Nobody Willing to Impeach Obama

   
There has been a lot of talk recently, and even some vocal protesting, about Impeaching president Obama.  

But I submit to you that it will never happen....Not in a million years! 

And you know why?  

Because if he were impeached, we would be left with Joe Biden.....

And he is even worse.

   

Another Reason California Is Laughingstock

   

When I was a young boy in elementary school, we used to tease and play jokes on each other.  One common prank was to push one of our friends through the entrance door into the girls bathroom.  Of course there would follow screams from the girls inside as the boy ran through the bathroom and out the exit door at the other end.  It was kind of embarrassing for our friend, but that was what made it one of the pranks of choice.  And the reason that it was embarrassing was that a boy wasn’t supposed to be in a girl’s bathroom.

Now 50+ years later, there has been a change in the laws of California.  Under the new law, young boys and girls are allowed to go into each other’s bathrooms if they so desire.  What’s the fun in that?

    

LDS Provo City Center Temple Construction - 20 April 2013

 

As you approach the new temple site the overhead crane is easy to spot from miles away. It is situated on a solid base in the North-East corner of the temple lot where it can deliver equipment, material and supplies to most anywhere on the construction site.

       

   
        I spoke with a couple of the construction workers today and they told me they hit the water table at 18 feet below ground level, and since the hole is much deeper than that, it means they are continuously pumping water out of the huge hole in the ground. 

       They have an on-site water filtration system which removes sand, dirt and sediment from the water before it can be released in the city's storm drain system.

       When asked if they anticipated completing the basement walls soon, their response was a confident "Yes".  The foundation for the basement has already been poured and the next step is putting up the basement walls.

       All of the metal pipes will be removed, except for those portions of the pipes that are buried in cement, in which case they will be cut off flush with the cement.

       A single story parking structure will be built below ground to the south of the temple, and the structure will be covered with about 6 feet of soil which will then be beautifully landscaped.

   

TurboTax 2012 Is Worthless

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY

First let me say that I have used TurboTax for over a decade and previously found it to be easy and accurate.  Of course we did not own a business or rental property and few investments.  But, it was certainly easier than the old days when you went to the post office for forms to do your own taxes.

So this year I confidently bought my TurboTax 2012 software at our local Costco and started entering the data last night.  I ran into problems right away.  First they were simple problems like not enough digits for Utah's state payee ID number.  I tried to enter the numbers ending with WTH, but the problem persisted.  But then things got worse.  The software starting asking me if I had taken pretax money from my IRA and put it into a Roth IRA.  "No," I responded to the computer screen, "I needed to use it to live off as we are currently unemployed."  The program seemed to be mixing up pre-tax and after tax revenue.  "How odd," I said to my self, but I continued on into the night.  By midnight I was really sweating and I had a pain in my chest as Turbo Tax increased my Utah tax to over $3000.  The final straw was when the program asked me to enter the amount of tax that I was going to get back from the state of California.  "Why are you asking me?" I said to the computer screen, "That's why I have you.  I haven't even done my California return yet!"

A quick check on Google gave me a sick feeling in my stomach.  I saw dozens of people with the same problems as I was having with TurboTax 2012.  They were trying to help each other with advice on how to fix the same problems by entering the data a special way or by deleting and starting over.

I turned off the computer and went to bed.

The next day after I got home from work, I started off fresh again.  "So far so good," I admitted as I worked my way through a confusing Utah state presentation.  But quickly I realized that this certainly wasn't as easy as I had remembered from years past.  More pretax/after tax mix up and more missing ID numbers.  I was then told that I could not E-file and that I needed to include form TC-40S with my return.  Was TurboTax really telling me to find my own form TC-40S and fill it out myself?  Apparently so!  I was appalled, but I obediently found the form on line and started to fill it out.

What was I doing?!?#@*&%$#@

I sat back in my chair and calmly took inventory of my situation.  I bought the Premier version of Turbo Tax for about $60 at Costco.  Then I spent over $40 more to add another state to my return.  I had spent over $100 and all I had so far was emotional distress, loss of sleep, a pain in my chest, no chance of E-file, and a computer program telling me to get a form off-line and do it myself.

Just to let you know I have an appointment with a nice tax lady this Friday afternoon.  She comes highly recommended and best of all......

She doesn't use TurboTax.

================================================

UPDATE - 30 March 2013

I drove to to the CPA's home and within 45 minutes she had completed my taxes.  She found a significant error in the draft Turbo Tax Federal Return....Turbo Tax had failed to identify and withhold a $500 fee for early withdrawal of money from an IRA.  That is a significant error!!!  But even though I had to pay additional tax, I will be getting a significant tax return this year.

The CPA charged me $85 for her work, which I gladly paid and I went home to wait for my checks to come from the IRS.

