A chicken in every pot. A car in every garage.

My Dad

2009-11-24T11:18:00.001-08:00

Cool project my dad has been working on:

2009-10-24T10:49:00.000-07:00

Stumble upon this piece of nostalgia yesterday. What is happening? Stars, butterflies? Badasses? I have no idea.

Doppleganger

2009-09-26T11:28:00.000-07:00

Do you have doppleganger's in your life? There are these times where I meet someone new and they look like somebody almost exactly like somebody. Except that somebody else is always somewhere else in the world and the two would have a 1 iun a million chance of meeting. Am I the only one?

Well, in spending my saturday morning not doing homework, I thought I would post a couple dopplegangers I know. Sorry for those involved; I pulled pictures off your facebook.

First, one I picked up on a few months ago. Some don't think these guys look alike, but aside from their hair color, dead on.

Daniel Holcomb:

Pack Briton:

Now this next one is a two/three-fer (two of the girls are twins, so I had to include them both):

Connie McDonald:

Lindsay Preston:

Candace McDonald:

And no article on dopplegangers is complete without this:

Awkward...

2009-09-08T00:21:00.000-07:00

This goes right up there with farting humor, so through caution to the wind and go here.

Maglites?

2009-09-05T22:24:00.000-07:00

http://store.americanapparel.net/maglite.html

Proof that American Apparel has gone too far. Really? Maglites? I can buy those for half the price at home depot!

Coors Light

2009-08-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

Badass

2009-08-27T07:36:00.001-07:00

Found this picture of my uncle:

More gigs.

2009-08-25T00:20:00.000-07:00

Busy week this week. Three Gigs with Meg Maples. Come on out...

This is the Time

2009-08-17T23:27:00.000-07:00

I read yesterday in Wired magazine that you should never ever apologize for a lame tweet or blog post. No apologies here folks:

A late night of editing at Lestat's and three cups of coffee later, This is the Time is complete. It's my first attempt at a dance music tune and my first Reason project. We shall see if this develops into something...(Spacekateers anyone?)

Please leave your feedback. Critics welcome. I want to know if anybody really digs the direction of this tune. Oh, and use some decent headphones or speakers to catch the low end.

http://idisk.mac.com/douglaswelcome//Public/this%20is%20the%20time%20complete.mp3

TMNJ

2009-08-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

Animal cruelty. Poor Poodle:

http://neatorama.cachefly.net/images/2007-10/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtle-dog.jpg

Reason Beats

2009-08-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

I recently acquired Reason 4.0, and yesterday I went over to Justin Wright's house, who has been using this stuff for quite a while. I was hoping he could show me a few things, and in fact he showed me quite a bit.

Here's what I cooked up in the beat laboratory last night. It's a start, but I think this could be something....

Give it a listen.

Thanks Justin.

2009-08-03T18:53:00.000-07:00

After months of labor, finally I finished Rose's bookcase today. Maybe she will fall in love with me....

Rodney Atkin's "It's America"

2009-06-29T22:46:00.000-07:00

So Rose has been nannying this summer for a few girls, one of whom is obsessed with county music. I am not usually one of those people who says they "love everything but country." I believe Country to be an integral American art form. I never said I listened to it though...

Anyway, Rose introduced me to a song which is taking the country charts by storm (apparently), Rodney Atkin's "It's America." You can watch the video on your own. Never mind the blatant disregard for mentioning anything BUT midwest American state stereotypes. But what country song actually gives mention to inner city LA, the Pacific Northwest, or the Bay Area. And I only hit the West Coast.

Now I DO hate every patriotic country song as the next "No on Prop 8" person (I stereotype), but this song, this hit, is probably the most racist piece of shit I have seen yet. I guess I can let you decipher the images. I am pleased to show you a couple frames, primarily Rodney Atkin's reaction to a few fellow musicians south of the border:

Fellow Musicians:

And Rodney Atkin's reaction:

That's one pissed racist who don't like no one messin' with his 'merica.

Check the video out yourself. Right around 2:37.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f33KzjrjTg0

Sick

2009-06-05T10:25:00.001-07:00

boogie body

2009-05-11T20:50:00.001-07:00

Mustard.

2009-05-10T17:37:00.000-07:00

Apparently yellow spicy is elitist. Who knew.

http://www.jacksonville.com/interact/blog/roger_bull/2009-05-09/lot_of_gas_about_obamas_mustard_and_a_journey_back_to_yellow

http://www.greypouponpardon.com/

Barf.

2009-05-10T16:49:00.000-07:00

Gag...cough...weeze...vomit.

When was this douchbag standing up for "the people?"

Nude Celebrities

2009-05-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

Sorry Marcus, as much as I respect the trade of journalism and your love of Rhianna, the top two stories on Huffington Post are about nudity, one of them including Rhinna.

I guess no matter what is going on in the world we all still like old fashioned nakedness.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/08/rihanna-nude-photos-hit-w_n_200438.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/07/miss-california-topless-p_n_198798.html

Yes please.

2009-05-07T09:22:00.001-07:00

Brooklyn Sounds Great.

