Scripture Sunday Alma 17:11

This passage sort of bothers me. No, that doesn't mean that I don't accept the Book of Mormon or that I think the church is wrong. Expecting to agree with every single verse in the bible/Book of Mormon/etc is naive and a little delusional.

I get that being patient in suffering is a good thing, and you should have faith that you'll overcome them. So that part is fine. What bothers me is how vague this passage is. How much suffering is enough? Should you not try to overcome it? Should you accept a life like Job? If reading scripture makes you want to accept that all life is nothing but suffering, it might be time to reevaluate your interpretations.

ESPN layoffs

ESPN is learning the hard way that it's not 1996 anymore.

Back in 1996 sports fans watched ESPN a fair amount of time, mostly because it was the most convenient way to get our sports news and scores. Sure, the internet existed in 1996 but it wasn't really that popular. You could either wait for the newspaper or hope that CNN covered late night baseball game scores. ESPN was a Godsend. Sure the anchors were obnoxious, self important are fascinated by their own snarky comments-but after all, it's television so we could learn to ignore that. Just give us sports and analysis and we can plow through the rest.

ESPN, like many companies, never really understood that 2017 is a totally different time than the 90's. Or even the early 2000s. Or even 2008. Now, if I want sports news I can get it from many other sources. ESPN is becoming irrelevant. They still have live sports, and I think that is the only thing keeping them in business. While I'm not a prophet I think that in the future even live sports will become "a la carte". Instead of relying on what ESPN serves you, you'll be able to watch whatever team you want in whatever sport you want, for a fee. If that ever happens, than ESPN will no longer worry about layoffs-they'll be out of business.

Album of the Weekend

Neil Young-Harvest

I've had a mellow week where not much happened. That's a good thing sometimes-you don't want to live life in the fast lane where you are constantly dodging bullets (metaphorical or literal). Sometimes it's important and even necessary to have a few days of continuous peace. So I found an album that really fits my mood.

I like Neil Young. He's the godfather of grunge and sort of like a Bob Dylan without the poetic genius or cutting edge social commentary. Neil Young is certainly a crusader for his causes, but he is no Bob Dylan, especially at this point in his career. Harvest is not a typical album that I'd enjoy. It's way too laid back. However, I really like this album. "Heart of Gold", "Old Man" and "A Man Needs a Maid" are all beautiful songs. While I couldn't see myself listening to his work for a prolonged period of time, "Harvest" is a welcome break.

You don't know more than experts

"All I know, is that I know nothing."-Socrates

I'm going to give it to you straight-you don't know as much as you think you do. Unless you are an expert in a certain field, you need to accept that experts know more than you do. The perfect example is medicine. No matter what your yoga/karate teacher says, 99.9% of the time they do not know more than a medical doctor. Medical doctors have these pesky things called "Medical degrees" combined with years of experience in the medical field. When it comes to the their area of expertise, they are highly knowledgable. I admit that even doctors don't know everything-when a cardiologist starts talking about orthopedic issues, they may not be as knowledgable.

Historians are the same way. When a group of historians agrees on something and you don't, odds are-you are the one that is wrong. 

Another troubling issue is people assuming that what they see on Law and Order or reading novels  makes them experts. Law and Order is fiction and just watching it or reading John Grisham does not make you an expert on legal matters. It's the same with reading Dan Brown-you are not a religious scholar because you've read the Da Vinci Code.

March for science

Like I've mentioned before, in my view everyone "loves science" until it conflicts with their values. That's why the right is afraid of evolution and the biological evidence for homosexuality and that's why the left is afraid of GMO/Organic foods, and the troubling information that their might only be two genders. I also think that people say they "love science" because they want to seem like intellectuals. I don't care much about science, so I didn't know that there was a march for science this weekend. By the way, just saying I don't care about science doesn't mean I don't accept it. I'm more of a humanities kind of guy than science guy, 

So apparently there was this big march for science over the weekend. I seemed to have missed it. Science has become incredibly politicized. Frankly, I think the right has more to do with this than the left. It started when schools dared to teach :: gasp :: evolution in science class. I remember growing up reading about people who wanted to teach creationism or intelligent design in science class. Look, I believe in God, but neither creationism or intelligent design belong in a science class. Period. I'm not saying that science and religion never entered the political realm before the 80's, but I think it escalated after that.

