Bookmeister

You know, my Bishop owns several popular restaurants here in Spokane, and all of them have bars in them. I guess if it doesn't bother the Stake Authorities, it doesn't bother me. Besides, I don't remember anything about not trading in booze and baccy, just not using it. Besides, I have some hooch stored away as part of the long-term storage. Medical purposes, trade goods, etc.

Happy Birthday up there in Canadia!!

I thought hominem was some weird food they served in the south?

The lost Dr. Seuss book, "Will This Fit Inside Your Ear?" Fun Games for You and Your Tractor. How Many Buttons Can You Push on the Telephone? Mommy Likes to Play Hide and Seek. Children's Activities for the Grocery Store.

Finnian, do you really want to help your son's self-esteem by pointing out that he's as tall as the former head of the Soviet KGB? LOLOL

Whenever a discussion comes up revolving around "Logic", I always recall what Mr. Spock said once about the subject. "Logic," he said, "is a small tweeting bird. Logic is a beautiful flower that smells bad." Before two people can even have a discussion based on logic, they need to be able to define and agree on the system of logic on which they want to base their discussion. There are so many types and forms of logic that I always am sceptical of the person who claims that their arguments are based solely on logic.

I'd been studying and praying about the truthfulness of the scriptures ( BOM, D&C, P of GP) for several weeks. It was a pretty intense study and I really, truly wanted to know if what I was reading was the Word of Heavenly Father. One spring morning while I was at college I woke up very early (imagine, a college student getting up early...LOL) and started to read and pray. After a while, I headed off to class, still with this prayer and question in my head. I was halfway across the intramural field when I go the answer. The feeling of warm hands on my head and shoulder was so intense, so powerful, that I was literally driven to my knees right there. My heart was so full of the Spirit that all I could do was to repeat over and over, "It's true, it's true." I did manage to make it to class without being too late, and I can tell you that I have always had an absolute knowledge of the truth of these books, even when I've been far, far away from the Church and it's teachings. I have never once doubted that what happened to me was the Holy Spirit confirming this truth to me. So there it is, for whatever worth it might be to you.

I imagine, if there was a formal call from the Prophet for the Church to pack up their stuff and get moving, the Prophet would be the one to actually make the call. After that, I expect that we would be contacted appropriately through our Stake and Ward leadership, with specific instructions as to what we should do, where to go, etc. I'm not seeing that here.

I like to think of myself as a pretty rational, intelligent sort of fellow. That said, much of what we're dealing here involves a question of faith, and so far faith is not something that seems to be amenable to scientific/"rational"/"Logical" analysis only. By it's very definition faith is the acceptance of something that cannot be proved empirically. However, I went through the steps outlined when I wanted to know if the Book of Mormon, the D&C, and the P of GP were the true words of Heavenly Father. It took some time, but I felt, actually felt as if someone were standing right there with me, the touch of the Holy Spirit when He confirmed to me the truth of these writings. The answer to my prayers was sufficient in force to actually drop me to my knees in the middle of the intramural field at college on a warm spring morning. I've been active and inactive, explored other churches and religious beliefs and sought the same confirmations from them that I did from this Church. Nary a peep. In all my years, even when I had strayed so very far from the LDS Church, never did I ever feel that I had been fooling myself or that I had somehow imagined what I felt. But again, this is just a question of faith. There have been times too numerous to count where the actions and influence of Heavenly Father have taken place in my life, and many of these answered prayers should simply not have happened in a rational, logical world. I have no objective answer for anyone...all I know is that, for me, there is no question.

You know, a long time ago I thought it was about dividing the work so that everything would get done. Then I realized that there's often so much to do that limiting abilities or skills on the basis of gender sure seemed to be awfully stupid. Which is why my wife knows how to fix things, evaluate stuff at the hardware store, work outside the home, drive rental trucks, and oversee projects (she also knows how to shoot a firearm and go camping without electricity...LOL). On the other hand, I know how to (and do) cook, do the laundry, clean, vacuum, scrub showers and toilets, do grocery shopping that doesn't involve chips, beef jerky, and salsa. It's just never occurred to me to think that there are limitations based on gender (except for the occasional thing that simply requires more muscle mass). And yet, somehow, she doesn't think she's a feminist...but I know better...LOL.

Mommy Left and It's Your Fault. Mr. Radiation's Book of Green Things. What is Divorce and How you Can Help. Only Sissies Have Drink Boxes. Why You Have to Go Stay With Grandpa and Grandma. Things Under the Bed at the Hospital.

There are times when (and this is a terrible thing to admit) I wish they wouldn't let the little kids give their testimonies in F&T meetings...I confess that listening to the same sing-songy recitation drives me nuts (or at least nuttier than normal). This, of course, is where the Mormon Accent begins...but at least they could wait until they had it down right before letting the kids out in public! (okay, this was meant as a bit of "making fun" of some of our traditions and processes. For those of you with no sense of humor, I do not advocate stifling anyone's desire to share their testimony at any opportunity.)

