Blog Update

So, you can tell I've been a little unmotivated and a little busy lately. I'll be going on a much needed break until October 26th. I will not post again until then, and I'm sure both readers are just devastated by it. 

Dogs and humans

I love dogs. I've owned many wonderful dogs in my life and now I'm the proud owner of a bull terrier named Jaina, after the expanded universe Star Wars character.  She's the same breed as the Target dog, but the breed is not for everyone. Their history is a bit troubled-they were used as fighting dogs in their past, and I'm sure that in the wrong hands they could become extremely aggressive and very dangerous. Like all responsible owners of the breed, I'm careful to correct nay aggression that she might show. "Correct" doesn't mean use force or get violent-but it does mean they need firm leadership.

Humanizing dogs is a major problem in society because it's not fair to the dog. If you are desperate to treat something like a human-have a baby, not a dog.  Dressing up a dog in human clothes or having it be carried in your purse or giving it "people food" and reading it stories before bedtime shows that you are lacking something in you own life. Dogs are wonderful companions to humans and like I said-I love dogs and value them deeply. I also realize that some people get a dog for the wrong reason, sometimes because they are lacking something in their life.

Speaking of "wrong reasons" among the worst thing you can do is get a protective dog for some macho statement. Most men who act overly macho all the time are trying to overcompensate, and I've seen men who act like that get a pit bull or a rottie just to show the rest of the world how tough they are. Usually they can't provide the leadership that the dog needs and the dog turns into a violent monster. It's sad, because in the end the dog might kill another dog or much worse, another human.

Name calling

It is the nature of the internet to disagree, argue and debate. I accept this and so should everyone else on the internet. You don't want to be like the person who posts "99% of you won't repost this" status updates and the old lady who has "co-exist" bumper stickers-who think they can change the world by doing that. Like I've mentioned before part of being a grown up is realizing that you can't change people-they have to do so with their own actions and choices. Moving on.

I see people all the time on the internet call anything they disagree with "stupid". Or worse, they call the people they disagree with "stupid". Sure, some people make life choices the rest of us disagree with or say things that aren't the most cogent or logical-but calling everything you disagree with "stupid" or "foolish" shows a staggering lack of character on the person hurling the insult, not the person receiving them.

I know why people on the internet use name calling-it makes them feel better about themselves. Calling people names (unless it done in jest. Big, big difference between playful razzing between two friends and calling people you never met "dickheads") is obviously trying to cover up your own inadequacies.

Wearing what you want to church

LDS are expected to wear their Sunday best to church. You might be looked at differently if you do not, but in the end, wear whatever you are comfortable with.

Upfront, it's important to remember that no matter what you hink, do or wear, you will surely find someone who will complain about it. They do so to appear self righteous, holier than thou, or sometimes it's just because they are a jerk or a bully.

I usually wear a polo shirt and khakis. Ever since Catholic school I don't like wearing a suit and tie to anything. It makes me feel like I'm gong to a funeral. Church should be a joyous event-and while it does have a bit of solemnity to it being super serious and severe isn't exactly the warm and and friendly kind of believers that we should be.

Disagreements

There is something truly special about friends who are so close to you that you can disagree with them (sometimes strongly) and no one cares.

Anyone with strong views who is unafraid to share them better have the backbone and understanding to know that you can't please everyone.  Just expressing a view, you'll get someone angry. Usually, it's the tolerant people who are the first to block/defriend you. I know I've said that before, but it does merit repeating: The tolerant are the most likely to show screaming rages of intolerance.  Christopher Hitchens said it best, as he usually does "I learned that very often the most intolerant and narrow minded people are the ones who congratulate themselves on their tolerance and open mindedness."

Back to disagreements and friendships. In the world of social media and hyper sensitivity, we are quick to ban anyone from our lives if they disagree with us or "offend" us. Rare is the person who is strong enough - and secure in their own views - who can disagree with someone and still remain friends.

In other words-people need to grow up and stop acting like a 12 year old. If you only have friends who agree with you, you may not have friends. 

Ronald Reagan

I've been in a Ronald Reagan phase. He's always been among my favorite people to read about-both his Hollywood career and political career are amazing. Most people would not be able to excel in one of those careers. While he wasn't the greatest Hollywood actor (He's underrated though. Kings Row still holds up today) he made a lot of money and was very successful. Then, after a rough personal time-he bounced back from movies and thrived in the political world.

My favorite Reagan books are Ronald Reagan by John Patrick Diggins and A Different Drummer by Michael Deaver. Diggings discusses Reagan having more in common with Emerson-both had an innate positivity, a trust in human nature and a distrust of original sin-than with the religious right or "neocons". Deaver was one of the presidents most trusted aides. In fact, Reagan even mentioned once that Deaver was like a brother to him. Denver was right there for many of the key decisions in the life of Reagan. His love and admiration for the president is obvious. 

His auto-biography was called "An American Life" and it truly was one. A second chance marriage, a second chance career. America is many things, but it's mostly the land of second chances. President Reagan epitomized that. 

Album of the weekend

I know it's two weeks in a row where I don't have an album of the weekend. Both readers are surely devastated. I'm currently in the process of listening to this weeks choice, which was released this morning. I haven't had a chance to listen to it completely, so it'll be talked about next week.