Facebook

I seriously love Facebook! You might even say that I am even a little addicted to it. I'm not as bad as some people who update their status every 30 minutes. Like, for example, in this comic:



I really like this article that CNN compiled of the 12 Facebook personality types. Which one are YOU?

The Let-Me-Tell-You-Every-Detail-of-My-Day Bore. "I'm waking up." "I had Wheaties for breakfast." "I'm bored at work." "I'm stuck in traffic." You're kidding! How fascinating! No moment is too mundane for some people to broadcast unsolicited to the world. Just because you have 432 Facebook friends doesn't mean we all want to know when you're waiting for the bus.

The Self-Promoter. OK, so we've probably all posted at least once about some achievement. And sure, maybe your friends really do want to read the fascinating article you wrote about beet farming. But when almost EVERY update is a link to your blog, your poetry reading, your 10k results or your art show, you sound like a bragger or a self-centered careerist.

The Friend-Padder. The average Facebook user has 120 friends on the site. Schmoozers and social butterflies -- you know, the ones who make lifelong pals on the subway -- might reasonably have 300 or 400. But 1,000 "friends?" Unless you're George Clooney or just won the lottery, no one has that many. That's just showing off.

The Town Crier. "Michael Jackson is dead!!!" You heard it from me first! Me, and the 213,000 other people who all saw it on TMZ. These Matt Drudge wannabes are the reason many of us learn of breaking news not from TV or news sites but from online social networks. In their rush to trumpet the news, these people also spread rumors, half-truths and innuendo. No, Jeff Goldblum did not plunge to his death from a New Zealand cliff.

The TMIer. "Brad is heading to Walgreens to buy something for these pesky hemorrhoids." Boundaries of privacy and decorum don't seem to exist for these too-much-information updaters, who unabashedly offer up details about their sex lives, marital troubles and bodily functions. Thanks for sharing.

The Bad Grammarian. "So sad about Fara Fauset but Im so gladd its friday yippe". Yes, I know the punctuation rules are different in the digital world. And, no, no one likes a spelling-Nazi schoolmarm. But you sound like a moron.

The Sympathy-Baiter. "Barbara is feeling sad today." "Man, am I glad that's over." "Jim could really use some good news about now." Like anglers hunting for fish, these sad sacks cast out their hooks -- baited with vague tales of woe -- in the hopes of landing concerned responses. Genuine bad news is one thing, but these manipulative posts are just pleas for attention.

The Lurker. The Peeping Toms of Facebook, these voyeurs are too cautious, or maybe too lazy, to update their status or write on your wall. But once in a while, you'll be talking to them and they'll mention something you posted, so you know they're on your page, hiding in the shadows. It's just a little creepy.

The Crank. These curmudgeons, like the trolls who spew hate in blog comments, never met something they couldn't complain about. "Carl isn't really that impressed with idiots who don't realize how idiotic they are." [Actual status update.] Keep spreading the love.

The Paparazzo. Ever visit your Facebook page and discover that someone's posted a photo of you from last weekend's party -- a photo you didn't authorize and haven't even seen? You'd really rather not have to explain to your mom why you were leering like a drunken hyena and French-kissing a bottle of Jagermeister.

The Obscurist. "If not now then when?" "You'll see..." "Grist for the mill." "John is, small world." "Dave thought he was immune, but no. No, he is not." [Actual status updates, all.] Sorry, but you're not being mysterious -- just nonsensical.


The Chronic Inviter. "Support my cause. Sign my petition. Play Mafia Wars with me. Which 'Star Trek' character are you? Here are the 'Top 5 cars I have personally owned.' Here are '25 Things About Me.' Here's a drink. What drink are you? We're related! I took the 'What President Are You?' quiz and found out I'm Millard Fillmore! What president are you?"

You probably mean well, but stop. Just stop. I don't care what president I am -- can't we simply be friends? Now excuse me while I go post the link to this story on my Facebook page.

Letter Assignment

Dear Bill Marriott,

I am writing this letter to express the concerns I have regarding the availability of pornography in Marriott hotel rooms. Although you may argue that access to pornography is a right to “freedom of speech”, I have to adamantly disagree. There are also some people that do not want these images allowed in their hotel rooms, and I believe this is violating their “freedom of speech”.

