DoApp Blogs

Brent Hunsaker - Summer's here, I hate airlines.

Thu, 24 May 2012 19:20:40 -0600

As a young boy, travel by air was a rare treat. We almost always took the family car on vacations and stayed in cheap motels. (That's a blog for another day.)

I flew only a half dozen times before I went off to college, but I loved it.

I loved everything about it. Those strange rubber headphone with the twin hollow tubes that plugged into the armrest. The lights and twist-open vents of the overhead panel.

And the view out the window! I always had to have a window seat. From taxi to touchdown my nose was pressed against the Plexiglas.

I left the window only long enough to make curious stabs at the in-flight meal. In those days it came with a real fork, knife and spoon. What's more, I was filled with child-like (for I was a child at the time) wonder at the square plastic tray and the food that fit perfectly in smaller square compartments.

I loved everything about the airliners with names that started with "7" or "DC." (There was no Airbus in those days.) I learned "pilot speak" listening to the air traffic control channel through those same, odd headphones.

To supplement my education, one Christmas dad gave me a battery powered, air/sea radio. I spent hours on top of our neighbor's garage, watching the distant planes takeoff and land while listening to the tower chatter on the radio.

If only I'd been as clever as Frank Abagnale Jr., I too would have been a Pan Am pilot.

It took a lot to change that love of flying into hate. But they did it.

Flying has been turned into a chore -- a necessary evil.

From the moment you decide to book a flight, the airlines seem to do everything they can to put you in a foul mood with new and ever so creative ways of separating you from your money.

Fees to book over the phone. Fees to check bags. (Shouldn't I get a refund if the bags arrive in Duluth while I am arriving in Denver?) Some now even charge fees to lug your bags onto the plane!

There are also fees for a seat with a few inches of extra leg room, or a seat by the isle or window. Imagine! Airlines will charge you for the privilege of sitting in an exit row where you can heft the over-wing, emergency door at the direction (I assume shouted) of the flight crew. Audience participation.

Then there are fees to change your flight. Fees to snack. Fees to get a blanket or pillow. Fees to watch a movie. Fees to check your email. One airline (Ryanair) even charged to use the toilet.

Not done yet! Once in the airport terminal, there are too few airline employees trying to manage the needs of too many passengers.

And, on the assumption that some people just live to throw away cash on non-refundable tickets, flights are often overbooked. Airlines want to ensure there's a body crammed into every available inch.

If truth is the first casualty of war, then civility is the first casualty of today's air travel.

Don't get me started on the electronic strip search at the security checkpoint. (Yes, I know the airlines are not to blame for that, but how can I overlook it when dissecting why I now hate to fly?)

In the movie "Up in the Air", when frequent flier George Clooney got to 10-million miles, he was rewarded with a visit from the wise chief pilot who engaged in a new age discussion of the meaning of life at 35,000 feet.

I will never get to a million miles with any airline let alone 10-million. The meaning of life continues to elude me.

But even if I did hit 10-million, with the way things are, I would expect little more than a pack of peanuts and a smile.

That's why I now prefer to fly Southwest. The free peanuts and the often giddy flight attendants make feel like I've already arrived.

Emerson Lotzia - We're lucky to have the Utah Championship

Thu, 17 May 2012 15:37:18 -0600

Simply put, we’re lucky to have the Utah Championship.

Why?

Because these are the future stars who will eventually move up to the PGA Tour and start winning major championships. Guys like Bubba Watson, you know, this year’s Masters winner. Yeah, he’s played here in Utah. Oh, then there’s Zach Johnson, a guy who WON the Utah Championship in 2003 before winning a green jacket in 2007.

The list of big names who have come through Utah and are now winning on the PGA Tour goes on. The Nationwide Tour itself is a breeding ground for major champions. But you get my point.

This tournament, held at Willow Creek C.C. July 12th – July 15th, is one of the original tournaments of the 1990 Ben Hogan Tour as the Utah Classic. Oh, by the way, 2-time major champion John Daly won the inaugural event here in Utah back in 1990.

Willow Creek is a fantastic host venue. I played the course on Monday and it’s in fantastic shape. It’s a spectator-friendly course and very easy to get around.

As if you needed one more reason to support the tournament, don’t forget all of the money this event raises for local charities.

So come on out this July and enjoy yourself and some of the best golfers around.

Follow me on Twitter @emersonlotzia. You can also interact with me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/emersonlotzia

Thanks for reading!

Glenn Willey-Weekend Eclipse

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:09:10 -0600

This weekend will be our best view of a solar eclipse since 1994! Set your alarm, mark your calendars because Sunday night our sky will provide a sight to see. Now don't just plan to stare up at the sky. The sun's disk will not be completely covered so viewing the eclipse with the bare eye can cause permanent vision damage! It's extremely important to safely view the solar eclipse.

First off, what is a solar eclipse? During this eclipse the moon will pass directly over the sun. In this instance, about 88% of the moon will be covered leaving a bright ring of the sun exposed during the total eclipse.

You don't want to stare directly at the eclipse just as you wouldn't want to stare directly at the sun so what should we do? The best thing would be to get a pair of solar viewing glasses. These are often available through local planetariums and you can also find them online, they're very inexpensive...usually less than 10 bucks. You can also check online for sites where people will be safely viewing the eclipse.

If you're in the Salt Lake City area the Clark Planetarium website has some FANTASTIC information on how to safely view the eclipse. There is also a place where you can find places to safely view the eclipse throughout the Salt Lake Valley and Utah.

Another great source is Sky and Telescope Magazine. It's a GREAT source for eclipse and general astronomy information.

Make plans to set up shop Sunday night and take in this rare astronomical event. I promise you won't be disappointed. The sky is forecast to be clear so it's all systems go. Just be prepared to view the eclipse safely, it's so important.

Thanks for reading. Be sure to "like" my Facebook page and follow me on Twitter. Have a great weekend.

Brent Hunsaker - The new Powell family videos lack context

Tue, 15 May 2012 21:05:02 -0600

Alina Powell has published new family videos on the web. Seen in a vacuum, they are nice. Happy kids. Happy family.

Alina wants us to believe these four clips negate all the evidence and testimony that tell us something very different was going on.

Alina claims that Steve and Susan got along just fine. She even posts two of Steve Powell's songs with a woman's voice singing backup. Alina says it is Susan's voice. See? Perfect harmony.

She writes as if this is all the proof we need to throw everything else out the window. "If Susan had really thought that Steve Powell were a danger to her children, as the police are trying to claim, there's no way she would have allowed him access to her children in so carefree a manner as demonstrated in the videos. Susan was a caring mother and an excellent judge of character. The police have misrepresented Susan's writings in bad faith."

But in truth, I saw very little interaction between Susan and Steve in the videos. No eye contact. No direct conversations. If anything, it appears Susan is ignoring her father-in-law and focusing almost exclusively on her two boys.

