Tuesdays with Muerte

In 1970, The Carpenters released their hit album, Close to You . In 2003, the album was ranked number 175 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The song I love most on the album is " (They Long to Be) Close to You ", the duo's first blockbuster hit. Here are some neat song facts and a playable version of the song. Interesting fact: Richard Chamberlain, of Camelot, was the first to sing this song. Here's what Wikipedia has to offer. Not only is this song popular in the US, but it is also a sensation in most Asian countries. When I was in China, Stef and I hit up this great karaoke bar with some complete strangers and guess what their favorite song was . . . you guessed it, "Crose to You". I can still remember the first time I really appreciated this song; it was while watching a Korean movie I had checked out from Clean Flix (before they were put out of business) back in 2005. The title was So Close ; it was abou...

If you are not yet a parent : When your kids approach the age at which they will begin to have questions that they'll probably not want to come to you [a parent] for –– reveal to them that you have prepared really cool and witty "talks" that they will totally miss out on if they don't ask you. This tactic is literally designed to drive your kids nuts if they choose not confide in you. That is, unless you really are THAT uncool. If you are already a parent with kids approaching that awkward age : Just tell you kids that you have "talks" already written and prepared that they'll miss out on if they don't ask. Then take a day or two to "try to find them" in your disorganized pile of work papers and old college research. Meanwhile, ask you wife what to say. *This post was inspired by the Dirty Magazine Scene of the TV Series, Everwood , Season one, Episode 21.

Have you heard of KINGS ? I hadn't until this week. I watched the premier without recommendation or even knowing anything about the plot. About 15 minutes into it I was like, wait just one second; I KNOW THIS STORY. It was a modern telling of the bible story of David and King Saul. This show has excellent prospects! My only fear is that the analogy will go over the public's head and the show will be dismissed as an "under-appreciated drama" after the first season. Golden Globe winner, Ian McShane, offers a clue as to the origins of the show in this interview clip. But as you will soon see, producers could do A LOT more to communicate the message that this show is framed in a biblical context. (You can't even tell the slightest bit from the preview ad above!) Even professional critics aren't getting it! See reviews . I could have have this, so I recently sent the following feedback into NBC: "Kings has terrific potential. Anyone who says otherwi...

Too many great shows shows go out the backdoor because of poor marketing: TV Shows that were Axed Too Soon Firefly September 2002 – December 2002 (This canceling was one of TV's greatest tragedies.) Arrested Development November 2003 - February 2006(I have no idea why this show didn't catch on. It's just as funny as The Office. Too many gay-Tobias references?) The Middleman June 2008 - Sep 2008 (Best script I've ever read) Ed October 2000 - February 2004 (Tom Cavanagh - This actor cracks me up!) Pushing Daisies October 2007 - ? (BRILLIANT. Absolutely brilliant.) Love Monkey April 2006 - May 2006 (This show introduced me to Teddy Geiger's music) Drive Friday April 13, 2007 – April 23, 2007 (Nathan Fillion. Enough said. This show is a car race across America. The show was canceled before we learn the backstories of most of the drivers, the motivations of those pulling the strings or, most importantly, who won.) Everwood Sep 2002 - June 2005 (Shout out to Brittany...

Since posting on Shadenfreude , I now see it everywhere I go. . .

My immediate family was confined to our apartment in Socialist Indonesia. A curfew was imposed at 8pm because the government had to do carpet and street cleaning. We were frightened. We were always frightened. We stayed up playing the longest game we knew of--Phase 10. I saw a girl through her apartment bay window on the opposite side of the complex. She was beautiful and fun. I tried to get her attention for the rest of the night (without being noticed by the military patrols) to no avail. I escaped the next morning to sing to her. She drove away on the back of a moped. I requisitioned my own and tried to follow through heavy traffic. They pulled a bait-and-switch by doing tricks off of a turned over ambulance in the middle of the road. I passed them not wanting to be identified, but when I pulled back around and followed them for a few more blocks, I realized that the driver had picked up a new passenger and the girl I was following was gone. When I realized this, I pulled off t...

At first, I found it ironic to present such serious opinions about the earth's sustainability through the medium of a webcomic. But after reading this grad student's conclusions, it seems only fitting to make our current, global, sociological condition into a joke.

