We’d decided to make doughnuts. We were all doing something; it was like a machine; roll, pinch, toss, sizzle—it smelled pretty darn good. Our little machine took a little detour; Destry bent down, and when she stood up her head hit the tongs that were used for flipping, and the uncooked doughnut spiraled through the air and landed behind the stove. For some reason we thought this was hilarious (You and I anyway) and we were rolling on the ground. I can’t pinpoint the exact reason why it was so funny, but even now as I’m picturing it I’m smiling. Perhaps the powdered sugar in the air had just gotten to our heads.
After the doughnut affair, we drove to the grocery store in the lovely fifteen-seater van in order to buy some life saver mints—(if you chew on them in the dark they spark in your mouth). Destry was trying to ride in a cart. I think she crashed.
On the way home we saw what we thought was a cat and so we started chasing it with the van. It turned out to be a fox. When we got to your house I think I parked the van on the street—I was too nervous parking it on your long driveway. We watched Robin Hood: Men in Tights with your grandpa, and ate doughnuts. Then we laid under the stars on your trampoline looking for UFOs, conversing philosophically, and pointing out shooting stars.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
FW: Individual worth
Individuality and personality were part of our preearthly state. The traits that we developed premortally assist in establishing the individual personalities that we each have at the present. They are gifts from God—he actually wants us to have personality. Both our Eternal Father and His Son had a personality particular to them individually, and the personalities that we developed in the preexistence helped God place us in our specific circumstances. Our individuality comes from within us, and no power can take it away.
“Individuals have a genetic and an environmental inheritance, each of which is powerfully important. But there is an even earlier bestowal that follows us from our premortal existence wherein our personalities and traits were developed in various ways and in various degrees and strengths. The third bestowal is at least as important as those involving genes and environment. All three combined would, if fully comprehended, give us a true picture of the human personality and how it has been shaped and molded. This would help to explain human differences that are not explainable solely on the basis of genes and environment, varied as these are.”
Neal A. Maxwell. “Third Session,” Deposition of a Disciple. Gospelink. Salt Lake City, Utah. Deseret Book Company: 2004.
“Individuals have a genetic and an environmental inheritance, each of which is powerfully important. But there is an even earlier bestowal that follows us from our premortal existence wherein our personalities and traits were developed in various ways and in various degrees and strengths. The third bestowal is at least as important as those involving genes and environment. All three combined would, if fully comprehended, give us a true picture of the human personality and how it has been shaped and molded. This would help to explain human differences that are not explainable solely on the basis of genes and environment, varied as these are.”
Neal A. Maxwell. “Third Session,” Deposition of a Disciple. Gospelink. Salt Lake City, Utah. Deseret Book Company: 2004.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
TA: LDS Audience
D&C 59:6 states, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Thou shalt not steal; neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it.” It is important to note the last fragment of the section, “nor do anything like unto it.” This illustrates it is not enough to simply follow the letter of the law and, for example, refrain from killing people; there is a responsibility involved in this statement that requires an understanding to what God expects of his followers. Stephen R. Covey puts it aptly as he states, “What we are communicates far more eloquently than anything we say or do. We all know it. There are people we trust absolutely because we know their character.” As stated in the scriptures, “Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit…Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them” (3 Nephi 14:17-18, 20). A tree will yield it’s own type of fruit; the nature of the tree determines the nature of the fruit. Hanging ornamental fruit on the tree (i.e. trying to change the fruit) will not alter the tree; the tree itself must change, and the fruit will change as a result. Our character is the origin for our works; therefore, by reforming our character, our works are also altered. Our actions are motivated by our founding principles, and so our characters must be such that the choices we make will advance the will of the Father.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
RA: Live meeting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55ZyV6kDC0Q
This ad has a young business man looking very sauve and business-like. There is intense music going on, the man gets out from a cab, and proceeds through an airport to an elevator. During this short journey, text on the screen reveals that he is, "Tyler Johnson, Vice President-International Sales" and a few seconds later, "Destination Helsinki, Product Feedback Meeting." He does some masculine business-like things; he runs his hands through his hair, straightens his suit, checks out the backside of a lady standing infront of him in the elevator. Then just has he is leaving the elevator, the doors slam his head. He drops to the floor where the doors close again on his head, and again. Finally, the janitor outside moves him out of the way, and the doors are able to close. On the closed elevator doors are the words, "Business Travel Stops Here, Microsoft Office Live Meeting."
