DustInCarroll

I moved to Iowa in the summer of 2012, and like clock work, I've been getting hit severely with kidney stones every six months since I moved here. I moved from Utah, and only got kidney stones there like twice in the several years I lived there, and they weren't nearly as bad either. Could it be the tap water here in Iowa? I've done nothing consistently different from when I lived in Utah, since I've lived here. I'm just wanting it to stop!

I've totally noticed some new well-played songs on the radio have a very distinct late 70s, early 80s sound to them? Does anyone else see this? I actually really like it, if you can think of any other examples, please let me know! Thanks!

Here's a few examples I came up with off the top of my head:

Treasure - Bruno Mars

Lucky - Daft Punk

True Love - Pink (this one might just be me thinking it sounds 80s-ish, not sure lol)

Anyway, let me know if you agree or not. I'd love to see more new music go in the direction though!

I'm so excited about the Conclave starting soon in Rome!

My friends and I were out partying the other night, and we stopped at a Redbox to get a movie. This Redbox also had the option to take cash and change, which I'd never seen with a RedBox before, but I liked it. It also dispensed bottles of soda near the bottom of the Redbox machine, which was a sweet bonus, to have a soda while you watch your movie. I don't remember exactly what happened, but I know I waited there for several minutes and never got my movie!

I liked the idea of paying with change for Redbox, so I went back to find this machine a couple days later, but it was gone, and I've found no other ones like it since! Does anyone know where more of these Redbox machines that take change, and also give out soda, can be located? And should I call customer service and complain that I didn't get my movie?

Blythe Danner, a popular, classy, and very friendly, actress is friends with my family. She came over to my house with my mother and were visiting with me. She's just a delight, very down to earth, and just one of the nicest ladies you could ever meet, and very pretty for her age! She used my restroom, but when her and my mom left my house, I went to use the bathroom! Now, I know with 100% certainty that no one had used that bathroom since Blythe Danner used it about a half hour prior!!! In that very toilet was a well-formed, well, uh, floater!

I find this to be unusual behavior for the likes of Blythe Danner, not that I blame her. I forget all the time! It drives my wife and daughter CRAZY! I flushed it right away, but now my teenaged son said I should've taken a picture of it, or even kept it to sell it on ebay. Now I'm no fecalpheliac by ANY means! I'm glad I flushed it, and felt it would've been disrespectful to Blythe Danner to show or send her little stinker to ANYONE!

Was I right in flushing the Blythe's brown down?

It's all so ridiculous, and just goes to show what I knew all along: the Mormon church is more worried about how something looks on the outside, rather than what's going on on the inside. Whether that "something" is a person or a temple, it really doesn't matter!

They tore this whole temple down, save for like 2 or 3 support beams, and rebuilt it, because it looked "dated." The temple was completely structurally sound and functional, but it looked "dated." Well, if that isn't superficial, I don't know what is.

The temple destruction was the best thing for the church to spend it's money on, because as we all know, there's no hunger or suffering throughout the world where the church's money would've been better spent! LOL! Who am I kidding? In a church where wealth=righteousness and superficiality and shallowness conquers all, this is just how things work!. At least the members or the Mormon faith aren't allowed to disagree or think for themselves, or else there might be problems!!!

Really though, I've been through one temple open house, and despite the shallowness and pointlessness of it all, they are stunningly beautiful buildings! Plus you get free cookies and juice afterwards!!! I wouldn't mind going on the Ogden temple open house after the church is done raping it and making it look the same as all the other ticky-tacky all-look-the-same temple castles that are going up right now! Conformity is your key to heaven in the Mormon church!

I used to really like Farmville and Farm Town, but they just got too complicated and annoying. I liked taking care of the crops, maybe a few animals, but both games went way too overboard.

Farmville just went way to fairy-talish, and had all those missions and stuff, and just got obsurd with all the weird stuff they added.

Farm Town, all the other hand, probably stayed fun (or at least tolerable) longer, and some of the things I liked, like hiring others to work for you, or working for others. Also I liked being able to sell your good or use them to make other products to sell, but it started to get crazy too. Who has a restaurant or a jewelry store/factory on a farm? LoL!

Needless to say, I haven't played either game much in the last two years. I also don't like getting to the point where you pretty much have to spend real money to buy certain things on both games! And forcing you to have so many "neighbors" to do certain things is kind of obnoxious too.

Is there any game out there that has the good aspects of Farmville/Town without all the BS? I mean, like I said, just taking care of crops, maybe a few animals and a couple simple facilities, like a barn or windmill to process some of the crops, but without going totally overboard like these once-great games did? I mean, I'd even be willing to purchase a game like that now, like a one time purchase, not an almost force-you-to-buy-stupid-crap every time sort of thing like Farmville/Town have become. Thanks for your help.

