tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271210502024-03-12T20:03:18.781-07:00Diaries of a proud papaPapa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-91615230084480164992008-04-15T10:33:00.001-07:002008-04-15T10:36:35.497-07:00Waxing Poetic<em>I've written two fun poems today:</em><br /><br />Herbert likes his choc’late<br />He eats it all the time<br />Breakfast, lunch, or snacking<br />Whenever it comes to min’<br /><br />He eats it with his cereal<br />That’s not that hard to do<br />Count Coco’s double chocolate crunch<br />And Chocolate syrup goo<br /><br />He eats it out at recess<br />His buddies like to share<br />Herbert always brings them extra<br />There’s some sticking in his hair<br /><br />Bananas dipped in chocolate<br />A carrot and some peaches<br />They all go in the chocolate sauce<br />While Herbert’s teacher teaches<br /><br />At lunch he eats a well rounded meal<br />He eats some chocolate bread<br />Fudge goes in the middle<br />With peanut butter spread<br /><br />After weeks and months of nothing else<br />Herbert’s body changed<br />With only one thing to grow on<br />His molecules rearranged<br /><br />His hair turned brown, so did his eyes<br />And wouldn’t you just know it<br />He even smelled a chocolate smell<br />While going to the toilet<br /><br />So in alarm, his mom declared,<br />“Herbert William Twist<br />You must stop eating cocoa<br />On this I must insist!”<br /><br />She switched out all his goodies<br />With healthy wholesome snacks<br />Broccoli, beans and carrots<br />With nothing on their backs<br /><br />Not near as good or tasty<br />He ate his beets and leeks<br />It seemed like every meal time<br />Lasted weeks and weeks<br /><br />But Herbert William soon discovered<br />One day while so down hearted<br />His mother gave him strawberry milk<br />And his new obsession started<br /><br /><br /><em>The second one:</em><br />A dad’s most dreaded nightmare<br />Is going down the aisle<br />With birds and chirping nightingales<br />To cross it takes a while<br /><br />No not the aisle all dressed in white<br />It’s different than you think<br />The one that’s filled with cute stuff<br />The one that’s dressed in pink<br /><br />This doll has got real girl’s hair<br />You can brush it if you like<br />That doll has her own corvette<br />She likes a guy named Mike<br /><br />This kitchen set has all the stuff<br />That you’d find in our home<br />A little fairy princess<br />Is sitting all alone<br /><br />Oh please, please Daddy! Oh don’t you care<br />That princess is so sad!<br />Oh get her for me daddy!<br />I promise I won’t be bad!<br /><br />Oh curse you dreaded pink aisle<br />You’re nasty and so stinky!<br />For nothing proves so well to all<br />I’m wrapped around her pinkyPapa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-89548356658901233552007-12-14T05:41:00.000-08:002008-12-11T02:30:12.569-08:00Our Christmas Newsletter<div align="center"><br /><br />2007<br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Our Family News & Pictures<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144620972118949698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCSknWioHJRZRCK9gA9Zh1Y19lDWxikeoEduG4W6dl1TRtllHCX04OYXJNz8FzXF7xtoL_4g6DwtClR29r5CJtdwuaFGZo7Us1YjE7KyEVihPrOxJe1SzCm3IeNlJOSpSpaB7/s400/cropped019.jpg" border="0" /></span>L to R: (on branch) Bug, Bam-Bam, Miss M, Angel Face, Tiny and Lucy </div><div align="center">P (holding Lucky) and K <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143826308679908994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCdhrfPpgcW73gW6xsy2GQtKvdP9q-MJ52DaQuZdkOtlh5kywcwtx6ryMXkKJp4AJ859FLtoaZfeeV7vtpVLn9sRAoamat_qUdkjduPDIdSHIr1yrlS30jmoIv8p8gjK-MtYX/s320/fixpic%5B2%5D.jpg" border="0" />Bug, Miss M, Angel Face, Tiny, Lucy, Bam-Bam, and Lucky<br /></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144622161824890706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbr3DfYqDjV1zrANVWZOajfgc5GsNCKq0E-wDTfgWeYuFihAi9cAO4Gf_yBRSxRtmTB7K4-ehJJAobheWNuZ9jdJzW6PcM6wkJYReeX5rjnt-M0PUi430-icGcS2v3RjMLBoi/s320/100.JPG" border="0" />This summer, P had the opportunity to go to Scout camp for a full week. He had a wonderful time with the boys. He came back with a face full of hair, and it has stayed put for the remainder of the year. He is continuing to work on his MBA, and is (slowly) making progress there. We have decided that to maintain some semblance of family life and church service that he will only take one class per semester. It's moving him forward, but not very quickly. He continues to spend time each week with the 5 oldest children as they make breakfast together. The children have vastly improved their cooking skills, and P has the added benefit of getting to spend one one one time with one child each morning. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144619717988499250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU3UTxLNZUrmoxJ-K_3UJNELru7NZsB4EfTEdFhiVW_qlt-QeL55QrZWfZJEW6h3CGWKA7uWwWeij0L5gc6NqvVnflAo4zz-bWDuwsoNkVnaEMTaqxuvePFiQvJUvBf54hpIaL/s320/NCJ+in+Dad%27s+shoes+033.JPG" border="0" />He was able to attend his parent's 50th wedding anniversary celebration in Salt Lake City in July. The rest of us stayed here and finished preparations for our Lucky #7's arrival...just 2 weeks after that date. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144622170414825314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EryyuWPV1VE3B-Xd8LU_AzCnyzl8KJXDUcpR4QEVe_3ySOp6xY7uLGYg3HIEcpdZa5_l8vy5mHzN6O1J0l5V1tczKQngsZ5iodKl3qjfIYJYyVshotLSAAVe-kDmcLxmFzxB/s320/018.JPG" border="0" />K signed up as a Stampin' Up demonstrator in late February of this year and was asked to help with the memory book for the 50th wedding anniversary. It was quite a stretch for her to work on a "scrapbook" as most of her paper crafting has been cardmaking. She is loving teaching others to make things with paper and enjoying the extra supplies she has acquired. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144619705103597330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXodcqWB9WbfIKR1TFty_ryqhyPyEwr0Ys3ZM1d-itgMLHY3mLSK0rjIMhQGcyAe_YNvTmXzkWrTYkvu59RYAL4wnW0vN_GBHyVZ2qcKaK86gmmSHoFikMf2ie61c_sH6Y4zM/s320/002.JPG" border="0" /> She attended Women's Conference in May with some dear friends. On the way up to Provo, they stopped in Manti and were able to go through the temple there. It was a wonderful time to regroup spiritually, and for her to step away from being "mommy" for a few days.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143824693772205554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECqsIAVPGkIT5yyVplSuzIdYLydrqHWMUIk3PieLSsf3u6VXM3OL8YZetrO8r8jskelGVhpJ4Bt1Gf-x9zrdXZXI55m8D1T9z8R_yKWhW_90BVEpOEzTYtY3CYsKvUU1OSSgk/s320/015.JPG" border="0" />Bug, now 12, was ordained a deacon in our ward. It is a joy to see him take on the new responsibilities he has been given. He can pass the sacrament now and he does it willingly and likes it (his words). He continues to play both the piano and drums. This is his second year with the drums, and he is working on rolls and on improving his ability to play different kinds of drums. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144614452358594242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6fJKrN0FxGN1eLYoI7n6jr0C0Y8Rx9qcOONZ8Dknd0OQLt_YIgzyoKLXITFE66XwsGlcMdgCvE7r_KzeFpf62Ncrjl0zE7Lz_AcqkZlyVmRfdLSXzWmdP3E17UH9WqRZHTmc/s320/015.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143824715247042098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAYXlqJDSY2AvSyIzHFYuU492qtLByj4htRhyA_EXvV1csjBiE8taxSbFUYeE2uFcvAq3JDaswjXZmcL2713N2rwXzYc27u0doKC08NRMsKrNdjObEQCgnHuY9coyt4RShF0E/s320/056.JPG" border="0" />Miss Em is finishing up elementary school this year (5th grade). She is a fantastic helper in every sense, and enjoys organizing her room. It is always the cleanest room in the house. Her efforts to put things in order have been very helpful as K has been working hard to get things purged and clean the house on a deeper level. She lost her second front tooth this summer...(her other one fell out in 2nd grade)...and we're still waiting for it to come in. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144630708809809778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWFW7MhDGmyGuNuA_0X8b7Y0uXsNsYgIwAGQvK04bQF3ORALWGRu9c9PT222RW841OKLcxxb-G83rk8ad6xIft_z6DlVJF2eIKaBoNJEEcHUGVqzMUE4VmdRWxhVns_MN7JPE/s320/NCJ+in+Dad%27s+shoes+048.