That would make it…wait….I get it…that would make it TODAY!!

It’s the first day of my Turkey Day break.  I’m pre-writing this because when it gets posted I will most likely still be asleep or something.  Shenanigans is a funny word, but I love it, OD writes about some great shenanigans in his blog, go check him out here.

Lets see, what can I talk about this morning…well I was appointed OD’s campaign manager, he’s running for SGA (that means student government association for all you dummies) Secretary.  I love the reason he’s running though, “for shitz and giggles.”  Yes he spelled it that way too.  So for now we are worried about getting the needed 350 signatures to run.  I have ways to handle that.  After that, he will be running on the principle…”I’m CRAZYYYYY vote for me.”  Oddly enough, at our school that would probably work.  Mass Maritime is an odd place like that, the crazy fuckers out there really just seem to vote for who says the funniest thing.  And as MSG Carter puts it so kindly, if you line up 20 random kids from our school you could pick out one kid and just say “What the f*ck is wrong with him?!”  It’s oh so sad but very true…and very very entertaining.

Uhmmm I don’t know, nothing else really that interesting going on, maybe I’ll toss in a random YouTube video at the end of this…yeah, good idea.  Well I did talk to a friend from high school today who I have not made contact with really in quite some time.  He’s doing well, nothing really of note, as argumentative as always.  Lol, sorry Jon.

Never mentioned this before but I am in AROTC, and I really am learning quite a lot.  It’s a tremendous experience so far, and let’s see where it goes.  It’s the number 1 leadership program in the country!

Random YouTube video:

Well, thats all for this morning, check back in 12 hours for another post, maybe…if I feel like it……….

Christine Saenz

I recently watched this “Sweet Million’s” commercial, one ostensibly cute enough to elicit a genuine “awww” from Dick Cheney. Bloggers from across the country have almost unanimously agreed that “widdle bunniewunnies riding in widdle teacupsis” is the cutest thing they have ever seen. In contrast, my non-comformist younger sister watched the 30 second clip and noted that “they all look so sad.” Sad, scared, or sedated? Once we push past the sickeningly sweet image of a rabbit spinning in a teacup, we are forced to confront the grim reality that bunnies do not, in fact, voluntarily race down slides, drive bumper cars, take photos, or ride in hot air balloons. The only rabbits I have ever seen at a carnival were cooped up in cages to be sold as household playthings—and, unsurprisingly, they were not wearing doll’s clothing. So this begs the larger question – what exactly are these rabbits doing in this commercial, and more importantly, who monitors their use in advertisements to ensure they are handled properly and treated humanely?

That job belongs to the American Humane Association (AHA), though it is painfully clear that they have no qualms about bunny bumper cars. While on set, the AHA works with the Screen Actors Guild to “make certain that no animals are harmed during the filming.” But their supervision starts and ends there—the AHA does not monitor the training of animals prior to filming, and is not responsible for their fate after the shoot. Perhaps they assume that the bunnies merely win a few prizes and head home after an exciting day at the fair.

Ironically enough, the AHA is funded by none other than the Screen Actors Guild, calling into question the reliability of its final monitoring reports and standards. The AHA has fielded harsh criticism for its blatant lack of consideration for the animals it oversees. Trainers have beaten chimps in front of AHA representatives who coldly turned a blind eye to the abuse. In 2005, 2 horses died during the filming of Flicka, but the AHA immediately defended Fox (the film’s producer) and gave the movie an “acceptable” rating. As the big-budget production studios are the entities directly funding the AHA’s operations, it is entirely expected that this supposed “humane society” gives its blessing (in the form of the ‘No Animals Were Harmed’ end credit disclaimer) to the same industry it should be strictly regulating.

The factors motivating the advertising industry are glaringly obvious—employing adorable animals in commercials sells product (or in this particular commercial, promotes gambling). Add a few costumes and an addictive song to the equation, and you’ve got infatuated bloggers posting things like “OMG THAT IS THE CUTEST COMMERCIAL I EVER SEEN EVER! I HAVE 2 RABBITS AND NOW I MAKING A VIDEO OF THEM ON A UNICYCLE! AH! SO CUTE!!!!!!! ” The motives of the AHA on the other hand remain fuzzy (pun intended). If they truly cared about the well-being of these helpless animals, they would have remembered that sex sells and urged Sweet Millions to spin Playboy Bunnies on teacups instead.

With Julia, I interview Taylor Martin, the Sophomore Class President. I really liked interviewing him because he’s such an upbeat and outgoing person. It was easy to ask him questions and he would just answer back naturally and give long answers. He definitely didn’t feel awkward in front of the camera and the interview was like an everyday, normal conversation. Through this project, I also realized how much I prefer doing the camera work and the Photoshop work, and not Final Cut Pro.

Since last time I’ve entered Ludum Dare and actually finished at 75ths place and a bronze in community – yay me.

Since then I’ve integrated the half/16-bit float from the glorious OpenEXR-project into my game-library pwn.