Hey guys. I hope you're having a peaceful and responsible St. Patties Day! Be CAREFUL of going green today. There may be unexpected consequences. ---------------- Listening to: Dialogue - Nap Pulls Kip Return

This past weekend was spectacular. After enjoying The BYU National Dance Sport Championships on Friday night with my good friend Wussle, the following night, I had the honor of supporting my cousin Rebecca Marie Tanner by cheering her on at the 2009 Miss Spanish Fork Scholarship Pageant––the very first pageant I've ever attended. She was wonderful! Rebecca stayed cool and confident even under the bright and distracting lights flashing all over the stage. It took incredible courage for her to appear in front of the entire community modeling a swimsuit. What was the purpose of that again? To see if you can maintain a smile whilst enduring the most embarrassing 45 seconds of your life? I can't imagine! That must have felt like an eternity. Rebecca also demonstrated tremendous poise and concentration when the stage lights essentially went out during the middle of her talent showcase. As her fingers were flying up and down the keys of a grand piano, the stage all of a sudden...

(Be sure to ENLARGE this picture) Saturday night, I had the good fortune of attending the most happening Pi Party in Provo! It was hosted by apartment 314 by my beautiful and gifted friends Riz and Manda. There were pies of EVERY assortment; I tried them all. (Cell Phone Magic) My Two Highlights of the Night 1. Cherry Chipotle Pie - Have you guys tried that stuff?! You can see it in the picture above; it's the one in the plate the guy is holding. While eating it, I imagined it was similar to drinking burbon from a bottle! HOT, HOT, HOT!!! Hands down, the most unique pie I've ever tasted. Thanks Lundy. 2. Guitar Hero: World Tour - As the night progressed the crowd was hard pressed to find willing band members. At one point, I performed [unsuccessfully] the roles of both the lead guitar and vocalist. The song was an edited version of "Santaria" by Sublime. Confident, since I recognized from an 8th grade Spanish class back in 1996, I placed my empty water cup ...

1. House Prices Compared: What USD $500,000 Buys Worldwide. After looking at some of these, I kind of wish my parents had moved to Thailand. ( Link ) 2. Google Search Strategies. Invest 10 minutes now and try some of these techniques out and save yourselves hours in the future. ( Link ) 3. TIME Magazine's Top 10 Google Earth Finds - The 10th one is the lost city of Atlantis, so you know #1 has GOT to be good. . . ( Link ) 4. After taking a virtual tour of this "5-star Prison", I was just wondering what crime I could commit that wouldn't harm anybody but would still land me 2-5 years. ( Link ) 5. In Soviet Russia, you don't play tetris, TETRIS PLAYS YOU!!! ( Flash Game ) ---------------- Listening to: Jack Johnson - Never Know

Do you struggle when tearing aluminum foil? Do you have difficulty keeping the roll inside the cardboard container while you are tugging at it? Well, I have good news and BETTER news! Good news: You are not ALONE! The entire population of aluminum foil users struggle with the same problem. (Doesn't that make you feel better!) BETTER NEWS: Every container of aluminum foil or cellophane that I've seen has finger-holes on either side of the box that say, "PUSH IN TO LOCK HERE." Once those tabs are pushed in, they hold the roll in place inside the container while they pull a desired length of product with the other hand. You never have to worry about the roll escaping from you and unraveling across the kitchen floor! However, One day, when I have enough money that I don't feel the need to sell plasma at the local center, I am going to spring for the plush "Sheets" of aluminum foil. That way, I will never have to worry about those pesky r...

This video is a favorite of the Ford family. They showed it to me and Stef when we spent the night up there a few months ago. I think Sarah enjoys it the most. Germans have a word for this type of humor: Schadenfreude Definition : – noun : satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune. - Origin : 1890–95; Schaden harm + Freude joy See the following links for various pronunciations : * Schadenfreude * Schadenfreude * Schadenfreude * Schadenfreude * Schadenfreude Online Chat Example : _____ @blackbart: lol this guy was showing me his new phone at work the other day @blackbart: so while i was looking at it i changed his contact entry for his dad to my number @blackbart: just got a call from him and answered with “hello son, i dont love you and your adopted” @blackbart: cant stop laughing _____ More Real-life Examples of Schadenfreude : --------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you laughed or even smiled at any of this, you just ex...

