That's How I Do It...

I don't know why I'm even writing in this, I'm so disappointed in all 30 of you that have viewed my blog and haven't voted. Tisk Tisk Tisk, consider yourself chastised. Vote already.

Story Time
After some last minute cramming, which I've learned doesn't work thanks to my psychology book, I took my first university exam. Since I haven't ruled out the idea of graduate school I was really pushing for something over 90% however I pulled out an 85% after realizing there was a section I overlooked when studying.

In my book an 85% isn't anything to complain about, especially since this unit was based on Neuroscience and other biological crap that I suck at. Heck, if I'd gotten an 85% back in high school Mom and Dad would have taken me out to celebrate my rare moment of raising the bar. Speaking of which, mom and dad if you're reading this I expect some Spooky's Pizza in my mail box.

My Audition for BYU-I's Guitars Unplugged

So apparently, there's this huge show that takes place on campus once a semester that is strictly acoustic guitar performances; of course, being the seasoned performer that I am I decided that I should audition. The problem that I'm facing however, is what one song should I play. That's why I'm asking for your help, all of you who have watched me perform my set list over the last 4-5 years.

As you've noticed I've added a poll to the right hand side of the screen, what I'd like you to do is choose the one you enjoyed me singing the most as well as which one you, the audience member, enjoyed singing with me. I know I've played way over 4 songs in that time span so feel free to add one that you liked which isn't in the poll by commenting to the entry.

If you're a student at BYU-I that's interested in performing at this event click here for the audition information.

Rage Against the Machine and Mormonism

It has become a daily occurrence for me to notice at least one clean cut Mormon kid on the BYU-I campus wearing a Rage Against the Machine shirt. I have to admit, as a person who routinely wears his Rage shirt which was purchased in '99 after the release of Battle of Los Angeles, that it's comforting to know that other's enjoy their radically political rap-rock.

A brief history on Rage Against the Machine, they're known for their outspoken Chomsky loving rhetoric which flows through their heavy metal riffs; in fact, "the machine" is liberal double speak for "establishment." If you want to know what kind of band they are consider this, the official Rage Against the Machine website states that "following the 9/11 attacks, Clear Channel create[d] a list of 'songs with questionable lyrics.' RATM has the distinction of being the only band to have all its songs on the list."

Add that to the fact that 99% of Madison County voted for George W. Bush in 2004 and you have yourselves a culture erratic. Of course, it's not too odd to have political radicals, left or right wing, in the LDS church due to the neutrality stance in terms of politics. It's just a coincidence that the majority turn out to be right wing and/or constitutionalists.

Long story short, RATM if you want to play a show that will get you back in the spotlight fast come to Rexburg Idaho. You'll be playing in front of your fan base in a county where 99% of it's population see your political ideals as utter garbage. It's the perfect formula for the controversial show that will get you back on top.

What Happened to Summer?

This morning my Internet wasn't working so I meandered on down to the university library to do my homework. On my way there, my entire left side had been coated in white from the snow which was being carried horizontally to me thanks to the freezing wind. Which begs the question, what happened summer?

For those of you who want to know what it's like here look at the image, this was from http://www.weather.com no more than three minutes ago.



Enjoy your sunshine and BBQ's because I'm walking to work tonight in a summer snow storm. How great it is.

Cheap Way To Get Gas...

...and you thought I'd rant about gas prices. Here's what I've been living off of. I love foods that cause me abdominal discomfort so this one's right up my alley. It's a delicious man-meal and it's uber-affordable, prepare to be amazed.

First: get yourselves some curly fries, they come in bags now-a-days so you can just slip them into a deep fryer or the oven. I choose to use the oven because the hot oil isn't something I dig.



Second: grab some chili, mine's in Rubbermaid because it's leftovers from the night before but if you're new to the world of chili yours will most likely be found in a can.




Third: Get some cheese. If you have a block, be sure to cut it. hehe. I hate the extra work so I spend some extra pennies per ounce to have it pre-grated.



Then, if you're able to put the steps together properly, you should have a delicious meal that looks like this.



You can use your hands, if you like mess, but I'm a civilized male and prefer to use that utensil that looks like a spoon with slits in it.

Oh dear, Polygamy's in the spotlight again.

It must be that time of year, Polygamy's in the news. If this comes as a suprise to anyone, they should come out from the rock they're living behind. Polygamy coverage comes 'round almost once every year, the media drills it into our skulls and after perpetuating the negative connotation of the term "cult" they go on to the next tragedy.

Here are the definitions of Polygamy. Polygamy, the practice or condition of having more than one spouse, esp. wife, at one time. Or, in Zoology, the habit or system of mating with more than one individual, either simultaneously or successively... the latter definition makes the majority of the population of humanity, which in biological terms makes us all highly evolved primates, guilty of polygamy.

If you've noticed, we're a nation that admires this practice. Don't believe me? Turn on MTV, VH1 or E! and you'll see polygamy integrating itself into our cultural fabric. Who are we as a nation when we criticize the unibrowed, awkward haired folk of the FLDS "cult" then commence watching Flavor of Love, Rock of Love or worst Girls Next Door (which shows the domestic partnership of Hugh Hefner and multiple women). Quite the cultural double standard if you ask me.

As a member of the LDS church, I've been asked questions about polygamy multiple times. I go on to make it clear that the official LDS church has stopped the practice long ago and that even when in practice leaders such as Brigham Young took on elderly widows as wives for the mere purpose of supporting them financially.

In a nutshell, our culture views multiple partners for intimate relations as ok and those who use multiple partners for child rearing as unacceptable; both of which I happen to diasgree with.

Disclaimer: I in no shape or fashion defend any act of child abuse or sexual abuse that may have went on inside the FLDS compound, if the allegations are true their actions are horrendous and should be punished accordingly. My commentary is how we view the practice of multiple partners as a culture, not the illegal conduct that may have occured within the confines of the community that practice polygamy.

The Greatest Philosophical Statement Ever

If only we'd spend more time watching cult films instead of watching Dr. Phil.

How's Idaho?

The land of potatos is Interesting, I'm yet to see anyone resembling Napoleon Dynamite but the culture shock from just a 600 mile move is still showing itself. I used to think that our little conservative pocket in Oregon was bad but now that I reside in Zion v.2 I've begun to understand my misevaluation.

To give you a little background on Rexburg it's about 15,000 residents which doesn't include BYU students. According to salon.com, 99% of Madison County voted for the man who will soon surpass Buchanan as the worst president of all time. In other words, it's a perfect place for the once anarcho-punk obsessed drummer of the liberal punk band Misled Mayhem. If my abandoned teenage politics didn't make me feel awkward my five o'clock shadow will.

The positive side of being in Rexburg for summer is that the one month of sunshine will be coming here pretty soon, which will soon be followed by torrential downpours of snow and we all know how well I drive in the snow. Anyway, I felt I should update the mike experience for all y'all that are wondering how things are going.

Side Note: My soccer blog hit a landmark in that it had it's first 200 hit day... which was really only 199 because one of the hits was due to a person looking for porn. Oh well, a hit's a hit.