I’ve also been thinking about creating a 2d level editor as editing text-files suck, and there doesn’t seem to be a good level-editor. Most of the 2d level editors are focused on tile-based editing, but I want a more free-flow sprite-based editor, like the aquaria editor(nicely captured by wolfire design tour) or the boingo editor that is briefly visible in their sga trailer. Preferably I like the editor to be integrate-able with box2d (so that it generates the collision geometry).

I’ve had a lot going on lately – I feel like too much.  My dad is still really sick.  His good days consist of not getting worse, and his bad days involve complications and extreme discomfort.  My mom started a blog to update people as to what is going on with my dad, and if you want to read it here, you can.  With my dad being sick and my mom being in Salt Lake with him, I have been the guy in charge at home, which is pretty stressful.  My brother is handicapped and taking care of him is a huge job by itself.  On top of that, I have to take care of the house and the rest of the people that live here.  Luckilly, my parents ward is great and have been very helpful.  Last of all (yes, I just want sympathy so I am going to ramble on about everything I have to do), I have a few HUGE projects due within the next week or so and I’m trying to work my butt off to get those done.  It is a pain, but I do like most of my homework.

Gay Mormon Boy posted about this website that makes artwork out of common words from your website so I decided to give it a try.  It’s pretty cool!  Here is what I came up with.

I like that Gay, Mormon, and Church are the prominent words in there.  I guess that is what this blog is about, isn’t it?

		<a href="http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/1350057/Hidden_In_The_Light"
		  title="Wordle: Hidden In The Light"><img
		  src="http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/1350057/Hidden_In_The_Light"
		  alt="Wordle: Hidden In The Light"
		  style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd"></a>

having my hair braided like hannah montana!

So far today was interesting to say the least. This morning the dogs start going crazy as I’m hanging out my laundry. The electric company had sent a van out to come and turn our electric off. Not exactly something you want to hear when it’s 90 degrees and fans are your lifeline to not living in a cold shower. However, I knew we had paid so I called our land lady. There was a misunderstanding on the part of the electric company and our land lady got it sorted out. They came back and turned it back on while I was at the orphanage, so that was good. However, the morning was warm, warm, warm!  I could’ve gone onto campus early if I hadn’t already started marinating the chicken to cook  before I left.

Anyway, it got worked out and that’s good. I handled it a lot better then I thought I would. I just reminded myself that today was the last day at the orphanage and it was better to come with a big smile on my face then looking like I was crushed that we didn’t have power. There’s a lot that these kids don’t have and my problem was trivial in comparison.

Thankfully it turned out that we should be able to come back to the orphanage in the next couple of weeks so today didn’t actually have to end up being the last day.  The kids love the sunglasses we wear so much so I sent an email to Forever 21, asking them to donate some pairs for the kids to keep. They said I’d need to call their corporate office so I’m going to do that tomorrow. Hopefully they’ll be able to.  If not I’ll just try and raise the money myself. I’d really like to be able to get those for them. The only thing is it would have to be twenty pairs of all the same sunglasses. Otherwise they would fight over them.

Today we played on the swings and the monkey bars and saw caterpillars and golden apples. I got my hair braided by like, seven kids at once! It was painful as anything but they kept swearing I would look just like “Miss Hannah Montana” so of course I had to let them keep doing it! We sang Rihanna and Miley Cyrus. It’s just nice to see the kids so happy.

Josh’s presentation went well today and he’s in the running for re-election for SGA! Everybody think good thoughts for him.

Anyway, I should get back to the dishes because unfortunately, no matter how many times a day I wash them there still seems to be a pile a few minutes later!

by Grace Chambers
Melissa True
Staff

At yesterday’s Student Government Association full senate meeting, juniors Grant Buckles and Jessica Beard were nominated from a pool of three candidates to serve on the presidential search committee to find Dr. Charles Shearer’s successor.

Buckles and Beard will be presented by SGA president Jacob Brumfield to Transylvania’s Chairman of the Board William T. Young for consideration. Young may then choose one of the two students to serve on the presidential search committee.

At the meeting, Brumfield relayed information given to him by Young, including that the presidential search committee will be comprised of 11-12 members, including one student and two faculty members.

In a resolution ratified by the senate and sent to Young, SGA recommended that two students be chosen to serve on the board and that they both be from the class of 2011. However, Young informed Brumfield that only one student could serve on the committee.

Brumfield also said that Young is “looking for someone who both represents the student body and whose communication skills will hold up in interactions with diverse groups of people.”

Brumfield will report the senate’s recommendations of Buckles and Beard to Young today. Brumfield stressed that these are merely recommendations and that the ultimate decision lies with Young.

Buckles said that he hopes the new president will improve Transy’s academic environment and student life.

“If selected to serve on this committee I will be the only formal student representative in the search process; therefore it is crucial that I gain a wide range of input and feedback from students for this important decision-making process,” Buckles said.

Beard also offered her hopes for Shearer’s successor, saying that he or she should be personable and adequately represent the student body and faculty.

