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A Stroll of Park City Galleries on a Monday Morning / Journal Assignment #2

Utah Living Large — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:47:00 GMT

After a bleak and brown one hour drive passing a dozen dead does (and one buck), grotesquely laid to rest in the median, I enthusiastically arrived on Main Street in Park City, Utah, primed to witness colorful awe-inspiring art. Anxious and without direction, I began my leisurely stroll up and down the resort towns off season, fairly empty, morning sidewalks in search of a stimulating and cultural experience. My morning quickly turned into a lesson in what not to do but in the end I was learned and impressed enough to qualify myself as a moderately versed guide to the Park City art scene.

My first major accomplishment was finding the public restrooms after downing a full cantina of coffee on the drive then stepping out into the frosty mountain air, no gallery would stand a chance if I was doing the pee-pee dance. Relieved and finally ready, my stroll began South or uphill on the West side of Main. I quickly spied my first studio which wasn’t difficult because there are twenty galleries nestled within three short blocks. The David Merrill Gallery & Studio was locked and not a soul in sight. Next, I passed Park City Colors, then, Terzian Galleries, followed by the Meyer Gallery, all closed. Most of them had hours on the doors that mentioned either “seasonal,” “closed Monday’s,” or “open at 11:00 am” or later. First lesson in strolling art galleries in PC, don’t arrive at 10am on a Monday and expect to find many open galleries.

Already a bit disappointed, I continued and arrived with skepticism at the Mountain Trials Gallery which is the most southern gallery before I would begin hiking right up the ski hill. At last, an open door. Upon entering this western display of native American’s, cowboys, and bear sculpture’s I set my standards low expecting a disappointing trip into faux mountain culture with cutesy items designed to lure the pocket emptying tourist instead, I was rather impressed.

Heavy with sculptures, a medium I personally am less attracted to, this gallery stole my attention. Despite the cheesy wall sculptures attempting to satisfy the extreme adventurer with mediocre rock-climbing and snowboarding pieces, the remaining sculptures were remarkable in detail and western emotion. The building itself was suited to the mountain theme with an original brick wall and many wood pedestals. High ceilings led the eye to the rear exposing a beautiful wooden staircase and small upper deck presumably used only for employees.

I moseyed to the back of the gallery where finally the only person working and I exchanged salutations. With a casual and shaky voice I explained my quest to the gallery host who showed interest and was open to questioning. I began with the basics and learned the following, this particular gallery hosts around thirty artists at any given time and the artists set their own prices. Approximately eleven of the artists are local. December through March is the busy ski season in Park City and thus the busiest time for sales. This being mid November, it’s nearly the slowest time of the year for patrons although the busiest time for gallery owners as they prepare for the upcoming season. Most importantly however, this gallery opens at 10:00am.

An oversized, in-the-round, classic Wells Fargo stagecoach action sculpture arrested my curiosity. Six overly animated horses pulled this wild-west coach scene past a spooky Sleepy Hollow type tree. The detail was exhausting from thin horse reins, to expressive faces, this piece displayed superb craftsmanship noticeable to any novice art admirer. Again I questioned the worker, and learned that all the sculptures were made of bronze through the lost-wax process. I felt cool knowing what he meant when said that. Also, most of the color was accomplished via the patina method although some ornate sculptures did contain areas of hand painting.

Mountain Trails Gallery additionally houses sculptures by Gary Price. A quick bio on the gallery’s website reveals major accomplishments by this Springville, Utah resident. In 2001, Gary was awarded the “Governor’s Mansion Artist Award,” and his work graces the covers of many magazines and books. Supplementing his success, in 2005, Gary, was selected to sculpt the 300ft Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast to bookend the Statue of Liberty on America’s East Coast as envisioned by Dr. Viktor E Frankl in 1971. Utahans can witness Gary’s art adorning the landscape of buildings in and around Salt Lake City. Upon exiting the Mountain Trails Gallery a small Gary Price sculpture of boys inter-tubing rests upon a cement street post.

        Warmed up and satisfied with my first Park City Gallery, I moseyed across the street and headed North or downhill again passing a plethora of closed galleries. If it wasn’t for the construction workers and sparsely parked cars I would think this resort town was a ghost town. A squished mall entitled “the Galleria” was promising as the doors were open and inviting. Upon immediately entering the narrow plaza a short staircase to my right led to Gallery Mar. A quaint well positioned gallery on the second level of this antiquated building, Gallery Mar used their space well.

        I was instantly greeted as I stepped through the open door. Two young, distinctive, and attractive ladies behind a short desk looked up from the shared computer with cheerful smiles and said, “Hello.” Now that is how one should enter a gallery. Maren Bargreen, the gallery’s owner promptly stood up and introduced herself. Coy but confident, I again explained my quest as a student on a mission to visit galleries. This impressed and led to questioning and inquisitiveness from both ladies, either that or they are really good at their job. Maren then handed me a “Park City Gallery Guide,” good to have, containing a map and short briefs of the main galleries in town. She also informed me of the official “gallery stroll” ensuing every Friday night with additional information to be found online at parkcitygalleryassociation.com.

        After our cordial introductions, I began to browse the modest display of art housed within. With white walls and an oversized front window, lighting wasn’t a problem and the space felt warm although the paintings were less stimulating than as hoped. The pieces appeared skilled and singular but didn’t cater to my tastes, maybe a bit feminine? I did find a couple encaustic pieces that drew my attention. They were mounted on thick wooden elongated blocks and the design was modern. I inquired about the encaustic medium and learned that there was a gallery in town that housed many more encaustic pieces which was a rarity. The gallery however was not on Main Street, therefore, not on my immediate list of places to visit. I logged pieces completed in acrylic, mixed media, and bronze to round out the gallery.

        Before leaving I spotted a winter scene painting complete with the Grinch, this fun little piece was more to my tastes. Although the work housed within this gallery was maybe not something I would be immediately attracted to, I believe this would be the first gallery I would visit upon returning to Park City because of the kind, informative, and unpretentious treatment.

        Now eleven in the morning, I continued my stroll and again crossed the street, and headed South, in hopes of finding more open galleries. I made a brief queer visit to a fur gallery where I was sized up obviously twice by the salesman and apparently didn’t impress. I suppose I don’t scream the need for a $2,000 plus dead animal hanging from my shoulders. That was gallery in name only. Lesson number two, just because a store uses the word gallery doesn’t necessarily mean its art although I’m sure some would argue. The man did guide me next door to the Dancing Hands Gallery however.

        This glass vase paradise was perfect for the retiree with no kids anywhere near the fragile artwork. A boisterous lady was feather dusting the vases and loudly welcomed me. She knew immediately that I was not there to purchase anything but was genial just the same. I again repeated my quest of the day and she was receptive although continuing with her hasty detailing of every vase. I forced myself through the freakish display of blown glass until I finally rested upon something interesting, a giant glass egg with the picture of a rooster on it entitled, “Which Came First.” Besides this one humorous composition hidden in a sea of gaudiness and orderly hung rugs on the walls there was nothing else enlightening or worth my time. The best part of glass work is watching someone make it. That, I believe is the true art. The end product unfortunately isn’t as fascinating as the actual glass-blowing process itself.

        Continuing on, I entered the Scanlan Windows to the World Gallery. This Husband and Wife photography team makes a living traveling the world and snapping some beautiful photos. I learned from speaking with Maren, Owner of gallery Mar that photography is a hard medium to sell because it can be reprinted basically forever. Prints aren’t as original and thus for a true collector are not as attractive as other mediums. Judging from the prints in this gallery however, the Scanlan’s are doing just fine.

        The gallery manager, with whom we openly shared similar life dreams of finishing school and starting a business (weird), revealed the fact that use of a medium format film was the secret in capturing most of the vibrant images contained therein. Most prints were oversized and framed in glass although a handful were printed directly onto canvas giving them texture and a more painted feel. Window’s to the World was an apt name in that I noted images from Tuscany, Prague, Ireland, the Dolomites, Paris, Portugal, Utah, and even West Virginia. Wonderful images yet commercial in nature therefore less stimulating than Acrylics made for a nice visit but still lusting for some more traditional pieces.

        Welcome my final gallery of the day, the Hope Gallery and Museum of Fine Art located on top of the hill across from the first gallery of the day, Mountain Trails. This expansive gallery housed a private collection with nothing on consignment. This gallery boasts original art from the 16^th to the 21^st century. I liked the fact that the only worker took a brisk morning smoke break upon my entrance leaving me alone in this gargantuan tomb of classic art. Finally, I thought, “the real thing.” Not to discount the artistic levels of what I had previously experienced on my morning stroll but this classical display was akin to what I had been studying the last thirteen weeks of class and thus related more in my mind of what I was searching for.

        Feeling rushed to see all the paintings in this very large building I moved quickly out of the first room down the hall toward the back but was stopped immediately by a woodcut displayed on a sidewall. This woodcut looked familiar, and upon further inspection I recognized the unique signature of Albrecht Durer. The name plate simply said “Private Collection” and was titled, “The Four Angels Restraining the Winds.” This was the first time I felt like I was in the presence of true historical art. It was an original and not for sale. Because it was a woodcut however it was sort of cheating in that many prints can be made but I was still awed and completely satisfied with my discovery.

I made my way through the rest of the gallery without finding another piece that affected me like the Albrecht Durer piece but every painting was incredible indeed. Other artists held and offered for reprints included, Rembrandt, Bloch, Degas, Renoir, Zorn, Munch and many more. Third and final lesson was to keep searching, because Park City does offer some incredible pieces of art.

