Ashley's Philosophy Corner

How beautiful and sweet this video is! (How wonderful this choir is!) And how much young boys are in need of help and guidance during these difficult times of violence and corruption and political unrest. What a blessing it is to know that God is there watching over us -watching over them.

Austin's Funnies Corner

I don't expect you to burst out laughing to the point of crying or anything, but what's funny is how much effort -how high quality all of it is, and then to pair that with the ridiculousness, (if you know the real story, this is...a rather amusing version... :) I hope you see fit to laugh at least once, as I did. 

Alex's Random Awesome Corner

Article of Faith #13    

"...if  there is anything lovely of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."

   

     Just because I recently discovered this Libera choir (and am now in love with), I am going to share with you two more of their videos, because you have to admit, they are very awesome. And how sweet the boys! (I've never met them in real life, so I can't really say, but they seem genuine), and how good their cause, meaningful their songs, and quality of their voices and production. So I thought you wouldn't mind (since they are after all magnificent). I hope you enjoy them!  

Anna's All Things Classical and Jazz

    As far as Jazz goes, I was reading a book on the Harlem Renaissance, and picked up some fun terms from the time. Hope you like them!

Sayings:

Busting your conk -to apply yourself or use your brain really hard (like working on a math problem or such)

Togged to the bricks -when you're all dressed up, spiffy like

Jumps or Shouts -During the time, they'd have jazz get-togethers, and took to calling them by these names, which I find very appropriate. :)

Chitterling Struts -Also during the time, for jazz get-togethers, the jazz pianists would come and kind of unofficially compete, face off and try to see who was better. Everyone had a wonderful time during these. 

"Get in the gully and give us the everlovin' stomp!" - During the jazz get-togethers or parties, when dawn would come and they had been playing all through the night and were exhausted, everyone would cry out once more to play just a little longer and cheer them on, and so they'd shout this phrase to encourage them.

"Trip the light fantastic" -to go down to a dance emporium

Dance Moves:

• the Charleston
• the Droll Black Bottom
• the Shim-Sham-Shimmy
• the Pixie-Like Truckin'
• (most popular) the Lindy Hop 
• the Jitterbug (later evolved version of the Lindy Hop)
• the Suzy Q

    *Don't ask me to demonstrate. :)

Ashley's Philosophy Corner

    "Something that has taken me a great deal to learn, is that the battle between good and evil does not exist, except within people. To say a man is evil is to give blind disregard for everything they've been through, every scar they carry with them, every value that was lost at childhood, and to repress whatever good is present. To say a man is good is to give blind disregard for every gross mistake and shadow, and every scar that they carry with them. But if a man can look upon another man, however much good or evil resides in him, and learn to see only the good, and then learn to love him for it... then, and only then can we have hope for the generation. Then we can know that there was some evil rooted out of the both of them that day."

--Macy Adams  

Austin's Funnies Corner

   (Answers at the bottom.)

    In California, you cannot take a picture of a man with a wooden leg. Why not?

    What was the president's name in 1975?

    

    Two men met at a bus stop and struck up a conversation.

One of them kept complaining of family problems.

Finally, the other man said: “You think you have family problems? Listen to my situation:

“A few years ago I met a young widow with a grown-up daughter.

We got married and I got myself a stepdaughter.

Later, my father married my stepdaughter.

That made my stepdaughter, my step-mother.

And my father became my stepson.

Also, my wife became mother-in-law of her father-in-law.

Much later, the daughter of my wife, my stepmother, had a son.

This boy was my half-brother because he was my father’s son.

But he was also the son of my wife’s daughter which made him my wife’s grandson.

That made me the grandfather of my half-brother.

This was nothing until my wife and I had a son.

Now the half-sister of my son, my stepmother, is also the grandmother.

This makes my father, the brother-in-law of my child, whose stepsister is my father’s wife, I am my stepmother’s brother-in-law, my wife is her own child’s aunt, my son is my father’s nephew and I am my OWN GRANDFATHER!”

Alex's Random Awesome Corner

(Recently Changed)

