Drive Truck Smart

You definitely want to drive smart when driving around semis. Did you know that 75% of all semi accidents are caused by distracted car drivers? I thought it was interesting. Here are some interesting tips for people to review. As I am going to be a truck driver, I thought I would share this with family, as I feel that a safer driver makes the roads safer for everyone, and I would like to ensure I return to my family safe and sound.

1. Driving around Semis
2. Commercial Vehicles
3. Stopping Distance
4. Blind Spots for Semis
5. Driving Around Pilot Cars


'via Blog this'

Last night my family had Thanksgiving Dinner. It was a great time and reminds me what I am grateful for. Peace, love and fun times were had by all. Thank you family for making this a memorable holiday.

NASA launches $2.5 billion rover to Red Planet

NASA launches $2.5 billion rover to Red Planet - one step closer to colonization. It would be nice to be a Pioneer on another world, it would be tough, but the thrill of the challenge, to move humankind closer to the cosmos and further exploration.

Recent Updates to the Family

Well, I am still looking for work, but I now have a pre-hire letter from Werner Enterprises and I am hoping to hear back from US Xpress, BTC and Crete Transportation.  These three carriers offer more pay, as well as a chance to be home more often, which will be very helpful. At the point that I can become a trainer, I will be happy (more money) as I will be able to do what I enjoy, teaching others.  In due time, I will also become an owner-operator, as I eventually want to be able to pick and choose my own loads and have more direct control over my home time.  It will be hard on my family, I know, but the idea here is to get back on our feet, save some extra money and then relocate to a farm (with luck I will have 1,000 acres, cut at least a 100 acres would do).  I still want to setup my own business on the farm and have it multifaceted, and if possible, I could even have a small truckstop in the area, which would be nice.

Thanksgiving this year is unusual in that 1) everyone seemed to be going in different directions, 2) we are poorer this year than in years past, and 3) I have not been feeling too well. Rather than doing it on Thursday, we scheduled it for Saturday, but we may have to move this to Sunday this year. We can still enjoy the holiday and remember what the holiday is supposed to be about, but we need to be sure that everyone is well so that we do not make others sick.  So, we may end up doing this tomorrow vice today.

On Thanksgiving Day, though, I did make a homemade Chicken soup with homemade egg noodles.  Colleen and I enjoyed the noodles, but the noodles weren't a big hit with Juan or Jesus.  It could simply be a texture thing.  In any case, these will become a family tradition and I'll share my recipes with them for when they get older. Their tastes will change over time, so they may get to like it in the future. I will try other variations on the noodles and see if there is one they like better.

Thanksgiving Film - old but a good reminder of what the holiday should be

I came across this film while reviewing my Facebook account, and I thought to share it here, so that family can view it and remember what the holiday is supposed to be about, rather than thinking of it as a day of remembrance of the betrayal of the Indians by the Pilgrims.  I like thinking of the holiday as a Happy Harvest celebration, but the term Thanksgiving works too, if you think of the holiday as a time to reflect on one's life and show gratitude for the things that you do have (like health, food to eat, a roof over one's head, family, friends, etc.).  Hope you all enjoy this, I did.  Ironically, the view does show the times, but it is good none-the-less.

Yule Traditions and Symbols

There are many Yule symbols and traditions, which have many origins from Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome, as well as many other places.  Although every culture developed their own symbologies, after awhile all the symbols, customs and traditions melded together into what has become the modern holiday. In the final analysis it really doesn’t matter which ideas belonged to Paganism or which belonged to Christianity, or some other religion.  All that matters is that they are sacred and belong to the Yuletide season - a season of diversity and joy -- the happiest time of the year.  What follows is a list of many holiday customs and their origins.  If you have any additional items you would like to add to this list, please respond and post the symbol, what it means and information about the origins of that symbol.

Advent Wreath:  Although Advent initially came from the Lutherans, many religious sectors adopted the tradition and adapted its function to suit their own purposes.  Traditionally, the wreath is made of evergreens with four candles ensconced within, and its ritual begins four Sundays before Christmas.  A candle is lit each Sunday and burns throughout the week to welcome the “light of the world.”  On the fourth Sunday, all four candles burn together in welcome.

Bells: A throwback to the ancient Pagans, festival participants originally rang bells to drive away the demons that surfaced during the cold, dark time of the year.  The Christian bible, however, stated that people should “...make a joyful noise to the Lord.”  Since the tinkle of bells seemed to fit the bill, the tradition of bell ringing uring the holiday season survived and still remains intact today.

Bird’s Yule Tree: The bird’s tree is a sheaf of wheat, branches of milo maize, ears of con or some other sort of grain attached to an outdoor pole or fence post.  Traditionally, the tree is set up on Christmas Eve so the birds can enjoy it on Christmas Day.  Though this Scandinavian symbol is primarily associated with Christmas and thought to be Christian, its theme is Pagan in nature.  The main idea is to share with the animal world and make its members a part of the celebration.