I also think it's comical that you have to choose to believe in either religion or science. Even my dumbass mind can handle those two things at once. My belief in Jesus doesn't mean I can't believe in evolution as well.

Ann Coulter and Berkeley

Censorship is based on fear. When the right tries to censor you from reading something, it's based on fear that you might learn something that they don't agree with. When the left tries to censor something, it's based on fear that you might learn something they don't agree with. When a church tells you not to read something (surprise!) it's based on fear that you might learn something they don't agree with. Sorry to be redundant. 

It's Berkeley, so I don't expect cogent thought and freedom. The "adults" (and I use that term very, very, very loosely) who go there are too fragile to hear any opinion other than their own. Although most students there consider themselves free thinkers and open minded, they are as close minded as rock ribbed fundamentalist religious people. Do I blame millennials? Of course not, Berkeley was always a pinnacle of oppression. Unless you are a radical (and even liberals would be uncomfortable there. Berkeley is hardcore, insanely left wing. Almost to the point of parody) who already swallows the Kool-Aid, you have no business being there or going to college there.

Ann Coutler is without question the most obnoxious commentator alive. Ironically both her and the Berkeley students have a lot in common-they are both extremes that most rational and normal people do their best to avoid associating with. A good rule of thumb-if you find yourself agreeing with the zealots of Berkeley or Ann Coutler and her followers-it's time to rethink your life.  

Here's the thing though- she has every right to speak. If you dislike what she says, you need to be mature enough to either ignore it or argue against it. If you can't handle those two things, it's time to grow up or give up.

Tattoo removals

I've been asked if I think I'll regret my tattoos. I've also been told I would. It's nonsense, of course. While I can't see the future I'm very confident that I'll never regret the choices I've made when it comes to tattoos. Do I regret other life choices I've made? Of course I do. I think people who say they have "no regrets" are lying to themselves or deeply disturbed people. We all make mistakes. My tattoos are not mistakes. 

I have a serious problem with tattoo removals. Don't get me wrong-if you want to try and erase your past, that is certainly your right. I'd also never forbid/ban people from getting laser removal. Just because I don't like it doesn't mean everyone else should do what I say. However to me, it's a cowards way out. You wanted these tattoos. If you thought about removing them than you shouldn't have gotten them in the first place. Like it or not, you should be stuck with them.

Scripture Sunday Alma 3:27

The church asks for many things that might seem odd to non believers. Tithing, chastity, abstaining from alcohol-but asking for obedience is something that many non believers just can't understand. This verse shows that we will get blessings to the same degree that we are obedient, with the most obedient getting the greatest amount of blessings.

I do not claim to be the most obedient Christian/Mormon. In fact, I'm hardly going to win awards for my non questioning subordinate attitude. Many times I can't turn off the curiosity or my constant questioning. Believe me, I wish I could just "shut up and obey". My life would have been much easier.

Bill O'Reilly scandal

First off, I don't like him or his show. I've always found him to be so in love with himself that I could make jokes about him and a mirror for twenty minutes. But none of those are appropriate for a PG-13 blog so I'll move on to something else.

He's out at Fox and good riddance. I'm sort of glad he's gone.

What's funny to me is that people are accusing Fox of being "hypocrites" because apparently Billy O talked about family values while acting like a grade-A asshole on the side. Is he a hypocrite for it? You betcha.

And here is a list of hypocritical things some leftists do:

-they love higher taxes, but continually pay the lowest rate they personally can
-they love public schools, but send their kids to overwhelmingly white exclusive private schools
-they hate capitalism but oddly live in one of the richest, freest, pro-capitalism countries in the world
-they dislike guns but have no problem with their own bodyguards being armed.

I could go on.

Here is the point: We are all hypocrites, every single one of us. From the guy who preaches about family values and has several divorces to the Canadian advocate for socialized medicine who crosses the border to get better care for her own kids.