To me, it seems very incongruent that you have both Book of Mormons and pornography available in your hotel rooms. I think it is great that your provide Book of Mormons for people to read as a missionary tool. Also, because the Marriott hotel is based in Salt Lake, there are many members of the LDS Church that stay there, so the Book of Mormons are much appreciated. I also think that it would be great if you could further promote the beliefs of the LDS Church by banning all adult content on the TVs in your rooms because as an LDS Church, we believe that pornography is wrong.

Further, a vast amount of research has shown that pornography use is an addiction and that people who view it get hooked instantly. You wouldn’t equip your hotel rooms with marijuana or crack/cocaine, would you? The truth is, pornography has the same effects as these drugs do; the only difference is that it is not ingested into the body the same way. It is ingested into the eyes, mind and soul, and destroys family life and ultimate happiness.

Last, there are probably many excuses as to why you would allow pornography at Marriott hotels. You may be worried that you will lose business because many people do want pornography in their hotels rooms. Or, again, you may think that it is an individual right for companies and individuals to provide pornography for customers because of “freedom of speech”. Personally, I believe that you can be different, and that many people expect you to be different because you are the owner of the Marriott hotel. Under that name, there is much respect and high esteem. By banning pornography in your hotel rooms, I believe that you will be much more respected by individuals and families around the world, and that the world will become a better place through these actions.

Sincerely,

Caroline King

The Secret Life of the American Teenager

The other day I saw that the show "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" was on. I had heard of this show before, and watched a few minutes before being annoyed at how ridiculous it is. The show is about a teenage girl that becomes pregnant and has to deal with a lot of issues and situations that stem from that. The thing that I don't like about this show is that is makes teen pregnancy seem accepted normal, and does not accurately portray the REAL and DEEP consequences that would stem from this. Yes, I do think that this happens...I know of many teenage girls that have gotten pregnant out of wedlock, but I don't think that this show portrays the heartbreaking and very sad consequences that these girls really experience. I think the media distorts reality in a lot of ways like this. And because they make it seem normal and accepted, probably a lot of teenagers think of it as normal and are more likely to get into trouble and actually experience these negative consequences themselves.

Pursuit of Happyness

I had never seen the movie, The Pursuit of Happyness (with Will Smith) until last week when I had to watch it for a class. Wow--what an amazing movie! Although it was heartbreaking at some moments, overall I felt it was a very touching portrayal of a real life situation. Also, the story happens to be true! The life of Christopher Gardner is a "rags-to-riches" type of story. At the beginnning of the movie, he has NO money, NO job, and NO resources to get through the family stress he is experiencing. There are a number of things that happen in the movie that just really make you appreciate life in general. I am so glad that I watched this movie. It was great!

Where the Red Fern Grows...

Now, here's a movie that I did love! My husband really wanted to rent this from Netflix, so we did and it was so touching. Although, it was sad, it was so true to real life, and a really sweet story about a boy who falls in love with his 'pups'. I think more movies like this should be made. I'm tired of these movies that bear no thought to what actually happens in REAL life. This is a story that is believable, heart-warming, and beautiful! I strongly recommend seeing it.

New Moon

So, after months and months of people telling me that I needed to see New Moon, I finally broke down and dragged my husband along to see it last weekend. Let's just say I'm glad that we waited until it was at the dollar theater, rather than spending $9 to see a movie that was, honestly, such a waste of time! I mean, I have to admit that the special effects and even the acting were a step up from the first movie. I think the thing that bothers me the most is that all the girls were ooh-aahing when Jacob Black came on the screen. What is the BIG deal about him? Yeah, he is muscles, but personally I think his face is very unattractive! It really annoyed me that everyone was so excited over him. If anything, it's his personality that is so much better than Edward's (who is just BORING!) The movie was just, overall, a little too dramatic for me. Bella, for one, needs to make up her mind about who she is in love with. In the movie, she tells Edward and Jacob that she loves each of them! What in the world?! Her love life just seems way too over-dramatic, considering how long she has even known Edward and how much of a relationship they possibly could have established! I don't think this is a movie that I will watch again or buy. Sorry, to all the Twilight lovers out there!

The Joys of Reading

I love reading and always have. Often, my husband and I will choose a book to read together and read it every night. We haven't had much time lately because most of the reading we have been doing is for school. Our Bishop encouraged the couples in our ward to find something that we enjoy doing together and do it every day. My husband and I want to do better and finding time to just have fun together, and reading a good book is one of our favorites. Now, we just need ideas of good books to read. Does anyone have any? We mainly like fiction; fantasy or science fiction. But we are really open to anything! I think reading is a great activity to do with someone you love or want to build a relationship because unlike movies, you can stop in the middle and discuss things that are going on in the book. When my husband does that during a movie, it kind of annoys me. I don't think watching movies is as social of an activity, I guess. So, I'm going to try to delve into the media world a little bit more by doing some more reading, either by myself or with my husband.

