Demotivators (Part 2)

So I couldn't get enough of these so I decided to post another five.

Demotivators (Part 1)

Yes, these are exactly what you didn't want to see. I got a couple of good laughs out of these. To see more, check out the Demotivators Website.

Rhetorical Notes

General Conference is a great arena for rhetorical analysis. In fact, the importance associated to each of the prophetic messages gives us strong motivation to analyze and evaluate.

Each speech inspires and teaches us in different ways. Tone, presentation, oratory eloquence, +

What the ethos?

Say what? When I first heard the word ethos I had absolutely no idea what my English teacher was talking about. It seemed like some crazy word that people make up in order to veil what they really mean. Ethos later came to mean the moral character, or credibility of an author. This made much more sense to me.

Whether we realize it or not, the world is full of ethos in so many different ways. Public speakers need to build up their reputation with an audience in order to be the most effective. Writers need to target their audiences in ways that are insightful and wise. When a person has no ethos with us we simple disregard their comments as useless or dumb. Ethos is everything. What many people label as their "reputation", "legitimacy", or "character" is just another way of saying their "ethos." If you take away a person's positive ethos, their arguments no longer become legitimate. This was just one of the many things that I learned this semester in my writing class.

Thoughts on... sleep

What's sleep I ask myself? I haven't gotten enough of this the past couple of days. I heard people say that the optimal amount of sleep varies from person to person, but for me pretty much ANY sleep would be most beneficial. I think that I probably should be getting at least eight hours a night in order to stay at an optimal brain functionality. If only there were more hours in the day. How great would that be?

Imagine with me for just a second that we had an unlimited amount of time to finish homework comfortably and then sleep until our hearts content. We would never have to worry about being late to anything. On the other side of this argument, it seems that such a world with unlimited hours might be unproductive. I would probably oversleep and do too much of nothing. Although my exhausted body may say, "please take a moment and rest" I also know that too much sleep can be a bad thing.

I guess that the important thing to remember about sleep is this: sleep while you can, but wake up when the alarm goes off. The end.

How-to... NOT procrastinate (Top 10)

These are ten suggestions to do what I have never really been effective at doing. They say that most illnesses have remedies. Well, I suppose that these suggestions could help each of us avoid the pitfalls of procrastinating. Many of these ideas came from my own knowledge and a few came from the internet. Here they are (not in any particular order):

1. Prioritize your assignments.
2. Organize your time between work and leisure.
3. Assign time for each assignment and focus your efforts on specific tasks.
4. Control your environment so that you can focus on your task.
5. Face your fears.
6. Start with the hardest task of your day.
7. Don't blow a project out of proportion.
8. Just take the first step.
9. Just make a decision; any decision.
10. Stop thinking. Start doing!

Note: 5 - 10 came from the site The Positivity Blog

Thoughts on... procrastination

I've learned from experience that procrastination is never a good idea. The more often you do this, the less sleep you get in the long run. There have been many times in my life that I've procrastinated doing something important thinking to myself that, "I still have tomorrow", or "I'll get it done later." The ambiguous "later" syndrome can plague us all if we don't watch out. Sometimes "later" comes sooner than we had planned for and we find ourselves writing a ridiculous amount of blog posts to get credit for a semester-long assignment. A person's worst nightmare is to be caught unprepared for an important moment. Just imagine the amount of sadness and regret that the world will have at the day of judgment. I'm sure that many put off their much needed repentance because they take time for granted and think that they will always have another day to do this.

Essentially, procrastination is gambling away your time. Some people are still able to finish their necessary projects after procrastinating them but usually this is done at a much higher cost than it would have been otherwise or with weaker results. I don't know about you, but I never work very well when I'm tired or after studying for many consecutive hours. That's why it isn't wise for me to save all my studying for the day just before the test. Without beating this topic too much into the ground, I just want to finalize by reemphasizing the moral of this story: Don't disillusion yourself by thinking that procrastination is okay because in the end you will still have to do the work and put in the time.

How-to... solve a Rubix Cube

I didn't actually want to take the time to write out all the steps for solving a Rubix Cube, so I will just post a short video of myself solving one (sped up because I'm really slow) and attach a link to a legitimate website that can help newcomers learn the art of a Rubix. I'm not that great, but once you get the hang of it they can be very fun. It's always nice to know something that is difficult for most people.

Check out this link for a how-to tutorial for solving a rubix cube:

http://www.rubikssolver.com/

How-to... make a tinfoil dinner

This is incredibly simple to make.