No party has a monopoly on virtue.

Album of the Weekend

Agnostic Front-Cause for Alarm

Agnostic Front is a fantastic hardcore band from New York City. Listening to their songs gives me this strong desire to put on my street gang hat from the classic film "The Warriors" and beat people up on my way through New York City. I'm kidding of course. If you are overly aggressive and like getting into fights, 1) that's a horrible way to live your life and 2) eventually you'll pick a fight with the wrong person and get your ass severely kicked, or worse. Back to music.

Great album, fantastic really. This is a merger of punk and metal. While I'm not an expert I think it might be among the first of it's kind. It's also an album for free thinkers. The song "Public Assistance" is a slap in the face to people who think welfare should be a career option. How is that for punk? "Your Mistake" and "Out for Blood' are also great songs.

I don't want to say Agnostic Front is an obscure band, but they are certainly much more influential than they are well known.

Aaron Hernandez

The ex-Florida Gator and ex-New England Patriots player apparently committed suicide in his jail cell on Tuesday morning. The news broke and I saw a lot of people feeling sorry for him. Odd, given that they didn't mention how sorry they were for the man he killed.

Like it or not, Hernandez was a convicted murder and by most accounts, an all around sociopath who would likely kill again. Notice that I don't throw around words like that-in fact, I think most people use the word "sociopath" grossly out of context and use it to describe people they don't personally like. It's sad that people use that loaded of a term, but it shows off their ignorance. In his case from what little I know, I think the word applies.

Time for me to put on my mean guy hat:

People who murder others in cold blood are not good people. In fact, they are evil. Evil exists in this world, and that's something that many of us don't like to accept or admit. If someone truly evil kills themselves, it's not a bad thing. In fact, it might save more innocent lives. If Hernandez won his case on appeal and was let free, do you think he'd suddenly open up a hospice for AIDS patients and people dying of cancer? Do you think'd he donate a kidney to Syrian refugees? NO. He'd almost assuredly start up life just where he ended it before he was arrested for murder. That he killed himself is not a tragedy in any way, shape or form.

Mean guy hat removed.

More thoughts on Uber and ride sharing

I was watching Shark Tank over the weekend and one of the guest judges was a founder/early investor in Uber. Of course, he's thinks Uber is changing transportation and to some degree, he is correct. He also said some things that were way off base, at least right now.

He mentioned that there were good odds that if you went to a mall, you took an Uber. Mark Cuban responded with the insightful and sarcastic comment, "Yes, that's why there is always parking available at the mall." Cuban is right-if everyone at the mall took Uber to get there than logically, there would be much more parking available at the mall. I don't go to malls much but last time I checked stores were closing at most malls, so I'm not sure malls were a great example for either man.

Cuban is basically correct though. In some cities, I'm sure Uber/Lyft etc,  IS changing how we drive and get from point A to point B. But I'm not sure ride sharing will spread much further than the cities and suburbs, at least right now. For whatever else they are, the ride sharing services are fundamentally like taxi services. You pay someone to take you somewhere. In the rural areas (And I live very rural) virtually everyone has their own car and it is a necessity. In the big cities (New York, LA, Chicago) I'm sure you don't need a car and having one can be just a pain in the ass. If I lived in a city (which I would never do) I'm sure I wouldn't have a car and would rely on Uber.

Obviously I'm not sure what the future holds for driving. I'm very much looking forward to self driving cars. Hopefully my children or grandchildren will be able to use them often. Since computers generally don't drive drunk, speed, or make mistakes via human error I think they'll be safer than human driven cars. That's in the future though-could be five years, could 25 years. Uber and Lyft are changing the way some people in the city commute, but it remains to be seen if they'll change how the entire country does.

Cleveland Manhunt

Once again, technology comes to the rescue. I know I post a lot about my love of technology and the modern age and I apologize, but I see so many people complain about technology and wish for the "good old days" and quite frankly, it makes me want to bang my head against a wall.

