I love BYU

I'll write some Jeopardy! thoughts in a little bit. However, I wanted to share a story from a speech given by Jeffrey R. Holland, former President of BYU. I'm proud to have attended and now represent an institution that truly stands for something.

"Several years after Brother Maeser's death a proposal was made to construct a memorial building in his name, not downtown on University Avenue but high atop Temple Hill, where a new campus might be built consisting of as many as three or perhaps four buildings someday. The cost would be an astronomical $100,000, but the Maeser Building would be a symbol of the past, a statement of aspiring tradition, an anchor to the university's future.

In spite of a staggering financial crisis clouding the very future of the university at the time, the faculty and student body took heart that in 1912 the Maeser Building was at least partially complete and the university would give diplomas to its first four-year graduating class. But even as graduation plans were being made, equally urgent plans were underway to sell the remainder of Temple Hill for the development of a new Provo suburb. The university simply had to have the money to survive. Eighteen members were graduating in this first four-year class, but even if the student body tripled in the years ahead, surely there would be more than enough room to accommodate them on the space now occupied by the Maeser, Brimhall, and Grant buildings on our present campus. Yes, the rest of the space on the hill should be sold. The graduation services would conclude with a sales pitch to the community leaders in attendance.

When Alfred Kelly was introduced that morning as the student graduation speaker, he rose and stood absolutely silent for several moments. Some in the audience thought he had lost the power of speech. Slowly he began to speak, explaining that he had been much concerned over his remarks, that he had written several versions and discarded every one of them.

Then, early one morning, he said, with a feeling of desperation regarding his approaching assignment, he walked north from his downtown apartment to where the partially completed Maeser Building stood (as Horace Cummings would later describe it) as an "air castle" come to earth on Temple Hill. He wanted to gain inspiration from this hope of a new campus, but he felt only grim disappointment. The sky was starting to glow from the morning light, but the darkly silhouetted Maeser Building seemed only a symbol of gloom.

Kelly then turned his eyes to view the valley below that was also still in shadow. The light from the rising sun was just beginning to illuminate the western hills back of Utah Lake with an unusual golden glow. As morning came, the light gradually worked down from the hilltops, moved across the valley floor, and slowly advanced to the spot where Kelly stood.

He said he partially closed his eyes as the light approached and was startled by what he could still see. He stood as if transfixed. In the advancing sunlight everything he saw took on the appearance of people, young people about his age moving toward Temple Hill. He saw hundreds of them, thousands of young people coming into view. He knew they were students, he said, because they carried books in their arms as they came.

Then Temple Hill was bathed in sunlight, and the whole of the present campus was illuminated not with one partially completed building, nor with homes in a modern subdivision, but rather with what Kelly described to that graduating class as "temples of learning," large buildings, beautiful buildings, hundreds of buildings covering the top of that hill and stretching clear to the mouth of Rock Canyon.

The students then entered these temples of learning with their books in hand. As they came out of them, Kelly said their countenances bore smiles of hope and of faith. He observed that they seemed cheerful and very confident. Their walk was light but firm as they again became a part of the sunlight as it moved to the top of Y Mountain, and then they gradually disappeared from view.

Kelly sat down to what was absolutely stone-deaf silence. Not a word was spoken. What about the sales pitch? No one moved or whispered. Then longtime BYU benefactor Jesse Knight jumped to his feet and shouted, "We won't sell an acre. We won't sell a single lot." And he turned to President George Brimhall and pledged several thousand dollars to the future of the university. Soon others stood up and joined in, some offering only a widow's mite, but all believing in the dream of a Provo schoolboy, all believing in the destiny of a great university which that day had scarcely begun. (See B. F. Larsen, "Fifty Years Ago," speech given at a BYU Alumni meeting, 25 May 1962, B. F. Larsen biographical file, BYU Archives, pp. 45.) [In Holland, "Who We Are," pp. 2426

Some laughter for your day

In honor of Utah's basketball losses to Boise State and Adams State this year:
Without further ado, here are the lyrics to Utah's "fight" song.

