Sunday, November 23, 2008

Are You a Celebrity?


A celebrity is a widely-recognized or famous person who commands a high degree of attention.

I have recently noticed something that I thought would be interesting to post about and possibly get some good feedback on. I am not meaning to create controversy or hurt feelings, I simply want us all to think about our standings in our families in hopes of eliminating what I like to call the "celebrity status". I know parents say that they love each kid equally but come on... that may be what they say but actions tend to speak louder than words. Is it just me or have others noticed that families have their own celebrities... parties cannot and will not be the same without them. The show cannot go on without them, they are the ones that get all the positive attention and they are the ones that everyone else gets compared to. I have a really good friend who is not the celebrity in his/ or her family (much like myself) and no matter what he/ or she does it NEVER measures up to the "celebrity sibling". This friend of mine is a really good person, fun, nice, considerate of others, makes right decisions, great spouse... but when the celebrity is around, my friend is just... in the way, unimportant, irritating, and not validated. This friend has been living like this forever and cant seem to over come the "B list" status. Do your families have their "celebrity"? Are you that celebrity? Are you like me and my friend... always over shadowed by the "celebrity"?

Here are some things you might hear if you are NOT the celebrity:

"Too bad everyone is here but (insert celebrity) its just not gonna be the same." (You arent fun)
"I wish (insert celebrity) were here." (This indicates your company is less appreciated.)

Celebrities will also instantly steal the spotlight whenever they enter a room... you become instantly invisible when the celebrity enters the room... its like everyone scrambles for an autograph while you are left standing alone and you swear you can hear crickets chirping around you. Don't feel bad... we are a society who worships celebrities. Its not ok for families to do this... here are some suggestions...

If you are the celebrity... dont allow others to treat people poorly so you can get your celebrity treatment.... include everyone and validate the non celebrity when he or she has a point to be made. Stand up for the underdog and show respect.

If you are the non celebrity you have two choices... you can be content that your family treats you like a second class citizen or... you can live your life trying to be the celebrity that you can never be unless your family changes their ways... confronting the family will only drive your family to love the celebrity more because he or she is not the complainer.

So which one are you? Do you have this in your family?

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Neal A Maxwell

Go to http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=6197 to read a talk that Neal A Maxwell made back in 1978... I think he hit the nail on the head with what is going on in the world today. Its a little long but worth the read!

There is beauty all around....

hate: verb, hat⋅ed, hat⋅ing, noun

1. to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; detest.
2. to be unwilling; dislike
–verb (used without object)
3. to feel intense dislike, or extreme aversion or hostility.
–noun
4. intense dislike; extreme aversion or hostility.

I think this guy doesnt understand what hate means? What do you think? Freedom of expression is ok as long as you agree with this guy!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Finally Something Positive

I know my postings lately have been focused on the injustices against my "people" (I wanted to sound deep) I wanted to post about something a little lighter and happier....


I was on my way to the dry cleaners to drop off my favorite suit (I got bird poop or something on it when I was in CA) and I was listening to Glenn Beck (one of my favorite conservatives) and he was getting all choked up about these comments that people had emailed into him. He was talking about his book... I thought... well... I have his last book and it was great but why the emotion... it didnt take me long to figure out that he was talking about a new book of his that recently came out. From the comments I heard and his emotions talking about I decided to go immediately to the bookstore and pick up a copy. I knew it was a Christmas story and I dont usually read things like this but... I love to support people like Glenn. I started it and read the whole thing in one night... granted I went to bed late and watched the office in the middle but this book was AWESOME... it was a great story that tide into the atonement and redemption. It is a true story based on Glenn's life before he joined the church. This is available everywhere and I suggest you read it for some perspective!

Description:

If You Could Change Your Life by Reversing Your Biggest Regrets, Sorrows and Mistakes...Would You?

#1 New York Times bestselling author and renowned radio and television host Glenn Beck delivers an instant holiday classic about boyhood memories, wrenching life lessons, and the true meaning of the gifts we give to one another in love.

We weren't wealthy, we weren't poor -- we just were. We never wanted for anything, except maybe more time together....

