The Vineyard

The Vineyard is an LDS website that lets you work in "the Lords vineyard" anywhere you are. There is lots of things to do to move the work along. Most activities only take a few minutes and are you are allowed to work as short or as long as you want. Such a cool website!

Random Thoughts on Math and Reality

Updated article and published in Google Doc format.

Kindle and Math

    I am married to the most amazing wife ever! Sarah got me a Kindle for an early birthday present. I am reading Thomas Hobbes's Laviathan on it. Hobbes has some interesting ideas on law and order (not referring to the TV show which had yet to be filmed in Hobbes's day). I also just finished reading the Hunger series by Suzanne Collins on the Kindle. The first book was really good (the Hunger Games) but the other two sucked. I also downloaded a few other philosophy books: Immanuel Kant's The Critique of Practical Reason, Bertrand Russell's The Problems of Philosophy, and Jean-Jacques's A Discourse Upon the Origin and the Foundation Of The Inequality Among Mankind. So I have lots of fun stuff to read now.

Order Clarified

Article updated and published in Google Docs format.

Megan Brushing her Teeth

This occurred on 9/25/2011. Megan stands on top of the toilet so she can reach the sink. I squeeze the toothpaste for her onto her toothbrush as she has not mastered this skill yet.Then Megan proceeds to suck the toothpaste off her brush, swallows it, then brush her teeth with the plain toothbrush.

Luke Walking

Wrote this while I was at the temple on 9/24/2011.
The day Luke passed away I walked him around the house. He could barely walk so I helped support him by taking his hands and guiding him through the house. He was so happy just walking from room to room. I remember him smiling so big as he went from room to room. He couldn't walk for too long and so made continual stops along the way; then he would be off again. As he went he would feel the surfaces of many objects he passed by. While in Megan's room he propped himself up on Megan's laundry basket which flexed and moved under his weight. He pulled up and down on it and was excited watching it move. Luke was so happy with interacting with the big world around him.

How to Live a Morally Good Life

Updated this paper and published it in Google Doc format.

Entertainment

Just last month my wife and I decided to get Hulu Plus and XBox live. We love that you can watch anything you want on your computer, iPhone, and TV. I even watch movies every-now-and-then on my way home on the bus via my iPhone. Both plans together are costing us around $16 a month - way better than cable! Another thing about it I love, is there are virtually no commercials. I have been watching episodes of the X-Files without a single commercial. The only disadvantage is you don't get to see all of the shows on television nor do you get to see them as soon. However, I don't watch that many shows on TV. In fact I didn't even watch TV for several years and so don't miss it much. So the few shows I like to watch are on Hulu anyway. You can also see any TV show that Hulu has any time you want. No waiting and virtually no commercials.

Obeying Traffic Signs

While I was doing my construction rotation at Beale Air Force Base I had a pretty funny experience. It occurred while I was driving back to the Sacramento Resident Office (SRO). My construction rotation was nearly over so I was training Matt to take over my position so we carpooled to and from Beale. We were talking about various subjects on the way back to Sacramento and somehow got on the subject of traffic signs. I told Matt that traffic signs are suggestions that a person should use their judgement to determine whether or not to follow.

LEED Exams

I just passed the U.S. Green Building Council LEED AP BD+C exam today! I studied for this for over three weeks which took about 60+ hours reading the BD+C Reference Guide. I feel sorry for my wife during this time as I had very little time for family activities these last few weeks. I am glad it is over though. I passed the LEED Green Associate test over a month ago and wanted to take the BD+C exam shortly after. Some of the questions asked in the Green Associate exam came from the BD+C Reference Guide so I wanted to take the LEED AP exam with that information still in my mind so I wouldn't have to study as much. I am so glad I can now put on my Resume that I am a LEED Accredited Professional. This also means I can be a team leader in projects aiming for LEED Certified buildings.