"Utah Man"

I am a Utah Man, sir, and I live across the green,
Our gang it is the jolliest that you have ever seen.
Our coeds are the fairest and each one's a shining star,
Our yell, you'll hear it ringing through the mountains near and far!
Who am I, sir,
A Utah Man am I!
A Utah Man, sir,
Will be 'til I die.
Ki-yi!
We're up to snuff, we never bluff, we're game for any fuss.
No other gang of college men dare meet us in a muss.
So fill your lungs and sing it out and shout it to the sky,
We'll fight for dear old crimson for a Utah Man am I!
Ki-yi!

Keep in mind the song is basically to the tune of the all-time classic, "Mickey Mouse Club".


Is that funny or what? Those Utes certainly are the jolliest! Ki-yi!

Scotcheroos

One of the best parts about having a pregnant wife is that she often decides she wants something yummy, such as the treat above: Scotcheroos.

Very yummy....but wait! It gets even better! As we're slowly working our way through the pan, last night she turns to me and says: "Logan, my stomach is not digesting the scotcheroos very well. I can't eat them anymore. You have to finish the rest of them."

Woohoo!

Guilty Pleasures

I know most of my faithful readers have been losing sleep over this, but I'm sorry to stay that we're not going to the BYU game against Ole Miss on Labor Day weekend. Instead, we're going to see family in Detroit! We'll watch the game up there, cheering on with family. That will be fun.

In the interest of getting to know each other better, I'm going to write out some of my guilty pleasures. Things that I just love to do that make me happy.

Singing in the car at the top of my lungs (I know people in other cars can see me.)
Staying up late and talking with Torrie (I should be sleeping.)
Playing old video games (Either Civilization 3 for the computer or whatever sport is in season for Gamecube. Yes, that means I'm playing with player rosters from 2001.)
Taking naps (I know there's a million other things I should be doing.)
Eating frozen pizza (Especially the Totino's party size pizzas and a Dr. Pepper. Yum.)
Tickling Clara so that she will laugh (Usually I try to make faces or peek-a-boo or something to make her laugh. Tickling is the easy way to get a laugh, hence the guilty pleasure)
Italian Ties (I have too many of them and want more.)
Taking new roads to places (I know it's faster to go the other way, but then I can see a new place AND put a new line on my map!)
Attending Torrie's primary class instead of Elders' Quorum (I love the change of pace, and primary kids are usually a lot more funny than the guys in Elders Quorum.)
Reading Tom Clancy books (I want to read the classics. But there's just something about a Clancy book....)
Watching Jeopardy! (Makes me feel smart. Beware of Pride, boy!)
Eating candy (I know it's not the best food for me.)
Planning Vacations with no constraints that I will not go on (Having a baby sure makes that getting these plans to fruition more difficult.)

Should we stay or should we go?

BYU vs Ole Miss is in 33 days.

It's an 8 hour drive away. With a baby.

BYU's first game as an independent, against an SEC team that I'm optimistic we will defeat.

Expenses: We'd have to buy tickets. (Currently $44 total on stubhub for two people). Hotel would be paid for with hotel points. Gas down there. Food.

I haven't been to a BYU football game since BYU Utah in 2007 (Hall to Collie 4th down miracle, see below)

Just kidding, how could I forget going to BYU v. Washington in 2008? (Thank you, refs....)

It would be another weekend gone. (Remember, we travel a lot during the week). While we're home for the two weeks prior and the week after, we'll be gone each week for a month after that. Time home is really nice. (This really is the difficult point. I treasure my weekends home, especially ones that don't involve travel on either side. They are very nice.)

I'd probably have to take some valuable vacation time off on Friday in order to get there in time for the fireside. (I don't have a lot of this, and I'm trying to save up for holidays and future real vacations, not just a long weekend).

We don't really know anyone else that's going, besides one other couple from our ward (with whom we are pretty good friends, although they are old enough to be our parents).

So...........should we go?

Whether or not we go, I really really want to go to a BYU game next year, either against Georgia Tech or Notre Dame.

Here's a followup question. Are YOU going? And if no, why not?

