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As we conclude another trip around the sun, it is time for one of those obligatory look back pieces. 2013 was definitely not my favorite year. It was a year of trials and tribulations. It was a test of strength and character. It was a humbling year to say the least. It wasn't all bad though. With it, 2013 brought several high moments. I got to see my oldest daughter start high school. I got to see my youngest daughter hit the half-decade mark. I began a new job, while not by choice, has been a very good thing for me. As with every year, new people entered our lives and we said goodbye to others, whether they departed the earthly realm or just departed our lives. Whether your mark your year with a positive or a negative, I at least hope you learned something from 2013. I know I learned many lessons. I learned that the select few people I let close to me are there for a reason, they are truly great people. I learned that I am definitely not as smart as I think I am, but I'm way smarter than I give my self credit for. I learned that I need to apply myself more, and that with a little bit of work on top of the natural skills I have I will go further than I thought. I learned that more people are blinded by faith than I ever could have imagined. I've learned that despite having knowledge at our fingertips and on demand, people are still extremely ignorant. I've learned, that while it sucks to do, it's ok to ask for help. And most importantly, I think I learned to be me again. I was definitely lost for a while, but I'm working on getting back to the person I really am. While my lessons are surely not your lessons, hopefully we all come out of 2013 a little wiser, if not without a few scars to show for it. So as I ready myself to mark the 365th day off of the calendar, I wish you all a new year filled with discovery. I hope you all grow from whatever 2014 has in store for you, be it good (and I hope that it is) or bad. I hope that in 365 days from now we can all be in a better place, if not physically, mentally or spiritually. So adios 2013, and happy new year.

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One of the greatest things about being an American is that we have the freedom of speech. We can fully express our feelings verbally (or written) and not be subject to persecution for our beliefs from a legal standpoint (mostly and theoretically). It is with those freedoms understood that I think Phil Robertson is perfectly within his rights to say the things he has said recently. Another great facet of America is free enterprise. Companies can choose to align themselves with whatever groups or cultures they wish and build a brand based upon their own beliefs. It is with that understanding that I think A&E is perfectly within their rights to suspend the use of Mr. Robertson in their programming. You see, just because something is right for one person, doesn't mean it is right for everybody and A&E is choosing to remove Phil Robertson from their programming because they don't want to align themselves with his beliefs. I honestly don't see what the uproar is about. It's marketing. It goes on in business all the time. If a representative of a company or brand says or does something that said company or brand does not agree with, they part ways. While I personally feel that Mr. Robertson's comments are closed minded, archaic, and bigoted, I have no problems with him expressing his opinion. That is his right as an American. It is also A&E's right as a company to distance themselves from that image if they wish. They have a monetary stake involved and it is their right to protect their bottom line. The retaliation against A&E from individuals like Sarah Palin decrying Mr. Robertson's First Amendment rights is laughable. Mr. Robertson is not the victim of censorship by any stretch of the imagination. He is merely in disagreement with his employer's point of view and as such being removed from representing them. Thankfully the world is on a 24 hour news cycle and this farce of a news story will die quickly. There are far more important things in this world to worry about than a few off the cuff remarks from a closed minded individual that gathers his opinion from a book of fallacies that was created by the Council of Nicaea due to the monetary gains they received from Constantine in an effort to gain power. The Kardashians must be pissed this is stealing their press.

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I heard on the radio about an Arizona Department of Public safety officer that turned out to be an illegal alien after serving for 13 years. This wasn't just an average officer, but one that was decorated, and for a brief time a DPS spokeswoman. Well, in order to be an officer, you have to be a legal citizen, so the officer was fired. Even worse, the officer now faces deportation to Mexico, a place she doesn't even know. Apparently her mother brought her to the United States when she was small, forged her birth certificate, and led her to believe she was born in the US. Not knowing any different, she grew up here, graduated high school, went to the police academy, and became an officer with DPS. My personal belief on police aside, I think it is a shame that this woman not only lost her job, but now faces being sent somewhere she doesn't know. It's reasons like this why we need immigration change. I really don't wish deportation upon her, but as the law stands I don't see how you can't deport her. It wouldn't be fair to the thousands of others that have been deported under similar circumstances, although my gut tells me she will get a pass. That, is an even bigger crime. That tells people that the government can pick and choose your worth based upon your occupation. I don't know the answer, but I think if you were brought here underage illegally, but unknowingly, you should get a pass. You weren't the one committing the crime, but you sure as hell will be the one paying for it. I think as long as you are contributing to society, you have value, whether that be as an officer or even as a food service worker. Work is work, and all jobs need to be done. Hopefully this case will help ignite immigration reform. I know that there is talk of the Dream Act, but this woman falls outside it's scope as she is now 32 and past the 30 year old cut off the Dream Act has in place. That being said, I hope she doesn't get a free pass, I hope she is saved because we save all people in this situation. I agree that if you knowingly come here illegally, there needs to be a penalty, but I don't think we should pay for the sins of our fathers by losing everything we know.

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Listening to the radio on the way home I was pleasantly surprised at the responses I was hearing from the Millennials on the radio. A local talk show was asking if they planned to sign up for insurance now that Obamacare is in effect and the overwhelming majority said no. Now, without their buying into it, it is destined to fail as there won't be enough money to fund it. Most of the responses had to do with the fact that most were healthy and the cost was too steep. I have to say if I was still in my 20's I would probably agree. I am getting insurance because I have kids, but if it wasn't for them I would still probably pass. The reasoning being why should I pay several thousand dollars out of pocket for insurance, then have to pay for the cost of everything anyway until the deductible kicks in, when if I just paid out of pocket if I had to see a doctor I would probably be shelling out a few hundred at the most. Look, I think everyone should have access to affordable health care, but I don't think they should be forced to purchase it, nor do any of the options available in the marketplace make sense financially (catastrophic occurrences notwithstanding). It sucks for people to have to see in hindsight what I felt before Obama was elected. It was time for a person of color in the White House, he just wasn't the right person, and it's important for people to have insurance, but it shouldn't be mandated, especially at asinine costs. On a personal note, I've been contemplating going back to school. I'm tire of my position in life and a strong education is a great tool to have to help in achieving something better. I don't know if that will help or hurt my blogging goal, but I'm excited to see what is to come. Hope everybody is surviving the holidays so far, and I hope everyone makes it through the winter that has been dropped on Phoenix this week.