JohnsonJones

So on your suggestion I picked up a book from DI. It is some sort of abridged version of the Stormlight archive or something and Mistborn. So, I'll give him a chance. Fantasy is not really my thing I think...and it does not seem like Louis Lamour or Zane Grey...but I will give it a shot.

Well, here's a link in that regard... Gordon B. Hinkley tells us to get our house in order almost 20 years ago It's a long talk, so only going to quote some small parts relavant to what you asked. However, you were asking specifically about a House. So, obviously he okays us going in debt to buy a House. In fact, you may be inspired to do so. He even references one of the twelve that went into debt to buy a house... Which sounds very much like what you did with your first house, and what I assume you will try to do with this new house. So, there you go...hopefully that gives you the example you were looking for.

I love going to Chuck-a-Rama to be honest. Especially after going to the temple. It's a great place to bring the Youth as well, especially those Young Men as they have huge stomachs, and Chuck-a-Rama has a great buffet (used to be better a few years ago, but it's still good overall).

There are actually a LOT of Filipinos in the Saudi Peninsula. I'm not sure why they come over here. If they had someone telling them abut the great job opportunities over here and come over, I would warn them...DO NOT DO THIS. They are considered Third level workers, or Third party nationals...and basically have little to no rights. When they come over here, it could almost be equated to slavery, not just in Saudi, but in many of the surrounding nations. Hundreds of Filipinos probably died constructing some major buildings in a nation just East of Saudi recently, and there are other atrocities that happen. In that light, there is also the LDS church on the Saudi Peninsula, but unrecognized typically. A LOT of it's members are actually TPNs from what I've seen, which must mean the LDS church has a large number of members in the Philippines (I've never been there, this is just a though based on how many Filipinos I see in the Middle East that are LDS, and basically I'd say a bulwark of the LDS church there). I think @anatess2 question was an applicable one. For many of those Filipinos who are working there, what this prince decides and does can have a direct impact on their lives. He can actually make the living conditions better, there treatment better, the contracts better (and most of those who are treated in a more slave like manner, it's due to the CONTRACTS that they sign that enables this, with contract laws changed to a degree in that regards, their lives may be changed drastically for the better). This doesn't mean every Filipino there is under those conditions that I spoke, there are good employers and bad (just like anywhere), but the bad ones can be truly terrible in their treatment of the TPNs. I can see how the actions of the prince, if they continue as they are, could directly impact the views and actions of the citizens of the area (and not just Saudi Arabia) could affect those Filipino's who are under contract to Saudi employers and other native citizens of the peninsula in giving them more rights and other things to greatly improve their lives and change the situation here in that regards. Which would call into question, we do not know who or where this prince is going yet. If he is the A/C and that is shown later on...how should they react? I'd say that right now though, we do not have enough information on him in any manner on what is going to happen. This could be the calm before the storm. This could be him purging his enemies to wrest power. Or, he could be moving his nation forward in a far more progressive manner than what has ever occurred in the past decade. Or it could be all the above. Right now, I'd say a wait and see attitude is far better than taking it for granted if he is the A/C or anything else. Time will show his true colors, but for now, I'm waiting and seeing what is in store.

Forum doing it's thing again. The above said, in regards directly to the Saudi Prince, I am taking a wait and see attitude. We will see where it leads. It's not like there is any actions that we can take in and of ourselves right now even if he turned out to be the A/C. If he is, this will eventually become obvious to those who have read the Bible and read the prophecies of our time (as I alluded to above). What we CAN do is prepare ourselves, much as has been being told to us to do for several decades now (and I have talks on this that I posted links to going all the way back to the 70s). The Israelites had prophecies and warnings of the Babylonian onslaught for over 100 years prior to it. They never really heeded it to themselves in what THEY personally could do. The question then, is whether we will heed what the prophets have already been telling us to do for decades, or whether we will turn out like the Jews which led to great tragedy.

