WebMD

WebMD is such a clever website! So let's say you're not feeling well and want to figure out whats wrong with you.

By clicking on the handy dandy Symptom Checker, you can easily determine your condition in 3 steps! First you select your gender and your age range. 1) Click on the part of the body where you are experiencing symptoms. 2) After zooming in, select a specific part of the body. Then select from symptoms available. 3) Add more symptoms (from the same or different part of the body) or select a possible condition and get more information.

Its a practical, helpful, and free website to help you determine why you are feeling sick, and provide suggestions to help you feel better. The website is not aimed at replacing a doctor. With certain symptoms that may be more serious, the site gives a warning and says something along the lines of "please seek prompt medical attention". Rather the website, allows one to help themselves and avoid an unnecessary trip to the doctor.

Babysitting Challenges

My roommate babysat her niece and nephew today. Asher the older of the two is 2 years old, and Rose is exactly 6 months today. I haven't been around kids for a while, and two kids that age can be a bit of a handfull so I thought I'd help out Hilary.

Asher and Rose were both upset once there mom left. Juice boxes, crackers, toys, and balls, would not calm the babies down. Finally Hilary and I decided to put in a movie, Monsters Inc. 5 seconds later both kids were soothed! Asher blooped himself right in the middle of the TV with his juice box on one side and his stuffed animal on the other. Rose even seemed interested in the TV as we faced her towards it.

Unfortunately Rose got upset a bit later, but Asher is still sitting here thoroughly entertained. I've never seen Monsters Inc. so I'm a bit entertained myself. It is a rather good movie.
Ah the power of sweet television!

Seventeen Magazine

As a teenager I wasn't one of those girls who read teen magazines. Occasionally, I'd flip through them while at the store, and I still do the same thing. So the other day I was in a long line at the grocery store, so I grabbed a Seventeen magazine. In class we discussed how these magazines are targeted at young female teenage girls.

So as a teenage girl, picking up this magazine. What kind of things would I read? This March issue, featured Lauren Conrad. I'm not sure who that is. Cute girl. The title reads "Lauren Conrad. Her weird habits, hot boyfriend and steamy new book". Over cover stories include: "Guys and Sex: Whats he's too embarrassed to tell you", as well as "Boost your Bra Size (in 1 month)" .

Knowing that these are the featured articles of the event is a bit disappointing. After I flipped through some of the content, I became even more disappointed.

• "57% of sexually active guys admit to having had unprotected sex, which put at risk for STD's and HIV". Well this fact may be accurate. These seem to have forgotten a key fact involved with unprotected sex. PREGNANCY
• There was a part that says "What if he gets obsessed with having sex?" The response says "Sex is fun and exciting. Plus we know that the more we have sex, the better we get at it. Practice makes us feel comfortable and confident." Wow! Thats terrible! I could not believe they put something like this in a teen magazine. The answer completely disregards the issue that the question presents! The answer seems to say "If your boyfriend is obsessed with sex, just deal with it". Soo very disappointing.

Proud Sponsors of Team USA!

When tuning in for the Olympics we are watching more than just the games. Millions of dollars are spent to promote products, as Sponsors know that their commercials will be definitely be viewed by more people than usual.

The 3 big advertisers are Visa, Coca-cola, and McDonald's.

"Visa. Worldwide Sponsor and the only card accepted". These commercials are usually pretty good. I personally like the voice of Morgan Freeman. I am surprised though considering how many major credit cards there are, that Visa is the only acceptable card. This credit card company must cash in big as they are in the perfect position; taking in all purchases made at the games.

"Coke. Proud Sponsors of the Olympic Games. Let the games begin!". Coke always seems to include it's commercials for everything, from big events to big holidays. The Super bowl, those cute little Christmas commercials with the polar bears and penguins., Nascar. Coca-cola knows how to appeal to the crowd and is successful with their advertising campaign.

"Mc Donald's. Eat like a Champion". Really? I highly doubt. Highly, highly, highly doubt that this fine athletes eat at McDonalds. Lets be realisitc. With the sodium, grease, and horrible caloric intake that McDonalds food provides, I just find it hard to believe that these Olympians eat at this fast food establishment. The slogan itself is catchy "Eat like a Champion". The wording is appealing and the idea to relate to these Olympic champions is also appealing to the viewer. The only similarity McDonald's has to The Olympics is that they have golden arches.

2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics!

