Now I’m offended.

1. It wasn’t the grouping of being “black, a girl, or gay” (:00:12-:00:16) that did it. I understand what is being implied. I’m not sure that straight black men and women appreciate being grouped with gays. I hope to get an opinion or two from that demographic in the comments of this post.

2. It wasn’t the accusation that conservative religious folks wanted to change the constitution and “spread some hate…through proposition eight” (:00:28-:00:34). The peaceful and democratic process of gathering the conscience of a divided people at the polls in order to accurately tally and subsequently legislate the voice of the majority vote is substantially different in nature than spreading hate.

3. It wasn’t the out-of-context scripture quotes that broke me. (:01:04-:01:34).  Both sides of the argument are guilty of dubious citations; and even if both had accurate interpretations, neither would win converts – because everyone knows that bible bashing only leads to more contention. However, the fact that holy cannon is deliberately misinterpreted for the purpose of discrediting all of it is proof of intent to incite ill will. Now reconsider paragraph two (above this one) and try to figure out who is spreading hate. Is it the straights with their votes or the gays with their misquotes?

4. Finally, it wasn’t Jack Black (actor Thomas Jacob) portraying a Jesus that disavows scripture that got to me. In fact, I was pleased to see precision in casting a Jew for the part. Sadly, his acting was so boorish as to make me wonder if this was his ”first read” through the script. All things considered, his participation in Prop 8 The Musical entitles him to a seat next to Tom Hanks on the Anderson list of actors/directors/producers never to be patronized or in any other way supported. This decree applies to all who played a part in this play.

Here is what insulted me:

The skit suggests that everyone can agree if they look at it economically. Nonsense. Do sterile seeds produce any yield? Why would any group draw attention to its greatest weakness? Gay communities are parasitic to reproductive communities. There is no long term economic advantage or common ground whatsoever here. Why promote such a divisive and easily defeated issue? It’s not funny; it’s absurd, and it invents a financial fallacy suited only for fools. Frankly, this flick is a flamboyant flop. Star studded or not, the names affiliated with it will lose value faster than the dumpster-diving U.S. Dollar.

Clearly, not a single soul involved with this production has any financial common sense. How is it that nobody realized that the pivotal moment is based on the most preposterous economic notion of the century? The creator of this micro-musical insults my intelligence and reveals his/her excruciatingly embarrassing ignorance while simultaneously delivering a devastating blow to the plot.

Here is my advice to those inclined toward the gay agenda. Steer clear of financial issues. You have more in common with fundamental Christians than financiers. You’ll get more sympathy there too. While gays have stable rental values during their significantly lower lifespans, they only produce in the moment, but they leave no legacy or rent-heirs (just made that word up).

Think of it this way, what is the fertility rate of a gay population? Got the answer? Good. It is because of that generationally negative factor that governments and banks and churches prefer the traditional marriage and family.  Remember, children – the product of a reproductive population, are the future tax base, defenders & growth components of every country. They are assets, not liabilities.

Some suggest that our country should not focus on new families.  The author whole-hardheartedly agrees.  Our country doesn’t need to focus on raising new families – especially the self-serving, short-sighted, two-person (and one canine) variety. It should focus on the traditional family because secure, long-term societal and economic growth cannot occur via the gay structure. In fact, if our global population went gay, mankind would become extinct in one generation.

If you think that is far fetched, consider that global population growth in 1967 was increasing at 2.2% annually. In 2002, that figured dropped nearly 50% to 1.2% globally. For additional consideration, what is the cure for negative/declining population figures in Japan and Germany? More gays? (rhetorical).

What to do with gays? Consider the Spartans. An army of amazing gay warriors who conquered lands and left those lands to the traditional family. Cool huh? That way there are no mourning widows or sobbing children because no fathers were killed during the battle – just a bunch of dead gay men. Sure their parents will be hurt, but heck, they were already in pain for the gay choice, which is a dead end/no grandchildren proposition, so it really shouldn’t hurt THAT much.

My two oldest will break it to me like this:
“Did you hear about that girl/guy that is on DWTS?”

I’ll say, “Yeah – what do you think about it?”

They’ll say, “It is totally gay*!”

I’ll laugh and say, “Totally!”

*NOTE: In this context, gay is synonymous with stupid – not its traditional definition of happy. I’ll apologize for this insensitive translation when the LGBT population apologizes for it’s insensitive translation of gay from the original.

I’ll ask, “Did you hear that they paired the she-male with a Mormon?”

They’ll say (disgustedly), “That is SO GAY!”

I’ll say, “The good news is that Lacey Schwimmer will only have to perform with her partner once – because she/he is obese, unfit and clumsy; so, based on the shows traditional winners, they will likely be eliminated in the first round. The bad news is that we have another proof that media executives are still bigots who deliberately insult Mormons. Furthermore, they attack the family with the tactic of predatory blending**.”

They’ll say, “Some things never change.”

**Predatory blending is the act of representing predatory populations on equal grounds with reproductive populations. The aim is to make the former appear to be as normal and natural as the latter.  The desired effect is to influence any child in the formative years toward non-reproductive lifestyles (remember that DWTS is billed as a “family” show). The action hopes to net an increase in recruits for the non-reproducing community.

Disclaimer: It is the author’s view that when media promotes non-reproductive lesbian/gay/bisexual/transsexual communities, it becomes the accomplice to an economic crime. It aids and abets the robbers of the nation’s treasury of future tax/social security income, currency stability, defense collateral, valuable goods & services, positive economic returns and various intangibles integral to the common good (intellectual, social, moral, and cultural assets). Note that church, state, and bank unanimously agree that tithes, taxes and debt interest rely on a population. All three entities expand when populations increase and retract when populations decline. There has never been an admirable nation built on the tenets of the aforementioned predatory communities, but many have fallen as a result of such. The financial fall out from predatory blending and similar practices will deliver systemic failures that devastate the economy – and at length, this nation.

