Jinxed Universe

A few years ago while I was still attending Weber State, I had to write a paper on a controversial topic for a politics class, yeah I took a politics class, it was way fun.

Anyways, he wouldn't let us do the standard topics of guns, abortion, or the like, so I chose talking about what is called Legislating from the Bench. What this means is when our Judicial System begins creating rules, which is beyond the scope of their branch of government.

One of the prime examples I used to enforce my case was a law Congress passed, it was called the Communications Decency Act. This was passed in 1996 and was overruled in 1997 by the Supreme Court.

This law basically made it a crime for anyone to "knowingly (A)use an interactive computer service to send to a specific person or persons under 18 years of age, or (B) uses any interactive computer service to display in a manner available to a person under 18 years of age, any comment, request, suggestion, proposal, image, or other communication that, in context, depicts or describes, in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards, sexual or excretory activities or organs." In other words, I can't push my porn on you, but you have to seek it out.

The Supreme Court overturned this ruling stating that it stepped on others' right to Freedom of Speech. Basically the porno industry has a right to search out people and send them porn even if they don't want it.

Let me give you some first hand experience. I'm a computer guy, my business is to keep computers working. I'm always cleaning up "messes" of pornography and such deceptive programs they use to get one addicted. There are also malicious programs out there that will install themselves on unknowing people's computers that will pop-up with pornographic pictures. But, of course according to the Supreme Court, these makers have a right to infect and distribute their programs/images.

It doesn't take much to realize that pornography is very addictive. We have been counciled time and time again that pornography is destructive and will ruin us. But, with the Porn Industry free to use deception and lies to expose themselves to us, how do you keep it out of your homes?

Well, the Supreme Court has made it our responsibility to keep their garbage out of our homes. Now, this applies to all who have the internet coming into their homes.

Get a firewall!! This doesn't include the router that came from Qwest and Comcast, they are not firewalls. Even those cheap Netgear firewalls won't do the trick. You must make an investment!! Get a professional firewall.

Now, I personally love Sonicwall firewalls. I am biased, I work with them all day long, but it is a fantastic product. It will allow you to block sites according to categories that the manufacturer places on all internet sites, or even create a list of approved, or disapproved sites. The newest ones allow you to use only a "Safe Search" on search engines, meaning the results of a search are safe from garbage and not hidden porn. In addition to keeping the unwanted internet sites out, it also cleans up any viruses, malware, and other intrusive programs and hackers from getting into your home network.

Now, let me make one thing clear, just because you are married, or you are a bishop, or whoever. You aren't immune to this porn and can go without. I've have had stories shared to me about Bishops, Stake Presidents and everyone else that have fallen victim to pornography.

It is not a question, now days, if someone has seen porn, but when they have seen it. By implementing a firewall into your home/business, will reduce the exposure we will experience in our lifetime and eliminate the chances from our homes. Just like any addictive substance, the less we are exposed to it, the less likely we will get addicted to it.

For many it comes down to money. I agree a firewall isn't cheap, I won't lie to you. But, you have to realize that buy putting down $100 a year to keep your home clean, you will have less computer problems and less spiritual problems. Can you really put a price on your children's salvation? We can repair computer problems, and it will cost you more than the cost of the firewall's yearly subscription, but the damage made on an individual by pornography will forever be etched upon their minds and that we cannot totally repair!!!

Well, if you have been around me much, you will know that I don't talk much. Yes, for all of those who do read this blog and haven't really talked to me much, I'm on the shy side when in public. I am trying to work on that though, but that is a subject for another day.

Because I don't say much, I spend a lot of my public time listening and watching people. You would be amazed at what you observe about people. The way people dress, drive, eat, everything speaks of your personality.

So, on to what I really want to talk about, the stupid things people do at General Priesthood Mtg.

Now, I enjoy this meeting, but occasionally someone gets up and tries to put me to sleep, but to keep myself awake, I start my people watching.

One year we had someone sitting in front of us with their laptop. First, if you are going to bring a laptop to a dark room, have the courtesy to sit in the very back of the building, as your screen brightness, no matter what you set it to, is going to bother everyone behind you for at least 2 rows back.

Second, why are you bringing a laptop to this meeting? So you can play solitaire when you get bored, well maybe, but most likely not, but this instance in particular, he was taking notes of the meeting. Now, again just a little logic, but doesn't the talks in full get put on lds.org just a few days after the meeting? I mean this is to say that some major disaster was to happen in his life where he was thankfully able to reference the talk he had taken notes on, because the talk wasn't on the site yet, then he would be in the right.

Here is another observation that I don't get.

Why would you drag the couch and chairs from the hallways and bring them into the gym? Don't you have any respect for the building that you are in? This isn't your home and you can rearrange the furniture as you please. Anyways, if you are going to do it, please don't let my family see you.

We had someone do this about a year ago and having my Dad in the Stake Presidency, made it all the better. The guy brought the chair into the gym and sat in it next to his buddies and then starting talking to them and thought he was the smartest guy in the whole place, my brothers and I all watching. One of us points this guy out to our Dad. You see this glimmer of fury in his eyes as he gets up. We all start bracing for the crash. He doesn't beeline for this guy, but boldly walks right up to him and asks him what he is doing. The guy told him he needed a chair, and one of his buddies had the wonderful excuse of he has a bad back. Yeah, this guy has a bad back as he just hoisted this chair into the gym from outside, right!?! Anyways, my Dad told him put it back, in the best manner when he is mad, and the guy hauled it back with his tail between his legs.

We just now wait for a repeat of this every six months, but it hasn't happened yet.

I have saved the biggest annoyance for last. Every Priesthood Meeting, as everyone arrives, they position themselves so they can leave as fast as possible. What this means is, even though there is plenty of parking spots at the church, they have to park on the street, they have to back into their parking spot, and most of all...

THEY GET UP AFTER THE PROPHET SPEAKS AND LEAVE BEFORE THE MEETING HAS OFFICIALLY ENDED.

Now, I can understand backing into a parking stall, I prefer just parking in the back of the parking lot so as I don't have to wait for someone to let me into line and back out, but that is me. But, to park on the street? That is looking pretty petty!! But as I said before, you have to have some audacity to leave Priesthood Mtg. early just to get ice cream, go eat, or whatever your lame excuse may be!!

If the song/prayer wasn't important for us to participate in, don't you think they would have just ended the broadcast once the Prophet sat down, or are you done gracing us with your presence in the meeting and we can just get finish the formalities of the meeting without you?

These people are a disturbance, you can just sit and watch as they trickle out of the building not making eye contact as they feel ashamed in what they are doing, but not enough to keep them in their seats. I hope that ice cream/dinner, tastes good enough that you have disturb a spiritual feast for everyone for a little physical gluttony!!

Anyways, before you do something out of the ordinary in Priesthood Mtg. make sure that my family isn't there or you will be the topic of our conversation.