Sylvan Philanthrope

Yeah, I bird-watch...

2011-03-24T15:00:00.000-06:00

Let's get something straight right off the bat - you're not going to see me tromping around through the bush, sporting a pith helmet and antique-y binoculars, reverently whispering the scientific names of rarely seen (and probably even more rarely noticed) bird species.

Not a birder, just an old man in a pith helmet.
He looked fun, so here he is.

At least, not often.

I wasn't always a birder --- there was a time that I thought it was for old people who split their time between playing chess/checkers in a city park, and stalking out avian species and ogling them through binoculars.

Probably a birder... that mouth-posture is not required for birding, though.

For some of you - that might be reminiscent of the way you think of birding, even to this day -- if so, that's unfortunate, because you are missing out on one of the coolest and most inexpensive hobbies there is to be had.

The truth is, I've been a birder since I was a kid - I just didn't know it. I loved birds - and I loved watching them in my back yard, and in the 1 acre pasture we had. I especially loved watching the crowds of birds that would appear every time we irrigated - flood irrigation would bring out bugs, and water birds from all over would flock to the neighborhood to feast, play, and squabble over territory.

I didn't even know the names of the birds that I was watching so intently --- I suppose I might have been able to identify 3-4 of the dozens of species I must have seen. I probably made up names for the ones I didn't know - which was just as fun. That interested was only magnified as time went by - as I was able to travel a little, and see different species, and hear their different songs.

On camping trips, road trips, bike trips, walks, and any other excursion into nature, I would be on the lookout for birds of all kinds, shapes, sizes, and colors -- sometimes to the annoyance of my traveling companions.

Then, there was Biology 101 at Brigham Young University, as taught by Hal Black. I'm not talking about the kind of Biology 101 with lectures on mitosis and the Krebb cycle that could put a caffeinated squirrel to sleep - Prof. Black taught the interesting stuff, the fun stuff, the stuff you always wanted to know about Biology, and were afraid that your teacher would never mention because cellular biology took up all of class time.

Among other things, Prof. Black was an aficionado of all things birds -- he loved watching them, he loved talking about them, and his excitement about the topic was contagious. Our textbooks for the class were 3 birding books. I new I was in the right place!

(side note: when I found out about the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in India -- it immediately took a prominent place on my bucket list. For those who loves birds and nature - I would highly recommend looking into it).

If you asked me to point to a time when I started telling people "I'm a birder" ... I guess I would say it was that singular biology class. After that, I started taking binoculars everywhere with me - and my backpack with all the birding books I had. I would go out to Utah Lake on Saturday mornings on the other side of the Provo Airport to look for water birds and raptors -- and there were/are a wealth of birds to be seen!

Just to give you a glimpse of some of the stuff that I'd see:

Belted Kingfisher

Black Vulture

Great Blue Heron

Mandarin Duck

Northern Harrier

Snowy Egret

Tufted Titmouse

Wood Duck

Yellow-crowned Night Heron (and... occasionally, I'd see the Black-crowned night Heron)

Yellow-headed Blackbird

And that's just part of a growing list - and it keeps growing as I travel. It's one of those hobbies that seem to be pretty international - you'll find people who are interested in it on just about every continent (maybe Antarctica would be a stretch?) -- and it's an inexpensive and enjoyable way to enjoy the outdoors!

Funny thing to me, was that when I'd tell people I was going bird watching... they'd want to come along - they'd just always been afraid of admitting they loved watching birds!

-Alan M. Taylor

When you lose someone you love.

2011-02-21T22:05:00.000-07:00

About 7 months ago my mom passed away after a 6 month battle with cancer. I've found in that time that it is possible for one to feel both fortunate, and deprived. Strong, yet afflicted. Loved, but plagued with longing.

In my own experience there was a barrage of emotions that confronted me in the wake of the loss of my mother. There were good days, when I felt like I had a pretty good grip on things, a firm hope in seeing my Mom again, and an optimistic outlook for the future. There were also days that were not so good... when I missed her so much, when it seemed so unfair, and when there were things I wanted so much to share with her. I kept reminding myself that life isn't designed to be unfair -- especially if you claim to be a Christian. The Atonement was a dreadfully unfair outcome, even though it was a voluntary deed. (could you honestly claim otherwise of the sort of justice where the party least deserving of punishment received the bulk of it?)

In time, you'll find you're made of strong enough material to regain a forward leaning stance in your life - especially if the one you loved taught you as well as my Mother did. She left all of her children, and grandchildren (including those yet unborn) with a wonderful legacy.

Once, years ago, my Mom told me she thought I'd never become an Eagle Scout - that she was giving up on trying. She had tried hard to nudge me in that direction without much success. She probably said it more out of frustration than anything else, and to be honest (albeit in retrospect), I couldn't blame her. I don't know whether or not she realized it at the time, but that gave me twice as much drive just to prove her wrong (not the highest motive, I know... but it got the job done in time!). I asked her later about that, she claimed it was her honest belief, that she wasn't just trying reverse psychology. Either way, I made Eagle Scout.

In losing her to cancer, it feels like the gauntlet was thrown down again -- almost like fate was sneering at me. A man wizened through his own adverse experience said of his own determination. "I will take fate by the throat; it will never bend me completely to its will." Beethoven penned those words in a letter, and if Ludwig Beethoven could produce timeless music even when deaf, then there's music of my own, yet to be written, on the untouched pages in my own life.

To conclude on a hopeful note, I'll share the words of Robert Browning:

GROW old along with me!

The best is yet to be,

The last of life, for which the first was made:

Our times are in his hand

Who saith, “A whole I planned

Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!”

Then, welcome each rebuff

That turns earth’s smoothness rough,

Each sting that bids nor sit nor stand but go!

Be our joys three-parts pain!

Strive, and hold cheap the strain;

Learn, nor account the pang; dare, never grudge the throe!

For thence,—a paradox

Which comforts while it mocks,—

Shall life succeed in that it seems to fail:

What I aspired to be,

And was not, comforts me:

A brute I might have been, but would not sink i’ the scale.

And I shall thereupon

Take rest, ere I be gone

Once more on my adventure brave and new:

Fearless and unperplexed,

When I wage battle next,

What weapons to select, what armor to indue.