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143824710952074786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGr66CMMO4tUpU41GYSDAvvwQVywTJZJSUSgGzyHMU0PdHcZMntLa-mnoRlbnr9KPFjMies-LXp8iRtfR1sp4mQYWjaEJ5-NnRk0AH-uK-p7VvOmxW_RUkG5KlpKPe-2DvIt0M/s320/063.JPG" border="0" />Angel Face turned 8 this year and chose to be baptized. He was able to be baptized on 07-07-07 (I don't think he'll forget that date!). His cousin, Karina, was able to be here for the week before his baptism and was here when he got baptized. He has a very good sense of humor and loves to show his love for life and laughter in pictures (He's a ham!). He's in 2nd grade this year.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144614435178725026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGf0CS0REcDm_6qk_fxNPa-bAwN4jmetlTiWOFVqcPz06ZxzZ6Luuyv1CUJJhmhmwFrT5YC7_HHL4wAVBDXVkekiqIfPgqQrIlCWhOElZSHszs8vZYIllAzFxtu-xnGRFR7Mw/s320/051.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143824702362140162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaoTTaF_7xOQPmPmgjb3djMCAKprhBc3yRdsj20VLB3hcSow1bwpJBlOiE8bKLUauFPCgs9oKHb1bF7W15SmYrKt9T04A2WZCUJ7gKyhJC7tYfGBR38rmzb5zaAZIqxVxxwWP/s320/032.JPG" border="0" />Tiny is 7. He is in 1st grade this year and has vastly improved his reading skills in the last semester. He had a great foundation coming out of kindergarten, and it has been fun to see the pieces fall into place this year. He has the most difficult time being woken up in the morning, even knowing how fun it is to cook with Daddy. He usually gets carried into the front of the fire...and a free back scratch as well on his mornings with P. We continue to try to understand his low vision and work with the challenges it brings. He has a great attitude and is starting to understand that he doesn't see the same way other people do, but that he can do anything he sets his mind to. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144630730284646290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsVzw0z6zTVK99C2_2SlcGEBgYpeYD4uTtmzepCTc5J9Y482W8HcbMjhBpZnNy-1TVdJD4yznRE5eHSflUiSe9DUbUDkBB_MSoo8lvrbi6UJGluNus3OKlRESJo7l8UeoJM9w/s320/007.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5SRRAW7kryNQbmRr-IBDxnx4mxhnh9k5FLGLJg4FXCNsT4DGgj5SfgNsnbA3_p8XEz-5SyLwXc2YH5d7GvuRo2hDWFnG0MPKCQgQVKUw75DHjU-xgo-5af5CWn9tofBFqCMi/s1600-h/069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143827330882125458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5SRRAW7kryNQbmRr-IBDxnx4mxhnh9k5FLGLJg4FXCNsT4DGgj5SfgNsnbA3_p8XEz-5SyLwXc2YH5d7GvuRo2hDWFnG0MPKCQgQVKUw75DHjU-xgo-5af5CWn9tofBFqCMi/s320/069.JPG" border="0" /></a> Lucy is our kindergarten cutie. She LOVES school and the sociality it brings to her life. She loves learning and it is fun to hear her make connections with letters, and rhyming words. She has been given the ability and desire to dance and sing (she gets it from her dad), and enjoys her weekly dance class. She makes every she is around happy!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144614456653561570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-p8r2UNwv7Xd7G_yKvix_Uu4T7U0LmYBt51M6hIIoA1jm5YMWi8VNQO_f8LD88NpM3FVztA4NyK4cyx37UbthItLcgoT0SyVGt2S38GV61M5iddYviBG3zH11kvqrw3CpfqB5/s320/022.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143824706657107474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oqKWrCLBv0OTZlYjpyax1nredlGdPCE0MMbgGO2lg5QBHj5hH6_43dTgjMWGfge3lrd7TQKEpOIbKqF29A-xRQZpwNucbHIBDMGToQUEeA7nbou7OG8xQ8Guj7iOV6oRDNnG/s320/052.JPG" border="0" /> Bam-bam is enthusiastic about everything. It is really fun to see his personality develop and watch him grow. He's a typical 2 year old in that he lives life to the fullest and seems to never stop and slow down until he crashes on the floor somewhere (we have about 5 similar pictures to the one below in the pictures for this year). He wants to help and be included in doing chores and other things he sees his older siblings doing. (He loves to help with dishes and setting the table). He loves watching Little Einsteins and Blue's Clues. It's just fun to be around him. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144630717399744386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kNrYsqQK7duHm__QQUa-XaZCcxObG9irYC2u2bz4f1UxUzyzZyU8BWXmaThP1wQDRQKWrSef-1z7WuSd4Vjppg7qL7fCxGrNjgNkGHrt7ypy7v5lZcFoeovQKyced3Tx0T55/s320/003.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143826300089974370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7uHJe1bLHjnr1e-wabCRJEiB3BtJYwYm-6-Me5FOkB_5BDpuDLeESvCzDhvHquA2aFJf2VnLKl-AEHMW1ssj-2ZcR9kFLnr2YbwnnqjWEVptVgpmqo7UNVZjCSgqFlg9kRzp/s320/095.JPG" border="0" /> Lucky was born this summer (at the end of July). He surprised us all by being a boy...we were expecting a girl (even though the doctor had never given us a specific guess as to the baby's gender). He is rolling over now and absolutely enjoys his sibling's attention. His smile lights up any room he is in.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144619696513662722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx87wQXMdm5g10lv4aUSqGScHoyQUlO7g0PhQnwgWob21wP1N6vbv5Sa9HHKIshvSG2apVgDEysZPqCjpJUA6bX7EAcy5pQwZqpoKlsivrmi9np4Ui3rjqlKFywVNakoUfvQKW/s320/011.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144619687923728114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4fx-dRlaCwGPcFTBAnbWOjXwZ2grym17soKoAwYsKC1yGJ2LT7OKU9Q1TMPiOMp5R4VcJRLOXNSgQ9mRUuhT-OZx42GwE3NeCrTIVhyphenhypheniHhqLGU6Ijjdur4yIe_fPzCYEr5V5Q/s320/012.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144614448063626930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZ0zbIviWVXHWH9NZRnkSm77lembLHvnbt3b5uQXf9E-KBXp1HGF5pU12gMcZiLi5T4eiiQ4jd5AKzZm1cHbPr3bAC_oXI32WHxdTAFo4Oxs8q0VZ4kHnSO_hz6ybQpqZcxXd/s320/017.JPG" border="0" /> He was blessed on the same day that Bug was ordained to be a deacon.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144614452358594258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmqrcJRB2SpiTJk1Z9LhlkzrTRkHjw9EzoMmgZnURYio5evUkZgaIbE-OWYeFXfa1G32-92HPJnltHAkmJPBsyC1iYMAQ6hodRKj9wkEXmE46G-Uu-wpzIh0ftji3S05uJc0A/s320/011.JPG" border="0" /> (This picture below was to mimic the one that P drew to fill Lucky's frame on the picture wall until we got his actual picture taken and enlarged.)<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143826291500039762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5taLReN-NaMqyl001vB5sZmYMmUoqYJmz-LVQsK2eSUPKVJxTC40gwCWe0d0mLclTvlw1IAH1yHlOdZRnuZlL-hfgbauzbJtMUFI7zVF_tCG016STwMaQmCAs-MgnkLhk5VS/s320/099.JPG" border="0" /><br />We are grateful for our many blessings (health, home, and happiness being the foremost that jump into my mind). It is always a joy to hear about you and your families at this time of year.<br />We continue to see miracles worked by the Lord in our lives and pray that you see the same.<br />May you have a blessed Christmas season and beautiful New Year!<br />May the Lord bless you and keep you.<br />P, K and crew<br /><br /><br />PS: If you need a hard copy of our family picture, let me know and I'd be happy to send you one. I always wonder what people do with our picture once the holiday season is over. I'm willing to bet I'm not the only one faced with the "What do I do with this picture (of my friends) now?" syndrome.Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-89781972929794429502007-10-16T08:23:00.000-07:002008-12-11T02:30:13.094-08:00Today's Inspiration<div>I watched the sun coming up on the hill at the entrance to work. It inspired this poem.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121956394803111170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhye1RwzH821Yn-baZ02Pu8zc_i4Cv1iysQyCjtaD4zJP7OE_L2Lez0rK0QWTWajb-xn6yD_OaXaScxBQ4AEYneFvgGm3dh9nFPsLidi4-cfp1Zz8hNEUZKNwBi6KQltygRru/s320/Mountain.bmp" border="0" /><br /><br />I walked down a canyon<br />At the breaking of dawn<br />The shadow enveloped<br />The side I was on<br /><br />Like a candle just lit<br />The other side burned<br />By the light of the sun<br />The shadow was spurned<br /><br />I raced to the bottom<br />Seeking the light<br />The light raced to meet me<br />Oh glorious sight!