Saturday, November 24, 2007
What's Going On
Hey that last post was almost completely painless so I thought I would do another one. As I think I mentioned to most of the people who wil read this post, I am now the elders quorum president here in whitecourt but that title is somewhat misleading. This is because there is no high priests quorum here and very few active men. I have one counselor who I called last week. Thanks John for saying yes! I feel really good about the counselor that I have he is a good man with a great testimony but honestly there are not a tonne of options for a second counselor or a secretary. There are some great faithful men but for one reason or another they just don't fit the bill. So I am struggling with what to do, leave it empty? Hard to say at this point. Unfortunately because of the new calling I will not be teaching my teenage class anymore. That is kind of a bummer I really enjoyed that. Fortunately? for me my teacher for this week called me this evening and told me that he would not be there this week so I get a chance to teach, just the elders quorum. Guess thats all for now.
The List
Here you go Krista I hope you are happy.
A- Attached or single: Attached
B- Best Friend: Jenie, Kris, Scott Young
C- Cake or Pie: Grandma Jones's apple pie
D- Day of choice: my birthday, its all about me
E- Essential Item: Books, lots of books
F- Favorite Color: Blue
G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Neither, that is like pure sugar I honestly cannot even touch them without cringing.
H- Hometown: I am a citizen of the world. Also my parents liked to move a lot.
I- Indulgence(s): Indian food
J- January or July: July (see answer for D)
K- Kids: Hanna (8), Olivia (7-tomorrow), Emma (5), Lincoln (4), Lily (1)
L- Life is Incomplete Without: laughter
M- Marriage Date: October 10, 1998
N- Number of Siblings: 2 sisters
O- Oranges or Apples: Madarin Oranges
P- Phobias or Fears:
Q- Quote(s): "look someone's gone and thrown away a perfeclty good white boy" (better off dead)
R- Reason To Smile: My kids
S- Season: Summer
T- Tag Three: Anyone who wants to fill it out
U- Unknown Fact About Me: I am much taller than I seem.
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals: If we weren't meant to eat animals they wouldn't be made out of meat.
W- Worst Habit: other than the crack pipe?
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: ultrasound I like the feeling of the Jelly and the woo, woo, woo sound the machine makes, very soothing.
Y- Your Favorite Food: Paneer butter masala, steak, lobster.
Z- Zodiac" Cancer (possbily the weirdest and most forbiding of the zodiac signs.)
A- Attached or single: Attached
B- Best Friend: Jenie, Kris, Scott Young
C- Cake or Pie: Grandma Jones's apple pie
D- Day of choice: my birthday, its all about me
E- Essential Item: Books, lots of books
F- Favorite Color: Blue
G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Neither, that is like pure sugar I honestly cannot even touch them without cringing.
H- Hometown: I am a citizen of the world. Also my parents liked to move a lot.
I- Indulgence(s): Indian food
J- January or July: July (see answer for D)
K- Kids: Hanna (8), Olivia (7-tomorrow), Emma (5), Lincoln (4), Lily (1)
L- Life is Incomplete Without: laughter
M- Marriage Date: October 10, 1998
N- Number of Siblings: 2 sisters
O- Oranges or Apples: Madarin Oranges
P- Phobias or Fears:
Q- Quote(s): "look someone's gone and thrown away a perfeclty good white boy" (better off dead)
R- Reason To Smile: My kids
S- Season: Summer
T- Tag Three: Anyone who wants to fill it out
U- Unknown Fact About Me: I am much taller than I seem.
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals: If we weren't meant to eat animals they wouldn't be made out of meat.
W- Worst Habit: other than the crack pipe?
X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: ultrasound I like the feeling of the Jelly and the woo, woo, woo sound the machine makes, very soothing.
Y- Your Favorite Food: Paneer butter masala, steak, lobster.
Z- Zodiac" Cancer (possbily the weirdest and most forbiding of the zodiac signs.)
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Seriously, Whitecourt?
Well its been a while since I wrote on this thing and I suspect that noone is reading it. That is okay by me. As I am sure you are now aware we have decided to stay in Whitecourt. I know this decision must have surprised those of you who have heard my rants about snow, winter, and other closely related subjects. To be honest this was a very difficult decision, in the long run I think that it will benefit my family and be the best thing for us. In the short run all I am sure of is that this is where we are supposed to be.