Netflix

My husband and I just signed up for Netflix, which I am very excited about! We love watching movies together on the weekend; that is probably our favorite form of entertainment when we have free time. So, instead of spending $5 every time we go to Blockbuster, we decided it would serve us better to try Netflix. We can get as many movies as we want a month, but only can have one out at a time...all for $9 a month! Such a good deal! Plus, when our baby comes in two months, it will be awesome because we won't be able to go out quite as much. I am very excited about our newfound way to enjoy movies and entertainment!

Internet Pornography.

A few weeks ago, I submitted a research paper to the Stand for the Family symposium and found out this week that I won an award for it and that it is going to be published. I am really excited about it, and a little nervous, because next Saturday I have to present it to an audience at the symposium. The title of my paper is "The Destructiveness of Pornography to Family Relationships: Preventative Measures and Help with Addiction." In my paper, I discuss how internet pornography is different from other forms of pornography because of its "Triple-A-Engine Effect of Accessibility, Affordability, and Anonymity. Then, I go on to describe the ways in which pornography affects the marital relationship, the parent-child relationship, and the individual in a family. Last, I discuss preventative measures and help for those already in addiction.
I think internet pornography is a huge issue today. It is widely available and comes up when one is not even looking for it. I think I decided to write about this topic because my husband I are about to have our first baby, a boy. Statistics show that the average age of exposure to pornography is age 11, and although women can become addicted to it, it is much more of a problem for men. We know that our son will be exposed to it, but we want to teach him healthy ways to confront and battle against it. I will post the link once my paper is published next week!

"Sales"

Recently, my husband and I attended Institute in Orem and a lecture was given by a man that spoke about finances. Although we've always had a good budget and save money well, I learned so much there that I didn't know, particularly about advertising. Often, we see signs outside of RC Willey or other companies that say, "TV sale--only today!" or "Furniture Sale, this weekend only!" It's funny because before I attended this lecture and would see those signs, I would tell my husband, "Oh, we have to go check it out today!" when we attended the lecture, we learned that often companies do this not because they necessarily want you to buy their products with cash that day. Frequently, they do it because they know that most banks are closed on the weekends and if people don't have the cash to pay for it, they can lease it. RC Willey, for example, only marks their products up 5% from the amount they buy them for. So, most of their revenue comes from leasing products. This is because if you decide to lease it and don't pay off the whole amount in the time they allow (often 6 months), then you have to begin paying interest on the FULL price! I didn't know that before, and I'm glad I know that know because my husband and I were thinking of leasing a piece of furniture a few months ago. Anytime I see an advertisement that says "Sale today only!" I am going to think twice before I walk into the store.

Taco Bell's drive-thru diet...What?!

My husband and I went to Taco Bell for dinner and saw their advertisement for the new Fresco Drive-Thru Diet. We looked at each other incredulously, thinking "No way!" and then proceeded to read the advertisement, which told of a woman named Christine that lost 54 pounds doing this (comparing her to Jared from Subway). I further read into this because it's just something I cannot believe.

This is one article I found:

While Christine certainly looks slim, her story is a bit thin on the details. She claims that she reduced her total daily calorie intake by 500 calories to 1,250 calories by choosing from the seven Fresco items and "making other sensible choices," leaving us to wonder what those sensible choices were. Exercise? Other low-calorie foods? Diet supplements? She also doesn't state how much of her daily 1,250 calories were from Taco Bell.

Funny, on the ad there are all kinds of dislaimers in finer print, such as "this is not a weight loss program"...so ridiculous! I personally don't believe that Christine could possibly have lost that much weight eating tacos from Taco Bell that are around 9 grams a fat a piece. To me, it just seems like Taco Bell's way to deceive people into thinking their food is healthy so they can make more money, and ultimately contribute to America's ever-increasing obesity rates. Man, I had a hard enough time losing weight on the Atkins diet (eating no sugar or carbs). Although I eat Taco Bell occassionally, I don't believe their ad for a second! It's too bad that they can't actually sell what they are advertising and have to be dishonest about it.

