Post-Election thoughts...

First of all, a few things in the way of disclaimers and backgrounds. Skip to "HERE!" to get to the real stuff.

I haven't posted here in years. Like, a LOT of years. Since then the girlfriend I've referenced has been upgraded to wife and we had a kid. We have a family blog, but I don't believe we've updated that in... well, years. Blogs have kinda died as a medium of communication since about the time that Google Reader died in 2012...ish?

However, the things I want to write about here are a bit political, and I don't like mixing politics with friendships, so my way of keeping them separate is to put this political stuff here, where people will only find it if they click on a link taking them here- they're here if they're looking for it.

Also, I've decided I'm going to try to keep funny stuff on Facebook (more on this later), so this post isn't going to be as humorous as previous posts here. Plus, those posts were years ago- a lot has changed since then.

****************************** HERE! ******************************

So... it's 11/9/2016. Hopefully this date will ultimately be forgotten as a day that meant nothing. That would mean at least four years of potentially scary times turned into nothing but a dud, but for now I'm sensing a lot of fear and uncertainty. Donald Trump was elected president and nobody really knows what that means.

In campaigning, Donald Trump has promised to do some outrageous things (most controversial is perhaps building a wall on the U.S./Mexico border "and make Mexico pay for it"), suggested ridiculous options (like banning all Muslims for being allowed to fly into the country) and made horrific accusations (opening his campaign saying that Mexicans sends people with a lot of problems, and proceeded to accuse them of carrying drugs and being rapists). This is all without touching on his nauseating actions towards women, which alone is enough to keep him under a restraining order from all women everywhere. His speeches have been laced with hatred, anger and prejudice and for some reason, the U.S. decided to make him president.

I have no idea why. The man is everything that good fathers tell their children not to be. We good people tell others that they shouldn't judge others for their sex, or skin color. We tell our kids that they should not be bullies. We teach our kids to be nice to each other. Whether Donald was never taught these things or rejected such teachings I don't know, but it's clear that Donald doesn't care for the worth of these values.

I didn't vote for Donald Trump. I didn't vote for him because I don't believe that he's an answer to any of the major problems I believe that our country is facing today. I also didn't vote for his main competitor Hillary Clinton, as I also believe she wasn't the best option. I opted to vote for a person whose views on issues aligned most with my own because I believe that is how voting should work and I refuse to be part of the problem. I do not regret voting as I did, but the consequence of this is that Donald Trump was allowed to win. I believe in accepting the consequences of actions, so although I'm not happy that he won, I accept the consequences that come with his victory.

So far, these consequences are the fear and uncertainty that I mentioned before. I understand it- to be honest I'm a bit scared myself- admittedly not in the "I might get deported" way, but I find other things that concern me about his presidency- will he initiate war? Will he modify laws to complicate the immigration process concerning plans my Peruvian wife and I have? Will other countries respond with hostility towards his actions? What will happen to the economy? Will Trump bankrupt the country as he has several of his own companies? Will his actions regarding deportation tear families apart? Will he start taking actions against religious freedom? I don't know the answers to these questions, so for now all I have is worry.

Yet, I'm not alone. All over my and my wife's Facebook feed we're seeing messages of anger, accusations, disappointment, sadness, worry and the true feeling that I think all of these are fueled by: fear. I suppose I could give into my own fear and simply hole up somewhere until this all blows over.. Or, I can do something about it.

I don't entirely know what I can do about it- I'm still exploring options and ideas. But I have a new resolve to comfort this fear from other people- if I can help or reach out to other people and be a friendly face maybe I can push back the image being painted of U.S. citizens being selfish racist biggots. If I can be a bit more friendly to others maybe I can make the U.S. a little more welcoming than it may appear. Even if all I accomplish is a cheap, temporary smile on someone's face because I said a cheap joke, I'll take it. In being afraid I feel a unity among Americans right now. I don't know if I entirely understand the solution just yet, but I refuse to be a part of the problem. I will do what I can to quell fears and anger (as little as it may be), and I'd encourage others to do the same.

Things I am against: Part 1

Hello, all! Don't worry, I'm very aware that I haven't posted very much on this blog for months. Back then the fad was to do this 30 day picture blog post challenge. Needless to say, I didn't finish. I think taking photos just isn't really my thing. That brings me to something that I think will keep my interest more: My very first installment of a new blog-series I'm going to do entitled THINGS I AM AGAINST.

Note: This, as with any possible future installment of THINGS I AM AGAINST doesn't have the purpose of convincing anyone of anything. It is merely me ranting; meant mostly for entertainment purposes. I mean, if you want to side with me all the better, but I won't push you into anything. You read the following of your own free will and choice, and are welcome to stop reading whenever you want.

First item that I am against: APPLE.

I know that if you're like a majority of Americans, you own or use and probably find yourself loyal to Macintosh and its own efforts. My fiancee, in fact, is a proud owner and user of Apple Products. I love her and would never do anything to stop her from having her own opinions and choices. I won't say that any of you are WRONG, just that I don't agree. So no feelings hurt, right? Good! Now you can keep reading.

Now first of all, I am convinced that Macintosh Is trying to take over the world. 

