Ok, we know we're nerds, but we've become hopelessly addicted to American Idol this season and it's mostly this little guy's fault. If anyone isn't watching, his name is David Archuleta and he's from Murray, UT. (!) He's super nice, polite, clean cut, uber-talented...so, yeah, he's Mormon. And he'll just charm your socks off. And he pretty much makes all the other guys look like amateurs. So watch next week and VOTE FOR DAVID!

P&P, BBC 2 PBS

Last summer I agreed to read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It took me a false start or so to get into it, but once I had, it was an enjoyable read. Last night Emily and I finally finished the third and final installment of the BBC series showing on PBS . I absolutely loved it. Very engaging and well acted out. Slimy Mr Collins was a particular favorite. You gotta love Mr Darcy's gaze of sly affection and Mrs Bennet's nit-wit fits. It is particularly enjoyable to get to know Emily better by reading and watching some of her favorites.

HAL™ is a pal

The other night we checked out 2001: A Space Odessey from the library. I hadn't ever seen it. Despite that we watched it on our crummy tv, it was a great film. I guess at times I was bored and complained about the music trying to carry everything, but I assume the experience would have been more impressive in the theatre. The best part of the story for me was the part with HAL. Emily felt a lot of sympathy for him, but I had other opinions. After that part it got a little too freaky, but again, a good film.

President's day sitings

Just a few photos from this past holiday's outing in the lower east side. Also a few photos in our neighborhood. The last being our place.

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What says love more than Pizza? We celebrated V-day with a little pizza from the best in Brooklyn.

watchPES

I was reminded of some of the very creative and charming work of EatPES today, who had posted some new videos I hadn't seen since my last visit. One of the videos was a free download on iTunes of the Pepper Heart. I really enjoyed the Orange ad with socks playing hide and seek. The 'More Than' Ad as well as the Bacardi one are really smart.

New York Moment

So every once in a while, I have these moments where I stop and think, "Whoa! I'm in New York!" These moments are usually surreal but always happy; for a few brief moments, I feel really excited about living here. One of these moments occurred last Saturday when a friend from church invited me to attend an Afro-Caribbean dance class at the Mark Morris Dance School in downtown Brooklyn. I was scared to death to go, but my friend assured me that I would see people of all shapes and sizes (and colors and skill levels, which was what I was worried about). And she was right. I was, by far, the least-flexible dancer there, but that was really the only way in which I stood out. And, after a while, even this stopped bothering me. As we started to move our bodies to the rhythm of the music, it was like coming home.

The class was accompanied by a group of drummers and led by a woman that looked like she'd just stepped down from the throne of some African kingdom. Her posture, her tone of voice, everything about her was regal and powerful. After almost an hour of warming up, we started to move across the floor in small groups, building on our steps as we went. The movements were unlike any I'd done before, but they felt more and more comfortable as the second hour wore on. My pale, bare, high-arched feet took a beating as we bounced and shimmied and jumped our way down the line to the often frenetic beating of the hand drums, but I didn't care (until the next day).

The NY Moment came as the afternoon sun was sending its last rays through the high windows and I looked at the eclectic group of people around me, with nothing in common except for this love of moving to music, and I realized that I was taking a community dance class in New York City! Me! For many days after, I was incredibly sore--I'd moved body parts I hadn't moved in months, maybe years. But I earned every achy muscle and rediscovered that I am, in fact, a dancer.

Small Inspiration

These are some great matchbook covers that really inspire. I especially am drawn to the one with the Badger on it because it reminds me of the children books we used to read of Wind in the Willows.

Eternal reminders

I love this exhibit work by Rankin of 'eyescapes'. They instantly call to mind vast galaxies and endless space; to me an everyday reminder that we are eternal. Such beautiful variety and exquisite detail, reminds us of the supreme creator.

In a fresh air interview on npr Jack White from the White Stripes said this when asked about religion: "I appreciate it, I like looking at life through it. I like being in touch with God. I think that's sort of important. I think when you're a creative person in any kind of art form, once you finally admit to yourself that you can't create like God creates, it humbles you, and then you can be free to explore the beauty of that creativity. When you look at it with God in the picture as well it sort of frees you up."

When asked about his talent: "I see it as an Opportunity. What you do with it is out of respect for those who came before, and God who came before everybody. Look at the creation of the world or the universe . . . anything a human being can create seems to pale in comparison. It feels like out of respect you have to be humble."

Job Update

A Friend's Passing

We love you very much president Hinckley. Thank you for your smile, faith, and service.