Sheri Dew Rocks my Socks

So I've been listening to a LOT of Sheri Dew's books and tapes in the past little while, and this has long been a thought that has stuck out to me and I want to talk about it:

When we fail to champion one another, we in essence betray each other.
- Sheri Dew, http://ce.byu.edu/cw/womensconference/archive/2000/dew_sheri.htm

There are so many times in my life where I haven't given people, whoever it may be, the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes all I can see is that they've "wronged me" or "hurt me," or (insert whatever you want here) ME. Me, me, me, me. I sometimes don't consider listening to their side of things because I am just too dang busy thinking about myself and thinking about how justified I am for being mad at them and taking things out on them in my own special way.

There are many problems with this. Does it help me? No, it doesn't, I usually don't feel better getting my revenge, I still hurt at what they did and now I've got blood on my hands. Does it help them? Do they want to change? No, they're just pissed at me now, and they've got a special look in their eye that tells me that they wouldn't be none too sad if they did the exact same hurtful thing to me again, 'cause now they're hurt too. Did anyone win? No, the war's just more entrenched now. So then what's the answer? It's relative, but to me, it's a matter of understanding. Getting at the true motivation behind someone's actions by ACTUALLY asking them is a good place to start. A lot of times people do things that hurt or tick me off and they either absolutely did not mean what they did the way I thought they did, or they had no idea that they did anything at all.

And you know what? Maybe that person just had a crap day. Maybe their cat died. Maybe they got in a car accident. Maybe they lost the prize spoon from their coveted spoon collection. Maybe their hormones are all out of whack. Understand before you judge. If you're going to assume, try assuming the best before you assume the worst.

Ingrid and El Consuego

Ok, so since I neglected writing yesterday, today's an obligatory 2-for-1 special rather than a voluntary one. First to bat: Ingrid Michaelson. I like her musics. You should too. Hey, maybe you already do! As the post-ceding video will reference, she's been spotlighted on Grey's Anatomy, and I even heard one of her songs tonight on an Old Navy commercial during The Office's season premiere. So please, stop making her sell her soul out to over-rated TV shows and commercials with old ladies in big glasses. Help a girl out and buy her CD.

And speaking of selling someone's soul, the second spotlight is the raddest of them all. She's ME! Ya, I know, putting myself on the same post as the lovely Ingrid takes either a whole lotta guts, or a huge deficit in brains, but rest assure, dear reader, that I have both. I'll let my myspace do the rest of the talking.

Well, nearly the rest. Do you have a song that you want done? Anything you think would be hilarious fodder for the parody...er? Comments are welcome.

Scrubs and 'Phones

This makes me want to watch Scrubs. I've actually never seen a whole episode. And I've never seen House, much to the chagrin of some people who may or may not read this blog. Back to the clip. Makes the rad-list. Woo to the clip.

And there's a little more. I got new headphones today. As much as I loved my old ones, the sheath of the wire detached just above the mini plug and the raw wire was exposed. I did a makeshift repair - a little hot glue and a lot of love - but I'm just too brutal to my headphones and the sheath is progressively freeing itself from the glue ever further. I've decided to make them emergency-use only and let them rest. I'll probably get some heat shrink some day when I'm not lazy, but finally this segways into why I'm blabbing about this (besides the reason of my love for my old headphones):


Meet the Sony Fontopia MDR-EX51LP. I'm really an impulsive buyer. Many, many of my things have been bought based on a feeling, and these headphones fall under that category. I saw them, had a good feeling about them, and plunked them on the register. I'm quite pleased with them. I'm not exactly an expert per se, but to me they sound great. They're comfy. They're pretty. They're mine.

Favorite aspect: They drown out my roommates singing show tunes.

All Things Go!

You know, there comes a time in every rad blogger's life when they find, yes you guessed it, another rad blog. Go there. Seriously. Go there, peruse, and see the wonder and majesty of the radness thereof. Not only will you find intelligence, but you will find taste, and that, my friends, is priceless.

Oh, and one more thing, when you go, put on the acoustic version of Sufjan Stevens' "Chicago." And don't make a lot of mistakes.

Peace out.

Woot!

