The Montana oil spill, but more importantly Rob Rogers

Rob, your voice is like a fine aged single malt Scotch.* Good to see a Skutch in the news.





*Assumption based solely on what I believe a fine Scotch would taste like, I mean, c'mon.

Hello Charles, ready for your close up?

A more magical moment I cannot imagine.  The first glimpse of your kid.  Parenthood leaves the realm of the abstract and becomes something very tangible with that first picture. Plus, it looks like he'll be a boxer.  A scrawny little, wonderful pugilist.  We haven't even had him yet and he's already making us proud.

Becoming reacquainted with 'the man'

I recently made the decision to go back to a full time corporate job.  With us now getting ready for a kid it just made sense. I will be leaving the sometimes thrilling and sometimes crushing world of entrepreneurship and joining the throngs of us who are indentured to 'the man'*.  I am excited for the opportunity but there are few things that will be missed.  Among them:

1. The freedom: I will miss having incredible flexibility in my schedule and having the ability to, at the drop of the hat, pull off a road trip or getaway.  Here's to a quick accumulation of vacation days.
2. The public restroom:  On occasion I would work out of a public library.  For the most part it worked well.  The notable exception being when a restroom visit was required.  My GI tract probably suffered insurmountable damage due to my fear in going in there. About as third world as Scottsdale can get.
3. The Tax deductions: It was certainly fun to try and justify every expense as 'business related'.  Every January was like a treasure hunt as I danced through the myriad deductions available for the small business.
4. The Mutual Fundification of my income:  It is very nice knowing that if you lose business from one source you have it coming in from some other ones.  In these uncertain times when a layoff is just around every corner it is essential that you can draw upon another cash cow.
5. The cachet of calling yourself an entrepreneur: Ok, I'm not sure how much cachet exists, but there is a certain adventure to being one.  Since I can't be an adventurer, this was the close second.

I'm sure that there are several other reasons why I'll miss what I've done and what I built with Lacuna.  They will probably reveal themselves slowly over the next few weeks as I try to acclimate to the corporate lifestyle.


*By the way, who is this man and why do so many of us have to work for him?  

File this under: Good, damn good

What do you get when you mix the best new act to come out of England and the mundane melodrama of The National?  This.  Very cool.

Tags: Mumford and Sons Unplugged, Mumford and Sons, Music Videos, Live Performances

The collective human experience

A good portion of my free book time is spent towards history. Oftentimes we are so consumed with the issues of the 'here and now' that we forget to truly educate ourselves or to enjoy the triumphs and tragedies of our forebearers.  So replace that copy of "The Millionaire Next Door" with a book regarding an age or a time that truly interests you.

And if you don't  find value in history, the words of Hugh Nibley, taken from 'Approaching Zion' offer you a good reason as to why you should.

"By neglecting to consult the writings of the ancients, we miss the fact that in their trials and triumphs, individually and collectively, they had to undergo exactly the same trials that we do: the props of the plays, the technology, and the fashions, wear out and are constantly being replaced, but the issues and the plot always remain the same."

Jury Duty Extraction 101

Your jury experience suck?  Blame Henry Fonda.

Let's be honest. Outside of an occasional Victoria's Secret catalog, J/K, there is nothing very exciting about getting the mail these days.  I guess we have Al Gore and his internet to partially blame for that.   There is probably even a hierarchy that outlines the dread associated with most mail.  If such a pyramid existed the Jury summons would be near the top, just under the photo traffic ticket but slightly above the utility bill.

Wait.  Shouldn't jury duty be something that we, citizens of an open democracy, relish and be proud of?  Sure, the right to a jury by your peers is something that distinguishes our great legal system.   We like it, just as long as we aren't being called on to spend an afternoon at the old courthouse passing judgement.*

So, as long as there has been a need for a jury, there has been a need to come up with a suitable excuse to extricate oneself from this grand responsibility.  Since this is something that effects all of us and since I have successfully gotten out of all 5 of my summons I thought I would share a few things that might help you successfully neglect your civic responsibility.  Monsieur McAdams can check the list against his ever expanding legal experience.

