Wow.

So Tuesday happened.

And then Wednesday. And Thursday, and Friday, and Saturday! And still today.

Sheesh! So much misbehavior on both sides!!!

On the one side, I see calls for the assassination of Donald and the raping of his wife. Supporters burning racial effigies. On the other, I see burning of businesses, vandalism of both public and private property, assaults and beatings, and obstructing traffic on major highways.

The gloating on one side, the pity-party on the other. What happened to good sportsmanship? What happened to common courtesy and civility? What happened to obeying the law??

I've been told this acting out (at least on the anti-Trump side) is neither childish nor over-reacting. I beg do differ! I don't care which side you're on, what you do, who you do it to, or why. But this has got to stop. It's embarrassing! Adults consider the consequences of their behavior. Adults recognize that there are options. Adults obey the law and find legal ways to make their voices heard.

This is none of the above. This is exactly the opposite of adult and mature- this is indeed childishness!

To both sides, to everyone who is acting up (hopefully, none of my readers?), I say:

Midweek Madness

It's Tuesday night/Wednesday morning as I write this.

This week has been pretty intense, and it's only half over! A huge decision has been made. It wasn't a landslide, by any means, but it was a win for one side, and a loss for the other.

Most of you know where I stand. That said, I know how the other side feels- that's how I felt the last two elections. I understand the "We're screwed" sentiment (pardon the language for my more sensitive readers), I really do. Four years ago, when it was announced that Obama would get another four years in the White House, I was just sick. I couldn't believe that the American people had chosen again to elect someone whose agenda clearly did not include the rule of law, respect for law enforcement, compassion for our fellow Americans, peace within our borders, and fostering respect from other nations. At least that's how I saw it.

So to those of you on "the other side of the aisle"- I do get it.

That said, when I saw that my candidate had the lead this evening, as totals from each state began to come in, I was excited!.. worried, because this is a big country, and there were still a lot of electoral votes to be tallied. As the night progressed, and my candidate retained the lead I became more hopeful. Just after midnight, as I checked the reports again, and saw that my candidate had 276 electoral votes, that he had won, my heart skipped a beat! So many things will be ok!

Results as of 5am, MST

This is not me gloating. This is me expressing relief!
Relief that the unborn will be protected.
Relief that our borders will be secure against trespassers.
Relief that law-abiding citizens will still be able to defend themselves.
Relief that our allies will be supported in our mutual pursuits of freedom, liberty, and prosperity.
Relief that those who have served- past, present, and future- to keep our nation safe, will be taken care of.

With a gracious and appreciative speech like this, I think we will be ok. *sigh

Talking about the Thing

A while back, someone did a thing, We have all heard about it. We all know about it. And some have decided that the thing was heroic, courageous. I can see that. Doing a thing that isn't popular across the board DOES take courage.

And this thing definitely was NOT popular across the board. Because others feel it's a travesty, an abomination. Others feel it's a sin against nature and God. They have even called it insulting to half the human population, that its insulting that some on thinks they can buy their way into that demographic.

"Laws, which govern life, were instituted from before the foundation of the world. They are not based on social or political considerations. They cannot be changed. No pressure, no protests, no legislation can alter them."~ President Boyd K Packer

And now this person who did this thing, this "hero" is upset because others- friends, colleagues, and even family is having a hard time with the choice that has been made. This choice was a ginormous upheaval.. and even though there's a phenomenal learning curve, those who are taking longer to get to the new headspace, or even who refuse to even try, those who feel this was wrong are being demonized.

Some family doesn't want to participate in the big adjustment. Gee, I cant imagine why. After SIX DECADES a father and husband has totally changed the game and wants to be called by a name he's never used. After SIXTY years of one identity- a whole set of knowledge and characteristics and skills and an entire career are to now just so much nothing, a lie... right? We're supposed to just ignore the fact that all he has changed all the rules...?

The reality is that the rules haven't changed. This person is still the same confused, frustrated, messed-up man he was before. He is trying to find where he is, what he is.

He has forgotten that he is a son of God. He has forgotten that he has a divine identity that cannot be erased or masked or altered by hormones and pills and surgery. He is, he always will be that son of God, son of Deity, with all that potential that comes with that reality. He could be an amazing example and inspiration. He could use his celebrity and fame to lead and encourage. He could be so much more that the circus side show freak he has made himself into.

More Research Needed

With the 2016 political season heating up.. yes, I know it's still 2015- that's how it goes. Anyway, with the 2016 US presidential race starting, I want to share some of my thoughts on some of the candidates. (These are just my rough draft notes.)

Democratic:
Hillary Clinton:
Former first lady of Arkansas, former first lady of the nation, former secretary of state.
Also corruption, bribery, treason (Bengazi), violating security (emails).. and the concerning habit her (and her husband's) political opponents in AK had of dying. Once can be explained away.. but five?.. that's a downright disturbing trend! Btw, about Bengazi and these hits.. does that count as conspiracy to commit murder?.

