The Daily Item has stopped broadcasting until next year..

I have been abducted by some KGB type Coca-Cola executives that are steamed I'm still caffeine free. Unfortunately I'm being kept against my will in a grain silo located somewhere in NE Wyoming until I start drinking again.

I won't do it.

I'm only able to transmit this post because I was able to access the internet using a microwave oven, tin-foil, tape and a broken transistor radio. Not bad but I can only get download speeds of 1.5Mb down and 256 up.

I kid.

The Daily Item will be off the air for the next day or two while I am visiting family and friends in Tacoma Washington. We are staying at Jessica and Travis Hatch's apartment in Fircrest. Travis is a big time apartment manager over two complexes!

Tonight we are having a dual birthday party for myself and Brett Regan (Elise's husband). Brett's birthday is today! Ruthie, Jess and Elise are making all the yummy food.

Between tonight's party, tomorrow's Sushi Buffet (Todai!) and tomorrow night's party, I'll be too comatose to post. So look for my next post some time early next year.

The weather outside is frightful!!

Brent next to the Mohawk car

View from inside garage!

Brent III and Brent II

Ruth with a lot of work in front of her!

Penny with some serious static electricity!

We received around 30 inches of snow in the last 24 hours!! Big Snow!! The snow here in the mountains of Idaho is plentiful, light and airy. Perfect for skiers. Which means it's time for one and all to drive to Hailey, stay with the Hope's and go skiing at Sun Valley! Hurry up, sko!

Dave Barry's Annual Gift Guide

Daily Item readers, I have new and exciting information for you!

It is this:

Dave Barry is an exceedingly funny writer! If you have not read any of Dave Barry's stuff you must start. This evening I read "Dave Barry's Annual Gift Guide" and I have never laughed so hard.
I have included the link to his article in the Deseret News so you can read it for yourself and judge.

Go here:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705272385,00.html

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Treats o'plenty on the Boob Tube.

Top 5 Television Christmas Shows

Welcome to the first annual Top 5 Television Christmas Shows here at the Daily Item. Get some hot chocolate sit back and take a walk down yesteryear.



Number 1.


The Grinch who stole Christmas.

My generation loves animation. We also love Dr. Seuss. Put them together and whaddya have? The Grinch!
Does anyone else see the resemblance between the Grinch's sidekick dog and our dingbat dachshund, "Arrow?"





Number 2.


A Charlie Brown Christmas.

If you look back to my lunch-box collection you’ll remember that Charlie Brown was way up there. If you look back to the intellectual books that I’ve read you’ll remember that all of the Peanuts books were way up on my list. Take these Charles M. Schulz characters and throw in a musical score by Vince Guaraldi and you’ve got a timeless masterpiece. Plus, Linus reminds me of my daughter Jessica who sucked her thumb until she was 20 years old.


Number 3.


Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

My generation also loved that clay animation delio. Wow! Remember Gumby and Davey and Goliath. Creepy, yet compelling. Add a fantastic story line with super characters and you get this Christmas classic. Besides, when my wife sings the "misfit toys" song. I get nasty chillbumps.



Number 4.


It's a Wonderful Life!

Here's a great picture. Interesting to think what the planet would be like without your own personal influence. This film shows you just that as we see what kind of world it would have been without George Bailey. Fantastic characters like the money hungry "Potter" and beautiful Donna Reed as "Mary" make this not only one of the all time greatest Christmas shows but one of the greatest movies ever, period.




Number 5.


A Christmas Story

Darren McGavin as "The Old Man" Mr. Parker really does it for me in this film. The whole bit with the "Major Award" from "Fra-gee-lay" are classic and I can't help but relate somehow. And how about "Scut Farkus" the nasty bully with a leech side-kick. We've all seen these guys growing up in grade school.


Honorable mention:

• Scrooge (A Christmas Carol) 1951
• Miracle on 34th Street - 1934- Maureen O'Hara
  

That's it. These are the award winners for this year on the Daily Item. And...unless any new groundbreaking films are made this year these will most likely be the winners next year.

Any Christmas films I missed that should be on the list?

Twin Falls Temple Trip

Combined youth and leaders from the Hailey 2nd Ward and the Sun Valley Ward in front of the Twin Falls Temple.

Nice group!

After the Temple we went to Johnny Corinno's Italian Restaurant. Yummy!

