Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Have I Mentioned the Weather Lately?
It's just, if it's raining, you complain on MyFace. If it is hot, you complain on MyFace. If it doesn't rain in too long a period, you complain. If it snows, you complain. Can we think of something else to talk about? How about... books. What are you reading? And if not, why not? What's wrong with you?!
Friday, July 24, 2009
MyFace Faux Pas
I would just like to reiterate, if you post something like "My man is perfect, just stay positive and you will find your man" on my wall, I will defriend you. Especially if I did not say anything about being in despair (which I wouldn't, that's you projecting). After I post this video on your wall. And possibly drive to your house and kick you in the shin.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Drinky, drinky, you're a finky.
With such a catchy and meaningless title, how can you resist reading?
People say random things sometimes upon discovering I am Mormon, and/or that I went to BYU. My favorite, and the oddest reaction in my opinion, tends to be somewhat like the following:
"I hate Utah! They make you become members of the bars! And they won't sell you alcohol on Sunday." To which I respond somewhere along the lines of, "Mmm." 'Cause I kind of don't care if they can't get ahold of alcohol as easily as they would like. They could go hiking or something instead. There are lots of mountains, trails, and just dirt in general there.
Apparently recently that has (mostly) changed. Those who wish to imbibe no longer need to join a club to get a beer. It was interesting to me that at least one local who frequented a specific bar didn't like the change. He thought it might bring in strangers, thus increasing the chance of someone causing a ruckus. I'm not entirely sure why there was a law in place to require that people join a bar in order to patronize it. I'm sure it had something to do with the large percentage of Mormons in the state, since members of my religion do not drink alcohol, along with coffee and tea. I find it slightly amusing that MSNBC claims that the law was in place to "sheild Mormons from alcohol." If all they had to do was join the club (put their name in a registery and pay a small one-time--or possibly annual, I don't know--fee) I don't think that would have "shielded" anyone. I'm sure that the heavy taxes were put into place to try to convince people not to drink, so maybe that's the shield. Having spent four years in Utah Valley (where BYU is), which we affectionately called the BYU Bubble, I didn't meet many people who belonged to bars while I lived in Utah. I actually never heard about the law until I had left Utah. I don't think there were may bars near where I lived.
I know many people believe that it's only Mormons in Utah, but actually they only make up about 60% of the population. Yes, that is much higher than other states. But Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and California have quite a few members as well. Washington, for instance, has 257,710 as of the latest count (they report numbers yearly). Compared to Utah's 1,857,667 that is not very many, but it's not a teeny number. But I digress. If you want to see more statistics on Mormons, who number over 13.5 million worldwide, go here.
My first thought upon hearing this news is that it's funny how long out-moded laws stay in place. But then I noticed in the article that the law was only in place for 40 years. That means it was put in place in the late 60's, for those of you who don't want to think that hard. From what I can glean from the ever-reliable internet, prohibition prevented people from getting a drink at the beginning of last century. I'm assuming somewhere in the middle there were bars that didn't require membership, and they had to clamp down. But I could totally be making up history. The bottom line is, in the eyes of your average beer drinker, Utah became a little less wacky this month.
P.S. I have non-Mormon friends who read this blog, so watch your judginess in the comment section if it looks like it's trying to slip the leash.
People say random things sometimes upon discovering I am Mormon, and/or that I went to BYU. My favorite, and the oddest reaction in my opinion, tends to be somewhat like the following:
"I hate Utah! They make you become members of the bars! And they won't sell you alcohol on Sunday." To which I respond somewhere along the lines of, "Mmm." 'Cause I kind of don't care if they can't get ahold of alcohol as easily as they would like. They could go hiking or something instead. There are lots of mountains, trails, and just dirt in general there.
Apparently recently that has (mostly) changed. Those who wish to imbibe no longer need to join a club to get a beer. It was interesting to me that at least one local who frequented a specific bar didn't like the change. He thought it might bring in strangers, thus increasing the chance of someone causing a ruckus. I'm not entirely sure why there was a law in place to require that people join a bar in order to patronize it. I'm sure it had something to do with the large percentage of Mormons in the state, since members of my religion do not drink alcohol, along with coffee and tea. I find it slightly amusing that MSNBC claims that the law was in place to "sheild Mormons from alcohol." If all they had to do was join the club (put their name in a registery and pay a small one-time--or possibly annual, I don't know--fee) I don't think that would have "shielded" anyone. I'm sure that the heavy taxes were put into place to try to convince people not to drink, so maybe that's the shield. Having spent four years in Utah Valley (where BYU is), which we affectionately called the BYU Bubble, I didn't meet many people who belonged to bars while I lived in Utah. I actually never heard about the law until I had left Utah. I don't think there were may bars near where I lived.