So, take and use Thy work:

Amend what flaws may lurk,

What strain o’ the stuff, what warpings past the aim!

My times be in Thy hand!

Perfect the cup as planned!

Let age approve of youth, and death complete the same!

Gardening, Cooking, and Woodworking

2011-02-13T18:09:00.004-07:00

There are certain characteristics about my family that I enjoy a great deal - and oddly enough, come to think of it, most of them are tied to what we spend our time doing when we get together around the holidays. Growing up in Arizona - Thanksgiving time was always outdoor project time - we loved doing things in the garden, in the yard, in the garage. Christmas time was about the same, with some baking of Christmas treats thrown in. It seems like we were always finding excuses to get dirt under our fingernails, or saw-dust in our hair - and that's stuck with me.

Even at college, I start filling blank spots in the apartment with plants, and looking for excuses to build little furniture odds and ends for myself, my roommates, and close friends. A good portion of my belongings consist of tools, both power and hand. From personal experience I can tell you that having tools, the know-how, and the willingness to help is a great way to expand your circle of friends. Same goes for cooking - feed a group of people a good meal and you'll see what I mean.

I've given some thought to this recently - given how much enjoyment I find in gardening, cooking, and woodworking... why I never really considered a career in any of those fields escapes me. Of course, I've been told that the best way to ruin one of your favorite hobbies is to try and turn it into a career. Still, you always hear stories of people who did the very same, and love what they do, and never look back.

Most tempting of the three is woodworking. I've remarked several times to close friends that saw-dust has an almost narcotic appeal to my senses... the sounds, the smells, the feel, the sense of accomplishment that go with creating beautiful pieces of woodwork are hard to beat - although I have to admit that I've cooked several things that smelled (and tasted) better than fresh sawdust (not that I've ever deliberately tasted fresh sawdust).

Since I enjoy so much about woodworking... I've tried to think of several ways that one could make it a going proposition for paying the bills and more. Short of building custom furniture, it's hard to imagine how one could build on a small scale and make any money -- assembly-line pieces may not have that 'heirloom' quality and look to them - but it seems like economy and convenience for relocation are pretty powerful arguments for finishing a home these days?

Another option, with it's own appeal, is timberframe construction of homes. That sort of work may not be easy - but it would certainly get me into the outdoors, and working with wood - both of them huge plusses in my book.

Ever since I found Google Sketchup, I've been creating designs of things I'd like to build, things I have built, and things I don't think I'll ever be able to build - but that process of creation, planning, and construction thrills me in ways I find hard to describe.

The thing that plagues me is that I'm pretty sure I would love doing this - just working with wood in general - but part of me keeps on saying "someday" when I know that if you say that enough it'll turn into "well, woulda coulda shoulda." Am I crazy enough to de-rail my university studies to chase after something like this? Not quite that crazy -- there's got to be a better way to go about it, I just haven't found it yet.

The funny thing (to me) is--- that I'm now positive I'm not the only one who has given serious thought to this -- several people I have mentioned it to have expressed a surprising amount of interest - "If you ever do that, keep me in mind." Words to that effect. They have no idea how much more tempting they just made that option sound by letting those words off the tip of their tongue. The thought of this thing 'snowballing' just makes it that much more tantalizing.

2011-02-02T19:49:00.001-07:00

May I recommend a book to you?

It's changed the way I look at situations, and has caused some deep introspection about the way I interact with others.

Leadership and Self Deception: Getting Out of the Box by Arbinger Institute

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a hard book to read - not because the language or ideas are lofty (just the opposite, the ideas have been made extremely accessible) -- the reason this book was hard to read, is because it nearly forces you to take a hard look at the way you live, the way you treat others, and the way you navigate through business, personal, and other situations.

The biggest take aways from this book, in my humble opinion, are that we often are at least part of the cause of the problems that we *blame* on others. The blame game is how we deceive ourselves... and effectively undermine any solution to the problem. We then *need* things to go wrong in order for us to feel justified in that blame --- that's not a very easy truth reconcile oneself with.

You come away from this book not self-condemning, but enlightened, and with a renewed vigor in trying to mend personal relationships, and thence professional ones. This book *can be* deeply good for not only yourself, but for all of those who surround you. Read it, understand it, think about it, live it, and then pass it along to those around.

View all my reviews

Seen @ BYU

2010-02-16T17:50:00.007-07:00

So - lately, there have been two new rather faddish fan-pages on Facebook, at least for those who are familiar with BYU campus. They are "Seen @ BYU" and "Overheard @ BYU" -- where posters are encouraged to publicize odd, interesting, crazy, zany, or just plain whacked out examples of culture and life on BYU campus. I have to admit, having walked this campus for 3 years now, I have seen and heard some pretty weird things - and wished I had a camera or a tape recorder to keep those interesting tid-bits for posterity.

Interestingly enough, the first of the two to be formed -- "Overheard @ BYU" -- was inspired by a group named "Overheard in Vegas" ... a smaller attempt to subvert the conventional wisdom that "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Hopefully nothing as seedy as the commonplace occurrences in Vegas will rear their ugly heads at BYU.

While both are fairly new, they are rapidly acquiring a fan base - and the thought of having an army of thousands of listeners/photographers running around BYU, gleaning pieces of information is a daunting thought. The "victims" for the most part are ano

nymous -- people have been discouraged from providing identifying information along with the quotes or photos -- and it may end up that no one who become unintentionally famous will ever know about it. That is, of course, unless some 'friend' of their recognizes them, and 'tags' them in a photo!

So - for those of you who have enjoyed the peculiarities of BYU campus, and maybe think you might enjoy 'updating' your repertoire of BYU's unique quirks - go look these two up on Facebook. Who knows ... you might have a 'gem' tucked away, waiting for the right venue to share it in -- even if it's from a bygone era.

Where do we go from here?

2010-02-04T10:21:00.006-07:00

For the past three years, I've spent a large part of my time in Utah - leaving only briefly, and rarely for a visit back to Texas, or somewhere else for the holidays. The strange part of it is, I don't really envision myself staying here after college is done - but I don't really feel like anywhere else is 'home' right now. Which leaves me in a sort of 'limbo' or 'purgatory' -- surrounded by friends, I still feel sort of ... homeless.

