Democrats Blow a Great Opportunity--Peter Carroon v. BYU Professor Richard Davis

I voted for Richard Davis for Democratic Party Chair. He did not win. Peter Carroon won. Both were good choices, but Peter is a better choice as a candidate for political office and Richard would have been a shrewd and smart strategic choice as Party chair.

Utah Democrats were foolish for not embracing Mr. Davis' candidacy, even though many party stalwarts may not agree with some of his positions--as I don't.

In listening to comments in the caucases, instead of realizing that Democrats are the minority party in Utah, it appears that the rank and file want Peter Carroon, not because he's good for the party's progress but because, "he's put in his dues," "we need to act like, talk like and be Democrats (whatever that means)," and because he's a BYU Professor and therefore his candacy is "interjecting religion into politics." I also had the feeling that many would not vote for Mr. Davis solely because he is LDS.

So the same wrongheaded thinking that many staunch LDS Republicans have that does not permit them to be Democrats or vote for none-LDS candidates or those who are Democrats--applies to many Democrats. Yet when you are in the minority, you especially need to reach out and attract more participation from a broader electorate. You do not do that by party purges, creating orthodoxy and electing those who have "put in their dues."

Those involved in politics at the grass roots level in both parties tend to include many who are at the polar extremes of the populace. This leaves a lot of people in the middle. And lets face it, in Utah, that middle is filled with many who are LDS who do not feel welcome in the Democratic party and are often made to feel unwelcome.

As a consequence, the Republicans have the luxury in this State of ignoring the independent and potential swing voters. Democrats can accept that for what it is and as the minority party, work with it and court those moderate voices or it can swim against the current.

Therefore, Democrats can decide if they want to continue to have little influence outside of Salt Lake County by sticking to their orthodoxy or they can appeal to a broader base by making bold choices. Such choices would include embracing fellow Democrats who, while clearly fitting within party philosophical parameters, may not share the same positions on a few issues that Democrats consider the litmus test to the parties' supposed orthodoxy.

Richard Davis, as party chair, could have helped exponentially in extending the party's influence beyond Salt Lake County without having had any political power to have threatened the orthodoxy of the party.

Yet, because Democrats have rejected Professor Richard Davis, Republicans can relax and Democrats can now continue to be the party of the Wasatch front.

Loren M. Lambert © April 26, 2014

Not When, but If

"It is not a matter of when but if."

Comment 1: Steve Sims - if the when is never the if is moot

Comment 2: Loren M. Lambert - This isn't my slogan, it's the slogan of the republican party.

Comment 3: Bob Shorten - Ninth grade geography teacher at Wasatch always said that about earthquakes

Loren M. Lambert © April 23, 2014

Taste for Dirt

When you get a taste for dirt, it's hard to keep it from going to your head.

Loren M. Lambert © April 22, 2014

Look Good or Be Good?

I only have time to look good, not to be good.

Comment 1: Rosalinda Burton - Oh come on now! Being good helps you look good!!!

Comment 2: Jeff Johnson - How ironic and I'm just the opposite.

Comment 3: Loren M. Lambert - (Frankly, truth be told, I was thinking about my workouts--the reality is I can't push myself like I use to because I can't hold up and my time is limited so its like I'm athletic enough to stand at the starting line in the sun and look like I could actually run the race but as soon as the gunshot sounded, I'd just have to stand in the sun and look like . . . )

Comment 4: Rosalinda Burton - ....you just finished it?

Loren M. Lambert © April 22, 2014

Embracing The Eternal Mystery of Mediocrity, Moderation and Modesty

I’m re-thinking this, be all you can be, find your highest potential, explore your limits, hogwash. The wisdom of Joe Rowling, fellow river rat and Wisconsin wonderkund-kid keeps coming back to taunt me. Joe, zinc oxide always plastered across his city-boy-white nose, a goofy Gillagan’s Island straw hat on his head, said you should never get into shape so you don’t ever have to worry about getting out of shape. So you know, this wasn't coming from some loser--Joe was the best most improbable yet adequately able river guide there ever sometimes was.

He would slightly less than whole heartedly agree with me that it’s best to stay a bit pudgy, somewhat pale, slightly greasy and settle for just enough of everything to live moderately above the poverty level. And, he would nod unenthusiastically that on a good day we should shoot for just a bit less than the sure thing, expect the worse yet plan for something slightly better, and to always look on the side that faces you and steer clear of any bright sides.

I mean isn't it much more engaging and romantic to be able to just look at what others are doing and say–“Hell, I could do that.” “You call that art?” “Piece of cake.” “I’ve seen bigger balls on a pygmy possum.” “Why don’t I?–Why bother?--Hey, I’m fine where I am,” and last but not exactly, the least, “I could a if I wanted ta, I just don’t wanna.”

In fact, if he wanted to, Joe would’ve probably made millions of dollars going into business with me almost printing up t-shirts with slogans like: Slow Guts No Gory; Less is Never More & We Want it That Way; No Need for Speed; Never Gain If It Requires Pain; When the Going Get’s Tough The Smart Go To Bed.

Finally, Joe would possibly give me an ovation if I’d do the standing and half-hearted clapping myself, and if he had the interest in listening to me exhort: don’t ever go the extra mile; definitely do not take the road less traveled; and never ever, except on the pain of death, follow your dreams.

And why? Because 90% of all fatalities, catastrophic property losses and relationship blowouts occur during the extra mile, 97% of the time the road is less traveled because it leads to a dumpy little place next to a toxic waste dump where for entertainment its five residents watch tar drip; and don’t follow your dreams because they were never really that cool since you were either asleep, drunk or sick when you had them you never had the capacity to follow them any way, and if you did manage to follow them to their very end you had to ask: Is that all there is? Is that all I’ve got? And then you had to answer: Yes, that is all there is, and that is all I have got, and it’s all I ever had and ever will have.

Where’s the mystery and glory in that? There isn't any. So leave something in reserve. Besides, if you would just ignore them, dreams should be like butterflies that just come and land on your shoulder. Why should you chase them? Better--make them chase you. So, if you hear about the best restaurant with the best food ever, avoid it like the plague. If you hear about some technique for the most exquisite sex, the most intimate relationship–burn it. Don’t put that kind of pressure on yourself. Who wants the burden of knowing it will never get any better.

This will allow you to live in a state of continuous anticipation with a sure knowledge that your best is yet to come, that Santa will always be on his way, and that America is a place where we are exceptional and never do anything wrong.

Then you’ll never have to confront the pain of knowing you gave it your very best but your best wasn't good enough, and you’ll never wonder if what you have could be any better.

So when I die, my epitaph should read:

Here Lies a Man Whose Best Was Yet to Come, Who Was More Than Likely A Famous Genius and A Great Leader but Who Chose to Live a Modest, Humble Life of Mysterious Mediocrity.

Loren M. Lambert © April 22, 2014

The Daddy Daughter Connection

Today I got a call that no parent/Dad wants to hear. It turned out that it wasn’t too serious, still, not good. “Mr. Lambert there’s been an emergency, you need to come immediately to pick up your daughter and take her in for medical care . . .” Instantly, at the back of my stomach this heavy sick feeling took hold. I fired off a few orders to my office staff, gathered up my brief case and headed to Cottonwood High.

Earlier this week I had one of my best meetings, aka, auditions. Generally, they have all been pretty solid lately due to lots of hard work. So you know, a great audition for an actor is not that they get the part, we don’t have any control over that and there are a lot of variables and lots of stiff competition. A great audition is when you forget you’re auditioning, you forget your day, forget your standing at a mark like a wax museum statue, forget there’s a camera stuck in your face and you connect to a momentarily real experience and react like you really would were that moment a real event in your life with your scene partner. I was reading for the part of a father who had recently lost a daughter and was consoling his surviving daughter due to her survivor’s guilt. In that moment for all intents and purposes I was that girl’s father and the emotion was raw, real and visceral.

The same as it was as I was driving to get my daughter.

My sons, all older than her have had their medical emergencies. Those experiences also provoked the same sense of concern, but there was something different about this, something much more profound and substantial knowing my daughter was in pain. It was like there was this neural connection draining her anxiety into me so I could feel it like it was mine.

I arrived at Cottonwood, called the number I had been given and Noelle’s high school attendance coordinator brought her out in a wheel chair. She couldn’t walk because while at dance practice she had impaled her foot on a sharp hanger wire that must have been used to hang some prop. It was dangling from the ball of her foot and looked to be about an inch or more in. She was in pain and every whimper and ouch made my gut turn more. I wanted to take the pain for her.

We went to the Holliday Instacare. While waiting for treatment, which required a numbing shot because the wire was hooked, she asked me to sing to her. My jaw dropped, my heart surged and I felt so inadequate. For the past many years she had always asked me not to sing. On the spot, all I could think of was the Killer’s Human that I had been singing in the morning. Not exactly a calming song. Yet, she wanted distraction, so I obliged. Holding her hand, as the doctor gave her a shot, I sang a weak Human and then threw in Ed Shehan’s Lego House.

"Are we human, or are we dancer, my sign is vital my hands are cold, and I'm on my knees looking for the answers, are we human or are we Dancer." "And if you're broken I will mend you, and I'll keep you sheltered from the storm that's raging on now." Still the neural connection raged on, the pit in my stomach, and the helplessness in the face of her pain remained. It didn’t wane until an hour after I took her home.

