Forgiveness

I've been focusing a lot reading and thought to the aspect of forgiveness lately. I'm reading a widely popular book called The Miracle of Forgiveness, and have been thinking about it from a few different perspectives. So far, I've come to the conclusion that everyone must forgive. No matter what.

It's hard. Really hard. But I worry that if you can't forgive people that do things to you, how can you expect to be forgiven for the many mistakes you make during your life?

A great example of forgiveness is the Amish School Shooting, a heart-wrenching massacre that happened almost 2 years ago. A man came into a one-room school house and let everyone go, except 10 young girls between the ages of 6-13. As police arrived and the atmosphere became tense, the killer Charles C. Roberts IV felt trapped, and shot almost all the girls before shooting himself.

The story is tragic and sad. 5 girls were killed and many of the surviving girls will suffer from the effects of this heinous act for their entire lives. But if there's anything positive that can be pulled from this horrible event, it's forgiveness. The Amish forgave Charles C. Roberts IV the day of the shooting. Could you forgive the man that murdered your young daughter or sister or friend on the same day of the murder? I couldn't. There's no way. I wish I could say I could, but I just haven't reached that point yet.

What an example.

Links to the Amish School Shooting
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/us/31amish.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/29/earlyshow/main2622842.shtml

Danna's Survey - I Got Bored Too

If I Could Be...
I would be....

A Vegatable: Cucumber
An Animal: Tiger
A Fruit: Mango
A Color: Green
A Household Object: Blender
Article of Clothing: A Jacket
A Drink: Dr. Pepper
A Famous Person: Jim Halpert
A Film Character: Paulie Bleeker
A Cartoon Character: Bug Bunny
A Car: A Lotus Elise
A City: Atlanta
A Country: Italy
A Mythical Creature: Mermecolion
A Chocolate Bar: Mr. Goodbar
A Book: Oh The Places You'll Go
A Sport: Football
A Word: fart
One of Your Family: My Brother
One Of Your Friends: Jacob

My First Times...

Drank alcohol? Yes
Got kissed? I don't know when I got kissed..... I love it when Danna kisses me though
Got your heart broken? Lindsey Bass and then Haley Hobson
Got arrested? haha once for driving with a suspended license
Smoked a cigarette? Nope never
Lost someone close to you? Yes unfortunately.
Broken a bone? Nope and I never will and I'm not knocking on wood either. Take that!
Got cheated on? Yes ugh.
Rode the city bus? Never
Went to a concert? In a couple weeks I'm going to Rocky Votolato and the last concert I went to was Mutemath maybe?
Met someone famous? Yeah Danny Glover
Dyed your hair? Nope
Had sex? Nope
Got your own cell phone? I bought my own phone the summer after high school because my parents wouldn't get me one.
Had a boy/girl friend? I think Lacy Carroll was my first technical girlfriend
Got the Internet? Uh Middle school?
Joined Myspace? Ha on my mission (before it was against the rules)
Snuck out of the house? Almost everytime Matt Barrett spent the night
Got your own digital camera? Right before my mission in 2003
Got Drunk? Sophmore year in high school

All About Me

I Am: Fun
I Want: Danna
I Have: a hankering
I Wish: with Danna
I Hate: people that don't refill the ice trays. haha jk
I Fear: death
I Hear: hotel music....ek
I Search: with Google
I Wonder: if eating a mermaid is considered cannablism
I Regret: some things
I Love: Danna
I Ache: my breaky heart
I Always: sing in the shower
I Usually: blog
I Am Not: an idiot
I Dance: when no ones is looking
I Sing: all the time
I Never: want to disappoint Danna
I Rarely: go to bed on time
I Cry: very rarely
I Am Not Always: a good decision maker
I Lose: in basketball sometimes
I'm Confused: in math
I Need: Danna
I Should: find an apartment for Danna and me

Finish The Sentence

My ex...doesn't matter
Maybe I should...do something productive
I love...pogo sticking
People would say that i'm...a good friend
I don't understand...how you could honestly be Jewish, or a Catholic
When i wake up in the morning...I have to pee
I lost...my finger nail clippers
Life is full of...stupid people
My past is...in the past
I get annoyed when...People are dumb
Parties are...ok
I wish...with Danna
Dogs...are awesome
Cats...are the devil
Tomorrow...is a day closer until I get to be with Danna
I have low tolerance...liars/cheaters/idiots/fiends/palodins/ninja gaiden
If I had a million dollars...I wouldn't be doing this
I'm totally terrified...death

