Tim Thinking

Luck, Fortune, and Chance

2011-12-27T23:14:00.000-07:00

"The thoughtless, the ignorant, and the indolent, seeing only the apparent effects of things and not the things themselves, talk of luck, of fortune, and chance. Seeing a man grow rich, they say, 'How lucky he is!' Observing another become intellectual, they exclaim, 'How highly favored he is!' And noting the saintly character and wide influence of another, they remark, 'How chance aids him at every turn!' They do not see the trials and the failures and struggles which these men have voluntarily encountered in order to gain their experience; have no knowledge of the sacrifices they have made, of the undaunted efforts they have put forth, of the faith they have exercised, that they might overcome the apparently insurmountable, and realize the Vision of their heart. They do not know the darkness and the heartaches; they only see the light and joy, and call it 'luck'; do not see the long and arduous journey, but only behold the pleasant goal, and call it 'good fortune'; do not understand the process, but only perceive the result, and call it 'chance.'"

As A Man Thinketh, James Allen, pgs. 63-64

Asking the Right Questions

2011-12-12T08:49:00.000-07:00

While browsing Twitter posts recently I happened upon a user with the following tag line: “I don’t ask a lot of questions. I demand a lot of answers.” This person is a financial news reporter, so such a statement seems appropriate given her line of work. It is easy to demand a lot of answers. People often oblige. But to get the right answers we should ask the right questions.

Why is it important to ask the right questions? I’ve gone to class discussions and job interviews where my weak preparation has spawned poor questions and thus poor answers. Were I to have been more prepared I could have asked more insightful questions that would have drawn more wisdom from a particular professor or a more sincere, heartfelt answer from an interviewer (and, perhaps, a job offer). If the question is poor, then what more can we expect in return?

Clayton Christensen, a Harvard Business School professor and personal role model, gave a commencement speech at Southern New Hampshire University in May 2009. It’s an excellent piece on asking the right questions within the framework of democracy and capitalism, and why such systems just don’t work in some countries. We insist that democracy and capitalism are the right answers, without really asking the question “Why are they?” He says “Unfortunately, most of us are so eager to begin implementing the answer that we often forget to think about whether the right question has been asked.”

The story of the life of Jesus in the New Testament sheds additional insight into asking the right questions. His disciples are continually asking questions (some humorous), but they often don’t seem to be the right ones. Jesus kindly guides them by asking the questions they should be asking. “What think ye of Christ?” and “Whom say ye that I am?” He also encourages us to “ask and it shall be given you”. The Book of Mormon goes a bit further when Jesus states “And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right,…it shall be given you” (3 Nephi 18:20). I believe these latter verses are an invitation by Him to not just ask God for answers, but to first ask God the right questions.

I have seen this in my own personal trials. I have come to realize for myself that asking “Why am I burdened with this?” is usually the wrong question. What is the right question? That is for each of us to decide. The important thing is that we’re seeking to know it and ask it. As Christensen states, when we ask the right question “getting the right answer [is] typically quite straightforward.”

The answer is: A Bird

2011-09-07T22:14:00.000-06:00

Has anyone ever asked you the question: "If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be?"

Is it possible that someone out there would actually not choose to be a bird? The ability to soar to great heights, effectively scavenge for sustenance and the determination to follow your reflection right into the exterior of a skyscraper seems too good to pass up.

Priorities

2011-08-22T23:06:00.000-06:00

Sometimes it's better to watch an episode of Seinfeld at the expense of completing a school assignment on time.

Facebook hiatus

2011-08-22T22:55:00.000-06:00

Over the last few weeks I've thought upon an interesting paradox. While I live in a (small) city, with many people to befriend, in some ways the bigger a city feels and becomes the farther people get from one another. Someone who lives right next door to another likely doesn't even knows their name. I have no idea who my neighbors are. They haven't tried to get to know me nor I them.

For me, facebook is similar to this. While I add friends and read what is happening in their lives - some posts interesting ("I'm getting married!") some posts not interesting at all ("Eating Lucky Charms.") - I don't feel a particularly stronger connection to them. I'm merely reading comments that they're putting on their wall, but we aren't building a relationship.

My biggest struggle with letting this all go is that I will miss out on some of the finer details of the really good relationships that I have built - with good friends and family. But think about it. Is that really the venue where I want to be finding out this information anyway? Do I want to hear on facebook about my sister having a baby, or would I rather hear it in a phone call? Am I really willing to boil my long friendship with Mark down to a simple "Happy Birthday!" wall post when July rolls around? Does our 17-year friendship not deserve more than that?

Initially I looked at facebook as a way of keeping in contact with more people. "Social multi-tasking" you could call it. I suppose I'm drawing a distinction then, between wanting to be social and wanting to build relationships. For now, I'll choose relationship building.

So then, facebook, I bid you adieu for a season. Initially I might miss the likes, pokes, and wall posts. The quick ego boost when I've been tagged in a friend's photo ("Hey, I look good in this picture!"). But while that's not going on I think I'll have time to focus on building relationships in a more sincere way.

What do you think? Has facebook helped you foster stronger relationships with friends and family? Are you a better person because of it?

The Old Violin

2011-08-07T21:57:00.001-06:00

T'was battered and scarred and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while,

To waste such time on the old violin, but he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bid, good people," he cried "who'll start the bidding for me?

A dollar? A dollar. Who'll make it two? Two dollars who'll make it three?

Three dollars once, three dollars twice going for three," but no!

From the room, far back, a gray-bearded man came forward and picked up the bow.

Then wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening up the strings,

he played a melody, pure and sweet, as sweet as the angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer with a voice that was quiet and low said,

"What now am I bid for this old violin?" as he held it up with the bow.

"One thousand? One thousand, do I hear two? Two thousand. Who'll make it three?

Three thousand once, three thousand twice, going and gone!" said he.

The audience cheered, but some of them cried, "We just don't understand.

What changed it's worth?" Swift came the reply, "The touch of the masters hand." And many a man, with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap, to a thoughtless crowd, much like that old violin.

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine, a game, and he travels on.

He's going once, he's going twice, he's going and almost gone.

But the Master comes and the foolish crowd never can quite understand,

The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought, by the Touch of the Masters Hand.

- Myra 'Brooks' Welch

By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them

2011-07-16T12:07:00.001-06:00

I love how Jesus uses trees with fruit to illustrate the lives of men and their works. Here are a few insightful verses:

"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." (3 Nephi 14:16-17)

"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." (John 15:2)

"And he said unto the servant: Behold, the branches of the wild tree have taken hold of the moisture of the root thereof, that the root thereof hath brought forth much strength; and because of the much strength of the root thereof the wild branches have brought forth tame fruit." (Jacob 5:18)

If we each consider ourselves a tree, then we can readily liken these scriptures to ourselves. We can choose to do that which is good or that which is evil. By doing so, we are deciding what type of tree we are. If we choose to bring forth good fruit, the gardener will purge and prune us, so that we can bring more fruit. And even when we choose to be wild trees and bring forth wild fruit, the gardener still seeks to strengthen our roots so that we can produce good fruit once again.