I'm not sure if you read the links which I posted. If not, you probably should, as that probably addresses many of your worries. For an example of what may happen. When the Babylonian apocalypse descended upon Israel, it was seen as a type and shadow by many. Most of Jeremiah is NOT dedicated to who is the bad guy, but on HOW the people of Israel were acting and how they should act. He told them of what was coming, and the why, but much of his book was more on the things that the Israelites were doing and the sins. He told them all about the coming captivity, but in many ways focused on what the Jews were doing and should do. In the same light, today, I think prophets are going to focus more on what we should be doing in light of the time period. If you note the links I posted earlier, they are just one of a few that specifically address that this is the last days, and how we, as Saints of the Lord, should act. In that light, it's very much like how prophets of old acted. They did not normally go out and specify who it was, but rather what the people were doing that was bringing about such terrible things and how the people could change (or call the people to repentance). You'll find that same idea in those things I posted earlier. That does not mean that we won't recognize the events that are coming around. The people in the days of the Babylonian apocalypse already had prophecies of what was coming, that of Isaiah, for example. They could have easily recognized what was going on, but instead chose to continue as they did. There was no need for the Lord's prophets to continually try to spell that out for them when the lord had already provided that roadmap for them before. Jeremiah continually pointed out what was coming or what had come, but he hardly needed to. In that light, he utilized it as a means to point out how it was directly related to the people and what they are doing. In some ways, the Lord has provided a roadmap that is far more explicit in what is coming to us today. The Latter-day prophets have pointed out what is occurring and what is coming multiple times already. The question that is more to the point is whether we are more like the people of Jeremiah's day or not, where the prophets can tell us what we should be doing but are we listening to that or not? I'm not so certain the twelve will name the A/C by name. They may or may not. Instead, it may be telling us what we should do, and as the time comes closer, forecasting the punishments and events from the wrath of the Lord that are going to ensnare us if we do not repent or change our ways. I'm looking at it more like a Jeremiah situation than a Daniel situation. For a guy like me, death could be just around the corner any day. It may not take me, but it may. In that light, I need to live everyday as if it is the time I will meet the Lord. Our second coming may not necessarily come when the Millennium comes, but when we meet the Lord in person. When we die, that is the time to be prepared to meet the Lord. We should live every day in that aspect in that preparation, and if we are so fated to live to reach the Millennium, so our blessings will be.

I suppose you are an engineer? What type of Engineering is it? If it is Civil or Mechanical or a related field, do you have your P.E. yet? How recently did you graduate, or have you been in the field for a long time? I don't know what field you are in or what your experience level is, but I know a LITTLE (just enough to be dangerous) on the arena of Engineering. In the past decade, the Oil industry has been very desperate for engineers, any engineers. Now normally they'd want engineers that specialized in Petroleum and drilling specialties (which some would say is a subset of Civil, but I'd call them separate enough to be their own specialty), however, with the drastic lack of engineers from those fields they've resorted to hiring Civil or Mechanical Engineers to fill the void, or at times when even more desperate, engineers from almost any arena that has a hard science engineering background (so no social engineers or things like that). It is common for them to have a LOT of questions at the beginning. In some ways, one could see it as a way of testing. They can see how quickly the new engineer can catch on. However, to feel completely lost at the beginning is actually very common and normal. It is FAR BETTER to ask questions and be the guy that asks and gets it right, than the guy that is silent and gets it wrong. When they get into the field for the first time, some will try to not be a bother, even if they don't know the answer, and guess at what the best possible answer could be. if they get it wrong, well, no one appreciates that either. The best way then is to ask the question, and get it right and remember it for the next time. I don't know if it's anything like what you are going through, but if it is similar, than it is always better to ask questions than to do it wrong. In the best case scenario if you get it wrong, someone else will have to either point it out to you or redo it themselves. In the worst case scenario, they build it along your specifications and someone gets killed. So, when in doubt, ask away...In My OPINION. I never was an engineer, but in my early years I did work as an Engineering Technician (basically, the guys the Engineer can tell to go do this or that or whatever the Engineer wants. Fancy job descriptions may say otherwise, but in my experience, that's basically what I did, from drafting designs under their eye and approval (and they were basically the ones that described what I was going to do, and then went over it afterwards officially), to going out in the field and doing the dirty hands on work), and worked with a lot with various engineers (from Civil to Electrical, and even a few chemical). It ended up paying for a lot of my schooling (though eventually I ended up doing some nursing nearer to the end of my schooling which paid somewhat better then the Engineering Technician Job). When I first started, I had a similar thing where basically, I knew just about nothing. AS time went on, and I learned the ropes and was able to do things on my own. At first, however, I knew nothing. I saw Engineers that did both of what I described above (and had both types as bosses at various times). The ones that felt they already knew everything and took guesses normally (but not always, sometimes they were pretty brilliant) were the ones that got into trouble, while the ones that were willing to ask questions normally eventually excelled.