I absolutely love the Olympics! I love that this event is able to bring unity amongst countries all over the world! The sportsmanship and teamwork is impressive. The talent and precision these athletes have is exceptional. I particularly love the opening ceremonies! Each year, the hosting country does a breath taking introduction in lighting the Olympic torch. The symbolism behind the light of the flame is strong and shines on through out the entirety of the games.

Favorite book as an adolescent and favortie book as an emerging adult

As an adolescent my favorite book was Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. This science fiction book is set in Earths future where mankind has survived attacks by an insect alien race. As Earth prepares for the third invasion, they seek to find a leader to command the starships and succeed in battle. Having monitored the children, they find Ender who is both a clear genius and sensitive individual. These characteristics create him into a successful leader that ensures Earths victory. Through practice, battles on the field as well as internal battles, Ender is a character whom you learn to sympathize with and admire.

Ender’s game provided me an opportunity to take myself out of my own life and enter a fantasy world. I liked his character and could sympathize in his relations with his siblings and with those he met in the battle field. As an adolescent I felt I was having to meet my own battles and while the fate of the world wasn’t on my shoulders, as a teenager it sometimes feels that way. I liked the adventure the book provided as well, allowing me explore new elements of my imagination.

My favorite book now would have to be The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis. C.S. Lewis had an extraordinary gifted mind and wrote fascinating books about his views and thoughts on life. He explains the desires we have in this lifetime are that of celestial being, as this is what we were created for. The way he describes humans as being “potential Gods and Goddesses” , places value on the fact that we have never met a mortal person as we each have divine qualities within us.

The writings of C.S. Lewis has impacted me on how I think about people. This has allowed me to better understand the ultimate potential within each human being. I find this novel to be eye-opening, as it has provided me with new perspectives to consider and the discover for myself. I like that his ideas have been a positive starting point and that I can take off from them and apply it to myself, as well as being able to learn about the true character of my nature and those whom surround me.

Fancy Feast

Steamed Talapia. Sea bass and Shrimp. Steamed Wild Alaskan Salmon. Marinated White meat Chicken. Yum! I'll have some of that! But.. if you've already read the title of the blog, you'll learn that these delicious foods are not being cooked for the average person, not even for any person at all. The fish, shrimp, steak, and chicken, is all being served for the Cat!

Really? These delicacies are all for Cats! The commercials for these Fancy Feast, always bother me. Some lovely woman is dressed up as if she's going out to a enjoy a fancy dinner, but by the end of the commerical you realize the fancy dinner is for the feline, not the woman. I guess she feels the need to look gorgeous while feeding the cat. Kinda ridicilous if you ask me. She then pulls out a cystral dish to serve her cat. No one I know uses their fine china for their cats dinner. I guess its to add to the effect of the commerical. The nice kitty cat purrs and happily eats its delightful dinner. And the owner is thoroughly content for proving her pet such a fantastic meal!

Must be nice to be a cat.

Book of Mormon Animation Videos

Reading the scriptures can be difficult and confusing for children to understand. I think it's clever that Living Scriptures have come out with a series of dvd's to illustrate and teach children about the important stories in the scriptures.

As the videos are visually appealing to children and youth, they enjoy watching these films and become interested in the stories of the gospel. Parents seem to appreciate these films as they know the messages are uplifting and impart knowledge on there children.

I have watched a few of these movies myself and thought they did a adequate job on retelling the stories while also explaining the important messages and meanings involved.

To include a different perspective , my Professor for my Cognitive Development class felt that children tended to focus on trivial details in these scripture animation movies. He gave an example that in after showing his grandchildren the story of "Nephi and the Brass Plates", he asked them about Laban and the children could only remember that he sneezed. A random detail in the movie that has no importance to the story line. He felt that children became to focused on the visual stimulation and neglected to understand the purpose of the videos.

I found it interesting to include this in my blog. I agree with my Professor to an extent that young children (age being the determining factor) do not have the cognitive processes to combine the visual animation and the messages within the story. I feel that these videos, and videos in general which are targeting for learning, should not replace scripture study (or again any learning in general). I appreciate that the producers of Living Scriptures have stated this point in saying that " Our videos do not replace scripture study- they enhance it." With the combination of video and family scripture study, then I believe children can develop a significant and true understanding of the scriptures.