Ingredients:
-One juicy beef steak (or chicken, or pork, etc...)
-Aluminum foil
-Carrots (2 - 3)
-Potatoes (2 - 3)
-Onions (1)
-Garlic (one clove)
-Oil (vegetable oil)
-Seasoning (I use Johnny's Seasoning Salt)

Steps:
Preparation
1. Peel and cut the potatoes, carrots, onions, and garlic into small pieces.
2. Break a large piece of aluminum foil off and lightly coat the inside with some oil.
3. Place about half of your vegetables in the middle of the foil, then place your steak, and then the other half of the vegetables.
4. Use a generous amount of seasoning salt on the steak and vegetables.
5. Carefully fold the sides of the aluminum foil so that the entire meal is covered by aluminum (use multiple sheets of foil if necessary to wrap the meal well).

Cooking
You can cook this meal on the coals of a fire or in an oven. In either case, make sure that you give the meat plenty of time to cook. Note: If using an oven, cook for about 45 - 55 minutes at about 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

Eating
1. Enjoy your meal... yum

Thoughts on... Top Ramen

We've all eaten it at one time in our lives. You know what I'm talking about... that prepackaged, noodle meal with seasoning powder. Ramen noodles have little, if any, nutritional value and don't really satisfy our wolf-like hunger. The ironic thing about the noodles is that they are what most people eat when they don't have anything else to eat. Whether it's a poor college student living on a tight budget or a lazy teenager with no culinary options, we have all participated (and probably even enjoyed) in making Ramen noodles. Why do we eat these noodles? I wish that I could actually answer that question...

It's been clinically proven that there are more ways to cook Ramen noodles than there are ingredients in the package. I've eaten them raw, cooked, with an egg, in casserole form, etc... The possibilities of this noodle delight are endless. Let's not be hasty and forget about all the varieties of flavorings as well. You have beef, chicken, pork, oriental, shrimp, teriyaki, and so forth. For some extra crazy experimentation I've even tried doubling up packets of two different flavors (like pork and shrimp). Sometimes it works; sometimes it just fails miserably. Regardless of our proclaimed distaste, and avowal to never eat it again, it seems that we will never rid ourselves of this noodled nemesis. As long as poverty (and student loans) persist, so will the wonder of Top Ramen.

Thoughts on... Thanksgiving
Turkey! Food, family, and football. Those are just a few of the things that I think of during this epic day of over-the-top food portions. Too much eating, fun and games with the family, and feelings of gratitude all contribute to make this holiday special. I've always enjoyed the time off from school but in recent years this holiday has taken on a greater meaning to me. It's wonderful to be able to focus on the things that I'm grateful for.

It wasn't until I went on a mission for two years that I realized how much I missed this holiday. The spirit of unity that it brings and the joy of being with friends and family is priceless.

Thoughts on... love

Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about “love.” What exactly is love? Every time I hear the word “love” I think about red roses and sunsets and other useless things that lend themselves into a romantic atmosphere but don’t really relate to love it self. Why is it that I can hear a word that is so important like love and only associate meaningless things?

The world today is full of people who think they are in love but are so confused by other people’s interpretations of love that they don’t have a clue what’s really going on. We even have a holiday just for the occasion of “falling in love”… Valentines Day. I always get a kick out of Valentines Day. People will go to great lengths to impress the one they love on this day of days and in doing so they end up spending way too much money on candy (especially chocolate), but who cares if you’re in love. Maybe this is part of the reason why people like me are so confused about the true meaning of love.

But let’s look a little closer at “love”, not the material representation of love but the thing itself: L-O-V-E. I always wondered when people actually know when they are “in love.” Is it after the first kiss, or maybe after they decide to get into a relationship. How do we really know? For some I imagine that they just come to a realization overnight. For others they might progressively fall in love after some time. Personally, I think that it comes when we genuinely put the welfare of others (the people we love) before ourselves. In a world so preoccupied with material things we sometimes lose sight of the importance of others and think only of ourselves. Selfishness is the murderer of love.

About a week ago I saw this old couple strolling through the park at night. They were just passing through, but I was able to take in their countenances in a moment. The woman looked so fragile and she was sitting gingerly in a wheel chair. Her husband was pushing her. As they passed directly in front of me a few paces off they passed through the light and the man bent over a said three simple words to his wife, “I love you”. It was dark, and cold, and I was miserable freezing in the park with only a light sweatshirt on. This was probably the least romantic setting I could have pictured in my shallow brain, but as I sat there watching this old couple passing through I realized what I had been looking for: true love. There it was, unadulterated and beautiful, love in its simplest and most precious state. At that moment I realized love isn’t something people just fall in and out off. I also learned it isn’t something that is dictated by the giving of gifts and flattering words. I think of it this way, when you love someone you are willing to sacrifice for them. You don’t think twice about it.

