Technology

This week my sis-in-law had her baby! I was so grateful for texting and email that my family was able to send me pictures! I didn't get to see him in person for a couple days so being able to see the pictures was good enough for the few days! He's such a cutie!

Music

I love Christmas music. It is what I'm always listening to lately. It's so great! My favorite right now is Michael Buble's most recent Christmas album! Here's my favorite song!

Tis the Season

Ok now that Thanksgiving is over...sad I know....bring on the Christmas cheer! And what better way to bring it than Christmas Movies. This weekend, my friend came with my family to Thanksgiving and since school ended on Wednesday, I've lost count at the number of movies we've watched, majority of them being Christmas ones. Let's just say that I'll probably be watching even more until Christmas comes! I can't wait!

Weekend Break

This weekend was seriously so great! For the holiday, my family and I went up to our cabin in the mountains. It was so fun! And the best part of all is that I didn't have service at the cabin. It was so great to get away and not have to worry about texting someone or taking my turn on words with friends. Sometimes it's all you need is to get away from it all and enjoy the simplicity of life!

I hate technology....sometimes....

So last night for my ward talent show, my apartment made up a dance to perform. We turned off all the lights and put tape on us to look like stick figures. I was going to post the video because it was so cool but the camera didn't work! I'm so mad! So right now I'm just mad at technology because not only can I not post the video on here but I also don't have the video to watch again. So right now, I'm not too fond of technology.

Gloriana and Tyler Hilton

Last night I had the opportunity to go to a concert at Salt Lake Community College. We saw Gloriana and Tyler Hilton opened for them.

It was seriously so good! I think it's so cool that these performers come and perform for thousands of people all the time! They get to do what they love to entertain us! It makes me so grateful for music in my life and that we can share it with others.

[enter generic title about the weather here]

Yes people, it snowed.

I think it's so funny that when something big happens, like waking up to a winter wonderland, everyone feels like they have to post about it on Facebook and every other form of social media that they have. I'm not one to generally post on Facebook, especially when I know everyone and their neighbor's sister's cousin is going to as well. I got on instagram this morning and had 7 pictures posted of the snow storm. It's just so interesting to me what people choose to share online!

Election

Tuesday was Election Day. We all got the opportunity to vote and put in our two cents as to who we want for the leader of our country. As I was watching the results Tuesday night, I kept switching channels to see what different channels were saying about the results. I thought it was so interesting how different channels broadcasted different results of the same information. Depending on what side the channel was leaning more towards, they would portray the results to favor one candidate over another. It made me think how unreliable some media can be. Depending on the source, sometimes you can't trust what is being said or their interpretation may be biased or skewed one way or another. This applies not only in politics in the media but really everything. We have to make sure we are informed of what media we are watching so we can understand an interpret it correctly!

Facebook

Today in our class, we talked about social networking. I'll be the first to admit that I'm slightly addicted. I'm one who will check my Facebook multiple times a day not to post new pictures or update my status but merely to check out what everyone else is doing. I have 600+ friends and seriously, majority of them are people I don't really know; we're merely just "acquaintances." I also have a Pinterest, a Twitter, and even Instagram, all of which I usually check daily. Why do I waste so much time looking at what other people are up to or reading all their stupid status updates? I'll say that's pretty pathetic.

It really hit me when we talked about these social networking sites driving away the spirit. It especially hit me when Dr. Coyne said that what form of social media can we take into the temple? None. I don't know if checking my facebook is necessarily driving away the spirit but it's taking away time that I could be doing something even better. I always joke with people about making choices in their life based off the "good, better, best" idea. Am I using the time I have to do something that's good? Looking at my facebook and seeing what my friends are doing might not be bad in fact it could be good but could I be doing something better? Such as concentrating more on school?  Or something that's best? Such as looking for ways to serve others and allow the spirit to more fully fill my life?

 I don't think Facebook and other social networking sights are necessarily bad. The church is even using those sites to spread the gospel. But I do think these sites have the potential to be bad when they are replacing my time with something that I could be doing that is much better and even best.