One could write a long discourse on each of these points. I write briefly about it here to record some thoughts as I read of how Jesus taught in wonderful parables. By studying them, we should also apply them to our own lives.

I Need to Learn My History

2011-06-26T20:30:00.000-06:00

David McCullough, the renowned author of John Adams and 1776, was recently interviewed by Brian Bolduc of the Wall Street Journal. You can read the article here.
McCullough is critical of how poorly versed American children are in our nation's history. He says, "we're raising young people who are, by and large, historically illiterate." Boulboc sites a study "which found that only 12% of high-school seniors have a firm grasp of our nation's history. And consider: Just 2% of those students understand the significance of Brown v. Board of Education."
(Quick! Quiz yourself on the significance of Brown v. Board of Education. Do you remember it?)
McCullough makes an interesting comment when speaking of the benefits of learning history. He says, "History is a source of strength. It sets a higher standard for all of us." When you think of history, do you think of standards being set? What do you think McCullough meant by that? Does history strengthen you?
For me it does. I will be the first to admit that I need to learn more of the history of my people and my country. The historical figures and peoples that I have studied (John Adams, Abraham Lincoln, the Mormon pioneers) carry a common thread of diligent work, integrity, and commitment to a noble purpose. That not only strengthens my mind, but it makes me want to be better.

Friends with Benefits

2011-06-26T20:13:00.000-06:00

I need to become friends with a Urologist and Nephrologist. That way I can bounce questions off of them and not have to pay $300 an hour.

How to Eat an Elephant

2011-01-30T22:03:00.000-07:00

Last October I decided to run a half marathon. I had never run more than 4 miles in my life, so to train and plan for a 13 mile race seemed overambitious.

Training for a race like this reminds me of a saying I’ve heard:

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

When I started to train, I definitely felt like there was an elephant on my plate. In my early running sessions, I was gasping for air after 2 miles at a moderate pace. 13 miles felt like a long way to go.

Little by little, however, I started to gain strength in both my lungs and my legs. This had a wonderful affect not just upon my body, but on my mind and spirit, as well. I’ll never forget finishing my first 6 and 8 mile runs of training. These were, in reality, harder than the actual half marathon itself. When I finished those runs, I felt like I had conquered a personal mountain that seemed unconquerable. The kid who would try to fake sick so that he wouldn’t have to do the one mile run in middle school PE was running 6 miles. It was an amazing feeling.

On the day of the race last weekend I had still never run more than 8 miles, but I knew that if I could run 8 I could probably run 10, and if I could run 10…you get my point. At the race I still had to look at the event as eating little bites of the elephant. A mile here, a mile there. The great part was that my body and spirit had been convinced earlier that it could do long, painful runs. Before I knew it I was passing mile marker 9 with only 4 miles left. Mile 11 came and went. The last mile was a struggle, but I crossed the finish line feeling great. Exhausted and great.

So what elephant are you trying to eat? Are you looking at the enormity of the challenge, or planning how you will tackle the task one bite at a time?

Gods in the chrysalis

2011-01-02T23:00:00.000-07:00

"Whenever you go out-of-doors, draw the chin in, carry the crown of the head high, and fill the lungs to the utmost; drink in the sunshine; greet your friends with a smile, and put soul into every handclasp. Do not fear being misunderstood and do not waste a minute thinking about your enemies. Try to fix firmly in your mind what you would like to do; and then, without veering off direction, you will move straight to the goal. Keep your mind on the great and splendid things you would like to do, and then, as the days go gliding away, you will find yourself unconsciously seizing upon the opportunities that are required for the fulfillment of your desire, just as the coral insect takes from the running tide the elements it needs. Picture in your mind the able, earnest, useful person you desire to be, and the thought you hold is hourly transforming you into that particular individual...Thought is supreme. Preserve a right mental attitude - the attitude of courage, frankness, and good cheer. To think rightly is to create. All things come through desire and every sincere prayer is answered. We become like that on which our hearts are fixed. Carry your chin in and the crown of your head high. We are gods in the chrysalis."
- Elbert Hubbard

Barak Snowbama

2010-12-19T14:06:00.000-07:00

A colleague made this holiday creation during a marshmallow snowman building contest. Note the teleprompter and stylish necktie.

Christmas and Christ

2010-12-16T22:45:00.000-07:00

One Sunday afternoon my Mom asked my brother and me to set the table for dinner. Some guests from the ward were coming to join our family for our traditional Sunday spaghetti dinner. Growing up in a family of nine kids, we don’t exactly use fine china. Our typical dinner wear consisted of mismatched plastic cups, plastic plates that had suffered too many microwavings, and a vast collection of different styled forks.

The guests, we soon discovered, were a group of male converts from Guatemala. Immigrant landscaping workers of humble means earning money for their families back home. And no, they didn’t speak a word of English. We went about setting up the ratty table wear. And why not? Surely these men, my brother and I thought, would not expect anything great.

As we set the table with the typical settings, my mom, in her true delicate fashion said, “No. Please put those away and get out the nice plates.” The nice plates were rarely used, only for special occasions.

My brother and I, the foolish youth that we were, gave each other the look of “Oh mom, give me a break” but still we set the table as she had asked. Only later did I realize what my mom was really doing.

Jesus taught, “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

What was my mother really doing? She was treating these wonderful Guatemalan saints as if the Savior himself were coming for dinner.

President Monson has said, “Giving, not getting, brings to full bloom the Christmas spirit. Our opportunities to give of ourselves are indeed limitless. There are hearts to gladden, there are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given, there are deeds to be done, there are souls to be saved. If we are to have the very best Christmas ever, we must reach out for the carpenter’s hand. With every step we take in his footsteps we abandon a doubt and gain a truth.”

Perhaps my 4 year old nephew said it best, who until recently was convinced that he needed the big Lego set. “Mom, Christmas isn’t about getting toys, it’s about giving…I learned dat!”

Jesus taught, “I am the way the truth and the life.”

He is literally the way back to God. He taught the truths of the gospel showing us how to selflessly give and improve our lives so that we are prepared to return to him through faith and repentance. Ultimately through his atonement we can receive life, and that eternally.

Twain quote

2010-11-17T16:47:00.000-07:00

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can be great." - Mark Twain

The Best Books

2010-10-27T23:07:00.001-06:00

I have been thinking a lot about reading. Have you ever felt that there are such an innumerable number of books that it’s impossible to fathom reading a fraction of them? Is this depressing to you? In 2006 alone Bowker.com projects that there were 291,920 new titles published.

Since we can’t begin to read all that’s out there, I believe the council found in the following scripture is insightful. It is found in a book of LDS scripture called the Doctrine and Covenants, section 88 verse 118:

“Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.”

I find two interesting components here. First, there are books that are better than others - “the best books”. Second, we should seek out of these books “words of wisdom.” This second item suggests to me that whatever I seek from books should add to the wisdom that I’m trying to develop.

