Research

Many times I have opinions about a subject that are very strong. My opinions are not always backed by research. Research when done thoroughly can completely change someones point of view. There was a time when I did not like KU or Lawrence Kansas ( I still do not like KU). This was strictly my opinion, with not facts or research behind it. I was watching TV when a few facts about Lwrence came up. These were not enough to change my opinion, but they were enough to make me curious. My curiosity led me to do some research. From my research I learned some of the opinions I had were wrong. They were so wrong I am now a fan of the city. I have even began looking at property in the area. Research completely changed my opinion. I am hoping to change peoples opinions with my research paper on Utahs liquor laws. I am hoping many people are like me, and have the wrong idea. I am also hoping some research will help educate people on the subject.

World Cup

I want to congratulate the US women for a wonderful run during this years world cup. They had some great matches and plays. I know they are disappointed with second place, but it is still a remarkable acheivement. I would also like to compliment them on their attitude after the match. They did not complain or make excuses. They thanked everyone who was rooting for them. They also gave credit to their opponent which is rare in today's sports world. I think they did themselves as good in that regard, as winning it all could have done. I would like to point out a double standard among many sports fans as well. The US made a magnificent comeback against Brazil. It will go down as one of the greatest in the WWC history. Many fans were calling it the greatest comeback ever. Japan had a similiar comeback against us in the final. These same fans are calling it a choke job by the US women. If it was a great comeback in one game, it has to be the same in the other. The same can be said of choking. If we choked, Brazil must have also.

review papaer

The following is my reveiw of the Utah government.

The US, including the state of Utah has been facing a financial recession. There are many ways states have been adjusting the way they do business to increase revenue and jobs.. They are also trying to help the working taxpayer and improve infrastructure. Utah would be an exception. The state has done things that are completely opposite of increasing revenue and jobs. For the purpose of this assignment I am only going to discuss a few of the ways Utah is failing its working and taxpaying citizens.
The state of Utah is known as the Mormon state. In many ways this is not a bad thing. It becomes bad when the government does not seperate church and state. Many liquor stores have been closed down in recent months, with more expected to come in the near future. In every other state this would not be a big deal. Every other state has privately owned liquor stores, affecting only the owner and patrons of those stores. Utah has state owned liquor stores. Every single liquor store in the state of Utah is profitable. They have been profitable for a long time, with revenues increasing yearly. They funded the school lunch programs. They also provide hundreds of jobs to members of our communities. This is not a logical move by the government during good times, much less a recession. We are taking away income and jobs that the taxpayer will have to make up for.
Utah could help make up some of this revenue by loosening some of the other liquor laws. If taverns and clubs were able to stay open just one hour longer it would provide up to 20 percent more sales. This is tax coming into the state's pocket. This is also extra income for owners and employees of those taverns and clubs. Another way to increase liquor sales is to allow the bar owners to provide transportation home to its patrons. This would allow a patron to partake a little more without having to worry about a DUI. Once again more tax for the state and extra income for owners and employees of liquor selling establishments. This would also create more jobs. Somebody would have to drive. It would also help to curb drunk driving. The state does not allow bar owners to do this. This is once again not a great idea in good times, much less bad.
I am all for worshipping whatever you want. I beleive that is part of being an American. Another part of being American is seperation of church and state. If our elected officials in the state of Utah sperated their religion from their duties a little more, we would all be a little better off. I am not asking Utah to start pretending we are Vegas. I am just asking for the loosening of the liquor laws to the point we are more aligned with the rest of the country.

12 Angry men

I am currently taking psychology 1010. One of the assignments was to write an essay on the movie 12 Angry Men. I had already seen the movie but wanted to watch it again. I wanted to make sure I had not forgotten any important details, and I also like the movie. Upon re-watching it I began to think about how accurate the movie is. In everyday life I am constantly seeing people swayed by peer pressure. This can be both good and bad. If someone gets pressured into doing something negative, that they do not really want to do, it becomes a bad thing. It become a good thing if someone is pressured into doing something positive, because they want to do it. The Casey Anthony verdict was reached today. I cannot help but picture the jury in that case, acting in much the same way as in the movie. We may never know if peer pressure influenced the verdict. We may also never know if the verdict was the correct one. I just hope they make a movie about the case, and it is as good as 12 Angry men.