Blowing in the Yule:  Although this noisy tradition probably originated as a Pagan means to chase off evil spirits, it’s still alive and well today in the Scandinavian and Germanic sections of Europe. In the late hours of Christmas Eve, musicians congregate at the local church and play a carol to each of the four directions.  This is orchestrated so they finish at midnight with the ringing of church bells to herald the arrival of Christmas.

Candles: Because fire melted winter’s chill and was thought to encourage the Sun to shine, it was always an important part of the ancient winter festivals.  Candles, however, are thought to have originated with the ancient Romans who gave them to each other as Saturnalia gifts.  Their brightness was thought to chase away dark winter demons and urge the Sun back into the sky.  In later years, the Christians embraced them as symbols of Christ, the Light of the World; hence they became a large part of the Christmas celebrations we know today.

Candy Cane: Peppermint leaf and peppermint tea has long been a part of Yule celebrations for Pagans with its coolness symbolizing winter and its heat symbolizing the Sun. The candy cane, however, was invented by an American confectioner who based its form and appearance on Christian roots.  He formed  it of white candy to signify the virgin birth, then shaped it in a “J” to represent Jesus.  The never-ending red stripe was to have symbolized the blood shed on the cross. In spite of the inventor’s painstaking creativity and religious devotion, though, the cane somehow wound up as a common holiday symbol and treat -- devoid of all Christian testimony and witness.

Carols: These holiday songs are said to have originated from the Catholic Church during the fourth century.  The religious repertoire continued to grow through the Middle Ages up until the Renaissance period.  The nature of these songs continued to be religious until sometime in the nineteenth century, when European composers began to incorporate other holiday symbols and customs into their music.

Chimney: Santa’s descent down the chimney first originated in England.  The reason? Santa had to come and go in secret, otherwise no gifts would be left. This tradition was brought to America by the Pilgrims, and still thrives today.  (Apparently, German and Scandinavian Santa Clauses don’t have to be sooty to leave gifts; it’s okay for them to come in and out of the front door!)

Christmas Cards: This tradition was initiated in England in 1843 by a man named Sir Henry Cole. That year, artist J.C. Horsely designed one card and printed a thousand copies.  In 1875, the tradition arose in America when Louis Prang printed some cards in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Wanting to make them more popular, Prang then held design contests.  The winners walked away with cash, and the tradition of American Christmas card mailings was born. 

Elves:  There are several reasons why elves may have come to be associated with the winter holidays.  For one thing, the land of elves (Alfaheimr) was inhabited by the spirits who created the Sun, and including these beings in the festival would certainly encourage them to rejuvenate the Sun and make it shine again.  A more Yulish theory, though, has to do with Odin the Elf King, whose magical capabilities were incorporated into the Santa Claus we know today.  More than likely, the elves were thrown in for good measure to complete Santa’s persona.  After all, what’s an elf king without elves?

Evergreen:  Decorating with evergreens dates back to the earliest winter festivals.  Because the green never faded from their branches and leaves, evergreens were thought to have power over death and destruction -- enough power to defeat whatever winter demons roamed the Earth, and enough tenacity to urge the coming of the Sun.

Gift Exchange: Thought to have originated in Babylonia with Zagmuk, the tradition of gift exchange gained great popularity during the Roman Saturnalia festivals.  In later years, the Christians took up this custom as well, but attributed it to the Magi and their bringing of gifts to the Christ-child.

Gingerbread: The Crusaders were originally responsible for this holiday treat, for they introduced ginger to eleventh century Europe on their return from the Middle East.  The cookie-like substance didn’t become popular during the winter, though, until French and German bakers united and formed gingerbread guilds during the fifteenth century.  In those days there were strict laws regarding specialty breads, and since gingerbread was categorized as such, its production was only allowed during Easter and Christmas.  Because bakers always had stalls in the European Christian markets -- and no Easter marketplace existed -- its spicy flavor and heavenly scent soon became associated with the winter holidays.

Holly: Since holly sports vibrant green leaves and bright red berries during winter’s deathly chill, it provides an excellent symbol of rebirth.  The prickly shrub was a favorite amulet among early Europeans, and they often placed it in their homes to rid themselves of negative entities and nasty weather. The British have their own holiday tradition concerning the plant, thought; since the thorny-leaved plants are considered male and the smooth are known as female, the variety first brought into the house during the holidays determines which gender shall head the household during the next year. 

Lights: For centuries, homes and holiday trees were decorated with candles to frighten negative entities and urge the Sun to shine. Although the candles were beautiful, the practice was dangerous; it meant that people had to keep a constant watch o make sure nothing caught on fire. In 1895, an American named Ralph E. Morris finally came up with a solution; he hung some strings of switchboard lights on his tree, and electric holiday lighting was born.

