Egypt wants its stuff back

While some say New York City’s acid rain is eroding a 3,500-year-old Egyptian obelisk others might say the 500 years spent in saltwater and having flaming camel dung thrown at it worse.

Cleopatra’s Needle, an obelisk that stands in Central Park since 1881, is undergoing a “weather study” this summer by the New York City’s Department of Parks and Recreation. They are trying to answer the question if damage is being done to the artifact.

This study came about when the minister of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass, wrote to the Mayor of New York City and the Central Park Conservancy back in January that the extended stay of the obelisk in New York was wearing away the hieroglyphs and it needs to come back to its home land. Hawass said he would “take the necessary steps to bring this precious artifact home and save it from ruin.”

However it is questions whether Egypt is the safest place for artifact these days. Not long after Dr. Hawass sent his letter looters broke into the Egyptian Museum in Cairo damaging many artifacts and leaving some missing.

The obelisk was built around 1500 B.C. to honor Pharaoh Thutmose III. It is true that the artifact has been through a lot in its history. It was knocked down in 525 B.C. when the Persians “sacked” Heliopolis. They threw flaming camel dung to burn off the hieroglyphics. But the hieroglyphics suffered more damage as it lay on its side in saltwater for about 500 years. It was then re-erected in 12 B.C. by the Romans in Alexandria. Finally in 1881 Cleopatra’s Needle it was given as a gift arriving in New York City commemorating the opening of the Suez Canal. A few years later the parks department noticed flakes of granite coming off the Needle. In 1885 Park officials removed 800 pounds of flakes from its surface in an attempt to clean up the monument.

In a prepared statement by the current New York City parks department they said,

“Cleopatra’s Needle undergoes physical inspections and conservations assessments on an annual basis.”

Until it is determined if New York’s weather really is bringing damage to the obelisk it will remain in Central Park.

Information for this post was taken from New York Times website and video concerning Cleopatra’s Needle, also from the Dr. Hawass website. Both links are posted below.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/06/egypt-or-central-park-where-does-an-ancient-obelisk-belong/?smid=tw-nytimes&seid=auto

http://www.drhawass.com/blog/obelisk-central-park

Happy Independance Day America

In celebration of our nations independence cities from east to west are having a celebration with parades, fireworks and barbeques.

In the city of Rexburg, Idaho events are happening from 7am – 12pm. It starts with a pancake breakfast in the park sponsored by Kiwanis, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Then they have a Day in the Park full of games and fun followed by the Whoopee Days Parade that runs from Smith Park down Main Street and ends at Porter Park.

Citizens lined the streets of Rexburg to watch the Whoopee Days Parade. The parade started out with the flag of our nation held by older men. People placed their hands over their hearts out of respect for our flag and our nation. The parade consisted of the High school marching band and flag team, also the cheer leaders from the high school and from the middle school were present.

There were also companies from around town who were present in the parade. An Asia restaurant featured a dragon and handed out sesame seed cookies. There was a very large grocery cart made for the local grocery store. Many floats with people threw candy to the crowds and children scrambled on the street filling their sacks with candy.

In the evening in the neighboring city of Idaho Falls there will be fireworks. The show is the best one West of the Mississippi put on by Melaluca.

Even with all the parades, candy, and barbeque it is important to remember why we celebrate this day. We are honoring our forefathers who fought for the freedom of this land and our liberty to be free of kings and let the people govern themselves.

We live in a choice land and should always be grateful for the privileges we’ve been give through others sacrifices.

Sugar City's new park signs

Sugar City, Idaho – Mayor and councilmen approved the posting of and design for city park signs at the Sugar City Council meeting Thursday June 23.

In 2003 the current mayor and council approved the names of the parks in Sugar City and the

council today wanted to remain true to the names given then and respect the council’s decision.

Councilman Bruce King proposed there be a policy put in place to be helpful for the future in the chance of park names wanting to be changed. Sharen Bell the city clerk said that the council, back in 2003 when they approved the names of the parks, wanted the matter ended and for the names not to be changed.

The Mayor Glenn Dalling also said that he thought the council needed to make a decision but also be careful about it. Councilman Harold Harris had a concern because of the proceedings in 2003 were they even allowed to change that motion and rename the parks. Smith, Moon and Neibaur parks in Sugar are named after people but the council would like to shy away from naming any future parks after people.

The current park names remained intact and it was proposed to place signs and plaques at each

park explaining how the parks were named.