2009-05-04T08:47:00.000-07:00

I think musicians are the only types of folks who could pull off a utopian commune.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/realestate/03habi.html?_r=1&8dpc

Writers and artists are too fussy.

dude:

2009-05-03T23:51:00.001-07:00

I present...

2009-05-03T23:43:00.000-07:00

In trying not to offend anyone or express any offensive opinions:

Swine Flu my @$$.

2009-05-03T20:36:00.000-07:00

"In Mexico, just over 100 people are thought to have died from the swine flu strain, although only 22 cases have been confirmed."

I knew this swine flu was bullshit. People get "complacent" and the WHO freaks out:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8032094.stm

What a wild ride.

2009-05-03T16:36:00.000-07:00

After four months, a broken transmission, a blown engine, a totalled corolla named miles (thanks to an 83 year old man), a Scandinavian sperm look-a-like van (forever gratefulness to Birte), and a brown, bulky rental named Mildred...we finally have working vehicles.

for now...

I try...

2009-04-28T00:39:00.000-07:00

So sometimes I try to be really dark and edgy and it really doesn't work out. Most of your probably know this because you have never seen me as such.

I realized after reading my dad's blog that I am a lot like him and just need to be myself.

Love you Dad. Good luck in New York.

Yes.

2009-04-23T10:39:00.001-07:00

Working a lame job gets you really thinking.

2009-04-15T23:14:00.000-07:00

I was thinking today while having my lunch how many times at the front desk of a hotel I talk about the weather with guests. And then I thought to myself...

if a group of meteorologists met in a casual setting, what would they talk about?

For Marcus

2009-04-10T00:06:00.001-07:00

enjoy friend.

So many blogs, so little time...

2009-04-08T12:11:00.000-07:00

Life for me has been a little...different lately. I hesitate to say "crazy" or "busy" or "insane" as if I am trying to come up with the most extreme descriptive word to define what my last four months of life have been. It's like when you ask someone how they are and they respond with "crazy-busy-insane." Somehow, we all want to think of our own lives as more busy, more crazy, or more insane than everyone else's lives. Or maybe thats just me.

I only feel comfortable saying different because it is certainly different than anything I have ever known. My partner and I collectively have been through five cars, no make that six cars together in the last four months. I went to more interviews than I ever wish any one individual to experience, only to find out either they were lying about what the job actually was or that they "decided to go with another candidate." Now I am doing the interviewing, seeking a "qualified vet tech and cat sitter" I reached the lowest depression point in my life to date. Then I landed a temp job, in which I sold flowers over the phone and didn't even know who my boss was. Then I rescued some kittens on a Sunday afternoon. I took my Swedish godmother to a indie show and movie screening. I might be going to Haiti to sell a diesel fuel additive, but I am still stuck at a job that was worse than anything I had before I had a bachelors degree.

Life has been different. It doesn't look like I thought it would. I am still in San Diego. Madly in love just so you know. I couldn't be happier and more dissatisfied with my current place in life all at the same time. I just hope I am able to look back on all this and see what I have learned. Or at least a few good stories.

W.K. in a wheelchair

2009-03-12T12:20:00.001-07:00

Wow.

Westboro. Don't you love those folks?

2009-02-18T15:02:00.001-08:00

Wow. Big Fibbin'

http://www.signmovies.net/videos/music/index.html

It's been a month, but I haven't stopped thinking.

2009-02-17T06:15:00.000-08:00

I love 600 KOGO in San Diego for three reasons:

Coast to Coast w/ George Noory (although I miss Art Bell. Who doesn't?)

Conservative Political Talk Radio (Rush, Hitchcock, etc.)

Dr. Laura (This one is complicated. Maybe I will have to address this in another blog.)

Today's post is primarily concerned with Conservative Talk Radio. I will be the first to admit that I do not sit anywhere near the typical audience demographics for these shows. If fact, these guys love to insult leftist, liberal, socialist, college students like myself. I don't mind. Honestly, I love hearing alternative approaches to solving our country's issues. Oh yeah, and the occasional redneck yelling about killing hippie communists.

But all this "stimulus" talk and raising taxes and a poor economy has really got me thinking. I have been hunting for a steady job for the last month and a half. Pretty diligently in fact. I have gone to probably 17-18 interviews, sent my resume to over 300 contacts. Needless to say, this all feels to close to home when mentioning a rising unemployment rate.

And if economic hardship isn't enough, now I hear more about our crumbling infrastructure. Roads in horrible shape. Power and water is not meeting the demand of growth. Not to mention I still cant get cell reception in Southern Utah...

The big question in this whole debacle is why hasn't someone put these pieces together yet? I mean, my second favorite president, FDR, (second to the American Lion, Andrew Jackson, and slightly above his fifth cousin Teddy) had his "New Deal" which included programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Works Progress Administration, and the Civil Works Administration whos entire objective was to build up infrastructure and create jobs. Roads, buildings, telephone lines, power lines, parks, sewer lines, bridges and even beekeeping, archaeological excavation, and furniture manufacturing. In doing some research, I was surprised to see an 82% approval rating for the CCC. Not to mention really neat projects like Timberline Lodge, which I used to visit all the time as a kid.

