Hey Guys, Guess What?!

Hey Everyone.
I made a website! For my informational psychology and technology class. In other words, I'm learning how to teach with technology.
It's terribly exciting.
Right now, everything on there is kind of made up, but the possibilities are endless, I tell you, ENDLESS.
It's right here.
Google makes everything so nice, so easy.
Have a lovely weekend then!

Cleverly Funny

Source

This is just another reason why the world in which we live in is a beautiful place. And funny. It's a funny place too, don't forget. This story caught my eye when I was on my way to my email.

Apparently a 16 year old budding artist, Nicholas Harrington, decided to put a burnt out baby grand piano in the middle of Miami bay, purely for arts' sake. Can you imagine, just puttering along in your boat and you see a piano, just sitting out there. It's so extraordinary! Anyway, since he is an artistic young man, he's hoping to get into a clever art college in Boston somewhere. I hope this little adventure helps him accomplish his future dreams!

If you want to know the full story, here is the AP release. Here.

Dhoom Machale

Just so you know, still in the Bollywood phase. I was sick this weekend so of course, what better way to nurse a cold than to stay in and watch crazy action-drama-romance-musicals?
I submit that there is no better way.
The movie above is from the movie Dhoom 2. It has the same people that were in Jodhaa Akbar. Hrithik Roshan is a beautiful, beautiful man. (Trust me...just google him. So pretty...)
Who can dance.
What more can you ask for?
So, here is the song that encapsulates my entire weekend.
Fun, huh?
p.s. Dhoom Machale roughly translate into "Rock On".

Everything is Attractive

Do you ever get in those moods when suddenly, everything seems appealing all of a sudden?
It's the strangest thing walking around campus and suddenly, you realize that the world is filled with attractive men. This may be a by-product of being too long on the dating scene but you know, it could be just a friendly little reminder from the Universe that the world is full of beautiful things, including beautiful men.
... It's ok if you disagree with me here.
In other words, how about this weather, huh?
Seriously, I'm having a tough time keeping my eyes where I need to be walking because I can't stop watching the sky. The mountains get all misty and mysterious in the mornings on the way to school and then, on the way home at night the sky erupts into flamboyant and joyous sunsets.
LOVE IT. ( I tend to ignore the parts where it gets really, really cold.)
Other than that, I'm grateful for:

• walking to campus with a hot-balloon accompanying me on a chilly morning. Totally made my day.
• people who make classes fun. the funny ones that make you laugh out loud, even though everyone else in the room is quiet.
• friends that no matter how much time has passed since the last time we've seen each other we can still chat for twenty minutes in the freezing cold. And it's still fun.
• prayers that are answered in the least expected of places.
• the fact that no matter how busy I feel like I am, somehow, everything gets done. MIRACLES are real, people.
• finding a fellow Scandinavian aficionado in the upper echelons of BYU administration and chatting for an hour just about Norway. <3
• eye makeup. Let's face it, it's my art form. I excel at it and I thoroughly enjoy my ever-increasing supply of every color and shade known to man.

Bollywood Night: Jodhaa Akbar

It takes a certain combination of factors to watch a Bollywood movie. First, you have to be in the mood for a really, really, really long movie. Second, you have to enjoy frequent singing and dancing that may or may not have anything to do with the actual plot. Third, you have to enjoy fantastic costume design with so many colors and jewelry, it will make your head spin. If you are feeling all of these things, then Bollywood is there for you. As it turns out, last night was a Bollywood night. The movie? Jodhaa Akbar
This wasn't necessarily out of the blue. I had heard really good things about it from an acquaintance or two. It's really interesting to note that when you have a interest in something that isn't really mainstream, like Bollywood, you tend to hear the same things brought up by different people. For instance, when you are talking to someone and you say, "Oh I happen to like Bollywood movies as well", then there are only so many that are here in the U.S. and there is a pretty big chance you've seen many of the same ones. OK, and just to set the record straight, to be a fan of Bollywood, Bride and Prejudice cannot be your only exposure. It's not even completely Bollywood. It's heavily influenced by Bollywood, but it has too many trappings of Hollywood to be "real" Bollywood. Although, if you like that movie, going Bollywood all the way won't be that much more difficult. Do it. You will like it.
Start with Jodhaa Akbar. (Warning: Since this is a Bollywood movie, be prepared for the three and a half hour watch time.)
But it is so worth it.
I mean, just look at them!