I count the $100 that I wasted on Turbo Tax to be a "Lesson Learned".  I will not use Turbo Tax ever again.  It is more expensive than a personal tax person and if I had used it to do my 2012 taxes there is a big chance that I would have been audited and had to pay back taxes, penalty as well as interest.

Provo City Center Temple - Crews Working Nights

This evening after dinner my wife and I stopped by the construction site of the Provo City Center Temple.  The place was all lit up and the work crews were hard at work even in the dark.  The crater underneath the brick temple is even deeper than before!

While we were there it was raining slightly, but not enough to account for the amount of water being pumped out of the giant crater beneath the brick temple.  I have no explanation for the water that is accumulating under the temple.  I will see what I can find out.

In addition, the multi-story parking structure that was once used by NuSkin employees next to the temple site is now just a pile of concrete rubble.  The new NuSkin parking structure is two blocks South West of the temple lot.  Apparently it is a bit too far from the NuSkin building for some lazy employees who are taking over parking spaces from other businesses closer to the NuSkin building than their new structure.  It will certainly mean trouble, so expect enforcement of parking permits in private structures in the surrounding area.
   

LDS Provo City Center Temple Progress - Feb 2013

With the construction site surrounded by a tall green fence, it is difficult to see the progress that is being made on the new LDS Temple in Provo, Utah.  This month I ventured into the four story NuSkin parking structure next to the construction site for a closer look.  I could't believe my eyes!  The old Provo Tabernacle is sitting on stilts about 25 feet off the ground!

A construction crew is hard at work underneath the old Tabernacle loading dirt into a large dump truck which them hauls the dirt to a temporary storage area nearby.  According to reliable sources, the plan is to haul out enough dirt to then construct two lower floors under the old Tabernacle at which time the shell of the old building will be set in place on top.

It is amazing to think that a building like this could be set on stilts while work is completed underneath, but work is going smoothly.  I will help keep you informed of the progress as I learn more.
 

Christmas Aebleskiver Tradition

This Christmas we continued our family tradition of preparing Danish Aebleskivers for breakfast.  With fresh strawberry jam and powdered sugar, they are DELICIOUS!

   

Living Nativity in Santa Monica, California

The city of Santa Monica, California, recently outlawed their yearly Christmas Nativity that had become a tradition over many years.

Not to be discouraged, a group of Christians organized a Living Nativity inside one of the city malls, complete with costumes, a manager, and a choir.  As you can see in the link below, the nativity drew quite a crowd and soon everyone joined in singing Silent Night.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/christians-stage-stunning-nativity-flash-mob-inside-ca-mall-in-response-to-atheist-led-war-on-christmas/?fb_action_ids=4437100238438%2C4437065077559&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B%224437100238438%22%3A397969050281113%2C%224437065077559%22%3A475490355822520%7D&action_type_map=%7B%224437100238438%22%3A%22og.likes%22%2C%224437065077559%22%3A%22og.likes%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

Merry Christmas everyone!

More Association - Windy

Here is another of my favorites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiQgDzeJV2s&feature=related

Enjoy

The Association - Cherish - 1966

 

I have always loved this song and listening to it brings back fond memories of slow dancing with my date at the local dances.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwAjGsuyF2M

Dancing 11 Month Old Twins - GREAT!

   

My wonderful sister posted this adorable YouTube video on Facebook.  What a couple of happy little girls.  I especially love how they look at each other when their daddy starts playing the music.  Take a  look and enjoy!
 

Different Meanings for Traffic Light Colors

      

We recently moved to a different state and since arriving we have noticed that the colors of the traffic lights have a different meaning in this new state.  For example...

If you are sitting at a RED light waiting, and the light turns GREEN it does not mean "Go" as it used to in our previous state.  Here is means "Wait a little to make sure the opposing traffic has finally stopped before proceeding cautiously into the intersection."


Additionally, if you approach an intersection with a GREEN light, it used to mean that "It was okay to drive through the intersection."  Here is means "Proceed with caution."


In our previous state a YELLOW light meant that the light was getting ready to change to RED, so you should try to stop, but if you couldn't it was okay to "Proceed with caution."  In this new state, a YELLOW light means the same that a GREEN light used to mean in our old state, namely "Go."  In fact a YELLOW light in this new state means "Drive even faster through the intersection."


The biggest difference in this new state is the meaning of a RED light.  In our previous state a RED light meant to "Stop."  Here in the new state, a RED light has an entirely new meaning.  Here is means to "accelerate through the intersection."  The RED light only means "Stop" if there are cars blocking your path.  In fact, unless there are cars blocking your path,  it is okay to drive through an intersection in this new state no matter what color the light is, RED, GREEN or YELLOW.


