MAC vs. the deathly PC

Apple is ingenious.  I swear you can just feel the persuasiveness pumping from this commercial.  Using people's knowledge of Mac's good reputation in producing effective productive computers, Mac is cementing into our minds the truth that Mac's are just generally better that PC's.  Through this common knowledge they draw us in by basing their add on another well known fact; 1984 is a sweet book.  Most of the reading population in the United States have read this captivating example of what life might be like in the future.  Using the book to create this image of brain-washed slaves allows the audience to directly feel connected to what they are seeing;having slaves is bad and no one in America wants to become one.  PC's are enslaving and Mac's allow Americans to become free.  Freedom is something that all Americans can relate to; great job by Apple. Apple uses knowledge and beliefs that are rooted in the hearts of most Americans to make us want to feel connected with a Mac rather than a PC.

Not understanding the bigger picture, when facing the picture upclose.

"Y mountain here I come," said the young man as he climbed out of bed on the brisk Friday morning.  This story is about me.  I am the young man, those were my feelings.  Friday evening came and I did. I concurred a goal that I swore I would never complete as a young boy.  Growing up in a house hold, where the gospel of University Utah sports was preached, I found that thought of even believing I would attend BYU and let alone climb the Y produced that throwy-uppy feeling in my throat.  Yep, that basically sums up my childhood.  I loathed BYU.  I grew up and now at the age of 22 I feel that I am giving such things, such as hiking the Y, a more open chance.  Atop of the Y I was shocked to find out that the Y was just a bunch of cement poured onto the ground painted white.  So here is my analysis of the truth I learned.  From up close the Y looks like nothing special.  The shape is hard to define and the color takes on a grayer more that white tint.  Upclose my view and knowledge was limited.  Life seems to be trying.  As hardships comes, like racing storm arising into the distant horizon ..... mmmm ...... I don't know what I am trying to paint with my words, but basically how I feel is that from a far the perspective of the Y comes into view.  From a far the view of the Y is glorious and grand; however, up close it looks like cement.  This is the point I am coming to is that as we face the perils of life we wonder the purpose they have in helping us at all.  As the ruffer times pass and we grow and look back on the times that caused so much grief, we couldn't imagine our lives without that set of struggles.  Looking back on life provides us with a greater perspective and we are to see the grand beauty of our life, understanding better who we actually we are.  I feel I cannot exactly explain the connection I am drawing between these principles, but in my head I am making sense and that it was matters right now.  The end.

Culitvating Talents vs. Playing Nintendo

During the mid nineteenth century many journey from the east of this great continent and searched for new opportunities and bright futures; hope that, for the pioneers, was not to be found in their east side estates.  Those traveling to the new territory of Oregon, towards California to explore their luck at riches and the Latter-day Saints searching religious freedom in the Salt Lake valley experienced indescribable hardships.  The harshness of the Nature seemed to show its great glory and power during the crossing of the plains; dehydration, fevers, wind and sun burn, frostbite being some of the affects that the pioneers experienced.   On Sunday we discussed some of the hardships that the Willie and Martin handcart companies experienced.  Being caught in a early winter, these Saints suffered death, sickness and what seemed to be the powers of hell against them.  They pressed on and never lost the hope that their God would deliver them from their current suffering.  The Saints, led by the prophet Brigham Young's council, loaded wagons and teams and rode to rescue their brothers and sisters who were loosing their lives on the snow barren plains.  Rescue came and hundreds of lives were saved.  Comfort and love would be the best way to describe how I felt, as I listened to the incredible recount of faith.  I retired home after church and kept thinking of those that crossed the plains.  Pulling out my sketch book and a piece of charcoal, lines began to appear in the shape of a handcart that was pulled by a woman.  The sky was black with hatred, allowing only a sliver of light to appear at the horizon.  The winds howled and every step took strength they didn't have. Courage defined them, hope led their forward footsteps and faith in Christ was their drive.  Taking a break, I played Nintendo and to my amazement that wonderful feeling of gratitude that graced my heart slowly faded away.  The ticks on the clock melted away and before long I had spent too much time playing the game "Lemmings;" a sweet game which I thought was the perfect Sunday afternoon activity.  The instant I picked up my charcoal, peace seemed to again fill my heart.  What an interesting experience I was able to observe that Sunday afternoon.  Nintendo isn't wrong and wholesome games are a great to have fun; however, I wasn't progressing towards anything in my life.  My thoughts seemed to be tunneled and could not escape the game; my thoughts were solely focused on the task at hand.  Check this out though:  When I drew I was just drawing right?  With this thought I am amazed.  My intentions of drawing were to express my feelings that I felt that day in church and as I drew I began to think of those in my life.  I began to not only draw to express my feelings, but as I drew I wondered who's day this little drawing could brighten.  I felt that through developing my talent that the action of expanding and broadening my mind allowed myself or God to turn what I was doing to service.  The process of cultivating a talent is not to bring more glory unto ourselves but to bless the lives of others; something unattainable when playing Nintendo.

Kairos for my paper on Helmets being a LAW!

This is my paper analysis for last week on Kairos.  I know I should have written it last weekend, but poor planning leads to poor performance.

ETHOS:  My authority, credibility, or the trust I can give to the readers is that biking has been a large part of growing up and over several hundreds of miles have been biked in these last three years.  During this proceeding summer I biked up to 15 miles a day in all types of weather conditions and along all sides of roads; bike paths, suburbs, busy highways included.  With the accidents that I have been in, I have always walked away with no serious injuries; with each I was wearing my helmet.  

Logos:  So many times a day we do things that protect or safety, yet when deciding to ride a bike, motorized scooter, or motorcycle some choose against the most simple way to protect their life.  We cross at cross-walks, buckle-up when driving, look both ways when crossing streets; however, when it comes to riding we think everything will be okay.  My question I then state is, "Why do we then buckle up when in a car?"   Because we have witnessed car accidents and seen them.  We know that people's lives are protected when they fasten their seatbelt and dreams are shattered when they don't.  I buckle up, look both ways, wear a helmet, and am cautious with things that could involve taking my life away, because my future is more important.  

Pathos:  We are risking, when we don't take the effort to strap on a helmet, our future.  We have spent our whole life waiting for the precious moments that are about to come: College, profession, Marriage, kids.  Our hopes and wishes could be gone in an instant.  My sister lost her life in a car accident at the age of seventeen and ever thing that she dreamed up while dressing up and playing house now can't be hers.  Why risk something so great, when all danger could be prevented so easily.