When you think of wise persons in our history, who do you think of? My thoughts go to Abraham Lincoln. He was a self-educated country bumpkin, but the man was wise beyond his years. Why? Was he uncommonly brilliant? I don’t know. What I do know is far fewer books were available to him, yet 150 years later we still revere him for his wisdom. I suspect he sought out “the best books.” In fact, historians agree with relative certainty that Lincoln read all of the following:

Robinson Crusoe - Defoe, Poems - Edgar Allen Poe, Hamlet , Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI, Henry VIII, King Lear, Macbeth -Shakespeare, Don Quixote - Cervantes, The Holy Bible, Paradise Lost, Dialogues - Plato

The list goes on and on. Certainly he didn’t read only books that would be considered the best, but I suggest that he put his focus on many of the best books of his time.

This isn’t all, however. I don’t think men and women become wise simply by reading books of wisdom. Hear what the second half of verse 118 of section 88 of the Doctrine and Covenants says:

“Seek learning, even by study and also by faith.”

I think Lincoln thought about what he read, and so should we. We should ask questions: Why does the Bible say this? What was Robert Frost really saying in “The Road Not Taken?” What can I learn about myself from the Othello villain, Iago?

We could drastically cut down our list of books to read by focusing on the best books. Once we have them, we should savor them and treat them as such, seeking learning by study and faith.

Sacrament Meeting in the hospital

2010-09-26T15:42:00.000-06:00

Sunday morning of my hospital stay I was greeted by two elderly couples. They said that they had come to provide me with the sacrament. For Mormons, taking the sacrament (a small piece of bread and a tiny cup of water) is the most important thing we do on a weekly basis. It is a reminder and renewal of the covenants and promises we have made with God, so to have someone go out of their way to bring this to me in the hospital was a real treat.

As we briefly chatted, I remembered that I had not yet been given permission to eat. After speaking with the nurse to see if an exception could be made, I was denied. Strict doctors orders, apparently. One of the elderly gentlemen said, with a thick German accent, “This is not a problem!” He then told me that I could simply touch the piece of bread to my lips and surely God would understand my willingness to take full part in the sacrament.

Generally, Mormon sacrament meetings last one hour, but this one was much shorter. We started by the German fellow’s wife reciting a verse from a hymn, “In Humility, Our Savior”:

In Humility, our Savior grant thy spirit here, we pray,

as we bless the bread and water in thy name this holy day.

Let me not forget, O Savior, Thou didst bleed and die for me

when thy heart was stilled and broken on the cross at Calvary.

It was beautiful, and I had rarely seen it read or sung with so much feeling. Following the hymn I proceeded to take the sacrament, touching the bread to my lips and drinking the water. We exchanged “thank you’s” and well wishes again and the couples left.

The whole ordeal lasted no more than 5 minutes, but I think this experience will stick with me for a lifetime.

Date with the Resident Urologist?

2010-09-21T13:58:00.001-06:00

I was graced by the presence of a lovely Resident Urologist during my recent hospital stay. She would visit me for 20 minutes or so each day - giving me updates on how the surgery went, checking on how I was recovering, and answering any questions I had.

By the end of my time there I had the bizarre idea: Why not ask her on a date? The previous evening we had spent an hour together talking about our interests, families, politics, and college football (awesome!). I made the attempt the morning of my departure and was readily denied (current boyfriend, apparently). Seriously though, how cool would that have been to go on a date with my Urologist?! I imagined the following dialogue while her and I are out to dinner:

Waiter: "And how is the lovely couple this evening?"
Resident Urologist: "Very well, thank you."
Waiter: "How did the two of you meet?"
Tim: "She assisted in the removal of my uretal stricture."

I guess it wasn't meant to be.

Tim's Urinary System - An Illustration

2010-09-17T12:49:00.000-06:00

I commented to a nurse during my recent hospital stay that I would gladly agree to compensate Urologists whatever they require as they think of creative ways to "re-do the plumbing" of their patients. I mean, who would have thought to re-route one ureter to another and enlarge the bladder using intestine? It's quite ingenious.

Surgery and Rosh Hashana

2010-09-08T09:36:00.000-06:00

My surgery is scheduled for September 9th. This is also the date of the Jewish holiday, Rosh Hashana, which marks the start of the Jewish new year. The holiday commemorates the creation of man.
In many ways my surgery will mark the beginning of a new year - a new and better way of living, perhaps. And though I clearly am not one of God's ideal physical creations, I commemorate and appreciate the fact that He chose to create me the way I am.
Happy Rosh Hashana.

Letter to the Bathroom Spider

2010-08-22T16:21:00.000-06:00

Dear Spider,

Shouldn’t you be living outside now? I am tempted to destroy your domicile because it has been occupying our bathroom space all year. How can you live here anyway? My wet feet drip on your web each morning. Are you some kind of sadist? Please respond by weeks end if you want your web to be kept intact.

- Management

Enthusiasm, defined

2010-08-22T15:46:00.000-06:00

The source of the word is the Greek enthousiasmos, which ultimately comes from the adjectives entheos, "having the god within," formed from en, "in, within," and theos, "god."

Well, Come With Me to Rexburg

2010-08-15T18:25:00.010-06:00

Last week I entered the seventeenth floor conference room for a typical weekly meeting for work. Russell, a colleague who runs our marketing efforts, and I are the only BYU-Idaho graduates that I know of working for our side of the bank. In passing conversation, he briefly mentioned to some other attendees this charge (and we Mormons would say, prophecy) given by Elder Henry B. Eyring when he visited the school on September 18, 2001:

“I hope I live long enough to someday meet some employer who employed one of you and says, ‘Where did that come from? I've never had such a person. Why people just flock around that person. And they want to follow. They don't have to be led; they're seeking to go where that person wants to go. And they come up with new ideas. I don't know where that comes from. They seem to find a better way, and the budget doesn't go up. I can't understand it.’ And I'll smile and say, ‘Well, come with me to Rexburg.’ And I may not be able to show it to you, and I may not be able to prove it to you, but you'll feel it. There will be a spirit here, I so testify, because of the love of God for all of His faithful children. And those blessings will be poured out here in rich abundance.”

Russell didn’t quote it word for word, but it was an awesome experience as both he and I recalled together who had said it, where it was given, and most importantly, what it meant to us.

BYU-Idaho is in one of the most obscure parts of the country. It inhabits the town of Rexburg (population 15,000 with a generous census count) which has little more than a prominent water tower and a whole slew of potato farmers and cattle ranchers. But nestled in this otherwise forgetful place grows an influence that is very real. Elder Eyring’s words suggest a professional/business influence. I think what he is saying is that BYU-Idaho is and will further become a great breeding ground for leaders in many business disciplines. Not necessarily the CEOs and CFOs of top corporations (labels don’t make leaders, in my opinion), but leaders whom people flock around and want to follow and find better ways of doing things.

What a privilege to have attended this school. I hope, like Elder Eyring, that I live long enough to see this prophecy in full swing.

The Time Value of Lunch

2010-08-10T23:44:00.001-06:00

Recently, as I was enjoying my homemade lunch at work I thought how proud I was to be eating a tasty lunch at such a modest cost. Here is what it consisted of:

- Turkey sandwich

- Chips

- Yogurt

- Carrots

The sandwich was well dressed with various condiments and the chips were quality – not the cheap imitation brand. During this proud moment I also thought about what people usually spend on lunch. What do you think it is? $5 per day? $7 per day?