Bernie Sanders:
First, let's look at that name. Sorry, but even Obama ditched the diminutive "Barry".
Anyway.. mayor, senator of Vermont, self-described "democratic socialist".. and with that, I'm done. I'm not voting for a socialist. Socialism has proven time and again that it doesn't work. Sure, the numbers are swell, but in practical application, the thing just doesn't work.


Republican:
Jeb Bush:
Again with the nicknames. Seriously, nobody's gonna take us seriously if we're representing with a guy named "Jeb".. can you say Beverly Hill Billies?
Florida governor, campaign manager extraordinaire... and toker...? Dunno if anyone else has seen the pattern, but we've had two POTUS's who have admitted to smoking pot in college. Neither were exactly impressive in my book. Sure, one said, "I didn't inhale".. and the other was dubbed "Interceptor" by his clam-bake buddies for reaching across the toke circle and taking a drag out of turn.
While both his brother and his dad did alright, I'm not seeing the same patriotism and conservative pattern in him. Oh, and there's just not much to go on here.

Ben Carson:
Surgeon.
While I love his stand on Obamacare, I'm not digging his stand on the 2nd Amendment. I think he's very ill-prepared for the high stakes of the national arena.

Chris Christie:
At least his nickname (born Christopher James) isn't hill-billy or a diminutive.
Attorney, Atty general for New Jersey, chief federal law enforcement officer for NJ, governor of NJ.
Sometimes played a little fast and loose with penalties for corruption, simply to get the thing done. While I like the idea of someone who will get the job done, after Obama's phone/pen attitude, I don't know I'm wiling to back someone who will play "fast and loose."

Ted Cruz:
Attorney (helped prosecute then-POTUS Clinton), Texas solicitor general (supporting conservative cases), TX senator.
Supported conservative cases- gun rights, 10-commandment displays, fought Obamacare.

Mark Everson:
Cabinet member for Indiana governor, IRS commissioner, board of governors for Red Cross
What has he done?... Again, not much there

Carly Fioina:
Ok, the name. Carly is fine for a woman as it is a feminine form. But her last name.. I still stumble over it. Not sure what can be done about it though.
Business executive for AT&T/HP, an advisory board for the CIA.
Supports the conservative agenda in many ways- abortion, gay rights/gay marriage. She hasn't said anything about the 2nd Amendment, though. Also, breast cancer survivor... and she went on The View and represented well against the liberal women there.

Jim Gilore:
Military service, attorney, governor of Virginia.
As governor, figured out how to reduce taxes AND maintain a balanced budget AT THE SAME TIME!!!
That's some kind of magic in the political world, something I'd love to see in the next administration!

Mike Huckabee:
Pastor, Lt governor and then governor of Arkansas,
Opposes abortion, gay marriage, Obamacare, evolution, illegal immigration. Supports the military and the 2nd Amendment
Kinda mixy with the Dem/Rep thing. Is he a Democrat or a Republican? I'm not sure.. is he? If it weren't for the party-waffling, I'd be tempted.

Donald Trump:
Businessman, celebrity, bazillionaire.
Made and lost fortunes. Claims to be Republican, conservative.. but he supports gun control?
In addition, I really don't think he's prepared for the reality that we have a nation built on checks and balances. Is he capable of working WITH Congress to fix this nation? To the detriment of our nation, Obama bulldozed over Congress and bullied the Supreme Court. If Donald does that, is he any better?

Scott Walker:
Wisconsin state assembly, WI governor.
Fought big unions, balanced the state budget, supported voter ID laws, made abortions a little more personal. Not sure how he feels about 2nd Amendment, though. But so far, so good.




In conclusion, I think I need to make a chart:
The two Dems listed are not even worth talking about as one is a joke (ie: believes that even though thousands of years proves otherwise, he can make it work) and the other is a criminal.
And the Reps are a mixed bag of good-but-not-much-to-go-on and are-they-serious-?.. so I'm gonna work on this a little more. Maybe come back with a chart.

All of US Serving You..?

Wow- the economy is rough. People aren't spending. Employers aren't hiring... and we all know it!

And my bank is screwing the destitute.

I guess I should say former bank- I closed my account this week because of a policy change they made at the beginning of this month.

From an email explaining why I had a $6.95 maintenance fee:

Effective August 12, 2013, you can waive the Silver Checking monthly maintenance fee of $6.95 with online statements and $8.95 with paper statements by maintaining a Package Money Market Savings account AND one of the following: Combined monthly direct deposits totaling $1,000+ OR Combined account balance of $1,500.  The combined balance is the total average account balance* of the Silver Checking account and all Package Money Market Savings accounts you own.  Also note: A Package Money Market Savings account and/or a U.S. Bank Visa Credit Card is no longer necessary to maintain a Silver Checking account. 

How do you like them apples? Unless I have $1500 just lying around.. or make enough to have a cool grand in direct deposit each month, I'm screwed out of $6.95. The way I cook, that's a full day's worth of meals. Don't worry, I don't need to eat.

