Something I didn’t want to have to do again.

It’s a goal that will have to wait a little while to come true…

Knowing Me
If you know me you know that I’m too much a free spirit to be trapped into an everday schedule such as a full time everyday job.

“Freedom…woah Freedom. That’s just some people talking”
Something that i’ve cherished so much the last few years has been the knowledge (and capacity) that I could do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. If someone called to do a photoshoot for the next day… I could be there. If someone wanted to go camping over a weekend and I didn’t have a photo shoot… I could be there and even leave thursday.
If I had a wedding in another state I could extend the stay for a couple of days to take pictures of the surroundings.

The Barren Winter
Well I traded in that freedom for a little bit of nececity. (Of the green paper persuasion)
Turns out that in Utah no one gets married during school time. At least in the circles where I run.
Come christmas, spring or summer there’s a whole slew of folk getting hitched
… but not for now. The temples and wedding halls are barren.

It’s gonna get tricky come christmas break when I only have 2 days of holiday but I already have 4-5 weddings planned (and it’s not even november) This is a problem I am more than happy to face.

I guess the moral of the story for those whom are reading… get engaged and call me or let all of your friends know.

Let’s call it the FREE SCOTT campaign.

——–

MY JOB

In reality I do like my job.
I work inside of a mountain for the LDS church. I scan microfilm.
I had to get a nice new car to get me there… being that it’s 40 miles each way.
The Problem
But it seems like I only have about 4-5 hours a day to exist 5-10pm.
And that doesn’t cut it… and to any of you that think I’m spoiled well perhaps you should start wondering what you’re doing… I’ve got way to much stuff to do with my life to only have 5 hours of my own time.

My dream: The Explore the World Foundation and the corresponding Envision the World Project
Or even more here and now: I did bridal pictures the other day and it took 6 days to get the pictures sorted, edited and uploaded. That’s not very long typically for photographers but for me that’s a really long time.

Dealing… In a positive way
But I make do… I am able to listen to my MP3 player and I double task by listening to talks, podcasts, language lessons and some music…. thus making it time that is also beneficial to myself.

Other perks: Extra Money, Helping out the Family History work, and access to the New Family Search
Plus it’s a great working environment, cool to say I work inside a mountain and I’ve done this kind of work before and I’m good at it.

Weekend Fun

Here’s some pictures taken while on a (for me) last moment notice trip down to Southern Utah.
We were near Escalante just out side of Boulder, Utah… we did a hike to a waterfall… Lower Calf Creek Falls.

It was a fun drive and a fun trip in general… and on top of all that we got back in time to watch the BYU football game.

I didn’t know the guys before I went (they’re cool people) and the three beautiful girls are in my ward.

To see some of the pictures:

Open Gallery

Full Gallery (Password)

 
Allyson hung back and took pictures with me… and correspondingly got pictures taken.

3 of them jumped in ice cold water.

Me on top of a rock

Edumacation for the kiddies

WHY?

Why should I feel ablidged to help support a sucky institution?
Why not just support better institutions and influence a change.

I suppose the answer is to make the sukcy one better. Well there is some logic in that, I’m not against it. BUT…
Money is the Cure?

But the track record shows the more money we pour into schools across the nation isn’t what helps them the most. Learning is learning is learning… It’s fun to have new computers and fancy books.
(Being not that far removed from schooling I’ve seen some pretty crapy text books in my day… they were books that made me stupider! I certainly don’t want to give my money to support stupidity!)

When we tie the hands of teachers and schools and put them into a mold of what must be done I can understand why people think the only option they have is more money. Because seriously with all the regulations and coursework decided I suppose money is the only option. Certainly teaching more effectively is somewhat limited. (Though not entirely!)

A Noble Support

It’s a noble feeling to want to help and support kids in general. When we think we’re supporting public education it gives us this good feeling inside like we’re “saving the children” … personally i think it’s this desire to be seen as a “good” person that fules the debate.

Money is a tool that facilitates education in certain aspects, but no one will disagree that it can be done with out. For heaven sakes we not going into job training (that’s what it seems college is for)we’re teaching basic knowledge like math, english, history, politics, physical fitness, languages and how to get along.

Primary Argument

This is the primary argument.
The government isn’t responsible for education.

It’s certainly noble that they have taken it upon themselves to help… even as a small government supporter I will go wholeheartedly along with their financial support of youth education.

Strings attached

But I don’t want the strings attached!!
The government should not be in charge of deciding what my child should learn.