Beard said being personable is important because “it affects all that the person will do in office.”

While reviewing the Final Draft of the City of Virginia Beach’s Comprehensive Plan, my initial reaction was a positive one. A number of their so-called “Strategic Growth Areas” (SGA) were planned to have increased density with a focus on mixed use and mass transit. They even discussed a switch to the use of Form-Based Zoning in the SGAs. Unfortunately, they failed to follow through on their own recommendations. They start out with comments such as, “Instead of relying on the remaining inventory of underdeveloped land to absorb growth, the City carefully defined areas planned to accommodate and absorb urban growth called ‘Strategic Growth Areas.’” Then they define characteristics of the ‘Urban Area’ in the SGAs. Among these characteristics are “higher density residential uses” and “absence of single-family detached units.” This is interesting, mainly because in the first SGA defined in the plan, Burton Station, has the Planning Department making this very contradictory recommendation: “Respect and retain the existing houses in the neighborhood along Burton Station Road and maintain the low density character of this neighborhood.” (Emphasis added) Now, I understand the need to respect the people that live there, but the majority of this SGA is industrial. The small amount of land that has potential to be redeveloped is made up of a trailer park, woods, fields, and mud holes. In fact, aside from the trailer park, there is no technical ‘neighborhood’ in existence here. It is no more than a rural road with fewer than 20 homes and approximately 30 residents.

View Larger Map

Does this mean the city wants to maintain the trailer park? Yeah, right. According to the actual Burton Station plan from the Planning Department, even the options that keep it low density force the residents to move. In fact, according to the Burton Station plan, the City of Virginia Beach would work to reconfigure the Lake Wright golf course (City of Norfolk property) into the Burton Station area and then create a golf course community around it. How is a golf course community fit in with their Urban vision?

Overall, I applaud their effort and most of their plan. The new form-based zoning code will certainly curb sprawl as long as the city sticks to it. Sticking to it is going to require increasing density as density increases. In fact, if Virginia Beach can stick to this way of zoning, they will be catering less to suburbanism than Norfolk. Norfolk still has the older, suburban zoning, which is completely contrary to urban density. Good job Virginia Beach and keep up the good work.

by Kim Rodgers
Staff

An open forum was held by the Student Government Association Wednesday night to reveal a list of SGA qualifications for the next president of Transylvania. The current president, Dr. Charles Shearer, announced his retirement on Oct. 24.

The list includes experience at a small undergraduate institution, in teaching and mentoring and in administrative leadership.

According to SGA’s list, the new candidate should also be globally aware, personable, innovative and flexible.

SGA wants the selection committee to follow four guidelines throughout the search: transparency, the placement of at least two students on the selection committee, visits by board members to the candidates’ current campus if financially feasible and the provision of an outlet for the search committee to hear general student body opinion.

Approximately 50 students attended the discussion. SGA president Jacob Brumfield was the moderator, and there was considerable discussion by the students.

Brumfield also revealed that the two students potentially sitting on the selection committee will be chosen from SGA senators.

“SGA senators are elected to represent the student body, so we feel it’s appropriate for those students to represent the students on the board,” Brumfield said.

Brumfield also said that the identity of the candidates will not be released until the final candidates have been selected.

“Once their names are released, candidates will come to meet the faculty and student body, and gauge if they connect with the student body,” Brumfield said.

It finally happened!  I was at the Matis Fireside last night when I got a text from my friend telling me that the article about my blog will finally be published.  I’m pretty excited about it.  You can read it here (along with some comments), or just keep scrolling down…

MoHo: Mormon homosexual.

MoHommie: A friend of Mormon homosexuals.

MoHo Chica: A Mormon lesbian or female friend to male Mormon homosexuals.

There’s an entire subculture within the Mormon church that caters specifically to homosexuals, said Beau Rushton (name has been changed upon request), a USU student, who is a Mormon and a homosexual.

“We are literally everywhere,” Rushton said. “We’re in your singles ward, we’re passing the sacrament and we’re sitting next to you in priesthood meetings.”

Rushton has always known he was gay.

“I tried to avoid anything that would be associated with being gay,” Rushton said. “I wouldn’t wear nice or colorful clothing. I would only talk about masculine things.”

Rushton went on a mission for the Mormon church and thought being attracted to men was just a phase that would disappear.

It didn’t.

“Sometimes I get so frustrated with God,” Rushton said. “I wonder why he has put me through this, why I have to deal with it.”

After two years, Rushton came home and started dating the same girl he dated in high school, Jill Marychild (name has been changed).

Despite being the best of friends and having plenty in common, there was just one issue that wouldn’t go away: Rushton was still attracted to men.

“I decided to come out to her,” Rushton said. “But it didn’t go over well. It was really hard for her.”

Marychild felt like if she were skinnier or more attractive then Rushton wouldn’t be gay, he said.

“The truth was, she was a girl that’s what I wasn’t attracted to,” Rushton said.

After a relationship of five years, Rushton and Marychild broke it off.