I do not see what Alina sees.

As someone pointed out to me, there are films of Adolph Hitler playing with his dogs. Does that prove he was a loving man? No. How do we know? Context.

Likewise, four clips of home videos alone do not tell the story. They need context.

And what is the context? Josh Powell probably murdered his wife Susan and disposed of her body in a place where it may never be found. And just over two years after that crime, he committed two more murders and a suicide. Josh took an ax to his two young boys and then set an explosive fire to his rented home.

More context: Susan said Steve Powell "creeped" her out. We have the word of both family and friends as well as those journal entries Alina claims police are misrepresenting. There's evidence that he took secret videos of Susan in various stages of undress -- most of it was apparently shot not long after she had married his son, Josh and the couple was living under his roof. Steve himself, on national television, said he had a "sexual" thing for his daughter-in-law. That defines creepy.

Knowing that context, I see the video and I grieve.

Brent Hunsaker - One candidate's Cherokee problem

Wed, 09 May 2012 19:31:21 -0600

Family history buffs out there should be interested in this.

One politician's family tree apparently includes an imaginary branch.

For the better part of a decade, Elizabeth Warren, now running for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, has said she is Native American.

Cherokee to be precise.

Her proof? "Family lore."

Oddly, her name does not appear among the 300,000 plus on the official tribal rolls of the Cherokee Nation.

So, Genealogist Michael Patrick Leahy looked into her claim. Writing in a blog at breitbart.com, Leahy indicates the best evidence shows Warren's great-great-great grandma, O.C. Sarah Smith Crawford, was at least part Swedish, but not Cherokee.

Wait... there's more!

Leahy also reports that Swedish Sarah's husband (Warren's great-great-great-grandfather) was Jonathan Crawford, a member of the Tennessee Militia.

Great-great-great grandpappy Jonathan was a member of the militia during the time it was tasked with rounding up Cherokees for relocation to the Oklahoma territory -- a forced migration that became known as the infamous "Trail of Tears."

Far from being among the tormented, her ancestor was apparently one of the tormentors.

How's that for a plot twist?

So why should Massachusetts voters, let alone anyone else, care about this? William Jacobson, an associate law professor at Cornell University, offers this answer:

"Who Warren’s great-great-great grandparents were or what they did should be irrelevant, except that Warren has incorporated “lore” about those victimized ancestors into her own personal, professional and, now, political narratives."

In other words, if you're a lawyer-turned-politician claiming to be Cherokee, you'd better be Cherokee.

Wesley Ruff - What's next for the Jazz?

Tue, 08 May 2012 18:03:32 -0600

After being swept by the Spurs, the Utah Jazz cleaned out their lockers and headed off for summer vacation. But the Jazz braintrust will be busy, trying to figure out what to do to make this team better.

Expectations to make the playoffs and go deeper in the post season next year will be high. But in order to do that, changes have to be made.

I really like this team. They have some nice parts. But they need more. Starting with a good, young point guard. And they need shooters, guys who can knock down the open shot and make 3-pointers. Isn't Jimmer wasting away in Sacramento?

And they need to figure out what to do with their big guys. Al Jefferson was the team's leading scorer, but Derrick Favors needs more playing time. So does Enes Kanter. So who sits or gets traded-Paul Millsap? Jefferson?

I'm glad I don't have to make those decisions. But I hope they don't blow up the team. It just needs some tweaking. Raja Bell won't be back. Maybe CJ MIles will leave. Maybe Josh Howard will be one and done. I hope they keep DeMarre Carroll. I like his hustle. But maybe they need to make a trade to find a couple of key parts, and if so, something will have to be sacraficed. Or someone.

It should be a fun summer.

Dana Greene - An absolute must for Utah State

Thu, 03 May 2012 20:22:33 -0600

It was do or die time for Utah State, and the Aggies did.

Joining the Mountain West Conference in 2013 was an absolute must for the entire athletic program. The Aggies could not afford to continue on in the feeble WAC any longer. The mass exodus started with Boise State, and continued on through Nevada, Fresno State, Hawaii, and now San Jose State and Louisiana Tech.

The WAC is crumbling. Texas State is joining for 2012, then bolting for the Sun Belt Conference in 2013. Texas-San Antonio is on its way to Conference USA. When all the dust settles, the only remaining football schools will be Idaho and New Mexico State. The WAC will be forced to go the way of the Big West and drop football entirely.

Utah State should be celebrating their promotion to the MWC, but Aggie fans should mostly be breathing a huge sigh of relief. Without this invitation, the Aggies would be looking at either going independent, or joining a geographically undesirable conference. This will be the best conference of which Utah State has ever been a member.

The Mountain West isn't what it used to be when it had Utah, BYU and TCU. But it might as well be the SEC when you compare it to the future state of the WAC.

Everybody benefits. In football, Gary Andersen gets regular games against solid competition against the likes of Air Force, Colorado State and Wyoming, plus national exposure on ESPN and the NBC network. In basketball, Stew Morrill gets to bring in perennial NCAA Tournament teams like UNLV and New Mexico to try their luck in the Spectrum every year.

The Mountain West regains at least some of the Utah market it was sorely lacking.

True, the MWC now looks like a slightly altered version of the WAC from a few years ago. But we all know Utah State isn't ready for a BCS conference, anyway. Coming off its first bowl game in 14 years, having had three players just selected in the NFL Draft, and now this, Utah State's profile has never been higher.

This isn't win-win. It's win-triumph. Especially when you consider the alternative.

Brent Hunsaker - A Mormon president

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:03:58 -0600

There may soon be a Mormon president in this old world.

No, I'm not talking about Mitt Romney. I'm not even talking about the United States.

Yeah Samake is running for president of Mali -- an African nation that also happens to be about 90% Muslim.

So, here's the obvious question: Has Samake's Mormonism been a factor in the campaign? The amazing answer is, "No." Even though Samake and his family are thought to be the only Mormons in the entire country, Samake claims there's little prejudice. His assertion is supported by the fact he won the mayoral race in Ouelessebougou a few years ago by a landslide.

Samake is considered the "media favorite" and "frontrunner" after his bold -- some would say fearless -- defense of democracy in the face of a military coup as well as his success as a reforming, corruption-busting mayor.

He is seen as a honest politician in a country and continent that have seen precious few.

Voting was originally scheduled for Sunday, April 29. The election will likely be delayed because of that coup, but it appears it will go forward ... eventually. We shall see.

Turning around a country that's one of the poorest in the world and is heavily dependent on foreign charity is a monumental task, and yet Mali's Muslims may look to a Mormon to pull it off.

Dana Greene - Time to dream big

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:34:32 -0600

The Utah Jazz have no chance of advancing. They're too young, not skilled enough shooters and can't guard the perimeter. Sound familiar?

That's what most "experts" said before the season started. They said the Jazz had no chance at making the NBA playoffs. They said they'd be lucky to finish at .500.

