Reorientation via Facebook

I think Facebook is trying to turn me straight.

According to Facebook stats, 73% of my Facebook friends are of the male persuasion, yet the vast majority of the people Facebook recommends as friends are girls.

It's even invited me to become a fan of Mercedes Jones, Tina Cohen-Chang, Quinn Fabray, and Sue Sylvester from Glee. With all of my gay Facebook friends, shouldn't it be recommending I become a fan of Kurt Hummel, Artie Abrams, Finn Hudson, or Will Schuester from Glee? ... and why do I know so much about Glee?

And then it occasionally recommends some random person who happens to have the same first and last name as my wife - does it think that, since I'm Mormon, I might want two of them? Maybe it thinks having two would make me less gay?

I think it's a conspiracy.

Another mundane testimony meeting come and gone

I have to confess - fast and testimony meeting is probably my very least favorite meeting of all time. For any non-members who may be reading this. One sunday of every month is designated as "fast sunday". It's usually the first sunday, but not always. We fast for two meals (for us, it's breakfast & lunch) and donate the money we would have spent on those meals to the church to be distributed to those in need. Instead of our normal sacrament meeting with speakers who prepared talks on a chosen subject, we have a fast and testimony meeting where people get up 'as the spirit moves them' to bear an impromptu testimony.

I still remember my very first fast and testimony meeting. I joined the church in college - but I usually went home to visit my parents on the first sunday. And, I would be traveling back to college on sunday causing me to miss church. So, I never once during that entire school year attended a fast and testimony meeting. The school year ended and I went back home. The very first sunday I attended my new home ward was - you guessed it - fast and testimony meeting. I sat in that meeting stunned - wondering if I had made a big mistake in joining the LDS church. I didn't know any better - I just figured that was they way they did it in this new ward - and I wasn't sure I could take it week after week. I did return the following week which was, of course, a normal sacrament meeting. Upon asking questions, I was educated in the law of the fast and testimony meetings.

But, my entire mormon life - it just has never been a favorite meeting. Don't get me wrong, there have been a few in which I felt moved by the spirit. But, generally, it's just the same people week after week blubbering on about something, other people who just seem to like to hear themselves speak, and little kids reciting words that have obviously been rehearsed with their parents. I never encouraged my children to get up and bear their testimony unless they felt moved to - as I've always found it kinda of annoying. It's always pretty much the same words "I know the church is true, I love my mommy and daddy, in the name of ..." Anyway, I'll get off my 'little kid bearing testimony' soapbox now.

Yesterday was a pretty typical fast and testimony meeting. We have an older gentleman in our ward who gets up just about every testimony meeting and rattles on in a monotone voice for about 10-15 minutes. I've gotten to where I just tune him out -even my wife has a hard time listening to him. When he walked up to the microphone yesterday I looked at the clock and there were only about 15 minutes left in the meeting. I thought to myself "good, he's probably the last one" - only, while he was speaking, 6 more people walked up to the front to wait their turn. He finally finished after about 10 minutes and a sister got up. This particular sister normally bears very insightful testimonies, but yesterday she blabbered on for about 5 minutes - not her normal self. Now it was time when we would normally start singing the closing hymn, and we still had 5 people left waiting to bear their testimonies. Fortunately, they were all conscious of the time and were quick. A member of the bishopric got up, apologized to the sunday school teachers since they now had about 10 minutes less time than they had planned on. We sang the closing hymn, had a closing prayer, and it was over - finally.

I don't know, maybe it's just the sour mood I've been in lately - but, given my current spiritual crisis - I don't need more mundane meetings. I need meetings where I leave feeling moved by the spirit. I need to leave church feeling that me being there mattered - that I'd be missed if I weren't there. Just haven't been feeling that lately.