I left the Hope Gallery content that my Park City Gallery stroll was a success despite the inauspicious beginning. I witnessed famous local sculptures, met and conversed with gallery owners, received the beta on when and how to “gallery stroll,” and finally witnessed some classic art that really humbled me. I’m not about to write a guide book to art in Park City but at least I now know the basics of making a great day out of the galleries available on Main Street. On my one hour drive back to Ogden, I couldn’t stop thinking about the Albrecht Durer piece. I felt like I had met a famous person and finally received a taste of why so many people are enamored by great art.

( Albrecht Durer - "The Four Angels Restraining the Winds" )

My Sister is Famous!

Utah Living Large — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:09:00 GMT

You know her as April, I know her as... April, and that's just the beginning. She mingles with the star's at the Sundance Film Festival and name drops like Dennis Miller at a Saturday Night Live Reunion. She is a world famous model, or at least her petite frame has circled the world through posters and well, the internet. She has posed artistically for the who's who of sculptors, painters, and artisans. She commands looks from bass players of the largest punk rock bands and I'm sure this is only what she tells me. The uncounted events of fraternizing with the A-lister's is a secret only April will know and I will remain forever envious.

Her latest escapade with an up and coming super-star has April once again ahead of the rest of us mortals. She has the uncanny ability not to just meet the distinguished but instead, instantly bond, exchange life dreams, and become life partners (not in the gay way). You may have heard of Kerli, the super hot, Euro-glam goth, musician who made a wicked splash at this year's Spike Scream Awards? If not, your not with it enough to know or to keep reading. Or just watch this clip (30 Seconds of Kerli) and we'll pretend your as hip as one of Paris's Bff's.

April met Kerli at a local venue, sprinkled her with bonding magic and the relationship is eternal. I once met, and acted a full scene with the 80's rap phenom, Tone Loc of Funky Cold Medina and Wild Thing fame. Do you think he remembers a skinny white boy from Utah who tried to speak sincerely to Mr. Loc without letting his wondering eye's spend too much time between the firm cleavage line of Tone's freakin hot Oakland Raider's cheerleader girlfriend? The answer is no. He doesn't remember me, because I don't have bonding magic. If I did, I would have used it on Mr. Loc's girlfriend.

This elevated lifestyle my sister leads she handles with dignity, grace, and humility. Her casual references to rockstar run-in's and famous actor brush-by's are thrown in with conversations about unicorns, grandma, and raw food, making listeners believe these famous affiliations are not just common but almost non-eventful. Maybe it's an attraction quality that magnetizes stars together? Whatever it is, April has it and to be with or around her is to be in the presence of nobility, majesty, or Narnia.

The following pics of my sister sharing a new found kinship with Kerli hurts on many levels. Jealousy is obvious, but the fact that I was invited to attend this pre-Halloween concert and intuitively turned down the offer may give you a glimpse into just how much bonding magic I lack. April, my dear sister, may you take me under your wing, may you guide me through the ways of attracting the exhaulted, and may you be my A-list gravitation sage. Wow, that sounds like to much work, instead, I'll watch and admire. Carry on my famous sister. Let us all admire your charisma, rock-star appeal, and entourage enchantment skills. We can only dream.

Dallas Cowboys Stadium / Artist Research Assignment #2

Utah Living Large — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

When one thinks architecture, one usually doesn’t immediately visualize the sport of football and the magnificent stadiums that coincide with the physical pastime. As the Roman Colosseum once held gladiators who fought for fame and life, modern day American football stadiums also host contemporary gladiators whom play for fame and love of sport in some of the most spectacular venues ever built.

One new National Football League stadium is about to mark its place in history with many firsts in the world of architecture. Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys collaborated with HKS Architects and with the vision of Bryan Trubey, designed an architectural jewel in which the Caesars of past would be jealous.

Unlike the Roman Colosseum and its many columns and arches, the new Cowboys stadium, still officially unnamed, encapsulates the world’s largest column free room. This room contains the playing field and the stadium seating. Cowboys’ stadium does employ the use of arches however in a grand way. To support the roof, designers used two 35 feet deep and 15 feet wide boxed arch trusses. Each truss spans nearly a quarter of a mile which translates into the longest “clear-span” structure in the world. According to the Cowboys stadium website, each arch is more than “twice the length of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.”

By implementing adjacent long stretched arches, accompanying a canted exterior wall, the building itself takes on an oval, football shaped sphere. It’s impossible to not recognize the similar shape the stadium holds to the ball used to play the game. Visually speaking, the stadium tells you what sport is entertained within with just a glance.

Bryan Trubey, the principal designer of Cowboys stadium admitted to the Dallas Morning News, his “fascination with Legos and an Erector set gave way to an adolescent yearning to be the next Frank Lloyd Wright.” His persistence and dedication landed him a $1 Billion dollar dream job in designing the stadium for “America’s Team.”

Working for a local architect at age 16, Bryan has since worked his way up through the sports facility hierarchy to be called, “the pre-eminent sports designer nationally,” by Ralf Hawkins, the chief executive of HKS Architects.

            In the modern business marketing world of branding, the Dallas Cowboys “star” and blue and white colors are akin to Coca-Cola’s cursive lettering and bright red hue. That is why Mr. Trubey’s stadium design is the “byproduct of intense brand analysis.” Bryan thought the only way to justify the international Cowboys brand was to use a modernism design. The Cowboys wanted a “contemporary and forward thinking” design and that is exactly what was procured.

            The current and soon old Dallas stadium was uniquely designed to have a “hole in the roof” so God could watch his favorite team play. Jerry Jones continued this divine theme and incorporated it into the design of the new stadium, although this “hole” comes with a ground breaking retractable roof.

            The roof uses a rack-and-pinion drive system, which consists of 64 7.5 HP electric motors, opening and closing the domed roof in approximately 12 minutes. This unique and oversized convertible capability is the first of its kind in the world. The roof also boasts the steepest travel path in North America.

            The concept of size is staggering, since the stadium is not yet operational but scheduled to be used for the 2009 NFL season, the only humans to behold the enormity are the ones directly involved with the project. The official stadium website offers some comparisons to give us mortals an idea of the monstrous dimensions. The 2.3 million square foot structure is tall enough to hold the entire Statue of Liberty including Miss Liberty’s base. That is standing upright in case that was a question. The American Airlines Center, the venue for the Dallas Mavericks professional basketball team could fit entirely into the Cowboy’s stadium at field level. No word on whether or not Energy Solutions Arena would also squeeze in. Dallas stadium will officially claim the largest enclosed stadium in the NFL and the largest dome in the world.

            Another world first is the giant glass retractable doors at each end of the stadium. These doors retract to enable air flow and give an outdoor feel to the venue. I imagine it like a really large Jeep where both the roof and the doors are removable going from protection from the elements to in the elements. I’m sure the ride in the stadium, although emotional not physical will also be equivalent to scaling the steepest and exposed red rock, thrilling, awe-inspiring, and ephemeral. With the herculean size of the dual glass doors they firm yet another world first becoming the tallest moveable glass walls in the world.

            What is a modern structure without a flat-screen television and multimedia experience? Well the Cowboys thought of this too, and solved this issue with a one-of-a-kind center hung video board. The testosterone inducing video screens stretch over half a football field in length measuring an adversary envious 60 yards and hang 110 feet above the field. Eat your heart out Best Buy. If you’re so unfortunate to have scored end-zone seats, your monitor is only a paltry 48 feet wide, still big enough to be seen from RFK Stadium.

            Although elegant in appearance, Cowboys stadium is built for functionality. Two plazas, along with three party decks in each end-zone creates approximately 10 acres of entertainment and socializing space. The big spenders and corporate types have the ability to move their party into one of 200 suites positioned at different areas throughout the stadium, versus the usual one level of suites. This is yet another design concept unique to Cowboys stadium.

            Upon entering at ground level, fans will immediately have a panoramic view of the entire field because the field itself is recessed 50 feet below the ground. This genius design decision helps mask the enormity of the stadium as seen from the exterior. The view from the outside not only resembles a football but also looks similar to an expensive solo, North Face, summit tent with a rain-fly attached. It gives the viewer a sense of mystery as to what exactly the interior beholds, so walking in and immediately being gifted a blanket view of the playing field must be a welcome surprise adding to the distinct vibe.

            The new Cowboys stadium has the capacity to seat 100,000 rabid football fans. I don’t see myself immediately in the position to personally visit or experience a game at the enormous and impressive setting however, when I do, I believe the architecture with elegant long lines created by the world’s longest structural arches will attract my attention as much as the gladiatorial like football game itself. Bryan Trubey, Jerry Jones, ya’ll done good.

Bibliography available upon request.

Thomas D. Mangelsen Gallery / Journal Assignment #1

Utah Living Large — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:57:00 GMT

( Polar Kiss - Thomas D. Mangelsen )

I visited the Thomas D. Mangelsen Gallery in Jackson Hole, Wyoming on a sunny September afternoon. Just married and driving home from Yellowstone National Park with my new wife, we decided to take advantage of our geographic location and check out some galleries. We actually toured two galleries, the other being David Brookover – Fine Art Photography. Brookover’s gallery was mostly black and white landscape photographs that were interesting but Mangelsen’s gallery really conjured up many thoughts and questions in which some I continue to ponder.

Mangelsen, according to his website actually has fifteen galleries mostly in the western states including a location in Park City, Utah. His site also touts Mangelsen as “one of the world’s premier nature photographers.” This was immediately evident upon first inspection of the large oversized landscape and animal prints dressing his two story pad located on the road leading directly into Teton National Park.

