.

RE-POST Gonzalo Lima on Hyperinflation

2011-02-15T13:01:00.002-07:00

Long discussion Tuesday on Hyperinflation.. much information taken from Gonzalo Lira here:

Good Reading

2011-02-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Idaho Pork Report is out... check it out here.

Spicin' up the SOTU...

2011-01-27T09:04:00.006-07:00

President Obama's speech Tuesday night was so incredibly boring and uninspiring, I had to spice it up so people wouln't drift off... Just imagine if Howard Dean had been in the audience...

Click to Listen

Bodies: The Exhibit, or "Love your Guts"

2011-01-26T09:30:00.004-07:00

A couple of years ago, I remember hearing a story about a controversial museum exhibit that shows in detail the intricacies of the human body. These specimens had been preserved using a unique process that basically swaps a body's soon-to-decompose cells with a polymer. The body becomes plasticized, organ by organ.

The exhibit in the early venues was very controversial... graphic representations of the human body, displaying "corpses"... even their genitalia... you get the idea. I'm not sure it's nearly as controversial now because it's no longer novel.

Well, I thought it was cool then, and think it's cool now. It's coming to the Museum of Idaho, debuting in a few days. I can't wait to go, and probably more than once.

Often I muse, "I wonder what my guts look like..." Don't we all wonder what our guts look like? Or is it just me...

Beyond the gut-reaction (sorry, couldn't resist) of simply wanting to know the condition of my innards, I am a person who is poignantly amazed at the structure and function of the human body. So many essays and works of prose have been written on the topic, discussing all that goes in to us being able to walk on two legs, or smell a spaghetti dinner, or dribble a basketball, that I won't try to compete with them... but if you stop and think about it for even a moment or two, it's truly incomprehensible all that we can do with, for, and to our bodies. We are a complex orchestra of organs and processes, most of which will never be explained or fully understood.

So I recommend you get past the "gross", and take in the wonder this exhibit will provide. I think it just may change your perspective about life.

And you'll at least get an idea of what your guts look like.

A Response to Rex Rammell's Press Release

2010-12-06T13:54:00.005-07:00

*A Hunter/Journalist Responds to Rex Rammell

A "Tyler the Intern" Editorial

The original text of Rammell's press release is in italics. My responses are in bold, regular format. On Saturday, Dec. 4, Rex Rammell sent out a press release telling “his side of the story.” In what largely amounted to an incoherent and insubstantial diatribe against the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Rammell side-stepped a few important facts that compromised the integrity of his story from the beginning.

"Guilty Until Proven Innocent"

“November 30^th was a great day, at least until I met a game warden on the trail. I had finally harvested a nice fat cow elk on the last day of the hunt. I punched my tag and was headed home.”

-Technically speaking, the process of “punching” one’s tag is known as “validation.” After harvesting a big game animal, you cut two “V” shaped notches into your tag clarifying the month and day within that month you harvested the animal. According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s (IDFG) 2010 Big Game regulations:

“The appropriate big game tag must be validated and securely attached to the animal immediately after the kill. The validated tag must remain attached to the carcass until the meat is processed and reaches the place of final storage or personal consumption” (p. 68).

"The officer stopped me and asked for my license and tag. I respectfully gave them to him. He said “your tag is not valid for this area.”

-As a matter of clarification, Rammell was dragging the elk with his snowmobile down a trail. The tag was not properly attached to the animal, but the Fish and Game officer was kind enough to let that one slip given the fact that Rammell was able to actually present a tag, and according to Rammell’s testimony the day afterward, the officer said that was “fine.” However, the officer is correct that Rammell’s tag was invalid. Rammell initially chose to hunt in the Middle Fork Zone with an “A tag.” According to the IDFG Big Game Manual, hunters in that zone were allowed to hunt between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31 (Ibid. 32). The elk tag is only valid within that zone and within the designated time period for the hunt which went through the entire month of October. In late November, Rammell decided that he wanted to hunt elk in the Tex Creek Zone in Southeast Idaho, several hundred miles from the area designated on his (now expired) tag (Ibid. 28). Tex Creek’s general elk season for “A tags” was between Oct. 22 and Nov. 30 (Ibid. 39). Regardless of the open season, Rammell’s elk tag was still invalid for the area.

“I explained to him when I bought the tag at Sportsman’s Warehouse they clarified I could hunt in any open zone in Idaho. He informed me that was incorrect.”

-Rammell had purchased a hunting license as well as a general elk tag to hunt in the Middle Fork Zone of Central Idaho. Within each hunting zone are designated areas known as units. Idaho has 29 hunting zones and 78 units, with zones encompassing between one to nine units (Ibid. 28). Rammell admitted the day after the incident that he was not aware of the difference between a “zone” and a “unit” until after he had killed the elk. Remember, this is a man who is in fact a “life-long hunter.” Hunting license vendors are not experts. Hunters are urged to consult IDFG regulations prior to hunting. When Idaho hunters go to purchase their elk tags, they are asked two primary questions that designate where they will hunt. Hunters seeking general elk tags must first declare their preferred hunting zone, followed by a unit in which they believe they will be spending most of their time hunting. According to the IDFG’s Big Game Manual:

“Hunters may select 1 zone and choose either an “A tag” or a “B tag” in most elk zones” (Ibid. 29).

“I asked him to show me the regulation. He could not, but insisted the tag was invalid.”

-This happened for either one of two reasons. The officer either did not know the specific reference in the regulations, or he did not have the regulations with him. Idaho Fish and Game officers have hundreds of regulations which they are required by law to enforce. The officer was aware of a certain law that prohibited hunting elk in zones outside the zone designated on the tag and was correct (Ibid. 29).

“I said “fine, give me a citation; I will fight it in court.” Then he said I couldn’t keep the elk.”

-As with any infraction, from a traffic ticket to burglary, suspects have the right to “fight” anything in court. At no point does the Idaho Fish and Game officer deny Rammell this right. The citation in and of itself does not force Rammell to admit guilt. The citation allows Rammell to either admit guilt or fight the claim in court.

“I said “but I haven’t been proven guilty.” He didn’t care.”

-Based on the evidence that Rammell was in possession of an invalid and expired tag, these actions warranted the citation. The officer actually presumes Rammell’s innocence until guilt has been lawfully proven. Rammell had the choice to either admit guilt by designating it on the citation, or claim his innocence and choose to fight it in court while still accepting the citation (with the hope that if he is not proven guilty, the citation would be waived). Whether or not the officer “cared” is entirely between Rammell and the officer in question.

“He said “I have to take your elk.” I asked him why. He said it was evidence. I replied “can’t you take a picture or do you intend to mark her as an exhibit and display her in the courthouse?” He said “I’m taking your elk.”"

-Any wildlife taken unlawfully is subject to seizure by Idaho Fish and Game officials. According to according to the IDFG’ Big Game Manual:

“It is unlawful to possess any wildlife or parts that were killed, taken or obtained unlawfully” (Ibid. 66).

Based on the evidence at hand, the officer believed that Rammell had taken his elk unlawfully. Once again, Rammell’s innocence is presumed until guilt can be proven in a court of law. If in fact guilt is not proven, Rammell’s elk would be returned to him. (The day after the incident, Rammell noted that the elk was being processed so as to not let the carcass go to waste.)

“I said “you better get your gun out, because you’re going to have to shoot me if you want this elk.” I then explained to him, if he wanted the elk he would need a warrant. He backed off and said he would follow me out, which he did without giving me a citation.”

-Idaho Fish and Game officers have one of the most difficult jobs in the state. Nearly every person with whom officers engage is either armed with a dangerous weapon on their person or has a weapon within reach. If the events happened precisely as Rammell noted, his actions could have very well warranted an arrest.

“Meanwhile, he called ahead and had two state policemen, two deputy sheriffs, and another game warden waiting for me in Idaho Falls. After arguing for an hour whether the elk was contraband and whether they had the right to confiscate the elk without a warrant or not, I finally gave in and let them take her, still without a citation.”

-According to Local News 8, “Officers said they were ready to issue Rammell a citation, but he ran into his house and wouldn’t come out.”

“However, that wasn’t good enough for them, they had to release a press statement all over Idaho implying Rex Rammell had been caught poaching an elk and had threatened an officer.”

-The word “poaching” never appears in the press release, though the incident was referred to as an “illegal killing of an elk.” The release notes that Rammell made a “threatening statement.” Rammell wanted to provoke the officer into shooting him prior to confiscating the elk. To use a figure of speech, Rammell would give up the elk “over [his] dead body.” Rammell resisted taking the citation (once again, the citation in and of itself does not admit guilt, nor does the seizure of the elk) and fled from the officer.

“Question: If I get shot, who threatened who?”

-I think a more accurate question would be, “who attempted to provoke who toward violence?”

“The rules are ambiguous and I am not the only hunter confused by them and misinformed by Sportsman’s Warehouse.”

-For almost any person having legally harvested a big game animal in the last ten years, the rules regarding zoning and designated seasons for those zones are not ambiguous. Ignorance of these laws has not ever excused anyone from obeying them. For instance, I received my first speeding ticket in Shelley, Idaho. I was travelling 35 MPH in a 25 MPH zone. I was unaware that there was a change in the speed limit. My Shelley friends never told me otherwise. Yet that stalwart Bingham County sheriff’s deputy kindly reminded me that my previously clean record and ignorance of the law did not mean I was excused from obeying it.

“But what really angers me is their “guilty until proven innocent” attitude.”

Rammell perceives that Idaho Fish and Game officers have this attitude, yet he’s failed to prove it in a court of law. Thus, the officers themselves are “innocent until proven guilty” in this regard, just as Rammell himself.

“I had an “A” tag that was required to hunt in Tex Creek. My greatest violation could only be hunting in the wrong zone. “

-Rammell did in fact have an “A” tag. “A” tags were required to hunt in the Tex Creek zone. However, elk hunters may choose one zone, not two, not four, not twelve, just one in which they hunt. The tag only applies to that zone and to no other zone. Not only did Rammell’s tag not apply to the Tex Creek zone, the tag was also 30 days out of season.

“Can that possibly be grounds for confiscation of my elk? Shouldn’t I have the right to argue my case before being found guilty by a game warden on the trail?”

-If the officer had legitimate reasons to believe Rammell had illegally taken an elk, the officer had grounds to confiscate the animal. Rammell had the right to argue his case. Based on the evidence at hand, the officer had grounds to believe that Rammell had acted in violation to state laws and was thus guilty. However, Rammell is not legally guilty until proven so. Rammell may very well believe he did not violate these laws. IDFG is more than ready to present their evidence to the contrary, in a case that will ultimately be decided in the Bonneville County court system.

“What is it with these Nazis? Honest mistakes are treated as harshly as blatant violations. And wouldn’t a suitable fine be sufficient if I actually did break the law by mistake? Why do they need to take my elk?”

-Referring to Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers as “Nazis” is a stretch of the term. Rammell was not shot (even after provoking an officer to do so), he was not arrested (even after arguing with six law enforcement officers who believed Rammell was armed and dangerous and fleeing from them), his house was not broken into (even after Rammell ran inside), his weapon and snowmobile were not confiscated (something that can happen with illegal big game kills), and no citation was written. The only thing the Fish and Game plan on doing is fighting Rammell in court. Rammell wasn’t starved to death. His family wasn’t taken from him. He still lives in a comfortable home with his firearms and possessions. He isn’t forced to wear an armband identifying what his religious, political, or sexual orientation may be.

He’s going to court, not Auschwitz.

If Rammell is found guilty, he’ll probably receive a fine. If he’s found innocent, the elk will either be returned to him or he’ll be reimbursed. The elk was presumed to have been taken unlawfully and thus warranted the seizure by the IDFG conservation officer. If I unknowingly and unlawfully took something, the state can by law, seize that object as evidence that I was complicit in an illegal act. The same applies to wildlife taken unlawfully.

“I think it is time to turn management of the PEOPLES fish and game back to local control by fishermen and hunters at the county level. After all, they actually know what is going on with the fish and game and would like them to be plentiful. To that end I will continue to fight.”

-Contrary to Rammell’s assertion, Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers are keenly aware of “what is going on” with wildlife in the state of Idaho. IDFG officials are largely responsible for documenting known populations of wildlife in any given area. They have 8 regional offices around the state in addition to their headquarters in Boise that in fact allows officers to operate at a “local level.” We owe conservation officers a great deal of gratitude for keeping wildlife populations the way they are. IDFG officers have been a great asset to the state of Idaho, particularly for well-meaning outdoor-enthusiasts. The laws are put in place to manage those populations at a safe and healthy level for the environment.

Are IDFG officers infallible? Of course not. Mistakes happen. Did IDFG make a mistake in this incident? It is possible (I believe in miracles). Did Rammell? Probably.

The day after Rammell’s run-in with the Fish and Game, Rammell stated repetitively that the elk he had killed did not belong to the state. The animals, according to Rammell, don’t belong to anyone until they’re killed by a hunter like him. Unfortunately for Rammell and fortunately for inquiring Idahoans, there is an answer, summarized in the IDFG’s Mission Statement.

"All wildlife, including all wild animals, wild birds, and fish, within the state of Idaho, is hereby declared to be the property of the state of Idaho. It shall be preserved, protected, perpetuated, and managed. It shall be only captured or taken at such times or places, under such conditions, or by such means, or in such manner, as will preserve, protect, and perpetuate such wildlife, and provide for the citizens of this state and, as by law permitted to others, continued supplies of such wildlife for hunting, fishing and trapping."

And so I continue my fight. My fight toward keeping citizens and public figures honest. My fight toward preserving a better Idaho for my family and friends. My fight toward obeying, honoring, and sustaining the men and women of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game who tirelessly work to make sure that my family can enjoy the outdoors for years to come. They’re not Nazis. They’re not the Gestapo. They’re not witches. They’re just doing their job.

-Tyler Andersen

Rexburg, Idaho

*Two shorter versions of this response are forthcoming in the Rexburg Standard Journal and the Idaho State Journal.

Rex Rammell: Why?

2010-12-01T16:10:00.013-07:00

A "Tyler the Intern" Editorial

Who am I?

When I ask people living outside of Eastern Idaho what they know about it, you might get a few cliché answers inevitably containing the word “potato” and a question asking how “close it is to Boise.” In short, it’s not well known.

I moved to Eastern Idaho over a decade ago. Aside from a two-year stint in Texas, this place has been my home. I was raised in a home with an appreciation for the great outdoors, hunting, fishing, and the beauties of nature. I have many fond memories with family and friends hunting elk and moose on wind-swept mountain slopes and deer on the banks of the Snake River. In a very literal sense, I’ve been hunting since I could barely walk. I love this place.

Who is Rex?

During my “two-year stint in Texas” something happened back here at home that changed the face of politics for the state of Idaho. Rex Rammell, a veterinarian and elk rancher from Eastern Idaho had nearly 160 elk escape from his ranch. With the elk on the loose, a massive and mostly unsuccessful roundup was launched costing taxpayers more than $60,000. Then-Gov. Jim Risch ordered an emergency hunt that killed several of the loose animals.

Rammell’s distaste for the state’s intervention prompted him to run in unsuccessful bids for U.S. Senate in 2008 (against his arch-rival Jim Risch) and for Governor in 2010. His unorthodox approach to politics included inviting only Latter-day Saint priesthood holders to a meeting, though controversy surrounding that meeting made his proposed plans fall through, and using a long-since discredited “revelation” attributed to the founder of the Latter-day Saint movement known as the “White Horse Prophecy.”

Rammell’s notoriety has come at least in part through the wake of the Tea Party movement and the rise of a revitalized conservative movement. Even among the most conservative Idahoans, Rammell proposes a very anti-government, fundamentalist political philosophy. If you ask just about any Idahoan with a passing knowledge of state politics, they’ll probably have a something to say about him.

