Random Pics

So I just realized today that I had a bunch of pictures in my camera that I hadn't put on my computer yet. I figure I would post some tonight. These are from like a week ago. I was walking to a meeting for LDS Communications Professionals in NY and had some time to kill before it started. I stopped and bought some new church shoes (I didn't even bring any out here because I somehow lost my cool one's and the only one's I had to bring were ones from my mission that are totally thrashed). And then I saw these kids skateboarding along this corner in the city. I thought I would take their pictures. Two of them are from Carolina and were just here in NY on vacation with their parents. Their parents were shopping or something at the time.

Additions to the Sidebar

There have been several "blogs of cool people" additions recently (and not so recently) to the sidebar that I should announce. They are as follows:

Do What?

(the blog of a dear friend and former co-worker)



Steno Pool
(the blog of a dear friend and former room mate)




Yo Adrienne
(the blog of a dear friend and former classmate)






Now, I feel as though I must post this disclaimer. The "Blogs of Cool People" sidebar is to direct you to (as it states) the blogs of cool people, not the cool blogs of people. That said, if the blogs of these cool people are not cool...I am sorry, but I deny any and all fault.

However, you would think that coolness would foster coolness so...chances are, there blogs would be cool as the people who write and publish them. If they are not, get on the case of the authors. I'm sure they just need a little encouragement. :)

Coney Island

So, several posts ago I wrote up a summary of what had been going on with me in New York. The past several posts after that have been slightly more in-depth info in regards to the content of that summary. This post is to continue that trend...

On Memorial Day I got to visit Coney Island with some friends. I was actually thinking that I would have to work. I'm glad I didn't have to, but I was totally prepared to and really didn't mind. I had left to St. George for the wedding on Thursday morning and had missed work that Monday because I felt like crap that morning. Haha, basically I worked a half day Tuesday and then Wednesday. Pretty pathetic, but hey...you do what you can right?

When I told my boss bye on Wednesday as I was leaving and reminded her that I wouldn't be back for the rest of the week she looked a little suprised. (I think she had forgotten our conversation about me leaving for the wedding). I felt bad, but not too bad considering I had made sure they knew in advance that I would be gone. They were hoping to pull me in on a project the next day. I needed some way to softening the blow of my absence. I told her that I would be back Sunday and would be able to help out with whatever they needed on Monday, but that I was told no one would be around because of the holiday. Someone said, "we might be."

"Ok," I thought. "If you need me Monday, I'm here." I needed to make up for lost time anyways. I have to have so many hours for my internship credit and I'm really not going to be learning anything unless I'm actually at work working.

You allready know the end of the story: I didn't have to work on Memorial Day. Instead, I went to Coney Island. However, I did have a late start getting out there (had to stop in and make sure they weren't going to call and want me to go work). So, I caught up with a small group of my friends later in the day there.

It was fun. I did the important things:

Ate a hotdog
Walked on the boardwalk
Touched the Atlantic
Saw a freak show (click here to see an illegal picture of the fire chick)

I didn't however:
ride any sort of roller coaster (that's something that everyone else did before I got there, and besides...I'm not that much of a roller coaster type of person. I mean...Silverwood is like right by my house, I've never been, and I'm totally ok with that. If I wanted to ride a wood roller coaster, I'll just go home to do it. No need to do that at Coney Island.)

All and all, it was fun: good times, with good people. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment.
View of the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park

Memorial thing in Battery Park


My Dad = Zimmerman George D. (close)

Coney Island Pics


Not the best pic of me, but it's classic. I'm eating a hot dog on Coney Island.

Cool building off the boardwalk

Same building, but this time I'm in the pic with two girls. :)

The end for now.

Celebrity Deathmatch: Google vs Excel

Google continues to expand, working closer and closer to achieving its ultimate goal of ruling the world. The company introduced a spreadsheet program yesterday that just might rival Microsoft's Excel.

Like many of google's projects, google spreadsheets are a work in progress. But hey, it's a free alternative to using Craposoft's Software. If anyone would like to try it out you best hurry. There are limited invitations to be one of the first to pilot the program. You can sign up to recieve an invitation here:

Google Spreadsheets

Keys to Getting Women

-Wisdom of Ty Hummon

1. Shut Up and Smile
2. Get the "caveman glow"
   i.e. have a manly hobby, something painful, can take a punch, can handle being a little bloody. (This shows that you will defend her, as well as yours and hers home)
   
3. Women are addicted to Romance, Love, Affection, and Intimacy
   
4. Women are addicted to Security, Safety, Stability, and Support
   
5. Must balance the white knight vs. the black knight
   "men they will marry" vs "men they will f***"
   

Las Vegas and old friends

So, during my short trip to St. George I was able to spend a little time in Vegas. In fact, when I first landed there on Thursday (the 25th, day before the wedding) I got picked up by EmmaLee and Bob who were down in Vegas picking up the tuxes for the wedding. They honored a request of mine that we eat lunch at In-N-Out. Oh blessed In-N-Out. It was marvelous. My only regret is that I only went twice during the trip. :)

After lunch, we had some time to kill before one of Bob's friends (another groomsman) flew in, so we drove up to the temple and I showed them around a little bit. I simply love that temple. Gorgeous.

The day after the wedding, I ended up driving back down to Vegas to return the tuxes and to drop one of the groomsman off at the airport so he could catch his flight back home. While I was there I thought...dang, I'm really close to one of my old areas. I should visit a couple people. Well, I dropped in on a couple member families and then as I was driving past the apt complex where I lived in my second area I drove past this one street and thought about one of my old investigators, Ty Hummon.

He had lived right down the street. That was so long ago I thought. He probobly doesn't live there anymore. In fact, I think I remember going by the house once before on a previous return visit to Vegas and no one answering the door. For some reason, I had the impression I should stop by and just see....so I did.

