Thoughts

The election is only 18 days away and looking at my exam schedule for the next few weeks reveals that all the research I planned to do on the candidates may never come to pass. I've read some things here and there in between my studies but don't feel like I know enough about either candidate to make a decision on who to vote for. I'm more of a conservative by principle but living out in Iowa and having a grandpa who is staunch democrat has led me to be more open to the left. Is there such thing as a religious left? Can a person who holds strong values and beliefs about pro-life, the sanctity of marriage and other social issues but sees "the need for change" be apart of this religious left? Those are some questions I'm thinking about as the election nears. Also a very important issue to me is obviously healthcare. I do not feel socialized medicine is healthy for America. In fact, France(who supposedly is #1 in healthcare in the world and is on a socialized system) is starting to take ideas from our current healthcare system to improve upon what they have. But I admit our system does need an overhaul and maybe someday i'll blog about what I think should be done but today is not that day. My one sour grape is all the bickering that goes on between Democrats and Republicans. There is way too much emotion between the parties(and not enough parties). What is wrong with having an intellectual conversation with someone who has completely different veiwpoints and seek to understand where they are coming from? I know there is alot at stake, with the supreme court turnover that is due in the next few years and other issues, but aren't we a civilized nation? Can't we live next door to someone who may not believe exactly as we do and still get along? Why does the media and other wealthy people with an agenda have to spread half truths about the candidates? Anyway, enough about my little soap box. In the final analysis on the little information that I've gleened, I don't feel like I can trust John Mccain and don't know if I can vote for Obama and feel morally ok about it. "Indecision is like a dull knife...it hacks away and leaves ragged edges behind it." Well, good luck to everyone as they research and make their final decision on Nov. 4th!

And here is a random question that was spawned from a conversation I had with a friend last week: Who has a harder time growing up in the gospel, those who grow up in Utah or those living everywhere else?

Well I better get back to studying cardiology...mitral regurgitation here I come!

Random Pictures

Here are some random Pictures that i've never gotten around to posting... This is the rock wall on the side of my apartment building...I decided I needed to climb it shortly after moving out here to remind me of home. It was kinda funny when the man next door who didn't have any teeth and looked as though he hadn't taken care of himself in quite a long time started yelling at me to get down because I would break my neck...I haven't been spoken to like that since 3rd grade...good times.
I finished my surgery class on friday and feel confident that I could suture up any laceration and take care of any minor surgery...so if any of ya'll need something done and don't want to pay the high medical bills, i'll do it for free!*
This is one of the entrances to DMU.

This was at a YSA conference dance at Fort Dodge Iowa...Just getting a water break before hitting the dance floor.

The life size butter Cow at the state fair...made purely out of butter.
The 1259 lbs boar at the fair...it was so big we couldn't even fit his whole body in one frame!
This is my dream someday! Anybody want to try it with me?
The Harry Potter butter statue at the fair last year.

*The only catch is that since I don't have a licence I can't prescribe or use any medications so if you can deal with that then you have a deal!