Sure, if you're a student (Start school that I can't afford just so I can keep my checking account?), or if you want one of their credit products (thanks exhusband, guess I don't need a decent credit score.), or in the military (did I mention not employed?), or own your own business (I said unemployed, not self employed), they have options, but otherwise, nope.

Coulda fooled me.

We're all Suckers!

Congressional Record--Appendix, pp. A34-A35

Current Communist Goals

EXTENSION OF REMARKS OF HON. A. S. HERLONG, JR. OF FLORIDA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, January 10, 1963
Mr. HERLONG. Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Patricia Nordman of De Land, Fla., is an ardent and articulate opponent of communism, and until recently published the De Land Courier, which she dedicated to the purpose of alerting the public to the dangers of communism in America.
At Mrs. Nordman's request, I include in the RECORD, under unanimous consent, the following "Current Communist Goals," which she identifies as an excerpt from "The Naked Communist," by Cleon Skousen:
[From "The Naked Communist," by Cleon Skousen]

CURRENT COMMUNIST GOALS
1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.
2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.
3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament [by] the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.
4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.
5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.
6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.
7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.
8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.
9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.
10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.
11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)
12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.
13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.
14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.
15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.
17. Get control of the schools. use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in text books.
18. Gain control of all student newspapers.
19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.
20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.
21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.
22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."
23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."
24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.
25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.
26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."
27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."
28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."
31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.
32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.
33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.
34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.
36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.
37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.
38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand [or treat].
39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.
40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.
41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.
42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use ["]united force["] to solve economic, political or social problems.
43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.
44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.
45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction [over domestic problems. Give the World Court jurisdiction] over nations and individuals alike.

This is probably available at your nearest library that is also a federal repository. Call and ask. Your college library is probably a repository, an excellent source of government records.

Are we suckers or are we suckers? This is what old-school communists want. How many of these are we giving them??!?

Not Guilty!

I promise- this will be the only thing I write about George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin. If you don't want to read EVEN MORE about it, I won't be offended, promise.

 ...

 ...

For those of you who are still reading, I present an excerpt from Florida law:
776.013....
A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he or ...she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.
......
A person who uses force as permitted in s. 776.012, s. 776.013, or s. 776.031 is justified in using such force and is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force
.......
A law enforcement agency may use standard procedures for investigating the use of force as described in subsection (1), but the agency may not arrest the person for using force unless it determines that there is probable cause that the force that was used was unlawful.


... And a translation:
George Zimmerman was doing nothing illegal when he originally saw a person acting suspiciously in his neighborhood. He'd had previous circumstances where he had called the police and they hadn't responded in time to apprehend, so he followed. Once he confronted the suspicious individual, he had no obligation to leave the area, but rather had every right to investigate (especially considering that he was entrusted with that very task by the neighborhood watch.. which had been surprisingly active) and defend himself against any threat of bodily injury.

Trayvon was first acting suspicious (because he was paranoid?.. hm.. maybe it was the pot the coroner found in his system, or maybe it was that drink in his pocket, often used to make lean (see definition #5), later acting antagonistic, threatening both physical harm and death.

George Zimmerman had every legal right to use whatever force he felt necessary to protect himself from that assault. As the police agreed when they released George after five hours of questioning- it was inappropriate to arrest him. During that five hours of questioning, Mr Zimmerman didn't ask to be drug tested and law enforcement didn't see any indication that a drug test was needed, so none was done.

And that's where things should have ended- a tragic incident and a funeral. Lesson learned- don't act suspicious, don't do stupid things to feel anxiety, and bad stuff won't happen.

Instead, various national personalities called it a hate crime, claimed that because George Zimmerman was a race different from his assailant that it was simply a foregone conclusion that Zimm MUST hate blacks (completely ignoring his heritage, business associations, and other community volunteer activities), and declared that justice had not been done.

George Zimmerman was then wrongfully arrested, wrongfully tried, and still acquitted. Justice was served AGAIN.

I agree that it is tragic that the boy had to die, but just like those who foolishly choose to go hiking alone, indulge in unprotected sex, and other foolhardy actions, an unwillingness to acknowledge his own foolishness is a deliberate act of ignorance. The greatest tragedy was that a kid that was already troubled, already in the process of ruining his life, will never have a chance to fix it.

Rather than "honor" him by enacting more-restricting firearm laws (which would be contrary to the Second Amendment), let us begin again to teach our children and youth the dangers of drugs and the wisdom of staying in school. Teach youth the art of courtesy and respect. Teach children to be obedient to parents and teachers. Teach youth to address their elders with honor and deference. Let us be their models and be examples of manners and politeness.

How Will They Know?

Our children are being robbed.

They are not growing up in the America this nation was meant to be. I don't know about some, but that's not ok with me that they not be able to partake of the inheritance that was this nation.

They aren't going to learn the glory and wisdom of the Constitution. They won't see the checks and balances our Founding Fathers built into the three-branch government. They won't experience the power and poetic self-regulating equilibrium of a truly free-market economy.