Follow up

In my last post I talked about the athletes of Ute Crossfit. The results are in from their regional competition in Denver. Tommy managed to get 2nd in the Mens division. Not really a surprise, but the way he did it was impressive. He did not have a good showing in the first workout and finished 20th. He managed to place in the top five in the rest (5) of the workouts winning 2 of them. Taylor won the womens division. It is even more impressive since she recently gave birth in the last 8 months. She is a testament to the rewards of hard work. The Ute team also managed a spot on the podium bringing a 2nd place finish back to Utah. They were very dominant over the rest of the teams and were neck and neck with the winners. Ryan and Mary had high hopes but fell a little short. They did perform well and make all Ute crossfitters proud with their efforts, both managing to win at least one heat each. Placing in the top 3 allows competitors the opportunity to go to Carson California July 29-31, to compete for the fittest on Earth. Realistically Tommy,Taylor, and the team have a great shot of placing in the top 5, if not winning it all. I wish them all the best and look forward to training with all of them next week.

UTE CROSSFIT.

In May of 2010 I decided to change my workout routine. I had heard about crossfit and it was very similiar to what I was used to doing in the Marines. After checking out a few of the crossfit gyms in the valley I joined Ute Crossfit. The main reason I chose them is because of the owner Tommy Hackenbruck. He was the starting middle LB on the first U of U BCS team. He also happened to be the second fittest man in the world at the time. I sleep easy knowing I made the right choice. He and the other trainers and athletes at the gym have helped me to get into the best shape of my life. That is saying something given my background. This weekend as we speak many of the athletes from the gym are competing in Denver Colorado at the crossfit regional competeition. I want to take this opportunity to wish them all well. Tommy and Ryan are competing in the mens. Taylor and Mary are competing in the womens. Ute even has one of the top teams in the country competing at regionals. They all have a legit shot of placing in the top 3 to move on to the games in July. Qualifying for the crossfit games is the epitome of fitness, and surrounding myself with that kind of athlete will only continue to motivate me to get better.

PALEO DIET

Since March of 2009 I have been on a diet to gain weight. I have consumed between 6000-9000 calories daily. This is well over the recommended daily intake. For the first 2 years the results were decent. I got bigger which was the goal, but I was not getting bigger fast enough. I was also getting stronger and faster, but also not as quickly as I would have liked. About 4 months ago I was turned on to the Paleo diet. It basically means eat like a caveman. Only eat what man had access to during the paleolithic  era. This means no preservatives, starches, sugars, dairy , or alcohol. Since my change I still consume at least 6000 calories a day. The results have been better than expected. I have gained weight, gotten bigger, faster, and more explosive. I feel better and have actually lost body fat while gaining weight. It has come with costs. I have to eat every 3 hours. It becomes a chore if I need to eat and I am not around something familiar to ensure I know the ingredients. It is more expensive to buy specific foods. I also crave desserts and salt. So far it is worth the price I am paying. It is also not just a diet but a lifestyle change that will require a lot of discipline. If your friends and family around you are on a completely different program, it also becomes a hassle, having to always do or suggest something different than they are accustomed to. I do reccommend everyone give this a try.

ROLLER DERBY

Owning a bar has given me the opportunity to experience many things I may have otherwise not gotten to do. One of those things is sponsoring the Wasatch Roller Derby Girls. It is one of the cheapest, yet most entertaining ways to spend a saturday night. Their bouts are filled with raffles, prizes, and great action on the roller floor. All of the money raised goes to charity as well. The girls not only put their bodies through rigorous bouts, but also have raised insurance costs because of it. They then do all of this for a good cause. I am impressed. The girls are surprisingly good athletes as well. They take a beating and continue for the whole 1 hour bout. The leg strength needed to build up speed quickly is impressive. The Derby names of all the girls and officials are quite entertaining as well (Harry Slaughter, Skull Candy, Penny Slain, Skatey Gaga to name a few). I am also surprised at just how strong each of the girls are. I had a pre conceived notion that all roller derby girls are lumberjacks or bounty hunters in their free time. This is not the case. Many of the girls are very petite and feminine. It just so happens they are very tough and like beating each other up in their free time. I would like to personally give a shout out to the girls that support Willies Lounge and put on a great show for the public, all in the name of charity.