Turns out he doesn't live there anymore, but his old girlfriend was still there and she gave me his cell number. I called him right up as I was driving away from the house. To make a long story short, we met up later that day when I was back in Vegas waiting at the airport.
(see picture below)


It was so great visiting with him. As some of you may attest, I seem to have an ability to make friends fairly easily, but with Ty I find it even more intriguing how little time we spent as friends (a relatively short time during my mission), and how long it's been since we've been in contact (I think over 4 years) and yet...it's like we've been close friends forever and will be for just as long.

Before I close this post I think it appropriate to share with everyone a little bit of wisdom that Ty imparted to me at one point in our conversation. The following is a list of...well, lets see...how should I title this. Ah freak, it deserves it's own post.

EmmaLee and Bob's Wedding

I figure it only appropriate that we start this post with a picture of the bride and groom. It just so happens that this picture also contains Tracy (bridesmaid who caught the bouquet) and myself (groomsman who caught the garter). Hmmm...I wonder????

Little Talia outside of the temple with her princess hair. She's a cutie, even when she has her attitude face on (not seen in this picture).

Two of my favorite kids in the world: Tate (left) and Trey (right). They are EmmaLee's cousins, but it's like having two extra nephews just a couple hours away. Dang I miss my brother's kids.

Tate trying to get the most out of that can of silly string.



All and all it was a great wedding, I mean...what could be better than seeing two of your best friends married for time and all eternity in the temple of God. I'm very blessed to know both EmmaLee and Bob. Amazing people, amazing friends. I'm so glad that they found each other, and that I was able to make it back to Utah for their wedding.

Much Needed Update

I know, I know. I've really slacked of late on the whole updating my blog thing. A lot has happened since last I blogged and I feel as though it all deserves more that just a half @$$#d post or two so I'll do my best. We'll start with a synopsis and if I'm feeling up to it (it's really late) I'll go into greater detail in a separate post.

So....I'm better now. The antibiotics worked great.

Mooney, one of my old roommates, arrived in the Big Apple on the 21st and moved in with me. It's sweet rooming with him again, and he's been having some great experiences at his internship. We get to have story time every night, or morning...depending on when we fall asleep, get up, go to work, get home from work, etc.

Went to St. George last week for EmmaLee and Bob's wedding. It was great. I flew into Las Vegas (ah, Las Vegas). For those of you who don't know, I served my mission in Las Vegas so it has a very special place in my heart. :)

I got back to New York Sunday morning. A couple peeps (including Seth, Chateau, Mooney, and I) went to this ladies house up in Harlem after church and listened to some sweet live jazz.

Went to Coney Island on Memorial Day with some friends. Good experience. There was a possibility that I would of had to go into work that day, but I didn't. (Ah...the things I'll do happily as an unpaid intern.)

Stayed late again (this time with Dallas, another one of the interns).
The short answer: We basically saved the day.
The continuation of the short answer: The powerpoint presentation they had for this pitch/thing on Wednesday morning had all sorts of problems. I say "all sorts" because this is the short answer.

Stayed late on Wednesday night as well (this time with Becca), although not as late. This time we were mounting some pictures to foam core and cutting out stuff (meanial labor, but someone had to do it. Again, it was for a presentation happening the next day).

Today I bought a new pair of church shoes. After work a bunch of us interns met up for this LDS Professionals meeting thing. It was pretty cool. There were other members of the church who work in communications-type fields here in NY there and they talked about stuff. I've been meaning to buy a new pair of church shoes for awhile now, and as I was walking to this meeting
(I was plenty early) I saw a nice store that caught my eye. Went in, tried on some shoes, bought some shoes.

Now, I'm going to go to bed. I'll post pics of the wedding, coney island and stuff this weekend
(I promise).

Quick recap:

So lately I haven't been feeling my ultimate best when it comes to my health. I've had a sore throat for the past....well, I don't know...4 or 5 days, and just recently it started to really hurt. (I won't go into details.) Combine this with the fact that I kept repeatedly waking up the other night either freezing cold or burning up and I decided that my little sore throat might not have been so "little."

After a number of phone calls to Mom (allways my first call when it comes to advice on my health), BYU insurance, and a list of dr's out here in NY that "supposedly" accept some service provider that BYU's health insurance contracts through (lets just say there list isn't very up-to-date). The whole experience of setting up a freakin dr's appt sure was more difficult than it should have been. Especially when all I needed was for someone to diagnose whether or not I had strep and/or needed antibiotics. I ended up going to this little Dr's office just North of Central Park.

But, the good news is I DID see a Dr. today, and no it's NOT strep, but it was something else that I needed antibiotics for. Despite the office being pretty dang ghetto, the Dr. was great, he said...now, take two of these twice a day, take some tylanol if you have any aches or pains, it might be good to get some lonzenges for your throat, and don't kiss anyone. (sorry Ryan, looks like it will have to wait) (and sorry Becca, for having to deal with Ryan's comment. I'm sure you feel obligated now, which I'm ok with as soon as I'm no longer sick.)

Despite having to go to the Dr and having to fork out a nice chunk of cash for meds it was a good day.

some New York pics for ya'll

OK, so I know I haven't really put any pictures of New York up on my blog and I think some of you are a little annoyed...

Anyways, here are a few, and I do mean a few. You'll just have to be content with them right now.

This is a pic of where I get off the subway every day to go to work

These next two are of this cool sidewalk chalk art that Dallas, Becca, and I walked by on the way home from work one day. It's still there, which is kind of cool considering it's been like a week and we've even had rain. That is some powerful sidewalk chalk. You can see Dallas and Becca in this one.


Here's a pic of this cool ad on Time's Square

and this is the view from one of the office windows one of the nights I stayed a little late working on a project. That's NJ and the Hudson.


Anyways, I promise to take and post more pictures. Peace Out.

Ethiopian Food

So, tonight I went with a group of BYU interns to this little Ethiopian restaurant. It wasn't bad. But then again, it wasn't exactly what I would call good. I suppose if I was a really sarcastic kind of person I would say that it's no wonder all those little Ethiopian kids look the way they do. I wouldn't ever finish my plate if that's what was in front of me at every meal either.