And so I decided to do a lunch time MBA experiment. How much money am I saving by bringing my lunch to work each day, compared to the average cost of lunch that someone buys at Subway or McDonalds, for example? Here is how I broke down the cost for my lunch:

Wow! My lunch costs $2.15! The factorial is basically this: How much of the total cost of the item do I consume with each lunch? For example, a loaf of bread costs $2.50, but I only eat 2-3 slices per day. Those two or three slices cost about 12.5 cents each, for a total of 31 cents (12.5 * 2.5). Now compare that cost to the price of an average lunch:

Average Lunch $6.00

Tim’s Lunch $2.15

Savings $3.85

Are you kidding me!? By making my lunch each day I save $3.85 per day! This equates to the following:

$ 19.25 savings per week

$ 77.00 savings per month

$ 924.00 savings per year

The effect is minimal early on (many would ask, “oh please, what are a few extra bucks each day?”), but the cost savings over one year’s time is nearly $1,000. Also keep in mind my assumption that the average person that eats out for lunch spends $6.00. It could certainly be much more than that.

For those of you who have read The Richest Man in Babylon, you know full well that money should never remain idle. If you are able to save $3.85 per lunch, then you are also able to invest it. Assuming a 5% rate of return, the money you save by packing your lunch instead of buying it would be $44,099 in 25 years. Assuming a 7% return (which, historically, is more realistic) it would be $58,442. Just from packing your lunch.

This thought isn’t meant to convert the world to bringing a lunch to work each day. Heaven knows I love an occasional beef and broccoli with fried rice from Chang Chuns, the local Chinese food court delicacy. My point is that finding ways to save a few dollars here and there can really pay off. Now go pack your lunch!

If Jesus Sat on My Bedside

2010-08-01T15:11:00.001-06:00

Last week an interesting question was posed in a church meeting I attended: If Jesus sat on your bedside, what would you talk about?

I was surprised at the question, not because of its content, but with the visual that came to my mind. Imagine, just the two of you! I thought, I would talk to Jesus about my fears. I have felt a few of those lately. I would want his opinion on decisions I’ve made, and I would ask, “How would you have done it differently?” Undoubtedly, following his response, I would then say, “Oh, yeah, I should have done it that way.” And he would probably just grin and say, “It’s alright.” I would also thank him for the great people in my life: a stalwart and hardworking mom and dad, loving siblings, and genuine friends.

Then, I had this thought. The greatest part of the conversation wouldn’t be what we discussed; it would be how I feel. Is there any doubt that every bit of his attention and focus would be upon me as I talked to him? It would. He would want to know everything, and he would sit and listen with perfect patience as I bared it all. Have you ever had a friend or family member that gives you all of their attention and interest as you talk with them? It feels so good.

And now the thought has come full circle. We are told to be as Jesus is. In all of our conversations and quiet moments with others, we too should be willing to give all of our attention and all of our heart to hearing and listening to what the other is saying. We should try to understand how they feel and empathize. Just listen.

Garden of Eden

2010-07-07T23:23:00.000-06:00

I consider my parent's backyard as an escape from the pressures of life. A place where you can just sit, pace, or lie down and release some of your cares. Six years ago my parents moved into their final home. To call their backyard a "dust bowl" would have be an understatement. Now, it has been turned into a proverbial Garden of Eden. Truly, "of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat" - cherries, apples, plums, pears, and peaches.

Mom's flower garden

Fruit trees

A net has been meticulously assembled around the main cherry tree. Birds are amazingly clever at fitting their bodies into tight spaces when they want fresh, sweet fruit. The problem is they can never get themselves back out. As a result Mom and Dad are forced to tie off the smallest gaps with knots such as these.

Here is Dad. The Gardener. He receives so much satisfaction from working amongst the trees and plants.

When I think of my parent's yard, I think most often of this very spot. Whenever I am home I will take time to sit on this wooden bench, stare off into the mountains or the yard and just ponder and reflect. More than an inspired thought or two has come to my mind in these moments. You might say that the effort put into the garden has created a space where inspiration can come. Garden of Eden, indeed.

Service

2010-06-23T08:53:00.000-06:00

Grateful that I read these this morning. I needed it...

"When we serve others, we forget our own problems, and by working to relieve the pain or discomfort of others, we strengthen ourselves."
- James B. Martino

"I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish - and in effect save their lives."
- Thomas S. Monson

Ah, summer

2010-06-22T08:55:00.000-06:00

"Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it."

- Russell Baker

American journalist, humorist

2010-06-19T10:10:00.000-06:00

Kenneth Branagh

2010-06-16T21:49:00.000-06:00

Okay, I admit it. I look like this guy. Kind of makes me miss my beard.

Going wireless

2010-06-13T17:42:00.000-06:00

I'm determined to make time for things of more value. With some control and self-discipline LOST, facebook, twitter, and Seinfeld can easily be replaced with piano practice, writing, and starting a new painting.
Have you noticed the trend? These distractions are all electronic forms of media while the activities I'd like to replace them with are truly "wireless."

It's a shame

2010-06-07T18:03:00.001-06:00

when the most swearing you hear in a day comes from your own LDS co-workers.

comic

2010-05-30T17:39:00.001-06:00

flower girl

2010-05-30T17:21:00.000-06:00

As I was walking home from church a little girl in the neighbor's yard said, "Hello, how are you?" I greeted her and she quickly stooped to the ground, plucked this flower and said, "Here you go, have a nice day!"
It's been nice ever since.

two birds

2010-05-30T15:51:00.001-06:00

I sat on the porch Saturday morning observing two birds in a neighboring tree. They looked similar, but were subtly different in color and size. I was led to believe they were of the same species, but opposite in gender.
One of them was perched on a tall branch, singing away. I think this is the customary attraction ritual of the male. The female bounced back and forth on various limbs, likewise chirping, keeping a constant distance from the male of 10 to 20 feet. She seemed to be sizing him up. Was he a suitable specimen? Mate worthy?
Suddenly she flew directly at him. A rigorous flapping of wings occurred between them both as she landed on his branch, inches away. As quickly as it began, it ended. To my surprise I watched as she took off in flight to an opposing tree hundreds of feet away and then further still. The male simply watched, turned, and flew off in the opposite direction.

Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell

2010-05-28T14:44:00.000-06:00

Bows and flows of angel hair
and ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere,
I've looked at clouds that way.

But now they only block the sun,
they rain and snow on everyone.
So many things i would have done
but clouds got in my way.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now,
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions i recall.
I really don't know clouds at all.

book: Bowling Alone

2010-05-27T19:51:00.000-06:00

A book by Robert Putnam, discussing the social decay of our communities and the vices that have pulled us away from them (television, internet, etc). A quote from the text and a critic's paraphrase:

"Americans are right that the bonds of our communities have withered, and we are right to fear that this transformation has very real costs."

Putnam claims that this has created a U.S. population that is increasingly isolated and less empathetic toward its fellow citizens, that is often angrier and less willing to unite in communities or as a nation.

