The Amazon Jungle that Is My House

This is my 100th post and in celebration I would like to give readers a glimpse at what my house is like every night when I come home. Animals and bugs everywhere! All of these photos were taken by me last night and are only an example of the critters that were on my front porch. The raccoons, opossums, feral cats and deer did not want to hang around. I had to do a double take to make sure I was not walking into the Rainforest Cafe! I would have held the spider in my hand except I believe they are small variety tarantulas. Probably the bird eating kind since the two bald eagles that live nearby have not been flying around lately.

Bugs and creepy things are not my favorite and the porch light attracts a huge amount and variety of bugs. If any animal or bug collectors would like to catch a few easy ones they are welcome to come by. It is the third house on the right. 

Places of Worship and the Rapture

I feel the need to give my two cents on this upcoming Rapture. And how better than by using pictures of a place of worship.
I do not have a fancy picture taking device but I have a multiple mega pixel camera on my phone that allows me to make pictures on the go. I can send them as text messages right away so people everywhere can share my experience
Lots of people are making fun of the rapture on facebook and saying "Haha, give me your stuff" and other similar sentences. Some are even trying to make money off of it by offering petsitting services to those caught in the rapture, leaving behind special animals. I think we need to look at things in a different light. We need to prepare for both senarios. If the rapture happens, then we need to be there to help support society as many of the righteous are taken up and those who feel jilted lash out at God for not deeming them righteous enough. Those folks may become extremely dangerous to themselves and others. I am just being realistic. I suggest you find those that are preparing for the big event and do not seem quite ready. Keep an eye on them. Invite them to a BBQ at night, in able to help them unwind from the possible disappointment. Think about it, when you are wrong you do not like it rubbed in your face but would appreciate a burger or something, right?

If it does not happen, we need basically the same plan. Those folks will probably be bummed that they have to return to their less than celestial life and may even begin a faith crisis. As fellow human beings, we need to look out for one another. Let's face it, whether or not you belong to the same faith, subscribe to the same scripture, we are all people. We should all relate to one another in triumph and sorrow. I believe that "no man knoweth the day, nor the hour..." but, I also believe that "insomuch as ye do these things unto the least of my brethren, even you have done them unto me."

French Fries Can't Get Any Better

Not only does the Village Cafe in Richmond have fantastic french fries, you know the kind that are super crunchy and have something fried on the outside, but they definitely have taken it to the next level. So I was munching late night at the joint and noticed something on the menu. It said Pizza Fries. I was slurping down a pumpkin pie milkshake at the time but my curiosity overcame me. I needed to try those bad boys.

My friends and I ordered a plate and were super pleased when these showed up. BOOM! Thats right! Pizza on top of french fries, exactly what I pictured. These delicious strips of starch and marinara sauce made my night. They come out on a super hot plate though so if you order them, be aware and don't get burned.

The guy brought out ranch with them and if you didn't already know, fries are great when you dip them in stuff. Ranch dipped fries are good but so were pumpkin pie milkshake dipped fries. The fry tasted like flakey pie crust that only grandmas and stay at home moms know how to make. This story is a perfect segment into a bit of life philosophy, always try new items on the menu.

Here is what happens when you try out new menu items. There are only a few outcomes and none are that bad. Best case you find a new favorite dish and are propelled into the best mood ever. Middle case, you are largely unimpressed but not disgusted either. Oh well, like the lottery always says, try again next time. Worst case, you get the worst tasting dinner you have had and are stomped into an emotional swamp by your choice. Bright side is that you have not wasted money, rather invested it in the knowledge of what not to ever eat again. Things always work out.

Jam to this song.

Mario Brothers Romance

I am an avid Mario fan. I love his games! It is perfect for someone who likes to sit and play for a few minutes or a few hours. Recently, the topic of Mario's crown jewel game has come up in casual conversation. I feel it necessary to address a few concerns about each game and why it is or isn't the best Mario.

Super Mario Bros. (1985, NES)
This game started the franchise. Some people may argue that Jumpman was the first Mario in the old Donkey Kong games. He is not the same Mario as the lovable plumber you help through a world of obstacles and smash plants, fungi and turtles while gettin' paid with floating coins. Super Mario Bros introduced us to what an adventure game could be and a fantastic world. The music was great and so where the levels and secrets! They had to put in warp pipes since you could not save the game which is a major flaw in my opinion.

Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (1986, NES (Japan) Virtual Console, 2007 (USA))
This is the original second title and it was released in Japan in 1986 but due to the extreme difficulty and sameness to the first game the company decided not to release it in America. An amended version was released with Super Mario All Stars as The Lost Levels but it was not the full game.

Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988, NES)
Many people have not played this one. They do not know that you could choose between Mario, Luigi, Peach and Toad to battle through this world of totally different and new enemies. It is very important to note that this one is nothing like the first Super Mario Bros. It was a redesigned game made to western tastes which some argue ruined it. You either love or hate this game and as I have tried and failed many times to beat it, it is not my favorite.

