.
In the Doctrine & Covenants, Jesus expounds on a note be barely played in the New Testament, viz. he is our friend.
I'm not interested in getting into who is a friend of Jesus and who is not or other such silly argument --- all I'm interested in is that Jesus, god, is not above calling people like us his friends.
There's a lesson in there, somewhere.
.png)
2011-10-24
(books)
.
074) Duncan the Wonder Dog by Adam Hines, finished October 23
I know I overuse words like beautiful and great and brilliant. One word I do not overuse is genius. And I'm not about to apply it to this book, but I am going to trot it out cautiously all the same.
You see, Duncan the Wonder Dog might be a work of genius. I don't know yet. I won't know until further books come out. But it might be. It very well might be.
Comics are growing up when an out-of-nowhere debut can be as complex and lovely as Chris Ware's best work.
(Read this pdf sample of the first many pages of this huge book.)
It would be impossible to ruin this book no matter how much I gave away, so don't feel leery about reading any of the notes below.
Here's the conceit. Our world, but animals talk. Not in a mickey-mouse way or a cinderella way or a dr-dolittle way. Just a simple, literal, animals that talk.
This leads to startling moments, as we see wild animals interacting with each other, circus animals, pets and humans, passing birds landing on a balcony.
And the necessary complications of life when you have to kill something that talks before you can have a hamburger.
The resultant politics can be read as commentary on race in America or on the environment. But that does not have to get in the way of your enjoyment, no matter your take on those issues.
And, related to that, the terrorist ape Pompeii may be the most terrorizing villain to come out of comics since the Joker. I kid you not. What makes the Joker terrifying? His alien mind.
What can be more alien than another species?
Be afraid.
Read this book. As soon as you can.
Seriously: read this book.
It's the first volume of a planned nine, and so we'll decide later whether or not this is a comics masterpiece, a work of genius. But I wouldn't bet against Adam Hines. Not today, not ever again.
Duncan the Wonder Dog. Let the show begin.
over a week
073) Poem Strip by Dino Buzzati, finished October 15
This icksexy Italian 1960s counterculture take on Orpheus and Eurydice is pretty dang wonderful. The way it references everything that was happening then and the recently past art (eg Surrealism) and contemporaneous European lit and meshes it all into a wonderful series of poems and comics is terribly enjoyable to read. Props to the translator because the poetry really has to work for the book to work.
two days
072) No Arm in Left Field by Matt Christopher, finished October 18
Matt Christopher's middle-reader sports books are the Big O's new love, so I picked this one up (he'd brought it home from the school library) and read it. I can see why he likes them. Every chapter has a thrilling baseball game and the story story is built in the gaps between games. This particular one is about a black kid moving into a white town and making friends even, eventually, with the mildly racist kid (through team play, of course).
They're a fun read. Got sporty kids? Send 'em this way. Matt C does about every sport you can imagine.
off and on over a week
071) Hamlet by William Shakespeare, finished October 18
I am so sick of Hamlet.
about a week
PRVSLY
074) Duncan the Wonder Dog by Adam Hines, finished October 23
I know I overuse words like beautiful and great and brilliant. One word I do not overuse is genius. And I'm not about to apply it to this book, but I am going to trot it out cautiously all the same.
You see, Duncan the Wonder Dog might be a work of genius. I don't know yet. I won't know until further books come out. But it might be. It very well might be.
Comics are growing up when an out-of-nowhere debut can be as complex and lovely as Chris Ware's best work.
(Read this pdf sample of the first many pages of this huge book.)
It would be impossible to ruin this book no matter how much I gave away, so don't feel leery about reading any of the notes below.
Here's the conceit. Our world, but animals talk. Not in a mickey-mouse way or a cinderella way or a dr-dolittle way. Just a simple, literal, animals that talk.
This leads to startling moments, as we see wild animals interacting with each other, circus animals, pets and humans, passing birds landing on a balcony.
And the necessary complications of life when you have to kill something that talks before you can have a hamburger.
The resultant politics can be read as commentary on race in America or on the environment. But that does not have to get in the way of your enjoyment, no matter your take on those issues.
And, related to that, the terrorist ape Pompeii may be the most terrorizing villain to come out of comics since the Joker. I kid you not. What makes the Joker terrifying? His alien mind.
What can be more alien than another species?
Be afraid.
Read this book. As soon as you can.
Seriously: read this book.
It's the first volume of a planned nine, and so we'll decide later whether or not this is a comics masterpiece, a work of genius. But I wouldn't bet against Adam Hines. Not today, not ever again.
Duncan the Wonder Dog. Let the show begin.
over a week
073) Poem Strip by Dino Buzzati, finished October 15
This icksexy Italian 1960s counterculture take on Orpheus and Eurydice is pretty dang wonderful. The way it references everything that was happening then and the recently past art (eg Surrealism) and contemporaneous European lit and meshes it all into a wonderful series of poems and comics is terribly enjoyable to read. Props to the translator because the poetry really has to work for the book to work.
two days
072) No Arm in Left Field by Matt Christopher, finished October 18
Matt Christopher's middle-reader sports books are the Big O's new love, so I picked this one up (he'd brought it home from the school library) and read it. I can see why he likes them. Every chapter has a thrilling baseball game and the story story is built in the gaps between games. This particular one is about a black kid moving into a white town and making friends even, eventually, with the mildly racist kid (through team play, of course).
They're a fun read. Got sporty kids? Send 'em this way. Matt C does about every sport you can imagine.
off and on over a week
071) Hamlet by William Shakespeare, finished October 18
I am so sick of Hamlet.