Rushton felt he was faced with the choice of whether to keep going to church or to abandon his faith and pursue a relationship with a man. He said he didn’t feel like there was any middle ground he felt like he could either “live the gay lifestyle” or “live a lie in the church,” he said.

“I am gay,” Rushton said. “That’s not something that is going to change. But I also want to stay in the church. I could never let that go.”

The official Web site for the Mormon church, www.lds.org, has this to say about its stance on homosexuality, “People inquire about our position on those who consider themselves so-called gays and lesbians … If they do not act upon these inclinations, then they can go forward as do all other members of the church.”

However, according to The Deseret News, the Mormon church’s stance has changed and there has been extensive research to determine whether gay people would be able to become straight. The Mormon church no longer officially advises gay men to get married to women or that their attraction to men will go away. The Mormon church advocates lifetime celibacy for gays and lesbians.

There are several organizations, such as Evergreen, that try to help gay Mormons either diminish their feelings of attraction for other men. The group Evergreen is not officially sponsored by the Mormon church, but the two are closely affiliated and Evergreen has church officials on its council and closely follows the Mormon doctrine.

Another group, known as the Matis Firesides, is not officially sponsored by the Mormon church, but it also follows Mormon teachings. It’s monthly meetings in Utah County attract around 150 attendees, Rushton said.

North Star is an online forum where gay Mormons can interact anonymously. It’s a Web site meant to help gay Mormons support one another, but it is not a dating site. North Star is where Rushton got the idea to start a blog recounting his struggles.

His blog, www.hiddeninthelight.wordpress.com, now has more than 75 followers and Rushton has started his own series of meetings called Logansides. The group meets monthly, everyone is invited and around 40 people regularly attend. The gatherings are announced on the site www.logansides.wordpress.com.

“My struggle isn’t being gay,” Rushton said. “I love being gay. It’s the conflict and finding a balance in life. That’s what I struggle with.”

After Rushton realized that there are lots of other Mormons out there who are gay, he didn’t feel so alone. It can be a difficult position to go to church and also be gay.

“When I first realized I wasn’t the only one like this, it was like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders,” Beau said. “I felt so good. I didn’t feel alone.”

Another path

Not all of those that are raised Mormon and are gay try to live the doctrine of their church. Some people, like USU sophomore Tyler Okelberry decide to leave their religion.

There is extreme pressure in the Mormon religion to avoid all things gay, Okelberry said.

Okelberry recalls one particular morning when his mother brought in the local, Idaho newspaper and threw the wedding announcements down on the table.

“Read this,” his mother said. “It’ll make you sick.”

Okelberry’s father read the section and saw that it was the wedding announcement of a local news-radio anchor and his gay partner.

“My dad said that he was going to call the radio station and tell them he would no longer listen to the radio show because one of their DJs would chose to exhibit his homosexuality in that way,” Okelberry said.

The pressure and guilt placed on gay teens can be huge and at no fault of their own, Okelberry said.

It is not a choice to be gay, he said. Homophobia and misunderstanding can cause tension between gay Mormons and their families and friends. Okelberry couldn’t understand why his father would stop listening to one of his favorite talk shows simply because an employee at the radio station is gay.

Okelberry didn’t tell his parents that he was gay when he was a teenager because of the dislike his parents and community displayed toward gay people.

“It was as much to avoid being the topic of gossip as anything,” Okelberry said. “There’s a name to uphold, and my family is well known in that area my dad is even a Bishop. They see it as a total abomination”

In high school, Okelberry was involved in extracurricular activities. He was student body president, he ran for the cross-country team and played on the volleyball team.

“People used to ask me why I didn’t have a girlfriend, or they would try and set me up, but I had no attraction to women at all,” Okelberry said.

Okelberry said he knew other gay Mormon teenagers and when their parents found out, the teenagers had to go through long ordeals with church leaders and others in order to change their sexuality.

“All that would only make it worse for the guys,” Okelberry said. “It really messed with them.”

Slowly, Okelberry stopped going to church.He decided that he was never going to change and he may as well embrace that part of him.

Okelberry said despite all the homophobic things that the church has done, he has no hard feelings toward the Mormon Church.

“I don’t regret being raised Mormon,” he said. “I still respect the Mormon Church.”

Okelberry stopped going to church, while Rushton decided to seek support from other gay Mormons because of the misunderstandings that they face within their own religion.

Many Mormons think that being gay is a choice, which it isn’t, Rushton said. They also think that all gay people are child molesters, which is preposterous, he said. Other Mormons think that gay Mormons are less faithful or righteous.

“I have heard some of the most un-Christ like things inside a church,” Rushton said. “I once heard someone say in a church meeting that all gay people should be shot.”

Rushton advises gay Mormons to realize that they aren’t monsters, that they are normal people just like everyone else. Next, he tells them to interact with other gay Mormons, through blogging, online forums or events.

“There’s a whole community out there,” Rushton said. “We just normally don’t talk about it. It’s hidden, it’s too taboo.”