Wal-Mart and business ethics

2009-04-15T13:12:00.000-06:00

Yesterday in Business Strategy we discussed Wal-Mart and their entrance into the China market. It's been a tricky ride for Wal-Mart. The customer's buying habits are totally different than the typical American. The political and governing climate are also a unique challenge. A strong, centralized, regulatory government makes many of Wal-Mart's traditional business tactics hard to pull off.

The class on Tuesday became particularly lively as we discussed Carrefour. Carrefour (a French company, I believe) is Wal-Mart's chief competitor in the Chinese market. According to the author of the case, Carrefour has been known to involve itself in shady deals and practices to get what they want in China. Carrefour is likely comfortable with this approach. The abundance of illegal activity by Chinese consumers and the Chinese government doesn't exactly promote a business climate conducive to ethical business practices.

Herein is Wal-Marts dilemma. Should Wal-Mart follow suit and practice in the same way as Carrefour? The consensus seemed to be that such unethical practices may stand in other countries, but not (thank goodness) in American markets. Let’s face it, U.S. investors, despite what many people may think, want publically traded companies to do the right thing.

Imagine my professors dismay, then, when she gasped at how many students had recommended that Wal-Mart take the approach of getting its hands dirtied in the same unethical business practices as Carrefour. A few students fought diligently defending this point, suggesting that ethical behavior is not necessarily in line with a government’s laws. In other words, if China’s laws are corrupted and bendable, skirting around them should not be perceived as being unethical. Dangerous territory, Professor Austin said.

My perspective, after the hot contest, falls on more broad guidelines. With all the debate that went on, my position is fairly straight-forward, following the wisdom of my elders:

“We believe in honoring, obeying, and sustaining the law.” – Joseph Smith Jr.

Computerless

2009-03-30T22:04:00.001-06:00

I've been without my laptop for 5 days now. Surprisingly, it's not as painful as I thought it would be. Work still gets done, but now, when I leave campus I know that I can come home and not have my laptop staring at me saying, "Just one more spreadsheet." I can do more important things: hand write a letter, visit a friend, read a verse, or chat with David about space, God and time.

And so it goes. We fill our lives with so much blah. So concerned that we won't be able to fit it all in. But if we'd allow ourselves to break away for a while the weightier matters would be rediscovered. The really important stuff.

Now Playing Utah

2009-01-08T13:12:00.001-07:00

This is a great website for finding things to do in Salt Lake City.

www.nowplayingutah.com

Hamster on a Piano

2008-12-12T15:57:00.000-07:00

Obama, New York Times, and EBay

2008-11-08T12:23:00.001-07:00

Every morning when I arrive to school, I grab a copy of The New York Times lying in a pile by the newspaper vending machine. These are free to students, and I actually have my choice of multiple publications (SL Trib, Financial Times, etc). Following election day I picked up my copy. The headline read "OBAMA: RACIAL BARRIER FALLS IN HEAVY TURNOUT." "This is an important paper to hold on to," I thought. So I stashed it in a box with other important news releases.
On the news yesterday, I caught the tail end of a story saying that the very same issue of The New York Times was being sold on EBay. Today I checked the price, and people are selling them for as much as $50 a pop! Sounds crazy, huh? Now I don't plan to actually try to get money for this, but it surprised me to see what people are willing to pay for such a thing. And it begs the question: Are people really this crazy for Obama?

Utah Economist

2008-10-11T22:50:00.000-06:00

Economics is a fascinating thing. It's one of the few subjects that professes to be able to explain almost everything. My Economics professor, Scott Schaefer, is a pretty smart guy. He admits that he's not a know-it-all, but he has helped me to realize that economics applies to A LOT of stuff. He started his own blog which helps explain the economics behind many of the issues in Utah. Check it out if you're interested.
http://utah-economist.blogspot.com/

annoying

2008-09-24T17:40:00.001-06:00

Today is my long day of class. 7:30am to 3:20pm. I came to the library to study and needed some energy to recover from the day's depletion. I bought a Snickers bar. It costed 92 cents with tax. I paid with $1. Instead of the cashier handing me the 8 cents in change, she dropped it on the counter for me to collect. Who does that? It took, like, 30 seconds!

A Man Obsessed

2008-09-09T09:11:00.000-06:00

This was on KSL's website today. Shocking, isn't it, what our obsessions can drive us to. But do our obsessions really drive us, or our own choices? Where do our obsessions take over? Is this man a victim of an obsessive-compulsive disorder? I don't know, but consider your own "obsessions" when reading this snippet:

FOND DU LAC, Wis. (AP) - A 54-year-old man says his obsessive-compulsive disorder drove him to eat 23,000 Big Macs in 36 years.
Fifty-four-year-old Don Gorske says he hit the milestone last month, continuing a pleasurable obsession that began May 17, 1972 when he got his first car.
Gorske has kept every burger receipt in a box. He says he was always fascinated with numbers, and watching McDonald's track its number of customers motivated him to track his own consumption.
The only day he skipped a Big Mac was the day his mother died, to respect her request.
The correctional-institution employee says he doesn't care when people call his Big Mac obsession crazy. He says he's in love with the burgers, which are the highlights of his days.

Some good music

2008-09-02T23:06:00.000-06:00

I've been introduced to three musical groups recently (I think the word "band" has lost all meaning). To my family and friends reading, perhaps you might like to give a listen. Click on the links to go to their MySpace pages and prepare for a treat.

The first is a group that I heard on yet another splendid NPR broadcast "On Point." Crooked Still is the name of the bluegrass/newgrass wonder, a music style that I am really starting to take a liking to. "When First Unto this Country" and "Captain, Captain" are must hears.

The next is one some of the oddest music I've heard in a while, but I love it! A friend introduced me to this group. Listen to the vast variety of musical sounds they have happening, and the singers wonderful voice! Clare & The Reasons is the name of this pack of New Yorkers. Give a listen to "Pluto" (the English AND French versions) and brace yourself for the peculiar "Obama Over the Rainbow" (beware, this song might be for brainwashing purposes).

Finally, my friends Becky, Vivian, John, and Miles are the four splendid members of The Mollies. I love their music with a wide variety of instruments (cello, violin, mandolin, saw!?). Plus, Vivian and Becky harmonize sooooo well. The Mollies have several great songs, but my particular favorites are "Sustain" "Boyfriend In a Coma" (gotta love that title) and "Send Me to the Moon." Well done!

MBA

2008-08-29T10:27:00.000-06:00

I'm an MBA man now. I've started graduate school at the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business. It has been splendidly busy, inspiring, and educational! More to come.

Alternative Energy

2008-07-27T22:55:00.001-06:00

I have been reading up a bit on alternative energy solutions. Nuclear, Wind, Solar, Hydrogen - they all have pros and cons. This is a hot political issue, and something I think I should keep up on. There was yet another great NPR broadcast touching on this topic. I won't share the link right now. I'd like to come back to this issue soon after I've researched these energy sources and decide which one I would support, were I asked to choose. I don't think that the worlds energy issues can be solved by one solution - there's no silver bullet. Conservation, if anything, seems to be the best idea, but most citizens don't like the word "conserve." I think it makes them feel restricted and uncomfortable. We would rather have an alternative energy source that we can gorge upon instead of "bridling our passions." Anyway, more on this later.