Well, the playoffs are about to start and the doubters are back.

Granted, beating the San Antonio Spurs would go down as the greatest playoff upset in Jazz history. But this team cares little about history.

Derrick Favors, Gordon Hayward, Alec Burks and Enes Kanter have no concept about NBA playoff pressure. They're about to find out. But until it hits then, these kids are playing with such ease, it appears as though they're in a playground pickup game.

While Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have tons of playoff experience and have won multiple NBA championships, the Jazz are playing with house money. They're not expected to win even a single game, and that's just the way they like it.

"People really disrespected us," Al Jefferson said after the Jazz clinched a playoff berth. "I love to make people eat their words."

That was the attitude the Jazz adopted this season. They wanted to prove the doubters wrong. So far, they have.

It will take a monumental effort to knock off the Spurs. The Jazz have the size to give the Spurs problems, especially when they go to a front line of Jefferson, Favors and Paul Millsap. Utah's shot-blocking ability may even give Duncan fits.

Gordon Hayward will have his hands full with Ginobili, and the Jazz have nobody that can stick with Parker.

But San Antonio was the #1 seed last year and lost to Memphis. It can happen. Golden State did it to Dallas in 2007. It is possible.

The Jazz are 2-7 all-time as the #8 seed. If they win a single game against the Spurs, these playoffs could be considered a success. But this Jazz team should not be taken lightly, especially at home. If Utah can somehow, some way steal one game in San Antonio, this series will get very interesting.

And the doubters may be forced to eat their words again.

Wesley Ruff - Playoffs or draft picks? It's a no-brainer

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:28:37 -0600

The Utah Jazz are on the verge of wrapping up a spot in the playoffs. Good for them, says I. But I've heard others who aren't quite as happy about it as I am.

Here's the thing...if the Jazz make the playoffs, they will probably be the 8th seed. They will probably face the Spurs in the first round, and probably be ousted quickly. They content the Jazz would be better off missing the playoffs and getting a draft pick, maybe 2 if they can still get the pick from the Warriors.

I disagree. I think playoff experience is way more valuable to this team. Even if its only 4 games, that's 4 games of playing in the post-season, 4 games of learning how to deal with more pressure, 4 games of trying to figure out how to win in the playoffs. Every team goes through it. You have to get there to understand the difference between the regular season and the playoffs. And the experience of just being there is invaluable.

Plus, its good for the franchise. It helps put money back in the coffers. As long as the team stays profitable, the better the chances that the team stays here.

This is the goal of every team when the season starts-make the playoffs, and try for a championship. A title may be out of reach this year, but taking the first steps towards that can only help down the road.

Emerson Lotzia - Utes have a GOOD problem at QB

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:44:56 -0600

The University of Utah just wrapped up spring football practice with the Red-White game up and Rice-Eccles stadium. And if there's one thing we knew going in that's now been confirmed, it's that the team is absolutely stacked at the quarterback position.

Listen, Jordan Wynn is your starter. That's a no-brainer. But the last two seasons for him have been cut short due to injuries. Two years ago, Utah was in the MWC so Terrance Cain taking over as the starter was no big deal. Last year was a bit more of a scare. Jon Hays, a junior college transfer, steps in and leads the Utes to a Sun Bowl win in their first season in the Pac-12. Luck? Maybe, but it was also the offense former OC Norm Chow ran. He relied a ton on John White IV in the backfield. Then again, who wouldn't?

This season is a fresh start.

Sort of.

Wynn is a senior now. The Utes have a season in the Pac-12 under their belt already. However, unlike last season, if Wynn goes down, Hays isn't the only option to take over.

In comes Travis Wilson.

He'll keep Wynn on his toes all season long, or until Wynn goes down with an injury. Wilson looks like the real deal, folks. He's been extremely sharp during spring ball and the coaching staff absolutely loves him. I don't see why you red shirt the guy. Unless you say, if Wynn gets knocked out, Hays can step in. But then you also have Chase Hansen, the former Lone Peak QB who's had his moments during spring camp. I see head coach Kyle Whittingham red shirting Hansen before they RS Wilson.

The one thing Wynn has that the rest of the guys do not....is experience. Let's be real, besides being injury-prone, the guy has a great track record as a starter up at the U. If he's healthy, it'll be a great season for Utah. If he's not, it won't be the end of the world.

What do you think about Utah's QB situation? Hit me up.

Follow me on Twitter @emersonlotzia and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/emersonlotzia

Thanks for reading!

Dana Greene - BYU's uncertain future

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:46:23 -0600

BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe met with the media this past week, and after hearing him answer questions for about an hour, the only thing that seems certain to me is that nothing is certain.

The Cougars are one year into football independence, but are they really in it for the long haul? When asked if he was planning to stay independent for the long-term, Holmoe replied, "What does long term mean?"

Although he said it with a laugh, Holmoe wasn't kidding. BYU is living life as an independent basically year to year.

Everything could change when the current BCS contract expires in two years. After that, it's anybody's guess where BYU will stand. They could be thriving as an independent with their own television network, or they could be on the outside looking in with no access to BCS money or BCS bowl games.

Holmoe did say there are open lines of communication with the Big-12 Conference, but any speculation that BYU will be invited to join has died down. The only thing that would be a deal breaker is the Sunday play issue. Everything else he said is negotiable, and that includes BYUtv.

As far as bowl games go, Holmoe said he was happy to have this year's Poinsettia Bowl and the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in 2013 already booked. Beyond that, who knows? When the BCS deal expires, not only could the way teams are selected to play in BCS bowl games, but also every bowl game.

Regarding the rivalry game against Utah, while Holmoe is confident the two teams will play in 2013, an agreement still hasn't been reached, and there's no telling when and if the Utes and Cougars will play again. When Utah has to play a Big Ten team every season starting in 2017, there might not be room to schedule BYU each and every year.

So where will BYU be when all the dust settles? Nobody knows. That much is certain.

Glenn Willey-Spring Break-A-Palooza!

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:01:20 -0600

Spring Break 2012, this is a week my wife and I kind of have a "love/hate" relationship with each year. On one hand, it's GREAT! The days are starting to warm up, we have a little more daylight, it's a great opportunity to spend time with our boys and a great time to work in a quick vacation. On the other hand, there's often a lot of..."mommy/daddy I'm bored!" "Can we do this, can we do that?" It's really no break for my wife as she's left entertaining both boys much of the day while I'm at work.

This year, it's different for us. During our 12 years of marriage we've lived in Michigan, West Virginia, North Carolina and now Utah and I must say Utah is the big winner when it comes to things to do. You might say it's because we're new to the area but I disagree. Many of the things we've been doing this week are things we've already done before and are returning to do this week.

Monday's stop, Hogle Zoo. What a GREAT zoo right in the middle of Salt Lake City. It's not just the variety of animals you see that makes the zoo great but it's the accessability to those animals. You can get up close with giraffes, elephants and monkeys. It's a great place where you can EASILY fill a day and an annual pass will pay for itself in just a couple of visits. Check out their website for more information.

