Rough Stone Rolling

I finished "Rough Stone Rolling" today, and the thing that struck me the most about it was how many people were interested in what I was reading! I usually read on my commute to and from work, and have never been asked what I was reading by fellow commuters until I started reading this book. Over the course of a week, several people on the train asked me what I was reading, and several others were reading the book over my shoulder. One gentleman appeared to be as into the last 30 pages as I was. I was trying to finish reading the book, so I read a few pages at work during lunch, and a couple of co-workers asked me about it. Needless to say, "Rough Stone Rolling," drew more attention than the rare occasion I read the Scriptures on the metro.
As for the book, I enjoyed it. Here's what I said about it on goodreads.

Comprehensive thorough biography of Joseph Smith and touches upon the basic
tenets of Mormonism. I appreciated how the book put doctrine J.Smith taught into
a context I hadn't thought of before. I also liked the way the author laid out
the life story of J.Smith. Fascinating book-doesn't gloss over the controversial
parts of J.Smith's life, but is somewhat sympathetic. In my opinion, it's
impossible to be completely objective when talking about J.Smith.

This Intrigues Me.

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/02/monster-mash-up.html

Yucatan Peninsula Sneak Preview

St. Valentines Day: 30 Rock Episode Thoughts and Quotes

Random Thoughts

Jon Hamm doesn't quite look like the sex god he is with that tie and hair parted like that.
Norts is the new blergh?
The McFlurry bit would be cuter if they shared.
Jack and Elisa must be in a higher income class than me. I always get the sundae with caramel at McDonalds. Yum.
Kenneth has a blind twin? Oh, she's cute and he's in love.
I like how a lot of 30 Rock revolves around food. I can relate.
I'm not digging that scarf.
Jack is cute when he tries to change the subject.
Dot-Com and Grizz are in a love triangle? Awesome.
Gallantry scares me.
Hmm stew with cheddar cheese instead of water?
Best prayer ever. Good job Jack.
Selma Hayek is awesome when she speaks Spanish.
Oh, most embarrassing date ever. Cute.
Why is Jon Hamm so cute?
Yes! the Gaybomb came up again!!
Dot-Com's sweatshirt is awesome.
Aw, Dot-Com is still in love.
Oh, that was low of Jack.
Nice phone-ring.
Oh, Jenna.
Is that the horrid Ann Heche?
Poor Jack
30 Rock writers stole from Jack Nicholson's life! Awesome!
Poor Kenneth
Is blind girl that hot? She's cute, but I don't thinks she's hot, hot. Selma Hayek though, she's hot.
I think it's hamburglar.
Oh, Querida.
Yes, Jack is such a romantic.
Sigh, I heart Jon Hamm.

Memorable Quotes

"Please Jack, don't tell me you're one of those convenient Catholics who only go to church every Sunday."-Elisa

"All I want to do for Valentines Day is go to Plunder and eat the Lover's Delight."-Jack

"Ken, you need to snap out of it and ask out that sexy Miss Magoo."-Tracy

"It's not the good one either."-Liz

"I once proclaimed I am God during a deposition and I may have sodomized our former vice president while under the influence of some weapon-grade narcotics." Jack

"I have photos with a lot of people. The Dalai Lama, Rabbi Yosef, Toby Keith."-Jack

"How dare you say that so close to the statue of Santa Lucia, the patron saint of judgmental statues."-Elisa

Go Mason!!

My alma mater elected a Drag Queen as Homecoming Queen. Anyhow, it makes George Mason a little cooler in my world.

Trips

I got back from Mexico last night, only to find out today that I'm going to Miami for a week in May for training. Life is good.

My Zimbabwean Girlfriend

At work, I have a one letter policy. If you're a crazy, I'll still send you a reply, but that's it. I've received a Dollar check for the White House (guy wanted the White House for a buck), letters about conspiracies, curses, and a Native American Gentleman who'd call every couple of weeks (when he was drunk) to ask me for his money the government owed him. My job rocks. Anyway, I was busy yesterday, and replied to an e-mail. I was suspicious, but decided to send a reply. I get this in response. Meet my new Nigerian Girlfriend. Funny, I've been hit on by men and women before, but this is the first time someone has asked me to be their boyfriend.