All and all it was a "good experience." It was something new that I had never done before. (and probobly won't do again anytime soon) You ate everything with your hands and with this crepe-like tortilla (which was cool). Things tasted really vinigery.

Downstairs in the back where the bathrooms were they had this little room with comfy chairs and little tables and pillows and a door you could slide shut (must have been for special groups or something). I could just imagine all these Ethiopians in that room smoking away at a giant hooka as they all sit around on those little cushioned chairs and eat vinegery and spicey flavored lamb, chicken, and beef in little crepe-like tortillas.

Today I...

• spent close to 15 hours at the office
• rode in a taxi for the first time
  
• bought $65 worth of magazines from one of those little magazine shops on the street
• used someone elses credit card to do it
  
• cut out pictures for a collage
• walked in the rain without an umbrella
• read the Wall Street Journal
  
• ate chinese food out of one of one of those little boxes
• had the food ordered to the office
• googled my heart out
• listened to my ipod
  
• found out that according to BYU I'm technically not enrolled in my internship for credit yet
• added someone to my buddy list
  
• learned a new word
• watched the sunset (and it was amazing)
• talked to someone about the Church
• had a song dedicated to me
  
• harmonized to the song "Summer Nights" from the movie Grease
  
• stayed up talking to people and writing this blog entry instead of going to bed

First Impressions

So where should I start...I'm sure you have all been anxiously awaiting to hear about my first day in New York City, and I apologize for not posting sooner. Truth is, I was just so tired yesterday. Great canyoneering trip to Zion, late nights in Provo packing, red-eye flight over to NYC, etc, etc. All and all...I was a little worn out.

Anyways, let me just say my overall first impression of New York: I LOVE IT.

So...now that that's out of the way I guess I'll just go through my first day quasi-choronologically.

I landed in the JFK airport about 5:30 AM NYC time (for those of you in Provo, Utah that would be 3:30 in the morning, and for those of you up in good ol' Sandoint, Idaho...yeah, that's right...you were probobly sleeping seeing as how it was 2:30 AM your time.

so...back to my story. I got off the plane and road the airtrain to the the subway where I was able to buy my month pass which allows me to ride the subway as much as my little heart desires for a month...so exciting. I traveled the subway, luggage in hand, following the directions that my new roomate Kevin (whom at the time I had yet to meet) gave me via email a week ago and I had printed out the day before. It was great. Even after getting on one of my connections going the wrong direction. I was suppose to be traveling "uptown" or north, but somehow ended up on the 1 going "downtown." I kind of made the connection when they announced the next stop as being Wall Street. :)

Well, even after that marvelous episode, I arrived at my new apt safe and in one piece (and with all 3 pieces of my luggage: suitcase, duffel, and backpack). My first impression of the apt wasn't the greatest. I thought to myself..."wow, this place is ghetto." But my thoughts have since turned more positive.
**It's amazing what a broom, windex, and some paper towels will do. ;)

After arriving at the apt, meeting Kevin, getting keys, and taking care of some unfinished business back in Provo via email (I'm so glad this apt has wireless), cleaning my room a little, and taking a shower, I decided to go out and brave the subways once again (this time without my blasted luggage) to see about getting a bite to eat (it was like mid day and I still hadn't eaten much of anything) and also to see if I could find the agency where I would be interning.

parenthetical ( so that last paragraph is one heck of a long sentence, and never before have I seen so many parentheticals in ONE sentence ) end parenthetical

During my short little adventure, I just so happened to get onto the subway going the wrong way yet again. Dang it! But that's ok. No big deal. It kind of worked out great cause when I got off to cross the street and get back on going the other way, there was a McDonalds right there. Now, I know...I know...you all are thinking, "why the heck did he go eat at McDonalds! He's in NY for crying out loud!!!" Truth is, I was really hungry by this point and I didn't want to spend the time searching for a good place to eat, nor did I know where a "good place" was. I decided to play it safe for my first meal here and so...McDonalds.

I rode the train (and by train, I mean subway) down to Christopher Street and from there walked to 95 Morton Street where The Geppetto Group is located. It wasn't too difficult to find, once I found Morton street. :) I asked this one guy sitting outside a little restaurant on 7th if he knew where Morton street was...he didn't. But one of the two cops that were walking by as I traversed down Bleecker a couple minutes later did. Like I said, after that it was pretty easy to find. They are located on the top floor of this one office building (don't get too excited, the building I'm talking about is only 8 floors, however...a trophy tossed out the window at that height sure would do some damage to a passing pedestrian or vehicle. I say this not because it actually happened...although I suppose it very well may have happened. I say it because today during an office gathering/meeting/party/quest/thing) someone (I have yet to remember anyone's names although I think her name is Georgia) opened the window in the conference room and there are a number of tropheys sitting on the windowsill/counter thing that runs the length of the room. Needless to say, she agreed with me on the whole "damage" thing that one of those babies would cause should someone drop one out the window. She even suggested we try it out, but I think we got distracted or something so didn't get around to it.

Dang, I got on a tangent again didn't I? Let's see...where was I? Oh yeah, that's right...so I found the office and it's located on the 8th floor. But before I went in I decided to walk down to the Hudson River (it's only like 2 blocks away, and you can get a great view from Geppetto.) They weren't really expecting me to work yesterday and "technically" I'm not suppose to start my internship until I'm "officially" registered for the class (something that can't happen until I'm flagged for the class, and that can't happen until Rachel (the Senior Planner...my boss) signs this paper and faxes it back to BYU). Anyways, so I walk down to the Hudson and then walk a littlw ways along it...and low and behold, as I get to the other side of this pier...do you know what I see??? The Statue of Liberty! Granted, it was still pretty far away and so therefore kind of tiny, but I saw it in person for the first time! :)

OK, so back to Geppetto.

