Old information.

Plagiarism is a form of flattery, so I pass this on... even though it is between 8 and 12 years old...

Guns don't kill people. Criminals and irresponsible people kill people. It has never been about shooting people, laws allowing citizens to carry weapons statistically intimidate criminals and governments from overstepping its bounds.

Why I am a firm believer in the 2nd Amendment:

In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated

Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.

Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.

In 1996, gun owners in Australia were forced by new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by their own Government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars.
The first year results are:
List of 7 items:
Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent.
Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent.
Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!
In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent. Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not, and criminals still possess their guns! While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the past 12 months, since criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed. There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the ELDERLY. Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort, and expense was expended in successfully ridding Australian society of guns. The Australian experience and the other historical facts above prove it.

You won't see this data on the US evening news, or hear politicians disseminating this information. Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property through mere fear alone, and, yes, gun-control laws adversely affect only the law-abiding citizens.

Take note, the next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history lesson. With guns, we are 'citizens'. Without them, we are 'subjects'.

During WWII the official reason the Japanese decided not to invade America because they knew most Americans were armed!

If we restrict Americans we reduce safety from without and within.

Christ's advice to his apostles in some of his last recorded conversations with them included the injunction (Luke 22:36) "Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."

The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental.

Which country has the lowest gun related crime rate of any country in the world? Switzerland. Why?
Switzerland issues every household a gun. They train every adult they issue a rifle to.

Among the 48, Vermont has the fewest gun control laws. It also has the lowest gun-related crime and death rates.

Simple logic clarifies the position. Gun control makes law-abiding citizens less safe.

Hey kids, it's time to learn new words and logic!

In the political world we currently live, it is very helpful to know some new words and how they fit into sentences...

Dissimulation: To hide or conceal one's true thoughts or motive.
Duplicity: Deceitfulness, double-dealing.
Subterfuge: Deceit used in order to obtain one's goal.
Chicanery: The use of trickery and hypocrisy to obtain a politic goal or purpose.

Now let's practice our logic!

If a political action causes anger when one politician does it, it should cause anger when another politician does the exact same thing. So let's look at the some of the biggest complaints against the Bush administration and see how those who adhere to sound principles (instead of every wind of rhetoric) would react! The current administration information has been collected from the front section of the last three months of the Deseret News... (not the opinions page, I don't read that).

1. The National Deficit increased during the Bush administration. (We were attacked and began a war .) So, those who complained about this should be outraged that Obama's initial one-year proposed budget is larger than all of the combined proposed budgets of the previous administrations and more than triples our National Deficit. Oh, and the increase is not related to warfare, it is related to welfare.

2. We are sending more troops into war! (Which could have been prevented if Clinton took down the Taliban when given that opportunity so many years ago or Bush Sr. downed Saddam) How many troops did Obama just ask to volunteer so they could be sent into Afghanistan? So is using subterfuge in Afghanistan better than openly declaring war in Iraq?

3. Bush curtailed some of our privacy liberties for national security. Obama and congress are curtailing our fiscal liberties for their political agenda. Which is worse? (Doctrine & Covenants 134:1,2,4 and 5 leave no room for debate.)

4. Bush is a poor public speaker but we always knew where he stood. Obama is almost as effective at dissimulation as Clinton was. It is apparent many did not know what his slogans really did (or will) mean. It is easy to hate something you don't like, but that does not mean you have a solution for the circumstance. In the history of the world, bigger government has never (that would be 0 percent) succeeded at solving social ills. To quote Mr. Regan, "government does not solve problems, it subsidizes them."

5. Bush's cabinet did not have to be accountable for some of their actions (i.e. torture, hunting accidents, etc.). Strangely enough, Obama's cabinet has not either (tax evasion, infidelity, etc...) but he and congress have upped the ante! They have eliminated accountability for private businesses and the stimuluses they have and are approving. By the way, wasn't one of Obama's major campaign promises, "I will not sign any legislation with pork barrel spending?"

6. Bush was accused of trying to scare the public into jumping onto his political agenda bandwagon. That is hard to swallow with how much negative media he received in the previous six years. In reality, chicanery is the current administration's biggest M.O.

This could go on, but this should be sufficient to make the point. If these were things you complained about Bush, in order for you avoid being duplicitous, you should be more angry at your current administration.



Train up a child when they are young...