Next week is general conference. To be honest, it too is down there at the bottom of my list of favorite church meetings. We get the BYU channel on cable - so we just sit at home and watch conference from the comfort of our family room. In the past we've always invited two or three other families to join us on Sunday and have a potluck lunch in between sessions. But, my wife hasn't mentioned anything about inviting people over this time. I think she too is starting to wonder why it seems we are always the ones inviting but are never invited.

So, today is Monday - another week, same ol rut . . .

Decision time

OK, I had a job interview today - my first one since being laid off [please hold the applause]. It was for a part time math tutoring job. It would be 20 hours/week tutoring students who failed the standardized test last year in math. They understand I am looking for a full time teaching position and am willing to allow me time off for interviews, etc.

I've also been contacted by a couple of school districts regarding my substitute teaching application; although, they won't be calling me to substitute until I go to orientation - which is October 20th for one district and November 16th for the other - suggesting that they are not in dire need of substitute teachers.

I won't be able to do both (tutor and substitute); although the math tutoring job pays more; so, even though it's part time, I would still make about the same each week - assuming I was able to get a substitute job all 5 days of every week (which is not necessarily a valid assumption).

So, on one hand, the tutoring job would be more stable and potentially paying more in the long run.

On the other hand, I would only be at one school where as with substituting, I would be going to multiple schools bringing with it more potential networking contacts.

On the other hand, I do better in a situation where I am working with the same kids each day and getting to know them on a personal basis. With substitute teaching, it would always be first impressions.

On the other hand, substitute teaching would expose me to a variety of different subjects and teaching situations.

On the other hand, me thinks math tutoring would look better on a resume (since I'm seeking a position as a math teacher) than the more general substitute teaching.

On the other hand, the math tutoring job is a 30 mile commute and could take an hour or so in rush hour traffic where as the schools in the districts I would be substituting in would more than likely be a shorter commute.

On the other hand, with the math tutoring position, I would be working with 4 kids at a time - allowing me to work with them on more personal basis, verses 20-30 students in a typical classroom when substitute teaching.

On the other hand, there is a possibility that I could land a long term substitute teaching position (e.g. when a teacher goes on maternity leave or some other long term absence) - possible, but probability is totally unknown.

Gosh, how many hands do I have anyway? I'm sure I'll think of more pro's and con's throughout the weekend.

Anyway, they are interviewing multiple candidates for 5 math tutoring positions; so, the math tutoring job is not a shoe-in. But, I think I scored some good points during the interview with some of my answers.

So, my beloved readers - any thoughts? If I'm offered the math tutoring job - should I take it? A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. They said they'd let me know by Tuesday of next week.

Disappointed

Nearly 4 weeks ago I proposed that we - the bloggers of the Mormon queerosphere - designate the topic of "masturbation" for the month of September. It is clearly a topic for which there is a lot of interest - and, judging from the polling results, one on which there are a variety of opinions.

It is now September 25th, and as far as I know, only two other bloggers have taken up the challenge - and one of them has since pulled their post. If I'm wrong and there are others then please let me know. I thought I would update MoHo Polls with links to related posts.

I realize this is a delicate topic - but if we can't discuss it here then where can we discuss it? Or is it destined to be a topic that is on everyone's mind, but which shall not be named nor discussed in the queerosphere?

I have to confess I'm a bit surprised by the results of the masturbation poll currently on MoHo Polls. Pardon my english, but it sure appears that, as a group, we're a bunch of wankers. It seems most people do it, at least, weekly - with some doing it every day and even multiple times in a day. I don't know whether to be impressed by their endurance or worried that they might have a problem.

It would be interesting to see a more scientific poll on this topic comparing heterosexual mormon's with homosexual mormon's. You guys in college - maybe this is an idea for a class project or something?

The polls on MoHo Polls will remain through the month of September - any ideas for other polling topics for October? If not then I may just close down MoHo Polls. Perhaps it's just one of those ideas that sounded good at the time ...

On an unrelated note, I noticed that the Evergreen conference offered discounts for couples - would a gay couple qualify for the discount?