Jackson Hole couldn’t be a better fit for Mangelsen’s photography. He display’s amazing prints of grizzly and polar bears with other more exotic mammals along with wondrous landscape photos of the Teton Mountain range. It’s hard to take a bad picture of the Teton’s but what I noticed about Mangelsen is the same thing I notice while starring at an Ansel Adams. Although Mangelsen shoots primarily in color versus Adams’ black and white, he manages to capture quality once in a lifetime images that bring our world to life. Mangelsen’s shot of the Tetons at dawn on a clear winter morning when only the peaks are sun lit and the foreground is in shadow is admirable. Then of course, he manages to snap this “landscape” photo while a cow moose and calf are traversing the snow. The subtle and small in scale moose silhouette converts the scene from a beautiful vista to a rare moment captured forever on film.

The gallery was adorned floor to ceiling with hanging prints of all sizes along with books, Christmas cards, DVD’s, CD’s, screen savers, and post cards. This commercialism detracted significantly from the art. Mangelsen’s photos capture awe inspiring singular moments but with the thousands of reprints those wondrous images permeate the mainstream contrary to the fundamental idea of a transcendent juncture.

This business approach to art begs the question of how far an artist can go in self promotion to make a living before altering the uniqueness and individualism of their own work? Obviously Mangelsen does pretty well for himself as a photographer by selling reprints and other ancillary projects but why does his gallery have to feel like I’m on a used car lot? The earthy music was playing overhead and the sales personal were friendly but phony. I felt like if I didn’t purchase something then I shouldn’t be in the store. I just wanted to stare and get lost in Mangelsen’s work, not taste the arrogant pompous associates, “willing to help.” They are not going to “help” me enjoy the photographs instead they will “help” me empty my wallet.

Mangelsen’s mercantile gallery forces me to not only judge his work by his incredible photos but also by my disdain for his employees. Entering the gallery conjured up feelings of when I walk head down ignoring all the mountebanks at the local home and garden show. Mangelsen could be a great person with only positive intensions but that wasn’t present within the gallery itself. In fact only after reading his website did I learn Mangelsen was raised in the family business of retail and he prides himself on having the business skills in which most artists seem to be lacking. He must be highly profitable while living the dream which is commendable but at what end price?

I’m currently in a beginning Photography class and with just exiting Yellowstone National Park abundant with wildlife I was able to test my virgin 35mm skills. I quickly gained respect for the patience, conditions, lighting and maybe pure luck involved in snapping a photograph worth selling let alone making a living with. The skill, poise, and tenacity evident in Mangelsen’s images were motivating and almost unbelievable. I would stare at one of his many photos and think, “How was he there at that moment when…?” Thus, this praiseworthy side of visiting Mangelsen’s gallery was rewarding. Despite the “clean up on aisle three” undertone, the artists work was genuine and inviting.

As an example, Mangelsen renders a particular winter image that awed me and captured the providential theme involved in his pictures. The first glimpse of the snow covered backdrop with two delicately blanketed in white trees predominate in the middle ground looks again like an astounding winter-scape photo. It wasn’t until I read the name of the photo, “Druids’ Frosty Morning Passage,” did I discover the pack of wolves running through the entire frame of this jack-frost scene. Druids, I learned in Yellowstone is the name of one of the parks resident wolf packs. I didn’t see a single wolf during my two week tour of this National Park. I spied plenty of buffalo, elk, deer, a couple coyote, and some pronghorn but never a wolf or bear. Mangelsen manages to somehow get the perfect winter landscape photograph with a cherry on top. The cherry in this case is at least eight wolves running from one side of the frame completely through to the other side and exiting stage right.

It doesn’t seem possible let alone fair. I would buy the picture without the wolves cameo. This image alone solidified in my mind Mangelsen’s greatness and fortune in merging the most beautiful earthly landscapes with some of the planets most elusive and majestic animals.

Bobbie, my new wife, and I slipped past the watchful eyes of the front desk and moseyed upstairs where we were finally alone with Mangelsen’s work. This was how I envisioned a gallery to be. The upper deck was one large open room decorated again with many of Tom’s prints. The lighting was less bright and a single low setting couch centered and facing the back wall invited admirers to sit and observe. The music was now louder than downstairs and a bit much. Nothing like fake rain and bongo’s to get you in the buying mood, I guess?

Slightly secluded we were able to stare at Mangelsen’s work and finally enjoy. Without the “Big Brother” feeling we could at last, truly appreciate and benefit from Mangelsen’s extraordinary images. I could have gawked for hours, if it weren’t for our bellies grumbling for lunch, I think we would have made our visit a much longer one.

Upstairs and uninterrupted stood this final image where I questioned the reality because it was just too improbable to swallow. Entitled, “Mothers Love,” Mangelsen knew this picture was good because he enlarged it the entire size of the upstairs south wall. The subject was mountain lions featuring a lioness lying under an impressive boulder eyes wide and on the watch while her kin was snuggled safely in her breast sleeping. I can’t imagine the time and patience Mangelsen must have endured to capture such a moment and to have all your photographic gear handy and ready to go demonstrates his professional and practiced approach to photographing wildlife.

Mountain lions and wolves were not even Tom’s animals of focus. Mangelsen had a plethora of Grizzly and Brown bears along with likely the most comprehensive and impressive Polar Bear images ever seen. Included in Mangelsen’s Polar Bear collection was a personal favorite he titled “Polar Kiss,” where he captured a Polar bear lying down kissing a chained up Alaskan Husky. Yet another timely snapshot although not much landscape.

Mangelsen doesn’t limit his wildlife pictures to mammals nor does he limit himself to North America. Tom had on display a collection of images from Africa that included the typical elephants, lions, giraffe, and even some amazing gorilla close ups. But again, the print that caught my attention most was a landscape picture of a light brown dirt road breaking up the tall green grasses of the African plains placed against a deep blue water filled sky. Then in the middle of the road isn’t just a lion but an entire pride of lions including multiple cubs. The regal prance of the adult lions comingled with the cuteness of the cubs is a winning composition.

Wildlife photography may not require hand to paper artistic talent but it is vividly evident in Mangelsen’s body of work that getting the “right” shot in the wild is unequivocally an art. Capturing the beauty and rawness of the land as an Ansel Adams could do is hard enough but to then be skilled enough to introduce a wild animal into the frame is just incomprehensibly good.

Tom, “a purest to the end” according to his website, does not digitally retouch his images. This is respectful but I’m still perplexed as to how he runs his galleries. I liken it to the world of music and online downloading along with shareware. Does the artist gain or suffer from the overexposure and the reproducibility of their work? Mangelsen is obviously the model for how to self promote, sell, and bankroll. Mangelsen could not however market his product as well as he does if it was a poor quality product.

Leaving the gallery I was both inspired and disappointed. I was notably energized and motivated by Tom’s work but yet I left feeling dirty and guilty for not purchasing anything. I looked. I perused the many small items perfectly displayed around the main entrance and kindly declined any “help” from the sales staff. If an artist has to retail his product to make a living then so be it but even though successful in business, Mangelsen’s work stands alone. Therefore, I’m disheartened to see such a commercial spin applied to his images.

I see the Tom Mangelsen Gallery as a troublesome reflection of the town of Jackson Hole in which it subsides. A beautiful quant mountain settlement nestled amongst the towering and divine Teton Mountain range is now tainted by commercialism, greed, and competition. Mangelsen may be just trying to make an honest living but his true gift of capturing wondrous and unique images I believe is sadly tainted by such an enterprise as displayed in his Jackson Hole gallery.

( Changing Lanes - Thomas D. Mangelsen )

( Druids Frosty Morning Passage - Thomas D. Mangelsen )

Cory Oberndorfer / Artist Research Assignment #1

Utah Living Large — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:29:00 GMT

Cory Oberndorfer is a grounded and stubborn artist with local roots, a humorous style, and a killer marketing plan. When someone in our nation’s capitol spies a monochromatic roller-girl splashed with pop-candy or fresh fruit, they know it’s an Oberndorfer.

Cory began his spirited art journey at Weber State University. In a personal interview with Cory, he admitted difficulty with gaining acceptance into Weber State’s undergrad art program. After getting rejected twice he was finally accepted into the undergrad program on his third attempt. When probed about how rejection affects him, Cory responded with, “It motivates me.”

Cory took full advantage of being involved with Weber State’s art program by initiating and becoming president of Weber’s first “Student Art Guild.” Cory’s Student Art Guild was specifically designed to get students involved in the art community outside of class work. Oberndorfer pushed for recognition and participation in local art galleries and exhibitions. In return for Cory’s community involvement effort, upon graduation, the new president of Weber State’s Art Guild created the Oberndorfer award to be presented annually to a student who lived up to the idea of “participation outside the classroom.”

Cory was accepted into American University, where he obtained his Masters of Fine Arts. This is where Cory began his fascination with Roller-Girls. His oversized luscious roller-girl murals entitled, “5FLAVORS, DC,” have been loudly displayed at the Katzen Art Center in Washington DC. The faculty at American University was not initially pleased with Cory’s early art choices and sternly recommended a change in course. Cory wasn’t having it and “stuck to his guns,” in the end proving his dissenters wrong. Cory’s professional background also includes being an adjunct professor with four different Universities. Oberndorfer has taught art classes at American University, Marymount University, Montgomery College, and Weber State University.