Woot.com has long been one of my favorite sites, luring me to check it nearly every day. Here's the story: Every day they have an item that they have a special on. Take it or leave it. Not only do they have great prices on their product of the day, but the main feature (to me) is the brilliant and hilarious write-up on the product. Case in point: Today's woot: Roomba. Brilliant. Hilarious. Woot.

Limitlessly rad.

I want to talk about something that's been preoccupying my mind this week. I see and interact with tons of rad people. TONS. Roommates, best friends, brilliant classmates, professors, deans, church people, etc. For the most part, I hear them talk about other rad people that they know and admire, who they love, appreciate, and aspire to emulate. Then I've known people (sometimes the same who totally admire others (and it's definitely been myself at points along my way)) who, when they talk about themselves, seem like they feel totally worthless, unlovable, and unwantable. They (and I) may feel like it's a fact - unmovable and unbroachable - that they are now, and forever will be someone who is not enough, someone who is not worth people's time, affection, or love.

Thank God I don't feel that way right now, or else I wouldn't be able to tell you this: That is the biggest lie. You. Are. Rad. You are a son or daughter of God, a God who is like the Ultimate Dad. You want a dad who will ride bikes with you or throw popcorn at the movie screen with you or wants to hear about your day? You got it, kid. He loves the CRAP out of you. Literally. He loves you so perfectly and thoroughly that He has sent His Son to make you clean. Here's what you've gotta do:

1. Sit down
   
2. Realize that God's rad. I mean, come on, He invented all things that are fun, rad, and filled with Awesome. He is Infinity out of 5. Inititely and limitlessly rad.
   
3. Realize that Mr. Infinitely Rad thinks that YOU'RE Rad.
   
4. Realize that He's never wrong, and He never lies. ('cause then He's not God (and not rad. Liars aren't rad.)
   
5. Realize that you are Rad, and that you are worth loving, fighting for, and appreciating.
   
6. Enjoy your state of limitlessness. (and don't put any more limits on yourself - that's the only place limits come from. The rest can be compensated for)
   
7. Tell your friends.
   

I heard a song today that I thought was rad, so I'm posting the lyrics. You want sheet music for it? It's free and it's right over here. Check out the rest of her site. There's lots of good stuff.

Miracles

Amid the countless blessings the Lord has given me
The light of truth and goodness; the Holy Spirit's peace
I see the many sorrows that his children must endure
So much hurt I long to heal. How can I change the world?

There are hands I cannot hold
Hearts I cannot comfort
Tears that only miracles can stay
So let me love and serve and teach
Those who come within my reach
For miracles begin that way

The Savior walked in Galilee, unknown in many lands
Yet touching every nation by the labors of his hands
Giving light to all the world by teaching but the few
He is my example in the work that I must do

There are hands I cannot hold
Hearts I cannot comfort
Tears that only miracles can stay
So let me love and serve and teach
Those who come within my reach
For miracles begin that way

I will bear the burden of my neighbor in his need
I will share my Savior's love in every kindly deed
He will magnify my efforts, and I'll understand at last
That by these small and simple things are great things brought to pass.

There are hands I cannot hold
Hearts I cannot comfort
Tears that only miracles can stay
So let me love and serve and teach
Those who come within my reach
For miracles begin that way

And the cuteness thereof was exceedingly great

Two words: Holy. Crap.

Bat out of hell

Ran across this today, and it's pretty much teh rad. I love looking at it and imagining to myself what the thoughts of each person is. My favorite is the man in black who's directly above the bat. He's just so smug and beautiful. I bet he's thinking to himself "Sure glad I didn't shell out the extra money for better seats." This picture makes me want to bust out my camera.

The Dig

CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE DETAILS

So here's the gig of The Dig. (Can I get a wut-wut?)

Storyline: Asteroid comes up to earth and says, "Hey I'm an asteroid. You're all gonna die!" NASA says, "Pshh, heeeck no, we be blowin' you up, sucka!"

NASA sends a team of 5:

• Commander Boston Low (voiced by Robert Patrick), the main protagonist— a retired astronaut and survival expert
• Dr. Ludger Brink (voiced by Steven Blum), an archaeologist and geologist
• Maggie Robbins (voiced by Mari Weiss), a reporter and linguistics expert
• Ken Borden (voiced by David Lodge), expert shuttle pilot
• Cora Miles (voiced by Leilana Jones), NASA technician and political candidate

Crew goes "Whammo Blammo!" Asteroid goes *dies* and crew goes "OMGBBQ, SECRET CREVICE!!!11!!1!" Crew invesitigates (minus the pilots, as they're being very pilot-y and very non-explore-y) and Asteroid goes "Mwahaha, I'm actually a spaceship!" *WHOOOSH!* Crew goes "HOLY CRAP! Abandoned alien world! How do we get home?"