The city parks receiving the new signs are Heritage Park, Thomas C. Neibaur Veteran's Park, Lyle H. Moon Park, and Smith Park. The sign for Heritage Park will be placed on Center Street about midway on the lot. The sign for Neibaur Park will also be placed on Center Street near the corner of Center St. and Maple Ave. The sign for Moon Park, located between South Front St. and Railroad Ave, will be placed on South Front Street midway around the bend in the road. For Smith Park the sign will be placed at the intersection of E. 3000 North and S. 7th West on the North West corner.

There was concern however about the name of Smith Park and it being confused with Smith

Park in the neighboring city of Rexburg. But a motion was carried to keep the current park names.

A motion was also carried for the design of the signs with a background of a silhouette of the

Teton Mountains, with 4 lines of writing with the park name shadowed in red.

Public Transportation.

[I thought I would do something different for this post and talk about city transportation instead of focusing on one city in particular.]

There is the so called top 10 list for cities with the best transit system or the one that is used the most but from all the sources I found none can seem to agree, why is that?

Well we’ll explore just some of those transit systems from the many sources I found. On quite a few of the sites I found Denver, Colo. was listed as one of the best transit systems in the nation. Also according to the Atlantic the percent of people using the Denver-Aurora-Bloomfiled, Colo. system is 4.6%.

On the chart in the Atlantic it says that 30.4% of people in New York, Northern New Jersey, and Long Island use public transit. I was a little surprised when Las Vegas, Nev. showed up at number 8 with 3.4% using public transit.

Anyway where is this going? It seems to me there are a lot of transits in the world that aren’t being used very much. I mean 4.6% for Denver that’s not a very big number. But lets face it sometimes the public transit systems aren’t the most clean, or carry the most friendly passangers.

With the world, at times, in a uproar about global warming I don’t understand why people are still driving their car to work with just them in the car when they could take public transportation.

What about college students and their cars? I live in a college town and live 2 blocks from campus which isn’t very bad. In the snow I walk and when the weather is nice I ride my bike. But there are people living near me and some who live even closer to campus who end up driving a car everyday. It’s nice outside so who cares if you have a class at the top of the hill, walk and get some exercise. Also it would save you some money so you don’t have to buy a parking permit, you’re already complaining you’re a poor college student any.

In other words, help save the earth and take the transit system.

[I know this is a rant but I thought it would be a little interesting and entertaining.]
Site I used for the Atlantic information:
http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/05/the-10-best-cities-for-public-transportation/239376/

Financial Debt: My own personal article

As children we look up to our parents as an example, as young adults we find a role model we hope to become, and as adults we may look to the leaders of our country. But with the rising debt of our countries financial situation using them as an example for our own personal finances may not be the best thing.

The nations debt currently stands at approximately 14,429,497,208,000 and rising, according to www.usdebtclock.org. American households and individuals seem to be following suit.

Today’s society is full of instant gratifications, with the click of a button or swipe of a card and it can be yours. Every day there can be something new for sale being marketed that it’s a “must have” and “everyone has one.” With this kind of atmosphere it’s no wonder that in 2010 Americans were averaging around $10,168 in debt per person.

You may be thinking you don’t have any reason to be concerned about debt yet but college students are not exempt from the debt crisis. In April 2009 Sallie Mae reported that nearly 30 percent of college students put tuition on their credit cards, which is an increase from 24 percent in 2004. They also said that 84 percent of undergraduates had at least one credit card, up from 76 percent in 2004, and median debt grew to $1,645 from $946 in 2004.

“Too many students are at risk of overpaying for college by pulling out credit cards to pay for textbooks or even part of their tuition bill, instead of using less expensive financial aid to cover these items,” said Marie O’Malley, director of consumer research for Sallie Mae.

Some may feel secure with their finances because they have a while till graduation But Sallie Mae also reported that the higher the grade level the more secure students are in using their credit cards. The average college graduate has nearly $20,000 in debt and credit card debt has increased 11 percent for 18 to 24-year-olds according to www.demos.org.

The leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and even the scriptures echo a plea to avoid unnecessary debt.

“Reasonable debt for the purchase of an affordable home and perhaps for a few other necessary things is acceptable. But from where I sit, I see in a very vivid way the terrible tragedies of many who have unwisely borrowed for things they really do not need,” said President Gordon B. Hinckley in a 1992 August edition of the Ensign.

