I am reposting this. My daughter wrote this when she was 15 for an English assignment (she is now 20):
The reason we live like this
Everyone has a different outlook or perspective on the way they do things. Most people put
time away to get to their destination in life and stick with it until death as part of their
goal.
My goal may be different than everyone else’s. My goal is to live up to my responsibilities of
being a human being; to live each day, not as if it were my last, but as if it were my first;
to learn something new and remember the kindness and generosity I am supposed to show other
people and things that make up who I am.
In today’s society there is so much wrong:
Crime
Poverty
Anger
Tears
or even just the fact that there are some people who can’t walk grounds without someone
bringing to their attention how useless and unwanted they are. We shouldn’t put those things
aside – we should listen, we should care, we should try to make things better between
everything and everyone. Just because the good things you do might not mean anything to most
people doesn’t mean you didn’t help someone get through a difficult situation – you made a
difference to them and to yourself. Don’t let the world move you away from what you have
already become.
I’ve had experience with change and being alone – everyone has – but that’s what it’s all
about. Some people have it good – some people have it bad. Then some people, like me, just have
it – life and everything that comes with it. Change effects everyone around you whether it be
your Mom, Dad, friends, etc., – it effects everyone.
So the reason we live like this isn’t because we want to – it is because we have to. Whatever
life’s plan is for you is what you have to take, even if it means going out of your way to
please other people and yourself. Life’s gonna knock you down sometimes and that’s OK but
what’s not OK is when you let life keep you down. When you feel knocked over just get back up
and start all over again. It may not make a better past but it will definitely create a
positive future.
Here is an article I wrote and published last summer (2009) on my Dad’s 80th birthday. It was published in the local papers in his area (Middletown [Maryland] Valley Citizen and Brunswick Citizen)
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Frederick County Baseball Enthusiast Celebrates 80th Birthday with The Frederick Keys
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"Play ball!" That’s just what one Frederick County resident did to commemorate his 80th birthday at a Frederick Keys game June 28, 2009 .
Donald "Don" T. Taylor, lifelong resident of Frederick County, born and raised in Brunswick and residing in Middletown for the past 43 years, officially became 80 on May 19, 2009. His children presented him with the gift of a sky box at the game, the thrill of throwing out the opening pitch, and an announcement on the electronic board on the field.
"We had been planning this for nearly a year," states Donna Gaver, Don’s youngest daughter, of Middletown. Deanna Taylor, Don’s oldest daughter, of West Jordan, Utah, adds, "Baseball is Dad’s passion and we thought a night at the stadium would be the perfect gift."
Indeed it was.
The entire family, consisting of Don’s wife, his four children and their spouses, 9 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren (one who was born on Don’s birthday this year!), plus a few friends, gathered at the stadium to celebrate Don’s big event with him.
"It was a very exciting game. The Keys were leading right up until near the end," says Frank Taylor of Keedysville, oldest son of Don. David Taylor, Don’s youngest son of Middletown, adds, "Dad had a great time regardless, though. I held some practice pitching sessions with him in preparation for throwing the opening pitch."
A fabulous fireworks display ended the evening of fun. "He was thrilled, of course," says Nadia, Don’s wife of 51 years. "We all had a wonderful time!"
Don said that being on the Keys playing field was "challenging, fun, and really thrilling to have had the opportunity to do something like that."
Don has had many baseball highlights in the past 80 years. "A personal highlight was pitching for Towson State Teachers college (now Towson University) in the late 1940’s. The highlight in professional baseball was seeing the Baltimore Orioles win three world series – that was quite a thrill."
Don has seen many changes in 80 years in Frederick County. Generally, the biggest changes have been its population growth and urbanization. "Frederick County was a rural farming county. There are still many farms but over the years that number has been
reduced due to the growth."
Don dabbled in politics in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s with his bids for House of Delegates. Although he did not obtain the seat for his district, he was glad for the experience of running a political campaign. "The whole family was involved in helping run the campaigns. I met many great people. Each campaign we ran involved a lot of exciting work."
Don points out an ironic bit of trivia about The Citizen Printing/Office facility which is in Brunswick on Main Street. "That building is the exact same building that my brother, Jerry Taylor, and I ran a service station out of around 1960."
About how it feels to be 80, Don states, "Glad to be here. I am the luckiest man on earth….I have such a great family."
Paraphrasing the words of Oliver Wendall Holmes when someone asked him how it felt to be 90, Don says, "Oh to be 70 again!"