Sorry, I know it sucks to think about all the sucky parents out there who wouldn’t do a good job at deciding and perhaps there lays a place for a group of individuals to prepare a suggested course of action.
But as for me and my house: I want my kids to be smart and happy.

Again: It’s money alloted to education of youth! If there are parents who want a better/different experience for their kids why not?

We’ve become so fixated with the notion that public education is a responsibility of all parents and that only elite go to other schools… this isn’t healthy!

The titanic is sinking
I know you hate to hear it and are saddened… but it’s happening and your money could be put to so many other wonderful purposes and they’ll do the same job better.

Get behind something that works better.

“The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas as in escaping from old ones. ”
— John Maynard Keynes

 

“The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them. ”
— Albert Einstein

Lets change the level of thinking and create real solutions and not support the old failing ideals.

Vote yes on the right of parents to use their money to educate their children how they would like.

p.s. YES, I know vouchers will be abused and stupid parents will do dumb things and dumb schools will pop up.

But let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater!

Public Schools are Good.
Having options (including public schools) is Better.
Come up with a Best solution and I’ll support that!

Besides since when did you think the government body gets in charge of something and doesn’t screw it up eventually?

My TV Top 15

These are my top 15 tv shows playing right now… When it switches up I’ll let you know.

1. Pushing Daisies - The pilot was amazing: New, funny, witty, endearing and a wonderful idea. From where it started it’s got a hard road to climb, but it keeps this up and it will be a lot of people’s all time favorite show.

2. House - It’s always been a facinating show but this new twist with lots of new characters fighting for a chance to be the next gang…. well that pushed this show to #2 on my list. Plus the fact you put a black

3. The Office - One of funniest show on the list… but sometimes humor and being endeared to the characters can only go so far, plus it has plenty of fans that like it as if it were #1… and #3aint bad. Both episodes so far have been well done and things have been moving suprisingly fast.

4. Smallville - The story of superman is always facinating, specially when it gets to season 7 and you know that things start getting more and more interesting and he starts becoming more like superman. I like that they try to throw in some ideas to ponder… Plus when you throw in a new star with questions and problems to sort through of her own, it can only get better.

5. Chuck - It’s got some funny characters, an interesting (though not completely compelling) story line. In fact I don’t know why it’s at #5… I suppose that means it probably looks to be going down next week.

6. Heroes - Don’t get me wrong it’s a cool story and widely popular. The first show didn’t impress… but it didn’t let down. We’ll see where it goes from there.

7. Big Bang Theory - I liked CBS’ The Class from last year, thought it was funny and it dealt with people almost exactly my age. It didn’t last on to this season. This is another funny ha ha show, not dealing with a serious plot and working on witty giggles and situational laughs. I like this one better than The Class and others in it’s Genre… the difference, I suppose I like the characters more so… They’re more unique and with more potential for a unique brand of humor.

8. Kid Nation - I find myself wanting to know what will happen to them. I got interested with all the issues regarding the show, the “Big Moral Dilema” and perhaps that’s what has made me want to watch it more many things… I support the idea and unlike most other reality shows it has something that it can stand to prove. The characters can be more and make more of a statement… it’s not the Same Ol’.

9. Dirty Sexy Money - Scandalous sounding however not so bad… I suppose i like it so much because it reminds me a lot of Arrested development. A couple of the characters are really memorable. We’ll see how long that keeps people (me) interested. Or whether it truly does become scandalous.

10. K-Ville - House was my entrance into the medical shows… I wonder if this will be my interest into detective-ish shows. But really on second thought it doesn’t seem like one at all. It’s an action show and the thing that got me initially interested is the look at New Orleans after the flood, that seemed interesting… and it has been so far.

11. Simpsons - Had to put it on the list, even though I didn’t think the season premiere was anything special. I just put it on because well… it’s the Simpsons.

12. Ugly Betty - Some new interesting developements that spice things up, I liked the first episode and will continue all the way through the end of the season. But I can’t put it ahead of other new shows that have someting new to offer or the old favorites that have slightly more interesting ideas.

13. Carpoolers - Umm one episode in and it wasn’t quite enough to make a proper idea of what it will be all about. But I saw enough to still give it a chance and apparently liked it enough to put it on the list.

14. Power of 10 - For a Game show I thought it has the most interesting of questions. Drew Carrey is a good host and it doesn’t go insanely slow like some of the other shows. Though it is still a tad slow.