Rachel was at a meeting/convention/thing in Florida and won't be back until Thursday so I met with Alexandra (another one of the senior members of the planning team). She introduced me to a couple other members of the team and we chatted for a little bit. When she found out that I had arrived just that morning via the red-eye flight and that I had never been to NY before she was like, "What are you doing here! You should be home sleeping. Go home and unpack, sleep. If you don't come in at all tomorrow I'm ok with that. Go grocery shopping, go get familiar with the city, unpack, get settled. You rode the subway for the first time with all your luggage? You've never been on the subway before and you found your way here ok???"

She's great! I'm really excited to work with her. Everyone I've met at Geppetto seem really nice and they seem like really fun people to work with and be around. While working with Alexandra today on a project for LEGO I was thinking that I couldn't imagine a more perfect place for me to be. With my experience working in classrooms at Sunset View Elementary, TOPS at the Center for Service and Learning, or with 6th and 8th graders for BYU's Hands on a Camera...it just seems to be a perfecct fit since Geppetto focuses on working with younger kids.

I didn't stay very long yesterday but before I went I visited with Becca and Dallas for a little bit (two other BYU interns). It's cool having them there, and seeing as how small the agency is I'm sure we'll get plenty of opportunity to work together on projects.

So...after that short little visit I hopped back on the subway (this time going the correct direction). I stopped at 66 street and Broadway so that I could go into Barnes and Noble and pick up a book I'm suppose to read for my internship: "The Tipping Point," by Malcolm Gladwell. So far it's pretty good. I found out that Alexandra sees him a lot because he goes to the same cafe that she does. Maybe I'll go get him to autograph my copy of his book. :) Anyways, the NY temple is right there at the same stop as well. I didn't take a picture cause I didn't have my camera, but don't worry...I'll get some pictures for you all soon and one of them will definatley be the outside of the NYC Temple.

So, it's about time to close up this post...it is quite long as far as I'm concerned. To bring it all back to the opening bit and the title of this post I'd like to end with this:

After hanging out in Barnes and Noble for a little while I hopped back onto the subway to head home. At one of the stops some people got off and this guy in front of me (mid 20's, muscular, black, tough looking dude) sat down in the seat that was left vacant. Well, this little old hispanic woman got on and started talking to the other hispanic lady sitting next to this guy. (I say "little" because I think she could barely reach up and touch the bar up above that you hang onto to keep your balance once the train starts moving). Anyways, this gangster looking kid who just sat down asks her if she'd like to sit down, then says, "are you sure?" and then he just gets up and has her sit down in his seat. It was great. I nudged him and when he turned around I said, "Hey, that was really cool of you." He just smiled and said thanks. It was like I was in the middle of one of those "Pass It On" commercials. From what I've seen of NY...it's sure turning out to be a pretty cool place.

Give me your input

So, as you should all know by now. I'll be leaving for New York in about a week (and I still have a crapload of things to take care of before I go). This post if for you all to list things that I need to make sure I do, or see, or eat, etc, etc, etc. during my 8 week stay there. So please, help me get a list going:

"Morning"

Yet Another Sweet Video

Ok, so this is a video that my sister's boyfriend shared with me the other day, so as much as I'd like to take credit for finding it...I can't. But atleast I can take credit for being the one that shared it with you (possibly).

It is amazing! The entire thing was shot with a digital still camera and put together using stop-motion. I hope you all enjoy.

Here's the link: "Morning"

another good commercial: Berlitz

So last night my roommate showed me this funny commercial. I hope you all enjoy it.

quicktime link: Berlitz Commercial

google video: Berlitz Commercial

the good and not-so-good

The good of today:

• slept in
  
• bought a ticket to NYC
• got a 94 on my Business Management 340 final
• ate Thai food with friends
• met new cool people
  
• talked on the phone with my Dad and Mom
  
• helped wash a friends car
  
• rode my bike
• got pics of the apt i'm probobly going to rent in NY
• saw a super cute girl on campus
• got and read my current issue of comm arts magazine
• got an email from an old friend
• talked on the phone with a cute girl
  
• posted on my blog...twice
• had a great one-on-one chat with my boss
• deposited a couple checks (totalling to about $28)
  
  

The not-so-good:

• probobly slept in too late
  
• found out the room I'm renting in NYC is probobly UN-furnished :)
• didn't get a call from someone who was suppose to call me
  
• internet at my house didn't work for like 2 hours when I first got home
• had a slight headache midday (but it didn't last)
• still have one more testing center final to take
• which means i shouldn't go to bed yet, but should study for a little while

So....the good far outweighs the not-so-good....overall, it must have been a good day. :)

New York, New York

Well, some of you know by now about the contents of this post, but not all of you, and it's only right that I post about this sort of information so here goes (drum roll please).

At first I wasn't sure, but considering that I purchased my plane ticket this morning...I think it's ok to say it's official: I'm going to New York.

Yes, it is true. I will be flying out of Salt Lake late May 8th (Monday) and will be landing in the JFK airport in NYC early Tuesday morning. I will be there for about 2 months as an intern at Geppetto (a small, but stellar agency in Manhattan that focuses on marketing and communications targeted to kids and teens) doing Account Planning and basically soaking everything up like a sponge. I think my experience working with kids (BYU's Hands on a Camera media literacy program as well as TOPS, and working at Sunsetview Elementary here in Provo) will prove benificial to what I can bring to the table during my stay with Geppetto.

I'm really excited for this opportunity (and a little nervous and scared as well...heck who wouldn't be in my situation.) The whole thing really jumped on my lap unexpectedly, and I'm trying my best to hang on to things already set in motion and steer them slightly so as to arrive at a benificial place when all is said and done.

I'll be at Geppetto with two other interns from BYU (Becca and Dallas) whom I am so excited to work with. Of all the advertising interns in NYC this spring, I couldn't think of anyone better to work with (don't take offense Seth...I love you, and you know that...and you know that we are all gonna hang out and party). I've had a couple classes with both Becca and Dallas and last semester was able to work with Dallas on a commercial idea that he and his team came up with for Chris Cutri's commercials class. Good times, good times.

Anyways, that's all for now. I've still got finals to worry about, NY apt finding to finalize, Provo apt finding to finalize (for next fall sem), packing, planning, more packing, etc, etc, etc...so I'll keep you all informed as we go. Much Love!

