21 January 2012

Awesome Video Saturday CLXXXVII

This moved me.

Hello from ant1mat3rie on Vimeo.

14 January 2012

Awesome Video Saturday CLXXXVI

I like this cover of Coldplay's "Paradise"

12 January 2012

Romney the Raider II

Powerline has a nice examination of one of Bain's success stories, which Gingrich and Perry have attempted to portray as a failure.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

10 January 2012

Romney the Raider

As this article explains, Mitt Romney has been under fire for his time as as head of a private equity firm.

His rivals are attacking him for firing people. This is hilarious, given how this is exactly what Republicans are expecting the next President to do. Do they think cutting government spending will all come from more efficient cost controls? It is not possible. Federal workers will be affected. The next president will need the stomach for it.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

College Football...Adieu

So with Alabama's resounding victory tonight another college football season comes to a close. My teams were disappointing, the hometown team was disappointing, the championship rematch was disappointing to anyone not from Alabamy. In just under 8 full months it will all begin again. And I'll be counting the days. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

06 January 2012

Creating, not Consuming

A friend of mine posted a resolution on Twitter that I thought was excellent. He has decided to spend more time creating and less time consuming and connecting. I like that sentiment, so I am going to try to do a little more creating here, on the blog, than I did last year.

Traditionally I post a lot of videos, link to articles that I like, which I will continue to do, but I also want to spend more time on original thought. We'll see how I do.

21 December 2011

Violence in Syria

There are reports of continuing conflict in Syria, this time involving the deaths of hundreds of people. If reports are correct this continues a shameful episode in the rule of Syria's Assad. Our silence on the subject is shameful.

This picture says a lot about the situation there. I don't believe it is photoshopped. I also don't think it reflects the sentiments of all anti-Assad Syrians. I'm not advocating military intervention in Syria, but I would like to see us take a more active role in pressuring the Syrian government on behalf of protestors.

Germs on a Plane

The Wall Street Journal has a frightening article on germs in airplanes and airports. It left me feeling like air travelers have almost no chance of avoiding illness.

One of their suggestions? Move seats if you are sitting by a sickly passenger. Have any of you flown on a plane lately with much extra space? Most of my travel on planes is 4+ hours long. It seems like those flights tend to be more full, so keeping my (less than 3 ounce) container of Purell seems like the way to go.

20 December 2011

Early Giving

Here is the first theatrical trailer for The Dark Knight Rises. Merry Christmas-







17 December 2011

Awesome Video Saturday CLXXXV

I thought 2009's G.I. Joe was a pretty lousy movie. This trailer, for the upcoming sequel, looks pretty great.



Do they really kill Duke?

08 December 2011

Rick Perry "Dumb"

Rick Perry's latest campaign ad, "Strong," is a perfect example of why we should all be happy that he has little-to-no chance of winning the Republican nomination:



It seems a bit desperate, playing to some of the basest fears, implying that our military, full of openly-serving gays, is related to the erosion of religious freedom in schools.

If someone is willing to take up arms in defense of their country, their sexuality is not a concern of mine, unless it becomes a detriment to their work. This is true of heterosexuals as well.

I thought this was a pretty hilarious skewering of Perry's poor analogy, from Lucas Kavner in the Huffington Post.

03 December 2011

Awesome Video Saturday CLXXXIV

Since the only thing I seem to have the will to post these days are videos, here is one that made me smile. I like it because the guy seems to be having fun and bothering no one. I don't mind these kinds of wacky displays, and they generally cheer people up.

19 November 2011

Awesome Video Saturday CLXXXIII

It's been almost a month since my last post! This video is great.

22 October 2011

Awesome Video Saturday CLXXXII

You're welcome.

19 October 2011

A few favorites

Favorite image from today-
Isaac begging for a peach, doing a little dance of desperation at Lacy's feet.

Favorite statement-
Joseph saying that his name should be "Joseph Constrictor" because he is such a great hugger.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

16 October 2011

Faith

The prominence of Mitt Romney, and to a lesser extent Jon Huntsman, has prompted tremendous media attention toward my church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I have always been an active Mormon, participating in meetings and activities. I served a two-year mission, attended church-owned BYU, msrried my wife in one of the Church's temples and serve actively in my local congregation. My experience is not uncommon, but reflects certain choices.

Not everyone makes those choices, but that does not make their faith, or their heritage based on that faith, any less valid than my own.

Brandon Flowers, lead singer of The Killers, grew up in the Church. He has not been as devout, or followed as orthodox a path as I have, but as he explains in this video, his faith guides his choices and he still has a belief in what he was taught as a boy and young man.



As someone who has experienced the traditional pattern, I appreciate his words and experience. We are a diverse faith, more so every day, and I am proud to belong.