Mistletoe:  Although attributed to the Celts -- the Druids, more specifically -- historians agree that mistletoe was probably first used in the Greek winter ceremonies.  When the holidays spread throughout Europe, though, the Druids gave the parasitic plant sacredness and new meaning.  For them, the berried plant symbolized the semen of the god and was used to bring about great fertility and abundance.  Hung over the doorway, it also protected from thunder, lightning, and malicious evil.  How did we come to kiss under the mistletoe? Norse legend has it that Frigg (the mother of Balder) loved Her son so much that She couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to Him.  She made a pact with the four Elements that nothing in Their realms would do Him harm. Loki (the God of Mayhem) was up to His regular mischief, however.  He fashioned an arrow from mistletoe and gave it to Balder’s blind brother.  At Loki’s instruction, the arrow was shot and Balder fell dead.  The wash of Frigg’s tears restored Her son to life, and She was so happy that She declared the mistletoe a plant of luck, love, and promise.  Since ancient times, people have been kissing under the mistletoe -- some of them unwittingly -- to receive Frigg’s blessings.

North Pole:  Aside from the fact that Santa has to live somewhere -- and that he appears publicly only in the wintertime - his icy, native home is said to be an American inclusion of no particular significance.  After pondering the matter, though, the death-rebirth symbolism becomes apparent in Santa’s affiliation with the North Pole. For one thing, the land he lives i is dark and cold; so cold, in fact, that nothing could ever survive its bitterness. Yet, the kindest, jolliest man in the world not only lives there happily, but brings warmth and joy to the hearts of everyone else on the planet.  Looking at it from this angle, it becomes apparent that the Sun (Santa Claus) is born each winter and thrives against its chill (the North Pole) - one of the ideas upon which the Winter Solstice celebration is based.

Ornaments: The Germanic peoples originally decorated their trees with fruit, candy, cookies, and flowers.  These ornaments symbolized the abundance to come when the Sun shed His warmth.  While a lovely custom, the decorations were heavy and difficult to keep on the tree. After a few years, the area glassblowers put their heads together and came up with a solution: They could decorate trees with lightweight glass orbs they produced.  The use of the orbs made tree decorating an easy process.  Even better, the round, three-dimensional shape of the ornaments replicated the shape of the Sun: this provided Pagans with a simple way to honor it - even in the Christian world.

Plum Pudding: Plum pudding is an odd name for this dish, considering that it isn’t a pudding, contains no plums at all, and is prepared more for fortunetelling than for eating.  A stew, the mixture contains raisins and meat and is laced with spiced brandy and rum.  In seventeenth century England, preparing the dish was a family affair; household members stirred the pot and made a wish.  At one point in the preparations, several items - a ring, a coin, a button, and a thimble -- were added to the pot.  What did they represent?  The ring stood for marriage, the coin for wealth, and the button and the thimble were symbols of the eternal bachelor and spinster, respectively.  What if one of the items wound up in your serving? Why, it foretold your personal status for the coming year!

Poinsettia: Known for centuries as the Flower of the Holy Night, the poinsettia is the product of an old Mexican myth.  Apparently, a young boy wanted very much to give the Christ-child a birthday gift.  He was very poor, though, and couldn’t afford to buy Him anything.  His intensions were so sincere that the Divine intervened and - -voila! -- the flower sprang up at his feet. During the nineteenth century, Dr. Joel R. Poinsett - America’s Mexican ambassador and an amateur botanist -- became so interested in the flowers that he brought some back to the United States with him.  Eventually, the plants were renamed after him, and the poinsettia was born.

Reindeer: Although commonly associated with Santa Claus, many people believe that reindeer represent the stags that drew the chariot of the Norse gift-giving goddess, Freya.  Another notion is that they symbolize the abundance of the Celtic horned god, Cernunnos.  No matter how you slice it, though, the presences of the horned, hooved beasts during the holidays definitely has Pagan origins.

Santa Claus: Although often associated with the Norse Sun-god, Kris Kringle, the initial origins of Santa’s capabilities probably had much to do with the myths surrounding the Aryan god, Odin, Lord of the Winds.  Legend contends that He was a nocturnal god capable of flying through the stormiest clouds on His gray eight-legged horse, materializing and vanishing at will, and that he held the whole of magic -- even its forbidden secrets -- in the palm of his hand.  Such origin explains why Santa flies through the sky, is never seen, knows who’s been naughty and nice, and has a bag of toys that never runs dry. 

Sleigh: Santa’s sleigh is more than likely a holdover from the Norse myth of Freya. Legend has it that every year She spent the twelve days immediately following the Solstice giving gifts to the nice and doling out misery to the naughty.  Her mode of transportation?  Why, a chariot drawn by stags, of course!