And these things won't be taught in public schools.

Just as faith in God, His love, His miracles, and His power, these things will have to be taught in the home. If the rising generation is to know these things, it is up to us to teach them.

We need to read the Constitution and study it and understand what the Founding Fathers meant. We need to know why it was so important to them to protect these freedoms- speech, religion, be armed comparable to the military and law enforcement, and have a fair trial. And we need to have faith that their ideas were inspired by God.

We need to understand how various economic and political systems work (and don't work) so we can transmit the value of freedom, agency, and liberty to our children.

We need to keep our testimonies and faith in God bright. We need to keep in contact with our Father- praying to Him and reading His word so that we have oil in our lamps to share with our children.

We need to be educated so we can communicate those ideas to our children.

These ideas and ideals will be lost unless WE are the ones who keep them alive by living them, talking about them with our friends and neighbors, and actively teach them to our children.

 How Will They Know?

1. How will they know, the ones for whom we care,
   That God is love and with us everywhere,
   That life is good, with blessings all can share?
   How will they know unless we teach them so?
2. How will they learn that, though they go astray,
   God will forgive and help them find the way?
   How will they feel the Spirit day by day?
   How will they know unless we teach them so?
3. How will they grow in wisdom and delight?
   How will they choose to follow what is right?
   How can they trust the future will be bright?
   How will they know unless we show them?
4. How will they live when they at last are grown?
   What will they give to children of their own?
   Will they reflect the values we have shown?
   How will they know, as on through life they go?
   How will they know unless we strive to teach them so?

Ten Things Your Customer Service Agent Would Tell You.. if She Could!

I've worked in a couple call centers- the first one was a contract for the actual service provider and there were a lot of things about that employer that I definitely didn't like. There were limitations on what I was and wasn't able to do, so there was a lot of frustration.

The second, my current employer isn't a contract. I work for the company whose customers are on the phone. This kind of ownership is great- I don't know if it's because I'm not working for the contractor, but I have a lot more leeway to do what needs done and provide the level of service I really want to provide.

Having said that, there are some things I've been contemplating about the whole call-center/customer service paradigm that many people may not realize.

1-      Hanging up doesn’t solve anything- it only moves you to the end of the line or totally aborts any possibility there was of resolving your issue. It may feel good to slam the phone down, but it doesn’t really solve the problem.

2-     … And neither does interrupting us. We know you're frustrated, and we do want to help you, but there are things we need to do this. Yes, share your situation- that tells us what the problem is. But allow us the chance to ask questions to clarify the situation. There may be things that you don’t realize that we need. Then we can present a solution. This is our turn to talk. Allow us to share the solution we have and give you information you need.

3-       … And neither does threatening us. There’s a reason we don’t tell you where our call centers are. There’s also a reason you received a copy of the contract. You may want to check that contract before you threaten legal action.

4-     … And neither does swearing or yelling or insulting us or getting rude. Nowhere in our job description is it required that we tolerate verbal abuse. Yes, I understand that you're upset, but the vulgar name-calling isn't going to improve anything, I promise.

5-      There is only so much we can do to help you. If there’s something we can’t do, then that’s something we can’t do- either b/c it’s against policy and we’d rather keep our jobs, or it's illegal and we really don't wanna go to jail/prison, or it’s something that simply isn’t available to us.

6-      If you signed a contract or otherwise agreed to this, don’t expect a whole lot of sympathy. We'll do what we can, but you did sign the contract. We do our part in confirming that you're a legal adult, and we hope that you're responsible enough to know that a contract is legally binding. We'll do our best, but there are some things that simply can't be done.

7-      Every company has their way of doing things. Both of us are bound by that. I will do what I can, but if it can’t be done or if it will cost me my job, I’m not going to do it.

8-      I know the automatic payment came out right away, but I can’t just put the money back. Reversing a charge isn’t like reversing a car. It’s a whole separate transaction. The process to pull the payment was initiated 3 weeks ago. The process to reverse that payment is being initiated today… now think about that for a minute while I put in the request to reverse these charges which should be back in your account in 5-10 business days.

9-      Don’t breath into the phone.. or cough into it, or shout at your kids. We can often hear a whole lot more than you realize. I know it's a little thing, but it's not exactly high on most people's list of pleasant.

10-   Last but not least- We actually don’t mind a challenging question, so long as the customer is reasonable, understanding, and patient. We actually love those calls! Please give us a chance?

Quick Thoughts on the 2nd Amendment

Jan 19 was Gun Appreciation Day. All over the country, gun rights advocates gathered on the steps of state capitols to declare that we will not go softly into the night. We will not go the way of Holland, falling to socialists in 5 days because they weren't armed. We will not have God-given rights defined by our founding fathers in the Constitution taken away by executive order of a President who cheated his way into a second term.