I know many people believe that it's only Mormons in Utah, but actually they only make up about 60% of the population. Yes, that is much higher than other states. But Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and California have quite a few members as well. Washington, for instance, has 257,710 as of the latest count (they report numbers yearly). Compared to Utah's 1,857,667 that is not very many, but it's not a teeny number. But I digress. If you want to see more statistics on Mormons, who number over 13.5 million worldwide, go here.
My first thought upon hearing this news is that it's funny how long out-moded laws stay in place. But then I noticed in the article that the law was only in place for 40 years. That means it was put in place in the late 60's, for those of you who don't want to think that hard. From what I can glean from the ever-reliable internet, prohibition prevented people from getting a drink at the beginning of last century. I'm assuming somewhere in the middle there were bars that didn't require membership, and they had to clamp down. But I could totally be making up history. The bottom line is, in the eyes of your average beer drinker, Utah became a little less wacky this month.
P.S. I have non-Mormon friends who read this blog, so watch your judginess in the comment section if it looks like it's trying to slip the leash.
Friday, July 17, 2009
I Am Beseeching You...
Stop making fun of the innocents!
I've been contemplating a trend I'm seeing in the media lately. It's come on kind of gradually since I was a little kid. I think the thing that to me has been the signal that it's become the way a large amount of society thinks is this. Oh, and this.
Yes I have a sense of humor. I put it down... somewhere... and I really wish I could find it. Oh, there it... no, that's my employment. I should really pick that up some time soon.
I do understand the humor of the geeky guy who doesn't know how to talk to women. I find it painful to watch, but I get it, and I don't begrudge people their laughs. What's troubling me is this: where are the cool virgins? You don't see them in the TV shows. They are all awkward and lacking life experience. If Hollywood manages to create a cool one, at some point they succumb to the temptation and compromise their beliefs. Apparently being stalwart is not sexy. I'm here to tell you, there are lots of 40 year old virgins out there. People who, because of religious beliefs, and/or personal standards they hold to, choose not to have sex. I don't like that men who grow to be a certain age are invited on talk shows to be gawked at like an elephant with two trunks. You can have a whole life without sex. A successful, satisfying life. That doesn't mean that sex is bad, or that those people aren't interested in it, or don't wish they could have it. But there are things in life that are more important than sex, and their choice to not dive right into it does not make them freakish.
What I am witnessing in the mentalities of our youth is worrisome to me. Teenagers should not base their self esteem on how much sexual experience they have had. Neither should adults. And to see a 16 or 17 year old talk about the lack of inexperience of a peer or themselves as though it is crippling is maddening. Smart, strong, beautiful, successful teenagers with bright futures ahead of them are defining themselves by their experience in one area. They are allowing their partners to convince them that their love is defined by those experiences. And the kids who think like this grow into 20-somethings who seek after experiences in such a rash way they become scarred and sometimes truly emotionally crippled. Why do we perpetuate this belief? And why do we laugh at virgins? I say "we" because I'm sure I've shared a chuckle, so I'm totally not casting the first stone, so to speak. It's just, if you really step back from our culture and look at the beliefs around sex objectively, aren't they a little goofy?
I've been contemplating a trend I'm seeing in the media lately. It's come on kind of gradually since I was a little kid. I think the thing that to me has been the signal that it's become the way a large amount of society thinks is this. Oh, and this.
Yes I have a sense of humor. I put it down... somewhere... and I really wish I could find it. Oh, there it... no, that's my employment. I should really pick that up some time soon.
I do understand the humor of the geeky guy who doesn't know how to talk to women. I find it painful to watch, but I get it, and I don't begrudge people their laughs. What's troubling me is this: where are the cool virgins? You don't see them in the TV shows. They are all awkward and lacking life experience. If Hollywood manages to create a cool one, at some point they succumb to the temptation and compromise their beliefs. Apparently being stalwart is not sexy. I'm here to tell you, there are lots of 40 year old virgins out there. People who, because of religious beliefs, and/or personal standards they hold to, choose not to have sex. I don't like that men who grow to be a certain age are invited on talk shows to be gawked at like an elephant with two trunks. You can have a whole life without sex. A successful, satisfying life. That doesn't mean that sex is bad, or that those people aren't interested in it, or don't wish they could have it. But there are things in life that are more important than sex, and their choice to not dive right into it does not make them freakish.
