Missionary Dan Email #21 from Vancouver, Washington

We had yet again another great week. This time its full of exciting things such as baptism! We had one investigator pass an interview and another having her interview this Friday. They should be baptized next weekend. Stephanie is a investigator that looked up the church online and went to the wrong… [more]

There is Plenty of Sound in an Empty Barrel: Part 1

Paul has undertaken a number of projects of late. There was the arc welder from microwave ovens (still to be completed); the Halloween costume from a microwave oven; the Arduino AVR High-Voltage Serial Programmer; Green Jell-O Filled Orange Wedges; and Green Jell-O Pineapple Rings. His latest… [more]

Apostles on Religion

The Williamsburg Charter reminds us that despite our constitutional prohibition against establishing a state religion, in many areas of the United States during the nineteenth century there was “a de facto semi-establishment of one religion in the United States: a generalized Protestantism given dominant… [more]

Cedar Breaks National Monument

Between the Backstage Tour and Pride and Prejudice we visited Cedar Breaks National Monument. There was construction going on at the visitor center with areas roped off. I last saw Cedar Breaks over 25 years ago and it was bigger than what I remember it. We didn't have much time there but it was worth… [more]

Utah Shakespearean Festival: Adams Theatre Backstage Tour

So far I have written about The 39 Steps, Much Ado about Nothing, Pride and Prejudice, The Greenshow and the Randall Theatre Backstage Tour. The Adams Shakespearean Theatre Backstage Tour is just a continuation of the Randall Theatre Backstage Tour. The whole tour takes 90 minutes. The Festival website… [more]

Utah Shakespearean Festival: Randall Theatre Backstage Tour

After The 39 Steps and Much Ado about Nothing but before Pride and Prejudice and The Greenshow, Jill and I toured the Randall L. Jones Theatre backstage. The building was built completely with private funds. It was named after a former Southern Utah University shop professor whose family donated funds… [more]

Utah Shakespearean Festival: The Greenshow

There was more to our visit to the Utah Shakespearean Festival than The 39 Steps, Much Ado about Nothing, and Pride and Prejudice. Not only were there more plays but there were such diversions as The Greenshow. The Greenshow is a series of complimentary performances presented six nights a week, prior… [more]

Free Books #1

My bookshelf is overflowing so I have used books to give away. The guidelines (subject to refinement) are: Request a book in the comments. You must be local to Kaysville, Utah. I will not mail books. Currently requests are limited to those who know me and/or know where I live. The books: The… [more]

Utah Shakespearean Festival: Pride and Prejudice

Having already seen The 39 Steps and Much Ado about Nothing, we were looking forward to Pride and Prejudice to finish our two days at the Utah Shakespearean Festival. Pride and Prejudice is a novel by Jane Austen. It was begun in 1796, her second novel, but her first serious attempt at publication. She… [more]

Utah Shakespearean Festival: Much Ado about Nothing

For our 30th anniversary Jill and I spent two days in Cedar City this week. Monday afternoon at the Utah Shakespearean Festival we watched The 39 Steps. In the evening it was time for Much Ado about Nothing, a comedy by William Shakespeare about two pairs of lovers, Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio… [more]

Rickety Picks

Paul on Homosexuality

Today the court struck down Proposition 8, literally accusing the majority of California voters of discriminatory intent when casting their votes. The role of the courts is to interpret and apply the law only as enacted by the people and their elected representatives, not to impose new social policies. (Source: Andy Pugno, general counsel for [...]

The View From The Living Room

On Monday, for a view of the Salt Lake Valley, we hiked to The Living Room. We relaxed in sandstone chairs with armrests. There were even coffee tables we parked our feet on. The hike takes about two hours (it took us longer). It is considered easy (it isn’t). Trail length is 2.3 miles (seemed [...]

Tip of the Week: Weight Loss

What is your best weight loss tip? . Tell the readers what helped you lose weight. It can just be a simple tip or you can further describe how you personally used your tip to lose weight. No prizes but the tip judged to be the best will have its owner’s photograph emblazoned across a [...]

Sam Houston On Government

In March I was travelling along I-45 when I saw Sam Houston, larger than life. His statue, near Huntsville, Texas, towers 67 feet in a clearing by the freeway. On the base of the statue I spied a plaque inscribed thus: The great misfortune is that a notion obtains with those in power that the [...]

Paul

There is Plenty of Sound in an Empty Barrel: Part 1

So they loaded up the truck and they moved to Kaysville

Derek and Sarah have been back from Texas since June and staying with family. Yesterday it was time for them to move back into their own home. We loaded the truck and trailer with their belongings that were stored with Steven and Adelaide. The photograph of Paul reminds me of a television show I used [...]

Kaysville South Stake 5K Family Fun Run 2010

This year’s Kaysville South Stake 5K Family Fun Run participation was a little lower than usual, probably because of the weather. With rain, temperatures in the 40′s, and a 12 mph wind only the hearty ventured out. Here’s what the weather looked like from where I stood, nice and dry inside the bowery. There were [...]

Green Jell-O Pineapple Rings

Paul spends a portion of his time constructing arc-welders from microwaves and making green Jell-O treats. Jell-O pineapple rings are easy to make: Empty juice from a can of pineapple rings. Mix the Jell-O (use green if you live in Utah), substituting juice for water. Use the can as a mold, moving the pineapple rings around to [...]