PS - if you weren't the first person to find out about this whole NY business don't hate me...I wasn't positive that it was really happening myself until this morning when I bought my plane ticket.

68 vs 86-98

A short story that I hope you will find entertaining...

So today my friend Seth and I studied for our stats final together. We had planned to take the final at 8 tonight which would give us 2 hours to finish. We both thought that such an amount of time would be adequate considering previous tests in that class. However, when 8 rolled around we turned to each other and both agreed that neither of us were quite ready to undertake such a task...I thought of possibly taking the test Monday morning...but then, I really really really wanted to get it out of the way tonight like I had planned. I had not yet taken any of my finals and it would have been nice to get one out of the way today...also, if I waited till Monday I would have to recharge my short term memory banks once again. :(

We both decided that an extra 30 minutes would be most benificial to our study time and that would leave us, if not an ample amount of time in which to actually "take" the test, what Goldylocks might say "just right."

We were wrong. We actually didn't make it to the testing center 'till 9 (a fact which neither of us quite noticed until several minutes into the test), and when 9:30 rolled around I couldn't help but use my excellent math skills to realize that I would NOT finish by 10 (the time the testing center closes) at my current test-taking rate.

This was slightly disconcerting.

All said and done, the feeling of being rushed to finish a test (a final at that) is not one that I would wish upon anyone. Oh how I lament my decision to not wait until Monday. And yet all said and done...I suppose the end result was not that bad.
Having guessed on nearly half the questions I think a 68% is quite impressive. Especially considering the fact that if 40% of my answers were guesses from questions that involved 4 option multiple choice (giving me a 25% probability of choosing the correct answer)...lets see, if I do my math right...that means that of the roughly 40% i guessed on I would likely get 25% of that 40% right by chance...meaning of that 40% of the test I probobly got 10% right. (are you still with me???)

Ok, so lets subtract that 10% from my 68% score to see how I did on the 60% that I didn't guess on...

Ok, so that means I only missed 2% of the 60% I didn't guess on...basically giving me a 98% on the part I actually did!
Wow, way to go me!!!

What??? You don't think I did that well? Ok, well lets see how well I would have done if I only guessed on 30% of my test:

25% of 30% = 7.5% (meaning of the 30% I guessed on I most likely (according to probability) would have gotten 7.5% right)

so, 68% (my score) - 7.5% (the amount i likely was awarded due to chance guessing) = 60.5% (the score of the remaining 70% that I didn't guess on).

well 60.5 / 70 = 86

So even if I answered 70 percent of the test and only guessed on 30% (which...I'm pretty sure I guessed for more of the test than that...) I had aan 86% coming my way.

So...chances are...if I would have been able to actually finish the test without guessing for any part of it, I would have gotten a score somewhere between an 86% and 98% (considering i did as well on the rest of the test as I had on the portion of the test I actually did.)

and the moral of the story is:
Give yourself more than an hour to take your stats final.

Last Day of School?

So...apparently today was the last day of school...well, of the semester. I still have another year before I can actually say "the last day of school," and even then I can't really say that since eventually I plan on continuing my education. But seriously, today did not feel like the last day of anything (except maybe the last day I want to pull an all-nighter in awhile).

Well, I guess it wasn't a true all-nighter seeing as how I decided around 5:30ish a.m. that I should get a little shut-eye and therefore went to bed until I got up at 7:30ish to get ready for school. So, 2 hours of sleep really isn't that bad (I know that I've done much much much worse haha...and from the sound of some of my friends blogs...they've done a lot worse recently.)

Anyways, you got to love the power of a 24 oz. Rockstar and some snack food late at night. I could have easily gone without the 2 hour power nap at 5:30 in the morning.

So for what purpose did I stay up all night you might ask??? Well, among other things...I told my students (I'm a TA for an intro to film class) that I would have all of their weekly papers graded to give back to them by class today. Although I didn't get ALL of the papers graded, I think I did a pretty good job considering how many weeks I was behind. I've been so horrible at grading and getting papers back to my students in a timely manner this semester. (Let's hope my boss doesn't read this post).

Package

A package arrived for me in the mail last week from San Diego, California. I was going to post about it then, but just haven't gotten around to it. Seems that's been a regular thing for me of late:

• something happens in my life
  
• I think, "I should post about this."
• then I don't get around to it
• a week or two goes by
• then I think, "wow, a lot has happened that I should have posted about...but didn't because I was too busy.
• at this point I break down and even though I still have tons of things to do...I post about something.

That's what's happening tonight. I have plenty to do, but I just need to feel as though I'm doing something to keep up with my blog.

Anyways, back to this whole package that I recieved in the mail. It was actually the bracelet that I ordered from Invisible Children. (some of you were probably wondering what Jason's comment about my "cool bracelet" was all about in the last Invisible Children update I posted...well, that's what he was talking about.)

It was funny, because I'm kind of against the whole "bracelet thing." (let me explain). When the original yellow livestrong bands came out I thought, "wow, cool way for people to show support for an organization and support it financially as well." Then it seemed everyone had a bracelet...I mean, to the point where it makes me sick. I was really disgusted when I finally saw bracelets for LDS stuff like CTR and what-not. (nothing against choosing the right and all, but come on people!!! What are you saying by wearing one of those things. I mean, you can purchase the livestrong bracelet for like $1 and guess what? $1 of that goes to the Lance Armstrong Cancer Foundation. All these other bands with their different sayings are sold for like $5 and there's no telling where the money is going. (There are other bracelets out there that do stand for something such as the ONE campaign and such, but for all those other bracelets...) It's just a piece of rubber around your wrist with no more meaning than the words embossed across it...wait, I take that back. There is more meaning than just that. You are saying, "I'm following the crowd, I want to be cool, I'm a part of the marketing machine."

I don't get it. What started out as really cool and a way to express your support for an organization has become a part of the marketing machine and has lost its meaning. It's become just another fad. No longer is it a statement of what you support; it has become simply "trendy."

