The final video is a compilation of Soldiers surprising their kids with their homecomings.
Be ready with the tissues if you follow the link and watch all the videos
Thursday, November 12, 2009
For Veterans Day
Mental Floss has an amazing video selection of soldier homecomings featuring their dogs. What makes this especially wonderful is the fact dogs put their emotions front and center unlike a lot of us who care about our images.
A close second
This comes from the Daily Mail Online that I saw on Bits and Pieces
You can get a pictures of a lion eating on the hood of your Jeep - dangerous and irresponsible you say?
Public Relations genius!
Coolest Thing on the Web Today
Saw this on the awesome Miss Cellania blog.
Here is the rest of the story
I have know my fiance Tracey Wade for over 14 years and wanted to propose to her in a very unique way. Tracey thought we were just going to the movies on a Sunday afternoon. Little did she know, I had rented the entire theater and filled it with 160 of our friends and family. I made it seem as though we were showing up a little late to the movie and went in to the theater after the lights had gone down and the movie trailers were already playing. This was done to keep her from recognizing anyone in the theater. What I had done was make an entire movie trailer that had actors portraying both Tracey and I at different times in our lives, both present day and in the future. After a few trailers played including one for Lord of the Rings the one I had made started. Tracey thought it was just another trailer for a movie soon to be released. Tracey was just perplexed as to how many different things had similarities to our relationship, she kept nudging me throughout the trailer. Tracey had no idea this was a marriage proposal until the last three seconds of the trailer.
Nine months earlier in September of 2006 I started by hiring a professional production team, securing two and a half million dollars (FOR FREE) worth of film equipment (THANK YOU PANAVISION, THEY DONATED THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE SHOOT), and writing a script that would show what would go through someone's mind (Tracey's) if they were about to die. It is said "moments before you die your life flashes right before your eyes". JUST A NOTE: Ever since Tracey was a young girl, she has had a reoccurring dream that she was going to die in a plane crash. Actors were cast to portray both Tracey and I at different times in our lives (twenty years in the future as well as present day)
Please go the the blog to see links to more cool wedding proposals
Here is the rest of the story
I have know my fiance Tracey Wade for over 14 years and wanted to propose to her in a very unique way. Tracey thought we were just going to the movies on a Sunday afternoon. Little did she know, I had rented the entire theater and filled it with 160 of our friends and family. I made it seem as though we were showing up a little late to the movie and went in to the theater after the lights had gone down and the movie trailers were already playing. This was done to keep her from recognizing anyone in the theater. What I had done was make an entire movie trailer that had actors portraying both Tracey and I at different times in our lives, both present day and in the future. After a few trailers played including one for Lord of the Rings the one I had made started. Tracey thought it was just another trailer for a movie soon to be released. Tracey was just perplexed as to how many different things had similarities to our relationship, she kept nudging me throughout the trailer. Tracey had no idea this was a marriage proposal until the last three seconds of the trailer.
Nine months earlier in September of 2006 I started by hiring a professional production team, securing two and a half million dollars (FOR FREE) worth of film equipment (THANK YOU PANAVISION, THEY DONATED THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE SHOOT), and writing a script that would show what would go through someone's mind (Tracey's) if they were about to die. It is said "moments before you die your life flashes right before your eyes". JUST A NOTE: Ever since Tracey was a young girl, she has had a reoccurring dream that she was going to die in a plane crash. Actors were cast to portray both Tracey and I at different times in our lives (twenty years in the future as well as present day)
Please go the the blog to see links to more cool wedding proposals
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
It is the end of all that is good
Wait, that is close but they are actually banning this**
That's right, they have banned kissing rugby.
I remember my first experiences at BYU and thus Mormons on a large scale. I never realized what a liberal LDS member I was until I arrived in Provo. But even among all the nervousness of being a 17 year old alone, and slightly ostracized due to my occasional profanity there was one activity that brought me into the fold of Zion. Not only did slightly uptight Mormon college girls want you to kiss them, they also aggressively tried to kiss you at the same time. Granted the slight polygamy overtones of wrestling with two women couldn't be overlooked, it was still hot; and by hot I mean awesome.
"Kissing rugby is an aggressive sport where rug burns are as common as kissing. It's played with a large group of boys and girls. Each boy gets a number assigned to him and the girls are assigned letters. Everyone makes a circle with boys on one side, girls on the other. Someone gets in the middle and calls out a number and a letter (i.e. D--5) and then "D" and "5" enter the circle and attack the member of the opposite sex. If a girl is in the middle to start then the boy "5" attacks her while the girl "D" attacks "5." A point is scored when either "D" or "5" lands a kiss anywhere on the face (ears count) of the other person. Whoever is kissed has to remain in the middle, call out a number and a letter, and avoid getting kissed in the next round."
I only hope the out of control wave of fascism hasn't reached the other two BYU's before my sons get to experience it.