Anna's All Things Classical and Jazz

    I think these pictures, (not mine, only gathered mind you) very finely represent a beautiful blend inside of people. I don't know if it necessarily goes for everyone, but at least with me -a part of me knows I need to be disciplined and conduct myself cordially and be kind and gracious, gentle and refined -and yet another part of me  is whimsical and spontaneous, yearns for revolution, change, fun, freedom and spirit! It's a delicate balance I carry, for if one were to squelch your 'classical side' may I call it, you would become reckless, susceptible to weakness and to becoming wild and disagreeable, or irresponsible. (This is often the tipped side as an adolescent.) But if you had no 'jazz side' then you would lose the joy in the journey, become stiff and/or judgmental, lose the laughter and the music in life. And, knowing this, it kind of gives you a new appreciation for these genres of music. The general discourses of people of this generation have deemed classical music boring. (I'd hardly call it that at all!) They think all it's for is for putting to sleep, but that's mostly because music now days has not only lost refinement, (that was lost in the 20s) but its genuine nature as well. These composers had brilliant minds, and they put their whole heart and soul into their music, with grand ideas, fantastical dreams, all sorts of complex and incredibly entertainingly orchestrated pieces of music. And there's tens of thousands of compositions to choose from! Classical music carries much more of the human spirit than people now days sitting around a recording studio pushing buttons and making money off of worldly 'mediaized'  'stars'. Then there's jazz! Born in the most oppressed, trodden under, and downcast part of the world within the black communities, it was their way of crying out and expressing themselves with a new sort of  uncharted and free way, that caught onto the rest of the community, country, and then world, and that carried with it the human spirit just as much. With all the intense emotion going on, they were able to turn it around and into music, incredible music, still as complex and brilliant, but meant to express a different part of you. I hope after reading this, you will someday be just a little bit more swayed to listen to the classical station while you do your bills because of its stimulating focus, just for a few minutes, or maybe to put jazz music in the background of your power point to give it that fun feel that you want. Or even when you want to dance, jazz is the most natural thing in the world to dance to, and I'm pretty sure it can be scientifically proven that it does something to you that just makes every part of you want to dance! There truly is plenty of joy in the journey to be found! All you have to do is look around a little and you can find your life  greatly enriched in ways you never expected.

Answers:

You need a camera to take a picture.

Barack Obama. It hasn't changed.

Ashley's Philosophy Corner

    

    “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” 

--Anne Frank

    

Austin's Funnies Corner

    Tom, Dick and Harry went to a party. After the party they returned to the hotel. The hotel was 600 stories high. 

    Unfortunately for them, the elevator was not working. So they made a plan. For the first 200 stories, Tom will crack jokes. The second 200 stories Dick will tell a happy story and lastly Harry will tell a sad story.They then started up the steps

    After 2 hours it was Harry's turn. He turned to the other two and said "Ok guys, here's my sad story. I forgot the keys downstairs."

    

    This is the true story of George Phillips of Meridian, Mississippi, who was going to bed when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the shed. George opened the door to go turn off the light but saw there were people in the shed in the process of stealing things.

    He immediately phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?" and George said "no", and explained the situation. Then they explained that all patrols were busy, and that he should simply lock his door and an officer would be there when available.

    George said, "Okay," hung up, counted to 30, and phoned the police again.

    "Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people in my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now because I've just shot them all."

    Then he hung up. Within five minutes three squad cars, an Armed Response unit, and an ambulance showed up. Of course, the police caught the burglars red-handed. 

     One of the policemen, relieved and irritated, said to George: "I thought you said that you'd shot them!"

     And George in reply, "I thought you said there was nobody available!"

Alex's Random Awesome Corner

    For those not currently updated on the news of the world, this is certainly an intersting article to check out, no matter your opinion on the subject. I don't know if I'm the only one who's in love with France, (Paris especially, particularlly in their glory days) but I know there are many people who dream of going to Paris someday. And this certainly concerns Paris. I just think its great that there are people still standing up for what they believe in and trying to make a difference. And of course, what better place to do that than Paris, the city of passion and change? I hope you find it as intriguing as I did.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/world/europe/thousands-march-in-france-against-gay-marriage.html

Anna's Great Literature Corner

    I would like to expound upon the topic of Pride and Prejudice.

    There are many versions, as it is well known. Movies, books, and such. I recently watched the newer version with Keira Knightley, which though its accuracy to the book was very well, (and as all book-transferred movies could be improved) I though it had this whole romantic charm to it what with the music and the beautiful sunset/sunrise scenes. Jane Austen, the orginal author of the story, did an excellent job after all, and she does desreve the overall credit, but I find myslef surprised by her book now that I'm finally reading it. People have told me it's hilarious, and that there would be so much humor, and yet I'm half way through and I've yet to really come upon any romance or humor. What's strange is I'm a very broken-in classics reader, (Les Miserables the unabridged, Great Expectations, Across Five Aprils, etc.) and I'm very good at not only understnading but appreciating and very much enjoying classics, and I have a love for Regency era and all things English, (the vey symbol of propriety, elegance, and refinement), and am rather informed on how to do correct accents and what the language is like and such, and yet I haven't seemed to really connect to the book yet. Very strange. I suppose you can take this as a warning if you haven't read it: Everyone perceives it very differently, though of course its nevertheless still very much worth reading for everyone, and to those who totally got what the great Jane Austen was trying to potray in it, mourn for me. :)   

    

Ashley's Philosophy Corner

     “It is difficult for those who are young to understand the loneliness that comes when life changes from a time of preparation and performance to a time of putting things away. … To be so long the center of a home, so much sought after, and then, almost suddenly to be on the sidelines watching the procession pass by—this is living into loneliness. … We have to live a long time to learn how empty a room can be that is filled only with furniture. It takes someone … beyond mere hired service, beyond institutional care or professional duty, to thaw out the memories of the past and keep them warmly living in the present. … We cannot bring them back the morning hours of youth. But we can help them live in the warm glow of a sunset made more beautiful by our thoughtfulness … and unfeigned love.”