When Eddie was twelve years old, all he wanted for Christmas was a bike. Although his life had gotten harder -- and money tighter -- since his father died and the family bakery closed...Eddie dreamed that somehow his mother would find a way to have his dream bike gleaming beside their modest Christmas tree that magical morning.

What he got from her instead was a sweater. "A stupid, handmade, ugly sweater" that young Eddie left in a crumpled ball in the corner of his room.

Scarred deeply by the realization that kids don't always get what they want, and too young to understand that he already owned life's most valuable treasures, that Christmas morning was the beginning of Eddie's dark and painful journey on the road to manhood. It will take wrestling with himself, his faith, and his family -- and the guidance of a mysterious neighbor named Russell -- to help Eddie find his path through the storm clouds of life and finally see the real significance of that simple gift his mother had crafted by hand with love in her heart.

Based on a deeply personal true story, The Christmas Sweater is a warm and poignant tale of family, faith and forgiveness that offers us a glimpse of our own lives -- while also making us question if we really know what's most important in them.

About the Author
Glenn Beck is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller An Inconvenient Book. He is also the author of The Real America and publisher of Fusion magazine. He is the host of his own primetime television show on CNN Headline News and the nationally syndicated radio show The Glenn Beck Program, which is the third most listened to talk show in America. Visit www.glennbeck.com

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Theatre Director has to resign because he is LDS and donated money for yes on Prop 8!

Theater Director Resigns Amid Gay-Rights Ire
NEW YORK TIMES

Article Tools Sponsored By
By JESSE McKINLEY
Published: November 12, 2008

SACRAMENTO — The artistic director of the California Musical Theater, a major nonprofit producing company here in the state’s capital, resigned on Wednesday in the face of growing outrage over his support for a ballot measure this month that outlawed same-sex marriage in California.

The artistic director, Scott Eckern, came under fire recently after it became known that he contributed $1,000 to support Proposition 8, which amended the state Constitution to recognize only male-female marriages. The measure was approved by 52 percent of California voters on Election Day. (Same-sex marriages had been performed in California since June.)

In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, Mr. Eckern said that his donation stemmed from his religious beliefs — he is a Mormon — and that he was “deeply saddened that my personal beliefs and convictions have offended others.”

His donation was brought to light by online activists angry about the measure’s success at the polls.

“I understand that my choice of supporting Proposition 8 has been the cause of many hurt feelings, maybe even betrayal,” Mr. Eckern said. “It was not my intent. I honestly had no idea that this would be the reaction.”

But the swift resignation was not met with cheers by those on either side.

Marc Shaiman, the Tony Award-winning composer (“Hairspray”), called Mr. Eckern last week and said that he would not let his work be performed in the theater. “I was uncomfortable with money made off my work being used to put discrimination in the Constitution,” Mr. Shaiman said. He added, however, that the entire episode left him “deeply troubled” because of the potential for backlash against gays who protested Mr. Eckern’s donation.

“It will not help our cause because we will be branded exactly as what we were trying to fight,” said Mr. Shaiman, who is gay. “But I do believe there comes a time when you cannot sit back and accept what I think is the most dangerous form of bigotry.”

Supporters of the marriage ban said that critics of Mr. Eckern were attacking freedom of expression, and they chastised the theater’s board for subjecting Mr. Eckern to a political litmus test.

“No matter your opinion on Prop. 8, we should all agree that it is wrong to intimidate or harass anyone for exercising their constitutional rights,” said a letter to the theater’s board president on Tuesday by Frank Schubert, campaign manager for Protect Marriage, the leading group behind the ballot measure.

For its part, the theater disavowed Mr. Eckern’s donation and issued only a brief statement on Wednesday accepting his resignation, while emphasizing that it would not “impinge on the rights of its employees to engage in political activities.” A longtime employee, Mr. Eckern had been artistic director since 2002.

The outrage over Mr. Eckern and the subsequent dismay voiced by Mr. Shaiman are the most recent evidence of the tension running through the entertainment industry since Election Day, particularly in California.