It saddens me that all we can think about is strict dollar amounts. We have leadership that can't get more creative than just throwing money at us. Look, sure, I would love a few hundred dollars. But I would love a job. I want to work, and hard. But I can't seem to find any opportunities at this time. I know, I know, unemployment isn't at that 25% it was during the depression era. So what? Let's build half as many lodges as we did in the thirties. Let's focus on improving infrastructure in America's worst cities.

I realize this post winds through talk radio to basically let say how awesome it would be to work on some really cool civil engineering projects. Maybe I will just have to get on the phone suggest this to Rush...

A new year, well, 20 days or so ago.

2009-01-22T00:38:00.000-08:00

I really haven't been the avid blogger like I had hoped once starting this thing. Life hits, you know? And then I begin to write and this suddenly becomes, what was it Rose? Oh yes, and this becomes a 'personal obsessive' blog.

Sorry, but after moving through four states to make it back to San Diego; buying a new car; getting that car temporary permits in Baker City, Oregon; getting said car in an accident in Baker City, OR; being reunited with my #2 love, mister upright in Newberg; being reunited with my #1 love in Tracy, California; moving into a new apartment; having a new president; job searching; and how could I forget Jude. I don't even care if I formatted that run-on correctly.

Happy new year.

Stranded bus riders find Utah has a big heart

2009-01-03T12:47:00.000-08:00

So i posted a few days ago about how sick I am of hearing depressing stories of selfish cops, conservative red-necks, sexist Olympic committees (I didn't even have the energy to blog about that one it was so frustrating).

But then I find stories like these. My heart is warmed and I find hope for the future.

Stranded bus riders find Utah has a big heart

Happy Holidays and on to a bright New Year.

Santa hits tough times.

2009-01-02T12:25:00.000-08:00

"Breaking the elf union is like eating a glass sandwich..."

I get so tired of hearing the news...

2009-01-01T19:34:00.000-08:00

I hate tough guy douche-bags:

http://www.examiner.com/x-536-Civil-Liberties-Examiner~y2008m12d19-Galveston-police-havent-apologized-for-beating-12yearold-girl

An Apology.

2008-12-27T09:04:00.001-08:00

Life has been, well, a whirlwind of tasks lately. I will try to rant a little more frequently coming this new year.

PS I hate the snow. I never thought I could hate Utah snow, but I am so sick of being cold. oh, and my hands are now bleeding because they are so dry and cracked. Lather up the lotion and rub on the chap stick.

New Post: Moving Forward

2008-12-23T09:39:00.000-08:00

A new positive outlook. I have an apartment now. I am closer to getting a car. I reserved a U-haul trailor. Life is moving again. slowly.

rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

2008-12-20T22:57:00.000-08:00

I want so badly to hit "new post" with fresh, new, exciting and enlightening information, but all stays the same. Hum Dum. Time to leave this frozen wasteland.

December 13th....

2008-12-13T09:34:00.000-08:00

I've waited two months for today. :)

Stumble

2008-12-11T23:37:00.000-08:00

some grotesque animation here:

Watch Death Art Animation in Animation | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

2008-12-11T09:55:00.001-08:00

And I thought my bookcase design was innovative:

http://www.yatzer.com/1388_rek_bookcase_by_reinier_de_jong

Providence? Really?

2008-12-11T09:12:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, I have been a horrible unfaithful blogger. But I haven't fallen out of love yet. I have only been a little misguided by a few furniture projects. I am sorry. It will never happen again...

Nevertheless, I find it imperative that I write a little about something Rose stumbled upon while telling me about the plane crash that happened in San Diego late last night over the phone. You can read the whole story here.

What really shocked us both was a quote by a neighbor down stuck in towards the end of the story:

"'It's just providence,' said Johnson, who was at home with his daughter and grandchild when the fighter plane crashed two houses away, sending them fleeing out their back door. 'Thirty feet higher and the plane lands in our living room instead of theirs.'"

Wait a minute. Providence? Really Mr. Robert Johnson? I am sooo sure God provided that a plane falling from the sky would fall thirty feet short to miss your house. Right, because God looks out for you in just that special way that he obviously doesn't for Mr. Dong Yun Yoon, the Vietnamese immigrant who now has to deal with the loss of his wife, two children and mother-in-law. I am so glad you are such a faithful man Mr. Johnson.

And the printing of this quote raises the issue, one which Rose has been turning over all semester at the Washington Journalism Center, that of how the media reports on religious issues. I am sure in this case, the journalists didn't realize the full intent of such a quote, trying to convey a sympathetic and somber mood in the piece for such a devastating incident. Unfortunately, this quote casts faith and God in a "bless me over my neighbor" light.

Journalists not understanding religious issues and language? I can let that one slide, for now. But the bigger issue, the one of this guy and his views on God's providence? It is such a pervasive and perverse attitude that afflicts so many faith believing individuals, I just hope I could give a little more encouraging of a quote if I witnessed such a tragic accident.