This ad tells the audience that business travel is after all, just a big head ache. The audience is business men (like the poor Tyler Johnson). The name "Tyler Johnson" is a pretty average name, and so the average business man can put themself in his shoes. Some business men would begin watching the ad and think, "Yeah, that's me. I'm a business man," even though it's a highly idealized rendition, these type of men are optimistic. On the other side, you'll get the more realistic business men who'll start watching the ad thinking, "that's not what it's like at all." The ad's conclusion works for both. The first type will think, "I don't want that to happen to me" and the second type, "business meetings are a headache, it's true." What is the answer? Microsoft Office Live Meeting.
This ad has a young business man looking very sauve and business-like. There is intense music going on, the man gets out from a cab, and proceeds through an airport to an elevator. During this short journey, text on the screen reveals that he is, "Tyler Johnson, Vice President-International Sales" and a few seconds later, "Destination Helsinki, Product Feedback Meeting." He does some masculine business-like things; he runs his hands through his hair, straightens his suit, checks out the backside of a lady standing infront of him in the elevator. Then just has he is leaving the elevator, the doors slam his head. He drops to the floor where the doors close again on his head, and again. Finally, the janitor outside moves him out of the way, and the doors are able to close. On the closed elevator doors are the words, "Business Travel Stops Here, Microsoft Office Live Meeting."
This ad tells the audience that business travel is after all, just a big head ache. The audience is business men (like the poor Tyler Johnson). The name "Tyler Johnson" is a pretty average name, and so the average business man can put themself in his shoes. Some business men would begin watching the ad and think, "Yeah, that's me. I'm a business man," even though it's a highly idealized rendition, these type of men are optimistic. On the other side, you'll get the more realistic business men who'll start watching the ad thinking, "that's not what it's like at all." The ad's conclusion works for both. The first type will think, "I don't want that to happen to me" and the second type, "business meetings are a headache, it's true." What is the answer? Microsoft Office Live Meeting.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
TA: artist audience
Art should be beautiful. This is more than attractiveness; one should be able to be moved by beauty. In art, something may not even be “pretty,” but it can be deeply satisfying, beautiful even. Something can be happy, but things can also be sad, and sadness can be its own kind of beautiful, too.
Art should be good. Art should be good in the opposite way that evil is evil. Art should not seek to be malevolent, but to be virtuous and worthy in its intent and effect.
Art should be outstanding. It should aspire to be exceptional, to be excellent, and to hold itself to its highest quality and standard.
Art should be uplifting. It ought to have the ability to change a person who has experienced it in a way that will enrich their lives. It should lift and edify people.
I think that part of the reason that people create art is that the act of creation is divine, and as sons and daughters of The Creator, we have an aching to touch upon that divinity which is inborn in us all.
Art should be good. Art should be good in the opposite way that evil is evil. Art should not seek to be malevolent, but to be virtuous and worthy in its intent and effect.
Art should be outstanding. It should aspire to be exceptional, to be excellent, and to hold itself to its highest quality and standard.
Art should be uplifting. It ought to have the ability to change a person who has experienced it in a way that will enrich their lives. It should lift and edify people.
I think that part of the reason that people create art is that the act of creation is divine, and as sons and daughters of The Creator, we have an aching to touch upon that divinity which is inborn in us all.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
FW: To be Great
Greater joy from sorrow.
Greater love from giving.
Greater strength from toil.
Greater life from living.
Greater love from giving.
Greater strength from toil.