Left to Right: Ronda Ward, Emilia Bingham, Janelle Passey and Rachel Meir.

Left to Right: Kahli Touissant, Kadee Chistiansen, Maddie Flade and Sarah Hope!

Big Snowfall in Hailey town.

We went from a trace of snow to this over night. Notice my Russian wife in the background? You like? Huh?

We got up at 6:30 to begin our shoveling.

Silver Lining

When my kid brother Jeremy lost his tongue in that "chainsaw" accident we were all worried. Thank goodness for old Betsy our cow and Mom's talent with a leather punch. Really it was a blessing, Jeremy got along just fine and whenever we'd get cut off by a bad driver we'd just catch up and Jeremy would stick his tongue out at them. We also noticed that his new tongue was effective against beggars wanting "spare change."

Today's Deep Thought

Why do people in ship mutinies always ask for “better treatment”? I’d ask for a pinball machine, because with all that rocking back and forth you’d probably be able to get a lot of free games.

By Jack Handy

One more for you cat lovers: And just in time for the Holidays!!

How to wash the cat...

1. Put both lids of the toilet up and add 1/8 cup of pet shampoo to the water in the bowl.
2. Pick up the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.
3. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close both lids. You may need to stand on the lid.
4. The cat will self agitate and make ample suds. Never mind the noises that come from the toilet, the cat is actually enjoying this.
5. Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a “power-wash and rinse”.
6. Have someone open the front door of your home. Be sure that there are no people between the bathroom and the front door.
7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift both lids.
8. The cat will rocket out of the toilet, streak through the bathroom, and run outside where he will dry himself off.
9. Both the commode and the cat will be sparkling clean.

The Scientific Method and You!

Many (if not most) in the scientific community argue against the existence of a God. Their proof (or lack of) is predicated through results of the scientific method. While the “scientific method” may assist in proving collectively that there is no God, individually the scientific method can be used to prove that there is indeed a God.

Let’s make our own experiment:

Regardless of how you believe now, let’s go out on a limb and make the assumption first that there is a God. Further, let’s make the assumption that this God knows us personally and knows our weaknesses and strengths. Lastly let’s make an assumption that not only does God exist and that he knows us but also that there is a divine plan instituted (by him) that when practiced will provide joy and peace in this life and lead to life eternal with Him after this life.

So we’ve made the assumption that these things are real, now wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could actually know that they are real? Of course it would! Who wouldn’t want to be guided and directed by a loving God that knows us personally?

It is expedient and most necessary that if we are going to use the scientific method in order to prove a hypothesis (that God lives) that we must research for ourselves the data given us. Our research for this experiment involves reading the words from a great Prophet who lived in ancient America nearly 2100 years ago whose name was Alma.

Alma’s words are here: Alma's experiment (Click to read) primarily verses 21-42.

To paraphrase:

➢ Alma teaches the poor and lowly of heart.
➢ Lowly of heart is good as it humbles us to a state where we can learn.
➢ Faith is: A hope for things which are not seen which are true.
➢ Alma asks the lowly of heart to make an experiment upon his words. An experiment that can provide a sure knowledge.
➢ Alma likens the “word” unto a seed that we must give place and plant in our hearts. That if we do not cast the seed out and resist the Spirit of the Lord we will feel it “begin to swell” within our breasts.
➢ After feeling the swelling we will realize the seed to be good because it, “beginneth to enlighten” our understanding. It becomes delicious to us.
➢ Feeling these things will increase our faith because we can “feel” that it is right.
➢ Alma then says, if we continue to nurture the seed (praying, listening, reading and doing the word) we can gain a sure or perfect knowledge.
➢ After doing this experiment with proof in his bosom Alma proclaims, “Is this not real?”

Once we have performed the experiment we can know of a surety that God is real. In fact, the knowledge gained from this experiment will be undeniable. Pretty powerful huh? How would you like to have an undeniable confirmation that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that the Book of Mormon and Holy Bible are true? Further, that there is a plan for you that will set you on a collision course with greatness! You can know through the scientific method as described by the ancient American Prophet Alma.

I have done the experiment myself. I have known hundreds of others who have done the experiment. Through this experiment I can testify that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ and that the good news of this message is that we can repent and change from our old ways and be spiritually reborn. I testify that the true gospel of Jesus Christ (the plan of happiness discussed earlier) was restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith. I testify that there is a Prophet on the earth today whose name is Thomas S. Monson. You will testify of these things if you perform the experiment.