Member teachings

Ever hear a talk at church that really resonated with you? One that you remember for years afterwards? I heard such a talk many years ago when my children were still preschool age. The speaker was a psychologist and he spoke of the different types of teachings we have in the church. He listed 3 main type of teachings

Gospel teachings - These are the eternal truths (e.g. the plan of salvation). These are immutable.

Church teachings - These reflect society and the times, such as policies. For example, when I first joined the church, women were not allowed to pray in sacrament meeting as it was considered a priesthood responsibility. This was a church teaching that has since changed.

Member teachings - These are the teachings that we need to be wary of. These are the personal opinions of people which may or may not be in harmony with gospel or church teachings. For example, I had a missionary companion who would tell investigators that they had to give up chocolate when we taught the word of wisdom.

This particular talk also resonated with my wife - and has been a topic of discussion between us throughout the years. Often when we hear someone say something that is just totally off the wall, we'll just look at each other and nod in recognition of a member teaching.

I recently talked to my wife about my reluctance to go get my temple recommend renewed. I explained that there are a couple of questions I'm not sure I can answer to the satisfaction of our bishop and/or stake president. As we discussed this further, she related some of the things she heard in church while visiting our daughter in California and said that she thinks proposition 8 make a lot of people in the church go crazy and say a lot of stupid things. I countered asking about leaders saying some of these same things. She then said that she believes even general authorities can be guilty of member teachings.

I understand what she is saying. For example, Bruce R. McConkie has gone on record and admitted that some of the things he put in his book "Mormon Doctrine" are wrong.

My concern is: How are we supposed to know the difference? When a general authority speaks in an official capacity as a representative of the church, how are we supposed to discern if it's a gospel teaching, a church teaching, or a member teaching? Yeah, I know, pray - read the scriptures - go to church. But what if we've done all that and conclude a particular teaching is wrong - but others discern the same teaching as "thus sayeth the Lord ..."? Who's right? Who's wrong? Can we both be right (or wrong)?

For many in the church, when a general authority speaks, it is as if the Lord himself had spoken. And, once God has spoken it - through his earthly representatives - the time for thinking is past. The only course of action left is to follow and obey. To disagree with a general authority is akin to disagreeing with God! For someone to speak up in a church meeting and disagree with the words of a general authority would be considered apostasy and blasphemous.

Others in the queerosphere have commented on the talk Elder Bruce C. Hafen, of the Seventy, gave at the recent annual conference for Evergreen International. I read his talk, and, without going into detail, I don't agree with much of what he says. Am I supposed to just shake my head and tell myself that he is just giving his opinion - his member teaching - to an audience of like minded people? That's much easier said than done - especially knowing that others will read his same words and nod in agreement, believing that he is speaking the will of the Lord.

This is the crux of a problem that is festering within me. These are men whom I've always considered to be men of God - and whom I trusted and sustained without question. But now - I can't just accept everything they say at face value anymore. And, I keep having the nagging thought: if they are wrong about one thing - then what else are they wrong about?

I feel like a little kid who just found out Santa Clause isn't real - wondering if he can ever trust his parents in anything. Like that little kid, part of me still wants to believe. But he can't - not with these nagging doubts haunting him. Because learning the truth has caused other things to fall into place - things that he previously chose to ignore, but that he can ignore no longer.

I just wish I could help my wife better understand my feelings - as she believes I should just dismiss those things I disagree with as member teachings - and then go in for a temple recommend interview answering the same as I always have. But I can't do that - it would feel . . . dishonest.

Fabulous dinners are NOT us

I went out to get the newspaper this morning and saw water squirting up out of my yard and running down the street. Me thought "that's not right." I live in an older home and don't have a sprinkler system; so, I know it wasn't coming from me.

I happen to know there is a 6" water main running underneath where the water was squirting up. How do I know? Because they had to dig up my front yard just a couple of weeks ago to fix a leak. Now here was another leak barely 20' from the previous leak.