Snowflake:  Because winter brings snow in many areas, it only stands to reason that the snowflake would become a common holiday symbol, right? Well, maybe.  There’s more to it than that: according to legend, the snowflake was formed from the tears that Demeter cried after Persephone’s descent into the Underworld.  The microscopic flakes have six sides, and since six is the numerological digit associated with affection, the snowflake was used by Pagans as a winter symbol of love. 

Stockings: Although we often think of stockings as a normal part of the winter holiday decorations, they didn’t start out that way.  Legend has it that three young ladies of meager means were terribly distraught over the probability of their impending spinsterhoods.  The problem? They had no dowries and in those days, no dowry meant no marriage.  Somehow, word of their angst reached St. Nick.  For two nights, he tossed bags of gold through their window.  On the third night, however, all the windows and doors were locked.  Not to be deterred, he climbed down the chimney and filled the stockings they’d left by the hearth to dry. This legend seems to be the first account of St. Nick being the Santa-like figure we know him as today.

Tinsel and Icicles:  The tradition of placing tinsel and foil icicles on holiday trees came from a seasonal story of unknown origins. The gist of it was that spiders weren’t allowed anywhere near the tree - not even close enough to take a peek.  Upset at this discriminatory practice, they whined to the Christ-child.  Once the baby allowed their admittance, they climbed into the tree and covered it with webs.  He was so delighted with their creativity that he turned the webs into strands of sliver.

Tree:  Even though the use of evergreens dates back to the Greeks and Romans, the use of the holiday tree is said to have originated in eighth century Germany.  Legend has it that the Christian St. Boniface was trying to convert a group of Druids.  Try as he might, though, he couldn’t convince them that the oak tree was neither sacred nor invincible.  In desperation, he finally cut one down. When the tree fell, it crushed everything in its path but a single evergreen sapling.  Boniface declared it a miracle, then proclaimed that the fir tree belonged to the Christ-child. AFter that, trees were brought into homes as holiday decorations.  It wasn’t until the the sixteenth century, however, that the Germans thought to decorate the branches.  Some historians say that the first ornaments - fruit, nuts, and cookies - were used as offerings to thank the spirit of the tree.

Twelve Days of Christmas: the custom of holding a twelve-day winter festival probably began with the ancient Egyptian Sun celebration, and then continued with the Babylonian Zagmuk.  (Modern-day historians also allude to the fact that the twelve-day celebration may have originally been designed to honor the zodiacal wheel.)  Be that as it may, the church reinvented the twelve-day custom when the holiday was Christianized Instead of revolving around the twelve days of Solstice, their festival commenced on December 25 (the Christ-child’s new birthday) and continued through Epiphany, or January 6, which was the day the gift-laden Magi supposedly arrived in Bethlehem.  During the Middle Ages, gift-giving on each of the festival days became tradition.  This custom was the basis for the popular carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

Wassail: The original name of an apple orchard fertility ritual, the term “wassail” came to us from the Anglo-Saxons and means to hail or salute.  The actual ritual was a matter of saluting the trees and sprinkling them with a mixture of eggs and apples to which wine, ale, or cider was added. This consecration was believed to increase the apple yield for the coming year.

Wreath: Long before Christianity, the circle shape was the primary Pagan symbol of life everlasting -- the never-ending cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.  It was often used to represent the Sun as well. It’s little wonder then, that the Greeks utilized this shape, covering it with greenery, and incorporating it in the decor for Sacaea festival.  When the Romans first formed the Saturnalia celebration, they took up the custom, too, but also gave wreaths as gifts to symbolize the infinity of goodwill, friendship, and joyfulness.

Yule Log: Although normally attributed to the Scandinavian peoples, it might be said that the Yule log actually originated with the ancient Greeks, who burned whole trees in an effort to hold off the mischievous Kallikantzaroi.  However, the Celts reinvented the custom, and gave it a whole new meaning.  The log (a symbol of their Oak King) adorned with traditional evergreens (a representation of the Holly King) signifies the death of darkness and the warmth of the Sun during the newly born solar year. According to tradition, the log should burn continuously for twelve days, and a bit of the wood should be saved to start the next year’s fire.  The first day of the Yule fire varies depending upon religious belief. Pagans usually light the Yule fire on the Winter Solstice, while Christians wait until Christmas day.

Yule History, part 1

 Celebrate the Sun's Rebirth

The holidays: some call them Christmas or Hanukkah, others know them as Las Posadas or Ta Chiu.  Still others celebrate Winter Solstice or Yule. They are a time for reflection, resolution, and renewal. Whatever our beliefs, the holidays provide us with rituals to celebrate the balance of light and dark, and for welcoming the healing powers of warmth back into our world.   It is a time to count our blessings and a time to show appreciation (gratitude) for all the wonderful things other people do for us.  

History of Yule: How it all Began

As human beings, we are a diverse group of people. We come in many sizes, colors, and shapes. We come from different cultures, speak different languages, and practice different religions.  Even the food we like to eat varies. Yet, no matter who we are or where we live, one thing remains constant: We all look forward to the winter holidays. As noted above, this is know by many different names and while each celebration is a little different, the main ideas are all the same.  These ideals and rituals gives us a common ground that draws us together as a people. 