No, I don't feel exactly like those men women and children who are, quite literally, Homeless - I actually feel very blessed. I just don't feel that sense of belonging that you find when you live in a home, surrounded by those with whom you share more than just a bond of friendship. That's why I've decided that this 'homeless' feeling, mixed in with just a bit of wanderlust may serve a higher purpose than to just make one edgy when wondering "where do I go from here?"

In truth, I would hope that none of us feel as though we "belong" in our college years - at least not for the long term (obviously it helps to feel as though you fit in with your peers, age-wise, as well as regarding one's perspective on life). As Carrie Underwood's recent song admonishes... "This is just our temporary home..." This is not to say we shouldn't invest ourselves in lasting friendships, and cultivate the higher virtues that would serve us well for the remaining years of our life -- only that we should regard this time as we do our favorite seasons... they are wonderful in countless ways, but like the seasons they don't last. We take memories and friendships with us - but refusing to let this era settle comfortably into its place in the past would only needlessly take up room that should be reserved for the yet-undiscovered adventures that await us.

My conclusion? If you feel just a little on-edge whilst you finish your college years (especially while unmarried), then I'd say that's a good indicator your heart is in the right place. There are bigger and better things to accomplish - and to wish for its perpetuation would be to forsake all that lies in store for us. There's no great need to rush past college, if all you're after is to see what's around the next bend in the road, but neither would I have anyone sell themselves short, thinking that these are the best years of your life.

So... don't get too comfortable. You ain't seen nothin' yet. :-)

** P.S. One of my favorite Billy Joel songs goes along with this - it's called "Vienna"

The Day Before Tomorrow...

2009-06-14T19:11:00.002-06:00

"The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it." - James M. Barrie, The Little Minister, 1891

Flag day is always a sort of contemplative day for me - but perhaps not for the reasons that you would think. Yes, I would characterize myself as patriotic, but Flag Day is just one day before my birthday - and this year especially marks the occasion when I join the quarter-century club. 25 years of 'pura vida' ("nothin' but life") on this planet, having been places and done things I couldn't possibly have dreamed up, and living in a place I once swore to avoid like the plague.

I guess with most people out there, if you asked them (at age 15 or so) to imagine where they would be and what they would be doing at age 25, only a few would probably have the imagination to actually see that far ahead, and even most of them would probably be surprised out of their minds to actually "see into the future" and do a reality check. I think that would have been me, 10 years ago. So very much has transpired in my life that I'm left without words to describe it.

Tongue in cheek, I think I imagined myself as being much wiser! There are a few areas where I think I imagined myself doing better than I have - but I don't want this to seem as though every birthday-eve is one where I catalog my lifetime regrets. On the contrary - ... 'regret' is a word that I would recommend using only temporarily. Personally, I don't think saying "no regrets" is tantamount to saying that you've had a perfect performance up to the present. For me, it's more a recognition that you've lived and learned from life experiences along the way. Perhaps without making some mistakes, you couldn't have possibly gotten to the point where you find yourself. To be sure, I've made plenty of mistakes - but living with regret would only rob you of the value of each 'hard lesson' you've learned. So - as I turn 25, I say (with the above explanation in mind) that I have no regrets - but I've got a LONG list of ways I believe I can improve!

One of my professors, who taught us a great deal about family finance had an interesting way of putting things to us as a class. "N is a terrible thing to waste" he would tell us. 'N' being the variable in financial equations that represents 'time'. This, of course, was to be understood two ways. 1) Having time on your side when planning investments is a DEFINITE advantage. 2) You don't get to save it up, you can't horde it, you can't retrieve it - all of us get the same amount of it every day, and you have no way of knowing for sure how much 'N' you have left - so don't waste it! Even after being admonished thusly, some days I can't help but think of the words of James Barrie, quoted at the top here.

Another thing that has been at the forefront of my mind is that I have retained my slightly-unrealistically-optimistic outlook on life. I don't have to dig very deep to find that I truly believe that tomorrow will be better than today. To those who are of like mind, no explanation is required - but to those who have more pessimistic tendencies, perhaps no amount of explanation would suffice. Perhaps the reason why this sticks out to me is that of late my life has had it's share of 'bad news' days - days when my optimistic outlook was blurred by tears. Yeah, I know I've got it pretty good all things considering (living in the US, I have a job, I'm attending a good college, I generally know what I want to do with my life, I have a solid family and true friends) - but even the most blessed person you know is not immune to the pains, disappointments, and vicissitudes of life. Fortunately for all of us, most especially the younger generations, we get a chance to re-apply what we've learned in the coming decades of our life. I consider myself fortunate because I have learned a very great deal thus far. 25 years is only a beginning, and I certainly hope I am around to infect others with a contagious optimism when I'm 50, perhaps even 100!

Go ahead, if you like, and tease me about 'getting older' - you won't see the smile disappear into a grimace of dread. If I don't quip something witty in return, you can rest assured I'll silently reply "You ain't seen nothin' yet!"

Christmas Visits / New Years

2008-12-31T02:27:00.002-07:00

This past several days have had a heavenly and dream-like quality too them - very real, but almost un-earthly in how happy I have been. I'm the youngest in my family, and since I can remember, I have relished the days and weeks surrounding Christmas for the anticipation that has built up, for the eager expectation that accrues all around. Not for presents, not just for a break from the daily grind... but to bask in the good company of a wholesome and fully functional family. To breathe in slowly and deeply, to soak up the true spirit of the Holidays.

The whole family was there. All my siblings and their families, my parents, my cousins, aunt, and uncle - it was a series of moments that left me breathless, but filled to the brim with supreme contentment. I believe I am being honest when I say it will be one of the most Christmas vacations ever. It was the first Christmas I was able to spend with my future wife, and one of the first Christmases in a VERY long time that the whole of the family has been there... not since before my mission had that happened.