• The racist/sexist/just about anything that ends in 'ist' card:  This is an easily played card that promises results.  But keep in mind that those results come with potential consequences.  The success of this one might depend on the size of and your standing within the community.  You would hate to be labeled the town homophobe just because of a couple well placed comments to the person picking a jury.
• The political outlier: This fellow is a close relation to the "ist" man explained above.  All it takes is a couple of comments regarding your support for some militia group in Northern Idaho or for socialism in general.  Better yet, bring a copy of Das Kapital to the jury selection meeting.
• The suffering patient:  Head over to your nearest medical supply store before your jury selection date. Don't forget to be creative in your selection of items to wear.  My suggestion?  Buy some loose gauze.  Visit a magic shop and get a hold of some fake blood or puss.  Apply liberally.  Should get you out pretty quickly.
• Mr. Answer:  This one takes a little longer to execute but its effectiveness is not questioned and it reduces the potential stigma associated with the previous three.  From the moment you enter the building you need to put on your best "A" personality and actively dominate every conversation.  Not only that you need to have very strong opinions that you have to insist are absolute.  The best way to get your pass is to target any staff and harangue them regarding the inefficiency of the current judicial system.  Go the distance by going into a 15 diatribe about your prescription for this problem.  Nobody wants to execute justice with "Mr. Answer", trust me.

These are just a few suggestions.  Try them out and let me know how they work.   Have any better recommendations?  Please share.

--
*The obvious exceptions would be anything worthy to be shown on Court TV.

Thank you Zooey

Randomizer Volume VII Series I

1. No band is as adept at creating an atmosphere or mood as the National. But can they just lay off the melancholy and minor chords every once in awhile?  Things can't be that bad, can they?
2. Maybe it's some kind of deep seeded guilt for not having served in the military but I have a real thing for shirts with epaulets.  That either makes me very patriotic or very fashion forward. Or maybe it reveals that I'm still having a hard time saying goodbye to Michael Jackson.
3. I'm having the darnedest time trying to figure out who to cheer for in the Chicago-Miami series.  My disdain for both current franchises is equally distributed.  I am going to reread Machiavelli's 'Prince' for inspiration on how I should strategically direct my boo's.
4. So I've been told that the world is supposed to end this weekend.  Where's my heads up?  I was totally getting ready for December 2012.  I wish someone would have told me sooner before I re upped my cell phone plan.  That's money that could have been spent for a bomb shelter or last minute South Pacific getaway.
5. Don't cook?  Did you laugh at those poor saps who got stuck in Home Economics?  Take a look at this book. It will seriously blow your mind with how cool it is.  Disregard the price tag because this book will enable you to unlock all culinary mysteries.
   

Nevermind the Gas prices, Bisbee calls

Bisbee= One of the better places in Arizona to relax, rejuvenate, and rediscover life.

Ayn Rand's ideas and Mormon thought?

I believe in the brilliant possibilities that can be obtained by individual thought, ingenuity, and hard work.  I believe that a free market is the ultimate place to test and value those ideas and works.  I believe in preserving our freedoms so that we choose the course best suited for ourselves.

I suppose you can tell a lot about me based on those aforementioned beliefs.  You would guess that I am a proponent of capitalism and I might even be a Libertarian.  You could argue that those beliefs match many of those who share my Mormon faith.  And you could also argue that I am likely a huge proponent of Ayn Rand and her core philosophy, Objectivism. 

Before I read 'Fountainhead' I probably would have answered yes to that last question.  But there was just something about Howard Roark and his actions that just didn't jibe with core beliefs that I held.  I looked a little more at objectivism and I was surprised.

I was going to write my own treatise comparing Ayn Rand's philosophy with Mormon tenants but somebody already did a better job here. I'm all for reason, human accomplishment, capitalism and independence.  But the lack of morality and compassion that I've found in a lot of these materials just doesn't ring true to me as someone who believes in the tenets of Christianity.

The Desert Botanical Garden

When you think of desert do you think dry wasteland?  Spend a spring evening at the Botanical Gardens and the lush surroundings will have you completely rethinking your opinions of the desert.  And it's just moments from down town. 

The battle of the bulge

No, not that Battle of the Bulge.

As the average male matures into his middle years there are certain measuring sticks that are used to determine whether or not he is in control of his physical being.  There are the obvious ones such as hair- both on the top of the head and the back-, weight maintenance, or muscle tone. But there is one more subtle mile marker that all men secretly gauge, one that has repercussions both to his psyche but, also, his wardrobe. 