about a week
PRVSLY
70
070) The Canterbury Tales adapted by Seymour Chwast, finished October 12
65-69
069) A Stainless Steel Rat Is Born by Harry Harrison, finished October 4
068) Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett, finished September 27
067) Modern Masters Volume Sixteen: Mike Allred by Eric Nolen-Weathington, finished September 19
066) iZombie: uVampire by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred, finished September 15
065) Knight and Squire by Paul Cornell and Jimmy Broxton, finished September 12
64
064) Alice in Sunderland: An Entertainment by Bryan Talbot, finished September 21
59-63
063) Blacksad written by Juan Díaz Canales and drawn by Juanjo Guarnido, finished September 5
062) 21 by Wilfred Santiago, finished September 4
061) Bone by Jeff Smith, finished August 29
060) Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: Race to Death Valley by Flody Gottfredson, finished on a date that's a little hard to identify exactly
059) Shakespeare Wrote for Money by Nick Hornby, finished August 18
58
058) Take Time for Paradise by A. Bartlett Giamatti, finished August 11
53-57
057) The Shining by Stephen King, finished August 9
056) I Don't Want to Kill You by Dan Wells, finished August 6
055) Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, finished August 2
054) Moneyball by Michael Lewis, finished July 12
053) Madman New Giant Size Super Ginchy Special by Mike Allred et al, finished approximately July 9
51-52
052) The Influencing Machine by Brooke Gladstone and Josh Neufeld, finished July 8
051) Wilson by Daniel Clowes, finished July 6
46-50
050) Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut, finished July 1
049) Housekeeping vs. The Dirt by Nick Hornby, finished June 25
048) The Light Princess by George Macdonald, finished June 22
047) Half a Life by Darin Strauss, finished June 17
046) Babymouse: Cupcake Tycoon by Jennifer L. Holm and Matt Holm (siblings), finished June 16
42-45
045) Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card, finished June 10
044) Writings from The New Yorker 1927-1976 by E.B. White (edited by Rebecca M. Dale), finished June 7
043) The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin, finished May 31
042) Unnamed book by unnamed client (MS POLICY),
finished May 27
33-41
041) Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour by Bryan Lee O'Malley, finished May 14
040) Scott Pilgrim Versus The Unverse by Bryan Lee O'Malley, finished May 14
039) Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together by Bryan Lee O'Malley, finished May 13
037) The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse, finished May 11
036) Scott Pilgrim Versus The World by Bryan Lee O'Malley
035) Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley
034) The Complete Peanuts 1975-1976 by Charles M. Schulz, finished May 1
033) Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli finished approximately April 27
32
032) Golden Gate by Seth Vikram, finished April 20
27-31
031) Batman: Year 100 by Paul Pope, finished April 18
030) The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby, finished April 9
029) iZombie: Dead to the World by Chris Roberson and Mike Allred, finished April 2
028) A Sense of Order and Other Stories by Jack Harrell, finished April 1
027) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard, finished March 30
26
026) The Black Dogs by Ian McEwan, finished March 21
23-25
025) Stitches by David Small, finished March 20
024) Arkham Asylum: Madness
023) Hamlet by William Shakespeare, finished March 18
21-22
022) Red Rocket 7 by Mike Allred, finished March 10
021) Missile Mouse: Rescue on Tankium3 by Jake Parker, finished March 10
20
020) The Hotel Cat by Esther Averill, finished February 28
18-19
019) Wonderland by Tommy Kovac and Sonny Liew, finished February 21
018) Redcoat by Kohl Glass (MS POLICY), finished February 18
14-17
017) Best American Comics 2010 edited by Neil Gaiman, finished February 12
016) Little Bee by Chris Cleave, finished February 10
015) Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck, finished February 2
014) Cursed Pirate Girl: The Collected Edition Vol. I by Jeremy Bastian, finished January 31
13-9
013) Sweet Tooth: In Captivity by Jeff Lemire, finished January 30
012) Sweet Tooth: Out of the Woods by Jeff Lemire, finished January 30
011) Essex County: The Country Nurse by Jeff Lemire, finished January 30
010) Essex County: Ghost Stories by Jeff Lemire, finished January 29
009) Essex County: Tales from the Farm by Jeff Lemire, finished January 29
8
008) Magdalene by Morah Jovan, finished January 27
7-6
007) Knightfall Part Two: Who Rules the Night by a slew of DC folk, finished January 23
006) Bayou by Jeremy Love, finished January 17
5-1
005) Mr. Monster by Dan Wells, finished January 10
004) The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane, finished January 6
003) The Mystery of the Dinosaur Graveyard by Mary Adrian, finished January 5
002) Batman - Judge Dredd: Judgment on Gotham by John Wagner and Alan Grant and Simon Bisley, with lettering by the famous Todd Klein; finished January 4
001) Batman: Venom by Dennis O'Neil et al, finished January 2
2011-10-23
Being-a-little-child (a minisvithe)
.
I taught a lesson about this today, but it's an idea I heard from another lesson that has my attention:
Part of what we should emulate children is how they cry when they need something.
Lesson: pray.
Naturally would I ignore a part of kids I don't like as emulation-worthy when it is, in fact, the part I am most in need of emulating.
I taught a lesson about this today, but it's an idea I heard from another lesson that has my attention:
Part of what we should emulate children is how they cry when they need something.
Lesson: pray.
Naturally would I ignore a part of kids I don't like as emulation-worthy when it is, in fact, the part I am most in need of emulating.
2011-10-18
"To Augustus" by B. Zim in Time volume 5, issue 129 (1887)
.
"STICKTOITIVENESS." "Is there such a word?"
With a very large capital Y, unlettered youth, we answer that there is. The dictionary makers simply do not display it all under one tent; they dismember it and scatter it to the four winds of their definitive pages; it is found intact only in the valuable vocabularies of certain wise men. It should be found in all vocabularies.
Perhaps you haven't such a thing as a vocabulary, Augustus? Well, well then, never mind; that Sticktoitiveness is a word---dictionaries to the contrary, notwithstanding--you may rest assured, and a word to which you should swear at once, and with bitter earnestness, unswerving and indissoluble allegiance. It is a WORD, Gus, and it ought to be graven upon every page of your copy-book. Lay your hand, therefore, in the palpitating region of your lower left-hand, vest-pocket and swear---hold! Just one minute, Gus. Have you contracted the baneful habit of inviting to the theatre young ladies who wear bonnets like that? Miserable youth You cannot answer! Enough! Do not swear! Do not swear---for-swear .
[see her hat here]
"STICKTOITIVENESS." "Is there such a word?"
With a very large capital Y, unlettered youth, we answer that there is. The dictionary makers simply do not display it all under one tent; they dismember it and scatter it to the four winds of their definitive pages; it is found intact only in the valuable vocabularies of certain wise men. It should be found in all vocabularies.
Perhaps you haven't such a thing as a vocabulary, Augustus? Well, well then, never mind; that Sticktoitiveness is a word---dictionaries to the contrary, notwithstanding--you may rest assured, and a word to which you should swear at once, and with bitter earnestness, unswerving and indissoluble allegiance. It is a WORD, Gus, and it ought to be graven upon every page of your copy-book. Lay your hand, therefore, in the palpitating region of your lower left-hand, vest-pocket and swear---hold! Just one minute, Gus. Have you contracted the baneful habit of inviting to the theatre young ladies who wear bonnets like that? Miserable youth You cannot answer! Enough! Do not swear! Do not swear---for-swear .
[see her hat here]
2011-10-16
1500 Posts (a svithe)
.
Including the 29 drafts awaiting completion, I am currently writing my 1501st thmusing. This is quite a large number. It's been over two years since post 1000, so somehow, even though I feel my pace has dropped tremendously, I've written roughly 500 posts in roughly the same time the first 500s were completed. Which amazes me since most of my silly little things now go to Thwitter or Thumblr. Both of those sites also see a lot more traffic than this one as well.
I haven't done a survey, but I suspect that this blog has become, in large part, a series of book reviews with svithes for leaven. Not sure how, mm, commercial that is.
Just before I started blogging, I hated blogs. I hated how they were cluttering up search results, for instance. Then NPR convinced me to start one of my own. And I grew to love it. No social media will ever, I think, consume me as blogging did once I finally dove in.