I believe @anatess2 is actually a LDS Sister. If the Prince turns out to be someone who can deter the extremists and bring a few western values to Saudi Arabia, there would be many who would be happy with that outcome. I'm still in the wait and see, as I could very well see this as him trying to solidify a political position while purging his enemies. I do not know, I'll wait and see. One thing about many of the Muslim rulers over there, due to their laws, their nations are FAR more moral than the US in some ways. Of course, the punishments are also extreme. I've had some rather remarkable things from citizens over there in regards to their being honest about money and other things (stealing is HARSHLY dealt with, for example). That could be due to fear of punishment though. In that light, I can see the advantages of Western laws in my life, and appreciate them, but unsure that having them be brought to the Middle East would be beneficial in regards to their own morality. It could be just as destructive as it is helpful, not just in morality, but as their morality falls, so could their hesitation and restraint in other areas. Western culture doesn't seem to bring order as we've seen in various nations that have had it imposed on them to a degree (for example, Iraq, the US's attempts in Syria, etc...etc..etc). Jordan and Israel are probably the two examples of it working to a degree. I'm not seeing western society as a great boon to many of the other nations there. It could actually be very destructive. However, it is always tense between Saudi Arabia and Iran. In my opinion, one of the reasons it's been more tense in the recent years is that if Iran gets nuclear weapons, there is almost no doubt in my mind that they will use them eventually, NOT on Israel, but Saudi Arabia. Some people in the US would cheer such a result as well, but I would not. That would be a disaster on a scale many probably don't see. There are probably around three to four States out there that are stabilizing the region somewhat right now, if you take out Saudi, the entire region could go into chaos like a powder keg. That means a LOT of pent up stuff towards Israel probably would be released, and with US/Russia relations as it has been in the MIddle East, as well as the resources we still squabble over, could even be a powder keg that lights the world. If I'm unlucky I'd be over there on a trip of mine in the middle of it. Not a fun way for me to go. I could see a hot war lighting up. There was always concern on the Arabian Peninsula about aggressive Iranian actions. What's worse, is in many ways it is far more fueled by religious fervor on some parts or the other (Iran and Saudi ascribe to very different sects of Islam, and they pretty much hate each other and consider the other like apostates), which could make a LOT of hate fueled religious extremism on both sides. Could that bring about the Apocalypse...possibly. I don't know. If I recall, it also states the Bear would be involved, which probably means Russia, and if Russia gets involved with a Hot War there, you can bet the US probably would get involved. However, for the present (at least the next 6 months to a year) I expect more cold war actions. That could mean a proxy war in Yemen or other places between the Sauds and Iran. So, what can we do? You asked about talks regarding the End of time and the Last days from General Authorities. There have been many, and I am not going to list them all. I will list a few from the past few decades. Most of these do not talk directly about the conflicts, but focus more on what WE can do and how we should act in accordance to the times and evils around us. The Second Coming of Christ Legrand Richards The coming tests and trials and glory Be of Good Cheer Neal A Maxwell Behold the enemy is combined Neal A. Maxwell The Key to Spiritual Protection Boyd K. Packer The Time shall Come L Whitney Clayton

What is SLC basketball? At around the 12/13 sec mark a girl has SLC basketball on. It's Canada Basketball, so it must be something in Canada (but SLC is the Famous Salt Lake City a little south of the border of you guys in the U.S.A.).

