A few weeks ago, Jake wrote a great article on welfare, the state, and the Church. You can read it Here.

Somewhat along those same lines, I’ve been studying about the highest bankruptcy filings per capita and per household in the nation: Utah. You can read my article Here.

But, just to whet your appetite, here are a few of my conclusions and selected excerpts from a phone interview I had with Robert Cahoon who worked at Wells Fargo. The interview was transcribed to the best of my memory shortly after the completion of the interview–no audio recording was made, so the words may not be exact, but the ideas reamain accurate.

Cahoon:

One of the big things I’ve noticed here is that people in Utah generally do an awful lot to compete with their neighbors—especially the neighbors they go to church with.

Within Utah and the church, so many people have so much in common, I think people use things—their material possessions—to define who they are and make themselves different from the rest. They have the same morals, live in the same area, believe the same, go to the same church, have similar houses, incomes—all that, and how do they differentiate themselves? They do it with their possessions.

Having lived in Utah, as well as outside Utah, I think I have a pretty good view of the way things really are in relation to other parts of the country. The mentality just isn’t the same in the other places I’ve lived. I take that back—I saw a little of it with members of the church in Australia when we lived there, but in Texas where I’ve lived twice, it doesn’t really exist. In Oregon, it just doesn’t exist at all from what I’ve seen. In Oregon, it’s not even close. In Utah, I think it’s just become a way for people to differentiate themselves from so many people who have so much in common.

Me:

Interesting that more and more Utahans now have bankruptcy in common.

Cahoon:

Here’s something: with tithing, I suppose I can say this…the leaders of the church tell us that as long as we pay our tithing, we’ll be ok. We can trust that. I think the problem comes when people think “I pay my tithing, I can go into debt and the Lord will watch out for me and things will be okay—he’ll help me because I’m faithful in paying my tithes.” That’s so dangerous. Sure, the Lord asks us to pay tithing and promises we won’t go without—but he doesn’t tell us to go into debt. We do that on our own, and when we engage in those kinds of things, we can’t expect the Lord to support us, that’s not part of the plan.

Me:

While the Tribune article cited that “about 12 percent of filers reported making tithing payments to the LDS Church through their financial troubles,” I think the underlying factor there is that church members misinterpret how tithing will lead to their prosperity. It is not the money they are giving that creates the problem, it is the mentality they might be developing as a result. It must be emphasized that one who spends himself into debt with the notion that paying tithing will keep him above the tide of debt default and bankruptcy, does not understand the purpose of tithing, nor is he following the counsel of the prophets.

I believe the greatest thing we can do is to change our attitudes and behavior toward possessions and money. It’s a behavioral thing. When we realize we’re in competition with no one, and that we have a responsibility to be independent, free, and charitable (yes, we should pay tithing and fast offerings, but should not expect those things to keep us safe from or immune to creditors), we will change our spending habits and start savings and investment habits instead.

I don’t believe wealth and prosperity was ever achieved through maximization of the limit on a credit card. I don’t believe anyone can honestly believe someone is better than another because their house is bigger, or because they have more toys in their garage, or any of those things. Cahoon said “While they aren’t drinking and smoking and doing damage to their health in those ways, the spending they do—which might be taking the place of those other activities—is becoming seriously harmful to their financial health.” We would be well-advised to instead develop healthy habits in regard to how we value our assets and how we value ourselves in relation to things that really matter—not where “moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves…break through [and] steal.” -Matthew 6:20

Well, I’ve been officially accepted into my major now. From this point on, when I say I’m an Advertising/Marketing Communications major…I’m telling the truth. In my letter of intent, I didn’t mention anything about getting an MBA. I don’t have really short hair. I don’t tuck in my shirt. I don’t date on a regular basis. My mom and sister don’t have big bangs, and my parents didn’t name me after a character from the bible, but they let me in anway.

I sat on my glasses today. It was just like I’d always imagined it would be. It wasn’t loud. It didn’t hurt. Everything moved in slow motion as I opened the door. Drops of shining water–melted frost fell from the handle as I let go and it snapped back inside the door. As I stepped up and slid onto the seat, the glasses felt almost soft and only the muffled sound of bending metal and of lenses popping from their frames could be heard. It was as if I knew it were to happen before the moment arrived, but was helpless to stop the great cycle once it had been put in motion.

My eyes began to grow dim while I was in Switzerland. I remember walking into “la post” there, and by the light of the room I could barely make the words out in my head. Squinting didn’t help much. I think it was that I didn’t know french very well.

In any case, when I got home, I waited a year or two and then decided to do something about my waining sight.

Contacts.

I didn’t like glasses, and I didn’t want to look like someone who wore glasses when I was wearing glasses. So contacts seemed like the perfect solution.

I spent about thirty minutes in the optomologist’s room- trying to put soft pieces of plastic over my eyes. The nurse probably came in four or five times to make sure I was doing alright, or to see what the problem was. Finally, she put them in for me and made me promise to keep trying once I got home.

