July 2012
The Nastiness of Requiem
This comment: “It might even be the most disturbing movie ever made on drugs—and for that reason alone it needs to be placed in all high school curriculums and be required as a viewing text where students can watch, review, dissect and write their feelings on their experience.” Is why I hope you never have any say in what is required for my child or any other child. You might benefit from a “the...
The Hunger Games Review
Ray Bradbury once wrote a fascinating short story entitled The Crowd about how human beings are gluttons for pain and will feign turn away when witnessing a horrific event. Take the scene of a car crash for example. Why does traffic always slow down when there is one? Is there really something we must see? What are we hoping to gain from taking a quick glance? And what triggers this morbid...
“I’m not sure what the solution is. I just know that the violence in this country...”
– Legendary Director Peter Bogdanovich: What If Movies Are Part of the Problem? (via azspot)
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The tone of the modern horror movie has shifted from “evil is...
Breaking Down Bibliofilius -- Part 1: The Nature...
Once he started talking about it, the dam broke, and they talked forever. Bon would ask short, simple questions, and Chez would unleash a flood of pent up thoughts. Bon would listen patiently and help Chez organize some of his hazier ideas. Now and again, Chez would reflect on the nature of this ongoing conversation—that it never seemed to end, and that it had no need of finishing, since...
The Cabin in the Woods Explained — It’s a Giant...
This movie should be required. For everyone. Not only is it brilliant, but it’s the only film I’ve ever seen that alters your perception of all other films. It’s funny. It’s scary. It’s clever. And the whole thing is, as the title of this review suggests, one giant metaphor.
Go see it right now. I don’t care if you don’t watch horror movies. I don’t watch them either. But you can handle The...
Why the Impossible Happens More Often →
Twenty years ago if I had been paid to convince an audience of reasonable, educated people that in 20 years time we’d have street and satellite maps for the entire world on our personal hand held phone devices — for free — and with street views for many cities — I would not be able to do it. I could not have made an economic case for how this could come about “for free.” It was starkly...
Storms of Mormonism (Condensed)
“There are altogether too many people in the world who are willing to accept as true whatever is printed in a book or delivered from a pulpit. Their faith never goes below the surface soil of authority. I plead with everyone I meet that they may drive their faith down through that soil and get hold of solid truth, that they may be able to withstand the winds and storms of indecision and doubt, of...
The Science Behind the Smile →
youmightfindyourself:
Harvard psychology professor Daniel Gilbert is widely known for his 2006 best seller, Stumbling on Happiness. His work reveals, among other things, the systematic mistakes we all make in imagining how happy (or miserable) we’ll be. In this edited interview with HBR’s Gardiner Morse, Gilbert surveys the field of happiness research and explores its frontiers.
HBR: Happiness...
Bibliofilius Review
A friend of mine by the name of Jordan Petersen recently wrote a short novel entitled Bibliofilius. This effort, whether or not you read it as a stroke of genius, certainly deserves, by its breadth and scope and literary musings, an important place in the philosophical world. Starting from a curious image of a man held as a prisoner in a library, Bibliofilius manages to say a good deal about what...
“The message is clear: history belongs to the intercessors who believe the future...”
– Walter Wink (via azspot)
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Good phrase—politics of hope. Reminds me of fictional facts.
(DMS)
Revisiting Mt. Timpanogos -- July 24th, 2012
It is very quiet here today, much different than the anxious Provo-city hustle. The noise, the traffic, the silted outside urban debris, is reduced considerably. Someone could probably learn from this picture-postcard scenery and its forestry spell suited for those who enjoy scenic views because you can actually hear the meaning behind your thoughts.
As I climb I think to myself,...
“…this movie isn’t just ideologically rotten to the core, it’s rotten in the...”
– The Dark Knight Rises vs. The 99% (via azspot)
“Someone wants to celebrate their existence and you call it exhibitionism. It’s...”
– Dave Eggers, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (via tryhowandwhy)
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Lady Gaga’s mantra.
(DMS)
A True Prophet of Social Change
by Hugh B. Brown
There seems today to be a tendency toward flippant thinking, a lack of thought. There seems to be a tendency to belittle what our fathers and mothers thought because we feel we have made some progress scientifically. We are too ready to conclude that everything from past generations is now folly and that our main duty today, as far as the past is concerned, is to get away from...