To Post or Not to Post

I was talking to my brother-in-law the other day. We hadn't talked in awhile, and it was really fun catching up, hearing about his new job / baby / residence, telling him about our crazy lives. I asked how his new baby was doing, and what he looked like. Torrie then reminded me that there pictures on the internet, on Facebook.


I thanked her for the reminder, then continued: "I'm sorry I haven't seen the pictures, yet. I'll do it tomorrow. However, do you want to tell me what he looks like?"
He had no problem and described the little guy for me. We talked for a little longer and then ended our conversation, hoping to see each other soon. (Which would be real fun.)

However, the incident above brought up something in my mind which I think about fairly often.

The problem with facebook, blogs, etc. is that they take away some of the motivation to talk to people.

Don't get me wrong. I love keeping in contact. I love that I was able to spend five minutes this morning looking of pictures of a youth temple trip of a branch I served in while I lived in Italy. It was really cool to see some of the primary kids going to the temple.

I enjoy seeing updates of my cousins, uncles, old college friends, things like that. It makes me feel connected to them. I like that.

I like putting up a comment about Clara drinking out of a straw and getting tons of likes and comments. That's fun and makes me feel loved.

However, I do not like knowing everything in advance when I do talk to someone. Let me explain. I talked to someone today and I already knew every single thing they were going to update me about. Why? Because I had read their blog. I knew everything they were going to say. I knew the insights they had thought of. I even knew the little jokes they were going to make.  I knew it all.

What an unsatisfying conversation! I didn't feel any extra connection to that person after the conversation. None of the warm glow of friendship that comes after seeing/talking to someone you hadn't in awhile.

Torrie has gone through the same thing - a conversation with someone she hadn't seen in awhile, yet nothing new came about, because it was all on facebook for everyone to see. Perhaps you have, as well.

Contrast that to a conversation I had yesterday with an old friend. Although we are pretty updated on each others lives, he asked deep questions. It wasn't just a pursory question of "How's your work going?" He asked specific questions, follow-up questions, and expressed real interest. I did the same to him as well. We talked about our families, goals, projects, etc. It was very satisfying and afterwards, I felt that I had been able to reconnect with a good friend. While this person is on facebook, and both of us post occasionally, the conversation was of much greater detail and intensely more satisfying.

So rest assured, I will not blog about everything. I will not facebook post about everything. There is more to me than meets the world wide web's eye. I would encourage you all to do the same, and if you're going to have a conversation with someone who you know looks at your facebook and/or your blog, come up with some new material as well.

Note on Joseph Smith

I wanted to put up one of my favorite stories about Joseph Smith on June 27, in honor of his martyrdom in 1844. However, I wasn't online that day. So I'm putting it up today. I wish I had been able to be there.

Elder Parley P. Pratt (1807–57) recorded an occasion when the Prophet’s extraordinary teaching ability influenced thousands in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: “A very large church was opened for him to preach in, and about three thousand people assembled to hear him. Brother Rigdon spoke first, and dwelt on the Gospel, illustrating his doctrine by the Bible. When he was through, Brother Joseph arose like a lion about to roar; and being full of the Holy Ghost, spoke in great power, bearing testimony of the visions he had seen, the ministering of angels which he had enjoyed; and how he had found the plates of the Book of Mormon, and translated them by the gift and power of God. He commenced by saying: ‘If nobody else had the courage to testify of so glorious a message from Heaven, and of the finding of so glorious a record, he felt to do it in justice to the people, and leave the event with God.’

I admire his courage. The more I read and study his life, I am consistently hit by two things:
1. His conviction
He would do what he believed God commanded, no matter what the consequences.

2. His lack of hypocrisy
I look at my life and see many times when I do not fully practice what I profess to believe. I do not see that with Brother Joseph.

A quick note, for context's sake: For me, personally, the most important thing that God accomplished through Joseph Smith is that through his works - such as his teachings and sermons, the restoration of the Priesthood, the translation of the Book of Mormon - he allowed me to know more about Jesus Chris and His atonement.