Two of my older brothers brought their sons and daughters with them - and I couldn't help but grin to realize that 10 years ago I never would have pictured them as the fine men and good fathers that they have become. It has been incredible to watch the incremental evolution of our family ties, and how each family is becoming more and more nuclear - and yet we still are magnetically drawn towards each other by a familial love that seems to know no boundaries. We fought like cats and dogs when we were children, as I think almost all children do, but we have since formed solidly enduring friendships with each other. We've been there for each other in good times and bad, and supported each other when support was needed. We are not perfect, and probably no where near it, but we are a functional family. We truly, postitively, from-the-bottom-of-our-hearts, ain't-no-lie, if-we-don't-then-I'm-not-literate, out-and-out love each other! You give any Statistician a data-set of our family interactions from 10-15 years ago, and ask him to extrapolate from that data how relations would be in present-day... and who knows what he would come up with - and if you would go on to show him our family, and insist that they family 10 years ago, and the one in present day are one in the same, he would probably tell you that it wasn't the outcome he had imagined!

I think our parents must have felt the same way, on certain occasions - particularly during the years when our contention was particularly fractious. Here we are, however. We've become friends in the truest sense of the word. We are mutually supportive in some pretty creative ways - and despite the distance that separates us for most of the year, we have actually maintained our friendship, and somehow we've actually grown closer.

I can't possibly guess all the ways that family relations will evolve in the future, but I definitely relish, rather than abhor, the thought!

Proposition 8 in California

2008-11-11T17:47:00.013-07:00

"In the days following the national election, there continued to be some dust stirred... but this time in California -- over a proposition to amend said state's Constitution, in this case to prohibit marriage of homosexual partners. The passage of that bill was, and apparently still is, hotly contested... and the protests by the "anti prop-8" groups have continued even AFTER the votes have been tallied. They've been disenfranchised, they say. Stripped of their rights, they claim. Anyone who supported the Proposition, or indeed anyone who didn't vote against it is immediately in danger of being labeled a bigot and homophobe. This baffles me.

Since when is marriage a "right?" Even as a heterosexual, I guess I've never considered it a "right." If I had to categorize it under one of the 10 amendments (the "Bill of Rights"), for me it would fit best as a privilege that is enjoyed incidentally as the Freedom of Religion. Even fitting into that category, it would do so as a privilege, like driving a car or flying a plane, voting (for which the privilege can be revoked), owning and operating your own business, etc.

For many of us who supported Prop 8, we supported it with an eye to the future, of the ramifications it would have as touching our religious practices. We'd rather keep marriage primarily a religious institution -- and making it constitutionally permissible to perform same-sex marriages would be one step closer to making a "law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;". I feel it would be akin to opening a Pandora's box of very American-style law-suits.

For those who say that the Constitution is not a framework through which the majority can force their opinion on the minority, do you also realize that it is even LESS of a framework for the minority to impose ITS opinion on the majority?

This issue has two main components to it for me. The first is constitutional, the second, social, and at the base of them both is Morality.
First - the matter of marriage has historically been an institution of religion and particularly that of Christianity. The governance of that institution has also been primarily that of religion, including Christianity. From a religious perspective, this was the way that it was designed to be. It was instituted and governed by that same religious authority when this country was founded. Speaking of the Founding, there were provisions made and included in the Constitution of the United States which served as the architecture for the many freedoms which we now enjoy, among those being the freedom of religion. In the first amendment, where it begins to delineate those rights, it mentions that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;". I'm very well aware that the meaning of this sentence depends on how one reads it, but any way you cut the cake, its effect will still be taking one step closer to making religious matters subject to state 'supervision'. As a Mormon, I'm also well aware that this is not the first time that it has happened. As a church we practiced polygamy, something that was condemned by the United States government at the time. We suffered persecution as a church for many reasons, of which polygamy was only a part. We have seen first hand what happens when the state delves into religious matters. We were refused protection even when the President of the United States personally admitted to church leaders that our cause was just, and we were in the right. At one point in Missouri there was a law passed which condoned the "extermination" of all Mormons inside the state. History, alone, could justify our concern as to the involvement of government in spiritual and religious matters. If the people choose to open up this can of worms again, they should be prepared to accept the consequences -- the re-examination of what marriage is, and the decisions about who is allowed to marry who (based on age, race, sexual orientation, closely-related individuals, etc.). Before the critics of the LDS church (or any Christian church who vocally and financially supported the passage of Proposition 8) get up in arms, they should realize that the LDS church did what it could before Polygamy was made illegal by the voice of the people, and yet we have willingly complied with the resulting legislation. For over 100 years. I shouldn't think it would come as a surprise that we would not stand by and watch as another attempt was made to involve the state in religious matters. Yes we DO have business getting involved, since so much is (again) at stake for us.

The second, the social matter, is also of paramount importance. Societies are at their very base founded on social units -- and the disintegration of those units will ultimately result in the disintegration of that society. Not just in the United States, but world wide, that social unit has again and again proven to be the family. That's why it has been a reliable barometer for the health of a society for hundreds of years. The health of the family affects ALL facets of societal life. Communities, businesses, governments, and entire countries all feel the effects of an unhealthy family life. Witness South Africa -- the social fabric of South Africa was in shambles by the late 1980s' - so strained by the social pathogens that spread like spores when the family unit was left defenseless. It's recognition of the importance of the family in maintaining healthy communities, businesses, and government was merely an echo among so many voices declaring the very same. Now the family is under threat again. This time by redefining the cornerstone of it - the marital relationship from which families stem. You cannot alter or redefine the cornerstone of the family without affecting the health of the family organization. If you remove it altogether, or profane it, it will result in a terminally ill family structure. Such a change would bode ill for an entire nation.

Third, I believe that homosexual behavior is immoral. Please don't confuse this with any kind of hatred. The behavior is immoral, but this does NOT mean that I hate homosexuals, or the fact that they choose to live together. My objection is with the behavior alone, and especially when homosexual couples want to do it under the banner of marriage. I believe that marriage should be a symbol of morality, and all the good that moral living represents. If homosexual behavior was to become a "constitutionally permissible" practice in a newly defined arrangement of marriage -- then the basic unit of society we have known and upon which our social framework finds its base will begin to crumble. Oh, it might take a while, but it will crumble. That's a line I don't dare cross, and countryside that I would prefer to leave undiscovered.