Greater life from living.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
RA: Cake commercial
The commercial’s website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwswkJZEdS4
The message of this commercial is buying the Fabia will make you happy because it is full of things that will make you happy. I thought this was a very clever commercial. It starts of in a bakery with all of these workers busily making cakes. They are all smiling and happy in their work. It looks like they are undertaking quite a project, as the cake they are making is huge. The cake begins to take the shape of a car, and pretty soon the viewer sees that they are constructing the new Fabia. The commercial portrays that it’s not just a cake that looks like a car, but the actual car itself because they are not only constructing the outside but also making cake-like chairs and putting a cake-like engine under the cake-like hood. The whole time during its construction the Julie Andrew’s song “Raindrops on Roses” is playing. At the end of the commercial the bakers pose with their new car and the words come on, “The new Fabia. Full of lovely stuff.” It’s enticement falls to a more feminine audience, who like pleasant, happy things. It’s saying, “this car is as good as eating cake”, or “you like cake don’t you? Well, you’ll like this car.” The viewer knows that the car is not really cake, but the commercial gives a pleasant clever atmosphere that the advertiser wants the viewer to associate with owning the car.
The message of this commercial is buying the Fabia will make you happy because it is full of things that will make you happy. I thought this was a very clever commercial. It starts of in a bakery with all of these workers busily making cakes. They are all smiling and happy in their work. It looks like they are undertaking quite a project, as the cake they are making is huge. The cake begins to take the shape of a car, and pretty soon the viewer sees that they are constructing the new Fabia. The commercial portrays that it’s not just a cake that looks like a car, but the actual car itself because they are not only constructing the outside but also making cake-like chairs and putting a cake-like engine under the cake-like hood. The whole time during its construction the Julie Andrew’s song “Raindrops on Roses” is playing. At the end of the commercial the bakers pose with their new car and the words come on, “The new Fabia. Full of lovely stuff.” It’s enticement falls to a more feminine audience, who like pleasant, happy things. It’s saying, “this car is as good as eating cake”, or “you like cake don’t you? Well, you’ll like this car.” The viewer knows that the car is not really cake, but the commercial gives a pleasant clever atmosphere that the advertiser wants the viewer to associate with owning the car.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
RA: Head and Shoulders
There is a ad for head and shoulders with a close-up on a scalp with what looks like a football play drawn on the top of it. This ad is for men with problems with dandruff. It is saying that buying this shampoo will make your hair more healthy because buying the shampoo will eliminate hair problems. The comparison of shampooing hair with football, portrays to the viewer that this method is strategic. It is you against your hair problems and we've got the winning solution. The close up on the top of the man's head eliminates the need for a model. It makes the ad more universal; you can put yourself in the man's position. Some men do not approve of male modeling, i.e. it's too "sissy"; the football approach toughens up the ad. It makes it so that worrying about your hair can be a "manly" thing to do. It has a brief mention of statistics (contains 6X more moisturizers than non-conditioning shampoos...100% flake-free) to show that it is an authority over shampoos. It has a picture of nine of it's different kinds of shampoos; suggesting that one of these will definately suit your needs. I thought it was a clever ad, and was probably pretty successful.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
TA: Intro: To quiz
Ashley Wick is a psychology major with red hair, plans for culinary school, and a flair for whatever’s fun. Heather Heinz is studying to be a nurse, and is quite savvy at sticking sharp objects into peoples’ skin. Kara Sessions, soon Mrs. Bryon Ilguth, teaches second grade and delights in her tiny chameleon, “Booger”. I am Michelle Harris; Studio Arts and Sociology major, scotch tape enthusiast and advocate of cocktail shrimp. All of my lovely roommates hail from Mesa, Arizona, and I’m from Wyoming. We are all living together on the corner of 6th and 6th in apartment #6. Though bonded both in place of dwelling and in opinion of the handshake in the first season of “Scrubs” (which handshake, we sustain, is pretty sweet), we all have a different personality. To see which roommate YOU are most like, take the following quiz (created on October 9th). (The results are in the comments section of the post; just tally up you’re A’s, H’s, K’s, and M’s, and whichever one you have the most of…lucky you!)
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
FW: Quiz "Which roommate are you?"