You can even custom order these bracelets with whatever saying you want. I'm tempted to order one that says something like "I [expletive] these bracelets," "these things are GAY," or something like that.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that "trendy" things are all bad. Heck, my favore pair of jeans could be considered very "trendy" by some I'm sure. It's just that it makes me sick when I see meaningless pieces of rubber around someone's wrist in an attempt to "be cool."

All that being said...yes, I ordered and just recieved in the mail a bracelet from Invisible Children. Why??? Because I think what's happening over in Ugandha is horrible. This bracelet serves as a reminder to me that wicked and horrible things happen in the world and that I need to do whatever I can to help my fellow brothers and sisters who are less fortunate than I am.











For everyone out there reading my blog...I hope you join me on the 29th for the Night Commute no matter where you are. It doesn't matter if you're not in Provo that night. Look up the closest city to where you will be on the 29th and sign up to be a part of something that will change the world.

If you want to know more about Invisible Children just go to the website, do a search of my blog, ask me about upcoming screenings of the film in Provo, check out their podcast, watch the trailers for the movie, check out Invisible Children Provo on myspace, etc.

Eagle Eye Live Cam

My mom just sent me this link to this site where you can watch a live cam of this bald eagle nest in Hornby Island, British Columbia. It's pretty cool. I watched it for a little while tonight. There are two eggs in the nest and the anticipated hatching dates are April 26th and 30th.
Check it out at here.
The quality of the video is actually really good especially considering it's being streamed from this little island up in Canada (amazing they even have such internet capabilities hehe).
Here are some screenshots I took of the webcam.

no title

My stomach churns...it's in a knot.
It's as if the butterflys of yesterday that before would occasionally come and go like the migrating monarch have now permanently made my stomach their home;
a giant tree with leaves of fluttering butterly wings.

Like the cave home of a million bats...
centuries of guano littering what once was a beautiful cathedral.
The fabulous rock spires of heaven and earth,
reaching toward each other in what seems like an eternally slow journey
now covered in filth.

The fluttering of butterflies has risen to my throat
and threatens to trigger me into vomiting.

A lump of fear, anziety, excitement, depression...
clotting in my throat because I stifle the words that would release them:

I love you.
No,
I like you.
Do you like me?
Would you like to go out tonight?
Can someone Please tell me how to make this feeling stop!

I stifle the words because of fear of rejection.
I stifle the words because of fear of acceptance.
No, not of acceptance....
Yes, because of acceptance.
How so?
I don't know
but the words ring true regardless.

What words
what phrase
what Word
can free me from these feelings,
will open up the wound that is my heart
and bleed from out my lips
and loose this from my throat
I Know not!

Be it found within the writings of men like Shakespeare
or perhaps the unsung ballads of the contemporary muses of sissy rock...
I know not.

How do i love thee?
Let me count the ways
in which my mind receedes back to thoughts of you
and the uncertainty of your reaction to such words
instills again within my throat this knot.

Oh heaven and earth be reached, "Peace be still"
my soul my heart but do not stop for reaching

Invisible Children Screening: Wed. April 12th

I know that some of you have been unable to attend any of the previous Invisible Children screenings. I know it's short notice, but there will be another screening Wednesday, April 12th at 7:30 in the JSB Auditorium.

Quote of the Day

This weeks quote comes from my dear friend Megan whom I will get to hang with every Tuesday and Thursday mornings next fall semester. Bring on Honors English baby!!!

"It's not sexual harassment if it's welcome!"

it's not me, it's you

My roommate (Jason) ran sound at his friend's senior media music recital tonight. He asked me like a week or two ago to help him out so I tagged along and helped set up sound equipment and stuff. Long story short, the recital was awesome. Laura Ostler put on a great show. When you get a moment you really should check out her myspace page and when you do...make sure you listen to "goodnight, sleep tight." I think it has become my newest favorite song.

Today, I was one of those kids...

You all know what I'm talking about. You see them requently on campus...the kids sprawled out on the floor against the wall in a hallway, curled up in one of the arm chairs on campus, or sitting at a table or desk...their faces plastered to the page of their open text book in front of them. Yes, today, I was one of those kids.

Tired

So...I just got home from a 12-hour long shoot at MPS (the LDS Motion Picture Studio). It doesn't really feel like 12 hours...but the last time I checked, 6 am to 6 pm was 12 hours.

I'm gripping on Tom Morrill's 419 project. Mucho fun, but I certainly am kinda tired now. All the shots we got today were on set on sound stage #2 (hurray for indoor shoots). When I helped on Justin's 419 about a month ago most of our stuff was outside...dang it got cold at times.

Anyways, we're shooting again tomorrow and call time is 6 am. I'd like to get some homework done, or go hang out with some people, but I think I might just go shower, eat something, and then go to bed. I dont' know. We'll see.

I heart gmail.

So today I was sending a press release I had written for work to the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News. I was typing up an email to attach the release to when I realized that the press release would probobly have more validity and such if I were to send it from my byu email rather than gmail.

Now, I really don't use my byu email for anything. I put it on resumes and other such things that I would want to appear more formal, but all emails sent to my byu address are forwarded to my gmail account, so I never even sign in to check my emails in that account or send anything from there.

So, you could see my dilemna. Here I wanted to send an email using my byu address since I felt it would come across as more professional, but there was no way I wanted to wign into my BYU account and type up an email using that email client. I voiced my opinion that it would be cool if you could send an email from another address using gmail. I said aloud that they should come up with that feature.

Well, I'm sure you would understand my suprise and rejoicing when a coworker and friend (Megan, I know you're reading this so why don't you just freakin leave a comment) told me that you could send emails from other accounts using gmail. Yes!!! "...and there was much rejoicing..."

Anyways, for those of you who would like to make such wonderousness a reality in your life. Here are the simple instructions from google. It's way easy:

How do I customize the 'From:' address on outgoing mail?
If you'd like your outgoing Gmail messages to display another one of your email addresses in the 'From:' field (instead of your Gmail address), just follow these easy steps:

Log in to your Gmail account.