Rammell, like me, loves the outdoors. “As a young boy and then to manhood," notes rexrammell.com, "Rex either had a fishing pole or a rifle in his hands.” Aside from disagreeing with Rammell’s political philosophy, I was surprised to find that we had plenty to disagree about when it came to hunting rules and regulations.

Rammell in Trouble

In Idaho, Rammell has been inseparably connected to the elk incident in 2006. Political pundits were among the first to wise-crack about the Risch-bashing elk farmer with kooky political views. Yet with all of Rammell’s rhetoric, the irony came to a climax Nov. 30, 2010.

The story was the top headline for nearly every news outlet in the region. Rammell, who had championed against the government-mandated hunt for his loose elk had illegally killed an elk himself. Not only had Rammell illegally killed an elk, he refused to cooperate with Idaho Fish and Game officials and Bonneville County deputies.

Earlier in the year, Rammell had purchased a hunting license as well as a general elk tag to hunt in the Middle Fork Zone of Central Idaho. Within each hunting zone are designated areas known as units. Idaho has 29 hunting zones and 78 units, with zones encompassing between one to nine units (see map page 28).

When Idaho hunters go to purchase their elk tags, they are asked two primary questions that designate where they will hunt. Hunters seeking general elk tags must first declare their preferred hunting zone, followed by a unit in which they believe they will be spending most of their time hunting. According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s Elk Management regulations:

Hunters may select 1 zone and choose either an “A tag” or a “B tag” in most elk zones (page 29).

Rammell chose to hunt in the Middle Fork Zone with an “A tag.” According to the Fish and Game’s regulations, hunters in that zone were allowed to hunt between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31 (page 32). The elk tag is only valid within that zone and within the designated time period for the hunt which went through the entire month of October. Unfortunately for Rammell, he chose to ignore those regulations.

In late November, Rammell decided that he wanted to hunt elk in the Tex Creek Zone in Southeast Idaho, several hundred miles from the area designated on his (now expired) tag (see map, page 28). Tex Creek’s general elk season for “A tags” was between Oct. 22 and Nov. 30 (page 39). Regardless of the open season, Rammell’s elk tag was still invalid for the area.

Rammell continued to hunt in spite of these issues, and eventually harvested a cow elk with his grandfather’s center-fire rifle in an area east of Idaho Falls. Rammell tied the elk to his snow mobile (snow machine if you’re from Idaho) and began driving down a trail where he met a Fish and Game official. The officer asked to see Rammell’s hunting license and elk tag, which he promptly provided for the officer. It didn’t take long for the officer to realize that Rammell had taken the elk illegally. The designated zone for the tag was printed clearly and legibly, as is the case with all big game tags in Idaho. Tex Creek of course, is not Middle Fork. Thus, Rammell had an expired tag and was in the wrong zone.

Idaho law requires Fish and Game officials to confiscate big game animals taken illegally. Rammell was adamant that he had the right to use his expired elk tag wherever he wanted in the state. The Fish and Game officer, who makes his living enforcing the laws enacted by the state, and who has intimate familiarity with those laws, was only doing his job. Rammell refused to cooperate with the officer, and threatened to use his rifle against him if he attempted to confiscate the animal and issue a citation. Rammell believed that only a judge-issued warrant would be valid for him to give up his animal. Rammell then loaded up his gear and promptly sped off on the snow-covered trail believing that he hadn’t broken any laws.

Fish and Game had other ideas. En-route to his home, Rammell was pursued by six vehicles from local law enforcement agencies. With Rammell’s threat toward the Fish and Game officer earlier in the day (joking or not), officials weren’t taking any chances. According to Rammell, at least one officer approached him with his gun drawn after Rammell was seen reaching into his coat pocket. Officers confiscated Rammell’s elk tag, as well as the animal to use as evidence.

Rammell Responds

Rammell told local news agencies that he was mistreated. “To call the state police and make a big deal out of it in my neighborhood,” he told Local News 8 reporter Emma Jade, “I felt like a fugitive felon over here for killing an elk in a legal zone on a legal day.”

Yet Rammell refuses to acknowledge the fact that he didn’t kill in a legal zone. His tag didn’t apply to Tex Creek. It wasn’t on a legal day either. Rammell’s tag expired nearly a month earlier. Yet Rammell’s complete failure to acknowledge the facts didn’t stop there. He later told Jade that the controversy may prompt another run for public office.

"It's typical Fish and Game B.S. in my opinion…with a general deer tag you can hunt anywhere in the state until you get one. Why don't you have to designate a zone for deer if you have to designate a zone for elk?”

“I can tell the people of Idaho that I'm still interested in politics and it is my absolute goal if I become the governor of Idaho I will reform the Fish and Game. As we know them today, they will no longer exist."

Fish and Game officials in Boise told reporters that they would charge Rammell for his illegal kill and subsequent behavior through the Bonneville County Prosecutor. Yet through all of it, Rammell insists that he hasn’t done anything wrong.

The big showdown with Rammell didn’t end with law enforcement confiscating his elk and issuing him a citation. On Dec. 1, 2010, the story took a different turn. Neal Larson of Newstalk 690 and 1260 invited Rammell onto his noon-hour show to discuss the incident. What followed was a series of relatively incoherent responses from Rammell desperately attempting to downplay and side-step the issue. For over 20 minutes, Rammell systematically ignored the fact that he’d actually broken the law. For over 20 minutes, unaccountability and finger-pointing remained the substance of Rammell’s defense. He played the victim, and the Fish and Game were the Nazis.

Larson’s interview with Rammell began to explode shortly after several elk hunters called in questioning Rammell’s actions. For following the law, Rammell considered these callers unpatriotic. To my surprise and Larson’s, a number of Rammell apologists began calling in with equally myopic views about the Fish and Game and the role of government in regulating wildlife populations. It became a shouting match between the folk of the fringe and the rational. It was what makes talk radio famous. It will also probably destroy any margin of reputation Rammell has left.

Concluding Thoughts

Rammell’s behavior and responses on the show were childish. They lacked substance and reeked with ad hominem attacks against the Fish and Game, Idaho lawmakers, and those who disagreed with him. Rammell is innocent until proven guilty. Yes, this is true. But I don’t think the prosecution will have to do much explaining to convict Rammell. In fact, the best thing for the prosecution to do would be to simply let Rammell explain himself. The more he opens his mouth, the more ridiculous his claims become.

Honestly Rex, if you’re reading this, just tell the truth. Wasn’t your three-fold motto for your gubernatorial campaign “courage,” “integrity,” and “honor”? All I ask of you is three things. Have the “courage” to stand up and admit that you broke the law. Have the “integrity” to hold yourself accountable for your actions. And finally, have the “honor” to personally apologize to every single person you’ve dragged into this mess. The best thing to revitalize your public image is transparency. Unfortunately, unless you apply these three principles, I don’t see your political career taking off any time soon.

Your religious beliefs encourage you apply these principles. You’re told to take care of the animals, use them as you need them, and at times be an advocate for them. You’re taught to obey, honor, and sustain the law. It’s time Rex, for you to be a “doer of the word” and not a “hearer only.” Practice what you preach good buddy.

It’s not too late to make a change.

Rex Rammell's entire interview with Neal Larson can be heard by clicking on this link:

NLS- Rex Rammell Interview Dec. 1, 2010

Idaho Prisoners Fight While Guards Watch

2010-12-01T11:51:00.001-07:00

Daily Poll- Graphic Images for Cigarette Packages?

2010-11-11T11:46:00.002-07:00

Should the FDA put graphic images of cancer patients and diseased lungs on cigarette packages? Take our Daily Poll and tell us what you think.

Man in Wheelchair Tackles Would-Be Thief

2010-11-11T10:53:00.001-07:00

The next time you think that someone who is "disabled" can't "stand up" and do what's right...think again. This guy is awesome!

NLS: November 5

2010-11-05T00:52:00.005-07:00

Alright folks, what do you think....should Sarah Palin run for President in 2012? Pundits have mixed opinions, but what about you? Tune in to the Neal Larson Show today and we'll talk about it!

She may be a Mama Grizzly, but at least she can do math...

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NLS: November 4

2010-11-04T00:24:00.001-07:00

We'll be taking your calls today on the Neal Larson Show as we talk about the issues affecting us locally and abroad. Tune in from noon to 1 p.m! Feel free to participate by calling 524-TALK that's 524-8255.

Why Idaho went with Butch and Tom

2010-11-03T08:41:00.000-07:00

I got duped, by a poll. I honestly thought that both the governor’s and education superintendent’s races would be closer. Not necessarily close, but closer than the 60-40 split we witnessed Tuesday in each of the races.

So what happened? I try, perhaps too hard, to perform a post-mortem on the most interesting races, but these are a little tough to figure out.

Let’s first go with the Allred-Otter race. First of all, it must be horribly frustrating to Democrats to put so much effort and time and money into a race, and not be able to pull in even a third of the votes. I followed Keith Allred’s campaign and for the most part I think it was pretty well-executed. Allred didn’t make any fatal gaffes during his campaign. He was articulate, eloquent, centrist. Those are key ingredients for any Democrat to win a statewide office in Idaho.

So why did his final numbers come in at the low 30’s? I can think of a few reasons, some more tangible than others. The tea party tsunami/wave/earthquake/ (insert your own natural disaster here) simply translated to a lot of votes for the “R” candidate. The second reason is that Keith Allred was very good at keeping his ideology – if he has one – to himself. In my several interviews with Allred I tried to find out where he stood on issues. He was adept at pushing each answer into his well-touted “consensus” paradigm. Idahoans want leadership based on principle and, yes, ideology, to get us to a brighter place. Allred’s “let’s just find a way to get along” platform wasn’t enough for many in Idaho. The third reason. I would call it the “cognitive dissonance-inducing campaign message”. Rolls off the tongue, huh? Allred put himself out there as an Idaho kid, a rancher, a guy like you and me. But he also touted his experience as a Harvard professor. Two personas without a lot of overlap.

While finding consensus and getting along is great, right now folks want bold, clear, decisive leadership.

Now let’s talk about Luna and Olson. In essence, Luna kicked the crap out of him. In retrospect, this post-mortem is easy. Idahoans are largely sick of the whiny we-need-more-money mantra that so predictably spews from the mouths of the IEA and their minions every four years. Like clockwork. The IEA’s playbook is obsolete. The IEA is obsolete. Why is it that everyone -- everyone -- has to tighten their belts in tough times, except for education?

We love our kids. We all want to give them the best education possible. What we also understand as is that during a recession we cancel cable, stop eating out, set the thermostat a little lower in winter and a little higher in the summer, and wait a year or two before we buy the new car. Our kids will not be worse off because of it. In fact they get back to basics, which is healthy and good. Education is no different. So they miss a field trip here and there. So they have to raise their own money for athletics. Maybe they’ll go to school for four days a week instead of five. Challenging to their education? Maybe. Fatal? Hardly.

If I may use a Sharron Angle-ism, it’s time for education to man-up. As long as they allow the IEA to protect Idaho’s worst teachers in a counterproductive tenure system, and as long as they robotically chant the more-money mantra every four years, and as long as they put up candidates who can’t – by his own admission - do tenth grade math, they’ll get what they got on Tuesday.

And that’s why Tom Luna won.

NLS: November 3

2010-11-03T01:47:00.002-07:00

Today on the Neal Larson Show: What did you think of the Election Results? Harry Reid stays in the Senate, but Republicans made big leads in elections across the country as well as Idaho. We'll take your calls and talk about the issues that matter to you the most.

Election Day Hot Links

2010-11-02T07:55:00.005-07:00

Idaho Secretary of State Election Results
Real Clear Politics
Politico
Drudge Report
Foxnews
The Note

Wondering where you need to vote? Try this...

NLS: November 2

2010-11-01T23:58:00.002-07:00

Its Election Day Eastern Idaho! Exercise your civic responsibility and vote. On today's Neal Larson Show...lots of parodies, entertainment, and election coverage. Is it time for Democrats to say goodbye? You'll find out today from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on the Neal Larson Show.

NLS: November 1

2010-10-31T23:28:00.005-07:00

On Monday's Neal Larson Show we'll be interviewing Republican candidate for Representative in District 30A, Brian Nugent, U.S. Senator Republican Mike Crapo, and State Superintendent Incumbent Republican Tom Luna. Election Day is just a day away. Listen to Newstalk 690 and 1260 for all of your election coverage.

A few weeks ago Idaho Falls had problems with Mountain Lions in neighborhoods. This week...its a deer. Check it out.

(IDAHO FALLS) -- A wounded mule deer buck found its way into Idaho Falls yesterday in a neighborhood north of Skyline High School. The deer hopped a fence and found its way into the backyard of Eric and Katy Rawlins. The deer had obviously been hit by a car and was missing one of its antlers. Due to the busy holiday weekend, Fish and Game as well as Animal Control were not on hand to take care of the deer. Officials expect the deer will wander back to where it came from.

NLS: October 29

2010-10-29T00:35:00.002-07:00

Today on the Neal Larson Show we'll be interviewing Idaho's Republican Incumbent Governor, C.L. Butch Otter. Tune in from noon to 1 p.m. as we ask the questions that matter the most to Idaho voters. Election Day is just a few days away. Arm yourself with the facts. Stay informed. Vote!

NLS: October 28

2010-10-28T10:53:00.001-07:00

Today on the Neal Larson Show: Candidates (R) Ken Andrus Dist. 29A and (R) Linden Bateman Dist. 33B. Its election time, remember to vote November 2nd!

A Big Congratulations!

2010-10-01T06:27:00.005-07:00

We're a pretty proud bunch here at Riverbend this week. Out of thousands of radio GM's across the nation, our very own Jim Burgoyne received the General Manager of the Year award from the National Association of Broadcasters.

Jim is even more nice than he looks in this picture. He's one of those rare souls whose influence just makes you want to be better. He didn't earn this award for any kind of hard-driving taskmaster approach. We credit his patience, expertise, work ethic, and good nature. We're not surprised, but we sure are thrilled!

Here's a video of Jim receiving his award in Washington DC Thursday...

Corn Maze

2010-09-29T12:27:00.002-07:00

Take a look at this corn maze...

You never would have guessed this is what you're driving by on I-15 just south of the Shelley exit. Don't miss my interview with Shawn Stolworthy about this year's maze. And if you wanna know more, check out their website!

Not much time to vote!!!

2010-09-15T12:35:00.003-07:00

Reed Miller of Rigby is poised to win a National Geographic photo contest thanks to this shot:

Vote for Reed's pic!

The New Normal

2010-08-26T08:34:00.003-07:00

So my wife recently went through the ritual of going to Wal-Mart, grabbing the school supply list from the display at the front of the store for my 8-year-old's class, and began her trek through the school supplies.

This year, something new was on the list: two reams of paper.

What? Paper? Seemed an odd request, but an obvious one, given the school district's financial woes.

At a little less than three bucks apiece, the two reams weren't that big of a deal. I don't mind spending the money, but I wonder where it's going to stop. In addition to reams of paper, my two older kids had significant fees just for the basics to get into school. Certainly more expensive than in previous years.

I think the schools are a lot like Congress. Once they start taking, they won't stop, even if their financial situation improves. I have no doubt that two reams of paper for my elementary-age children is now a permanent fixture on their school supply list. Same story for the higher fees for middle and high school. Welcome to the new normal.

Gall Stone Cleanse Recipe

2010-08-18T12:02:00.002-07:00

I had a listener ask about a gall stone cleanse recipe I used a couple of years ago that seemed to work for me.

Here you go: http://www.relfe.com/gall_stone_cleanse.html

Happy to help!

Rory Poop 2010

2010-08-12T07:37:00.003-07:00

Ok, so take a look at the logo for Rory Reid's current campaign to become Nevada's governor. Something is conspicuously missing. I'll give you five seconds...