The footage and soundtrack impress upon me an indelible notion of beauty. Then the logical, over-analytical guy steps up and asks:

1. How much do those scuba divers get for cleaning the tank? Do they pay them hourly – because at approx. 10 meters depth, they shouldn’t stay under for too long.

2. Also, do they take decompression stops on their way up (and presumably out of the tank)? They are safe from sharks on the bottom, because sharks attack from below, but it takes at least one decomp. stop (for, say, 6 minutes) and that is prime time for prime rib human (rare).

3. What are they cleaning up? Whale shark poop? I can’t even see it. How many divers are mucking the aquarium? Like, 2-3?

4. Look! Aren’t those Steve Irwin Sting Rays? Wonder if the divers have barb-proof suits. Like, some kind of second chance vests so they don’t get pierced through the heart.

5. Don’t the divers look out of place? Everything else is crammed into a viewing tank and so, to stay alive (gills filter oxygen and if fish don’t move around, they suffocate and die) and desperately fight insanity due to boredom, they swim in harmonious circles of the living dead – call them “zombie fish.” The divers lolly-gag around and find curious and varietous forms of fish poop – much more engaging than swimming in circles forever.

6. Do the fish feel trapped in an artificial environment? Aren’t they providing services to a non-profit institution – for room and board? Isn’t that exactly what humans in the public sector do every day too? Ewwww. Too many similarities.

7. What do YOU see? (please add comment below). I have some very interesting friends, their views always enlighten or amuse me.

I spent five hours on the north beam – aka “The Wall” last Saturday. Dren was on the south beam – aka “The Other Wall.” Me, the beam, thin air, 25+ ft up, setting the trusses as they swung, shook, squeaked, shifted and leaned. Dren kept saying, “That East Gable really screwed things up.”

When I finally got down, I was shaky and twitching (muscle fatigue + energy drink + sheered nerves), dizzy (now I relate to Hitchcock’s classic, Vertigo) and darn proud (yeah, it was my first time). So yes, this video was captured by my cell phone and I was in no condition to be filming, but for posterity’s sake, I had to document this worthy feat.

Dren’s skill and competence inspired and impelled me.

Balboa did a stellar job of keeping Dren and I hydrated and stocked with 2×4′s etc.

Dallin Smith had the safest and smoothest moves of any crane operator I’ve ever seen.

Dad was a rock – as always.

Feeling that there wouldn’t be many more Sunday afternoons of fair weather, Babey Abey saddled up his Papa and invited his best friends (Balboa, Goobah, Bahbear & Wubber) to join him in a jaunt up the nearby mountainside. Mama stayed home to catch up on her Z’s.

Dull knives invite dull guests. Sharp knives, you got it, sharp guests. Simple as that.

Don’t ask me how or why babey Abey butted in front of baby Bess, I’m just grateful that she is confirmed for arrival sometime in the middle of May. Here’s a quick preview:

Before BAPCPA reform and before REFCO filed bankruptcy on little ole me – I wrote the above. It was published in the Deseret News editorial section. It was the first time that my efforts had been published on anything other than my educational “permanent record.” So I framed it – here, on yellow craft paper with a purple border and staples to keep it rigid. Kym found it while purging documents from the filing cabinet earlier today.

Life has revolved full circle. Fourteen years ago I was employed by debtor’s counsel and today I am employed by The Office of The Standing Chapter Thirteen Trustee (aka The Good Trustee).  Insolvency laws have changed significantly and I’ve been blessed to be a creditor in the largest corporate bankruptcy in over a century. From a purely experiential perspective, I can relate to three out of the four primary parties in a bankruptcy case: debtor, creditor, and trustee. The considerations of a judge are lacking. And so, as I reflect on this article, the tender naivete of my youth has me feeling a bit sheepish. On the other hand, there isn’t a statement regrettable enough to retract.  So here it stands, re-published, so to speak, for posterity.

Oh, and here is a quote that always makes me chuckle: “The bankruptcy community is an incestuous thing.” -Thomas D. Neeleman (aka-Rob).  Special thanks to Maegan for reminding me of that one.

What are these things? If you can tell me, I’ll send you a rock. Not just any rock, a really cool Brian rock. I have webcrawled the infosphere (yep, just made that word up) for an eternity (anything more than 10 minutes is insanity).

Oh, and a cool tune – as always. This one is from Kym’s formative (blue) years… 
Morrissey has a great voice but no rhythm.

8 lbs 1 oz.

21.5″

15:19:26 (3:19 pm)

Disposition: “Just happy to be here.”

Mother: “Easiest one yet.”

Father: “Dr. Farley is an extraordinary talent, -couldn’t have done it without him.”

YOU: (click the ‘Comments’ link and ink it)

With the coveted green rock in the center, Balboa’s pioneer trek hat lacked only one thing – Stampede strings. You know, those leather straps that extend down through the hat and below the jaw to keep the wind from blowing it off (most of the time). Not an easy modification, but a necessary one.
Who knows, he might lose it despite these contraptions.

Here is the hat before the mods:

After mods:

Note the grommets:

A view of the under side:

Yes, it’s a bit fancy for the Wyoming wilderness – kind of like this:

Treasures! Most used: blue swirly bouncy ball.

Freely it was given, freely you may have:

Quick question. Why didn’t Jodi Miller sing “Queen of the Home” instead of “Queen of the House?”

This really would have been bad if he had jumped stage left instead of right. There is a 200+ drop on that side (with no net).