NBA finals

Last night was one of the best NBA finals games I have ever seen. My favorite teams were not playing. There was no one play that I will remember forever. The only thing that will go down in NBA history folklore was the comeback. The Mavs came back from 15 down in the 4th quarter to beat the Heat. There are several reasons this made me happy. First I think the contributions that Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki have made to the game will always be overlooked if they do not get a championship. When you look back on their careers it is hard to imagine them not already having one. The second is it makes it that much harder for Lebron James to get one. A lot of people argue that I should not be anti Lebron just because he went to Miami. That is not the reason. I am anti Lebron because of the way he went to Miami. He spent the first 7 years of his career in Cleveland extorting the team for all of the special treatment he could get. He then held numerous press conferences at the end of every year promising he would bring a title to the city. He then meets privately with the 2 best free agents on the market and decides to join them in Miami. He then not only doesnt tell cleveland his plans, until the same time he holds a 1 hour special and tells the rest of the world. This is akin to getting a divorce but letting everyone else know at the same time you tell your wife. Also anyone who wants to be regarded as one of the greats should work with what is around them or getting other stars to come to him. Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson would never have done things that way. That is why they will always be regarded as the best.

68 FORD

I am not the most materialistic person in the world. Very seldom do I get excited over possessions. The one exception is My 68 Ford. It is truly my prized possession. It is a 68 Ford Ranger F100 shortbed. It has been 6 years in the making. The engine is a 390 that has been built from the block up with aftermarket and performance parts. The body and paint have been redone, including finding all original decals and symbols. The interior is immaculate ( though not original). The interior also includes a state of the art sound system. It has many customizations, including shaved gas tanks and a fuel cell with a fuel cooler. A couple of reasons I am so enamored with it, are it reminds me of me. It is older, high mileage, and not even close to being the same it was 6 years ago. It is better than it has ever been. More power, better looks, and overall better performance. It also reminds me of my first vehicle, which was a 74 Ranger. I would have been a little cooler back then if my 74 was as nice as my 68. It reminds me that just because I am getting older, with more miles, does not mean I cant get better.

MEMORIAL DAY

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy Memorial Day. It is one of my favorite holidays, because it signals the beginning of summer, warm weather, parties, BBQ's, and generaly being laid back until the fall. I have had some of  my best times on Memorial day. One of the best was in 2000. I was a 21 yearl old Corporal in the USMC just back from a deployment. A couple of buddies and I rented a boat and went to Lake Havasu. It was every 21 year olds dream. Due to this being a PG blog, I will leave the rest to the imagination. I will remember that Memorial day for the rest of my life. That was not the only good time I have had on memorial day. I can honestly say they have all been good. I get extra sleep, food, and relaxation regardless of where I am at, or what age I have been. These good times are only possible because of those who serve to protect our freedoms. I want to thank all of those who have, or are currently serving ( especially the Marines). No matter where i was or how much fun I was having on Memorial days of the past, I always take a moment to remember why we celebrate it. It is my sincere hope that this country is able to celebrate Memorial day for generations to come.

Willies Pool Team

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the pool teams out of Willies Lounge. There were 2 teams, 1 mens and 1 womens team to compete in Vegas at the national level. It is an accomplishment just to be able to compete against the best in the world at such a high caliber competition. The Willies Rat Pack gals and the Willies Dogs managed to do better than just compete. The women won the tournament, becoming the first national championship team out of Utah ever. The men came home third in the nation. Both teams made Willies Lounge extremely proud. It was an amazing season and a long grind just to finish the league, which lasts 9 months, shooting 16 matches a week. To win that is a major feat in itself. To then go to Vegas and do what no other teams in Utah's history have ever done is awesome. From myself, and all of the Willie Dogs around the world, I want to send our congrats to you. Your next round is on me.