1...2...3...4...5 -- OK time's up!

The last freakin' name!

This campaign is completely doomed to fail. Earlier this summer Rory dropped "Reid" from his campaign because it's become a cuss word, of sorts, especially in Nevada. If his name were Rory Poop, he'd have a better chance of winning than if he used the "R-word" for his last name.

Is it not a paradox that Rory, who under normal conditions would stand any kind of a chance because of who his dad is, actually doesn't stand a chance... because of who his dad is.

His campaign, really, is "You should vote for me because I'm Harry Reid's son, but I don't want you to know that I'm Harry' Reid's son."

Rory is trailing by double digits against a conservative Hispanic candidate. (And that, Harry Reid, is one example of why someone of Hispanic heritage would want to be a Republican. So they can beat your son in the governor's race.)

Note to self: If I have to conceal my last name when running for office, perhaps I shouldn't be running for office.

Thursday's Neal Larson Show

2010-08-05T10:21:00.002-07:00

So on today's show I'll challenge the idea that anyone who wants illegals deported is racist.

Plus, what did you think of the ruling yesterday overturning the will of the people of California?

We'll talk about that, plus a little preview of an alternative idea for Memorial Drive in Idaho Falls.

Join me noon to one!

What do do with downtown

2010-08-05T10:01:00.005-07:00

Looks like the Idaho Falls city council is moving forward with a plan for downtown that will eliminate over 200 parking spots along Memorial Drive, but provide added parking elsewhere.

An alternative plan is being put forward by local businessman and downtown property owner Lyman Martin.

Thought you might want to take a look. Here's a link to the PDF file.

Air Traffic Control Freaks

2010-03-04T07:46:00.003-07:00

Americans are hyper-sensitive when it comes to aviation controls, and for understandable reasons.

On February 17th, a child going to work with his air traffic controller father marked the beginnings of a controversy. Audio recordings show that the child was giving directions to pilots at JFK airport. The pilots knew exactly what was going on. The air traffic controllers did too. The entire time nobody seemed shocked, alarmed, hesitant, or concerned. The situation was clearly under control.

But, in our hypersensitive environment, this has been blown into not just a national story, but a big controversy. The FAA released this statement:

"Pending the outcome of our investigation, the employees involved in this incident are not controlling air traffic. This behavior is not acceptable and does not demonstrate the kind of professionalism expected from all FAA employees."

I'll concede that it's probably not the best idea in the world to allow small children, even supervised, to have any part in directing pilots of large planes full of people. But, honestly, does anyone think for a moment that the pilots were utilizing the information from little Timmy in a critical situation?

I remember as a little kid, my dad would put me on his lap and let me drive the car, and even the pickup sometimes. I loved to steer, and that's all I could do, because I couldn't reach the pedals. He did all the braking and accelerating. And if I started veering too far to the left or right, he would take over. All of this was done on a quiet country road that saw no more than a car an hour on average. Legal? Heavens no. A good idea? Probably not. Dangerous? Not even close. It wasn't as though he was letting me speed down the freeway at 75mph.

In fact, I could argue that the air traffic controller and the pilots involved were probably paying far more attention to what was going on than usual to compensate for the unorthodox situation.

I don't think an investigation or suspension or anything else real serious was required here. Here's how it should have been handled: "Hey, Bill, probably shouldn't bring your kid to work and let him direct air traffic. Can you imagine what would happen if the Drudge Report got a hold of this?"

Anyway -- we're always looking for the next controversy, the next outrage, the next thing to can somebody over. Perspective, people. Perspective.

2010-02-24T12:00:00.002-07:00

On the left is the new logo for the Missile Defense Agency. On the right, of course is the islamic symbol.... Any similarities?

And how about the comparison to the Obama Campaign Logo?

Lots of buzz on the Internet over this...

Just What We Need: A Ron Paul Re-emergence

2010-02-22T08:26:00.003-07:00

Ron Paul won the CPAC straw poll. For those of us who can separate the concepts of ideological purity from electoral viability, this is not good news. I was hoping for some peace, and this isn't helping.

When you try to tell the crazies that Ron Paul was running against a whole host of other names, their eyes will glaze over and they will mutter something along the lines, "doesn't matter, he got the most votes."

When you try to tell them that while he won a third of the votes, it was among die-hard conservatives, and that his appeal beyond that group is severely limited, they'll call you an unpatriotic imbecilic heathen.

In fact, I believe that straw-polling a plethora of candidates should include a 2nd choice option. Doing it that way would provide a much clearer idea of various candidates' viability. Think for a moment. How many non-Ron Paul voters would have chosen Ron Paul as their second choice? Hands please.... Few, if any.

So, I guess I'll be tolerating another few days of putting up with the you-hate-the-Constitution-and-America-because-you-don't-support-Ron-Paul calls and emails. Such is life.

Seeing the Whole Person

2010-02-18T08:46:00.005-07:00

How friendly are we in East Idaho? This week I referenced a story about a Florida family who ventured to North Dakota, lured by a city's effort to attract newcomers. Once there, they found the slower pace they were looking for, but they were made to feel very unwelcome. Wanting to personalize this, I wondered how we do in East Idaho when new folks move in.

In recent weeks I've had a number of conversations with people who were unfriendly toward those who were moving in and "Californicating" Idaho. I also spoke with others who had been shunned as newcomers. Others said they've had great experiences from the get-go. Yet another said it took a while to feel a part of things, but after a year or two, he felt at home. Seems there's a spectrum.

One fairly common theme is that of religion. Some said they felt left out by the predominant faith.

I suppose this is an issue that varies from neighborhood to neighborhood and town to town.

But a couple of things occurred to me that I think deserve some thought. When anyone is part of a minority -- racial, religious, or otherwise -- a certain complex automatically and immediately develops in many people regardless of reality. A sense of opression emerges and it is assumed that finding acceptance will be a struggle. While in some cases the opression is real, I think in many cases it is not.

I've heard the awkward stories of people being asked "What ward are you in?" when they are in fact, not members of any ward. While I understand that this might make some feel unwelcome, I hope they would think more deeply. And I would also hope that members of my faith would be more thoughtful and not assume. Just remember that outnumbered is not the same as unwelcome.

Which leads me to my second and final point. Why do we take one aspect of a fellow human being's personality and allow it to overtake our entire perception of that person? A number of callers expressed their disdain for liberals who may want to move to our state. While I certainly don't relish the thought of having an influx of secular progressive thought, because it means that I have to work that much harder to either convert or defeat them politically, many people bring a wealth of experience, expertise, creativity, and wealth when they come.

A few days ago I posted a piece at Idahofallstoday.com -- analyzing three different political movements and how they fit in with our Constitutional form of government. It was clearly an opinion piece on my part, and I arrived at the conclusion that the only viable movement that is in keeping with the Constitution is the Tea Party movement. But that's beside the point.

I was immediately slammed, personally, for my thoughts. I was told that nobody wanted to hear what I had to say, that my knowledge of the Constitution couldn't get me past fifth grade, and that I was doing a lousy job of trying to be Glenn Beck.

Whoever wrote the words couldn't see past the fact that I'm a supporter of Sarah Palin's message. Because of that I became an imbecilic, untalented wannabe. While I'm sure my critics have talents and value unseen to others, it soured my appetite for trying to express a valid opinion in that particular online venue for a couple of reasons. Number one, I'm not going to waste time engaging with those who's only desire is to insult and demean. Secondly, I'm interested in having a vigorous but civil back and forth about politics today, and it was anything but civil.

How often do we do that to others? See the negative and allow it to become their whole being? I think we do it far too often.

Breaking a Lower Law...

2009-12-04T09:41:00.003-07:00

Every so often you meet somebody that has a way of polarizing people, despite - or perhaps because of -- having the best of intentions. Such is the case with Andi Elliott, who runs the Upper Valley Humane Society.

Her effort to save an injured dog in Jefferson County resulted in a trespassing charge filed against her. The problem, is that she did everything right. She civilly worked with the dog's owner, law enforcement, and neighbors to try and get some help for the injured nursing mother dog that had been hit. The dog was suffering from a broken hip and leg.

While I've had no prior problem with the Sheriff of Jefferson County, Blair Olsen, I have to stop and wonder what in the world is happening when law enforcement officers are enforcing the law, but only selectively.

Three or four callers to my show, both commenting and voting in a FlashPoll, seemed to think looking the other way when an animal is hurt is ok. Fortunately, however, the vast majority calling in Thursday understand the concept of minimizing suffering among all of God's creatures.

While normally I lovingly ridicule the "pet people" of the world, I stand with them on this issue. I think most of us do.

I'm not calling for the Sheriff's ouster, nor do I think there needs to be a big investigation. Revenge isn't really important here. What is important is for officers to enforce all the laws, including laws against cruel treatment and neglect of animals.

I applaud Andi Elliott. Sometimes we have to break a lower law to keep a higher one. She did that and she should be praised, not prosecuted.

Just some thoughts

2009-11-30T08:22:00.003-07:00

I don't have any one thing to write about today, just some thoughts. And yes, I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thanks for asking!

There's trouble for Mike Huckabee. There's something I think we all like about ol' Huck, but this isn't one of them. His record of paroling hardened criminals is coming back on him. Turns out, the guy who shot and killed four cops in Washington was out on the streets thanks to the former Arkansas governor. You might remember Huckabee getting some criticism during his Presidential run for his paroling penchant. While Huck is often mentioned as a Presidential contender for 2012, I can just see the opposition ads right now -- families of the four police officers, ominous music. This may just be enough to scare him away from another run.

And what do you think about the couple who snuck their way into the White House to a reception and dinner, shaking the President's hand, and rubbing shoulders with the administration's top people? While officials say this constitutes a major security breach, and I don't disagree, what strikes me is the insatiable need for media attention. Perhaps as a talk show host, I'm the pot calling the kettle black here, but these people aren't unlike the ballon boy's father. I don't remember their names, and I don't even care enough to look it up. People will do stupid things that will clearly get them into legal trouble for an oppportunity to be on a reality show, make money for an interview, or ink a lucrative book deal. It's sick.

On Tiger Woods. This has been one of the big stories from over the weekend. It's an overblown story. It appears he had a nasty fight with his wife, and crashed his Escalade into a tree and a fire hydrant. End of story. I'm not sure this warrants even the tiny bit of attention I've given it here.

Thanksgiving Dinner

2009-11-23T07:23:00.004-07:00

Since this is going to be a short and, while I'm at work, very busy week, this will likely be my only post this week, so I wanted to reflect a little on Thanksgiving.

My wife is the eighth of ten kids. You can imagine with spouses and the average four or five kids for each family, our thanksgiving dinners feel more like church pot lucks. In fact, her side of the family has grown so large that we have to reserve a church in her home town, and put up the round tables and metal fold-out chairs to house and feed everyone.

While it loses a little intimacy and quaintness, it's actually quite nice to have a family Thanksgiving dinner in a church. The kids, both young and grown up, usually play a little basketball in the gym to work off the turkey, rolls, stuffing, and mashed potatoes. After the feast and basketball, I personally like to sneak off to the foyer and steal the couch for a quick afternoon nap. There's no competition for the bathroom, since there are plenty of those, and a church seems to have its own feel, conducive to emotions of gratitude.

I always enjoy the conversation and comeraderie with my siblings-in-law. While not all of my wife's family will make it, most live in the Idaho-Utah corridor, so there are plenty of people to talk with, inquire about, and learn from. I almost always leave the annual event having had great conversations about politics, sports, religion, and more.

While I could be wrong, I think Thanksgiving is the only major holiday dedicated to a human attribute all of us are able to experience. Of course it has historical roots in real events, but we've ended up calling it not "Pilgrim's Day" or "Harvest Day", but... Thanksgiving Day. When we have our familes -- extended, adopted, and immediate -- surrounding us, and we're partaking of thoughtfully-prepared food, symbolic of the bounty we enjoy, Thanksgiving Day is the perfect recipe for happiness.

I say we take a respite from the world's weight this week, and enjoy the lightness and reprieve of gratitude.

Am I crazy?

2009-11-19T08:09:00.002-07:00

I am cautiously writing this, because I'm fearful of coming off a little crazy. Perhaps I'm a little too invested in worrying about my appearance, but my hope is that I can convey some feelings that are clear to me, but may be difficult to articulate.

The basic premise of my thoughts is that we have undergone some major psychological changes culturally and sociologically.

I was reading the national news this morning about the folks who are in panic over unemployment benefits running out in January if Congress doesn't act. My first thought -- which seemed odd at the time -- stirred a slight bit of humor in me. I thought of our nation's founding people. The pilgrims. The colonists. Even the early immigrants who came here with so little. I think they would read that AP story and chuckle -- or chagrin -- at how soft, dependent, and -- from their perspective -- pathetic we have become. Compared to them, we are helpless wussies.

We have gone from "I'm hungry... I better go shoot/plant/harvest something to eat." to "I'm hungry, who's going to feed me?" Of course, I'm not referring to just physical hunger. All our needs, and even some of our wants are provided, or subsidized, by others if we decide to go that route. We are rarely, if ever, encouraged to assess our own resources and then make a plan and muster the ambition to elevate our situation.

And it's not just the government. We have a media culture that dismisses the role of personal choice and responsibility in areas of honesty, sexuality, marital fidelity, and sobriety. We've all probably watched late night comedians who are cheered and applauded when making jokes about casual drug use and sexual promiscuity.

But I'm not really here to talk about moral decline and dependence on government services.

This is where you might think I'm crazy, but I think we are conditioned, whether by design or by default, to forget that we have the ability to make our own choices. It happens, of course, inside our brain. It takes effort to actually make a choice because it requires an authentic -- as opposed to automated -- thought.

Imagine walking by a table at work and seeing a piece of chocolate cake. Almost automatically you pick it up and you eat it. One might say you made the choice to eat the cake, but you really didn't. In fact, you failed to make a choice. You resorted to default, easy, reactive influences. And then the fat chocolate cake eater blames Betty Crocker for getting diabetes and three sets of love handles.

It's possible to make the choice to eat the cake -- but it requires counting the cost of doing so -- the calories, the sugar high, etc. And of course, choosing to not eat the cake is the hard and probably best choice of all.

So how does this apply to our society and culture? I think we are too often mindlessly eating the chocolate cake. We do it when we apply for credit cards. We do it when we buy a home that's bigger than our salary can handle. We do it when we bail out of our marriage when times get rough. So often we simply don't make a choice and instead mindlessly follow the reactive route.

One of my children is learning to play the electric guitar. He was showing me how he could play jingle bells, yet was struggling to get through it. Every time his finger missed a string or fret, he yelled at his little sister who was chattering away like she always does. In his mind, it was her fault he kept messing up. What my son failed to realize is that he, in a very real way, gave his power up. It may not be easy to take responsibility, but when giving it up, it's important to count the cost.

While taking responsibility, fully embracing the individual power to make choices, it may be excruciating. But we've forgotten that it's not impossible.

The name is Bond...Failed Bond

2009-11-18T08:35:00.005-07:00

A friend texted me the results of the District 91 $84.5 Million bond election last night.

With all due respect to those supporting the bond, I was far more elated than I expected. I must have been more emotionally invested in this one than I thought, because I was nearly giddy.

Keep in mind, I don't live in District 91, and don't really have an obvious stake in the outcome of the election.

But here's why I think I had a surge of "Yes!" when I found out the bond failed.

First, let me say that I am an unapologetic school election reform advocate. I think school elections are a sham for a whole bunch of reasons:

1. They do not fall under the purview of the Secretary of State. Every public election in Idaho should be overseen by a "disinterested" party. The school officials have a vested interest in the outcome, so why should they be running their own elections?