The First Thing I Think Of

Relationships: hot girls
Your Last Ex: annoying
Power: ade
Food: Bagels
Drugs: kaleidoscope
The President: Bush
War: craft
Cars: 'Vette
Gas Prices: ridiculous
Halloween: dead cheerleader
Religion: Islam
Politics: liars
MySpace: ugh
Worst Fear: death
Marriage: Oh baby!
Sex: Male lol
Fashion: model
Brunettes: Danna hahahaha
Redheads: Caitlin
Work: out
Football: Love
Animals: praying mantis
Porta Potties: Tip over
Pajamas: hot
Pictures: Danna

In the Shower

Do you shower in the morning or evening? mornings...I have to
Do you use liquid or bar soap? bar
Do you use shampoo and conditioner or just shampoo? both
Do you brush your teeth in the shower? no
Do you shave in the shower? no
Do you sing in the shower? yes
Do you use a washcloth? sometimes
Do you have a door or a curtain on your shower? door
Have you every taken a call in the shower? yup
Have you ever showered in your swimsuit? maybe?
Have you ever showered with a member of the same sex? football showers and MTC
Have you ever showered with a member of the opposite sex? no
Do you share a bathroom with someone? Devin for now
Do you listen to the radio in the shower? I wish!
Do you wear a shower cap? no
Do you wash behind your ears? yeah
Describe your shower in three words: steamy, invigorating, fun
What one thing would you change about your shower? Big tub!
What would make your shower time better for you? lol Danna when we get married
What celebrity would you like to shower with? Pre-baby Britney Spears or Jenna Fischer
What celebrity would you NOT like to shower with? K-Fed
What is the one thing you can't do without in your shower? soap?
What is the oddest thing that has happened to you in the shower? I fell and almost broke my shins and ribs
What is the best thing that has happened to you in the shower? Lots and lots of good ideas!
When was the last time you showered? This morning
When are you going to take a shower next? After ref-ing basketball games tonight

I'm engaged! from JoshTarts.com

Pictures and "The Story" at JoshTarts.com

Engaged to be Engaged

That's what my girlfriend, Danna's, family says. Danna is amazing and I couldn't find anything wrong with her if I tried. I just needed to say something about her and I thought this would be a good way to get it out. We are starting down the road to marriage.

I love you Danna!

Danna Is So Nice

The other day, I picked up Danna and we came back to my house to watch an episode of The Office (she's never seen it before so we watched the first 3 seasons in like 2 weeks). After an episode, I left her at the house to do some homework while I went and played basketball. When I got home from playing basketball, I walked into my room to find the giant pile of unfolded, clean clothes gone and my messy bed made. She has taken all those clothes and folded them and put them away. She then made my huge bed for me. I couldn't believe it. It was such a nice thing to do! She must like me or something. I'm so lucky to be with Danna.

No Country For Old Men -- Tomorrow

I can't wait for tomorrow. No Country for Old Men hits DVD. I didn't get the chance to see it in theaters (I know, I'm stupid); but finally, I'll be able to see it tomorrow!!

Until 1973, Homosexuality was considered a mental disorder

(Note: Can be seen as biased -- these are just opinions. Everyone is equal.)

This is a very interesting phenomena. People were treated for homosexual tendencies before the problem was medically accepted as permissible. It was not socially accepted as permissible then, and its debatable if it is acceptable even now.

I think homosexuality is wrong, but I also believe people are in control of their own lives and lifestyles. I think people are entitled to do whatever they want as long as it doesn't impose upon someone else's liberties or right to chose. I think there should be some sort of an amendment on how individuals living alternative lifestyles are accommodated. I think we should develop some type of a civil union where some of the basic rights of married individuals are allowed, but I think this a delicate allowance.

Marriage is what will save our country from turmoil and I believe marriage should be kept pure and loving. Gay marriages should not have children involved because it imposes on someone else's liberty. The fact someone is gay is natural. They have their rights and liberties to either get help and follow the teachings of Christ, or to deny that they have a weakness and live in sin. Whatever they choose, it is ok. It is their life.