I have some downtime at work, which means I've maybe watched some YouTube clips of great BYU sports moments. Only 78 days and 2 hours until BYU football starts again!

The best clips are the ones with the radio announcers in the background.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDAj0y3JEJ4&feature=related

I thought about putting up links to all of them, but I don't think that would be appropriate. So I'll just put up one which I thought was kinda funny.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvqDXDMnnsg

It kinda reminds me of the afternoon where I watched the Denver Broncos beat the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII on YouTube. The whole game.

"Do you have children? If so do you take them along to your "worship" sessions? If they are below the age of 18 do ask them if they want to go?"

I saw this question in the comment section of a pretty negative article in an online UK newspaper about the LDS church. As is wont to happen after an online article about the LDS church, the commenters below are filled with a combination of people that say the church is bad, and then people that say the church is good. I do enough online browsing that I don't usually read any of it, because it's all the same.

This question hit me, however. One commentor had stated that one of the chief tenets of LDS doctrine is that man is free to choose, and this was given in response. On the surface, it brings up a good question. If one is brought up in a faith, is that "indoctrination"? I was raised in the LDS church - was I indoctrinated? Did I ever really have a choice? Was I free? I am going to raise my daughter and any future children in the LDS church. Am I, by doing so, limiting their freedom?

The answer is an unequivocal no! I am not limiting their freedom. The simple fact of the matter is that they are going to be "indoctrinated" by whatever influence comes their way. It's my responsibility as a parent to see that those influences are the ones that are going to make her happy.

I see a simple choice - Do I let the media "indoctrinate" Clara? Do I let her value system be dictated by pop magazines, by television shows, movies? No. That does not bring happiness.

So I sing primary songs to Clara as she falls asleep, we read the scriptures as a family daily, we have family home evening weekly, because I love her and want her to be happy more than anything, and this is the best way that I know of to ensure that she is that way and that she will be that way as she grows and matures.

Kudos to the LFUCG

Yesterday I had to make a stop downtown for various city & county government-related errands. As I was looking at the board someone stopped me. "Do you need to renew your car registration? It's right there, second door on the left." Oh, well thank you. A few minutes later I was back at that sign. A lady this time stopped me. "What are you looking for?" Oh, I need to get fingerprinted. "You need to go to the police station. It's outside, turn left, first building on your left." Oh, well thank you.

People were so nice! Not only did I recieve personal directions as to where I needed to go, but both visits went very smoothly and quickly.

Good job, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government!

Basketball / 100th Post

A recent work trip found me on the road without my wife and daughter. Some of my coworkers found out that the hotel gave free visits to the local YMCA, so I went along with them to play some ball.

The gym was vintage YMCA. Four games on two courts. Running track on the second floor, surrounding the gym. The really big really sweaty guy. The wiry old guy who would shoot flatfooted 3 pointers from his chest, with it going in more than half the time. Your local big guy with a mohawk who lifts a lot and thinks he's a lot better than he is. Frankly, I was a little intimidated. I've played ball a few times in KY and not to much success. The last time I had played, I ended up with a huge elbow in my face that led to swelling and a black eye.

We wait for our turn and after ten minutes are so, we're on. Of course my team ends up being the smaller team.

So we start, and I get the ball on the first play. I decide to drive it past the guy guarding me. He recovers in time, but almost trips and says "dang, you're fast." Good start. The ball gets passed around a bit and I finally get it in the corner and decide to take a shot. BAM. It's in.

Next play, my guy gets the ball, and he tries to go past me. My arm flicks out, hits the ball away from him, and I go and pick it up, Jackson Emery style. I follow that up with another made shot from the corner. 2-2 with 4 points and a steal. Not a bad start! We followed some hot shooting and beat a team that had a ton of size on us by a couple. All in all, we ended up winning three games, than lost the next two due to going cold at the wrong time. I continued to make shots, play pretty good defense, and had a couple good drives as well. It went pretty much as well as it could have.

Road Rage!