2. Because there is no outside observer, school districts resort to some shifty tactics to better their chances. I received two calls about activity that I believe borders on electioneering, if not rigging. One was about his elementary school holding a student music program from 6:30 to 8:00pm -- the last ninety minutes of yesterday's election. How convenient. The second was from a patron who was appalled at the glossy architectural renderings of the district's proposed schools inside the polling place. Would the schools give equal access to the opposition to hold activities and display their printed materials? Not likely.

3. Elections are held at the very location that stands to benefit from passage. What would happen if a polling place was set up at GOP headquarters in a partisan election? We all know the answer to that, and we all understand why that's not acceptable. So where do we hold them? How about the post office, or city hall, or the library? Even hotel conference rooms have served as perfectly good polling places. The county courthouse. The police station. The airport. The senior citizen center, or legion hall. We have plenty of neutral locations for a vote. Let's get them out of the schools.

4. Thanks to legislative action earlier this year, this concern is almost moot, but why have schools been able to set their own election days? Yesterday's vote is a perfect example. While I understand 6,000 votes is a pretty decent voter turnout, holding it two weeks earlier on the regular election day would have guaranteed even more voter participation.

Add to these reasons the unusually prompt enforcement by the City of Idaho Falls in removing signs opposed to the bond in the public right-of-way, and I'm happy to see that the underdogs prevailed.

With all of these factors playing in District 91's favor, fifty-six per cent seems pretty anemic.

I suppose part of my unexpected elation over yesterday's bond failure came about because the outcome is another reminder that people don't like education officials' insatiable appetites for public money. Among the patrons with whom I associate, administrators throughout education have wandered into that realm where yesterday's wants have so easily morphed into today's needs. Perhaps one of my callers said it best yesterday when he described his change of mind upon hearing the "need" for the schools to have air conditioning in a climate that necessitates it only a few weeks out of the school year.

I strongly believe every parent wants the best education for their children, and when arguments are reduced to a supposition that those who vote against a bond or a levy don't care about education, it's sad, simplistic, and unproductive.

Hopefully the architects of this failed bond will go back to the drawing board and come back with a plan that is more innovative, exciting, and palatable to the taxpaying patrons in District 91.

The Nanny Has Arrived

2009-11-11T09:09:00.004-07:00

In many instances it's for good reason that we try to keep a semblance of separateness between politics and religion in American life. My gut tells me that excessive involvement by either side into the other, would serve as a corrupting influence. The same gut tells me, however, that severing one completely from the other makes just as little sense.

On many issues both politics and religion overlap. Treating our fellow man with compassion and kindness. Finding the right mix of justice and mercy for those who have committed unacceptable acts. And, of course, helping people to become self-sufficient.

At the core, however, of both politics and religion, is the issue of freedom.

In my particular faith, we call it agency, the belief that God gave us a brain with its mix of reason, emotion, conscience, and faith to make decisions about our behavior that can lead us to the highest levels of independence, or, into prisons both real and figurative. While I believe that our level of "reward" is more complex than God simply keeping a tally of behaviors, we largely create the lives we have.

It is my strong belief that God wired us to have freedom, knowing that we don't really succeed unless we really could have failed. It's vitally important to us spiritually to be able to choose between hurting others or being compassionate, loving or hating, intoxication or soberness, diligence or laziness, education or ignorance. The world is before us, as are its myriad paths, and we can make powerful choices that have lasting consequences on us both spritually and practically.

It is this God-given yearning for freedom that was manifested secularly when our Founders defiantly signed the Declaration of Independence, then a few years later drafted our Constitution, and set up our representative republic which guarantees certain individual rights. Among those rights, as we all know, are life, liberty, and the right to pursue our chosen level of happiness. Add to those general rights the more specific liberties outlined in the Bill of Rights -- and we still have a fairly short but powerful list of Constitution-granted liberty.

We have entered a new phase in our nation's governance, the effort now being to re-wire the human essence to yearn, not for freedom, but for a nanny. When anyone enters our lives and justifies our failures, it feels good. It feels good to be rescued. But it's not who we are. We are wired to sweat. We are wired to earn. We are wired to dream, to work, and to achieve. At our core, we are wired to be free to do all of these things.

When politicians threaten jail time for not buying health insurance, we've been robbed of our freedom. More subtly, when government takes from one group of people to help another group of people buy cars and homes, we've had a little more of our freedom stolen away.

I believe that when those who want to be nannied out-number those who want to be free, socialism begins in earnest, and at first appears to be a smashing success. But over time the dwindling number of producers can no longer sustain the voracious appetites of those who no longer want, but demand, to be nannied, and the whole unsustainable system will collapse.

Never forget that the more decisions that government is making, the fewer you are. Let's not let our freedom erode anymore.

Rough Play? More Like Assault...

2009-11-09T08:34:00.002-07:00

I think this girl should be thrown out of soccer for good...

Insane Clown Posse

2009-11-06T09:25:00.002-07:00

The fans/admirers/followers/defenders/disciples/groupies -- whatever you want to call them -- of Insane Clown Posse protesting ICP's concert cancellation on the steps of City Hall have gotten plenty of coverage the last 24 hours. All the TV stations, and the Post Register were there.

This is America and I applaud them for being concerned enough to take time out of (what I'm sure are) their busy and productive schedules to make their voices heard. Not only did they spend time protesting, they clearly spent some important time -- away from raking leaves in grandma's yard and raising money for cancer patients -- to paint their faces up like clowns. I've always believed that nothing creates a sense of credibility like a big ugly clown face.

On KIDK's report with Danica Lawrence, she interviewed one of the Juggaloes who coolly puffed his cigarrette before answering her question, then went on to say that ICP is actually protesting all the things they seem to be praising and graphically portraying in their music. That's a novel approach to protesting. It never has crossed my meager mind that to fight such ills as gang rape, murder, and bestiality -- we ought to describe them, in detail, glowingly. Hmm, I'll have to think about that one. Maybe it would make more sense to me if I made myself look like Ronald McDonald.

As I've reluctantly glanced over the controversial lyrics of Insane Clown Posse, here are some gems (edited):

This one is from the poetically titled "Guts on the Ceiling":
----------------------------------------------------
I'll never be one to boast
But there's my tongue hanging off the lightpost
Cuz my head exploded
And my brains unloaded
All over this beautiful city
Teeth and bones to the nitty gritty
There's my eyeball stuck to the wall
Right next to my splattered jaw
I don't dig this game
Chasing my brains all through the sewer drains
My head's all over the block
Cuz I done went lunatick-tock tick-tock
Come on, dawg, what's wrong with my head?
It blew apart but I still ain't dead
I get no respect

And how about these lines from "Thrill of the Kill":
---------------------------------------------------
Sweatin' and my chest is burnin' like I'm on fire
So much pressure in my head I could blow air in through a car tire
I'm about to burst pop shatter explode
And everybody's pokin'sticks at me like they wanna splat me

No one sees me when I creep I stay behind s**t
Check for open windows I scale across and climb s**t
Get inside and choke an old lady in her Craftmatic
And like fresh oxygen to an asthmatic I get a thrill

And -- by the way -- I specifically picked the least profane verses to share.... If you want to find the plethora of lyrics with all the "F" and "B" and "S" and "C" words you can find them yourself.

One last point -- perhaps minus the previous sarcasm. Is ICP the cause of many ills? Or is it simply a symtom of some very deep underlying problems. The youth are painting their faces like clowns! They're not only listening to graphic descriptions of humanity's worst behaviors, they are defending them.

Sometimes people cry for help in strange ways. Perhaps this is one of them.

Why in the world would anyone be drawn to this?

That's really what we need to figure out.

Hot Mormon Muffins?!

2009-10-27T08:57:00.002-07:00

What? Are you kidding me?

So Chad Hardy, the notorious creator of the "Men on a Mission" calendar is at it again. This time, instead of desecrating the image of the Church's missionaries, he's going after the typical "Mormon housewife stereotype" with his latest "Hot Mormom Muffin" calendar.

This new piece of skanky trash shows a dozen different mothers who are presumably LDS. Each of them has varying levels of clothing on. All of them look provocative.

I'm curious to know what courageous message these 12 pillars of motherhood are trying to send to their children and the world....

"Look how skanky I am."?
"Look, kids, I'm still trying to be a teenager, even though I'm 35!"?

In Hardy's mind, I'm sure he's being courageous, funny, creative, and hilarious.

The truth is, however, is that he's leading a sad and prideful life, insisting on pushing limits he shouldn't. I feel badly for the women who feel the need, in their mid-30's and older, to show off their bodies for some kind of self worth, all under the banner of motherhood. I feel even worse for their children.

This doesn't apply to just LDS mothers. Women who are modest, confident, composed, and dignified are always far more appealing, even sexier, than those who strip down and show off their stuff.

I've always believed that the most secure people are those who don't have to prove it.

My Wife's Class Reunion

2009-10-19T07:15:00.004-07:00

Over the weekend my wife attended her 20-year class reunion. Normally the spouses dread this event, but I rather enjoy it every five or ten years. I enjoy it because we went to rival high schools, and I have the uncommon pleasure of pretending I'm not over the rivalry. And class reunions happen just infrequently enough that her Malad Dragon classmates forget that Esther's married to one of those evil Aberdeen Tigers. So it's a new joke every time, and I take full advantage of it.

Since Esther worked hard to help organize this year's reunion, I had the skinny on most who were attending, where they lived, what their background is. Class reunions are odd in that half of those in attendance know each other well, like siblings almost. The other half don't really have a clue who anyone is. Half of the room is filled with reminiscent camaraderie. The other half is made up of man-I-hope-this-gets-over-soon awkwardness. I found comedic value in observing this strange dichotomy. (Just for the record, nobody who graduated from Malad High School ever uses big words like "dichotomy". You have to go to Aberdeen to learn four-syllable words.)

And you know what else? I think there's a yet-to-be-diagnosed mental disorder called "Class Reunion Aversion Syndrome". It stems from the strange perception that when you return to your alma mater 20 years after leaving, everyone else will have the same hair and waist lines, drive the same shiny cars, have the same hot boy- and girlfriends, and will have retained all the same personality traits -- good and bad -- they had twenty years earlier. What happens, actually, is that the jock, who looked like Tom Cruise, now looks like Dennis Franz. And the bully is now the the bishop. The stoner has become the policeman, and the beauty queen is now the frumpy mom. That quiet homely girl has turned into the Cover Girl. Everyone seems to have grown up. Sad, though, for those who find an excuse to stay away, suffering from a bad case of CRAS, when they could be there reminiscing, laughing, learning that everyone changes, and that everything is ok.

Maybe it's different in larger high schools. Esther's class had 55 students. Mine had even fewer.

While more-so for Esther, since it was her high school reunion, it was an experience of mixed feelings to introduce our teenaged children to each other. Some even talked about their grandchildren. Grandchildren!? We're not there yet, but in ten years we easily could be.

As Confucius once said, "Time keeps on ticking, ticking, ticking, into the future." (or maybe that was Steve Miller).

We had a fun, enlightening, and self-reflecting weekend

Elder Oaks Hits a Home Run

2009-10-14T07:39:00.004-07:00

This week Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve spoke to BYU-Idaho students, and candidly expressed his dismay at the level of criticism directed at people of faith.

Specifically he spoke of the Proposition 8 backlash against Latter-Day Saints and those of other faiths who became targets of vitriolic rage by gay rights activists.

Speaking as a Latter Day Saint, it's always refreshing to hear our church leaders speak openly and candidly about a divisive issue.

My thought-provoking question... For those of us who believe in scriptural teachings, and that God talks to us and gives us direction, are we ever conflicted by His counsel to avoid contention and be accepting of others, while at the same time we're charged to contend for the faith, and to defend our traditional cultural and religious heritage?

If you want to see a Q&A with Elder Oaks, here it is...

Now this is funny...

2009-10-13T12:57:00.005-07:00

Congratulations, Mr. President!

2009-10-09T06:51:00.010-07:00

So President BHO wins the Nobel Peace Prize just a few months into his Presidency...

Some of the lesser-publicized awards from the Nobel Committee:

The Nobel fastest runner Prize goes to...

Stephen Hawking.

The Nobel best singer Prize goes to...

Roseanne Barr

The Nobel honesty and chastity Prize is awarded to:

Bill Clinton

The Nobel Ugly Prize goes to...

Jessica Biel.

And, finally, the Nobel good-lookin'-woman Prize winner is....

Helen Thomas.

I'm just sayin'.

The New EastIdahoNews.com

2009-10-08T13:06:00.002-07:00

I just want to take a moment to encourage you to check out our station's newly-redone website, EastIdahoNews.com. You might think you've been there before. No, you haven't. Check it out... I think you'll like it! There you'll be able to download our local shows on podcast, vote in our daily poll, and check our online schedule -- and a lot more.... Bookmark it today!

Tiring of the racism accusations...

2009-09-23T08:19:00.002-07:00

There's an interesting thread at IdahoFallsToday.com about the local opposition to President Obama's schoolroom speech earlier this month. The author of the post asked a genuinely good question about the outrage over what turned out to be a pretty innocuous speech about working hard and staying in school.

The comments by readers, however, immediately accused those of us (I was one) who opposed having the President's speech aired to America's classrooms of being racist. A discussion about race ensued, many of the commenters talking about how we're racist here in Idaho and we don't even know it, because we've had a sheltered life, and we're a bunch of ignorant prejudiced Mormons, blah, blah, blah.

I have no doubt there are some who are indeed racist, and include skin color in their grievances against the President. In all the look-what-Obama-is-doing-to-America discussions I've had with friends -- and I've had many a discussion -- there's never been a mention of his race. For me and those with whom I associate the only reason we're are aware of his dark skin is because the false accusers of racism keep bringing it up.

I do oppose Obama. But it's because he's deceptive, utopian, leftist, and he surrounds himself with scary radicals. His vision and dogged pursuit of that vision fuels plenty of opposition. I'd oppose a scary leftist utopian Swede, and I'm a Swede. The fact he has African blood is irrelevant.

I think what's happening here is that there are a few who cannot fathom why anyone would be against Obama's vision. So grounded in and blinded by a defective ideology, they can't see any reason why anyone would choose a different path.

It used to be that a charge of racism would ruin a person's reputation. Now, I believe that we're more sophisticated on the issue. Since the R-word is thrown out like candy at a parade now, people have become more discerning. We find it just as offensive to give people a pass because of their minority status as we do denying them opportunity for the same reason. In both instances racism breeds division, the former robbing a person the dignity of really earning something, and the latter depriving them of an equal opportunity to succeed on their own.

False accusations of racism are, actually, the real racism. The latest example is Jimmy Carter:

Anyone who exploits race for political advantage ought to be shouted down, opposed, and put in their place. We're all grownups here... let's move beyond race and discuss issues on their substance, without polluting the dialogue by injecting a poisonous and false accusation about somebody's skin color or blood line.

Charlize Theron

2009-09-18T13:54:00.003-07:00

So Charlize Theron was on The View yesterday, and was applauded by audience and hosts when she declared that she refused to get married until her gay friends could do the same.

I'm trying to figure out if this is a... threat? Promise? What? What sort of response was I supposed to have? Run out and suddenly support gay marriage, so Charlize and Stuart Townsend can finally get married, because our lives cannot be complete until they exchange their vows?

I chuckle inside thinking that Charlize Theron speaks as though she and her Hollywood ilk have any moral authority to speak on and defend the institution of marriage. I'm already thinking of writing a spoof book and call it "Hollywood's guide to a happy marriage". Ha!

Hollywood doesn't wait to start having sex until marriage. They don't wait to have kids until after a nuptial commitment. And it's clear that once they do tie the knot it's a pretty loose knot, easily untied. So at the end of the day, what is marriage to them beyond a nice white dress, tux, pretty music, fancy food, and a few friends and acquaintances?