It sounds harsh, I know. This is not justification, but everyone lives in sin in a way. We are all trying to do our best in life. We try harder at points and we slack off at points. Everyone has weaknesses and imperfections that cause us to struggle at times in our lives. Homosexual tendencies, or same-sex weaknesses, are just one of the many different faults we can have. At this point, I know I'm making it sound like God is mean. He sends us here to struggle and sometimes lose to our frailties, but I think He had a bigger picture in mind. I think we are subjected to these weaknesses for our good, as a test. Just as you struggle and sometimes fail at tests in school, God tests us in life with our individual, hard-wired weaknesses. He gives us study guides, reading assignments, and pop quizzes to prepare us just like your teachers in school would do.

To bring this in and simplify it, I don't think being gay is wrong. I think acting on your same-sex weaknesses and doing nothing to live a better life is wrong. But that same principle applies to anyone with a problem, including me. I am no where close to perfect and I struggle with my weaknesses, but I try hard to do what is right. I think that is what is going to count in the long run.

Life is a really long set of stairs. God doesn't care where we are on the stairs. He only cares about which way we're headed; up or down.

Brief Article

School is getting to be too much

I work full-time (40 hours a week) and I'm taking 6 classes (18 credits), and its getting pretty strenuous. I haven't posted anything in forever on T&S, and that makes me sad. Hopefully, I can bust out another short story this weekend. We'll see....

Who GlassBooth Thinks I Should Vote For

I input all my opinions and thoughts on the issues revolving around the 2008 Election into GlassBooth and these are my results.

(Ranked in order of similarity of the candidate's and my beliefs)
(Bolded Candidates are still running)

1. Mike Huckabee- 81% (I would've never guessed) and (Yes, he is awesome on the bass)


2. Mitt Romney- 76% (He's my favorite at this point)


3. Duncan Hunter- 74% (No longer running) and ("It was me. Sorry, I had Taco Bell for lunch.")


4. Fred Thompson- 71% (No longer running) and (Ole Fred with Larry the Cable Guy)


5. John McCain- 70% (He's my second favorite at this point) and (Yes that is a little extreme for a close up.)


6. Rudy Giuliani- 70% (No longer running) and (Yes Rudy, I'm excited you dropped out too!)


7. Barack Obama- 68% (I'm not blown away, but I am kind of surprised he is ranked this high) and (I wonder if Barack can flow like his buddy Ludacris?)


8. Tom Tancredo- 67% (No longer running) and (Yes, this guy was running for president)


9. Joe Biden- 65% (No longer running) and (Yeah, I thought Cloverfield was way shaky too!)


10. Hillary Clinton- 64% (I am now blown away; 64%? That's high??) and (No comment needed)


11. Bill Richardson- 63% (No longer running) and (Pick on someone your own size, Bill!)


12. Christopher Dodd- 61% (No longer running) and (Smart kid)


13. Ron Paul- 55% (Interesting) and (Love, Paul. Love.)


14. John Edwards- 54% (No longer running) and (No John, move your thumb out and make it an "L" shape and then put it on your forehead. You never do anything right.)


15. Mike Gravel- 44% (Old man.)


16. David Kucinich- 43% (No longer running) and (Asian aren't funny; or they are, and I just shouldn't make fun of them?)

Who Should You Vote For?

Don't answer that.

Instead, input your opinions into this website and the website will tell you which candidate is more in-line with your opinions. This site is amazingly accurate and very unbiased.

GLASS BOOTH

Heath Ledger Gone

Heath Ledger has appeared to overdose on over-the-counter sleeping pills. It's a shame to lose such a good actor.

Two Questions: Why was he in Mary-Kate Olsen's apartment overdosing? And will they be able to finish "The Dark Knight?"




News article
Heath Ledger

My mostly homophobic, racist, sexist friend Tommy said- "Let that be a lesson to all actors, if you make love to another man, even if its a movie, you will die."

I think he was joking. Or I hope he was joking.

More short story stuff...

Plane Lapse

“I am over you finally”

“That’s what you said before. How do I know this is any different from the last time?”

“Because of this.” Click.

Whew. That felt good, thought Elliott. Elliott just told the girl he had been in love with for the past 7 years that he was ready to move on. He was over her. He didn’t care about their past, present or future relationship statuses or possibilities.

This was a lie.

Elliott slumped down into his uncomfortable seat on his Northwest Airlines flight. He swore that his wood chairs at his dining room table were just as comfortable, if not more comfortable than these tail-numbing, airplane seats. Whatever; I’ll fall asleep once we get in the air, he thought. He was so glad to be flying home. It has been a long time since he’d seen the tall, green pines and the wide-leafed oaks of the Southeast. He knew his mom was getting his room ready. He could picture her making the bed, pulling out a guitar for him to play, and filling the frig with some of his favorites. Mmm…Ball Park hot dogs. His mouth began to water.