Trying my hand at woodworking

2008-12-04T14:57:00.000-08:00

As I have been living at home for the past month or so and working as a server at a country club, I came up with this idea to build a bookcase for Rose for Christmas. I know it wont be much of a surprise, but hey, I am kinda proud of all the work I put into this thing. I hope she likes it....

2008-11-28T12:37:00.001-08:00

Between a Wal-mart employee killed on Long Island from a Black Friday stampede and these attacks in Mumbai for which we still don't know why they occured, I am currently losing faith in the human race.

Bill Nye.

2008-11-27T16:01:00.001-08:00

http://bsalert.com/news/1990/Bill_Nye_Bood_In_Texas_For_Saying_The_Moon_Reflects_The_Sun.html

2008-11-27T11:08:00.000-08:00

Musicians and Non-musicians, take 20 minutes and watch this:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/benjamin_zander_on_music_and_passion.html

Oh Boy.

2008-11-27T10:50:00.001-08:00

http://blog.au.org/2008/11/25/hell-in-little-axe-an-oklahoma-moms-chilling-battle-with-religious-bigotry/

check this out.

on the brink.

2008-11-25T22:44:00.001-08:00

I am this close to taking my parents car and driving ten hours to tracy, california.

Best Venn Diagram

2008-11-24T17:03:00.001-08:00

Dorm life is so true...

http://blog.zygonia.net/content/binary/BestVennDiagramEver_10AF4/venn_thumb7.jpg

Let me tell you how i feel.

2008-11-23T00:20:00.001-08:00

I know I do...

Sorry, but another Mormon Blog

2008-11-22T10:30:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, I keep writing here about issues that keep popping up in the media with the LDS Church. But this article in the Salt Lake Tribune this morning has really had me frustrated. In searching online, I found articles also in the Desert News (LDS owned newspaper), The Provo Daily Herald and KSL Channel 5.

I remember hearing about this guy, Chad Hardy, and his "Men on a Mission" calender a while back and thought the idea was pretty funny. In fact, I am even considering ordering one for my apartment this next year. But now this whole debate over his excommunication and BYU refusing his diploma has me even more frustrated. True, true, BYU is a private institution, can do what it wants, Hardy wasn't forced to go to BYU, yada yada yada.

The point lies in incidences like these where the LDS church (and private religious educational institutions as a whole, of which i am a proud Alum) in my oppinion, make mistakes by confusing the aims of an academic institution with religious agendas. And certainly, these issues are complicated, because not all private religious schools are the same. But in this case of BYU, an institution which I assume would have academics as a first priority, choose to further themselves from the greater academic realm at large by being so vindictive towards a student and his offensive business endeavor.

True, the school has to protect itself, whether is be financially or keeping the trustees happy. When I was in college (which feels strange to say) I tried to have an official transcript sent to a University in New York. It was the spring of my senior year and Financial Services had slapped the total ($11,000 or something) for the spring semester on my bill. Since my account was not balanced, I had a hold which prevented me from sending a transcript for any of my credits accumulated, including the 7 semesters worth of classes I had already paid for. Needless to say it was a frustrating situation, but Point Loma Nazarene University has its policies.

I guess what frustrates me is how far college education as a whole has strayed from a simple business transaction. I guess I have always seen it as you pay your tuition, sign some honor code if need be, go to class, fulfill the requirements, and then the institution awards you a diploma, a product you have essentially paid for. But I guess it is always more complicated than it seems. And by BYU making this decision, in my mind they only loose credibility academically and further segregate themselves by refusing a student a deserved diploma because he offended a few fogies on the board.

And seriously BYU, this guy was in the Book of Mormon. Get over yourselves.

2008-11-20T10:51:00.001-08:00

I meant to say something the other night when I got home, but I forgot and then two days went by. Tuesday night I saw Old Crow Medicine Show down and the Depot with my dad. Great show, great time, and probably he most eclectic crowd of people at anyone concert I have ever been to.

Rock me mama like a south bound train...

PhotoPhabulous

2008-11-17T17:10:00.001-08:00

I posted a link to that image my friend Rich Legg took of me for a stock photo shoot. Here is a link to the whole shoot in case you want to go buy a few pictures to hang on your wall or something:

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&lightboxID=5203616

Also, my dad made it into an aeronautics magazine. Check it out:

http://www.leggnet.com/2008/11/full-page-ad-in-avionics-intl-news.html

Remember that old Nickelodeon Cartoon?

2008-11-13T22:20:00.000-08:00

So, with a name like Doug, I do have one claim to fame. And I can't tell you how many times people come up to me and starting singing "do do do." All I can do most of the time is harmonize, but this is the really beyond my abilities. Maybe inspiration for Halloween next year though....

As I write with my Polygamy Porter in Hand...

2008-11-10T20:23:00.000-08:00

...I will try and give all my thoughts that are Prop 8. Well, maybe. This might only be some of what I think. I haven't decided how long this will be. But if it becomes too long and you don't feel like reading it all, please just scroll to the bottom and hear what Keith Olberman has to say. He certainly does it better than I can.

Over the last few days, I have received a lot of varied responses to my initial question. Some pertaining to the questions, other discussions evolving into their own. I guess to start, let me post a few interesting links I have since come across. Or rather, Facebook notes folks have written about their views.

