The Census Taker

With the census season here I thought it would be important to share this important message about the census.


http://www.movieweb.com/tv/TEioYjmoyqPnlr/HU2D6a4aSiEn52

This is so cool

This guy built an exact, working replica of R2D2 from Star Wars.  The video shows the process at super speed and some of the great charitable events he has had R2D2 attend.  Super cool!

I'm no expert, but.......

I don't know a lot about Tsunamis but with all the recent earthquake activity there has been more information in the news.  Last Saturday after the Chilean earthquake we even had a Tsunami alert for the coast of California, although the worst that happened here was some minor problems in southern California in a harbor or two when the water went out leaving some bouys in the mud.

So with my relative inexperience with Tsunamis and really not living anywhere near where one might cause me a problem, I was a little confused when I came across this picture of a Tsunami warning sign.  It would seem to me that the thing to do during a Tsunami would be to run away from the beach.  I realize that the beach is a great place and being from the state where the hit television show "Babewatch" was filmed, I can certainly understand the popularity of going to the beach but still, I don't think the sign should be advising people to run to the water.  But I'm no expert.....

Don't Talk to the Police

A law professor and police officer tell you why talking to the police is a bad idea.

Really, Really Bad Inventions

There are some things in life that don't need to be invented.  The Chia Pet is one of them.  Why would I want to grow grass on a novelty ceramic pot.  Someone obviously does because they sell enough of them to advertise.  But there are other inventions that have left me wondering aloud, "WHY!??!"

I remember a few years ago someone invented a harness with bottles on it so guys could "nurse" a baby.  I don't know any guy that would wear one of these.  The pet rock is another one that I cannot believe people bought.  It's a rock, go outside and get one if you really want one.  Please don't pay for a rock and call it a pet!!!  Also bad is toilet paper with people's pictures on each sheet.  Unless it is someone you dislike why would you do this.  Do you really want to wipe with a picture of your family?

Dolphin Free Tuna is another one that bothers me.  Do they mean to imply that the tuna I used to eat contained Dolphin?  I hear Dolphin is expensive so by purchasing Dolphin free tuna am I actually getting less value in each can?

Another one that I don't get is Bikini swimsuits for fat people.  Dude, do we really want to see that, ever???

Then there are just some inventions that seem reasonable but don't when you think that you could save the money and use something else.  The SHAMWOW looks cool but when I clean up spills or wash my car, I'd rather reach for an old towel I was going to throw out anyway.  I have kids and the last thing I want to do is wash out the SHAMWOW after using it to clean up throwup or worse.  And what if I spilled gasoline or something else flamable.  I don't think I want to throw that in the washing machine afterwards.

The Clapper was one of those inventions that looked cool but in reality, didn't perform as advertised.  When my wife and I were first married we got one.  Except the T.V. would turn itself off whenever there was a series of loud noises.  Then sometimes it wouldn't turn off at all which meant I had to get up anyway.  Yet someone made millions off The Clapper.

So what are some of the inventions or products that make you scratch your head?

Hitler Finds Out About the Election Results in MA

I love when people rewrite the subtitles for Hitler in this famous movie scene.  It is pure genius.  I've watched ones about Hitler being upset about Michael Jackson dieing, being banned from Xbox Live, and on archery.  Here's one that made me laugh out loud regarding his reaction to the recent election.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year Blog Fans!

Ever feel like you are having one of those days where everything goes wrong.  Now imagine if someone captured all of that on film and made a highlight reel for you to watch!  Maybe that's what the judgement is going to be like, a big blooper show.

When I was at the Bass Pro Shop in Vegas a while back they had on a blooper reel from professional fisherman Bill Dance.  I cannot tell you how many times I've gone into the great outdoors and felt just like this guy must feel on some days.  Enjoy!

Second Hand Stuff

Well we have a second hand television, a second hand couch, second hand kitchen table, and most of our clothes are second hand.  We take great pride in our second hand household items.  Especially in this economy it's good to have the attitude that second hand is a great way to go.  It saves money and is less wasteful.  Second hand was the original eco friendly recycling model!

So what else could we get second hand?

How about a second hand dog?  I think he prefers the term "Previously Owned".