So where did these holidays come from that we all celebrate? Contrary to popular belief here in Utah, it did not begin with Christmas.  Rather, they started over four thousand years ago in ancient Egypt. The occasion? An extravagant party to celebrate the rebirth of Horus -- the god who appeared in the sky as a fiery orb each day -- the same orb we know today as the Sun or Sol.  Because the Egyptians honored Horus with a twelve-month calendar, the festival lasted twelve days with each day symbolizing one month.

Buildings were decorated with greenery of all sorts to honor the Sun. The most valued decorations, however, were palm branches with twelve fronds.  The reason for their value was simple: because palm branches put out one shoot each month, a twelve-fronded branch formed a type of calendar. This made them a great representation of the entire birth, death, and rebirth cycle of the Sun; using them to honor the Sun was believed to speed His growth and strength, and encourage Him to stay in the sky longer.

The Egyptians fourished, and word of their Sun-welcoming ceremonies quickly swept through Mesopotamia.  Believing that the rituals were at the heart of their neighbors' prosperity, the Babylonians took up the cause and got in on the act. However, they called it Zagmuk and incorporated their own Creator/Sun god, Marduk.  The Babylonians believed that Marduk had created the world, and made it one of order, beauty, and peace.  It hadn't been an easy task, however -- first, he'd had to fight a grueling battle and defeat the monsters of chaos.

Each year, everything went along splendidly until the cooler weather brought winter; then the monsters regained their strength and once again challenged Marduk's reign. The battle was on and lasted for twelve days, but Marduk could no longer defeat the monsters by Himself. He needed the help of the people. It was heir job to cheer Him on and help Him win the war. Only then could order be restored, and beauty and peace on Earth be renewed.

The Zagmuk festival began five days before Winter Solstice and lasted six days after, with the peak of the festival falling on the Solstice itself. On the seventh day, the Sun stayed in the sky longer - a sure sign that Marduk was well on his way to victory.  This resulted in parades on land and river, good tidings, and the occasional exchange of gifts. The world was renewed for another year, and all was right with the Babylonian people.

Not long after, the Persians caught on and began to help Marduk, too. Called Sacaea, their festival was a little different and involved a temporary state of chaos.  Slaves and masters changed placs with each other, a mock king was crowned, and law and order flew right out the window.  Grudges and debts were forgotten -- if only temporarily.  A good time was had by all. And why not? It was the one time of the year that folks could do exactly as they pleased without worry of consequence or retribution.  As the Suns light grew stronger, so did the party. During the last few days, things gradually wound down. By the end of the festival, order was restored to the Persian world. 

Eventually, word of these Sun-welcoming festivities spilled into the outside world, and other folks -- exchanging Marduk and the monsters for their gods -- took up the cause as well. In the Greek version of Sacaea, Zeus defeated Kronos and the Titans, but that wasn't the main reason for their festivities.  Apparently, the Kalliantzaroi -- michievous imps similar to those defeated by Marduk -- roamed the land wreaking havoc during the twelve days of Sacaea.  They also had a reputation for stealing the spirits of unsuspecting children, especially those born during that period. Of course, the Greeks did their best to keep them at bay. New babies were wrapped with garlic bundles, and because the monsters supposedly couldn't tolerate fire and smoke, each family kept a large log burning for the duration of the festival. These were fueled with old clothes and shoes, spoiled food, and anything else that might prove offensive to the intruders. 

Finally, the ancient Romans -- a good many of them practitioners of a Sun-worshipping religion called Mithraism -- decided to participate, and that's when the winter festivities really started to take shape. They combined most of the traditions of their predecessors and added a few of their own.  First on the agenda was the exchange of god figures -- Jupiter for Zeus and Saturn for Kronos.  This gave them the opportunity to honor Saturn -- one of the their most important gods - if only briefly.  To that end, the festival was called Saturnalia.

Why all the hubbub about Saturn? Because the god was not only responsible for the pulse of Nature and its germinating properties, but had gone to great lengths to teach the people about agriculture, fairness, and peaceable living.  Commonly known as the Golden Age.  His reign allowed fruitful living and the equality of all human beings.  With that in mind, it's no wonder that the people jumped at the chance to give Him His due.

The festival began at the Roman temple of Saturn with a ceremony to remove the chains that had bound the god's feet all year long -- a sure sign that the Golden Age was alive and well. With that, the whole of Rome was on holiday.  Quarrels and arguments were history.  Schools were dismissed, and businesses and legal facilities were closed. Because everyone was of equal stature, children ruled families, masters served slaves, and the Lord of Misrule -- a mock king-- was crowned.