Then I realized why it had been a great audition--the apparent tapped into connection. That Daddy Daughter connection. So what is it? Instinctual? I can’t think of anything I’ve done different with my sons, wife or others I love in my life. Yet this was so immediate, so tangible. Though now I know she'll revert back to asking me not to sing when I do, I am just thankful she’s now downstairs, safe, sharing the calm after the storm with good friends. I can only hope that further such connections will only be in auditions when I can find that neural link in my imagination and be at my best artistic self, instead of receiving a call that there has been an emergency.

Loren M. Lambert © April 18, 2014

Sugar is Poison--Literally

Sugar is poison, sugar causes addiction, sugar causes diabetes (type II), any diet that works will be high fiber and low sugar. Low sugar and high fiber diets are what god gave us and processed food is taking real food and turning it into unhealthy garbage. We used to consume about a 100 grams a day of fiber—now we consume 12 grams a day. Extracting fiber and adding sugar is good for your wallet and bad for your health. This is said here: http://radiowest.kuer.org/post/sugar-bitter-truth-0

Loren M. Lambert © April 16, 2014

The Desire That Cannot Be Acknowledged In Public.

Do we really have a sense of balance in our approach to this most complex of drives?

We know that many that share 90% of our genetics will starve, cross continents, navigate miles of rivers against the crushing currents, and fight sometimes to the death to get it. Does this reality have any lessons for us to learn?

We know that similar necessary compulsions can be voiced with complete acceptance. Like I am hungry or I am cold. Yet why is it so unacceptable to utter its reality as if to do so will conjure up the death eaters and the snake-faced one who leads them?

I am just going to say it, I love crunchy Frito lay corn puffs.

Loren M. Lambert © April 14, 2014

Passion

Some of my friends, like family, sometimes say things in the moment that are driven by passion without a lot of wisdom, so I don't take it personally and let it go. I sometimes do the same--too much passion, too little restraint. I'm getting better at being wise and disagreeing but not being disagreeable. I really do love and like most people and feel no ill will towards them even when they in-artfully disagree with me.

Loren M. Lambert © April 14, 2014

Donkey Politics at Its Best

Within the shadow of the everlasting mountains, the Democrats held their convention behind the "What Jesus Most Sanctifies" podium. Not as snappy as I remember the Republican Convention I attended years ago but significantly more colorful.

There were only two contested races for the Demos nominees. All four seemed highly qualified. How could I chose? One lost my vote due to a petty stereotype mentioned by the guy introducing him and the other merely due to a slightly greater affinity I had for the other candidate.

And the person who shines the brightest as a great leader at the convention--the gentleman who took the time to pick up all the paper towels that missed their mark in the men's restroom. Bravo. A true hero.

I suspect many of the candidates would see this as beneath their dignity but if I could run them through a similar test, then I'd know the true public servants.

If all of us had the attitude of this gentleman in all of our doings, there would be need for only a very lean government.

Loren M. Lambert © April 12, 2014

The Whistle Blower's Toll

I'm representing a police officer who stood up to a Chief who was engaged in a lot of inappropriate behavior and intensely disliked by all except those few he rapidly promoted over others. This Chief was finally terminated after much mayhem and turmoil.

Yet here is the interesting thing. Those that did not work with my client, although they also intensely disliked the Chief, they had similar sentiments about my client, had a lot of negative things to say about him and believed the rumors spread by the vary Chief they opposed. When pressed for the bases for their opinions, they usually had none but were nonetheless convinced of their position.

Then, upon interviewing the few that worked with the whistle blower for any period of time, they also disliked the Chief but had favorable things to say about my client.

So, plan your moves wisely and be ready to weather the storm when you do the right thing and blow the whistle on those who abuse their authority.

Loren M. Lambert © April 10, 2014

Chairman Training

Went to Precinct Chairman training. I am enthusiastic about participating in our democracy but I am both amazed and alarmed at how many of us are able to agree upon and embrace all the beliefs, goals, and endorsements of a particular group. I am afraid that my propensity to rebel will never allow me to find complete contentment in conformity to the group.

Loren M. Lambert © April 8, 2014

Gold Coins For Everyone's Skulls

A couple of weeks ago a report was made about a California couple who found a bounty of $10 million dollars in gold coins minted in the 1800s buried on their property. Most of their value was as collectibles since the gold alone was maybe worth $28,000.

We love inanimate, shiny things. They have value, not because they increase our wealth as people or they have any utility, but because as a rare object, we desire them to possess and own.

So you know, I would have loved to have found them. I would have gladly benefitted from the bounty. Yet, the interesting question is, whether if at the moment they were found, was there a 10 million dollar increase in the worlds wealth? Did they create value?

Today, as I do many times a year, I drove past the dry river bed of Little Cottonwood creek. The creek, just like Big Cottonwood creek, is dead. Does anyone morn their loss? Free flowing, living streams amidst our cities are getting to be a rare thing.

In a few more weeks the Jordan and Salt Lake City Canal and the East Jordan Canal will course through the valley with muddy water through dead unnatural canal beds carrying the garbage that collected there during the winter months. They once drew water from the Provo and Jordan water systems for farm land in the Salt Lake Valley. This was in a time when our Wasatch mountain creeks flowed with living waters all year long.

In as many more weeks I will drive again to watch the ever dwindling numbers of Sage Grouse at their Spring Leks where they all join together to hitch up. It’s an amazing and enthralling sight.

Tomorrow, all around the world people will kill to mine diamonds, pump for oil and dig for gold. In other places people will kill to slay rhinos and shoot elephants for their horns and tusks. They will do so for the love we have for inanimate objects that we can possess as individuals. As the death toll rises, the value of these objects, rendered inanimate, will increase in value. But, does this increase our wealth?

Even though as individuals we cannot own them, keep them in a locked box at the bank, does a lek of sage grouse add wealth to our world equal to or greater than a horde of gold coins?

If tomorrow we woke up and found our streams alive and flowing year round; if tomorrow we woke up and lived in a world where no creature was endangered with extinction because of human encroachment–if tomorrow we woke up and no one killed for gold, diamonds and oil–would the world be a richer place?

While it is a tomorrow that may not be as immediately gratifying nor as capable of rendering financial security to a few, it is a tomorrow that is immensely more enriched than a tomorrow filled with golden coins that cannot be eaten, that cannot quench one’s thirst, and cannot create life. Yet it is a tomorrow that our posterity would derive greater wealth from than all the gold coins we are minting to give them for their legacy. Then, when they die of starvation in a used-up, polluted, useless world, at least the hollow orbits of their eyes can be filled with shiny gold coins.

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-0227-gold-coins-20140227,0,843659.story#axzz2uaoVvAV7

Loren M. Lambert © March 6, 2014

Destroying the Opposition--Medical Malpractice

Set aside the merits (I don't want to discuss those) and consider something you may not have thought of before about the realities of medical malpractice claims. Also know that I, unlike many of my colleagues, think that we could have some broad based legal reform that could bring some consistency, predictability and still require responsibility and accountability into our system.

Jumping in. I completed a medical malpractice pre-litigation panel last week. The case concerns an understaffed rest home, a fall and subsequent death. It’s really more of a personal injury case than a medical malpractice issue. After the hearing, the opposing party invited us out to chat in the hall. Though, I knew it was not to give us a nice hug and hand shake, I thought that this would be a professional short discussion about the merits of the case and maybe a discussion on a resolution. Instead, the opposing party indicated the many ways he was going to destroy us.

Therein lies one of the problems. In most med mal cases, and I would say regardless of the merits or fault, the medical care providers pursue a scorched earth policy. Is it effective? Yeah, arguably at times. But in my humble opinion, usually not. Pursuing such tactics just increases the expenses on both sides, enriches the attorneys, and causes unnecessary entrenchment. I’ll let you know how this one goes–if I am around to tell the tale.

Loren M. Lambert © November 19, 2013

1.3 Billion Beats Later

When I was in fifth grade I got really, really, really depressed when Mrs. Adams, my teacher, told us our hearts beat about 70 to 75 beats per minute, 100,000 times in one day and about 35 million times in a year and about 2.5 billion times in a life. I could come to grips with the 75 beats a minute, I mean, I had made it that far, could count my pulse and my heart felt pretty good, but the 2.5 billion times was beyond what I could wrap my mind around. I couldn't fathom it.

I’d lie awake at night and could feel my heart pumping, wondering if it was tired yet and thought it was pretty unfair it had to work all the time while me and the rest of my body would soon be asleep. I couldn't imagine that it could just go on and on and on without a single potty break, siesta or recess and wondered about how it was going to get through all those 2.5 billion pumps.

Then Mr. Albertson came to mind. He had a heart attack. He was one of the energetic people I knew then. He was my neighbor and they took him away in an ambulance and he was pretty white. I didn't quite understand what a heaart attack was but, it made sense, I would attack too if I had to beat all the time. When Mr. Albertson came home. He started going for walks every night, and he walked real slow, I thought, so his heart wouldn't get mad and attack him again. It made me wonder, when my heart would attack me and why everybody’s heart didn’t attack them.

Don’t know how I slept through it all but, eventually, I got to my teens and twenties, then I was worried my heart wouldn't beat correctly–wouldn't let me win–wouldn't let me down easy. I ran and worked out and swam and kayaked and dated and fell in love and would get dumped and do it all over again. It took me a while to learn that, yeah, I could condition it to a point, but it was just going to do what it wanted and I wasn't going to be able to do anything about it. So the roller coaster went on and on and it’s been a good ride.