First, Cole Hanson's note, who was written quite a bit on the issue on my Facebook note. Here are some thoughts on the issue:

-"I have 3 reasons against gay marriage that are non-biblical that I will start with.

1) thousands of years of traditional, male-female marriage, across numerous cultures and religions.

2) The public health catastrophe among homosexual men.

3) Numerous studies showing the importance to children of a father and a mother."

-"This has become a political issue to the ideological left to help undermine the biblical concept of marriage."

-"It comes down to the separation of Church and State. If we start allowing the government to decide what is "sacred" and what is "right" in this "Christian nation" (what a joke), then what is next?"

-"God gives us freedom. He gives us the freedom to accept his ways, or deny them. If God has given freedom, how can we deny others that same freedom?"

-"All we're asking is that What we've held to be sacred (marriage) not to be used as a political tool by the gay community to make a point or to "win" their own personal battle against Christianity, which if you've read all materials behind prop.8 you would see and maybe come closer to understanding that this is voting for those who believe marriage to be a sacred bond between a man and a woman. It's about keeping my right to believe this way...not a fight against the gay community as they would lead you to believe."

-"as religious as I am I find this proposition disgusting. If we believe God's law we don't need to make a law of men to enforce it, preach your values, don't legislate them."

Cole's post is certainly an interesting read, and contains many viewpoints including Christian pastors, parents, and students. It also runs into a lot of issues, including the origins of scripture

The next note I didn't get to until today. I thank my friend Joshua Edwards for really beginning to look legally at what is going on, citing some great references in his Facebook note. He does present the legal issue, as well as his personal beliefs in a delicate manner and I commend him for his approach. What follows is basically a debate between two individuals I do not know personally, Rick Goodwin (possibly from Goodwin hall?) and Tobin Huff. Not all quotes are necessarily theirs though:

-"we do not have the right to take away an individual's right to choose between a life of sin and a life committed to God."

-(response to previous quote)
"That does not mean we should not create laws that protect people from their carnal selves. This is not making a choice for them. God gave us the responsibility to create laws that protect, respect and honor Him and that which He created. We create laws against speeding so that people don't kill themselves. We can't choose for them to stop speeding... but it doesn't make the speed limit a bad law and doesn't take away our responsibility to set such boundaries."

-"What I'm not comfortable with is opening a door to in future years being put in a position where I am legally obligated to tell my students that a gay marriage is the exact same thing. I don't believe it is.
THUS: putting a teacher (or a minister or justice of the peace) in a position where they must say or do something or be breaking the law by being discriminatory forces that teacher (or whatever other public official/state employee this affects) to act against conscience. Forcing someone to act against conscience violates their civil liberties."

The last note I want to quickly reference is my friend Caleb Niemetscheck's take, which basically looks at the briefly at the "separate but equal" issue of domestic partnership. Check it out, a simple but poignant perspective I think everyone should consider.

And now how I have grown to feel about the whole issue. I think I must first clarify that I come from the school of thought of separation of church and state. I do not believe all the hype that our country was founded upon "Christian Principles." I believe this was the exact idea they were fleeing from, that being a nation which government leaders rule from a "divine authority." The ole' King of England ruled from a throne of divine right. Take this idea far enough and you begin to deify a leader such as the Romans would claim divinity in Caesar. It makes me a little upset to hear people talk about a certain government official put into office by the will of God. It is these exact ideas the founding fathers were afraid of. They had seen what can happen when religion is mixed with governmental authority. If you want to explore this idea further, I suggest checking out a This American Life episode entitled "Godless America." I really recommend you give it a listen and consider whether the ol' US of A was founded on Christian Principles.

Coming from this perspective of separation of Church and State, I set out to ask and search and try to find a legitimate secular argument as to why same-sex marriages should be banned and who exactly was out there pushing for a pass on Prop 8. I think a lot of the arguments that you will find in response to my initial question slowly take a religious path, basically tumbling into a comparison of verses, how involved God is in the inspiration of scripture, etc. This has only furthered my belief that defending a "yes on Prop 8" cannot be done without a religiously founded moral argument and no secular argument can exist.

So here I choose to address one of the more frustrating points about Prop 8 and rights of individuals at large. First, the concept of "domestic partnership." If you refer to Caleb Niemetschek's note, mentioned above, he makes a very good argument referencing Brown v. Board of Education, which essentially concluded "separate but equal" is inherently unequal, that is, if you all remember that little thing we call the civil rights movement. And with that, I think it becomes clear how much this dilemma of same-sex marriages is nothing more than an issue of civil rights. The Civil Rights issue for this century.

Implied discrimination aside, even the blatant ramifications of Prop 8 immediately becomes apparent. True, "legally" same-sex domestic partnerships will have the same state rights as a legal marriage, but my understanding is those same rights will not necessarily be guaranteed under federal circumstances. If anyone has any information that could perhaps further my understanding about state rights vs. federal rights, I would love to hear it. This obviously is the first issue, the issue of what this would look like on a federal scale, with creating a California state designation of domestic partnership. It leads me to wonder, what would that look like in a state like Utah? But I am getting ahead of myself...