What is it?

The waist-length ratio for our pants.

For most of our formative and early adult years we carelessly prance around on the positive side of this ratio.  Our metabolism is robust, our activity solid, and our stomach flat.  It is easy to understand why a 24 year old will take his 30x34 measurements for granted.  But then real life happens and the slow advance of extra pounds makes its assault on our mid section.

The first time you really become aware of the advance is when you get to 33x34.  For years you have been on the positive side of the ratio and now you are coming to the precipice.  And then the possibility of 34x34 looms.  The difference between a 33 and ..gasp...a 35 is a Continental Divide a Mason-Dixon line, if you will, that you don't want to cross, but like the River Styx it's crossing appears inevitable.

For awhile, you ignore it.  And than you begin your meek counter attack.You step up your time in the gym.  You uncomfortably sit through lunch meetings as you hold in your gut to maintain the 33x34 charade.  And then finally you can't take it.  You either must reverse this course, and all the hard work that entails, or you must come to grip with the reality dealt on the other side of the equation.

You start to evaluate diets.  You secretly try on a pair of 35x34 jeans just for the sake of investigation.  You log in a few extra minutes at the gym.  You've reached the crossroads that all men, aged 30-40 inevitably face.  Father time is calling and he is wearing a pair of loose fitting sansabelt trousers.

Friends, I have reached that critical juncture.  Pray that I will have the strength to extend this fight and not prematurely succumb to the siren song of easy meals and suspenders.

Ode to suburban living

I spend a couple days a week working down in a little community nestled in the Southeast end of the Valley.  15 years ago it was nothing more than open land and farms.  Now it is one giant master planned community dealing with the scars of the current housing debacle. By scars I mean an uneasy blend of half occupied communities and never finished developments.

I've never really liked the suburban lifestyle.  Why?  A variety of reasons.  I prefer the patchwork diversity of a more urban setting.  I prefer older more established communities.  I very much prefer the wider range of options afforded to those who live in the city boundaries.  Actually those seem to be reasons to prefer city living.  Why the disdain for the suburban dream?  I could never really put my finger on until...

Let me set the scene.

I'm at a Chikfila for lunch at 123 Anywhere street USA.  Well, to be sort of precise, the aforementioned
community in the Southeast Valley.  The place is packed with the thirty-something moms and their little broods.  A mixture of exhaustion, yearning, and pride can be read from their faces.  They look cut from the same cloth.  The hair, the number of children, the clothing selected from the entire spectrum of the gap catalog.  Just hints at the real nugget.  And then it comes.

Over the stereo comes a completely castrated jazz rendition of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds".  Gone are the psychedelic meanderings of a once creative genius.  Replaced by a sterile copy, unoffensive enough that it can be placed comfortably at any number of stores selling any number of goods. That dreadful version of that great song served as my epiphany and helped me understand why the suburbs might be great for some but just not for me.

Seriously?  Which one is mine?

Here's my impression of the suburbs.  They represent a nice generalization of the ideal community that will satisfy the largest percentage of the population.  Everything from the square footage of the Home Depot to the menu selection at the neighborhood Applebees, to type the of swings at the community park are almost scientifically designed to maximize the utility of the community.

Now, that is all fine and dandy if the interests, aspirations, and values of the community are completely homogeneous and non-offensive. But to someone who prefers to live in the "long tail"  this type of environment is stifling and very unattractive.  These communities leave very little room for creativity, diversity, and risk because they are just too inefficient and unprofitable to incorporate into the blueprints. 

Now that is not to say that one can't be a risk taking, creative, diverse individual and still live in the suburbs.  But the odds, by odds I mean the design of the community, are against you.  That's why those types typically flock to a more urban setting.  These communities are probably a great safe place to raise a family.   And since we haven't reached that stage in our lives maybe we are unqualified to offer the critique.

Note: The impetus of this post was the response that we get in Mesa from most friends when they discover that we endeavor to move back to Phoenix.

Tonto Natural Bridge and the open road

We recently decided to head up to the famed Route 66 and the Turquoise Room at the Posada Hotel in Winslow.  Our route took us right through some scenic pine country and the Tonto Natural Bridge. It is right off the highway and well worth your time.