I came in the house and called the number for "water and sewer emergencies". Being after hours, I was connected to the police department. I explained the problem and was told that they would page the city water department who would call me back. I decided that I had better stay home from church in case they needed to talk to me, having been through this drill before.

Right now there are several big trucks parked in front of my house digging up my front yard - again. I was outside watching them when a neighbor came came walking up the street dressed only in shorts - which I thought was odd since it's raining. He asked me what was going on and I explained that there was a water main leak. He then said he was in the shower when they cut the water off - it was then I realized that the white stuff all over him was soap - poor guy.

So, anyway, today is my wife's birthday. I made her coconut pancakes for breakfast; and I have a super fabulous dinner planned - and no water. The dinner itself doesn't need much water - but I will need water for washing up, especially since preparation involves cutting up meat.

Strike 2 on fabulous dinners.

Although, this dinner is not totally doomed just yet - there is still time if they get the water turned back on in the next couple of hours. It's just frustrating.

UPDATE: The city workers finished repairing the water main and turned the water back on in time for me to finish the fabulous dinner I had planned. For her birthday, I gave my wife the Julia Child cookbook and prepared Julia Child's beef bourguignon served with boiled potatoes and fresh asparagas with hollandaise.

The best laid plans ...

The missionaries were coming over for dinner on Friday. Simple right? How hard can it be? Being unemployed allows me to express myself culinarily in the kitchen; so, I planned on meatloaf and mashed potatoes. But, I was trying a new meatloaf recipe from the Cooks Illustrated "Best of" magazine with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and fresh asparagus.

My wife works one day a week, normally on Thursdays; but, this week she also worked on Friday. Friday morning my daughter-in-law called. They had a minor emergency and she wondered if I could come over to babysit my granddaughter while she took my grandson to the doctor (he's fine - btw). His appointment wasn't until the afternoon; so, I didn't need to be there until noon.

So, I decided to do as much ahead of time as I could. I made the meatloaf, wrapped it in plastic, and put it in the refrigerator - ready to go right into the oven. I roasted the garlic and put it in the fridge covered in plastic. I washed and cut up the potatoes and had them on the stove covered in water so that it just had to be turned on.

The missionaries were supposed to arrive at 5:30pm. I wasn't sure what time I would be home; but, my wife worked until 4pm; so, she'd be home with plenty of time to cook everything.

The plan was foolproof - or so I thought . . .

• My daughter-in-law got hung up at the doctor and didn't get back until after 5:00pm - mind you, it's a 45 minute drive to my house.

• Shortly after 5:00pm I was in my car. I called home to see how dinner was going - and no one answered the phone. I called my wife's cell phone - she hadn't left work yet. She had gotten hung up.

• At 5:30pm she called me. She had spoken with the missionaries - and they were hung up and were going to be late (thank goodness!); but, she was hung up in traffic - seems a traffic light was out and cars were backed up for quite a ways.
  

We decided there wasn't time to cook the meatloaf. So, I stopped by a deli on my way home and picked up some sandwiches. Turns out the missionaries were even later than they expected; so, we probably could have cooked the meatloaf.

Now we have an uncooked meatloaf in the fridge which I'm not quite sure what to do with. We already have dinner plans for tonight and tomorrow; so, I could put it in the freezer and have it sometime next week. Or I could go ahead and cook it and use it for sandwiches.

It was going to be a fabulous meal . . . oh well, at least the missionaries were cute [slaps face - I didn't just type that]

The attack on the family

In Elder Russell M. Nelson recent address The Family: The Hope for the Future of Nations he states

Furthermore, those who seek to undermine traditional marriage and family would effectively limit the rights of those who do uphold the sanctity of these institutions. This consequence leads to another major concern— the eventual erosion of religious liberty, including the liberty to defend, promote, and practice traditional family values.(7)

And, to make sure we know that it is the queer community who is seeking to undermine traditional marriage and family, he includes footnote #7 which states

7. In countries where same-gender marriage is adopted with no religious exemptions, all religions could eventually be required to perform gay marriages or to accept gay priests—even when that violates their most basic doctrines.