1. What color out of green or white?
a. green
b. white
2. What food do you like the best?
a. seafood
b. fruit
c. trying new foods
d. Italian
3. Favorite Provo restaurant out of:
a. Tucanos
b. Costa vida
c. P.F. Changs
d. Old Spaghetti Factory
4. Your response to being stood up?
a. I would be happy
b. Go out with a different date
c. Go hang out with friends
d. Punch him in the face (politely)
5. What flowers would you least like to have?
a. Petunias and carnations
b. Red roses or sunflowers
c. Pansies
d. Cauliflower
6. You prefer to take notes with
a. a zebra pen
b. different colored pens
c. mechanical pencils
d. I don’t need notes
7. Where would you most like to go on vacation out of:
a. Madrid, Spain
b. Seattle, Washington
c. London, England
d. Rome, Italy
8. Favorite candy bar out of:
a. Snickers
b. Milky Way Midnight
c. Three Musketeer
d. Symphony with Toffee
9. Favorite (if you had to have one) curse word?
a. starts with ‘B’ rhymes with ‘mastered’
b. the ‘B’ word (female dog)
c. ‘A’ word (donkey)
d. the ‘S’ word
10. Pets or no pets?
a. pets!
b. No thanks.
11. What finger are you?
a. I refuse to answer such a stupid question (and I couldn't think of anything to say!)
b. Pinky
c. Ring
d. Thumb
12. What kitchen utensil are you out of:
a. melon-baller
b. sugar spoon
c. chopsticks
d. steak knife
13. If you were in a band what would you be?
a. vocals
b. acoustic guitar
c. drummer
d. triangle
14. If you were a shoe you would be
a. sneaker
b. flipflop
c. comfy shoes (flats)
d. healed boots
15. If you could only listen to one song again for the rest of your life what would it be out of:
a. ‘Ordinary Miracle’ –Sarah McLachlan
b. ‘500 Miles’ –Proclaimers
c. ‘The Middle’ –Jimmy Eat World
d. ‘Child’s Prayer’ –Children’s songbook
16. You are alone in the library, pulling an all-nighter for an exam. You look at your watch and note that it’s almost midnight. You think you hear a faint noise, but you aren’t sure…If you were the director of this movie how would you end this scene?
a. The man/woman of your dreams suddenly appears and starts singing.
b. A group of about 50 students do their annual run through the library…in the NUDE!
c. A thief is trying to steal one of the library’s most prized texts. Luckily you know martial arts and save the day
d. I would never make a movie of a girl in a library.
17. When you give a presentation in a class you…
a. Prepare beforehand but are still extremely anxious
b. Get nervous, talk fast, and forget what I’m going to say
c. Are usually expressive and use your hands
d. Make jokes to alleviate pressure, and sometimes fiddle with something in your hand
18. Where do you go to get away from it all?
a. your car
b. a significant other’s house
c. you go talk to someone close
d. somewhere up and alone, like a rooftop or a mountain
19. What is your ringtone?
a. a song you like that you bought
b. usually vibrating
c. it depends on who calls
d. one that comes with the phone
20. You are on the last question of a personality quiz you…
a. are a little excited and nervous to see what you’ll be
b. thought it was fun, but don’t really take it seriously
c. think you will score differently than a lot of people would
d. are pretty sure you’ll know what the results will be
a. green
b. white
2. What food do you like the best?
a. seafood
b. fruit
c. trying new foods
d. Italian
3. Favorite Provo restaurant out of:
a. Tucanos
b. Costa vida
c. P.F. Changs
d. Old Spaghetti Factory
4. Your response to being stood up?
a. I would be happy
b. Go out with a different date
c. Go hang out with friends
d. Punch him in the face (politely)
5. What flowers would you least like to have?
a. Petunias and carnations
b. Red roses or sunflowers
c. Pansies
d. Cauliflower
6. You prefer to take notes with
a. a zebra pen
b. different colored pens
c. mechanical pencils
d. I don’t need notes
7. Where would you most like to go on vacation out of:
a. Madrid, Spain
b. Seattle, Washington
c. London, England
d. Rome, Italy
8. Favorite candy bar out of:
a. Snickers
b. Milky Way Midnight
c. Three Musketeer
d. Symphony with Toffee
9. Favorite (if you had to have one) curse word?
a. starts with ‘B’ rhymes with ‘mastered’
b. the ‘B’ word (female dog)
c. ‘A’ word (donkey)
d. the ‘S’ word
10. Pets or no pets?
a. pets!
b. No thanks.