Thirty years ago tracking this guy would have been very difficult and totally different. The police couldn't have reached the same amount of people because they didn't have the avenues to do so. Back in1996 you couldn't place his picture and his car on their Facebook page. While I'm generally uncomfortable with the amount of cameras that we have in our society, I accept that it does do some good things-he is going to be recorded everywhere he goes and building a trail of his movements will be easier. Yes, I admit it's not perfect and yes, I'm worried about the government recording everything too-but it's not all bad, especially in this case. Let's be honest-if this guy kidnapped your daughter even the most radical civil libertarian would be offering a small prayer of thanks that law enforcement has the tools they do today.

I also want to bring up one more thing-guns. I get it, it's not a pleasant subject and people automatically get political on the issue. But the only way to defend yourself against a lunatic with a gun is not a stern look and harsh words. You can't cuddle someone to good behavior and sometimes people don't always listen to reason. I'm not saying that everyone should carry a gun and settle their disputes in shoot outs-but it is important to protect yourself sometimes. 

North Korea

I like reading books about North Korea. I've mentioned it before, but my favorite author on the subject is Barbra Demick, who wrote the brilliant "Nothing to Envy", about ordinary lives in North Korea. Most of the people she wrote about and chronicled in the book have already moved to South Korea-but right now, I would love to hear what she is thinking about the current crisis.

North Korea tried to launch a missile over the weekend. It had the same success as Geraldo  did when he looked in Al Capone's Vault. It was a colossal misfire and a national disgrace to them. However, their entire country is sort of a giant disgrace. I have enormous pity and compassion for the people of North Korea and the lunatic family they have had to live under since 1948. If you ever doubt that evil exists in the world (a foolish and incredibly naive way of thinking) look at North Korea.

In my view, (and yes, I stand alone on this) America and the first world nations have to play the adult in the room and over throw the North Korean regime. You need to stand up to bullies in life or they will walk all over you. Too often, the establishment enables bullies and punishes those standing up to them. Teachers in school do this-but when you get out of school, you can start standing up for yourself without interference. Thank God for adulthood.

We need to do something. These people have suffered enough. It's time for America to be the adults of the world. 

Scripture Sunday

"And he saith unto them, be not afraid. Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen. He is not here." -Mark 16:6

Technology is your friend...

A simply fantastic article from the Huffington post (yes, I was surprised too) that shows how wonderful technology is, and that it's totally over bashed.

It's something I've been saying for years now, and it's been basically ignored. I see so, so many people posting about how bad smartphones, texting and social media is-these people are usually frightened by technology they don't understand and since everyone else thinks it's cool to bash technology, they just go along with the crowd.

They'll say "Well I see people using their smart phones over dinner and ignoring each other." What if that couple is happy doing that? What if they usually talk to each other and are just texting their friends and family to tell them what a good time they are having? What if this couple doesn't have a problem with it and you do? Stop telling people how to live their lives. The author of the article makes a brilliant point that interacting with people can take place both online and face to face and it's frankly not your place to judge which is better for me.

The other great point this article makes (and my goodness it makes so many good ones) is that the people you've been talking to online since 2007 are much closer to you than the stranger on the subway. Why is it somehow considered less appropriate to talk to them on the subway than it is to talk to a complete stranger you'll likely never see again?

Album of the Weekend

Night Demon-Curse of the Damned

I saw them open for Anvil in St. Petersburg a few weeks ago. Simply put, these guys put on an amazing show *(see below for the one flaw in the show). By far the best of the opening acts these guys are so loud and fast that I expected their album to be like Mortal Treason or Norma Jean but instead, it's more like Kiss meets Megadeth. That's not an insult, in fact it's a compliment-but the overall sound of the band is totally different then what they are live.

"The Chalice" is the best song on the album but "Run for Your Life" and "Screams of the Night" are fantastic as well. While it's much too early and it's a different time than it was back in the 70's-early 90's,  Night Demon could have been the next Iron Maiden if they were a few decades older. They still have potential to be a fantastic band and this is a great album.