Can you think of a more beautiful couple? Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is quickly becoming one of my heros. She was crowed Miss World in 1994 and is frequently referred to as "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World". And from everything that I've read about her, she acts like it too. Even though she is beautiful, she doesn't act like a witch. She has her values and beliefs and I admire that.
The male lead, Hrithik Roshan, is absolutely wonderful too. All I've seen is this movie but what a character to play! He plays Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar who is trying to unite all of 16th century Hindustan (India). As the first Mughal emperor actually born in India, he cares more for the country and people than for his actual title. He tries to show his people to be accepting of others' differences, particularly differences in religion. Especially in a country like India which has a large Muslim minority and Hindu majority, tolerance is a lesson that is just as appropriate today as it was four hundred years ago. Even for places outside of India, tolerance is a valuable lesson to learn.
I have my own beliefs of what I think the world should be like and what religion to observe. But even if I don't agree with you, I hope I would be mature enough to value your opinion and listen to what you have to say. I think respect is something that too few people give to others and that causes problems. No one is perfect, so being high and mighty is hypocritical and unhelpful. If this world is ever going to get better, people are going to have to start thinking beyond their wants and needs and working together to find solutions to the very serious problems that we all face.
But I digress. Back to the movie. So to preserve peace in his country and to expand his borders, Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar makes a strategic marital alliance with a Hindu Rajput princess (Aishwarya Rai). The crux here is that Hindus and Muslims don't mix. So there is a lot of lessons that both sides must learn. Your heart aches when they misunderstand each other. Which is a sign of a good movie if you still identify with the characters, even though they are speaking a different language and all you have to go off of is subtitles. (Another warning: This movie is NOT in English, but is does have English subtitles. You get used to it.)
All in all, great movie. There is some graphic battle sequences at the beginning. War elephants squishing people and such, but no sex. It was based on actual characters and events---to an extent. Any movie director is going to color outside the lines for the sake of the movie. Regardless, fact or fiction, I learned a lot and it was a visual treat. Lots of color, beautiful settings, beautiful people, and a wonderful story.

Mountains. In. Color.

I found this picture in my camera. Utah may be frigid for months but it sure knows how to paint a mountain.
Stunning.
I can only imagine how it must have looked two hundred years ago before parking lots and all-night lighting. Can you imagine being the first person to have ever seen anything like this?
It's like physical poetry. If I was more creatively motivated, I'd compose a verse in honor of the mountains. But I am not that confident in my poetic soul. You will have to fill in where I have failed.
But seriously, what better muse could you have asked for?

Just Follow Me...

Victor Borge was a funny, funny man. Super talented and still had a sense of humor. And, he's DANISH. And we all know how much I love Scandinavians. I saw this clip over the break with my grandpa. We both laughed very hard, but I was the one that ended up on the floor with tears in my eyes. Good stuff. Enjoy!

New Year=New Love

Normally, I don't get a whole lot of time during the school year to watch TV. (This is what is known as a good thing, because if I started watching a lot of TV, NOTHING would get done, I promise you. I have enough to do as it is, and I excel at procrastination well enough that I don't need anything else to add to my delaying tactics.)
BUT
Over Christmas break, however, it is a different story. What does one do with all the time in the world? Watch TV. Good TV, not lame ones. Ok, I know I have been guilty of fascination with iCarly...and Victorious...Dang Nickelodeon...
The point of the post is, I found Leverage.

A modern day Robin Hood and his band. They are thieves who are talented in their own special ways, who come together to help those who can't help themselves against the rich, powerful, and morally corrupt. "Sometimes the best bad guys make the best good guys." Or something like that.

And this ^ this is the beautiful man that is just the cherry on top of a good TV show. He's so beautiful, with his long hair and angry-ness. La! Love, love, love.
Thus, sharing time ends.
Have a darling day!

Where in the world?

I saw this video in the first class of the new semester. I just had to share.
I love learning about the world and about the people and cultures that make our world so beautiful. I think it's soo important for students to understand that the world is a much bigger place than they thought it to be.

Happy New Year!

It's a new year! New goals and new friends and new classes and new adventures.
SO MUCH NEW STUFF.
I'm excited!
Also, the new year means I will be more diligent with my blog. More on-the-ball, you might say. I am also tempted to be more crafty, so hopefully there will be some cool stuff to show you.
Have a lovely new year everyone!