The Truth did two skate and BMX competitions in Price and Moab last weekend, and I was fortunate enough to help out with the two events. We teamed up with Zagg (invisible shield) and Arcade Magazine (local zine in Salt Lake City emphasizing skate and snowboarding). With our powers combined we passed out a lot of free product and a lot of kids had a really good time. People in the community were grateful for a positive, free event.

Jaylyn, my little homie, he brought me a popsicle from the icecream truck, cutie!

We passed out a bunch of free helmets to the kids and Jaylyn is sporting one of them. Most of the kids did not have helmets or preferred to not wear one if they did; by the end of the event, the kids were stoked on the helmets and all of the competitors wore one for the competition. Before the event started one the smaller kids, Isaiah, fell off his bike and hit his head extremely hard on the concrete, he had huge goose egg, and most likely a concussion. I had to carry him off the park because he was to unstable to walk off. We gave him a free helmet before he left!

The little homies with their new helmets getting ready for their heat.

Candle Light Vigil

The Truth: Utah's Anti-Tobacco Campaign hosted a Candle Light Vigil recently at the State Capitol building, were we set up 1,330 tea lights to represent each person who died last year in Utah due to Tobacco related diseases. It was a very powerful event. House Representative, Paul Ray passionately addressed the larger issues with Big Tobacco Corruption, and the real effects Tobacco can have on someone, including second hand smoke. His mother smoked two packs of cigarettes a day while he was in the womb, preventing his heart from properly forming, forcing him to undergo three heart surgeries by the time he was 16, and have his last heart surgery two years ago due to complications of the first three surgeries. He explained the dangers of secondhand smoke, "You pull out a cigarette while driving and your kid is in the back seat, well, you are killing them." He mentioned 200 of the 1,330 people died in Utah last year due to tobacco related diseases were deaths due to secondhand smoke. This is serious biz!

A youth advocate, Sky, also spoke to us about the effects Tobacco has had on his own family, and his experiences in fighting Big Tobacco with the Phoenix Alliance ( a youth led Anti-Tobacco group in Utah).

House Representative and Sky

Brinton Jones, singer from Devil Whale, formally known as Palamino
played for the crowd after the three speakers. It was a beautiful evening.

All in all, a great event!

www.fighttheugly.com

Photographer and Photographed

Emily's sister wanted us to model her flowers and veils for her blog.

www.theveilblog.blogspot.com

scene

Girl 1: I checked his page

Girl 2: You went to the page?!

(girl 1 nods)

Everyone: Agghh!

Girl 2: NEVER go to the page!

Girl 3: I went to the photos the other day

Everyone: Aggghh! Agh! Aaaa!

Girl 2: First, Never go to the page. Second, Never go to the photos.

Everyone: Agghhh! Aaaaggghhh! AAAAGGGHHH!


End Scene

rain. rain.

rain please go away.

Ways of Seeing

While reading “Ways of Seeing” I was able to relate to the section tackling the way men and women see one another and themselves. Berger implies men are the surveyors and women are the surveyed, and in turn women must survey themselves as men survey them. In my mind I was saying, “yes, yes, yes” to the small text and obvious script, is was something I had always known to be true, only worded so well. I had constant flashes of advertisements, movies, magazines, television, and personal history going through my head, validating Berger’s words.

I purchased three magazines for this assignment and had expectations from each to further convince me of what I knew to be true, which they did; however, I discovered other things in addition to my expectations. There were advertisements of scantily clad women, with backs arched and waiting for the male gaze to ravish their bodies, and it was apparent the sex appeal of this beautiful women was selling the product, pushing men to the outskirts of their imagination. Then it hit me, this magazine is directed toward women, and suddenly this woman had her back arched for me, demonstrating the sex appeal I could have if I was dressed as she was dressed. I unexpectedly felt as accountable as the male viewer I had been resenting for endorsing this behavior. This woman is beautiful; however, she is no longer a woman, but a commodity to both males and females.

Advertisers know their audience, and try to build a lifestyle their audience would accept. Women want to be desired, but this does not mean they want to give up their identity in the process. The previous advertisement discussed demonstrates a woman as a sexual object through the male gaze, but in turn women have to view this woman as an object; we have to observe not only ourselves through their eyes but other woman as well. Being aware of this forces women to make a choice, to be viewed as merely an object or insist men see more. One add by Banana Republic shows a beautiful female playing the piano, giving the viewer more information than just a beautiful face, giving us a glimpse of her soul, and it is difficult to immediately defile someone when you are aware they are a person.

