For you veiwing pleasure

So I was job hunting and came across these video's (don't ask how it happened). The first one is the BYU's French Idol a couple of years ago. I was there it was funny. The second one is funny, especially at the end and you have probably seen the third one but I think it is really cool.

Letters to the editor

While reading the only part of the Daily Universe that is worth reading I found a couple of opinions funny. There appears to be a debate on campus about two things: gay fashion, and low cut blouses worn by women that work in the testing center that distract men. Here is a sample of what newsnet.byu.edu posted today.

Look away

To the author of the Jan. 23 letter, "Mind the gap," it is hard to read your last letter and know whether to take you seriously or not. It is something of an insult to our intelligence to read your rant on perceived immodesty, especially when it adopts the position of "it's the woman's fault I can't take my eyes off of her cleavage." One hopes for your sake that your letter was a case of poorly written satire done in bad taste.

Here is a novel idea that those of us with the good sense to use it apply when approached by a sight we perceive as offensive: Don't look! Last time I checked, there isn't a single incident of girls at BYU thrusting their bosoms into your countenance (much to the chagrin of single men everywhere, I'm sure). This is a far more productive use of your time and agency than public attempts at appearing pious. It is not the woman's fault you can't stop staring at her chest, but that of your own incontinence. Did it ever occur to you that one of the reasons women dress that way (if indeed they do) is because most men won't look away when they do? Whatever happened to "hum your favorite hymn" or some such? In the meantime I would be careful that you don't get caught ogling at any more "vicious v-necks." Last time I checked, that's grounds for a sexual harassment suit.

MICHAEL TONKS
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Dangerous cleavage

I sympathize with the cleavage-sensitive student (Jan. 23, "Mind the gap") who spoke of a Testing Center worker "branding a particularly vicious v-neck," and of being so distracted that he lost the ability to read a sign. Recently, I was exiting Japanese class when I was attacked by a fiercely low-cut blouse. It leapt from its wearer's bosom, mercilessly assaulting me like a wicked stream of bullets that each have a gun that shoots additional, smaller bullets. Dazed, I managed to stumble only a few yards towards the exit when I collapsed, inadvertently pulling the fire alarm in the process. An Honor Code rescue squad had to be summoned to perform Chastity Pulmonary Resuscitation on me, and for the rest of the week, I was prone to fainting spells when near the opposite sex.

Take it from me, ladies: cleavage isn't just dishonorable, it's dangerous.

NEIL SELF
Santa Clara, Calif.

Fashion propaganda

I am usually not one to write to the editor; I just sit back and read. But today, something stirred within regarding a viewpoint the DU highlighted about gay fashion.

In the Jan. 23 viewpoint, "Diversity and sexism," the author made it sound like it is mutually exclusive for men to dress fashionable and "gay." She wrote, "If we want to disprove society's accusation against LDS culture-that we alienate gays-we must reject their generalization of fashionable men as gay men." That is propaganda, they are not mutually exclusive.

Yes, there are some trends that are considered both fashionable and "gay." However, there is a huge difference between being fashionable and dressing "gay." My husband, for one, dresses very fashionably ... even more so than me. However, his wardrobe is far from "gay" fashion. I am astonished she would promote "gay" fashion. I understand everyone has their freedom of choice with dress. However, there are some things that should not be allowed on this campus.

As a private university, I whole-heartedly believe they can censor male dress and appearance just as they do women's. Girls are not allowed to prance around campus wearing a mini-skirt and halter top. We have the honor code for good reason. There are just some styles of clothing those of the male gender should not wear; "gay" fashion is one of those. If you still want to be fashionable, find a new fashion.

ASHLEE MANWARING
Springville

My personal Favorite is the second one. I hope this made you laugh.

Wow

My sister shared this video with me and I thought it was cool. Make sure your speakers are on otherwise you'll be bored.

I hope we can

Today is a historic day (there I said it. but I am not saying it again). I started watching inauguration coverage at 3 am. I am going on close to 14 hours now. I know I am a political dork, but the reason I started watching so early is that I couldn't sleep last night, and I was watching TV. At 3 AM CNN started American Morning, and I haven't stopped watching. The ceremony was amazing. I love the tradition (even though most of the traditions we have today started in 1980 or later) I love watching a smooth transition of power, and I love seeing the sites that I saw everyday for 4 months. But for that reason it was also bittersweet. I miss DC. I miss the atmosphere, the energy, and the monuments. I can't wait to return. If all goes well Kerri and I will be there by the end of the summer.