Tuesday, we hit The Living Planet Aquarium in Sandy. I'd never been there but it's FANTASTIC! You can pet manta rays and starfish, there are penguins, sea otters and even a 13 ft. anaconda!! We stuck around to watch them feed the sharks and it was GREAT! You can learn more about the aquarium on their website.

Wednesday we went to the Salomon Center in Ogden to check out Ifly. Have you ever wanted to sky dive but are afraid to jump from a perfectly good airplane?! Ifly is the place for you. Basically it's a giant wind tunnel which allow you to simulate sky diving. It's amazing and one of only a few places in the United States where you can do it. My 7-year-old son loved it but they told us they've had kids as young as 3 and adults as old as 90 try it out. Their website has everything you need to know before you take flight. Take it from me, it's worth the trip and the money.

The point I'm trying to make, if you're bored in Utah you're not looking very hard for something to do. Not to mention the Utah Blaze and Salt Lake City Bees are in action right now and of course the Utah Jazz for you sports fans.

Have a great spring, summer is just around the corner. Thanks for reading, don't forget to follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Brent Hunsaker - What will an attack on Romney's Mormonism sound like?

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:17:32 -0600

I have been beating this drum for a while. I know. Perhaps I should move on. But despite what the Obama campaign says, I continue to believe that Mitt Romney's Mormon faith will be savaged in the months ahead.

Wow, did I just agree with Orrin Hatch? Sort of. I do not believe the attacks will come directly from the President. Instead, they will be left to the likes of MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell.

These are comments O'Donnell made in a radio interview done the last time Romney ran for president. To read the entire interview, click here.

The High Hewett Show, Tuesday, December 11, 2007

If Catholic politicians are not made to answer for everything every Pope has said, then why must a Mormon answer for their prophets?

HH: Are you Catholic?

LO’D: I was born, I was baptized in Roman Catholicism in my first week of life.

HH: Is it wrong for the (Catholic) to exclude women from the priesthood?

LO’D: Yes.

HH: Then I assume you are condemning Biden and Leahy and Kennedy and Kerry for being part of a sexist organization which they haven’t condemned?

LO’D: No. They’ve got the same flexible relationship to it that I do. You know Kennedy. You know Teddy’s in favor of abortion rights, he’s for…

HH: Well, no, he hasn’t come out and condemned the Church. We should be demanding they condemn the Church.

LO’D: No, no, no. They all have to live, you know, they live with this very uncomfortable…the Catholic…Democratic liberal politicians who are Catholic, and you know there are many coming out of the Northeast, Italian Irish Catholics, they have an extremely uncomfortable relationship with the Church, and they’re kind of always ducking, because there’s always that possibility that a Cardinal somewhere will call them on the abortion issue, as one did during John Kerry’s run for the presidency, with John Kerry. And you know, there’s a bob and weave that all Catholic politicians who are pro-choice are doing all the time. But that…

HH: But shouldn’t they have to stand up and defend what they believe, and condemn, or at least leave the Church of which they are a part?

LO’D: No, Catholicism, as I told you, is extremely flexible, and the Church doesn’t say you have to leave. Rudy Giuliani doesn’t leave…Rudy Giuliani, there was a time, you know, in Catholicism, in the 50’s, for example, in the kind of pre-divorce explosion in the United States, where if a Catholic got divorced, it was considered automatic excommunication. Now all the guys we’ve mentioned, with the exception of Mario Cuomo, have been divorced. And they continue to consider themselves Catholic. The Catholic Church doesn’t say they’re not Catholic. It’s, you know, there’s a 21st Century version of Catholicism. There’s a late 20th Century version of American Catholicism that allows for all sorts of things that were not allowed, and not believed in the first half of this century, including, by the way, the notion, prior to 1950, that if you weren’t a Catholic, you would not go to Heaven. That was a universal…

HH: Well, is the Catholic Church today anti-gay?

LO’D: Yes and no. I have had, I have had priest and Catholic theologians take the position that the posture that the Catholic Church takes from Rome, in its tilt here and there on the issue of sexuality, all come from man made, you know, sort of man made rules and laws out of Rome. And I’ve had Catholic priests say to me, who were, by the way, not gay and not molesters, say to me that they don’t think that there is an actual Catholic teaching against homosexuality. So it’s a very, you know, it’s a very, it’s very similar to Judaism, where as we know in Judaism, there’s orthodox and there’s reform, and there’s a bunch of different grades of Judaism, and they kind of label themselves as such. Catholics have never formally done that. We just use this word Catholic. And…

HH: Well, shouldn’t all these Catholic politicians, though, Lawrence O’Donnell, shouldn’t they come out and challenge their Church on being anti-gay and anti-woman? I mean, why are we allowing, why are they allowed to be silent in the face of this discrimination?

LO’D: The Pope is ignored. Let’s just get this straight. The Pope is ignored on most things by most Catholics.

So you think the LDS Church is racist?

HH: ... if it wasn’t a ratings grab, what’s the principle behind your demanding that Romney is responsible for what his Church taught when he was 18-30, but John Kerry and Joe Biden and Patrick Leahy are not responsible for their Church’s today.

LO’D: Because Romney said he was.

HH: Are you saying that they’re not really Catholic, they’re hypocrites?

LO’D: No, I’m telling you that Catholic is a much harder thing to define than you want.

HH: No it’s not, Lawrence.

HH: I’m saying that George Romney marched in civil rights actions in 1962, ’63, ’64. His young son was with him on that, and that it’s silly to attribute to Romney a racist bone in his body on the basis of whatever the teachings of the Mormon Church were, and you know it’s silly, and that’s why you’re trying to give wiggle room to your Catholics who don’t want to buy into everything and not make them leave the Church.

Phone call from a Black Mormon

HH: Lawrence, I want to take a call before we go much longer, because this is Mark in Los Angeles, who tells me he’s a black Mormon official. Is that correct, Mark?

Mark: That is correct, Hugh. Thank you for having me on.

HH: What do you want to say to Mr. O’Donnell?

Mark: Well, I want to tell him that the 9th Commandment still applies. You’re not supposed to bear false witness against people. Since you’re a Catholic, I’m going to basically briefly review the priesthood in Scripture. In ancient Israel, the priesthood was severely restricted not only to Israelis, the ancient Israelites, but it was restricted to male Levites. And frankly, it was restricted to the direct descendants of Aaron. So it was severely restricted in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Christ specifically said that He did not come to preach to the Gentiles. Was He a racist? No. The Gospel was taken to the Gentiles after Peter’s vision in Acts, Chapter 10. And the first beneficiary of that revelation was Cornelius, the centurion.

HH: You’ve got to run it along here, Mark. Get to the point.