**I am pretty sure they have banned that too
The Lost Symbol - Book #100
| Title | The Lost Symbol |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Dan Brown |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Adult Fiction |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |509 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |DoubleDay |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2009 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
Synopsis (from web-site)
This book is so big it gets its own web-site - go there for synopsis, chapter excerpts, and anything else book related.
| Publisher |DoubleDay |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2009 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
Synopsis (from web-site)
This book is so big it gets its own web-site - go there for synopsis, chapter excerpts, and anything else book related.
Why I read It
It’s Dan Brown. I have read all the others and because I am unafraid of all the elitist book snobs out there I will say I like them.
The Good
Fast paced and filled with tons of informational tidbits and little puzzles. It is really hard to finish a chapter and not begin the next.
The Bad
How accurate are his “facts”. Plus as per his time schedule, the hero Robert Langdon solves a lot of really hard puzzles in a conveniently short amount of time.
It’s Dan Brown. I have read all the others and because I am unafraid of all the elitist book snobs out there I will say I like them.
The Good
Fast paced and filled with tons of informational tidbits and little puzzles. It is really hard to finish a chapter and not begin the next.
The Bad
How accurate are his “facts”. Plus as per his time schedule, the hero Robert Langdon solves a lot of really hard puzzles in a conveniently short amount of time.
The Ugly (my opinion)
I really liked this book, especially the philosophy attached to it. If you are interested in the religious (great secret) theme then may I suggest Neal Stephenson. He writes really dense doorstop books (fiction) on many of these same topics. Cryptonomicon is an excellent place to start.
The Truth? (other reviews)
LA Times
NY Times
Chicago Tribune
I really liked this book, especially the philosophy attached to it. If you are interested in the religious (great secret) theme then may I suggest Neal Stephenson. He writes really dense doorstop books (fiction) on many of these same topics. Cryptonomicon is an excellent place to start.
The Truth? (other reviews)
LA Times
NY Times
Chicago Tribune
Mormon Mentions
Two brief one-liners, neither of much substance. Too bad really given all the connections between Mormons and Masons.
Author Biography
Dan Brown is the author of numerous #1 bestselling novels, including The Da Vinci Code, which has sold more than 80 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best selling novels of all time. Named one of the World's 100 Most Influential People by TIME Magazine, he has appeared in the pages of Newsweek, Forbes, People, GQ, The New Yorker , and others. His novels are published in 51 languages around the world.
Two brief one-liners, neither of much substance. Too bad really given all the connections between Mormons and Masons.
Author Biography
Dan Brown is the author of numerous #1 bestselling novels, including The Da Vinci Code, which has sold more than 80 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best selling novels of all time. Named one of the World's 100 Most Influential People by TIME Magazine, he has appeared in the pages of Newsweek, Forbes, People, GQ, The New Yorker , and others. His novels are published in 51 languages around the world. Snoop - Book #99
| Title | Snoop: What your stuff says about you. |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Sam Gosling |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Genre |Non Fiction |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |227 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Basic Books |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2008 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
Synopsis (from web-site)
A provocative and witty look at how our private spaces--from boardroom to bedroom--reveal our personalities, whether we know it or not! Does what's on your desk reveal what's on your mind? Do those pictures on your walls tell true tales about you? And is your favorite outfit about to give you away? For the last ten years psychologist Sam Gosling has been studying how people project (and protect) their inner selves. By exploring our private worlds (desks, bedrooms, even our clothes and our cars), he shows not only how we showcase our personalities in unexpected--and unplanned--ways, but also how we create personality in the first place, communicate it others, and interpret the world around us.
Why I read It
Fascinating Topic and I saw the book on Good Reads.
The Good
People try to present a false image of who they are all the time; and they fail at it all the time too. It doesn’t take much to see the truth about others, just an innate sense and practice. This book shows you the clues.
The Bad
I could have used more examples of all his points, but that is how I like to learn.
The Ugly (my opinion)
A very useful book for getting at the truth of things. It lays out all the tells that we share with the world all the time, especially when we are trying not to.
The Truth? (other reviews)
New Scientist
Mormon Mentions
None
Author Biography
SAM GOSLING, Ph.D., is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. His work has been widely covered in the media, including The New York Times, Psychology Today, NPR, and "Good Morning America," and his research is featured in Malcolm Gladwell's Blink. Gosling is the recipient of the American Psychological Association's Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution. This is his first book. He lives in Austin, Texas.
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
Synopsis (from web-site)
A provocative and witty look at how our private spaces--from boardroom to bedroom--reveal our personalities, whether we know it or not! Does what's on your desk reveal what's on your mind? Do those pictures on your walls tell true tales about you? And is your favorite outfit about to give you away? For the last ten years psychologist Sam Gosling has been studying how people project (and protect) their inner selves. By exploring our private worlds (desks, bedrooms, even our clothes and our cars), he shows not only how we showcase our personalities in unexpected--and unplanned--ways, but also how we create personality in the first place, communicate it others, and interpret the world around us.