Lexington is surrounded by New Circle Road. Near my work, it is a four-lane (two lanes each way) limited-access road, with on-ramps and off-ramps like your standard interstate freeway. However, near my home, it becomes a normal road with stoplights, businesses, etc. As you can imagine, the transition from freeway to road usually involves a lot of cars waiting at that first stoplight.

Oh, and the speed limit is 55 mph. So yesterday I'm driving home in the freeway section of New Circle, in the left lane, at my standard 58 mph. I'm slowly passing cars that are in the right lane. There is a lady - I'm sorry, that would be too complimentary - there is a woman behind me in a jeep. Well, I should say on top of me - she is probably six inches from the back of my car. I look in the rearview mirror and see her. Normally, I would immediately get over into the right lane. However, I'm a quarter mile from the end of the freeway, and due to an upcoming on-ramp it's much more advantageous for me to stay in the left lane. So I do, sorry Ms. Jeep Woman.

Well, after some waving frantically on her part, she steps on the gas, gets in the left lane, and passes me. That doesn't really bother me too much, but as she passed me, she almost hit me. So I honked ever so slightly (I didn't lay on it or anything. I actually don't know if a honk ever came out.) because it was a rather dangerous driving move. If you're going to pass me, please make sure you're ahead of me. Of course, by now we have both slowed down, as we are in the long line of cars at the light. I did give the car a "what were you thinking?" look with my hands up. (No profanity or obscene gestures or anything, which is more than I can say for her.)

Anyway, this sort of stuff happens. No big deal. The light turns green and slowly the cars begin to move. However, I notice the other lane is moving a lot quicker than mine - which is odd, because the right lane always moves slower. I can't see around the jeep woman, but I imagine that she's going slow to try to make me mad, which was a bad move because it wasn't really making me mad, and if she really was in a hurry, she should be going fast. Anyway she finally picks up speed, and I decide to take advantage of a spot and get in the other lane, because I will be turning right in a couple of lights, and I want to get away from this crazy person. Right as I begin to turn in the next lane, she slams on her brakes. (Plenty of space in front of her, she was literally trying to get me to rear-end her.) Unfortunately for her, I had made sure there was plenty of space between me and her and I had plenty of space to get into the other lane. Meanwhile, the truck that was behind me almost runs into her, but stops just in time.

I had moved on. Crazy people these days. However, it gets better. By the next light she has gotten into my lane, and then into the additional right-hand turn lane. She stops next to my car, and begins pointing and swearing at me. I was at a light, and had nothing else to do, so I rolled down my window and asked if there was a problem. She swore at me again and proceeded to tell me that I had been going 58 mph in the fast lane and should have moved over (Yes, she admitted to breaking the speed limit, which is a traffic violation.). She explained to me that not moving over when I could have was a law and that I had broke that law. This was all interlaced with profanity. Meanwhile, her 12 yr old son is sitting in the passenger seat with his feet up on the dash. I don't mean to judge, but it sure looked like it had been a few days since either of them had taken a shower. Anyway, so I asked the lady what there was to gain by going any faster, because we were coming up to a stoplight and everyone would just be in a line anyway. She didn't seem to understand that, because she brought up the passing lane law thing again. So I asked her again politely and asked her to answer my question, and I didn't understand why she wouldn't answer me. Meanwhile at this moment the couple in the aforementioned truck is in the lane to the left of me and they begin yelling at the jeep woman. They were a little more crude than I was, but they yelled at her and told her that she was a dangerous bad driver and almost caused an accident. The jeep woman responded that her brother was a cop (I know she had just been dying to throw that out there) and she didn't care if she caused any accidents, because she would be just fine. The truck responded that they were going to get her plates and call 911. The jeep woman used some profanity and then told the truck lady to go on weight watchers, which was ironic because I definitely wouldn't be calling the jeep woman a skinny minnie anytime soon.

This was all very entertaining, but by now the light had turned green and so I rolled up my window, waved and gave a thumbs-up to the truck, and continued on my merry way.

