The Three Stooges at a Theater Near You - in Iowa?

The Three Stooges - a review.  Should this be on this blog or not?  I include these thoughts here because this movie is currently playing in Shenandoah, Iowa.  Few movies resound heavily in the heart of man as being profound and inspiring.  Few are found worthy of greatness and renown of true works of art.  Few truly alter human understanding and produce a fruitful field of compassionate philanthropic activity among the sons and daughters of men.  I refer my accolades to The Three Stooges - as they were meant to be.

The Three Stooges

I do not, however, refer to the new release of The Three Stooges.  Only at extreme various times do I find myself nodding off or snoozing during a movie.  Chalk it up to the time of day or even perhaps gas, but when my son and I went to the late showing of The Three Stooges I scarcely knew that I was destined, or doomed, to shame unto unconsciousness.  Sleep, yes sleep was the activity for me not a half hour into the movie.  With each small reach into consciousness came the need or desire to sink back down into nothingness.  It was that bad!

Larry, Moe and Curly are icons!  They are a most righteous collection of misfits!  This new release movie is a failed attempt at mimicking the old episodes and those wonderful characters.  The stunts played by Sean Hayes, Chris Diamantopoulos and Will Sasso pail in comparison to the antics of Larry, Moe and Curly of old.  The new release attempted to link the old and the new by mimicking the process of creating short subject lines in the movie with film cut curtain calls.  Though reinventing the American vaudeville was interesting it certainly loses the modern audience.

I bring about this subject for the safety and concern for all my countrymen in Shenandoah, Iowa.  If you want to retain your sanity and self control then don't see this movie.  If you want to grow to be an upstanding citizen and an exceptional mother or father then don't see this movie.  Likewise, to ensure these great qualities immerse yourself in the Larry, Moe and Curly of old.  It will make you wise and fruitful with knowledge.

Because of the travesty of this new release movie of The Three Stooges I have labeled this post under Disaster.  Go ahead, watch the movie and you'll understand the plight of my heart.  The only thing that drove the dagger further into my heart is getting out of the movie only to find Kony 2012 posters all over the downtown area - including my vehicle window.

Kony 2012 hits Small Town Shenandoah Iowa

In small town Shenandoah, Iowa we often don't expect a national craze to come here but it did just last night.  My son and I went to see a movie, Three Stooges, and when we got out we found windows and light poles throughout downtown plastered with Kony 2012 cheap posters of copy paper.

Now, I will not offer any opinions on Kony himself, but I will say that I vehemently oppose any individual or group who restrains the liberties of others.  I oppose anyone who rips families apart.  I oppose anyone who instigates military action against the weak or defenseless for personal and prideful reasons.  Now, having said that I, by no means, jump on any bandwagon to apprehend any particular individual.  In my position that would be irresponsible.  Also, we cannot judge soundly from one viral video.  There are still many things we don't know.  I write this in response to the flyers posted all over my town last night.

There are many ways to inform, motivate and convince the people to a certain view.  Using the Internet is among the most expanding and powerful means.  If you are a Kony activist or of some other organized group be creative in using the Internet.  Start a Facebook Page, get a website!  Hey, here's an oldy but goody: go door to door.  Heck, even a few church groups still proselyte by means of door-to-door.  Try it, you might like it!

Look, I admire one's freedom to bring awareness to a situation.  I even support the right to protest it.  However, I really don't appreciate defacing public property or littering our streets over it.  There are much cleaner and more efficient methods of activism than that.  Why go through all the effort and footwork of copying paper and covertly putting them on car windows and light poles?  Here's a thought:  if an action is the right thing to do then why are you compelled to do it in the dead of night when no one is watching?  Well, perhaps that action is not the right thing to do....

For my fellow residents of Shenandoah, Iowa I humbly support your privileges as American citizens.  Assemble how you may but do so with a little confidence and pride in your own community.  If you want Kony down then go for it but please keep your Shenandoah streets looking nice and presentable.  May your worthy efforts prove fruitful!

Astronomical Event over Midwest Shenandoah Iowa

Outdoor activities can be fun and exciting!  Astronomy is among the great activities that expands the imagination and will to learn.  At Rapp Park just outside of Shenandoah, Iowa the High School Astronomy Club had an evening of stargazing and learning.  It was a privilege to be invited by them to attend with the scopes I had on hand.