Mark: Okay, the point is that there is no record in the Scriptures of the priesthood being given to blacks in the Old or New Testaments. Blacks would not have been given the priesthood in the Old Testament. The revelation came in 1978. It was the happiest day of my life, because I was able to join the Church.

LO’D: (laughing) And you believe that?

Mark: And I think that for Larry to say that we’re racist…

LO’D: You believe that revelation happened in 1978?

Mark: …I’d like to know whether he thinks the ancient Israelites were racist, and whether New Testament Christians were racists.

LO’D: Yes, I do. Of course I do. Yeah, of course.

HH: Okay, but I…

LO’D: And Hugh doesn’t believe that revelation in 1978. He thinks that was done solely to preserve the tax status of the Mormon Church.

HH: Thank you, Mark. No, I don’t.

LO’D: Hugh doesn’t think there was a real revelation in 1978.

HH: No, I don’t. I think that Mormons have their own understanding of what revelation is.

LO’D: Hugh, you’re with me. You know there was no revelation. You know there’s never been...

HH: Lawrence, I do not, because I don’t get into religious tests, and I’m not going to tell people what they believe.

LO’D: …a Divine revelation. You know there has never been a Divine revelation to any Mormon ever ... There’s no one in your audience who isn’t a Mormon who believes that a single Divine revelation has ever occurred to any Mormon, least of all Joseph Smith, the criminal, adulterous, rapist founder of the religion.

Romney is pro-polygamy?

HH: I want to ask you, Lawrence. You mentioned on the McLaughlin Group that Mitt Romney’s great-grandfather’s polygamy was an issue. Can you explain to me why?

LO’D: No, well, he…remember the line in the speech, this is the faith of my fathers, not just the…

HH: do you believe by that he meant…

LO’D: …not just George. Did he mean his great-grandfather?

HH: Do you think he did? You asserted that he did.

LO’D: Yup, I do.

HH: You…

LO’D: I do think…if I said that, I’d mean my great-grandfather.

HH: You believe that Mitt Romney was endorsing polygamy in his speech?

LO’D: I wouldn’t cut it off with my great-grandfather. No, I don’t think he endorses polygamy. I believe he’s a member of a completely political religion that made a political decision in 1890…

HH: No, wait. But you specifically…you…

LO’D: …to get rid of polygamy, because the Hell they were getting from the rest of the country about it was too much, and they wanted to make Utah a state. They didn’t do it for Divine reasons.

HH: You specifically said…

LO’D: This religion is a joke when it comes to changing its direction.

HH: You specifically said…

LO’D: It changes its direction purely for politics.

HH: Lawrence, Lawrence, you said specifically that Romney’s great-grandfather’s polygamy was an issue. I just want to know why.

LO’D: No, I said, I said, he talked about the faith of his father. What about the faith of his great-grandfather who had five wives? I didn’t say it’s an issue.

HH: Well, yes you did. Lawrence, that’s disingenuous. If you bring up his great-grandfather’s polygamy…

LO’D: I think he’s lying about his great-grandfather.

HH: I just want to follow through. You laid down a principle, and I want to follow through. As recently as…

LO’D: I think Romney’s a liar about his great-grandfather. That’s what I think.

HH: Yeah, but if a Catholic stands up and says I’m proud of my Catholic faith, it’s the faith of my fathers, and I’m standing by it, does that mean they’re anti-Semitic?

LO’D: That depends on who their father is.

HH: Oh, come on, Lawrence. It’s stupid. You’re too smart for this. They don’t mean that.

LO’D: I didn’t put the words in his mouth. He defended every tenet of Mormonism in the speech. He didn’t have to.

HH: No he didn’t. He said this was the faith of my fathers, I’m proud of my faith.

Why attack Mormonism, but not Islam?

LO’D: ... I don’t think he believes everything in the Book of Mormon. I think he’s lying about that. It’s an insane document produced by a madman who was a criminal and a rapist ... He comes from a long line of extreme rapists of teenage children.

HH: ... Would you say the same things about Mohammed as you just said about Joseph Smith?

LO’D: Oh, well, I’m afraid of what the…that’s where I’m really afraid. I would like to criticize Islam much more than I do publicly, but I’m afraid for my life if I do.

HH: Well, that’s candid.

LO’D: Mormons are the nicest people in the world. They’re not going to ever…

HH: So you can be bigoted towards Mormons, because they’ll just send you a strudel.

LO’D: They’ll never take a shot at me. Those other people, I’m not going to say a word about them.

HH: They’ll send you a strudel. The Mormons will bake you a cake and be nice to you.

LO’D: I agree.

HH: Lawrence O’Donnell, I appreciate your candor.

End of interview.

Was O'Donnell fired for such slander?

Suspended?

Reprimanded?

Heck, no! To the contrary, he now has his own show on MSNBC.

Wesley Ruff - The Masters and my dad

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 15:42:58 -0600

There are a bunch of great memories for me regarding the Masters. But taking my dad this year will be at the top of that list.

I lucked into a ticket to Thursday's first round, and then got another ticket from Mike Weir so I could bring my dad. Our trip was last minute and kind of thrown together, but it worked out well and I was able to share an experience of a lifetime with my dad.

We flew there Tuesday, and we stayed in Columbia, South Carolina, just over an hour from Augusta. On Tuesday, we played Palmetto G.C. in Aiken, SC, the 2nd oldest course in America. Dad hit some balls on the range and played one of the par 3's. He's 81 years old, and doesn't get around as well as he used to, so he was saving his strength for Augusta. I played well for 13 or 14 holes before I ran out of gas. But it was fun.

The real fun came on Thursday. We arrived at the course around 8:00. We stopped at the Masters store there to buy a t-shirt for my cousin Dennis and some hats for my sons and brother, and I got a nice golf shirt. We stored our booty, then headed to the course. We walked out by the first tee, and its more beautiful than you can imagine. As we were taking it all in, Tiger Woods walked right by us, about 3 feet away, heading to the practice green. I think I saw my dad smile.

We hiked down to Amen Corner, and got there before any of the groups had come through yet. So we just sat there and admired the beauty and peace and quiet there. It was about 50 minutes before the first group came through. We watched a couple of groups tee off on #12, standing maybe 10 feet from the tee box. Then we walked down 13, went over to 15 and 16, saw several guys make birdies and even saw an eagle. My dad was in a lot of pain, trying to walk around. We sat in the bleachers for awhile, then started to make our way back. We followed Tiger on #7, where he made bogey. We got back to the clubhouse, and chatted with Billy Casper near the clubhouse. I told dad to sit for awhile, and I went back out on the course to follow Mike Weir. I caught him on #2, and watched him make par. Then it was time to go. We had to catch an early flight.

It was over way too soon. But it was one of the coolest things I have ever done, taking my dad to the Masters. It was worth every penny. And I want to do it again...

Brent Hunsaker - Obama vs. The Supremes

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 21:48:00 -0600

President Obama went after Supreme Court and it back fired.