When members of the Mormon church realize someone they’ve known all their life is gay, it really changes their perception, Rushton said.

“We’re everywhere. In your average singles ward up here in Logan, there are probably about 15 gay guys,” Rushton said. “We love God too.”

And although Okelberry has chosen a different path than Rushton, their desired message is similar.

“We’re not out to get anybody,” Okelberry said. “We’re not going to hurt anyone. We’re just people, there’s no reason for anyone to be afraid of us.”

What is the purpose of this blog?

I have gone through some of my previous posts and found quotes that I fell like epitomize what I want this blog to be.  There is only one quote that I actually say what I want people to get out of this blog, which is this one:

I’m not ashamed of the fact that I’m gay and that I’m active in the LDS church.  I want people to understand me and my situation better.  I want those who experience same gender attraction to know they are not alone and that they are normal.  I want them to know that there are more options then “living a lie in the church” and “living the lifestyle”.I want members of the church that have little or no experience with homosexuality other than what they see and hear on the news to be more understanding of something that tends to be taboo in Mormon culture.  I want all members of the church to be more understanding and loving of those who are different.  We all have things that we have to deal with, and some of those things are easy to hide.  Usually those things that are hidden are usually the things that can provide the greatest learning experiences.  Camille Fronk Olsen said at a Matis Fireside when someone asked her “Why is there this cookie cutter mentality in the Church?”  She replied, “It’s easy to focus on the outward appearance. Whatever the Ensign cover looks like, that’s how life should be! But really, the best articles in the Ensign are by ‘Name Withheld’”

This next quote is more or less an example of some of the frustrations I experience.  I include this so that people who do not experience Same Gender Attraction can know what I sometimes feel.

I remember a few times that I have been upset with God for putting me through this.  Why the hell do I have to want something so bad, and in order to be in complete harmony with the church, not give in to what I want?  Why do I have to endure hateful rhetoric in an environment that should not be a place where that occurs?  Why do I have to experience the pain of peope putting me on a lower level then themselves because “there is something wrong with me”?  Why do people think that I have less faith or am less worthy than them?  What the hell?

This last quote is just one that I love that I read on someone else blog.  I think this is really the ultimate goal of any movement (not that I’m trying to start a movement, but I do want to increase understanding and break down walls).

“Civilization is the process in which one gradually increases the number of people included in the term ‘we’ or ‘us’ and at the same time decreases those labeled ‘you’ or ‘them’ until that category has no one left in it.”
- Howard Winters

Dear Princess Celestial,

I have a lot that I want to say to you right now, but I won’t because it includes a few four letter words and I don’t want to hurt your celestial ears.  I don’t mind you visiting my blog or even commenting on it.  I appreciate that you have opinions that are different than mine.  So do a lot of other people, and I like that because it helps me to think of things I may not have considered before.  I don’t usually like the way you say what you do, but I still appreciate the feedback.  Believe it or not I have taken a lot of it into consideration. I don’t like to comment very much on my own blog.  A lot of what I write is written to 1 – inform others of what I’m experiencing, how I feel, etc., and 2 – to think things through.  I have no claim to perfection.  I don’t even have claim to being a good member of the church.  But these are my experiences, choices, and thoughts.  I may not be on the same level that you are (intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, or otherwise), and I am going through the “whitening” process that Ryan has mentioned in a reply to one of your comments.

I have also read what you have written on others blogs.  As with the comments you leave on my blog, I don’t usually agree with what you have to say.  Most of all, I don’t like that you don’t give anyone the benefit of the doubt.  A lot of us “MoHo’s” have made mistakes.  Some of us are very hurt by things others have said, both in and out of the church.  We are all at different levels and are trying to find which path we feel might be right for us.  It may not be the same path you are on, but part of life is figuring that out.

I don’t like that you attack people personally.  I’ve only ever edited one comment on my blog, and that was one of yours because you gave away Ryan’s last name.  You have absolutely no right to “out” anyone.  That is a very private and personal choice.  Ryan may or may not have his full name splattered across the internet, but please do not use my blog to out him.  Let him do that if he chooses to.

You have said some very disrespectful and demeaning things to me.  Like I said, I appreciate the feedback, but I hate the way that you make the approach.  I will still approve any comment you make on my blog whether or not it is rude.  I want people to get a realistic view of what it is like to be in my position.  I’m not saying that I have a monopoly on hardships.  I don’t at all.  Everyone has their own thing that they have to deal with, and mine happens to be that I am gay and a mormon.  I think I have it a lot easier than some people.  I would rather be a gay mormon than terminally ill in any way, for example.

I also don’t like the lack of understanding you show.  Some of your comments are very presumptuous of who I am and what I do/think.  Most of the time, you are so far from the truth that it is laughable.