Dysfunctional laptop

My laptop crashed during Finals last semester. It was incredibly frustrating to have this happen during Finals week. What terrible timing! It was also frustrating to have lost all my documents, music, and pictures. I took in my laptop and nothing could be recovered. I had to accept the fact that everything is lost.

Still there are times that I get frustrated all over again. For example, this morning I really wanted to listen to some music while getting ready for church. I looked on youtube and couldn't find what I wanted. How bothersome. Then later this afternoon I was going to show some pictures to my friend from my internship in India this summer. Then it hit me again, those pictures are gone. Again how bothersome.

I have since learned that an external hard drive is my new best friend, in case another disaster happens to strike my laptop again.

iPad

Apple has come out with yet another "truly magical and revolutionary product", as quoted by Apple CEO Steve Jobs. Just today Apple has unveiled the iPad. Watching CNN I saw the introduction of this tablet that functions as a combination of a laptop and smart phone. You'll be able to access all applications of an iphone (such as accessing the web and playing games), while being able to use the tablet to type up documents on the touch screen keyboard. Furthermore, you'll be able to access newspaper, books, and other forms of media. Making this product even more multi-functional than the already elaborate forms of technology available.

I find it truly amazing, how the inventions of our time continue to become more and more advanced. I have no idea how such technology even begins to work nor how the creation of these products come about. I am just a happy user of these new advancements :)

iphone

iphone! Its amazing how technology has become so advanced! Cell phones were a wonder when they came out and have rapidly progressed. The iphone is pretty much amazing and I feel pretty lucky to have it. The iphone has anything and everything you could need. You have the text messaging to chat with whom ever, calendar to schedule events, a rather decent camera, along with a photo album to organize your pics, a calculator, weather channel in which you can select several cities and know update to date weather where ever you choose, voice memos for reminders, clock for alarms and timers, you tube for videos and music, email, and internet safari. All these features are already pre-programmed on the phone. BUT thats not all. You have the option to down load any possible application, which ranges from an assortment of possibilities.

In my hand I now have access to the internet, gps, camera, audio recorder, and ipod, all in my cell phone. Amazing!

Facebook

My relationship with facebook varies from moderate to moderately high. There is just something about this online networking that captures me.

Its embarrassing that my day cannot end until I have checked my facebook at least once.My time is spent checking out pictures my friends are tagged in, reading status's to see whats going on in the life's of friends and family, and seeing who has commented on my own page. After going from one friends page to another, I often find myself surprised at home much time has past with me sitting in front of my laptop. At least, I have not started farmville or happy aquarium. Then my time would really be flying out the window.

While I do get frustrated with myself for the time I spend/waste on facebook, I do think that facebook is a nifty way to keep in touch with pretty much any one and everyone. Its a rather easy solution to update friends and family with what your doing in your life and share what ever is on your mind.

All I have to do is remember, moderation in all things :)

Man Vs Wild

Man Vs Wild. For this episode Bear was dropped off in the jungles of China, simply with a small back pack and a knife. The knife and his incredible upper body strength is what saved him through the intensities of the wilderness. I found it incredible how he used any means necessary to find food and make shelter. During this episode he had a diet of raw frog, cooked bat, cooked rat, and a raw crab. I suppose in dire circumstances I might be able to take in such food or I may just starve. I found it very clever how he used bamboo to create a hammock of sorts to sleep on, as sleeping on the ground isnt the best idea while in the jungle.

Bear Grylls was incredibly resourceful and clever as he made his way through this jungle. I liked how he explained why he certain things throughout the episode; informing the viewer to his specific actions and behaviors. In a way it was like taking an intense Survival 101 class, learning from Professor Bear Grylls.

Psych

My three roommates are infatuated with the TV show Psych. As one roommate received a Season of 'Pysch' for Christmas it is frequently playing in our apartment. So for roommate bonding time I decided to join in.

The show appears to be a mystery comedy, with two men as the main stars- Shawn and Gus. Both work for the Crime Department and solve mysteries together as a pair. Unlike a typical crime scene investigation show, this one includes a new element as Shawn is a psychic. His character is witty through both his language and actions, making him a likable character.

Overall the show provided some good laughs. With the characters being at such ease, it took the edge off the fact that a murder had actually taken place. Both Shawn and Gus, have a friendly easy going relationship that I liked as well.

This show can potentially be harmful as viewers are seeing a show that involves around crime and associates it with humor. Combining these two topics (crime and humor), can make viewers less immune to the actual horrors of crime.