On Monday, he took on the Supreme Court claiming if the justices strike down the Affordable Care Act, AKA Obamacare, it would be "unprecedented." What in the world does he mean by that? The President went on, "that an unelected group of people would somehow overturn a duly constituted and passed law."

Isn't that what federal judges do? Don't they strike down laws that violate the constitution? Ever since the days of Marbury vs. Madison that's been the way the federal judiciary rolls.

In his comments, the President actually used the term "judicial activism."

Certainly, Republicans have also complained about that. They typically whimper that judges aren't just overturning laws, but "making new laws" from the bench. Now the President appears to expand the definition of "activism" as any judge who dares dabble with his pet legislation.

Now one federal judge on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals is firing back.

Judge Jerry Smith, a Reagan appointee, ordered a Justice Department attorney to come back on Thursday with a letter from the Attorney General affirming the Obama Administration does indeed recognize "the authority of the federal courts, though unelected judges, to strike down acts of Congress or portions thereof in appropriate cases."

This is Germaine because the 5th Circuit is currently hearing another lawsuit against ACA -- the same law the Supremes appear ready to strike down.

Okay, I think Judge Smith is being more than a tad bit political. Let's be blunt, he's grandstanding.

A charitable interpretation of what Judge Smith did is this: He just wants to make sure that, regardless of what President Obama says, his administration will abide by whatever decision is reached by the court.

I also think what the President said was reckless. Others went further claiming he was deliberately misleading and his statement was "consistent with the crass, cynical politicization of the Rule of Law and the U.S. Constitution that has marked his first term in office."

Surely, the President wasn't trying to intimidate a co-equal branch of government as it considered the "signature legislation of his presidency?"

Thursday's hearing in the 5th Circuit should be interesting. It would seem the Justice Department can't give the judge what he wants unless it throws the boss under the bus.

Emerson Lotzia - Meet the world's tallest baseball player

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 21:15:00 -0600

When the Salt Lake Bees released their opening day roster on Monday, the first thing that caught my eye wasn't a name - but a player's height. Sounds weird, but when you see 7'1 you can't help but think how ridiculously tall that is for a baseball player.

Needless to say, Loek (pronounced 'Luke') Van Mil is the tallest professional baseball player in the world. How crazy is that? He's a right-handed pitcher who was born in Oss, Netherlands.

Is he any good? Yes. Check out his career stats HERE. But like many tall pitchers in the past (Jon Rauch, Chris Young, Randy Johnson, Eric Hillman), Van Mil is a late bloomer.

Now the 27-year-old is just one call-up away from the Majors. And yes, I made sure to tell him there is a game called basketball that he'd be pretty good at. But he told me basketball wasn't his thing.

Want to see more? Click on the video attached to this blog. To read more on where Van Mil's past, CLICK HERE.

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Thanks for reading!

Brent Hunsaker - Hard questions about Powell investigation won't go away

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:20:00 -0600

The hard questions just won't go away.

West Valley Police and the Salt Lake District Attorney say their investigation in the disappearance of Susan Powell is still active, so they're offering little more than "no comment."

Come again? You're only "person of interest" is dead. Josh Powell killed himself, but not before he murdered his two little boys with a hatchet and a gasoline-fueled fire.

Who's left to investigate?

Is there anything that points to anyone else?

Steve Powell? Do you suspect him of being an accomplice?

Josh did call his father, Steve, around noon on the day Susan disappeared. Was Josh telling his dad what he planned? Or just exchanging pancake recipes?

Steve Powell now sits in a Washington jail awaiting trial on charges of voyeurism and child pornography.

But if you couldn't bring murder charges against Josh without Susan's body, how could you hope to charge Steve with being an accomplice? Accomplice to what?!

Perhaps you want to charge him with "obstruction of justice."

Detective Gary Sanders of the Pierce County (Washington) Sheriff's Department said in a complaint for a search warrant that Josh and Steven Powell "both have obstructed in this investigation." In another instance, Detective Sanders called it "criminally obstructive behavior" for refusing to turn over Susan's journals.

Is that what you're still investigating?

Or are you just using the "active investigation" as an excuse to stonewall?

I really hope that's not the case. This community invested too much effort and prayer on behalf of Susan and her boys not to be told exactly what went so terribly, tragically wrong.

Wesley Ruff - The Masters rules!!

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 23:38:48 -0600

A couple of weeks ago, we were talking in the sports department about different games and different events. One of our interns asked me if I could go to one event, which event would I choose. I didn't even hesitate. The Masters. She was stunned. She's a big football fan, and said "What about the Super Bowl?" Nope, for me its the Masters.

This is my favorite week. I love everything about the Masters. The tradition, the course, the players, even Jim Nantz's sometimes corny lines.

I've been to the Masters one time. We went in 2004 when Mike Weir was the defending champ. It was awesome! As we were driving into Augusta, the closer we got to the course, the bigger my smile got. It was everything I had dreamed about and more. So beautiful. So peaceful. So awesome.

Watching it on TV just makes me want to go back. To see the dogwoods and the azelias, the manicured greens and fairways, to feel the history and to watch the greatest golfers in the world play for a title that everyone wants is too amazing for words. I can't wait!!!

Dana Greene - The Jazz have made believers out of me

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:45:12 -0600

Leaving Sacramento this time around must have felt a whole lot different than the last. Back on February 28th, the Jazz got run over by the Kings to fall a season-low three games under .500 at 15-18. The season looked like it was over. There were gripes over playing time. The young players looked lost. The veterans were inconsistent. Hope and confidence were not exactly bursting out of the Jazz lockerroom.

Fast forward three weeks later, and the Jazz look like a playoff team. After losing a 14-point lead, the Jazz didn't fold up the tent like they did last month. The rallied to take the lead not once, not twice, but three different times in the final minute to finally put the Kings away. On the road, no less.

Al Jefferson's tip-in with .9 seconds left was indicative of how the season has turned. The Jazz have won five in a row, and a sixth straight over Denver tonight would tie them for the 7th seed in the Western Conference. They've been the likes of the Heat, the Lakers and the Thunder over the past month. That was unthinkable at the all-star break.

So what's been the difference? The kids. Derrick Favors, Alec Burks, Gordon Hayward and Enes Kanter are finally getting the minutes they deserve and they are responding night after night. Favors is a matchup problem for every team with his low-post ability and defensive prowess. And we can't forget about the contributions of Jamaal Tinsley, who has played even better than the guy he's filling in for, Earl Watson.

Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap are the rocks, Devin Harris is the glue, but it's the young guns that can take the Jazz to the next level.

I'm not saying the Jazz are ready to make a run at the Western Conference Finals. But if they can sneak into the playoffs as a 6 or 7 seed, they will be a tough out. If that happens, Tyrone Corbin deserves some mention for NBA coach of the year.

