Links #108
2 days ago
Saturday, December 19, 2009
How to wake up in the morning
So, the other morning, I got up early to go to the bathroom. It was about 6am. Still groggy and half asleep, I finish my business, wash my hands and turn around. There, standing in the doorway, is a person. I must have jumped a foot. The quick rush of adrenaline subsided when I realized it was my roommate Nathan, who had a final at 7, who's alarm had sounded shortly after I left for the bathroom, and who had silently come out and was waiting for me to finish so he could use the shower. I don't think I have become fully awake faster in my life.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
I'm famous!
So I was just pointed to this random post on the Harold B. Lee Library blog:
Apparently, I'm now famous for pushing the limits and getting BYU to actually allow pages to be created for networking on Facebook. It took about three months to get approval from the highest powers and my experiment was an utter failure, with hardly anyone joining the group and no one using it. It was, however, something new and it didn't cost us anything about the 14 minutes I spent putting the group together and led to a professional presentation about social networking sights here on campus.
Sure, it was an accomplishment being a pioneer, but unlike the comment implies, I doubt that this act alone could assure my Godhood status....
Friday, July 17, 2009
Flashback Friday
Stealing a note from Nancy's book....or blog..., here's my Flashback moment.
As a senior at BYU, I lived south of campus. Everyday, I would walk to school, which really wasn't very far and as such, was normally fairly uneventful. One morning, however, I saw a guy, who was talking on his cellphone, hit a deer. Being close to the situation, I managed to hear the cellphone conversation.
"Dude, I just hit a deer."
"No, I was walking!"
Seriously, this guy was walking up the path on the south campus hill (often called rape hill) and was talking talking on his cell, completely oblivious to his surroundings. A deer stepped out of the bushes and started walking across the path. Neither was aware of the other. Biped walked into tail end of quadruped, knocking the deer on it's rump and sending the young man staggering backwards. The deer took off running as the guy caught his balance. Then I heard the one end of the exuberant cellphone conversation. I seriously think that is one of the funniest situations I have ever witnessed.
As a senior at BYU, I lived south of campus. Everyday, I would walk to school, which really wasn't very far and as such, was normally fairly uneventful. One morning, however, I saw a guy, who was talking on his cellphone, hit a deer. Being close to the situation, I managed to hear the cellphone conversation.
"Dude, I just hit a deer."
"No, I was walking!"
Seriously, this guy was walking up the path on the south campus hill (often called rape hill) and was talking talking on his cell, completely oblivious to his surroundings. A deer stepped out of the bushes and started walking across the path. Neither was aware of the other. Biped walked into tail end of quadruped, knocking the deer on it's rump and sending the young man staggering backwards. The deer took off running as the guy caught his balance. Then I heard the one end of the exuberant cellphone conversation. I seriously think that is one of the funniest situations I have ever witnessed.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Funny...
Yesterday, I was standing in line for a couple of value-menu tacos at Taco Bell (the only cheap food left in the CougarEat at BYU...also a funny name, but that's another post entirely). Interestingly, there were a couple of older visitors to the university who had one of those unexpected reunions. I gathered that they were friends or roommates at BYU many years ago but were discussing children and grandchildren.
As they were parting, one of them said, "It was nice catching up with you. Are you on Facebook?" The other replied in the affirmative and they discussed how they would add each other as friends. "My name is _____ on Facebook if you can remember that." "Do you remember ______ or ______? I'm friends with them and you can add me through their pages."
I must say, I was rather amused at what has extended while beyond a college phenomenon and has become virtually universal. My family even organizes family reunions on Facebook! And to think, I joined Facebook in 2006 when there were less than 1000 people on Facebook from BYU, 2 from my old High School in Alberta, and less than 100 from my High School in Orem. Now, I've found most of my best friends from my various elementary schools, old teachers, seminary teachers, aunts, uncles, and family of all kinds, and I'm even friends with my friend's cousin's mannequin head for her hairstyling school. Even my Brazilian friends are leaving their old Orkut accounts and being converted to Facebook.