Released: 1995 (a full 3 years BEFORE that cliché movie Armageddon
Directed by: Steven Spielberg (yes, video games have directors)

This game had me and my sister transfixed time after time after time. A little more tech-savvyness and a little less laziness, I'd jimmy up this game onto my compooper in a heartbeat. Any readers who may be blessed with both should do just that.

5 out of 5: Absolutely Rad.

Alanis Morissette

Being the budding psychologist that I am, one of the most beneficial days of my life was the day that my old roommate let me know that Alanis Morissette was much, much more than a one-album-wonder. Yes, Jagged Little Pill launched her into the light, spending 12 non-consecutive weeks at the top of the United States Billboard 200 albums chart and selling 13.5 million copies, but I was honored to discover that there is much more depth to this artist than was displayed by the heartbroken and pseudo-violent lyrics that painted her portrait on the Pill.


Song in point: Everything. Off her most recent release to date, So-Called Chaos is a brilliant capture of her growth after a journey that has refined and honed her abilities as an artist, and her character as a person. I've personally gleaned many, many insights from this album. Check it out: It's a 5 out of 5 [ABSOLUTELY RAD!].

And this article was not even inspired by the above. Reason for writing: Guy Sigsworth. It has recently come to my attention that this talented gentleman, collaborator of both Björk and Imogen Heap, has been working on a new project: Alanis's upcoming album!

FIRE IN THE DISCO!! FIRE IN THE...TACO BELL!!

This is the coolest thing that I've seen in a while...

[EDIT: 9/19/07] So I totally had a dream last night where I was with my family on a road trip, and I decided in my head that I was going to marry a guy whose last name was Sparks so that I could have 3 kids: Danger, High, and Voltage. I still think it's a brilliant idea. Danger Sparks? Totally wicked.

Want to know what the crap this is about?

Stardust

CLICK IMAGE FOR TRAILER

I discovered this movie while having a small Michelle Pfeiffer Marathon this past weekend. I started with White Oleander, an old favorite, in the comfort of my apartment and decided that she was so rad that I would dedicate the weekend to her. First stop on my venture to the outside world: Hairspray. Rating: 1 out of 5. Totally Unrad.* Extremely well done, however, it was too contrived and manipulative while not having any real depth. I shouldn't be surprised. It's a musical, and that's their vehicle. It just didn't sit right with me. However, the next stop had me dazzled.

Stardust. I was quickly enchanted and charmed by this cleverly written and well-acted tale of a fallen star. Was it the irresistably innocent hero, played by Charlie Cox, that won my heart? Was it the brilliantly shining performance of Claire Danes? Or was it seeing the 78 year old David Kelly beat the crap out of our hero with a staff? I think it's safe to say that it was all of the above, plus thousands of moments filled to the brim with laughter, fascination and, of course, radness.

Rating: 5 out of 5. Absolutely Rad.

*Note to the reader: Totally Unrad is not as bad as Absolutely Unrad. This movie has not hit 0.

Maiden Voyage

There should be a GoogleThought program that could connect a search engine to my brain. I'd just type 'deep thoughts' or 'rad thoughts' and all sorts of stuff would pop up in .0058588 seconds. However, I have a fleshy piece of brain instead of 450,000+ servers accessing trails of memory that have long since been buried and forgotten about.

I suppose I could be business oriented and state my objective in having this blog:


OBJECTIVE: To have a central location to post all things rad.

PARTICIPANTS: (note that I did not use the un-PC term 'subjects.' I should tell my colleagues) me, myself, and I. Sometimes I will invite a special guest. It could be YOU!!!

METHOD: Researchers (me, myself, and I, inclusive) are now compiling data and material from various forms of media, either produced by talented minds, corporate entities or by the researchers themselves in an effort to prove once and for all that there are people, places, things and ideas that are, have been, and forever will be unequivocally rad.

RESULTS: Results to come. Don't touch that dial.