Unless you do not want to be stimulated to work...
At least with one we control how our money is spent.
Funny how the Democrat's animal mascot is a donkey.
I swear I've been to this park, it's in Canada.
"The ignorant can always be culled with catch phrases and a slight padding of a pocketbook."
Robin Hood is still Telestial.
The phrase with "liberty and justice for all" is not a statement of fiscal entitlement.
"When the wicked rule... the people mourn"

Step #3

Our favorite syrup recipe

1) Puree Berries.
2) Add favorite sugar to taste according to sweetness of the berries (David likes powdered, Melissa likes white, T likes it without the berries).
3) Place on table away from 2 year old
4) Enjoy

If you forget step #3, the 2 year old will take syrup bowl and have a chugging contest. At which point she will be too full to eat very many pancakes. But she will run around the house giggling and saying, "oh!" with great surprise until she collapses in dramatic fashion.

Capitol Entertainment

As part of our upcoming 7th anniversary celebrations we went to see the musical Wicked. A friend helped us secure sweet tickets (thx T!). The performance was stellar. Donna, who played Elpheba, was the original Cosette in Le Mis. on Broadway. Time has done her well. She stole the show, and that's saying something since the rest of the cast did excellently. Glinda's acting was infectious and the staging proceeded without any hiccups. Melissa's sewing background provided some interesting insights on the messages of the costuming. Though the book is filth, and many of the so-called morals are based on false and truely wicked assumptions, this proved to be an unparrelled enjoyable staging of the performance. Up there with Showboat at Music Circus and Phantom in San Francisco.

And thanks to R. for taking care of the kids! #2 woke up Friday morning and stretched out his stomach in his bedroom doorway...

(2) "My tummy is so full right here."
(M) "Is that because you drank lots of water or ate lots of breakfast?"
(2) "No, uncle R. is coming this morning, so my tummy is full."
(M) "Is your tummy telling you that you are excited this morning."
(2) "Yes. It is telling me RIGHT HERE!" *starts punching it* "And when I punch it, my fists BOUNCE off it! It's so big. And when I do this..." *sticks out tummy* "its big, its SOOO big, it's big like daddy's."
(M) "Is dad's big?"
(2) "oh. It's not. I was just kidding." *laughing at his own joke*.

Are you guys a cult?

A cul de sac! Some of our neighbors sponsored a cul de sac party on Monday evening. The children enjoyed a treasure hunt and a pinata in addition to hot dogs!


I think #1 scared the young man behind her.

#3 got to go first or second. Can you guess why?

Yes, this is seriously one cul de sac...

Spring

#s 2, 3 and I built a snow dog Saturday morning. They bailed before the photo shoot in favor of warm towels fresh from the dryer.

Dizzy Dad

As Melissa battled for good health, I took a couple of days this week to take care of the children. We had a fair amount of fun but I became jealous of the constant comedy of being around small children. Some of the interesting events were:

Melissa (resting): "What are you doing #2?"
#2 (holding a shoe): "Dad said to throw something at your head."
David: "What!?! #2, come here!"

After running into the room at full speed, #2 skidded to a stop and held up a bouncy ball in triumph, then yelled to the family photos on the wall, "BASED ON A TRUE STORY!" After we stopped laughing we asked him what was "based on a true story"? He starred blankly at us. "Do you know what 'based on a true story' means #2?" "No, why?"

I sat down in the spinning recline-a-rocking-chair. I heard gleeful giggles from across the room and saw #3 waddle-running at me and laughing. She grabbed the side of the chair and started running around in circles spinning me. I figured that, being the more mature grown-up I could last longer in a dizzy contest than she could. I held on for five minutes of her laughter and then gave up. I wanted to puke so bad. That was from (10:12 to 10:17) I was nauseous until 4:30. Melissa explained to me later that #3 doesn't get dizzy because the circle is large enough for her size of body. I'm still surprise she ran that long. That's probably the equivalent of a mile for someone her size. ugh, just remembering it is making me want to hurl.

Stars and a Movie

Early spring is a great time to throw a party, so #1 invited her friends over for a "Stars and a Movie" party. The little ladies came up the red carpet colored chalk sidewalk to be harassed by paparazzi (#2) with a camera. They then signed autograph books, made jewelry, got a makeover by a friend of ours, and David painted their fingernails before getting a spritz of strawberry or raspberry scent. They then went to their photo shoot to model their glam. After the shoot they watched "Bolt" and enjoyed popcorn and cake. Enjoy the photos!

How do you feel about world peace?



The cake - our first fondant experiment!


Most of the girls needed to be coached for a photo shoot, but a certain someone has watched "Enchanted" too many times...