*during their live show they had a guy in a skeleton costume come out on stage, wave a chalice around and pour a liquid from the chalice on the audience members. It was supposed to be scary, but it failed miserably. All I could think of was the movie "Spinal Tap." A few people in the audience were laughing. A band this good doesn't need silly gimmicks like that. 

Miss Montana

The former Miss Montana has gotten herself in hot water for some tweets about her special education students. Make no mistake-those Tweets are pretty nasty and if you are teacher, you really should know better than to say something so offensive and stupid.

I want to admit something straight up-I've written/said things that I regret before. You know how Facebook has that "On this day" thing where you can look at former things you've said online? I cringe sometimes when I read what I said in the past. I'd like to say I've never said anything this offensive-but that's not how it works. I'm virtually assuring you that I've said something that has offended someone before.

The difference is that I'm not a special ed teacher, and I've never said anything about special needs children. What she did is like a nurse making fun of cancer patients or a cop making fun of people he/she has to protect. It is true that our society is much too thin skinned and easily offended-people want to be offended because it makes them feel noble and moral. Even though we are way too easily offended in our culture, that doesn't mean that there is never a reason to get offended.

I think Miss Montana will be looking for a new job soon.

United Airlines anyone?

So unless you've had no internet and TV services (and if you have Dish network, that's a distinct possibility) you've almost certainly heard of United Airlines violently and viscously removing a paying passenger from their plane. I've seen a lot of corporate blunders and bad PR moves in my life, but this is one of the worst I've seen. Subway had their famous pervert pitchman (who is in prison, but should have gotten the death penalty) but at least the Subway CEO didn't double down when that scandal broke.He fired him and practically begged for forgiveness

At first,the United CEO, apparently oblivious to the public and lacking common sense or decency said that the United staff did the right thing.

Um, no.

I'm fairly certain that buying a ticket for an airline is a two way street. You agree to not act like an ass and disrupt the flight, and the airline agrees to get you there. Not on time, because it is an airline after all. United ignored their obligations and the guy did absolutely nothing to deserve the treatment that he got. I'm not a big believer in lawsuits-but this certainly deserves one. United dug the hole much deeper by not apologizing or admitting guilt. This has been a textbook example of what not to do if you want to start your own airlines.

The internet is 99% against United and 1% agreeing with them. In this case, I'm with 99. Sure, the CEO apologized late yesterday afternoon, but that's not because he's truly sorry-it's because United Airline stock was getting butchered. 

The remake of "It"

Maybe if I had a childhood I was more nostalgic over I'd like the movie "It" better. I did read the book (remember, the three northern New England states Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont have have laws that state that all residents must like Stephen King and Aerosmith) as a child but I don't remember liking it. The 45 hour mini series was no better either. I get it, many adults are still not over childhood trauma but to be scared of an antagonist (spoiler ahead) that can be apparently killed by a sling shot and two AA batteries? Might be time to see a shrink.

Scary clowns aren't scary. They are tiresome and annoying. Scary clowns that morph into things aren't really scary clowns, they are a creature that can morph into scary clowns. Horror movie antagonists who spend their time scaring the main characters instead of killing them aren't scary. Stephen King has written some good books (yuk, I need a bath). The Stand was fantastic, one of the best horror/dystopian novels of all time, no question. So King did have talent once. I also understand that the directors of It were taking a bad movie and trying to make it better. So far, I'm not optimistic that it'll turn out well.

Friend requests

Like I've said before in several posts, I'm a social media junkie. I love social media and I wish we had it growing up. I think it's incredibly over bashed by people who don't understand how it works. Sure, you can make fun of social media addicts and complain about how people use their phones too much-but welcome to 2017 where that is the primary way people communicate. You can bitch about them being anti-social but that doesn't make any sense, given that people talk to one another online, which is the definition of being social.

But there are things I'm hesitant about when it comes to social media. The big thing is the friend request. I don't like to friend request anyone I knew back when I was growing up, not even cousins and other family members.  In some ways, I prefer friend requests from online "strangers". Usually people I've met in a forum or through here. The reason I don't like accepting friend requests from people I've met in the past is simple: I don't want to be judged at 35 what I did when I was 14. I'm afraid if I do friend request someone they'll bring up things from the past that I'd rather not have publicly known. Hell, I don't want to reminisce about those days, much less see them posted online.