<br /><br />We met at the bottom<br />In a long warm embrace<br />And welcome warm kisses<br />Soft on my face<br /><br />I walked up the hill<br />From whence it had come<br />And saw there a cross<br />And God’s Holy One<br /><br />The shadow rejoicing<br />The Son was put out<br />Dark surrounds everything<br />The world full of doubt<br /><br />Three days sat in darkness<br />The world in despair<br />Would the Sun e’er return<br />To that hill o’er there?<br /><br />Then warm welcoming kisses<br />Broke forth on my cheek<br />The light had returned<br />The world to the meek<br /><br />My hope in the Son<br />Forever in light<br />My darkness he’s taken<br />And banished the night<br /><br />Though only in spirit<br />Have I witnessed this scene<br />My heart feels warm kisses<br />And I know Truth serene.</div>Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-11729859259756712082007-09-20T21:19:00.000-07:002008-12-11T02:30:13.271-08:00Scoutmaster<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY57MFeAFGuYhYSXG7tDivfc3ClbJHif-4J8iHXpaEfe6TkfAuLArJ7m12AvivQU6r4mmoKf_V89EJaHxGMBcCJpwroDhTrqTYcDyzmFc7uRQBe_vTdYu1XaG0gy3hJbWoiU8Q/s1600-h/Scout+Emblem.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5112512633597568242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY57MFeAFGuYhYSXG7tDivfc3ClbJHif-4J8iHXpaEfe6TkfAuLArJ7m12AvivQU6r4mmoKf_V89EJaHxGMBcCJpwroDhTrqTYcDyzmFc7uRQBe_vTdYu1XaG0gy3hJbWoiU8Q/s320/Scout+Emblem.gif" border="0" /></a>They've made me a scoutmaster in my church. I've been associated with the scouting program since I was eight years old and I have always enjoyed it. You'll never here me complain about being asked to help out in scouting.<br /><div></div><br /><div>I have fond memories of my scoutmasters. For the first few years my dad was it. He was always a different man when we were out camping. Not better, not worse, just different. I feel like I know him better because of the time that I spent watching him interact with my friends. My second scoutmaster was the scoutmaster in his troop for decades. He still had the scouting spirit burning strong when I moved back to my hometown a decade after leaving. He was awarded the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Beaver_Award">Silver Beaver </a>for his decades of selfless service.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I see the young men I am teaching now and I marvel at the potential they all have. We're going camping tomorrow, (I'm writing this late Thursday night,) and once again I find myself feeling that thrill of anticipation before the big event. I'm scoutmaster to one of my own boys. I hope he'll have the same fond memories of scouting with his father that I do. I hope that decades from now, I'll still love scouting and the joy of teaching scouting to young men. I hope that some day my boy will look back at his youth and want to be a scoutmaster too. And make a difference in at least on person's life.</div>Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-86448870931434380292007-09-18T21:10:00.000-07:002008-12-11T02:30:13.428-08:00Tribal PoliticsI realize that political parties are a pemenant reality of the American landscape. I am glad that we have developed forums for the large masses of people inhabiting America to state their viewpoints, build concensus, and fight for a common good.<br /><br />I have just one question. When did politics turn into a religious debate?<br /><br />I am a religious man. I hold dearly to the values that my parents have tought me and I indeed feel on my own. I will readily admit that the political debates that we have around gay marriage, abortion, sex scandals, and the interaction between church and state move me to strong emotions. It upsets me; however, to be so deftly manipulated.<br /><br />What are the real issues that the state should be concerned with?<br /><br />Establishing Justice, insuring domestic Tranquility, providing for the common defense, promotingthe general Welfare, and securing the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.<br /><br />If a candidate has a platform on healthcare. That's a real issue. If a candidate has a platform on prayer in school, gay marriage, or condoms in the school. Pay attention. That candidate thinks you're a dupe and will fall in line becuase he or she has successfully pushed your hot button.<br /><br />I won't fall for it this go around. I'm going to vote for the cadidate that talks about what they are really going to do for America. Not the one who talks about what we should believe in America. I'll leave that job up to my conscience and the Sunday School teacher.<br /><br />As you hear the tribal drum beating this election cycle. Just realize its meant to make you dance.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6p3CUPrWYuLioHqC_uFt_oiq1ctuWmrj_aEZfqrCC_2qfi6oQ0OPt8NJujD1uro4rqje1m3xs-qIl7lVJOllfFefxpuaXmxZ7fWU-R9CVmTqEkzITI0jPPD3timwd76UKrsBz/s1600-h/beatnik+drummer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111770541770445170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6p3CUPrWYuLioHqC_uFt_oiq1ctuWmrj_aEZfqrCC_2qfi6oQ0OPt8NJujD1uro4rqje1m3xs-qIl7lVJOllfFefxpuaXmxZ7fWU-R9CVmTqEkzITI0jPPD3timwd76UKrsBz/s320/beatnik+drummer.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-49031075442734001522007-09-15T14:50:00.000-07:002007-09-15T15:10:43.363-07:00A quick catch upI apologize to the four people that are at all interested in my ramblings. After three months of a no excuse absence I have finally felt a stirring of a desire to post some of my thoughts online once again.<br /><br />A quick recap of my life happenings while I've been away.<br /><br />I took the scouts to scout camp (where I grew a Fu-man-chew for the first time in my life.) Bug's first year... We had a blast.<br /><br />My parents had a fiftieth anniversary... My wife was two weeks away from delivering our #7. I flew up to Salt Lake to celebrate with my parents and spent the whole time wishing that my wife and kids could have come with me.<br /><br />Lucky #7 was born on July 30th. We thought he was going to be a girl. I'm sure he'll have to endure some teasing about that point for the rest of his life. He does have some luck heading his way. He is the seventh child, of a seventh child, of a seventh child. Not quite a seventh son, of a seventh son, but still cool. He's also the fiftieth family member on his paternal side starting with the grandparents and including spouses.<br /><br />I've started back to school after a month off during the summer.<br /><br />They've hired a new man at work to take on about a third of my previously assigned responsibilities. He's gung-ho and doing a great job. I'm stressing a lot less at work as you can imagine.<br /><br />I've started teaching myself Mandarin Chinese. Mainly just to keep the mental juices flowing.<br /><br />I'll try not to take nearly as long of a hiatus, but I can't make any promises for two reasons: Blogspot is now a taboo website from work, so I won't be checking anybody's posts except in my spare time from home, and that is a pretty rare commodity.Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-2068161998624918712007-06-08T10:25:00.000-07:002008-12-11T02:30:13.600-08:00Immigration Bill Failed<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwWEF-Ta-zBuxkWC_HzbEyFAvHPLpCnSHFPnjKr69uZyMgOazqu_jZZbP7aansA-4MzwPzPZXr1bzbUZ3p3d-YZjiKD-pdS_17L_e-t0DQvkuXSeTQGwzBhBoBuUcgVZlcb8h/s1600-h/34-illegal-immigrant-b-724013.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073755832538292402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwWEF-Ta-zBuxkWC_HzbEyFAvHPLpCnSHFPnjKr69uZyMgOazqu_jZZbP7aansA-4MzwPzPZXr1bzbUZ3p3d-YZjiKD-pdS_17L_e-t0DQvkuXSeTQGwzBhBoBuUcgVZlcb8h/s320/34-illegal-immigrant-b-724013.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div>You know, I just can't help but wonder how short sighted our congress is. They just shot down the latest immigration naturalization bill that would allow the current estimated 12 million illegal immigrants an easy path to citizenship. (I actually don't like the "Z Visa" concept which is basically just a glorified <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_permit">work permit</a>, we should give them an easy path to citizenship like our forefathers were given, but you've got to start somewhere.) I know that by posting about immigration I am hereby declaring to the world that I do not march in step with most Republicans on this matter. I don't care.