In a nutshell that's why I supported, and continue to support that initiative. Those who oppose it are welcome to their own opinions, and to pursue their goals through legal and socially responsible avenues -- but knock off the protests outside Churches, Temples, Synagogues, Cathedrals and Chapels. When you target Churches, and especially people (even individuals!) of that church, you epitomize the bigotry of which you would accuse others. I hear that 70% of blacks in California voted in favor of the proposition -- and yet I don't see a website like blacksstoleourrights.com -- or jewsstoleourrights.com, or catholicsstoleourrights.com. Somehow it's still permissible to single out Mormons in a time when you are calling out for tolerance. If you don't accept the outcome of the election, fine. That doesn't mean you are excused from abiding by it.

If you ask me why I feel threatened, or if I feel threatened, by the prospect of marriage being open to homosexuals, my reply is "Yes, because it attacks and profanes an institution which has taught me the good principles and values that I now have, and that is the origin of America's values and strength. In trying to make it into something it is not, you will eventually watch as 'Rome burns down around you.'" It's not about civil rights, its about right and wrong. At the core it's not an issue of liberty, it's an issue of morality.

In expecting the opponents of Proposition 8 to abide by the law, the outcome of fair elections, and both state and national constitutions, I don't except myself from the same standard. I'll do the very same, and I'll do it without picketing the homes or gathering places of homosexual individuals and shouting out politically charged phrases at the top of my lungs. I'll do it without accusing the other side of sticking their nose into places where they have no business. I'll do it without attempting to punish the other side with a boycott of the state where that organization has its headquarters, boycotting businesses from which that organization derives no direct benefit or income. I'll do it without trying to defame the other side without slanted statistics, sensationalized ad hominem commercials, and negative publicity. I'll do it the right way, by standing up for what I believe in, by standing for something, not by attacking the other side - and if I still feel that the outcome isn't in the best interest of my community, I'll pursue redress through the court system, and leave voters, religion, and any other classifying factor out of it.

I love this country very much, even more so after having lived in the third world for two years, looking at the US through the lens of a foreign country. I love it enough to make sacrifices on it's behalf, enough to shoulder responsibility for it's future, and enough to protect it from influences that would destroy it, and enough to speak out when I believe that we are on the wrong track. I believe that we are still a great nation, and will continue to be so long as we continue to embrace the values and ideals and morals which made us great, and I echo the sentiment of George Washington in his writings: "I consider it an indispensable duty to ... commend[] the interests of our dearest country to the protection of Almighty God and those who have the superintendence of them into His holy keeping."

It pays to save (and backup!)

2008-09-16T15:29:00.002-06:00

Well, last year about this same time, by coincidence, I woke up on the first day of school to find that my computer was inoperable... something had gone wrong with it that wouldn't even let it start up. It took about a week for me to finally arrive at the conclusion that the hard drive had crashed and needed to be replaced. I had it replaced... but still suffered the loss of almost everything I had put on there. There were only a few things which I had still saved in other locations... including the contacts that I had saved on my cell phone and was able to restore immediately. There was, however, an entire semester's worth of work / notes / files on there that I had saved. The hard lesson was: always ALWAYS back up what you are working on!

Anyhow, a similar thing happened to me just the other day. I was in the midst of updating some of the software on my computer, while sync-ing some data on my cell phone... when iSync suddenly stopped working correctly. I cancelled the sync and ended up having to force-quit the program -- and.... then discovered that all the contacts in my computer's address book had disappeared. I tried to sync it again in order to get the contacts from my cell phone into the computer. Presto! It made all my cell phone contacts disappear.... :-(

Here was the acid test... had I learned my lesson about losing data? Had I kept a back-up somewhere of all my contacts? :-D This is where the story has a happy ending. I had backed all my critical settings and important documents on my 80 GB iPod! I fished out the appropriate files, restored my computer's address book, and then synced them back to my phone. Three cheers for backing up your files!

Summer Adventures Summed Up!

2008-09-10T10:01:00.011-06:00

This summer has been a long and enjoyable one in most regards, and I think I can say that I've packed a fair number of adventures in along the way. I had been going to school for about a year, and classes were taking up all of my time, leaving no time to "sharpen the saw" as Stephen Covey would say. Sure, there were small weekend getaways, and little fun things to do along the way, but I decided before the end of the summer semester to shake things up a bit this summer!

I guess the classes I took in Spring semester weren't exactly academically taxing to begin with. Mountain Biking, and Guitar class -- both were very educational, but highly replenishing to my spirits at the same time. I think some of my most hair-raising experiences in the spring happened while mountain biking. Utah has some spectacular hiking, as well as biking trails to explore, and there are literally scenes along the way that will take your breath away!
Bryce Canyon (pictured above) is only one of the many stops we made along the way - but it was an overnight field trip, and certainly a memorable bit of trail! Along one particular section of treacherous curves, dips, and drop-offs, I stuck my left foot out in order to catch myself should the bike come out from under me if it lost traction -- and my foot caught a small branch that was pointed straight at me. The edge of the branch hit the sole of my shoe, penetrated it, penetrated my sock, and for some reason (miracle? Guardian Angel?) stopped short of penetrating the skin on the bottom of my foot! I think I was a little shook up, or I probably would have taken some photos for show-and-tell!

All during the Spring semester, I had been looking at getting a motorcycle as my mode of transportation for spring, summer, and fall seasons up here. On May 29th, I found the motorcycle that would suit my needs, bought it with cash, and began to learn how to ride it. A 1996 Yamaha Virago, XV535cc -- a GREAT bike to start out with if I had to suggest one. To my knowledge, I think I might be the first person to own a motorcycle of this size in my family for over 40 years. It was something I always wanted to do, and now it was something that would be practical, as well as adventurous! The gas prices having topped $4 a gallon all summer long made the 45 mpg mileage for my motorcycle really appealing. In fact, it gave me a great reason to continue to find places to take my motorcycle! I guess you could say I'm self-taught. I'm a pretty cautious driver, and I believe I was equally cautious learning how to ride my motorcycle. I got my permit from the Driver's License Division in Utah, then started riding around on city streets. After riding around for 2-3 weeks, I went down to take my riding test at the same place, and passed it with flying colors (not that their road-test guarantees your safety as a rider in any way). After that, I started riding everywhere. I acquired the safety gear one needs to keep safe, and in no time I was out on the Freeway! In the last part of July and early part of August, I took a motorcycle rider's class from a local organization for $180. It wasn't bad, but if you are going to take one, I recommend that you take one BEFORE you get a motorcycle, and before you've ridden 500 miles on the streets on your own motorcycle. Anyhow, it wasn't long after that I decided to push my limits a little. I had some preventative maintenance done on the bike, and set out on a 500 mile round-trip journey to Idaho Falls to visit my Uncle Larry! That was quite the trip! First off, 500 miles on a motorcycle is a LOT longer than it seems in car! My seat wasn't designed for road-trips either, it's pretty hard! Second, there is a reason you see motorcyclists dressed up to the neck in gear, including helmet, gloves, boots, and rain suits. I hit rain about 30 miles outside of Idaho Falls, and let me say this, it's hard to call it gentle rain when it hits you at 70 miles an hour! Third, there are too many crazy drivers out there to ever get bored on the road on a Motorcycle. Fourth, drafting a semi on the highway might be fine in car, but it's NOT A GOOD IDEA on a motorcycle - you get continually buffeted by the 'baffle' of the semi, and it's just uncomfortable all-around! I learned a lot about motorcycling, myself, and determination on that trip!