To switch to a more interesting topic, I was reading Gary's new blog this morning, I really enjoyed what he wrote about light, and about resetting ourselves with the savior. The class that I teach is a little different. It is made up of all of the teenagers in the branch, class size ranges from 2-8 depending on which families are there that week. The theme that I seem to keep coming back to is personal choice. We are studying the New Testament and it is instructive to consider how many people heard the Saviors words, in person, and still chose not to follow. It is a rich mine for me in attempting to present to the class how while we may hear, we have to choose to recieve. From the class discussion it is difficult to tell if anything is actually penetrating the surface but from what I have found most classes are that way.
To switch to a more interesting topic, I was reading Gary's new blog this morning, I really enjoyed what he wrote about light, and about resetting ourselves with the savior. The class that I teach is a little different. It is made up of all of the teenagers in the branch, class size ranges from 2-8 depending on which families are there that week. The theme that I seem to keep coming back to is personal choice. We are studying the New Testament and it is instructive to consider how many people heard the Saviors words, in person, and still chose not to follow. It is a rich mine for me in attempting to present to the class how while we may hear, we have to choose to recieve. From the class discussion it is difficult to tell if anything is actually penetrating the surface but from what I have found most classes are that way.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Give a Man a Fish
The environment is much in the news these days. How do we protect it, how do we halt global warming, how to we make sure that we have clean air and clean water. I think that these are the questions that are going to control and direct the Canadian political scene.... at least until there is a recession. What is troubling about the current political climate is a pervasive belief that the only worthwhile solution to environmental problems is government largesse. This big government approach to environmentalism is accepted essentially without question across the Canadian political spectrum. This is wrong.
Or let me put it another way there is nothing wrong with the NDP and the Liberals proposing huge government spending projects to solve environmental problems. The idea that government is the best venue for solving societies ills is the core ideology of these two parties. Unfortunately this tendency to assume that government can solve the problems of the country has spread to the Conservative party or rather migrated with Joe Clark and Peter McKay from the Progressive Conservative Party to the current Conservative Party.
This is my basic problem with the current Conservative Party they absolutely refuse to actually act like conservatives. Rather than handing out government money to technologies of dubious merit (see my last post) why not let the market decide what new green technology should fuel tommorows automobiles.
Why not place emmissions standards on automobile companies similar to the emmissions standards under the US clean air act, covering all of the models imported into Canada in a fiscal year. The allowable emmissions would shrink every year but the emmissions amounts allowed could be transfered from one model to another. This would allow auto companies to sell there SUV's but would force them if they wanted to continue to sell SUV's to find ways to lower emmissions in the SUV's drastically or find a way to make marketable vehicles with zero or minimal emmissions. This type of program places all of the cost where it should be, on the shoulders of those who wish to sell vehicles that pollute the environment. Conversely it provides benefits to everyone in society through better air quality and better access to vehicles that are cheap on gas. Please explain to me why this would not work? Please explain to me why I sitting at my computer before I start my workday can come up with market based solutions to environmental issues but the ENTIRE CONSERVATIVE PARTY BRAINTRUST cannot think of one worthwhile program that would use market forces to protect the environment. Or maybe its just me.
Or let me put it another way there is nothing wrong with the NDP and the Liberals proposing huge government spending projects to solve environmental problems. The idea that government is the best venue for solving societies ills is the core ideology of these two parties. Unfortunately this tendency to assume that government can solve the problems of the country has spread to the Conservative party or rather migrated with Joe Clark and Peter McKay from the Progressive Conservative Party to the current Conservative Party.
This is my basic problem with the current Conservative Party they absolutely refuse to actually act like conservatives. Rather than handing out government money to technologies of dubious merit (see my last post) why not let the market decide what new green technology should fuel tommorows automobiles.