Again, Sex Sells

I was driving on the freeway last night and noticed a billboard on the side of the road. I was driving so I should not have been paying any attention to the billboards but sadly, this billboard caught my eye. It was a billboard for a website to find jobs which sounds pretty innocent right? I couldn't read it quick enough to know exactly what it said but it said something about being a "sexy person." I looked up this website because I've seen other billboards for it and knew it wasn't a scandalous site. It was a very professional businesslike website with nothing about "sexy people" or anything. They use sex to get people's attention on the billboard. Sadly, I fell into their trap and it did catch my attention. It's sad that this is what businesses have turned to to advertise for their company.

Call Your Girlfriend

I discovered this new song. Ok I didn't discover it but I rediscovered it from one of my roommates. I really like the sound of their harmony with they rhythm of the cups. So cool!

Fear

I really liked the class we had about fear. I don't know why but I definitely like being scared. The thrill of the unexpected, the raised heart rate and screaming in fear. A few days ago, my friends and I were talking about watching scary movies. I don't know why but I love them. As I was watching one, I paid close attention to what they do in movies to build the suspense. I realize that the music along with the sound effects make the movie. If you were to mute the sound, I don't think some movies would be all that scary. But, I still love watching them, cuddling up under a blanket and closing my eyes when it gets too scary!

THE DEBATE

I was a good citizen/voter and watched the debate this past week. As much as I hate politics, economics and mostly everything they debated about, I really enjoyed it. I feel so informed. I also think it's so great that we have the opportunity to have the debate broadcasted and that we can all participate. It's going to be interesting to see what happens in the next debate. So cool that we get the opportunities to choose the leader of our country!

Movie

I love movies. Even more I love going to movies at a movie theatre. Randomly, my friend and I decided to go to see Brave one night this week. Thinking about movies it's really a weird concept that we go in a big room to watch a movie on a big screen. As weird as I think it is, I love it. I love going to movies to just relax and be entertained. Even more, I love going to the dollar theatre. Brave is a cute movie and it was fun and relaxing to be able to be entertained for a few hours.

New and Improved

Smartphones are huge these days. Everybody has them, or that's how it feels. Everybody is now facebooking, tweeting, instagramming, and surfing the web all while they're walking to school. Well, I've now jumped on the bandwagon and got my first "smartphone" about 2 weeks ago. It's lame, but I feel like I have so much "power" since my phone can do so much, probably more that I even know it can do. It's amazing how far technology has come!!

Books: Then and Now

As a child, I didn't really enjoy reading.  I hated reading because I had to. But, what made reading a little more enjoyable, was reading books that I actually liked. I liked books that were realistic but funny. Now these books might not be realistic in that some of the things that happened would actually happen in my life but realistic in the fact that they main characters were kids like me. I liked books I could relate to.  I especially liked the "Fudge" Series by Judy Blume and the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary. I have read and reread all of these books many times because they are such good, fun books! They caught my attention and kept me reading.

Now as an adult, I definitely don't have much time to read for enjoyment. I'm lucky if I can get readings done for my classes! But when I do get the rare chance to read, I absolutely love it. I can immerse myself in a book for hours even to the wee hours of the morning. Books I generally choose now would be fantasy like Harry Potter or romance. As embarrassed as I am to admit, I sometimes read LDS novels as well. One of my particular favorites that I've read a few times now is Timeless Waltz by Anita Stansfield. It's just a good, heart-wrenching story and it brings me to tears every time. But I love reading because I'm able to vicariously live through the characters and live another life for a short time. It's such a stress relief to read and I just wish I had more time to do it! 

Closer Look

As we've been studying media, I've now noticed that I pay a lot more attention to the little details in the media such as lyrics to a song, how much I really use my phone/computer or what effect a television show has on me. I've never noticed it before but media has such an effect on me without me even realizing it!

General Conference

I'm so grateful for media this weekend to be able to watch conference in the comfort of my own home.  Not only that but that members all over the world are able to participate in conference!  Such an amazing opportunity we have to be apart of this worldwide event!