During the week, the Romans decorated their homes and halls with laurel boughs.  They lit candles and lamps to chase away evil spirits, and built bonfires on hilltops to encourage the birth of the Sun.  They party continued with candlelit processions, singing, masquerade balls, and elaborate feasts.  Gift-giving -- an occasional practice initiated by the Babylonians -- entered the forefront and became a mandatory part of the holiday.  The Romans knew how to throw a party, and it was the biggest bash of the year.

As the Sun gained power in the sky, Jupiter one again defeated Saturn.  His feet were bound for another year and the order of normal living returned to Rome.  But didn't the Romans mind all their fun coming to an end? Not really.  After all, Jupiter was the god of success and good health -- and one can never have too much of either!

So it went with the popularity of the winter festivals.  They spread through Europe, cropping up here and there, taking hold, and gaining power. Eventually, there wasn't a culture, creed, or belief system that couldn't claim their own festival.

Then Christianity -- a new religion -- sprang to the forefront and swept through the civilized world.  A problem was encountered during the conversion efforts, however.  No matter how good the new religion sounded to the Pagan world, they were used to the old ways and their unique lifestyle.  Most important, though, they knew how their deities reacted to every situation and they trusted Them.  Their was no reason to switch to a form of living they didn't understand, or to a god they didn't know.

Taking that into consideration, the Christians (former Pagans, themselves) devised a plan to make them feel more at east.  First, they built their churches on old Pagan worship sites.  Their reasoning was that people had always worshipped on the sites, were comfortable there, and would continue to frequent them, church building or not.  They incorporated Pagan symbols within the church decor, and added some revised Pagan customs to their rituals.  To help matters further, they changed the names of a few Pagan deities ever so slightly, called them saints, and added them to the Christian pantheon.

It was a great plan, but didn't work as well as originally anticipated.  In fact, the Romans didn't take well to it at all.  Why? Because they felt that the Christians were making a mockery of their gods.  As a result, the Christians were unable to practice safely and went into hiding -- for a while -- until they could figure out what to do.

Finally, around the fourth century, the Christians had a revelation.  Unlike the Pagan religions, theirs was based on the workings of their man-god, Jesus, and his death and resurrection.  It had never shown much concern for his birth.  Because the birth-death-rebirth cycle had always been a large part of the Pagan belief system, ignoring the birth factor contituted a missing link. Another problem was that the Pagans revered goddesses -- mother goddesses in particular.  Realizing their errors, the Christians put on their thinking caps and returned to the drawing board.

At last they came up with a series of plans to solve their worship probems. First, they dealt with the goddess issue. Admitting a few goddesses to sainthood wasn't a problem, but they needed something stronger. What they needed was a real Mother Goddess in the midst of their patriarchal world.  They finally decided on Mary, the mother of their man-god, Jesus.  Previously unimportant to the Christian world, she gained a new significance as "the Mother of God."  To secure their position, they also played upon her ascension role an billed her as "the Queen of Heaven."  This gave Christianity a bit of a safety zone because to the outside world it linked them to Isis, the Egyptian Queen of Heaven.

That didn't solve their problems completely, though.  In order to worship safely and gain new members, they needed to meld more evenly with the Pagan practices.  Finally, the Christians hit upon a solution: If they couldn't beat the Pagans, they'd simply join them.

Since no one really knew when the Christ-child was born, the Christians set his birthday on December 25 anyway,  [Note: Theologians now agree that Christ could not have been born during the winter. Though viewpoints vary, the most commonly shared has to do with the fact that Bethlehem's winters are brutal -- because of this, shepherds only tend flocks at night during the warmer months.  During the winter months, they'd have been at home, safely tucked into warm beds.]  the new festival would go unnoticed. To ensure smooth sailing, the Christians took and added precaution: They billed the festival as the "Birth of the Son."  Because "Son" and "Sun" were pronounced the same, the Pagans would think the new celebration was just an addition to their own festivals.  The Pagans were happy, the Christians were comfortable, and Christmas was born unto the world!

Scrooge's bum rap

I came across a really good comment in The Salt Lake Tribune  newspaper today called Scrooge’s bum rap. The article is listed below:

"Re ‘Thanksgiving Day sales anger some consumers’ (Tribune, Nov. 11):


When I was growing up in the 1950s, we actually had three distinct holidays between Labor Day and New Years to celebrate. With the stores decorating in September playing Christmas music at Halloween and now turning Thanksgiving Day into shoppers’ “Black Thursday,” the fall is all just a red and green Santa blur.


So let’s just skip the charade and call the in-between holidays for what they are, maybe Shopfest or Giftmas. Heck, while were at it, why not move Black Friday from the day after Thanksgiving to the day after the Fourth of July.


Think of it, six months of Christmas music, decorations and shopping.  Then people won’t have to stand out in the cold for hours to save five bucks. Retail workers can have a descent Thanksgiving. And we can celebrate the holidays again.