Does that seem crazy to you?  Let me ask another question before you even bother to answer the previous question: Would you mind reaching into your backpack and showing me your CD player? Wait, what's that- you don't have one? Left it at home? Haven't touched it for years?

You may want to sit down before reading the following: CD PLAYERS ARE NOW OBSOLETE. That's right- CDs and CD players are fading. They are now just simply taking up space. Don't believe me? People are now suggesting that you take those "old CDs" that you spent weeks saving up for to buy and listen to, and turn them into coasters.

Now the big thing is .mp3 players. No, that is not a bad thing; not at all. Being able to carry all the music I own in my pocket is never anything that I will complain about. The bad thing about it is simply that Macintosh is convincing you that a device that only plays music is simply not enough. No, it also must have GPS on it, a camera, make phone calls, play games, connect to the internet, and many other things they brag about.

Do you see what they're doing? They're taking what we already had, adding a bunch of crazy stuff we can't afford, and giving it back to us convincing us that it's all just as necessary as it was before!

The fact is, everything the iPhone can do, I already have something that does it. Camera? Got it. Actual Cell phone? Got it. .mp3 player? Got it. Gaming device? I have a Nintendo DS. Google Maps? My laptop connects to the internet just fine, thank you.

You see? They aren't giving you anything new, just putting it all together and charging you more for what you already have! "Well, it's nice to have it all together", you say. Well, think of it this way: if my cell phone battery dies, I can still take out my camera and take pictures and even play my gameboy if I get bored. Keep in mind I'll be doing it with a cell phone, camera, AND gameboy that all cost less put together than one iPhone. 

"Yeah, but it's not just Apple! Other companies are making phones that do all that, too!" Yes, I know. And unfortunately, they have to in order to keep up! Apple is taking advantage of people, and making a lot of money because of it. If they were to succeed in getting everyone in the world an iphone, cell phone, camera, gps, and many other industries would go bankrupt. In order to keep up, other companies have been forced to   play the same dirty game.

Also, it's never enough. Everyone I know who had an iPhone 1 wanted an iPhone 2 as soon as they could get it.

...and Steve Jobs knows this. He is feeding on the gullibility of the consumers.

And now a very personal note, probably the biggest reason why I refuse to buy Apple products: THEY OWE ME $16. 

When I was a freshman in BYU, I thought I would join the cool kid's club and download iTunes. I had just deleted/destroyed all of my illegally downloaded music from the Napster days, and I was ready to get my music the clean way. You know- the way this guy would do it:

So I come to iTunes. I give them my credit card information, and buy some songs I was excited about at the time. I download it all for $16, and proceed to upload it to the .mp3 player I got for Christmas the year before. Wait, what's this; an ERROR? I have a .mp3 player, but the music isn't in .mp3 format! Well, that's kind of annoying. I kept looking on the internet for a file that could change the iTunes music into .mp3 files, but actually stumbled upon more research. People had been creating programs that would do exactly what I needed, but every time Apple learned of people using iTunes songs on their own .mp3 players, they would invent a NEW file type that the programs couldn't understand. In other words, there was a cyber war between really smart computer people and Apple. One wanted the music that they bought to be able to be used on their own .mp3 player. Apple, on the other hand, wanted the music they made you pay for ONLY available on iPod. Of course I immediately put myself on the side of the smart computer people. Are you kidding me? I JUST stopped illegally downloading music, and had to convince myself to pay for the songs themselves- and I can't use them unless I spend $100 + on YOUR product? Did you ever see any CDs that would only work in one brand of CD player? That would be ridiculous, so how was this any better?

At the end of that school year, I had to return the computer that I had rented from BYU. The songs I bought were stuck on that computer, and forced to be formatted with the computer, or in other words lost forever.

I then left on a mission, and I have since learned that iTunes has started to play nice after rival music download stores allowed people to use songs on whatever .mp3 player they wanted. I still don't touch iAnything, and I still think Steve Jobs owes me $16.

And don't get me started on their computers. Basically, I'll just say that their computers make me feel stupid.

(The part I want you to hear is near the end, although the whole thing is pretty funny)

Day 4

Day 4 - A picture of your favorite night.

My favorite night was probably the night I came home from my mission to Brazil.


Don't get me wrong- it was a very hard night. I had been in Brazil for 2 years. I made a lot of friends and had learned so much about Brazil, how to live with other people, and most of all how to be who I know I need to be. I was with people I had learned to love more than myself. My two years were two years of selfless service, and through that service I came to love people that had moments before been completely strangers. I spoke with murderers, homeless, politicians, and I felt the love for them that comes through service. With so much that I had learned, my two years ended, and I started the first day of the rest of my life.


I was so happy to see my family again. The long night of flying to the United States brought me back to the U.S. slowly. At the São Paulo airport I started hearing English spoken among the public for the first time in years. On the airplane I saw american TV again. As I landed in the Dallas/Fort Worth Texas airport I heard a hearty Texan-accented man bellow "Welcome back to the United States, son!"