Brrr. “This is your captain speaking. Thank you for choosing Northwest airlines today. The flight is going to be right on-time. We’re going to try and make up some time for you in the air. Hopefully we can get you in ten to fifteen minutes early. The weather is perfect, but there might be some slight turbulence until we get near the Midwest. So just sit back and relax. Next stop Charlotte, North Carolina.” Brr.

Elliott pulled out his CD player from his messenger bag and put in a mix he made for this trip. He looked around and knew he was the only one on the plane with an actual CD player, and not an iPod or some other variation of an MP3 player. He joked that he was retro, but he really was just scared to invest so much money into something that was easily lost or stolen like a MP3 player. But he knew it was only a matter of time until he succumbed to technology. Maybe he would just wait until they could install a mini-speaker into your ear and listen to music wirelessly. It was only a matter of time.

He adjusted himself in his chair. His eyes were starting to get heavy. He was fading away to the soft, simple words of Rocky Votolato. His eyes closed like a vault door, with an echoing thud. Elliott would only remember two things as he stepped into his subconscious. First, he remembered his doctor telling him his “hallucinations” were nothing to worry about. They would wear off. He just got a little too creative when his subconscious took the wheel. And second, that the song that just started was one of the best songs he’d ever heard. It was Idioteque by Radiohead. It was a shame this song would play a part in scaring the hell out of him later.

Elliott twitched in his sleep. He twitched more than the average twenty-something year old. Sometimes he twitched so rough that it would wake him up, but this kind of startling twitch only seemed to happen when he was sleeping somewhere he wasn’t used to. Like this plane.

Elliott twitched just hard enough for him to wake up. What the…, he thought. He pried open his left eye just slightly; he didn’t want too much light to get in and start the photosynthesis process of a headache. When he opened his eyes, he felt the turbulence. It was weird that the turbulence didn’t wake him up, or that he didn’t notice the turbulence until his eyes were opened. But maybe it was just him being groggy.

He opened his other eye and slowly let his squinting eyes adjust to the fluorescent airplane lights. As he tried to adjust, he noticed the other passengers. They looked a little edgy. Some of them even looked frightened. Elliott was not too unnerved at this; he knows what turbulence can do to people. He brushed the peer-pressured-worry out of his homeward bound mind. But as he did so, he realized Idioteque was still playing. That’s strange. How long have I been asleep?

Elliott looked down at his new, brown Penguin watch and saw that he’d been asleep for about an hour. Ok good, he thought. The CD had just played all the way through. It couldn’t be the repeat switch; that broke years ago in a freak mini-screwdriver fight with his brother. The combination of 56 worried passengers, 8 frightened-looking passengers, and a repeating song that repeated for an hour without a repeat function, would have made him push aside the natural, no-worries attitude for a second, and contemplate the probability that he could be starting to get freaked out. But no, everything was fine.

The plane thudded.

Turbulence is so stupid, he thought. Why doesn’t God just keep the wind and other turbulence causing things out of the stratosphere? Elliott shifted a little in his seat and closed his eyes again. Idioteque was still on.

Who’s in the bunker?
Who’s in the bunker?

The plane thudded again.

Elliott opened an eye, but quickly closed it again.

Here I’m allowed, everything all of the time.
Here I’m allowed, everything all of the time.

Right when Elliott drifted away a sharp jerk swept the plane. There was a unified gasp throughout the plane. Everyone grabbed their armrests and held their breath. Elliott wasn’t asleep anymore. The plane jerked violently again, only this time harder. People were starting to make very scared noises. Babies began to cry. Young girls began to whine and cry with frequencies I thought were reserved for dogs. Grown men were perspiring, and their wives were saying prayers. Elliott just sat there playing over and over the thousands of possible outcomes in his mind.

Brrr. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are experiencing turbulence. Please stay seated and calm. We’ll be…” Brrr.

Brr. “No, don’t do that. Hit the stabilizer; we’re going to lose cabin pressure. Donald! Stop!” Brrr.

Brrr. “Is this….Donald….whined the….relieve….missing another….no time….” Brrr.