The other issue is when you get friend requests from people who don't know you well. I have a dark and dry sense of humor-if you don't know me well in my personal life I can basically guarantee that you would have a hard time wondering if I'm joking or not. I don't want someone lecturing me about my sense of humor because they don't understand it. I also don't want some 9/11 truther babbling on my FB page. 

I was talking with someone about this recently. He has a good rule about FB requests-two strikes and your out. If you post two things of any kind that he doesn't like on his page he immediately blocks you and the line is disconnected forever. That rule might sound harsh, but I think I'm going to start adopting it. 

Scripture Sunday 3 Nephi 24:8-11

The importance of tithing is stated here. If you believe in the Book of Mormon, then you believe that tithing is mandatory. Not tithing is apparently like stealing from God.

David Bednar a few years ago gave a general conference speech talking about the blessings that come from paying tithing, and this verse says the same thing he did. Basically that the blessings of church are like a closed window if you don't tithe, which to some people seems like the church is placing a price on going to the temple. I understand this way of thinking even though I don't fully agree with it.

My baseball bet

Wish me luck everyone.

A very good friend of mine is a loyal democrat, while I am not. I've known the guy for years and even though we disagree on politics, we still manage to get along great. We both agree on something very important though: a mutual love and obsession with baseball.

I am a fan of the Tampa Bay Rays. I have a season ticket plan and even when I'm not physically at the games I'm almost always watching on TV or paying attention on XM radio. My friend is a huge Yankees fan. We worked at the same place up north in 2003 when the Red Sox-Yankees were at the height of the rivalry. When Tim Wakefield gave up a home run to Aaron Boone, he wore his Yankee gear to work that day, breaking the hearts of almost everyone there. How he didn't get his ass kicked is beyond me. So yeah, he's into the Yankees.

Fast forward to 2017. The Rays opened up there season with a 7-2 win over the Yankees. Through the magic of Facebook, we decided to make a deal. In October, if the Yankees have a better record than the Rays, I'll write a check for five dollars to the Democratic National Committee. If the Rays have a better record, he's writing a check to the RNC. Sure it's only five bucks, but it's going to hurt if I have to write that check.

Go Rays!

Albums of the weekend

Queen-Greatest Hits and Classic Queen

Notice the sly little trick I did? This is the first plural album of the weekend. Not going to start a trend, but did want to talk about both albums.

Queen is an acquired taste. While they don't have the cult following of the Grateful Dead, I've seen people say the same thing about them-you either love them or hate them. I don't go that far. While I'm not a huge fan of Queen, I do like several of their songs. Classic Queen was the first Queen album I owned (I admit that greatest hits albums aren't real albums). Shockingly, I do not like the songs "Under Pressure" or "Bohemian Rhapsody". I do like "Hammer to Fall", "One Vision", and "Keep Yourself Alive". Those songs are a bit faster and my style. "Under Pressure" depresses me every time I hear it and "Rhapsody" is so overplayed that simply put, I'm just damn sick of it.

"Greatest Hits" has the famous "We Will Rock You" and "We are the Champions" to lead it off. I've always liked "We Will Rock You" and disliked "Champions", finding it melodramatic and a little tacky. "Somebody to Love", "Don't Stop Me Now" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" are my favorites off this album.

Like I said, I'm not the biggest Queen fan but I'm glad I have these two albums of theirs.

*cool story-in high school drama class we had to choose a song that that we identified with. One of my best friends went up to perform and I yelled out "Fat Bottomed Girls!" she looked indignant, but years later admitted it was funny.

The expectations of a Christian....and some more thoughts on Thomas Monson

President Monson has been released from the hospital and is heading home. He will, of course, continue to be in my prayers. Every hospitalization-especially for someone his age-is unsettling and worrisome.  

Moving on.