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Here's how economics works. If you run a business that takes raw materials and makes them into a useable goods you <b>must</b> make those improvements for the least amount of money possible. If you don't, you will have your product copied by someone that can and they will. Their substitute product will replace yours and you loose. Now, this process isn't instantaneous but it is pretty quick in our globalized world. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So what do we do in the United States? We discourage immigrants from entering the country by making the naturalization process so difficult that they don't feel as though they can work within the system. So what do they do? They sneak in. The cheap labor comes, but the government doesn't get the increased tax base.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It's not about whether or not its legal. Its about whether or not its possible. And to these immigrant getting in is easy. Getting legal is hard.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Lets build a wall! How stupid are we? If we build walls to keep them out all we are accomplishing is to isolate ourselves. If they want in they will come in. But their government sees our attitude and translates it, "The US thinks they're better than us." We become socially isolated.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>In the meanwhile. Our competative advantage in the United States is ebbing. Eventually, China is going to catch up and nothing will be made in the USA because it can all be made in China for cheaper cost and just as good value.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>What's more is it is argued that with immigration comes crime. Yeah, but let's look at where that crime is really coming from. Having lived in the Southwest for most of my life, <b>every</b> immigrant that I have met has worked harder for his daily bread than any of his American counterparts. They don't come here to steal and loaf. They come here to work and get ahead.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>One last point. The current population trend in the US is to less and less children. This is normal for educated populations. However, if we don't increase our population somehow, how do we expect to be able to grow our economy? Stock market investments?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Continued immigration will save this country's production capabilities. Its time that the nation stopped resenting the culture clash and encouraged immigration as what it is: a replacement working base for a sagging and aging American economy.</div>Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-18541094177592982952007-06-04T14:24:00.000-07:002007-06-04T14:27:29.964-07:00My opinion on Cap and Trade systems.I started summer school last week. No, I don't ride the short bus. I am taking Social Responsibility and Business Ethics. So of course we are going to be talking a lot about people being unethical. I'm really going to enjoy this class because it will require us to share our opinions on a lot of things.<br /><br />And if there is one thing I am not short on its opinions.<br /><br />Then, my position as an environmental compliance specialist at a copper mine also lends me a very unique perspective.<br /><br />One question that came up in class the other day that I didn't comment on because the conversation turned too rapidly away from it was the proposed CO2 cap and trade system. The question was asked: Is it ethical to trade pollution credits?<br /><br />The simple answer is that it is unethical not to. If a production facility is told to simply cap their emissions they will do so precisely at the legal limit because there is no economic incentive to do otherwise. Where, if the same facility is rewarded for reducing their emissions below the required limit by being allowed to sale the excess pollution to less clean facilities, they will do so.<br /><br />The great part is that the "dirty" facility that is purchasing the excess credit will still be limited by pollutant limits because there is a financial disincentive to purchase credits.How cap and trade really excels is in the second round of emission reductions.<br /><br />Then, say five years into the program, the government reduces emission limits even further than the initial round and the most innovative polluters have prepared by installing even better control technologies.<br /><br />Also, if an environmental NGO wants to be forward thinking, they can purchase the excess credits thereby directly reducing pollution. It would be unethical to use any other system because no other system works as smoothly or efficiently to reduce pollutionPapa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-50979129051973528472007-05-31T11:36:00.000-07:002007-05-31T12:09:12.597-07:00Mining NewsWe interrupt our regularly scheduled blogging to bring you this mining bulletin.<br /><br />The CEO of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BHP">BHP Billington </a>is stepping down to be replaced on October 1, 2007 by the current head of their non-ferrous division, Marius Kloppers.<br /><br />BHP is currently the third largest producer of copper in the world and that's not even their primary industry. Their first love is for iron ores. Nevertheless, with the new CEO at the helm it is likely that they will be in M&A mode. I can't see them wanting to try and come back into America after their failed purchace of Magma in the late 90's (they purchased Magma when copper prices were trending downward, then closed all of their newly aquired properties permenantly and wrote off the loss only one year before copper started swinging back into profitable territory); however, I can see them ramping up foreign operations or acquisitions.<br /><br />Why should you care? Actually, for the typical consumer a bigger BHP will probably translate into slightly cheaper copper products as they increase production in their most profitable operations; ie, third world operations.<br /><br />Why do I care? I currently am employed at one of the least profitable copper operations in the world (but because copper prices are so high, we are still extremely profitable.) I worry that a bigger BHP will translate into a greater world supply that will lift world inventories thereby pushing prices down and price my mine out of operation.<br /><br />Honestly, any big news like this in the copper business is interesting to a miner like me.<br /><br />Sorry if I've bored your pants off. ... You can put them back on now, this isn't that kind of a website.Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-32455441635714653572007-05-30T09:16:00.001-07:002007-05-31T08:04:18.939-07:00Hectic ScheduleA hectic schedule<br />Almost ev-e-ry night<br />Seems its my lot<br />With no end in sight<br /><br />I've signed up for college<br />To improve my mind<br />Three hours with scouts<br />Add to the grind<br /><br />Visits to friends<br />at least one night a week<br />My wife keeps her hobbies<br />Its her sanity seek<br /><br />The yard needs attention<br />The weeds multiply<br />A faucet is leaking<br />and I am the guy<br /><br />Six kid a clammerin'<br />for my attention<br />One more on the way<br />gets honorable mention<br /><br />A date with my wife<br />Will come if I'm lucky<br />Best not neglect it<br />Or else she'll get plucky<br /><br />The dishes are waiting<br />they won't clean themselves<br />How did that shoemaker<br />merit those elves?<br /><br />Spare minutes are rare<br />They'll come if you look<br />An hour playing games<br />Or reading a book<br /><br />Lest you think I'm complaining<br />Don't pity my plight<br />My life holds no bordom<br />And that seems just right.Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-39772162280617973272007-05-29T07:59:00.000-07:002007-05-29T08:15:17.262-07:00I should have seen it comingPlease note that I did talk about the national healthcare issue just <a href="http://papajjj.blogspot.com/2007/05/sicko.html">a few posts ago</a>. What I should have realized then is that the release of this film would be coordinated with somebody's campaign. I'd be willing to bet that Mr. Moore and Mr. Obama are working together. The buzz from the film and the <a href="http://www.barackobama.com/2007/05/29/obama_offers_universal_health.php">already thought out healthcare plan</a> will create the stage for the democrats. And every other candidate is already behind.