ScripTrivia

http://scriptrivia.com/
So, my husband has been having fun making a few websites recently. One he's been working on is ScripTriva.com. It's  kind of an outlet where he can talk about interesting insights or ideas/speculations he's had that somewhat relate to the scriptures. I think it's neat that the web is set up in such a way that pretty much anyone can have a voice. I heard that in some parts of the world (like China) blogger, facebook, and some other websites are blocked. I'm thankful to live in a country where we have access to unrestricted information online.

using media to promote general conference

http://www.ldshta.org/general-conference/invite-others?lang=eng
I ran across this on LDS.org. I think it's great that the church is getting so involved with the new media that is out there and using it to promote general conference. I've been thinking about general conference a lot lately. I think it's wonderful that the prophet is able to literally speak to the world through television and radio. And what a better way to be introduced to the gospel than to be able to hear the prophet himself and feel the spirit that way :)

Cinderella

I watched one of my favorite Cinderella shows: Slipper and the Rose. It's an older movie. I like it because it's super cheesy and also very sweet. But I was also thinking about the general story line of Cinderella and how it might fit into things we are talking about in class. So, it's interesting, because it seems like the whole plot revolves around the idea that outward appearance (pretty dress, higher status, etc.) is what's important in order to have "true love." I almost think that if the prince just fell in love with Cinderella as a peasant, with a rag dress and dirt on her face, it could be even more romantic and cute :) Just a thought.

Susan Boyle :)

I was watching a few videos on youtube this morning, and after watching Susan Boyle's audition, I just had to post it. I know we've all already seen this, but I just love it. It's really inspiring, and it kind of puts us all in our place and makes us realize that we shouldn't judge others because we never know what could be lying beneath the outward appearance.

Sitcoms :(

So, I have to admit, I am not a big fan of sitcoms. I never watch them, but whenever I overhear or see clips of some of the more popular ones, it surprises me how much profanity and sexual innuendos there are in them. I can't even sit through 5 minutes without cringing in my seat at something. It's interesting to see how far media has come, in both good ways and bad, over the last few years. It seems like TV and the few Hollywood actors/producers are trying to define for all of us what kind of behavior is and is not okay, and they are getting away with it. If we don't start speaking up about it, who knows how out-of-hand things could get in the next few years. Obviously a few voices protesting against the moral permissiveness in TV is not going to bring us back to the "Brady Bunch" days, but I think it could still make at least some small difference and slow down the downward spiral of the media.

Scary Movies

After the lecture on scary movies, I thought I'd do a little post on my own feelings about them. I hate scary movies! When I was younger I used to like them, but now I guess I'm a lot more sensitive, and I just cringe at the thought of intentionally trying to freak myself out. I was talking to my best friend the other day about scary movies, and we talked about the difference between faith and fear. Faith is the absence of fear. You can't have faith with fear, and you can't have fear when faith is present. One will crowd out the other. So if scary movies really do have some long-term effect, does that mean that they can little by little fill us with more fear and crowd out our faith? I don't know. I just thought it was interesting food for though :)