Blackboard vs canvass

I am not a fan of canvass at all. Maybe it is because this is the first time I have used it, but blackboard is so much easier and organized. Anytime I want to look at all my classes to check grades or submit anything, I dread having to go to another site (canvass). I am no Alfred Einstein so maybe it is not a problem for those that are, but I am learning not to like my English 1010 class. I am a bit of a caveman, but I have been successful in other on-line classes. The organization and constant flipping from page to page that is required for my English class frustrates me to the point of insanity. I hope that by the end of the semester I am not feeling the same way, or it is going to be a long summer. If I could give advice to future USU writing students, I would recommend not taking the class online or in the summer. I say this not because the class is bad, but because it would be more straight forward in a class room environment, and who wants to spend their summer figuring out canvass.

A bar is reborn

In April 2005, I was a sergeant in the USMC, just landing at Camp Pendleton from my 3^rd combat tour in Iraq. I saw the orders clerk running to greet me. He then handed me a set of orders that said I had exactly one week to report to my new unit in Salt Lake City Utah. I asked him what country that was in, he said I was staying in the USA. Utah was a state not a country. I have lived here since then, and would like to correct the orders clerk, Utah is its own country. My duty while in Utah was unlike anywhere I had been before. I didn’t have a schedule, my fellow Marines stationed here were all of equal rank, and I slept in a bed. I had enough free time I decided to buy a business. After wondering what I was going to buy, I found a run down, old, dirty, sleazy bar. I don’t know why, but I fell in love with it. I bought it against the advice of my closest friends and advisors. I saw the potential they didn’t. On June 16^th 2006 I became the proud owner of Willies Lounge. Since then we have expanded many times. We have built up our own following and completely changed the culture of the whole area. It has not come without its costs, headaches, ulcers, and tears. Much like my time in the Marines, owning a bar (especially in Utah) has been a life changing event. Every week I see something that makes me laugh and cry. It is the only place I have ever been associated with that completely exhausts me one day, and reinvigorates me the next. I recommend everybody own a bar at least once in their lives. Life will never be boring.

Where I am from.

I grew up in small town USA, Goodland Kansas to be exact. It is a thriving metropolis of about 3000 people counting one coon dog. I am the oldest of 5 children (4 boys and 1 girl). Growing up in Goodland with my last name, I only had 2 choices. I was destined to be an athlete, farmer or both. It did not take long for me to decide I did not want to be a farmer. To make sure that I got as far away from the farm as possible I joined the USMC at 17. The Corps was one of the greatest decisions I have ever made. I spent the first 12 years of my adult life as an active duty Marine. My first duty station after graduating from boot camp and the school of infantry was 8^th and I in Washington D.C., at the white house. Talk about a culture shock, the closest big city to Goodland was 250 miles away. I learned a lot during this time. I also made a lot of mistakes, but thankfully was able to overcome them. Over the next 10 years after leaving 8^th and I. I was able to drink a beer in 26 different countries and 43 states. I served 3 different combat tours, 1 luxury tour, and watched a Filipino band (that didn’t speak English) sing Sweet Home Alabama in Japan. My bucket list at 18 got a lot crossed off, thanks to my time in the Marine Corps. There are also some things that got added to it because of the Corps as well. I lost some friends and family, and gained some new friends and family. I had the highest highs and the lowest lows, but I would do it again in an instant.

What was your first music purchase? When did you make this purchase?

I have loved music for as long as I can remember. I have hated writing classes for just as long. I was not very happy to learn that I would be spending a portion of my summer in writing 1010. Then out of the blue, my first assignment was to put a playlist together and write about that. It was a great way to start my college writing career off. I have had so many different experiences and taken some crazy turns in life, so putting just 3 songs on my list took some thought. I remember getting my first CD player and two cd’s for passing 6^th grade with straight A’s. My first 2 cds were GET A GRIP by AEROSMITH and NO FENCES by GARTH BROOKS. It is funny now because I loved those albums and listened to them constantly. I would pay not to hear them now. My tastes have changed to the point I am not a fan of either artist or album anymore. The one thing that has not changed since that day, I have continued to buy and listen to different kinds of music that has helped to shape my life. As I get older and continue to evolve, my taste in music has also. I am slowly becoming more open-minded about giving different genres and artists a chance. The only type of music or artist that I just can’t take is reggae. I hope that I will forever keep experiencing new and wonderful music, but I don’t see ever enjoying reggae, regardless of how long I live.