Super Mario Bros. 3 (1990, NES)
This game is the favorite of many. It introduced new moves and a raccoon, frog and boot suit. Really fun gameplay, fairly challenging and playing two player makes staying in later worlds much easier. I would say this is the best Mario since it feels so pure and technologically unadulterated but you cannot save and for that reason I will be forever stuck on the last level. Number three is a fantastic adventure game and one of the best video games ever made.

Super Mario World (1990, SNES)
This game is bad to the bone. It is my favorite of all the main console Mario games and added much to Mario's legacy and style. The flying cape was introduced, Yoshi was introduced and the football linebacker was introduced. Plus, to beat a level you jumped through goal posts at the end and gained stars! Super fun game with over 100 different levels and the Star Road levels were so hard. They were named things like Tubular and Gnarly which made them even better. And you could save! Finally, a game that allowed you to work at your own pace.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995, SNES)
I only played this game a few times and did not like being Yoshi and dragging around baby Mario. It was a clean and good looking game and serves as a prequel to all the games in the Mario timeline.

Super Mario 64 (1996, N64)
This game is fantastic! It gave players the ability to explore worlds instead of jump on side scrolling obstacle courses. The levels themselves were fairly large and tons of new gameplay styles were introduced. This is my number 2 Mario game and it is a close second. The game is phenomenal and revolutionized the gaming world. Plus, I know you remember looking at the graphics and saying, "Holy Smokes! Mario looks sooooooo good! Graphics can't get any better than this."

Super Mario Sunshine (2002, Gamecube)
This game was a huge disappointment. Probably my least favorite of all the major platform Marios. Mario cannot solve things just by wearing new clothes in Sunshine, he resorts to a backpack that sprays water. Plus I think everyone was too busy with Pokemon when this one came out to even pay attention.

Super Mario Galaxy (2007, Wii)
This game is great and really added some fun new elements to Mario. It is the best reviewed Wii game and second best reviewed game of all time. It also caused headaches and vertigo as I played through. Wonderful, wonderful Vertigo.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
I was super excited when this game came out. It was really fun and allowed the player to frustrate friends by jumping on, and sending people down pits and into enemies, on accident or purpose.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
This game improved on Super Mario Galaxy in ways I did not think it would be able too. It also brought back Yoshi. The worlds in this game are simply fantastic and really allow the player to get lost in a fantasy. It is also a one player type game that has a second player option that ends up being really fun. The second player just wipes the wand around and collects stuff, kills enemies and other small tasks but it it really fun and lets kids play along while you enjoy the actual game.

So I left out the gameboy and virtual boy games and there are a few worth mentioning in that group but, I wanted to stick with the main console games. Mario has been a wonderful friend in my life and helped me be a hero when I didn't think I could. I just want Waluigi to show up and maybe Wario and cause some trouble for Mario instead of Bowser. Maybe next time Nintendo.

CD Review: Femme Fatal by Britney Spears

Recommend purchasing the CD for the insert

Let me start of by saying this, the first listen to the CD I was feeling the beats and bobbing my head to the catchy melodies. The second listen and idea popped into my head that made the CD much less attractive. Some of the songs sound like Ke$ha wrote them and decided not to put them on her CD since they were to bland or repetitive.

Some of you may be thinking I do not appreciate her voice and am looking at her CD as a Pitchfork elitist but I will have you know, I love girl-pop. This is not a good example of it. Britney is definitely on the downhill slope as queen of pop.

Take "Criminal" for example. That song starts with an ill thought clip out of a renaissance fair and the lyrics are about a bad boy that has caught Britney's heart. Ho-Hum. I felt like I should have been eating a fried chicken drumstick out of a bucket and looking at a poster of Kid Rock. That is not the only bad example. In the song "Femme Fatal" there is a line about taking her to a dungeon and eating her panties. I wish I were making this up but Britney is certainly more creative than I am at coming up with bad lyrics that do not make much sense.

There is a class that studies the late rapper 2-Pac's lyrics as poetry. I believe Britney's lyrics could also be studied as a strange sociological and psychological history of a poor girl's rise and fall through the American dream and what not to write if you want to be taken seriously as an artist.

There are a few high points on the CD. "Till the World Ends" is catchy and fun even if it sounds exactly like Ke$ha's "Blow." "Big Fat Bass" is the best constructed song on the CD. w.ill.iam adds a tremendous amount of style and talent to the song.

I think she looks great with a shaved head

"Femme Fatal" is not a CD I would recommend to anyone. I would tell someone looking to jam to catchy female-lead pop to check out Sky Ferreria, Robyn or Ke$ha. Britney Spears needs to invest the money she gets from "Femme Fatal," retire comfortably and maybe do a comeback tour with all of her hits in 10 years. That is about how long I waited for this disappointment.