Scriptural Poetry

2008-07-05T11:52:00.000-06:00

In all their affliction
he was afflicted,
and the angel of his presence saved them:
in his love and in his pity
he redeemed them;
and he bare them,
and carried them
all the days of old.

(Isaiah 63:9)

Be gone, Salesman

2008-07-03T09:00:00.001-06:00

My friend, Yuri, and I were having a leisurely conversation in my apartment when a firm "bang, bang, bang" came at the door. I opened to what unmistakably appeared to be a salesman. He looked very "Utah sales-esque" : short and stylish hair, fake tan, and he looked to be about 35 trying desperately to look more like 25. He did, however, have a greasy automotive shirt on. Interesting. His pitch was a card from V & L Automotive which you could purchase for $69.99 and use for multiple free oil changes, radiator flushes, AC checks, etc.
The deal didn't seem half bad. I was used to paying about $40 for an oil change, so after just two of those this card would have paid for itself. Still, I had been taken advantage of before by a con artist, so I started to question the salesman. 10 minutes into it, he had lowered his price to $35. I was beside myself. What a deal! I headed back toward my bedroom to get my checkbook and thought, "I have no proof that this man even represents V & L Automotive. I'd better call them and make sure."
Upon returning with my checkbook in hand, I told the man that I wanted to call V & L and make sure that he was legitimate. The phone number was printed on the card he was trying to sell me, so no big deal. Suddenly, something in this man snapped and he just went off!
"Dude, I can't believe you would let me go on and on about this great deal and now you're gonna act like I'm not legit!"
"I understand your frustration, but you need to understand where I'm coming from. I have no idea who you are, so why would I not call the shop to confirm it?" I said.
"Well they're closed, man. Their hours are from 8am to 6pm" How convenient, I thought. "Then come back tomorrow with that same card, I will call V & L first thing in the morning, and if you check out then I'll pay you full price for it." My voice was raised at this point. Definite contention going on.
The salesman proceeded to pull out his credit card and drivers license to somehow prove his legitimacy. This tactic only supported my cautiousness since his drivers license was from California. "That doesn't help your case" I said pointing to it.
A few moments later and he was giving me a sob story about how tough it was out there selling these things. By this point he had lost all favor from me. "Be gone, salesman" I thought to myself. He knew the conversation was over and he stormed off in frustration.

I thought a lot about this experience that night. Part of me feels pity for the salesman, but even if he was truly representing this company, his conduct of making me feel like the antagonist was inappropriate. So if any readers out there are door to door sales people, I'm sorry, but Mr. V & L Automotive has ruined it for you.

Tagged

2008-06-18T12:41:00.000-06:00

Cousin Sarah requested that I fill this out. I was suprised how much soul searching and memory reflection had to be done:

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. Working as a waiter at Falcons Landing – an upscale retirement home for military veterans
2. Prepping to finish high school and head to Ricks College
3. Staying up into the wee hours completing paintings for art class
4. Dancing to Lady in Red at stake dances
5. Watching early morning Sportscenter with James, cereal bowls in hand, right after early morning seminary

5 things on today's 'to do' list:
1. Tradeshow meeting at 3
2. Hometeach Taylor and Tiffany one last time (oh, how I’ll miss them!)
3. Schedule the blind date for this weekend (ugh…)
4. Ward pool party
5. Tim Time

5 favorite snacks:
1. Fresh fruit (melons, grapes, berries, etc.)
2. Snickers bar
3. baby carrots
4. chips and salsa
5. nachos

5 things I would do if I was a billionaire:
1. What do you mean “if” ?
2. Probably many of the same things as now. I’d hope life wouldn’t be much different, though, in the prophetic words of P-Diddy, “mo’ money, mo’ problems”
3.
4.
5.

5 bad habits:
1. Nail-biting (not constantly. I should rather call this “clipping my fingernails with my mouth.”)2. I’m stingy to a fault
3. picky dater
4. living and dying by a calendar
5. snacking

5 Places I have lived:
1. Aurora, CO
2. Sterling, VA
3. Liverpool, NY
4. Rexburg, ID
5. Salt Lake City, UT

5 people I tag:
1. Just one – Mark Harman. Mark, now that you’re married and expecting a baby, it’s time to start blogging. Come on. You know you want to.

Goin' green

2008-06-03T12:19:00.000-06:00

I rode my bike to work today. It's really not very far, and that's probably why I've felt so guilty about not biking or even walking (okay, walking would take an hour). There are too many gas-guzzling cars on our roads. You can see the brown smog hanging over Salt Lake City on a clear day. That, plus every American needs to admit their oil addiction (here's a link for an excellent NPR segment on this topic).
Consider this too. Even with my piddly 6 mile round-trip bike ride, short errands around town (downtown Salt Lake), and so on, I save $75 to $100 each month! Now not everything to me is dollars and cents, but that adds up folks. That's more than enough to pay for the bike, buy some pink streamers for your handle bars, and some sweet pegs for your friend to ride on.
Even more so, I feel like I'm doing my part. That I'm not being as wasteful. Trying to keep things clean and maybe leave the world a little cleaner.

A few books...

2008-05-28T09:49:00.000-06:00

I just recently finished The Road, by Cormac McCarthy. The story is about a father and son that are wandering the countryside in the post-apocalyptic future. The world has been spoiled and ruined. Plant life has long been destroyed, men are cannibalistic, the rivers are black with ash, and the snow is gray. The sun hasn’t shone in the sky for ages. But this father and son continue on and cling to hope.

They persevere in otherwise faithless times. It is a beautiful story with a sad but hopeful ending.

Recently I picked up Wuthering Heights. I feel a bit cheated having not been assigned to read classics like this in high school, so I am doing myself the favor now. I am only about 1/4 through the book. If you've read WH, can you imagine living in such a household with these unruley sibilings? What do you think of Heathcliff, the mysterious boy picked up from off the streets of Liverpool and sharing a roof with a gal as devious as Catherine? I do not yet know what is to come of these characters, but their fates cannot be hopeful.

I have been reading WH with the mindset of wanting to understand why the people of the house are so rotten. Bad parenting seems to play a role, given Catherine and her fathers exchange shortly before his death. Who knows what Heathcliff's childhood was like before being scooped up off the streets. In the end, perhaps its just consistently bad choices. We are our own judges.

Deviation

2008-05-27T16:31:00.000-06:00

I have strayed from the original purpose of my blog. It is to be a blog of thoughts, ideas - Tim Thinking. It was also planned to be updated regularly, which hasn't happened.

I don't think I have many readers. This was never the plan anyway. Unknown audiences make it easier to be open. The plan has been to use my blog as an avenue of thought, writing, and expression.

Let it be so.

Dance, for souls sake!

