Tuesdays with Muerte

BYU-Idaho's top choral group performed  The Heavens' Flock in the SLC Tabernacle during Music & The Spoken Word last Sunday. I was incredibly moved by the Christian message by the non-Christian poet, Paulann Petersen. In the piece, the poet lauds the stars in the heavens, which obediently graze across the sky like animate beings, never straying. The poet, lost and wandering herself, enviously emulates the Great Shepherd's celestial flock by building a makeshift fire of her own made of gathered  "lichen" and "branches" and "twiggy clatter" . I loved the inferred metaphor of the collected "earthfood" to stoke the poet's internal fire. To me, her gathering efforts represent mortal obedience and sacrifice—the fuel of my own discipleship. Like the poet, though my fire is far from a constant, celestial blaze, my feeble attempts to be a light are seen and appreciated by my God, the Creator of all. LYRICS Stars, you ar...

Origin of Under Armour's 'Rule Yourself' Campaign Adam Peake, executive vice president of global marketing for Under Armour, said: "The concept of the ‘Rule Yourself’ campaign is simple — you are the sum of all of your training.  "It’s the only way to get better, and it’s the common thread that unites each of our all-star athletes around the globe,"  "We also want to give them that extra inspiration to improve everyday, to keep building their inner army and to stay focused on success even when the going gets tough." Source How I Got Hooked My obsession with the UA brand began two weeks ago when I saw this  Phelps' 'Rule Yourself'  video on facebook. Phelps' re-energized and whole-hearted commitment to his craft inspired me. I say "re-energized" because I didn't always view Phelps as 100% committed. Similar to Tom Cruise's character Maverick in Top Gun , Phelps re-engaged, despite temporarily losing...

Background In celebration of International Women's Day (March 8th, 2016), I dedicated some time to reflecting on my beliefs surrounding gender equality. According to popular feminist pundits, a feminist is anyone—male or female—who is in favor of gender equality. For me, identifying as a feminist was just another way of saying I rejected bigotry. I championed the idea that feminism  meant gender  egalitarian , and I believed that any decent person should believe in equality between the sexes in terms of political, economic, and social power. I am grateful for the courageous generations of liberal feminists who have fought for women's rights to do things like own property, wear pants, vote, and go to college. I'm especially grateful for the industrial feminists during WWII who proved that women were capable of factory work and paved the way for other social equality. However, modern feminism is different kind of beast. I've discovered that feminism today is...

The Martian by Andy Weir My rating: 4 of 5 stars Basically, The Martian = Apollo 13 + Cast Away. What a page turner!  I enjoyed reading it even after watching the movie.  (Now I want them to write a play so I can go see that!)  I didn't give it 5 stars was because—despite the realistic scenarios and elaborate math validating every action taken throughout the story—my disbelief was never fully suspended.  When I give 5 stars, it's because I was able to lose myself in the story; when I have become one with the narration.  Perhaps Weir's style of writing was too fast paced for me.  Perhaps my mind didn't have time to struggle with the problem before the solution presented itself.  I think due to this and other factors I never fully became Mark Watney, the protagonist. Re: Language — Weir's use of swearing didn't bother me because I recognized that Watney was from Chicago, not Provo. Personal lessons learned: I had hoped that by r...

Reaction Two years after its theatrical release, I finally got around to watching Jonny Depp in  Transcendence . Waiting for the new-release excitement to die down was a good decision.  Transcendence  is one of those films that causes you to leave the theater disappointed. But as time goes by, the ideas from the film burrow deeper and deeper under your skin (in a good way). Immediately after my viewing of the film, I jumped online, eager to see what conversations were going on relating to the themes and questions addressed by the film. I opened the first three discussion groups I could find, read the first few review titles, and felt instantly dejected. Overwhelmingly, critics ranted about how the film failed to meet their entertainment expectations. With the all-star cast and killer trailer building up anticipation since 2012, these film buffs wanted a blockbuster—a Hollywood  sci-fi—not what they got—a true sci-fi (which happened to have expen...

"What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart." — In the bleak midwinter  BY CHRISTINA ROSSETTI WOW! These videos are incredible! For the past 12 days, these amazing, LDS YouTubers have inspired us with their respective gifts for the King of kings. I invite you, as you watch a few (or all) of these meaning-filled videos, to think about what it is they all have in common. Consider what makes a gift a  good one. Then, after coming up with a few ideas, ponder on what you could do  to add your gift to theirs. Then do it. Without further ado, I proudly present 2015's 12 Days of Social #ASaviorIsBorn! O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL - Jenny Oaks Baker (DEC 1) UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER DANCE PARTY! -  Ellie and Jared  (DEC 2) THE FIRST NOEL  - Gardiner Sisters  (DEC 3) AVE MARIA - Lexi Walker & Lyceum Phi...

Synopsis The six-person crew of a derelict spaceship awakens from stasis in the farthest reaches of space. Their memories wiped clean, they have no recollection of who they are or how they got on board. The only clue to their identities is a cargo bay full of weaponry and a destination: a remote mining colony that is about to become a war zone. With no idea whose side they are on, they face a deadly decision. Will these amnesiacs turn their backs on history, or will their pasts catch up with them? ( IMDB ) Backstory Produced in Canada,  DARK MATTER was  syndicated by the U.S. Syfy channel, June 15th, 2015, and was made available on Netflix just 2 days ago. September 28. The show has quickly accrued more than a cult following. Wikipedia reports 1.28 million views of the pilot, just in the U.S. Its popularity is no surprise since the script was written by the same folks who did Stargate. Personal Review While lacking the blockbuster budget, effects, and drama of Ba...