Now I lay awake at night and I can still feel my heart beating. Doesn't feel any different than in fifth grade, at least it doesn't in bed, and it’s been through at least 1.2 billion beats and it worries me. What if it never stops? Now, I know there’s people out there that would like that problem and I feel for them, but if mine doesn't feel any different than when Ms. Adams told me it could fill several swimming pools with blood every week, maybe it won’t know when to stop. Maybe when my heads all full of holes so big that a 45 mag bullet slug could pass through it with out hitting a single neuron or maybe when I can’t tell the difference between a month old salmon fillet and a woman's breast, my heart will just keep on pumping until I’m nothing more than the sum of all my sore body parts. Or maybe when I do kill over and I’m all decked out in my coffin, my heart will just start up, like in some Edgar Allen Poe story, and the embalming fluid will squirt out my eyeballs. (That’s why I want to be cremated).

So, anyway, I’m up late at night a lot. My hearts beating. What about yours?

Loren M. Lambert © November 19, 2013

US Marines Relief Efforts

Maybe it's because our media doesn't report on other governments efforts, but It appears that the US Marines are at the forefront of the relief efforts in the Philippines. I know we're still recovering from the recession but it's good that our troops can bring hope, relief and the love of our great nation instead having to sew death and destruction.

Loren M. Lambert © November 14, 2013

ACA Execution

Although it seems headed there, I hate to say, but I hope the execution of the ACA does not continue to match the Bush's administration of the execution of the Iraq war.

Loren M. Lambert © November 14, 2013

I Grow Weeds Now

When I was young I worked on the river, it was every day in the sun, I loved it.
I had a little adolescent acne, not bad, barely noticeable,
thought the sun was good for it,
and it was for the most part, clear skin, little bit of a burn now and then,
got the girl and came home with the end-of-summer tan.

Now a little older, okay, yeah maybe much older.
I dream about the river, the memories take me there.
It's almost every night in the sun. But in the morning,
in the mirror I can see a crop of weeds, there on my skin.

My botanist Doc calls them actinic keratosis.
I get a new crop every year. He gave me herbicide I must apply,
two times a day for several weeks to get down to the roots,
maybe even kill a seed or two sewn down deep by that sun so many years ago.

He thinks it's good for me, and for the most part it is, clear skin after a little burn and some peeling, got the girl and come home with the end-of-working day ham.
But as the sun and river knows, every action has an equal and opposite reaction,
So I’ll just have to wait for the dreams that come from
applying herbicide as a consequence to my time in the sun.

Loren M. Lambert © November 14, 2013

A Good Day To Give Cantankery Its Comeuppance

What a beautiful day, I'm grateful I was able to spend most of it, starting from the wee hours until dusk, responding to a most cantankerous and surly opposing counsel's diatribe on the lack of marble embellishments in my office and my inability to reign in the desperate prevarications that spilled fourth from his client's unbridled and beak-like mouth during a recent deposition.

Thankfully he spewed out sufficient fiber to allow me the privilege of braiding a good and hardy rope thereof to hog tie and metaphorically hang him come judgment day.

Loren M. Lambert © November 8, 2013

When Scrutiny is Called For

In my personal life I try and do assume the best in everyone--I genuinely like this life, others and all of the many blessings I have. In my practice I have to scrutinize every thing, every fact, every statement, every motive, every move, just like a soldier in battle, otherwise I'd be worthless to my clients, to me, to my business, to the system and to the general public.

I have many potential clients determine not to hire me because I ask the difficult questions and tell them how it is--but I've learned I don't want the kind of client who wants to be lied to, who wants you to see the way things are perceived but to ignore or not know how they really are. In me your not hiring a cheer leader, you're hiring an advocate-a voice of support and reason in a world of chaos.

I'm not the kind of attorney who will tell you, you have a great case but I'm just too busy and send you to darken the door of another colleague.

Loren M. Lambert © November 7, 2013

Discrimination is Alive and Well

Fatima Doe (last name not her real name), worked in the pharmacy at Wal-mart. She is a citizen and has a Masters’ degree. She is very intelligent, hard working and professional. A new supervisor was appointed. As many know, this is a field that attracts a lot of very educated middle easterners. Fatima was from Iran. Her super told her and everyone else to never speak in their language and would not consider job applicants that sounded foreign for any positions that came open.

A customer came in to complain about his address that had been entered wrong. She came to assist him. His address had been entered incorrectly by one digit by another employee. Fatima’s English is very good but she has an obvious accent.

The customer told her in a loud angry voice, among other insulting things, she shouldn’t be working there taking jobs from Americans and that she needed to go home and get an education. Her supervisor was standing about 4 steps away. When the customer left she asked her supervisor why he did not stand up for her. He pretended not to have heard it all although the other two employees next to him did.

She told her supervisor that if he did not stand up for her and go talk to the customer, she would go confront him. He refused and told her not to do it. After clocking out she did. She was fired.

For 5 months she sent out resumes and didn’t get a single interview. Her daughter Taraneh, told her that she couldn’t get any interviews either until she shortened her name to Tara. Fatima legally then changed her name to Sarah. She even told the Judge that was why she was doing it. After doing this she had 25 interviews within a few of months and was hired.

We think it doesn't go on because it isn't happening to us. It does and we need to be aware of it.

Loren M. Lambert © November 4, 2013

Google Gets Waterboarded and Only Then Do Arch Conservatives Care

Apparently the NSA was able to avoid US constitutional privacy rights and hack into Google’s foreign offices's servers to obtain info to facilitate its spying mania-over-reach because these Google offices and servers are not on US soil. This is the same justification the Bush administration used for torture and rendition–they weren't US citizens and were not on US soil so they could do whatever the hell they wanted. It’s all a bunch of twisted rationalization. Yet, as to the former, arch-conservatives are piqued because it waterboards their economic and privacy interests, but the latter, they don’t care about it because they can’t see that anyone they care about or that they consider human as being unfairly treated.

Loren M. Lambert © November 1, 2013

Killer Web sight I found for my single friends (didn't get much traction last night so we'll try again), here's the ad:

“Why polish turds when you can get one that’s already been polished?”

"Matches 4 Misfits”

“Are you single or want to be? Did you find yourself feeling sorry for the misfit toys in Rudolph the RNR? Do you like romantic projects? Did you enjoy blind, sympathy and charity dates? Do you often watch CNN and Fox news programming regarding prisons, felons and cons and get all googoo eyed? Do you find yourself strangely attracted to tattooed inmates? Do you constantly watch Breaking Bad? Do you, not only like watching horror films, but living them? Did you vote for Anthony D. Weiner? If any of these apply, then our web dating service may be perfect for you at matches4misfits.com. Date one or date all four.

Really, why polish turds when you can get one that’s already been polished? Our potential mates, thoroughly screened by us at “Matches 4 Misfits,” have been vetted, bedded, wedded, and re-treaded at least once if not multiple times! You can’t lose!!!! Join now at matches4misfits.com.”

(SWB and ASS endorse this web service)

Loren M. Lambert © October 31, 2013

Think Before You Kill

Was at a pot lunch barbecue party with my Meisner class. We were outside on a deck. There was this beautiful little jumping spider moving toward me. It had markings I was not familiar with and flashing red. I could see either its eyes flashing or something else. It was fascinating. It moved behind a bowl. I moved the bowl to get a closer look. Down came the thumb of one of the people there, smashing the beautiful creature. Felt I’d lost a friend.

Please think before you kill. There is great beauty and wonder out there, appreciate it before you squash it, if you must squash it.

Loren M. Lambert © October 30, 2013

A Pearl of Great Price.

According to LDS Scripture in the Pearl of Great Price, as to the ancient people of Enoch, "And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them." Moses 7:18.

If this was a reality--is it because there were no disabled, mentally ill, addicted, physically sick, financially devastated people among them? Is it because there were no natural or man made disasters? I do not think so.

Yet many LDS think they can achieve paradise without the reality of what it is to be human. Their vision of life and of people can only be found in the recesses of their fertile and imaginative minds.

I would love it if the religious stepped up to the plate and provided a comprehensive, non-discriminatory welfare system for all of earth's children as occurs fairly well among some of the LDS and which they extend to a very small percent of non-members--but it has never happened and never will because even when the "religious" completely controlled things they either woefully failed at this task due to human imperfections or descended into tyranny.

Instead of bringing comfort and peace to mankind they brought force, torture and death. I will even go so far as to tell you, that many of the LDS's interpretation of Mormon theology as being opposed to Social Security or other governmental programs is completely wrong and they will not find any current leader of the LDS faith (meaning President, Counselors and Apostles) saying such and if they asked them they would agree with me and not them. (Ahh, now they have a challenge--go get that support--good luck).

Loren M. Lambert © October 30, 2013

When Trees Lose their Leaves

When trees loose their leaves, they look like humans that loose their hair: forlorn, scary, pitiful, dignified, sickly, and at times, in the right sunset on a hillock, majestically mysterious. So, if you're hairless, stand in the right sunset on the hill of your own making.

Loren M. Lambert © October 30, 2013

NSA--Money Into a Rat Hole.

Not only should we not be spying on everyone and their toy poodle--we can't afford to be doing this. Such a waste.

Loren M. Lambert © October 28, 2013

When Market Systems Change

Economic rearrangement and realignment always occurs when market systems change. In such situations, though due to market forces, only the nimble and adaptable companies will survive. It will be the survivors and innovators that will meet the market needs of the employees and customers of the corporation dinosaurs that die--whether they built steam locomotives, mechanical typewriters or wrote health insurance policies.