Title’s of Oberndorfer’s work range from “Lollipops and Ass Whoopings,” to “Maximum Thrust,” and “Sugar and Spice Derby Girls Aren’t Nice.” With such frank and suggestive language, I asked Cory, “How do you get art critics to take your work seriously?” He responded with, “It’s kind of a change for a lot of people. You don’t see a lot of humor in the art world. It’s surprisingly one of the last approaches of many people… For me I think I can drive my point home better with what people find amusing.” It’s no joke in my mind that Cory inspires and impresses many.

G Fine Art described Oberndorfer’s work as “mouthwatering in their candy inspired color schemes…” I would describe it as a palatable novelty of roller-girl delight. Cory has combined the usually misunderstood real sport of female roller-derby with its aggressive nature and brutal fashion with the opposite sweet and savory image of popular long time American confections in a complementary way.

Oberndorfer works in five different mediums including oversized murals, mixed media collages, paintings, and digital. When pressed about which medium Cory prefers, he responded with, “no preference.” He continued to explain that his work is intentionally flexible so every individual piece can, “exist in all scales.” Cory approaches his canvass like a marketing campaign so that when a person view’s an Oberndorfer it is immediately recognized despite the size or medium. By using this distinguishable approach along with such an interesting and idiographic subject matter, Cory hopes to “brand an image” much like popular product campaigns used in today’s marketplace.

One glace at Oberndorfer’s work and you can assume one of his influences was Warhol. Other significant artists who sculpted Cory’s artistic vision include Roy Lichtenstein and Takashi Murakami. You can witness Warhol’s monochromatic style, Lichtenstein’s fascination with the female form, and the randomness of Murakami in Oberndorfer’s craft. Originality is rare, so one can question if Oberndorfer’s labor is novel or nuance but it’s just as fascinating and introspective as the legends which garners respect.

I questioned Oberndorfer about what project he is considering next? Cory described his future enterprise as “moving away from the youthful and innocent roller-girls…something adult, more aggressive and grown up.” Cory included that he will continue teaching and hopes to make a living long term with both personal artwork and teaching. Some poignant advice Cory gave to burgeoning artists was, “Never make a career as an artist, once you accept that you can do pretty good.”

My personal interpretation of Oberndorfer’s work is whimsical and fun with a serious undertone along with a choice subject. I feel it a brilliant move to design a project flexible enough to conform to any medium including a business card. Cory’s craft is simple on the surface and his use of monochromatic tones seems rudimentary however, there has to be something else because I find myself staring and becoming lost in his work. I love it and I am not quite sure why? Is it the choice in subject matter, the fishnet stockings and roller-skates with short skirts and elbow pads? Maybe the combination of the female form mixed with a violent and aggressive sport balanced with light hues and sweet fruits is just so opposite but blended it perplexes the intellect.

I was first introduced to Oberndorfer’s art with an explanation from my sister. She construed to me that his subject was roller-girls and he is gaining acclaim in the DC area. I thought that would sound fun and crazy but how could anyone take his art serious. After finally viewing Cory’s contemplative, proficient, and discerning donnas’ geared up with semi-fetish garb and fused with delectable treats, I find the earnest talent refreshing, youthful and vibrant. I would assume Oberndorfer isn’t too far off from a cult like following.

Cory Oberndorfer is enjoying early success in his artistic career but it didn’t come without criticism and rejection. He will survive as an art teacher and I hope he can someday fulfill his dreams by making a living at something he advises others not to plan on. Oberndorfer is unassuming and sarcastic but his pure talent and balanced approach may someday lead him to become a household name. No easy task in the Art world or with a name like Oberndorfer.

Kings Peak Prevails (Part Two - Summit Day!)

Utah Living Large — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:40:00 GMT

Todd and I hit the mummy bags after our arduous trudge through the night and I made the terribly wrong decision to let Harry the Super-Dog sleep in the tent. Harry had an evil case of the High Uintah farts! There is not much room in a three man tent after packing in all the gear which we had to do in order to make sure everything stayed dry through the night so adding the acid gas expelling, skunk killing, egg carcass spewing dog was absolutely not pleasant. Harry "butted" up against me all night mainly because there was no where else to go, therefore my sleep patterns jostled between move from this side of the rock jabbing me in the side, to quickly cover my face so it doesn't melt off from Harry's weapon of mass destruction. It's funny though, no matter how destructive the arid smell permeated, it wasn't enough to get me up out of the sleeping bag and let the dog out of the tent and tether him to the tent pole. Just too much work after a long hike hence, I regretfully put up with Harry's newfound ability to burn nose hairs and slept off and on through the short night.

Light came early and after a rough night I immediately let Harry out of the tent to clear his bowls and I took a gander at where we pitched camp. Absolutely gorgeous! We had no idea what we were hiking through all night but I would do almost anything to have this view every morning. The temperature was brisk though. Our breath was easily visible and the long johns were a definite must. But the allure of the surrounding mountains just took our words away. All Todd and I could do was stare and keep repeating, wow!

We were amped to get started on our summit attempt so we eagerly got dressed and cooked some backpacker's breakfast which consisted of instant oatmeal with some fresh blueberry's poured in. I also brewed a quick cup of coffee which even though it was from a tea bag tasted great on this early crisp and cool high altitude morning. Todd's a natural, nutritional, raw food consumer so I don't think his diet changed at all this trip. He easily consumed his Almond Milk drinks, mixed nuts, and fresh fruit. I have to say I was a little jealous of his clean diet and it seems to work because Todd turned out to be a hiking freak!

Todd snapped a couple of panoramic shots and we took off for the summit!

As we were leaving camp I took a glance at the inviting and non-threatening sky's and made the novice and regrettable mistake of striping off all my warm clothes and dumping nearly everything out of my summit backpack. I took out the extra warm fleece and the rain pants and a few other odds and ends that I would later wish I had.

I threw the much lighter pack on my super sore shoulders and we began hiking by 8:30 in the morning. My legs were already stiff from the previous evenings march. Later we mapped out our distance and figured we covered about 7 1/2 miles on the hike in. Not bad for our first backpacking attempt but we were both feeling it early this morning. Our excitement and adventurous spirit suppressed our soreness and we enthusiastically headed down the trail with little idea of how this altitude would effect us or how the weather could change on a dime.

The hike to the summit we estimated would take about four hours so we kept a consistent pace but of course we had to snap a few pics. It was a gorgeous day and we soon entered this expansive basin that reminded me of the valley in "The Land Before Time." There were domesticated sheep roaming the hillsides and Super-Harry being a herding breed had entered dogie heaven. I had him leashed to my backpack belt and he darn near pulled me off the rocks more than once. That dog can pull when he wants to. The sheep didn't help, they were taunting Harry by just barley trotting off the path then stopping and looking back at him while letting out this weird mutton laughter noise that really freaked out the poor canine.

At one point there were so many sheep it was hard to tell them apart from the rocks against the mountain.

We were having an absolute ball! This is the life! Hiking in the High Uintah's with the sun out and the scenery was unmatchable. I even found time to throw some snowballs from one of the many large patches of soft snow that were firmly preserved amongst the alpine slopes.

We chose not to take a short cut that would have saved over an hour and scuttlebutt suggested as much as two hours but we decided to take a more traditional and longer route. It was supposed to be an easier approach because you stretch out your vertical so that it's not such an upright and strenuous climb. Considering the altitude and our freshman capabilities we decided on the conservative approach. Unbeknown to us it also led to some wide open valley's and remarkable views. You didn't need a photography class to be able to snap award winning pics, sorry Todd, the landscape automatically made you pro!

After around two quick hours of hiking we came upon a refreshing and sparkling mountain stream. I used this opportunity to learn how to use my handy dandy water filtration system. I bought the Katadyn Hiker filter from Canyon Sports and it worked masterfully. It took me about ten minutes to put it together because of course I didn't test it or even open it at home. I just threw the whole bag into the backpack and headed out. After some quick pumps I was able to fill both Todd's and I water bladders and that was a bit comforting knowing that if we got lost at least we could have clean water.

While I was fiddling with the water pump a couple of pro hikers passed us and offered their GPS knowledge which was that the summit was one vertical mile from where we were sitting. Too bad the GPS didn't account for the steep winding and rocky trail that had to be conquered first. We wrapped up our little water slash lunch party and resumed our hike. As we peered off into the oncoming heights we noticed the first signs of a changing weather pattern.

At this point the trail begins to take a fairly stout vertical approach and I began to gas. Todd took over the lead and he was still hiking at a strong pace. The altitude, sun, sore legs, and lazy summer immediately reminded me that this was for real and I began to hit a wall. I've felt similar body breaking points during my multiple marathons I've completed but I was having a tough time overcoming this exhaustion. Todd on the other hand was cruising like he was walking downhill at sea level. I began to question my mental and physical toughness. Something that shouldn't be done when attempting to summit a mountain. One should be confident and absolute in their thoughts. I wasn't.

The more we climbed up the steep slope of a meadow that rose high enough to meet the bottom of the final ridge, we could spy other groups making their way up the craggy spine of Kings Peak. This was the first sign that we were getting close and that all this effort may just pay off.

( The small dots lining the spine are other summit seekers making their way up Kings Peak )

The threatening clouds began making noise and lightning strikes hit adjacent peaks. This storm literally came out of nowhere! I was most concerned about the lightning but it remained at a distance that was menacing although not endangering. We continued.

Todd was stretching his lead over me and had to stop and wait for me to catch up which was not encouraging. I remembered watching the "Everest," program on the Discovery Channel, and one of the climbers mentioned that at that altitude you can only take one step then you stop to breath for a few minutes then take another step. I wasn't quite to that point but I could for the first time relate to what they were describing. I was slowing to a snails pace and even my Super-Dog Harry got bored with my sluggish gait. Harry joined the more energized Todd and I was pulling up the rear.

