Can you tell me which is the universe's most famous cat-eating 'alien-life-form' and which is the star of hisory's greatest sci-fi show "Quantum Leap"? 'Cause I just can't tell.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Man vs. Alien
Can you tell me which is the universe's most famous cat-eating 'alien-life-form' and which is the star of hisory's greatest sci-fi show "Quantum Leap"? 'Cause I just can't tell.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Earth Day
As this year's Earth Day approaches, I advise you to remember that 'reduse' and 'reuse' come before 'recycle.' I have printed on both sides of paper for a long time and use notebooks for more than one subject as to not waste space. I also have a Kindle. Okay, I don't truly believe that this device reduces much paper since I have classic literature on it and there isn't much printing of those books lately. I also, from time to time, make my own, recycled paper. This practice serves all three purposes.
Save the whales. That's a given.
Lastly, a fitting 'preserve the environment' story:
While serving an LDS mission in Boston, a district of missionaries would meet to train on various topics related to service, proseletyzing and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Most often after the meeting we would sojourn at a local fast food restaurant. I believe in this case in the summer of 2005 we went to Taco Bell. Afterwards, while walking to the Forest Hills subway and bus station, Elder Wilguimps Horace (from Port-au-Prince, Haiti) tossed his nearly empty, large cup of soda over a fence and into a ditch.
We mostly laughed at his flippant behavior, but also informed him that you can't just toss trash around the city. He asked 'wh-, wha, why not?' since the trampled reeds and dead brush were already laden with rubbish (a term posted on road signs in New England). We probably gave a 'Respect Mother Earth' or 'Don't Waste [Massachusetts]' (like the old Utah anti-litter campaign) response, but I can almost hear (though he may not have been in town yet) Sir Alex Iorg warning that "if you keep throwing garbage around, the U.S. will become like Haiti without any trees."
This story isn't a dig at Haiti and there many and recent woes, but a reminder of great memories from the MBM as well as that of our stewardship for not just the earth's human inhabitants but it's other and resources.
Again, save the whales (Garrick).
Save the whales. That's a given.
Lastly, a fitting 'preserve the environment' story:
While serving an LDS mission in Boston, a district of missionaries would meet to train on various topics related to service, proseletyzing and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Most often after the meeting we would sojourn at a local fast food restaurant. I believe in this case in the summer of 2005 we went to Taco Bell. Afterwards, while walking to the Forest Hills subway and bus station, Elder Wilguimps Horace (from Port-au-Prince, Haiti) tossed his nearly empty, large cup of soda over a fence and into a ditch.
We mostly laughed at his flippant behavior, but also informed him that you can't just toss trash around the city. He asked 'wh-, wha, why not?' since the trampled reeds and dead brush were already laden with rubbish (a term posted on road signs in New England). We probably gave a 'Respect Mother Earth' or 'Don't Waste [Massachusetts]' (like the old Utah anti-litter campaign) response, but I can almost hear (though he may not have been in town yet) Sir Alex Iorg warning that "if you keep throwing garbage around, the U.S. will become like Haiti without any trees."
This story isn't a dig at Haiti and there many and recent woes, but a reminder of great memories from the MBM as well as that of our stewardship for not just the earth's human inhabitants but it's other and resources.
Again, save the whales (Garrick).
Monday, April 18, 2011
Quoting an Expert
A few weeks ago in one of my classes, a group discussion was being had on a case study. One student responded to the presenting group's question. He gave his opinion on a point and then used a really bland, generic, common-good type quote (I can't even remember it now). He said he couldn't recall in which book he read the line.
First, if you are going to quote something to bouy or cement your point, don't use a feel-good phrase that has lost its meaning by the likes of local news anchors all too frequent repetition. "Think outside the box," "Have an attitude of gratitude" and "An apple a day..." are just a few examples of expressions that are not my cup of tea. These words are not profound enough to emphasize the argument one might make.