Loren M. Lambert © October 23, 2013

Why I Could Never Get Elected Like Ted Cruise

Ted Cruise said he was just doing what he was elected to do--meaning he was working for the people who paid for his campaign.

While I do think Senators and Congressional Reps need to represent the folks back home, I more strongly believe that they need to have enough courage to do what is likely to do the most good for the greatest amount of people. To me that takes more courage than thinking that it takes courage to be a thorn in America's side just because a mean spirited minority wants to inflict pain because they can't have their way.

We are a great nation because of our diversity, not in spite of it. Not because we allow insular groups to hold the rest of us hostage, nor do we require conformity, but because we find a middle path that unifies us and leads to a better and bigger whole.

Loren M. Lambert © October 22, 2013

ACA

Sat by a neurologist from the University of Virginia Hospital on the plane ride home from DC who was traveling to Salt Lake to give a few lectures at the U of U Hospital on strokes. We chatted a bit on the ACA.

She indicated that since she worked at a public hospital and university, that most of her colleagues thought that although there will certainly be adjustments and unintended consequences, that it would be a positive step and would improve health care.

I asked her about her feelings on the feared brain drain from medicine. She indicated that, yes there would be some that may decide not to become medical providers but said they would probably be the ones that shouldn't be docs.

She said she loved her job, not because it made her wealthy but because she loved being a medical care provider and loved doing research. I would suspect there are many like her and the world is not doomed to end any time soon because of the ACA.

Loren M. Lambert © October 21, 2013

Metro

I got to ride the Metro twice today and watch all the cool Americans go to and from work. A marvel of human engineering. What a great country.

Loren M. Lambert © October 18, 2013

Legal Seminar

I have been attending a legal seminar on Whistleblower Statutes in DC so I can learn better how to vindicate people who reveal government mismanagement, fraud and violation of the law by employers and government agencies and are retaliated again.

Generally I can tell you this, there are over 3 dozen different laws providing such protection for different types of workers that blow the whistle on different subjects. It’s a great block of Swiss cheese, with no rhyme or reason whey they can't pass a comprehensive bill. Moreover, the time for filing, usually 30-180 days and where to file is different for each. So, if it happens to you, just hope you are part of the cheese and not in the hole and that you talk to an attorney early to set it up right.

Our noon speaker was an accountant at Lockheed/Grumman and after blowing the whistle, getting fired, becoming homeless, having the lug nuts sawed off his, his son's and his daughter's cars to break on the road, which they did, and having threats on his life, and after 18 years of litigation (being offered 3 million to settle) he eventually recovered 124 million for the taxpayers that this company had defrauded the government out of (in an elaborate scheme known by the company). It was very interesting.

Loren M. Lambert © October 18, 2013

The Irrational Right

The Irrationalists have to have hate to feel the false comfort of their emoted and ill-founded convictions, and find both hate and solace in the one dimensional straw men they imagine everyone else to be. Once so envisioned, they can then embrace them as their convenient bed fellows.

Loren M. Lambert © October 11, 2013

You need to hear this powerful spirit.

May she be protected and may her message get out. She is one of the most brave persons on earth. Imagine living in a corrupt country were political and religiously motivated assassinations occur all the times and still she speaks up even after the Taliban tried to silence her by shooting her on a bus in broad daylight:

http://www.bustle.com/articles/6620-malala-yousafzai-wins-eu-human-rights-prize-frontrunner-for-nobel-peace-prize

http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/index.php/sid/217579899/scat/b8de8e630faf3631/ht/Malala-keen-to-pursue-political-career-in-Pakistan

Loren M. Lambert © October 10, 2013

Why Should I Be Surprised?

I guess if 600,000 Americans died in a war over whether or not slavery should be allowed to persist as an American Institution, I should not be surprised that a small number of Pleistocene pachyderms want to destroy our economy because they want health care to remain a institution for the wealthy, healthy, and those in the government belfry.

Also, its not surprising because as a friend on the post string reminded me that there is only one person in this fight that has no re-election concerns and can therefore do what he/she thinks is best for all Americans--who could that be? The rest usually act based on fear of losing their jobs--which hopefully will be the case anyway.

Comment 1: Loren M. Lambert - My good friend who has been selling millions of dollars of medical supplies over several decades verified what you don't understand and that is for the last 40 or more years, we have been paying for the honestly destitute, the broken destitute and the maliciously destitutes' medical care. That gets nowhere in your thinking process for some reason. Let me again explain it--if not for profit hospitals must provide care for all that come to their doors, it has to pass the expenses on to you and me--in fact it had been passing the expense on to me in triples--that is because while I am healthier than 90% of the population, I take care of myself and I suspect better than you do (I know, them's are fighting words but I probably do and I'm thrilled your making a run at it--keep going–you’re a great person. For more fighting words I suspect I take better care of myself than a few of the other tubby contributors that post--and don't take it personally guys, when I lived in Spain, it was something that people talked about freely and didn't take it personally and, as the saying goes I have lots of good tubby friend--back to biz). Why? because I had a dreaded pre-existing condition and after two years of looking could only get catastrophic, crappy insurance (that was in 1995), with three times the premium and paying full price at the doctors office and hospital. So what does government do well? Create rules for an even playing field. We're all in the game now and there is no other way to do it because health care has "none-elastic demand." You, Russell Josephson, Walter Platz never seem to acknowledge that nor understand it. Do you really know what it means? Do you have any clue as to why that could be a problem? So yes, I do believe my admittedly over-simplistic sound bite encapsulates and summarizes the truth--because the more complex details are irrelevant when you are a human being with a child of god in your family who has a catastrophic or chronic illness--all such people want is to have access like everyone else and to pay for it like everyone else--through a premium that spreads the risk among all the insured--just what insurance is suppose to do.

Comment 2: Loren M. Lambert - Let me respond to your “summary.”

1. Q: "We both want affordable health care for everyone."
A: Yes.
However, you think at some point in time charity has gotten "everyone" affordable health care? If you believe that you are mistaken. At no time in history except in small communities who’s health care consisted of a comforting hand and maybe some voodoo magic or bloodletting, has everyone had access to health care. Even in our own country there are millions without such access. While I encourage favor and participate in “good old-fashion Christian charity” it is simply without precedent to believe that it ever has or ever can give everyone access to health care. We’re not dealing with Sunday school lessons about the City of Enoch nor is there any perfect heaven on earth, we are dealing with reality.

2. Q: “You see the government as the only vehicle to achieve that, and you don't have a problem if the govt. takes from the rich and gives to the poor, or forces people against their will to participate in your plan, nor do you seem to care how much it costs, or whether or not the government will have to ration care, and or limit freedoms to somewhat control costs.”
A: This is an emotive, hyperbolic, extreme strawman argument and run on sentence.

I do not see the government is the only vehicle to achieve this goal. I don’t believe in taking from the rich and giving to the poor. I care about costs. I care about freedom and don’t like rationing any more than you do. Private industry could achieve it, but they have refused to do so. This is due to greed and this is due a product that has inelastic demand but again you don’t understand what that is and how it distorts the delivery of healthcare.

What is really at issue here is somewhere along the line you have gotten so bent out of shape and so sideways with the government regarding taxes that you don’t understand that in any great democracy there will be honest differences of opinion regarding what services should be specifically provided by the government. Every person I’ve ever known who has refused to pay taxes and got sideways with the government always have had some holier than thou excuse for why they should not have to pay them and other people should pay. And, no, I don’t like paying taxes, I don’t always like contributing to charity but I do so because I know it is important for civilized society and sometimes even a little bit of heart shines through. There is and always should be tension regarding taxes and whether or not they should be for a war like Iraq, a national space exploration program, farm subsidies, old age pension Social Security, or establishing rules for health insurance companies which require access for all Americans.
 
3. Q: “For you forced equal outcomes (at least for the masses....not the elite of course) is more important than personal liberty.”
A: Again this is an extreme overblown hyperbolic strawman argument. It merely tells me that you really have nothing to add to the conversation. I do not believe in “forced equal outcomes.” I believe in balance. Providing good educations does not force equal outcomes, it allows access to the means to a meritocracy. Where the children of the poor, middle class, and the rich (if they so choose) can pursue whatever dream they choose by just taking advantage of the opportunity. Providing access to health care does not force equal outcomes, it merely allows citizens a foundation to stand upon so that they can be in their best health to contribute to society. Rather than spew like a catatonic automaton the same old stuff why don’t you talk specifically about what you don’t like about Obama/ACA instead of dripping with vitriolic against those who you oppose?

4. Q: “I believe that more freedom, the free market, the absence of socialist programs, more personal responsibility, more self-reliance, and good old fashion Christian charity when needed, is the only way to achieve that goal.”

A: There’s nothing wrong with such a belief. It is consistent with my own values and beliefs. Unfortunately, unlike you where you may have perhaps lived in nirvanic blessed societies, my study of history, my experience in life, and the experiences of others that I have met in my life, have shown me that “good old fashion Christian charity,” has never been fashionable enough to meet the needs of a vast numbers of human beings. There just aren’t enough “Christians” to go around.

I urge you to be as smart as Steve Simms and come up with some real information to support your ideas instead of expecting everyone to just take it as a matter of faith.

Loren M. Lambert © October 9, 2013

"Republicans: Sell At the Price We Tell You Or We're Setting a Match To It!"

Pres. Obama said it best, "It's like [the Elephant] wants to negotiate to buy your home and [the Elephant] tells you that if you don't accept the price the [Elephant] wants to buy your home for [the Elephant] we'll burn it down."