The hardest part about being a Christian isn't the chastity or forgiving people you may not like. It's the realization that people have stupidly high expectations for your behavior. Someone who isn't a believer and isn't trying to live a Christian lifestyle is a happy person-they can curse, drink, smoke, and do whatever they want without worrying about people calling them a hypocrite.

A Christian is still a human, and no, it doesn't make them a bad Christian if they smoke a cigarette, drink a glass of beer/ shot of Jack Daniels, or :: gasp :: get angry at the driver who cut them off. Am I advocating doing those things? Nope. Am I saying that Christians have it difficult because of the stupidly high expectations? Yup. 

Kurt Cobain anniversary and a little note about Thomas Monson

First off, as you might have heard the president and prophet of the LDS church, Thomas Monson, has recently been in the hospital. I'm praying for him, his family, his health and the church. Since this was unexpected, I wanted to mention it before my other topic. 

Kurt Cobain died 23 years ago today (bet you never thought you'd see those two names connected, huh? Kurt Cobain and Thomas Monson?). I still remember where I was (downstairs in the house I grew up in) when I first heard the news. Like people of another generation felt when they heard about Hendrix, Elvis, Joplin or their heroes, I remember the feelings so vividly even decades later. I was young (early teen years) and the punch was quite severe. 

What made it worse was when people tried to dismiss his death. "Oh, it was just a rock star." Or "Oh, he was a junkie anyway." Horrible things to say in the first place-it shows incredible ignorance about his influence on not only music but a generation or people. Was he perfect? Of course not. Was he more than just a "rock star" (something he hated) or a "junkie"? Damn right he was. 

My feelings towards Cobain have of course changed over the years. I love the music of Nirvana, I will always love the music of Nirvana. I will always in some way admire Cobain as well. Flaws and all, he will always be immortal. 

*Sorry that last year, I posted the same thing about Kurt Cobain. Every year on his anniversary I'll probably say something about it. 

Should transmission of HIV be a felony?

I'm going to start a section called "Whacky California laws." Sometimes I think I could make this a weekly post.  A proposed law in California seeks to make it legal to transmit HIV without telling your partner. It was and still is a felony.

I get it, HIV is no longer a death sentence. Thank God for that. Growing up getting HIV meant you had about 3-6 years left to live, if that. Sometimes it wasn't even that long. It was a horrific disease, with people asking "How did you get it?" like it mattered. The more uncaring and cold ones sometimes thought it was an appropriate punishment for drug use or what they thought was illicit sexual activity. I didn't know anyone who thought that way-but I've read stories about people who have.

Even though you can live longer with HIV, it's still not a pleasant ordeal for anyone to go through or be infected with. If you have HIV and are aware that you have HIV, then yes, you should be held criminally liable if you infect others with it. What if that person you infect already has a weakened immune system or other debilitating health conditions that makes HIV more serious? This is another really bad idea from the state that loves them so.

Why I like General Conference

First off, I'll confess something: No, I didn't watch all of General Conference. The Tampa Rays had their opening day on Sunday and after a quick visit with family, I went to the game. Baseball will always be my true religion, and one I'll never stop believing in.

But I like General Conference. I like hearing the prophets and church leaders give up to date, current information about His church and how it should be run. To some degree, all churches do this-even though they might not change dogma they need to adapt to changing times. Having living prophets helps the LDS church determine how and what (if anything) should be changed with the times. It's also nice to hear advice and counsel from people whom all believers in this church have great respect and admiration for. Most of the time, it's like listening to your wise old grandfather give life advice.

I've given General Conference talks to my non-beleiver friends to listen to. Unlike some LDS (and the LDS stereotype) I never preach or proselytize to my friends. If they don't try to change my religion, how dare I do the same to theirs. So I give them GC speeches with the note "Not trying to convert, just thought you'd like this." So far, no one has had a problem with it. That speaks well on my friends and the church.

General Conference

Happy General Conference weekend to my fellow LDS!

Think of General Conference as a very polite heavy metal festival without the shots of Jagermiester being passed around.

In honor of the living prophets speaking today, I won't be posting a Scripture Sunday on Sunday. They don't need the competition I provide.

God bless!