Later that summer, towards the end of August, Towards the end of August, on Memorial Day weekend, some friends and I decided that w would attempt a pre-dawn summit of Mount Timpanogos, here nearby Provo. At almost 12,000 feet at it's peak, we would be climbing about 6,000 vertical feet from the trail-head to reach the top. I had tried this once before with another friend of mine, a little later in the season. Alright, it was WAY late in the season, getting on towards the end of October. We... didn't quite make it to the top. We reached about 8000 feet and had to turn back! It started snowing and raining on us about 5:45AM, and the snow was thick enough that it started covering the trail, and severey reducing visibility - we were both wearing cotton trousers, and neither one of us had water-proof boots. Luckily, we both knew our limits and decided against trying to make it to the top. Anyhow, I felt like we got spanked, and told to go home.

This next time, I would refuse to turn back.

On August 23rd, 2008 we left our apartment at 12:15 AM to head for the trail head at Aspen Grove up Provo Canyon past Sundance Ski Resort. It was dark, of course when we started climbing, but we had the luck of clear skies, and a half moon to light our trail in addition to our flashlights. We moved steadily, and reached the summit at 5:45 AM, just a while before the sunrise!

We were bone-tired, but it was still a great feeling to be able to look down on what seemed like the whole of Utah Valley from "way up there". We could see the spread of city lights all the way from Spanish Fork to the Southern parts of Salt Lake City! As we huddled near the summit hut, we paused to take it all in, and then find a good spot to watch the sunrise from!

In the middle of August, it was cold enough to make us shiver through a jacket, gloves, cap, jeans, and boots. I would always recommend that climbers dress in layers to get the job done properly, because we were sweating beads again by the time we got back down to the trailhead at 10:30 AM. Also, if i were ever to do it again, I would definitely try and spread it across two days, and camp at the meadow just below the trail to the summit.
Oh -- a little earlier in the summer we also made it up Stewart Falls from the same trail head - and that was another small adventure - my photos for it are on Picassa and Facebook I think. :-)

All in all, it was a refreshing summer! I feel like I made my mark this summer, proved myself in someways, discovered myself in others, and left myself ever so much better prepared to make this world a better place. I have settled on a major, recharged my batteries to take on classes - it was good to take time off to make my time "on" that much more effective!

Ahhh... what a summer!

Spring Fever.

2008-05-11T12:37:00.003-06:00

One of my favorite times of the year is the spring season - not just for the weather, but also for the silent renewal of most every living thing. Add to that the bi-annual occurrence of the General Conference of the LDS church every spring and fall, and it becomes even better!

For the first time in my life, I was able to attend General Conference at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City - which was an experience to behold! I was glad to be able to attend there - and at the same time is was a different experience than the one that I had envisioned. I suppose I expected that everyone there would be paying close attention to what was said, but I was surprised to find that many people appeared to be only half-interested in what was said, and the other half of them was engaged in conversations with their neighbor, and sending text messages. This while people outside who had traveled hundreds and even thousands of miles would have eagerly paid wrapt attention to the proceedings, but didn't have a ticket to enter. I suppose I shouldn't have let the irony distract me - it just seemed un-necessarily unfair.

Aside from that this spring looks to be a good one! That's one thing that I've had as a first in Utah this year, watching the change of seasons. Arizona and Texas had a quasi-winter season - and Nicaragua was a perennial summer with wet and dry being the only tangible variables. Utah, on the other hand, has a bit of everything, including flowering trees, which I don't recall seeing much in Nicaragua. I've been here for a year now, and I'm getting used to the idea of having hot and cold at different times of the year, all over again!

I've been going to school for over a year straight now, and I think that I'm doing myself a favor by taking a break from the intellectually taxing classes, and carving time out for social livelihood, and to work and save up some money. As I'm looking for work here, I'm trying to find somewhere that I can learn something practical and useful, not just something that is a proprietary singularity - like Verizon's filing system, or UPS's pre-load system for packages... something that will actually be a useful life-skill! If I can find something involved with real estate or banking, so much the better!

I'll add more information as I get it, but I think it's time for me to wrap this up.

Until next time,

A. M. Taylor

You're Pre-Approved*!

2008-02-20T21:39:00.003-07:00

So, I'm one of the only guys in my apartment that regularly gets mail - which normally would be something that makes me excited to get the mail everyday. Who wouldn't want to get mail, right?

Well, when I see on the outside of the envelope "Dated Material - Respond Immediately" I sensed the urgency of whatever it held, so I hurried inside to carefully open it and discover a letter head with the text "YOU'RE PRE-APPROVED*" I resisted the next urge I felt, which was to crumple up the paper, blow my cold-stricken nose on it, and toss it in the garbage. To my own chagrin, I kept reading out of morbid curiosity. "No way! My very own fake credit card with MY name on it!?!? You must be insane!" I giddily add it to the collection of fake credit cards with 5555-5555-5555-5555 across it (which make great book marks by the way, and it already has your name on it!).

It seems that Visa wants to give me $350 to spend... minus $100 for an "Account Origination Fee" (read - "We like ourselves so much, that WE'LL spend your money for you!") and a $50.00 Annual Fee (read - "Nope, we're not done yet.") and an optional $20.00 for them to expedite the abominable card to your door. So... basically, I get taxed a minimum of $150.00 for being foolish enough to send this thing back in! All of this charged to the credit card before it even gets to me... at (get this) a 23.99% interest rate.

