"Superdell".to.the.rescue!

The following was taken from page 11 of the Utah Voter information Pamphlet of 2008. I'll just say that I'm not a proponent for Dell Schanze.

"Superdell" Dell Schanze
GOVERNOR
LIBERTARIAN

"SUPERDELL is your only choice because YOU didn't file. Huntsman took away your freedoms and raised taxes more than any governor in the history of Utah. Springmeyer has admitted that he doesn't care about the constitution. The definition of the word insane is voting for the same people while expecting change.

"There is no question that Dell Schanze is different. There are only 3 people on the ballot and SUPERDELL is the only one that is NOT socialist. If you are unsure then fill your heart with love, completely open your mind and pray to God earnestly. You can't afford to get this wrong and will be held accountable for your choice."

5442 S 900 E #223
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
801-631-1731
dellshanze@totallyawesome.com
totallyawesome.com

bravery.and.insanity

Update: see post below.

So... apparently this mystery guy is a close friend of my brand-spankin-new roommate. And every girl she knows is after him. He's kind, spiritual, funny, pretty much the best thing ever. Elders Quorum President. Home teaches anyone who doesn't get covered. Planned speaker for the SANE symposium. Always busy. Completely amazing.

I think I'm going to die of embarrassment.

bravery

Nine dates in two weeks have me stymied. They're nice guys, they're interested. They're interesting. I just don't *like* them. Nothing, nada, zip. This track record is NOT normal. I'm average in the looks department, and flirt-ignorant. Divine intervention could spur such numbers, but no starry-eyed missionary would set such an unobtainable goal.

I haven't dated anyone for two years. Those who piqued my interest weren't piqued. No contact, Houston; we have a consistent lack of reciprocation, sides variable.

Enter a recent visit to my friend's apartment. We joke with roommates, with people a few doors over... While laughing, we're joined by a random individual from down the hall. He's funny. He's smart. He's charismatic. He can appreciate an impertinent sense of humor. And... I like him! I didn't think much of it in the moment, but I like him! Long story short, my friend bullied me into writing my name and number on a piece of paper, and pushed me toward his door.

I'll take this moment to interject: I'd like to find the right guy, I'm tired. I've also learned that you never have anything to lose. It's not like you run into random people again.


So, at 12:30a.m. I knocked on his door. I said, and I quote: "You're cute, smart, and funny; and you should ask me on a date." A proud moment in my life, if only for pride's sake. (Now THAT'S courage!) It seemed to go well. I'm waiting to see if he calls. (And a little scared). In any case, I think someone else might be giving me a hint... 9 dates is kind of a slap in the face. I'm trying, I'm trying.

bad.Packer.transcript

A supposed transcript of a talk given recently by President Packer has been circulating. The jist of it regards hard times we live in, and other "last day" comments you can imagine might be included.

While President Packer did attend the fast and testimony meeting and speak, these multiple versions of his thoughts have been taken from the notes of those present and distributed. Because of this, there are inherent problems you will find with any secondary source. The "transcripts" are not, in fact, transcripts. They are incomplete and imperfect. They are in the words of those that took rapid notes. President Packer has expressed concern about this circulation for obvious reasons. It's someone's incomplete interpretation of his talk.


This is what Church Public Affairs had to say about the matter.

* President Packer did indeed speak at the meeting cited.

* No official transcript of his talk was made and that the one circulating by email was typed after the talk was given and should not be considered to be authoritative.

On 13 May 2004 the First Presidency issued the following letter to all Church units and leaders:

"From time to time statements are circulated among members which are inaccurately attributed to the leaders of the Church. Many such statements distort current Church teachings and are often based on rumors and innuendos. They are never transmitted officially, but by word of mouth, e-mail, or other informal means.

We encourage members of the Church to never teach or pass on such statements without verifying that they are from approved Church sources, such as official statements, communications, and publications. Any notes made when General Authorities, Area Authority Seventies, or other general Church officers speak at regional and stake conferences or other meetings should not be distributed without the consent of the speaker. Personal notes are for individual use only."

This sort of thing has happened before. If you want to see what President Packer has to say on troubled times we live in, check out his conference talk. He spent a long time pondering, praying, and preparing what to say in General Conference this October. He spoke with the authority of an apostle of God. There also happen to be *perfect* transcripts and recordings of it. It's funny how those things worth most to us are overlooked, while trivial incidents are blown out of proportion.

If you receive a copy of the Forest Bend talk by email, please inform the person who sent it to you that it is spurious and should not be used.