The government shutdown is emphatically not Pres. Obama's fault.

Congress could end it tomorrow and then take its message to the polls next election, instead, the Republicans and all who they represent are going to burn our country down around us if we don't sell them our votes at the price they are unilaterally setting.

The Tea Party and their Republican allies are forcing us by extortion to sell to them the votes we already made in the election, the same way that corporate America bought the Republican politicians' their seats in Congress. Sickening.

Loren M. Lambert © October 8, 2013

In-Laws Funeral Turns Into Nightmare Before Halloween

A sister-in-law had the day we all dread (when we have parents we love) happen sooner than expected when her mother died of a heart attack at a fairly young age. Her mother is this very out-going dynamo, community oriented, talented woman. My brother and sister-in-law where passing through Boise where their mom lives on their way to conference when it happened. Fortuitous?

Anyway, they had the funeral and an aging gentleman, upon leaving the funeral in his car--probably some gigantobile, became confused and ran over a bunch of people with serious consequences--two in critical condition, 4-5 with non-life-threatening but life-altering injuries and several more luckily escaped with minor injuries.

Encourage elderly parents who show signs of declining driving skills, dementia or syncopal episodes to give up the keys, or, many states allow anonymous reporting and then they have them go in for check ups. If you're one of them, bow out gracefully. Don't turn all the funerals you're going to attend into a Freudian road rage incident aimed at the younger funeral attendees.

Heart go out to all the mourners and the injured.

Loren M. Lambert © October 7, 2013

A Seasoned Medical Products Sales Rep

Spoke to a successful sales rep who has worked for several medical product suppliers. He sold products internationally and has become familiar with some of the problems with health care here and abroad. He’s not too big on the ACA. He explained to me a lot of his concerns. They had validity from his point of view.

Then, without arguing about it, without letting him know my position, I just asked him a few question about some of his conclusions. Questions that challenged both the basis for his conclusions and that suggested a different way to look at things. I heard several, “I never thought of that. Yeah, I can see how that might make sense." Etc. Problem is most people don't try to see things in a broader context.

Although, I can’t say I don’t care what you think, I believe the direction we're headed is the best of the available options and hope a majority of us and our leaders stay the course. If you don’t change your opinion, you should ask yourself these questions on all the controversial issues you ponder and then discover the answers.

1. Why do others think this is the right thing? What are their arguments and why do they make sense to them?

2. What are the underlying interests of those that are against or for a particular position?

3. What are the consequences of the different options?

4. What problems, issues or concerns provoked the actions taken, and how might those problems, etc., be addressed in another way consistent with my opinion?

5. Whose ox is being gored? And therefore why might it deserved to be gored and what is their natural reaction going to be?

6. What options benefit the most people and do the most good over time?

7. What are the complete economic consequences of a particular action both the actual costs and the passed on, deferred or hidden costs of different options?

8. Are there any “principles” or assumptions about human nature that attempt to break down complex social interactions into a simple idea that I or others are basing their opinions on and how might two contradictory “principles” or assumptions about human nature have validity and thereby lead to equally valid but opposing conclusions?

This kind of thinking actually allows for compromises that actually are better and more superior solutions than the original polarized positions. You also might just find yourself saying, "I never thought of that--it makes a lot of sense."

Loren M. Lambert © October 6, 2013

Depo Heaven at Strong and Hanni

Had a deposition at the Jordan Commons sky rise in the Strong and Hanni conference room on the eight floor. Its panoramic glass windows offered a perfect view up at the Wasatch Range. I was representing one of two woman who got pounded on by a bar tender at Club 90.

The Defense was deposing one of the witnesses. She couldn't remember anything--maybe on purpose--it gave me an opportunity to window gaze a bit between pauses in the dialogue.

There is something magical that happens when you get above all the riff-raff and view-pollution and have a little height. You can then get an unimpeded look at the massive mountains of the Wasatch front. They had a swirl of clouds caught in their great shoulders, a light dusting of snow, and fall colors bursting out at their base.

They felt like an anchor, a familiar friend, a reminder of solidity in a sea of change.

Then the depo ended and I had to go back down to the first floor. The splendor was just not the same with the power lines, nearby construction and cars. So what's the big picture here? What is the majesty of this country? What would we see with just a little height? What is blocking our view? Can any real good come when spoilers mire us in a crisis and expect to there find reason? The mountain is there before our eyes, let me take you up the eight stories to see it.

Loren M. Lambert © October 4, 2013

As Hurricane Looms Congress Grooms for Tea.

Wild weather here and on the east coast. Hurricane Ella Fant is rapidly developing and swinging up the east coast and is predicted to hit landfall at 8 am tomorrow on the Potomac. Congress Rep. Beohner has offered to fund FEMA if Pres. Obama will agree to drop ACA, wash his toilet and serve him Tea.

Loren M. Lambert © October 3, 2013

Republican Party-Shreds the Constitution & Uses Extortion To Usurp Judicial Powers to Strike the Affordable Care Act

The U.S. Constitution, the document that many Republicans wrap themselves in to pronounce the infallible sanctity of their political positions and actions, actually runs counter to their political gamesmanship at this time and condemns their actions.

Once the legislative branch has promulgated into law a bill through the representative process as agents for the majority, it is only the judicial branch that has been granted the power to strike such legislation when it conflicts with the U.S. Constitution.

Ignoring this, the Republican party is using extortion to usurp the powers only ceded to the courts to strike down the Affordable Care Act--legally passed by the legislature. In essence, what they could not do politically, what they could not do in an election, what they could not do using the constitutional powers given them, what they could not do through the courts, they want to achieve by holding hostage the people that they warned us that they despise--the electorate--we the people--by threatening to bring down the entire government unless we cede to their temper tantrum.

While the very wealthy and misinformed and their cheerleaders at Fox and the Lame-Labomb-stream media laugh and take delight in the turmoil that they are causing, they are oblivious to the pain the government shutdown will cause to so many because they really have no respect and they have no dignity. They simply want their own way no matter what the costs. Such a practice is tyranny no matter what branch of the government tries to take on powers beyond those granted to it in our constitution.

Hopefully, the good, honest, humble, intelligent and meek of this country will understand it for what it is and restore the Republican party back into the hands of those that can act responsibly, honorably and understand that they govern an entire people, a nation, a great nation, and not just a motley rabble of insular, bitter, smug, selfish black-tied country clubbers.

Loren M. Lambert © October 3, 2013

Stone v. M & M--Fracking, Fightin' and Fudging the Facts in Vernal

My client, office and I prevailed in Stone v. M & M, a case in Vernal Utah in an appeal: http://www..gov/opinions/appopin/stone359092613.pdf
And no, he didn't sue the chocolate--it's a welding company.

It's an example of how companies can really misbehave. Basically the wrap is as follows, Mr. Stone gets jumped at a company sponsored party by one of the drunken partyers because Stone annoyed him by badly singing a song that was top billing at a recent funeral. Lesson being that one should not only speak no unkind word about the dead but one should also not besmirch his memory with an out-of-tune drunken rendition of the deceased's funerary requiem. For his troubles Stone badly broke his ankle. Now in all fairness Mr. Stone is not a choir boy.

After healing up, Stone asked for info to file a worker's comp case--and just so you know--the law is a little 50-shades of grey on coverage when attending company sponsored parties--usually not covered unless it advances company business--we argued that it had.

Anyway, the very next day they fire Stone's ass along with his bum leg. As an excuse, they say they fired him because the week before while on the job he had called in a waste water spill that was contaminating the ground water that had been caused by OEG at one of the fracking tanks. This is exactly what he had been trained to do. The company, M & M, said that OEG, their customer asked that they fire Stone because the spill was too small to complain about. What? (Stone claims that the contaminated water was sinking into the porous ground fast but it shouldn't matter--he did the right thing).

As an example of how lame this excuse is, lets say a female was sent out by her employer, Dumb and Dumber, (D & D) to deliver a tank of water to a Petroleum Invasive Gophers or P.I.G. fracking sight and while doing so a P.I.G. foreman had grabbed her entire rear right butt cheek and asked her for a little back-fracking action and she quickly escaped and complained. Let's say P.I.G.'s crack investigator looked into it and told the woman's boss at D & D that they should fire her cheeky mouth along with her fault-bearing derriere because it wasn't a full on hand grab but just a little friendly pinch.

Anyway from the very start of the case, my client, an out-of-stater, and me, an out-of-towner, felt like we were getting a lot of home town cooking--the kind with a little extra something special including the dismissal of our case--just so they could make us feel at home. Any way, whether or not that was the case, it was nice of the Utah Court of Appeals to tell the Vernal District court to stop serving up that special something. We hope we don't get more of the same but it was a nice interim win anyway.
http://www.utcourts.gov/opinions/appopin/stone359092613.pdf
www.utcourts.gov

Loren M. Lambert © September 29, 2013

OMG (Gosh not G_d--I'm from Utah after all)

Amanda Dickson in her program "A Woman's View," actually agreed with me, as well as a view of her guests, about my contention that republicans should spend their time constructively by strengthening Obamacare instead of destructively by embarrassing themselves on the Senate floor. I nearly drove off the road--which could have put a further crimp on reducing health care costs, so I maintained my composure and made it safely off the road.