After a good laugh, I was about to throw the whole stack of dead tree into the garbage when I saw the most brilliant piece of marketing in the whole package. On the outside of the envelope to send the application back, they put "PLEASE RUSH." Man, they must think this world is full of people just WAITING to do the bidding of this company - first, they want me to sign up for one of the worst credit offers I can imagine, then on top of that, they want the US Postal Service to RUSH something?!?! These people must be closely related to the guy who puts the "Take One" sticker by the sauce packets at a fast-food joint, or the guy who puts up the 55 MPH Speed Limit sign on that long empty stretch of highway between you and your destination - they just can't seem figure out the art of "pick your battles."

So, now I'm left with a precarious decision... What exactly should I put in their envelope to send back to them? All the confetti I can fit in it? A random crayon drawing? All the used tissues from my cold this past week? Something as a token of my respect for their considerable effort to impress me? Maybe a Pass-along card? I'm open for ideas!

Computer back -

2008-01-23T23:13:00.000-07:00

So, this morning, literally almost less than 24 hours after I sent it off, my computer was back, and in working order again. That's the good news -- the bad news is, I was unable to recover any of the data that had been stored on the other hard drive. :-( That was a hard lesson to learn - I think I lost about 150 pages of typed notes... which I was none to happy about... as well as having lost months of journals entries. For those of you who have never had a hard-drive crash without a back up, I hope it never happens to you, but rest assured you'll want to back things up just in case!

My losses are, thus far:

150 pages of notes from class, plus essays...
A couple thousand photos... only a few of which I was able to put online, as some sort of back up.
Journal entries since April of 2007.
Financial records and spread-sheet calculators
Dozens of other items of sentimental and intellectual value to me.

In short, life goes on - you can't let silly stuff like this drag you down - the best you can do is keep moving forward, so - Hakuna Matata... I'm not going to let it bug me!

New Semester, with a bitter twist?

2008-01-18T23:33:00.000-07:00

On the 7th of January, the winter semester started here in Provo, and the first thing I notice when I woke up is that the music I had playing on my computer the night before, has somehow been muted. I went over to my laptop to see what was the matter, and found that it had frozen. Worse than that, it wouldn't respond to any command that I gave it... so I just turned it off. I turned it back on to let it re-boot, and left to take a shower. When I got out of the shower 10 minutes later, it was still a blank white screen... and the fan was blowing like crazy... and what sounded like the hard-drive was making a soft rhythmic syncopated clicking noise. I was mildly alarmed... I didn't ever remember teaching it that trick! Trying to coax it into good behavior produced no result... even trying to boot it off of the OS DVD that came with the computer. I just left it at home for the day, figuring I'd just deal with it later. So, the VERY first day of class, I was without my computer, with which I usually take notes. It was an odd feeling!

Now, almost two weeks later, I'm finally sending it off to the manufacturer (after having a few friends try to tinker with it, having the logic-board replaced, and now the computer won't even turn ON!) to have them replace what needs replacing under the warranty, which is still good.

Now, the guessing came comes in... is it something to do with the memory, the logic board, or the hard drive? I'm praying it's not the hard drive, because I had unwisely NOT backed the majority of that information up. Luckily, HAD backed up my music from iTunes on a DVD, but my class notes, my journal, and several pictures that mean a lot to me are on there... and if those are gone, I'm afraid that I'll be very, very sad.

Moral of the Story: Back up your data, however you can, and do it OFTEN!

Hopefully, within a couple of days, I'll have my computer back, and be able to write, at the very least, a bitter-sweet ending to this story.

Politics and "The Mormons"

2008-01-04T16:38:00.000-07:00

With the Iowa Caucus finished, I have been reflecting a great deal on the importance of the decisions that are soon to be upon us in the coming elections. Choosing a candidate may be easy for some people, but the more I learn, the more difficult the decision becomes. I guess some people wait until after all the caucuses are done, and the Republican and Democratic National conventions have chosen their candidates, and then make their choice about which candidate they will support. I can see where that approach would make sense, waiting to see which candidate actually "makes it to the playoffs", but at the same time, it bothers that people treat elections like a spectator sport until the very last minute.

I have a lot of different friends with a lot of different political leanings, and I've tried very hard not to let politics get in the way of our friendship. Personally, I lean towards Mitt Romney as a candidate. Before you assume that I choose to support him for the simple fact that our religious convictions align, I want to point out that the reasons I have for not supporting the other Republican candidates (whose platform I agree with more, in general) have nothing to do with religion.

Several people I know in the local area have a thing for Ron Paul, a congressman from Texas - but after examining his stance on several issues, I find that some of his proposed actions are idealistic, but not very practical. He suggests that we eliminate the IRS (effectively wiping out the income tax nation-wide), and possibly the Federal Reserve - and not replacing either of them with anything. His solution to the SIGNIFICANT drop in revenue? Decrease government spending. Where? He doesn't say, but that could mean dropping government-sponsored student loan programs, decreasing spending on Social Security, decreasing defense spending... things are generally considered to be "good" and a wise investment.

Rudy Giuliani just doesn't do it for me -- his solution for immigration doesn't sound practical to me... issuing an ID card for every foreigner who crosses the border just doesn't seem to do much, and would really only increase the incentive to dodge immigration, and enter illegally. Think about it, why would most people have a strong desire to comply with that sort of legislation? As long as our borders are as porous as they currently are, then it's not going to work out in practice as envisioned in theory.

Mike Huckabee lost a lot of my respect when he started running a negative campaign... and he started doing negative campaigning long before he was open about it. Ordained minister or not, I don't think he has any business bringing up religion to discredit any candidates, doesn't matter which party, or what office is in question. When he attacked (he later apologized for this) the Mormon faith, he lost a lot of points with me. The same thing would have happened had he criticized Senator McCain, or Senator Obama for their religious beliefs. I wouldn't feel confident if such a man were to lead our country, and represent our nation to the world. Though I'm sure his own religious beliefs might make him a moral man, and his willingness to defend the Second Amendment make him a Republican in good standing , I wouldn't vote to give him the Executive Office.

