The Sublime Roundabout

I've written about this before: http://billcobabe.blogspot.com/2009/07/thin-blue-line.html Friday morning I heard this news: https://www.ksl.com/?sid=36210030&nid=148&fm=most_popular&s_cid=popular-1 Paul Kotter is a friend of mine. He lives in our neighborhood, which means that he attends the same LDS ward as me and my family. He serves in the Young Men organization with me, has a son who is 17 years old (who is friends with Ammon), and a daughter who is 13 (like Elise), and he even served his mission in Korea, which means he's practically a brother. His son is 14 and in the Teacher's Quorum, where I am an advisor. On our recent trip to Lake Powell, he and I talked at length about what he does and why. I was impressed by his dedication and willingness to serve, as well as his motivation for doing so. He said he liked being in the Highway Patrol because he's got a good career with decent benefits and retirement, and that he's able to provide for h

I saw this: http://www.sothebysrealty.com/eng/sales/detail/180-l-4484-tjpxm3/captivating-islet-other-rangiroa-rn-98775 First off, yes please. Second, I'm a bit of an introvert. I fake it pretty well, and I do like people, but I get worn out in social situations where I'm expected to perform. So when I watched Castaway (you know, the film with Tom Hanks where he's marooned on that island) I was like - why would he want to get off? Why would he want to kill himself? I wouldn't... I would like it. Wouldn't I get bored? No. Unequivocally, emphatically, absolutely - no. I would find projects for myself, including building a structure to live in, cultivating those rope-trees so I wouldn't run out, maybe trying to garden a little bit. I would actually really relish the time... What about other people - wouldn't I miss them? Sure. I'd miss my family. But as I'm stranded on an island, and there's no way of getting off, I'd make the best

Today is the 95th year since the adoption of the 19th Amendment, where women were (finally) granted the right to vote in national elections. Several states had done this previously, with Wyoming being the first in 1867, followed fairly soon thereafter by Utah in 1870. Utah was one of only four states that gave the vote to women prior to 1900... So, you know, go Utah! In light of how this has worked out so wonderfully (and of course it has!), maybe it's time (again) to think about an Equal Rights Amendment. Maybe we should have a law that requires employment and access to health care and everything else be a matter of personhood, rather than something that is gender-influenced or gender-related... Why don't people of different races get the same pay? Why are there persistent issues with LBGTQ access to housing, employment, etc? And why should someone face discrimination because of a different chromosome? You bet I'm in favor of it.

Sometimes I wish My heart were made of stone So that I wouldn't have to feel The things I feel A constant shift from up to down From hot to cold From day to night And my arms ache to hold you My lungs want to breathe the same air I see you when I close my eyes You are always with me Always near For how far could you be from me When you exist within my heart? Sometimes I wish My heart were made of stone So I wouldn't have to feel That you're not there

So, Ammon and I went to Canyonlands on Friday and Saturday. It was one of the most amazing things I've ever done. I'd been wanting to drive the White Rim Trail for months, and with the impending departure of the youngun, the time was ripe. Also, as of September 1, they're only allowing a certain number of people to drive the trail (you'll have to get a permit). The White Rim Trail is about 100 miles of very much not improved road. The websites/reviews I'd read said that it takes 10-12 hours... Which I didn't believe. Because, come on - 10-12 HOURS?!? (Actually a very good estimate). If you're unfamiliar with the road, which was made back in the 50s to access mining claims, it's a stretch of two-track along the White Rim in Canyonlands National Park. Most people travel clockwise from Shafer Trail to Mineral Bottom Road and make a complete loop, although it's not one-way, and we did pass folks headed the "wrong" way. Fortunately not too man

Saw this this morning: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150818-what-is-it-like-to-have-never-felt-an-emotion What a fascinating condition. While I think I know people who are like this, and it seems like it affects about 10% of the population, I'm stunned to think that someone could live like this. I live in a world of absolutely vibrant and constant emotion. My problem is never a lack of feeling, but usually a surfeit... I feel things deeply, constantly, and it adds to the richness I perceive in the world around me. And I think I am fairly good at acknowledging and expressing these emotions - sometimes too good, if I'm honest. So it's interesting to me that - like someone who was unable to perceive color - there are people who cannot understand their emotions. The wikipedia article on this is pretty good, too, and maybe worth a look. On one hand, I feel bad that people can't experience/express the full range of emotions associated with what I would consider a

There is no remedy for love But to love more.

It's been 70 years since the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. The decision to do so undoubtedly haunted/haunts those involved. The debate over whether or not it should have been used will perhaps never be solved. But the results are clear, and the fact that it hasn't been used since is telling, I think. NPR did a great story on that this morning: http://www.npr.org/2015/08/06/429433621/why-did-the-u-s-choose-hiroshima The haunting question is the last one posed in the article: in referencing the current and existing nuclear weapons, the question is - where are those targeting today? I don't believe that there will be (ever) an all-out nuclear war. Partly because I want to believe (perhaps naively) that human beings would never choose to do that to one another (in spite of evidence). I also want to believe that we have sufficient means of neutralizing a threat without having to resort to this scale of destruction - our weapons have become much more precise and accurate

This one I found amusing: http://spoonuniversity.com/live/27-annoying-food-packaging-quirks-anyone-who-eats-food-understands/?utm_source=yahoo-food&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=content-partnerships For the record, I think it's amusing when people grouse about their bag of chips being 1/2 air. The air is there to protect the chips whilst in transit, y'all. If you put the chips in a vacuum sealed bag, they'd be crumbs by the time they made it to the store. The big puffy bag acts like a pillow, protecting your precious, precious chips. And they're sold by weight, not volume, so you're paying for the chips, not the air.

Ha, ha! Dude's an IDIOT. (I mean any dude who thinks this way) http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/08/04/429362127/sexist-reactions-to-an-ad-spark-ilooklikeanengineer-campaign I'll tell you what. An engineer looks like what an engineer looks like. The end. Here's her AWESOME response: https://medium.com/the-coffeelicious/you-may-have-seen-my-face-on-bart-8b9561003e0f

Saw this: (click for a bigger version) This is from NPR , who did the little chart to show where everyone is standing in the polls, and how Fox decided to cut everyone off. While this isn't a big surprise, at least for those who are following the fun of the election, it's still a bit revealing... Here are some of my thoughts: 1. This field is all a bit of a joke. First off, there are 17 candidates. 17. I just... wow. I don't even know what to say. Maybe everyone feels like this is a Republican election, so if they can rise to the top of the pile in this, they'll have a good chance... However... 2. The one who is currently on the top of the pile is Donald Trump. Donald Trump. DONALD. TRUMP. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. He's treating the whole thing with such utter disdain and disregard that it's making the rest of the field look like fools. He's leading the polls by double digits, which means that if the Convention were held today, he

She trails glory In each footstep She almost touches the ground As she goes The ground reaching up To touch her beautiful toes Always quick with a smile And quicker with the wit She shines radiant And she chases away the darkness In the furthest reaches Of my darkened soul Her brilliance unsurpassed Lights my weary heart I adore you! I adore you! You are intelligent and lovely Complex and sweet And your arms around me Melt my fears and doubts