Raindrops began hitting the ground but they weren't quite enough to get us wet. The wind picked up as we approached the exposed ridge. Finally after struggling up the last few yards at a lumbering stride we made the ridge leading to Kings Peak. Just in time for a hail storm. Awesome! Here we met a few other hikers because everyone assembles on this ridge before venturing up the giant boulders leading to the summit. It was olympic speed dressing as we all attacked our packs desperately searching for any rain gear and warm clothing. I just happened to leave everything I could have used back at base camp. I did have a light wind breaker that formed some protection against the elements but with the wind and hail my fingers started going numb.

We had a brief conversation with a couple hikers about whether it was a good idea to summit. Todd said he was game and I was a little hesitant. I barely made it to where we were and we stood four strenuous hours away from base camp. I sucked it up and said "ok, lets give it a shot." Todd led the way up these incredibly huge rocks that were slippery and cavernous. The large steps and careful moves quickly ate up any desire I had left to summit. I was soon passed by a guy and his reluctant girlfriend and I realized I was done.

I have never quit a marathon, in fact I've completed five and most with some amazing pain but I can honestly say I didn't have it. Kings Peak Prevailed. I sat on a rock disgusted. Harry the Super-Dog, who had boldly scrambled over the rocks and was keeping up with Todd took a look back and knew I wasn't moving. Harry picked his way back down the imposing boulders to meet me. I huddled against the cold hard stone waiting to see if I could mentally overcome. I couldn't. I looked up for Todd but he had pressed on. I had given Todd the backpack at the ridge to lighten my load but that didn't seem to help. The wind and rain continued and I sat frustrated in disbelief. This was supposed to be a fun moderate hike not a physical and mental schism.

I tried to take solace in what we had accomplished in the last twenty-four hours but with Todd pushing toward the summit it was hard to be proud. I stopped an older female hiker who was climbing like she spends everyday on a stair-stepper and I told her to tell my friend "I'm done." She said, "Your going to wait for him aren't you?" Well I hadn't thought about that. We hadn't planned on separating or what to do if one of us couldn't make it. We assumed this was in the bag. I replied "yea, I'm waiting. I'm just climbing down beneath the ridge to wait where the wind isn't so bad." The hardcore lady then exclaimed, "You hiked all this way and your not going to the top?" I simply conceded, "Yea, I'm done, I know my limits and I'm done."

Todd however, championed on! While I sheepishly made my way below the ridge Todd summited!

I'm so proud of Todd! At least one of us was able to claim the highest point in Utah. For these two beginners a little success went a long way for both of us. We would later pass hikers and they would all ask the same thing,"Did you summit?" "Well," I would say with a smile, "he did." Todd is a natural hiker and I'm jealous but that just means I'll have to actually do some training and local hiking and not just jump off the couch and attack Kings Peak. It's tougher than you think.

Todd snapped a final panoramic shot from the ultimate Uintah height and headed back down. Oh yea, we still have to hoof it back to camp and in my battered condition with the rain picking up this might be more interesting and adventurous than we had bargained for.

Kings Peak Prevails (Part One - The Plan)

Utah Living Large — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:16:00 GMT

The Kings Peak epic weekend adventure began on Sunday August third, when I got this hair brained idea to "Summit" Kings Peak. I have never backpacked and camped overnight in the back country or summited a mountain, let alone the highest mountain in the state of Utah.

I googled "Kings Peak" and "Backpacking Inventory," to put together an exhausting list of items needed to prepare for this virgin adventure. I soon realized I was missing quite a bit of gear and the important stuff too, like a water filtration system, backpacking stove, sleeping pads, headlamps, oh and a decent light weight, rain proof tent! Thank goodness for Weber State University's "Wilderness Recreation Center," where I was able to rent most of the missing gear for super cheap.

I was able to recruit Todd, my sister's boyfriend to boldly join me on this whimsical endeavor. So together we planned our quickly approaching weekend. The plan was to work a half day on Friday then leave from Layton, Utah where I work and head down to SLC to pick up Todd then finally drive three hours to the Henry's Fork Trail Head. We planned on hitting the trail by 5pm and after a four hour hike reach base camp then crash for the night. Summit day was planned for Saturday then after camping that night hike out Sunday morning. The plan mostly succeeded but the time line got squirly.

I was lucky enough to meet with super weekend adventurer "Glen the Neighbor," (who is my Uncle D's neighbor), on Thursday evening. Glen had just summited Kings Peak the week prior and has actually summited the highest point in Utah every year for the last seven years. I had never met the sprightly weekend adventurer but Glen and I immediately hit it off and I spent about four hours at his home going over trails and recounting trips of grandeur. Finally, after about an hour of Glen failing to get a topo map downloaded onto his GPS device, I told him to just print the damn thing and that should be enough because it's almost 11pm and tomorrow is departure day! Glen was a great resource and really gave the impression that we would have a fun and moderate hike to the highest elevation Utah has to offer.

Thursday night was spent organizing and packing until about one in the morn when I couldn't stay awake any longer. Friday morning's plan was to hit work early (about 9) then work a half day until noon but I slept in because of staying up so late then I was forced to make a decision, do I stay home and finish packing or head to work and get stuck there all day and risk never leaving for our trip. Of course I ditched work and stayed home to pack and thank goodness I did because it took until about 10:30am. I quickly swung by WRC to pick up my rented gear and again WRC was a life saver. I ended up renting two sleeping pads, two headlamps, a cook set, a sleeping bag, and a backpacking camp stove. Next I hit Canyon Sports because I had not yet found a backpack for my dog. Canyon had a pack but the harness was missing, Tim, "the man" offered me half off, I was tempted but chose to make a quick stop at the REI in SLC instead.

I cruised by the house and threw everything in the back of the Escape, including the dog, and eventually made it to the office by 1:00pm and only because at this point my boss had phoned wondering where the hell I was. I had to make an appearance and that is exactly what I did. I had to first visit Uncle D's house to pick up the $30 Wal Mart special three man tent I was borrowing for the weekend. The tent actually belonged to my cousin Britt and her boyfriend Skyler who signed on at the last minute to come with us but, at the very last minute, like right before I was to pick him up, he had to bail. I'm still not sure of the reason but he missed out.

I made my 1 hour guest appearance at the office to satisfy my boss and got yelled at by some anti-dog lady in the next room, because I carelessly let my super-dog Harry run into her "personal sanctuary" most call an office. Oops, sorry lady but you really need to relax, it's a dog not a machete wielding killer sasquatch! Anyway, around 2pm, I eagerly drove in stop-and-go construction traffic on I15 to destination Sugarhouse, Utah in order to pick up Todd.

Once we loaded all of Todd's gear into the Escape it looked as we had enough equipment to summit K2 rather than Kings Peak, but hey at least we were prepared! And we had food for every scout troop on earth...
( Yes, this is only a three day, two night backpacking trip. Probably not considered "Ultralight." )

We were finally off on our grand weekend adventure when just a few blocks away from Todd's house we had to stop by the local REI and pick up a backpack for the dog. I purchased the "Approach" pack made by "Ruff Wear," which performed flawlessly. The pack doesn't come with a hydration bag so I picked up a "MSR Dromlite" bag which fit perfectly in the side pocket and worked like a charm.

Ok, this time we were off to the trail head with the exception of one pit stop at the strategically placed Chevron in Evanston, Wyoming. I purchased a Monster Khaos drink and some peppered beef jerky, walked Harry the super-dog and off we went again. By the way, Khaos and jerky don't mix, don't try it, not sure what I was thinking.

Three short hours of anxious driving from Sugarhouse, and only one wrong turn later we were off roading in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest making a bee-line toward the trail head. Todd snapped a couple of co-pilot pics out the windshield and window for effect.

Around 7pm we rolled into the Henry's Fork trail head parking lot... Only 3 hours behind, not bad.

Todd and I packed our gear with expert and nimble ease as seen here:

Yes, perfectly packed backpack, obviously not mine, it's Todd "The Naturals" pack.

At 8:20 we finally hit the trail. Just 3 hours and 20 minutes behind the 5:00pm pre-planned departure time.

Only about five minutes down the trail we spotted a moose down by the river. Wow, how cool is that! This proves there really is wildlife but that also means there might be bear, mountain lion, killer raccoons, and other things that go bump in the forest. Gulp! I know, let's hike at night!

Well, I'll definitely endorse Black Diamond Head Lamps if they need me to. We only hiked for about an hour before nightfall hit us. Sure there was some light somewhere but in the forest we couldn't find it. So, on came the headlamps and out came the whistle. I nervously blew the whistle and talked very loudly and sang along to the Irish punk tunes blasting through my I-pod just to let every wild creature know where we were! I didn't want anything or any animal to not know that these two uncultivated hikers were making there way through the intimidating darkness.

After a while though, hiking at night felt fairly easy and we became comfortable with our headlamps, cooler temps and mysterious landscape. The rocky and mostly discernible trail mildly gained in elevation and the actual hike wasn't too bad considering neither one of us has packed over 40lbs on our back for too long.

About three hours into our hike, the romanticism finally wore off and the lust for a base camp complete with a warm sleeping bag, and the security of a tent began to settle quickly into our minds. Then began the little sprinkles of rain which never amounted to much more and actually felt refreshing but the threat of hiking at night in a rain storm was none too pleasant.

We began seeing faint lights in the distance and we believed they were fire's from the boy scouts who frequent the area but the light was moving. The closer the light came we were able to glimpse the shadow of other hikers on the trail. It was a group of guys hiking out and they gave us some badly needed geographical information, like where the hell are we? The men informed us we were about an hour away from Dollar Lake which was our final destination.

