The Sublime Roundabout

This is the article that caused me such mirth last night: http://www.star-telegram.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article51910755.html Here's the text: BY DAVE BARRY Tribune Content Agency Sometimes we are accused — believe it or not — of being overly negative in our annual Year in Review. Critics say we ignore the many positive events in a given year and focus instead on the stupid, the tragic, the evil, the disgusting, the Kardashians. OK, critics: We have heard you. This year, instead of dwelling on the negatives, we’re going to start our annual review with a List of the Top 10 Good Things That Happened in 2015. Ready? Here we go: 1. We didn’t hear that much about Honey Boo Boo. 2. OK, we’ll have to get back to you on Good Things 2 through 10. We apologize, but 2015 had so many negatives that we’re having trouble seeing the positives. It’s like we’re on the Titanic, and it’s tilting at an 85-degree angle with its propellers way up in the air, and we’re dangl...

Him: (giggling wildly while reading amusing political satire) Her: ANNOYING!!! ~fin~

Going back to the idea of "social inequality", and in all humility acknowledging the benefits I've enjoyed in my life, I offer the following: It seems to me that this is not about lowering expectations; rather, it's about raising them - for everyone. It's about acknowledging the disparity that exists, the fact that some are given much, while others are given little. It's about affording each an opportunity to succeed, regardless of station. But this begs the question - how do we acknowledge someone's station without making that a defining factor? I read recently that there are folks who are suing a university because they felt discriminated against in favor of a minority admission. I'm not sure I'm smart enough to comment on the overall benefits/drawbacks of affirmative action or racial quotas or whatever. I really don't think I know enough. But what I do know is that I have experienced in my own life the benefits of being a w...

I saw this this morning: My first thought was - this is pretty clever, really. My next thought was - he needs to get out of the country more. When I was in Korea, I definitely felt the way I was treated different, and was almost always acutely aware of the fact that I was not the same as everyone else.  But then I thought - how others treated me in Korea because I was a white, tall, man definitely was different than how they would treat me if I were a black, tall, man, or a woman of any race, or whatever. I'm not saying that Koreans are racist, just that being different and being made aware of it in this way was very unusual for me, and has helped shape how I treat others. Being a white man has its privileges, even when that represents a minority. On one hand, I think visual appearance differences are significant and noticeable. The fact that I am tall, for example, was almost always the first thing people noticed about me in Korea. I'm not that tall ...

I triple dog dare ya! (Here's the full clip):

I'm one of those who looks for meaning and beauty in unexpected places. I read this article this morning in the BBC (well, I say read, but it's really more of a "viewed")... Here's a link to it: http://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-35105239 Here's some of my favorite pics: I've always loved electric towers/pylons. I used to watch them marching off into the distance while on a long road trip, like so many soldiers with their arms carrying their burdensome loads. While they may be an unattractive scar on the landscape, I also find beauty in their engineered simplicity and regularity.  This is electrical conduit. Again, I love the simplicity and the regularity. This image is particularly compelling because of the way the chrome-like galvanized steel conduit looks ultra-modern and clean compared with the bare concrete behind it. This reminds me of an integrated circuit board, except in three dimensions, and I think it's just lovely in its...

This is eye-opening. And also humbling:

This is humbling...

I consider myself to be a cheerful, optimistic person. Maybe that's related to my somewhat naive view of the world, and maybe part of it has to do with my personality. But I am hopeful and positive about the future, and I'm really peaceful and happy most of the time. So when I look at my blog posts of late, it seems that I may be giving people the wrong impression about myself. And I wonder why this should be the case? The truth is that experiences and emotions are very seldom 100% positive or negative - there's almost always something to be learned from everything, and even the most negative of experiences can be mitigated by the hope of both enduring through it and then the learning, growth, and peace that comes on the other side. After all, only the living feel pain, and life is generally preferable to the alternative. :) My blog is a personal place for me - a place where I can off-load some of the emotions and thoughts that I'm having. It's not intended to...