Let's just hope now that I've jumped back on the bandwagon, the wheels don't fall off again.

Brent Hunsaker - Book by Orson Scott Card called porn

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:30:09 -0600

Here's the Reader's Digest version: The book is "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card. A teacher at Schofield Middle School in Aiken, South Carolina, read the book to students. One parent called it pornographic. That parent went to the school and then police. The teacher was placed on "administrative leave."

Now, for a bit of sanity: Aiken police will not prosecute that teacher. As reported in the Aiken Standard, "Public Safety officials said the teacher did not do anything criminal, and the police investigation is closed."

Pornographic? Ender's Game?! The book is an award winner -- taking both the "Hugo" and "Nebula" for best novel. I have read the book three times.

The parent is nuts.

Ender's Game is a sci-fi novel about a brilliant little boy snatched from his family and turned into the military leader who will save mankind from an alien race. Sounds like a light saber wielding, laser shoot 'em up, right? Wrong.

This book, as they say, is deep. Told from the perspective of the prepubescent Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, the book revolves around a moral question: Is the severe "training" of this pint-sized commander justified because humanity must have a "savior?"

It's like that old line from "The Wrath of Khan" where Spock says, "The needs of the many outweigh... the needs of the few... or the one." Only by the end of "Ender's Game," I am not so sure Spock got it right.

The book spawned a series that follows Ender and his youthful colleagues through their lives and exploits. I have now read them all. They are all infused with the same "conflicts of conscience" that challenge readers to see things differently.

I confess my description does not do justice to these works of Card.

Just read the book. Or if you prefer, wait until the movie "Ender's Game" comes out in a year.

You will see that the "porn" allegation is absurd, ridiculous and itself, pornographic.

P.S. Although the local constables won't pursue criminal charges against the middle school teacher, the Aiken County School District is conducting its own investigation. The teacher remains on leave.

Emerson Lotzia - Stop the Mannsanity!

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:34:10 -0600

Stop the Mannsanity!

Yes, Peyton Manning has been extremely good since entering the National Football League. But let's not get too excited. I believe the guy is damaged goods. Last season, everyone was talking about how he'll never play football again, especially the "experts". To me that's a sign his surgically repaired neck will always hold him back to a certain extent. If anything I think Manning's neck injury will mess with him mentally moving forward.

Every player is one hit away from his playing days coming to an end. Manning might be a knock down away.

On another note.....so long Tebowmania!

Tim's days are numbered in the Mile High City. So where to next? I wouldn't mind seeing him in a Jaguars uniform, but to be honest, Jax doesn't need him. They've got Gabbert as their starter, with Henne backing him up. Tim brings a massive media circus with him. Although, anything and everything will help the Jags at this point. I'm a die hard J-ville fan, and always will be.

But even I have to remind myself from time to time, the NFL is a business. Good decisions AND bad decisions are made every day.

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Thanks for reading!

Brent Hunsaker - The cost of national health care balloons

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:15:53 -0600

Already worried about runaway government spending? A national debt that's out of this solar system?

Then you'll love this. Remember that whole "health care for everyone" thing? Well, it's going to cost a whole lot more than advertised.

When the administration was selling the Affordable Care Act (AKA Obamacare) it promised it "will reduce our deficit, control health costs and make health care more affordable.” (Jeanne Lambrew, deputy director of the White House office of Health Reform.)

The administration also said it would cost $940-billion over 10 years.

Wrong.

A new report from the Congressional Budget Office says the real cost from 2013 - 2022 will be $1.76 trillion.

If you want to read the details, I have attached a copy of the CBO report.

Wesley Ruff - Raja's clash with Corbin brings back memories

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:18:35 -0600

So Raja Bell got sent home from the Utah Jazz road trip. He had a meeting with Kevin O'Connor and coach Tyrone Corbin. It sounds pretty familiar.

There have been plenty of clashes between players and coaches. Jerry Sloan and Greg Ostertag used to get "sideways" with each other, as Sloan described it, on a semi-regular basis. Karl Malone had a few moments, as did Carey Scurry, Mel Turpin, Darryl Dawkins, Blue Edwards and many others.

But one clash between a player and a coach stands out for me. Frank Layden got into it with star Adrian Dantley and sent him home from Phoenix. He also fined him "30 pieces of silver" for being a traitor. That episode probably had a lot to do with the fact that Dantley was soon traded by Layden to Detroit in exchange for Kent Benson and Kelly Tripuka.

Hopefully, this clash between Bell and Corbin has been hammered out and cooler heads will prevail. I like Raja a lot. He's always been good with the media and has been friendly to me in his two stints here. But someone has to be in control, and that someone is the coach. They say they've worked things out and they're ready to move on. I hope so. But it does kind of seem like deja vu all over again.

Dana Greene - BYU deserves an invite to the Big Dance

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:51:28 -0600

Barring a bunch of underdog teams winning their conference tournaments, I think BYU should be getting ready to put on their dancing shoes. It will be a nerve-racking time in Provo this Selection Sunday, but when all is said and done, I feel the Cougars should get an invite.

I realize the Cougars haven't exactly been giant killers this season. Their highest profile wins are over Gonzaga, Oregon and Virginia Tech,, and their RPI is just 47. But 25 wins is nothing to sneeze at, and the West Coast Conference is a vastly underrated league. Had BYU beaten Gonzaga or St. Mary's one more time, they would be able to relax a little bit this weekend, but I still feel they've done enough to garner a 12-seed. The Cougars may be relegated to a 1st round play-in game, but at this point, they'll take it.

If Noah Hartsock was not healthy enough to play, then the Cougars would be in a lot of trouble. But after his performance at the WCC Tournament, Hartsock proved he is close enough to full strength to make an impact in the Big Dance. With Hartsock's knee OK, Brandon Davies playing the best basketball of his career, and Matt Carlino trying to become a more efficient player, the Cougars are as good as any bubble team out there.

The biggest thing the Cougars have going for them is their recent history, which is taken into account by the selection committee. The Cougars and Kansas Jayhawks are the only two teams in the nation that have put together six straight 25-win seasons. BYU has also made the NCAA Tournament the last five consecutive years, and after battling through several key injuries and still putting up a record of 25-8, the Cougars deserve to make it six.

We'll see if the selection committee agrees on Sunday. Until then, happy sweating, Cougar fans.

Brent Hunsaker - Gagging over Utah's ag-gag bill

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:15:00 -0600

The "ag-gag" bill turns whistleblowers into criminals. It makes it illegal to take clandestine photos and videos of animal farms for any reason.

Here's the problem: Pictures are often the only way for a whistleblower -- either a farm worker or an outside investigator -- to document abuses and threats to the health of consumers.

In a recent opinion piece in the Salt Lake Tribune, Amanda Hitt, director of the Food Integrity Campaign at the Government Accountability Project, wrote that without photographic evidence whistleblowers are too easily ignored. She points out that a USDA veterinarian, Dr. Dean Wyatt, complained about slaughterhouses in Oklahoma and Vermont and was ignored. It wasn't until undercover video surfaced that changes were made.

