Gentlemanly Communication

The following letter arrived in the Daily Universe this week.

BYU culture struggles to maintain the outdated and patriarchal views that disguise feminine repression through seemingly selfless acts of self-proclaimed “gentlemen.” While walking through campus, I do not see any damsels in distress.

I see competent, intelligent, professional women that do not need a man to hold the door, pay for a date or even present a shiny ring in the traditional manner.

I have hands, thank you. I do not feel flattered when you awkwardly hold the door open for helpless little me. I also have money.

Women who allow men to pay for them on a date are prostituting their worth not only in the relationship, but also in a capitalistic society that strives to provide equal opportunities.

Our income is worth just as much as any man’s labor could produce. Finally, I am equally capable of finding my own mate. My agency need not be stifled by the whim of a male who finally decides that I am worthy to be by his side. I, too, can take a knee; I too can afford a ring. Do you want a princess cut or a solid band?

My fellow sisters in Zion, do not be fooled into thinking that men wear the pants in the relationship. You can, too. Not only are skirts a safety hazard, preventing you from running away from danger, but they are also a symbol of your submissiveness. So, zip up the pants and assume your position next to the man — not behind him.

Mariana Toledo
Sao Paulo, Brazil

I happen to strongly disagree with this viewpoint. I think that it is important for men to show women respect, communicated through their kind actions, and I don't see it as demeaning or sexist. What do you think?


Jason Hewlett

Jason Hewlett is a celebrity impersonator/comedian from Salt Lake City, Utah. He came to my high school and he was incredible. He does everything from Micheal Jackson to Elton John to a dinosaur. I'm not kidding. He impersonates a raptor. It is the craziest thing I have ever seen. On top of all that, he does the most amazing facial expressions I have ever seen. Check it out.




MILEY CYRUS VIRUS!

Alright BYU fans now is the time to give it up to the freshman that created this video. They wrote and produced the whole thing themselves and are currently taking youtube.com by storm. It's creative and hilarious. Check it.

Ninja Assassin


Ninja Assassin, coming out on Nov 25, is a martial arts movie directed by James McTeigue. Raizo is known as one of the world's deadliest assassins. Kidnapped since he as a child, Raizo was trained by the Ozunu Clan to be a killer. After his friend was executed by the clan, Raizo decided to leave and seek revenge later on. At the mean time, in Germany, Mika Coretti, an Europol agent, who is investigating a case linked to the Ozunu Clan. The movie tells the story of Raizo and Mika fighting against the Ozunu clan.
Enjoy Ninja Assassin's Trailer!

sites to describe my siblings

  • My siblings, growing up in the LDS home that they do, are online all day everyday in our living room. My little brother (age 8), plays on ClubPenguin where he can chat with his buddies and play games through his penguin avatar in a virtual, snow-covered world. He loves playing outside too much though, so he isn't addicted to the computer just yet, thank goodness.

  • My youngest sister (age 12), is in that stage where she still does a little bit of ClubPenguin and is really getting into Facebook. I don't think Facebook needs an explanation; however, it's a site where she can upload all her photos and leave messages on her friends' and family's walls telling them how much she loves and misses her oldest sister who happens to be away at college... ;) She's extremely artistic and would love Picnik assuming she hasn't discovered it yet. It's a great site if you don't have a Mac to photoshop your pictures on. To get all the extra funky applications you do have to sign up and pay, but the free editing tools are fantastic.

  • Finally, my immediately younger sister (age 15 next Wednesday!!!!), is a Facebook junkie - who isn't at that age? - but is the athlete of our family and I'm predicting that she'll soon be a Maxpreps pro. She's all about competition and loves pushing herself in sports so hopefully she'll one day be all over Maxpreps rather than just keeping tabs on her school.


This week our communications focus is on websites that Cougars are interested in/know about. I chose to blog a little on the three sites mentinoed above because Thanksgiving is just around the corner and soon I'll get to see my family!! I'm thankful for my siblings and their various interests which can be concluded by the websites they visit. They add such a strong dynamic to our family and I can't imagine who I'd be without them. I hope everyone has a wonderful Holliday this upcoming season and I challenge you to link your siblings to their favorite sites, this was an interesting experience for me.



**Internet Tip**
PERSONAL OPINION AND IN NO WAY AFFILIATED WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS BLOG GROUP
Keep your computer out in the open - like the kitchen or family room - becuase it helps prevent your children from finding (accidentally or on purpose) sites that they shouldn't be on

Photography

I think that photography is one of the most important forms of Media and Communication because it has the ability to capture a moment that you will never get back. I don't mean to sound ridiculously corny, but seriously. There are so many moments when you find yourself distracted by pictures on Facebook or you spend hours going through old photo albums. There is just something about photos that can take you back to that moment better than anything else can.

As the old saying goes:
A picture is worth a thousand words.


Photobucket
This is the website of a young photographer located in Tacoma, Washington. His stuff is innovative. Makes me wish that I could get my senior pictures done again.
benjhaisch.com

and

Photobucket

This is the site of a professional photographer that came and spoke to my class last year at BYU. Ed is a professional advertising photographer that has probably worked on some of the stuff you have seen in the media. This guy is a master at Photoshop. Not one of his images comes from a single shot.
edshoots.com

Movies and Mustaches





Last week I mentioned mustaches and a promise for more, but since it is movie week, I'll start with that.

I am actually just curious about the kind of movies you watch. I had the flu two weeks ago, and when you are lying in bed in pain, quarantined from the world, movies are your only hope. A dear friend brought over Juno and Grey's Anatomy Season 3 {not a movie, I know, but still on DVD} for me to watch. Before you judge me for being so girlie, please note that I had already watched every Star Wars ever made, The Lord of the Rings, and Batman Begins. And maybe some Disney movies {never too old!}. So I'm curious about two things:

1. If you came down with the flu and had unlimited access to all movies, what 5 would pick?

2. What are your favorite kinds of movies? Are you a chick flick, action/adventure, sci-fi, international? What floats your boat with the flat screen tv?



now on to mustaches...

Mustaches are an interesting thing at BYU: Honor Code approved, yet still shunned by most. But after they have been the subject of several articles in the Daily Universe, they have made a reappearance. What are mustaches silently communicating? Tell me, if you have a mustache, what is your inspiration? And, if you don't, how do you feel about them?

check out the DU articles here

top ten mustaches found here