no one wants to listen to you when you're sad when you're feeling low or depressed in spirit everything is supposed to be cheerful and happy all the time and when it's not people shun you even your "true" friends are disinterested or try to "help" like you need their help all you need is their love and empathy instead you get pithy comments to buck up suck it up it's not so bad it could be worse it's not as bad as I've had it and then they leave you abandoned and even more lonely for trying to reach out I don't know why I even try It never seems to work out

My cousin passed away this last weekend. She was beautiful and had had a difficult if meaningful life (interesting how those two things go together). She'd been ill for a long time, so perhaps in some ways it's a good thing. But the sense of loss is very real, and the hole she left will probably never be adequately filled. There are so many weird and random reverses in life. People come and go, some close, others just mere strangers in a crowd... Experiences flit across the screen of our life's stage, sometimes with us as a main actor, other times we're in a supporting role, and still others find us standing off to the side and wondering what is going on... And through it all, we look for meaning. We look for significance and import and impact, searching for a pattern through which we can make some sort of sense out of it all. Sometimes I feel like it is there, like something in the corner of my eye, but no matter how I turn my head, it feels elusive, vanishing...

Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace... - John Lennon I don't know why people insist that there is an answer in violence. I just don't know. I remember when General Schwarzkopf visited the University of Utah after 9/11, he was asked what we could do to people who were willing to die for their beliefs. His answer was that we should accommodate them. I don't know what makes him the arbiter of peace, when he's a military general. But his sentiment seems to resonate with many, particularly in light of events like Paris and San Bernardino. In this way of thinking, one death is a tragedy, while millions of deaths is a statistic. That was a quote from Joseph Stalin. There are many things that I do not know. But there is one thing that I am growing more and more sure of - that is that violence does not solve problems. It only leads to an...

So the Dementors are an evil creature from the Harry Potter universe. They're used as guards for the wizard prison Azkaban, where they feed off of the positive, happy, and energetic thoughts and feelings of the prisoners, eventually turning them insane. Their most powerful weapon, however, is called the Dementor's Kiss, where they literally suck the soul out of a person.  Harry describes the effect of even being around a Dementor as feeling like one would never be cheerful again. JK Rowling attributes the powers of her fictional Dementors with the very real effects of depression on a person, sucking the cheer and life right out of a person. What is left, then, is a terrible, muted existence - you breathe and exist, but are you alive? Some people have this effect on others, trampling out their souls and stamping on the very spark of life that makes them who they are. Instead of providing love and nurturing, they tell you to "suck it up" and change who ...

So, BYU is a school owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This is known, and the players and students of BYU are held to a standard that others are not. This may be fair or un-, but it true, and the actions of these kids reflects not only on the school but on the Church in general. Surely people know there's a difference between the athletes at any school and the rest of the student body, or the rest of the institution in general (the athletes from Kansas University surely do not represent Kansas or Kansans...) But they become a very visible face on the university and sponsoring institution. And in the case of BYU, it's more acute, perhaps, because the Mormon Church is known for being made up of people of relatively high moral and ethical standards. So when stuff like this happens, it reflects poorly on the athletes, the school, and the Church: ( http://www.sbnation.com/2015/9/12/9317573/byu-player-blatantly-punches-boise-state-player-right-in-the-bal...

Here's the thing. We all live in an incredible, precious, and - so far - unique place. It's an immense space ship, sheltering us from the cold and inhospitable blackness of space, flying us millions of miles each year. It is our home, it is our shelter, and it is all we have. There is no where else. This is it. I'm talking about the earth, of course. Whether you want to believe that the climate changes we're seeing are man-made or -influenced, or if you want to believe that there is a natural, periodic cycle that we're only seeing certain elements of, the fact is that climate change is happening. What we can and should do about it is becoming increasingly and alarmingly important and pressing. And it's of immediate concern to billions (literally) around the world who are facing the clear and present dangers associated with this climate change. http://www.npr.org/2015/12/01/455745765/facing-rising-waters-a-native-tribe-takes-its-plea-to-paris-climate-ta...