Lord of the Rings and the Gospel

Since I was young, I remember my dad talking a lot about the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) series. He loved the trilogy, and had even learned a lot of the language the J.R.R Tolkien made up from the books. My dad knows everything about LOTR. When the first movie came out, it was a huge deal for my family. My dad was so excited to see it, and it got us all pumped up. We went to the opening showing, and got there way in advance so we could get good seats. I remember I was blown away by the special effects and the beautiful scenery of New Zealand, where the movies were filmed. Wow! I think the reason I like LOTR so much is because of the message it gives. I think there is a lot of analogy to the gospel. For example, Frodo was burdened to carry a ring. He was the only one that could control himself enough to do this because he was so innocent and submissive and through destroying the ring, he would be able to save middle earth from being overtaken by Sauron, the dark lord. In some ways, this is similar to the gospel in that Christ was the only one that could save us, and he had to carry our sins and sorrows to do this. The ring is similar to the burdens that we all carry and that Christ took away from us if we repent. The ring had to be destroyed or Sauron would take over, just like our sins have to be repented or the adversary wins. I love how there are so many analogies like this in LOTR! My husband have the trilogy and watch these movies often. They are long, but so much worth the time and emotion felt!

He Restoreth My Soul

My father, who is a neurosurgeon, recently published a book about how pornography addiction affects the brain. It is called "He Restoreth My Soul" and is available at the BYU Bookstore and Deseret Book. Although I am a little biased, I think his book is absolutely amazing! It has really opened my eyes as to how common and huge this addiction is.

Here are some interesting and somewhat scary statistics that the Lighted Candle Society (an anti-pornography organization) provides:

More than 70% of men from 18 to 34 visit a pornographic site in a typical month
47% percent of families said pornography is a problem in their home

Not a lot of research has been done on pornography use as an addiction. A lot of people do not think of it as an addiction, but my dad touches upon some of the research that negates this idea. He also shows that these numbers are not much less, even in the Church. His book is spiritually based, with a lot of scriptures that provide hope for those who are struggling with this addiction. He is speaking at the Stand for the Family symposium in March that the Law School is hosting. I just thought I'd spread the word along so that anyone who is interested can attend or read the book to help others!

Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear?

As a child, my all-time favorite book was called Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? I absolutely loved this book and my mom read it to me all the time. Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? is about a mother bear that asks her little boy bear what he is going to wear in various situations. It is humorous, and a very cute story! My husband and I are expecting our first baby due in May and my mom recently sent this book to us for Christmas and wrote a short note in it to our baby, explaining how much I loved this book as a child. I thought it was so sweet of her to do this, and it brought back so many memories of when I was a young girl. Currently, my favorite book is probably the Harry Potter series. I have read all of them and over the Christmas break, my husband and I read the last one together. He hadn’t read it together, and we both enjoyed it so much!
I think one reason that I enjoyed reading Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? so much was because I felt the same bond between my mother and I as the mother bear and the little bear in the story. I loved it when my mother read to me; I felt an emotional bond with her and was comforted when she read to me every night before bed. Another reason I think I liked the book so much is because I have always been a very creative and visual person, and the pictures and very well done and beautiful in the story. I loved looking at the pictures and they evoked many thoughts and feelings within me. This is a book that I will definitely share with my children, and will hope that they love it just as much as I did!

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

I saw this movie a few weeks ago and honestly thought it was really poorly done! I know a lot of people who thought it was a great movie, but I think I know why I had such a hard time with it. This was one of my favorite books to read when I was a child. My mom would read it to me often, and when I heard that the movie was coming out, I was so excited! It brought back many feelings of nostalgia thinking about how much I loved the book. When my husband I went to see the movie, I was disappointed. I didn't like how the story line had a weird science theme to it and didn't have much to do with the book at all! It was somewhat of a let down. That's one thing that bothers me about the movie industry; they think that they can change a classic children's book into something better and more original--this rarely works! Oh well, I will get over it sooner or later.

Thoughts on Texting...

In one of my classes, we were discussing technology and how it has progressed so far and there are amazing things available today. We also talked about cell phones and the average number of texts that teenagers send each month (almost 3,000!). I started thinking about how much texting bothers me! I have to say that I do use it occasionally because sometimes it is easier to get a hold of someone through a text than a phone call, but overall, I think that it distracts from building social relationships. Just to illustrate this, my younger sister (still in high school) has a boyfriend and she rarely talks to him on the phone, but is CONSTANTLY texting him. My brother has even asked a few girls out over a text message. It's even more ridiculous that you see people at parties sitting there texting instead of interacting with the people around them. I think it's sad that people are missing out on building close relationships with others. Texting allows us to communicate with those who are away from us, but we are not able to communicate with those that are right there with us because it is so distracting and time-consuming. Honestly, texting drives me crazy! I have seen people text in formal settings such as at church, at funerals, and at weddings. I think this is totally disrespectful. So, my point is that, I think texting should be used for important reasons and situations, not just talking to someone on a normal basis. ARghhh!!