But the blog heyday has passed and new things take our time and clutter our search results. Blogs, in many respects, seem dead. Instead of posting five or so times every week for the rest of my life as I once imagined, I use it to track a thing here and a thing there. Ideas too long for Twitter or too controversial for Facebook. But if I have something Important to say, I'll throw it up in A Motley Vision or maybe ask another big blog if I can guest (By Common Consent is now a friend).
Of course, before I dismiss the blog's reach, I should note I still average a few dozen unique visitors a day (it is still true, however, that a significant portion of my hits every day for years now has been people wanting to look at this image of a cat liver), plus it's followed by an unknown number of readers and compilers etc. Who knows. Maybe I'm very popular. And all the discussion is happening off site. Or not at all.
Really, what does it matter.
Yet, so much of my soul is here (1501!) that I too remain here. It's practically a horcrux (shoutout to young people!).
Which is where we finally get to the svithey portion of this post.
Where we deposit our time, there we deposit our soul.
So the thoughtprovoking question (your answer to which I may never well hear) is how do we determine where to spend our bits of soul.
Where?
Where.
Where . . . .
Including the 29 drafts awaiting completion, I am currently writing my 1501st thmusing. This is quite a large number. It's been over two years since post 1000, so somehow, even though I feel my pace has dropped tremendously, I've written roughly 500 posts in roughly the same time the first 500s were completed. Which amazes me since most of my silly little things now go to Thwitter or Thumblr. Both of those sites also see a lot more traffic than this one as well.
I haven't done a survey, but I suspect that this blog has become, in large part, a series of book reviews with svithes for leaven. Not sure how, mm, commercial that is.
Just before I started blogging, I hated blogs. I hated how they were cluttering up search results, for instance. Then NPR convinced me to start one of my own. And I grew to love it. No social media will ever, I think, consume me as blogging did once I finally dove in.
But the blog heyday has passed and new things take our time and clutter our search results. Blogs, in many respects, seem dead. Instead of posting five or so times every week for the rest of my life as I once imagined, I use it to track a thing here and a thing there. Ideas too long for Twitter or too controversial for Facebook. But if I have something Important to say, I'll throw it up in A Motley Vision or maybe ask another big blog if I can guest (By Common Consent is now a friend).
Of course, before I dismiss the blog's reach, I should note I still average a few dozen unique visitors a day (it is still true, however, that a significant portion of my hits every day for years now has been people wanting to look at this image of a cat liver), plus it's followed by an unknown number of readers and compilers etc. Who knows. Maybe I'm very popular. And all the discussion is happening off site. Or not at all.
Really, what does it matter.
Yet, so much of my soul is here (1501!) that I too remain here. It's practically a horcrux (shoutout to young people!).
Which is where we finally get to the svithey portion of this post.
Where we deposit our time, there we deposit our soul.
So the thoughtprovoking question (your answer to which I may never well hear) is how do we determine where to spend our bits of soul.
Where?
Where.
Where . . . .
2011-10-13
Canturbury Tales: More boring than ever
.
070) The Canterbury Tales adapted by Seymour Chwast, finished October 12
I have two main memories of The Canterbury Tales. reading Chanticleer in a kiddie collection. Feeling the most stage fright I have ever felt when I had to recite the first twenty lines of the General Prologue to my high school English class.
We read several stories from CT in that class and as I read this book they all came back.
Here's the thing about Chauser. Or the things, rather. One: he wrote a looong time ago. The words are no longer transparent. So you either have to be an expert, struggle mightily, or read a translation. Two: he's not all that. He's a big deal because he was first, not because he was particularly brilliant.
The legendary Chwast, coming off the critical success of his Divine Comedy adaptation, has placed the pilgrims on motorbikes as they tell their stories to each other. He does a good job capturing the banter, but the stories themselves fall flat. Take Chanticleer, for instance. The story is so compressed and lifeless I could barely follow it. And I know this story!
Other thoroughly enjoyable stories that lie dead in these pages include The Pardoner's Tale and The Wife of Bath's Tale.
The sex in these stories is not sexy, the jokes are not funny. They're awful, frankly. About the only things that come through intact are the awfulness of something like The Clerk's Tale.
So this book isn't worth your time, unless, I suppose, you're a huge fan of Chwast's work.
But Chwast, like Chauser, is important in his field without being terribly good at what he does.
two evenings
===========================================================
==============
Previously in 2011 . . . . :
070) The Canterbury Tales adapted by Seymour Chwast, finished October 12
I have two main memories of The Canterbury Tales. reading Chanticleer in a kiddie collection. Feeling the most stage fright I have ever felt when I had to recite the first twenty lines of the General Prologue to my high school English class.
We read several stories from CT in that class and as I read this book they all came back.
Here's the thing about Chauser. Or the things, rather. One: he wrote a looong time ago. The words are no longer transparent. So you either have to be an expert, struggle mightily, or read a translation. Two: he's not all that. He's a big deal because he was first, not because he was particularly brilliant.
The legendary Chwast, coming off the critical success of his Divine Comedy adaptation, has placed the pilgrims on motorbikes as they tell their stories to each other. He does a good job capturing the banter, but the stories themselves fall flat. Take Chanticleer, for instance. The story is so compressed and lifeless I could barely follow it. And I know this story!
Other thoroughly enjoyable stories that lie dead in these pages include The Pardoner's Tale and The Wife of Bath's Tale.
The sex in these stories is not sexy, the jokes are not funny. They're awful, frankly. About the only things that come through intact are the awfulness of something like The Clerk's Tale.
So this book isn't worth your time, unless, I suppose, you're a huge fan of Chwast's work.
But Chwast, like Chauser, is important in his field without being terribly good at what he does.