Perhaps you are celestial.  Perhaps you are as perfect as you sound.  But I don’t think you are because a lot of what you say is incredibly un-Christlike sounding.  I find this interesting because from what I can tell, you have a good understanding of the LDS gospel.  I would think that someone that claims to be a member of Jesus Christs church and so staunchly tells people how to live their lives would be more Christlike than you appear to be.  I also find it interesting that you say some of the things that you say because I have an idea that I might know who you are.  If this is true, I’m actually not surprised by your behavior.  In fact, it is very like you to write what you have written and to give yourself the name “Princess Celestial”.  Like I said, I don’t know who you are for sure, and I could be totally off.  Either way, grow up.

Be a Christian.  Stop judging me and those like me (and you, perhaps).  Extend love to everyone, even if they are not on the same level as they are.

I know that there are elements of this post that may be contradictory to what I have said (ie. be a Christian; don’t judge; extend love) but as I said, I have no claim on anything other than what I know and feel.  I don’t claim to be perfect, a good member of the church, or even someone with any answers.  I just have my own experiences.  Please respect them.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED TO READ SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT PRINCESS CELESTIAL HAS LEFT ON MY BLOG AND OTHERS, HERE THEY ARE:

I think all of you boys have never learned the core principal of SELF CONTROL. I mean, since all of you claim to be ’strong members in the faith’, it is interesting me that such ‘recreational activities’ are taking place. I would think that if a group of good, strong in the faith boys were together ’supporting’ each other, that cuddling and necking and petting would be so far from your minds and physical needs.
Perhaps you aren’t as good or as committed to your faith as you claim. Perhaps you aren’t as hidden in the light as you claim but rather your eye sight is blurred by your own lust to fit in.

Learn self-control, take control

I don’t think it is unfair to hold you to a point of reference. Learn from other peoples mistakes, hence the scriptures, hence all the other ‘moho’ boys that have done stupid things that they KNEW they shouldn’t have done but did it anyway. Yes, the atonement is wonderful, but to waste it on people who ARE NOT ignorant of such crimes…is truly a slap in the face for jesus. Don’t get me wrong, its great that you guys can become better through making the kinds of mistakes that ignorant people make, but not for us who know/have it all. Its a hard ugly truth, but truth nonetheless….

Dear Ryan

Hmm, I guess you seem to be the only willing to broadcast your name and lively-hood across the world. It is really too bad that boys like you claim to have self-control, yet seem so willing to drag everyone else that you claim to love a care about down in the muddy hole you call gay. Well, it seems to me in all your efforts to fit in, is just working against you. Maybe that is why little girls from your work are so concerned with you well being…you dug your own hole and put yourself in it and pulled all your own family/friends along with you. Misery loves company. Good luck boys. Hidden, stay hidden, Ryan, I hope one day this whole ordeal of being gay won’t be just about you! But then again, obession-crazed people never realize that they are the ones with the problem instead of the rest of us… oh well

Hidden in the Light didn’t go out and ask to be published, they found him. Well, hopefully, what they write about will shed some light on the gay parade that is going on in logan…perhaps they aren’t all the hidden after all….

Its like they say Ryan , fish don’t get caught unless they open their mouth. Open wide! I guess that is the most of a miracle you could ask for…getting mormon clad members to care about people who seemed to not care about themselves and the esteem them as pioneers in the great plan of happiness. Good luck dragging all the people who care about you down in the mud with you…publically.

You failed to mention that you didn’t want to give your name out. You wanted to remain a secret…at least your name. Honestly, I don’t know why you would care about hidding your name. Afterall, most people you associate with already know your ’secret’. The loganside as it were, is at your moms house. The guy who did the article knew who it was the moment he read your blog. I think you should probably be more honest about the REAL reasons why they didn’t print it.

I don’t know you personally, I researched you after you attacked me on-line. Its not hard to research who you really are. You have your identity splattered all over the web.

As far as my opinions about you, your writing reflects the desparate attempts of an obsession-crazed individual who cannot move on from feeling victimized by the fact that you are gay. And with all your ‘whoa is me’ babbling about Jesus and his grace and more Whoa is me…is such an old,dirty, tired, pouncy trick that needs to stop. I am sure all the people that know you and have their heads screwed on straight probably feel the same way too. But I don’t think they would tell you, afraid you would actually have SEx with a boy…heaven forbid.

As for trying to ‘change course’ I don’t believe that you would change course even if someone slapped you in the face. I don’t think you have gottne the hint that if you lose yourself in the work of God, you will find yourself. Goodluck on that one, you just seem unteachable. You won’t move on. There are greater things in life, than looking at the ugly of ‘art’. …goodluck on salvation…

I will not apologize for what I have said about you and your fellow sufferers. I said what I felt was right and true. If you don’t like what I had to say then don’t whine about your issues on the internet for all the world to see. Don’t come attacking my opinions on anothers forum. I think it is interesting that ‘hidden’ didn’t have any comment to say to me…but you sure had an opinion. If you’re so concerned about this gay mormon movement in your beloved Logan, than why don’t you contact the writer of the USU newpaper and give him YOUR name and man up to your complaints. Hidden isn’t man enough, maybe there is at least ONE REAL man who will… Though you gays…never have had the balls to do anything about it….thats why you like boys, you need someone elses balls!