Hollywood doesn't often have what it takes to even be married. It's a bunch of self-absorbed, me-centered, all-important pretty people who have no real connection with how real people live.

Charlize, one last jab... If you are so self-absorbed to think anyone cares that you refuse to be married until gays can be married, you're probably not equipped to engage in the selfless and sacrificial practice.

Beefy needs to die

2009-09-17T06:42:00.002-07:00

On Wednesday's Neal Larson Show I conducted perhaps my most irreverent and blunt FlashPoll ever. A vicious Bull Mastiff named "Beefy" keeps attacking kids in one Idaho Falls neighborhood, and the owners seem reluctant to put the dog down. I asked my listeners "Should Beefy Die?" Overwhelmingly listeners responded that, yes, Beefy indeed should go to Dog Heaven, Dog Purgatory, or Dog Hell, wherever his hereafter fate may take him.

One participant in my rapid fire phone-in poll agreed that Beefy should be put down, but she was highly offended at the flippant tone both callers and host were treating the solemn subject of canine euthenasia. Instinctively I asked her if she had dogs. Her response, as my radio host intuition predicted, was "several." I feel for the dog people.

Don't get me wrong, I like dogs. I grew up with them. We have a beautiful growing energetic black lab puppy. But I'm not so far gone that I can't distinguish between Roxy and my own children. I have and will never subscribe to the "Dogs are people too" mindset. And I even cried watching "Marley & Me". I still can't see or read "Where the Red Fern Grows" without some water works. My childood dogs -- Peppy, Pops, and Sting -- were all good friends, but they were dogs. And when they died -- from old age, getting hit by a passing car, and another lapping up anti-freeze (we didn't have control over it, before you go off) -- I was sad, but I knew that dogs have their place, and for my family, it's not inside the house, and it's not wearing clothes, and if they get terribly injured, you shoot them, or take them to the vet.

If this sounds harsh, don't blame me. It's how I was raised, and I see nothing convincing that I'm wrong.

Now to this Bull Mastiff, "Beefy". These owners should face some kind of jail time. Beefy needs to be put down so the neighborhood can get back to normal. We should have zero tolerance for vicious animals.

We have dominion over the animal kingdom, and not the other way around.

Obama: Anti-Christ Superstar

2009-09-15T08:39:00.003-07:00

Since a short video clip arrived in my inbox a few days ago, I've been intrigued by both the contents of the video and the response people have when they watch it. It's been as much a mini-lesson in sociology as anything. You can watch the video below, but the gist is this: In the Gospel of Luke Christ is recorded as saying he saw Satan as lightning falling from heaven. Using ancient Aramaic words, "lightning from heaven" could be tranlated as "Baraq O Baw-maw".

The video is a joke. Everyone knows the Anti-Christ is Nancy Pelosi.

Actually, from what my limited research revealed, those ancient aramaic words exist and they mean what the video says they mean.

So -- me being the "throw caution to the wind" sort of person I am - I knew the video would generate a reaction from anyone who sees it. So I posted it to my Facebook profile. Any serious implication that the President is the much-discussed and ominous-sounding Antichrist from the Bible is going to do something emotionally to those who hear it. Here it is:

To those who support the President, they found the video offensive and disgusting. Others, who aren't exactly in Obama's camp thought the video was loony. Others simply observed it as "interesting." The reactions were mixed.

I was a little hesitant in posting it, because I didn't want people making judgements about me, even though they know I'm not an Obama fan. I was more interested in the reaction than I was in spreading anti-Obama sensationalism.

As for what I think (as though that matters in this morass of speculation)? I have no clue. The Internet tells us that Ronald Reagan, George HW Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, Saddam Hussein, and many others were the anti-Christ. Bottom line, from a scriptural standpoint, is that it doesn't really matter. The AC is or will be the AC. I know where I stand, and where I teach my family to stand, and I think it's less important who it is than what he/she is trying to do.

Asking for some psychotherapy...

2009-09-11T07:16:00.003-07:00

For the last few years when September 11th rolls around, I have an emotional reaction. Most of us do. But I'm in the unique position of overseeing a media outlet and deciding what level of attention the radio stations I program will give to this momentous day, so I suppose my reaction affects others in some way.

Candidly, I feel a sense of wanting to avoid talking about it. And I don't know why. It's not born of wanting to stick my head in the sand and pretend it didn't happen and that everything is ok. I know things are not ok, and I feel as though I'm keenly aware of the threat of Islamic terrorism in the world, though we've done a remarkable job of keeping it outside our shores and borders the past eight years.

But as I prepare for the Neal Larson Show today, I frankly don't want to spend a whole hour on it. Part of it is because so much of our national programming will focus on it. But a deeper part of this avoidance is because I don't have an appetite to keep talking about it. I don't want to see any more "burning WTC" images. I don't want to hear politicians make their remarks. I don't care to hear bagpipes or tearful rememberances. The yearly ritual of having ceremonies seems intrusive to me. I crave normalcy, and 9/11 is an affront to normalcy.

And I feel guilty about that, because 3,000 people died that day, and hundreds more have died making sure it doesn't happen again. September 12th always seems now like a nice relaxing breather.

I remember 9/11 as though it happened yesterday. I remember where I was, who I was with, what we said, and how we reacted. I also remember the subsequent months of not quite feeling like the world was ever going to be the same, ever. Nine eleven put me out of sorts for quite a while. Whatever became normal after that, was a new normal, and a less desirable normal.

While today marks an important day -- it's Patriot Day for heaven's sake -- I'll, perhaps sadly, be spending most of my day looking forward to tomorrow's sunrise.

Teacher Sex Scandal

2009-09-10T08:45:00.003-07:00

By now you've probably heard about the arrest of Kari Atkinson, the Sandcreek Middle School P.E. teacher who now faces five lewd conduct charges. She's accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy.

I've been watching the scores of comments roll in at Local News 8's website, and I'll save you the time and trouble of reading them.

On one side, the viable argument is made that the arrest and multiple charges wouldn't have happened without some pretty good evidence.

On the other side, many of her students and colleagues -- those closest to her -- are commenting that she would never do this and isn't capable.

And of course there are a few idiots making this into a religious issue. Their comments reveal nothing, except their sad obsession.

We all would like to know what really happened, but until we know more, it's just speculation. Two families, and two circles of friends, are in shock right now, so let's just hold off on the declarations. Just pray for both families.

In the meantime, let's talk about the double standard. I'll be the first to plead guilty to this. My reaction when I see an attractive woman accused of this is far different than seeing a man accused of the same crime.

It's wired in men to be protective of women, especially pretty ones. My reaction isn't so much a conclusion about her guilt, but a sense of compassion if she is guilty. I can't explain what deep hidden instinctual forces lead me to feel like this is less perverse than a 28 year old man preying on a 14 year old girl. I'm far more willing to reserve judgement on Kari Atkinson than in other cases where I've been ready to convict a similarly-charged male suspect.

A study on prison sentence length for child sex offenders based on gender would be interesting. I'm willing to bet women have lighter sentences than men.

Please don't misconstrue my thoughts as dismissive. If she had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy, she must be punished without consideration of her gender. But recognizing this is a process of reason, rather than instinct.

Maybe I'm the weird one. I'm sure you'll all let me know if I am...

I pledge to oppose propagandist crap

2009-09-03T10:22:00.004-07:00

Watch this video:

It doesn't start getting too creepy until about three minutes in.

Particularly disturbing is the pledge to be a "servant to our President..."

Some of the conspicuously absent pledges:
To be self-sufficient
To America
To the Flag
To support our troops
etc...

This is hollywood propaganda at its finest.

Rex ought to surprise us all

2009-09-01T07:22:00.003-07:00

Last week Rex Rammell's mouth delivered yet another controversy. In responding to a lousy attempt at humor by a Rammell rally attendee, Rex made an even dumber follow-up joke about buying an "Obama tag" and hunting the President of the United States.

Rex, Rex, Rex.

There are a TON of worthwhile jokes that could be made about our President. Shooting him isn't among them. Idaho's Congressional delegation -- all four of them -- and our governor publicly condemned Rex and told him he ought to apologize. Ya, like that's going to happen.

So this week, Rex is holding a couple of press conferences to talk about the issue. I don't know for sure, but I think he's going to tell some people they can "go to hell." I'm just guessing, because I know Rex.

I like Rex, don't get me wrong. In fact, he called me Monday, and he'll be on the show Wednesday to talk about it. We have a good working relationship. He trusts me to tell him the truth, and I trust him to frequently give me the opportunity to have to. I'm just sayin'.

Anyway -- Rex should have apologized. Not just because it's the right thing to do, morally speaking, but it would have been the right move strategically. Oddly enough, in Rex's case, an apology would have surprised more people - and pleasantly so - than him making a joke about shooting the President of the United States. Sometimes I think if you say something terrible, and then make an unanticipated apology, you can get further ahead than you were before you said something terrible.

I've been married for almost fifteen years and I've become very well acquainted with the saying-something-stupid cycle. I never pre-meditate the process, but if I say something foolish and stupid, and then really, sincerely, truly apologize -- my wife can't keep her hands off of me. Like I said, I've never pre-meditated the process, but I can't say I've never thought about it. Just sayin'.

So, Rex, for the good of your campaign, my friend, you ought to apologize.

Charges of racism, crying wolf

2009-08-25T08:22:00.002-07:00

John Stossel has succinctly pointed out that anyone who criticizes the President, or his proposals, is promptly called a racist. It's sort of a new version of the "vast right-wing conspiracy", simply the latest effort to distract us from what the angry outrage really is: legitimate concerns from right and center Americans who ain't buyin' what the liberals are sellin'.

The problem is that everyone knows that genuine dissent doesn't equal racism. I'm pleased to see that the dissenters aren't cowering away from false accusations of bigotry. I don't care what color skin the President has, socialism is NOT what America needs or wants.

How uncreative to simply revert to racism! What cowardice to hide behind racial identity!

At some point, you've probably been the target of "the guy" who tried to get you to join AmWay. Whenever "the guy" comes around, you know that you're going to have to endure a sales pitch. "The guy" each time may have a revised approach, and the name of what he's trying to sell may have changed, but you know it's the same darn thing, and you don't want it.

President Obama and his liberal supporters in Congress have become "the guy" who keeps trying to sell some undesired product, hoping the latest version of their sales pitch will be the one that is convincing.

The more they talk, the madder we get. And a growing number of folks are seeing through their efforts. Charges of racism prove, not that the accused are racist, but that the accusers can't seem to get the issue of race off their mind.

The pot calls the kettle black...

2009-08-19T09:44:00.003-07:00

So Democrats in Congress, tired of getting beat over the head over how they badly mismanage a plethora of federal programs, are deflecting our attention to those homicidal health insurance companies. Politico is reporting that an investigation has been launched into compensation and spending practices of the nation's largest health insurers.

I hope if you're reading this, you're not stupid enough to fall for it.

What business does the government have in telling a private company how to spend their money? There aren't any allegations of criminality. It's just the latest incarnation of class warfare waged by those whose political careers depend on, well, class warfare, to survive.

I'm certain there are highly-paid executives in insurance companies. Just like there are in every other major industry. And I'm sure that they've treated employees to nice retreats -- like they do in every other industry. So don't be surprised when these Congressional thugs drag insurance executives through a torture chamber of public ridicule, because, well, they made a lot of money.

Furthermore, the hypocrisy couldn't be more vivid. This is the same bunch of congressmen who were forced to back away from purchasing extra private jets to hop around the country. Something about a pot calling a kettle black comes to mind.

So they're worried about how much money the insurance companies are charging? Why don't they attend to how much money the government is charging us. And our kids. And our grandkids.

I don't pretend to think that the insurance companies don't need to change the way they do business. They do, if we want to have lower health care costs, but I hardly think the geniuses who have racked up a massive deficit, driven Social Security into near insolvency, and continue to fund inefficient and astronomically expensive entitlement programs ought to be telling a private company how they should spend their money.

I'm just sayin'.

A health care Mulligan may not be a bad idea...

2009-08-18T07:20:00.003-07:00

I always am amazed at those on the left who express selective frustration that we can't have a reasonable dialogue about the issue du jour. Seems civility is a one-way street.

At the core of of their argument is an insistence that we spend precious time and energy discussing and debating an issue in which no substantive common ground exists. Constitution-loving patriots could never condone a government-funded communal health system, just as leftist utopians will not be satisfied until they get one. I simply don't believe that there's a place of compromise on nationalized health care. Medicare and Medicaid are both extremely expensive, and near bankruptcy. I'll skip reciting the lengthy list of other bloated and ineffective government programs that lawmakers are great at starting but horrible at operating. On some issues, you compromise. On others, the really important ones, you just have to win.

While I would concede that some of the town hall disruptors from our side may have violated Miss Manners' Guide to Town Hall Etiquette, their behavior is no more offensive than the proposal they are opposing. The simple fact is, we don't want more government. America is seeing ginormous and unprecedented deficits, with an economy still sputtering despite spending hundreds of billions we didn't have to get it moving. We see government taking over the banking and automotive industries. For good reason, it's scaring the crud out of us to think that the government wants to take control of medicine.

Now there's discussion of a "do-over", a Mulligan. I have mixed feelings about it. America has already shouted a collective "hell no!" and I generally get indignant when politicians have a deaf ear. But on the other hand, I largely credit the health care debate for sending President Obama's approval ratings into the tank. And if another round of "just give socialism a chance" discussions can produce similar results... I'm open to the idea. The only thing better than one Waterloo, would be two.

I can see this Congress and President getting booted. Now that would be the change I could believe in.

Shooting dogs in Shelley

2009-08-12T08:19:00.003-07:00

There's a story that KIDK has been following out of Shelley about a policeman who shot an aging dog, to put him out of his misery.

Since I don't know everything about this case, let me hurry up and say that the cop acted stupidly.

OK, that was just a cheap shot on my part. But, now that we have a cop and an angry victim we can move forward with an awkward beer summit. (It'll have to be a root beer summit, since I don't do beer.)

Actually I think we do know enough to substantively comment...

Old dog wandering around a neighborhood, so old it looks sick.
Resident calls the police to report the wandering sick-looking dog.
Three officers arrive on the scene of this dire emergency.
One of them decides the sick-looking dog needs to be put out of its misery.
Cop pulls the gun, and fires FOUR shots into the canine. (This cop must be a great shot. Most of the time it takes ten or fifteen rounds to kill an old sick-looking dog).
Dog dies.
Owner is angry.
Community is upset.
A meeting is held.
Cops stand by their decision.

So... there's the story. I feel badly for the owner of the dog. And, frankly, I think the cops messed up. If a dog is acting viciously -- or is a pit bull -- shoot it immediately. But if it's just sick looking, for heaven's sake, find the owner first.

Similar logos?

2009-08-10T11:46:00.001-07:00

Bad precedent?

2009-08-04T08:15:00.003-07:00

I've been watching with interest the news of former POTUS Bill Clinton making a "surprise" trip to North Korea to negotiate the release of the two Current TV journalists -- Laura Ling and Euna Lee -- caught trespassing into the North a few months ago.

ABC News says this trip has been in the works for weeks, and I think it's probably clear that Clinton made sure the two journalists would be freed before he ever agreed to make the trip. All the rest, it appears, will be a formality, and in a few days -- hopefully sooner rather than later -- Lee and Ling will return home to the states.

While I'm happy to see two fellow citizens come back, spared more than a dozen years in a hard labor camp, I can't help but worry about the precedent this trip may set. North Korea loves the attention this has been getting for them. To attract a former president, and "benevolently" release two prisoners who admitted to trespassing, makes us look a little foolish.

According to ABC's report, North Korea wanted two things: 1. An apology. 2. A high-profile dignitary to make a visit.