two evenings
===========================================================
==============
Previously in 2011 . . . . :
65-69
069) A Stainless Steel Rat Is Born by Harry Harrison, finished October 4
068) Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett, finished September 27
067) Modern Masters Volume Sixteen: Mike Allred by Eric Nolen-Weathington, finished September 19
066) iZombie: uVampire by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred, finished September 15
065) Knight and Squire by Paul Cornell and Jimmy Broxton, finished September 12
64
064) Alice in Sunderland: An Entertainment by Bryan Talbot, finished September 21
59-63
063) Blacksad written by Juan Díaz Canales and drawn by Juanjo Guarnido, finished September 5
062) 21 by Wilfred Santiago, finished September 4
061) Bone by Jeff Smith, finished August 29
060) Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: Race to Death Valley by Flody Gottfredson, finished on a date that's a little hard to identify exactly
059) Shakespeare Wrote for Money by Nick Hornby, finished August 18
58
058) Take Time for Paradise by A. Bartlett Giamatti, finished August 11
53-57
057) The Shining by Stephen King, finished August 9
056) I Don't Want to Kill You by Dan Wells, finished August 6
055) Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, finished August 2
054) Moneyball by Michael Lewis, finished July 12
053) Madman New Giant Size Super Ginchy Special by Mike Allred et al, finished approximately July 9
51-52
052) The Influencing Machine by Brooke Gladstone and Josh Neufeld, finished July 8
051) Wilson by Daniel Clowes, finished July 6
46-50
050) Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut, finished July 1
049) Housekeeping vs. The Dirt by Nick Hornby, finished June 25
048) The Light Princess by George Macdonald, finished June 22
047) Half a Life by Darin Strauss, finished June 17
046) Babymouse: Cupcake Tycoon by Jennifer L. Holm and Matt Holm (siblings), finished June 16
42-45
045) Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card, finished June 10
044) Writings from The New Yorker 1927-1976 by E.B. White (edited by Rebecca M. Dale), finished June 7
043) The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin, finished May 31
042) Unnamed book by unnamed client (MS POLICY),
finished May 27
33-41
041) Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour by Bryan Lee O'Malley, finished May 14
040) Scott Pilgrim Versus The Unverse by Bryan Lee O'Malley, finished May 14
039) Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together by Bryan Lee O'Malley, finished May 13
037) The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse, finished May 11
036) Scott Pilgrim Versus The World by Bryan Lee O'Malley
035) Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley
034) The Complete Peanuts 1975-1976 by Charles M. Schulz, finished May 1
033) Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli finished approximately April 27
32
032) Golden Gate by Seth Vikram, finished April 20
27-31
031) Batman: Year 100 by Paul Pope, finished April 18
030) The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby, finished April 9
029) iZombie: Dead to the World by Chris Roberson and Mike Allred, finished April 2
028) A Sense of Order and Other Stories by Jack Harrell, finished April 1
027) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard, finished March 30
26
026) The Black Dogs by Ian McEwan, finished March 21
23-25
025) Stitches by David Small, finished March 20
024) Arkham Asylum: Madness
023) Hamlet by William Shakespeare, finished March 18
21-22
022) Red Rocket 7 by Mike Allred, finished March 10
021) Missile Mouse: Rescue on Tankium3 by Jake Parker, finished March 10
20
020) The Hotel Cat by Esther Averill, finished February 28
18-19
019) Wonderland by Tommy Kovac and Sonny Liew, finished February 21
018) Redcoat by Kohl Glass (MS POLICY), finished February 18
14-17
017) Best American Comics 2010 edited by Neil Gaiman, finished February 12
016) Little Bee by Chris Cleave, finished February 10
015) Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck, finished February 2
014) Cursed Pirate Girl: The Collected Edition Vol. I by Jeremy Bastian, finished January 31
13-9
013) Sweet Tooth: In Captivity by Jeff Lemire, finished January 30
012) Sweet Tooth: Out of the Woods by Jeff Lemire, finished January 30
011) Essex County: The Country Nurse by Jeff Lemire, finished January 30
010) Essex County: Ghost Stories by Jeff Lemire, finished January 29
009) Essex County: Tales from the Farm by Jeff Lemire, finished January 29
8
008) Magdalene by Morah Jovan, finished January 27
7-6
007) Knightfall Part Two: Who Rules the Night by a slew of DC folk, finished January 23
006) Bayou by Jeremy Love, finished January 17
5-1
005) Mr. Monster by Dan Wells, finished January 10
004) The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane, finished January 6
003) The Mystery of the Dinosaur Graveyard by Mary Adrian, finished January 5
002) Batman - Judge Dredd: Judgment on Gotham by John Wagner and Alan Grant and Simon Bisley, with lettering by the famous Todd Klein; finished January 4
001) Batman: Venom by Dennis O'Neil et al, finished January 2
2011-10-09
Svithing the Chinese Jesus
Therefore, verily, thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion—the pure in heart; therefore, let Zion rejoice. They shall be gathered home to the lands of their inheritance, and shall be established in all their lands of promise, gathered in from the east and from the west, and from the south and from the north; and they shall be brought to the knowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them.
2011-10-07
Harry Harrison! Terry Pratchett! Mike Allred! The British Batman!
.
069) A Stainless Steel Rat Is Born by Harry Harrison, finished October 4
I've had my eye out for this book for some years now. I can't remember how I first heard of it, but it sounded like something I would be interested in so I added to my Amazon wish list etc etc. Then I came across this volume, apparently the first (from what I gleamed from the cover and inside ads) and its immediate sequel at Thrift Town at a dime each and so I snapped them up and started reading the first.
Thankfully, I didn't learn till the evening after I finished volume one that, in fact, this book is a prequel. You know, it kind of tasted like one?
The book is mildly amusing but not Adams or Pratchett funny. It also hasn't aged too well. The idea that all the human nations tens of thousands of years from now will be speaking Esperanto is charming at best.
Jim diGritz is a budding Danny Ocean and the book's best pleasures are watching him pull of heists. But a certain monotony and repetition sets in and the book gets harder to push through. I may read the other book I bought, I may not. Time will tell.
But if you've got a quarter, I'm willing to talk.
just over one month
===========================================================
068) Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett, finished September 27
Look at me, rereading books! Surely the apocalypse is upon us. Though, this being Pratchett, I certainly still enjoyed myself.
I reread it because I had the school buy a class set of these for my AP Lit course. We'll be reading it between Hamlet and Nineteen Eighty-four. And debating its literary merit.
Can a comedy of recent vintage even have a chance in this race?
I'll keep you posted.
a week or slightly more
===========================================================
067) Modern Masters Volume Sixteen: Mike Allred by Eric Nolen-Weathington, finished September 19
A booklength interview with Mike Allred about his career, from precomics through 2008. Interesting fact, nice tidbits . . . .
You know what I really liked about this book, though? I liked seeing Mike's mind at work as he remembered how it has worked. I love his work (not all of it equally of course, and I do think he has a couple weaknesses) and recommend it to all and every, but my favorite thing about Mike Allred is how inspiring he is. He unquenchable passion, his constant reaching for new horizons, his willingness to take absurd chances. I also admire how he is able to make connections with people --- connections that are real and meaningful and that last.
Whether I would want to model my career after his is the wrong question. What I would like to do is model how I pursue my career after his. With courage and passion and optimism and a little bit of crazy.
a few weeks
===========================================================
066) iZombie: uVampire by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred, finished September 15
I'm afraid it's not terribly often that I regret not having reread the previous volume when picking up the lastest trade collection of comics I read. But this time I do have that regret. Roberson has created a truly innovative take on classic monsters and I missed remembering all the details. I'm going to have to pull volume one off my shelf and read them both again.
Something else: This really may be the best example to date of how Mike Allred's drawings and Laura Allred's colors engage in this amazing symbiosis that engages the eye like few other comics can. It's a miraculous and compelling thing, their art.
Note also that at the end of this volume is a one-shot written by Gilbert Hernandez (but still colored by Laura Allred). Here's the original cover to that issue:
two or three days
===========================================================
065) Knight and Squire by Paul Cornell and Jimmy Broxton, finished September 12
I had my library bring this baby in because Ben not only wrote praisingly about the British Batman and Robin, but sent me an email telling me I had to pick it up. So I did.
(By the way, if you're not following Ben's new comics blog, you are missing out. Click over now.)