If anyone is interested in the official church response to this you can hear a recording of the statement they have issued by calling either 240-2205 or 240-1000 and asking for extension 22833.

occasionally.i.sit

Occasionally I sit muttering to myself, half-heartedly scouring the internet for answers to complex problems and questions throbbing in my head. Late at night it seems that anything should be available... if only I knew where to look.

The answer to life, the universe, and everything may not be "forty-two", but I'm convinced earth is exactly what we need to figure it out, even if it's not really a super-computer. I'm just not very patient.

(10 points if you got the Douglas Adams reference)

the.helicopter.overhead

Subject: [*] The helicopter overhead‏
From: University Communications (univ-comm@BYU.EDU)
Sent: Friday, 10 of October, 2008 9:41:42
For: CURRENT-STUDENTS@LISTSERV.BYU.EDU

University Police would like the campus community to know that the helicopter buzzing our campus is not a threat.

The university has hired the helicopter to help with a film that is being prepared. Filming is scheduled to continue through today and Saturday.

We apologize for the disturbance.



Apparently scores of students on campus (those still around at 9:30 p.m. on a Friday night), were calling admins in a panic after having seen a sole circling helicopter over the grounds.

Odd moments in life make me smile.

mmm.mmm

Thoughts for the evening.

Licorice and ginger flavored altoids are superb, and even make water taste better. I wish they were easier to find.

Huh. if you find those rare altoids around town. let me know, eh? =)

greed.ambition.charity

This morning I was leaving one class for another, pondering greed. Our history class heard brief comments about this: during the 1600's a British philosophy of greed was significantly different from our view today: it involved the fact that recent years had shown justification of action in regards to what they saw as 3 sole motives: glory, love, and greed. As the 16th century was one of the bloodiest - filled with all sorts of warfare - many began to question the validity of glory and love as motivation. Greed seemed a less obtrusive and gory focus. I still can't fully wrap my mind around why they saw greed as positive.

What, specifically, would I place at the heart of greed? There are certainly many ways to define the little thoughts of life, and it's often in the definition and perspective of words that individuals dissent. Most of the discussions in which I have disagreed vehemently with other critical thinkers lead me to the conclusion that we are often either 1) without information or bias of information the other holds, or 2) define things differently; and hence occasionally argue opposite one another when we in fact have similar viewpoints. (I've had passionate conversations with others when we discovered things like this some time into the discourse. What a riot.)

What is greed? A desire for something? A motivation to acquire status, knowledge, or possessions? I've certainly always thought of it as excessive, something that negates the respect of others' rights to available or already held property or opportunity; I've seen it as selfish and covetous, even exploitative. Is there then a similar notion that doesn't necessarily involve egotistical avarice and neglect of one's fellow man? Ambition, perhaps?

When one strips language and labels (words) from the concepts learned since childhood, what is left? Isn't it the American dream to push and pry and pull oneself up? To make the most of whatever is available? If one's primary resource is will, and there are a seemingly unending supply of universities to educate, jobs to man, money to earn, and ladders to climb, what exactly is thoughtless about utilizing such favorable situations? Even when competition seems steeper in applying for positions, universities, programs, raises, grants and scholarships, teams, etc., possibilities seem numberless. So do the throngs of faceless individuals. We justify pushing to the top in our inability to process the exactness of all composite situations. (Does this make any sense?)

Sometimes I feel I'm standing in a crowded society that clamors: "we need the best of the best to roll this great world forward, we need the greatest minds in universities and workforces to study problems, lead us to solutions, and eventually help all the others that are less fortunate." The cry of progress hastens on. Ironically, in pushing forward individualistically without (supposedly) shutting-out the masses, we trod on those we seek to help. We're too busy seeking intangible solutions in a "world-view" to help the "one"s we come across. The opportunities are there. Everyone is on their own, and if some"one" isn't making it, they obviously lacked fortitude and desire.



We say that we regret our need to be exclusive. Sometimes. "We're sorry, we need the best. You see, there are a lot of people that have been left behind in this world, and we want the best available candidates in our exclusive institutions to address those issues. Eventually we'll have a solution... And... that solution will allow us to help you and yours." Maybe the solution is to find programs that help everyone. Some ambitious individuals that don't show malicious behaviour are still indifferent. Where's the summa cum laude of truth and honor in that?

the masses seem dehumanized.

our society is inattentive.

as individuals we become indifferent.

the one is lost.

Ambition and work ethic are charming, but charity will always come first in my book.