Fast Pace

It's crazy how fast society is today.  Fast food, fast cars, and now fast media.  We've all gotten to the point that it seems nothing is fast enough today.  When we have to wait 5 minutes to get our food, there's too much traffic and you're going the speed limit and now the internet isn't fast enough cause we have to wait a few minutes for a page to be pulled up.  Like right before I started writing this post, my internet was taking a few minutes to be pulled up.  I get so impatient when my internet is too slow and things aren't going as fast as we want.  Nothing seems to be fast enough and we get frustrated when in reality, we should be grateful that we just have this amazing technology!

TV

I hate to admit it but I love TV.  I have my list of shows that I watch and always get so anxious when I have to wait for them to start.  I know that seems weird to some people but I grew up watching TV with my family and I just love being able to relax and be entertained. We talked about this a little at the beginning of the course about living through TV and I really do that. I do sometimes feel like if the characters were real, I'd be best friends with them and our lives would be great!  It's kind of lame, I know but it's what I do!  Right now, I'm so excited for Grey's Anatomy to start tonight!

Media and School

Technology is so great and it's really changing the way we learn!  Every single one of my classes uses some form of media to help us learn.  I work in a computer lab on campus and we have many programs that professors use to help students learn.  A few days ago, we had to update a program and this update has caused many problems since!  It's crazy how much a little change on the computer has some sort of affect on everything!  This new problem is affecting the students that come to my work and the professors and their classes.  It's crazy how great media and technology are but it's also crazy how much we actually rely on it, even to learn.

Sing to my Soul

I was going through some things this week and this song seriously calmed me and helped me through!  Amazing how music can do that!  The words seriously are exactly what I needed to hear to help me overcome the challenge I was experiencing.  I love how a song can sum up every feeling I'm experiencing and make everything better!

Sex Sells

As I was watching the BYU game, this commercial came on.  Perfect example of advertisers using sex to sell cars.  In my opinion, in the end, the car isn't even a good looking car.  Too bad after watching that commercial, to some, it won't matter what the car looks like.

Finding Something to Sing About

Some of you might disagree, but I think that Taylor Swift is an amazing song writer.  Yeah a lot of her songs are about relationships and breaking up but the words she uses can describe exactly how some people feel in those situations.  While on facebook a few days ago, I came across this article one of my friends posted. I'm not one to cry but this song brought tears to my eyes.

WARNING: IF YOU CRY EASILY, YOU WILL SHED SOME TEARS.

Unlikely Fear

The other day before school, my roommate and I were watching the news which for me is not a very frequent occurrence.  There was the usual stories about gas prices and the political race but then there was a story that caught my attention and had quite an effect on me.  In Canada, a politician got put into office and at their inauguration meeting, there was a shooting.  I don't remember how many people were injured or if any one was killed but a sudden fear came upon me.  A fear of going to a public place and have something violent and scary like that happen.  Something that is out of my control that could potentially have quite an effect on me.  The likelihood of that actually happening was quite slim but I still had the fear.  The news always does that to me.  That is why I don't tend to watch it very often because it causes fear in me when really it shouldn't because it's not likely that I will be in a similar situation.  I think sometimes the news tends to present stories in a way that does instill fear in people.  I know this and yet, it still happens to me!

Media Priorities

I don't consider myself a very outgoing person.  I'm not one who goes out of my way to talk to a stranger or be extra friendly to someone I don't know very well.  So usually when I'm walking to or from school or even between classes, I'm always listening to music on my Ipod.  Putting in my headphones is my way of saying, "Hey, don't talk to me."  I know that sounds super antisocial but I consider that time "me time."  A time for me to unwind and think my own thoughts and not have to worry about people talking to me or having to worry about making awkward conversation.

Well today after leaving a meeting, I did my normal routine of getting out my ipod and putting in my headphones when one of my friends who was in the meeting stopped me right as I was about to put in my headphones and said, "No!  Talk to me!"  I, of course, didn't turn him down and talked to him as we walked a short distance before we had to part ways.  This experience made me think about how media centered I am!  I remember last semester one of my professors challenging my class to take out our headphones and try to make eye contact with people, smile and say "Hi."  Simple right?  Wrong!  First of all, everybody else has their headphones in or their texting while walking and are preoccupied with their forms of media that they won't even look at you!  I wasn't too surprised to say the least but it made me stop and think about how many opportunities we all miss to make someone's day because we're preoccupied with other, less important, things.