I was thinking this morning about different art forms and how they communicate ideas. It seems that there are different levels (for lack of a better term) in art production. There are the "higher levels", which would include things like painting, sculpture, classical music, and the like. These are the things that are installed in high-end art installations - either in museums or in private collections - or presented in grand exhibition halls and auditoriums. And they're almost like trophies... Things to be appreciated and which have intrinsic worth in and of themselves. They are valuable because they are understood to be either rare, precious, or of other significance. But, then I got to thinking about things that were not considered "high level art". In this category, I would include things that appeal to the masses - things like movies, most computer-generated images, musicals, album covers, etc. My first thought is - is this categorization re...

Here are some of my favorites, and some of my not so favorites... I'm digging this one lately: Sarah McLachlan is gorgeous and her voice is sensuous. Here's one featuring just her doing my favorite Christmas song of all time: Here's one of my least faves - you know, just for variety... And one last one to take us home: Merry Christmas, y'all!

I've learned some things in my 41 years on this earth. Chief amongst them is the value of true and faithful friends. So today, and everyday, really, I am grateful for you, dear reader. I love you with all my heart, such as it is, and hope that I give you even a small portion of what you do for me. Thank you.

(One of my favorite hard rock classics - speaking to me today) When I look into your eyes I can see a love restrained But darlin' when I hold you Don't you know I feel the same Nothin' lasts forever And we both know hearts can change And it's hard to hold a candle In the cold November rain We've been through this such a long long time Just tryin' to kill the pain, oo yeah But love is always coming and love is always going And no one's really sure who's lettin' go today Walking away If we could take the time To lay it on the line I could rest my head Just knowin' that you were mine All mine So if you want to love me Then darlin' don't refrain Or I'll just end up walkin' In the cold November rain Do you need some time on your own Do you need some time all alone Everybody needs some time On their own Don't you know you need some time all alone I know it's hard...

- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers So I had this conversation the other day about the refugee thing. I said I would be honored to welcome refugees into my home. The guy I was speaking with said I was nuts and putting my family at risk. He said that 70% of the refugees are single men, and 10% of them are terrorists. Now, I'm not sure where he's getting his facts, but it didn't take me long to discover that he was absolutely wrong in the first case (it's just a little less than half of the refugees that are male, and half of the refugees are under the age of 18). And I also believe there's no way to know the validity of the second assertion. Just no way to know that. He put it this way - let's say you had ten people lined up and you had to choose amongst them, knowing that one of them is a terrorist who has sworn to kill you and your family. How would you pick which ones you'd take in? I said that it was simple. I'd just take the first two on the left. ...

I've written before about how sometimes the predominant culture in Utah does not necessarily jive with my own political leanings. But then, sometimes it does, and I'm proud to be in Utah. Check this out: Utah would typically be among those red states, both in political terms as well as in the idea that there might be objections on religious grounds. In this case, however, the Governor was very clear : And Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, a Republican, declared his state would do its part too. "Utahns are well known for our compassion for those who are fleeing the violence in their homeland,” Herbert said in a statement. “And we will work to do all we can to ease their suffering without compromising public safety.” The thing is, it's true. This makes my heart swell, and I'm grateful to be here. Send them on! Shucks, I've got extra room in my house. Nice job, Utah, and Governor Herbert. I'm proud of you! Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,  With c...