Some think that gun rights are about skeet shooting or hunting. That's included, but that's not really what the Founding Fathers were worried about. Others take gun rights a step further, to personal and property protection. Again, that's included, but not really the ultimate intent of why the Founding Fathers wanted to secure the right to be armed.

The fathers of this nation wanted to limit government. The Second Amendment is about preventing military and government coercion. The right of a citizenry to arm themselves comparable to the military is a deterrent comparable to the little old lady armed to the teeth- she may be old, weak, and medically frail, but her sidearm levels the playing field between her and the strong healthy 20-something criminal intent on harming her, taking her property, or even her life.

There are those who think it's offensive and disgusting to even consider comparing Obama to Hitler. I will quote my brother's thoughts on this (a FB comment):

Comparing two things that are similar happens quite frequently. Why is it offensive and disgusting? Because we have the benefit of hindsight, a view of their end-game on one, and a large gaping hole to the other. A comparative analysis in an attempt to predict the future, or prevent a negative future or event also happens with relative frequency. I'm not trying to put anyone down, but why do you think its offensive?
I agree that we should promote what we believe in over putting something/someone else down. But in a comparative analysis or assessment you've got to weigh the pros as cons of both sides. Or at the least be aware of the pros and cons of both sides.

The reality is that Obama may be doing it slower, but he's attempting the same path der Fuhrer took prior to WW2. With the benefit of hindsight, why would anyone not take advantage of that wisdom?

The reality is that the right to arm oneself was spelled out for the express purpose of keeping the government in check. Some elected officials have backed us up on this.

7 January 2013

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

We, the elected sheriffs of Utah, like so many of our fellow Americans, are literally heartbroken for the loved ones of the murdered victims in Connecticut. As Utahans, we are not strangers to this kind of carnage – one of the latest being the 2007 Trolley Square murders wherein nine innocents were gunned down – five losing their lives.

We also recognize the scores of other recent domestic massacres, which have decimated countless honorable lives. As Americans, we value the sanctity of life. Furthermore, similar to our inspired Founders, we acknowledge our subservience to a higher power.

With the number of mass shootings America has endured, it is easy to demonize firearms; it is also foolish and prejudiced. Firearms are nothing more than instruments, valuable and potentially dangerous, but instruments nonetheless. Malevolent souls, like the criminals who commit mass murders, will always exploit valuable instruments in the pursuit of evil. As professional peace officers, if we understand nothing else, we understand this: lawful violence must sometimes be employed to deter and stop criminal violence. Consequently, the citizenry must continue its ability to keep and bear arms, including arms that adequately protect them from all types of illegality.

As your administration and Congress continue to grapple with the complex issue of firearm regulations, we pray that the Almighty will guide the People’s Representatives collectively. For that reason, it is imperative this discussion be had in Congress, not silenced unilaterally by executive orders. As you deliberate, please remember the Founders of this great nation created the Constitution, and its accompanying Bill of Rights, in an effort to protect citizens from all forms of tyrannical subjugation.

We respect the Office of the President of the United States of America. But, make no mistake, as the duly-elected sheriffs of our respective counties, we will enforce the rights guaranteed to our citizens by the Constitution. No federal official will be permitted to descend upon our constituents and take from them what the Bill of Rights-in particular Amendment II-has given them. We, like you, swore a solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and we are prepared to trade our lives for the preservation of its traditional interpretation.

The Utah Sheriffs’ Association

One Utah Sheriff's signature was missing- Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder. I asked him:

Why didn't you back my right to carry a gun in your county and not be disarmed by federal agents? Do you not uphold the Constitution, specifically the 2nd Amendment?

Rosa Parks didn't have a "need" to sit at the front of the bus, but that doesn't mean she didn't have the right to do so.

I may not "need" to carry a bigger clip, but that doesn't mean I don't have the right to do so.

Man up and take the solemn vow you made when you became sheriff seriously.

Why didn't Sheriff Winder sign this letter? Why was he not willing to re-affirm the oath he took when he took the badge?

I guess the part of this whole deal that bothers me the most is that there are those who would give up a little freedom to get safety. I have to agree with our dear Brother Franklin- they deserve neither.

Do I need an Ak47 to hunt a deer? No. Am I comfortable with the general public owning large clips and automatic weapons? No. But something I am far, far more uncomfortable with is someone attempting to take away my freedom. Even pieces of it. This isn't a gun debate, this is a freedom debate, and the fact you are willing to hand over a few of your freedoms... any of them, is alarming at best.

Thank you, dear FB friend from ages past who put it much better than I could have.

Another Movie Review

Jean Valjean, Prisoner 24601

For those who have read the book or seen the movie (there have been a couple) or musical a lot of this will be a review.

The story starts in post-revolution France and the law at the time was pretty hard-line about criminal behavior- Jean Valjean stole a loaf of bread and got 5 yrs. Of course he tried to escape and ended up serving a total of 19 yrs.

With a criminal record, he was unable to find work and was left on the street- cold and hungry. He came to a church and was given food and a bed for the night. He got up in the middle of the night, filled a bag w/pieces of a beautiful silver service, and ran. He was caught by the police and brought back.