I saw this sign and nearly cried with emotion:

Then I saw THIS picture and I knew I was home:

I'll never forget the friends and amazing people I left in Brazil. I'm still excited for the rest of my life that I'm now living, which started the 23rd of July, 2009.

If you know me, you knew this already.

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

PSYCH

I love this show! It's the only show I've ever kept up with since the previews announcing its pilot. I can watch any episode over and over again, and still laugh at what's going on. Some of my favorite quotes:

• "Gus, don't be exactly half of an 11 pound Black Forrest ham!"
• "Gus, don't be a silly goose!"
• "Gus, don't be the American adaptation of the British Gus."
• "Gus, don't be this crevice in my arm!"
• "Gus, don't be Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Marzipan!" "...that's 'Azkaban'." "I've heard it both ways."
• "Mr. Guster? There's a Lt. Crunch here to see you." "...actually, I've just been promoted. Now it's 'Capitan Crunch'."
• "Oh, you mean my pilot's license? That's out back in the Cessna. Or perhaps you're referring to my license to kill. Revoked. Trouble at the Kazakhstan border. I could give you the details but then I'd have to kill you, which I can't do because my license to kill has been revoked."
• (After drinking scalding hot coffee) "...It's not to hot for me."
• Karen Vick: It goes without saying, Mr. Spencer, that your father is in no way to participate in this investigation. He's no longer on the force, and his meddling could compromise the case in court. Do I make myself clear?
  Shawn Spencer: Yes, you do, Chief. What isn't clear is why people always say "goes without saying," yet still feel compelled to say the thing that was supposed to go without saying. Doesn't that bother you?
  Karen Vick: No, and frankly, I could care less.
  Burton 'Gus' Guster: Now, that's the one that bothers me. Why do people say, 'I could care less' when they really mean, 'I couldn't care less?'
  Karen Vick: Well, why don't you tell me how to properly say this? If you share any official information about this case with your father, or let him anywhere near any new evidence, then the two of you will have to find another police department to work for, and I will personally see to it that each of you is charged with obstruction of justice.
  Burton 'Gus' Guster: You split an infinitive.
  Shawn Spencer: Good catch, Gus!
  Karen Vick: You two realize I carry a gun, right?
  Burton 'Gus' Guster: That was perfectly elocuted.
• "It doesn't matter- all my plans stank." "Stunk." "Stank!" "STUNK!" "...Stinkited?"

If I'm ever in a bad mood- sit me down and make me watch psych. I will get better, I promise.

Saudades...

Day 02 - A picture of you and someone you used to be close with.

This is Bruno Monteiro and me (not in that order). He was one of my companions when I was a missionary down in Brazil. He lives in Belo Horizonte now. We were THIS awesome: 

He was funny, helped me with my Portuguese, really patient, and always willing to try new things. He's one of the reasons I miss Brazil. Here's to you, Bruno! Beijo na bunda!

I apologize. Oh wait- no I don't. Day 1.

New fad- I have no idea where it comes from. Everyone is doing something different every day on their blog. I saw it and at first thought "I'll never do that! I'm not that self-centered- I would never expect people to care about how I view myself." but then I remembered- That's actually the whole purpose for having a blog. It's like Myspace, minus the whiny 13 year olds and the pedophiles (....hopefully...).

Anyway, here comes the band-wagon!

Day 1

A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.

1. I grew up in a town of about 400 people in Oregon.
2. My name comes from some guy my Mom went on at least one date with. I've never met him, but I think it'd be interesting to shake the guy's hand and tell him that I'm named after him.
3. I am the proud owner of a 3-ring-binder that once belonged to Martin Short's nephew's best friend.
4. I've flown and landed airplanes, and got within 5 points of getting a scholarship that would get me my training for my pilot's license- for free.
5. I stopped trying to get my pilot's license after my flight instructor died in a plan crash. (R.I.P. Paul Linck)
6. I can do this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKpBfZE9oXQ
7. I served a two-year mission in São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil.
8. I speak 4 languages- English, Spanish, Portuguese, and ASL
9. I'm annoyed by people who say "I'm just sayin'"
10. I once fainted while driving. No one was hurt.
11. I was born in Atlanta, GA
12. I once won a contest from Lego to win a $100 Lego set.
13. I once totaled a car without being inside of it- I drained the oil without putting any back in.
14. Sometimes I just crave pickles- dill or bread and butter; it doesn't matter which.
15. I can flip my pen around my fingers. I do it when I'm bored.

Frankenfood?

Some things really confuse me.

For example, Platypuses.

But something far more important: beefsteak.

I know what steak is. It is delicious.

Steak

I know what beef is. Also delicious.

Beef

But not everything that is delicious is beef or steak. They are kinds of meat with their own subcategories: you have sirloin steak, and ground beef- not sirloin beef and ground steak. But apparently you can put both together to make beefsteak?

Beefsteak

Is it actually a blend of beef meat and steak meat? Is it beef cut to look like beef, or beef cut to look like steak? Does it come from the part of the cow that borders the beef cut and the steak cut? WHAT IS IT???

But then it goes on. I found a curious object in my girlfriend's apartment.

NOTHING MAKES ANY SENSE ANYMORE!!!!!