We can read in 2 Kings 4:7 “Pay thy debt, and live,” in Proverbs 22:7 “the borrower is servant to the lender.” Also in Romans 13:8 Paul teaches, “owe no man any thing.”

Things of the world our being shoved in our faces making credit cards seem glamorous and making payments and being debt free as easy as pie. But the reality is that debt has a far more reaching affected than is portrayed by the media. Debt cannot only put stress on our lives and finances it can also put stress on our relationships with those we love.

There are some things we can put into practice that can help us guard against debt now and in the future. We can begin planning now, begin saving now, and create a budget. If a plan is in place determining needs and wants it will be easier to make a decision when you’re faced with a purchase. By beginning to save now you will be able to pay cash for bigger purchase instead of putting it on a credit card. When you create a budget it helps you see how much you’re really spending and where you can put limits on your purchases.

We need to be sure that we are in control of our finances and setting an example for family and friends. Especially when we have been warned by state, national and religious leaders to avoid debt we need to be more financially responsible. We do not need to get caught up in the buying frenzy of our generation or follow others into the pit of debt. Money and finances are something we need to have control over so it does not end up controlling us.

City clean up

SUGAR CITY, ID – Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of the Sugar City Stake have been working with city and school officials to do work needed in the community.

There will be a cleanup service project Wednesday June 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. The Sugar City stake also includes those in the communities of Teton and Newdale, with 9 wards and a single’s branch.

“This service project is the result of responding to the invitation of our Prophet to unite with our communities in doing service,” said Kevin Miyasaki, the first counselor in the Sugar City stake presidency.

Bruce King, a city council board member, said that President Richard Pocock of the Sugar City stake presented this idea to the city council and asked them to find things that they can clean up and service that can be given in the community. King also informed the Sugar City Planning and Zoning committee of the clean up asking for ideas for service saying, “anything is on the table.”

Projects proposed by the planning and zoning committee ranged from cleaning up the bike/walking path, the south side of the football field down to the ball diamonds, filling holes in the road, and helping out widows and elderly in the community with yard work and tree trimming. It was also questioned whether they could help with the cemetery and save their district money by providing labor to fix it up.

“There will be service projects in all three communities that evening,” said Miyasaki. “The youth of our stake will be focused in the schools, and the adults and children in the community projects. At this point the community and school district have been very responsive to our volunteering to assist in whatever they would like us to do.”

It is estimated that they can expect 20 to 40 member from each ward possibly 100 people total.

“We hope to not just involve the members, but have this be a community event,” Miyasaki said.

Brian Howard a resident of Sugar City and a member in the Sugar City seventh ward, and a faculty member of BYU-Idaho communications department, said that he had heard of the service project and would expect to participate on some level but is not sure what he will be doing yet.

“I think it is a good idea. The youth groups do service projects for the community on a regular basis, but the adults far less often,” Howard said. “It will be a good opportunity to give some service to the community as a whole. Large group projects like this don't happen very often.”

Although it is an LDS community no formal organization of refreshment is being provided.

House of snakes

Some people foreclose on their homes due to job loss, excessive debt, or even divorce but that’s not the reason why the bank is foreclosing on a house outside of Rexburg. It’s because the current residents, hundreds of garter snakes, won’t leave.

A home that was built in 1920 has five bedrooms and has been remodeled about five years ago. But because of the snakes those who buy the home quickly move out or stop paying their mortgage.

Two families have moved in while the snakes were hibernating only to find out come spring that they’re not the only ones who call the house home. The Ard’s bought the home a few years ago and soon discovered snakes in the walls, under the floors, in the year and everywhere else you can think.

“It’s really hard to rest assured at night to not think you’ve got a snake in your bed with you or going to step on one when you get up,” Neal Ard told reporters.

Once the Ards moved out they contacted KPVI-TV in Idaho Falls to document their story so people would believe their story.

The house sat vacant until the Sessions moved in August 2009. When the Sessions bought the house the realtor told them about snake rumors. Then in the fall the snakes made their triumphant return even contaminating the drinking water too.

Ironically the house is located in the Upper Snake River Valley in Idaho. The bank is working to seal the foundation to prevent snake from getting back inside.

Yes the house will be up for sale once again.

For more info, full stories, and video visit these sights:

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=15822458

http://finance.yahoo.com/loans/article/112850/idaho-foreclosure-snake-home