Second, if you are going to quote something, please know from where or whom you are quoting. The simple correction is to take up the long-lost art of memorization that we haven't practiced for two generations ('nother topic). An easier solution might be to just choose some source that is not well-read but is well known-- like The Bible, Benjamin Franklin or Confucius. There are plenty of proverbs to be quoted from those sources which are enough to inspire. Most often people won't try to check your reference unless, like Tevya, you are attempting to quote words from 'the good book' to the local rabbis. My go-tos are Tim Heidecker (here she comes) and Garth Marenghi. They are all credible and intelligent. Borrow from my list sources.
First, if you are going to quote something to bouy or cement your point, don't use a feel-good phrase that has lost its meaning by the likes of local news anchors all too frequent repetition. "Think outside the box," "Have an attitude of gratitude" and "An apple a day..." are just a few examples of expressions that are not my cup of tea. These words are not profound enough to emphasize the argument one might make.
Second, if you are going to quote something, please know from where or whom you are quoting. The simple correction is to take up the long-lost art of memorization that we haven't practiced for two generations ('nother topic). An easier solution might be to just choose some source that is not well-read but is well known-- like The Bible, Benjamin Franklin or Confucius. There are plenty of proverbs to be quoted from those sources which are enough to inspire. Most often people won't try to check your reference unless, like Tevya, you are attempting to quote words from 'the good book' to the local rabbis. My go-tos are Tim Heidecker (here she comes) and Garth Marenghi. They are all credible and intelligent. Borrow from my list sources.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Do you still listen to the radio?
bump ba-da bum bum, Bump Ba-Da Bum Bum, BUMP BA-DA BUM BUM, BUMP BA-DA BUM!
That never helps anyone get what music your singing, but you should be hearing in your head Ride of the Valkyries, by Ricard Wagner.
I recently stumbled upon a radio program and although it's syndicated (not local) and broadcast on Classical 89 (BYU) I am hooked. Last week on Exploring Music, Bill McGlaughlin featured a five-part review of Ricard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, which is comprised of four operas. You may not know this masterpiece, as I didn't, but you would be familiar with the excerpt from the second operatic installment Die Walkurie (hummed above).
During the program broadcast of the opera summary, audio was played of Anna Russell recounting the plot and some musical themes of all four operas in 20 minutes. She gives a talented, comical report of the progress of the characters as well as imitates their performances, much like Victor Borge. At the end of her performance, she notes that the opera cycle concludes with the burning of Valhalla and the ring returning to the Rhinemaidens and viewers/listeners are left where the production began.The audience, and I, laughed at either the brilliance or waste of the ironic or circuitous composition of Wagner.
My favorite musical piece was from the fourth part. It was the funeral march of the hero, Siegfried. I want that to be played either at my funeral, as would be the custom, or as I ride into battle. But remember, my favorite piece of classical music, along with every other human is Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy. We love this solely because it was featured in the world's favorite movie, the remake of Ocean's 11.
Save the Soil.
That never helps anyone get what music your singing, but you should be hearing in your head Ride of the Valkyries, by Ricard Wagner.
I recently stumbled upon a radio program and although it's syndicated (not local) and broadcast on Classical 89 (BYU) I am hooked. Last week on Exploring Music, Bill McGlaughlin featured a five-part review of Ricard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, which is comprised of four operas. You may not know this masterpiece, as I didn't, but you would be familiar with the excerpt from the second operatic installment Die Walkurie (hummed above).
During the program broadcast of the opera summary, audio was played of Anna Russell recounting the plot and some musical themes of all four operas in 20 minutes. She gives a talented, comical report of the progress of the characters as well as imitates their performances, much like Victor Borge. At the end of her performance, she notes that the opera cycle concludes with the burning of Valhalla and the ring returning to the Rhinemaidens and viewers/listeners are left where the production began.The audience, and I, laughed at either the brilliance or waste of the ironic or circuitous composition of Wagner.
My favorite musical piece was from the fourth part. It was the funeral march of the hero, Siegfried. I want that to be played either at my funeral, as would be the custom, or as I ride into battle. But remember, my favorite piece of classical music, along with every other human is Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy. We love this solely because it was featured in the world's favorite movie, the remake of Ocean's 11.
Save the Soil.
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