In short, I liked it. I didn't like it as much as Ben did nor as much as he thought I would, but I certainly liked it. I love that it's written by a Brit and I love the instant creation of a whole nation of superheroes/villains and I enjoyed reading it. But I couldn't help feeling it hasn't reached its perfect form. Maybe if it became a continuing series they characters could really grow into what they appear to be. I also couldn't help wishing that BBC had the tv rights and could really go to town with it --- like a Sherlock-slash-Tick. Wouldn't that be awesome?
So I hope DC keeps these Brits making this mag and I hope it grows into what it could apparently become. I would like that very much.
(Incidentally, favorite character? Jarvis Poker. Very well drawn fellow.)
TIME
Previously in 2011 . . . . :
=====================
Previously in 2011 . . . . :
I've had my eye out for this book for some years now. I can't remember how I first heard of it, but it sounded like something I would be interested in so I added to my Amazon wish list etc etc. Then I came across this volume, apparently the first (from what I gleamed from the cover and inside ads) and its immediate sequel at Thrift Town at a dime each and so I snapped them up and started reading the first.
Thankfully, I didn't learn till the evening after I finished volume one that, in fact, this book is a prequel. You know, it kind of tasted like one?
The book is mildly amusing but not Adams or Pratchett funny. It also hasn't aged too well. The idea that all the human nations tens of thousands of years from now will be speaking Esperanto is charming at best.
Jim diGritz is a budding Danny Ocean and the book's best pleasures are watching him pull of heists. But a certain monotony and repetition sets in and the book gets harder to push through. I may read the other book I bought, I may not. Time will tell.
But if you've got a quarter, I'm willing to talk.
just over one month
===========================================================
068) Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett, finished September 27
Look at me, rereading books! Surely the apocalypse is upon us. Though, this being Pratchett, I certainly still enjoyed myself.
I reread it because I had the school buy a class set of these for my AP Lit course. We'll be reading it between Hamlet and Nineteen Eighty-four. And debating its literary merit.
Can a comedy of recent vintage even have a chance in this race?
I'll keep you posted.
a week or slightly more
===========================================================
067) Modern Masters Volume Sixteen: Mike Allred by Eric Nolen-Weathington, finished September 19
A booklength interview with Mike Allred about his career, from precomics through 2008. Interesting fact, nice tidbits . . . .
You know what I really liked about this book, though? I liked seeing Mike's mind at work as he remembered how it has worked. I love his work (not all of it equally of course, and I do think he has a couple weaknesses) and recommend it to all and every, but my favorite thing about Mike Allred is how inspiring he is. He unquenchable passion, his constant reaching for new horizons, his willingness to take absurd chances. I also admire how he is able to make connections with people --- connections that are real and meaningful and that last.
Whether I would want to model my career after his is the wrong question. What I would like to do is model how I pursue my career after his. With courage and passion and optimism and a little bit of crazy.
a few weeks
===========================================================
066) iZombie: uVampire by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred, finished September 15
I'm afraid it's not terribly often that I regret not having reread the previous volume when picking up the lastest trade collection of comics I read. But this time I do have that regret. Roberson has created a truly innovative take on classic monsters and I missed remembering all the details. I'm going to have to pull volume one off my shelf and read them both again.
Something else: This really may be the best example to date of how Mike Allred's drawings and Laura Allred's colors engage in this amazing symbiosis that engages the eye like few other comics can. It's a miraculous and compelling thing, their art.
Note also that at the end of this volume is a one-shot written by Gilbert Hernandez (but still colored by Laura Allred). Here's the original cover to that issue:
two or three days
===========================================================
I had my library bring this baby in because Ben not only wrote praisingly about the British Batman and Robin, but sent me an email telling me I had to pick it up. So I did.
(By the way, if you're not following Ben's new comics blog, you are missing out. Click over now.)
In short, I liked it. I didn't like it as much as Ben did nor as much as he thought I would, but I certainly liked it. I love that it's written by a Brit and I love the instant creation of a whole nation of superheroes/villains and I enjoyed reading it. But I couldn't help feeling it hasn't reached its perfect form. Maybe if it became a continuing series they characters could really grow into what they appear to be. I also couldn't help wishing that BBC had the tv rights and could really go to town with it --- like a Sherlock-slash-Tick. Wouldn't that be awesome?
So I hope DC keeps these Brits making this mag and I hope it grows into what it could apparently become. I would like that very much.
(Incidentally, favorite character? Jarvis Poker. Very well drawn fellow.)
TIME
Previously in 2011 . . . . :
=====================
Previously in 2011 . . . . :
64
064) Alice in Sunderland: An Entertainment by Bryan Talbot, finished September 21
59-63
063) Blacksad written by Juan Díaz Canales and drawn by Juanjo Guarnido, finished September 5
062) 21 by Wilfred Santiago, finished September 4
061) Bone by Jeff Smith, finished August 29
060) Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse: Race to Death Valley by Flody Gottfredson, finished on a date that's a little hard to identify exactly
059) Shakespeare Wrote for Money by Nick Hornby, finished August 18
58
058) Take Time for Paradise by A. Bartlett Giamatti, finished August 11
53-57
057) The Shining by Stephen King, finished August 9
056) I Don't Want to Kill You by Dan Wells, finished August 6
055) Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, finished August 2
054) Moneyball by Michael Lewis, finished July 12
053) Madman New Giant Size Super Ginchy Special by Mike Allred et al, finished approximately July 9
51-52
052) The Influencing Machine by Brooke Gladstone and Josh Neufeld, finished July 8
051) Wilson by Daniel Clowes, finished July 6
46-50
050) Timequake by Kurt Vonnegut, finished July 1
049) Housekeeping vs. The Dirt by Nick Hornby, finished June 25
048) The Light Princess by George Macdonald, finished June 22
047) Half a Life by Darin Strauss, finished June 17
046) Babymouse: Cupcake Tycoon by Jennifer L. Holm and Matt Holm (siblings), finished June 16
42-45
045) Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card, finished June 10
044) Writings from The New Yorker 1927-1976 by E.B. White (edited by Rebecca M. Dale), finished June 7
043) The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin, finished May 31
042) Unnamed book by unnamed client (MS POLICY),
finished May 27
33-41
041) Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour by Bryan Lee O'Malley, finished May 14
040) Scott Pilgrim Versus The Unverse by Bryan Lee O'Malley, finished May 14
039) Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together by Bryan Lee O'Malley, finished May 13
037) The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse, finished May 11
036) Scott Pilgrim Versus The World by Bryan Lee O'Malley
035) Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley
034) The Complete Peanuts 1975-1976 by Charles M. Schulz, finished May 1
033) Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli finished approximately April 27
32
032) Golden Gate by Seth Vikram, finished April 20
27-31
031) Batman: Year 100 by Paul Pope, finished April 18
030) The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby, finished April 9
029) iZombie: Dead to the World by Chris Roberson and Mike Allred, finished April 2
028) A Sense of Order and Other Stories by Jack Harrell, finished April 1
027) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard, finished March 30
26
026) The Black Dogs by Ian McEwan, finished March 21
23-25
025) Stitches by David Small, finished March 20
024) Arkham Asylum: Madness
023) Hamlet by William Shakespeare, finished March 18
21-22
022) Red Rocket 7 by Mike Allred, finished March 10
021) Missile Mouse: Rescue on Tankium3 by Jake Parker, finished March 10
20
020) The Hotel Cat by Esther Averill, finished February 28
18-19
019) Wonderland by Tommy Kovac and Sonny Liew, finished February 21
018) Redcoat by Kohl Glass (MS POLICY), finished February 18
14-17
017) Best American Comics 2010 edited by Neil Gaiman, finished February 12
016) Little Bee by Chris Cleave, finished February 10
015) Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck, finished February 2
014) Cursed Pirate Girl: The Collected Edition Vol. I by Jeremy Bastian, finished January 31
13-9
013) Sweet Tooth: In Captivity by Jeff Lemire, finished January 30
012) Sweet Tooth: Out of the Woods by Jeff Lemire, finished January 30
011) Essex County: The Country Nurse by Jeff Lemire, finished January 30
010) Essex County: Ghost Stories by Jeff Lemire, finished January 29
009) Essex County: Tales from the Farm by Jeff Lemire, finished January 29
8
008) Magdalene by Morah Jovan, finished January 27
7-6
007) Knightfall Part Two: Who Rules the Night by a slew of DC folk, finished January 23
006) Bayou by Jeremy Love, finished January 17
5-1
005) Mr. Monster by Dan Wells, finished January 10
004) The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane, finished January 6
003) The Mystery of the Dinosaur Graveyard by Mary Adrian, finished January 5
002) Batman - Judge Dredd: Judgment on Gotham by John Wagner and Alan Grant and Simon Bisley, with lettering by the famous Todd Klein; finished January 4
001) Batman: Venom by Dennis O'Neil et al, finished January 2
2011-10-02
Scattered Svithetacular 181.5
.