--Elder Richard L. Evans of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

    I have wept in the night
    For the shortness of sight
    That to somebody’s need made me blind;
    But I never have yet
    Felt a tinge of regret
    For being a little too kind.

--Unknown

Austin's Funnies Corner

A Minnesota couple decided to vacation to Florida during the winter. They planned to stay at the very same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years earlier. Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult to coordinate their travel schedules. So, the husband left Minnesota and flew to Florida on Thursday. His wife would fly down the following day.

    The husband checked into the hotel. There was a computer in his room, so he decided to send an e-mail to his wife. However, he accidentally left out one letter in her e-mail address, and without realizing his error, he sent the e-mail.

    Meanwhile.....somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband's funeral. He was a minister of many years who was called home to glory following a sudden heart attack. The widow decided to check her e-mail, expecting messages from relatives and friends. After reading the first message, she fainted.

    The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read:

To: My Loving Wife
Subject: I've Arrived
Date: 16 May 2003
I know you're surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you are allowed to send e-mails to your loved ones. I've just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is not as uneventful as mine was.

P.S. Sure is hot down here! 

Alex's Random Awesome Corner

Another foundation of people working to make the world a better place. :)  

Anna's Great Literature Corner

    "The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it."

--"The Little Minister" by James M. Barrie

    

   Ashley's Philosophy Corner

     Surely there is no greater call, no greater duty, and no greater work to occupy that of the young man's time, than to go out amongst the nations, and proclaim His beliefs of peace and happiness, of the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ here upon the earth today. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHMI51d9ROk

P.S. My brother is going to be one of those missionaries in a few months. :)

Austin's Funnies Corner

This video could very well be placed in the random awesome corner, because it's very random, and very awesome, but I got too many amused laughs out of it to not put it in the funnies corner. So, enjoy! You have to admit, it's a pretty cool spectacle for the eyes.

Alex's Random Awesome Corner

This video is of a fusion jazz band of exceptional talent. If nothing else, you have to appreciate the Improv skill that went into the making of this song. Not only that, but this is Dixieland jazz, which is a spirited, motioned, and severely difficult fast-tempo form of jazz, and one of my favorites. Especially towards the end, there's something about it that just makes every part of you want to move to the thrill and the beat of it. I hope you appreciate and enjoy it as much as I did!

Anna's Great Literature Corner

    Here are some quotes from a dauntingly sad classic novel that contains much wisdom, especially concerning the purity of a woman in an impure world.
   
    “A strong woman who recklessly throws away her strength, she is worse than a weak woman who has never had any strength to throw away.”
--Thomas Hardy, Tess of the D'Urbervilles

    “Beauty lay not in the thing, but in what the thing symbolized.”
--Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urbervilles

    “If an offense come out of the truth, better is it that the offense come than that the truth be concealed.”
--Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urbervilles

    “Did you say the stars were worlds, Tess?"
    "Yes."
    "All like ours?"
    "I don't know, but I think so. They sometimes seem to be like the apples on our stubbard-tree. Most of them splendid and sound - a few blighted."
    "Which do we live on - a splendid one or a blighted one?"
    "A blighted one.”
--Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urbervilles

Ashley's Philosophy Corner

    "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice."

--Unknown

    "If you desire to make a difference in the world, you must be different from the world."

--Elaine S. Dalton, Previous General Young Women President

Austin's Funnies Corner

    A family had twin boys whose only resemblance to each other was their looks. If one felt it was too hot, the other thought it was too cold. If one said the TV was too loud, the other claimed the volume needed to be turned up. Opposite in every way, one was an eternal optimist, the other a doom and gloom pessimist.

    Just to see what would happen, on the twins' birthday, their father loaded the pessimist's room with every imaginable toy and game. The optimist's room, he loaded with horse manure.

    That night the father passed by the pessimist's room and found him sitting amid his new gifts crying bitterly.

    "Why are you crying?" the father asked.

    "Because my friends will be jealous, I'll have to read the all these instructions before I can do anything with this stuff, I'll constantly need batteries, and my toys will eventually get broken." answered the pessimistic twin.

    Passing the optimistic twin's room, the father found him dancing for joy in the pile of manure. "What are you so happy about?" he asked.

    To which his optimistic twin replied, "There's got to be a pony in here somewhere!"

--Unknown

Alex's Random Awesome Corner

I think this video is wonderful, and very inspiring. I mean, to see the transformation...wouldn't it be nice to have a home like theirs? As they say in the video, there's always something you can do. Making your home a happy, beautiful, and holy place, isn't a huge undertaking of incredible change. It's through the small and simple things. :)

Anna's Great Literature Corner

    "Surely happiness is reflective, like the light of heaven."

--Old Christmas, byWashington Irving

    

    "The whole earth  was brimming sunshine that morning. She tripped along, the clear sky pouring liquid blue into her soul."

--Unknown, by Theadore Dreiser