<br /><br />It will probably set the stage for the Republican candidates as well by hijacking the agenda. "Mr. Giuliani, what do you think about national healthcare?" He'll have to be ready with an answer and just by answering will move the issue even more to the front.<br /><br />Lest you think that I have a conspiritorial mind. I do not see this as a left wing conspiracy. Only very deft politcal ability. Mr. Obama will be a candidate to watch. And I think that's the way he wants it.Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-42604838044653955972007-05-23T11:23:00.000-07:002008-12-11T02:30:14.967-08:00School is almost out for the SummerThe kids have just a few more hours left in class. Then the school doors open and they'll be set loose.<br /><br />And so, a poem for the occasion:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NDmFYwvINVP-MRRexBY4zCOTxDiTBx2Eu93XpvSn6oFw6xELYELqBxYlUzaELLviyfi7GrBnmaWTW2hFcy5fEbN5pb2MWn6WgFXPj7ZX9Ljxyhq_EMeYgld9IMQtsBYlYDjL/s1600-h/OrangeMoth.jpeg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5067830106987162482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NDmFYwvINVP-MRRexBY4zCOTxDiTBx2Eu93XpvSn6oFw6xELYELqBxYlUzaELLviyfi7GrBnmaWTW2hFcy5fEbN5pb2MWn6WgFXPj7ZX9Ljxyhq_EMeYgld9IMQtsBYlYDjL/s320/OrangeMoth.jpeg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Little orange moth<br />you flit from flower to weed<br />Six children lithely chase you<br />All the fun they need<br /><br />One would pinch your wing off<br />The other makes you drown<br />One holds you like a crown jewel<br />You're both simple and profound<br /><br />Come spend the summer evening<br />Flitting through our weeds<br />Please come kiss the flowers<br />And see our growing seedsPapa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-4824188449833735372007-05-18T08:56:00.000-07:002008-12-11T02:30:15.134-08:00SiCKo<a href="http://www.michaelmoore.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065953983667891026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbWEwbVhBp8qc68XODCnGn-BglBowQ9M3FdQlB58TzmDe6TPhskOsnKoV34Fiv0GI7aB34CKDZFHyt9BcacxkEC-HKQ20yQ89O4j8tTjkyb0470r-w1RFOE-lgecwrjjgB9Hp/s320/mmoore.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Michael Moore is at it again. He will release a new documentary on our health care system and one can only suppose the underlying agenda: "Get us a nationalized healthcare system!"</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>If you were alive in the 1980s and 1990s you remember the same mantra being chanted. The solution was to create HMOs or Health Management Orginizations. It was a halfway step to national healthcare. What did this do for healthcare? Did we see a steep decrease in healthcare costs because of them? No, we saw an increase in the bureaucracy. Most HMOs have quietly gone away in the last ten years and the bureaucracy has shifted to the insurance companies. They decide what proceedures are covered and when. Try talking to a doctor about this sometime and see if they like how the current system works. HMOs and national healthcare have the extremely undesirable effect of making the high cost of a medical education unappealing. What do you get for it after all? Prestige?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I have no doubt that Mr. Moore will be screaming for a national healthcare system. What will that mean for the average person? More bureaucracy for less healthcare. Any doctor with any sense will switch to a "private clinic" practice. In other words: pay as you go health care. The kicker there is that in order to have a national healthcare system you'll be having some money removed from your paycheck like the government already does for social security and medicare. Then, if you want to go to a private clinic, you'll pay more money out of your own pocket because the government isn't going to pay you to go to a private clinic.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Robin Hood will be at it again. The rich are paying for the poor to have another entitlement. Except it won't be the rich who bear the real burden, it will be the middle class, because they'll be just well enough off that if they want real health care it will be within their reach and yet because of the national system they'll pay double for it.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I say we regulate the insurers and not the medical system. Limit how much profit they can take off the top. Then, in order to increase revenues, they won't want to limit procedures they'll encourage them (more volume means more revenue after all.) More volume would mean more real competition and our medical system becomes a free market system once again.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I know. Its a pipe dream.</div>Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-43602942401869152722007-05-17T07:15:00.000-07:002008-12-11T02:30:15.404-08:00Venezuela in self destructApparently no one in power in Venezuela is a student of history OR economics. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065543251650407234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65837I2gOnxU0ymzVJCQ8qSjTI4hJMNbaTvO29n5bqyb5clzsXcyRXUGn0WlpZdyGQiptE7nCnkoN0Zwwy_7dlBjT5GBg1lSYKfnpDaU6DgZSFkjUpV0BR8AhMZgruvJnXXSQ/s320/Chavez_CASA_cropped_1%5B1%5D.jpeg" border="0" /><br />Señor Chavez has swept to power and compares himself to Fidel Castro.<br />Fidel faught for his power. I don't like what he did either, but here the comparison doesn't fit. Fidel got where he did with guns, not votes.<br /><br />Señor Chavez is nationalizing much of his country's major industries. Oil is the main one. That is a good short term win, lots of cash still being generated by that Texas tea. Good luck keeping your pumps working when you will never get another outside company to invest one penny in upgrades and exploration. His move has effectively locked in its production at the current levels (they'll actually deminsh as equipment becomes harder and harder for them to repair.)<br /><br />Señor Chavez has begun land reform. When has that EVER worked? Again, short run politics winning out as the underprivilaged underclass suddenly feels empowered. Oh yea, they also feel entitled. Good luck keeping that entitlement up.<br /><br />Señor Chavez wants to move towards a national barter system. WHAT???!!! Barter ended in civilized society before we started keeping histories.<br /><br />That clinches it. Señor Chavez wants to move Venezuela back into the dark ages and beyond.<br /><br />The list of things he is doing is only missing the persecution of one group of citizens. I think he'll be able to bypass that ugly totalitarian characteristic by putting the country on the oil teat. Just look how well that has worked for Saudi Arabia, they have a HUGE and growing youth population and a very large unemployment rate (around 12 percent.) Both of which can be directly traced to government handouts associated with oil.<br /><br />Good luck Señor Chavez.<br /><br /><b>A quick note. I got a comment from a Venezuelan student who has been opposed to Chavez from the beginning. Apparently there are more people opposing him than I originally gave credit to in this post. My prayers go out to these people.<br /><br />She specifically noted that I had said, "Apparently no one in Venezuela is a student of history OR economics. " Julia, I hope you approve of my edits.</b>Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-14720327238194705982007-05-17T07:08:00.000-07:002007-05-17T07:14:56.300-07:00Storm last nightA little poem about the storm last night<br /><br />The thunderstorm last night<br />Shook us from bed<br />If my eyes seem to be blodshot<br />Its the gum in my head<br /><br />Actually, the worst part of the storm was that it woke up our Bam-bam who then proceeded to wedge himself in perpendicular to mom and dad, all the while crying and protesting. I'm betting mom feels the same way I do.Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-2729352219175337392007-05-16T08:58:00.000-07:002008-12-11T02:30:15.569-08:00Sarkozy in AfricaInteresting article in the WSJ today opines that with Sarkozy now president of france, a ministry office in France called the "African Cell" is likely to close.<br /><br />This map from the article gives a good feel for where France still has direct influence. (It doesn't show the countries where they speak french as their official language.)