It has taken some time to get used to this new color scheme, but I am finally learning.  I basically have had to ignore the color of the traffic lights and pay attention to whether or not there are cars blocking my path.  If a car runs into me, that is a different story, but that has yet to happen.
    

Paula Dean, Chef or a Hypocrite?

 

My wife and I enjoy watching many of the cooking shows on TV.  They make it look so easy with their pre-measured dishes of ingredients that they drop into the bowl.  One of my personal favorites is Rachael Ray when she makes great dishes in just 30 minutes.  Rachael was a bit different in that she didn't have those tiny dishes of ingredients.  She started the show by gathering all the items she needed from the refrigerator and food pantries on the TV set.

All of these TV Chefs prepare a wide variety of dishes that people love to eat, and they are like my grandmother, in that they take great pleasure in having people enjoy their delicious creations.  They love to watch you eat and enjoy the food.  It thrills their hearts when people ask for seconds and thirds and fourths and....

Perhaps the TV Chef most like my grandmother is Paula Dean.  She loves to create dishes that nobody can resist.  She recently came under attack when she revealed that she suffers from Type 2 Diabetes and that she has teamed up with a drug company that sells medication to those who suffer from Diabetes.
Some are calling her a hypocrite because she promotes all kinds of foods that she should not be eating since she is a diabetic.  Her response to them was "Get a life!"

Are overweight chefs considered hypocrites because they create dishes that are so delicious that people love to eat them and then gain weight as a result?

Is a hamburger flipper at McDonalds a hypocrite if a customer eats too many Big Macs?

Is Paula Dean a hypocrite because she shows people how to prepare meals that may cause problems if a diabetic eats too much?

What is a "Hypocrite?"

According to my dictionary, a hypocrite is someone who pretends to have virtues, beliefs or principles that they don't.  It includes those who criticize others for something that they themselves do.  A hypocrite is a pretender and a deceiver.

By this definition, Paula Dean is clearly not a hypocrite.  However those who are criticizing Paula ought to watch out for themselves.  Hypocrites are usually seen running around being critical of others and finding fault.  Paula is only guilty of one thing...She makes some of the most delicious and irresistible dishes in the world.
   

To Hear This Message in English Please Press "6"

   

We received the financial statement for our medical insurance today and in the true spirit of political correctness the insurance company provided the necessary information in 6 languages:

Spanish...

Chinese (Traditional)...

Korean...

Vietnamese...

Tagalog...

AND the one that I appreciated the most, since we live in America, was

English.

This would only happen in the United States.
 

New York Man Wears Christmas Tree Costume in Protest

 

In the spirit of political correctness, the idiots in charge of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in New York have banned all Christmas decorations inside the terminal.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/24/human-christmas-tree-makes-point-at-staten-island-ferry-terminal/

My award for the best Christmas Costume goes to this gentleman who created his own Christmas Tree Suit and wore it around the terminal to protest the stupid ban.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Protestor ill Prepared for Job Market

 
I received this photo the other day from a reliable source.  If it is a real photo from an actual Occupy Protestor, then there is no wonder they are having trouble finding jobs.

   

MacNiven Nearly Run Over By Clueless Woman

   

Today I was walking towards my car outside a neighborhood drug store when I was nearly run over by a woman driving a Toyota Prius.  As the woman continued on after the incident, I couldn't help but notice two things about her car.

First, that she was driving a Toyota Prius.  Now I will acknowledge that there are Prius owners who admidt that they own a Prius because they like the technology.  I commend them for their integrity.   However, most Prius owners believe they are saving money and protecting the environment.  Not only are they NOT saving money, but the environmental cost of manufacturing, driving, and disposing of a Prius and its batteries, far outweigh any benefit from getting 50 miles per gallon.

The second thing I noticed about her was the personal license plate on the back of her car.   What I saw printed on her license plate certainly summed up the entire situation.

It said simply "CLULESS"
 

Occupy Protester Dies in Pioneer Park

 
I read this morning that one of the Occupy Protesters, who was living in Salt Lake City's Pioneer Park has died of unknown causes.  Here is the photo that appeared on Drudge Report:

On the floor of his tent, right next to his sleeping bag is a propane stove, much like the ones used by Boy Scouts and other campers.  It is very possible that this poor man, in an effort to stay warm during the cold night, used his stove as a heater inside his tent and asphyxiated himself while he slept.

I can't recall how many times, as a Scoutmaster, the boys and I discussed the dangers of bringing stoves into a tent.  And I can't recall how many times I read about men, women, and entire families dying during their sleep because the used a stove as a heater inside their tent.

UPDATE:  I read today that the cause of this man's death was a combination of carbon monoxide poisoning and drugs.