A guy in our ward was moving due to his employment situation.  He needed a good home for this fella that he has had since he was a puppy.  His name is Kirby and Anne likes to call him Kirby the Wonder Puppy.  He is older but in great shape, not too many miles on him.  Part Beagle and part Dachshund which means that this one of Snoopy's cousins may have flown for the Germans!  LOL!  He has a super sweet disposition and is great with the kids.  He has a lot of energy which means the kids can chase him around all day long.  After we lost our two Scotties to old age this last year I was reluctant to get a new dog but this "previously owned pup" seems to be a winner.

Plus he seems to have some training.  One of the kids told him to sit for the picture and he did!  So a big welcome to Kirby the Wonder Dog.

Ignorance and Want

Ignorance and Want


The Christmas Season is upon us and one of my favorite annual traditions is reading the original Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. In addition to reading the famous short story, I also try and re-watch nearly every version of the tale I can find on the television. My favorite version is the Patrick Stewart/TNT version. This timeless tale helps put me in the right mood for the season and provides focus to what can otherwise be a hectic time of the year. As I was reading the tale this year I came across a part of the story where Scrooge is solicited for donations for the poor that struck me differently than in previous readings. I have quoted below:

Scrooge and Marley's, I believe," said one of the gentlemen, referring to his list. "Have I the pleasure of addressing Mr. Scrooge, or Mr. Marley?"

"Mr. Marley has been dead these seven years," Scrooge replied. "He died seven years ago, this very night."

"We have no doubt his liberality is well represented by his surviving partner," said the gentleman, presenting his credentials.

It certainly was; for they had been two kindred spirits. At the ominous word "liberality," Scrooge frowned, and shook his head, and handed the credentials back.

"At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge," said the gentleman, taking up a pen, "it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and Destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir."

"Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge.

"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.

"And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"

"They are. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not."

"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" said Scrooge.

"Both very busy, sir."

"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course," said Scrooge. "I'm very glad to hear it."

"Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude," returned the gentleman, "a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?"

"Nothing!" Scrooge replied.

"You wish to be anonymous?"

"I wish to be left alone," said Scrooge. "Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned -- they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there."

"Many can't go there; and many would rather die."

"If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Besides -- excuse me -- I don't know that."

"But you might know it," observed the gentleman.

"It's not my business," Scrooge returned. "It's enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people's. Mine occupies me constantly. Good afternoon, gentlemen!" --A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

As I re-read this section I noticed this exchange differently than before. Charles Dickens used his writing as a social commentary on the ills he saw in the industrialized Europe of the 19th century. The author experienced the hardships first hand. Due to financial problems in his own family, he was forced as a boy to work in a factory undergoing the horrible conditions that often accompanied child labor.

Those unable to pay their debts were thrown into prison until the debts were paid in full. Often, the families lived with them in prison and worked during the day in order to pay off the debt. Orphanages were not much better than slave labor camps. Death was often more preferable than the use of the horrible social safety nets of the time.

My previous readings of this and also my knowledge of Dickens other works led me to see this section of the story as a commentary on the conditions of those options for the poor of 19th century England with the intent to show the heartlessness of the various Scrooges around who would rather see the poor suffer than donate a little of their means during the Christmas season.

This time I thought it might be a condemnation of Scrooge’s expectation, and that of his contemporaries of the period, that the responsibility to the poor and downtrodden should be taken care of by government through tax funded institutions. If we can interpret the debtor’s prisons and tax supported union work houses as government run institutions for the poor, which they certainly were, then is it not also a condemnation of the view by many in Victorian times of the expectation that the government should take care of the poor? In learning about the poor laws and work houses of Victorian England it is evident that these government “solutions” to the problem of the poor were not much better than death itself!! Indeed, it appears that Dickens utilizes this idea later in Scrooge’s conversation with the Ghost of Christmas Present about the children named Ignorance and Want.

'Have they no refuge or resource.' cried Scrooge.

'Are there no prisons.' said the Spirit, turning on him


for the last time with his own words. 'Are there no workhouses.'

Here we see Dickens punching home the idea once again. Here Scrooge is asking if there is resource for the poor children when instead he should have been asking what he could do.

As a part of Scrooge’s transformation he comes to realize that not only does he have the means to help others but also that he personally has a responsibility. The idea that his decisions and actions are responsible for the suffering of others hits full force when he asks the ghost what will happen to Tiny Tim in the future. Scrooge comes to realize that his sin is not only being miserly and mean but that he expects the government to take care of the poor.