Well, it could be due to my age that I really love Chuckarama. I'll bring my kids to it, but it could be that they prefer someplace else. They may just be to polite to tell me that they really would prefer to go someplace else. There probably are people who do eat to the point of no return there, I suppose it could be very tempting. I love their bread.

I've been following this guy, I've heard several points of view. The west right now is praising him to high heaven. On the otherhand, it depends on WHAT group you are part of that determines how you feel about this guy. The pro-opinion is that he is getting new rights to areas where these rights were never had before. He is supposedly clearing up corruption by actually arresting some of the untouchables in Saudi and other actions. However, the opposing view is skeptical because these untouchables just happen to be those that oppose his interests. By getting rid of them, he furthers his own goals and secures his own political positioning. In that, they are viewing it more as a purge of his enemies under the guise of something else. How does this relate to the US. The oldest ally in the Middle East to the US is NOT Israel, I believe it is actually Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is the US's oldest and closest ally in the area (yes, that means the US in theory is actually closer to Saudi Arabia than Israel or any other nation over there). This means the US also is invested in Saudi Arabian interest which has had a large effect (including events in Iran which unfolded in the 70s and 80s most likely) on other nations approach towards the US. There is a cold war that's been going on for a LOOONG time in the Middle East and it's not between Israel and the others. It is far more dangerous to the area, and at times far closer to being an active hot war of obliteration and genocide than anything approaching what has occurred to Israel. This is between Saudi Arabia and iran. As Saudi Arabia's ally, the US is seen as the opposing side to Iran along with Saudi and it's alliance. For those of you that remember, think of the cold war between the US and the USSR that occurred last century. It is very similar to that, except between Saudi and Iran. The actions of Saudi Arabia towards Iran is basically just a continuation of that cold war. However, about this rising prince, I don't know what the future holds. It could be he turns out to be a very good thing for the Saudis, a very good thing for the US, and a very good thing for th region. He could also turn out to be very bad. I don't know. Could he be the A/C...I don't know. Probabilities point that he probably isn't (as there have been a huge number of possibles in the past as well, so the chances of it being him out of all of them...???), but I don't know...he could very well be. Things are getting bad in the world today, and if I were a betting man I'd bet an A/C would be more likely to sprout out of Islam (as the entire religion is sort of A/C as they believe in the Lord as a prophet, but NOT as God or the Messiah...which I would identify as being A/C), but I do not know. I hope that the second coming is right around the corner as things are getting pretty evil in our world today, but it may be that things will get far worse and I'll be long dead before the second coming arrives. We know that a temple is going to need to be built in Jerusalem and two prophets teach there for almost three years...but as far as I know, the temple hasn't even started to be built yet, so there is still time probably. (though no man knows the day, we were given signs of the time as a forewarning).

If I load my plates up right, I literally cannot eat more than that...though I prefer Chuckarama to Golden Corral everyday (or if out East, Ryans). Normally I have a plate of salad, and then a plate of the hot foods.

I'm taking the slant that a US doctor would leave practice in the US to practice medicine in another nation. As far as I know it, most other nations do not pay half as well as what a doctor in the US could make doing the same thing, and those that do in many instances are under the same ideas of the US (uniform healthcare for the poor) or Socialized medicine (Like the Netherlands or Sweden or Germany). However, I am open that there are nations that may be out there that US doctors would go to that pay as well, and based upon an earlier comment made in this thread, I'm trying to find the research that show that a US doctor that goes to the Philippines can do as well there, or at least half as well monetarily as they do in the US. I did not find it on my initial foray into it (and it indicated that this was an incorrect assumption on my part), but basing it upon what was indicated, I'm trying to find it. I haven't been able to yet, but I am trusting that there may be information regarding that out there. PS: On the otherhand, if the costs and prices are any indication from what I've seen, the Philippines could actually be a place I could retire to...finally. I wasn't the wisest investor in my youth, and hence I still have to keep up the job I have now, lest I end up in the poor house in the US. However, it may be that I could live somewhat comfortably in the Philippines, which is an interesting thing I'm tossing up in my head right now. It may be very nice to actually finally retire.