11. What finger are you?
a. I refuse to answer such a stupid question (and I couldn't think of anything to say!)
b. Pinky
c. Ring
d. Thumb
12. What kitchen utensil are you out of:
a. melon-baller
b. sugar spoon
c. chopsticks
d. steak knife
13. If you were in a band what would you be?
a. vocals
b. acoustic guitar
c. drummer
d. triangle
14. If you were a shoe you would be
a. sneaker
b. flipflop
c. comfy shoes (flats)
d. healed boots
15. If you could only listen to one song again for the rest of your life what would it be out of:
a. ‘Ordinary Miracle’ –Sarah McLachlan
b. ‘500 Miles’ –Proclaimers
c. ‘The Middle’ –Jimmy Eat World
d. ‘Child’s Prayer’ –Children’s songbook
16. You are alone in the library, pulling an all-nighter for an exam. You look at your watch and note that it’s almost midnight. You think you hear a faint noise, but you aren’t sure…If you were the director of this movie how would you end this scene?
a. The man/woman of your dreams suddenly appears and starts singing.
b. A group of about 50 students do their annual run through the library…in the NUDE!
c. A thief is trying to steal one of the library’s most prized texts. Luckily you know martial arts and save the day
d. I would never make a movie of a girl in a library.
17. When you give a presentation in a class you…
a. Prepare beforehand but are still extremely anxious
b. Get nervous, talk fast, and forget what I’m going to say
c. Are usually expressive and use your hands
d. Make jokes to alleviate pressure, and sometimes fiddle with something in your hand
18. Where do you go to get away from it all?
a. your car
b. a significant other’s house
c. you go talk to someone close
d. somewhere up and alone, like a rooftop or a mountain
19. What is your ringtone?
a. a song you like that you bought
b. usually vibrating
c. it depends on who calls
d. one that comes with the phone
20. You are on the last question of a personality quiz you…
a. are a little excited and nervous to see what you’ll be
b. thought it was fun, but don’t really take it seriously
c. think you will score differently than a lot of people would
d. are pretty sure you’ll know what the results will be
Sunday, October 7, 2007
FW: ... read the previous entry first
I guess the moral of the previous intro entry is that sometimes life sucks. It’s true. It’s full of backaches bruises and little black things that get stuck in your teeth…
I stood outside of a small truck stop where I had attempted to get rid of some of the puke smell. I could only do so much—they didn’t even have paper towels, just electric hand dryers. I used the leftover dirty cloths from the trip to wipe off. Then I gathered up my belongings and a little bit of my dignity and stuffed them all in a plastic bag. I stared at the van…
You know, my great-great-great-grandmother was in one of the handcart companies crossing the plains. It was a freezing morning, and her three daughters felt it almost an impossibility to get out of bed. They were weary, hungry, and cold. Their mother, thin and ragged herself, examined her daughters’ reluctant faces. There was such a submission to fatigue! Such a surrender of hope! She hated to see her daughters like that, so in the middle of the bleak Wyoming wilderness, she lifted up her skirts and began an Irish jig. The three girls in bed stared openmouthed at their mother who had trekked hundreds of miles on the plains, leaping and cavorting in a whirl of frayed petticoats. When she suddenly stumbled and fell, they jumped out of bed and raced to her side. She stood right up, and they were all ready to begin another day…
I love how you can choose what color you want your cast to be if you break a bone. I love how nonsensical tickling is, old cell phones that will still work even if you hurl them down two floors of cement stairs, and how even an awkward dinner with relatives can turn out fine because you had someone to laugh about it with afterwards…
Step to your left, stomp, shuffle to the right,
and into the van we go!