Loren M. Lambert © September 29, 2013

Wildly Unpopular Things

Dying in a foreign non-defensive war is wildly unpopular, dying of preventable and treatable medical conditions is wildly unpopular, passing Obamacare without a single [congressional] Republican vote due to their and many being oblivious to the pain of millions is not wildly unpopular-- that is why President Obama won a second term, if it had been otherwise, a Republican out of touch with everyone including his family pet would be president. And just so you know, I don't have a problem with him putting his pet on the top of his motor home because the pet would have suffered too dearly being in Mitt's presence that long.

Comment 1: Loren M. Lambert - I've already got my Obamacare bill and it has been much less expensive than my pre-Obama care bill. But let me let you in on a little secret--all the experts said that until the market settles in that premiums would go up. And many of the experts say that once everyone is insured and there is greater competition among the insurance companies--those that can adjust--premiums will go down--and once the republicans get on board and introduce market reforms that further increase competition--premiums will go down further. And finally, once legal reforms are made to standardize and bring more predictability to general damage awards--premiums will go down ever further.

Comment 2: Loren M. Lambert - As I have said time and time again, I am for “tort reform” that is an equitable and evenhanded way that just does not benefit the medical industry, establishes uniformity and predictability in the awarding of general damages. What I oppose is “tort reform,” or “legal reform,” that seeks to benefit a particular group of persons or a specific industry like the medical or health profession or that simply seeks to insulate a group of persons, or a specific industry from “personal responsibility,” for its actions. We all should be equal under the law.

Loren M. Lambert © September 28, 2013

Utah Labor Commission a/k/a Utah Employers Protection Association

Attended a conference set up by the Labor Commission for worker's compensation risk managers, adjusters, claims management nurses, a handful of doctors, and a few of us attorneys. Several doctors and other advisers who are in charge of developing policies for Utah Workers' Compensation system presented.

Employers, Insurers and Defense counsel, on the whole, should be pleased because the tone of the conference and the majority of the comments painted the Utah workforce as a whining rabble that is always trying to get something for nothing and we need to quickly restore things back to the good old days when men were men, women stayed home and male doctors delivered the babies who cried only when required and were potty trained by fairies.

Loren M. Lambert © September 27, 2013

Health Insurance

Today Rod Arquette said that anyone could get health insurance and it only costs about $50 to $150 a month. I thought, what planet does this guy live on and then I went to his web sight and saw his picture. He was one of the characters from Mayberry, right?

Comment 1: Loren M. Lambert - Most insurance through work is subsidized. Buying an individual policy is usually much more expensive because you pay the entire premium.

Loren M. Lambert © September 26, 2013

Beard and Turban Day--Who's With Me?

Apparently when it was feared that the jews would be required to wear a yellow star by the Nazi's, Christian X of Denmark stated, "When you look at the inhumane treatment of Jews, not only in Germany but occupied countries as well, you start worrying that such a demand might also be put on us, but we must clearly refuse such, this is due to their protection under the Danish constitution. I stated that I could not meet such a demand towards Danish citizens. If such a demand is made, we would best meet it by all wearing the Star of David."

We have an opportunity to stand up to similar bigotry. The NYPD:

"[R]eleased video of some of the more than a dozen teens suspected of beating up a doctor Saturday evening in what the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is calling a bias attack.

Dr. Prabhjot Singh, 31, is a member of the Sikh faith, the fifth largest religion in the world. The community health expert with joint positions at Mt. Sinai Hospital and Columbia University was walking along West 110th street near Lenox Avenue with a friend when he was attacked.

'We heard ‘get Osama’ and ‘terrorist.’ I felt somebody grab my beard and hit my chin. And then minutes later I was punched a number of times,' Singh said. Medics ended up taking him to the very hospital where he works, Mt. Sinai, where some of his fellow doctors had to wire his jaw and treat him for other injuries.

Police said that a group of young men, ages 15 to 20, came up to Singh on bikes just north of Central Park.

Even though the suspects allegedly yelled slurs at Singh relating to Osama bin Laden, he isn't Muslim, and certainly has nothing to do with terrorism. Like many Sikh men, however, he does not cut his hair or shave his beard, in keeping with traditional practices of his faith."

Regardless of our religious or non-religious affiliations, we should not tolerate such behavior. We should all pick a day and everyone should wear a turban and beard and walk through a local park.

Read more: http://pix11.com/2013/09/23/sikh-professor-beaten-by-bicyclist-gang-who-shouted-osama-thought-he-was-muslim/#ixzz2fxrTO5yA

Loren M. Lambert © September 25, 2013

Republican Politicians: All Wrecking Ball, No Vision

Here is the stark idiocy of the Republican filibuster and congressional gamesmanship over Obama care and the federal budget:

The Healthcare Reform Act does not impede nor in any way hinder the implementation of any and all measures that could be undertaken by the Republicans to advance market reforms to fix the other twin that is the monster to our health care problems (the first being not everyone was insured and yet many were benefiting from but not contributing to our health care system).

What is that monster? The giant price tag we pay. Why–partly because the American Medical Associations and Medical Industries’ straggle hold on medical provider competition, medical school education, prescription drug patent law, medical product competition, and pricing notice requirements. These are just a few. There are many, many other reforms that could be made that would preserve the very positives things that a majority of Americans favor regarding the reforms and also reduce the costs of medical care in this country.

Why do Republican Politicians have no vision, no plan, no cojones other than to be the spoiler with no leadership? Because they don’t work for the American citizenry–they work for the entrenched powers that are profiting like bandits by controlling health care competition and fixing prices.

Loren M. Lambert © September 25, 2013

Gratitude–The Seventh Stage of Almost Being the Victim of a Car Wreck

Came within 6 inches and a lesser-man’s reaction time of being in an accident this morning, and I have to give thanks. To get there I had to go through the 7 split second stages of recovering from a near car accident experience. The stages are:
Stage 1–React (in a split second I checked right then swerved there to avoid the car accelerating into my lane),
Stage 2–Anger (why you !%@$@$) ,
Stage 3–Relief,
Stage 4 Disbelief (who could be that dumb),
Stage 5–Curiosity (who was that dumb, so you speed up to see),
Stage 6–What if (they had a gun, I had a gun, I had been picking my nose, we crashed, I had to fill out a police report and they lied, blah, blah, blah) and,
Stage 7–Gratitude (Thanks for letting me demonstrate my driving skills–I could have been Michael Schumacher).

So thank you driver of the green Camry that almost ran into me at 50 mph–you reaffirmed that I still have it.

Loren M. Lambert © September 24, 2013  

Public Education is All That And More

This evening, thanks to my extremely fortunate relation to my talented and beautiful daughter and her equally incredible mother, I was able to attend a house warming party thrown by the principal of Milkcreek Elementary where I met several teachers and the school janitor and then attended my daughters half time dancing performance at Cottonwood’s Homecoming.

And now I have returned home with my hope in mankind fully re-newed despite all the gun mayhem. You see, from the janitor to the principal, everyone of them beamed with intelligence and exuded this engaging, contagious enthusiasm. All were consummate professionals.

And every time I have attended one of my kids’ school functions–today the football game–the gallant foot brawlers in their black and gold and 11 points ahead, the school band pounding out “The Eye Of The Tiger,” a stand full of salt-of-the-earth fans and the half time dancing performance, staring Noelle (at least to my camera)–I always get filled with this great pride that our schools are our most precious jewels and everything thing that is great about us as a people (despite the underlying teenage angst that I know boils just below the surface of all their youthful exuberance).

Thanks to all our educators and their supporting staff–you make America Great.

Loren M. Lambert © September 20, 2013                  

Sometimes I almost feel like it's criminal to live in such a beautiful city

Had breakfast on the eighteenth floor of Zion's Bank tower overlooking City Creek and Temple square, the Capitol, the U of U while attending a meeting of a non-profit organization seeking to empower kinship parenting; then a day of business at my office with a great staff; a swim at Golds; and then driving home in a magical sunset--we have it so great--it is so beautiful here.

In the meeting I learned--presided over by "Elder Merril Bateman" that 1 out of 10 kids are being cared for by kin--about 83,000 in Utah and we are actually a little higher than the national average for broken homes and most issues involve substance addiction according to the people running the meeting if I heard it right--very curious thing here in "Zion," amidst such grandeur. Sigh.

 Loren M. Lambert © September 18, 2013 

"The All American Boy"--Really?

Confession: Was teaching sixth graders about our legal system for Law Day at Ecker Middle School in Park City. I try to think about the words I say so I can communicate well with my audience, and I described a witness in a case I once defended in the military as, "'The All American Boy,' stereo type, blond, blue-eyed..." I realized when I said it, as I was confronted by the reality before me that this phrase is now and probably always has been meaningless and insensitive--why I ever adopted it into my lexicon has no good excuse. Except as a historical reference along with other doltish, antiquated and quaint ethnocentric statements that may be uttered by characters I create, I will discard it from a phrase I would use.

Loren M. Lambert © September 16, 2013 

"I didn't really grow until I was no longer afraid to bomb. Don't be afraid to bomb,"

President Obama. (Not really--Billy Crystal--on the Jon Stewart show--this is a great thing to remember unless you're a brain surgeon, U.S. President or nuclear reactor technician).

Loren M. Lambert © September 13, 2013 

Russian Anti-fungal Creme--As Good In its own Sphere of Influence as Ukrainian Chocolate.

What Does Russia Produce or Manufacture Other Than Gas?

The other day several commentators were rhetorically asking what Russia produces other than natural gas. They said it didn't so therefore they thought it was economically vulnerable.

Just so you know, from a real expert, there is a great anti-fungal creme they make. So when you travel to Russia and wonder what product you can please the misses with or save the soles of your man and spare the rest of us, answer: anti-fungal creme. Priceless--as good in its own sphere of influence as Ukrainian Chocolate is to the chocolate loving world.

