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An Ode To Weekend Projects

I am pretty excited for when Brittany and I own our own house and I can improve something we actually own. With that said I have been busy with little weekend projects. A few of them started the weekend my wife went to visit the Cheesiest State in the Union (Wisconsin, just in case you are slow on the uptake).


First off the TV

I can't use the wall mount as a weekend project. It was actually a gift for Father's Day even when we didn't know I was going to be a father. Mounting the TV on the wall did make me think of another thing...
I have been wanting to mount the center channel of the surround sound along with the TV for better sound, and just for fun. It does sound better and Brittany was kind enough to say that it "Looks good honey." When she saw it.

I mounted it by getting some channeled aluminum tubing and doing some old school geometry. I'd be lying if I remembered how to calculate the height of an equilateral triangle without some Googling. Simple enough once I did though. I just cut the right lengths, flattened out one end (to mount to the speaker, then a quick coat of black spray paint and you see the results. I think it looks good and sounds good too. Now when we swivel the TV to watch while doing dishes or while I'm on the patio tinkering the sound is directed toward the viewer.


The Shelf

This was easy. However it was moved from it's previous location because it fell off the wall. It had been mounted above the TV. One night we were watching a show, when all of sudden it came tumbling down. It had a few pictures and a vase with flowers and water on it. To be honest I hadn't mounted it into studs, but had used 5, countem 1,2,3,4,5 wall anchors rated at 50lbs each. Even with that it managed to fall, and freak us both out. When i remounted it I put it into two studs and used 3 wall anchors just for good measure. It will be just fine, right above our heads as we sleep ; ]

Slade Bike Shop


This is a roof rack/basket my great parents gave me for Christmas a few years back. I have been wanting to make it useful as a bike rack ever since I first got it, but just haven't tried. The wheel channels are courtesy of Lee Taylor. The front of the rack is a piece of 1in x 1/4 in aluminum painted black. I bolted the fork clamps to it, and the aluminum to the rack in 5 places to add rigidity. The only thing left to do is mount it on a vehicle, and put on a wind faring. I have to give credit to McKade Greer for helping me with the original bike rack. It just wasn't quite what I wanted so I perfected it.

A Bike for the Rack


I went riding a few months ago (maybe you remember the post) and my hoopti kinda pooped out on me. There was a broken spoke/flat tire/ghost shifting (changing gears without me making it)
All of that is now rectified, or so I think for now. I got the spoke replaced and tuned it up. I am glad becuase Jaron and I just planned a ride, and Joe and I have been talking about riding for about a year. Brittany came out while I was taking the pictures of the bike on the rack, and laughed. I am pretty sure she knows that I am obsessed about things until I figure them out. The even better news is she seems to like me just the way I am. I am a pretty blessed man.

Which leads me to my last, and most favorite every "weekend project"


Spending Quality Time With Brittany

She is such a wonderful woman. I can't imagine being sick and tired while growing our son, and still doing all she does. No matter what she is going through she is still the most upbeat, supportive wife I could ever ask for.
A few weeks ago I had a bad day at work. Like usual I called her on my way home, and her response to my whining was, "Come home and forget about work. I'll have dinner ready." She simply never ceases to amaze me. Pregnant, tired, and having worked all day herself, she was so quick to think about taking care of me. I can't to anything but take a step back, say a thanks, and work harder to be the husband a wife like her deserves.

Ezra Taft Benson on Socialism

I can't take credit for this, it came from AwakeandArise

If you go there, you can look at the shorter versions as well.

Download the full mp3 version here 

7 Minute Version  

(right click then save link as or save target as)

This is an excerpt of an hour long talk given in 1965 by Dwight D. Eisenhower's Secretary of Agriculture, Ezra Taft Benson, just 4 years after having left the cabinet in Washington DC where he served the full 8 years in the Cabinet, despite all predictions that he would be the first one in the cabinet to be removed, given his severe anti-Socialist policies, seeking to undo the bondage and destruction brought on by the New Deal as government now had moved far outside of it's jurisdiction and constitutional bounds.

Ezra Taft Benson had been an apostle 22 years at the time this talk was given, and it was unprecedented that in such a capacity he would have been freed up to accept a position in Eisenhower's Cabinet, but LDS Church President David O. McKay instructed Benson to accept the offer of the Cabinet position if it came in a proper spirit.

President David O. McKay, was listening to this talk as it was given, he was part of the audience, and he too stood in strong opposition to Socialism and Communism, recognizing and warning of treason from within.

Speeches such as this one have continually stirred up darkness and the wrath of Establishment Lucifarian's who "murder for Gain" as they "combine" to overthrow the freedom of all nations, lands and countries. These vicious murderers get indignant and angry at those who speak out and expose their corruption, and thus it was with the Establishment unleashing their wrath upon Ezra Taft Benson.

Those frothing at the mouth against Benson, seeking every way to attack him and his person in order to rationalize away his bold declarations of treason are fools. Some would seek to appoint themselves as holding greater knowledge and credentials of this subject matter,

Many of the abominations or "deceptions" noted and told about in the above clip you did not hear of in your history class in high school, and doubtful in college. Yes, there is and has been a conspiracy of such huge proportions that most people can't comprehend it could be possible. Indeed, this combination and wickedness is "more highly organized, more cleverly disguised, and more powerfully promoted than ever before." (Ezra Taft Benson, “I Testify,” Ensign, Nov. 1988, p.86.)

The Economic Dilema

Would the Last Honest Reporter Please Turn On the Lights? by Orson Scott Card

"Do Facts Matter" By Thomas Sowell

Thoughts on the Election

I am not too fond of either of them candidates in this election. I don't think either of them have the ability to effectively lead our country in the coming years, and more specifically out of the current financial predicament. If you have not voted please read this. If you have voted, I hope you voted your concience and with as much education as possible. There are far to many important issues to vote blindly.

If you are on the fence please consider this. The next president will likely choose at least one new Supreme Court Justice, which will influence things like same sex marriage, and abortion. The latter of the two points did not used to be such a strong subject with me. However, when Brittany was only 10 weeks pregnant with our unborn son we had the opportunity to hear his heartbeat and clearly see his body. Please wherever you stand, consider the implications BOTH ways.

Our Son at 10 weeks




McCain and Obama on abortion