The Wireless Spectrum Auction needs your help

Any of you techies out there are anxiously awaiting the announcement of the winners of the wireless spectrum auction. This auction is for the radio spectrum that is currently
being used by analog television (slated to be made available to the winner of the auction in February 2009). Verizon and Google are the two fierce competitors for this spectrum. Verizon initially was pushing for closed standards while Google petitioned the FCC to make the use of the spectrum open so consumers could use any devices (cell phones) on any networks and any applications on those network/spectrums. If you're like me (a Google fan), wouldn't you love to see more consumer choice and greater development in the wireless industry? This is what Google is pushing for. Here's the deal though, Google and Verizon are fierce bidding competitors with a similar amount of assets. However, they earn their primary revenue in two very different ways (Google through paid search and online advertising, and Verizon through subscriptions - and tons of worthless pay-for-service extras on your phone). You may or may not know this, but Verizon is one of the internet's largest advertisers (they are in the top five companies that purchase online advertising). Now wouldn't it be great to siphon some money out of their pockets and into Google's hands? Here's how you can do your part. Next time you're surfing the net (and we know you're doing a lot of it - the average American spends 35 hrs on the internet each week), just be sure to click on any Verizon ad you see. Most of these ads are paid for by the advertiser every time a user clicks on the ad - and when that happens, money goes into the pockets of Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and Valueclick. So what do you say? Do you want more choices when it comes to mobile phones, applications, and cell phone providers? Wouldn't you love to see Verizon reinvent itself so it's more consumer friendly? Wouldn't you love to see the innovation of Google in the wireless phone industry? Help make it happen - click on Verizon ads everytime you see them.

The dawing of the second ice age

You know those stories you used to hear about your parents walking to school, up hill, both ways, with the wind at their face and whirling snow freeze-drying their hair? Well, that was me this morning, and I want to have a record of it for my children in case they question the truthfulness of my gray-haired tales. Since my employment is also a school (The University), I think I can make the same claims as my forefathers.

I departed work at 6:55 this morning and arrived promptly at 8:35. I thought I would type this blog entry as it would help restore sensation to my finders; if I could type with my toes, I would.

We were met with a blizzard last night as temperatures plummeted and cars slid to and fro. I really enjoy taking the bus, but it is positively the worst method of travel on stormy days. Not only do you have to leave your house at dawn to trudge through the un-shoveled walks (I’m not innocent), but you also putter along in the bus in the right lane, inching around cars that are stuck in the snow banks. When you arrive downtown for your connection (as in my case), you desperately want to run to catch your next bus, but the elderly lady attempting to navigate the icy sidewalks has a look on her face that says, “I wish I had a young man nearby so I could hold his arm.” So you help the poor woman, and end up waiting 30 minutes downtown for the next bus to arrive.

As I stood on the sidewalk freezing – in sheer amazement that none of the four possible busses I could take were on time – I could only wonder if this would be my final hour. The storm was so intense I think others outside were also wondered if this was the dawning of the second ice age. I had visions of future generations extracting my preserved body from the snow and ice as I clutched a copy of the bus schedule in my hands. They would ask questions, like “What was this man doing out in conditions like this?” Little would my discoverers know that I had saved their great, great, great, grandmother from a similar fate.


Before my demise, however, the saving bus finally came and dropped me off at the base of Presidents Circle. What would normally only be a walk a few hundred yards to my building up a moderate incline felt like summitting Mount Aconcagua (without oxygen support, of course), I arrived safely, albeit really late.

Googling

I've been a huge Google fan since its humble starts as the world's simplest (looking) search engine. My appreciation has continued to grow as they've developed, or acquired, new products and services. Meanwhile, my enthusiasm for apple has faltered. I wanted to take this moment to do a shout out to the google products I love the most. Google Calendar - a must use for any family, ward, or small organization. Google Reader, the best and newest way to keep up with all of your online reading. Google analytics - a sweet freebie to track web stats. Google ads - one of the few cost-per-click advertising options out there. Google Info - a free 411 type service from your phone. Gmail - the best web mail program out there that also offers free i-map connection. And of course, google's blogger. Thanks google.

