Well, hello and welcome back! I have been gone for quite some time, and the only excuse I can reasonably muster at the moment is that I was frantically working on the end of my last semester of my undergrad, and had no time to blog, although such a claim is basically a lie, as I have had plenty of time, and have just not had the motivation. However, public confessions are neither important nor prudent in the world of blogging, and as such, I will cease and desist. Rather, I have a more inclu... Read Full Story

I am always fascinated with legitimate projects designed with an activist spirit in mind, most likely based upon the fact that I am an activist at heart. I find it impossible to witness the atrocities of the modern world, and not feel emotion. I cannot read or witness the poverty of developing nations and individuals alike, and not have guilt register upon my conscious immediately. I often turn inward and introspectively ask myself, what am I doing? How have I contributed to the alleviation o... Read Full Story

What follows is a response to the many socially minded LDS members in California who have supported proposition number eight, the amendment on gay and lesbian marriage in the state. It is not meant as a blanket proclamation, but rather my own personal interpretation of the theological position members of the LDS church should consider. This was originally written as a response to a friend’s blog posting, but I thought it could be useful for a wider audience. I have been really struggling with... Read Full Story

In one of my plentiful attempts to avoid work this afternoon, I came across something truly inspiring. Please take the time to watch this video. All information bellow comes from ViralBlog.com. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is something we must be both aware of, and actively attempt to propagate. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Seth Brau made the above below. View in larger size and higher definition on the Human Rights Action Cente... Read Full Story

Any rational viewer of the so-called “final debate” between McCain and Obama would have come to the same conclusion as myself; the debate format has descended to the level of choreographed mating rituals, stroking the egos of the supporters on both sides of the political divide, and enticing none to cross the floor. This is neither a revelation nor an accusation. Instead, I am merely commenting on the reality of the modern American political reality. The system, and specifically those orchest... Read Full Story

How often do we forget about the actual individuals on the ground in the hotbeds of Iraq and Afghanistan, the civilians, the soldiers, the mothers and fathers, the sons and daughters? How often does the debate about the validity of the cause enable our attention to be turned from the human stories? More often then not I find myself focusing on the problems of the rhetoric, and ignoring the solutions in practice. Gen. David Petraeus, until recently commander of the American forces in Iraq, r... Read Full Story

Last night, as I watched a familiar sketch outline on Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show, I found myself sadly nodding along rather then laughing at the absurdity of the material provided by the Daily staff. Stewart provided side-by-side clips of President Bush’s addresses to the nation prior to the invasion of Iraq and an attempted push of the financial aid package through congress. Both addresses had common themes, comically pointed out by Stewart, that highlighted the desperate need to “act now... Read Full Story

Jonathan M. Gitlin of Ars Technica posted an article today explaining the fundamental reality of the modern information landscape. Ideology, Gitlin asserts, consistently trumps empirical facts as the form of information accepted by the general public. I feel it is important to note that the term “general public” unfortunately includes both working class and intellectuals alike. (For a link to the entire study, click here.) So what is the implication? Why does it matter that more individuals ... Read Full Story

I remember an experience from my childhood, memories that are shrouded in mystic and imagination, and yet as poignant and realistic as if it were a captured image directly in front of my eyes. Being a son of the Okanogan Valley in beautiful British Columbia, it was quite acceptable, during the summers of my childhood adolescence, to retreat into the mountains for days on end. Sometimes these retreats would be organized through scouting groups, other times as father/son expeditions or as frien... Read Full Story

It is amazing how when one examines politics for too long, one quickly forgets that there is beauty in the world. So, in an effort to bring a little smile, along the same vain as my posting of Matt Harding’s World Dance, here is a little video from the Discovery Channel. It exists as a cute little reminder; I love the world. Hope your smile is as big as mine now        Read Full Story