<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065189818791619378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHCTSVnK9n5uwH_aFvyBvvwN1EOaeF23EbgikQxY4JpOtzLWTGrTQ0_cnEFNtTBz0-dTBr0CNTiiyKf0mbvx-oUqRI67TwturTiG4ASrCjmiNUaXO2e4gZJTD0ucTrJKCHZ71/s320/France+in+Africa+map.gif" border="0" /><br />France won't be pulling their military right out of Africa because of Sarkozy. They will just be less likely to swoop in and reverse negative situations in Africa as they perceive them.</p><p> </p><p>What makes this interesting is that without the direct influence of France on the dark continent these countries are actually going to do better, because France has only ever protected France's self interests. Not the interests of the African nations.</p><p> </p><p>Let's hope it doesn't go the other way and get overrun by warlords.</p><p> </p><p>If you're wondering why I care, my company is opening a copper mine in the DRC. I've been keeping close tabs on African politics for a couple of years now because of the potential direct impact to my company's bottom line.<br /><br /><br /></p>Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-4955478855605916032007-05-11T07:52:00.000-07:002008-12-11T02:30:15.709-08:00Solving more world problemsI already suspect that my twin is going to nay-say this post. I think this solution is more realistic than my <a href="http://papajjj.blogspot.com/2007/03/im-genius.html">Saharan Jungle solution.</a> What are the two most politically sensitive topics right now? Iraq and global warming. (Never mind that number two after Iraq on the public conscience is health care, because the media hasn't really caught onto that idea yet.)<br /><br />Here's how you solve both: The United States initiates a true self sufficiency program with regards to energy. Something on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_Highway_System">the scale of the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act of 1956.</a> They ended up spending $116 Billion dollars laying out the highways which in todays dollars is equal to about $833 Billion dollars. Not chump change.<br /><br />The good news is my proposed solution already has the infrastructure almost started.<br /><br />What we do:<br /><br />The government MASSIVELY starts subsidizing any alternative energy source that gets us off of foreign oil. Bio-diesel, solar, wind, ethanol, you get the point. The emphasis should be on upgrading existing systems, not putting new systems in place, like a hydrogen economy would need.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063322832837075778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh19kSBepDxQAY3sPHD9Ie9ohGhwcAsjpZwbqu7CXG_aetqxS4-55KBDF1lAUsUAn_z5mFz6xzYyKLt81Ff-VD0fXxL4zsdB7jxNyV2F0bIvFBvVFNG2ZmTrFK4rNcrtxgRqCI/s320/Solar_cell.png" border="0" /><br />How would they subsidize it? The subsidies would pay for solar and wind installations costs over and above what it would cost for them to install petroleum consuming resourses. Including, half of the cost of solar panels that the typical homeowner could install on his home to power up. Make it a no brainer to take your house off of the electrical grid. More specifically, a no painer.<br /><br />The political results would be interesting and rapid:<br /><br />First, we would lose almost all interest in what happens in the Middle East. The only thing we would have left to defend there is our interest in Israel. (Which I'm afraid would also deminish in proportion to our dependancy on the oil reserves of their neighbors.)<br /><br />Second, oil countries would have to change their welfare state structure because they wouldn't be getting so much of their funding directly from the gas pumps of America.<br /><br />Third, America would once again be creating resourses rather than consuming them. No one ever built strength by only consuming. You must CREATE resourses. Mine them, grow them, generate them, whatever. Wealth does not ever flow away from resources. It flows to them.<br /><br />Yes, this is a kind of econmic warfare, but if we don't do it now, we aren't going to be left with the choice. Eventually the warfare will be even more real than Iraq. It will involve the entire region and could spread to other oil producing states.<br /><br />The lines are now open for your critisisms.<br /><br />And now for something totally different:<br />I don't know if I can keep watching American Idol now that Lakisha is gone.Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-52843059154007857682007-05-08T08:59:00.000-07:002007-05-08T09:30:54.194-07:00My week offI didn't listen, read, or watch the news.<br /><br />I didn't blog or read blogs.<br /><br />I spent the last week at home with my children while my wife went to a seminar out of state.<br /><br />Here's some of the things that I learned or stuck out in my life the last week:<br /><br />Bam-bam lived up to his name and took a swan dive out of a shopping cart. (No permenant damage, but you can still see the bruise.)<br /><br />Miss M had a all day field trip. She got up at four and stayed up 'til ten and the meltdown didn't come for almost twenty-four hours and it was a small one.<br /><br />Bug ran in a school track and field day. I missed his last event because the school got ahead of schedule and didn't bother trying to stick with the schedule they had sent home to the parents. I saw his school locker. How can he be so neat at school and so sloppy at home?<br /><br />Tiny has even worse vision then we first thought. It does help to know what his limitations are though so we can work on compensating with him. (Instead of just relying on him figuring it all out on his own.) We're even thinking of buying him what is called an "identifier" cane. Basically it is a white folding cane you see being used by the blind. It would help people remember his limitations and compensate rather than just seeing a cute kid with glasses and assuming that he has no vision problems.<br /><br />Angel Face gets goofy when he wants attention. Its funny at first but the seventeenth time he tells you that the dinner dishes should be cleaned in his brain, it just looses its appeal.<br /><br />Lucy is a true sweetheart. She does everything she can to be helpful. I have no doubt that they made the <a href="http://www.walmart.com/search/browse-ng.do?ic=12_12&ref=125871.128794+500552.500907&catNavId=432221">pink aisle </a>at Wal-mart for her.<br /><br />I miss my wife when she is gone, even after almost fourteen years of marriage. She does more for our family than I give her credit for.<br /><br />These are all good things to find out as a proud papa.Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-83499681122640406122007-04-30T10:45:00.000-07:002007-04-30T12:06:59.345-07:00Painful Realization Islamo-fascismThere has been a lot of talk and its seems to be growing, about the term <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamo-fascism">Islamo-fascism</a>. If we are truly dealing with a fascistic mentality in Iraq, or even throughout the Middle-East, we are faced with a sobering reality.<br /><br />We got in too soon.<br /><br />Put this into historical perspective. Had England or America invaded Germany, Italy, or Japan too soon, it would have been politically unpalitable for them to conquer those countries all together. We would have been left rebuilding a resentful country. Unrepentant because after all, they would have done nothing wrong.<br /><br />Of the three groups just named the mentality to the Jihadist Islamics most closely resembles the Japanese. And when we finally removed the Japanese from Iwo Jima and Okinawa we had to literally destroy the entire defending army. Of the 22,000 original Japanese combatants on Iwo Jima only 216 were taken prisoner. On Okinawa, 66,000 Japanese soldiers died or were missing with 140,000 civilians killed.<br /><br />Why were the japanese so willing to fight to the death for their political agenda?<br /><br />Beliefs and homeland.<br /><br />For most Japanese, the emperor was decended from the Gods. They fought for the Gods. Then, as the invaders came closer to the homeland, they fought mainly to make them pay a higher price to stop the invaders from ever invading the mainland.