View our movies of our trip to the Thomas Range in April 2010 by clicking these links:
Happy Earth Day to Everyone. Earth Day is Every Day. Let’s take today to reflect and take action in our personal lives and beyond to protect our planet and its life for now and future generations.
Tom rescued a baby pigeon after having to close all possible entries for birds in the eaves of our school building. The birds had been creating a situation where students could hear them during class walking across the ceiling and coo-ing. Tom tried on Saturday to get all the pigeons out, but was unsuccessful as a few, along with their babies, would not fly out. He was forced to close them in. After closing the holes, the pigeons that had been inside the building (above the dropped ceiling) either escaped through the building or perished….except for Pudgey. Tom has been this pigeon’s "mother" for over nearly 2 weeks. Pudgey gets very excited when it’s feeding time and after eating likes to jump up on Tom’s lap for bonding. Pudgey is getting bigger and stronger each day and is now able to eat pieces of dry oats from the floor, along with rocks (birds store rocks in their gizzard to help digest the food they eat).
Really?
I can’t help but wonder, even though Benson points out that there is no connection between the presenting scientists and Energy Pollutions Solutions or any other waste storage corporation, if there was some hidden connection, somewhere, somehow ("We have vays….."). I mean, c’mon – the audience members had very little to say and no questions? In Utah???? Just sayin’.
And it’s not just the radiation. DU has chemical properties that deems it more dangerous than lead (about 70% time more dense than lead is) .
Physicians for Social Responsibility provides some good information and links to published journal sources to examine the effects of DU, including occupational hazards, for example. HEAL Utah also provides cited information in the dangers of DU.
Let’s face it. The Pentagon will never reveal any findings about the effects of DU. I’m not a scientist, but based on my readings, I feel that DU is a terrible, horrible weapon of mass destruction. The waste from the use of DU in nuclear power plants is in itself a real problem since it can’t be stored just anywhere. The manufacturing and use of it for any reason should be stopped…..now.
Here are some links to sources to read about DU, some scientific, some not. I have purposely provided sources that are neutral to the dangers of DU and some that adamantly oppose DU due to the health risks and other factors. (Warning: Some articles show graphic photographs of children disfigured by the effects of DU).
Is depleted uranium really "not that scary"? Read and decide for yourself if the risks of manufacturing, using, and storing it are worth it for the welfare of our planet.
Comments to the Deseret News Article reference above
Wikipedia – general information on DU with cited sources
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Campaign Against Depleted Uranium
World Nuclear Association – "representing people and organizations of the nuclear profession"
International Atomic Energy Agency
Countercurrents – Depleted Uranium: A War Crime Within a War Crime
Tuberose – Depleted Uranium and Gulf War Syndrome – good information, sources not cited
Federation of American Scientists
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Activism, human rights, immigration, immigration issues, salt lake city, Utah, utah legislature
These are videos I took at the Immigration Reform March and Rally on Sunday, March 21, 2010 in Salt Lake City:
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Activism, immigration, immigration reform, salt lake city, utah legislature
July 1….is the date by which [owner] Klc must come up with $125,000 to cover the higher tax on his existing inventory. Klc says it’s too big an investment for products that will be taxed at some of the highest rates in the nation.
"When I think of my customers and suppliers, I feel like I’m losing my best friends. It’s like I’m going to a funeral.
Sen. Allen Christensen, R-North Ogden, who fought for years to raise Utah’s tobacco tax, said he understood that distributors would have to pay the bill, not retailers. But Charlie Roberts, Utah Tax Commission spokesman, said retailers indeed must pay the higher tax and yes, it will come due when the law takes effect this summer."If that’s the way it is, then so be it," Christensen said. "I’m sorry for some of the businessmen the law will impact, but they’re selling a deadly product."
Well, let’s talk about what is "deadly" that also should be taxed.
Guns: Utahns are big on guns. Legilsators need to impose a guns and bullet tax hike: 100% hike on guns and $1.00 per bullet (government exempt)
Pollution: All companies that contribute to the polluted air in Utah should be taxed even higher such as oil refineries and coal fired power plants (which put mercury into the air).
Alcohol: Let’s close all liquor stores and have another prohibition!
Products with aspartagme:
Energy drinks
Fast food that is contributing to the ill health of Americans
(Utah should NEVER allow Big Mac’s into the state!)
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 