What started out as a cloudy day lasted on into a clearing sunset.  The clouds quickly burned off after the sun went down.    They were able to see Venus, Mars, Mercury, Saturn and many stars and constellations.  What started out as a cookout with unfavorable cloudy conditions ended up as a pleasant lakeside Astronomy Club event.

For the people of Shenandoah this is a great event to report on.  We have a great location and youth who are curious and want to learn about the world and worlds around them.  Our city and countless other need to harness and utilize their resources to continue fostering that learning and desire for knowledge.

We used my Dobsonian Skywater reflector, Meade Lightswitch, Astroscan reflector and GoScope all of which proved useful.  Using telescopes is a peering into unknown parts of the human experience.  It's the gaze into knowledge yet unknown.  Many of our young go to their beds at night dreaming of common space travel.  They see movies like Star Trek and Aliens and wonder about extraterrestrial civilizations yet to be found.

It is my hope that these young minds will hunger to grasp their potential.  If gazing and learning about the stars works then all the more power to it.  By expanding knowledge our young grow to be more effective leaders, compassionate and problem-solving parents and pillars of example.

I thank Mr. Morse and his invitation to attend this event.  I thank the students who asked questions and were curious.  I thank the city and creators of Rapp Park for giving us the ideal setting and I thank God for parting the clouds.

Child Abuse Prevention Proclamation by Mayor Hunt

By proclamation read at City Council Shenandoah Mayor Richard Hunt declared April 2012 as Shenandoah's Child Abuse Prevention month.  In a heartfelt decree it was noted the importance of abuse prevention for the sake of Shenandoah's youth.  The mayor offered an outreach that businesses, organizations and faiths band together in cooperation in the common cause of preventing child abuse.

Overwhelmingly, the most common reported form of abuse is child neglect.  Though deemed not as important, neglect is just as damaging as any other form of abuse.  Causes for this are many including household finances and employment.  It is unfortunate that an estimated at least half of all child abuse goes unreported.

For the city of Shenandoah may it be stressed to an unhindered degree that our youth are our future and lifeblood of this community.  As parents we bear the duty and responsibility to raise our children in a wholesome and productive manner.  With increased government dependence and moral decay comes the increased mindset of dulled ownership of the mind and will of our household offspring.  This is damaging to the family and a disgusting display of selfish knowledge of open neglect.

Patriots to the Cause of a Happy Home and Community

Once a man hired a construction contractor to build him a home. A grand home fit for a king with all the comforts and luxuries that money can buy. The main stipulation to the proposed contract was that only the best premium materials were to be used. The contractor looked over the specifications and layout of the home and agreed to build the edifice. The owner prepaid the price in full and both were satisfied. So work immediately began.

The contractor kept to the time line and work progressed impressively. After a while the contractor noticed that the owner wasn't coming around to regularly inspect the home. Calming his own fears he would have the owner meet with him at the construction site a couple times a week. The walk through went fine but with little questioning from the owner. The owner would make his smile then drive off the building site. As time drew on the contractor figured that the owner may not be as serious about the workmanship of the home as he had thought. Using that as a basis he then began to take short cuts and to use cheaper materials. He strayed from his true nature as a craftsman in order to maximize his return on the contract for less expense on materials.

The day came that all the finishing touches were made and all looked cosmetically sound and of impeccable quality. The owner came down and inspected the home. After the final inspection was made the contractor asked the owner on what he thought of the home. The owner then said that the home wasn't for himself but for the contractor. He then signed over the paperwork and gave it to him.

We truly reap what we sow. This man sought to deceive, even after the price had been paid, but in the end found out that he was building his own grand home out of the efforts and materials he, himself, initiated. Now, knowing of the fruits of his labors he holds the keys to the mansion he built.

Though this is a parable of a life lesson it's a lesson that we need to hear much more often. It is directly tied to happiness. If we are to maintain a higher standard of character and living we must be worthy by holding tight to our integrity and not deviating from that course. We are known in southwest Iowa for a great workforce. By exceeding expectations in labor and character we further invite more business into our community.

More importantly, by being true to oneself we help ensure happiness in the home. Marriages will be saved, children will have esteem and do better in school and the workplace will have joy.

The parable outlined is owed to Elder Ward of the Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was a profound parable modified in modern terms that's easily understood.

Let's let Shenandoah and the surrounding communities shine with a bright hope in the future by justifying our homes with renewed integrity and assured diligence in making them temples held sacred for all time.