I just exchanged a 40 inch LCD or an same-sized LED-LCD TV the other day, hoping I would no longer have the annoying backlight bleed in the corners. The new TV just has the bottom corners lit up instead of the top corners. Not as bright either, but still a little annoying. Keep in my mind that I'm budget-constrained and spending a thousand bucks or more on a higher quality TV, maybe not purchased at Walmart, is not in the question right now!

I'm beginning to think that if I want an LCD or LED TV, I'm going to have to deal with backlight bleed of some sort! I've heard they all have it to some extent.

There is a 43" plasma in my price range, but it only goes up to 720p (as opposed to 1080p). I've also heard that plasma have bad glares due to glass screens. At this point, I don't think the 720p thing would bother me, because I can't tell a damn bit of difference between a DVD and a Blu-ray in terms of quality anyway! Of course I've never watched the same movie on DVD and then Blu-ray, so I can't say for sure, but the only significant difference I notice is the cost! Is this another problem with lower budget TVs?

I'm really starting to miss CRT (old school) TVs. Bigger picture size and HD doesn't mean squat to me if I'm forever having to deal with backlight bleed or terrible plasma glare. Any advice or help would be appreciated. Also, if anyone knows of any really good TV models at Walmart (or the like) for like $500 or less, and can let me know what they are, that'd be great! Thanks!

First of all, I'm stuck in buying TVs from the "budget range" of LCD/LED TVs at places like Walmart. I recently returned an Emerson 40" after getting so sick of the light-bleeding or "flash lighting" effect coming from the top corners of the TV. If the two light bleeds had been the same size, I maybe could've dealt with it, but one was much larger and brighter than the other. I returned it yesterday to get a HiSense 40" LED model, only to have the same problem, but in the lower corners of the screen! The light bleeds aren't nearly as bright, but it's still aggravating, and I don't feel I should have to deal with this, even from a cheaper TV.

Is this just a common problem with LCD and edge-lit LED TVs that I'm just going to have to deal with unless I can spend $800+ on a different model? Does Walmart (or similar stores) have any TVs that don't suck like this?

I found a 43" plasma by Samsung at Walmart in my price range, but it only went up to 720p, although some people seem to think that since it's plasma, the picture will be better, and I won't have an issue with not having 1080p. As it is, on these other TVs, I can't tell much of a difference between some HD (like Blu-rays) and standard def anyway!

I appreciate any advice anyone can give me. Thanks!

It's a horror movie, I just saw a preview for it a year or two ago and it looked really good, but I don't remember the name of it. I'm pretty sure it was "Flight #," but I don't remember what that was! Or maybe the name was just the number of the flight. It was about some chaos happening on the plane or something, it looked good, whatever it was. Please help me identify this movie.

And no, it was not the recent movie that just came out, simply called "Flight," nor was it "United 93."

I have just finished being a C.N.A. (Certified Nurse's Aid) for the last 4 months. I thought I would like it, and to some extent, I did. I liked working with the elderly, but I had no idea how short-staffed the place was. Even their "regular" staffing levels were short, in my opinion. We usually had 3 aids caring for about 30 residents on my hall, and I hear compared to some places that's great! Even so, I can't provide proper and adequate care for that many people with only 2 others helping me. Sometimes it was only 2 people for the 30 residents! I realize nursing home budgets are tight, but my god, this is ridiculous. I finally just put my notice in and left a couple weeks later! I was going to go work at another nearby nursing home, but after 2 days there, realized that it's conditions weren't any better. Are all nursing homes like this? I'm beginning to think they are, and beginning to not want to be involved in this field at all! It seems if the nursing home I was at for 4 months had a few more Aids and a few less "head (b_i_t_c_h) nurses" who just sit around and do nothing but paperwork in offices, things would go a lot more efficiently. I wouldn't mind continuing to work as a CNA, but even if I'm the best CNA in the world, I can't provide proper care without enough fellow CNAs helping me! Any comments or advice would be appreciated!

My wife, my two children, and myself, will be going on a fun-filled vacation to the tropical shores of Somalia in June, but I'm having trouble finding a flight in to Somalia. Any ideas on how to get flights would be appreciated. Also, what's the nightlife like? And will the hotels have child care on site, or will we need to use an off-site child care facility while my wife and I go out at night (our children are 5 & 8)? I'm also wondering if Mogadishu would be the best city to center our vacation around, or something further up north on the coast. We'd love to see the horn of Africa point while were there if time allows. What touring companies would show us the best time in Somalia? We went to hit the beaches and do family stuff, but also have time away from the kids for nightlife fun and stuff like that too. Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!

My 19 inch LCD monitor has some weird "shady" darker spots in the back of it. It almost looks like it's behind the LCD screen in a way. I just moved about 1,100 miles from Utah to Nebraska, and I haven't used the monitor in about 5 weeks. I don't know if something got spilled on it, or if 10,000+ foot elevation in Colorado got to it or not. There were no extremely cold temps obviously. It was in the back of my car and a little rain might have got on it once, or something could've got spilled, not sure. I don't even see how I could take it apart if it's anything that can be fixed. Any ideas, please let me know, thanks!