I find this very interesting - in a disturbing sort of way. in LDS literature, footnotes are always used to denote sources of information for statements made in an article (as evidenced in the other footnotes in this article). Having a footnote of this sort is so out of character that it makes this particular footnote stand out. Did he put that in as a 'statement of fact' that we should already know? Is there any data to justify such a belief? This is crucial: Because, if it is, in fact, untrue then the whole premise of his article becomes suspect.

As far as I'm concerned, it's just more fear mongering. The fact of the matter is, there are a number of countries where same sex marriage is already legal - countries that do not enjoy the same level of freedom's that we have in the US - yet none of them force churches to perform or recognize gay marriages when their doctrine and beliefs are against such. And, there is absolutely nothing to suggest that will change.

In fact, other countries have separated legal civil unions (both heterosexual and homosexual) from the religious ceremony. You have to have a legal civil union in order for your marriage to be recognized by the government - and you can optionally opt to have a marriage religious ceremony. In that context, the statement that "all religions could eventually be required to perform gay marriages" doesn't even make sense.

Neither does the second part of that statement, "... or to accept gay priests", have any precedent. Not a single country in the world forces the LDS church to recognize women holding the priesthood. If governments are going to start interfering with religious practices - it seems far more likely that they will force religions to accept women in the priesthood before they force them to accept gay men. So, where is the outcry against that?

It's these sort of political commentary statements coming from the LDS church that are really testing my faith. I have a difficult time sustaining Elder Russell M. Nelson as a prophet, seer, and revelator when he is using his position of authority to push a political agenda. And, it's not just him, last year I blogged about similar fear mongering by Elder Bednar where he said

You're going to have the possibility of the inevitable clashes between religious liberty and free speech; and, if your religious doctrine is such that you believe marriage between a man and a woman is the only definition of marriage then that smacks up against free speech; because, if marriage is defined in a more broad way between members of the same gender - then you can't talk about that.

He is basically claiming that if gay marriage is legalized then we will loose our free speech right to preach against gay marriage. Where do they come up with this stuff? Alcohol has been legal for many years - yet nobody is telling us we can't preach about the evils of alcohol. Elder Bednar is an educated man with degrees in communication - I'm sure he knows exactly how to carefully choose his words to make it all sound plausible.

Personally I think they have it bass ackwards. Gay marriage doesn't threaten traditional marriage - it strengthens it!

There is no question that the family is under attack - but homosexuals are not the enemy! The queer community is trying to strengthen the family by introducing marriage and family values into a community that is traditionally known for promiscuity and hedonism.

I live in a very conservative, very red, community. I've raised 4 children in this environment; and, what I see around me is rampant divorce, broken homes and dysfunctional families. My daughter once observed that we're the only 'normal' family she knows of. Maybe the heterosexual community ought to take a clue from the queer community and start cleaning up their own house instead of throwing rocks at the queer community. Talk about glass houses.

I just cannot accept that God is directing these men to preach such falsehoods and fear mongering. If he is then there is no God - at least not a god I want to worship and return to live with.

I just wish I had the nerve to wear this t-shirt which says

Gay's. The biggest threat to heterosexual marriage
Because all of the best men are gay!

Thanks to Evan for first posting about the Russell M. Nelson article.

Being human

Those brits have really done it this time. They come up with a new series - get me hooked on it - and then end the season after just 6 episodes. Grrrrr!!!

We just watched the season finale of Being Human.

The word on the web is that season 2 is confirmed to have 8 episodes and is currently being filmed to be aired in January 2010 in the UK - no word on when BBC America will air it.

George - lovable, geeky unsure of himself; and, battling with his double identity where for one night a month he is transformed into a flesh-hungry, predatory werewolf.

Annie - talkative, lacking in self-confidence and desperate for company; and, coming to terms with being a ghost who has unresolved issues keeping her in this world.