I think the world has become obsessed.
As they were parting, one of them said, "It was nice catching up with you. Are you on Facebook?" The other replied in the affirmative and they discussed how they would add each other as friends. "My name is _____ on Facebook if you can remember that." "Do you remember ______ or ______? I'm friends with them and you can add me through their pages."
I must say, I was rather amused at what has extended while beyond a college phenomenon and has become virtually universal. My family even organizes family reunions on Facebook! And to think, I joined Facebook in 2006 when there were less than 1000 people on Facebook from BYU, 2 from my old High School in Alberta, and less than 100 from my High School in Orem. Now, I've found most of my best friends from my various elementary schools, old teachers, seminary teachers, aunts, uncles, and family of all kinds, and I'm even friends with my friend's cousin's mannequin head for her hairstyling school. Even my Brazilian friends are leaving their old Orkut accounts and being converted to Facebook.
I think the world has become obsessed.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
I'm Done
Well, It's been two years coming, but I finished my Masters Degree. I don't know, it seems kind of anticlimactic. I think the biggest feeling is one of relief that it's over -no enthusiastic shouts of joy or exhilarating sense of accomplishment. I bought myself a set of Bocce Balls to celebrate...or it could have simply been an impulse buy. They were on sale and I wanted a new outdoor date activity. But now, I can put David Layton, MLIS on my letterhead. Not that I have any letterhead or would if I did, but just the thought that I can seems amusing.
Together with my MLIS, I completed the Masters Certificate in Management and, truth be told, I preferred the management classes to any other that I took. I'm now perusing the graduate school PhD options at BYU to see what I can do next, but I'm thinking an MBA would be a lot of fun as well. I'll have to keep my options open. It's a shame BYU doesn't have a PhD in any International Relations orientation. I would be all over that in a flash.
Together with my MLIS, I completed the Masters Certificate in Management and, truth be told, I preferred the management classes to any other that I took. I'm now perusing the graduate school PhD options at BYU to see what I can do next, but I'm thinking an MBA would be a lot of fun as well. I'll have to keep my options open. It's a shame BYU doesn't have a PhD in any International Relations orientation. I would be all over that in a flash.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Birthday Musings
Well, my birthday went by fairly uneventful, which is how I like it and how I've done it since i was 14 and got into trouble for having a food fight during our mystery dinner - Not that I was involved in the altercation, mind you.
This year was my Royal Birthday, meaning, for you Americans, that I turned 26 on the 26th. I, therefore, determined to celebrate at least a little. My birthday, however, fell on a Thursday and there are certainly not many things you can do on a Thursday. I took 3 hours off work to do homework. Then, Josie and Mom came down to wish me happy birthday and I took Josie to my house while Patrick was in class and mom was at work. We played frisbee, managed to get my keys locked in my room (seriously - I had to go to my landlord's to get the spare), and watched old episodes of Animaniacs. Josie learned how incredible cartoons were when I was little and we both lamented in the fact that today's cartoons are all pretty much retarded.
Friday, I had a small party get together with a few people. My friend Jon came down from Salt Lake and brought the game Shadows Over Camelot, where everyone is a knight of the Round Table, trying to complete quests. It's everyone against the board game, unless there is a traitor, and it's really hard. We also made pancakes.
Yesterday, was an unexpected addition to the birthday, with Steve and Nathan throwing me a bit of a surprise party at their house when Brandon and I went over for games. I haven't had that for a long time. Of course, it was just me, Brandon, Steve, and Nathan, but it was a lot of fun.
Today, the final installment will be with my parents after Stake Conference. It's been quite the week.