Oh, I was rear-ended with Torrie and Clara in the car a few weeks ago and still have a scratched/dented bumper (the parts finally came in today, so I'm glad that I'll finally be getting those fixed). I'm wondering if that somehow played into the jeep woman's crazy tirade? Did she cause her to think that I was a bad driver or I would get angry? It didn't, and if anything I'm glad that I've been in the habit of driving much more defensively than before. The couple minutes you get to someplace quicker is not worth the greater risk of getting into a car accident.

Federal Taxpayer Receipt

So some independent watchdog groups have been putting up taxpayer receipts - you put in how much money you spent in taxes, and the receipt will tell you where your tax money went.

Here's a link to one that the White House put up:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/taxes/tax-receipt

I put in my tax info, and what jumped out at me was how much of the taxes I pay go to other people.

It made me more motivated to spend wisely, save more, and take better care of myself - I want to be prepared and not depend on the government to force people to spend money so that I can have health care and retirement income.

Hopefully enough other people will think the same thing.

Basketball Notes

In honor of St. Jimmer Day, I played some basketball last night.

It was pretty competitive. Nobody as short as me, a lot of good shooters, I ended up guarding the worst person on the other team and I think I performed pretty well. We won three games, I would usually score a couple of shots each game, and didn't turn the ball over too many times. I was tired by the end of the games and got a good workout in.

Anyway, I live in Lexington, Kentucky. UK Basketball is huge. So you can imagine my surprise (and joy) when this one guy shoots a three from way far out (misses it) and someone calls out "that's from Jimmer range? You ain't no Jimmer".

That's right. Even in pickup basketball in Kentucky Jimmer gets referenced. Go Jimmer. Go BYU.

I'm speaking in church next Sunday. My topic is: Gaining a testimony of and sustaining church leaders.

I've had a really good time searching the scriptures and pondering about the subject. I'm thinking of focusing my remarks on the potential difficulties of following and sustaining a leader who - for any number of reasons, from personal philosophy, lack of organizational skills, lack of diligence, the list goes on and on  - does not perform as we think they should.

I think it's one of the most interesting components of the LDS faith. You hate scouts, don't think you relate well with young men, are allergic to anything green or living...and this guy asks you to be a Scoutmaster, or an Elders Quorum President who you think doesn't work very hard at his calling, meets with you and asks you to be a teacher when you hate speaking in front of people and you know several other elders who would be better teachers....and you're supposed to believe that they have been called of God to be able to extend you that calling.

Any insights? Or perhaps more importantly, any good jokes I could use?

I don't write out my talks word for word, but maybe I'll write up my outline when I'm done.

Useful Statements

I've decided to come up with a list of phrases that you can add to your statements to be able to say whatever you want without the other person getting mad. Does that make sense? Picture the following scenario.

Two guys sitting on a couch watching Sportscenter. One says to the other:
"Dude, your girlfriend is ugly."
Obviously that's not going to go very well.
However, if that guy would have just added one of the following phrases, he would have been just fine.

- Bless her heart

Your girlfriend sure is ugly, bless her heart.
 
- I hate to say it, but...

I hate to say it, but your girlfriend is ugly.
 
- Not gonna lie, ...

Not gonna lie, but your girlfriend is ugly.
 
- Somebody's gotta say it:

Somebody's gotta say it: Your girlfriend is ugly.
 
- I'm sorry, but...

I'm sorry, but your girlfriend is ugly.
 
- Don't take this the wrong way, but ...

Don't take this the wrong way, but your girlfriend is ugly.
 
- No disrespect, but...

No disrespect, but your girlfriend is ugly.

If you're online, then simply add a smily emoticon.

Your girlfriend sure is ugly :)

If any of you have any others to add the list, please let me know. I know there are plenty more out there.

You got Jimmered....

I've never been so proud to be a fan of BYU Basketball.

It's not just Jimmer. (As much as anything can be more than "just Jimmer." I have been impressed with how the BYU population (student body and alumni) has responded to Jimmer.

Case in point: Michelle Peralta, a current student, wrote a letter to the Daily Universe (The BYU newspaper), accusing the BYU students of idol worship. She played the Nephi card, the idolatry card, and my always-favorite from the sports hater crowd, the "Get A Life" card.