Elliott felt his stomach rise and then drop in his torso. He felt his eyes turning blood-shot. Lunch was taking revenge on him. As he used his index finger to hit stop on his vintage CD player, the plane shook harder than the first two times, throwing the older lady beside him into the aisle. Why wasn’t she wearing a seatbelt? But as his mind was asking the question, the emergency exit to Elliott’s left bent inward. The sound was similar to a sledge hammer hitting the side of your car. Elliott tightened his seatbelt as a second, much-larger areo-sledge hammer indentation was made. Elliott let out a murmured “Oh no” as the emergency exit door ripped off the plane. A tornado-like wind thrashed into the plane. Everything not attached went flying. Books and magazines were everywhere. The luggage compartments flew open, emptying all their contents everywhere. The bags were hitting people, knocking them out.

Elliott screamed, but no one heard him. His scream fit with everyone’s else’s screams. He was going to die. They all were, but he was going to die.

A little girl slipped from her mother’s grip and was sucked out of the plane. Elliott slammed his eyes shut. This is not fair, Elliott cursed. His chair creaked with a slight jerk.

“Oh no!” Elliott yelled.

Elliott grabbed the chair beside him, but his neighbor’s chair was ripping out too. He wildly groped everywhere within arms reach. He had to find something to hold onto, but there was nothing! He reached again for his neighbor’s chair, but it wasn’t there anymore. It streaked past him, out of the plane and into the sky. The jagged metal base of the chair slashed his shins as it flew by. The pain was intense! Elliott gritted his teeth together hard. He could feel the blood pouring out. He wanted to reach down and feel the damage, but every time he leaned forward, another chair would fly by ripping more flesh out of his legs.

“Help! Oh no! No! No!” Elliott screamed at the top of his lungs.

“Sir? Is everything ok?” someone asked.

Elliott looked to his right and saw a stewardess, with not a single hair out of place, standing amidst the chaos. Visual wind was blowing all around her. People were screaming everywhere. Kids were being thrown outside the plane, right past the stewardess. As every vein in Elliott’s body was bulging from him trying to stay in place, he considered something. Hallucinations. Was this a hallucination? If it was, it was his worst one so far.

“Sir, I’m going to need you to lower your voice and calm down. You are disturbing the other guests,” politely asked by the pristine stewardess.

It was a hallucination! Elliott closed his eyes hard again. He tried to visualize things right before he woke up. Uncomfortable chair. Radiohead. Vintage/ghetto CD player.

Elliott opened his eyes. The stewardess and a few other guests were looking at him with a confused expression. The airplane wasn’t chaotic anymore. All the luggage was where it was suppose to be, and all the chairs were in place, bolted to the ground. It was a hallucination.

“M’am, I’m sorry. I have hallucinations. Please forgive me,” Elliott said.

“It’s quite alright. Would you like a beverage?” asked the stewardess.

“Yes M’am. Do y’all have Dr. Pepper?” Elliott said.

"No, but we have Mr. Pibb. Would you like that?" she replied.

"No, I'll just have a water then," Elliott said.

The Problem With Outsourcing

It's a popular trend for the corporate world to outsource their phone calls to India right now.

I think for the time being, it will save companies money and hassle; but I think the long-term, international social effects will be detrimental. India's people are going to hate us B/C they work in a dirty business of answering telemarketing and customer service phone calls. I think door-to-door sales would take first in crappy jobs, with telemarketing in close second. And while door-to-door sales is a dying industry, telemarketing has flourished. India has become the US' top outsourcing country because of the cheap labor and ready available work force there.

Twenty years from now, India's people are going to have a view of America based on our angry telemarketing abuse. I hope when the Middle East conflicts worsen and Korea, China and Russia go bananas, that India doesn't go against us because of our rude, do-it-now attitudes with telemarketing. How's that for irony? We lose a war because we were rude to a country on the phone? Haha.

The College Times article -- StumbleUpon.com Will Make Us All Late for Something

Headline: StumbleUpon.com Will Make Us All Late For Something

Sub-Head: It’s impossible to be bored when you have “StumbleUpon”

By Josh Titus

Life Writer

How many times have you had a class cancel leaving you with nothing to do, but wait for your next class to start? Next time that happens, go to a computer lab and check out StumbleUpon.com. Instead of counting the tiles on the ceiling, surf the Internet with the expert help of StumbleUpon.com. You’ll be surprised what’s out there and realize what you are missing.

