We are really busy at Woodland Hills these days!

-In January Crystal and I helped to start a monthly visitation. We get volunteers together and then small groups go visit different shut-in folks. Both months we have visited 9-10 people and have had around 35-40 people doing the visiting. The next one is Saturday the 20th.
-Last year one of my responsibilities became the teaching program...and lo and behold we decided to completely redo the curriculum. FUN times!!!
-Recently I found out that part of being responsible for the teaching program is taking care of VBS!! (Who knew...?) I found out when one of the elders emailed me the question "When is VBS...?"


It feels like we are goin 100 mph. But the work is good!

I think we are going to do the VBS on providence, and perhaps use the life of Joseph for multiple examples. What do you guys think of that? What would be the lessons you would draw from the text?

It feels like this weekend was a whirlwind! Friday night was a pretty standard night...Chloe went to bed and we watched TV for a while.

Well, Saturday was not quite so slow paced...

1. Chloe and I went to Kroger at 7:00 for Bacon.

At this point I would like to just let everyone know...when I get up on Saturdays I feel like there should always be some sort of breakfast meat available, preferably pork. Most of the time during the week I eat toast, cereal, pop tarts, etc. On Saturdays, I want protein. Bacon preferably.

So, all that to say Chloe and I were there on a mission. BACON. Preferably thick cut, perhaps peppered. Well...low and behold as we walked to meat section of Kroger the manager had just started going through everything and marking down the manager's specials. Despite the fact that breakfast time was quickly approaching Chloe and I made a game time decision to piddle around Kroger until said manager had finished her mark down. During this time of waiting I learned a few things...like if you have a one year old in your cart and she is wearing he pajamas and holding a pound of bacon, people will stop and talk to her. I also learned that if your daughter is used to eating her breakfast of mashed bananas and oatmeal at 7:30 she will be just as happy with mini Ritz cheese crackers because the crackers are tasty and that little container is just so handy. Well after waiting an inordinate amount of time we hit the "green meat" jackpot. Ground beef, 80/20 marked down to $1.01 per pound.

So we bought twelve pounds. :) And some steak for pepper steak.

2. Breakfast eaten? Check. Chloe napping? Check. Where is Pebbles?

As many know, Crystal beloved Pekingese (sp?) was an old lady of a dog that retired many years ago from things as frivolous as playing. In her later years she has pretty much spent her entire days eating, sleeping, using the bathroom on the carpet and fearing that Chloe would someday be big enough to pick her up (I also think it hurt Pebbles feeling that Chloe called Pebbles a cat. In Chloe's defense, I have often thought pebbles was a cat masquerading as a fluffy dog). All that to say, Crystal decided it was time for Pebbles to depart this life. So, I took Pebbles to the Vet while Crystal meticulously removed all traces of Pebbles from our house.

3. To sam's we go.

Diapers + Wipes + a large container of lettuce = ~$65

4. Nap time for all.

5. Clean the house, grill the steak & potatoes, bathe the daughter, put the daughter in bed.

6. Ahh...quietness.

7. Worship. Haircut. Lunch. Nap. Worship. Bible Study at the Malone's.

8. Ahh...quietness.

9. Sleep. Wake up. Shower.

10. Office...writing on Ple.....

I suppose, in theory I should post more. But I am just not sure that my life is interesting enough to post with great frequency.

But don't worry...I am still reading posts from all you people that have more interesting lives than I do.

"The existence of public goods does not imply, as a corollary, that all good things should be public...If you can't understand why a libertarian [or ADAM] is against your program, start with the possibility that they might not think it is a true public good."

Below is a rap video. Yes...that is right a rap video. Ahhh...but how has a rap video made its way to my blog...? The simple way many things make their way to my blog...economics. My favorite living economist, Dr Russ Roberts, has worked with quite a few folks to create a rap on the boom and bust cycle theories of JM Keynes and FA Hayek. While most of you have likely not heard of these two gentlemen, you have all discussed their theories at some point.

Hayek and Keynes were essentially contempories, well nearly, Keynes is a bit older than Hayek. The most impactful portion of Keynes' theories center around the idea that when we enter the "bust" side of the boom and bust cycle we have problems getting out of the cycle because aggregate demand stays low and wages are "sticky" (meaning that it is hard to move wage rates...). Keynes believed that the best way to solve this issue was for the government to dramatically increase spending. The metaphor used by Keynes, and that is still used today, is that someone needs to "prime the pump". For further references on Keynes theories on priming the pump look to the New Deal of FDR. Keynes, a Brit, was FDR's primary economic advisor during the New Deal.

Hayek believed the exact opposite. Hayek believed that boom and bust cycles are generally driven by government interference with the economy, especially when governments do things like keep interest rates low.

A couple notes about the rap:
-Keynes mentions something about humility...which is an obvious jab...Keynes has always been known as arrogant jerk in economics circles. (For example...his greatest work was a book entitled THE General Theory on Employment, Interest, and Money...Not A theory...THE theory)
- Keynes DID make the argument that little besides "animal spirits" drive boom & bust cycles
- Note the bartenders name tags...