Sports can be very dangerous! Click on each pic to feel the FULL impact. "Oh no you di'int , Iverson! You did not just pull a Pistol-Pete on me!" "I'm tired and you're boring. Let's end this." "Kamakazi!!!" "Ummm... 'scuse me? UR in my personal space." "Oh, GOOD GRAVY! That's the sweet spot! You win. You win." "Homerun?" "That's it baby! You did it! I'm so excited; I WANT YOU TO KNEE ME IN THE CROTCH! YEAH--OUCH!!!" ---------------- Listening to: Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting

You may have just become the 1000th visitor to this blog! Granted, my lame hit-counter is incapable of recognizing unique visitors. In fact, I am probably responsible for at least half of those 1000 visits. BUT 500 IN LESS THAN A MONTH AIN'T TOO SHABBY!!! Thank you everyone for your continued patronage :)

Some of you have expressed curiosity regarding what goes on inside my mind [mein kampf]. Well, hopefully this post will offer a view into that dark recess that is, my conscious mental activity. Generally speaking, I pay attention during my church meetings. Whether I'm closing my eyes or reading scriptures at that moment, I am simultaneously listening to the speaker. When I hear something noteworthy or that evokes a memorable thought of my own, I'll write it down. Today, however, I wrote pretty much everything down. What follows next may appear to be a random collection of thoughts, but in reality it is a chronological list of conscious thoughts from today's Sacrament Meeting: * I feel so blessed to have found another congregation meeting for sacrament meeting with such ease. I was afraid I would have to walk all over campus to find one. [The moment I walked into the BYU Richards Building, I saw two open doors leading into a dance studio that doubles as a sacrament mee...

Sacrament Meeting 20 minutes in The girl seated directly in front of me will NOT stop playing with her hair! I'll bet she messes with it every 30 seconds! It's distracting the heck out of me. [I proceed to make a record of the intervals between times she messes with her hair over a 5 minute period.] What defines messing with hair : - The single head shake (throwing head back to one side only). - The double head shake (throwing head back from side to side). - The Flip (throwing the hair behind the shoulder with the backside of the hand.) - The Swing (returning the hair to the front of the shoulder with the swing of the head). - The fro pick (running fingers through her hair as if they were comb prongs). - The Spaghetti Maker (holding ponytail in one hand while the other hand touches finger-to-thumb around the head of the ponytail and traces the circumference of the length of hair. This process can be repeated one, two or three times.) - The Rinse (c...

The topic of WEIGHT has been speratically cropping up around me for the past week. This ongoing conversation came to a climax Thursday night when a group of friends and I decided to go apartment hopping to weigh ourselves on various scales. In an effort to relieve the potential anxiety that some in the group may feel when they get around scales I said that I felt uncomfortable with our scale-hopping plan, but they just laughed and thought I had to be joking. "You've got nothing to worry about, Bro, lol." Everybody jokes when it comes to the subject of weight (except for those who are serious--you don't mess with those people). But underneath all the smiles and "I don't care"s, seeing those three and sometimes four digits (if the scale has a decimal point) deeply affect us both mentally and spiritually. Those two then affect what we choose to do physically. For example, let's say that I weighed 117 last time I got on a scale. I would natur...

Here is just one, 20-minute clip of a religious panel of Harvard students discussing their respective beliefs. Each of these Harvard students did a great job. I enjoyed listening to each of them share their beliefs. Rachel Esplin, the third panel member eloquently fielded questions regarding an assortment of specific LDS topics such as: General religious background and how that interacts with her life. Missionary service. Religious discrimination/confrontations (cult?) Anti-Mormons and inequality of women (Priesthood). Who was Joseph Smith and what does he mean to you? How to know the truth? Who is Jesus Christ? Temple garments and secret covenants. Will you marry a Mormon? Only 20 years old, Rachel represented the Church with honor while still showing deference towards other Christian and non-Christian faiths. Well done Rachel. After I watched these terrific clips and wrote my synopsis, I just found another LDS blogger who did a much more thorough job writing ...