Scrooge got a bum rap; he was just ahead of his time. He knew that humans have this excruciating need to overdo a good thing until it has lost its meaning and is no longer fun. So here’s to you, Ebenezer: Merry Giftmas. Bah! Humbug!” ~ by Kenneth Twelves, North Salt Lake"


This article really hits home to what the holidays have become here in America.  People have forgotten what the holidays are all about. Hell, people have forgotten almost everything about the United States and its ideals.  Holidays were supposed to be ‘holy days’ that represented concepts and ideals and were supposed to help us reconnect to the world around us. However, over the years all of the holidays have become commercialized and people have forgotten that ALL people were created (or evolved) from the same creative power of all existence.  Diety has many faces, names and forms.  One time people understood this, but now bigotry, fear, and intolerance reign and with the commercialization of the holidays, why do we even bother pretending that we are above animals or bother trying to support anything remotely referred to as the so-called family values?

Everyone has forgotten that we are all interconnected (globally) and that we all have the same needs. After survival needs have been met, everyone wants to belong to something, to make that connection to family, friends, community, etc... What we need is to remember what the holidays were for, all of them, reconnect ourselves to our fellow human beings and our planet. If we do this, maybe we can make our world a better place rather than turn our world into a big trash heap like it is depicted in the movie “Wall-e” by Disney’s Pixar Films. I for one plan on doing projects to teach my kids about all of the holidays of the world and to help them realize their importance and, if I am lucky, instill in them the desire to share this with others.

My MeetMe.SO link

My MeetMe.SO link: My MeetMe.SO link. You can use it to schedule time with me.

Mobile Broadband Device - best device found so far

Was researching mobile broadband providers and found out that Verizon has both the best data reliability and ties with Sprint for the most nationwide coverage. This being said, I was looking for the best MiFi device for the 3G/4G so that I can connect my PC as well as my cell phone and tablet to it and this review was really good.

Nationwide Mobile Broadband

Was doing some review for mobile broadband services and I found a couple of really good videos I would like to share. This one is about the development of a new 4G wireless network all over America, which is interesting.

15Nov2011 - Jesus & Headstart

Thumper took Jesus to HeadStart this morning and while there the two worked together to help Jesus to write his name and did a review of his numbers. It was a fun way to start the day. Afterwards Jesus went to breakfast with his classmates.

14Nov2011-Fun Family Time After School

Today was nice in that Juan had school today, even though Jesus didn't. It allowed us some time to get some work done. Jesus enjoyed playing on the game cube (similar to a Wii but much older). After Juan came home, we had him finish his homework -- he needed a little help with his math, but after reminding him that when you add numbers with decimals you have to line up the decimals before you add the numbers, that way you keep the decimal in the right spot, he was able to finish his homework with 100% accuracy. The hard part is teaching him to write out the problems rather than trying to just do them in his head. This has helped me and so many of my prior students that I wanted to get him to do it too. Once he has mastered the basics then I will be able to teach him some of the short cuts you can do with math.

While Juan finished his homework we played 'Go Fish' with Jesus. This game helps him with his counting skills and his number recognition. He still needs reminders that the number '3' rather than '6' comes after '2' but he is making progress. The game was fun and I actually enjoyed myself, so did Colleen. It was bed time for Jesus after this, so after he was nicely tucked in, Juan and I played a game called 'Garbage' in which Juan beat me. He did a nice job and he like the way I was able to turn over my cards by using the card I picked up from the card pile, so he started doing it my way. It was a fun game, and one we will have to do again.

Juan brought home a permission slip for him to go skiing with his class. I sent the form back to school signed, but as he is in foster care at the moment and his other dues are paid for by the state, we asked that they pay for this trip too. I think he will have fun learning to ski, we just need to be sure that he actually dresses appropriately as he doesn't really like to bundle up in layers, even though it will keep him warm.

Was talking with Jennifer (my little sister) and my mother and this year we are going to do a traditional Christmas/Yule. We are going to set up a time to come over to our place to make homemade ornaments and tree decorations (like stringing popcorn and cranberries to put around the tree). This will be fun and I think the boys will enjoy it. We still need to find a good volunteer activity to do this year as we want to teach the boys that this is the time of giving not receiving (though getting presents is always nice). I was thinking about possibly donating time down at the homeless shelter as they always need help and it would give the boys something to consider as they are blessed with having a home and being in a safe place. Times may be tough but we need to be grateful for the things that we do have and the friends and family we can share things with. We still have details to work out, but we also got some gifts to finish making for everyone, and I think the boys will enjoy doing these with me.