This year was my Royal Birthday, meaning, for you Americans, that I turned 26 on the 26th. I, therefore, determined to celebrate at least a little. My birthday, however, fell on a Thursday and there are certainly not many things you can do on a Thursday. I took 3 hours off work to do homework. Then, Josie and Mom came down to wish me happy birthday and I took Josie to my house while Patrick was in class and mom was at work. We played frisbee, managed to get my keys locked in my room (seriously - I had to go to my landlord's to get the spare), and watched old episodes of Animaniacs. Josie learned how incredible cartoons were when I was little and we both lamented in the fact that today's cartoons are all pretty much retarded.
Friday, I had a small party get together with a few people. My friend Jon came down from Salt Lake and brought the game Shadows Over Camelot, where everyone is a knight of the Round Table, trying to complete quests. It's everyone against the board game, unless there is a traitor, and it's really hard. We also made pancakes.
Yesterday, was an unexpected addition to the birthday, with Steve and Nathan throwing me a bit of a surprise party at their house when Brandon and I went over for games. I haven't had that for a long time. Of course, it was just me, Brandon, Steve, and Nathan, but it was a lot of fun.
Today, the final installment will be with my parents after Stake Conference. It's been quite the week.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
25 Things About Me
I too, have been tagged many times to do this post. Actually, I think virtually everyone I follow has already done it. Therefore, if you haven't and you read this, I invite you to. Because it's fun.
No really. It is.
1. I was accepted to every university I applied to in a different field for each; everything from Recreation Management (USU) to Biology (UVSC).
2. I ended up getting a BA in Latin American Studies with a minor in Chemistry and an almost completed minor in Ballroom Dance.
3. In grade 7 and grade 8, I was voted male athlete of the year in my school. I played volleyball (MVP, grade 7), basketball (point guard), track and field, cross country, football (D-line left tackle grade 7, wide receiver grade 8), and badminton (4th in regionals, grade 8).
4. I was only on two sports teams in high school. Volleyball in grade 9 and the cheer squad as a tumbler in grade 12.
5. I gave myself a major concussion in grade four by playing on the monkey bars. We were jumping from the wooden platform and seeing how many bars away we could grab. I won. Of course, it was winter and I was wearing gloves and couldn't hold my momentum from the jump. I landed on the back of my head and you know that feeling you get when you hit your funny bone? That's what my whole body felt like. I got another concussion two weeks later playing basketball with my sister.
6. I taught grade 10 (or at least the chemistry unit) for a semester. I was in grade 10 and we had an art teacher substitute that didn't know how to do it. So, I did it.
7. I've had two girls tell me they prayed and were told I wasn't the one they were supposed to marry after only two-three months of dating. I've also had two girls stop dating me and start dating a friend....and get engaged within a month.
8. I caught dengue on my mission without knowing it and didn't even take a day off work. I don't recommend it. Actually, I never missed a single full day due to illness during the entire mission.
9. I love to travel, but don't get to do it very often - although I did just go to Amsterdam and Egypt.
10. I didn't study for the graduate entrance exam I took and made it into the top 10% who took the test! Granted, it was the MAT, which isn't accepted everywhere, is the easiest of the exams, and is only 100 questions in an hour (or something like that).
11. I once competed high jump, triple jump, long jump, 1500m, 800m, 400m and relays in a meet where you were only supposed to compete 4 events.
12. I've worked since I was 12 (gotta love those paper routes), except for a month and a half hiatus when I graduated from university and a month and a half when I moved from Canada to Utah.
13. I've lived in several states/provinces in three countries (3 month minimum constitutes living in)... Alberta and British Columbia, Canada; California and Utah, USA; Sao Paulo, Mato Grosso, Santa Catarina, Tocantins, and the Federal District, Brazil.
14. I collect coins and stamps.
15. I once sneezed face-first into my desk.
16. I went to French immersion for the first half of grade 6 (the site of my infamous desk sneeze).
17. In grade 12, I was in 5 plays/musicals, played piano in jazz band, competed ballroom dance, was a member of the cheer team, was on Backporch Majority, the back-up show choir, and took two AP classes. I lived at school.