We can receive peace and assurance that God lives. We can pray to God and ask for help and receive it. We can be directed to happiness if we act and listen. Lastly we can know of a surety that these thing are real through our own experiment is my testimony in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

For more information click here: Mormon.org

Imagination Master: Jake Hope

Examining this picture during lunch, I asked the artist (my son Jake) what the inspiration was for this picture.
After a short pause Jake thoughtfully articulated, "Dad...That stuff is just in my head."

Nice.

Brent III Takes it to the Pocatello Indians

The picture below is from the Idaho Mountain Express, the local newspaper of our valley.

Clive Brent Hope, a 6-2 Wood River senior, drives into a swarm of Pocatello players, from left, Colter Morton, Zac Korrell and Shae Andrews, during Wednesday’s game. Photo by David N. Seeli

From the Small World File:

The varsity head coach for Pocatello High School is the son in-law of Bishop Fred Claridge from the Lincoln Ward in Tacoma Washington. I was able to visit with the coach and his sweet wife (Fred's daughter and Krysten's sister) before the game and had a very nice visit. He is a very good person and runs a great program. I let him know that Brent III and I were home teachers to the Claridge family for many years. It was great to talk with them about Fred and Marjorie (hero's of mine). My thanks goes to Krysten Butterfield for letting me know about her brother in-law Coach.

Quote of the day!

Electricity is actually made up of extremely tiny particles called electrons, that you cannot see with the naked eye unless you have been drinking.
- Dave Barry

Bad Stingray Dream

These are the images from my Stingray dreams that I have occasionally.
Actually this is a real picture.

I'm with you Batman

Your public school tax dollars at work

HELLO!!

He got game!

"Play your hardest and give it all you've got and till the end of the game... in my book you'll be winners!"
(Coach Norman Dale, Hoosiers. 1986)



Click to see Brent hit the free throw to finish a three point play.

Last night was Wood River High School's first Varsity basketball game of the season. The game was at Hillcrest High School in Idaho Falls. Wearing number 15 and making his Wood River Varsity debut was Brent Hope III.

Wood River lost but Brent played very well hitting 2 three pointers and shot 3 for 3 from the free throw line. He finished with 11 points.

From a historical perspective, my first varsity start was in Idaho Falls against the Bonneville Bees. Brent is the 3rd generation of Hope's playing varsity basketball in Idaho. Clive Brent Hope Sr (Sugar-Salem), Clive Brent Hope jr (South Fremont), and finally Clive Brent Hope III (Wood River).

With us at the game last night was my good brother Jeremy and my dear high school friend Ken Moeller. Kenny is a highly successful teacher in Idaho Falls and everyone knew him at the game.

National Anthem

During a time out.

Brent down low playing textbook help defense.

Brent with local legend and former teacher of the year Ken Moeller.

The NyQuil Experience

When I sleep at night I have a variety of dreams. We'll call them "Dream Genres."
Typical is the the "pointless" genre. You know those dreams: A snake riding a bicycle wearing a vest.

Not so typical is the "poignant" genre. These dreams are metaphoric in nature. I rarely understand them until I explain them to Ruth (the local dream interpreter). Gently she breaks it to me that the meaning of these dreams is that, "You've been a dummy...please stop."

Then there's the "falling" genre, where you lose your balance and fall off the Empire State Building or Grand Canyon or something insanely high.

There's the awful, "I'm running away from you my entire dream" genre.

And the rotten, "Someone in the family is getting hurt" genre.

But the one I want to discuss today is the "NyQuil Experience" genre. These dreams occur when I am sick and am compelled to drink NyQuil. In the other genres, color is never the emphasis. In the NyQuil dreams color is the emphasis. Below are illustrations that I have found that perfectly represent what I see in my NyQuil dreams.

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Quite vivid, these dreams appear to me as I sleep very heavy. For years I was unaware that these dreams had meaning. Recently I placed these pictures in front of my wife (like psychological ink blotters) for her discernment. I was so interested in what these dreams could mean. Perhaps wealth? Fame? Success? Promotion?" What could they mean?? Without expression she looked at all of them for a few moments. Then looking at me over the top of her reading glasses perched at the end of her nose she said, "You've been a dummy...please stop."

The Wall Street Circus

Click to enlarge

Doesn't the skeptical part of you say this is exactly what happens?! Me too.