As for the apology. That's clearly not a problem for the Obama Administration. They've been selling apologies at Wal-Mart on the clearance rack all year.

And the high-profile dignitary? Bill Clinton needed something to inject himself back into the public scene as a hero and win a foreign policy victory for the Obama Administration. So I guess it all worked out.

I'm just not convinced that other rogue nations won't think they can pull our chains in a similar fashion in the future.

Tattoos, piercings, and ear gauges, oh my!

2009-07-30T06:14:00.005-07:00

A few days ago as I was walking around Wal-mart, I decided to count tattoos on people. Actually, the number of people with tattoos. Not because I wanted to make a judgement. Rather, I like to observe. I'm a people-watcher.

I saw all genders and ages of folks donning the colorful "body art". When I observe anything, I try to see with clear eyes, putting even my religious and cultural values aside for a moment, simply to try and understand, to empathize without judgement.

Try as I might, I just don't get it. I'd understand a little better, perhaps, if the tattoos lasted just a few months, or even a year or two. They don't. While there are procedures to remove tattoos, the skin can't be restored to it's former state. You might not care when you're twenty, or twenty-five. But at some point you're not twenty-five anymore. Saturday Night Live had a great bit starring Amy Poehler a few years back. It's a little crass, but worth a laugh:

Excessive piercings go right along with tattoos. One or two in the earlobe, ok. But the lip? The tongue. The nipple?! Why, why, why!

And what about those ear gauges...Somewhere along the line, people confused "cool" with "stupid".

You might say all of these things are for the sake of self-expression. Fine. But what are you expressing except "I like to put holes and irreversible pictures on myself." If you want to express yourself, go get a t-shirt made. At least you can take it off once you change your mind, and it won't leave a big painful hole in some body part.

Statute of limitations

2009-07-29T08:55:00.003-07:00

President Bush hasn't been able to wield his Texas-sized machete of destruction for six months now. Yet if you listen to the left, he's still at it, killing kids and strangling grandmas. You know, like he did for eight years in the White House.

We have lots of national commemorative days. We have them for everything. National Children's Book Day. Middle Name Pride Day. We even have National Talk Like a Pirate Day. Arrgh!

What about having a National Stop Blaming your Predecessor Day, for President Obama?

Remember how we were promised that the gargantuan stimulus bill would make sure unemployment wouldn't exceed 8.5 per cent? Here we are, a full percentage point above that. No way in Hades it could be because the stimulus bill didn't work. It's because Bush snuck into the Department of Labor with his machete one night, and made sure lots of people lost their jobs. (And he killed the night security guard while he was at it.)

At some point, President Obama has to start playing with the big boys. It's not enough to be smooth. It's not enough to be the first Black President. Sorry to break it to all of you who hate Bush, but telling the country how bad the old guy messed up is NOT leadership.

Somehow B.O.'s actions haven't caught up with his promise of looking forward and taking responsibility. And I think the patience of the American people is wearing thinner and thinner by the day.

Cash for Clunkers

2009-07-27T10:18:00.002-07:00

Today, that clunker of yours suddenly becomes worth far more than you could get selling it. Cash for Clunkers is a hair-brained idea conjured up by well-meaning, but left-leaning bureaucrats. There are lots of little caveats, but basically, if you turn in your older car for a new, more fuel-efficient car, the government helps out in getting you into the new car.

If you're of the Utopian bent, sounds like a wonderful society-changing plan that nobody in their right mind could be opposed to.

But on the ground -- like most utopian policies -- it's a different story.

Environmentalists are now finding themselves sharing uncommon common ground with conservatives, for very different reasons. Conservatives don't like the concept because it's expensive wealth redistrubution. Environmentalists don't like it because, well, it's not environmentally friendly, for a number of reasons:

1. It prompts folks to go out and buy new cars -- It takes a lot of resources and emissions to produce a new car. Think of the mining that has to be done for all the metal parts of a car. Auto workers have to drive to and from the car manufacturer. The new cars have to be shipped once they're off the assembly line.... you get the idea. So that leaves one wondering, "How is Cash for Clunkers environmentally friendly when it promotes consumption?" Many have made the point that there are a lot of used vehicles that get good mileage that are just waiting for a good home.

2. In some cases yesterday's clunker sedans got worse mileage than today's SUV's, so it's feared that trading in the clunker will subsidize an SUV market that environmentalists had hoped was dead for good. (I don't personally care, but the environmentalists HATE it.)

3. This is turning out to be more a big fat subsidy to the car companies than an environmental policy. The initial idea was to make sure that the new car would get 25 per cent better gas mileage than the old. Lobbyists got a hold of it and watered it down so that it's not going to do much good.

4. For the financially smart consumer, buying new - even with a fat subsidy from the government - is foolish. Cars lose almost half their value in the first three years of use. So, if you buy a three-year-old car, you'll save far more than what the government will give you... But, then again, you won't be able to show off to your neigbors and friends how rich you're trying to look by having a brand new outfit.

I chalk this up to intentions meaning more than results. Sadly, in Washington, they've lost contact with caring about what works.

Learning the hard way

2009-07-23T08:38:00.002-07:00

So here's the scenario. A California tourist makes a visit to the highly-popular Yellowstone National Park, and gets gored taking a picture of a bison. Ten feet away from the bison.

You know, I was thinking, since this has happened a couple of times over the Park's many decades, that the park rangers and employees should warn visitors about the dangers of wildlife. Maybe they should hand out literature at the entrances to the park. And I think that signs saying "Do not approach wildlife" should be put up. Why haven't they done that yet?....Oh wait. All that stuff has been done. Never mind.

Maybe a sign saying "Do not approach wildlife, especially if you are a stupid Californian who likes to take pictures of Bison from ten feet away during mating season" -- might be a little more effective, but I'm not sure they'd have the attention span necessary to get to the end of the lengthened sign.

I think some people come to the park with the idea all the animals are warm, cuddly, cute, and trained to be nice.

I'm glad the guy's injury isn't life threatening.

But just know that when the park says to not get close to the wildlife, especially bison and bears, they mean it.

Anger at the non-socialist child...

2009-07-20T07:50:00.004-07:00

Eleven-year-old Carynn Harris of Idaho Falls had the audacity to write in to the Post Register and wonder why "people who don't need fed are going to the school and getting fed by the government."

Fearing that Carynn's parents may actually be teaching their daughter that people ought to be more self-sufficient, four adults (so far) in the PR's online forum have piled on their angry outrage that this tween girl isn't growing up to be the type of good little socialist we pay our schools good money to churn out.

These four -- and I will name them: Darlene, Annette, Kristen, and Dan -- should all be ashamed of themselves. Regardless of the nature of a child's opinion, anyone this young making an effort to express and develop political thought should be encouraged. Instead, Carynn is slammed, accused of being a proxy for politically active parents and told to shut up because there's no way an eleven-year-old is paying taxes anyway.

And to Carynn -- I'll be at least one voice of encouragement for you here. Anytime you stir the ire of four people who believe folks are entitled to anything the governmnent can confiscate from productive people with the intent to redistribute to anyone willing to put their hand out -- you've done well. Keep it up and don't be discouraged! We need more like you to stand in the face of misguided adults who are peddling their socialist doctrines and get angry when they hit a speed bump.

NASA fuels moon landing hoax theory

2009-07-17T06:23:00.003-07:00

We all know of some interesting conspiracy theories... like the CIA shooting JFK, or how the highest levels of government are populated not by humans but by reptile aliens. One of the most attention grabbing conspiracies out there involves the moon and whether humans really landed on it in 1969. Google it sometime, and you could spend days, literally, going through the different points and counter-points discussing the moon landing.

If NASA wanted to dispel any rumors about a faked human lunar landing, they didn't do themselves any favors when they erased the orignal tape recording of the landing.

How does that happen? Imagine the discussion that led to this:

Lionel: "Hey, Bill... here's the orginal recording of Armstrong and the boys landing on the lunar surface. Do you think this might have any historical value, or should I just erase it so we can use it for something else?"

Bill: "Hmm. Erase it. Budget cuts. We'll need it for something else."

How can people bright enough to put men in orbit and on the moon be so stupid as to erase something like that? Can you imagine how much the tape would fetch on Ebay today? Actually the tape belongs in either the Smithsonian or under lock and key in the National Archives or Library of Congress.

Now back to the tin hats. Here's my deal when it comes to conspiracy theories. I'm a probability type of guy. Most people think they have to arrive at a defined conclusion. I would have pegged the probability of the moon landing being a hoax -- before this story came out -- at fifteen to twenty per cent. Now, it's more like fifty or sixty.

The only reason (I can come up with) why anyone wouldn't want that tape guarded closely the instant it was recorded is because they wouldn't want it examined. Stupidity is not an option at NASA. I would bet even the NASA janitors belong to Mensa. Nobody is THAT stupid. Even if NASA were being run by complete imbeciles, a single brain cell would have led anyone to guard that tape.

So I hate being conspiracy-minded, but this gives one cause to wonder.

On being in pain...

2009-07-16T09:08:00.005-07:00

I hate pain. I always have. Pain has never felt good. And pain explains why I've been gone the last three days, at least for my noon show.

When I was six or seven, my hip suddenly gave out. I was doubled over in excruciating pain. A few x-rays later, doctors determined I had what's called Perthes' Disease. In layman's terms, one of my hips is squashed flat, malformed. The disorder also inhibits blood from getting down to the leg, so my left leg is slightly shorter and smaller than my right. If you watch me walk, closely, you'll sometimes notice a limp.

This pic, though kinda pretty, is of my defective left hip.

For about a year and a half I wore a leg brace to try and correct the problem. I saw numerous specialists. There's no cure, just pain management. After wearing a brace for that year and a half, a kindly orthopedist in Spokane, Washington determined the brace was doing no good and I could take it off, for good. I remember running through the Spokane JC Penney's with my sister, looking for new shoes, now that I didn't need the ugly old shoe on the leg brace.

Occasionally over the years it's flared up, but after an attempt to water ski Saturday during a family reunion, I woke up Monday morning in pain, worse than ever. Which brings me to the topic of today's piece.

I love pain medicine, proportionately to the level of my disdain for pain. I think one of the reasons I like it is because, one, it kills the pain. But number two, as a Mormon, I can "legally" get high. Not that getting high is a good thing. But doing something typically "forbidden" is kinda sneaky and fun. Getting high is just gravy.

But getting loopy has its downsides. I'm completely useless. Completely. Sometimes I'll just stare at the wall. And while I don't break into laughter, I can see the humor in it. Only those who've had pain medicine can understand just how hilarious a blank wall can be. A couple of nights ago I laughed uncontrollably at something that a sober brain would find only mildly funny. (Actually now, thinking about it, it WAS pretty funny. My daughter basically told her little brother, "The reason we fight is because you don't do what I say." For some reason, Vicodin makes that SO much funnier.)

At the doctor's office I was told that I would eventually need a total hip replacement. I'm thirty-freakin-six years old. Hip replacement? That's for -- sorry to the older generation out there -- the older generation out there. Not me.

But, he did tell me that I needed to nurse my bum hip for as long as possible. Ibuprofen. Acetaminophen. And lots of marital intimacy. (OK, I threw that last one in.) My wife didn't fall for the whole I'll-be-healed-if-we-have-sex-three-times-a-day-for-the-next-two-years pitch. Dangit. That tactic got me the famous "Esther eye roll" and a very non-romantic good-night kiss on the cheek.

Anyway, I think my hip is on the mend. Sadly I'm going to have to give up my voracious appetite to try water skiing every three years, like I have so far. The doc said downhill skiing is probably out as well.

He said I can still crochet, though, so I've got that going for me.

Actually, I should be back to normal soon, biking, hiking, walking. But the upside is that now whenever my wife wants me to take out the garbage or pick up my dirty clothes, I can legitimately say, "Oh, I've got a bad hip, or I would love to."

That will bring another Esther eye-roll.

Most importantly, I can still do talk radio.

Another "Best Of"

2009-07-14T08:58:00.002-07:00

I have good news and bad news... bad news first. I'll be gone again today -- health concerns.

The good news... you get to hear my interview with Local News 8's Karole Honas! I sure hope to be back in good health tomorrow... til then..

Sick Day: Best of coming...

2009-07-13T06:14:00.001-07:00

Hi gang... not feeling all that great today, so we'll be running last Wednesday's show.... Should be back tomorrow.

O-bum-a gate video

2009-07-10T10:04:00.004-07:00

There's a lot of buzz on the net right now about this pic:

It very much looks like the POTUS as well as French President Sarkozy were caught looking where they shouldn't have been -- at the behind of teenage junior G8 delegate. ABC News seems to be convinced the pic is deceiving:

I'm not so sure... I think the President was catching a glimpse. I'll discuss it further on Friday's NLS.

This is what ADD Friday is all about.

Jefferson County Driver Armistice

2009-07-08T12:40:00.003-07:00

First of all, I want to apologize in advance to the three Jefferson County Drivers who drive well. You're not the target of today's piece.

Several days ago I had a woman from Rigby call me off the air. She was very nice. We had a pleasant conversation about something forgettable. I only say that because I forgot what we had talked about.

But at the end of the conversation she kindly urged me to stop ridiculing 1J Drivers. She said she felt like I talked about Jefferson County motorists in a mocking tone and it wasn't appreciated, nor did God think it was funny. I've always been curious what kind of sense of humor God has... and now we know.

So, it got me to thinking. Perhaps we should have an armistice. An armistice, as I'm sure you vocabulary nazis out there know, is not a permanent cessation of war. It's just a temporary stoppage. I'll agree to the terms of an Historic Jefferson County Driver Armistice if it goes like this:

"I stop making fun of Jefferson County drivers if they stop driving like crap."

That's fair enough, right?

I may be revealing too much here, but I've been asked by top Jefferson County brass to attend a summit to discuss the armistice. The problem is, one of the sides will have to actually travel to have an armistice summit. Traveling to a summit to discuss dangerous driving is sort of like taking a crack-smoking break at your kid's Dare graduation. It just doesn't seem right.

So, I say both sides should ride bikes to County Line Road and have the historic meeting right then and there. (Crud, that's not going to work, now that I think about it. There will undoubtedly be a 1J cattle truck or something coming along making a roadside armistice summit a potential ground zero of human carnage and last time I checked, we wouldn't want that.)

Maybe we're locked into simply knowing the danger 1J drivers pose to the world, and me doing my level best to educate, inform, and warn my neighbors and listeners.

I'm just sayin'...

Should Michael Jackson be memorialized?

2009-07-07T07:42:00.002-07:00

I think only the deluded believe Michael Jackson didn't molest young boys. And normally the title of pedophile pretty much eclipses any other title one attains in life.

Consider just a couple of examples. When you think "O.J. Simpson", what's the first thing that comes to your mind? I'm betting it's not the Heismann, but rather a white bronco, or a bloody glove, or the images of Ron and Nichole's slit throats. What about Phil Specter? His considerable contributions to the music industry have been fully eclipsed by his transition to an insane, weird, wild-haired, pale-faced killer.

But back to Michael Jackson. Why is this case different? Was his star power so potent that the fact he liked sharing his bed with young boys is just an inconvenient and forgettable footnote? His death is drawing the A-list of entertainers and dignitaries. Who else could have pulled off that dance move?

I don't doubt that MJ was screwed up almost from day one. His home life growing up was oppressive. The bright lights shining on him at a young age certainly altered his perception beyond reality. He deserves leniency for certain, but I worry that so spectacularly memorializing an entertainer despite his pedophilia not only sends a bad message, but illustrates the idolatrous nature of the masses.

Sarah Palin's exit, or entrance?

2009-07-06T12:14:00.002-07:00

Everyone seems to be speculating about Sarah Palin's decision to step down as Alaska's Governor.