<br /><br />Applying this to what we face in Iraq is not a straight comparison. There are many middle eastern countries. There are even multiple religions in the middle east. It is simply the concept of the radicalized middle east that is the most sobering. Iraq hadn't committed enough attrocities for us to step in and catagorically convince the world and most importantantly the Iraqis and Iraq's neighbors, that the attrocities had to be stopped.<br /><br />But at the base the comparison is stark. We are attacking <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/10/20051006-3.html">their beliefs</a> and we are in their homeland.<br /><br />What has the reaction become? We are the perceived oppressors. The perceived enemy. This is a battle that must be won philosophically and there are no weapons I know of that can be used philosophically right now. (I can just see a whole fleet of Jehovah's Witnesses sent over to convert Iraq.)<br /><br />We need to get out but if we leave now, when it implodes, it will be our fault.<br /><br />If we stay we remain the focal point.<br /><br />I think we should turn it over to a Middle Easter coalition of countries with Iraq trying to stick to the constitution we gave them. I realize this is a cut and run stategy; but, put into historical perspective, we're gonna get killed no matter what we do. And unlike Germany or Japan, when we went in this time we didn't level the country after years of prolonged war. The people don't need us to rebuild. They need us to get out and turn it over to them. I think that a middle eastern coalition might soften the blow somewhat.<br /><br />No easy answer here.Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-44553057037957210092007-04-18T14:27:00.000-07:002007-04-18T15:16:53.095-07:00I was informed that I have been tagged<a href="http://somesemblanceoforder.blogspot.com/2007/04/four-things.html">My wife tagged me yesterday </a>and I didn't even realize what she was talking about. I thought that she was just saying that I would probably comment on her blog.<br /><br />So in the spirit of the game:<br /><br />Four jobs I have had in my life:<br />1. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_labor_laws">Pizza Oven Connection Dishwasher (age 13)</a> - <a href="http://www.utah.com/ski/resorts/brighton.htm">It paid for my skiing </a><br />2. <a href="http://www.usscouts.org/safety/safe_bea.html">Boy Scout Camp Commissary Director </a>(ages 16-17)<br />3. <a href="http://www.janiking.com/">Custodian </a>(age 21)<br />4. <a href="http://www.sherwin-williams.com/">Painter </a>(ages 23)<br /><br />Four movies I have watched over and over:<br /><br />1. Pride and Prejudice (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112130/">the A&E version </a>or the old <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032943/">black and white version</a>, I don't really like the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0414387/">Kiera Knightly version</a>) - I really wish A&E would create Les Miserables in the same way they did Pride and Prejudice.<br />2. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047472/">Seven Brides for Seven Bothers </a>(way more than anyone should have watched one movie)<br />3. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0122459/">Return to Me</a><br />4. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080319/">Nine to Five</a>, although I must admit I have only seen it once in the last ten years.<br /><br />Four places I have lived (other than here!):<br />1. <a href="http://www.google.com/maps?q=UT+84121,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title">Cottonwood Heights, Utah</a>(Birth - 14)<br />2. <a href="http://www.google.com/maps?q=Kearny,+AZ+85237,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=title">Kearny, AZ </a>(14-19, and 28-31)<br />3. <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=Padova%2C%20Italia&amp;ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wl">Italy</a> (<a href="http://www.mission.net/italy/padova/">19-21</a>)<br />4. <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=85121&btnG=Search&ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wl">Mesa, AZ </a>(<a href="http://www.familyforever.com/temples/temples/mesa.htm">first 7 years of marriage</a>)<br /><br />Four TV shows I love to watch: (This is really hard...there isn't much I watch!)<br />1. <a href="http://www.americanidol.com/">American Idol</a><br />2. <a href="http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/">Extreme Makeover, Home Edition</a><br />3. <a href="http://www.fox.com/house/">House </a><br />4. <a href="http://www.altonbrown.com/">Good Eats </a>(We currently don't subscribe to that satellite package though)<br /><br />Four of my favorite foods:<br />1. <a href="http://laurarebeccaskitchen.blogspot.com/">Experimental Recipies</a><br />2. <a href="http://www.benjerry.com/our_products/flavor_details.cfm?product_id=19">Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownies</a><br />3. <a href="http://www.lyricsdepot.com/monty-python/i-like-chinese.html">Chinese Sweet and Sour </a>(Pork or Chicken)<br />4. <a href="http://www.hersheys.com/products/details/milkmix.asp">Chocolate Milk </a>and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger_snap">Ginger Snaps </a>(together)<br /><br />Four people who I think will respond:<br /><br />I'm going to cut the legs out from underneath this ponzi scheme right now. I'm only going to tag two people and hope that they respond.<br /><br />1. <a href="http://kodiak73.blogspot.com/">My whiny twin</a>, <a href="http://papajjj.blogspot.com/2007/04/white-and-nerdy.html">who thinks I don't know how to add</a>.<br />2. <a href="http://hopalongjohn.blogspot.com/">My whiny older brother</a>, who starts a blog only to let it die, all alone, out in the cold.Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-85492864015104716532007-04-17T14:37:00.000-07:002007-04-17T15:11:44.238-07:00White and NerdyI read a WSJ article today about the Czech Republic adopting the flat tax. Interested that there are still folks out there talking about the flat tax I decided to go to wikipedia and see what the font of all knowledge had to say about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_tax">flat tax</a>. I assumed (incorrectly) that it would be all about Steve Forbes' presidential bid in 1996.<br /><br />In reading the article I discovered that the Czech Republic was still listed as one of the countries that had only proposed to switch to the flat tax.<br /><br />I got an itch.<br /><br />I had to fix it.<br /><br />And so, for the first time in my life I added my two bits to the font of knowledge. It really wasn't <strong>my </strong>two bits, but if I didn't fix it, who was going to?<br /><br />And now to my point. If you haven't heard the song "White and Nerdy" by Weird Al Yankovic one of the lines describing what makes the singer white and nerdy is that he edits wikipedia. Holy Cow! I'm White and Nerdy.<br /><br />I have included the lyrics in this post and bolded the lyrics that apply to me, words in parenthesis are my commentary:<br /><br />White & Nerdy by Al Yankovic<br /><br />They see me mowin’ My front lawn<br />I know they’re all thinking I’m so white and nerdy<br />Think I’m just too white and nerdy<br />Think I’m just too white and nerdy<br />Can’t you see I’m white and nerdy?<br />Look at me, I’m white and nerdy<br /><br />I wanna roll with The gangstas<br />But so far they all think I’m too white and nerdy<br />Think I’m just too white and nerdy<br />Think I’m just too white and nerdy<br />I’m just too white and nerdy.<br />Really really white and nerdy.