Inside Job

I hadn't heard of the movie Inside Job (IJ)until I had watched part of the Oscar's this year.  I briefly heard about IJ during the Oscar's but later found out what the movie is all about.

I think I can speak for the majority of the American, and even global population how awful the recession has been.  Millions of people lost their homes and millions of people world wide lost their jobs.  Thirteen million people in China alone lost their jobs.  I saw it all happen, but I  didn't understand why or how it happened.  Well, to sum it up in one word: GREED

IJ explains in detail how the recession we are currently in started back in the late 90's in Iceland.  I definitely can't explain it as well as Matt Damon does in IJ, but basically some big banking firms got a little greedy and made themselves a lot of money.

J. P. Morgan and Goldman-Sachs were two of multiple banking companies involved.   The banks borrowed billions of dollars, bet against the money they borrowed and then sold the money they didn't own.  It caused the whole market to crash around the globe.  The men and women involved deny they knew what they were doing.  In fact, some of them served as major financial advisors with President Clinton, President Bush, and President Reagan.  They passed laws to make it easier for these big banks to make more money.

No one has stopped them.  Nations around the globe know what they have done.  These men and women are still employed and earning MILLIONS while many place in the world hover around a 10% unemployment rate.

The major individuals involved with the recession have not lost their jobs.  They haven't lost $1.  They haven't had  to short sale their homes.  The major businesses are even more wealthy and more powerful than before.

IJ will make most middle class citizens mad.  It is irritating and frustrating to know how much we have lost and how much they have gained.

It is my opinion that there will be another recession.  I think the world will recover to some extent from the recession of 2008.  However, because there are still no changes and the same people and companies are still in power I predict this will all happen again.  I don't want it too, but I think it will.

If you read this post I challenge you to watch Inside Job and tell me what you think.

Utah Trip: Part 1

While we were in Utah we swung by the Brigham City temple to check out the progress.  It has come together on the outside.  I am excited for the Brigham City area to have such a beautiful temple in their backyard.

It will still be quite a few months before the temple is opened because the inside hasn't even begun yet.

Mr. Mischief

Grant has always been very cautious.  He has never dared do anything risky or scary. So when I found this I was shocked and proud at the same time.

Bee Season

Bee Season by Myla Goldberg
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I thought this book was very interesting. I loved the story of a young girl having the courage and strength to do something no one expected.  The main story is wonderful.  The side stories were a little strange.  The mother has an obsession with stealing.  The brother can't decide what religion he should belong to.  Overall the story is great, but a few little strange side notes I could have lived without.  No swearing and no explicit sex scenes.  I would recommend this book if the story appeals to you.


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Basketball Obsession

If you are frequent reader of my blog then you already know how obsessed our son is with basketball.  It is actually one of a few obsessions, but it has been the longest lasting one so far.  Other things have come and gone with the wind.  Basketball remains strong!
We have taken him to a couple Jazz games.  He just soaks it all in!
Whenever we go on walks he always notices the basketball hoops in people's driveways.  On this particular day he wanted to play on Grandma's basketball hoop.  The bad part about these bigger hoops is someone always has to be out there with him.  Otherwise he can't make any baskets.  What fun is that?  I think these pictures are so cool!  (I'd say cute but boys aren't CUTE.)

Notice that every shot has to be approached differently.  We watched the NBA Slam Dunk contest on t.v. and ever since we have to all kinds of crazy stunts.

Independence Day

We had a great day celebrating our country's independence and freedom.  We went swimming in our community pool!  We had so much fun!  I took my camera and got one crappy picture before the battery died.
After we went swimming we had a "traditional" picnic dinner.  After reading a few people's blogs I have found that "traditional" 4th of July meal is different for everyone.  For us it includes America's favorite meat HOT DOGS! We also had potato salad, chips, watermelon, with all the fixin's.  Grant asked if he could say the blessing on the food.  He prayer included, "bless there will only be green fireworks because green is my favorite color."
We didn't buy our own fireworks this year.  I didn't know where to go for city fireworks, but luckily everything is online!  We were able to find some in a park down town.  They were great!

When the show was over Grant said, "those were sure pretty. Can we do it again?"

Kyle's Birthday!

Kyle turned 29 this year!  Holy Moly!  We are getting old.  We talked about Daddy's birthday coming for the whole week.  Grant thoroughly enjoyed getting ready for his Dad's birthday.  We put up streamers and balloons Saturday morning before Daddy woke up.  It was so funny because Grant was so excited to be part of the birthday celebration he woke Dad up long before we had any of the decorations up.  Kyle was a good sport and pretended to be asleep for about 45 minutes. Grant thought it was so cool to go wake up his Dad and tell him Happy Birthday!

Grant was so excited for Dad to open his presents.  He made Kyle open them as soon as everyone was dressed.

Grant or any child for that matter is not great at keeping secrets.  He just doesn't get it.  So this year I let Grant get Kyle the two things Kyle already knew about.  He needed a swim suit and we were all together when Ky picked it out.  Grant was so pleased when his Dad opened it.  We have a pool at our apartment complex and now we can all go swimming!

Grant also helped Dad pick out this new bike helmet.  Kyle is getting a bike so we can go on family bike rides.  Grant wrote "Dad" on the card all by himself.  He was so proud of himself.  He is so smart!  

Kyle wanted to get a new reel for his new fly rod.  We went on a little joy ride.  We were able to get the reel he wanted on a very sweet deal!  Kyle was more than thrilled.  He has been shopping for this particular reel for a while and was pleased to finally find it.

We went out to lunch at Red Robin!  They were handing out balloons to the kids and Grant so sweetly got his Dad a green balloon for his birthday.  

It would've been nice to have extended family here to celebrate with us.  We will get to see them soon!  I have to say that having  Grant around is so much fun.  He got so into Dad's birthday.  He has really started catching on to things lately and it was nice to see him so excited about someone else's birthday.