The recent cold freeze created some great photos.  The waterfall froze and we were able to witness several large icicles come to a tremendous crash at the bottom of the ravine.  The sun was very bright which made most of the photos over saturated or laden with too much contrast.  Nonetheless, they do a decent job of capturing another of Arizona's natural gems.

Introduction: The View from Both Sides of the Border

Things have slowed down here on the blog.  I don't want to blame it all on the recession, but...

Anyways, I have reaccessed what I want to do with the 'dude' and how I want to proceed with other interests that might not correspond with the original intent of the this blog and the interests of the 5 family members who still visit this place.   So the 'dude' will move on with its original mission and some of my special interest niches will get their own forum.

Which brings us to 'Both Sides of the Border.I am introducing this blog to serve as a portal for my insights, research, and opinions on issues related to the U.S.-Mexico border.  Topics will include: Immigration, Drug Violence, Border Security, Cultural Experiences, and other subjects relative to the region. 

Feel free to go over there if there is interest.  Also, feel free to go over there to enhance my website stats and buoy my fragile ego.

2011...and?

Well. A new year and a new list of ideas, goals, and assessments. What to do with this blog? Blogs seem so 2005. Do they have a place in my future?


To be continued...

Culture over consumerism

Thanks to the wonderful world wide web I no longer have to spend my December weekends exchanging blows with my neighbors at the local mall. Instead, I can enjoy things like the dedication of the Paolo Soleri bridge in Scottsdale.

Soleri is the coolest Italian architect in this town and he is the godfather of the whole arcology movement. He is known locally for his Arcosanti concept. His people also make real cool bells and chimes.

Anyway, this bridge is a nice counter and complement to the evolving Waterfront area. It's nice to see his bohemian, utopian influences juxtaposed next to the State's biggest den of consumerism.

Where has all the good Christmas music gone?

Like many of us, most of my music time comes while navigating local streets. With the Holidays in full swing and my ipod transmitter broken I am at the mercy of the local radio stations to get me in the spirit. It's only been several days and I already don't like the mood they are creating.

A few thoughts on Christmas music and radio:

• There are literally thousands of Christmas songs and millions of different versions of those songs. Why do these stations stick to the same 500? I love Bing Crosby as much as the next patriotic American but let's put the daily limit on "White Christmas" at 15.
  
• The 40's, 50's, and 60's had to have been the golden years for the commercial Christmas song. Don Draper and his contemporaries gave us the classics like Rudolph, Frosty, and others all in the name of moving products at Macy's.
  
• Meanwhile the 80's gave as a horrible nadir in terms of quality music. Leave it to Wham, Paul McCartney, and the folks behind "do they know its Christmas" to stink it up so badly that it would be almost a full decade before we would see artists tread back into these lucrative holiday waters.
• If you are a successful musician making a Christmas song has to the lowest hanging fruit possible. Easy money, shooting fish in a barrel, you get my drift.
  
• There are few religious Christmas songs played on the radio today. The obvious exception is "O Holy Night". But I think that is because it showcases the range of the diva more than celebrating the traditional meaning for the season. Seriously, if you are an artist and you want to demonstrate your skill then this is the Christmas proving ground for you. "Little Drummer Boy" is another exception but, c'mon...how offensive is a he?

A couple more hours of this and I will be running, not walking, over to the local Deseret Book for some Tabernacle Choir seasonal cd's.

I support the Dream Act. Here's why

While in no way a comprehensive solution to our immigration mess, the Dream Act represents a positive idea that should be supported and further developed by both sides of the aisle. (For text of the bill as it currently stands in the house click here.) Citizenship should be earned and this bill does a good job of providing the right kind of carrots for the kind of immigrant that will add value to our country.

Let's be honest, we can't blame the kids for whom this bill was drafted. They didn't create these circumstances. And before we lay all the blame on their parents, let's realize that our economy and government have long let the conditions for illegal immigration flourish. If we weren't so willing to pay these immigrants a tax-free pittance for their hard labor I doubt we would be facing our current immigration mess. But this is our reality and we would be best served by taking steps to improve it.