My second qualm with the creation of domestic partnership is this argument, or motive I should say to keep the "sanctity of marriage." I have really been looking at what that expression means, and I am sure you have heard the attack against the "church" and divorce rates. That certainly is a legitimate point, and unfortunately with all this noise about the sanctity of marriage I had hoped I might actually hear a little more about Christian organizations would respond to the issue of divorces and broken families. But I guess they have their priorities.

In reading all these responses to these Facebook notes and thinking about this idea of sanctity, of defining marriage as holy, something really caught my eye. You can read the whole quote above, but in a response to Cole's post, an individual makes the claim that something people have held as "sacred (marriage)" is suddenly being undermined by a gay political agenda. And with that "right", the issue becomes more hazy. True, our constitutional rights protect our belief that something can be sacred. The constitutional protects a right to believe wine can actually become the Blood of Christ. But what is "sacred," or can I say "spiritual," about tax statuses? Or hospital visiting rights? With all of this, I think it is quite arrogant for someone to assume that everyone thinks the institution of marriage holds spiritual significance,. To me, that seems like someone pushing religious presuppositions on the general public. Something I think has no place in a legal discussion such as this.

I have heard some interesting solutions to this issue. One, which I thought was really interesting, was to define marriage between one human and another human. Thanks to MichaelJanczyn for his suggestion in responses to my first blog. And granted, this at first seems a simple solution, but I think the yes on Prop 8 crowd would quickly run their "what is next, father and daughter?" defense. At least it would cut animals out of the mix. Then I read a suggestion from Antony Wright at Point Loma Nazarene University. His suggestion, along with my views of separation of church and state, I quite enjoyed and think that though radical, it may be a possible solution. His suggestion was to let churches perform the sacred act of marriage. And that's just what it would be. An act of the church. A spiritual bond between two individuals that agrees with and fits both the couples and the members of the church's value system. However, no legal rights would be granted under this "bond." It would take the government's seal of a "civil union" whether heterosexual or homosexual, to ensure legal rights. I am curious then if people would feel that their "sanctity of marriage" was threatened. If you do, feel free to share your comments.

Nevertheless, this whole sacred act, this sanctity, this spiritual bond stuff got even thicker, and I think more than most see. The LDS church decided to get involved. Honestly, I can't say I researched the details of how much money they put forth, how many people they called, how much the pressed to get this vote through. And if you are interested in the issue of the LDS church's non-profit status as they became essentially a lobbying group, you can click here and read my friend Marcus's issues with this. But aside from their tax status (man we are dealing a lot with tax statuses on all sides of this issue) I find a subtle irony in the Mormon's support for the sanctity of marriage.

Let me give a little explanation, and if I am mistaken, I really would love to have an authority on Mormon theology correct me. However, I understand an LDS marriage to be an eternal spiritual bond between a man and a women, and that ceremony must take place under The Church Of Jesus Christ's authority. Basically what that means are the only marriages the LDS church sees as spiritually valid are those that take place in LDS temples, by LDS members, and under the proper authority of the one true church.

So what now about sanctity of marriage? If the LDS church believes all marriages performed by Methodists, Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, Baptists, Presbyterians and Nazarenes (holla), not to mention those abominable ceremonies under the authority of a judge, tribal chief (for native American weddings), and even a ship's captain (apparently he/she must be a Notary Public as well), are all spiritually invalid, why aren't they pushing for legislation to ban marriages performed by even the United States Government itself? And why are they suddenly so concerned about families? Obviously two women in love who chose to raise a child is not a family, as much as a man and a women who were married in a synagogue under a rabbi and have a child are not a family. Sorry, at least not a sanctified family.

So, basically, I am really frustrated and confused by the LDS church's involvement. If you can't tell. And if I have any Mormon readers out there, please respond! Sorry, but having a sound bite from ol' Hinkley isn't doing such a good job on the nightly news here in Salt Lake City.

Lastly, I wanted to touch on an email I received from an friend of mine. Essentially, his argument was that he has a "right" to believe what he does and by allowing a same-sex marriage, this takes away his right. I wonder how many people really feel this way? When you drop the term "rights" it becomes a legal issue, a constitutional issue. But I am sorry, I can't see how allowing a same sex marriages takes away rights to think that is wrong? Is there suddenly a warrant out for your arrest because you oppose a same-sex marriage? Please, explain to me, how both sides have rights at stake? I just don't see a real risk to those who oppose same sex marriage? What "rights" would the right loose?

I have written probably far too much and have not nearly covered all that is at stake here. But I feel it appropriate to close with something I learned in a discussion of rights when i was a sophomore in high school. When discussing what one human's rights are, what a human is entitled to, I suddenly had an epiphany. I was in European History, with Miss Gobel at Juan Diego High School in Draper, Utah. I raised my hand. Tentatively, I added to the discussion. It was the first week at a new school and all....

"I think the moment a right no longer becomes a right is when it begins to impose it self on another individual's same right."