Along the way we had to cross this cool log bridge which transported us across a small river.

Harry the super-dog, and I led the way for most of the night until I finally became exhausted and non motivated. Todd bravely took over the lead and his new-found energy was greatly needed and appreciated. Todd expeditiously guided us through the forest and we only saw one pair of wild eyes that spooked us. We didn't know what those beady eyes in the brush were attached to but we didn't stick around to find out. Off we trounced down the path and with my headlamp fading we finally began passing some tents. Ahhh, signs of humans, now if we can just find that damn Dollar Lake we can pitch camp and crash for the night.

So we hiked some more and some more and some more, at last, I thought we were going to summit Kings Peak before we even set up camp! Eventually we came across a field where we could detect a handful of tents pitched randomly against the landscape. We scoped out a rock in which we figured would be a good place to sit, use as a kitchen or packing table and called it home. The first thing we did was ditch our packs onto our newly claimed land. This was the first time during the arduous trek in which we took our packs off and the ghost packs remaining on our back forced us to walk and move as drunken bastards, delirious, and skeptical of our bodies ability to function.

We pitched the tent and took brief inventory of our gear and quickly realized we did not have a rain-fly for the tent. Are you kidding me? No rain-fly! How do you forget the rain-fly?! I frantically searched through my pack and all my pockets and could not find one of the most important pieces of high altitude protection, which is the tents rain-fly! It was all my fault, I was the one who packed the tent and the poles and I thought the rain fly. I am such a beginner. Well, what would an adventure be without a little improvisation. To solve this pesky imbroglio we pulled the tarp out from under the tent and used some nylon string that I did remember to pack and tied down the tarp over the tent forming a ghetto rain shelter. Do we look pro now or what?

Nearing almost one in the morning we made the experienced backpacker's decision to skip dinner and go directly to bed! Tomorrow is summit day and we need to be well rested. Ta ta for now and let tomorrow bring victory to all! By the way, we never did find Dollar Lake?

Utah's Get Rich Quick Mentality

Utah Living Large — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:51:00 GMT

Here is my paper for Sociology 1020: Social Problems. The assignment was to discuss a social problem relative to Utah. I chose Utahans obsession with getting rich quickly. This paper received an 'A' grade. Once again, don't plagiarize because the plagiarism gods will find you and make you sleep through class and your paper will be docked for turning it in late. Enjoy.

Utah’s Get‐Rich‐Quick Mentality

What is the problem?

The desire to "get‐rich‐quick" is rapidly becoming a social problem nationally but specifically in Utah! An uneducated or hastened decision to accept a risk (investment) to "get ahead" financially can have just the opposite effect. According to Wikipedia, a get‐rich‐quick scheme is defined as "a plan to acquire high rates of return for a small investment. Most such schemes promise that participants can obtain this high rate of return with little risk"(wikipedia.org/wiki/get_rich_quick). Get –rich‐quick schemes can be either legal such as investment training software or reselling e‐books on "how to get rich," to quasi‐legal schemes such as MLM’s, to illegal schemes in which Mr. Charles Ponzi , first made famous in the early 1900’s. The Ponzi scheme was the original get‐rich‐quick scheme. Charles Ponzi scammed investors promising a 50% return on their money then used money from other investors to make good on only some accounts allowing most to believe he could do what he said for everyone. Ponzi went from making a reported $250,000 a day to living his last years in poverty (wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Ponzi).

Utah is a hotbed of MLM (multi‐level‐marketing) companies offering "income opportunities" to a socially accepting population. As an example if you go to a Utah Jazz game the cheerleaders are "Nu Skin Jazz Dancers," as witnessed right on the official website of the Utah Jazz (NBA.com/Jazz). Nu Skin is a multi‐level marketing company that sells skin care and other health care products along with an "opportunity." Nu Skin products have been highlighted in national magazines such as the December issue of Fitness Magazine and the November issue of Self Magazine (Nuskin.com). This media exposure helps to give public acceptance to products offered by a multi‐level marketing company.

Maybe you would like to enjoy a nice outdoor concert this summer? A few artists scheduled to play at the "Usana Amphitheater" in West Valley, Utah this season are Tim McGraw, Cheap Trick, The Police, John Mayer, Steve Miller Band, Jack Johnson, Sheryl Crow, and the Dave Matthews Band (usana‐amp.com). Usana hosts huge selling recording artists. Certainly they wouldn’t perform at a place that was sponsored by a "get‐rich‐quick" scheme? And most Utahans probably don’t think twice about the "Usana" part of this outdoor concert experience. It’s accepted as a norm in Utah. "Just another multi‐level recruiting and product pushing company who did well for themselves," some may say.

Let’s look at the numbers of currently active MLM companies in Utah by location. In Utah County alone there are at least 25 Active MLM’s. According to the Consumer Awareness Institute that leaves "1 for every 14,741 people, by far the highest density of recruiting MLM’s of any county in the U.S.A. Salt Lake county has at least 15 active MLM’s which equates to 1 for every 59,892 persons and there are at least 4 active MLM’s elsewhere in Utah. This adds up to at least 44 MLM’s in the state of Utah or 1 for every 50,754 persons (as based on the 2000 Census), and is reported as the highest density of MLM’s for any state in the U.S. CAI reports "Approximately, one in five (Utah households) have participated at some time during their lifetime" (Consumer Awareness Institute: Who Profits from Multi‐Level Marketing? Preparers of Utah Tax Returns Have the Answer.pg. 3).

MLM’s aren’t the only get‐rich‐quick schemes in Utah. Using the Google search "get rich quick Utah," returned over 350,000 results. One result was Park City Utah’s official site upon which under their "Crime Prevention for Internet Crimes" page, they dedicate paragraphs to "pyramid schemes" and "gambling." Park City’s pyramid scheme paragraph is as follows:

"Pyramid schemes provide financial incentives to recruit new distributors. They are generally prohibited because it is a mathematical certainty that the pyramids will collapse when no new distributors can be recruited. When that happens, most of the people in the pyramid lose their money. Be extremely cautious if a promoter offers you an extremely large short‐term return on any investment, particularly if there is a disclaimer that the investment is "high risk and you could lose all of your money". Beware of all get rich quick schemes. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is." (parkcity.org/citydepartments/police/crimeprevention/forinternet.html)

Another search link revealed a recent story (April 01, 2008) that posted on ConsumerReports.org in which the SEC has filed civil fraud charges against a Utah couple who used infomercials to pedal an expensive stock trading system. The system claimed to "make extraordinary stock profits." The SEC complaint alleges that our entrepreneurial couple made more than $6 million in commissions all the while not turning any profits for clients. A quote listed in the report by SEC Chairman Christopher Cox said "The allegations depict a cold‐hearted scheme that preyed on the elderly, the desperate, and even the unemployed by promising financial security while instead robbing victims blind" (ConsumerRreports.org/money/2008/04/investment_frau.html).

What makes this problem a social problem?

So why is a get‐rich‐quick mentality a problem if obviously some are making their dreams come true and "living large." Most everyone does want to become rich. After all, "Money talks, even in hell" Japanese Proverb (Art of Wealth pg. V). A fascination with money, wealth and material things can be a good thing. It can help drive an economy but if not grounded in solid financial principles, greed may cause a get‐rich‐quick mentality to take hold. If enough people are over stretching their finances, bulking up credit cards, and making exorbitant purchases they can’t afford in an effort to "get ahead", these actions can lead to an economic crunch and a social problem.

"Utah has consistently ranked in the top quarter of states with the highest bankruptcy rates since 1960. In 2002 and 2003, Utah emerged in the top position" (Utah Foundation Report pg. 1). Other factors including education, divorce, job loss, race and socio‐economic class play a part in bankruptcy but we must address the consumer debt that coincides with the get‐rich‐quick mentality. As expressed in the PBS documentary Affluenza, Americans are caught up in a "painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety, and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more" (Utah Foundation Report pg. 6). Enter the schemer, the "snake‐oil" salesmen, the MLM’s and the miracle products that make outlandish statements and who actually encourage you to "invest" by using your credit cards and you have a social problem. As a side note if you do have a credit card problem may I suggest visiting daveramsey.com or purchasing one of his books. Dave Ramsey is a nationally syndicated radio talk show host and author who specializes in helping people get out of debt.

"Work for only an hour or two a day, and build up a ‘residual income’ that will allow you the ‘time freedom’ to quit your job and spend more time with your family or do whatever you want" (Consumer Awareness Institute Table 2). Well, that sounds pretty good to me. Where do I sign? The problem is most if not all get‐rich‐quick schemes eventually fail. The alarming statistics on pyramid schemes makes me wonder why some are not only legal but traded on the stock exchange. Loss rates for recent no‐product pyramid schemes range from 87.5% to 93.3%. Loss rates from product based MLM’s average 99.9%. "The chance at profiting from a single spin on the roulette wheel at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas is 48 times as great" (The Five Red Flags pgs. 15‐16).

Making it big in Real Estate or the Stock Market takes quite a bit of research, due diligence, capital and persistence. That isn’t the get‐rich‐quick way. James J. Cramer, cofounder of The Street.com, Markets Commentator for CNBC, and "Bottom Line" columnist for New York magazine also frequents college campuses on investment tours educating the attendees on investing in the stock market. Mr. Cramer states, "I can get you started but my methods take some time and some effort and, most important, some discipline." Mr. Cramer continues, "You will be rewarded…but not if you don’t do the homework." I don’t draw anything about being quick and easy in what Mr. Cramer puts forth (Real Money, Sane Investing In An Insane World, pg. 7).