Why not place emmissions standards on automobile companies similar to the emmissions standards under the US clean air act, covering all of the models imported into Canada in a fiscal year. The allowable emmissions would shrink every year but the emmissions amounts allowed could be transfered from one model to another. This would allow auto companies to sell there SUV's but would force them if they wanted to continue to sell SUV's to find ways to lower emmissions in the SUV's drastically or find a way to make marketable vehicles with zero or minimal emmissions. This type of program places all of the cost where it should be, on the shoulders of those who wish to sell vehicles that pollute the environment. Conversely it provides benefits to everyone in society through better air quality and better access to vehicles that are cheap on gas. Please explain to me why this would not work? Please explain to me why I sitting at my computer before I start my workday can come up with market based solutions to environmental issues but the ENTIRE CONSERVATIVE PARTY BRAINTRUST cannot think of one worthwhile program that would use market forces to protect the environment. Or maybe its just me.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Harper a Conservative?
If you do not enjoy politics please be warned this post is well, almost exclusively about politics.
I read today in the Edmonton Journal that we may be in for a long season of Conservative success at the federal level. The journalist in question pointed out the strength of the Consverative parties current polls and the weakness of opposition leadership. The journalist quoted from a book written by Chantal Hebert the central thesis of which is this Conservative resergence. The difficulty that I have with talk of a Conservative resurgence is the sneeking suspicion that while it might be a resurgence for the Conservative party it is not a resurgence for conservative ideas or ideals. If you look at the policies of the Harper government there is precious little that seperates them from the Martin or Chretien Liberals. A few examples:
1) The Harper government forced Boeing to provide regional offsets and investment in order to win a contract to build military aircraft.
http://andrewcoyne.com/2007/01/senator-porkier.php
2) The Harper government recently announced billions of dollars in subsidies to Canadian farmers. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070309/harper_farmers_070308/20070309?hub=TopStories
3) The Harper government first cut the funding then returned funding to feminist lobby groups. http://shaidle.blogmatrix.com/:entry:shaidle-2007-03-09-0000/
4) The Harper government has announced millions of dollars in subsidies to "green" inititatives in British Columbia. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070313/harper_ecotrust_070313/20070313?hub=Canada
Is that enough examples? I sure hope it is. By definition conservatives believe society functions best with less government and lower taxes. They believe that government programs are a detriment to the free market and in the end not beneficial to the citizenry. They believe that even the environment can benefit from market forces. The problem is that people who vote for the Conservative party are just as fond of government largesse as everyone else. From farmers to small business people from vetrans to the oil companies we are all conservatives when it comes to cutting other peoples programs and lowering our own taxes.
Conservatives cannot champion smaller welfare rolls while at the same time providing billions of dollars in program funding to farmers, it is hypocrisy. If we want to make government smaller we have to be willing to start with programs that help people that vote for the Conservative party. If we are not willing to do that then any Conservative government will always only be conservative in name only.
I read today in the Edmonton Journal that we may be in for a long season of Conservative success at the federal level. The journalist in question pointed out the strength of the Consverative parties current polls and the weakness of opposition leadership. The journalist quoted from a book written by Chantal Hebert the central thesis of which is this Conservative resergence. The difficulty that I have with talk of a Conservative resurgence is the sneeking suspicion that while it might be a resurgence for the Conservative party it is not a resurgence for conservative ideas or ideals. If you look at the policies of the Harper government there is precious little that seperates them from the Martin or Chretien Liberals. A few examples:
1) The Harper government forced Boeing to provide regional offsets and investment in order to win a contract to build military aircraft.
http://andrewcoyne.com/2007/01/senator-porkier.php
2) The Harper government recently announced billions of dollars in subsidies to Canadian farmers. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070309/harper_farmers_070308/20070309?hub=TopStories
3) The Harper government first cut the funding then returned funding to feminist lobby groups. http://shaidle.blogmatrix.com/:entry:shaidle-2007-03-09-0000/
4) The Harper government has announced millions of dollars in subsidies to "green" inititatives in British Columbia. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070313/harper_ecotrust_070313/20070313?hub=Canada
Is that enough examples? I sure hope it is. By definition conservatives believe society functions best with less government and lower taxes. They believe that government programs are a detriment to the free market and in the end not beneficial to the citizenry. They believe that even the environment can benefit from market forces. The problem is that people who vote for the Conservative party are just as fond of government largesse as everyone else. From farmers to small business people from vetrans to the oil companies we are all conservatives when it comes to cutting other peoples programs and lowering our own taxes.