Valjean had lied to the police, saying the silver was a gift. The priest of the church then did something extraordinary- he could have condemned Valjean to a life sentence in prison, but instead, chose to agree that the silver had been a gift, and asked Valjean why he left the best pieces- a pair of huge silver candlesticks.

In this small act- choosing to not accuse him- the priest offered Valjean forgiveness and compassion and a chance at redemption that he didn't expect to receive. Valjean was able to receive that gift and he ran with it, becoming a successful businessman, even the mayor of the town.

Jean Valjean, ready to fire a warning shot
at Javer at the last baricade.

Throughout the rest of the story, Valjean then offered those same gifts to Javer. Two separate times, Valjean could have utterly destroyed his enemy, but he didn't. He forgave him, and spared his life.

But unlike Valjean, Javer was simply unable to wrap his head around these concepts. He couldn't cope with it.

Valjean's compassion, forgiveness, and honor conflicted with Javer's concept of him being a criminal- a  "dangerous man." It flew in the face of everything Javer had based his life on- justice and the letter of the law.  Valjean's character simply didn't fit this black/white paradigm.

Valjean proved that Javer's entire life had been based on a lie, and he was unable to accept the forgiveness Valjean offered and the goodness in Valjean's character.

I think that's really the wonderful and tragic thing about this story- two men from such different backgrounds who need the same thing and are given that very thing they need so desperately. While one is able to take it and make a wonderful life for himself and those he loves, and the other is unable to accept the gift.. and the dissonance in his own soul destroys him.

The Atonement really is an amazing and wonderful gift.. if we can wrap our heads around it and accept that gift.

Whole Men, Whole Women

Jada Pinkett-Smith:

“How is man to recognize his full self, his full power through the eye’s of an incomplete woman? The woman who has been stripped of Goddess recognition and diminished to a big ass and full breast for physical comfort only. The woman who has been silenced so she may forget her spiritual essence because her words stir too much thought outside of the pleasure space. The woman who has been diminished to covering all that rots inside of her with weaves and red bottom shoes.
"I am sure the men, who restructured our societies from cultures that honored woman, had no idea of the outcome. They had no idea that eventually, even men would render themselves empty and longing for meaning, depth and connection.
"There is a deep sadness when I witness a man that can’t recognize the emptiness he feels when he objectifies himself as a bank and truly believes he can buy love with things and status. It is painful to witness the betrayal when a woman takes him up on that offer.
"He doesn’t recognize that the [creation] of a half woman has contributed to his repressed anger and frustration of feeling he is not enough. He then may love no woman or keep many half women as his prize.
"He doesn’t recognize that it’s his submersion in the imbalanced warrior culture, where violence is the means of getting respect and power, as the reason he can break the face of the woman who bore him 4 four children.
"When woman is lost, so is man. The truth is, woman is the window to a man’s heart and a man’s heart is the gateway to his soul.
"Power and control will NEVER out weigh love.
"May we all find our way."

I've been trying to put into words the sneaky insidious backlash on men, and really on society as a whole that happens when women are diminished, and vice versa- the damage done to womanhood when we trash-talk men.

Neither can truly be complete without the other.. and in order for either to be what our Father intends, both have to be whole in their own right. As a woman, the full breadth and scope of the feminine experience includes things that can only be experienced in the context of an eternal relationship with a man.

And while that may sound sexist and like I think I'm inferior, that I think I need a man to be whole, the reverse is also true- A man needs that eternal relationship with a woman in order to have the opportunities that come with being a husband.

See, I know this may come as a shock to some of you, but men and women are different. We were never designed to fit the same mold. Our Father designed us for different functions, different roles. Our bodies and minds and hearts reflect that design.

Men and women were never meant to be the same. Sure, when we have to we can each fill  the other's roles- we are capable of that stretch, but in an ideal world, the men are masculine are honored for the heroes, protectors, providers, and leaders they are in their homes. And women are valued and revered as nurturers, comforters, and homemakers.

I guess my point is...

Different is good!

In Which my "Lady Parts" Respond

"Vote like your lady-parts depend on it!".. Yeah, I know what my "lady-parts" want--

No more Planned Parenthood with their disproportionately high rates of abortion-related fatalities. Did you know that one of the primary founding principals of PP is eugenics? Yes, please look it up. This makes it all the more ironic that a man of mixed racial heritage supports it. By the ideals of eugenics, he should have been aborted.
 
No more forcing me to fund (via my tax dollars) these deaths- both the deaths of the women and the deaths of the unborn. Yes, I'm pro-choice. But I'm also pro-consequence. If you're grown up enough to be doing the things that cause pregnancy, then you're grown up enough to put someone else's right to exist over your discomfort and inconvenience. Besides, is it really worth dying for (see above)??
 
No more chauvinistic patronizing about "lady-parts." Seriously, if this had come out of the mouth of a Republican, it woulda blown up in his face! But it was a Dem who penned this, and the only repercussion has been minor scoffing from various quarters.
 