I don’t agree with your complaining. The plan of salvation/happiness is a race that all can run. But it is a race that requires ALL to change to make it to the goal. Everyone must change something about themselves to run it. It doesn’t matter if it is being gay, abused, a widow, disabled. We all must run the race if we wish to return. No one has been given exceptions to run. That is how life on this earth is fair. God has given no one any exceptions, allowed all to enter for free and has given path and tools to finish the race IF they want to. I don’t see complaining about the leadership and how everyone is being mean to you is going to help you. That part isn’t fair, or nice, or fun.

So, an update for those of you that were expecting a post yesterday about the article about my blog.

My friend that wrote the article texted me Sunday night to inform me that they decided to postpone printing the article for a few weeks so that they can expand it and cover other areas of the MoHo world, from Evergreen to gay mormons that have left the church.  So, please be patient!  It will come out (haha) soon!

!!!Warning!!!

!!!Spoilers!!!

Rush on the Warpath

Darkness starts with rush in the control room, is is looking rather stressed out, this is obvious when he is on the way back to the control room after leaving the mess, he pins Riley up against a wall and shouts at him, just for asking a question, there are many contributing factors to this and we do find those out later in the episode but the main one at the moment is Lack of sleep.

James talking to the Kino

Over the course of this episode we get an insight to some of the crew of the destiny, this is done by them recording messages  into a Kino, I like this feature of the show as it means that the actors are braking the 4th wall and connecting directly to the audience. As SGU is a character driven show rather than an action show like SG1 and SGA it means that we get to know more about the charactors, even though we are geting the story and the character traits of the main cast the Kino Diaries gives an insight to the supporting cast as well.

Eli and Chloe

This episode brings Eli and Chloe closer I think as there Walk and talk allows for them to reassure each other that they are not useless to the crew:

Chloe: Me? I don’t even know what to do with myself, Eli. I’m the last person who should be here.

Eli: I’m second to last!

Chloe: You’re under-estimating yourself.

Eli : So are you.

After this Eli shows Chloe how to use the “Shower”.

Destiny droping out of FTL

When the destiny drops out of FTL (Faster than Light) it brings on the literal meaning of the episode “Darkness” as that is what the ship has descended into without any power and it brings out the jeopardy as there is nothing that can be done and no way to save them that can be seen on the horizon. when the ship goes dark it takes Rush to a whole new level of Crazy, he becomes more stressed.

The power issues are similar to that of the ones in the Pilot of Atlantis (101/2 – Rising) but in this case there is no fail safe to save them.

Rush passed out

Rush has a nervous breakdown and ends up passing out, with rush out of it they need ideas of how to get out of this mess, Young is asking the actual scientist (Dale Volker) and engineer (Adam Brody)and they have nothing nut the MIT dropout Eli has the idea of using the 2nd shuttle for power, then young gose to earth to report back.

Peter DeLuise as "Peter" the scientist

Peter DeLuise makes an appearance in this episode as “peter” the scientist and just misses the opportunity to be on the Destiny and his place is taken by Telford.

After young has briefed General O’Neill he goes to see his wife and this is an iteresting option as this could meen that all of teh family members are being security clearance as we know in Air Pt I that she was not told where he was going to be stationed.

Telford usis this oppotunity to gather information on the running of the ship so that he can get Young replaced.

Rush finally comes to and he is told that he has been out for 10 hours and we then find out that all of his stress is due to Caffeine and Nicotine withdrawal, poor rush he has got it bad.

Rush staring into the Kino

Destiny slingshot arroung the Gas Giant

I have nothing but good things to say about the Visual effects department as the visuals of  the Destiny making that sling shot around the Gas giant was just incredible.

The slingshot around the gas giant was another call back to SG1 (412 – Tangent) to where the X-301went out to the edge of the solar system and they tried to slingshot it around Jupiter.

Destiny heading towards the sun

We are now at the end of the episode and here is the worse parts about 2 parters, the cliffhanger, the new course is straight in to the sun, it could not have gotten any worse can it, it will be interesting as to how they use the shuttle to get out of this and howe the 3 “habitable” plaints factor in to it but I can tell you one thing, I cant wait.

Stargatefreek

(Recipess Becker, for the love of God Recipes)

Hello there everyone it has been a bit since I posted an update on this blog (other than a review) and I thought that I should.

First of all can I say a thank you to everyone that has visited my blog since the start of the month, I find it quite interesting as to how people have been finding me on the web. over the last couple of weeks it has been search terms relating to Stargate Universe like, “stargate universe destiny” and “stargate universe whiteboard” but amongst the best there was “stargate universe sex scene”, this is one of those things that i can’t make up i have had people here looking for “Photos of David Hewlett”, “red nose day”, “stargate ships comparison chart”, “pictures of Elyse Levesque” and there are lots of other so thank you and keep all of your different searches coming I like to see the weird ways that people arrive at my blog.

