-wise, he is no longer the best candidate to win. He has allowed the media and DLC to steal this election from him, and change his style.
John Kerry scares me. He has changed positions every 16 months or so throughout his political career. His campaign is now against everything he voted for: NAFTA, NCLB, Operation Iraqi Freedom, to name just a few. He is a member of Skull and Bones, a large secret combination (of which GWB is a member of as well).
John Edwards can defeat John Kerry. He has Charisma. He has energy. He doesn't have the easy labels that Dean got stuck with.
Howard Dean is still my first choice. John Edwards gets my vote.
I will not be starting a "Mormons for Edwards" group, as I will be involved helping a friend. I have been asked to be a political advisor to Shaun Kruger who is running for Salt Lake County Council. It has also been suggested to me to start a "Mormons for Honorable and Just Men" PAC. If the Kruger Campaign gets shot down early, maybe I will do that.
Please contact me at bobiscookiemonster@yahoo.com, as I will no longer be checking my Mormons for Dean address. You can check out my new blog, covering just about everything, at http://bobiscookiemonster.blogspot.com
-Bob
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