On Faith – Mark

I’m sure this blog post will anger some and offend others, but this is a major life decision for me and I find it cathartic to write about it. I have never understood why people avoid ideas or beliefs that are different than their own. It seems like a great way to learn or at least understand other people.

As some of you are aware, I have left the Mormon church. I did this voluntarily after lengthy research and much thought. I’m not regretful or ashamed of any aspect of my decision. Recognizing that many readers would be uncomfortable by the details of my research, I’ll leave them off this blog. But I would like to recount how things happened, how the journey felt from my perspective, and what I believe in now.

Matching

Today, iPhone photography gets Awesomized!

This is going to sound like an advertisement, but I am super proud and excited about this.

My company, SmugMug, has been working incredibly hard to build an iPhone camera app that not only doesn’t suck, but is in fact awesome. My poor wife’s gigantic camera is having trouble keeping up with the features and possibilities of tiny smartphones.

The Wall Street Journal, both the print and online edition, wrote an article about our App. Other press stories are rolling in.

Have an iPhone? Ever take photos with it? Want to spend $0.00 to get an an awesome App that I helped build, design and test (in some small way)? Go get Awesomized here.

More science!

If you read Meghan’s previous post, you know Reese loves science.  We took her to the Exploratorium in San Francisco recently with her cousins and sister.  This was the result:

Video by Baldy.

Future Scientist

A couple of weeks ago Reese attended a “Science Birthday Party” for her cousin Logan. The kids were all treated to watching and participating in many mini science experiments and when they left the party they were given treat bags filled with everything a scientist in the making could need- vials, “oobleck”, and most importantly- safety goggles. Reese has been talking about doing science experiments ever since and frequently asks if we can do “science” when I ask her what she would like to do each day. She swing back and forth regularly between wanting a princess and a science birthday party this year. That day, after the party, this is how she fell asleep for her nap.

Contrast

I’m biased. I know it. I still believe that my kids are really, really, ridiculously good looking. But I’ll be the first person to admit that at times there are slight differences in their appearances, often dependent upon their demeanor at the time the photo was taken. The differences are tiny, but if you look closely enough you may notice them.

Tolerance

I know it’s far easier to see in hindsight, but what a mess of bigotry and intolerance existed in this country. Thank you, MLK. Thank you protesters. Thank you people who didn’t bow to traditional views on a minority group.

Unfortunately, there is still is a great deal of bigotry and intolerance. I hope we can all move towards a society based on love, acceptance, and understanding.

While Meghan and I were off in Monterey…

Reese and Zoe were whisked away to Happy Hollow. Photos by Baldy.

A brief lesson in statistics

This is what Fox News showed:

See how glancing at that chart could lead you to believe that unemployment in November is higher than the 8.8% in March despite actually being less?  Maybe this makes it more clear:

23.5 Hours

What is the best preventative medicine in the world?