I stood outside of a small truck stop where I had attempted to get rid of some of the puke smell. I could only do so much—they didn’t even have paper towels, just electric hand dryers. I used the leftover dirty cloths from the trip to wipe off. Then I gathered up my belongings and a little bit of my dignity and stuffed them all in a plastic bag. I stared at the van…
You know, my great-great-great-grandmother was in one of the handcart companies crossing the plains. It was a freezing morning, and her three daughters felt it almost an impossibility to get out of bed. They were weary, hungry, and cold. Their mother, thin and ragged herself, examined her daughters’ reluctant faces. There was such a submission to fatigue! Such a surrender of hope! She hated to see her daughters like that, so in the middle of the bleak Wyoming wilderness, she lifted up her skirts and began an Irish jig. The three girls in bed stared openmouthed at their mother who had trekked hundreds of miles on the plains, leaping and cavorting in a whirl of frayed petticoats. When she suddenly stumbled and fell, they jumped out of bed and raced to her side. She stood right up, and they were all ready to begin another day…
I love how you can choose what color you want your cast to be if you break a bone. I love how nonsensical tickling is, old cell phones that will still work even if you hurl them down two floors of cement stairs, and how even an awkward dinner with relatives can turn out fine because you had someone to laugh about it with afterwards…
Step to your left, stomp, shuffle to the right,
and into the van we go!
Thursday, October 4, 2007
TA: Intro; Narrative
I am the third of twelve children; the reader can imagine that family road trips are always a little interesting. On one excursion the carsick sister situated directly behind me started heaving into an available paper bag. Another sister noticed a small trickle escaping from the paper bag. "MOOOOM, IT"S LEAKING!" she yelled as she lifted the entire driping mass--presently pink becuase of hte red Jello Jigglers we had been eating--directly above me. Due to my position and the constriant of the seatbelt, I was unable to reach or stop her. Primitive bursts of unintelligible sound spouted from my lips, but it seemed my attemps of communication were not reaching her. She remained frozen, staring at me with a look of fascination and shock.
I watched in horror as the outside of the dripping paper bag became more saturated. Then it happen. The pathetic and pulpy barrier that the bag had bravely striven to maintain had reached its limits and the cargo was released. The hysterical noises I had been making became one loud wail as vivid pink, artificially flavored chunks rained down upon me.
I watched in horror as the outside of the dripping paper bag became more saturated. Then it happen. The pathetic and pulpy barrier that the bag had bravely striven to maintain had reached its limits and the cargo was released. The hysterical noises I had been making became one loud wail as vivid pink, artificially flavored chunks rained down upon me.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
RA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL3rfuKwMDI
What are the consequences of buying Window’s Vista on computer performance?
Buying Window’s Vista will enhance computer performance
because when you buy Windows Vista you are purchasing an exceptional computer program.
Anytime you purchase an exceptional computer program you will also enhance your computer performance.
This commercial is mostly for middle-aged computer owning adults.
The theme of the add is that there are some things that make you say ‘wow’ and Windows Vista is one of those things. This appeals to the viewer, trying to make the viewer feel like they ought to seek for the best, and this program is the best. The ad flashes from scenes with people experiencing extraordinary things to people working with this program to graphics with things involved with the program. The argument wasn’t based on logic; it had things like “top 100 reasons why people are so speechless” but didn’t give enough time to say what the reasons were. Instead of representing logical points, graphics and slogans were more to establish authority and emotion. The ad focused on “Window’s Vista will make you say “Wow”” but it didn’t say why. It didn’t give reasons that this program would be any better than any other program.
What are the consequences of buying Window’s Vista on computer performance?
Buying Window’s Vista will enhance computer performance
because when you buy Windows Vista you are purchasing an exceptional computer program.
Anytime you purchase an exceptional computer program you will also enhance your computer performance.
This commercial is mostly for middle-aged computer owning adults.
The theme of the add is that there are some things that make you say ‘wow’ and Windows Vista is one of those things. This appeals to the viewer, trying to make the viewer feel like they ought to seek for the best, and this program is the best. The ad flashes from scenes with people experiencing extraordinary things to people working with this program to graphics with things involved with the program. The argument wasn’t based on logic; it had things like “top 100 reasons why people are so speechless” but didn’t give enough time to say what the reasons were. Instead of representing logical points, graphics and slogans were more to establish authority and emotion. The ad focused on “Window’s Vista will make you say “Wow”” but it didn’t say why. It didn’t give reasons that this program would be any better than any other program.
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