It's Alive!!

 It's Alive!!  My Phone's alive!

And thus ends the Epic Saga of my shambled cell phone . . . well, heh, sort of.

My brother Michael, as indicated through these photos, was able to successfully switch out the LCD screen.  Unfortunately something got lost in the process.  The inside button that controls lowering the volume went missing, which is the same button used to do a factory reset.  Michael offered to order and new one and fix it, but I've had enough!  I've learned my lesson!  I'm just happy to have a screen that works and properly shows an image!!

The Most Touching Commercial I've Ever Seen

(Public Domain)

The things you find on Facebook!  Bits of treasure amongst a sea of junk, and yesterday I found a piece of treasure on my friend Dara's wall.

It's a commercial, a brilliant 3 minute commercial that's more touching and expertly crafted then anything I've seen in the movie theater these last few months, and I cried more then those tear-jerking Hallmark commercials.

It's from TrueMove, who is quoted as saying they "believe in the power of giving without expecting a return."  This is a sentiment I've felt since High School.  There was a community service club I wanted to join back then, but the first meeting was the only meeting I attended.  It wasn't about the service projects.  The main thing the adviser was promoting was this Huge ski trip the club would be going on, and the only way you could attend was by going to all the service projects, earning points, seeking donations, and so forth.  I was appalled and disgusted.  So I never returned and joined another service club that actually did service with no promise of anything in return.

I love the message found in this commercial.

I Found Cerulean Jade!

 I found Cerulean Jade!  Well, the color isn't quite cerulean, but it's close.  I couldn't believe my eyes when I found it, having looked everywhere.  Doing some research, taking into account that I got the above pieces in a California gem store, I believe this is Nephrite Blue Jade from Big Sur California.

Jade is a funny semi-precious stone, because so many stones that are not technically "jade" gets labeled as such, and that has to do with the vast history of jade.  Two types of mineral compounds are considered true jade: Nephrite and Jadeite.  The history behind jade and the many cultures it has touched anciently--Korea, Egypt, China, and Mesoamerica to name a few--is really quite fascinating. 

My Mom made me this beautiful bracelet pictured below with a stone labeled "New Jade," which is the mineral compound Serpentine.  The color is beautiful, and one of my most favorite pieces my Mom has made for me.  I don't care if it's technically not a "jade."

But I'm still quite happy to have found a blue jade.

In Which My Cell Phone Gets Naked

A month ago my phone fell in Epic slow motion style (in my line of sight, anyway).  My brother Michael tackled it yesterday, after backing up my cell's information, and watching the video a few times.  I was so nervous!  It was not easy watching my phone get taken apart, layer by layer.  There was a point when I went into the next room, feeling like I was in a hospital waiting room.

And how did it turn out??!!

 The LCD screen got bent in the process, so my Dad ordered a new one, and hopefully it will be here by the weekend.  It was sad, and my brother felt bad, and I felt bad for him . . . and my phone.  He did try!!  It's not an easy thing to do.

I have faith it will get fixed!  Michael's crazy technical genius will see to that.

Why do we sleep?

(Public Domain)

I'm obsessed with sleep!  Obsessed! Mainly because I don't take any stimulants of any kind, so if I'm groggy throughout the day for lack of sleep, I just have to deal with it.

When I was in High School I developed a super bad habit that lasted through college, and apparently teenagers/college kids need 9 hours of sleep!  But they don't get it.  I sure didn't.

Community theater and activities, community service, clubs, college prep classes, music, etc is what led to my downfall.  Starting my Sophomore year in High School I was getting on average 4 hours of sleep a night.  

Here is an outline of my typical High School day: Wake up between Midnight and 4 a.m. to finish any homework I couldn't manage the day before, leave for seminary at 6 a.m., seminary till about 7:15, walk to school and do homework/study in Library, Class from 8 ish to 3 ish (I forget the time-frame), walk a mile home, Homework from 4-6:30 pm (unless I have piano or after school activities), be at theater from about 7-10 (sometimes later or earlier), go to bed (hopefully by midnight), wake up between midnight and 4 (and start the day all over).

And my friends made fun of me when I fell asleep at get-togethers!  I never complained or explained, and suffered through the teasing. 

I got to the point where my brain decided it was best to study at 3 in the morning.  Lasted through my last semester in College when I was working full time and I had had enough.  I was tired all the time, and got sick whenever something was going around.  No wonder, because we need sleep!

There are So many reasons we need to sleep!  Honestly, it should be a priority of ours, because it's good for us, etc, especially if you're learning or studying new things, because it is through sleep that memories and knowledge is cemented.

I want to thank my brother Robbie for sending me this video, because every now and then I need to be reminded to allow enough time for proper shut eye.

Russell Foster: Why do we sleep?

Austenland, Movie Review

(10-27-2015: As a note, this movie has now become one of my guilty pleasures.  It's really quite fun.  I'm afraid to read below to remember what my first impression was!  I remember being quite mad the first time I saw this movie.)

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

(As of 9-24-2013 I've bumped it up to 3.5 out of 5 stars, simply because I've seen it in the theater 4 times to date.)

It is a truth universally acknowledge that a good book is in need of a good script, if it is to become a movie, and that any potential good script is in need of a great director and producer.  When this truth is acknowledged amazing entertainment is wrought, but if it is not acknowledged this entertainment is rot.