No more 8% unemployment- so I can afford my own health care vs his costly bureaucracy-driven "health care." Before Obama-care, we couldn't afford doctors, diagnostic tests, pharmaceuticals, etc.. but with Obama-care, we can afford doctors, diagnostic tests, pharmaceuticals, etc.. AND a big bulky bureaucracy to manage it, right?

No more gas prices over $3./gallon so I can afford more than just gas in my tank. As the meme says, $3.79 gas prices are a lot less economic collapse-y than $1.98, right? *facepalm!
 
No more pussy-footing around other nations' delicate sensibilities. Leave that for the tourists to do, not leaders of nations.



Yeah, I know who me and my "lady-parts" (like my lady-brain) are voting for. Thanks for the tip, Obama.


Edit:
And also, my lady-parts would be comforted to know that at any time I like, I can purchase a gun and sufficient ammunition to become proficient in protecting them. The reality is that 99% of the men in this world are bigger, heavier, and stronger than I am. Stop and think about that for a minute- If a man attempts to hurt me, he will most likely be successful. I'm not ok with that. My having a gun at my side brings an equality to the table that isn't exactly possible otherwise.

Yes, Mr Obama, your advice to vote as if my lady-parts depend on it is most wise, indeed.

Size 6

Guess what- I'm a plus size.

A while back I noticed an article that was all up in arms about a "plus size" model posing nude. I admit I was curious. Now, don't get me wrong, I am definitely NOT a fan of porn or gratuitous nudity, but I was curious. This article had nothing to do with porn or nudity. It had everything to do with size and perceptions. See, the photos of this size-12 woman (really a very pretty woman) were accompanied by interesting facts about the modeling industry. Facts like...

• Size 6 is now considered a "plus size."
• Twenty years ago, the average model weighed only 8% less than the average American woman. Today the average model weighs 23% less than the average American woman.
• Most runway models meet the BMI physical criteria for anorexia.
• Fifty percent of women wear a size 14 or larger, but most standard clothing outlets cater to sizes 14 or smaller.
• The majority of "plus-size" models on agency boards are between a 6 and 14.

This can all be very discouraging!

But consider this.

I wear a size 6 or 8, depending on how much stretch the garment has, and how I want it to fit. So.. I'm a plus size, right?

Now go to the BMI chart. I'm 5'3", 129 (as of about 9:30 this morning). My BMI is 23, well within "normal" on the chart.

How messed up is that? Am I a "plus-size" or am I "normal"..?

Now, I've never really followed fashion. You could probably call me boring. I'm not necessarily fashion-impaired, but I'm certainly not completely out of touch. (Really, it doesn't take a genius to tell that Helena Bonham Carter has a .. uh.. "unique" fashion sense... that I don't think should be repeated outside of Holywood.. or inside, for that matter!)

Now, any of you who actually know me, who know what I look like... you're probably rolling your eyes at the mere thought that someone would consider me a plus-size. Which makes it even sadder for the "big girls" out there. I feel badly for the women who want to be a size 12, who go on crash diets and other extreme measures to lose a few pounds or inches.

The number on the inside of your clothes should be the last one you're worried about. The numbers that matter are the ones you get from your doctor.

• How is your blood sugar? Is your diet such that managing the sugars in your blood aren't overly taxing on your pancreas?
• Where's your blood pressure? Are your arteries and heart healthy?
• What is your cholesterol (both HDL-the good kind.. and LDL-the bad kind)?
• And (I think) most importantly, does your body do what you need it to do? Are you able to do the things you want to do without getting tired or winded?

If these numbers and indicators are good, then take a pair of scissors to that stupid number on the inside of your clothes and above all....

Love yourself!

Disney Princesses.. really?

I have friends who have daughters.. who in turn are infatuated by the Disney princess pantheon... which in turn makes me thing about what these princesses are actually teaching children today.

Do you realize how un-wise most of the Disney princesses are?

Snow White decided she was in love with a man she truly didn't know. She agreed to marry him.. simply because he was her first kiss. Ok, so the kiss roused her from a death-like coma. He sounds like a pretty weird guy, if you ask me, kissing what he thinks is a corpse!

Ariel had a fetish for legs/all things human. That combined with plain old infatuation is all that drew her to Eric.

Aurora (from Sleeping Beauty) met a guy one afternoon in the forest.. and decided she liked him enough to marry him. Ok, so he killed a dragon... but that doesn't necessarily mean he's "the one."... Although there is the whole arranged-marriage angle. You're slated to marry the guy, so you fulfill your duty to your nation and marry him.

Cinderella and Tianna do marginally better- Cinderella met a guy at a dance, talks with him some. And while that's better than making the decision based on a kiss, it's still just one date. Yeah, he's a prince and sure, he went looking for the chick with one shoe.. but it was still only one date. Tianna goes on one over-night adventure and decides that's enough to build a marriage on.