Here's a pic, it's a flat LCD, although the pic turned out "curvy" looking.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151162185...

My story is kind of a long, annoying one, so thanks in advance for bearing with me! LoL!!! I moved to Utah in 2004 to go to college, which was somewhat successful. I got an Associates Degree, which doesn't mean much, I know. I then transferred to a 4-year school here in Utah to attempt to get a Bachelor's Degree, and after changing my major several times, and running out of federal financial aid, that didn't happen.

I'm 31 and have been on Social Security Disability since 2003, and haven't really worked much since then either, but as I said above, have been going to school off and on during that time. I am on SSDI (Social Security) due to depression and anxiety problems, which have really improved tremendously in the last 9 years!

As I said, my options for financial aid for obtaining a Bachelor's degree have run out, so I'm not even considering that option. One option I have been considering is getting a job as a CNA (Certified Nurse's Assistant). It's something I've very familiar with, as many of my family members have done it in the past or currently do it now as a job. I get it's nothing glamorous, but I'm not looking for anything glamorous, just a job that pays decent (I'm not picky, minimum wage is decent for me even), has benefits, and is relatively secure, which in some parts of the country, is a CNA job. CNA jobs also seem to be in plenty demand in various areas like the Midwest, and don't seem to be going anywhere any time soon with America's aging population. Yes, I get there's other jobs that pay better, have better conditions, I know. I've been thinking about a CNA job in a Nursing home, as that is what I'm most familiar with (from family member's employment experiences). I've always got along and worked well with the elderly, and I know and am prepared for the good, the bad, and downright messy aspects of the job. I've applied for CNA jobs here and there over the years, but due to school at the time, or anxiety, further back, I didn't end up taking the jobs when I was offered them. As I said, those things are not a problem for me now.

Here's where my dilemma starts. I've really been considering moving to Nebraska, North Dakota, or South Dakota, or other nearby states as they have very low unemployment rates and plenty of CNA jobs, and most other jobs, available. I realize unemployment rates don't mean everything too, but they are a plus for the Midwest. Here in Utah, we have CNA jobs, of course, but they seem to be harder to get, with large waiting lists just to get into CNA training programs. I also am fully aware, that, due to my lack of recent work history, I'm not going to be on the top of the list when employers are looking through applications. I'd rather apply for a job where 2 or 3 people are applying for it, rather than 20 or 30, then I honestly may as well not bother. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, just realistic! I think this is where I'd have an advantage in the Midwest.

Currently, I'm doing relatively well, but everything I have is from various social services. My income, my health insurance, etc. I'm also near the top of the waiting list in my city for Section 8 housing assistance through HUD. I'm grateful to receive all these benefits, and I'm not looking for criticism of me or the programs, because I do qualify for them and am not "using the system," but I feel I'm to a point in my life where I can do more. I can either stay here in Utah, where unemployment is not terrible, but it's not great either, and lower-education jobs like CNAs often pay less than in the Midwest, and often don't have the benefits that they do in the Midwest (I've done plenty of research on this). Here in Utah, I can coast by, but probably not find work, and probably remain on government programs. I'm not ashamed to be on these programs, but would like to be a contributing member of society and not be on them, plus I believe that working and being productive would make me feel better overall, regardless of the field. Rather than stay here and wait for things to "get better" and maybe get a job down the line, I could go to Nebraska or a Dakota, where I think I may have better chances with my current situation. I am from the Midwest (Iowa) originally, and I believe I have the mindset and values of a Midwestern person, and understand and relate to the people there. Utah's nice and all, but after a while, especially if government programs get cut, I might not be doing so well. What's the point of beautiful mountain scenery if you have no money or means to enjoy it, after all.

I'm really leaning toward this Nebraska (or Dakota) plan to become productive and get off social programs. There's people who need them now more than I do. Any ideas or input on my situation would be much appreciated!

My family li

I have recently discovered the TV show called "The Waltons" in the last few months. I love it! I had never seen it before until about 5 or 6 months ago! I was born in 1980, so the show was about over by the time I was born. It's on the Hallmark channel now.

One thing I couldn't figure out is how nobody smokes on the show! I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't smoke, I hate being around it, and I'm glad they don't smoke on the show, but it just surprised me! Backwoods Virginia in the 1930s-40s, everyone would've been smoking! The show was made in the 1970s so I'm sure everyone on the set would've been smoking too! I'm glad they don't smoke on the show, because it makes it more relateable to younger people of today (many of whom don't smoke), and we can focus more on the show's positive moral messages rather than outdated things like everyone smoking, but it just pleasantly surprised me! I'm sure even now, nearly everyone in backwoods Virginia smokes! Any thoughts about why they chose to not have smoking in the show? I'm just glad they didn't!