15. Friday Night Lights - Haven’t seen it yet, and though it doesn’t becken for me to turn on NBC right now… I know i’ll watch it all and I’ll like it. So I see it moving up once i get re-hooked, and at that time it will be nice that there will be a couple of episodes in a row to watch.

—

They’d be on the list if they were showing | Or they might be on the list if I had seen an episode:

Jericho - Starts up later and this one will jump on the list automatically. High on the list.

Lost - Not sure when it starts up again. But it will be on the list.
24 - It starts in Jan. An automatic on the list… though it will have to offer something new to be high on the list.
Prison Break - I still have to catch up on last season before I start watching this season.
Veronica Mars - Though I think I’m caught up… I heard something about it being canceled.

Battlestar Gallactica - I’m not sure if this is a fall/winter show… I know if I were watching it presently it would be up at the top. It’s an Genius of a show.Honorable Mention: (No specific order)

Journeyman - Reminds me a lot of daybreak…. a whole lot. I liked daybreak, but daybreak got canceled, so perhaps i just can’t put my heart into this one yet.

Mad Men - Liked the episodes i’ve seen but it’s been a while since I’ve seen an episode.
Big Shots - Thought it was good… perhaps if it stays good and gets more interesting It’ll be up in the list no problem.

30 Rock - Not bad but i don’t think it would ever be a top 15 for me.

Cavemen -Thought I’d mention it, because I might not again. I don’t mind it being around and I don’t hate it. But i doubt it will ever make the list.

Bionic Woman - Skeptical about it… did better than expected. Has a ways to go but it could do it.
Non-Typical shows - Not to be considered for list:

Daily show, Colbert Report or all the great Discovery and National Geographic such as Man vs. Wild and Beyond Tomorrow.

Kid Nation - My Response

This is in response to comments being made around a new reality TV show!
The comments aren’t on my blog but here’s the response anyway…

———————–

Man you are all sooo right!
I am not ever going to send my kids to a Camp… Ever!
Because they could sprain their ankles for heaven sakes.
Or worse learn how to not be waited on hand and foot, and do stuff, and make a statement.

I want to be just like ya’ll let kids be little animals that run around asking for me to cook their food and expect me to bring it to them while they play their video games. Pretty much I want them to be in My little world that I think is proper and safe.

Camps (and in fact camping) is such a horrid idea to me now… specially when no one but the individual is responsible!

I want someone else to be responsible for my actions always!
Perhaps it’s true they took care of them even though they weren’t legally obliged to… they had dozens of people on staff to help them at any time. But still…!!!

How could we let our kids be subject to what we consider exploitation… when we should have that similar privilege every day at our jobs.
Perhaps I am being utterly Hypocritical with the rest of you but I feel concern for these kids who are in less harm there than in a public school… and I say they should at least not be paid to do this! That would make it better!

Or at least take away our rights to send these kids to well supervised camps that teach lessons (that don’t have a grading curve involved)
Despicable!

I finally am well enough to talk about it…

The Padres lost.

That’s about all I can say without getting nostalgic or sad or upset.

So perhaps I should just leave it at that. Maybe i’ll be happier when they give Peavy the Cy Young and give us a Gold Glove or Two.

Until then I don’t know how I’m gonna face another year of so much hope to have it crashed in one final moment of collapse.

So I suppose in the end… maybe I’m not well enough to talk about it quite yet.

Pushing Daisies

I would and will watch it again.
And that is saying a lot from someone who doesn’t watch things again unless they’re particially intelligent and insightful or humorous and in the company of a couple people to laugh with (The office, Simpsons, Arrested Development)

I LOVE IT!
A beautiful, funny, sweet, eye appealing, witty, charming FAIRY tale for our days.
I’m telling everyone I talk to about it… I think anyone that missed it, should go to abc.com and watch it RIGHT NOW!

It’s so sweet and kind and utterly different that it makes me look back to the time I watched it (20 minutes ago) and think on it very fondly and even teary eyed to its beautiful messages. One of which is that people can Love without jumping to Sex before the end of the show.

And speaking (for what it counts) as a photographer, it’s visually very beautiful!

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Best Review on E - Spends more time reviewing why you should watch it and less telling you the whole story.
I mean why would you do that? You’re gonna watch it any way right?
Wikipedia - For more factual information

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More short reviews to come:
So far I can say that I like Chuck alot and The Office did not let us down.
I also really like NBCs new game show Power of 10
Heroes, House and others are personal favs.
Others that I wouldn’t go as far as recomending but I’ll watch again so far:
Big Shots, K-Ville