Although maybe poorly worded and inadequate, it has always seem to hold true. I can think what I want. I am entitled to that. But I am not under any authority, by God or by man to forcibly push, or legislate, what my feeble mind sees fit on anyone. Even you, the reader. So if you see fit, respond. Please, share how you feel, what you think.

(And thanks to Marcus for the link to this clip:)

iStock Photography

2008-11-10T18:32:00.000-08:00

Some of you may be familiar with iStock, a photography website where you can purchase stock photos for magazines, advertising, etc. I have a friend here in salt lake, Rich Legg, who mainly does stock photography. I went down Sunday to do a little modeling. Check it out...

Click right here, yes right here. Don't worry, no viruses.

I need some help.

2008-11-07T10:56:00.000-08:00

I try to stay away from blog ranting most of the time. I would rather just post links to funny pictures and videos. Or affirm some in their attempts to instruct on geographical location...

But, this whole Prop 8 issue has me thinking a lot, and I have one fundamental problem with the whole issue. For the life of me, I cannot seem to find one argument against homosexual marriages that doesn't find its roots in a religious argument. On such I hot button issue, I did the ol' google and youtube search, but really didn't come across much.

So I turn to you, the hundreds of thousands of brilliant minds that follow this blog on a minute by minute basis. What is it? Why is a same-sex marriage wrong, without all the religious value system assumptions?

For me, it has always been about protecting one's rights until those actions infringe on another's rights. So actions we as a society deem "wrong" typically are so because they infringe on another's rights. Murder in the first degree, for example, probably infringes a little on someone else's right to breathing and eating. Well, maybe just breathing. I wouldn't want to offend someone.

Stealing...you get the idea.

I am sorry didn't study philosophy and ethics all the much in college, so these arguments probably appear quite elementary. But is this issue, one that is causing the Mormon Church to dump loads of money into, one that is springing up protests and rallies overnight, and one that has political media buzzing...is it that elementary?

I suppose that an elementary discussion of issues can affect a whole lotsa people.

Let me know your thoughts, or at least copy and paste a link to someone who thinks like you.

Election Night (two days later)

2008-11-06T09:31:00.000-08:00

So, I realize my only post in response to the elections was a highly offensive (on both sides, I'll admit) advertisement for Prop 8.

But I did have a few other moments I thought it important to share. First, I watched Barack Obama's Speech on an eight screen split with all the major news networks, so each time he turned his head, it turned eight times. Awesome. Then I changed the channel and watched a two hour documentary on Miles Davis. Then I fell asleep and had a dream that in Barack Obama's biopic, he was played by Laurence Fishburne. Unfortunately, I do concede that Will Smith looks much more like Obama, but hey, my dreams don't lie.

Just a personal memoir of my election night.

2008-11-05T12:07:00.001-08:00

This shit is big deal in the land of Zion:

Warren Sapp

2008-11-03T19:28:00.000-08:00

I just watched Warren Sapp on Dancing with the Stars for the first time.

Wow.

Community Service and Political Campaigning

2008-11-03T15:25:00.000-08:00

I found out from my mother this morning that the back of our church had been tagged for the second time. So, being the good son i am (and not having to do anything else today), I agreed to go and paint over the graffiti this afternoon. I thought I might include a few photos, considering one of the characters looks like a giant penis gangster or something.

Before:

After:

I thought my day with graffiti had come to a close, but in the season of elections and voting being tomorrow, I guess some tag artists had decided to voice their opinion. With both Bill Dew and Jim Matheson running for a seat in Congress, looks like someone decided to take Dew's advice and "get involved."

Happy voting.

2008-11-02T17:14:00.000-08:00

There always are those annoyances one likes to lament about while flying on an airplane. The long security lines. The ever decreasing legroom. Additional luggage fares. That crying baby. Bad food. Having to pay for bad food. But you can always find faithful comfort in your seatback pocket copy of SkyMall magazine. This publication has possibly convinced me that when I do own a home, I will want nothing more than a water-proof iPod player for my pool or shower designed to represent my devotion to my favorite NFL team.

On a recent flight from Washington DC to Charleston, SC and failing to bring along said iPod, I thought I might find out what I had missed in recent issues of SkyMall. This catalogue only offers the latest innovations in décor and home comfort, and I was in need of an update. However, I was saddened to discover there were a few items I was having trouble mustering desire for. Instead of troubling yourself trying to find these items on your, own, I thought I would compile a nice little review here for your treat.

The Giddyup! Core Excerciser. P. 153

Now, pp.152 and 153 both hold a number of items open for blatant persecution, like the “NeckPro Traction device,” which unfortunately looks like an S&M toy rather than attempting to relieve neck pain. However, the item that drew my attention for absurdity was the Giddyup! Core Excersiser. Designed to simulate riding a horse, the machine causes “muscles to involuntarily contract and relax as you balance and stay upright!” I always was under the assumption physical exercise was a voluntary act, but I suppose you will only be volunteering your Visa card as you shell out $419.00 dollars for this Seabiscut. At least I won’t have to work too hard to tone my core. The description assures me “there is pratically ZERO effort on your part. All you do is sit and enjoy the ride.”