StumbleUpon.com is a website that helps you surf the web, and discover and rate websites, videos, pictures and news articles that are similar to your preferences. When you sign up (it’s free), you choose from 500 topics that interest you and from those preferences, StumbleUpon.com shows you websites that fit your personality. When you “stumble” and find a site you like, you click the “I like it” button on the add-on toolbar. Then that site is saved on your profile with StumbleUpon.com and slowly you are able to develop your profile with sites that interest you. But if you don't like the site, give it a thumbs down. There is a network of over 2 million people as of March 16, 2007 you can include in your web surfing. If you find someone who has similar tastes, you can add them as a friend and their “I like” pages are tossed into your “stumbling.” With each site you find you have the options of giving it a thumbs up or down, and/or writing or reading a review on it.

Garrett Camp, Geoff Smith, and Justin LaFrance founded StumbleUpon.com during the later years of college. Gradually the website began to attract “stumblers” as the company took off in Calgary, Alberta in 2002. Eventually Silicon Valley investor Brad O’Neil invited the three to California where the project started to take professional form. Last month they hit the 2 million-member mark, with thousands signing up each day. StumbleUpon.com became really popular in December 2006 when they added StumbleVideo. This trendy addition allows users to search through online videos coming from popular sites such as YouTube.com, Myspace.com, and Google video.

Fans of Mozilla Firefox (and newly added Internet Explorer) are able to add a plug-in of StumbleUpon on their web browser. When you’re bored and have time to kill, just click the “Stumble!” button that’s embedded on your toolbar and automatically you are finding filtered sites that are just for you. Andy Walker of g4techTV said, “It's kind of addictive ... when you have time to surf it really does allow you to find some unique and relevant sites." Haytham Bennani, from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, or better known as “khiZeus” on SU, said, “This is by far the best toolbar on the internet today. The functionality and versatility that SU provides is stunning, on par and beyond my highest expectations. The archive of stumble-able sites grows each and every day, and the content is absolutely amazing. Two huge thumbs up for this program and its developers. Can't wait for the toolbar to make it big!”

The Internet is a vast, seemingly never-ending screen of information. It has become a vital part of our society and grows more anchored every second. If used correctly, a person can substantially become more knowledgeable about everything this world has to offer. StumbleUpon.com is stepping stone in realizing how the Internet can be simple and catered for you.

Teaser: StumbleUpon can be addictive, so use caution when using it.

Pull quote: “The functionality and versatility that SU provides is stunning…” - Haytham Bennani

The College Times article -- Pandora.com Killed the Radio Star

Headline: “Pandora.com killed the radio star”

Sub-Head: You’ll never touch your FM radio again once you experience Pandora.com.

By Josh Titus

Life Writer

Let’s pretend music has DNA. Every band you know has a genetic make-up that makes it who it is (and what it sounds like). And just like people, we all have similarities and differences. For instance, a band such as Incubus consists of genes like hard rock roots, mild rhythmic syncopation, extensive vamping, major key tonality, and political lyrics. And like Incubus, the band Radiohead has similar genes of major key tonality, subtle use of vocal harmony, and melodic songwriting. But unlike Incubus, the singer Britney Spears possesses a genetic composition of pop rock qualities, danceable grooves, minor key tonality, a breathy female vocalist, erotic lyrics, and repetitive melodic phrases. Now if only someone understood that music was as complex as the same DNA that makes us unique. Well in 2000, someone did.

In 2000, Tim Westergren started the Music Genome Project and eventually Pandora.com. Pandora.com is a web site that offers free music euphoria. At Pandora.com, you type in a band’s name that you are into and it searches its huge database of music to find bands of similar qualities or similar DNA. Each of the hundreds of thousands of songs at Pandora.com are listened to and “hand-clicked” through over 400 musical attributes including melody, harmony, tonality, rhythm, form, lyrics, and hundreds of other attributes. After typing in your band and enjoying the music, you have the pleasure to customize that particular station (with each new band you enter, you start a new station). The band you entered becomes the root of that station and with each song that the Music Genome Project deems similar, you have presidential power to sign it, veto it, or even pocket veto it. By giving the song a thumbs-up, you approve it and give Pandora.com the chance to find other songs comparable to the new one you like. By giving the song a thumbs-down, you kicked it out of the station for good. If you don’t do anything, Pandora.com puts it on the back burner and gives the song another chance later. Pandora.com is all about you- the music lover. They want you to be able to enjoy great music you already know and to find new bands that already fit your tastes. As UVSC student Jacob Russell, who spends 1 to 6 hours a day on the site, says, “Pandora.com makes for good sexy time.”