That was my initial reaction after viewing the film Labor Day weekend.

I took a deep breath and decided to hold off reviewing Austenland, based on the Shannon Hale book of the same name, which I originally gave a 2 out of 5 star rating.

Two main reasons for my original outrage was thus: My brothers, who actually love Jane Austen and romantic comedies, were with me and I could feel their discomfort, and secondly, though I know there's a difference between movies and books, which I'm typically fine with this, I hated the Hollywood sexified aspect that was placed in the movie, but wasn't in the books.  PG-13!!!!??  The book, if faithfully represented, would have been PG.  The PG-13 was earned, and headed up by Mormon LDS women to boot.  (Thanks for that, BTW -_-;; )

So before continuing the original review I choose to reread the book and then re-watch the movie.

In the beginning of the book Mrs. Wattlesbrook, played by the amazing Jane Seymour, is quoted as saying: "For the sake of the experience, we must be proper."  The Austenland in the book is perfect Regency Era proper.  England 1816 proper full of etiquette, rules and manners.  All electronics (minus flushing toilets and some electric lights) are forbidden and kept out of sight.  Mrs. Wattlesbrook would never, NEVER, announce classes and activities over a loud speaker.  And the scene where Lady Heartwright "plays" the piano via cassette tape wouldn't be tolerated as well.

Instead the movie's Austenland has about as much class as a cheap Las Vegas wedding chapel.  Instead of beautiful gardens and regency grace, we're treated by bright colors and gaudy statues.

And then there's all those cheap shots of Men's crotches, taking off shirts, a light porn cheap soap opera scene, statues with well places leaves, drawing attention instead of simply being beautiful, and sexual innuendos.

I do love Jane Seymour, but her Wattlesbrook, who's supposed to be full of fierce respect and dignity, was made silly holding a fake lamb and posing in posters advertizing her business.  James Callis as Andrews was nothing like the book, though he's amazing in Battlestar Galactica. I was expecting a more Lost in Austen Tom Mison.  And the portrayal of Lady Heartwright, Georgia King, was all wrong, though that's more of how the part was written then played, because I don't fault the actress in this.  She performed what was given, but it would have been so much better for the movie if her role remained sophisticated then becoming trashy and dumb.

There were tweaks to the lead characters as well, that I didn't mind.  Instead of Keri Russell's Jane inheriting the trip from her deceased Aunt, she spends her own life's savings, making her seem more desperate and pathetic.  It does work, though it works better in the book.  Martin, played by Bret McKenzie, works with animals instead of gardening, and this change makes a lot of sense for the movie, and leads to some honestly good movie only scenes (pheasant shooting/getting stranded on horseback).

It's Mr. Nobley, played by JJ Feild, who saves the film.  He's better then Colin Firth, and the changes made to his character (which I won't reveal for spoiler reasons) only endears him more.  My Mom wanted to see the movie again because of him, and I agreed with the sentiment.

Apparently the showing right after the one I attended on Saturday was attended by the authoress Shannen Hale.  I know this because one of my friends was there.  Shannon had a Q & A afterword, and someone actually asked about the added sexual material.  Shannon Hale said she had little control on set.  Jerusha Hess (who co-wrote and directed) and Stephenie Meyer (producer) should have had some say on set, and if they could have "cleaned it up," having both attended my alma mater Brigham Young University, they should have.  And if not, why not?  To prove what, exactly?  How grown up they are being "Hollywood?"  Rebelling in their own "Miley Cyrus" way?  Not cool.

If the movie stayed closer to the book (though I do love the apartment scene towards the end) the movie would have been amazing.  We watch Jane Austen flicks because we love the gallantry, the manners, the class, of which this movie contains none.     

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for some suggestive content and innuendo.

Mesa Top Loop Road at Mesa Verde

 Between the Balcony House and the Spruce Tree House at Mesa Verde National Park, which was our very last stop, we fit in the Mesa Top Loop.  From the website:

Auto Tour - 700 Years of Mesa Verde History

"A 6-mile (10km) driving tour with short, paved trails. Twelve easily-accessible sites, including surface dwellings and cliff dwelling overlooks. Highlights include Sun Point Overlook, Square Tower House, and views of Cliff Palace from Sun Point and Sun Temple stops. Overlooks also found on the 6-mile (10km) Cliff Palace Loop Road. Open 8 a.m. to sunset."

When you visit a cliff dwelling you see nothing but that house and the canyon they're in, seeing nothing else.  The overlooks were spectacular.  You suddenly realize how close the dwellings are and the proximity they are to each other.  Amazing.

 

The End.

And all that in less then 48 hours.

(Photos by Sarah, Robbie, and Michael Stufflebeam)

Spruce Tree House Tour in Mesa Verde

 The Spruce Tree House was the final house we went to in Mesa Verde, and was the easiest to visit.  There were no tall ladders, and you don't need a tour to go, just an easy slope down and up with free reign everywhere.  This is the third largest cliff dwelling in the park with 130 rooms and 8 kivas.  What's fun is that you can even go down into one of the kivas, which you can't do at the Cliff Palace or Balcony House.  Thanks to the lack of a tour guide I enjoyed this house most of all, mainly because it was fun wondering around without a time restraint.  There is a rope that prevents you from going into the rooms, which is a shame, because I would have loved to explore.

 

(Photos taken by Robbie, Michael, and Sarah Stufflebeam)