Loren M. Lambert © April 8, 2014

Jessica Lang’s Ink.

Saw the coolest dance tonight at the Eccles Center in Park City. It was Jessica Lang’s “Ink.”

Dance, by stripping away our primary mode of communication through speech, when done well, powerfully communicates; most likely at a subconscious level, and concentrates the mind and spirit to focus on the manner by which we communicate to our intimates: through the energy, vitality, grace, and power of our physicality.

It is our first language and our last. It is the language of infant and parent, mother and child, lover to lover, stranger to passing stranger, rivals against rivals, and care giver to dying patient.

“Ink,” an exquisitely choreographed multimedia presentation, heightens this kinetic speech by playing with time with the use of a green screened couple that dances with their double, in perfect harmony, yet each given to a different dimension through combining the movement of slow motion with the movement of real time. It depicts an entire life time of a couple by juxtaposing their spirited dance of romance and strife before the almost imperceptively slow motion of a single green drop into a pool of black die. Through clever lighting it creates clones of the dancers' shadows that spring up as eerie specters seeming to ooze out of the floor. And it enhanced the dynamic fluidity of its incredible dancers with ingenious liquid choreography against a background of slow motion splashes, sprays, and ribbons of colored water, paints and inks.

If you have a chance to see it, do so. It will free your spirit. Here is a medley of the concert.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQNlPpMhkcA

Loren M. Lambert © April 6, 2014

High Frequency/Velocity Trading & Why You Should Care & A System That Rewards Sponging At the Top

High Frequency/Velocity Trading:--This is what it is simplified--When ever you want to buy anything, your neighbor has the ability to know this just before you are about to buy and then purchases all of what you want seconds before you arrive and then offers to sell it to you at a slightly marked up price. It's like everyday is Christmas eve and you have to buy that one remaining item you must purchase as a present but someone beats you to it just by a few seconds and then offers to sell it to you at a higher price.

This is the same thing that happens in High Frequency/Velocity Trading in the stock market. These traders, due to a fractured stock market and their "positioning" in the control of the fastest stock-trade electronic networks can detect what you want to buy, buy it multi-millionths of seconds before you do and then sell it to you at a slightly marked up price. They skim millions of dollars out of the marker every year.

Why should you care?

Because it rigs the stock market against you and your pension managers.

It also creates a class of high rolling moochers who, while shaven, washed, deodorized, well-dressed, brilliant, gallant, alarmingly wealthy and enterprising--they create no value, and are no different then the clever none-needy panhandlers who skim money at freeway off ramps and on ramps from passing motorists. In fact, while what they do is not illegal, unlike the panhandler, it is out of sight and therefore done without our knowledge or consent.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/investing/2014/04/03/schwab-high-frequency-trading-is-growing-cancer-that-must-be-stopped/

Loren M. Lambert © April 4, 2014

Lessons Learned From the Search of Flight 370

"What have we learned so far in our investigation? There is a lot of junk floating on the ocean, in fact the ocean is the only junk yard that can be seen by aliens from the lunar surface."

Loren M. Lambert © April 2, 2014

Spiders

Sometime, without invitation or warning, a spider will drop from the ceiling right before your eyes.

Loren M. Lambert © March 29, 2014

The Courts

Unfettered from the tyranny of political pressure from the more powerful or numerous, the Courts, especially the Supreme Court, often surprise and do what they are suppose to do--apply the law blindly, evenly and dispassionately. Not that they are always correct. Moreover, they did about exactly what I predicted.

Comment 1: Jacob Dean - I completely agree with their decision on DOMA (even though I remain opposed to legalized Gay marriage) - and predicted it was doomed. I am not a fan of the fact that they punted on Prop 8, and the way they rules as they did troubles me... it exposed a serious flaw in our laws that we really ought to do something about.

They ruled that neither they, the Supreme Court, nor the Appelate Court beneath them were empowered to rule on the question of the Constitutionality of Proposition 8 because the people defending the Proposition did not have legal standing to appeal the Federal District Court's original opinion.

While I understand this legal point, and even can see the sense of requiring some sort of standing before letting people take issues to the various levels of our judicial branch, we ARE left with a problem. Proposition 8 (agree with it or not) was a voter approved initiative that bypassed both the executive and legislative branches of the California State government, this was done legally and properly within the confines of California State law. Once the law was challenged in the Federal judicial system, the same bypassed executive branch of the state simply refused to defend the law, leaving NO LEGAL ENTITY with proper standing to defend it in court; giving the challenge to the law functional guaranteed failure - if the lower court ruled in favor of the proposition, the plaintiff could appeal, as they had standing, but there would be no one to defend, giving a default judgement against the proposition.

If we are going to require legal standing that does not extend to citizens that voted a law into effect, should not the state in question then at least be required to mount legal defense of their own legally enacted law, and not simply be able to just say "nope, screw you" because they disagree with it politically?

My argument here isn't against how the Supreme Court ruled (though I do consider them cowards) but rather that our system as set up in cases like this is simply non functional and leaves no actual way for voters to bypass their legislative and executive branches who are unwilling to act on the wishes of the electorate.

Comment 2: Loren M. Lambert - The Utah legislature passed a nepotism law and a whistle blower law to protect my client from the excesses in the west desert but the AG would not enforce either at the time and sought to undermine the latter. It happens a lot more than you think but usually with laws that have little popular support or less visibility than Prop 8--which I predicted would be upheld or the Supremes would punt on which they did. If you go back and study standing issues it can be quit confusing, as I recall.

Loren M. Lambert © June 27, 2013 

You May Stir but Not Shake & You May Rape, Imprison, Torture, Mutilate and Slaughter But Not Poison

Our interaction with Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria has schooled me that while a dictator may rape, imprison, torture, mutilate and slaughter the innocents within his or her borders, he may not poison them because that would not be just bad and frowned upon, that would be really bad and might lead to condemnation by the UN. Moreover, humans here have rights, they are much diminished elsewhere and not our concern.

Comment 1: Loren M. Lambert - Yes. I just think that when inaction will be more costly in lives' lost and resources lost than action or we can do so without jeopardizing our own interest and can thereby create greater liberty for all then we should act, don't you?

Comment 2: Loren M. Lambert - Specifically on Syria? Unless there is a world consensus--we’re probably better off staying out because I don't think we could reduce loss of lives and resources in the long run nor create greater liberty for all.

Loren M. Lambert © August 21, 2013 

Yoga Breathing in Water

To sleep, at times when my mind would rather keep me awake, I let my body take over by inhaling slowly for 7 seconds, holding for 4 to 5 seconds, exhaling slowly for 7 seconds, holding an empty lung for 4 to 5 seconds, repeat. Soon, the mind is focused and I drift off.

I tried to breath like this underwater (except of course for the inhale). Try it. I know I am interested by the meaningless but I was puzzled to learn I couldn't seem to get all the air out and hold it before inhaling, even though I was taking the same amount of time. It seemed to add an element of greater difficulty and panic.

I know it means something--some automatic subconscious reaction--something to do with the water pressure--but I still thought I should have been able to do it just like I do out of water (except of course for the inhale).

Loren M. Lambert © August 13, 2013

Wonder and Awe: Bringing Us to Our Knees & Opening Our Hearts

On the way home today, Jonathan Haidt was interviewed in a program about “Wonder and Awe.”

http://podcast.wpr.org/tbk/tbk121202B.mp3

Mr. Haidt said that like all human attributes, emotions and the ability to experience them, express them, and be moved by them, are variable in all of us. And like many human attributes, the way that we feel, experience and express emotions can be modified, enhanced, and channeled.

He indicated that emotions prepare us for action. If you missed that, let me state it again, emotions prepare us for action. In acting, of course, (and many other disciplines) that is why it is so indispensable that we be able to call upon our emotions so that they are, as stated in our book, the fuel for our engines. It is also so very important that we have the humility and confidence to know that since it is a variable human attribute, that we don't expect nor try to display it as we think others do. We have to own our own.

Although I phrase it a little differently, he indicated that the emotion of awe and wonder prepares us to receive the universe with all of its ineffable beauty, complexity, and expanse. Awe and wonder, brings us to our knees, silences our mouths, speeds our hearts, quickens our breath and sharpens our minds thereby endowing us with such humility, reverence and meekness, that when confronted with Awe and Wonders’ overwhelming majesty, we are open to its enlightenment and soul wrenching enrichment.

I have always sought out experiences that have brought me in close proximity to wonder and awe, and although I have many times fallen short of receiving it transfiguring fire, it's one of the reasons, along with many other activities I enjoy in my life, I love acting. Thank you for allowing me to experience wonder and awe through the power of living truthfully in the imaginary circumstances of a compelling story.

Loren M. Lambert © September 7, 2013 

Soldiers that Demonize the Enemy

I was taught while in the US Army JAG that soldiers who demonize the enemy by referring to them as less than human are more likely to commit human rights abuses. On this subject in Donald Rumsfeld's book he states that, "To scare the Monkeys, sometimes you have to kill a few chickens." This explains a lot about what Mr. Rumsfeld thought about other people. He was most likely to commit human rights abuses. And he did.

Loren M. Lambert © August 4, 2013 

Punditry on Martin Luther King

 Been listening to the punditry on Martin Luther King. Like Jesus, Buddha and Gandhi, everybody wants to claim him as their own but only if they can re-craft him in the image of the God of their own imagination.

