Today, I spent a lot of time holding Elizabeth. Twice, she fell asleep next to me as I laid on the coach. Her little head was on my shoulder. I looked at her and thought "she is so perfect". I hope I'm a good father.
I went to the store today and picked up somethings for mother's day. I plan to make lasagna. I hope it will turn out alright for Hyla.
Yesterday, I experienced road rage for the first time. I won't go into details, because I don't wish to be negative. Needless to say that I will not honk at someone when they are driving reckless and I will always know where the Police station is located.
I'm going to attach some pictures of Elizabeth.
Hyla also had a blessing: She found that she didn't have to pay extra for books she purchased. She returned some gifts we received to the store and they gave her an in-store credit. The credit paid for the books due to a sale. She felt that was a blessing.
She also felt it was a blessing that I was able to stay home and watch Elizabeth for a few hours.
She also felt that the azalea I got her was a blessing.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
My poster
Well, I gave a poster presentation at the National SRM meeting in Denver. It managed to win a prize.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Thoughts on the healthcare issue
Some thoughts on the Healthcare question
First, if you think that the laws of economics are the only laws to live by, than this essay probably isn’t for you.
I, like many Americans, am troubled by the healthcare debate. I do believe that the current health care system is spiraling out of control. I don’t need to listen to the politicians to figure that out. I just have to look at the quality of my current coverage to realize that I pay more now than I did five years ago and I get less coverage. I see many of my friends and some of my family spending much of their earnings to get some very basic healthcare. Some need extensive health care. My point is that having the best health care in the world is rather pointless if only a small percentage of people can get it.
I have often heard from those who defend the current healthcare system that we shouldn’t feel that we are entitled the blessing of healthcare. Yes, that’s true. I shouldn’t feel entitled to healthcare or any other blessing that the good Lord has given me. None of us should. We really don’t deserve it. But the Lord through his mercy has given many great blessings. For that, we should be extremely grateful. However, this means that we should be all the more diligent in spreading those blessings we receive to those who have less. Therefore, regardless of whether the poor are entitled to healthcare or not, I’m going to do all in my power (in righteousness) to see that they get it.
So what’s the problem with healthcare? Well, I think that greed, hate, and pride have entered into the hearts of many. Let me provide some examples:
Pharmaceuticals charge extremely high prices for many medicines. They say that they need to recoup their costs. What are some of those costs? I know that those who work for pharmaceuticals get paid very well (I’ve seen their homes). They spend a lot of money encouraging (bribing) doctors to use their product (giving doctors and staff grand lunches and other gifts. Yes, that happens. I’ve seen it.). Then there are the large amounts of many spent on lobbying Congress. To me, all of this smells of greed.
Also, there is the greed and unforgiving of the in the everyday person who thinks that doctors should be perfect in their profession and then sue them over a mistake. Last time I checked, Doctors are human too and do sometimes make mistakes. We need to be a more forgiving people. Also, there are those who sue just because they hope to get a lot of money. Both are greed!
There are an untold number of individuals ranging from the doctors to the technicians, to the manufactures, and etc who all get paid very high salaries for what they do. I’m afraid their excessive comfort is leading to the despair of many who simply can’t afford to pay their salaries any more.
Now, I can’t blame any one individual nor am I trying to make any one individual feel guilty. This is an industry wide issue. And this isn’t the only industry with the problem. There is greed in every industry. But that doesn’t make it right. What I am saying is that we need to remove greed from our hearts if we are to survive as a nation. In the healthcare industry, the problem could be big enough to sink our country.
The solution
I believe that we should do all we can to help others. And for those who believe the same as I (I really hope that’s everyone), this means that we need to change the way healthcare industry is run in this country. I believe we have three options. Here they are:
Options without Government involvement
1) The health care industry will need to choose to go with less pay and lower their prices. If all those in the healthcare industry lived on just what is needed and forget the extravagant living (sports cars, large homes, etc…), prices would lower themselves and solve our problem. By the way, this is the only way I can see that we could go without Government involvement. All other options will continue to lead to spiraling prices (unreachable by many).
***Side Note*** Capitalism can only work when people are honest and are without greed. We have recently seen what greed and dishonesty can do to our country’s financial system.
Options with Government involvement
I once heard that when government enacts a program or law it is because the people have failed to fix the problem without being forced to. In other words, a law is society’s last effort to fix the problem. It never works permanently. It’s a band aid on a festering wound that needs real medicine. Here are the options I can think of.
2) Government controls prices and the healthcare system is forced to have lower pay and prices. Not the best choice, because that leads to total government control (that’s what happens when a people become wicked).
3) Government charges more taxes and then pay the healthcare industry what they want. This spreads the cost out a little bit, in the end this will lead to huge indebtedness for our nation because we can’t control the way dishonest people take advantage of the system. Cost will spiral out of control. Our government will likely collapse and our nation will still owe lots of money. On the other hand, I would rather tank our national reserves than go before the Lord and explain to him why we didn’t try and help those in need.
Conclusion
The answer is quite simple. The best way to save healthcare, the poor, and our nation is for the healthcare industry to work for less pay and remember that their profession is a profession of service. I believe that this type of service will have far reaching side effects that will bless our entire country and the world. For example, families willing to sacrifice material comforts will find that their children will learn the value of hard work, character, humility, and honor.
Alas, the only way for this to happen is to pray for a miracle or for every American (myself included) to give up pride, selfishness, hate, and their unforgiving natures and come unto Christ and repent.
First, if you think that the laws of economics are the only laws to live by, than this essay probably isn’t for you.
