Jon Barclay

Huckabee has done it again. He has created another add that not only stands out and will be played millions of times on TV and Radio for free, but one that people will actually pay attention to.

Huckabee shocked some in the media with his tongue and cheek Chuck Norris ad, but that ad got more free air time than Romney or Giuliani could ever buy. This time with his simple message about focusing on the birth of Christ, Huckabee penetrates through the ad clutter and presents a simply but powerful messages that will keep people talking about his approachable personality and sincere beliefs. And again this ad will be played over and over for free all over the country.

Whatever Huckabee is paying his ad writers, it’s not enough.

The Humane Society has a disturbing video on why you should never ever ever buy a puppy from a pet store.

Check it out…

A couple of weeks ago UVSC unveiled its new logos for the change to University status. I had seen them earlier when I filled out a survey on the logos that showed several different options. And while the final logos were not what I chose in the survey, they are growing on me.

Any change always seems to brings discomfort. But it seems as we live with changes many times we learn to like them. I think this will be the case with the logos. At first I just thought the Utah in the U was just silly and it really turned me off. But now after letting the new logos digest I kinda like them. Check out a video with the new logos here. What do you think?

After watching Romney’s Speech on Faith in America, I thought he did an excellent job. I particularly like this line from the speech:

There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church’s distinctive doctrines. To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes president he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths.

I also loved his conclusion:

Recall the early days of the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia, during the fall of 1774. With Boston occupied by British troops, there were rumors of imminent hostilities and fears of an impending war. In this time of peril, someone suggested that they pray. But there were objections. “They were too divided in religious sentiment,” what with Episcopalians and Quakers, Anabaptists and Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Catholics.

Then Sam Adams rose, and said he would hear a prayer from anyone of piety and good character, as long as they were a patriot.

And so together they prayed, and together they fought, and together, by the grace of God, they founded this great nation.

And in that spirit, let us give thanks to the divine “author of liberty.” And together, let us pray that this land may always be blessed, “with freedom’s holy light.”

What I did not think was effective was his referral to his faith as the religion of his fathers. Romney has used this reference before and he did this a couple of times in the speech. To me it de-emphasizes his personal belief and faith. Mormons believe that one must be personally “converted” regardless of ones parents beliefs. Romney should have focused more on his personal belief rather than his faith as tradition.

It is amazing how fast kids grow up! It seems like yesterday Evan was just starting to wriggle his way around the floor, and now he is full blown walking. Before we know it he is going to be talking too!

I uploaded a couple photos we took while Grandma and Grandpa Balke were up for Thanksgiving.  Check them out by clicking on the picture below.