Donald Trump didn’t build his Real Estate fortune overnight with "no money down" so what makes everyone think it’s just that easy? "The Donald," originally worked for his father’s company, the Trump Organization which concentrated on middle class apartment housing in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island (Wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_trump). So, basically the world’s most recognizable name in Real Estate Development started as an apprentice under his dad. Donald Trump’s rise to success isn’t as sexy as going to a "free Real Estate Seminar" and investing in flip properties with "no money down," until you flip yourself into a millionaire, overnight of course.

If everyone got rich quick then it wouldn’t be a problem or it would at worse lead to other interesting social issues. Most people instinctively know that riches don’t happen overnight and without hard work, persistence, and usually capital. "One who expects to reap rewards without expending due effort is not thinking realistically" (Art of Wealth pg. 66). "Wealth may be reliably produced by judicious investment of resources in productive enterprise under suitable conditions; taking a gamble on fortune or luck reflects greed and laziness in the form of wishful thinking" (Art of Wealth pg. 257).

A society inundated with get‐rich‐quick seminars, infomercials, MLM "opportunities" and other devilish scams takes time and energy away from more valuable endeavors. One should be educating themselves on how to build a lasting financial plan and learning how to create long term wealth. Get‐rich‐quick schemes rob victims of more than money. They can rob ones time, motivation and worst of all, ones dignity. False promises, inflated hopes, and broke bank accounts can lead to many other social problems including poverty, drug or alcohol abuse, violence, and family problems. A financial setback can lead to credit problems, bankruptcy, foreclosure, and divorce along with mental and emotional breakdowns. At best, a get‐rich‐quick mentality can lead to a big waste of time.

What do you believe to be the cause of the problem?

What is the attraction? If there is so much to lose why is so much profit being made by the get‐rich‐quick protagonist? And yes, someone is making money. The top 1% of MLM executives can earn boatloads of money, some reported as much as one million a month (Who Profits from Multi‐Level Marketing? Preparers of Utah Tax Returns Have the Answer, pg. 5). As Jim Carey’s character Lloyd Christmas, in Dumb and Dumber optimistically realizes after being told he has a "one in a million chance" of getting the girl, "So, your tellin’ me there’s a chance!" It’s that "chance" that the downtrodden, money hungry, misguided ambitious soles are hoping for when they lay there proverbial futures on the line for the get‐rich‐quick result. I believe it’s almost an out‐of‐body experience. One has to know it’s not a good idea to spend money, time, and effort on promises made by a mountebank? Yet the trend continues.

I personally interviewed a young salesman at a local computer store who made it known he "wanted to be rich" and that he was going to school to "graduate in nanotechnology." I said "great, have you ever tried MLM’s?" He knew the acronym with no explanation and replied "No, but 3 of my friends are in them." Note the vernacular. This salesman looked to be in his burgeoning twenties so from this very limited field research, I deduce the get‐rich‐quick mentality is continuing on to at least some.

But what is the draw? Why do we as Utahans become attracted to or are obsessed with the get‐rich‐quick mentality? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or LDS, have long been the dominate faith in Utah. It was the mid 1800’s when the first Mormon pioneers began to settle the Salt Lake Valley and their growth in the community over the years has largely shaped the culture of Utah (LDS.org/churchhistory). Many of the church’s innate characteristics like an organized network of families, a strong trust between fellow members, and the practice of sending young men away from home on two year missions is easily exploited by charlatans, counterfeits, and especially MLM’s.

The enormous social network of the LDS church means that once an idea or "opportunity" is put forth somewhere within the network and preferably near the top, the speed at which news can travel is great. LDS faithful like most religions congregate at least once a week and this is an opportunity to share stories and ultimately mix business with service. This network is positive and useful in many ways but also open for exploitation.

Another consequence of such an organized web of followers presents a dichotomy in social classes. Gathering intimately with fellow members on a weekly basis draws contrasts and opinions from the haves (bourgeoisie) and the have‐nots (proletariats). It’s easy to discern those more affluent members and a natural "keeping‐up‐with‐the –Jones’," ensues. This unfavorable attitude can lead directly to unwise financial decisions in a meager attempt to conform. The get‐rich‐quick mentality conveniently follows.

In general, the LDS faithful have established themselves as authentic and honorable members of society. Their close kinship has built up trust levels and those trust levels are also used and abused by frauds. The State of Utah ranked eleventh in fraud complaints to the FTC from January to December 2007 (FTC, Consumer Fraud and Identity Theft Complaint Data, pg. 18). "Utah consumers reported fraud losses totaling more than $1.1 billion; the median monetary loss was $500.00" (FTC, issues Annual List of Top Consumer Complaints, Identity Theft Complaints Again Top the List in Utah, pg. 2).

The practice of sending young men at the age of nineteen to serve a two year mission for the LDS church has surely reaped grand benefits and many convert’s to the LDS crusade. One unintended consequence has been the grooming of now experienced door knocking, ambitious, and gregarious, future MLM salesmen! When the young men return home from their unbeknownst sales "mini-camp," they are eager to start their new beginning in life which would include making an income. Once approached by a "trusted" member of the church or community for an "income opportunity," the combination of naivety, overexcitement and youthful confidence is lethal. Many young men "join" MLM’s fresh off a mission and are initially successfull because of their related recruiting experience but soon learn the percentages of loss. And at what personal loss in the meantime?

Fraud happens everywhere but because of the unique underlying "Faith" structure of Utah’s society it’s easier to be duped, networked, and duped again. This is not the fault of the LDS faithful in my opinion, just an amazing unintended consequence of their success and impact on Utah’s culture.

What is the answer to the get‐rich‐quick mentality?

I believe creating a solution to the get‐rich‐quick mentality is twofold. The first step in combating this social problem is educating Utahans about the incredible loss percentages in MLM’s and get‐rich‐quick schemes. Jon M. Taylor, Ph.D., President of the Consumer Awareness Institute and Director of Pyramid Scheme Alert, has done exhausting research on MLM’s. Dr. Taylor’s work can be dissected and researched at mlm‐thetruth.com. I believe that when the public is faced with the facts on MLM’s their popularity and ultimately their success will decline. Once the level of suspect "opportunities" declines from MLM’s a portion of the get‐rich‐quick mentality should subside.

The second and most complicated approach to curing the get‐rich‐quick mentality is a cultural redefining of success. The current emphasis on wealth and money in today’s culture unchecked by values and decency is troublesome. The television medium hosts such game shows as "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," and "Deal or No Deal," which feeds the get‐rich‐quick mentality. The constant barrage of lavish celebrity lifestyles through print and television media emphasizes such material items as homes, cars, and designer clothing causing the rest of us to feel inferior and envious. The culture needs change. Albert Einstein said, "Try not to become a man of success, but rather a man of value" (Positive Quotations, pg. 442). Confucius wrote, "Ideal people understand things in terms of duty; lesser people understand things in terms of profit" (Art of Wealth, pg. 115).

A medium which reaches the public such as a magazine, radio program or television show that works to redefine wealth and success is sorely needed. I propose a magazine entitled, "Living Large," which not only promotes fundamental financial principles but also offers a fresh perspective on other success factors such as service to the community, education, and modesty.

I believe through the promotion of new, "Living Large Celebrities," who define successes in life not merely based on the size of their home but by their contributions to society will enlighten and inspire others. This "Living Large Magazine," is becoming an obsession of mine and it’s the reason I’m back in school today. Hopefully with some education, hard work and persistence, "Living Large" will soon become a reality which will work to combat the get‐rich‐quick mentality.

The get‐rich‐quick mentality is a social problem in Utah with provable negative consequences. Through education and a redefining of success, I hope this problem will soon subside. "The richest of riches is intelligence, and the greatest poverty is stupidity" (Art of Wealth, pg. 66).

Note: Bibliography and Sources available upon request. Original Bibliography was submitted to the Proffessor.

Rob Reiner: Three Decades of Directing

Utah Living Large — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:41:00 GMT

**Update: 10/30/2008 Rob Reiner's mom passed away. She was 94 years old. For more read here.

The following is a copy of my term paper on Rob Reiner for this semester's Intro to Film Course. It received an 'A' grade. Don't plagiarize, I'm best friends with Karma!

Rob Reiner: Three Decades of Directing

Rob Reiner has been directing films over the last three decades. Reiner has directed everything from cult classics such as “This is Spinal Tap,” and “The Princess Bride,” to memorable romantic comedies like “When Harry Met Sally,” and “The Sure Thing,” and these films only depict work completed in the 1980s. (IMDb) Reiner experimented with more serious films in the 1990s earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture with “A Few Good Men.” Most recently, Reiner enjoyed success with the heartwarming tale of two chronically ill patients who befriend and live timelessly in “The Bucket List.”

Beginning with “This is Spinal Tap,” the original mock-rockumentary directed in 1984, Reiner takes us behind the scenes of a fictitious and failing rock band. Reiner himself plays the part of “acclaimed commercial director,” Marti DiBergi. Reiner does not cameo as much as Hitchcock, but he does later play the part of “Wirschafter,” a publisher, in his 2003 directed film, “Alex and Emma.”