Dearest ,how are you this day? How was the night i hope fine,let me tell you
about my self my name is Miss Jenny Desmond I am 24 years old, I am hoping to
further my education in this career. I am not married and don't have any
children. I am fair in complexion and of average height, my photos will explain
to you better.

i am the Daughter of Mr.Desmond Cleng, of blessed memory from Zimbabwe,During
the current crises against the farmers in Zimbabwe from the supports of
President Robert Mugabe to claim all the white-owned farms to his party members
and his followers, he ordered all white farmers to surrender all farms to his
party members and his followers.My father is One of the most successful multi
farmers in our country and because he did not support Mugabe`s ideas, Mugabe's
supporters invaded his farm and burnt everything in the farm,kill him and made
away with a lot of items in my fathers farm.

it is only me that is alive now then I have to ran to Dakar Senegal which is
where I am now in a church, have not finish up my education and need a person
who will make use of my fathers wealth and get me through in life,I would like
to know more about you.Your likes and dislikes, your hobbies and what you are
doing presently. i want you to know that age means nothing to me and it can not
hinder me from getting relating with you because i really need a man that is
older than me such man who can take good care of me and show me sincere
love.

I do not want a younger man how will betray me and run away with this money
so please sweetie i am not concerned about the age gap or something of that
nature.I have attached my photo to this email please if it is possible also send
me your photo and your telephone number so i can speak with you.I am waiting
eagerly for your replyLots of lovekiss kiss

Thoughts on First Lady Michelle Obama’s visit to the Main Interior Building February 9, 2009

Friday afternoon, Interior employees were told that the First Lady would be speaking in the Main Interior Auditorium on Monday. This morning, I noticed many of my co-workers dressed a little nicer than they usually do, especially for a Monday. My hallway was a buzz with contagious excitement, especially when my co-worker found out she was going to be on the stage with the First Lady until about an hour before the assembly when the hallway went completely silent. After realizing everyone was gone, I decided I’d better go downstairs to get in line to attend the event. I went down-stairs and the line started at the auditorium and went up the stairs, and into the 2nd floor hallway. Our building is 2 city blocks long, and the line was already more than 2/3 the length of the building. By the time the auditorium opened up, the line stretched the length of the building and all the way down one of the side hallways (about 2.5 city blocks). I got through without a problem, but one of my new friends that I met in line had a couple of expensive pens (pens weren’t allowed into the auditorium) and he didn’t end up going into the auditorium. We got in okay (100 or so employees were turned away) and the event started about 15 minutes later. Our auditorium isn’t a huge space (fits about 600-700 employees) and it was full. The event started out with a drum circle until the Secretary spoke. He gave a nice speech, and then the First Lady arrived. She was presented a native American shawl that Nedra Darling made her, and then we listened to another song by the Drum circle. After that, the First Lady spoke. She wore a conservative black outfit (very DC chic), and only spoke about 15 minutes or so. Several people said she looks much more petite in person. Personally, I was impressed with her down-to earth manner. She gave us what was essentially a pep talk, telling us that we have a lot of work to do, it was going to be hard, but worth it. She also called us her family’s co-workers and talked about how we were all in it together. Anyway, love her or hate her, but everyone in the room appreciated the fact that she came to talk to us.

Sunstone

I attended my first Sunstone Symposium a week ago Saturday in Ballston (a neighborhood in Arlington, VA). Although I've known about Sunstone for years, I haven't had much to do with them besides read an occasional paper they published. However, since the co-organizer of the symposium is a friend of mine, and has nudged me into the arena of religious studies a bit, I thought it would be interesting to attend-especially since the sessions looked intriguing.

I only attended two sessions and the movie that evening. I missed Matt B's sessions, and I would've liked to attend Allison Pond's session on the Pew Survey that was released last year. However, the sessions I attended were very thought provoking.

The first session was "We are all going to have to live it someday: Is Polygamy really a higher law?" by Carrie Miles, a Senior Research Fellow at George Mason University. She began her paper by talking about the example of some polygamist women who left their husbands have complained that LDS Bishops told them to return to their husbands because we are all going to live it someday. Using her experiences in Africa with modern-day polygamists there, she told us about polygamy used there, talked about what needs are met in a pre-industrial society, and then used references in the Old and New Testament to show us her answer if it's really a higher law. (Law of Moses of the Old Testament: Lower Law. Jesus Christ's Law in the New Testament: Higher Law)

The next session I attended was Seth Payne's presentation called, "Keeping the Covenant, the Role of Expression in Modern American Political Discourse." As a political junkie, and a fan of political theory, I thought this would be interesting. The first part of the presentation was kind of dry, but then it got better. Seth used social contract theory, and some Mormon theology to talk about the LDS role of expression in Modern American Political Discourse. I asked for a copy of his paper (hopefully I get it soon) so I'm going to wait to elaborate on it, but he and I agree about the proper form of Political Discourse in Society. He talked quite a bit about those who demonize one party or idea, and the unfortunate influence the far right and far left have had in American political discourse.