The thing that surprised me was the objectification of men; they are put on the same pages as woman and are there as a visual stimulant, providing sex appeal for the product once again. Men are displayed for feminine desire; however, we do not need to see a man with his shirt off to know he is attractive. A little scruff, and hands tucked nonchalantly in his pockets is enough for the female viewer. The male’s magazine also had more text and political references mixed in with relatively appropriate images, bringing us to a combination of both a male and female audience; such as, Times or People Magazine, attempting to keep a level of class.

Worth hearing, worth seeing, worth doing

blessed

So I heard Elder Perry and his sweet little wife speak tonight, and they both had some wonderful things to say; unfortunately my over-active mind was in a frenzy so I can only sum things up by saying they had an energy together and it radiated from the pulpit. Elder Perry insists we light a fire and start doing what we need to be doing to live productive, inspired lives or maybe that is just what I got from this evening. Shoot, what am doing with my life? It was lovely to shake the hand of such a great man, who is much taller in person. I had only seem him speak in general conference, or seen his individual photograph as he is an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His wife beamed right next to him and I felt honored to hear their words.

I could only dream of such moments as I lived in South Dakota, and General Conference was about all we had it seemed. I was able to hear from Elder Perry this evening, and Elder Cook joined our ward a few weeks ago due to his own inspiration to get to know the students he makes decisions about, decisions that effect their futures. It was lovely to hear from him, however brief it was. I was also able to meet Elder Wirthlin a few months before he passed away, in his homeward, and I knew I was in the presences of a chosen and inspired man of the Lord. He was very sweet, and I stumbled over my words in my nervousness in meeting him. I had heard him speak to a large single adults crowd, along with Steve Young, relaying some glorious moments in their football days and the roads they took that got them to the present. Apparently it all takes a significant amount of work and patience. I suppose that leaves me hope.

I was also able to hear both Elder and Sister Oaks share a message with us, and the trials Sister Oaks had while she waited to find Elder Oaks. It was a unique story and shows us it is all in theLord's time. I loved hearing their words as well. Sometimes I think I am ready to get married, and sometimes, I wonder when the right time will be? I have much to prepare for, and I suppose that is all I can do right now, but I learn beautiful things everyday, even those trials I am going through are beautiful in the end. I have learned so much lately, and I am finally grateful for everything. I feel peace. I miss him sometimes, and I still love and care a lot about him, and I hope he knows that as well because it is nice to be dear to someone. It is important to remember even those who are called to lead the Church as a whole had their own struggles and still struggle sometimes, and knowing everyone struggles gives me hope, because the Lord will help us through whatever he gives us, and sometimes it is tough love, but that is just part of His eternal love, pushing us to see our potential, and eventually helping us achieve it. This is a wonderful thought I think.

I am so blessed to hear the words I need to hear, be it through the Lord's servants or other vessels around me, or in the Book of Mormon he so graciously gave us as a guide through this lifetime, a little "blue" handbook. We are pretty lucky to have this book, with the teachings of our Lord and Savior on the American Continent, and once again be reminded of the very struggles even the most righteous had as well, and suddenly we know it is all part of the Lord's Plan. I will love my challenges, if not at first, perhaps one day, and I will love the people involved in my challenges. I am beyond blessed to be in Salt Lake, central to the work going forth, with opportunities left and right to hear the Apostles of the Lord, to shake their hands, and thank them for the those words. It was been a beautiful day, and I am just so blessed to be here. I love life, and I love everyone who is in my life. I love my Heavenly Father, and that is never-changing. I get to thank Him for all I am blessed with everyday, and ask Him for the things I need help with in my life, and He listens, and loves me in return. I think we all have it pretty good. You are loved, and that is pretty great.

love, Jordan

brick o' cake

I pretty much just ate a brick of cake. it was not even that great, but I ate it anyway. Do you see a trend occurring? I either A. eat poorly or B. enjoy creative snack choices; regardless I am full and ready to sleep it out. I remember someone telling me you get crazy dreams when you eat chocolate before you sleep. I really hope this was true and I am not just making this up because I dig a good dream-venture. I will be sure to let you all know if I get on of those good flying dreams out of the deal or something, they tend to be my favorite, and if I do, I think I will eat blocks of chocolate cake every night. It would be worth it. K, peace out homies.

chester cheeto: he so fine

You know there is a problem when you have to type with one hand because your other hand is busily gathering puffy cheetos for your mouth to eat, and you keep thinking to yourself "one more cheeto and then I will use both hands to type." It is truly frustrating when one cheeto turns into four and four turns into eight, and you see where I am going with this, and suddenly nothing spectacular has been written becuase I could not stop eating cheetos, sorry friends, maybe another night. toodles.

The Challenge: The bag of Cheetos asks: see if your arm is as long as 29 cheetos puffs.

The answer: I have a 10-12 cheeto arm span. I am officially afraid of 29 Cheeto span people.