18. I published a cartoon in our monthly school newsletter in grade 8 called "Colton". We were the Senator Riley Colts. Colton. Haha. Get it? Ok, moving on....
19. I seldom dream. Or if I do, i don't even remember the fact that I dreamed. I only remember two dreams...one was in Provo and was giant bears attacking the city back when I was in pre-school and one was in Burnaby, B.C., after we watched the cartoon, The Last Unicorn. I was chased by a flaming bulldog for a month!
20. I am an extremely light sleep. I always have been since I was born. It takes forever to fall asleep, I don't sleep deep, and I constantly wake up. I believe this is a trait I inherited from the Conrad side of the family.
21. I usually breathe through my mouth (as opposed to my nose). Bad habit, I know, and I'm working on it.
22. I love to dance. If you know me, you know that already. I went to the first dances I remember at school in grade 6. I started going to the youth dances almost weekly when i turned fourteen. I helped form a breakdance crew when I was 14. My b-boy name was Flipz. I started swing dancing at 14-15. I started ballroom dance shortly thereafter and went to five years of youth ballroom dance camps at BYU. I competed ballroom in high school and college. I was on both the ballroom dance and folkdance teams at BYU. I still take the odd ballroom class. I went on a date Israeli dancing last week. I also enjoy normal dances still.
23. Chips and Salsa are/is my favorite food(s?).
(As you can tell, I also like correct grammar and even text in complete sentences.)
24. I've never broken a bone but have had several dislocations and concussions.
25. I am constantly misplacing items. I try to have a set place for things, but when I miss setting it down there....
So there you have it. I'm sure you already know most of this, because not many exciting things have happened of late.
I'll even add a bonus one....
26. It's my royal birthday this year. 26 on the 26th of February.
No really. It is.
1. I was accepted to every university I applied to in a different field for each; everything from Recreation Management (USU) to Biology (UVSC).
2. I ended up getting a BA in Latin American Studies with a minor in Chemistry and an almost completed minor in Ballroom Dance.
3. In grade 7 and grade 8, I was voted male athlete of the year in my school. I played volleyball (MVP, grade 7), basketball (point guard), track and field, cross country, football (D-line left tackle grade 7, wide receiver grade 8), and badminton (4th in regionals, grade 8).
4. I was only on two sports teams in high school. Volleyball in grade 9 and the cheer squad as a tumbler in grade 12.
5. I gave myself a major concussion in grade four by playing on the monkey bars. We were jumping from the wooden platform and seeing how many bars away we could grab. I won. Of course, it was winter and I was wearing gloves and couldn't hold my momentum from the jump. I landed on the back of my head and you know that feeling you get when you hit your funny bone? That's what my whole body felt like. I got another concussion two weeks later playing basketball with my sister.
6. I taught grade 10 (or at least the chemistry unit) for a semester. I was in grade 10 and we had an art teacher substitute that didn't know how to do it. So, I did it.
7. I've had two girls tell me they prayed and were told I wasn't the one they were supposed to marry after only two-three months of dating. I've also had two girls stop dating me and start dating a friend....and get engaged within a month.
8. I caught dengue on my mission without knowing it and didn't even take a day off work. I don't recommend it. Actually, I never missed a single full day due to illness during the entire mission.
9. I love to travel, but don't get to do it very often - although I did just go to Amsterdam and Egypt.
10. I didn't study for the graduate entrance exam I took and made it into the top 10% who took the test! Granted, it was the MAT, which isn't accepted everywhere, is the easiest of the exams, and is only 100 questions in an hour (or something like that).
11. I once competed high jump, triple jump, long jump, 1500m, 800m, 400m and relays in a meet where you were only supposed to compete 4 events.
12. I've worked since I was 12 (gotta love those paper routes), except for a month and a half hiatus when I graduated from university and a month and a half when I moved from Canada to Utah.