"Let them be little"

Lonestar is one of my favorite groups. I absolutely love their music. Maybe it's because I'm from Texas or maybe it's because their music is just amazing--either way, I'm proud to admit it! I heard a song the other day that I hadn't heard before which surprised me because I thought I knew most of their songs. It was called "Let them be little." I think it really came close to heart because I'm 6 1/2 months pregnant and soon my husband and I will have our first baby. I thought the words were so tender and beautiful. Here are the words:

I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand
Felt so good in it, no bigger than a minute
How it amazes me, you're changing with every blink
Faster than a flower blooms they grow up all too soon

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

I've never felt so much in one little tender touch
I live for those kisses, prayers and your wishes
Now that you're teaching me things only a child can see
Every night while we're on our knees all I ask is please

Let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

So innocent, a precious soul, you turn around
It's time to let them go

So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little

The lyrics to this song really touched me and made me realize that once our baby comes, he will grow up so fast, so we should enjoy and cherish everyday. Thank you, Lonestar!

The Sound of Music

Sound of Music has always been one of my favorite movies!  I remember watching it often with my family as a kid.  My husband and I love the movie also.  I think one reason I like it so much is because music has always been such a big part of my life.  Everyone in my family plays the piano and we all love to sing and have great voices.  Just recently, I have started noticing how much music affects me in  my everyday life.  When I am listening to an upbeat, positive song, it generally makes me feel happy.  Likewise, songs that are depressing and sad tend to make me feel that way.  To me, it is amazing how music can evoke these emotions in human beings!  This is the reason that I try to be careful about what I listen to and how it makes me feel.  I figure, in many ways, music can either make or break my day.  I think nowadays, there are many songs in the radio that try to persuade people to think or act a certain way, especially teenagers.  I never really thought of music as a form of media, but now I understand why it is.  So, I will use it to benefit from its good aspects and avoid the negative.

Bewitched

Recently, my husband and I really got hooked on watching the old TV series, Bewitched. We both love it, and just bought the 2nd season. It about a girl named Samantha, who happens to be a witch. She also happens to marry a man named Darren who is a "mortal". Throughout the episodes, a situation comes up every time where Samantha just HAS to use her magic, even though Darren can't stand it. The show is very funny and enjoyable to watch. I think the main reason that I like it so much is that it is pretty clean. You don't find too many shows now that are free from immorality or inappropriate language. Bewitched is great for a family to watch together, and I enjoy it so much!

The Media

Growing up, my family never watched much TV. We went through a phase where we watched 24 a lot, then American Idol, and now, I think my family owns every season on the old television series, Bewitched. There were phases we went through where we watched more TV overall, but generally, we did other things together as a family. When my friends discuss popular TV shows such as The Office and Lost, I feel so out of place because I have never even seen any of these shows! Yet, I am happy that I do not waste my life away in front of the television when instead I can build stronger relationships and friendships with those around me. That's not to say that I think TV is completely bad or destructive. I would just prefer doing other things, such as reading, working out, talking to friends.

Nevertheless, the media does affect me in other ways besides TV shows. For one thing, I LOVE to watch movies. On the weekends, that is me and my husband's main source of entertainment. We would much rather snuggle up on the couch and watch a movie than go bowling or ice skating. Some of my favorite movies are Enchanted, Sound of Music, the Lords of the Rings series, and Harry Potter. We try to be careful about the movies we watch so that we do not allow unclean things to enter our home. I also enjoy reading, which is most definitely another form of media. I like fantasy books and some LDS fiction books.

I think the media affects people by pushing stereotypes strongly. For example, to be considered beautiful, women nowadays need to be extremely thin and athletic looking. They also have to dress immodestly. Many girls are influences by these stereotypes; this is apparent just by walking through a hallway at a high school. Men, on the other hand, are expected to have many girls that are after them (be a ladies man), and not express their feelings. All of these stereotypes affect people in different ways. I think it is important to be aware of the effects the media has on us, so that we do not allow the media to control our lives.