No offense to my Asian friends…but I sort of have Asian eyes. See, they just don’t open very wide–and I know what you’re saying: “Oh, just use your fingers and pry them open.” Well I’ve tried that. And I’ve let other people try it, too. Their smiles recoil, and a gasp or an almost audible hush falls over the crowd as they realise my eyes really won’t get bigger. You can stretch at them and pull up my eyelids, and you can pry back my eye lashes with fingers and instruments…but the fact remains: my eyes are too small for contacts.

So I bought glasses, and I wore them every once in a while. There’s an old saying that goes “Mine eyes are dim, I cannot see, I have not got my specs’ with me. I have not got my spectales with me.” They are. I can’t. And now I don’t. They’re bent. Bent along with my spirits and the hope I once had of ever seeing clearly the things I should at a medium to long distance.

If you want to help me raise money for my kidney and spleen replacement, use this link to register your domain name and/or set up webhosting. And please save the whales.

Go Here to set yourself up. Domain names only $5.99 per year- you can’t find much cheaper than that.

October 5, 2006 UPDATE DECEMBER 4TH — SPOTS SOLD
But some frog drawings are still for sale. Email for info.

Details:
See the Bavarian’s website here.
On the corner of 560 North 800 East

You’ll be living in apartment 402. It’s a really nice 3-man apartment just south of BYU campus. Takes me about 12 miutes to walk to my classes.

I’m getting married and the 2 others are graduating, so if you want to move in with your friends, it will be a pretty sweet opportunity. The entire apartment will be empty come January 1st.

Cool ward with a cool bishop and a guy who’s really good at the violin.

There’s free cable and internet, a washer and dryer, 2 bathrooms, a fridge and all that. Carpet, large couch and love seat, table, counters, micro, stove and over are all like new. Actually, the complex is pretty new and everything is in top condition.

Only $315/month, and I’ll throw in a free drawing of a frog (I did it with a Sharpie). Email or call 801-824-5544 me if you want to see some pictures of the place (brett at bcrockett dot com), or I’ll post some up soon.

I’ll actually be moving out in the middle of December so if you want to get in early, shouldn’t be a problem. Oh- and you get your own reserved parking space. It’ll make you feel special.

Thanks,
Brett

The following were pretty much all taken by Gary or Jake in Kauai between the 11th and 23rd of May 2006.

This is Shipwreck Beach and the obligatory family photo in Hawaii. Around 7am. That early in the morning, I still look a bit chubby. And yes, I’m wearing pants. In Hawaii. The night before, I fell like 30 feet (or so) onto some lava rocks while trying to fish. The gargantuan fall onto hot lava and sea mosses dirtied my shorts, so I had to choose between “swimmers” (Lesleeze for swimsuit) and my trousers. Lay off.

And the fish got away.

An ocean that’s a lot meaner than it looks. Near Queen’s Bath, Kauai.

Some fresh water along the trail.

Brennecke beach, where we body boarded and tried to surf.

My new ride, the Toyota FJ Cruiser.

At Poipu Bay Golf Course, home of the PGA Grand Slam.

“So long, and thanks for all the fish” On the Na Pali coast.

Looking at the Na Pali coast from Capitan Chris’ boat. Pictures don’t do the coast justice. But, the coast is home to Ali’i mummies and parts in Jurassic Park, 007, etc.

Monday morning on Venice Beach.

One day, I’ll live here for a couple weeks out of the year. Just outside LA.

Crowell Advertising is looking for an Online Marketing Analyst. Responsible for assisting in the planning and execution for assigned client web site marketing plans and other key projects. Duties include reporting, data analysis, link building, keyword buying, other related tasks and continuing online marketing education. Only Local (Salt Lake City) Candidates will be considered. Thank you!

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
– Perform day to day data reporting, analysis and project completion
– Analyze traffic and lead flow for client web sites and make adjustments as needed
– Assist with site reviews for new client prospecting
– Communicate with Sales and Client Service teams concerning current client web site marketing status or issues
– Communicate with internal clients (Web Design, IT and Web Writers)
– Other related tasks as necessary

ESSENTIAL SKILLS
– Advanced knowledge of MS Office products, especially, Excel
– Proven ability to translate analytic data into strategic recommendations
– Excellent interpersonal, written, problem-solving and decision-making skills
– Self-motivated, detail-oriented with excellent people and time-management skills.
– Ability to multi-task and work well under pressure in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
– Knowledge of the latest trends and technologies in digital communications
– An understanding of basic media planning/buying
a. CPM, CPA, and CPC
b. Reach and Frequency Analysis
c. Audience demographic and psychographic research

– Familiarity with online media research tools (ComScore, NetRatings, etc…)
– Interest in social networking, viral marketing, online community relations
– Understanding of blog communities, blog advertising, and monitoring

Contact: Crowell Advertising – Salt Lake City (801) 531-0533