Emo Storm Trooper

This could spawn a whole new television series.
"Star Wars: The Soap Opera"
oooo! I've got goose bumps!

Sorry...The Daily Item is "off the air."

In lieu of Thanksgiving, The Daily Item will be off-air today.
Goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorrow.

If you're the type of Vegan that likes to tell total strangers that you, "don't eat meat" please stop.

My buddy Glen Wheeler said it best: "If we're not supposed to eat cows...how come they taste like meat?"

Crisp, Clean...and no Caffeine! Then hysteria.

I've been up to some serious business here at the Daily Item. You are all friends so I'll let you in on a little known national secret. Don't tell anyone though.

You know the economic crisis that we just we've been going through? You know how the stocks have all dropped drastically? Well a lot of that blame was on the credit and banking industry. Once that collapsed everything else snowballed. That's what CNN is saying anyway. Furthermore as our economy crashed so have the world markets.

Here on the Daily Item, I have the real reason why the stocks crashed and everything is snowballing.

I'm serious here so listen.

A while back I quit drinking caffeinated beverages. Listen, I'm not saying caffeinated beverages are all bad. They may work for you. I, however am a goldfish and will drink every and all caffeinated beverages I can find until my money is gone. That's why we don't have a VCR or DVD player anymore...I sold them for more caffeinated beverages. I used to have a Corvette...Gone...for caffeinated beverages. I stopped drinking them right before the markets crashed. I was spending a fortune on these drinks. I can't tell you how many I drank a day but let's assign this mathematical equation to it:

Coke_m = atan2(sin(lat₁) + sin(lat₂), √((cos(lat₁)+Bx)² + By²)).
That's an insane amount of money and caffeine.

Soon after quitting I began to receive calls from numerous companies...Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew etc...As it turns out my quitting caused a a stock slump of 22.07 3/4 on the NYSE the very first week. I'm not sure how they figured out it was me. It could have been from the free MP3's that you can get when you turn in a pop cap. Let's see I have 27000 MP3's and you get 1 free MP3 per every 10 pops you drinks, so that's...hmmm, let's see... Well you get the idea.

Timeline:

1. I quit caffeinated beverages
2. Loss of revenue causes Coke and Pepsi Stocks to drop dramatically
3. Chain reaction in other stocks causes them to drop
4. Global Markets Plummet.
5. Hysteria
   

Simple really.

Little did I know that our National and even Global economy were linked to the all powerful Coca Cola and Pepsi Companies (who knew?) And finally I had no idea that stopping cold turkey on these products would eventually lead to Global mass hysteria. I'm sorry so let me just say...my bad.

I feel bad about the economy and all. It's crummy that I had something to do with it. But you know I feel so much more healthy now.

I've included pictures showing me before and after my addiction.

Enjoy!

Before

After

Best Wishes

The Holidays are almost upon us...

Best Wishes from The Daily Item

The Ketchum Krud

I've been sick the last 4 days. Seeking a priesthood blessing I invited some men over to administer to my sick self. Before the blessing My friend Kary Yates announced to me that I had the "Ketchum Krud." A nasty condition that awaits most newcomers to the valley, he described the symptoms in detail (it sounded a lot like the common cold). Anyway... this nice person brought his own home remedy for me to take. He even made it for me. The contents were this: Idaho Bee Honey and Lemon Juice. You combine those two ingredients and heat to 900 Kelvin (dang hot!). Then drink. I did. Tart and Tasty I must say. "oh and drink this..." he said. As he handed me a bottle of Nyquil! I puckered through the entire blessing.

Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Weiner....

Ever have those days where you wish you could escape from the bonds of the status quo and just jump into a nearby Weinermobile and jet off into the sunset? Me too. 'sko!

Beloved Friends

We have been blessed with really good friends. Occasionally our good friends come to Sun Valley and visit us. Such was the case this last weekend as we were fortunate to have: Anna, Claire, Elise, Sam, Sonja and Jeremy Ames come and stay with us. Our entire family loves the Ames and we are grateful for their friendship!

Group picture! Count the Lolipops!

Elise with our great big cat "chocolate."

We were treated to exceptional theatre Sunday evening.

The cast included:

Sam Ames - The King
Penny Hope - The Servant
Jacob Hope - The Knight
Claire Ames - The pretty girl
Elise Ames - The Ferocious Lion!