Although overall I have loved today, I have to say I did not like the inaugural address. I felt it lacked a clear message, it wasn't as inspiring as I hoped, it was sort of mediocre in my opinion. Obama did do a very good job at defining his foreign policy, but it lacked something that his election day speech had. My favorite part of the inauguration was the poem written and read by Elizabeth Alexander. I thought that was powerful.

I am excited to see how Obama responds to the Middle East. I hope that Clinton gets confirmed quickly. I think Sen. Cornyn is being stupid by objecting to a voice vote, which is delaying Clinton's certain confirmation. I find it interesting that Hatch is supporting Geithner for treasury secretary even though he failed to pay taxes for a couple of years. I find it more surprising that the republicans are so injured and crippled that they aren't raising a stink about it. And I hope that Senator Kennedy makes a quick recovery.

I am excited to see what happens. Change is good.

My New Addiction

Ok, I am so enthralled with my lunch right now that I just had to tell someone about it. As you saw a few blog posts ago, Chase and I are being super healthy right now and one of the things sitting in our fridge in Greek style yogurt and I am in love with it! Right now, I am eating Greek style yogurt with ground flaxseed and strawberries with a touch of Splenda and I feel like I am eating strawberry cheesecake. It's divine! If I were you, I would go out and buy some right now. Mmmmm...

Housekeeping problem

The developer that built our apartment decided to save money and install cheap things. One of those cheap things is the carpet. If you run your fingers across it you can actually roll a ball of carpet fibers. When we vacuum, we put the vacuum on the bare floor setting and still suck up enough carpet fibers to clog the vacuum. Well, I was vacuuming today and I noticed a problem, due to regular wear and tear (meaning putting our feet on the floor when we sit on the couch) we have a rather deep traffic pattern in front of the couch that won't come up from vacuuming (it is also the one place that you can't collect carpet fibers any more). I don't want to loose any of our deposit, or be charged for this regular wear and tear. Any suggestions on how to make it look normal?

Routines

The first week of each new semester is difficult for me because I have a difficult time getting into a routine. My life is better with a routine. I am more productive, I am happier, and hopefully I am more balanced.

My entire life I have had a routine, mainly because I have been in school which automatically gives it structure, or I have worked. Even when I took 2 years off for a mission I had a routine, and those two years were definitely the most structured two years of my life. So after 25 years of having a routine, I have suddenly found myself without a routine.

Thanks to independent study, I don't have a class schedule, I also don't have a job yet, so I find myself sleeping in way too long, not getting ready for the day quickly, and turning on the TV for the majority of the day. Basically I have become a couch potato. So, this weekend I resolve to create a tine so that I can have a balanced life that includes yoga, spiritual stuff, school stuff, exercise, and fun stuff. Is there anything else I need to be balanced?

Hello New Semester

Well, tomorrow marks the beginning of the new semester for both of us. I guess technically the semester began on Friday for Kerri because she is teaching a refresher course before normal classes begin tomorrow, and technically BYU started yesterday but I am taking an independent study class and my textbook didn't arrive until today. So tomorrow life returns to normal. Kerri teaches at 9am and I'll wake up and start my course.

We had a great semester break. Although we were unable to go to Baltimore like we hoped, we had a nice holiday with my side of the family. We enjoyed Christmas morning all to ourselves in our apartment, and Christmas dinner at my parents home. The day after Christmas we drove to San Diego to visit Kerri's friend. We spent 3 days enjoying great weather walking on the beach and enjoying a break from life. For Christmas we bought a Wii along with the Wii fit and have embarked on our last attempt to loose weight. I say our last because this time we will not fail. Thanks to the Wii fit and our gym memberships we are going win this time.

I digress. The remainder of the break has been spent enjoying the Wii, sleeping in without hearing our next door neighbors, and trying not to slip on the 8" of ice outside our apartment door. Today we went to SLC to the Bodyworlds exhibit at The Leonardo. It was so cool. I was a little bit disgusted when I saw the cross section of a 300 pound man and how much fat 300 pounds actually is. We were in the middle of a bunch of school groups which was a bit frustrating because they didn't remember that everything we saw was real. The plastinates are real people. There is a reason I wasn't allowed to go to the cadaver lab until I was 16. People at the exhibit didn't show proper respect for the bodies that were donated. Even though 12 year olds are obnoxious, I found the exhibit to be great. It is open until Jan 11 and I recommend it to everyone.

Well, I've run out of things to say so I'm signing off. I think I might do some yoga.