While Pandora.com is great and easy to use, it has things that can be disappointing. Freshman Stuart Buchanan-Jackson says, “The only I don’t like is that you can’t specifically play a certain song.” Due to copyright laws, it cannot play a specific song you are in the mood to hear. You are able to type in the song and hear songs similar and eventually hear the song you want, but never right away. For that reason Pandora.com was #3 behind music pay-sites iTunes and eMusic on Entertainment Weekly’s Best Music Websites. Another thing that bothers 19-year-old Jessica Hocker is “it can only skip 10 songs within an hour.” It is another copyright stipulation that restricts you from having “radio ADD” and flipping through songs too quickly. But even with these slight imperfections, Pandora.com made the list for Time magazine’s “Top 50 Web sites of 2006.” That is quite the achievement today with the Internet being as innovative as ever.

Aside from Pandora.com (my personal favorite), there are many other good Internet radio providers. Here are a few of the others that I think are worth listening to:

• http://last.fm- LastFM comes in at a very close second to Pandora.com. LastFM is arguably more comprehensive with its music selection, it keeps track of everything you listen to, and it allows you to save a personal play list.

• http://live365.com- Live365 is a huge directory of specific Internet radio genres.

• http://accuradio.com- An upcoming-and-coming internet radio.

• http://radiotime.com- A newer internet radio station with promise.

• http://musicovery.com- A very interesting way to see music. This site lets you decide the between the dark and positive, and the calm and energetic music. And then it graphs it out for you.

BYU student Devin Carroll said, “Internet radio is by far one of the best ways to discover new bands.” Everyone has agreed with that. Jacob Russell discovered Hot Chip’s “Over and Over,” Jessica Hocker found Gatsbys American Dream’s “The Giant’s Drink,” Stuart Buchanan-Jackson came across Rocky Votolato’s “Passing White Daises,” and I found Kings of Leon’s “On Call.” So say goodbye to your FM radio because after listening to the commercial-free and financially free Pandora.com, you will probably never go back.

Teaser: What do The Police and Ok Go have in common?

Pull quote: “…Pandora.com makes for good sexy time.” -UVSC student Jacob Russell

Police are Above the Law

Warning: This is biased. And is another car/road/traffic/accident story.

This week in my town of Provo, Utah, a 45 year old man was hit and killed while walking on a crosswalk by a 18 year veteran police officer driving a marked SUV.

I understand it's hard to see at night. I understand Roy Wayne Taylor might have been drunk. I understand it was probably Roy's fault. (I also understand UHP trooper Preston Rabin might have been a little careless, too.) I understand the trooper was supposedly going the speed limit of 35 mph. (Don't believe it btw) And I understand, that regardless of the circumstances, pedestrians always have the right of way when it comes to traffic situations.

What I am having a hard understanding is why Officer Rabin was given a PAID WEEK'S VACATION because he hit and killed a pedestrian. Anyone else would've been charged with involuntary manslaughter, or some other ridiculous crime. Police officers are suppose to be the best drivers on the road. This is the 3rd police officer wreck I've heard about in the past 2 months! I saw a three car pile up a block west of University Ave. a week before Christmas with a police paddy-wagon in the middle of the intersection. Something is wrong with the policing in Provo.

It's not fair. Police officers are not above the law. They exist only to enforce it and regulate it. I'm sorry the police officer made a mistake. I feel bad for the family and Officer Rabin, but point-blank, Officer Rabin made a mistake. Punishment is not a paid week's vacation.

News Article

Skaters Don't Like Dr. Pepper

I was driving my friend Jessica to school today and as I was passing Liberty Square Apartments, I noticed something. There was a skater kid skating in the road. That's not a big deal at all, except he dragged out a big metal railing for him to grind on. It was laying in the middle of the street causing a 2 lane road to channel into a one lane road. It was causing congestion and if nothing else, it was dangerous. The railing is very low to the ground and it's hard to see. A big black SUV almost hit it because the skater kid was on the side of the road, out of sight, and the railing sort of blends in with the road.

The situation was not good and I took it upon myself to offer the kid a safer, more practical place to skate. In the middle of Liberty Square Apartments is an outdoor basketball court that no one uses. He would have tons of room, it would be out of everyone else's way and it would be safer. I drove up and said verbatim, "This is isn't the best place to do that. There's an empty basketball court in Liberty Square you can use."

Before I could finish that second sentence, he was saying, "I don't care. I don't care."