Why I read It
Fascinating Topic and I saw the book on Good Reads.
The Good
People try to present a false image of who they are all the time; and they fail at it all the time too. It doesn’t take much to see the truth about others, just an innate sense and practice. This book shows you the clues.
The Bad
I could have used more examples of all his points, but that is how I like to learn.
The Ugly (my opinion)
A very useful book for getting at the truth of things. It lays out all the tells that we share with the world all the time, especially when we are trying not to.
The Truth? (other reviews)
New Scientist
Mormon Mentions
None
Author Biography
SAM GOSLING, Ph.D., is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. His work has been widely covered in the media, including The New York Times, Psychology Today, NPR, and "Good Morning America," and his research is featured in Malcolm Gladwell's Blink. Gosling is the recipient of the American Psychological Association's Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution. This is his first book. He lives in Austin, Texas.Stalking Susan - Book #98
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Title | Stalking Susan |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Author |Julie Kramer |
|-------------+-------------------------------------|
Genre |Mystery |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |306 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Doubleday |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2008 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
Synopsis (from web-site)
Inside the desperate world of TV news, a reporter discovers a serial killer is targeting women named Susan. Riley Spartz is recovering from a heartbreaking, headline-making catastrophe of her own when a Minneapolis police source drops two homicide files in her lap. Both cold cases involve women named Susan strangled on the same day, one year apart. Riley sees a pattern between those murders and others pulled from old death records. As the deadly anniversary approaches, she stages a bold on-air stunt to draw the killer out and uncover a motive that will leave readers breathless.
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Pages |306 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Publisher |Doubleday |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
| Copyright |2008 |
|-------------+----------------------------------------|
Synopsis (from web-site)
Inside the desperate world of TV news, a reporter discovers a serial killer is targeting women named Susan. Riley Spartz is recovering from a heartbreaking, headline-making catastrophe of her own when a Minneapolis police source drops two homicide files in her lap. Both cold cases involve women named Susan strangled on the same day, one year apart. Riley sees a pattern between those murders and others pulled from old death records. As the deadly anniversary approaches, she stages a bold on-air stunt to draw the killer out and uncover a motive that will leave readers breathless.
Why I read It
Julie Kramer is a local writer and her family was promoting the books at a parade last summer. A co-worker got the information and let me know about it while discussing books one day.
The Good
Great mystery and wonderful writing. It also opens up a lot of the inside world of TV news reporting. Plus if you have any Minnesota experience you can have “secret insider” knowledge that just adds to the book.
The BadOccasional stilted dialogue, but very rare.
The Ugly (my opinion)
This book is hitting on all levels for me. The cover had me worried that it might be light chick-lit suspense (the bright yellow and the female outline) but I was rewarded with a solid, gritty procedural investigation (my favorite). Here is hoping Mrs. Kramer writes another twenty of them.
Julie Kramer is a local writer and her family was promoting the books at a parade last summer. A co-worker got the information and let me know about it while discussing books one day.
The Good
Great mystery and wonderful writing. It also opens up a lot of the inside world of TV news reporting. Plus if you have any Minnesota experience you can have “secret insider” knowledge that just adds to the book.
The BadOccasional stilted dialogue, but very rare.
The Ugly (my opinion)
This book is hitting on all levels for me. The cover had me worried that it might be light chick-lit suspense (the bright yellow and the female outline) but I was rewarded with a solid, gritty procedural investigation (my favorite). Here is hoping Mrs. Kramer writes another twenty of them.
Mormon Mentions
None
Author Biography
Julie Kramer is a freelance news producer for NBC's Today show, Nightly News, and Dateline. Prior to that she was a national award-winning investigative producer for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. Julie grew up along the Minnesota-Iowa state line, fourth generation of a family who raised cattle and farmed corn for 130 years. Her favorite childhood days were spent waiting for the bookmobile to bring her another Phyllis A. Whitney novel. An avid reader, she tired of fictional TV reporters always being portrayed as obnoxious secondary characters who could be killed off whenever the plot started dragging. She lives with her husband and sons in White Bear Lake, MN.
None
Author Biography
Julie Kramer is a freelance news producer for NBC's Today show, Nightly News, and Dateline. Prior to that she was a national award-winning investigative producer for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. Julie grew up along the Minnesota-Iowa state line, fourth generation of a family who raised cattle and farmed corn for 130 years. Her favorite childhood days were spent waiting for the bookmobile to bring her another Phyllis A. Whitney novel. An avid reader, she tired of fictional TV reporters always being portrayed as obnoxious secondary characters who could be killed off whenever the plot started dragging. She lives with her husband and sons in White Bear Lake, MN.
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