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Don't give me no rebate shrebate

I've really be struggling with the tax rebates lately. The way I see it, our country is in debt 9 Trillion dollars (250 billion during 2007 alone). As an American citizen, my family already carries a portion of that burden. So...why am I borrowing more money in the form of a rebate (and paying interest to China, India, etc.) when I'm probably already thousands of dollars in debt? And why do they want me to go out and spend this borrowed money on foreign manufactured goods when so little of it is going to help the US GDP? This whole plan is ridiculous and just goes to show how pampered Americans are. We have a rapidly deflating dollar, an enormous debt load, inflated housing markets, and credit problems. I think a 12-month recession and some reasonable taxes is just what this country needs to get back on track. I guess I better invest my refund check in a secure CD because my children are going to be paying back the debt I helped rack up for them.

If our leaders are bent on rebates, here's an alternative plan that might actually work. If you want to infuse money into the US economy, why not have the states host a sales tax free day (or week) on US manufactured goods. State's are already set up to accommodate tax free transactions. Marketers will love this and will likely bonus or match the tax free deals. The federal government can refund the states the lost tax revenue. The US will sell more goods, businesses will be helped, manufacturing and services will increase, and we'll see the unemployment rate shrink. At least this way, you know that all of the money will be plowed back into the US economy instead of paying off debts, being secured in savings, or worse—being sent out to China and India.

Vivid Dreams

I am a vivid dreamer. Just ask My wife, she's awaken me from full sprints in my bed, yelling, sweating, and tears. But despite it's many inconveniences, I've grateful I can experience things in my dreams that in the moment seem like reality. The gift (or curse) has allowed me to experience the emotions of circumstances in life that I probably will never experience. It's allowed me to visit far off places, lose one's that I've loved, and experience the emotions that may come as consequences of sin (sin I hope I never commit). Just in case you've ever wondered what it is like to get struck by lightening, I did last night in my dreams - twice. I woke up electrified, and sure enough, my hair was matted and standing up in places. During the dream, and after the shock, I remember feeling as though I would die. At that moment I remember pleading that I could stay alive - I couldn't imagine my
children growing up without a father. So see, one of the blessings of vivid dreams - recognizing your blessings.

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Stake Conference with Elder Ballard

This past weekend was stake conference for our ward. The apostle, Elder Ballard, came with Elder Fluman from the seventy to reorganize our stake presidency-only in Utah. Aparently I've been told that it is a rare and special experience for members outside of the state to see an apostle. It's true, outside of the state, the man is a rock star. I should be grateful that during stake priesthood leadership training he was only a few arm lengths away.

The incident reminded me of an experience I had a couple of years ago. Our ward had a random drop-in visit from Elder Oaks. As if that wasn't odd enough having him on the stand in sacrament meeting, he dropped in on myclass afterwards while I was teaching the priests. Oh how I wished I had been better prepared that Sunday. He was polite and kind, but all I could think about was that I had an apostle of God in my class. WOW! I'm grateful to live in place where I can have these experiences.

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Live after the manner of happiness

I was reading in 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon today. I had finished chapter 4 (one of my all-time favorite chapters) and cruised into chapter 5. One verse caught my attention, verse 27:

"And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness."

What a profound statement. Is the state of happiness really that simple? Is it a lifestyle you can choose to live? To get at the heart of it, I guess you need to try to understand what Nephi meant. I don't claim to perfectly understand the scriptures, but this is what I think.

Alma, one of the Book of Mormon prophets that received Nephi's records, referred to the Nephites happy state when describing his own people "And those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were delivered at all times...behold there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi..."

I know that the happiest times in my life have been when I have been keeping the commandments. I've been delivered in times of despair because of my faith in Jesus Christ and the promises made to those who live his gospel. Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone on earth could choose to live after the manner of happiness.