Some of my favorite children's books include Nancy Drew and the Cranky Shotgun and The Hardy Boys Visit Folsom Prison. And, of course, that all time favorite hit, Mommy and Daddy Don't Love You Best.

Okay, so why are these funny again??? LOL

Nope, that's an assault, which is generally defined as any sort of unwanted touching. However, many places will require that the person being "assaulted" be in some fear. There can often be a requirement as well that the person making the "assault" have an intent to create a harm or a fear of harm. However (and who doesn't love how a lawyer can speak out of both sides of his or her mouth), a court would probably not consider it an assault if you tapped a stranger on the shoulder. But prosecutors and cops being, well, prosecutors and cops....not to mention those folks who happen to believe in financial freedom through litigation...LOL

Apparently the advertisers and media people all believe that sex sells, and seem to fill every commercial and television show with sexual innuendo, sexual word play, and in many cases just plain sex that doesn't "fade to the bullfrogs". But it seems to be more than that. There's just less respect for people all round. Instead of acting in more modest ways (dress, public speech, conversation, etc) many people seem to go out of their way to be more shocking, controversial, and offensive. Individuals focus solely on themselves and the impression (or expression) they want to make on others, and never stop to consider how they might be intruding on another person's sensibilities or boundaries. Don't misunderstand, I happen to be a major league fan of freedom of expression (after all, who else wears Superman pajamas to the hospital for surgery...LOL), but I try to take into account the general public standards I was raised with...that is, no swearing in public (and because I'm LDS, not in private, either), no spitting on the sidewalk, no ogling of women or making rude cracks about their attributes or dress, and so forth. It's a matter of common courtesy and respect for others, I believe. My respect for you is based on what I want for myself. I don't want to hear the F word from two 14 year olds ahead of me in line at the movies while they talk about the types of sex they've had with their boyfriends (I don't want to hear about the sex, either!). I don't think that my behavior should make other people duck their heads and wish they were some place else because they're embarrassed. And yet, despite all of the immoral advertising, foulness in movies and television, and so forth, the largest market for fiction books is christian fiction, the largest demand for movies is for ones with G ratings, and the vast majority of ordinary people we meet everyday don't act like animals in public. Hmmmm? Sorry, I'm kinda rambling (must be the painkillers) but I hope that I made some sort of sense.

I read that book, Skalenfehl...weird how we're all still here, isn't it? LOL

One of the absolute essentials that goes hand in hand with taking anti-depressants is therapy. The pills themselves won't normally take care of the issues. In my case, it wasn't until I finally found a therapist that worked with me to get at the emotional issues I was carrying around that using the anti-depressants finally really started to work. But I agree with everyone here that each person is unique with regard to what medications, how much, and how long, they should be used.

At this point, the only thing that CPS can do is to follow up with each individual child to determine if any abuse has occured. I think that the institutional mindset of CPS will continue to influence CPS actions; after all, the vast majority of CPS case workers are the products of extremely liberal educational programs. This means (and obviously this is all just my opinion, and not necessarily that of the sponsors or station) that they are predisposed to see more conservative, and especially religious, systems as having a negative influence on young children. On the other hand, CPS is often in the situation of being between a rock and a hard place. If they don't act to protect a child, and something happens, they get hammered. If they take some action, and it turns out the child was never in danger, they get hammered. This sort of constant stress and concern will develop an "US versus Them" culture within CPS (and within any sort of insular group such as police departments, military organizations, and so forth). As for the concerns expressed that the FLDS people would somehow be required to "give up" their beliefs, I can't imagine any judge would order that someone change their religion or religious beliefs...the public outcry would be horrendous and such an order would be overturned within hours. This doesn't mean that CPS wouldn't try to influence what parents would be allowed to teach their children, but the effort would be a lot more subtle. Or, I could just be full of hot air...LOL.

Isn't that December 21st, 2012? LOL. Xzain, the 2012 date has been picked up by some people as the date the world ends because the Mayan calendar comes to an end in 2012.

I tried all of the diets, exercise programs, hypnosis, attempted lifestyle changes, and so forth and nothing worked. In sheer desperation, and because I didn't want to spend what was left of my life sitting in a chair waiting to die, I looked in gastric bypass surgery. There's lots of various requirements to qualify for this surgery (weight, other health problems, prior surgeries, etc.) but it can't hurt for you to look up a couple of bariatric surgery websites and gain some information. If that doesn't work, the only other thing I know of is what everyone else has said...eat less and better, and do more physical stuff.

I was at a mountain man rendezvous a numbr of years back and, as usual, participated in the Saturday Night pot luck. As luck would have it, I managed to take some of the various game meats that had been prepared. Included with that was a small piece of mountain lion. I found out the hard way that I was terribly allergic to cats, because it took almost a full week before the swelling and hives went away. So, I don't like cats much....with or without catsup.

Perc...naw, EPS could get another hearing and present any evidence they either didn't show at the first hearing or that has been discovered since then...or, if the district court dismissed the case, then CPS could refile and bring forth all this new evidence.

Okay, I give up...since that is all true, why is it funny?

Well, maybe not all of you....LOL