Reiner’s character DiBergi carries on band interviews with the infamous rock band “Spinal Tap,” which mocks the intellect of rock-stars, portrays every asinine rock cliché and the use of blatant seriousness is irony at its best. Reiner’s introduction of sophisticated sarcasm reemerges in many characters in his films. Even in a more serious “A Few Good Men,” Tom Cruise’s character, a hot shot Naval Lawyer who is a recent Harvard graduate, charms the audience with his wit and sarcasm. Jack Nicholson’s character in “The Bucket List,” is a self absorbed billionaire who uses sarcasm as a way of dealing with his own improprieties.

Reiner’s mockumentary was so loaded with rock-and-roll stereotypes that the movie became an instant classic. Virtually twenty-five years later, many of Spinal Taps stereotypes remain in today’s rock bands making “This is Spinal Tap,” near timeless.

Timelessness is also a trend carried through Reiner’s films. In the 1985 “A Sure Thing,” John Cusack plays a college student who hitches a ride across country in search of definite sex or “A Sure Thing.” The life altering journey forces Cusack’s character to mature and ponder the timeless quandary of love vs. sex? Even in Reiner’s 1987 multi-genre fantasy-adventure-romantic-comedy, “The Princess Bride,” the richness and romanticism of “true love,” is the thickness of the plot and is alone, timeless.

Although timeless, Reiner does not employ many grandiose special effects like a George Lucas “Star Wars” film. Instead, Reiner typically utilizes an entertaining plot along with charming and amiable characters to seduce an audience. Reiner’s dip into special effects in “The Princess Bride,” was maybe his most sophisticated until Rob’s recent world traveling “The Bucket List.” In “The Princess Bride,” Reiner delivers non-impressive mechanical-like giant rats or ROUS’s (rodents of unusual size), along with tame pyrotechnics and an elementary version of quicksand in his version of a “Fire Swamp.” As corny and simple as the special effects are, they actually add to the charm of the movie and the verisimilitude is never lost.

Reiner cleverly uses narration in “The Princess Bride,” to transport the audience from the real world to the fantasy world of a book in which the majority of the plot subsides. Reiner uses this narration sparingly but effectively by quickly reverting back to reality in the middle of fantastic suspenseful scenes. Reiner first uses speckled narration in the 1985 “A Sure Thing,” then again in the 1986 “Stand by Me.” (IMDb)

Reiner’s most recent use of narration occurs in “Alex and Emma.” Narration is again performed by one of the main characters and similarly draws the audience back and forth from a world depicted by the author of a book, to a modern apartment in which the reality of the author’s life plays the central role in the plot of both worlds. Reiner’s peppered use of narration in “Alex and Emma,” although creative is not as effective as in “The Princess Bride.”

Moving into the 1990s, Rob Reiner directs two patriotic and political films which seems a departure from his light hearted quixotic and offbeat comedies of the 1980s. However, even the seriously named 1995’s, “The American President,” follows a clever and humorous romantic storyline.

In the 1992 “A Few Good Men,” a story based on a murder at the very real Guantanamo Bay Marine Base in Cuba, Reiner is given the opportunity to portray a love connection between Tom Cruise’s character and Demi Moore’s character. Both characters work together as attorneys searching for the truth behind a suspiciously timed death. There is an undercurrent of sexual attraction but the audience is left guessing as the movie concludes without even a kiss between the powerful and attractive leads. This departure from love stories and feel good relationship films is refreshing and well done deservedly earning the movie four Academy Award nominations.

After such seriousness but sticking with a patriotic theme Reiner is back to his romantic roots with “The American President.” A politically partisan movie portraying the antagonist who is a conservative candidate as challenging Michael Douglas’s character, the President of the United States, on the Presidents burgeoning relationship with an environmental lobbyist played by Annette Bening.

The immediate and clumsy attraction between the President and lobbyist is playful, cute, and innocent, a theme of Reiner’s, but the social-political agenda in which the lobbyist pursues is as current a subject today as was in 1995. One line in the movie suggests that “in ten years time our combustible engines will be in a museum somewhere.” (Bening) With today’s price of oil weighing so much on Americans this could be another example of Rob Reiner’s timeless touch although serendipitous.

In the 1990s Rob Reiner also directed “Misery” and “Ghosts of Mississippi,” neither are romantic comedies. (IMDb)But early into the new century, Reiner once again tackles a romantic comedy with “Alex and Emma.” Rob’s skill at creating attraction and believability between the two love interests reemerges. With an unoriginal plot, Reiner is still effective at delivering a pleasant and jovial product. “Alex and Emma,” also utilizes a previously mentioned Reiner theme with Luke Wilson’s character using sarcasm and charm in an appealing manner to capture and sustain the audience.

Reiner’s latest film released in 2007, “The Bucket List,” collaborates a life’s work and delivers a masterful result. Reiner even utilizes modern special effects technology to place the two main characters in places all over the world from the Great Wall of China, to the Taj Mahal, to sub-Saharan Africa. Reiner does not skimp on the special effects in this film. But how can be because he was fortunate enough to cast two of Hollywood’s all-time great actors in Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as leads?

Everything in “The Bucket List,” from plot to characters, from lighting to camera angles gives off the vibe of professionalism. The film is passionate and thoughtful and does not come across as simplistic or trite as some of Reiner’s earlier films. Rob does not use tricks such as narration or memorable lines to deliver a quality product but instead makes a directorial decision to let the actors carry the film and it works to Reiner’s advantage.

Throughout most of Reiner’s films, he has been lucky or thoughtful enough to work with great writers and actors who deliver memorable lines. “As you wish,” from “The Princess Bride,” and “you can’t handle the truth,” from “A Few Good Men,” are two example lines which have permeated American culture.

Most, if not all of Reiner’s films are accepted by the main stream and loved by many. Reiner’s gift of directing appealing films with likable characters places him as a pop-culture icon.

From the wacky “This is Spinal Tap,” to the thought provoking “The Bucket List,” Rob Reiner has shown versatility as a director but his strength lies with romantic comedies. Reiner has proven with his experience in the 1990’s that he can direct more serious films with the respect of the Academy, but his roots of success remains his ability to move an audience to laughter and joy with witty humor and perfectly placed passion. Whether using narration and memorable lines or letting the actors carry the show, Reiner has proved that his directorial decisions are effective and successful.

The End.

Bibliography
A Few Good Men. Dir. Rob Reiner. 1992.
Alex & Emma. Dir. Rob Reiner. 2003.
IMDb. IMDb Internet Movie Database. 1990‐2008. 10 July 2008 www.imdb.com />.
The American President. Dir. Rob Reiner. Perf. Annette Bening. 1995.
The Bucket List. Dir. Rob Reiner. 2007.
The Princess Bride. Dir. Rob Reiner. 1987.
This is Spinal Tap. Dir. Rob Reiner. 1984.

This Is Only a Test!

Utah Living Large — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:43:00 GMT

With this, my first Blog entry ever, I have to say I'm not sure of the position I need or should take. I'm not sure how many visitors (if any) will peruse my fumbling and awkward words. I will try and write from the heart which may be damaging to others and my honesty may dissuade frequent visitors, but why do a disservice to free speech? So, This may only be a test.

Why Blog? Now 34 years old and without a university degree or stable direction in life, I have acted upon my exposed vulnerabilities by re-enrolling in higher education. I make a living in the mortgage industry as a loan processor which is not Living Large by the way. But, I don't want to be a processor for ever so I must take action. School is only part of the plan. At least now I have a focus, a reason, a desire to improve which is what a student needs to be successful. My major is Technical Writing (please ignore my current writing errors because I have not begun my Major courses as yet), with a minor in Photography and I hope to one day own my own Publishing Company and Lifestyle Magazine. If that fails at the very least I want to position myself to qualify for work with an outdoor adventure magazine like Backpacker, Alpinist, Climbing, Rock and Ice, or National Geographic Adventure!

Blogging will enable me to collect my thoughts, hone my presumptive writing skills, and hopefully inform and inspire others to Live Large. As I blog, the true definition of Living Large will emerge and others will self define Living Large. But, in the greater context, Living Large is living the best life you can possibly live on a day to day basis. So is 34 to old to start over and begin to Live Large? I'm not sure. This too may only be a test.

The "Large" Plan Step one: I've already mentioned education, which will be accomplished through obtaining knowledge through college courses at my local university. I'm currently a Sophomore at Weber State University, ( I love Weber by the way), and my current indoctrination classes for Summer Semester are Intro to Micro, Intro to Film and Social Problems. I loved my Social problems class because it dealt with the human conditions as imposed by society and how to solve these imbroglios. This class was only four time crunching weeks and I pulled an "A." I'm hoping Living Large will help others conquer their own personal and social problems so they may overcome any negative impediments society has inequitably burdened them with. I'll use my self financed education to place myself in the best position for success. Something many people do and many others don't but persistent enlightenment should be a weapon in everyone's Living Large Arsenal. "One of the greatest Zen masters said he would learn from anyone who was more enlightened, even a seven-year-old child; and he would give advice to anyone who was less enlightened, even a hundred-year-old elder." -The Art of Wealth (Thomas Clearly)

Enlightenment and education is a start but it doesn't pay the bills. "Hey mister Comcast guy, Let me tell you about who discovered DNA or maybe you would like to know about the principles of Film Noir?" Nope, that is definitely not going to satisfy the Comcast bill. So for step two, stay tuned. I can't possibly disclose all my ideas in one blog. What's the fun in that? I leave you with this, true success is a long and arduous adventure; I've heard and must believe this because I'm reluctantly in the "journey" part. So, Join me in reaching the pinnacle of success as we explore what it takes to rise above and Live Large! I'm hoping in the end this will not be...only a test. utahlivinglarge.com

Welcome

Utah Living Large — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:16:29 GMT

Welcome to my blog. Please check back soon for new entries.