The E-Z Chord Kit. P. 170

As I look at this next product, I am still trying to figure out which would impress a girl more at a party, and Rock Star High Score with GuitarHero or a song played on my roommate’s acoustic with the E-Z Chord device. Basically a one step downgrade from the Auto-Harp, the E-Z Chord device is a plastic mechanism that “attaches to any guitar in 5 minutes and gives you instant success.” How are we measuring success again? Anyway, after reading 24 pages of instruction and watching a 60-minute instructional video, you will be fluent in all types of music, including “Country, blues, gospel, bluegrass, rock, rockabilly and more.” All I need to do is “push the right buttons at the right time.” And for only $41.98? Ahh, I knew a bachelors in music was a waste of time...

Powernap Nap Machine. P. 183

Unfortunately, I cannot deny that I need the promised results of this device. “In just 20 minutes, you’ll feels as if you’ve enjoyed three hours of deep sleep.” However, it is more the method that draws my concern. This device claims to play a series “scientifically engineered sounds (similar to waterfall sounds) to cycle you between deep and REM sleep.” My first concern obviously is the effectiveness of this product, but really, similar to waterfall sounds? I am just trying to figure out if they are trying to sound like a waterfall or there is some “science” and “engineering” to the method. Nonetheless, chalk this one up as a $69.95 pocket imitation of those soothing sound bedside accoutrements from Brookstone. And this one only has imitation waterfall sounds.

Flair Hair Visor. P. 225

Really? Who would where this? I can think of much better ways to “amuse friends-and strangers!” Whatever happened to good ol’ fashioned streaking? I think that might “turn heads!” Did I mention these are patented? I bet that guy feels like he really accomplished something when he patented his “shady visor with a built-in ‘do.’” High-five.

Portable Desk. P. 229

I must admit I can appreciate the age where technology helps business move quicker and more effectively. Yet in this rush to create the next blackberry or ergonomically designed chair, a few products fail more than the Portable Desk. This Desk is designed so that you can “use your laptop standing or even walking.” I guess finding something to sit on is harder than I thought. This item fails to warn about the obvious hazard of walking while staring at a computer screen, but also neglects to mention you might be mistaken for a snack concessionaire at an NFL game in the process.

Feng Shui Compass. P. 231

This next item I am still trying to sort out. Apparently it is an electronic “compass” which utilizes “the same technology used in aerospace guidance systems” to find a favorable environment of electronic energy. Now, I already am a skeptic of feng shui, but guidance systems suddenly being used as some eastern energy field locator? And I thought those E-meters that scientologists used were bad. Apparently, this device “locates and calculates energy fields so quickly, you can align your physical surroundings to match your intentions.” You’ll notice in the picture there is only one button. But I guess if I am looking for favorable electromagnetic conditions, I know how to spend my next $399.99.

Night Sweat Alarm P. 247

I have to admit that with this next product I am nowhere near its targeted senior citizen market. However, the “Night Sweat Alarm” immediately caught my attention. Apparently, the owner wears this on their wrist and when this device senses perspiration, it vibrates and sounds an alarm, allowing you to “wake up and remove blankets or take other corrective action.” My first question was what other corrective action? And never mind the normal biological response to being too warm while sleeping. I suppose some people sleep harder than I do. Still, this product has me feeling they ran out ideas for gadgets to be used when we are awake. Yet for $139.99, I think will just rely on my senses to help me take that corrective action.

2008-10-31T16:26:00.000-07:00

The internet certainly holds some strange things, but this...

http://www.bmezine.com/news/people/A10101/addsub/

2008-10-31T11:21:00.000-07:00

I am trying to get this blog I wrote on the airplane up. Hopefully today. In the meantime, enjoy.

2008-10-30T18:48:00.000-07:00

How jazz is supposed to be.

check it out.

2008-10-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

Tom Hanks aside, I am just stoked Jorm made it into this one. I have loved the dudes since their Lonely Island days. Yeah, the half naked guy on the floor.

2008-10-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

Don't get me wrong, I always will think Tina Fey's approach to the Palin/Couric interviews was brilliant, especially her quoting the interview verbatim. But, as musician, I love this subtle approach as well.

2008-10-28T00:12:00.000-07:00

Check this out. I think I might try it someday...

How to infuriate someone.

Clayton Jazz

2008-10-27T22:05:00.000-07:00

I just got home from seeing the John Clayton Quintet at the Sheraton in downtown Salt Lake City. It was kinda weird being down there. Last time I was there I saw Ray Brown, and he never made it back. But I am so glad I went. I didn't even know Gilbert Castellanos would be there, nor Gerald Clayton. Man, What a refreshing night. After so much depressing playing and such poor outlook about my future, this is what I needed.

Oh, and I ran into a friend from San Diego as well, Norm Shoemaker. What a small world. We shall see how long i can make this Salt Lake thing before San Diego just consumes me.

Yeah, and if you didn't catch this, I kinda like this layout better, so I am going to see about transferring My livejournal over here. but for now, that can be found at http://dougalug123.livejournal.com, in case you are interested. Its a pretty scattered blog.