@NightSG That Guy is absolutely amazing. He can do more with cards without seeing than I can do looking at what I'm doing!!! I can't even figure out some of what he did watching it, much less thinking about doing it without being able to see it. PS: I'm convinced he has to have some way to feel them or tell them apart...even if others don't...that would answer one or two things I simply cannot figure out how he did. I know the entire ones where you deal around what you want, several of his tricks only reveal what he wants rather than everything, I've done that, and some of the other tricks I've done or know the secrets to (there are many others he does that I do not though). It's amazing the sensation he has with his hands, he appears to be able to count the cards by touch (as he could tell instantly if he was given more or less cards than another hand...which is amazing!!!) but there are some things he does which I have no idea how he did it, much less did it blind. I'm absolutely floored by the guy...crazy amazing stuff there with cards. Great inspirational talk he gives on the video also by the way. Thanks for posting it.

Interesting...so I did a little research on this. According to here the average salary of a Physician or Doctor in the Philippines is around 591,795 PHP, which I think means Philippine pesos. The Median is 479, 323 pesos. Sounded great at first, but then I went to see what the exchange rate for a Philippine Peso to the dollar was. It was .02 which isn't a whole lot. I used the google monetary converter to figure out the amounts they currently translate into USD. Did a conversion, you make a little less than 9,000 USD per year with the median and 11,552.18 USD per year at the average. It said they can make up to 1,189,905 Pesos which I ran through the calculator as well to get 23,227.64 I got the information from here... Doctor Payscale in the Philippines I think I might be missing something, because even teachers in poorly paying areas make more in the US than Doctors in the Phillipines from that research. I'm not an expert, need you to fill in the blanks for me on this one. From what I understand, those who practice medicine in the Philippines don't do it to get rich, but to help others. Nevertheless, I must be missing something in regards to pay if they are going to get half as much in the Philippines as the US...but my research skills are lacking on this one to find this answer. Help would be good on this for me.

Don't know who that is, but will google the name.

That's why we do it all sneaky like...so.... Of course, normally you'd want to be the one dealing your self the Royal flush, and the other guy gets the Straight Flush so they think they've won...and the bidding can go sky high. A skilled shuffler can do it easily, but anyone who's played awhile will recognize the trick when the cards are revealed...as it's a pretty old cheat/trick so when the cards turn up like that, it's almost an automatic realization that the dealer cheated. As Mormons though, we probably shouldn't even be in those situations per se.... Because as you said, if you are the one dealing in that, you are basically trying to steal, and the one who is ignorant is basically wasting their time and efforts as they try to gamble (which isn't really a beneficial thing to do...in my view).

Hmm, maybe it I put a link to it, haven't mastered the entire embed youtube link yet... Canadian Mugging...

Hmm, the youtube link didn't work as anticipated...slowed down the connection instead, so posting a link below just in case...must have done it wrong.

Off the main topic, but related to what you first wrote. I may be absolutely wrong on this, but it sounds like you were cold that night. If that is true, what you need is to check what temperature your bag is rated to. Take that temperature and add 20 degrees to it to find if it would be comfortable for you to sleep in. It is very possible you are using a spring or summer sleeping bag during this time of the year. Summer sleeping bags may be rated from around 45 degrees F (or around 10 C if not in the US) and above. IF you are in weather at anything below 55, you may be uncomfortable at night. Spring sleeping bags normally go to around -10 C or 20 F to around 45 F....so you may be uncomfortably hot if you are in summer weather, or if at 20 degrees or colder...rather cold. A winter bag may go from around -10 F to around 32 F. I will normally only take a winter bag with me when we go camping in the mountains, and even then I'll either get a really expensive sleeping bag for the dead of winter in the mountains (something that goes down to -40) which is excessively bulky, or use a double bag which has the added usage of insulation. I may be totally off on this, but if you were cold that night I would highly suggest you look to see what temperatures your sleeping bag is rated for and if possible get one rated for the temperatures you are facing. You should never be cold when in your sleeping bag when you are trying to sleep. You can also use handwarmers to warm it up at first, but they won't last through the night, which is why having a good sleeping bag is important. Now, I could be wrong, you could have just been cold, in which case I'd suggest getting something rated for even colder weather than that. If you have already hit the maximum temperature rating for cold...you must really like it very warm at home. I don't know if this will help or not (probably not), but if it does, hopefully it can make your nights more comfortable from now on. Unfortunately as far as getting older, it only gets worse from where you are at. At 54 you are still in the prime of life! Believe it or not. Wait another decade, and then see one of the Twelve (though it was more Monson when he was younger I suppose and in better health) doing the entire camping thing and realizing they are older then you are!!! Or you can do as I do now days, let the young kids go camping, and you get the trailer on the back of your vehicle. If I do any camping at all, I use a cot like you, but I have to bring a pillow, mattresses, and other things to make it more comfortable. I suppose I got tired of roughing it like I did when I was younger. I suppose that could be another suggestion, let the boys rough it, you bring the RV for you.