13. I've lived in several states/provinces in three countries (3 month minimum constitutes living in)... Alberta and British Columbia, Canada; California and Utah, USA; Sao Paulo, Mato Grosso, Santa Catarina, Tocantins, and the Federal District, Brazil.
14. I collect coins and stamps.
15. I once sneezed face-first into my desk.
16. I went to French immersion for the first half of grade 6 (the site of my infamous desk sneeze).
17. In grade 12, I was in 5 plays/musicals, played piano in jazz band, competed ballroom dance, was a member of the cheer team, was on Backporch Majority, the back-up show choir, and took two AP classes. I lived at school.
18. I published a cartoon in our monthly school newsletter in grade 8 called "Colton". We were the Senator Riley Colts. Colton. Haha. Get it? Ok, moving on....
19. I seldom dream. Or if I do, i don't even remember the fact that I dreamed. I only remember two dreams...one was in Provo and was giant bears attacking the city back when I was in pre-school and one was in Burnaby, B.C., after we watched the cartoon, The Last Unicorn. I was chased by a flaming bulldog for a month!
20. I am an extremely light sleep. I always have been since I was born. It takes forever to fall asleep, I don't sleep deep, and I constantly wake up. I believe this is a trait I inherited from the Conrad side of the family.
21. I usually breathe through my mouth (as opposed to my nose). Bad habit, I know, and I'm working on it.
22. I love to dance. If you know me, you know that already. I went to the first dances I remember at school in grade 6. I started going to the youth dances almost weekly when i turned fourteen. I helped form a breakdance crew when I was 14. My b-boy name was Flipz. I started swing dancing at 14-15. I started ballroom dance shortly thereafter and went to five years of youth ballroom dance camps at BYU. I competed ballroom in high school and college. I was on both the ballroom dance and folkdance teams at BYU. I still take the odd ballroom class. I went on a date Israeli dancing last week. I also enjoy normal dances still.
23. Chips and Salsa are/is my favorite food(s?).
(As you can tell, I also like correct grammar and even text in complete sentences.)
24. I've never broken a bone but have had several dislocations and concussions.
25. I am constantly misplacing items. I try to have a set place for things, but when I miss setting it down there....
So there you have it. I'm sure you already know most of this, because not many exciting things have happened of late.
I'll even add a bonus one....
26. It's my royal birthday this year. 26 on the 26th of February.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Indifference
Ever have one of those weeks where you just don't feel motivated to do anything? That's been me this week. Of course, I did pinch a nerve in my back which made it hard to walk and really painful these past two weeks and I haven't been able to lay down without a lot of pain (which makes sleeping difficult), but I've just felt *blah* lately.
I managed to read a couple of books and have rarely left the house except for work. We've played a lot of board games and watched a couple of movies, but that's about it. I really don't know where this week went. However, today I'm moving. One, I'm a little less sore. Two, my homework is due this weekend, the house is a mess, and I'm bored out of my mind. So the dishes are now in the dishwasher, an essay is now half written, the broom is calling from the closet and I should probably end this break.
Good luck battling your preguisa (that is both sloth and laziness in Portuguese).
I managed to read a couple of books and have rarely left the house except for work. We've played a lot of board games and watched a couple of movies, but that's about it. I really don't know where this week went. However, today I'm moving. One, I'm a little less sore. Two, my homework is due this weekend, the house is a mess, and I'm bored out of my mind. So the dishes are now in the dishwasher, an essay is now half written, the broom is calling from the closet and I should probably end this break.
Good luck battling your preguisa (that is both sloth and laziness in Portuguese).
Friday, January 9, 2009
The Real Reason I Went To Egypt
So, I have now been in Egypt for over a week. We've been to Luxor to see the old temples of Thebes and the Valley of the Kings. We've been to the pyramids at Giza and taken photos with the Sphinx. We've gotten ripped off by Calesh (carriage) drivers, almost gotten hit by cars, ridden in smoke-filled train cars, almost got stranded in Luxor, taken a camel ride, and visited all sorts of museums. But the real reason I came was to visit my sister and her family. I took some good pictures of my niece, who is just starting to warm up to me now that I'm going home in two days.