13Nov2011 - first day at church

Today was interesting for us all. My mother always said that you must have a foundation in order to build on it, and faith is one of those. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not some blind follower of any faith, but living in Utah you have to come to realize that you really cannot escape Mormons. Therefore, we are taking the boys to church and Sunday school 3 weeks out of 4. 1 Week a month we will visit other faiths and then hold discussions to answer any questions the boys may have. The idea here is to have a point of reference and then learn about all of the different religions and philosophies of the world. Let's face it, if you believe in a supreme being, you cannot exclude your fellow human beings, and in order to understand your fellow being, you must understand the culture that they come from, and this includes religion. Therefore, we took Juan and Jesus to the Salt Lake South Jordan Stake house for services. Colleen stayed with them throughout Sunday School but I left after sacrament as I was making dinner and a homemade stew takes a bit of time to properly prepare. During sacrament the boys did very well, considering their age. Of course, having the books and paper that Colleen brought along sure helped. Juan was able to finish his book and write his book report for school. While they were doing this, I and Colleen were able to follow along with what was being said during sacrament. Colleen was also able to make contact with a women who coordinates the local Weeblos (sort of middle school for scouting). We want Juan to become active with the scouts as it will get him out with his peers so that he can develop. Since Rob has opted to act as proxy parent for me, Juan will be able to be active in the scouts even if I am out on the road.

After church we had dinner and then Juan completed his homework (one hour of reading)while Jesus played video games. All in all it was rather quiet. After Juan was finished with his homework, he and Jesus went out to play with their friends until it was time to come in and get ready for bed. It was a rather nice day as I was able to get the kitchen all cleaned up and the laundry done, as well as do some playing and research of my own.

Milestone for Juan

Guess what everyone, Juan brought home his grades and he had 41 - 100% papers from this recent trimester. Makes a Dad proud and Mom was surprised as Juan was originally offered 1 piece of candy for each 100% paper. You should have seen Juan's eyes when he realized he would get 41 pieces of candy, it was priceless. Of course, it just being Halloween, we had a lot of dum dum suckers left, which Juan enjoyed 41 of. He was nice enough to share with others, namely Jesus and his friend Brandt. Now, if we can just get Juan to not hide his homework, he may have more 100% papers next trimester. Here's to hoping... :)

Beginning of a New Journey

On Thursday, Jesus and I went to Roadmasters Trucking School to get information for getting my CDL. The gentleman there was very helpful and even had some toys for Jesus to play with while we talked. The information I received from them indicates that trucking is a good paying profession and is recession proof, at least to a degree. There has been a shortage of qualified truckers, so finding work won't be an issue. The best part about Roadmasters is that they provide more hands on training with the trucks than the other schools that I have investigated. Also, they have put their training and education materials online where I can review them, even after I graduate.

After this meeting, I took Jesus over to the local truck stop and we had a cinnamon roll and drinks, he had hot chocolate and I had coffee. Jesus enjoyed himself and this was reminiscent of when I was a kid and my dad would take me out to share a cinnamon roll and drinks. In hindsight, it is nice to see an old family tradition continuing. Those times were fond for me and I hope they will be for Jesus too.

We then went over to the Department of Workforce Services, to see if they would pay for this training, and I have a follow up meeting with them on 21Nov2011. If they don't want to pay for it, that is ok, as Werner Enterprises (a company that I am looking at) will reimburse me for the training and Roadmasters will finance the training if needed. This will be an adventure, and the possible rewards are very promising, specifically a significant increase in pay, benefits and options where I can move into management or become an owner operator and hire truckers under me. I will keep you all posted on how things go. The best part is that Werner Enterprises allows riders and pets, so I am hoping to be able to take the boys on the road with me for short trips so that they can see what I do and also experience the open road. Of course, they will still need to do their homework, but we will have fun with that as well.

Last night I invited my mother, Jennifer, and Rob over for dinner. I wanted to break the news to them about my choice as well as to ask them for their assistance, as Colleen and the boys will need extra support while I am on the road. Rob has volunteered to be a proxy-father for the boys if I am on the road. Also, all three will keep in touch with Colleen and the boys while I am away. This makes me happy as we will have three boys and having the extra support will be great. The nice thing about today is that the technology exists where I can stay in touch with my family over the internet via video conferencing. This didn't exist when by biological father or brother were truckers, so this is one way to stay in touch with my family and be a part of their lives. The best part is, I can also use Live Meeting or GoTo Meeting to help my boys with their homework as these tools allow me to share their screen and do whiteboards where I can demonstrate how to do things, like math or assist them with their homework. I will also be taking a book on the road where I can read sections from it and post it here on the blog so that they can follow along with me at home.

Wreaths Across America

View this video, it is an excellent video about truckers and their wreaths across America program, which supports our veterans. As a veteran and a trucker, this was touch, at least to me. Hope you enjoy.

Help save our domestic family farms in America

Learn more about saving our domestic family farms here in America.

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2715/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=8383

New Blog Thoughts about What Can We Do to Save our Earth - The issues affecting our planet may seem insurmountable, ... http://ow.ly/1fvUjc

Just updated the layout of this blog so that we can use it to share our family activities and where family can stay abreast of what is happening in our family.  Suggestions for improvement is always appreciated.