Comments for Ryan and Debi Cragun's Blog

Comment on Zion National Park and Les Miserables at Tuacahn by ryan

ryan — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:30:32 +0000

Yeah, if we had more time and were better prepared, I definitely would have done both of those hikes. Both looked great. If you do plan a trip out there in the future, let us know. Maybe we could arrange to come out there and hike it with you? We could even arrange places for you to stay in Salt Lake City, if you fly in there (though probably not with my brother Josh ).

Comment on Zion National Park and Les Miserables at Tuacahn by dave p.

dave p. — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:59:30 +0000

We visited Zion and Bryce Canyon several years ago. It’s still one of our favorite vacations. The Narrows is easily the coolest hike we’ve ever done — we went upriver for close to two hours. One day, we want to go back and hike the whole thing, with a camping stop at the top. Angel’s Landing is also very cool, and surprisingly dangerous for a public hike.

Looks like an awesome trip, the updates have been fun to read.

Comment on WARNING! ACHTUNG! Post about Mormonism by Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:42:53 +0000

The only experience I can speak of is that when I do the things The Prophet and my other leaders teach me to do I’m happier than when I don’t follow them. I don’t feel a need to try secular humanism or anything else when I already know the truth. You can claim that I simply believe once again if you wish, but we’ll probably end up running around in circles again with me trying to prove God exists and you trying to prove that he doesn’t.

Comment on Trip Wrap-up by ryan

ryan — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:24:59 +0000

I’m glad people liked the pics. It was a great trip (maybe a week too long, but still lots of fun).

Comment on Trip Wrap-up by Holly

Holly — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:23:34 +0000

Enjoyed this post. I got a good chuckle out of the hide & seek game, and I really liked the picture in the bowl like crater you hiked to. I need to get on the ball and do a NM hike post too…thanks for the reminder! Glad you two made it home safely, it was good to see you.

Comment on Trip Wrap-up by Hillari

Hillari — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 04:33:24 +0000

Hey Ryan great pictures. I love them. They made me laugh and I needed that tonight. Call Mark he has some not so good news you will probably like to hear.

Love ya Hillari

Comment on Trip Wrap-up by Wendy

Wendy — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 01:32:33 +0000

Thanks you! This post was great for us because we were so bummed we couldn’t go to Powell this year. The pictures took an edge off of missing out on all the fun things you guys did. Maybe we can make it back there to go with the fam in a few years.

Comment on WARNING! ACHTUNG! Post about Mormonism by Kirk

Kirk — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:50:30 +0000

If you look back where this latest topic started it was how one would react to a hypothetical situation that in my opinion is highly unlikely. The Mormon leaders have put the line in the sand in regards to this issue and to make a decree in the contrary does bring into question the inspiration of that leadership. How ever several have rehearsed the way that in which they would go about determining the inspiration of this change in doctrine which I will call the “spiritual model” which I believe should be used for all issue upon which the religious person determines truths. This spiritual model is not something that is only used once and from there on out no other test is required. It needs to be repeated successfully multiple times on multiple situation to validate ones ability to make the correct conclusion. A am going to assume for this line of reasoning that all those that have insinuated that they would use their spiritual model have used it successfully in the past. Therefore to state that one is blind based on one highly unlikely hypothetical situation upon which a tried method of assertion is used is not showing tolerance for those that do believe that faith can answer questions. From the little understanding that I have obtained from the most accurate source on the web (Wikipedia) secular humanism will regularly call the spiritual model blind and invalid regardless of its application.
On another note and I am starting in on the other taboo topic - politics. I am not affiliated with any party but tend to lean more to the right than the left. With that said the idea of attacking one candidates by means of questioning their patriotism should have adequate evidence to support this notion in this case I believe the evidence to be weak. I also find using stories of inhumanity and pulling at the heart strings of Americans do not illustrate the correctness of their solution but are used to insinuate that the other parties do not have care or concern in these areas and therefore I find it to be misleading. To quote dragnet “just the fact”.

Comment on WARNING! ACHTUNG! Post about Mormonism by ryan

ryan — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:10:39 +0000

Okay, so, I said I was going to take a different approach here on the issues of nature v. nurture and sexual orientation. Basically what it seems like has been happening is those claiming a nurture position assert that it is a choice, I claim it is not a choice and claim there is evidence supporting my claim. The nurture advocates dismiss my claims of evidence and continue to assert that it is a choice (with no evidence provided). Well, I finally realized that what I need to do is just give you the evidence and let you deny the evidence. It’s going to take me a little time to put it all together, but I figured I’d put up the first one.

Here’s the reference:
Bailey, J M, M P Dunne, and N G Martin. 2000. “Genetic and environmental influences on sexual orientation and its correlates in an Australian twin sample.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 78:524-36.

And here’s the actual article.

A brief summary:
The authors examine Australian twins (both monozygotic and dizygotic) for sexual concordance as well as several other traits (e.g., gender nonconformity). Based on their data, sexuality is at least somewhat inherited (20%-24% concordance between twins) and gender nonconformity (behaving in ways incongruent with your sex) is definitely inherited. The authors also note that there is a difference in how this plays out between men and women; one way this plays out in just sexuality - men are more likely than women to be either gay or straight, but not somewhere in between; women are a more likely than men to be somewhere in between (bi-sexual). In short, there is probably a small genetic component to homosexuality. Considering genetics plays only a small role, other biological factors must play a part as well (i.e., hormones, which I’ll post about later).

Comment on Trip Wrap-up by dave p.

dave p. — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:41:23 +0000

Great pix, looks like a fun trip and a great hike!