If you are in the mood for the faire, check out the song "Criminal" below. This link even has the lyrics so you can read, ponder and krinkle your brow in confusion.

Fashion Tips for the Guys

Do not buy this shirt.

Mormon Democrat?!

As a person who often finds himself aligned with progressive policy in a community of conservative ideologues, I find that I stir up people's idea of what their community should look like. I will give you two examples that happened to me this weekend and seem to illustrate the issues I deal with.


I was out at a bonfire complete with singing, fire, smores, guitar and darkness. One young man sang an original song with lyrics including the name of Mit Romney. The last verse of the song he replaced Governor Romney's name with Harry Reid's. I should probably clarify that it was a Mormon bonfire and Romney and Reid are both Mormons. The difference is that one is a republican and one a democrat. After Reid's name was spoken, a hiss leaked out in the crowd as if someone had brought up a dark family secret. I speak with many Mormons about politics and I respect Harry Reid as a politician and Mormon. My view is the exception to the rule. I have struggled with this predujice as I have often been on the "wrong side" of political discussions in Mormon groups. I decided to embark on a historical journey and figure out why mormons are so strongly Republican.























I had a Bishop mention Ezra Taft Benson, former President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and first mormon appointed to a cabinet position as Secretary of Agriculture under Dwight Eisenhower. He told me that I shouldn't worry about being a democrat and a Mormon since it does in fact work but left me wondering what Ezra Tat Benson had to do with his anything. So I searched and found this quote.

“In February 1974 Apostle Ezra Taft Benson was asked during an interview if a good Mormon could also be a liberal Democrat. Benson pessimistically replied: ‘I think it would be very hard if he was living the gospel and understood it.'"

I have a theory and it assumes that the best indicator of political preference is parents political preference. Mormon's have voted in blocks whenever a church leader has come out in support of one candidate or another. David O. McKay, former president of the Church, met with both John F. Kennedy Junior and Richard M. Nixon in the 1960 Presidential campaign and wished them both luck but said he hoped Nixon would win. This was covered by the press and a state with strong Republican support misinterpreted the statement as an endorsement by church leadership of Nixon. Nixon then went on to win Utah in the 1960 campaign.

Kennedy did have receive support in Utah it was not enough to enable him to win the state but in 1964,  Lyndon B. Johnson became the last democrat to secure Utah in a presidential campaign. Since then, Utah has voted Republican for president. The state legislature has also become less competitive and more republican controlled.

Joseph Smith Jr. said, of mormon voting,

"What a strange people these Mormons are. They are like a flock of sheep; if I should jump into hell, I believe they would follow me!”

- Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., on the block-voting of Mormons, Macomb Journal, January 25, 1877, p. 2, “Politics and Mormons”

The strong block of mormon voters makes me sad. It is not because I personally feel ostracized, rather, I feel that instead of actually thinking and creating opinions about politics, people in the mormon church fall in line and vote how their neighbors vote. That is a dangerous practice and mormons have been counciled against blindly following leaders in and out of church.

Throughout its first century, Utah maintained a strong two-party commitment. It has since become dominated by conservative politics. I find it interesting that Utah is strongly in favor of public education and national park conservation, both progressive ideas. I guess we all have our dirty little secrets. If you find yours is being a democrat in conservative circles, just remember that at one point Utah voted for a democrat.

This is an overview history of Utah's voting outcomes

A Little Life Advice

I do not know what sport this is but it looks fantastic. Animals, punching, mud and optional helmets make any activity fun filled. This is conflict in its best form, face to face and direct. What is conflict in its worst form? Whenever it starts and plays out on facebook. I know you have seen it and may even have participated in calling someone out or making a reference to one person via a status update. I am here to tell you, don't. Unless you only have five friends and they were all involved. I may be fighting a losing battle since cyber drama and cyber bullying are becoming more prominent as kids lose the ability to socially interact I choose to stand strong nonetheless. 

Depressing status updates are also no fun. People let me down too, but I choose not to rain on everyone's newsfeed. Trust me, that will only make things worse for you. Misery may love company but it is rarely fun, uplifting and nice. I have spoken to people who saw an episode of MTV Made. and want to get made into a more social person. They ask me how I do it and the answer is simple to say, step out of your comfort bubble. Even people who seem to have no problem talking to others make conscious decisions to open their mouths. This does not mean you should open your mouth to simply make noise. I have heard people who make strange animal sounds or blurts instead of speaking and it baffles me. I would not try and enter a conversation by speaking in German. I would get weird looks and no one would know how to respond. If you think bleep, bloop, blah or skearie is going to help people talk to you, they won't. 

You may really want to change. Good for you. Unless you do something about it, nothing is going to magically happen. If you are looking for a job, outwork everyone around you until you find a job. If you want friends, be the friend that you would like to have in your life to others and proactively meet new people. If you want a girl or boyfriend, go on dates and look nice while updating your skills so you are constantly leveling up. Follow President Obama's lead and quit making excuses and get things done.