June: Clouds 3, Water 3
July: Clouds 4, Water 12
August: Clouds 13, Water 3.
Clouds win 20 to 18.

Joni Mitchell, Hippie, non-Hippie, Anti-hippie icon, said on NPR’s “Q,” that like lunch, “Free love, a ruse for guys, there is no such thing... Art is a lie that gets you to see the truth.”

Loren M. Lambert © August 28, 2013 

Principles of Freedom and Justice

From the Babylonians, to the Persians, to the Romans, to the Ottomans, to the Tatars, to the Mongals, to the Spanish, to the British and then the Americans, I'd say, despite our faults, we've done well but are only in our infancy--may be we will always remember it is due to our principles of freedom and justice and not due to our warheads and jails.

Loren M. Lambert © June 29, 2013

Poli-evangelism and Porn--The Marks of Success and Political Pluck

If commercial success is a mark of great wisdom and political pluck, it would be well that we elected one of our most successful pornographers into the white house. It just may be that their contribution to society is as weighty as that of our vitriolic poli-evalgelists--Hannity, Rush, Beck, etc.

Loren M. Lambert © September 4, 2013 

NPR--Caucasian Radio

Since of course they are all radio personalities, I don't know this for sure, but until recently aren't most NPR programs (radio lab, this American life, wiretap, Q, etc.) all white males? Although I personally think I get the most broad view from them than any other programming, isn't there diversity similar to the republican party?

Loren M. Lambert © September 3, 2013

Mayberry and Miesner

Had a case in Mayberry, Utah (Manti, Ut). It went like I thought it would--the witness failed to show so the case was dismissed. So why did he not show up? Because, he was untruthful to the police and didn't want to compound the trouble he caused. It was an assault--only witness was my client and the alleged victim.

The evidence was shoddy but the prosecutor would not listen. I have no doubt my client is innocent. He's the one that got pounded on. I don't like to win this way because the prosecutor is not confronted with his own misjudgment--he can blame it on the witness and not on his own bad decision and go on feeling smug.

Loren M. Lambert © August 14, 2013

Lady Justice Blindfolded--Or With A Phone Held To Her Head?

It's a metaphor. You know the statute of Lady Justice holding the scales and with the blindfold? I prefer her, though blindfolded she may be.

Many folks might prefer "lady justice" (small "l" and small "j") holding the scales of justice with a "$" on one side or a tally of votes on the same and you on the other; or with a phone held to her head waiting to get direction from "god," with a small "g" meaning the god of the religion that the person on the other side of the scale's doesn't agree with regardless of which "god" that person happens to worship.

And that is the risk. You see, many want "their" perfect "god" to appear and rule so that all decisions are just and stand the test of time but until the actual "God" appears in person, no one will ever know for sure which "god" will show up and will be calling the shots.

Under such circumstances, as long as we are imperfect, I want my religion and my government, same as my salad and desert, to be served on different plates with a wall of diner in between.

Loren M. Lambert © June 28, 2013

It's Not Who You Think

In a case I'm investigating, I discovered that the Worker's Compensation Medical Clinic (a large national organization) had submitted type written medical notes to the Labor Commission that are inconsistent with the medical providers written notes. These written notes were not disclosed. I discovered them through a third party not involved in the Worker's Comp case.

More importantly the type written notes are modified in a ways that are detrimental to the injured worker.

Here's what many people do not understand and fail to realize about our institutions. Because of their positioning, stature in society, finances and political power, large institutions like this that engage in this type of behavior, exponentially do more harm, steal more resources and cause the most havoc than those few individuals that feign injury and disability to secure welfare and other benefits.

In short, while we should not be oblivious to the criminal tendencies of the desperate, we should be more concerned about the excesses and fraud of the powerful who, while basking in luxury, want to drain the lifeblood from the middle class and the poor.

Loren M. Lambert © August 5, 2013

If Suggested By Your X, It Must Be Resisted, Even If Technically Not Your X, But Just Sort Of Feels That Way

In many a Divorce I have watched the warring parties, no matter what came out of the opposing party’s mouth, in knee jerk reaction, determine it had to be wrong. In one, the spouse said, “If you’ll just give me the Divorce, I will give you everything, then chain myself to a stake in Death Valley, slit my eyelids off and then let the pack rats nibble my skin off.” The other, then said, “That’s not good enough. If you’re offering that, then you must be willing to give more. I’ll give you the Divorce if you give me all that except that Death Valley would be a vacation for you, so how bout chained to a stake in a garbage dump in the desert with piped in audio of my voice in your ears as the rats nibble your skin off?”

In another, one the spouse said, “Who cares if you make 5 times more than me, I have not worked outside the home for twenty years while married to you because I raised all the kids, cooked, cleaned, etc. and you owe alimony, just give me the Divorce, our 1992 Honda Civic and a dinner gift certificate to Chuck’a’Rama and we’ll call it even.” The other, then said, “Let’s see, what aren’t you not telling me, hmmmmmmm, I get it, the worst torture you could imagine is seeing me in court a couple of times more and then getting alimony for the next 20 years, so no, I’m going to make the Judge make me pay you alimony for all 20 years, and not just the minimum, no that would be too easy, you’re going to get dumped on. The maximum I could pay so that I have to live under an overpass and you will just feel awful. Take that B______!”

Sound irrational? That’s how we are with Russia/Putin. Yet, I have news for you, we are not and never were getting Divorced from Russia/Putin and we’re not even in a common law marriage with Russia/Putin despite our little do-see-do in World War II. So why the knee-jerk reaction in opposition to Russia/Putin’s suggestion that we get all of Syria’s chemical weapons and destroy them?

No, as a spokes person from the Obama Admin said, we need to run this one down to explore it as an option and not be so proud as to think our not-ever-x humiliated us by suggesting something that might make some sense.

Comment 1: Loren M. Lambert - So you know, I think they should bag creating congressional districts and simply have a randomized selection of constituents so that either an SS number or other ID number puts you in the district of one politician or the other. (You have five districts--every fifth person based on the randomized selection is in that district). Some may argue, that would mean States like Utah would just have republicans--I don't think it would--regardless it would take away the infighting on both sides and be more democratic

 Loren M. Lambert © September 10, 2013 

Hess and Hale Bringing Us Austin Land--To The Titillating Edge And Back Again

Got to see Austin Land about a desperate none-wife, who gambles her live's savings on an expensive vacation to a Jane Austin theme Manor in England for some larping. It was fairly predictable but clever, witty and loaded with enough sexual innuendo to titillate the mostly female LDS audience without sending them prematurely running for the doors and then home for a cold shower. And why not, not only worth the ticket price, but a whole night of romantically torrid dreams with no need for any confession to the bishop in the morning.

Loren M. Lambert © September 7, 2013

Feelings on War

I need to go on the record that I am 33% against military action in Syria and 30% in favor and 29% undecided and 8% against the many talk show hosts who feel better about going to war as long as the man beating the war drums is a white conservative.

Loren M. Lambert © August 28, 2013 

Doug Fabrezio’s program on NSA

Finally watched Doug Fabrezio's program with author James Bamford on the NSA. Enlightening. The NSA has been spying since WWII. It did so illegally during the Bush admin and then the Obama Admin managed to change the law with the Legislative Branch's blessing to spy on us legally. Listen to it for a more complete view on the subject.
http://radiowest.kuer.org/people/doug-fabrizio

Loren M. Lambert © August 19, 2013 

Defying Grey Matter Loss--Dementia Here We Come!

Based on commercial ads for propecia, it seems that hair loss is more catastrophic for men and sometimes women than grey matter loss, Brain Researcher Edward Zamrini intimated (my take on his message) that until we can reinvigorate our aging brains (which steadily but surely loose gray matter and become debilitated with plaque and tangles) with stems cell plugs taken from those parts of our bodies that we often substitute for our brains anyway (just like we can surgically enhance our head hair from those same regions), research has strongly associated the following actions to stave off the unbecoming living death of alzheimer's induced dementia.

To do so, Edward urged that we should:

1. Genes: Make sure we have the proper genetic heritage. (Yes, a little late to do anything about it, but just stay abreast of the latest time travel and gene insertion research).

2. Education: Acquire an education and continue to pursue knowledge throughout your entire life. Pursuant to your abilities, avoid overly stressful academia and intellectual pursuits.

3. Employment: Seek out demanding, yet satisfying, employment that engages your spirit. Again, do so pursuant to your abilities, avoid overly stressful and dangerous employment.

4. Environment: Surround yourself with a rich, healthy and stimulating environment.

5. Socialization: Embed yourself in rewarding, supportive social networks. (Facebook probably doesn't count).

6. Nutrition: Eat Well (Unfortunately studies suggest that this is most important early in life). A Mediterranean diet appears to be best. Your diet should includes nuts, fish, fruit, and vegetables. Avoid over-eating, transfats and sweets. Empty calories and transfats appear to be deleterious. Also, cheese in moderation may be beneficial.

7. Exercise: Exercise daily for 30-45 minutes up to your capacity and don't forget that the pharmaceutical companies have yet to come up with a exercise pill and probably won't so don't sit on your couch waiting for one to be advertised.

8. Spirituality: Discover those elements of a rich spiritual or religious life that bring solace and peace to the mind and body.

9. Sleep: Foster an environment that allows restful and satisfying sleep.

10. Blood Pressure: Monitor your blood pressure and take action when necessary to keep it at a healthy level.

11. Politics: Be politically active to promote a cleaner environment.

Loren M. Lambert © August 18, 2013