"I hope I don't die tonight."

"I hope I don't die tonight."

This is what an American Ambassador supposedly said earlier that day while being online. (http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/464291-U-S-ambassador-to-Libya-and-three-other-embassy-staff-killed-in-Benghazi/page3) See comment #33.

Apparently this attack was provoked by an american film written about muslims, which was recently translated and posted on YouTube. (“Innocence of Muslims” or “Mohammed, Prophet of the Muslims”).

According to the NewYork Daily News, this movie might have been translated inappropriately to include references about muhammad in a very rude way. (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/u-s-ambassador-libya-chris-stevens-killed-americans-attack-consulate-benghazi-libyan-officials-officials-ambassador-chris-stevens-killed-tuesday-night-a-group-embassy-employees-consulate-evacuate-staff-article-1.1157387).

As a result, a group of muslims seem to have taken offense and created a group to send a message to America by attacking the American Embassy. Unfortunately, J. Christopher Stevens, and 3 others were in the way of the muslim rage.

Americans (and many countries) are in shock. We live in a world where people are constantly being rude to each other; religion and personal beliefs are regularly being attacked; we yell back, swear, sometimes punch someone, but I imagine a lot of us just brush it off and ignore it. What's taboo in America is killing someone over a difference in opinion. But is that so in Libya? 

From the little I know about Muslim culture, I imagine that perhaps insulting their religion and their prophet, Muhammad, would be a worse crime than committing murder. There are hundreds of incidences in history of people being put to death over violations in religious procedure and beliefs. This is perhaps a difficult concept to imagine happening in reality for those living in America.

But what I'm wondering is, if you knew there was a chance you'd be murdered this evening, what would you do? Without any background knowledge of the situation, I think most people would say, "Run", "Get on a plane and leave", or "Hide." But I imagine these men were just 'at work.' They were fulfilling their responsibility to 'financially provide for their family', and to 'provide services for Americans currently staying in Libya.' If you thought you 'might' be attacked that day, would you, leave work asap? Would you close the business early (assuming you had the power to)? Or would you just continue working, hoping that nothing would happen? 

J. Christopher Stevens was a good, intelligent, charismatic, and wonderful friend. He stayed and fulfilled his duty as ambassador. He hoped for the best (http://www.sfgate.com/world/article/Libyan-ambassador-kept-human-touch-3859504.php#page-1). I don't know that Stevens necessarily made a mistake, though leaving work early may likely have saved his life. I think, in a way, that he was exceptionally honorable in continuing to fulfill his duties, despite the threat on his life. Stevens was a brave and honorable man. A loyal employee and friend to Libya. I imagine that he loved and enjoyed his job at least most of the time. 

Lastly, I can't but help wonder, that if all Americans were striving to be as good a person as J. Christopher Stevens has been depicted, how vastly different America might be. I imagine it would be a much better place.

Silly girls in church

Have you ever wondered what girls are talking about secretly back and forth during church?

Well, I've just found a conversation from 3 years ago... two un-married and in their early 20s in a LDS singles' ward:

Do you know who those guys are over there ----> on the second row? One of them keeps looking back here towards us and it's starting to creep me out.


The one on the very end especially. I don't recognize them at all.


He's the one who's creeping me out the most.


No kidding. I wonder why he keeps looking over here. Maybe we are just too cute for our own good...lol jk.. bu tit is really kind of creepy. 


I kinda want to believe that, but I really doubt it. My theories are that he recognizes us from somewhere or he's got some plan to bet that has to do with us. LOL, maybe I'm creeping myself out more. 


Oooh, the bet theory is interesting. What do you think the bet is? Maybe they are trying to figure out where we got our shoes? No, never mind, he doesn't look femy, just slightly creepy. 


Well, Jordy's married because her husband made a bet with his brother to ask the next girl out who walks through the door. But this guy is creepy, so who knows what the bet might be about. 


That's such a cute story! Maybe there's no bet. Maybe he just can't stop gawking at the huge zit on my face...jk :) People should stop commenting on this side of the room so that he doesn't have an excuse to look over here. Man, why are we on the spiritual side of the class? :)


LOL, or gawking at the mosquito bites on my face?