Uke Improv

This is just a little something that I came up with a little while ago. It's a little rough because I did it in one take. I hope you enjoy this short improv.

Tuning (standard)

The Standard tuning for a Soprano, Tenor, or Concert ukulele is G, C, E, A.

Unlike a standard guitar that has chords increasing in pitch from left to right, the ukulele has a G for its first chord that is a higher pitch than the subsequent C, and E, chords that follow. The A chord (last chord on the left) is the highest open chord. The G is in effect tuned an octave higher than might be expected.

If you were to look at the notes on the musical staff it would look like the following:

Or, if you prefer notes on a piano:

Love, Laugh, and Live

I find it ironic how often we put ourselves down over spilt milk. We often fret and worry over the trivial things while the more significant and important things elude us. I guess it might just be our human nature to overlook the good and focus on the bad. But I've learned that the happiest lives are those that take the time to recognize the beautiful things all around them. I submit three suggestions to do this:

1.) Love
Loving others unconditionally is one of the hardest things to do. I always find myself being too critical of others or failing to acknowledge the great blessing that it is to have them in my life. People come and go. But if we take the time to love others than I believe that those relationships will stay with us forever. It's simple: Loving others makes us more lovable. Loving others only makes life that much sweeter. This is one of the few things that can truly transcend mediocrity and transform our lives into lives well-lived. I don't think that I will ever regret telling someone that I love them. Rather, I think that I would regret it if I didn't.

2.) Laugh
Laughter can melt the frozen tundra within ourselves and bring true joy and happiness. It's funny that I sometimes find the most reasons to laugh when there isn't anything funny. I've always been a fan of saying that, "I'd rather laugh than cry." I mean, why not? Why shouldn't we laugh out loud every now and then. If we have problems laughing, or can't find anything to laugh about, then why don't we create a reason to laugh? Happiness is what we make of it. So why not laugh a little and fill our lives with true bliss.

3.) Live
I think that a healthy amount of "stopping to smell the roses" can do us quite good. Living to me is more than just going from one appointment to the next. It isn't just "arriving" to our final destination; it's the entire journey that we took to get there. Too many people coast through life without taking chances, or without ever enjoying what they had all along the way. Life is too fleeting. I also believe that to truly "live" we must learn to be grateful for what we have. Gratitude enriches us all.

These are just a few ideas that I submit. I'm by no means an expert, but it is good to think about these things every once in a while.

My personal narrative

I spent the better part of the afternoon sifting through a mountain of closet “junk.” Spring cleaning had come early for me because of a concrete college schedule and I knew that this would be the only chance for me to salvage any childhood memorabilia. It would go to the trash if I didn’t.

                There were piles of old books, notebooks, drawings, and scouting badges. My first pinewood derby car was set tenderly next to my Pokemon card collection. Everything had its place in my life. Everything had a purpose. I felt that I had finally reached the end when a small picture fell from an old album. It was a picture of my kindergarten graduation. A small boy with a few missing teeth smiled back at me. His dark brown hair stood up in strange places despite all of mother’s care and fussing over it. His colorful shirt and jean shorts typified his everyday apparel. This was me. As my mind wandered to and fro I remembered a time much simpler. I remembered when I was seven years old.

                “Hey Nathaniel,” said my father with a smile on his face. “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

                It took me virtually no time to respond to his silly question. I had thought long and hard about this question already and I had the answer to it on the tip of my tongue.

                “When I grow up I want to be a baker!”

                My father seemed a little amused by this statement. He asked a follow-up question just to be sure of my motives.

                “Why do you want to be a baker?” he asked carefully.

                “Well…,” I said, “I want to be a baker so that I can make bread anytime that I want to. I really like bread.”

                “Hmm…,” he replied, “I like bread too. I think that you’ll make an excellent baker.”

                When he didn’t ask me anything else I came up with a question of my own. I was, after all, quite curious about many things in life.

                “Hey Dad…” I asked.

                “Yes son?”

                “When you were my age, did you want to become a social worker?”

                He looked me straight in the eyes, then threw his head back and gave a little chuckle. His stomach jiggled up and down slightly as he laughed.

                “No son. Actually, when I was your age I wanted to be an archaeologist—.”

                “A what?” I interrupted.

                “An archaeologist. They are basically explorers that get to travel the world and look for old ruins and artifacts.”

                “Oh,” I said, “kind of like Indiana Jones?”

                “Yup! Exactly like Indiana Jones.”