   

Penn State Protestors Have Misplaced Values

In less than a week, Penn State and their entire football program have become a mockery.  An assistant football coach witnesses another football coach raping a 10 year old boy in the Penn State shower and when it is reported, nobody calls the police or does anything about it.  There is a massive cover-up and the man is allowed to continue coaching and raping and raping and coaching.

Now that these men are being held responsible for their actions and will finally be held accountable for their crimes and negligence and cover-up, there are Penn State fans who place the football program and victory above the law and above what is morally right.  They are rioting in the streets, destroying property and threatening the lives of those who have testified against those who have obviously done wrong.


What are they thinking?  What are they learning at Penn State?  What are they NOT learning at Penn State? 

Wall Street Protesters Are Hypocrites

  

I wonder what this person's bedroom looks like at home!

Today I read that the Occupy Protesters are having new problems in addition to the existing problems of lack of sanitation, filth, groping and rape, theft and robbery, drugs, cold and wet weather, flies, rodents, lack of funding, and complete disorganization.  Keep in mind that these morons' primary complaint about America is Capitalism.  They want Socialism, plain and simple.  They want free education, free medical care, free housing, free drugs, no fees, no evil corporations, and no rich people.  They want to take from what they call the "1 percent" and give it to the "99 percent".  They hate the rich, they hate the police, they hate conservatives, they hate the government, they hate unhealthy and fried foods, and they hate war.

Apparently they DO enjoy the fruits of Capitalism such as laptops,  the Internet and IPhones

BUT LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TODAY....

Notice the guy on the right.  Is he wearing noise canceling headphones?

Today they got upset when they discovered that there were a large group of homeless people who had joined their encampment and were eating the free food that was being provided to the protesters.  Apparently the protestors were being served menus which included "organic chicken and vegetables, spaghetti bolognese, and roasted beet and sheep’s-milk-cheese salad." Rather than eat scraps from garbage cans or discards from local restaurants, these homeless people moved their tents and shopping carts to the protesters' encampment and stood in line for the free food.

"Hey, wait a minute!" yelled the protesters.  "You can't eat our food!  We prepared and cooked it and you haven't done a thing!"

Do you think any of them ever read the old story about "The Little Red Hen?"

Book of Capitalism - "Who will help me plant the wheat?"

But it gets better yet...

The protesters have now organized their own "security force" to keep the homeless people out of their encampment.  And their are using force to keep them out.

If that wasn't enough, the cooks staged a protest against the homeless people and started serving only brown rice and peanut butter sandwiches.  That didn't sit well with the hungry protesters who had just returned from a hard days work fighting with police and throwing rocks and spitting on people.  They had built up an incredible appetite and were looking forward to some of that organic chicken and goat cheese salad.
  

I think I remember this same guy from a 1960's War Protest

But the best was yet to come...

Then the protesters authorized their own security force to go around the camp and "inspect" the tents of those they thought might not be real protesters.  Based upon the results of the search, these non-protesters were evicted from the camp.

NOW...

I ask you to stand back, with an open mind, and examine what has happened...  

1 - These protesters who hate capitalism and greed, are withholding their own food from the poor and needy.  While they sit there and eat organic chicken and goat cheese, they expect their homeless neighbors to eat out of trashcans and dumpsters.

2 - These protesters who hate the police and scream at the top of their lungs about "unnecessary force", have organized their own security team and have authorized this group of security people to forcefully prevent homeless people from trespassing in "their" camp.  Keep in mind that these protesters have been permitted to camp on private property owned by large corporations that pay their own money for taxes and maintenance and mortgage on the property.  Some of these protesters, like the ones I saw this week in San Luis Obispo, are camping on government property that is being paid for and maintained by all of us!    

3 - These protesters who hate police and the government that they say is violating their rights to free speech, see nothing wrong with having their own security force break into the tent (or home) of their neighbor to search for evidence that might convince the protesters that these people do not share their political views and thus they need to be evicted from the camp.
  

These Occupy Protesters are Hypocrites of the highest degree!  They do not appreciate or appreciate the freedoms they enjoy as a result of living in this great country of ours, as evidenced by the fact that they are so willing to forbid those same freedoms to those needy people in their neighborhood!

These protesters are selfish, spoiled and raised with an entitlement mentality.  Whatever they claim they learned at Harvard or Yale for all the money they willingly borrowed, apparently did not cover such topics as "Do unto others as ye would have them do unto you", or American ideas such as illegal search and seizure.

I had to laugh out loud when I read the line in the article below where one of the protesters complained about being "overworked and underappreciated".

If they have their way and we move closer towards Socialism, they will feel a lot more of the same!

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/zuccotti_hell_kitchen_i5biNyYYhpa8MSYIL9xSDL#ixzz1c0oiAYGK