I bought a pair of Doc Martens a few years ago, when I was working in Beaumont. On Fridays there they'd let you "dress down", which meant basically that you could wear jeans, but you had to wear non-athletic shoes. Which is a little strange to me, wearing non-athletic or sports type shoes with casual wear. I ultimately asked and got permission to wear Chucks, but I got these Doc Martens in the meantime. Turns out, they're SUPER comfortable, and they have served me well as my daily go-to shoes. Sadly, time has taken it's toll on the shoes, and while the uppers continue to be serviceable, the soles have become smooth enough to cause concern when walking on a slippery surface, and the side of my left shoe has started to come apart at the stitching. So, my first thought is that I need new shoes. But then I started to think - why is it that I feel like I need new shoes? Are the shoes bad? Sure, they leak when it's rainy, but it's not rainy very often here...

I got this from the man-child yesterday. I'm consistently impressed with the depth of his character, feeling, and understanding. It's truly an honor to be his dad. Also, this excerpt fairly well sums up my feelings about recent events in the Church: So I've obviously been made aware of the change in the Church Handbook concerning same-sex couples. I'm not going to tell any of you what to believe, or even what I believe concerning that. You already know what you believe, and you already know how you are feeling right now about it.  What I am going to tell you all is how important it is to love everyone. EVERYONE. Including, and especially those who are having a hard time. Imagine if you were in the position of criticism and arguments and back-lash. You wouldn't like it very much. As human beings, it's our job to love everyone. That was the greatest commandment Jesus Christ gave when He was on the Earth. So just love. Don't hold grudges or argue, because...

Admittedly, there are many. Among them, one of the most glaring is the following: http://www.ksl.com/?sid=37289063&nid=151&title=americas-cheap-labor-women&s_cid=queue-4 Ok, I do understand some of this. The rationale goes like this: 1. Women choose career paths that are lower-paid (teaching being the most obvious, but nursing, administrative/office workers, etc. are also very clearly where more women are employed). 2. Women are a riskier choice for tenure-track and higher-paying positions due to potential health and lifestyle choices (bearing children and raising families are traditionally the purview of women). 3. Men tend to be in a particular industry longer, allowing them to have more time in grade. 4. Women simply aren't demanding the higher wages. If women were to ask for better money, they'd get it. I'd like to look at each one of these. 1. Lower-paid career paths. This is interesting to me on two levels. First off, as the news story poin...

In his 1994 book Pale Blue Dot, published two years before his death, Sagan spelled out what the image tells us: "Consider again that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam. "The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperor...

Gray is the most damning color Neither black nor white Not hot or cold Just. Gray. I look at the sky The clouds draped over the mountains Robbed of the azure brilliance And the craggy majesty I neither rejoice nor despair Just. Gray. And I know that hell is not The absolute of darkness And hell is not The the presence of pain and suffering Hell is the absence of variety and interest The lack of vibrancy and vivacity Hell is gray. Just. Gray.

People misunderstand The nature of love At least, they only focus On the more scintillating parts Of something that is much deeper More real, more nourishing Love is not a fire Nor is it the embers Love is providing warmth Love is not sex Nor is it lusty Love is providing service Love is not at first sight Nor is it blind Love is awareness and compassion Love is not fickle Nor is it transitory Love is constant, steady, and pure Love is not like sugar Nor is it sweet Love is nourishing and soul replenishing So when I say "I love you" I don't mean something that is vapid That is empty and meaningless I mean that I love you I am submitting my will to yours I am finding myself in so doing And I love you so Your soul caresses mine And my soul intertwines with yours Until there is no more me and There is no more you The two becoming a divine One

Well, he would have been, if he were alive today. How can I assert this outrageous claim? Let's consider, for a moment, why the southern states seceded from the Union. The animosity between the south and the policies largely promoted in the north centered around two major ideas - the rights of the several states to make their own policies, and property rights (read: slavery). The southern states believed that the state itself was sovereign, and that each state had the right to make laws governing their own institutions. This is seen in Article 10 of the US Constitution, wherein it very explicitly says that those powers not expressly granted to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved for the states. This was included as a check to the reach of the federal government. The intent is to give the authority and rule of the several states and their constitutions a greater role within their own boundaries. While the Constitution has been amended several times, this prov...