Here's the actual letter: http://universe.byu.edu/node/13756

Now something like this was bound to happen. "Angry" letters to the editor at the Daily Universe is one of the many great things about the BYU. I'm actually surprised we didn't see it earlier.

I love how creative was the response of BYU's students and alumni. Michelle made the mistake of also mentioning it on her facebook wall. Someone found out...commented...told their friends...and BAM

http://vrusp.com/jimmered/

Read it...it goes on and on and on....

I read through all of them. (Slow day.) I was amazed at how consistently funny they were. The comments aren't really that angry, no profanity, no one questions her sexuality or race or really accuses Michelle of being anything other than someone who doesn't appreciate sports. It's just funny comments from funny people. Yet another example of how unique an institution that BYU is. I love it.

The Front Row Fanatics even offered her a seat on the front row.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSXAehrJCig&feature=youtu.be
If I had been smart enough, I would have done this myself just so I could get front row tickets.

So kudos to you, BYU. Not only do you have Jimmer, but you have a student body that appreciates and is worthy of Jimmer.
======================================================
One of my favorite comments: "Michelle, I want to be your friend, because that's what Jimmer would have me do." Haha.

Oh and I love how after her initial facebook post: "Just wrote another irritated letter to the editor of the BYU newspaper. I hope this doesn't turn into a habit" her I suppose it's her husband responds an hour later. Oswaldo: "What happened now?" hahahaha. As if he's saying "oh no...not again....what is it this time?" hahaha.

Ok I'm done now. Go Jimmer. Go BYU.

Loyal

I haven't had the creative juices to write lately. I've had the inclination, and even the time, but nothing has really come together. I started writing about Jimmer, but it wasn't coming out right. Maybe I'll try it again later.

But I feel like sharing a couple links that I got in my e-mail this morning:
Excerpts from former Secretary of State Condoleeza's Rice remarks at a special forum at BYU:
http://news.byu.edu/archive11-jan-condoleezzarice.aspx

You know, I've been in Lexington for a year and a half now - the only person I've even heard of that has come to the University of Kentucky was Bill Clinton, and that was only cause it was during pre-election time and he was coming to support a Democrat running for the Senate. We had people of her stature coming all the time. How cool was that? I tried to make that a priority while I was there and I'm glad that I did.

Lately I've been reminded repeatedly about how much of a privelege it was to attend BYU. Choosing to attend - and then taking advantage of it - was one of the most important choices that I've made.

Of course, Jimmer has figured prominently in those reminders:
http://photo.byu.edu/video.php?cat1=Slide%20Shows&cat2=Sports&cat3=2011&cat4=11BKB%20vs%20SDSU

Too smart for our own good

http://www.freep.com/article/20110106/NEWS09/101060531/1319/Smart-home-appliances?-For-many-consumers-theyre-genius

The article linked above talks about some of the biggest hits at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show - smart appliances. Internet-connected telephones, ovens, refrigerators, everything.

I can see a lot of benefits to this. How many times have I wanted to run the dishwasher but wanted to wait until the end of the day...and then wake up to dirty dishes? Set it up and there's no way I can forget. The laundry's loaded but you're not in a big hurry? Set it up and the washer will wait until a more energy efficient time to run the load.

However, putting aside the huge issue of who is controlling my oven, I worry about what we worry about. What will it be like when we depend on the internet for EVERYTHING?

Your milk is about to expire? You'll get a text message on your phone telling you to pick up more milk. How hard is it to figure out when your milk is about to expire?
What do you need to shop for? Your fridge will tell you, and probably at which store can you get everything for the cheapest.

I'm okay with not having to worry about mundane things like expired milk. (I'm definitely not crying over it. Ha!) Rich people have been doing it for years. I just worry about what we as humankind will do instead of worrying about expired milk: I just have a feeling it will have a lot to do with the Kardashians or something else that won't be a contribution to society. Too bad it probably won't be about serving others, conversing as a family, pursuing education, or reading the scriptures.

What do I do on my spare time now, however?