Click 'Settings' along the top of any page, and then select the 'Accounts' tab.

Click 'Add another email address' in the 'Send mail as:' section.

Enter your full name in the 'Name:' field, and the email address you'd like to send messages from in the 'Email address:' field.

*Keep in mind that each time someone replies to a message you send using a custom 'From:' address, the reply will be delivered to the 'From:' address rather than your Gmail address. If you'd like replies to be delivered to another account, you'll need to enter a 'reply-to' address. Just click 'Specify a different reply-to address' to enter this information.

Click 'Next Step >>,' and then click 'Send Verification' to complete the process.

Gmail will send a verification message to your other email address to confirm that you'd like to add it to your Gmail account. You'll need to click the link in that message, or enter the confirmation code in the 'Accounts' section of your Gmail account, to complete the process. Once you've verified that you'd like to add the address to your account, you can start sending messages using your custom 'From:' address.

Tip: If you have a number of different email addresses, enter all of them in your Gmail account, and then select a different address to send each of your messages from, depending on what you're sending.

You can also choose to send all replies from the email address to which a message was sent.

Invisible Children: update

OK, so I just found out there's going to be another screening of Invisible Children this Thursday night in the Benson auditorium at 7:30pm. Please come. Even if you're not a student anymore (Jared and co.)
If you're reading this post and you're like WTF? What is Invisible Children??? Just scroll down my page cause there's a post not too far down there and you can read all about it.


Who: Cool People
What: Screening of Invisible Children
Where: Benson Auditorium (BYU campus)
When: Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Why: Because everyone should be aware of what is happening in our world.

Quote of the Day

So...I was just kickin' it in the Wilk today with my friend Anna and she said the following:

"Broccoli is like a wonder food; It has tons of vegetables in it!"

How it went

So...I know it's a little belated, but I figure I'd better fill ya'll in on how Friday went. As can be seen from the comments on my previous post (Update: Pace, this one's for you), Jared's date for Friday fell through. Luckily he was able to find someone else to go with him (otherwise that would have been a waste of two tickets, and what use to be a group date of 10 people would have become a double date with Luke and I and our dates.) There was one change however (besides the person Jared was taking), Jared's new date couldn't leave Provo until 6:30 (the original plan was to leave at 5:30, eat in Salt Lake at this cool restaurant Jared was telling me about, and then go to the opera which started at 7:30). My date was still planning on me picking her up at 5:30.

Well, after brainstorming as to what my options for the evening were, I opted to stick with 5:30. I informed my date (we'll call her "S") of the new plans:

5:30 I pick her up and we eat someplace here in Provo
6:30 We meet Jared at his place and carpool to Salt Lake
7:30 We enjoy Mozart's "The Magic Flute."

I asked if that was ok with her and she said (and I quote), "Sure!"

So, it went just like that. I picked her up at 5:30 (well, actually more like 5:35) and then we went to Thai Ruby's. We met up with Jared at his place at 6:30 and then went to pick up his date and then we were off...only one thing....traffic to Salt Lake was not so good, and we ended up arriving to the Capital Theater several minutes late. :( It wouldn't have been too bad because they have this little place where people can walk in and sit in the back until intermission and then they can go to their seats...only, there wasn't even standing room in that little area (apparently a lot of people were late) so we had to watch the first part of the opera in the foyer on the TV monitor. :(

Truthfully, I was slightly embarrassed and annoyed (i don't think those are the right words, but they're the only ones I could think of right now) at the fact that we had to stand out in the foyer...mostly, more for the fact that S had to stand in the foyer.

I will take a moment to digress here...
I don't know how most boys feel, but I feel as though when you are on a date with a young lady, it is your responsibility and duty to see to it that she: is safe, comfortable, and enjoys herself.

The fact that we were late and had to watch part of the opera while standing in the foyer certainly makes your job of keeping her comfortable and making sure she enjoys herself a little more difficult.
I guess I really was just "worried" that I was failing in my job of being a good date more so than being embarrassed and annoyed.

That said, we shall return to the story...
So, suprisingly the whole standing out in the foyer experience wasn't that bad. I did feel a little annoyed and sad for two other girls who were also at the opera: They too had arrived late and were standing in the foyer with their dates. Then one of the boys said to his date, "we're thinking we'd rather go to Barnes and Noble or something until intermission...would you rather do that?" His date (a girl from my ward actually) said that she would rather stay and watch the monitor so she knew what was happening after intermission...I thought at first, that was nice of him to give her another option...but then he and the other girl's date totally left them...does anyone else find this strange (unless maybe they are serious boyfriend and girlfriend). S and I talked about this brieftly as we stood there and I'm glad that we both agreed on this matter.

Fast forward ---> the opera was great (all except for the fact that the Queen of the Night had some difficulty hitting several of her high notes). On the way home, S mentioned several times how enjoyable the evening was (this came as a comfort considering our earlier tardiness.)

We drove back to Provo and I took S home to her apartment.

All and all, it was an enjoyable evening.

Invisible Children

So tonight I went to a screening for a rough-cut of this film, "Invisible Children." Can I just say, that if you think you have it tough...you don't. We are so blessed to live in this country. It truelly is the promised land.

I don't even know what it is I want to say in this post. I'm having difficutly coming up with the worlds, so if I sound like a completely uneloquent idiot...well, I apologize. I don't even know where to begin.

This film was so powerful. There are parts in it that are rather disconcerting and make you feel uncomfortable...and rightly so! You should feel a little uncomfortable: that feeling of discomfort is you telling yourself that what you're seeing, the story that's being presented to you...it's not right. No human being should have to undergo such trail, pain, and suffering.