Conservatives cannot champion smaller welfare rolls while at the same time providing billions of dollars in program funding to farmers, it is hypocrisy. If we want to make government smaller we have to be willing to start with programs that help people that vote for the Conservative party. If we are not willing to do that then any Conservative government will always only be conservative in name only.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
101 Continued again
Just thought of some more
26. I really like watching highschool basketball, particularly in southern Alberta, those boys can play.
27. Growing up I spent a lot of weekends out at my uncle howards, he cowboyed in the porcupine hills and I would go out and ride and work with him. Those are some of my best childhood memories.
28. When I was little instead of reading a standard bed time story I would insist that my parents read to me from the encyclopedia of mammals. Like I said I am a nerd.
29. I need glasses but I refuse to wear them, I just find them way to uncomfortable.
30. I know nothing about cars other than how to drive them.
31. Whenever we travel as a family I drive, I would rather do that than fetch and carry for the kids.
32. I never pictured myself getting my masters in environmental and natural resource law, but the more I think about the more excited I get.
33. I sold insurance for a living, I liked it.
34. I have worked in the basement in almost all of the places that I have been employed.
35. Working for the Yellowhead Tribal Council was the best job I ever had, but it only lasted for a summer.
36. I have always been a bit of a loner, but the friends that I have I would do anything for.
37. My extended family is very important to me.
38. I would rather travel to a great city than to a resort, Paris over Cabo San Lucas every time.
39. I think it is unwise to trust people too easily.
40. I am much less coordinated than I seem.
41. When I was a kid I kept a book in my desk at school to read when I finished my work, a particular favorite was Asterix and Obelix (preffereably translated from the original French).
42. I hope my kids work harder in school than I did.I am going to take a break from this and maybe do some acutal posts.
26. I really like watching highschool basketball, particularly in southern Alberta, those boys can play.
27. Growing up I spent a lot of weekends out at my uncle howards, he cowboyed in the porcupine hills and I would go out and ride and work with him. Those are some of my best childhood memories.
28. When I was little instead of reading a standard bed time story I would insist that my parents read to me from the encyclopedia of mammals. Like I said I am a nerd.
29. I need glasses but I refuse to wear them, I just find them way to uncomfortable.
30. I know nothing about cars other than how to drive them.
31. Whenever we travel as a family I drive, I would rather do that than fetch and carry for the kids.
32. I never pictured myself getting my masters in environmental and natural resource law, but the more I think about the more excited I get.
33. I sold insurance for a living, I liked it.
34. I have worked in the basement in almost all of the places that I have been employed.
35. Working for the Yellowhead Tribal Council was the best job I ever had, but it only lasted for a summer.
36. I have always been a bit of a loner, but the friends that I have I would do anything for.
37. My extended family is very important to me.
38. I would rather travel to a great city than to a resort, Paris over Cabo San Lucas every time.
39. I think it is unwise to trust people too easily.
40. I am much less coordinated than I seem.
41. When I was a kid I kept a book in my desk at school to read when I finished my work, a particular favorite was Asterix and Obelix (preffereably translated from the original French).
42. I hope my kids work harder in school than I did.I am going to take a break from this and maybe do some acutal posts.
101 Continued
9. I am addicted to political blogs there are 4 or 5 that I check at least twice a day.
10. I love my kids, they are all really cool people, in all likelyhood cooler than their dad.
11. In junior high me and a couple of friends made plans to build a hovercraft, in case you haven't guessed I was a HUGE nerd.
12. I would love to live in New Zealand and almost convinced Jenie to move there when Kris and Tandy were living there.
13. As far as I can tell winter has no redeeming features other than snow skiing. Other than that the whole season is crap.
14. I am a political junkie, I am a card carrying member of a political party and love nothing more than to argue politics with people who are similarly inclined.
15. When I was a teenager I wanted to be a cowboy, my mom told me I had too much potential to be a cowboy, she is now married to a cowboy.
16. Law school was probably the most rewarding, interesting and enjoyable three years of my life. Actually practicing law, not so much.