Mitchell - good-looking, laid-back, and confident; but, he is also a blood-sucking vampire struggling with going cold-turkey from the blood he craves.

I can relate so much with each of these characters. I highly recommend it if you haven't seen it.

Church yesterday

There were a lot of visitors at church yesterday who were in town for the big BYU game. I'm still flabbergasted that so many people would travel so far for s stupid football game. We're just one ward - and not particularly close to the stadium where the game was played. I imagine quite a few other wards in the area were also full of visitors. And these weren't just people who happened to know someone in my ward - these were random people who happened to be staying in an area hotel.

There was a big exodus after Sacrament meeting. Can't blame them - I've done the same when I'm out of town and attending church. But a few stayed for the entire 3 hour block of meetings. But they didn't talk much as they were too hoarse from the game. Seriously, one guy stood up to introduce himself in priesthood opening exercises and could hardly talk. Not surprisingly, a lot of members of my ward also went to the game - and they weren't talking much either. That was OK by me as I really didn't want to hear about it anyway.

I am kinda confused about the whole thing. We got a team from Utah and a team from Oklahoma playing football - so why the heck were they in Dallas, Texas? But, don't bother trying to explain it to me - my eyes will probably glaze over and I'll start thinking about flowers or french frys something.

Mind you - I don't have anything against BYU football in particular. It's football in general I have a problem with. In Texas, football is everything. Seriously, you don't know what it's like if you've never lived here. During football season it's everywhere. You can't even go to the grocery store without being inundated with football snacks. They even sell blue & gray bread to commemorate "the boys" (Dallas cowboys) - does that even sound appetizing to anyone? It dominates conversations. Nobody ever says "Dallas Cowboys" - it's always just "the boys", and everyone is just supposed know who they're talking about. It's not that I don't have any interest in football - I have negative interest in football - I'm a football anti-fan.

So, what did I do Saturday evening? My wife and I were getting caught up on Project Runway episodes that we had recorded on our DVR. I refuse to pollute my TV screen with any of that football crap.

Fast & Testimony meeting was nice. That's about all I can say about it as I didn't feel anything. I missed Sunday School as I had to run home to get something I had forgotten (which is why I was aware of the mass exodus after Sacrament meeting - there was a traffic jam in the parking lot). Priesthood meeting was OK - it was about celestial marriage. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. What does celestial marriage even mean for a gay man? Now that's a lesson I'd like to hear in priesthood meeting.

Maybe I need a vacation - from church. I go every week - but only out of duty, not because I want to be there. People are nice and all - but none of them are what I would consider a friend. Truthfully, my closest friends are here in the queerosphere - how pathetic is that? My closest friends are people who, for the most part, have never even met me in person.

I just don't feel like I have anything common with the brethren in my ward. Face it - straight guys are boring. All they want to talk about is politics (i.e. how horrible Obama is), football, and a little golf thrown in. I may be a pathetic excuse for a human being, but at least I'm interesting - at least I think I'm interesting. Unfortunately, nobody seems to care. Maybe my lack of conformity to the typical mormon male stereotype makes me just a tad bit too odd causing people to keep their distance.

I guess I'm just feeling sorry for myself today. In the past we've always had a big BBQ on Labor Day and invited a bunch of people over. This year, due to budget constraints (being unemployed), we opted to not host a BBQ. But, nobody invited us over to their home. It's been years, literally, since anyone invited us over for dinner, games, or anything. People are more than happy to come to our house - but nobody ever reciprocates. It's the same story on Thanksgiving - if we don't invite people over for Thanksgiving dinner then we eat alone. I just feel like I have to bribe people with food to be my friend.

My response

This is the response I sent to the stake high councilman who sent the email about keeping kids home from school on September 8th

I'm no fan of Obama; but, it seems rather ironic to keep your kids home from school to prevent them from listening to a presidential speech encouraging children to get an education and stay in school.