The film was created by three college-aged kids from California. It documents some of the struggles that plague the people (and especially the kids) of Uganda. I will attempt to give you a brief, yet comprehensive summary about the story the film deals with.
There is a rebel group in Uganda that abducts kids (mostly from age 5-15 I think it was), brainwashes them, and makes them join there army.
These kids are subjected to watching there friends be killed, beaten, raped, and dismembered. They are beaten themselves and told that if they do not fight for the rebel army, they will be killed and tortured. The kids are brainwashed and taught how to kill. For those that do escape, integrating themselves back into society is difficult. They have been scarred by what they've experienced, but also...many times, they are forced to kill their own family members (cousins, borthers, sisters). If they do escape, many of them have no family to go to, or their family has disowned them.

Every night in Uganda, thousands of children leave there homes and walk into town to sleep because they are afraid that they will be abducted during the night like some of their friends.

There is so much more to be said about the background of what's going on that I can't really talk all about it here. I hope everyone who reads this takes the time to go to this website and see what I'm talking about. There's a trailer for the video and a bunch of other stuff to check out.

There are plans for future screenings of the film, and I will attempt to keep you all posted if you would like. Please take the time to check out their website and read a little about what's going on in Uganda with these kids. They need your prayers, they need your time, they need your voice.

Haha...I was quoted.

So, some of you know that last year I was involved with a media literacy project at BYU called Hands on a Camera. It was a great experience. I went with several other BYU film students to Cherry Hill Elementary in Orem, Utah and taught a class of 6th graders for a total of about a month. We talked to them about the concept of media: what it is, how it affects the way we view different cultures/races/genders, etc...we also talked about community: what is it, and how is media a part of it, and/or change how we view it, etc...we talked about the different tools media creators use to communicate messages (whether implicitly or explicity).

One of the coolest parts of the project was the fact that each of the kids were able to make there own 3 minute documentary about themselves and their community.

All and all, it was a very rewarding experience. I could write more (the above summary wasn't the greatest), but I don't feel like expounding any more than that at the moment. If you want to know more, feel free to go to this link.

Haha...the real reason why I was inspired to write this post was because I did a google search on my name, and on the first page I found a link to this BYU website that quotes me talking about the project....I thought it was funny that I had been quoted on this site and didn't even know it. Check it out.

PS - I'm working on the project again this year, but this time my group is teaching the unit to a class of 8th graders in the Alpine school district.

My Big Modeling Debut.

Perhaps some of you have seen my beautiful face on posters in the Wilk. For those of you who don't find yourself on campus or in that building on a regular basis, i thought I would allow you the opportunity to partake.

Quick Update: Pace, this one's for you

Pace, this one's for you. So, a very quick update on my personal life. It's late and I still have home work to do before I can go to bed.
Today I got the phone number of a nice looking young lady and plan to ask her out sometime next week when my life is slightly less busy. She seemed excited about the prospecct, but we shall see. Her and I have talked a couple times, and to make a long story short...we see each other in passing and wave all the time.
Also, this Friday I have a date with another nice, and attractive young lady. We are going to the opera in Salt Lake with several other couples. It should be enjoyable.
That's all for now.
Funny thing is...this post will probobly make Pace more upset than satisfied, but too bad. That's all you're gonna get for now my friend. Just know that yes, I am dating. I have a social life. :)

The Care Bears?

Do you remember those cute little bears from your childhood? Cheer Bear, Wish Bear, Share Bear, Grumpy Bear?
Well, a friend from work just recieved an email from a friend with a link to this picture from a Gummy Bears package from...I believe it was Portugal, but I'm sure that's wrong. Anyway, here is the pic. Let me know what you think. Are any of you concerned?

I'm assuming they mean for that to read Rapper Bear???

Blogshares

So, Ryan got me to sign up for blogshares. Here's a little introduction to what blogshares is from their website:

"BlogShares is a fantasy stock market where weblogs are the companies. Players invest fictional dollars on shares in blogs. Blogs are valued by their incoming links and add value to other blogs by linking to them. Prices can go up or down based on trading and the underlying value of the blog. No actual ownership of blogs is transfered. BlogShares is purely a fictional marketplace."

According to blogshares my blog is worth over a million dollars. :)

New Feature

I just added a new feature to my blog. Maybe you've noticed in the sidebar this sort of message board thing (also known as a shoutbox). I figure it would be a good way for people to leave general comments about my blog and stuff. You know, when you want to leave some sort of comment, but what you have to say really doesn't fit with any of the posts. Well, now there's a place for you to put such comments. I hope everyone enjoys the new feature. Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions.

"Hauru No Ugoku Shiro" directed by Hayo Miyazaki

Tonight I saw Howl's Moving Castle at the dollar theater with my friends Jared, Adam, Emily, and Jenn. It's late and I have to get up early tomorrow so this post may be a little short...who knows, I usually end up staying up way late when I say stuff like that. I just wanted to put up a post tonight before I went to bed.
For those of you who ever saw the movie Spirited Away, Hayo Miyazaki also directed that film.

Now, I know what some of you are thinking...so let me just say this: "get over it." Yes, this movie is what you might refer to as "anime." Your initial thought might go something like this: "Anime is stupid, and weird. I don't understand it. It's just some lame cartoon."
For those of you whose thought process stops at that...I am sorry for you. You are the kind of person that will probobly get along in life just fine thinking that you are completely comfortable with what you have now and what you know now. You will continue to order the exact same sandwich from the exact same restaurant for the rest of your life and who can blame you...it's a tasty sandwhich, but I hope that at some point in your life you will take the time to step outside your comfort zone just a little. Cross some boundaries, and look for beauty and truth in a world that is new and perhaps a little (or a lot) foreign to you.
Howl's Moving Castle is a great opportunity for you to cross some borders and find some beautiful truths about life.

Allow me to leave you with two of my favorite quotes:

"You'll be the same person five years from now except for the people you meet, the books you read, and the risks you take." (I would interpret "books you read" as "media you consume," which would include music, poetry, films, etc.)

"If there is any truth in heaven, earth, or hell, I want to embrace it, I care not what shape it comes in to me, who brings it, or who believes in it, whether it is popular or unpopular. Truth, eternal truth, I wish to float in and enjoy." (John Taylor, Journal of Discourses, 1:155.)

see the trailer | official website | imdb