17. My favorite prophet in the Book of Mormon is Abinadi, incredibly powerful, teaching King Noah and his priests as they build the fire around him, amazing.
18. I love my calling as sunday school teacher, I get to spend an hour a week talking about the gospel with teenagers who have good questions and interesting comments that is a great way to spend an hour.
19. My parents divorce is probably the worst thing that has ever happened to me.
20. I enjoy reading historical fiction, and science fiction I am also on a bit of a kick where I read political non-fiction.
21. I met my wife when she was on a date, she denies it to this day but it was a date.
22. The first time I met my inlaws her dad and I immediately clicked, we have a very similar sense of humor.
23. My best friend from the time I was in grade six until I got married was Trevor Zuba.
24. I will go to my grave believing that The Princess Bride, Better off Dead, Willow and Ferris Buellers Day Off are classics, I will not discuss this.
25. My oldest daughter was born on my 23rd birthday. She is easily the biggest present I have ever received.
Well a quarter of the way there, this is harder than it looks.
10. I love my kids, they are all really cool people, in all likelyhood cooler than their dad.
11. In junior high me and a couple of friends made plans to build a hovercraft, in case you haven't guessed I was a HUGE nerd.
12. I would love to live in New Zealand and almost convinced Jenie to move there when Kris and Tandy were living there.
13. As far as I can tell winter has no redeeming features other than snow skiing. Other than that the whole season is crap.
14. I am a political junkie, I am a card carrying member of a political party and love nothing more than to argue politics with people who are similarly inclined.
15. When I was a teenager I wanted to be a cowboy, my mom told me I had too much potential to be a cowboy, she is now married to a cowboy.
16. Law school was probably the most rewarding, interesting and enjoyable three years of my life. Actually practicing law, not so much.
17. My favorite prophet in the Book of Mormon is Abinadi, incredibly powerful, teaching King Noah and his priests as they build the fire around him, amazing.
18. I love my calling as sunday school teacher, I get to spend an hour a week talking about the gospel with teenagers who have good questions and interesting comments that is a great way to spend an hour.
19. My parents divorce is probably the worst thing that has ever happened to me.
20. I enjoy reading historical fiction, and science fiction I am also on a bit of a kick where I read political non-fiction.
21. I met my wife when she was on a date, she denies it to this day but it was a date.
22. The first time I met my inlaws her dad and I immediately clicked, we have a very similar sense of humor.
23. My best friend from the time I was in grade six until I got married was Trevor Zuba.
24. I will go to my grave believing that The Princess Bride, Better off Dead, Willow and Ferris Buellers Day Off are classics, I will not discuss this.
25. My oldest daughter was born on my 23rd birthday. She is easily the biggest present I have ever received.
Well a quarter of the way there, this is harder than it looks.
101 Things
I like peoples list of 100 things so I am going to start with that.
1. My wife is my soul mate and my best friend also she is hot.
2. when I was little I got really sick once a year like oxygen tent over christmas sick.
3. I like steaks medium rare I will not eat them any more cooked than that.
4. We moved a lot when I was little, I attended five elementary schools.
5. I hate amusement park rides that spin they make me sick.
6. I spent the first four months of my mission in India and Singapore the day I returned to India from Singapore (renewing my Visa) I found out they were closing the India mission to foreign missionaries.
7. I love celebrity gossip the juicier the better.
8. I promised my best friend I would wait eight months after meeting a girl before asked her to marry me, Jenie and I were married 10 weeks after we met.
Off to the park I will take this up later
1. My wife is my soul mate and my best friend also she is hot.
2. when I was little I got really sick once a year like oxygen tent over christmas sick.
3. I like steaks medium rare I will not eat them any more cooked than that.
4. We moved a lot when I was little, I attended five elementary schools.
5. I hate amusement park rides that spin they make me sick.
6. I spent the first four months of my mission in India and Singapore the day I returned to India from Singapore (renewing my Visa) I found out they were closing the India mission to foreign missionaries.
7. I love celebrity gossip the juicier the better.
8. I promised my best friend I would wait eight months after meeting a girl before asked her to marry me, Jenie and I were married 10 weeks after we met.
Off to the park I will take this up later
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