                This revelation was startling to me. I had been so used to the idea that my dad was a social worker that I had just assumed that was what he had always wanted to be. It never even occurred to me that he had wanted to be something else. This was a puzzle indeed.

                “Well, if you wanted to be an archaeologist then why did you become a social worker?”

                He continued to smile and after a moment’s pause, responded back in his fatherly wisdom.

                “I became a social worker because I changed. I decided that I wanted to help people more than I wanted to be an archaeologist.”

                A call from downstairs brought me back to reality. It was dinner time. I had to leave my childhood memories behind for a while. As I leapt down the stairs I pondered on my own journey since those days of long ago. Dreams of baking and bread had been replaced with different dreams. Life had taught me more important lessons.

                As I entered the dining room wonderful smells made that ache in my stomach region even more powerful. Shake and bake chicken with vegetables decorated the table with kingly fashion. The best was the sight of my mother’s homemade bread. It all looked so good.

                I took my place and then we blessed the food. My dad said the prayer. As we passed the food around the table I looked at my Dad and something inside me made me proud to call him my father. He had fewer hairs on his head since my childhood years and those that were left were speckled with gray. His charm and kindness remained though. A thought passed through my head and I discovered within myself that I had developed a new dream to become when I grow up.

                I made eye contact with him and asked a simple question, “Can you pass the bread?”

                He winked and smiled. “Yes son, I think I can.”

                I didn’t have to say it to him. He already knew. There was something in his eyes that told me that he knew what I now wanted to be; what I wanted to do. I had grown up at last.

Issues Paper

So I've been thinking about the issues paper quite a bit recently and I think that I would really like to focus on the effects of social networking devices (such as texting, Facebook, etc...) on the communication skills of modern teens. Personally, I feel that people communicate MORE today than ever before because of the accessibility of these technologies, but not necessarily BETTER than they did in former years. I think that the younger generation of modern teens suffer from the effects of an "informational overload" and have become so dependent on these technological devices that they can no longer hold meaningful conversations and have lost some rudimentary social skills necessary to effective communication.

Example: I know several people, and I have even done this once (mostly as a joke, but somewhat seriously), who text a friend that is standing within talking distance. Sometimes even at their side. And I've seen people who do this without actually vocally speaking ever. That's just messed up.

Another example: of this is the overwhelming use of the internet to communicate with closely located friends. I know people that will send instant messages and E-mails and a a myriad of other technologically founded messages to friends that live within a short distance and yet won't make the effort to actually go and see them in person.

Last example: How many people are your "friends" with on Facebook, but yet don't really know them. I know that I have some people from before my mission that I added as "friends" and yet I can only vaguely remember who they are and how we even met. Many of them, I probably pass everyday on campus without saying "Hi" or "How's it going?" simply because we aren't really "friends."

In conclusion, I think that many of these technological social networking devices (or whatever you want to call them), are having a very strange effect on today's teenagers. And that effect tends to be of a negative nature for most.

Conference Talk: President Thomas S. Monson

I really enjoyed President Monson's talk during the Priesthood session of General Conference. He spoke about Choices and our Agency. His talk had a powerful influence on me because of my situation in life. I'm kind of at a cross-roads in my life and I had been pondering about many things for some time before conference started. As I listened to his talk about choices in our lives some of the answers to my prayers came at once. For some of my questions I didn't receive the answer, but rather HOW to receive an answer for myself and HOW to choose.
I think that many times in our lives, if not most of the times, we are left to figure out our own problems. We have all been given the great ability to think for ourselves and grow. Without this necessary struggle of problem solving and self confidence, we would remain weak and unable to act for ourselves. No loving parent would do EVERYTHING for their kids all the time. They would want and even expect their kids to struggle a little in order to become much stronger and wiser. Heavenly Father is the same way. He doesn't just hand us all the answers on a silver platter. Rather, He gives us the tools necessary and tells us to go and work at it.

A Child of God by: Henry B. Eyring

In his talk "A Child of God", Elder Eyring strongly urges each of us to remember that we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father and that He has a plan of salvation for us. This remembrance is a great tool to create within each of us a sense of humility and aid us in our pursuit of educational excellence. Humility is a strength and not a weakness. As we develop humility we change our behavioral characteristics and ultimately become more effective learners. Elder Eyring teaches us five principles of great learners that we can acquire as a result of humility. They are:
1. They welcome correction.
2. They keep commitments.
3. They work hard.
4. They help other people.
and 5. They expect resistance and overcome it.

This talk greatly influenced me to want to do better in my own learning. I feel a greater desire to strive for humility in my life. As we become more humble, we are quite literally blessed as a result.