Stay In School

If you haven't already, check it out...

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I half-expected there would be a Republican rebuttal.

Other Stuff - Picture Backup

Another thing I did over the summer was get my digital pictures organized. I burned to CD's or DVD's all of Lynette and I's photo's.

I also scanned in over 300 pictures of our wedding day and receptions. Now I have a back-up of all the pictures Lynette and I have taken since we were married (6 years ago).

I made labels for each DVD. Here are pictures from some of the CD's.

Other Stuff- Websites 2

Ok, so here is the other other website I had my web designer create.

lynetteandreasen.com

Aside from writing a check (this was a birthday present), I didn't do too much to get this going. Mostly I served as interpreter between Lynette and the web designer. Both Lynette and I are happy with the result.

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Check out Lynette's portfolio, shop, blog and news.

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Scott

Ridiculous-

I know there have been many editorials on this, but I thought I’d throw in my thoughts…

The conservative wing of the political spectrum is dying. For better or for worse, mainstream Americans are seeing the political right for what it is…the obnoxious side of the political spectrum.

The nation is currently going through a ‘situation’ that perfectly demonstrates what I mean. Conservatives are up-in-arms about the President’s upcoming speech to America’s children that will encourage them to stay in school. For the life of me, I have no idea why anyone would oppose this.

I hope it’s not because they believe a stay in school message is unwarranted. I hope it’s not because they feel President Obama is ‘campaigning’. I hope it’s not because they feel this sort of presidential speech is illegal. I hope it’s not because they are afraid of a minority role model.

But, I can’t help but think this uproar is a result of the extreme right loosing power. I imagine the right wing talk show hosts are afraid of loosing listeners because of Obama’s calm, sensible explanations of his ideas. More and more, this new century is producing Americans who prefer respectful discourse over intense, one-sided monologues.

So, to preserve their power the extreme right is telling people that they should fear President Obama. They are telling people that a 15 minute speech will brainwash a generation of youth into socialism. And the practitioners of the extreme right are encouraged to be loud in their opposition. The extreme right hopes this will create the illusion of solidarity, strength and power. An uproar, to hide the deterioration of the conservative movement from their followers.

The sad part is…there are reasonable people who only get their news from AM radio and they don’t realize they are dependent on the one-sided fountain called "talk radio." Some people can’t form their own opinion until they hear what Beck, Hannity or Rush have to say first and I think that’s sad.

In a sense, I’m not worried about the ideas that come from the talk radio fountain, but instead I worry about the way it’s presented. Opposing viewpoints on those shows are typically met with rudeness, interrupting and at worst, yelling. So naturally, when the listeners try to express their “own” opinions in comment rooms, blogs or talking with friends they unconsciously also adopt a subtle disrespectful ‘take no prisoners’ attitude.

As I see it, this is one reason why the conservative movement is going down…and going down fast. From my perspective, our nation is moving into an era where ranting and raving won’t get anyone anywhere and unless they can re-introduce an atmosphere of civility into their discourse the conservative movement is dead.

And that’s what I have to say about that.

Other Stuff - Websites

Another thing I did this summer was work with a local web designer to get a couple of websites up and running.

The first site I want to mention is a Family History Website that was designed and built especially for my family. It’s called Turning Our Hearts and was actually created at the end of last year, but my dad and I have been slowly adding information as it becomes computer ready. That takes time.
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(My uncle, dad, mom, and both sets of granparents are pictured in the sites header)

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My dad’s parents and grandparents were enthusiastic journal writers and I have been blessed to read their writings—some of which is over 100 years old. I never knew my great grandma, but as I read her words I think she and I will get along very well when we do meet. Sometimes as I read her journal entries I think to myself that I could have written those exact words. Not only are her opinions consistent with mine, but her thought process, and the way she presents her thoughts feel distantly familiar. Her diction is often different than what I would use, but I think that is because I am reading her work several generations later.

My sisters have volunteered to type up the copious journals for the benefit of all. Once a journal is all typed up, I put it up online. It often takes me a few days to put the journal online because I start reading it and cannot put it down.

Anyway, I have learned some great things about my ancestors. Some notable things are:

In 1905 my great-great grandfather traded in his rifle for a suit of clothes.

This entry was particularly enchanting to me. It prompted me to start writing a country song about a backwoods country boy moving to the city to provide for his family. He was sad to leave his farm and was determined not to let ‘city-life’ change the way was, deep down inside.

Although I haven’t finalized the song (mostly because I need help with the music) here is a DRAFT of the chorus.

He made a vow to not forget, it’s by the sweat of the brow that you get ahead. He always would remember God and treat his neighbor with respect. His wife and kids would at all times know, that he’d provide for them until he was gone. So even though he lives in town, his country ways will always be found. In the city, he won’t forget the things that put a mind at ease. Mind your mama—Love your wife—take time out for the secrets to life. You may be working, overtime, but it’s the country way that gives you delight. Say please and thank you all the time, love wisely and enjoy your life.

Yes, I know that is way too long and a bit dis-jointed to be a chorus…but like I said this is still in draft form. Once I get a melody I can fine tune this a little bit more. Does anyone know a country music composer? I’d love to finish my song.

Well, this post got too long too fast. So, I’ll save the rest of what I wanted to say about my turningourhearts.com and the other website I worked on this summer for a later post.

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Feel free to click around our site. It's interesting...but maybe just to me and my fam.