What I am witnessing in the mentalities of our youth is worrisome to me. Teenagers should not base their self esteem on how much sexual experience they have had. Neither should adults. And to see a 16 or 17 year old talk about the lack of inexperience of a peer or themselves as though it is crippling is maddening. Smart, strong, beautiful, successful teenagers with bright futures ahead of them are defining themselves by their experience in one area. They are allowing their partners to convince them that their love is defined by those experiences. And the kids who think like this grow into 20-somethings who seek after experiences in such a rash way they become scarred and sometimes truly emotionally crippled. Why do we perpetuate this belief? And why do we laugh at virgins? I say "we" because I'm sure I've shared a chuckle, so I'm totally not casting the first stone, so to speak. It's just, if you really step back from our culture and look at the beliefs around sex objectively, aren't they a little goofy?
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Austen Eli Eli
I have some good news for you. BBC is making a new Emma, and I think it will be fabulous. Also JennaL tells me she thinks it will be four hours. Which is AWESOME. And if you don't think so we can't be friends anymore.
I feel the sudden urge to watch me some Eli Stone.
I feel the sudden urge to watch me some Eli Stone.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
It's Letter Week!
Dear Pentagon,
I see here that you are contemplating banning smoking for all soldiers in uniform, and the sales of tobacco products on military bases. This is a very interesting proposal. I get the part where healthy soldiers are important. Also, the smelliness and phlegminess which are common characteristics of smokers are not hot, so really you are doing them a favor.
Just one little thing. I don't know if you have ever been around someone who just gave up smoking. I am hear to tell you, it makes them very crabby. Put them in a stressful situation and they REALLY get crabby when you won't let them smoke. So someone who is, say, in a combat situation, with a gun, having "nic fits" might be a little trigger happy. I'm just saying. And before you say you will happily supply them the meds to quit, vivid freaky dreams+combat zone+gun= also pretty scary.
I imagine that some would argue that smoking is banned in many workplaces, and it's all part of being professional. Totally agree. That whole All the President's Men, smoking in the newsroom era has passed, and we should respect each other's air space and try not to intentionally give each other cancer. But people have breaks at those jobs, see? They get to go outside and smoke. Only your soldiers still have their uniforms on during those breaks. See, crabby.
Knowing me like you do, Pentagon, you might be surprised that I would take the side of the smoker. But there's this thing called free will. I believe in it. I think sometimes we let people use it in this country. It's not so much that I don't agree with you that the whole military should stop smoking. That would be awesome. They would not only be healthier, they could spend their discretionary money on things that are really important. Like the equipment, music, and wardrobe to shoot a quality music video. My issue is that if you make them do it against their will, it's like you've become the military of some other country. And the soldiers might wonder what exactly they are fighting for in this new country that is so foreign to them. And then you might have to send them all to prison, where they can smoke in peace and choreograph a little jail yard boogie.
I see here that you are contemplating banning smoking for all soldiers in uniform, and the sales of tobacco products on military bases. This is a very interesting proposal. I get the part where healthy soldiers are important. Also, the smelliness and phlegminess which are common characteristics of smokers are not hot, so really you are doing them a favor.
Just one little thing. I don't know if you have ever been around someone who just gave up smoking. I am hear to tell you, it makes them very crabby. Put them in a stressful situation and they REALLY get crabby when you won't let them smoke. So someone who is, say, in a combat situation, with a gun, having "nic fits" might be a little trigger happy. I'm just saying. And before you say you will happily supply them the meds to quit, vivid freaky dreams+combat zone+gun= also pretty scary.
I imagine that some would argue that smoking is banned in many workplaces, and it's all part of being professional. Totally agree. That whole All the President's Men, smoking in the newsroom era has passed, and we should respect each other's air space and try not to intentionally give each other cancer. But people have breaks at those jobs, see? They get to go outside and smoke. Only your soldiers still have their uniforms on during those breaks. See, crabby.
Knowing me like you do, Pentagon, you might be surprised that I would take the side of the smoker. But there's this thing called free will. I believe in it. I think sometimes we let people use it in this country. It's not so much that I don't agree with you that the whole military should stop smoking. That would be awesome. They would not only be healthier, they could spend their discretionary money on things that are really important. Like the equipment, music, and wardrobe to shoot a quality music video. My issue is that if you make them do it against their will, it's like you've become the military of some other country. And the soldiers might wonder what exactly they are fighting for in this new country that is so foreign to them. And then you might have to send them all to prison, where they can smoke in peace and choreograph a little jail yard boogie.
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