So today I will not be doing a good job of note-taking. Of course, with the advent of new social media, I'm not convinced the Svithetacular fills much of a need anymore, but whether it does or not, I'll still be leaving to go bring some people in from the plains. So I figure I've got a good excuse.
I may not, however, have a good excuse for sleeping in.
Special thanks to Lady Steed who is taking some notes while I'm gone.
==========================
SUNDAY MORNING
Elder Richard D Scott (12)
Spoke
Sister Barbara Thompson (RS2)
She used to be in college.
Sound practical advice re personal revelation: what it is, how to get it, how to recognize it.
"I didn't keep a testimony during those times --- a testimony kept me."
Elder L. Whitney Clayton (70)
exciting things in Chile, Babylon
(Theric has left to give service to a sister in our ward, so I , Lady Steed, will try to take some notes, but will be often interrupted by Baby A)
President Monson
Is making the audience laugh. He is announcing new temples. 2 temples in Provo! Audible gasps from the audience. Wow! The Provo temple is the busiest in the church, so another is needed to accommodate all the members there that want to attend the temple. Many other temples, Star Valley Wyoming (he's going to dedicate that one, good fishing up there) and Paris, France! Very exciting.
Boyd K Packer
Young crows, Old Crows. You young people are being raised in enemy territory. Loosening of morals in our society. Satan is abroad in the land. Despite his temptations, you need not fail or fear. Packer was in High School when WWII started. Today there are wars and rumors of wars and the whole earth is in commotion. I want to counsel and teach you and give you a warning of what to do and what not to do: The Family is the center of the Lord's plan. In the pre-mortal existence all were created in HIS image, gender is essential and was established in pre-mortal existence. Procreation ONLY in marriage. Many of the temptations you face have to do with your bodies. All beings that have bodies have powers over those who do not--all with body have power over the adversary.
By the time Packer graduated high school, many had gone off to the war never to return. Packer joined Air Force. Testimony was not strong. But I knew my seminary teachers had strong one, I will lean on theirs until I gain my own. Patriarchal Blessing: he got one from a patriarch he had never seen before and received great instruction. Studied the BoM. Single greatest thing learned: the voice of the Spirit comes as a feeling and not as a sound. The gift of the Holy Ghost will guide and protect you and even correct your actions. A spiritual voice that will come into your mind and your heart as a feeling. A major mistake will be preceded by a prompting by the Holy Ghost to not make that mistake.
Ucthdorf
Encourage the you people to please heed the counsel from Pres Packer.
We are blessed to live in a time when there are prophets and apostles to lead, guide and instruct us.
Let me reference to another great prophet: Moses. One of the greatest the world has ever known. Moses spoke to God face to face. God showed Moses the' workmanship of His hands' then Moses fell to the earth for many hours. And the he realized "Man is nothing" something which had never occurred to him while living in pharaoh's court.
Awe at flying in the night and seeing the stars. The greatness of GOD and our own nothingness. But the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. But what is man in comparison to the glory of creation. But God has said that HE created this universe for us, for man. All of it was built for the benefit for ordinary mortals, that we might reach our potential as HIS sons and daughters. We are everything to GOD. We have the promise of exaltation , worlds without end in our grasp. and it is Gods desire for us to gain that promise.
Satan tells men things to make them think that they are set apart from all other men. To make them prideful.
Disciples of Christ know that your true value has little to do with what the world esteems.
Satan deceives through discouragement. He tells us that we are too small, that we are forgotten, especially by God.
Man may be nothing in comparison to the universe, but remember you matter to HIM. God loves the humble and meek, they are greatest in Heaven. The Lord trusted His gospel to be proclaimed by the weak of the world. No matter where you live or how humble your circumstances or limited your abilities or how little your calling my appear to you, you are not invisible to your Heavenly Father, He loves you and knows your heart and your acts of kindness. Please understand that what you see now is not, nor forever will be, you will not feel sorrow, loneliness, discouragement forever. Incline their hearts to Him. If you but hold on and believe in Him and remain faithful, one day you will experience the promise revealed to prophet Paul. The most powerful being in universe is the father of your spirit. He loves you,Hhe knows you. He sees you as his child. He sees you as the being you are designed and capable to become. He wants you to know that you matter to him. May we align our lives so that we may understand our potential.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Elder Bednar (12)
Shoutout to Malachi. (I sense a talk on . . . temple work?)
(ugh --- sorry, I seem to be having stomach issues.....)
Hey! Texting and tweeting for not just fun but proselyting? What?
Invite the young to experiment and learn for themselves. Not just good advice. Necessary advice.
I like his optimism, trying to get them kids doing family history.
I like any story that gets kids doing actual work. Give youth meaningful work/callings. Give them a chance.
Of course, any kid that says "muster" you have to wonder about.
Elder Anderson (12)
Pretty sure that was a Don Williams quote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0AfwJhIkRg.
Lady Steed wants to know if he's asking us to have more kids.
In telling story about meeting spontaneously with Elder Kimball, Elder Anderson reminds you he won't be quote so easy to meet with.