I have so many mosquito bites it ain't even funny. Most of them are on my feet though. But that's my own fault... every chance I get, I take my shoes off. Man, mosquito bites drive me crazy!


I have a million too! I plan to wear long pants and shirts 'til they're gone because they're huge!


I should be as smart as you and wear long pants but I just love the feel of freshly shaved legs too much! I'm such a girly girl. :)


LOL, you're adorable. You don't look too bitten on your legs so you can totally get away with it by a landslide. You're way cute today. 


Ah, shucks, you are way too kind. It's a good thing you're not looking too closely. I love the fabric of your jumper. It's GORGEOUS!


Thanks! I figured it out. He's looking at the clock. 


OH GOOD! We are psychotic. :)

The Sheepdogs

I found this story on Facebook. I think it's worthy of contemplation.

After the Colorado shootings in the opening Theater Cinema show of Bateman, are we ready for whatever dangers lay ahead? Will our current preparedness be our regret in that moment of danger? Or be our salvation?

"If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen: a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath--a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? Then you are a sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the hero’s path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed. Everyone has been given a gift in life. Some people have a gift for science and some have a flair for art. And warriors have been given the gift of aggression. They would no more misuse this gift than a doctor would misuse his healing arts, but they yearn for the opportunity to use their gift to help others. These people, the ones who have been blessed with the gift of aggression and a love for others, are our sheepdogs. These are our warriors.

The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, cannot and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheepdog who intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn’t tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports in camouflage fatigues holding an M-16. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, “Baa.”

Until the wolf shows up. Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog.
Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be. Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter: He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at things that go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed right along with the young ones.

Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, “Thank God I wasn’t on one of those planes.” The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, “Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference.”

-Lt. Col. Dave Grossman

For the Love of Concepts

Changed my blog title again... and I think I finally know how to use this blog. It's for thought provoking things... ideas, jokes, concepts people don't normally think about. Unique ideas that make my husband laugh. I might add a few political ideas here too. I'll try to keep my political opinions mellow though... don't want too much anger or passion on the subject, I think.

Stumbling on a Rhyme

After doing some canning of food last couple of years, I realized there is a serious problem with one of mother goose's nursery rhymes. 


"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers..."
by Mother Goose
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers;
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked;
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?


The problem with this rhyme is that you can't pick pickled peppers because you have to pick them before you can pickle them, and therefore, the most they could be is 'pickling peppers' because that would say they are a variety of peppers often best used for pickling. Perhaps that's why no one can find those pickled peppers that peter piper supposedly picked. 

30 Days of Truth: Day 6

Day 06: Something you hope you never have to do


The first thing that came to mind was cleaning up throw-up. The second thing was, going through a terrible illness or disease. Between those two, the second one would be far worse.

Utah shopper meets Colorado shopper

A Utahan lady buys a fancy blouse at Kmart for $4 !!! She says, Oh my gosh, this is so cute! And such a deal, too! She goes on to buy it and wear it to many social events, bragging about the deal she got on it. Her friends are impressed.

A Coloradan lady's husband buys her a blouse from Macy's that costs $212. It's gorgeous and she loves it. She proceeds to wear it to many social events, bragging about how much her husband spent for it. Her friends are impressed.

The Coloradan lady takes her family on a vacation to Utah. These two ladies run into each other while taking their children to the Zoo. As their children admire the peacocks, the Coloradan lady compliments the Utahan lady on her beautiful blouse. "God, that's a pretty blouse!"
She smiles excitedly and says, "Oh, thank-you! I had just been admiring yours! Where did you get it?"
"My husband bought it for me for 212 dollars."
The Utahan lady gasps and covers her mouth. The Coloradan lady mistakes this for being impressed.
"Oh my gosh! How expensive! He must make a lot of money!"
"No, not really. He is a construction worker."
"Then why would you get a blouse that's so expensive?!"
Confused, the Coloradan lady asks, "Uh, how much did you get yours for?"
"Four dollars at Kmart; it was a great deal!"
Now it was the Coloradan lady's turn to gasp; She thought to herself, 'Why would you ever tell anyone you spent only $4 on your apparel?!'