There were a few movies I wanted to see! One was a zombie movie of some sort, and there was another one. Thanks for your help! I'll remember the names once I hear them, so if you can give me them first, I'll give you best answer :). Thanks!!!

I've lived in Utah for 7+ years, and been all too familiar with the Mormon faith for 11+ years, and it has become more than clear to me that within the Mormon Church, there is the idea that "wealth=righteousness," which also seems to imply that poor=unrighteousness. This has deeply and negatively impacted my view of the Mormon faith over the years and truly disgusts me.

People who are wealthy, even Mormons who are wealthy, are certainly not always the most righteous people. Some of them can be quite awful, but it seems if they're paying tithing, going to the temple, and looking good at church, they're just awesome and so very righteous, loved, and respected in Mormonism. It also seems that the poor Mormons, and poor people in general, are considered less righteous by many in the Mormon church. It seems many Mormons consider them lazy and sinful.

It should be just blatantly obvious, even to Mormons, that these stereotypes are not always true, and more than not, are the opposite of the truth. Sure, there are many good, righteous, wealthy people out there, and many lazy, sinful poor people, but many wealthy people, even in the church, are clearly not very righteous or close to God. Some of the most righteous Mormons I've met have been extremely poor. A person is not always at fault for being poor. Many things out of their control can cause their poverty. Poor people, at least the ones I've met, also don't tend to be lazy. It's just like how rich people are not always hard-working and are not always responsible for gaining their own wealth.

Please, if you're some Mormon and you're going to answer, don't give me the fluffy, warm, fuzzy answers where you're just like "Oh, our church isn't like that, we think poor people are just as good..." You may think that, but it's more than clear that many in your church don't, so save it. Mormons claim to be Christians, the one true Christian faith actually, and Christianity has always emphasized helping the poor and not considering rich people better, or putting the poor beneath you. So step up, Mormons (and others), and give me some honest answers.

I'm so sick of hearing people complain about America having to be a Christian nation. It's clearly not. Some of these people, mainly ultra-conservatives, are so bent on making sure everybody considers America a Christian nation. It's clearly not. Christians take care of those less fortunate and give everyone equal dignity. The U.S. has clearly become a "money nation" where money is the most important thing. These same people who are whining and b-i-t-c-h-i-n-g about America being considered a Christian nation are also usually the same people doing all they can to get all services and assistance cut for the poor, and taxes cut for the wealthy so the wealthy can save a few bucks. Not to mention doing all they can to destroy the middle class to help the wealthy become richer. Christians take care of the poor and don't just shove them aside like disposable human garbage in order to make a few quick bucks. I'm all for people working for themselves and providing for themselves. "God helps those who help themselves" as the say goes. Some people simply can't, they are physically or mentally disabled or due to some other circumstance that is out of their control, they may not be able to provide for themselves, or need assistance in getting to a point where they can.

It seems some of these same people who are hell-bent on America being considered a Christian nation are also bent on making the poor look sinful or "unrighteous" because they are poor. Not all poor people are in their position due to their own fault, just like not all rich people are rich due to their own decisions. Here in Utah, the dominant Mormon church has unwritten "wealth=righteousness, poor=unrighteousness" philosophy that is just awful. Many other Americans are like that too. The Mormons would never admit to that, but you can tell that's how they think by the way they act and live.

I just think unless more people want to start acting like real Christians and showing truly Christian values, they should stop complaining about America being considered a Christian nation, because it is clearly NOT!

I saw a preview for a movie a few weeks ago. It was kind of a scary-Catholic sort of movie, involving demons or possessions or something like that I think! In one seen in the trailer it showed a person look at a nun and she looked back and the nun's face turned all evil. I think it was coming out in theaters like recently, not sure though! Please help! I'm searching online but can't find anything! Best answer to first person who can give me the name! Thanks so much!

I first heard about her about 20 years ago when the original 90210 started, and ever since then it seems like, at least her acting jobs have gone downhill, WAY downhill!!! I mean, she's not that terrible looking, not that great looking either. She's certainly gone downhill in the looks department, but 20 years, especially going from being 20 to being 40 years old, will do that to anyone. Still, for 40, she's not terrible.

Now she's doing some ridiculous commercial about some company, likely a scam, that helps you go to college online??? What the hell! Did she spend all her 90210 money? Come on, Brenda!!!

Actually, most of them have become rather hideous, save for Ian Ziering, who still looks pretty good, which is funny because I thought he was older (in real life) than all of them by a few years, and Gabrielle Carteris, who I think looks better now, not nearly so dorky LoL!!!! The rest are kind of hideous though, see here:

http://retardzone.com/2007/11/21/beverly-hills-902...