Ian Arden (7)
We must be sure that being busy also equates to being productive.
Our greatest happiness comes as we tune into the Lord.
Carl Cook (70)
Is a litterer.
LeGrand R. Curtis, Jr.
Has quite the name.
Lady Steed says I am not following counsel, what with paying more attention to the #TwitterStake than #ldsconf. She may have a point.
Price having been paid by the redeemer is good news for all of us.
Want to get baptized to be cleansed from that terrible sin I've been doing, yo.
D Todd Christoffersen (12)
(stomach)
the choice to repent is a choice to burn bridges in every direction (except for the one, I guess)
(baby diaper time)
Elder Perry (12)
Another shoutout for the ole Internet.
truth distortion does exist as a minority, but most are fairminded people who are curious
John: There is no fear in love, but love casteth out fear.
Do not hesitate do add your voice to these conversations.
PRHD SESSION
SUNDAY MORNING
Elder Eyring (FP)
Forgive me if I'm a bit hazy today. I'm now ill.
I think the main thrust is about the exemplars from the Book of Mormon
A story about speaking at a university that warned him not to talk about Jesus
Finding a clever work around
Then: thinking of Abinidi
The Book of Mormon provides plenty of ways to bring truth into practical practice
Elder Hales (12)
clearly not healthy
life is a series of tests and trials and such that lead to growth and development and betterment
all these things shall be for our experience and good
oh god where are though
yes, when a spouse dies a companion may wonder (plus other examples of unpleasantness)
he seems to be speaking from a place of person suffering
let us be kind to each other and even kinder to ourselves
in my Gethsemene and yours we are not alone --- he who watches over us does not sleep
Tad R Callister (70)
the Book of Mormon allows no middle ground
the Book of Mormon makes the Bible clear
Sister Dalton (YW)
how do you raise a child? with your example
practice virtue and holiness with eliminating everything that ain't
then shall your confidence wax strong in the presence of God
i love the challenge of trying to follow his every footstep
Russell Ballard (12)
discourse on the name of the church
each word is clarifying and indefensible
Pr Monson (FP)
His main theme, both in speaking himself and when being quoted, is how far our morality has slipped.
WSJ article cited h/t @bycommonconsent
it is essential that we reject anything that does not perform to our standards
whatsoever you shall ask of me in Jesus's name that is right, believing that ye shall receive, ye'll get it, yo
$5 & Prayer
(two days in a row I've heard a Monson story I hadn't before)
Here's come another new story! Incredible!
A story about surprising inspiration.
And a speeder.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Elder Nelson (12)
Back to the USSR!
Covenants (legal)
Abrahamic covenant not to be fully fulfilled until the latter days
...if we seek out the Lord and obey his commandments
eternal marriage is the covenant of exaltation
greatest compliment is You Are a Covenant-Keeper
Elder Oaks (1@)
What think ye of Christ?
we should start by considering what Jesus said of himself
eg, the only begotten son
through him we will all live again
not everyone who says lord lord will get into heaven
those things which do not sustain eternal life
"Jesus Christ is the only begotten and beloved son of God"
Matthew Richardson (SS)
REAL missionaries
REREAD re:teaching
REAL hikers
teachers teach PEOPLE not lessons
real teaching is much more than just talking and telling
they pause to listen, observe, and to learn what to do next
plus, natch, the HOLY GHOST, yall
Elder Yamashita (70)
conversion story
the type of face we carry and display
a blessing
now, to talk to future missionaries
Randall Bennett (70)
you can't make eternal decisions without eternal consequences (good or ill)
are we CHOOSING eternal life?
(every choice is a choice for accompanying consequences)
his granddaughter is going to be a very successful attorney
we must be self-disciplined enough to make early course corrections
J. Devin Cornish (7)
A nickle?!?!
Hitting up God for a quarter.
what about tithing on this quarter?
things that are important to us are important to God (like any good father)
it is contrary to the economy of heaven for god to do for us what we can do for ourselves
Elder Q Cook
tragedy
"the evil exercise of agency"
(feed problems)
bear one another's burdens
great blessings come to those who are faithful
the wicked will be held accountable
i need to pay better attention
not enough lightbulbs (part of why the Titanic sunk)
dying with your music still inside you
Pr Monson (FTW)
we are all important in furthering the work of the lord
as they pray for us, let us pray for them
May God give us the strength and the ability and the determination to play our part well.
last week's svithe
So today I will not be doing a good job of note-taking. Of course, with the advent of new social media, I'm not convinced the Svithetacular fills much of a need anymore, but whether it does or not, I'll still be leaving to go bring some people in from the plains. So I figure I've got a good excuse.
I may not, however, have a good excuse for sleeping in.
Special thanks to Lady Steed who is taking some notes while I'm gone.
==========================
SUNDAY MORNING
Elder Richard D Scott (12)
Spoke
Sister Barbara Thompson (RS2)
She used to be in college.
Sound practical advice re personal revelation: what it is, how to get it, how to recognize it.
"I didn't keep a testimony during those times --- a testimony kept me."
Elder L. Whitney Clayton (70)
exciting things in Chile, Babylon
(Theric has left to give service to a sister in our ward, so I , Lady Steed, will try to take some notes, but will be often interrupted by Baby A)
President Monson
Is making the audience laugh. He is announcing new temples. 2 temples in Provo! Audible gasps from the audience. Wow! The Provo temple is the busiest in the church, so another is needed to accommodate all the members there that want to attend the temple. Many other temples, Star Valley Wyoming (he's going to dedicate that one, good fishing up there) and Paris, France! Very exciting.
Boyd K Packer
Young crows, Old Crows. You young people are being raised in enemy territory. Loosening of morals in our society. Satan is abroad in the land. Despite his temptations, you need not fail or fear. Packer was in High School when WWII started. Today there are wars and rumors of wars and the whole earth is in commotion. I want to counsel and teach you and give you a warning of what to do and what not to do: The Family is the center of the Lord's plan. In the pre-mortal existence all were created in HIS image, gender is essential and was established in pre-mortal existence. Procreation ONLY in marriage. Many of the temptations you face have to do with your bodies. All beings that have bodies have powers over those who do not--all with body have power over the adversary.
By the time Packer graduated high school, many had gone off to the war never to return. Packer joined Air Force. Testimony was not strong. But I knew my seminary teachers had strong one, I will lean on theirs until I gain my own. Patriarchal Blessing: he got one from a patriarch he had never seen before and received great instruction. Studied the BoM. Single greatest thing learned: the voice of the Spirit comes as a feeling and not as a sound. The gift of the Holy Ghost will guide and protect you and even correct your actions. A spiritual voice that will come into your mind and your heart as a feeling. A major mistake will be preceded by a prompting by the Holy Ghost to not make that mistake.
Ucthdorf
Encourage the you people to please heed the counsel from Pres Packer.
We are blessed to live in a time when there are prophets and apostles to lead, guide and instruct us.