2008-05-04T19:18:00.000-06:00

There is a country dance club in Salt Lake City where twenty-somethings can come for some good ol' down home boot stompin'. It is held every Thursday night and highly therapeutic, which is probably why I enjoyed the following. A great article about the far-reaching benefits of dancing by Deseret Morning News columnist Jerry Johnston (May 3, 2008):

I see where people with Parkinson's are beating the disease for a spell by taking to the dance floor. Something about dancing apparently short-circuits the illness and lets sufferers feel like their old selves again.

That's great news.

And it makes me wonder if dancing could help the rest of us beat our own demons — the demon of anxiety, for example. Or the demons of anger and fear.

Dancing is on my brain, I suppose, because I hang out with so many Latinos these days. Where Anglos say, "There's a dance after the meeting tonight," Latinos say, "There's a meeting before the big dance tonight." I've never known people happier to hit the dance floor.

For most other Americans, however, dancing has become a spectator sport. We watch ballroom routines and ogle celebrities waltzing around. Dancing, we say, is for the young.

And I think those of us over 50 are poorer for it.

Deseret News Publisher Jim Wall points out that men used to dance to show their power and strength (think of the Maori and Zulu warriors). Now, instead of kicking up their heels, they kick other men.

Yet more than therapy, dance has always been a form of self-expression — showing our joy, love, even our reverence. "Praise his name in dance," the Psalmist says. And what Bible reader can forget the image of David "leaping and dancing before the Lord."

When the Prodigal Son returned, the first thing his dad did was hold a dance.

We smile at the Whirling Dervishes. But those spinning holy men are onto something. Maybe they realize that dance can be a royal road to spirituality.

And maybe, by abandoning dance in favor of individual sports, we've lost something of ourselves and our connection with others — not to mention a lifeline with the infinite.

In the 1850s, Western humorist Artemis Ward came through Utah and attended a Mormon dance. He said Heber C. Kimball had trouble staying off the toes of his partner, but Brigham Young was elegant and smooth. Brigham even invented the "Beehive Dance" to show the Saints how to work together.

My parents were dancers — twice a week. And it served their marriage well. They spent many hours at Brigham City's old "Dance and Bowl." Like pairs skaters, dancing helped them stay close, even when they weren't feeling especially close.

Dancing doesn't have to be a metaphor for sex. It can be an alternative.

I fell in love for the first time at one of those big LDS dance extravaganzas. I wouldn't trade those feelings for anything.

If dancing can ease the suffering of those with Parkinson's, surely it would help us ease the strain from the roller-coaster economy, the war in Iraq, the anxiety of picking a new president and the ire over those who abuse children.

Brigham City's Dance and Bowl is long gone now. But my brother does play in a nifty little country band.

Maybe it's time I took a cue from my Latino amigos and made dancing a bigger part of my life — not only for myself, but for the peace of mind of those who have to deal with me.

Maybe it's time my wife saw her "Maori Warrior" in action again.

Branding

2008-05-04T17:05:00.000-06:00

I had a unique opportunity to go cattle branding last weekend at the Neff Ranch in Ruby Valley, Nevada. I actually didn't brand any cattle (calfs, actually). Rather, branding was just one step in the process: 4 shots, a pill, tag the ear, brand, and castration (if necessary). At times I felt bad for the little guys, but they're tough and it's for a good cause (a living for the Neff family and Wendy's hamburgers).

video to be posted soon...

Cheap Lunch

2008-04-23T12:56:00.000-06:00

My conscience is always stung when I spend too much on lunch. I'm a real tight-wad, so too much for me is usually over $5. This is justified, as most of us can make our own delicious lunch at home for little more than $2 - $3.
Last night I was not motivated to prepare my lunch for today. I reluctantly purchased one instead. I bought the following at Wendy's:
1 small chili
1 small sour cream & chive baked potato
And I brought the following from home:
8 fresh strawberries
1 whole banana
Accompanied with a big glass of water, it was one of the best lunches I've had all week. I went to www.wendys.com to look up the nutritional info of the chili and potato and it was reasonable.
My total tab from Wendy's was $2.67. I wager that the fruit was roughly 50 to 60 cents in total cost. My wallet and belly are pleased.

BAD PUNCTUATION!!! - continued...

2008-04-02T22:51:00.000-06:00

My friend Becky Jean went on a cruise recently and found this wonderful misuse of quotation marks. In light of my post on said topic, I decided to show it to you. Thanks, Beck!

Pink Wedding Tie

2008-04-02T22:31:00.000-06:00

One of my best buddies from BYU-Idaho, Dave Robinson, was married last weekend. Weddings are tiring.

Hot pink ties are also tiring. Dave told me that Kate (his wife) chose the colors, but I'm not too sure. We had a good time making fun of ourselves for wearing such a color. I do have one pink item in my possession - a pink dress shirt. However, the shirt is pastel pink, not Cindy Lauper pink.

Dave, if you happen to stumble upon this blog - I love ya pal! And your choice of pink!

Pig with Jet Fuel

2008-03-12T23:02:00.000-06:00

I work for a pump company. Today our director of municipal sales called my office in a panic, demanding that I come downstairs with a camera ("uh...Dave, I don't have a camera"). The image is what we beheld out Dave's office window. This is one of our pumps, called a Hydrogritter, wrapped in super-strong plastic wrap for shipping purposes. This hydrogritter is unique, in that it is connected to a jet fuel hook-up for power (we don't use REAL jet fuel).

The office joke was that this actually looked like a pig, which, with the pipe leading to his "rear", was providing the "fuel." I'm trying to keep this clean! We all had a good laugh. We do pump waste, after all.

BAD PUNCTUATION!!!

2008-03-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

I recently received an amusing email. It wasn't necessarily intended to be funny, in fact, it was apparently meant to be inspiring! The email was an invitation to attend a fireside (a meeting where a guest speaker talks about LDS doctrines, beliefs, and application). Elder McCallister was to be the speaker, and apparently the announcer was very enthusiastic about his attendance. The email read (italics added):

Everyone welcome. You will NOT want to miss this. You WILL be inspired!!!

The heavy use of caps and the stunning exclamation marks at the end is what made me smirk. Following is a brief analysis (I think my sister, Amy, would be proud).
The sentence starts off very warm and simple - "Everyone welcome." Ah, this is nice. I feel generally invited for the most part. Then it takes a bit of a demanding, almost attacking sort of tone - "You will NOT want to miss this." At this point I am feeling a bit guilty for not planning to attend, even though I have an important hometeaching visit scheduled for that very evening. Next is the whopper - "You WILL be inspired!!!" With particular emphasis on the word "WILL" I now feel that inspiration will be forced upon me, which is quite contrary to the principles of the gospel and God's plan for his children. Not only this, but the statement has been shouted at me with incredible force (exclamation point...times three!) I imagine the announcer rapidly pointing his/her finger at me after making this statement as I cower into a little ball on the ground.
Obviously, this is all in jest. But I analyze the statement to make the point that we should be more tactful in our puctuation, exclamation marks, etc.
There is a great blog, which all will greatly enjoy, of photos around the globe with bad (and really bad) placement of quotation marks. It was recently headlined on NPR and I got a real kick out of it. When you get a chance, "check it out." :)
http://quotation-marks.blogspot.com/

Bladder Stones

2008-02-07T16:00:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago I went to visit my doctor for a routine check up. A type of x-ray was done called an IVP, where die is injected through an IV which then enhances imagery that can be taken of your abdomen. A few days after the procedure my doctor called me in for a visit and informed me that I had three bladder stones, each approximately 3 to 4 centimeters long.