I'm a Sarah Palin fan. I'm a fan because she gives normal folk an opportunity to support someone just like them. Regardless of whether she's qualified to be the President or the Vice President, she's a normal human being. And I like that. My -- and others' -- decision on her Presidential fitness will be made in the months ahead, and that's assuming she'll make a White House run.

The number of pundits crafting her political obituary are legion. I'm not so quick to jump on that noisy bandwagon yet. Her announcement. Was it puzzling? Yes... Fatal? Not necessarily.

Let's not forget that in the last few years we had a President who stained not just an intern's dress, but the reputation of the office he held. And he survived.

Robert Byrd wore a white mask.

Ted Kennedy made a big splash with his most famous scandal.

Closer to home, a US Senator with a wide stance survived credible allegations of seeking gay sex in a public restroom. If that ain't politically fatal, I'm not sure anything is.

Sarah Palin's future is still in her hands.

So those predicting the end of Politician Palin might be right, but not because she's stepped down as governor, rather because she's decided to be done.

As I said before, she's so well-liked (and hated) because she's normal. And I think a normal person would think twice about continuing a career that makes a teenage daughter the target of David Letterman's sick mind.

If there's a scandal and she's been blackmailed, we won't see much more of her.

And if it's political strategy, we'll see a whole lot more of her. And who knows... it might just work.

Staking out your spot

2009-07-02T07:51:00.003-07:00

Local Television is reporting that the city of Idaho Falls will no longer allow people to stake out their favorite fireworks viewing spot, in some cases, days in advance of the 4th of July.

I think it's a good move, candidly. If someone wants a spot, then they need to have a warm body there to hold it. Not just a tent stake and some string.

But, I think there's some opportunity for creativity here. Because there is such obvious demand for these small slices of real estate for just 31 minutes out of each year, perhaps we could capitalize on this.

The first thought is for the city to charge for space. But that won't work, because then only the wealthy, or at least the willing-to-pay, would get the best spots.

The second idea could be a money maker for some enterprising folks out there. Perhaps there should be a "squatters" service spring up. Give a kid fifty bucks and a a lawn chair, he'll keep your spot for you. But then, it goes back to the money issue.

So, what about this... a lottery. It's estimated that well over 100 thousand come to watch Idaho Falls' fireworks each year. For a buck -- everyone can afford a buck -- families could get a ticket, and each year in the weeks leading up to the 4th, an event could be held to draw the tickets for the spaces. It could be a fun thing, run by the local Chamber of Commerce, or even the city, and would give all an opportunity to get a good space. Sponsorships could be set up, and for those who like the first-come, first-served approach, a large area could still be designated as such.

This seems to be a big deal each year, and I think most agree something needs to change, so perhaps we should take the situation and make it into something!

"The Clown from Minnesota"

2009-07-01T08:42:00.003-07:00

As reported at TulsaWorld.com:

[Sen. James] Inhofe said the much-anticipated conclusion of a Senate race in Minnesota that will give Democrats the 60 votes needed to overcome Republican filibusters would not be enough to save the climate change bill.

“I’ll tell you what a lot of people are thinking, and that is it looks like things are going to be over and we are going to get the clown from Minnesota,’’ he said.

“They are not going to get more than 35 votes.’’

Asked if he was referring to Al Franken as the clown from Minnesota, Inhofe confirmed he was.

Senator Inhofe is dead wrong. Clowns, by definition, must be funny. Perhaps Al "Stewart Smalley" Franken used to be funny, but he's morphed into an angry tantrum-throwing liberal.

When I was a producer for a number of talk shows at another operation, we had some of our hosts in Washington DC at CPAC. Al Franken happened to be there at the same time, while he was with Air America, and he was losing his temper left and right, yelling at people. Swearing. (Imagine the sounds of cuckoo clocks chiming right now).

I think that the heat of the US Senate will, at times, prove too much for Al. I'm looking forward to the grotesque but comical meltdowns I expect to see from this.

I could be wrong. He might be good enough, and smart enough. And I suppose that, doggone it, some people like him.

But I doubt it.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, the honorable Senator from Minnesota, Al Franken:

Selective Discrimination

2009-06-29T12:06:00.002-07:00

On Monday's show I had a "steamed" caller, upset at me over my comments about the two Lesbians -- one of which was not given a family discount -- at Lava Hot Springs a few weeks ago.

The caller said the Constitution does not define a family. I also said the Constitution didn't tell us what 2+2 equals. The point being that the Constitution doesn't tell us a lot of things.

Anyway, apparently not a whole lot of people are too upset over the "discrimination" at Lava's pool. Fewer than a dozen folks showed up to protest last Saturday, and I know why. It's because nobody cares, because it's not discrimination against anyone. It's simply preference for traditional families. And, it's the right of a business to have a preference for traditional families.

When I go into a restaurant and see that people over 65 get a discount, I could get a lesbian-like loud-and-proud attitude and run off whining to the local newspaper that age discrimination is going on. But I don't. You know why? I'm not old enough to get the discount.

People in wheelchairs, or with diabetes, or who are deaf get better parking spaces. I'm not going to throw up an obscene gesture as I leave that place of business because I didn't get that parking space. Why? Because I'm not deaf, nor am I in a wheelchair, and I don't have diabetes.

Back when I was going to college there were plenty of scholarships available if I had been black, hispanic, a woman, or an environmentalist. I could have set a bad example to my kids by using off-color language at the scholarship office. But guess what... I didn't. Why? Because I'm not black, hispanic, nor am I a woman or environmentalist.

There's lots of "discrimination" going on, I guess, if you must call it that.

I find it interesting that the status of "family" is so coveted that any group of people who want to bond and congregate want to hijack the concept and claim it as their own. While I have no doubt that there are some similarities between a family, and a group of people who nurture, bond with, and care for each other -- there's no substitute for an attentive father, nurturing mother, and precious children.

Why fault the Lava Hot Springs pool for recognizing that?

To all those who feel discriminated against: Get over yourselves.

New Blog Look

2009-06-29T09:15:00.002-07:00

OK, so the site's back again. I had to take a little time-out to revamp a few things on it.... Hope you like it!

Busy Tuesday

2009-06-02T08:15:00.002-07:00

On Tuesday's Neal Larson Show, we're going to be very busy. We'll be talking with David Cuoio from the Simplot Company to discuss yesterday's announced layoffs. I'm also hoping to hear back from the Greater Yellowstone Coalition -- who is dismissing Simplot's explanation for the layoffs.

Plus we'll be talking with Congressman Mike Simpson and Senator Mike Crapo.... don't miss a guest-packed day on the NLS!

Economic Terrorism

2009-06-02T06:45:00.002-07:00

Yesterday, the JR Simplot Company announced that they were letting 114 workers go from Pocatello's Don Plant and the Smoky Canyon Mine.

The displaced workers, their worried spouses, and now unsettled children can thank environmentalism. Groups like (and including) the Greater Yellowstone Coalition filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against a much-needed expansion of the Smoky Canyon Mine. The Don Plant needs more phosphate ore, and the current mining site is nearly depleted.

The notoriously liberal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has effectively banned, for now, expansion of the mine.

Simplot says that if they aren't able to expand the mine they'll be shutting down the operation completely later this year.

Thanks, GYC. Glad you're looking out for us.

Gay Marriage, again.

2009-05-28T09:26:00.002-07:00

Normally I can't keep my mind on one thing for more than about three miliseconds, so I'm stumped why my thoughts have fixated on the problems with gay marriage since California's high court recognized that the Golden State is governed by the people.

I've been asked numerous times by liberal friends and enemies how two gay people tying the knot threatens my marriage.

I'm married, it's true. And it's also true that if Bob and Steve want to get hitched, my relationship with Esther remains largely unaffected. (She still wears the pants and runs the show, no matter what, if I know what's good for me.)

But, back to the thought-provoking question. Before I answer I want to point out a couple of things. First, the question assumes that I've asserted gay marriage will harm my marriage. And I haven't. (I'll explain in a bit). The second is that the question itself is illustrative of the narcissistic nature of society today.

Not once have I ever said or implied that if Bob and Steve get all fancied up, go to a preacher, exchange vows and kisses, and make a matrimonial life together, that my marriage would be ruined, or lessened, or depleted. Simply stated, it wouldn't. The covenants and vows I've made with God and Esther are in place regardless of changes in societal norms.

There are a lot of things that don't affect my relationship with my wife. Some examples include high gas prices, litter along the roadside, cigarettes, cancer, the AMC Pacer, and genocide. Just as these things have nothing to do with my marriage, gay matrimony occurs independent of my personal relationships.

I'm opposed to gay marriage -- not because of its effect on me -- because of the unknown effect on future generations of human beings. My thoughts on the relationship between family and society are not based on theory or concocted ideas. They're based on a strong religious belief I hold, that God has a plan for mankind, and that marriage is simply a first step to creating safe passage for the next generation, as part of that plan.

Marriage isn't the destination. It's the vehicle.

Marriage isn't about two people in love. It's about creating a stable environment for children.

Let's hypothetically tweak God's plan for a minute. Let's say that kids didn't happen because of romantic affection. Let's say that they didn't need parenting. They just sort of walk out of the woods and they already know how to eat and care for themselves. Relationships would develop, but there would be no mom and dad, or child. Just "other people".

Think through this, for a moment. Let's say the concept of "Mom and Dad" simply vanishes. There are no aunts and uncles, because those relationships pass through parents. And if there are no aunts and uncles, there are certainly no cousins. If there's no "mom and dad" then there are no siblings, because - by definition - siblings are relatives with common parents. There's no grandma and grandpa for the same reason. In fact, ALL of our true familial relationships exist because of our biological parentage.

I certainly understand that there are exceptions. Spouses die. Some get divorced involuntarily. Others are not able to have children. But a general pattern exists: man and woman are joined and they bring forth children.

Am I too far out there to make the case that nature's template -- the fact that we can concieve, bear, and rear children -- forced the necessity of an elevated level of commitment between the parents charged with nurturing those souls -- not so the parents could feel good and warm and fuzzy, but so their progeny would have the best chance at a happy and balanced life?

I don't think my wife likes this argument because it sort of points out that romantic love is a trick. It's God's way of tricking us into doing the right thing: having kids and staying together. I have to admit, it's a pretty awesome trick, but a trick nonetheless.

Those who see marriage simply as some kind of personal right, don't fully appreciate the broad implications marriage has on the future of humanity. Marriage will never successfully be a narcissistic assertion of personal liberty, because that contradicts the very nature of marriage, which requires a great deal of selflessness and sacrifice.

Same sex marriage ban upheld

2009-05-27T07:32:00.002-07:00

If you care a whit what Neal Larson thinks, mark this prediction: Gay marriage will be legal in California within the next five years.

For conservatives believing in traditional marriage, yesterday's ruling by the California Supreme Court was cause for celebration. For those on the other side who believe marriage should be extended to gay couples, it was cause for outrage. But, relevant to my prediction, it was cause for mobilization.

Liberals never give up. Ever. So passionate are they about their cause, they are very good at directing their anger into activism. For reasons I don't fully understand, conservatives don't make good activists. Leftists do.

While right now, marriage defined as being only between a man and woman appears safe. The people passed a state constitutional amendment, and the state's supreme court is not inclined to interfere. This sense of safety, I predict, will spawn conservative complacency.

We'd like to think it's a brick wall. A dead end. A family-friendly cul-de-sac. It's at best a detour, if not just a speed bump for liberals.

Puzzling

2009-05-22T13:00:00.001-07:00

Here's the link and video David in Ammon was talking about today... Just as telling are the comments afterward from traditional leftists who are seeing the Obama campaign was a big bait-and-switch scheme. It seems to be caving in on him.

ADD Friday

2009-05-22T07:36:00.001-07:00

On Friday's show, we'll get specific about Monday evening's Memorial Day walk in Idaho Falls with organizer Michael Harris.

Plus, don't forget we have ADD Friday Trivia, and a whole lot more!

Credit Card Reform

2009-05-21T07:58:00.004-07:00

Congress just passed a significant credit card regulation bill that would, among other things, place limits on raising interest rates and charging fees.

I'm not a fan of government regulation, but if we had to choose an industry to regulate based on slimy and slick practices, I admit credit card companies would be at or near the top of my list. If you've ever taken the time to actually read through all of the fine print on a credit card application, congratulations. You deserve some college credit, or something, for that. With that much fine print, you know they're up to something.

At any rate, I have one very simple idea that I threw past US Senator Mike Crapo. He liked it. Maybe you will too.

Instead of enacting intricate regulation, credit card companies should simply be required to disclose in simple, prominent, bold, and large print on every statement the amount of actual dollars the consumer has had or does have available vs. the amount the credit card companies have required from the consumer.

It's simple. Add up, over the history of the credit card account, all the cash advances, purchase amounts, and remaining credit on the card. Then contrast that with all the payments the consumer has made plus any outstanding balance. Two figures should be displayed very visibly on each statement.

Additionally, credit card companies would have to publish this ratio, collectively, of all open accounts.

If John Smith sees that he's purchased 500 dollars worth of items, taken out 300 dollars for a cash advance and still has two hundred dollars left in available credit, John will see that that credit card company has allowed him use of a thousand dollars. But, if John has already paid $1,000 making minimum payments, still has an $800 balance with only $200 credit available, he'll quickly see what exactly the credit card company is doing, and he, the consumer can make an educated and informed decision about what to do next.

This simple disclosure requirement will change consumer behavior, plus put pressure on credit card companies to offer more attractive products to consumers.

Judge slaps embezzler's wrist... with a wet noodle.

2009-05-20T09:50:00.003-07:00

Here's the message now... Deliberately and methodically steal more than $150,000 from your employers over a number of years, and go to jail.

For four months.

And get out on work release during that time.

Word has it that our local chapter of the Embezzling Enthusiasts Club have already formed a Re-elect Judge Joel Tingey campaign.

Click here for the latest Neal Larson Show Parody...

Re-build the Teton Dam?

2009-05-20T09:45:00.004-07:00

Local News 8 did a story on this a couple of days ago, and while it would be understandable for some locals to be apprehensive about rebuilding the dam -- which failed almost thirty-three years ago -- I have no doubt a new dam would be safe.

Think of the agricultural uses of having another reservoir, not to mention the boating and fishing.

What do you think?

Missing link no longer missing

2009-05-19T08:14:00.001-07:00

Scientists say this is it:

I guess we can all stop believing in God now.

Meet Dave Roseberry

2009-05-19T06:05:00.003-07:00

I can't decide if this guy is a stud, or desperate. He's well-educated. He'd say even too educated in this job market. He can't find work.

I admire the grit of a well-schooled man who would stand on the street corner advertising himself in a tough economy. But I don't know if this is his best option. (I guess with local media coverage, he's not doing too badly for himself.)

Perhaps he should hold a "Hot & Ready $5" pizza sign as well, and at least make a few bucks an hour doing it. If only it were tax season and he was willing to dress up like the Statue of Liberty...

At any rate, I hope this works for him. I believe the good jobs go to those who not only have their bases covered with education and good hygiene, communication, and people skills, but are also willing to think outside the box, show a little courage and humility, and make themselves seen and heard.

Dave Roseberry is certainly doing that and I wish him the best.

From Free to Fee

2009-05-18T10:26:00.002-07:00

Most of us love the Internet. We use it to find movie listings, get the weather, read the news, watch videos, order merchandise, and a plethora of other daily necessities. Once we pay our ISP's to provide us with the Net, we want the rest to be free.

But, according to this Financial Times article, the current business model of most content providers isn't working. They're not making enough money on the advertising side to compensate themselves for the cost of providing their content on the consumer side.

The Post Register is like thousands of other papers across the country: in transition. As their traditional medium is becoming outmoded, they're working to find a venue to stay in business, but it's a risk to start charging for content in a cyberworld where most are accustomed to free.