Let me reference to another great prophet: Moses. One of the greatest the world has ever known. Moses spoke to God face to face. God showed Moses the' workmanship of His hands' then Moses fell to the earth for many hours. And the he realized "Man is nothing" something which had never occurred to him while living in pharaoh's court.
Awe at flying in the night and seeing the stars. The greatness of GOD and our own nothingness. But the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. But what is man in comparison to the glory of creation. But God has said that HE created this universe for us, for man. All of it was built for the benefit for ordinary mortals, that we might reach our potential as HIS sons and daughters. We are everything to GOD. We have the promise of exaltation , worlds without end in our grasp. and it is Gods desire for us to gain that promise.
Satan tells men things to make them think that they are set apart from all other men. To make them prideful.
Disciples of Christ know that your true value has little to do with what the world esteems.
Satan deceives through discouragement. He tells us that we are too small, that we are forgotten, especially by God.
Man may be nothing in comparison to the universe, but remember you matter to HIM. God loves the humble and meek, they are greatest in Heaven. The Lord trusted His gospel to be proclaimed by the weak of the world. No matter where you live or how humble your circumstances or limited your abilities or how little your calling my appear to you, you are not invisible to your Heavenly Father, He loves you and knows your heart and your acts of kindness. Please understand that what you see now is not, nor forever will be, you will not feel sorrow, loneliness, discouragement forever. Incline their hearts to Him. If you but hold on and believe in Him and remain faithful, one day you will experience the promise revealed to prophet Paul. The most powerful being in universe is the father of your spirit. He loves you,Hhe knows you. He sees you as his child. He sees you as the being you are designed and capable to become. He wants you to know that you matter to him. May we align our lives so that we may understand our potential.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Elder Bednar (12)
Shoutout to Malachi. (I sense a talk on . . . temple work?)
(ugh --- sorry, I seem to be having stomach issues.....)
Hey! Texting and tweeting for not just fun but proselyting? What?
Invite the young to experiment and learn for themselves. Not just good advice. Necessary advice.
I like his optimism, trying to get them kids doing family history.
I like any story that gets kids doing actual work. Give youth meaningful work/callings. Give them a chance.
Of course, any kid that says "muster" you have to wonder about.
Elder Anderson (12)
Pretty sure that was a Don Williams quote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0AfwJhIkRg.
Lady Steed wants to know if he's asking us to have more kids.
In telling story about meeting spontaneously with Elder Kimball, Elder Anderson reminds you he won't be quote so easy to meet with.
Ian Arden (7)
We must be sure that being busy also equates to being productive.
Our greatest happiness comes as we tune into the Lord.
Carl Cook (70)
Is a litterer.
LeGrand R. Curtis, Jr.
Has quite the name.
Lady Steed says I am not following counsel, what with paying more attention to the #TwitterStake than #ldsconf. She may have a point.
Price having been paid by the redeemer is good news for all of us.
Want to get baptized to be cleansed from that terrible sin I've been doing, yo.
D Todd Christoffersen (12)
(stomach)
the choice to repent is a choice to burn bridges in every direction (except for the one, I guess)
(baby diaper time)
Elder Perry (12)
Another shoutout for the ole Internet.
truth distortion does exist as a minority, but most are fairminded people who are curious
John: There is no fear in love, but love casteth out fear.
Do not hesitate do add your voice to these conversations.
PRHD SESSION
SUNDAY MORNING
Elder Eyring (FP)
Forgive me if I'm a bit hazy today. I'm now ill.
I think the main thrust is about the exemplars from the Book of Mormon
A story about speaking at a university that warned him not to talk about Jesus
Finding a clever work around
Then: thinking of Abinidi
The Book of Mormon provides plenty of ways to bring truth into practical practice
Elder Hales (12)
clearly not healthy
life is a series of tests and trials and such that lead to growth and development and betterment
all these things shall be for our experience and good
oh god where are though
yes, when a spouse dies a companion may wonder (plus other examples of unpleasantness)
he seems to be speaking from a place of person suffering
let us be kind to each other and even kinder to ourselves
in my Gethsemene and yours we are not alone --- he who watches over us does not sleep
Tad R Callister (70)
the Book of Mormon allows no middle ground
the Book of Mormon makes the Bible clear
Sister Dalton (YW)
how do you raise a child? with your example
practice virtue and holiness with eliminating everything that ain't
then shall your confidence wax strong in the presence of God
i love the challenge of trying to follow his every footstep
Russell Ballard (12)
discourse on the name of the church
each word is clarifying and indefensible
Pr Monson (FP)
His main theme, both in speaking himself and when being quoted, is how far our morality has slipped.
WSJ article cited h/t @bycommonconsent
it is essential that we reject anything that does not perform to our standards
whatsoever you shall ask of me in Jesus's name that is right, believing that ye shall receive, ye'll get it, yo
$5 & Prayer
(two days in a row I've heard a Monson story I hadn't before)
Here's come another new story! Incredible!
A story about surprising inspiration.
And a speeder.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Elder Nelson (12)
Back to the USSR!
Covenants (legal)
Abrahamic covenant not to be fully fulfilled until the latter days
...if we seek out the Lord and obey his commandments
eternal marriage is the covenant of exaltation
greatest compliment is You Are a Covenant-Keeper
Elder Oaks (1@)
What think ye of Christ?
we should start by considering what Jesus said of himself
eg, the only begotten son
through him we will all live again
not everyone who says lord lord will get into heaven
those things which do not sustain eternal life
"Jesus Christ is the only begotten and beloved son of God"
Matthew Richardson (SS)
REAL missionaries
REREAD re:teaching
REAL hikers
teachers teach PEOPLE not lessons
real teaching is much more than just talking and telling
they pause to listen, observe, and to learn what to do next
plus, natch, the HOLY GHOST, yall
Elder Yamashita (70)
conversion story
the type of face we carry and display
a blessing
now, to talk to future missionaries
Randall Bennett (70)
you can't make eternal decisions without eternal consequences (good or ill)
are we CHOOSING eternal life?
(every choice is a choice for accompanying consequences)
his granddaughter is going to be a very successful attorney
we must be self-disciplined enough to make early course corrections
J. Devin Cornish (7)
A nickle?!?!
Hitting up God for a quarter.
what about tithing on this quarter?
things that are important to us are important to God (like any good father)
it is contrary to the economy of heaven for god to do for us what we can do for ourselves
Elder Q Cook
tragedy
"the evil exercise of agency"
(feed problems)
bear one another's burdens
great blessings come to those who are faithful
the wicked will be held accountable
i need to pay better attention
not enough lightbulbs (part of why the Titanic sunk)
dying with your music still inside you
Pr Monson (FTW)
we are all important in furthering the work of the lord
as they pray for us, let us pray for them
May God give us the strength and the ability and the determination to play our part well.
last week's svithe
General Conference Svithetaculars at Thutopia
176.0 * 176.5 * 177.0 * 177.5 * 178.0 * 178.5 * 179.0 * 179.5 * 180.0 * 180.5 * "181.0" * 181.5
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