The movie shown was Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons. The movie was phenomenal, and personally, there were a couple of points raised in it that answered some questions I've had about the now-defunct policy of banning African Americans from the priesthood. The documentary did a wonderful job of addressing the subject matter honestly and telling the whole story-both the bitter and the sweet. Afterwards, two of the producers spoke about the movie and answered questions. The documentary was well made and I would recommend it to anyone.

Personally, I felt at home at Sunstone. I knew quite a few of the people attending the sessions which was fun, and I appreciated the open discourse and analytical discussion.

A-Fraud

I've got a goal---A-Rod is not going to destroy my spring. He won't. Even though he's made the past 5 years as a Yankee fan more or less miserable I took them in stride. I've never liked the guy, but I never said too much, because he was in Pinstripes.
Now though, no one will be talking about his weird obsession with Derek Jeter (remember the sleepover quote?) or his relationship with Madonna. The report yesterday wasn't real surprising at all. But raises questions. If he took steroids in 2003, why did he go on television telling he never took them?(rhetorical question)
I'm not holding my breath that A-Rod will do the right thing, but he is the brightest star in baseball today, and if he's going to preserve his legacy, he has to come clean with it all. Otherwise, he's just another Roger Clemens or Barry Bond. Who knew that Canseco was right about this one too?

30 Rock-- Generalissimo

Yesterday morning I had a couple of e-mails and conversations with people about this episode of 30 Rock. I finally watched it yesterday afternoon, and yeah. Best episode this season.

Quotes:
"Me Odio"
"Yo soy Jack"-Jack and Elisa's Abuelita
In Puerto Rico, they hold elderly women in high
When I quote lines from your movie, that doesn't sound racist, right?
My roles transcend race."--Tracy and the intern
"I want to go to there"-Liz


Thoughts:
The Interns are former investment bankers that were laid off by the economic crash Nancy Pelosi caused.
A Doctor who has recently been divorced?
Selma Hayek can totally hold her own with Alec Baldwin. Very nice.
Generalissimo.....is Alec Baldwin?
Alec Baldwin with those glasses..awesome.
Generalissimo is butchering "digame" and sounds exactly like a gringo speaking spanish, but not bad.
Michael J Fox!! (in commercial)
Is Oswald Kevin Nealon?

(TBC) it's gorgeous outside, and I need to go there.

30 Rock Teaser

This may be my favorite image from 30 Rock so far. Can't wait to watch the episode!!

Odds and Ends

Sunday Sounds
Aquarium Drunkard posted this clip of Dylan singing, "I can't leave her behind," in 1966 (Robbie Robertson is the other guy in the hotel room). This is the only known clip of this gorgeous song, I like to think of it as a companion piece to "I'm not There."

“Where she leads me I do not know, Well she leads me where she goes
I can’t find her nowhere, Well, she needs me here,. All aware, I just can’t hear her walk, I just can’t hear her talk. Though sometimes you know you will. And when she comes my way, I’ll just be left any night or day, I will hear her say that I don’t wanna try, I tried also cried, But I can’t leave her behind.”



Bible Stories

Michael Cera and Jack Black star in a Harold Ramis directed film (produced by Apatow) where they play two cavemen who stumble across Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel etc. Here's a clip with Cain and Abel (played by Paul Rudd and David Cross).


Development still Arrested??

Fox is entering cast negotiations for Arrested Development: The movie. The script isn't ready to go yet according to Ron Howard, and he continues to say, "Everybody is excited, but it’s not a ‘go’ movie When we really know what people’s schedules are, really know what the screenplay is, I’m sure Mitch will connect with everybody.
Arrested may be my favorite television show ever, but well, I'm not sure if my expectations of this project will just leave me disappointed when the movie finally comes out.