In the gospel of Jesus Christ we are given a specific charge to take care of the poor. This explains why the church has programs such as fast offering assistance, humanitarian aid, welfare square, and a host of other programs. But we can fall into the same trap as Scrooge if we come to expect that these programs alone absolve us of our responsibility to our fellow man. How are we any better if we pass by a person suffering and say to ourselves, “Well I gave on Sunday so I have done my duty!”

That is not to say supporting those programs is a bad thing but we can always do more. We can donate of our time to lift the spirits of those suffering, serve them, and/or a myriad of other acts that show Christ-like love for them.

In Mathew 24:34-40 we read:

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:


35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:


36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.


37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?


38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?


39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?


40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

In order for us to truly serve others as the Savior would, we must come to realize that it is our responsibility, not the governments to care for them. At this time of year when we celebrate His birth, let us remember those around us who are poor in spirit or substance and endeavor to show them the gift of the Savior’s love.

Alien Early Warning System?

Voice of America Delano, CA Photo By Bobak Ha'Eri cc-BY-SA-205

Sometimes I drive by stuff and wonder, "What the heck is that!!!"

I was driving with my wife down to the Wool Growers resturant in Bakersfield a few months back and as we cut over off Hwy 43 to Delano we started passing what appears to be miles of strange looking antennas and large buildings in the middle of farm land.  My wife asked what it all was and I was clueless.  I told her that it was probably some old Cold War era facility for radar or some such thing.  It was all fenced off with signs warning people not to enter.

I didn't think much of it until a read an article and saw some pictures about an installation in Russia just outside the world famous Chernobyl called by Amature Radio Operators "The Russian Woodpecker"  Woodpecker Link.  It was a cold war radar facility that caused havoc to radios and even people's television sets here in the U.S.  The Soviets denied it's existence during the war.  Amature radio operators tried jamming it because it caused them so much interference and eventually it was shut down when the old Soviet Union went away.  There are some cool pictures online of this facility.

So I read this story and thought, perhaps the site near Delano was something similar for the U.S. and soon forgot about it.  Then on Sunday I was listening to a couple guys talk on one of the amature radio repeaters in the area and they talked about the antennas in Delano.  One guy had taken a tour and mentioned how it had shut down.  I overheard this conversation about part way through and didn't get all the details, but it peaked my curiosity once again.

So I did a google search and found it.  The Delano facility isn't a Cold War Radar installation, a mind control facility, or even a monitoring station for aliens.  It is the former site of the Voice of America radio transmissions.  Originally it was constructed at the beginning of WWII as a short wave radio broadcasting facility for the U.S. to get out our message to people around the world and to also provide broadcast radio for the GIs in the Pacific Theater.  Everyone remembers Tokyo Rose spouting off dribble in all the war movies, well the U.S. had it's own voice going out all over the world telling the allied side of the story.

Later the facility continued broadcasting from the U.S. through the cold war for the Voice of America.  In October 2007, after 23,000 consecutive days of broadcasting it went silent, the last such facility like it to finally shut down in the U.S.  The age of Satelites had come.  The facility is still powered to keep the lights on all the towers which could be a navigation hazard to small planes if it was completely dark.  I wish I had known about it a few years back and had taken one of the tours.  It must have been an amazing place.  There is a nice historical article here:  VOA Delano

This site has some interior pictures from a tour some guys took:  Tour

And last but not least, a Youtube video about the old girl.  Youtube Video of VOA Delano

The video comes off a bit like propaganda for saving the facility but it gives some interesting history of the facility.  About the only other thing Delano is remembered for is the UFW strikes by Cesar Chavez which are also briefly mentioned in the video.

It was nice to see this bit of history if only from the outside and then to learn exactly what it is.  So if you see something by the side of the road, do some research and you just might learn a little more about History.

Shortwave broadcasts are still alive and well outside the U.S.  Ham Radio operators share part of the 40 Meter Band with foreign short wave broadcast stations.  I listened to one in English out of Romania last friday night as it played news and music.  But the Shortwave radio stations are just about gone, relegated to more exotic parts of our globe but still reaching out far and wide with their signals.