Several prominent gay entertainers have expressed anger about the vote, including the singer Melissa Etheridge, who said she would refuse to pay California state taxes because she was “not a full citizen” and called on other gay men and women to do the same.

The sense of disappointment over the vote extended to Broadway. Jeffrey Seller, a producer of the show “Avenue Q,” which is scheduled to be part of the 2008-9 season at the California Musical Theater, said he had been shocked when he heard about Mr. Eckern’s donation.

“That a man who makes his living exclusively through the musical theater could do something so hurtful to the community that forms his livelihood is a punch in the stomach,” Mr. Seller said. “He didn’t just vote for it. One thousand dollars is a lot of money for an artistic director of a nonprofit.”

Mr. Seller said that he had not considered canceling the “Avenue Q” engagement with the theater company — “We don’t break contracts” — but had spoken to members of the show’s creative team on Tuesday about voicing their displeasure with Mr. Eckern in other ways, including adding a song addressing his donation. That idea has been dropped now.

Mr. Eckern did not respond to requests for an interview made to an outside publicist and the production company, which books shows into three Sacramento theaters, including a handsome new cabaret a block from the governor’s mansion. In his statement Mr. Eckern said that he would donate $1,000 to a gay-rights group, adding that he respected gay people, including a sister who is a lesbian.

“I am loving and supportive of her and her family, and she is loving and supportive of me and my family,” said Mr. Eckern, who is married with children. “I definitely do not support any message or treatment of others that is hateful or instills fear.”

Susan Egan, a Broadway actress (“Beauty and the Beast”) who landed her first professional job at the California Musical Theater, said she had been saddened by both Mr. Eckern’s actions and her own involvement, which included posting a letter on her Facebook page supporting the idea of boycotting the theater.

“My actions have caused him harm, just as his actions caused harm to people he loved,” she said. “We’re all guilty.”

That sentiment was echoed by Mr. Shaiman, who said that some of the pain being felt among gay theater artists after passage of Proposition 8 has been self-inflicted.

“Our anger is against ourselves, too, that we were too compliant,” he said. “It was beyond our ken that this could ever happen. But we were terribly, terribly wrong.”

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Here comes Satan... here comes Satan... right down Satan Lane!

WASHINGTON, D.C. — You better watch out. There is a new combatant in the Christmas wars.

Ads proclaiming, "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake," will appear on Washington, D.C., buses starting next week and running through December. The American Humanist Association unveiled the provocative $40,000 holiday ad campaign Tuesday.

In lifting lyrics from "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," the Washington-based group is wading into what has become a perennial debate over commercialism, religion in the public square and the meaning of Christmas.

"We are trying to reach our audience, and sometimes in order to reach an audience, everybody has to hear you," said Fred Edwords, spokesman for the humanist group. "Our reason for doing it during the holidays is there are an awful lot of agnostics, atheists and other types of non-theists who feel a little alone during the holidays because of its association with traditional religion."

To that end, the ads and posters will include a link to a Web site that will seek to connect and organize like-minded thinkers in the D.C. area, Edwords said.

Edwords said the purpose isn't to argue that God doesn't exist or change minds about a deity, although "we are trying to plant a seed of rational thought and critical thinking and questioning in people's minds."

The group defines humanism as "a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism, affirms our responsibility to lead ethical lives of value to self and humanity."

Last month, the British Humanist Association caused a ruckus announcing a similar campaign on London buses with the message: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

In Washington, the humanists' campaign comes as conservative Christian groups gear up their efforts to keep Christ in Christmas. In the past five years, groups such as the American Family Association and the Catholic League have criticized or threatened boycotts of retailers who use generic "holiday" greetings.

In mid-October, the American Family Association started selling buttons that say "It's OK to say Merry Christmas." The humanists' entry into the marketplace of ideas did not impress AFA president Tim Wildmon.

"It's a stupid ad," he said. "How do we define 'good' if we don't believe in God? God in his word, the Bible, tells us what's good and bad and right and wrong. If we are each ourselves defining what's good, it's going to be a crazy world."