Mormonism In Dialogue (Continued)
Brad Laws responded to my recent reblog…
“You seem to be stating that there are members of the LDS church that take it upon themselves to enforce some vigorous moral code without any consideration for mercy. They take upon themselves some form of higher judgement. Is that right?”
If you’ve lived long enough in the LDS culture you know this to be true. I can think of a few classic...
Mormonism In Dialogue
A fellow Mormon took interest in my recent reblog and decided to question some things.
My original statement:
The prophets of social change inside the LDS community will continue to push towards something new while solving the entrenched biases of the past. And because I am concerned with how Latter-day Saints formulate value judgments, especially when those judgments run the risk of throwing...
Colorado Batman shooting shows obvious signs of... →
disconnectedreality:
“He said pictures from inside the apartment are fairly disturbing and the devices look to be sophisticated, adding the booby-traps were ‘something I’ve never seen.’ One rifle, two handguns, a knife, a bullet proof vest, a ballistic helmet, a gas device, a gas mask, military SWAT clothing and unidentified explosives were also found in Holmes’ car, a law enforcement source...
“All the gods, all the heavens, all the hells, are within you.”
– Joseph Campbell (via mysticravenfox)
Requiem For A Dream Review
I remember now why I stopped using drugs—I watched this film. And anyone who is thinking of experimenting with them might want to watch this first, especially those wooed by the flash and charm of the drug image. This is anything but a cool portrayal of the high life. This requiem, in fact, is a harrowing and intense plunge into the terrors of drug addiction, and the hopes and dreams that are so...
Blue Valentine Review
Who wouldn’t wonder, in a low moment, whether the whole damn thing was worth it, after all?
—Anthony Lane
When it comes to dating and marriage most everyone has hopes. It sucks too when those hopes fade from the illusions we create of a fantasy-ever-after, as if we imagine that the routine of reality and living with someone will never settle in. So what do we do in low moments when our hopes...
WatchBehind-the-scenes interviews with the creators of “My Hero.”
If ever this was, as the kids say on tumblr, a “GPOY” moment, this may qualify.
(DMS)
“Labels are the problem. Of course we need labels in every day life. I want to...”
– nakedpastor (via azspot)
getting the whole story
Judging a character in a movie and judging a person seem to be two different things. In a movie, I follow multiple characters from start to finish; I’m given a special, almost omniscient perspective that allows me to watch them up-close, invisibly, as I determine possible reasons for why they behave the way they do, for better or worse.
In other words, I see them in a unique context that privies...
Deep Plunges
When I walk the fields, I am oppressed now and then with an innate feeling that everything I see has meaning, if I could but understand it. And this feeling of being surrounded with truths which I cannot grasp amounts to indescribable awe sometimes.
—Charles Kingsley
Romney Boosts Liberal Mormons →
mvanorden:
This article does an excellent job of describing the current state of Mormonism. As a progressive Mormon myself, I am quite happy that change is finally happening. For those that question the church, for those that doubt the church leaders, and for those that struggle with what they actually believe, this change in church culture that is ever-so-slowly happening, is welcome.
An...
A Clockwork Orange Review
I remember when my high school television production teacher, Mr. Alvarez, showed this film in class and said, “The reasons why you may like or dislike this film will not be the same reasons when you get older.” I have found that to be very true while aging with this film. It’s taken on new meaning, new perspective with the passing of time. When I was younger it was all about its sensationalism,...
How the Mormons Make Money →
azspot:
It’s perhaps unsurprising that Mormonism, an indigenous American religion, would also adopt the country’s secular faith in money. What is remarkable is how varied the church’s business interests are and that so little is known about its financial interests. Although a former Mormon bishop is about to receive the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, and despite a recent...
More on Cults
“Perceived power is authentic and is involved in almost every cult. I say superstitious by the ages standards. I challenge you to use the definition of cult and not the connotation of cult to omit Christianity. Jesus was charismatic enough to follow.”
-Zack...
zackwolk asked: Preface: I love Jesus. Question: if Jesus was unknown to the world today and came into being via immaculate conception - performed miracles by today's standards and said the exact same things Jesus AND only 12 people believed hoa superstitious ideas, what would differentiate that group from any other group that'd be considered a cult?