No video? No change.

Folks, we're not just talking about PETA here, this is about food safety -- this is about accountability for the people who produce the food you buy in the grocery store.

Don't care about the critters, you say? Fine. But I'll bet you'll care if the brisket at your next barbeque is contaminated.

Natan Runkle, the executive director of Mercy for Animals, said, "Not only could this ag-gag bill perpetuate animal abuse, it endangers workers' rights, consumer health and safety, and the freedom of journalists, employees and the public at large to share information about something as fundamental as our food supply. This bill is bad for consumers, who want more, not less, transparency in food production."

"Demand for humanely raised, safe and wholesome food is increasing," writes Hitt. "From farm to fork, it’s time for transparency, not laws shielding consumers from information about where their food comes from."

When Hitt wrote her commentary, the ag gag bill had only passed the House. Now it has also passed the Senate and is awaiting only the Governor's signature to become law.

Glenn Willey-Bridges & Overpasses

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:27:01 -0600

Every time we get snow you hear, "watch out for bridges and overpasses." What makes bridges and overpasses so special? Isn't it cold and slippery everywhere when there's snow and ice around?

Not necessarily and this morning was a perfect example. Driving along the highway Wednesday morning was smooth sailing until you hit a bridge or got on an on or off ramp. So what makes these spots particularly tricky?

Bridges, overpasses and on occasion your on and off ramps are typically exposed in the air. Because they're out in the open air they get colder and can ice up easier. Think of those bridges and overpasses as the "meat" in a cold air sandwich. The colder air above and below the road can cause freezing on the road surface.

That's why you see the signs warning you that bridges are more likely to freeze and "slippery when wet." Hopefully this helps explain why those bridges and overpasses get so much attention from road crews and meteorologists like myself on our stormy winter days.

Thanks for reading, be sure to check out my Facebook page and follow me on Twitter too.

Brent Hunsaker - Mormonism & Islam - Part 2

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 22:13:00 -0600

Concerning my modest contribution to the ongoing national discussion, "Are Mormons Christians?" I have received a lot of good comments.

Not all pleasant, but good.

I am sharing one viewer's response not because I necessarily agree with every point (he apparently does not agree with me) nor because it is the "best", but because it is reasoned and points out things that seem to have been missed by others.

BotBot - 3/3/2012 2:46 AM

"If commentators such as Hunsaker would simply say Mormons’ theology is based on New Testament Christianity, not Fourth Century Creeds, they could clarify a lot of confusion is folks' minds. For example, the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) views on Baptism, Lay Ministry, the Trinity, Theosis, Grace vs. Works, the Divinity of Jesus Christ comport more closely with Early Christianity than any other denomination."

Thank you, BotBot for your input.

Others have asked me to stop with the sarcasm for just a moment and express a sincere opinion on what was said by Dr. Land of the Southern Baptist Convention in a recent article in newsmax.com. Just to recap, he contends that, "charitably" speaking, Mormonism could be considered a "4th Abrahamic religion" alongside Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

At first blush, the comparison seems to be fascinating and even complimentary, especially given Mormonism's dispensationalist claim that it is merely the latest (and last) restoration of the same gospel taught by prophets and then Christ himself.

But Dr. Land does not mean this as a compliment.

He brought it up to put Mormons well outside of Christianity. He even served up a comparison of Mormonism and Islam. It was as if to say, "Well, Mormonism sure ain't Christianity..." You would suppose such a statement would be followed by sound theological arguments, but instead we get only the superficial and silly. (Please note, I am passing judgment only on his arguments, I am NOT passing judgment on either religion.)

He seemed to be saying (between the lines) that since Joseph Smith Junior produced new "scripture," that should solidly put him in the same camp as Muhammad who gave the world The Koran. He also seemed to be saying that such new scripture (The Book of Mormon) must automatically contradict older scripture (The Bible). But in that he fails to acknowledge The Bible is a collection of writings by and about prophets and leaders spread over hundreds of years with each one reiterating and expanding on those who came before.

Does Moses contradict Matthew? Even when Christ swept away the Mosaic Law, he did not say it was wrong, only that there was something more beyond the old that was required to be His disciple.

I was disappointed in the article on Dr. Land because it seemed to break little new ground. Sure the whole "4th Abrahamic religion" thing was, on the surface, kind of cool. But there was nothing to support it other than his saying it might be so.

Glenn Willey-Is it Spring yet?!

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:23:12 -0600

Spring is here! At least "meteorologically" speaking. Meteorological summer officially began on March first, you know, the day before the biggest snowstorm in the Valley this season!

Friday's storm dumped anywhere between 5-12" of snow in the Valley. The March 2nd storm single-handedly put March ahead of December for snowfall. That tells you a little about our winter, or lack of winter as the case may be.

The big question now becomes, are we done with winter? I would say, not so fast. There is snow in the forecast for Tuesday night and early Wednesday but it's not overly impressive. The long range climate forecast (which as you may recall I place very little stock in) calls for temperatures to stay close to average and precipitation to be slightly less than average.

Considering our average high temperature is already 50, the prospect of many more significant winter weather events looks slim. Following a winter like this one many will be looking for answers. What caused such a mild winter? Last winter was so snowy this one so dry, is it climate change?

I think it's important not to jump to any conclusions. No doubt we often see extremes in our weather from day to day, month to month and certainly year to year. It's important to look at data over the long term. No doubt this winter will go down as drier than normal and most likely warmer than normal. We put together the best forecasts we can using all the data we can get our hands on but if I've learned anything during my 20 years of forecasting, Mother Nature won't listen to me.

Thanks for reading, be sure to check out my Twitter feed and Facebook page. Share weather information with me, ask questions and leave comments.

Emerson Lotzia - A big win would mean Big Dance for BYU

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 14:57:01 -0600

The Cougars advanced to the WCC semifinals where they'll face off with Gonzaga tonight.

Plain and simple, a win over the Bulldogs and the Cougars should receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament next week on selection Sunday.

As of today the Cougars, who now have six consecutive 25-win seasons, are on the fringe of the Big Dance. That's because out of those 25 wins, not many are over quality opponents. Listen, BYU doesn't exactly need to win tonight to qualify for the NCAA Tourney, but a victory would definitely help.

BYU could really make it easy on the selection committee by just winning the WCC tournament. That's easier said than done, though.

The Zags and Cougars split their regular season series, with Gonzaga winning the most recent meeting back on February 23. However, don't forget, Noah Hartsock played just 7 minutes in that game. Obviously, he's back in the lineup and if he can play the same way he did last night in the team's win over San Diego, the Cougars will have their shot at winning a WCC championship.

Follow me on Twitter @emersonlotzia and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/emersonlotzia

Thanks for reading!