Disrespectful, little punk. I drove away and turned around. As I drove by him again he looked thirsty so I tossed him a Dr. Pepper. This is why I don't think skaters like Dr. Pepper very much because the disrepectful, little punk tried to throw it back to me. I was all the way down the road by the time he was able to find it under some car, but he threw it anyway and didn't get close at all. Maybe disrespectful, little punk skater kids aren't smart enough to know not to skate on busy streets AND to know not to try and throw Dr. Pepper cans back at generous people when they are 100 yards down the road.

I got back to work and called the Provo City Police. Maybe they can talk some sense into him.

Goodbye 2007....Hello 2008

This has been an excellent year and I'm going to list my reasons why:

*I went skydiving
*Moved from Columbia, South Carolina to Provo, Utah last January
* Learned to snowboard quite well at Sundance Ski Resort (well I can carve at least)
*Changed the oil in my car without my Dad's help
* Went to Las Vegas over the summer with Devin and Jacob
* Helped a friend get off a mountain after getting his jeep stuck up there for over a week (Dunn)
* Kept my makeout numbers lower than anyone in my house (Jacob, Devin, Tommy, and John)
* But now I have a cute girlfriend named Danna
* Lived in the Branbury Apartment Complex- it was good.
* Moved into a 6 Bedroom house
* Played in a flag football league and was undefeated during the season, but we lost in the playoffs.
* Some excellent movies came out: Juno, I am Legend, 300, Knocked Up, Grindhouse, Harry Potter, The Number 23, Hot Fuzz, Black Sheep, etc.
* I discovered some rad music: I got into Kings of Leon,
* And I made some rad new friends: TK, Stuart Jackson, Tommy Buchanon, Van Baker, Cole Christensen, John Patzold, Chelsea Cannon, Kelly Russell, Taylor, Jessi Polli, Nikki Saenz, Jenny Brinkeroff, Joe Hannah, Ken, Kevin, Travis Erbstoesser, Mary Gillrie, Melissa Terry, Nathan Shumway, Rob Skaggs, Tamara Whitecar, Teni, Craig Cheek, Glen Holt, Neils, Paige Jones, etc.
* I tore ligaments in my AC joint in my shoulder while snowboarding- it took 8 months to heal
* Had Thanksgiving dinner with my Uncle Adam's family near Cedar Breaks
* Wrote some songs on the guitar
* Got a job as a front desk agent at the Provo Marriott
* Have made good grades in school
* Helped convinced Jessica to move down to Provo from Rexburg, ID
* Began writing for The College Times
* Got promoted to Sales Administrative Assistant and got my own desk and business cards (lol)
* Learned what LQTM meant
* Discovered Daniel Tosh, Achmed the Terrorist, Cyanide and Happiness, Blogger,
* Got a Blackberry Pearl- very fun
* Did not get a speeding ticket all year!
* Went home only twice- August and December
* Had an array of roommates that I didn't know before- John Patzold, Carson, Ethan, and Van Baker (And one more but I can't remember his name).
* Cut my long hair at the end of the summer :(
* Learned what the "Gambler" was
* Learned the true meaning of "fletcher"
* Became very good friends with TK
* Drank a lot of Dr. Pepper than went 2 months without it, and then once again, drank a lot of Dr. Pepper
* Flew to Denver, CO to see Incubus at Red Rocks Amphitheater
* Bought a ton of furniture from work
* Bought a king size bed and bought bedding at Bed Bath and Beyond- one of the best things I've ever done!
* New Computer (I learned first-hand about viruses)
* Was hurt by 3 girls (Mary, Haley and Heather)
* Became best friends with Jessica
* Saw in concert: Mutemath (twice), Eisley, Straylight Run, LoveDrug, Sparta, Incubus, (Missed both of Rocky Votolato's shows- UGH), Wolfmother, etc.
* Was friends with Lindsey, then I wasn't, then I was and then I wasn't and now I am again
* Someone broke my side mirror while I was out of town
* Discovered Guitar Hero and it changed my life
* Went to Dillon Sevey's Baptism
* Went to a Real game - professional soccer
* Went wakeboarding
* Went to Nate Vevea and Courtney Brooks wedding (and met Mary)
* I thought I was going to marry Mary and that was a bust
* Jessia rolled her car 3 times coming back from Idaho
* Writer's Strike
* Called to be the Sunday School President in my ward
* Won my company party's Pumpkin Contest
* went to some BYU football games including the rivalry game against Univ. of Utah
* Tommy played a mean prank on me
* I played a mean prank on all my friends that I got engaged.
* I have been home off my mission for over two years now