I really think Belle (from Beauty and the Beast), Mulan, and Jasmine did a lot better. They really got to know their guys.

Jasmine broke her own "rule" of No Princes to get to know "Prince Ali"/Aladdin. They still didn't quite spend as much time as I think is needed to get to know each other, but they did spend some time together.

Belle lived in his house. They talked, did stuff together. They shared interests and thoughts. They interacted. Same with Mulan- she worked for him, learned from him, went on a military campaign and really got to know what kind of person he was, who he was in the trenches (literally?)!

Should we be pushing these paragons of capriciousness on our future lady-heros?

Men

Years ago, my (now ex)husband came upon and began to watch the week-night half-hour sit-coms. He’d watch and laugh with the best of them, but I couldn't.. and he couldn't understand why I wouldn’t join him.

I had realized that they were all the same- same characters, same situation, same plot basics. The husbands were all overgrown children- whiny, lazy, oblivious, and sloppy. The wives were all over-worked/under-appreciated, tired, and short-tempered. Neither was flattering. I just couldn’t see the humor in it.

I pointed out all this to him, that these shows only served to demean both sexes. How is that funny?

Yes there are men who are lazy. So are some women. Some men are utterly oblivious to others’ situations, but there are some women who are just as callous. Some guys are perma-bachelors and utter slobs. Some women can’t keep a reasonably clean home to save their life. There are a lot of women out there who do both the career and the mom thing, leaving them worn out with no reserve. There are also men who run themselves ragged helping others, not taking time for themselves.

Men are the only un-protected demographic. You can’t make fun of women unless you are one. You can’t use the N-word unless you’re Black. You can’t find fault with Latinos if you aren’t one. So why is it ok to demean and diminish men?

It’s not.

As a divorced, middle-aged woman, many people assume that I hate men.

I don’t.

I love men. I cherish the men in my life. I appreciate their time. I value their knowledge. I’m grateful for their sacrifices.

Men- You’re awesome! You’re strong. You’re our knights in shining armor, our heroes! Thank you!

Ladies- tell the men in your life that they’re awesome. Thank them for the things they do for you and your family.

"You're Better Than That"

We’ve all heard the saying, “A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a really good friend will be sitting beside you.…” While that may be true, I’d like to take it a step further. A truly valuable friend will call you on your shit… and if you’re wise, you heed that call, and choose to learn and grow from it.

It’s not always pleasant getting called on the carpet for your stupid choices. “The wicked take the truth to be hard.” It’s uncomfortable at best. It’s embarrassing, awkward, and often humiliating! But it can also be a humbling and growing experience.

I called a family member on some stuff a while back, “You’re better than this,” on a rather mean-spirited FB thread. I must have offended her. I noticed that I wasn’t seeing posts from her on my wall. I checked, and she’d removed me from her friend list.

So… Should I have said nothing? Should I have allowed her to continue in her downward spiral? Am I still expected to be my “brother’s keeper”…? Maybe I should have said it differently?

Here’s the thing though, when we hear this same sentiment from leaders, we just eat it up-

“We live far beneath our privilege.”

… but when the same message comes from a friend, an equal.. or if the message comes from someone “beneath” us (younger, a subordinate at work, etc), how do we handle it? I know I don’t always handle that with the humility I should. I bristle, “Mind your own business…” or “My life isn’t your stewardship.”

What about you? How do you handle being called out?

Movie Review

I enjoy watching movies. The pageantry, the story telling, the skill and talent that goes into it, both the seen on-screen talent of the actors, and the behind-the-scenes arts of the supporting crew always fascinates me. But one thing I don't like- movies where they mess with kids. There are movies I've seen that I though would be that way- The Client, Sixth Sense... But I was wrong, and that is especially true with Ink.

SPOILER ALERT!: I'll try to keep things vague, but it's hard to not over-share.

I saw this movie recently with a friend. I didn't think I'd like it, but I did! It's intense, gripping, poetic. You can't put it on and then listen from the other room. You have to watch, listen, pay attention.. and then maybe take a while afterward to digest it (I'm still thinking about this one!). There are so many levels, so many nuances. If you miss even 30 seconds, you could very easily miss something vital!

It's about a little girl and a monster. It's about a father and his own personal demons. It's about the unseen forces and conflicts around us. The little girl is stolen by the monster.... and nobody realizes the battle this brings. There's the monster's battle within himself, the battle between opposing forces, the battle her father has with his own inner demons. Even the little girl has a battle of her own, to become something so much stronger than just a little girl.

There's also the contemplating of happens in the realm of "what if?" Who is there to defend and protect you? Who is there to harm and destroy you and all you hold dear? What if you choose right? And what happens if you choose wrong?.. And ultimately, why does it matter?

I really truly loved this film. I didn't realize till I began reading the reviews that it was an independent film with a tiny little budget. The story and ideas were so big that it didn't even cross my mind that this wasn't a big-budget, big-name production.

Watch it. Love it. Think.