As for the other Republican Candidates, I don't consider most of them viable. Barack Obama seems to be a principled man, and someone who I believe could be trusted with the execution of the duties of the Presidential Office, I'm not entirely confident of his intentions with regard to taxes, how he intends to influence monetary and fiscal policy, what he intends for medical care in this nation, and how he will approach the matter of second amendments. I would vote for Obama for the same reason that I would vote for Romney - simply because I believe him to be trustworthy, and most able to fulfill promises that he makes.

On a side note - this campaign has brought to light a number of critics of the Mormon faith - and I find the amount of disinformation available to be incredible. One of the chief critics is Ed Decker, who I wouldn't trust with a squirt gun. Please read about his past before you believe everything he says. Yes, he was once a Mormon, but he was excommunicated for adultery - I don't think his moral compass "points North." It seems reasonable to me, that if you want to get good information about a faith, ask someone who is a member in good standing of that faith. For example, if you want to find out what a Catholic really believes, would you first turn to a Southern Baptist? If you want to find out what a Muslim believes, would you ask a Jew, a Hindu, or a Sihk? Similarly, if you want to find out if Ford makes a good truck, would you ask the guys at the Toyota dealership? If you want to find out what Mormons really believe, find one and ask, or visit the website set up by the Church to answer common questions -- Mormon.org.

Family Ties

2007-12-23T22:11:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a while since I moved to Utah, and it's been an adventure living up here -- I often feel like a stranger in a strange land. Compounding the "strangeness" of situation is living on campus at BYU, a unique institution and in a category all it's own. The experiences I have had are rewarding, and I feel like I've made several large forward-strides towards where I see myself in 5 years.

The Fall semester has just ended, capped by the stresses of the Final exams, and all the stigmas attached to them. Now I'm taking a break here in Provo, with family members having flown in from California, and having driven from Texas.

It has been just over 24 hours, and already my laughing muscles are going to be sore. We have a knack for finding the humor in just about any situation, and making light of serious situations. It's one thing that I truly love about my family - we are never together without having had a good laugh either at ourselves or about a funny situation that has happened to one of us during the past few months.

The funny thing is, that I haven't given a lot of thought to what it is that I want for Christmas - my focus and feelings have been centered on family, and how much I've missed being able to laugh with them. I think that spending time is one of the most renewing things that I could possibly do - and it's all about the small moments... the almost indefinable feeling of belonging somewhere. I can't imagine what it must feel like to lack that feeling - either to be a refugee from war, or an orphan.

I'll count my blessings, and thank my lucky stars for the family that I have, and the tremendous opportunities that I've been given for having them them around!

Change of Address forms please?

2007-05-04T18:07:00.000-06:00

I've changed locations... from Keller, Texas, to Provo, Utah -- and at the same time I've changed my job location from "Tax Preparer" to "Student."

There have been a number of significant changes in my life in the past few weeks. Starting on the 19th of April, I flew to California, to undergo a procedure known as LASIK to correct my somewhat flawed vision. 2 days later, I flew from California, enjoying 20/15 vision in both eyes (Dr. Ellis was the surgeon - whom I highly recommend to everyone who is considering LASIK). I landed in Salt Lake City, bags in hand, ready to begin a new chapter of my life... that of Student at a University, which would be a first for me.It's been two weeks, and my vision has only gotten better... I can't tell you how nice it is not to have to bother with glasses or contacts! Even better, I can wear any pair of nice-looking sunglasses I like!

Another first for me is living in a dorm situation, with a number of roommates, all of whom come from relatively different back grounds. On top of that, I am now employed by the University as an RA... which means i have the added privilege and responsibility of watching out for another 20 or so people. It's been a lot to take in, for such a short amount of time.

I'm taking 2 classes during this term... which is about limit for an RA... and for a short term like Spring. CHum 284, is a Web-Page Building class... they teach you how to make your own web pages, and take them to a more professional level. It's really enjoyable for me, and I look forward to class. Spanish 321 is a different story for now. As I mentioned before, this term is a bit short... and Spanish 321 is designed for fluent Spanish speakers. This is all well and good...except for the fact that the majority of the class is returned missionaries... only SOME of whom actually bothered to learn proper grammar (the why and wherefore of speaking like a Latin). I spent more time learning that than anyone else I knew in the mission... and still I feel like I'm at the edge of my abilities. I'll reserve judgment on this class until I get a better grip on things!

So the first week of class has gone by... and tonight is the first time that I get "desk duty" as an RA -- another facet of this adventure that I call "College." The dimensions, the depth, and the breadth of my world have all increased... I feel a bit like a fish who has been kept in a tank all his life, and just got dumped in the ocean. Water is water... but the environment takes some getting used to.

For the mean time, I think it'll be a good long while before I can get some

The Beginning

2006-10-26T09:27:00.000-06:00

As rotten as my track record has been with writing in my paper journal, I'm tempted to think that I might not fare much better among the bits and bytes of the Internet... but you can't really put a price on the attraction of having the ability to publish things in a world wide Agora of Ideas. My own Jouranl is a bit more personal -- written to a different crowd.

I returned just over 4 months ago from a trip overseas to Nicaragua -- it was a 2 year experience which I would repeat at a moment's notice without having to think twice. I did it knowing, however, that it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity ... and so it was. It can't be repeated; that's just how things are meant to be sometimes. A parent can only see his first child take his first step once. Not that I'm trying to get philosophical -- just commenting on the poignant nature of certain events in the course of our life -- they really only have one chance to make an impression on us. Fortunately, this experience made a tremendouse impression on me. I won't EVER be the same again :-)

Nicaragua IS still a part of the third world -- you don't find down there what you'll find in the US, and inevitably you find yourself "missing" something that you wish you could have. What did I wish most? My family. Snickers bars, Dr. Pepper, clean streets, and the rest quickly faded into the background. You can be happy, if you choose to, wherever you are -- but part of my happiness will always be tied to having my family within arms-reach. I'm often surprised to find people who don't like to admit that they love their family members... even in private. I consider myself lucky to have gone away and come back, having changed my outlook. I DO love my family, and wouldn't trade them for anything. Some people might believe other-wise... but my personal belief is that Family falls into the category of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.