Also, I seem to recall you sending an email out about a year ago warning us to not discuss politics during the seminary class period - which makes this email doubly ironic.

Probably not the most tactful way to address the topic - but . . .

I also put a similar statement as my Facebook status :)

Maybe I should form a club: "Republicans against preaching that Obama is the anti-Christ" - I wonder how many members I'd get? 12?

UPDATE: I received an apology email from the stake high councilman. He said that he "continued to either get support or hammered for the e-mail he sent out "and explained that he sent the email out in a moment of passion - but that it was wrong and he is sorry.

Apology accepted

BYU is in town

The BYU football team is in town to play against ... well, I don't really know who they're playing - but I do know they are playing at the brand spanking new Cowboys football stadium. Gee, knowing that tidbit of information makes me feel so manly. I suppose if I really cared I could find out who they are playing ... Nah!

My wife and I were out and about this evening when we saw a bunch of charter buses - with a big "Y" on the side. My wife thinks they were full of BYU fans. Is this true? Are there really such diehard BYU football team groupies? On the news tonight they mentioned that Arlington (home of the new stadium) is really hoping this game will bring in a lot of business. I hope they aren't counting on alcohol sales.

Although, this kinda makes me dread going to church on Sunday - especially if we have some of those afore mentioned fans staying in nearby hotels and attending our ward. I don't know how much talk about BYU football I can take in 3 hours. Maybe I'll start talking to them about Project Runway.

In other news ... my wife and I went to the local library; and, I came out carrying a big Martha Stewart book - and yes, it was mine, not hers. She checked out some auto repair manuals ... just kidding - she had some quilting books.

It takes a real man to walk around in public reading a Martha Stewart book. Don't believe me? Just trying asking one of those BYU football weenies ...

Obama speech

I just received an email from a member of our stake high council saying that he is keeping his kids at home on September 8th so that they don't have to listen to that satanic Obama speech, and encouraging us to do the same. OK, I added the word 'satanic' - but he might as well have said it as that is what he is most certainly thinking.

Anybody who reads this blog knows that I am no fan of Obama - but keeping kids home from school so that they don't get exposed to his speech is way too much for this flaming conservative. It makes it look like we're breeding a bunch of neo-nazi's - so we don't want to expose them to alternative views as it might undo our brainwashing.

Usually I just roll my eyes and ignore emails like this. But this one bothers me more than most. I think it's because of who sent it to me rather than its content. This particular high councilman is over seminary in our stake - and he used his seminary teacher email distribution list to propagate his political position. This same high councilman sent an email out last year warning us not to discuss politics during the seminary class period. It just seems so hypocritical.

I'm trying to decide if I should respond to his email - and if so, how. Any ideas?

And, to my flaming (and non-flaming) liberal friends - please know that not all conservatives are this neanderthal in their thinking - at least I hope not!

Westfest Polka Festival

This weekend is the Westfest Polka Festival held in West Texas - "West" being the name a tiny Czech-American town known for kolaches and sausages rather than a region of the state. It's an odd name for a town, especially since it's not in what most people consider the region of West Texas - it's right smack in the middle of the state on I-35 between Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin. It's a must stop location whenever driving on I-35 as they have the best kolaches this side of Czechoslovakia.

Anyway, as part of the festivities, the local Catholic church is having a "polka mass". Kinda makes our typical Mormon services seem pretty dull and boring in comparison. Seriously - would God really care if we held a Polka sacrament meeting?

Come to Texas - fun times for all!

MoHo Polls

Now that we have MoHo polls, any ideas for future polling questions?

Also, we need a button or something that others can put on their blogs to link to MoHo polls. Any ideas. The only thing I can think of is an image of a shirtless guy striking an uncle Sam pose with the words "MoHo Vote" underneath - any volunteers to model? :) (Just kidding . . . maybe) There is a lot of talent in the queerosphere - perhaps we should have a contest, and then put it to a vote.

Finally, any volunteers for joint authorship on MoHo polls to help manage it?