Digging for Gold
Running Around Karnak
On a Pink Granite Pyramid Stone
The Sphinx and Great Pyramid
Ready for Church
Rachel has got to be the oldest 1 1/2 year old I've ever met. She acts like, plays with and is as smart as the 3-year-olds.
Today, Rachel reached up onto the table to grab a cup of water. Unfortunately, she grabbed the top of the rim and pulled the cup over, sending a wave of water right into her face. She was not amused. Less than five minutes later, she was walking backwards (one of her favorite pastimes) and turned head-first into Nancy's chair. What a girl!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Egypt Musings
Just a quick post. I'll update this better when we get back to Cairo. We've spent the past few days in Luxor, visiting many of the old religious temples of old Thebes. This has included the tombs in the valley of the kings. The ancient relics and buildings are amazing. The city is much cleaner than Cairo, but the people are less friendly and more cynical. Everything seems a facade, trying to get money from Tourists. Andrew even got ripped off by a Calesh (carriage driver) and our boat guide for our Faluca ride on the Nile also tried to rip us off by saying we had agreed to another price completely different from the truth. That aside, it has been very good. My favorite temple has been the temple of Ramses III. It was incredible! Check out my photos on Facebook and I'll update the blog soon.
Friday, January 2, 2009
New Years Resolutions
Alright, here's the deal.
I've never made New Year's resolutions before. This time, however, I will write them down and publish them here on my blog for everyone to see. Then, I'll come back to them at the end of a year and see how I did.
Resolution #1 I will read the scriptures everyday this year. I've been slacking as of late and need to write this down to achieve it.
Resolution #2 I will write for half an hour everyday, starting with when I return from Cairo (I know I should start now, but who am I kidding - I'm in Cairo and I didn't actually bring anything to write with).
Resolution #3 I will read at least 60 novels this year. I read 101 books last year, although several of them were children's books. I finished two on the plane coming to Egypt. You can follow my progress on GoodReads.
Resolution #4 I will go on at least 2 dates a month this year. I dated a lot at the end of 2007, but haven't really dated much since Sarah and I broke up last year. That will change, especially when I get a girlfriend.
Resolution #5 I will write 5 children's books and submit at least 3 of them for publication. I've always had this for a goal, I've just never submitted any before.
Resolution #6 I will blog at least two times a week this year. I should put everyday, but I don't want to shoot for the stars on this one. I wish I could be like Nancy in this feat, but it will take time. Two a week should be sufficient.
I think seems like a good list of goals for 2009. We'll see how I do on the eve of 2010.
I've never made New Year's resolutions before. This time, however, I will write them down and publish them here on my blog for everyone to see. Then, I'll come back to them at the end of a year and see how I did.
Resolution #1 I will read the scriptures everyday this year. I've been slacking as of late and need to write this down to achieve it.
Resolution #2 I will write for half an hour everyday, starting with when I return from Cairo (I know I should start now, but who am I kidding - I'm in Cairo and I didn't actually bring anything to write with).
Resolution #3 I will read at least 60 novels this year. I read 101 books last year, although several of them were children's books. I finished two on the plane coming to Egypt. You can follow my progress on GoodReads.
Resolution #4 I will go on at least 2 dates a month this year. I dated a lot at the end of 2007, but haven't really dated much since Sarah and I broke up last year. That will change, especially when I get a girlfriend.
Resolution #5 I will write 5 children's books and submit at least 3 of them for publication. I've always had this for a goal, I've just never submitted any before.
Resolution #6 I will blog at least two times a week this year. I should put everyday, but I don't want to shoot for the stars on this one. I wish I could be like Nancy in this feat, but it will take time. Two a week should be sufficient.
I think seems like a good list of goals for 2009. We'll see how I do on the eve of 2010.
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