Also on Tuesday, the Orlando, Fla.-based Liberty Counsel, a conservative Christian legal group, launched its sixth annual "Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign." Liberty Counsel has intervened in disputes over nativity scenes and government bans on Christmas decorations, among other things.

"It's the ultimate grinch to say there is no God at a time when millions of people around the world celebrate the birth of Christ," said Mathew Staver, the group's chairman and dean of the Liberty University School of Law. "Certainly, they have the right to believe what they want but this is insulting."

Best-selling books by authors such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens have fueled interest in "the new atheism" — a more in-your-face argument against God's existence.

Yet few Americans describe themselves as atheist or agnostic; a Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life poll from earlier this year found 92 percent of Americans believe in God.

There was no debate at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority over whether to take the ad. Spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said the agency accepts ads that aren't obscene or pornographic.

Stop the hate! Nobody should attack the elderly! Unbelievable!

Book of Mormon set ablaze on church door step


LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) -- A fire outside a Mormon church in Littleton is being investigated as a bias-motivated arson that may have stemmed from the church's position on a gay marriage amendment in California.

Arapahoe County sheriff's deputies responded to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, some three hours after a church member found a burning copy of The Book of Mormon on a door step.

No damage to the church was reported.

The caller who reported the fire told authorities that an LDS regional facilities manager indicated the incident may have been in retaliation to the church's stance on Proposition 8.

The measure passed last week bans same-sex marriage in the California constitution.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Incredible Customer Service!

Andrea and I had a bad experience with the Nordstrom in Orem a couple of weeks ago. We went in to look at a pair of shoes for me and we were completely ignored. No one even talked to us even though the store was relatively empty. This was the last straw for me... I had email the store manager a couple of years ago over a similar issue.... needless to say I emailed Blake Nordstrom (President of Nordstrom) and he wrote me back today a really nice letter that even included his phone number in case he could do anything else to make this issue right. So I took him up on his offer and called him. He answered the phone directly without delay and we chatted about the situation. He was super nice and even said that I was a good guy and thanked me for calling. I am very pleased that someone of his importance would take the time to solve a problem that I had with a little Nordstrom in Orem Utah. So... my advice... if you feel like you have been mistreated by any company... speak up about it... you never know who you will get to chat with!

Lern hew two spel

Vandalism a coincidence?


Three more churches target of vandalism
November 11th, 2008 @ 12:00pm
By Andrew Adams and Shara Park

Police are investigating three more cases of church vandalism, bringing the total to seven. One of the churches is in Sandy and the other two are in Ogden; all of them had damage to windows or doors.

The Weber County Sheriff's Office says the door to the church at 5855 Skyline Dr. was shattered sometime between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Saturday. A member of the ward had come by the building to check on it and found glass all over the ground.

On Sunday morning, at the Ogden LDS Church on 5191 Old Post Road, ward members showed up for service to a similar scene.

These two churches along with a Sandy church near 11500 South and Wasatch Boulevard, brings the total number of churches vandalized to seven.

Both Ogden and Sandy police say they know of the other cases including the four in Layton, but they are not saying if all of them are connected or if the suspects have a particular motive.

Ogden City police Lt. Scott Sangberg says, "It could be anything. I don't think there is anything out of the realm of possibility that cause this window to be broken, anywhere from teenagers to someone who may not like how a particular bishop handled a situation."

Right now, Layton police says a BB gun caused the damage to the churches there.

Ogden and Sandy say they aren't sure what caused the damage. They say it could be a number of things.

All of the agencies involved say their investigators have no leads and no witnesses.

The estimated cost in damages for all the churches is a few thousand dollars. Several people who attend these churches say it's not a big deal to replace a broken window or door, they're just bothered that someone would vandalize their place of worship.

Latter Day Persecution




These are pictures of the disrespectful and hateful behavior that the Vote No on Prop 8 people have shown toward my religious beliefs. I am not surprised that they would act with some immaturity but this is ridiculous. Little do they know that our church members only get stronger in opposition, we are very familiar with it. Such behavior will only bring the members of the church together and help solidify testimonies. This issue has served to weed out those who are among us who are not willing to stand firmly on their beliefs as well. Don't think for a second that defacing an LDS church will go unpunished... they will have their day before a "judge"!










Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Follow the prophet... don't go astray (unless you don't like what he says??????)

Signs in ex-BYU QB Young's yard: No on Prop. 8
The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 11/03/2008 08:00:37 AM MST

SAN FRANCISCO - Former BYU and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young and his wife, Barbara, have yard signs in front of their Palo Alto, Calif., home urging voters to vote no on Proposition 8, the state ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriage.
Barbara Young, who has an older brother who is gay, has also donated about $50,000 to defeat the measure, and says in a statement that the family does not believe in discrimination.
Steve Young, a prominent Mormon, has not taken a public position on Prop. 8 himself.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has donated much money to the "Yes on 8" campaign.

Thank you liberal media giants for your influence!? Jerks!



This is from CNN.com at about 5:00... Which candidate does CNN push based simply on the image they picked of each one. One looks noble and brave and ready to lead and the other looks like a mugshot... you decide! If Obama wins tonight... the media is directly responsible! Shame on you if you fell for it!

Monday, November 3, 2008

YES ON PROP 8!

Get the magnifying class out until I can fix the image sizes!






Sunday, November 2, 2008

California Trip


I don't have any pictures to post just yet but I just wanted to write about my experience with the Yes on prop 8 sign rally yesterday.

Let me just say that I felt like I was really missing out on this whole Prop 8 fight, being a Californian and living in Utah I don't really get the opportunity to voice my thoughts on controversial issues. I think the most controversial issue in Utah is that people have lost their minds and want to vote for Obama.

So I got flew into Orange County on Saturday morning and went into action. My friend Brody picked me up and him and his wife Ann took me to an organized sign holding event. There were so many prop 8 supporters there it was great... there were people from different denominations there not just "the mormons". At one point the couple next to us even turned and asked, "Are you guys Mormon?" we said that we were and they said, "I never thought I could have so much with a bunch of mormons!" We were really having a lot of fun out there. There was a happy peaceful feeling among the vote yes people. The vote no people unfortunately were a little less accepting of our beliefs... apparently one of them stole a sign from the stack that was laid out for new people coming to help. One of the guys who helped organize the event called the police and pressed charges against her for stealing and sign defacing. She was asked to leave with all her signs and apologize to the people. It was completely uncalled for that she would steal and rip up a sign when we are all being so friendly and nice to them. Especially considering that the No side is so big on accepting others how they are.

Some reactions:

-Most people honked and waived and gave us thumbs up!

-Some people just pretended that the hundred or so of us werent there cheering for protecting the family.

-I have never seen so many middle fingers in my whole life. The most shocking was from the littlest middle fingers. There was a car that had younger kids in the back and they flipped us off as they drove by... their parents had been setting the example.

-The best for me was when a woman drove by with all of her windows down and yelled at the top of her lungs and her middle fingers pointing... "Hate Mongers!" It was great but unfortunately she was the only one.

-Large big rigs would drive by and honk at us as well, the trash trucks, fire trucks, and most of the mini vans would honk.

-The bentley GT driver wouldnt look over at us... the Lamborgini just turned the corner with no honking but a sweet red Porsche GT honked in support!


We were right in front of In-n-out burger burger so our location was prime... someone even went and bought hundreds of burgers to pass out to everyone... needless to say it was a lot of fun supporting such a great cause. Even though I am currently living so far away from California I can finally feel like I did a small... very small part in supporting something I feel so strongly about.

One thing that confuses me are the many LDS people including Steve Young and his family that have chosen to go directly against what the prophet has said and announced that they are voting No on Prop 8. I don't think its a matter of them not following the prophet, its a matter of them not understanding what a prophet is and who he speaks for and represents. I think this is a great time for all of us to analyze how willing each of us are to follow what the prophet tells us to do. I know I can be better at it myself but it certainly should open our eyes to who is on the right side!