Charles Darwin's survival-of-the-fittest model works well in capitalist America. The weak content-providers will fail, leaving more consumers to support the strong online companies, and the free model will be viable again.

So, on a Tuesday Neal Larson Show, we'll have a FlashPoll: Would you start paying for news and content on the Internet?

My prediction for the outcome will be an overwhelming "no" but we should have an interesting conversation about the future of the Internet.

Old Faithful pics catch peeing workers

2009-05-15T10:55:00.002-07:00

Here's the site...

Rammell jumping to governor's race

2009-05-14T07:46:00.002-07:00

A month ago, Rex Rammell awkwardly announced at a local tea party that he would attempt to unseat Congressman Mike Simpson. His announcement, of course, was met with mixed feelings. Perhaps it gave Rex a bit of a bitter taste in his mouth to have been booed by those he believes should be supporting him.

Now he's washing down that bitter taste with a change of mind. Recognizing a chink in Governor Butch Otter's armour after a contentious and politically costly legislative standoff over transportation funding, Rex has decided to abandon his congressional aspirations and pursue the governor's office.

Was this a good idea? In the moment, it may seem so. But I think it's a mistake for several reasons:

1. It appears opportunistic.

While Governor Otter may be vulnerable over losing some political capital and clout from the transportation staredown, few people like it when politicians take obvious advantage of a political situation. Whenever there's inter-party imbalance and division, the vacuum always gets filled, but it's usually by those who are either established, savvy, or both. Rex appears neither with this decision.

2. It appears reactionary.

Any viable congressional candidate deliberates extensively over the decision to run. Likewise, making the decision to end a congressional campaign is no small matter. But Rex made it look easy, combining both inside of a month, simply because there was what appeared to be a greener pasture close by.

3. It is short-sighted.

I conducted a FlashPoll on the program asking listeners who had voted for Governor Otter before, if he had lost their support during the legislative session. Overwhelmingly, the answer was "yes". Rex needs to know that outrage has a shelf life. The transportation funding insistence is Governor Otter's only real transgression with conservatives. In a year, it's a non-issue for most voters who will have tired of hearing Rex Rammell talk over and over about Governor Otter's transportation funding standoff, much like they tired of hearing about Jim Risch shooting Rammell's elk.

Mike Simpson on the other hand, has a number of votes that have angered many. Immigration, earmarks, environmental issues. Simpson has several weaknesses with the base, all of them ammo for a viable candidate, especially in a primary race.

I would have played it differently had I been Rex. Perhaps he should have leveraged the Governor's situation to bolster his congressional prospects, arguing that political power erodes commitment to conservative principles. To jump so quickly from one opportunity to another only draws attention to the weaknesses that have haunted Rex's political ambitions from the beginning.

Jealousy: Among the worst of human emotions.

2009-05-13T09:13:00.001-07:00

Jealousy is a terrible thing.

I will preemptively tell you that I am taking the liberty of assuming the subject of this story rammed her car into her husband's car because she was jealous.

News reports say that Leticia Guerrero of Idaho Falls was arrested after she ran her car, multiple times, into her husband's vehicle. Had her husband been the only occupant, I would have assumed anger. Had her husband and three kids been in the car, I would have considered insanity as a motive. Her husband and three kids were in the car, but there was a fifth person, which makes jealousy the chief suspect of motivators.

It was her ex husband's new girlfriend sitting in the passenger seat.

I won't even begin to defend Leticia's actions. (I'm not sure why I feel like I can properly call her by her first name, other than to say perhaps I feel an odd kinship with her.) Some of us may have to hearken back to high school, or even junior high, to dust off the memory of romantic jealousy. The sad fact is that jealousy was powerful enough then that most of us can quickly dust off those memories.

I have a theory that we all have a little kid inside of us. A snot-nosed, greedy, tantrum-throwing kid who thinks he owns everything under the sun. If we don't get control of the inside brat, he takes over. He's particularly posessive of positive love and attention. Throw in a little drama, insecurity and co-dependence, and you have the recipe that can cook even the sanest of souls into a criminal.

Referring to my third paragraph, I want to revise my thoughts, mid-blog post. I eliminated anger and insanity as motives earlier. Actually jealousy is anger and insanity. And more. Sort of like when you mix two flavors -- say orange and chocolate -- you get a whole new flavor. Jealousy is a lot like that. It's not one single emotion. It's a mix of a few ugly ones.

Not that I'm a guy who thinks we should be easy on criminals, nor do I think a woman who would ram a car containing her three children has any reasonable excuse. But there's that little nugget of empathy inside me, created out of those dusted off memories, that gives me pause to consider the pain of a tortured soul driven to do something stupid.

What I hope will happen, which won't happen, will be that the husband will be so impressed by the intensity of this ex-wife's emotion that he'll ditch the new babe, ask for his ex to come back, make again the home intact, and give three scared kids a mom and dad they deserve.

But that's nearly as unrealistic as the little jealous brat inside all of us. But we can always hope.

Monday: Expert Network, Tuesday: Governor Otter

2009-05-11T06:20:00.002-07:00

On Monday's NLS, it's the Expert Network. We'll have joining us Rich Cartney from Good Samaritan. Plus, we'll be discussing the legalities of gay marriage with local personal injury attorney Brent Gordon.

Then, on Tuesday's NLS, we'll hear from a post-legislative-session Governor Butch Otter. I'll ask him about this year's very contentious session, how it has affected him politically, and how his perspective as a governor has changed compared to his perspective as a lawmaker while he was in Congress. We'll also be hearing from Congressman Mike Simpson and US Senator Mike Crapo. A full Tuesday coming up on the NLS.

Shameless Promotion

2009-05-08T07:44:00.002-07:00

So every morning team in the market seems to be shamelessly calling on listeners to vote on a poll at Idaho Falls Magazine. Since I really want to come in respectably I'm forced to do the same. Please consider casting your vote in my behalf!

Finding Balance

2009-05-06T07:54:00.003-07:00

Swine Flu. Bank bailouts. Rising unemployment. The fight over gay marriage. California wildfires. Somalian pirate ships. Shaken babies. Education cuts. Rising taxes. Defecting Republicans.

Seems the things that can get us down get the most attention.

I'm no self-help, positive-attitude guru. Let me assert that disclaimer up front. But, what I am is a guy who struggles to find that balance, or at least try to exist in the same area code.

I think we're all concerned over the future. Gone, it seems, are the halcyon days that most of us enjoyed in childhood. We have requirements of parenting, bill-paying, church and community serving, spousing, and all the other things we do to try and make a life.

Too often forgotten is what Stephen Covey called sharpening the saw. LDS Church founder Joseph Smith called it unstringing the bow. I won't try to add my own version to the lexicon, but I do believe we need substantive detours that allow us a reprieve.

We all ought to create a safe harbor. A place where batteries are recharged, overburdened spirits are rested, and no adversarial or burdensome influence is allowed. We all need at least a little dose of Hakuna Matata.

My last year and a half of in college I had three kids, a demanding church calling, worked more than full-time, and somehow managed to earn 59 credits during that time. How? Balance. I made sure that I had resting periods. I would study for two hours, then take a 15 or 20 minute break doing whatever I wanted -- walking around the library, eating a Snickers bar, napping. I made sure all my school assignments were done when I left the library so when I was home I was husband and father. Those resting periods -- along with some help from above, I'm convinced -- were more valuable than you can imagine.

I'm not sure why I felt inclined to write this today. Maybe it was just for my benefit. Perhaps someone will pull something of value from it. But find brief, regular, healthy, and frequent escapes and you will be able to accomplish more than you know.

Specter's departure raises a great question

2009-04-30T07:39:00.004-07:00

For many conservatives who still consider themselves Republicans, Specter's departure brought a collective "Good riddance, Arlen!" Strategy-based conservatives lamented his exit, though, worried about filibuster-proof majorities and declining prospects of re-gaining majority status anytime soon.

To his credit, Senator Specter was very honest about the primary motivation for his seismic decision: political survival. His own political survival. For many it didn't seem that bizarre that he assumed the principles-be-damned posture, choosing instead the save-Arlen's-career stance. It's a sign of the times.

The whole episode begs the underlying question about our party system, because --as we all know -- Arlen Specter's not the only (now former) Republican to be selective about the planks he likes in the party platform. Here is my epiphany-produced, food-for-thought question of the day: Should the party bend to the membership, or should the membership bend to the party's platform?

The Arlen Specters of the world like the former model -- an ever-changing "big tent" sort of approach, where the party's survival reigns over the party's purity. Winning wrong is always better than losing, even if it's losing right. Oddly enough, they treat the Constitution the same way they treat a party platform. They choose and herald the parts they like and ignore the parts they don't.

There are plenty of principle-compromised Republicans around who think that the right wing has destroyed the effectiveness of their party. When declaring failure, it's probably best to consider all possibilities, and the one the moderates haven't considered is that they themselves ruined the party. Is it possible that the Republicans find themselves in their current predicament because they failed in several areas, like curbing federal spending, ending pork-barrel spending, solving the immigration problem, and reforming the nation's entitlement programs? All of which would have happened, by the way, if the "right wing" of the party had had their way.

Barack Obama won, not because he is a socialist, but because he eloquently promised change. Seems most Americans despise what's been happening with our federal government, and while in their core they believe in limited government, the most prominent emotion has been a desire for newness, freshness. Perhaps elections aren't about ideology anymore, but instead who most eloquently articulates and promises a departure from a despised status quo.

Arlen Specter was one of the Republican Party's worst ideological polluters. Glad he's gone for many reasons. He'll feel more at home in the highly-populated trashy trailer park of failed liberalism than the more sparsely-occupied majestic chambers of conservative correctness.

Conservative principles are not wrong, outdated, obsolete, or ineffective. They are still the answer, and more needed now than ever. What's missing is the collective backbone to artfully articulate the promise that power lies in individual freedom, not a despicable dependence on a ginormous federal bureacracy.

The Republican party may or may not survive. The good news is that the conservative principles haven't changed. Whoever can most effectively sell them will rule the day.

Swine Flu Map

2009-04-28T11:28:00.001-07:00

Here ya go

Swine Flu... reality v. frenzy

2009-04-28T06:24:00.002-07:00

I've become rather skeptical, perhaps even conspiratorial, over the last few months.

Up front, I don't believe the government somehow created and planted the Swine Flu, but I have no doubt that the government would use its existence to advance an agenda. I sense a high probability that we're being played to some degree.

Hillary Clinton. Rahm Emanual. President Barack Obama himself. All have expressed the Hegelian ethic that one should never let a good crisis go to waste. In fact, it's been repeated so often it seems it's just public policy now. The advancement of socialism is hiding in plain sight.

So, my warning is to watch for changes to health care. After all, a global pandemic requires a global solution. Watch for changes in our civil liberties, because, after all, our safety is Big Brother's top priority. Some are even saying the Swine Flu could create instability in the financial markets, clearly necessitating further government intervention into that sector. Changes are afoot, we all know, and watch for the latest "crisis" to serve as a stepping stone for the advancement of those changes.

Comparisons have been made to the 1918 flu outbreak that killed 20 million people. Pardon me for saying so, but I think 91 years worth of medical advancement provides better practices, better vaccines, and better understanding of how disease spreads.

Bottom line is that we're going to be ok.

Don't let some utopian vision-driven bureaucracy tell you otherwise.

Monday: Expert Network

2009-04-27T06:54:00.004-07:00

Ash Covey from Computer Medical Center will join us to talk about the latest threats to your PC, plus he'll take calls to help you with your computer problems.

In the second half of Monday's NLS, we'll chat with attorney Brent Gordon. He'll talk about the legality and Constitutionality of the recent car industry and banking sector bailouts. Join us for the expert network!

"Unsolved" rescheduled, pinch hitting with Hitt

2009-04-23T07:34:00.003-07:00

So, my interview with Darwin Vest's brother and sister isn't going to happen today due to scheduling conflicts.

So, we'll talk about a story that I caught on the news about expanding Hitt Road. We all know it's a major dividing line between Idaho Falls and Ammon. So, who pays for upgrades? There's the rub.

I live near Hitt Road. It's crazy at rush hour. It needs to be a nice Sunnyside-like four-lane thoroughfare.

We'll have a flash poll to gauge listeners' thoughts and we'll take your calls on Thursday's program.

Revenge Vetoes

2009-04-21T07:27:00.004-07:00

Things have suddenly gone from an irritating tiff to a spicy standoff in Boise. Governor Butch Otter on Monday vetoed two bills and held a sharp knife up to the necks of eight others, threatening to kill them too if he didn't get a bill boosting Idaho's road revenue.

Upon seeing reluctance by lawmakers to simply give in to the threat, he efficiently pounded the big red VETO stamp onto the eight bills two days before his previously stated deadline, leaving lawmakers -- not to mention the rest of us -- a little stunned.

In short, the good governor is P.O.'ed.

I like Governor Otter. I always have. He always just seemed to be "one of us." I still support him overall, because I believe he's ideologically correct and wants what's best for Idaho.

On this, though, he's wrong. From my numerous interviews with legislators through the session, I believe our roads will be ok. We have money coming from federal sources, plus the traditional tax money coming in from residents and tourists that buy their fuel in Idaho. It's not a crisis that warrants such high-stakes veto threats and ultimata.

Most I've talked with think Governor Otter has been reactive, angry, and a little juvenile the last couple of days. And these people are Otter fans.

I chalk this up to recession frustration syndrome, and my support of the Governor isn't really diminished. But perhaps it would have been better for him to have let this one go.

The Lesson of Susan Boyle

2009-04-14T06:21:00.004-07:00

I had seen the headline a time or two yesterday about a contestant on Simon Cowell's British version of "America's Got Talent", predictably called "Britain's Got Talent". Since it was a pop-culture story about reality television, my mind automatically pushed it away, ignored it. Feeling a bit more energetic (or perhaps inspired) this morning, I saw the headline again, and clicked.

The next seven minutes for me were transformative. I think all of us have been taught at one time or another the cliched lesson of never judging a book by it's cover. I've never learned that lesson more effectively than I did today.

Susan Boyle stepped onto the stage. By most people's standards, she's homely. Her hair would probably not be considered stylish. A bit frumpy, Susan is 47, not employed, and is not romantically involved. In fact, she admitted, she's never been kissed. She lives alone with her cat.

Her dialogue with the three British judges seemed awkward, and she was visibly nervous. As she admitted her desire to be like Elaine Paige, the "First Lady of British Musical Theatre", the audience collectively rolled their eyes. They groaned. Nobody in the live or television audience expected what came next.

The music started. Moments later she began to sing "I Dreamed a Dream" from "Les Miserables". Normally standing ovations -- when given -- are saved for the end of a performance. The stunned audience stood seconds after she started, and remained standing through her entire performance. If you haven't seen it, watch it now. It may be the most enlightening seven minutes you've had in a long time.

We never know what people have to offer. We've established superficial standards to determine others' worth. If you were moved by the performance, caught off guard like most, then you also learned that we're not always -- in fact rarely -- in touch with our true selves, nor each other.

Everyone has something to give, even those from whom we'd expect the least.

Most of us probably try for some kind of Susan Boyle in reverse -- to flaunt our strengths and hide our weaknesses. In her case, (what most would consider) her weaknesses were so evident we didn't take time to consider the gifts she had to give.

For me the lesson wasn't about Susan Boyle. It was about the rest of us. It was about what we're missing in our relationships and dealings with others because we judge too quickly, not considering the real value they hold. Are we missing some exciting unexpolored avenue in our spouses? What about our children, or co-workers, or the beaten-down fellow walking down the street? Like Susan Boyle's singing voice, everyone has a previously-hidden gift.

Today, at least, I'm committed to watching others a little more closely, judging them a little less, and waiting through the awkward dialogue to see what treasures lie hidden...