Learning from you

I sit back and watch this election race, read posts by numerous opinionated bloggers, talk to people about their views and compare points on each side of such controversial issues as prop 8 in California, presidential candidate's plans for economical rejuvenation, Iraq and so on. I feel ready to take a stand on some of those issues but mostly I admire and try to learn from people who have strong factual points or even just personal passion for many other matters. It makes me so happy and instantly wins my respect to see a guy/girl who really has a position on things and not afraid to voice it without attacking opposing views. It also makes me happy when people don't take my positions personally. I think I am slowly getting what this country is all about and absolutely curious to see where it will go next. One thing is for sure, United States is one large and influential nation and the change here, will bring the change for the other parts of the world in one way or another. Due to my personal interests, I'll be doing some more reading, talking and watching to find the connections between events here and abroad, so keep writing.

my Teddy Bear

ta-da!

School, dating, carrier, world financial crises and a bad hair day can really add up and create some uncertainty in life of a college student like me. Maybe my life was simplier before or maybe its just not my style, but I never had a need of having anything fluffy to cuddle with before...until now...

I could even live without my iPod shuffle for 3 months!

Yet now, I feel like I am standing in front of many different paths, plans and goals in life and I have no clue when to make the next step and in which direction it should be. My security blanket was always a prayer, my scriptures and a long run but just like it often happens, the sacrament meeting in my (LDS) church today gave me some great bullet points for pondering and I thought I’d share:

Uncertainty time is rewarding:

• If we do not have courage to walk through short and long period of uncertainty in our life, we can not achieve spiritual maturity.
• Uncertainty makes us powerless and helps us become more humble in realizing God's hand in everything.

How to deal with this time:

• To pass though uncertainty with success and not get overwhelmed with things we are not sure about, we need to focus on things we do know.
• We need to trust that the Lord does know what is best for us and He also knows when to give us a revelation and when we need to walk through the mist of darkness.
• The world is so full of truths that sometimes it gets overwhelming to pursue all of them. Do not let go of the iron rod (scriptures) even if you feel like you find a more sure way to happiness.

Hope it was useful and you always have a security something to comfort you during any of your shaky times.

They need those in the airports

lama lama lama

I found these pictures on my camera today and could not believe how long it was since I had a nice evening of editing.
They are such great posers.

I became friends with death yesterday

and now I am fearless!

If you ever feel sad, search youtube for "laugh attack." This is my personal favorite.

WARNING: very cute and contagious

A Friendly Reminder

When you are typing your paper and it is a long, lo0000oong paper...like if you need to spend 3 hours on it -

DONT FORGET TO SAVE IT !
DONT FORGET TO SAVE IT !
DONT FORGET TO SAVE IT !

I know you know it but sometimes it is easy to forget and reality is this - WORD is stupid and if your computer shuts down - you will have to take a deep breath, punch your pillow and get ready for rewriting...

that is all

good night

update: good morning, there is a way to recover some lost files! read the bullet points. :)

Scary British PSAs

Water monsters and 70's hair is great a way to get in the mood for upcoming Halloween

Say Yes!

If you are from California, please vote YES on proposition 8, that protects marriage (Nov. 4)

For more information go here

To see how important this issue for your children watch this

Watch young people in California talk about it

See politicians define marrige

See the position of my church (LDS) on this issue

Well that is plenty of info, so now I TAG anyone who reads this to mention Prop 8 on your blog or site. Even if you are not from California, I promise, someone from California reads your blog and you can make a difference.

SHANK you!

the shape of my heart

if you were to cut me open,
this is exactly what you would see,
this is how my heart would look...
I am sure

I thought this was an amazing use of photography by David Friedman so I copy/pasted it for you

Congress Shmongress

September 30, 2008

With the economy and stock market in freefall, Congress failed to pass a controversial relief bill today. This photo of the Capitol reflected in a muddy pool of filthy rain water pretty much sums up my feelings about our congress on days like this.

and in case you cant understajnd what is going on, here you will find the right side up

I miss DC... thanks Kari
I should be doing homework

on facebooks, baboons and stress

In the world of journalism, advertisement and public relations, researchers and professionals are absolutely obsessed over online networking sites. For my classes I have to read a bunch of lengthy research articles where they are trying to figure out what attracts and keeps people on those "friendship" sites and how can businesses make money out of it. Some researchers say that they help people stay connected and some warn that they actually isolate people who use them often. As I read these articles, I think about my own motivations.

It's true, I am really attached to my Facebook account that stores the database of my friends and people I sort of know or supposed to know, their pictures, their friend's friends pictures, cute little free gifts I can post on their walls, links, status updates, chat and so on. The site gives the feeling of connectivity, belonging, even acceptance and I guess this is what makes me all happy when I see a gmail message from facebook that someone wrote on my wall. I realize how dorky it is but oh well, I know you feel the same so

Go Write on Someone's Wall! or hug your roommate.

I found this story about Robert Sapolsky today, a biologist from Stanford that studies animal behaviors in order to explain the influence of stress on human body. It's not a secret that stress is bad for our body but what makes things better? Money? Power?iPhones?... it looks like a few good friends will do a better job. To get the full understanding of what this guy does read this or watch this (note an awesome wild-man hairstyle) or this. Here is what Dr. Sapolsky says:

"Up until 15 years ago, the most striking thing we found was that, if you're a baboon, you don't want to be low ranking, because your health is going to be lousy. But what has become far clearer, and probably took a decade's worth of data, is the recognition that protection from stress-related disease is most powerfully grounded in social connectedness, and that's far more important than rank."


Simply put:
poor friendly people-:)
lonely rich people- :(

I guess any way you can escape this loneliness will make you a happier baboon and it may be the popularity secret of all the myspacefacebookfriendsterstwitterslinkinblogspots...

my stories in colors

many places-different colors-memories