If I was the dealer and shuffled the deck just so (though some if they knew what I was doing would call it cheating) I could make those odds 100% for the new player...

Where did she go where there is not socialized medicine and they actually pay even half as well as the US. Germany pays pretty well, but they have what the US calls socialized medicine (Far more extensive then the US). I suppose she could have gone to Mexico, they LOVE the specialized doctors, especially if they are American because the gangs feel they can get higher ransoms off of them. (Mexico also has universal healthcare these days as well, so there's also that). I do know that some older doctors simply just closed up shop, but that was because they were older and could just retire than deal with some of the stuff that came down the pipe with the ACA. However, the US pays doctors the best out of any place in the world in general with an exception here or there (the Netherlands for example pays pretty darn good on the average salary, so better than many specialists, but not as good as some others, around 270K for a specialist these days) from what I understand. Much of the rest of the first world is on socialized medicine, and so doctors may still make six figures in some nations, but it IS far more socialized than anything the ACA does (if the ACA gives them a headache...they'd hate the other nations). A specialist here making 400K, could probably still break over 100K, but it's might not be like the 500K they are used to. On the otherhand, there are some foreign nations with socialized medicine which actually do pay the doctors pretty well. Some General practice and Family medicine may be able to make more money elsewhere under those rules than they do in some of the locations in the US (especially those in more rural areas). Other places where they might be able to make some really good money with the right clients and in the right situations have other hazards (Like Mexico City) which is an interesting choice if they choose that. Australia supposedly pays their specialists pretty well, but that's with a system of universal healthcare somewhat like what they would have to deal with under the ACA...and the Netherlands pays specialists better then the US on average...but once again...universal healthcare (I believe the Netherlands also supposedly have one of the best healthcare systems in the world). I've heard doctors grumble about the ACA, but the only ones that I know actually decided to stop practice in the US were those who were actually around retirement anyways, or close enough to be able to retire and stop their practice. That doesn't mean there weren't those that stopped practice and closed up shop because of the ACA...I'd be curious as to where they went and what they are doing now though, because it seems invariably that they would take a massive pay cut (not much call for a pediatric surgeon who isn't doing pediatric surgery). Any idea where the pediatric surgeon went? Or what happened to Her? I'm pretty curious in that regard. Did she just move and start up again in another nation, or did she actually go to another nation with socialized medicine (which one? Canada? probably means she didn't move due to the ACA in that case though) ,or move and find another career path? It would be interesting to hear what she did.

I'm ignorant on how this differs from any other nice dress. It looks like it would go well at being worn to church. If NightSG is male, I'm not so sure that it is the best choice of attire for him though. (PS, the above is joking, please do not take offense at the statement).