Not only had they been growing inside of me for years, but they had grown to such huge proportions and still had gone unnoticed - no abdominal pain or anything to speak of.

So on Monday I went in for surgery and they were removed. I asked the nurse if I could keep them (a morbid sort of souvenir, I admit) but she never gave them to me before I left the hospital. I have attached a picture of what the stones would have looked like.

This experience has given me a new appreciation for several things. First, the human body is truly remarkable in producing something like this. Second, the wonders of medical science and technology that allows a radiologist to spot these stones before becoming rocks or even boulders. Third, how calm and cool my doctor was in explaining the whole thing to me.

Oh, and I probably lost a pound. That's always nice.

President Hinckley, my prophet

2008-01-28T16:00:00.000-07:00

With the passing of President Gordon B Hinckley, I wanted to share excerpts from an address he gave at BYU-Idaho when I was a student there. His love for and confidence in the young adults of the LDS church was incredible. He taught us who we are and what we can become by showing us how to live Christ-like lives.
I will always remember Gordon B. Hinckley, the prophet of my youth.

bearded.

2008-01-02T18:57:00.000-07:00

My good friend, Sterling, and I decided to grow beards from Thanksgiving until shortly before Christmas. We kept them clean and trim to avoid looking like wild mountain men. It was good to know that we are "man enough" to successfully grow beards without mascara, magic markers or extra adhesives.

Thank you, Sterling, for helping me realize that I too, could be bearded.

Ask Dr. Science!

2008-01-02T18:29:00.000-07:00

From time to time I listen to a five minute blurb on NPR (88.3 fm) called, "Ask Dr. Science!" Dr. Science will answer one question from a listener during each show. Generally, they are scientific in nature, but the responses are quite bizarre. I invite one and all to check it out each weekday at 4:45pm (to be precise...)

In the meantime, here is a recently aired question and answer:

Question: I recently estimated that I remove approximately 20 pounds of lint a year from my dryer. Is it merely coincidence that this is also the exact amount of premium 100% Colombian coffee I consume in the same amount of time. Can I use this to my advantage?

Answer: It's merely a coincidence. The lint in your dryer mostly comes from fungal organisms that grow in your bellybutton or between your toes. These are not affected by coffee consumption, though if roasted in your microwave and mixed with oven cleaner they can work as a coffee substitute if you're desperate. And I'm assuming you are a desperate soul, especially after your confession that you've taken the time to weigh your dryer lint. Not much happening in weekend nights? Don't feel bad. You're probably a sociopath who finds solace in exact measurement. Join the club.

My Investment Friend

2007-12-11T22:43:00.000-07:00

Computer programmers get a bad rap. They aren't total nerds, but there are many stereotypes. Jay fits all of those stereotypes, but Jay is one of my most favorite people at work. Jay is roughly my father's age. That makes him something like a founding father of computer nerds. He is very quirky. He can talk to you forever, spouting off silly one-liners that he has either made up or found in old copies of Readers Digest.
He can also talk about investments. This is where Jay and I spend most of our time together. We go over it all - what stocks are hot, cold, over-priced, under-priced. Which markets are up-and-coming, which are dried up. I have a blast talking with Jay about these things.
In a very flattering way, Jay also relies on me for financial advice. He trusts my opinion on investment decisions, as wrong as it can probably be. You will understand, then, why I get so frustrated when Jay goes against what all professional financial gurus suggest when considering long-term investing. Jay wants to retire soon, and since he got a late start on saving his money he needs to play catch up.
Jay makes the wrong decisions while trying to catch up. He is concerned with getting his money into some of the riskiest investments that he can, so that his money can grow faster and faster. The downside here, is that when the market has a hick-up, such as today, his investment drops significantly.
Many people lose money when the stock market is down, but Jay sadly loses much more because he fails to follow the keystone of investment principles - Diversification. Jay's money will not drop nearly as much if his money is spread out amongst many different types of investments. It won't grow as fast either, but with a hopeful retirement at the doorstep, Jay should be more interested in preserving what he has and investing it in safe investments rather than putting all of his money into one "hot market."
If the reader is still viewing this, please, make rational investment decisions. Talk to an investment professional. They will usually help you with the basics, free of charge! Save early, and save all that you can. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. A diversified investor is a happy investor. In the meantime, I will seek to persuade Jay that diversity is king. In fact, I'll go and see him tomorrow. Maybe he's got a new one-liner for me.

AWESOME

2007-12-05T23:11:00.001-07:00

The Great NY School Experiment

2007-11-27T22:00:00.000-07:00

I have no idea where Mayor Bloomberg of New York City stands on such issues as abortion, gay rights, immigration, health care, or the Iraq War. Frankly it’s not all that important to me WHERE a mayor stands on such issues. But I know what is churning in Bloomberg’s head regarding education – and I like it!
A recent article in the November 10th to 16th issue of The Economist highlights the intriguing plan of how the mayor plans to pull New York urban schools from their dismal state. Here’s the skinny -
Every public school, which Bloomberg fought for and gained jurisdiction over, is issued a report card, right down to the A, B, C letter grade. If the school is doing well, the school will get a budget boost and the principle may even get a handsome bonus. Schools with a D or F grade are reprimanded and required to issue a “We will do better” plan of action. Principles without marked improvement are fired after two years, and schools that do not improve within four years are shut down. Okay Mike, that seems a little stiff, but I digress…
The drastic changes are justified. The mayor determined the schools to be in a state of emergency when in 2002 the graduation rate was a shocking 51% compared to the 70% national average. Most of us can’t imagine almost half of our senior class not graduating high school, but the proof is in the pudding.
So how did Mayor Bloomberg do it? Well in a nutshell the words “power” and “influence” come to mind (The billionaire and Eagle Scout was the founder of Bloomberg LP, the Bloomberg Terminal, and Bloomberg TV). He took authority away from school boards and handed it to accountable principals. He established a leadership academy to train principals. Massive schools with bursting-at-the-seam classroom sizes occupying enormous schools were divided up into smaller schools and thus more teachers hired and smaller class sizes. Often several schools occupy one building. I personally feel that Bloomberg’s greatest achievement in this has been his ability to win the support of the teachers unions – not an easy feat! I still don’t know how that’s possible and am convinced that the economist is lying here (kidding).
Oh yeah, did I mention how Bloomberg got all the money for this? This is where the power and influence card way heavily played. It helps to be in an inner circle of wealthy philanthropists. The likes of Bill Gates, Eli Broad and a legion of wealthy hedge fund managers all contributed to the cause.
So where to from here? It still remains to be seem what will come of this new system. The first school report cards came out a few weeks ago. Surely it’s not perfect, no system like this really can be, but it is indeed worthy of to be titled “The Great NY School Experiment.”