Are You Kidding?

McCain is going to pick someone a mere three years older and with less politcal expierence, after his whole attack premise was inexperience and youth? Of course, Palin definetly cannot be likened to a celebrity, that's for sure. Unless you count that one time, in basketball camp.

I'd Make the Best President Eva!

Am I a moron? Please tell me I am not a moron. I said moron by the way, not Mormon, just clarifying in light of my previous blogging history.


My sensibilities have come into question, when last night, while watching the Democratic National Convention, I found myself excited, enthusiastic and, well, hopeful.


I am neither a Democrat or a Republican, or a Libertarian, or a librarian for that matter. I look at what I think is good and relevant in regards to improving the life which I lead and hope that others can take from my life the things that work for them. I am a little bit of a Socialist, Communist, Anarchist and perhaps a smidgeon Idealist. There is no set standard that I follow and my opinions change on a daily basis depending on what information is presented to me at any given time. Doesn't that make the most sense? It's called e-vo-lu-tion and it's a tool in your survivability arsenal.

Things are broken in America, not only with the government itself, but with the general population who has lost the ability to take responsibility for themselves. What are the problems that concern you? How do we fix them? Are we just lumps on the log who sit around and think we can't effect change? That perhaps things are outside of our control as individuals?



I don't want to incite a riot here, and I better step down from the soapbox before I fall, but I thought it important to say this, regardless of your political affiliation, the government is not whom you elect to Congress or who holds the title Commander-in-Chief, the government is me, you and everyone around us, the former are merely the enforcers and protectors of what we as a collective agree to. It's not up to the government to be the creative or driving force behind change, it's up to us.

Things I Stole From the Mormons

Things I Stole from the Mormons - Day 2

So, yeah, big numbers on the views, little numbers on the comments. I'll admit it, I'm a little bit of a feedback junkie. Moving on.

Day 2 of things I stole from the Mormons is Family Home Storage. What a brilliant idea. Keep a supply of needful things, like food, water, money. Yes, a little mattress money never hurt anyone.

One might ask why they should keep three, six or even twelve months of supplies on hand. I'll tell you why, because the end is nigh. No, that's not why, don't be silly. The reason is because you simply never know when something catastrophic or unexpected might happen. It makes sense to have a supply of things ready to go in case, oh, the economy collapses, there is a run on banks, people lose their jobs and homes and we are thrust into a depression. Perhaps I am a little paranoid. But imagine if you had the ability to help yourself in a time of crisis ala Katrina. Disasters are not that unheard of honestly. If you live in a tornado prone area, may I suggest keeping your goods in the basement. What good is a supply of rice if it just gets scattered across the great plains?


Three-Month Supply

Build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet. One way to do this is to purchase a few extra items each week to build a one-week supply of food. Then you can gradually increase your supply until it is sufficient for three months. These items should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage...

Drinking Water

Store drinking water for circumstances in which the water supply may be polluted or disrupted.

If water comes directly from a good, pretreated source, then no additional purification is needed; otherwise, pretreat water before use. Store water in sturdy, leak-proof, breakage-resistant containers. Consider using plastic bottles commonly used for juices and soft drinks.

Keep water containers away from heat sources and direct sunlight...

Financial Reserve

Establish a financial reserve by saving a little money each week and gradually increasing it to a reasonable amount...

Longer-Term Supply
For longer-term needs, and where permitted, gradually build a supply of food that will last a long time and that you can use to stay alive, such as wheat, white rice, and beans.

These items can last 30 years or more when properly packaged and stored in a cool, dry place. A portion of these items may be rotated in your three-month supply.

Those crazy Mormons, they really have some good ideas.

I totally pilfered this from the LDS website. I think I am going to hell. Wait, I don't believe in that. I forget sometimes.

Things I Stole From the Mormons - Day 1

Family Home Evening, or FHE as those Morms refer to it, is, and I quote, "A special time set aside each week that brings family members together and strengthens their love for each other, helps them draw closer to Heavenly Father, and encourages them to live righteously."

As we all know from yesterday's post, I am not going to get jiggy with drawing closer to the Heavenly Father or living righteously for that matter, but I will set aside one night a week that is completely and totally devoted to family and teaching little E some things about the world and how it works.

While the Morms quote scripture and pray in addition to their pre-planned family activity of the evening, we simply turn of the TV and do something together. Go for a walk, ride bikes, have a clam bake at the beach (hey, it's technically our home). Not only does it promote family togetherness, it also gets everyone talking and interacting. Communication baby.

This idea extends beyond immediate family. If you happen to live within 5 miles of your parents, cousins, in-laws, invite everyone over. Oh, you don't have any family at all you say? Well, that really sucks and I'm sorry for that but you can still have FHE, Friends Home Evening. The things you can talk about over dinner with friends in the comfort of you own home are endless. At least they are in my house. There are things I would say in my own home, with my people, that I wouldn't dare say in public, fear of persecution and all that. I have a big mouth and crazy opinions, but I stray from the topic at hand.

Ideas

Geocaching

Yard relay race

Gardening

Bike riding

Seashell collecting

Or, if you aren't a giant nerd like me

Dinner with family and or friends to discuss the current status of America and Americans.

Wait, that's nerdy too.

Listen, I never said I was cool.



This concludes day one of my Mormon theft log.

Things I Stole From the Mormons

Let it be said, first and foremost. (Please see here)

This may come as a shock to some of you and a validation to others. No, I am not what you thought I was or Whoo-hoo, I want to be this chicklet's friend. Either way, there are certain things I crave, despite being a non bible toting heathen.

First, I enjoy family, mostly just those of the immediate nature, but sometimes I'll kick it with a cousin or two who are just like sisters so they count. Second, I enjoy creating a beautiful home in which to raise my family. When I say beautiful, I don't mean all Crib'd out, I just mean cozy, warm, and aromatic in the way of pumpkin pie. Third, I am disturbed by the way I see things going in America. Economically, socially, politically. Three subjects worthy of their very own blog. Speaking of worthy, why I don't believe in God is a subject worthy of any blog and perhaps, I will take you on a journey as to how I arrived at this juncture.

It was with great revelation during a meeting with the Mormon missionaries, that I discovered I could take things that I liked from the social structure of their religion and use them in my everyday life. Yes, we let them in. It's hard to turn a nineteen year old boy with visions of conversion in his heart and steadfast belief to that of which he was raised away from our door. The possibilities were really too vast to ignore. Over the next few days, I will share with you things that I stole from the Mormons. Take note of stole, because I am not giving them back, they are mine now and maybe yours if you like. It's good stuff, relevant even.