With respect To be honest, I've never heard of the military stating anything close to the idea that a majority of deaths come from friendly fire when in war. None of those I've talked to within the military ever stated something like that. In every conflict I think they point that friendly fire has caused deaths, but it is no where close to causing more deaths than of the enemy they kill. The normal stat I've heard is that other causes are the major causes of death in war, not direct action. So it is disease and infection that have killed more over the centuries than direct action in battle (though much of the infection at times are caused by wounds from battles in times prior to our modern age). in addition, you also toss in the additives of starvation, exposure, and other elements and the deaths from direct actions (battle deaths) start to become the minority of death in regards to the total number of deaths caused by war. In regards to soldiers, this is not always true though, and there are instances where battle deaths exceed deaths not from battle deaths. However, when NOT actively involved in fighting, the non-hostile deaths exceed hostile deaths (probably for obvious reasons) and friendly fire would be a higher cause of death than hostile fire. This is from the AF website Air University Air Force Casualties and Lists of Statistics Though I'm not positive, wouldn't friendly fire come under the heading of Non-hostile: Accident or something similar to that? I am a civilian and unfamiliar with some military items, but I have dealt enough with military and their individuals to have some idea what they teach and promote (I have to admit to a legal education, part of which taught how administrative law worked which included Veterans and benefits they are able to claim...and then some volunteer work helping veterans in obtaining benefits over the years which has given me a little bit of experience in learning a few things from them - This does not mean I know everything, obviously, for example, there was a recent question I asked about BCD and DD discharges that I had no idea about on these very boards). They have spoken on these things (I heard from one today even, at the school, discussing something which sounds like it probably caused them PTSD for years, probably still does), but I've never heard something like that. Whether it was or wasn't from the US military, I will say the US military from my experience is more accurate on it's reports and statistics than MANY civilian reports and paperwork. They are far more orderly and intrepid in ensuring good information for their educational arenas. I have had the pleasure at times of working with them in my chosen occupation as well due to some subjects which I cover, and they have always been more prompt, to the point, and professional than most other organizations I've ever had to deal with. I find it hard to believe that the military would push something inaccurate upon their soldiers in training. Friendly fire IS a problem, and I think much what was said is probably accurate. There is probably a high chance of killing someone you know and is on your side in the stress of combat when you are untrained and being attacked. However, that's why soldiers go through training, and why civilians with guns should go through hunter's education, gun safety, and other courses. In some states, gun safety is a requirement before being able to own a gun. However, I do not think the US military would say something like Friendly Fire kills more than Hostile action. If it is true that Friendly Fire kills more than hostile fire in general, I must admit I have not heard that before. If it is not true, than perhaps this was just a one off experience? Perhaps it was one trainer's take or understanding in that regard rather than the entire military? Or perhaps it was a point where they were exaggerating one thing in order to impress upon the trainees the importance of a principle (not unheard of from what I understand)? I find it very hard to think the military would get something that wrong and perpetuate it in my opinion....And I don't think that the military spreads urban myths, once again in my own opinion (and my opinion has been wrong at times, I freely admit). On that note, thanks to all the Veterans for the Freedoms we enjoy this Veterans Day.

Hmm, I've never had to go to Healthcare.gov, I get health insurance via work. What do you know, once again my costs went up another 20% this year. It KEEPS going up and up and up. Now, I'm ALL for helping EVERYONE get health insurance and get the medical aid they need. I'd even say it was a right...BUT... The ACA is NOT the way to do it. In essence, instead of actually tackling the problem of what causes us to pay high medical prices, they handed the reins to those who cause the prices to go up each year in the first place...or one of the big reasons. You DO NOT give power to private business that want to make money and trust them to not raise those rates. It's just not going to happen. I'm all for giving people the medical help they need. I think it is actually almost requisite on a moral society, but we went and did it the absolutely worst way possible (well, almost the worst way, we could have done worse). Even single payer is better than what we have now...which many who don't like the ACA probably wouldn't agree with. Every year I see my rates grow for the employer health insurance we are offered. I lost my "silver" plan last year due to the Federal government (it was great, we had everything covered 100%, and paid higher rates for it), but now, I'm paying the same amount I did for my "silver" plan this upcoming year (edit: if the estimates are correct in what is expected for it to cost us next year), but with less benefits. I think I'm not unusual for the middle to upper middle class. As our prices go up our benefits go down under the ACA. That's probably the #1 reason for people like me that are opposed to the ACA. It has nothing to do with helping others, we WANT others to be helped with their medical needs. It's that the prices keep getting higher, and the benefits keep getting less. Edit: The above is my current thoughts or opinion, it can be malleable though.