Grammar Issues- From Bollywood with Love.

Let me start this off by establishing that I am not perfect. Especially so in the world of English. However, as I have learned a few of the basic rules of grammar, I feel that everyone should comply. While there is no way to enforce this, there should be. The other night, my friends and I were having an Indian movie night. This weeks movie was Dhoom 2. For the sake of everyone that is unfamiliar with Bollywood movies, they are super cheesy. This movie appeared to be an attempt to make an Americanesque action flick. The result was rather hilarious, but captivating at the same time. Most Indian movies are in Hindi, with English subtitles and an occasional English phrase. The makers of these movies want them to be enjoyed by Americans as well. the only problem is those awful subtitles!  These are some examples for the movie.
- "I'll get you'll!"             -"Excuse me please you"
And the list goes on. If you want us to watch it, make it readable!

My Research Topic! Yay!!

Hey team, my research topic is:

What is the effect of music and lyrics on the mental development of children or young teenagers?
OR
What impact does music and it's lyrics have on a Persons conformity to social norms and ability to interact socially?

Tell me what you think

Reflections on a Consecrated Life

This past General Conference was a big one. There was and still is some controversy over a talk or two, but that isn't the ground I wanted to cover.
              While I was on my mission, I read a great talk entitled "Consecrate thy Performance" by Neal A Maxwell. It instantly became one of my favorite talks. I loved it because it helped me understand better the giving of our lives to the Lord. We give much time and talent to the Lord, but it always seems that we hold a few things back. Keeping back a piece here or there, we never fully consecrate ourselves. Elder Maxwell helped me understand that the more I become like my Savior, the more I become like my true self. It was in that same direction that Elder Christofferson spoke this past conference.
               Many of us misundersand consecration-- we feel that what is involved in giving all we have is more than we can handle. Elder Christofferson didn't speak about the United Order, physically sharing everything right now, but he talked about giving everything that we are to the Lord. This was my favorite talk in Conference because it hits the mark of what I am supposed to be and how I am supposed to do it.

Writing Class Notes-- Of all things!

Right as I'm talking, I'm in my writing class. I'm supposed to be taking some stellar notes, but I'm going through a small crisis. Our teacher, Sister Steadman, said that we have a portfolio due in one week from right now. Ravioli, holy Cannoli I don't want to do that. However, I have to so I can graduate and get braces for my future children. I'm not too sure what I am supposed to be taking notes about, but it's kind of fun to type mindlessly. Oh! Now I've been given direction, I'm supposed to write about a conference talk. I think I am going to write about D. Todd Christofferson's talk on Consecration. It was an awesome talk. Right now we're discussing Elder Boyd K. Packer's talk. It turns out that the same talk is causing a lot of conflict with certain Liberal groups. There are always people upset during general conference time. Can you believe that?
Of course President Thomas S. Monson always has a way of helping us feel the Spirit. His talk on gratitude was something to be grateful for. He also spoke about how we need more missionaries. That's my notes!

An Ode to Cell Theory

                     Three hundred and forty-five years ago lived a man named Robert Hooke

To whom many accredit the finding of cells and recording them in a Book

Claimed the man that all things consisted of, but tiny little cells

Too small to see with our naked eye—with a simple glass as well

A compound microscope used he to see a thin-sliced cork

Paving the way for the rest of the world to continue in his work

The word it grew, the story too, that all life had these things

What to the lighting, changing world, could this theory bring?

Cells are a part of everything, that we know is living,

One at a time, they split and divide, these cells they are so giving.

Biologists far and Physicists wide, they all laid down their strife

As they finally all concurred, cells are the building blocks of life.

As Unified and gratified as all fields of science could be

To discover this great fact of life and know that all could see

That diversified and specialized as all living things they are

Each of them, so similar, whether from near or far

The life we see around us all begins from something small

A single cell that multiplies, divides from its cell wall.

Because it studies living things, Biology gives its due

To cells of plants and cells of dogs and even FreeCell too!

This implies that for this class, in every little fact

From Chapters 1 to 36, these cells have huge impact

Though I can say that rhetoric may just be my forte

I want to learn much more of cells and be expert one day

For they have everything to do with everything I am

Just as a field of strawberries makes much delicious jam

  All the things we understand, our genetic history

Would make no sense if good old Hooke hadn’t solved this mystery

So now I close this rhyme of mine with great rev’rence for science

Hoping that my ingenuity you won’t hold as a defiance

That you’ll understand that though my knowledge is now far from complete

I put all the few things that I know into this molecular treat!

The Great Indian Apostasy: Part 6

I mean, who doesn't like some good curry?
Wasn't that a great hook? I've been working on that, thanks for noticing.
               I love the West Indies. That's where I went on my mission, and a piece of my heart will always be there. Not literally, of course. When good old Columbus came to this side of the world, he thought that he had found India, so he called it the West Indies. Ironically enough, literal Indians left their homeland in the 1800's to find work in the lower Caribbean and South America. They brought themselves, their religions, and their cooking prowess. However, after 100+ years there is bound to be a little food apostasy. That's where last Friday began.
              The Bombay House is supposed to be this way tasty, authentic Indian Restaurant. Well, I've eaten Indian food for the past two years, so I already went inside knowing what I wanted. I got the menu and was happy to see that I recognized most of the names. Roti, Aloo, Daal, Etc... Needless to say, I was confident in my ordering. Our waiter complimented me on that; he said that I sounded like a pro. Score.  When our food finally arrived, I didn't recognize it. It tasted familiar, but far from my beloved truth. Maybe I need to send some Trinidadians to teach those Indians how to cook.
Hey, easy on the Masala, buddy.

Child of God

Honestly, whenever I have a reading assignment given on the first day of class, I have to slap my forehead. Of course, that's provided that the teacher isn't watching. To make matters worse, this project was in digital format. By virtue of these great days we live in, everything is digital. I believe that the retinas of the rising generation are evolving. At this rate, my own children will be unable to read printed paper.  Despite my attitude regarding the paper, the assignment itself gave me some valuable insights.
            
The talk itself was on how we need to view ourselves as Children of God, however, it also covered five characteristics of winners. Generally speaking, successful people
  - Welcome Correction
  - Keep Commitments
  - Work Hard
  -Seek to Help Others
  -Expect and Overcome Resistance

The most interesting thing is that many successful people I know don't do any of these things. That's probably why the new insight came in handy. Success isn't measured in money or notoriety, nor do I think that it really can be measured. The best things in life can't.  Our perfect model, Jesus Christ, taught us that he who humbles himself is exalted and he who exalts himself is abased.  While this talk was delivered by Elder Eyring, the principles are not new. The community we live in is one of additive learning; what I learn doesn't die, so long as I share it. That's also why Elder Eyring quoted so many people. The most applicable to us is from President Benson- "There's no such thing as righteous pride." That's kind of hard to swallow, but I guess we all have to when we gain the perspective of what it means to be a Child of God.