I, like many Americans, am troubled by the healthcare debate. I do believe that the current health care system is spiraling out of control. I don’t need to listen to the politicians to figure that out. I just have to look at the quality of my current coverage to realize that I pay more now than I did five years ago and I get less coverage. I see many of my friends and some of my family spending much of their earnings to get some very basic healthcare. Some need extensive health care. My point is that having the best health care in the world is rather pointless if only a small percentage of people can get it.
I have often heard from those who defend the current healthcare system that we shouldn’t feel that we are entitled the blessing of healthcare. Yes, that’s true. I shouldn’t feel entitled to healthcare or any other blessing that the good Lord has given me. None of us should. We really don’t deserve it. But the Lord through his mercy has given many great blessings. For that, we should be extremely grateful. However, this means that we should be all the more diligent in spreading those blessings we receive to those who have less. Therefore, regardless of whether the poor are entitled to healthcare or not, I’m going to do all in my power (in righteousness) to see that they get it.
So what’s the problem with healthcare? Well, I think that greed, hate, and pride have entered into the hearts of many. Let me provide some examples:
Pharmaceuticals charge extremely high prices for many medicines. They say that they need to recoup their costs. What are some of those costs? I know that those who work for pharmaceuticals get paid very well (I’ve seen their homes). They spend a lot of money encouraging (bribing) doctors to use their product (giving doctors and staff grand lunches and other gifts. Yes, that happens. I’ve seen it.). Then there are the large amounts of many spent on lobbying Congress. To me, all of this smells of greed.
Also, there is the greed and unforgiving of the in the everyday person who thinks that doctors should be perfect in their profession and then sue them over a mistake. Last time I checked, Doctors are human too and do sometimes make mistakes. We need to be a more forgiving people. Also, there are those who sue just because they hope to get a lot of money. Both are greed!
There are an untold number of individuals ranging from the doctors to the technicians, to the manufactures, and etc who all get paid very high salaries for what they do. I’m afraid their excessive comfort is leading to the despair of many who simply can’t afford to pay their salaries any more.
Now, I can’t blame any one individual nor am I trying to make any one individual feel guilty. This is an industry wide issue. And this isn’t the only industry with the problem. There is greed in every industry. But that doesn’t make it right. What I am saying is that we need to remove greed from our hearts if we are to survive as a nation. In the healthcare industry, the problem could be big enough to sink our country.
The solution
I believe that we should do all we can to help others. And for those who believe the same as I (I really hope that’s everyone), this means that we need to change the way healthcare industry is run in this country. I believe we have three options. Here they are:
Options without Government involvement
1) The health care industry will need to choose to go with less pay and lower their prices. If all those in the healthcare industry lived on just what is needed and forget the extravagant living (sports cars, large homes, etc…), prices would lower themselves and solve our problem. By the way, this is the only way I can see that we could go without Government involvement. All other options will continue to lead to spiraling prices (unreachable by many).
***Side Note*** Capitalism can only work when people are honest and are without greed. We have recently seen what greed and dishonesty can do to our country’s financial system.
Options with Government involvement
I once heard that when government enacts a program or law it is because the people have failed to fix the problem without being forced to. In other words, a law is society’s last effort to fix the problem. It never works permanently. It’s a band aid on a festering wound that needs real medicine. Here are the options I can think of.
2) Government controls prices and the healthcare system is forced to have lower pay and prices. Not the best choice, because that leads to total government control (that’s what happens when a people become wicked).
3) Government charges more taxes and then pay the healthcare industry what they want. This spreads the cost out a little bit, in the end this will lead to huge indebtedness for our nation because we can’t control the way dishonest people take advantage of the system. Cost will spiral out of control. Our government will likely collapse and our nation will still owe lots of money. On the other hand, I would rather tank our national reserves than go before the Lord and explain to him why we didn’t try and help those in need.
Conclusion
The answer is quite simple. The best way to save healthcare, the poor, and our nation is for the healthcare industry to work for less pay and remember that their profession is a profession of service. I believe that this type of service will have far reaching side effects that will bless our entire country and the world. For example, families willing to sacrifice material comforts will find that their children will learn the value of hard work, character, humility, and honor.
Alas, the only way for this to happen is to pray for a miracle or for every American (myself included) to give up pride, selfishness, hate, and their unforgiving natures and come unto Christ and repent.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Concerned about greed
I woke up this morning thinking about why our country is in such a mess. Its come down to greed. We all want the big house, nice car, and boat. Yet there are many of our brothers and sisters (spiritually) that can barely survive. Some of use who can barely survive waist our scarce income on things that have no worth. "worth" ... Thats a great thought. Reminds me of a scripture. "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal." Matt 6:20. What is our treasure? Our family, Our God, and helping others. These are treasures in heaven.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
San Diego Zoo and Sea World Trip 2009
As you may know, Hyla and I went on a behind the scences tour of the San Diego Zoo and Sea World. The trip was the "end of the school year trip" for the Wildlife and Range Club (which Hyla is apart). I served as a faculty chaperon. (Yes, it's a tough job, but somebodies got to do it) At the zoo. We went behind the scenes of both the polar bear and panda bear exibits. We were close enough to feel their breath.
After the zoo we went to the San Diego Temple. What beautiful building. The spirit is the same.
The next morning we went to the Sea World. Some of the highlights of that experience were seeing there polar bears behind the scenes, petting a beluga whale, getting kissed on the hand by a walrus (all are huge animals and could easily kill me). We also recieved some behind the scenes of the killer whale. We didn't get any closer that the usual visiter, but they did show us some of the audio recording devises they use to study whale song and hearing.
That night, we were able to hook up with John (my brother) and travelled downtown for dinner. We had some really good sea food and it was really great to see John.
Monday, March 16, 2009
PhD here I come!
I am excited to announce that I've been accepted to BYU's PhD program. I will start in May and hopefully get done in three or four years.
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