The bill focuses on paving a way for deserving immigrants a chance to go to college or serve in the military. There are plenty of strings attached to prevent this from being a free ride. And no these students won't be taking away grants and in-state tuition for those legal kids. The bill contains no language about in-state tuition, leaving that decision to each State. It merely gives some very deserving students the opportunity to attend college or the military and to earn an expedited path to citizenship through conditional permanent residency status.

There is an economic incentive to pass this as well. The CBO estimates that it will reduce the deficit by $1.4 billion annually. Some might bring up the opposing figures offered by the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) but their perspective is too biased and their methodology too flawed to seriously to be seriously considered. Nonetheless, here is the link to their take.

The bill is not perfect and there are things that need further clarification and discussion. (i.e. in-state tuition, need to be part of larger reform, vague protections for anyone who simply starts an application, etc...) And, ideally this would be a small piece in a larger bill that truly fixes our immigration mess. Unfortunately that is not the case at this moment.

In the meantime, this is a worthy bill. It gives some relief to a group who can truly contribute and participate in America. And it will help in keeping the spotlight on an issue that only continues to grow.

There's more than just one type of "Hispanic"

The points of view on both sides of the immigration debate have become so hardened that it is fast becoming near impossible to reach any kind of middle ground or mutual understanding. That is unfortunate because both sides have valid points worth considering.

One tactic that both sides use, to their own detriment, is to paint the entire other side with the same general brushstroke. I guess that makes sense if you are trying to defeat something and not work with it. If there is one thing I've learned over the years it is that stereotypes and perceptions are lazy and often counterproductive. Travel to Italy and compare the cuisine from region to region and than compare it our traditional definition of "Italian" and you'll know what I mean. Not all Italian's eat lasagna and not all Mexicans are law breaking criminals who are undermining the "American" way of life.

Peel back the onion a bit and you get a far more intricate and complicated picture.

That is certainly the case with both sides of the immigration debate. Peer beyond the talking points of both sides and you can start to make some real ground. Right now I want to spend a few moments talking about the many nuances of the Hispanic community living in the U.S.

The Pew Center does a good job gauging the sentiment of the Hispanic Community. Many will argue that the Center is too liberal, but I don't find it to be too bad to where I can't use their data. Their surveys are comprehensive and often times they provide the source data for any surveys or research done.

I recently reviewed one of the surveys that was conducted before the primary elections of 2008. Most of the questions are centered on political opinions and immigration policy. The link to the full report can be found here. I pulled the data-set, a sample size of just over 2,000 respondents, and played with it in SPSS. Here are a few interesting findings:

• Over 66% of the respondents viewed their quality of life as "good" or excellent.
• 77% were "very" or "somewhat" confident that their children growing up in the U.S. will have better jobs than they do.
• While more Hispanics affiliated themselves with the Democratic party and considered that party more attuned to their interests, the numbers were still relatively small. 42% didn't think that either party listened to them and and 37% consider themselves independent.
• Over 83% think that we have "too many" or just the "right" amount of immigrants in the U.S.
• 65% believe that discrimination is a "major problem" and an additional 19% believe that it is a "minor problem".
• 41% stated that they or loved ones have experienced discrimination in the past year.
• 46% are fluent in English as well as Spanish.
• 52% of respondents are employed full-time, 31% are not employed.
• 48% earn less than $30k/year.

There isn't anything particularly groundbreaking with this study. In fact, data can be pulled by both sides to validate their positions. But if you look at the numbers more closely you see a more diverse and pluralistic Hispanic Community. About the only thing that truly galvanized them in one direction was their opposition to implied or potential discrimination.

So what is the point of all this? We can't simply place the same broad set of assumptions on the Hispanic population as a whole. I know Hispanics here legally and illegally. I know Hispanics who are Republicans and those who are Democrats. I know some who want to stay here and pursue the American dream and others who are here for lack of better options back home. I know those who look down upon illegal immigration and those who see it as the only necessary route to both earn a wage as well as serve a demand here in the U.S. I've met some who are honest, some not so much. They are just as varied and diverse as any group.

Let's be a little more careful with our generalizations and seek to understand before we draw any conclusions.

Addendum:
A recent survey from last month reveals once again how diverse the Hispanic population is. In many ways it is a follow up to the 2007 survey that was mentioned above. Its findings are somewhat surprising and uncover a sizable divide within the community regarding the benefits and proposed treatment of illegal immigrants. Very, very interesting. Link to summary here.