<br /><br />First in my class here at MIT<br />Got skills, <strong>I’m a champion at D&D</strong> (actually I preferred other RPGs)<br /><strong>MC Escher - that’s my favorite MC</strong><br />Keep your 40, I’ll just have an Earl Grey tea<br /><strong>My rims never spin, to the contrary </strong><br /><strong>You’ll find that they’re quite stationary</strong><br />All of my action figures are cherry<br /><strong>Steven Hawking’s in my library</strong><br />My MySpace page is all totally pimped out<br />Got people beggin’ for my top eight spaces<br />Yo, I know pi to a thousand places<br />Ain’t got no grills but I still wear braces<br />I order all of my sandwiches with mayonnaise<br /><strong>I’m a whiz at Minesweeper - I could play for days </strong><br /><strong>Once you see my sweet moves you’re gonna stay amazed </strong><br /><strong>My fingers’ movin’ so fast I’ll set the place ablaze</strong><br />There’s no killer app I haven’t run<br />At Pascal, well I’m number one<br /><strong>Do vector calculus just for fun</strong><br />I ain’t got a gat but I got a soldering gun<br />Happy Days is my favorite theme song<br />I could sure kick your butt in a game of ping pong<br /><strong>I’ll ace any trivia quiz you bring on</strong><br />I’m fluent in JavaScript as well as Klingon<br /><br />They see me roll on My Segway<br />I know in my heart they think I’m white and nerdy<br />Think I’m just too white and nerdy<br />Think I’m just too white and nerdy<br />Can’t you see I’m white and nerdy<br />Look at me, I’m white and nerdy<br />I’d like to roll with The gangstas<br />Although it’s apparent I’m too white and nerdy<br />Think I’m just too white and nerdy<br />Think I’m just too white and nerdy<br />I’m just too white and nerdy<br />How’d I get so white and nerdy<br /><br />I’ve been browsin’, inspectin’<br /><strong>X-Men comics, you know I collect ‘em</strong> (Not any more)<br /><strong>The pens in my pocket</strong>, I must protect ‘em<br /><strong>My ergonomic keyboard never leaves me bored</strong><br />Shopping online for deals on some writable media<br /><strong>I edit Wikipedia</strong><br /><strong>I memorized Holy Grail really well</strong><br /><strong>I can recite it right now and have you ROTFLOL</strong><br />I got a business doing websites<br />When my friends need some code, who do they call?<br />I do HTML for ‘em all<br />Even made a homepage for my dog<br /><strong>Yo, I got myself a fanny pack</strong><br />They were havin’ a sale down at The Gap<br />Spend my nights with a roll of bubble wrap<br />Pop, pop, hope no one sees me<br />Gettin’ freaky<br />I’m nerdy in the extreme<br /><strong>And whiter than sour cream</strong> (never could get a tan)<br />I was in AV Club and <strong>Glee Club and even the Chess Team </strong><br /><strong>Only question I Ever thought was hard </strong><br /><strong>Was do I like Kirk Or do I like Picard</strong><br />Spend every weekend at the Renaissance Fair<br />Got my name on my underwear<br /><br />They see me strollin’<br />They laughin’<br />And rollin’ their eyes ‘cause I’m so white and nerdy<br />Just because I’m white and nerdy<br />Just because I’m white and nerdy<br />All because I’m white and nerdy<br />Holy cow, I’m white and nerdy<br />I wanna bowl with The gangstas<br />But, oh well, it’s obvious I’m white and nerdy<br />Think I’m just too white and nerdy<br />Think I’m just too white and nerdy<br />I’m just too white and nerdy<br />Look at me, I’m white and nerdyPapa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-90657252791507086502007-04-11T08:10:00.000-07:002008-12-11T02:30:15.984-08:00Funny NamesWhen the blog inspiration Gods strike you must be grateful. I was reading <a href="http://brinatty.blogspot.com/2007/04/uh-oh-its-happening-again.html#comments">Mormon Millie's </a>blog this morning and I decided I should take the opportunity to list the names that we have come up with through the years that would not go well with (or would go too well with) our last name:<br /><br />John<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052215550947914786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXmpN3w2Oa4tFyCmcKyCEhKiacnGJDjqXndlPf7Gm63qQZo2JrRasSPu0clgLsXaCptjZyWnEW-tJKI08NBpIfTF42ANVTyornXxBHkRBMY5PdblkvxMvDQ6oH_WYPzlFGhIW/s320/Happy+Porta+John.jpeg" border="0" /><br />Porter - A good name just not for this family<br />Portia Lynn<br />Fayelynn Dee<br />Peter Jamsen<br />Matthew Marcluken<br /><br /><br />Those are the best on my list.<br /><br />Got any more?Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-5852019125432862332007-04-10T14:19:00.000-07:002007-04-10T14:39:32.857-07:00Mission AnniversaryToday marks sixteen years from the day that I entered the missionary training center in Provo, Utah to begin my full time mission for the <a href="http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg">Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints</a> in Italy.<br /><br />I mark this day every year and usually my wife and I will talk about it. I am glad that I went.<br /><br />My mission was not filled with the same kinds of spiritual experiences that my father weaned me on growning up. I was never on top of the baptising list. I worked. I worked hard. I encountered some discouragement but not enough to ever make me want to stop working.<br /><br />Today I re-read the story of Enos. He is told that his sins are forgiven and he asks, "Lord, how is it done?" He knows that God can not lie and therefore he knows it has been done so he asks: "How?" You can sense his wonder and awe. You can sence his gratitude and love for the savior.<br /><br />I didn't have an apostalic mission. I didn't heal anyone's infirmities or witness great miracles. Except. I witnessed as a handful of souls were brought to ask with that same emotion and gratitude, "How is it done?"<br /><br />Given the chance to relive my life there are a few things I would change. The three things I <strong>wouldn't</strong> change are: 1. Be baptised 2. Go on a mission 3. Marry my wife.Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-5672935953154148002007-04-02T08:29:00.000-07:002007-04-02T08:41:20.416-07:00I'm NOT obsessed with Global Warming I SwearOkay, I realize that this is my third post about global warming, but I just can't help it. The supreme court has rendered an opionion about global warming that goes one step further to legitimitize the weak science behind the concept.<br /><br />Today, the court ruled that the EPA cannot ignore car and truck emissions in the Clean Air Act. Specifically, Justice Stephens said in the majority opinion, "A well-documented rise in global temperatures has coincided with a significant increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere."<br /><br />So, I guess the next logical step is what? We can't stop the vehicles on today's roads stop spitting out carbon dioxide. In fact the only fuel that doesn't produce CO2 is Hydrogen. (Which is not particularly easy to use as fuels go.)<br /><br />More significantly, the supreme court has just made global warming official in the United States.<br /><br />I guess my cap and trade idea really could make me rich if every schlub had to pay a CO2 tax at the pump to be used in carbon offsets.<br /><br />I better get busy.Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121050.post-56270185564061774872007-03-30T07:53:00.000-07:002007-03-30T08:26:32.402-07:00I'm a GeniusSo, on NPR last Friday they talked about <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9105947">Carbon Dioxide cap and trade schemes</a>. It got me thinking about an idea that I have had for a long time and I've decided to fling it to the blogging world for the voluminous feedback that I always recieve.<br /><br />You see, we are releasing so much carbon dioxide into the world by burning everything we can lay our hands on that of course <a href="http://papajjj.blogspot.com/2007/02/running-numbers-and-experiment.html">global warming </a>is all our fault. The <a href="http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070321/D8O0O1I00.html">earth has a fever </a>and is going to die.<br /><br />So here is my solution. You set up a huge pipe line running straight out of the ocean, through a desalinization plant, and into the Sahara. You begin growing trees on the most remote part of the desert so that you can purchase millions of acres on the cheap. Then you start selling "carbon credits" to the industrial countries for all of your new grown jungle. Heck to get the project running you could presale the credits to beat future carbon emission limitations. They get to keep burning their fossil fuels. You get to terraform a useless chunk of the world into a huge carbon sink that undoubtedly would generate piles of tourist cash. The Al Gore's of the world name you the hero of the planet. They'll probably name the new river that forms in the desert after you.<br /><br />In theory once the terraformed area is large enough and wet enough, it would become a self sustaining habitat.<br /><br />Genius.<br /><br />Please send your save the planet checks to:Papa Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12553592541103800402noreply@blogger.com10