that takes talent

Here I am. Sitting in class. Thinking about a media post. This class is 2.5 hours and we are looking at power points the entire time. I am also doing bloggie stuff. And admiring any pictures that I have of a vacation I have been on... Not going to lie, I've read/sent a few texts to my mister. And it looks like 50% of the class is on facebook... So, similar to our assignment in class, we are knocking out a serious amount of media in 2.5 hours.. thinkin at least double. That takes talent. Dang.

Count of Monte Cristo

Holy cow this is one of my favorite movies of all time! Started it last night and forgot how thrilling it is! Watch that one again guys :)

Media Overload...

I just read the sensational talk by Elder Kearon of the Seventy. He delivered it on Valentine's Day for the devotional here. He mentioned something that can hinder our sensitivity to the spirit, similar to what we discussed in class today. He said we may be hurting our relationship with Heavenly Father with a "Poor Digital Diet." I love that! He verbalized that issue well. I think one of the scariest aspects of social networks and media is the time it consumes, so the priorities  it has to bump out of the way, and mostly, how excessive media consumption desensitizes us.
Just as Dr. Coyne kept saying, 'be careful.'.... But, what is 'being careful?' How do we set our personal rules and limits? When do we draw the hard line and stick to it? What do you do?

Book

Write a 1-2 page paper discussing your favorite book as a child or adolescent, and then your favorite book now. Spend one paragraph describing both books, and then go into detail about why this book was your favorite and what impact it had on your life. Post portions of this on your blog (can count for the blog assignment that week).

When I was younger my dad promised my siblings and me that whenever we finished a chapter book he would give us a crisp, new 2$ bill. This worked for 5 of the 7 of us. There are 2 members of my family who just would rather die before sitting down to read for hours. The 5 of us though, sometimes get too invested, and you wouldn’t be able to find us for days at a time because we were finishing up a series. I still have a fat stack of 2$ bills from all the reading I did with that incentive. I went through phases of Harry Potter and of fantastical books, but one that I felt I connected with, and could be her someday, was Nancy Drew. Those books seem beyond our time but my mom had bought the entire collection at Costco and I got hooked.

Nancy had cute, old fashioned dresses, quick wit and humor, and was bright. Truly the dress section always perked me up. I loved hearing what she was going to be wearing for a day of sleuthing! I was amazed at her independence and knowledge. I also loved that she drove a blue convertible which was obviously the peak of coolness to me. So yes, the mystery intrigued me and would keep me sitting to finish the book before I would go play, but I think the fact that when a pretty, smart, confident girl like Nancy solves the mysteries, I was obsessed.

The last book that had me so emotionally invested that I threw the book with full force, stared it down with tear filled eyes, and then realized I wasn’t actually having to go back into the games with Katniss, has left the biggest impact. The Hunger Games sounds disturbing when you are describing the plot to your mother, but for some reason has been accepted and embraced in my own mind that child sacrifice is just the way of life… when I am in district 13. What I absolutely loved about this book is how quickly the author started with the intense stuff! (Especially the 1^st one.) I know it’s cliché’ to even name this book, let alone the fact that I laughed, cried, and was physically exhausted or felt famished during the games. Not normal. Is it?

Hunger Games was introduced to my by my oldest brother and he would check up on my progress so we could discuss it. It spread through all 5 of us who love to read and became the most exciting dinner conversation. I continued to build it up in my mind because this was now a family activity, even until the disappointing 3^rd book. It has been long enough now, that I can say it was no good, but at the time I stood by Suzanne Collins. I can say my heart rate will not raise just talking about it. But I can’t say that it wasn’t the most intense and thrilling book I have read in the last few years.

ksl crazies

i love ksl classifieds. odd, i understand, but it's been a blast. i kinda picked up a little business selling random things for family and friends and they pay me a portion of the profit. it's contagious!! right now i am selling a cute antique creme desk and my phone is exploding with ravenous women. ksl crazies. try it :)

Lds.org

The more I learn about all the church is doing, the more I know this work is inspired by the Lord! I just watched President Packer's seminary broadcast and it is powerful. I love how straight forward, 'so we cannot misunderstand.' This is my kind of media!

http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/seminary-centennial-broadcast/2012/02?lang=eng&vid=1414473431001&pkey=AQ~~,AAABJMwIxCk~,V-s4Hivdj0tPNypCoK3-U7EDiMwrZ90Q&pid=1302760218001

(lil' tip that has really helped me: if I have a discouraging, messy apartment to clean, and I listen to conference talks like this while I do it... I am totally energized and it cheers me up to enjoy it. Try it! I love that our church is so up to date with combating the trashy media with good. Stuff like this and mormon messages, ooo I am so proud to be a mormon!! And way to go Mitt!!! WOOHOOOO