SG-U Stargate Universe

I have been enjoying the start of Stargate Universe and I am liking the new season of Sanctuary. I will be reviewing both of them on this blog, SGU is being done and I will be starting the sanctuary ones at the weekend and there will one for each part of “End of Nights”.

College has been going well over the last month, we have a boring tutor and one of our tutors has left due to stress (this is based on information i received this morning), we only have another few days left and then we are off for a week.

Lost seasons 1-3

I have now got nearly all of Stargate SG1 on DVD, I am missing episodes 220 – Show and Tell, 917 – The Scourge, 918 - Arther’s Mantle, 919 – Crusade and 920 – Camelot (ptI) and I am missing season 10, I have now got seasons 1-3 of LOST and I have worked my way through them and I only have 2/3 of season 3 left to go.

I have been updating my website over the last couple of days and the changes are live here, also I changed the header to this blog.

Sanctuary Season 1 Boxset

Last week I managed to purchase sanctuary season 1 and one of the discs didn’t working properly, actually it was the 1st disc just after the 2nd episode so that was rather annoying but I took it back and they refunded the money and are going to hold another copy of it when it comes in again so I can’t really complain.

I think that is everything for now I am still using Twitter so follow me if you like.

Stargatefreek

(All access pass to Spookville. Comes with a free lunch and a decoder ring)

by Elizabeth Davis
Staff

Transy’s Student Government Association kicked off its first meeting of the year last week, and with the new year came new faces to represent the first-year class.

The first-year senators campaigned in a variety of ways to win their spots alongside the upper class senators who were elected in the spring. Facebook was the most popular campaign method. Andrew Goff, for example, created an “Andrew Goff for Transy SGA” group to spread the word about his campaign. Jake Hawkins and Katie Oakes likewise turned to the popular social networking site.

The tried-and-true word of mouth approach was also a hit. Kelly Heironymus’ strategy was to “talk to as many people as possible.”

Some methods were more successful than others, however. Katie Aultman admits, “I made four signs and then my Sharpies died.”

So what is first and foremost on the agenda for these new SGA members?

“To make a positive difference on the part of the Transy community for the [first-year] class,” Oakes said.

“To work extra hard to make sure our opinions are voiced to the upper class students and the administration,” Goff added.

Kelsey Truman has a slightly different agenda.

“I want to get more reliable TV on campus,” Truman said.

The first-years all expressed an element of energy and confusion surrounding their first meeting.

“Just seeing all the upperclassmen and how committed they were was exciting,” Hieronymus said.

“The procedures are very intense,” Oakes added. “We follow the constitution to a T.”

Despite the uncertainty that came with their first meeting, however, both Goff and Hawkins said they are grateful to be able to step into the role of senator.

“I have so many procedures left to learn, but I look forward to it,” Hawkins said.

The combination of bewilderment and enthusiasm is nothing new to the upper class senators. One, junior Prya Murad, said she is still learning even after three years as an SGA senator. She offered some advice for her newest counterparts.

“Don’t think the [upper class students] want to run the show. They want to know what you can bring to the table.”

SGA meets on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. in Conference Room A in the William T. Young Campus Center.

The newspaper at Utah State University has found me and is doing an article on my “story” and my blog.  Someone (I don’t know who) told the editor about my blog, and the editor gave the assignment to a writer that writes a lot about the gay community and gay rights.  After this writer read through my blog, he realized he knew that I was the author (and he already knew I’m gay, so it wasn’t a big deal).  So we set up an interview, and it is being published in the newspaper on Monday!  I’m really excited about it and I’ll post it up here when I can!

:)

I am so tired of waking up in the middle of the night and feeling like my feet are on burning because the stupid fire ants keep biting them. Josh seemed to be feeling a little better this morning when he left. I think the fact that I agreed to try pork might’ve helped. Not really but he has been getting on me for that for awhile. Of course now I’m not feeling great but what can you do. It’s part of being married.

He has to sell tickets to Sandblast this morning and then he’ll come home this afternoon before his SGA meeting. He got his final mid-term grade back and ended up doing much better than he thought he would. So all in all he did very well, at least in my opinion. In his head he always wishes he’d done better.

I’m supposed to go on a dolphin and whale watching trip tomorrow morning. Hopefully I don’t start to feel worse because I’ve always wanted to see a whale up close and personal. It’s the one thing they don’t have the aquarium that I’d love to see. Well that and a giant squid but honestly, what aquarium is going to have a giant squid? Apparently there are manatees around here too. I love manatees.

T-4 until daddy comes! He’s packed just about everything up and I just can’t wait for him to get here. Hopefully it doesn’t rain too much so we can enjoy the beach. I’ve been trying not to go to the beach as much these past few weeks so that I’m extra excited to go when he’s here.

Panagiota linked a video of some clips from Boy Meets World on my facebook the other day and I’d forgotten how much that show rocked. I’ve been watching it this morning in between scrubbing the disgusting-ness that is the stove and our kitchen floor. We cook with a lot of hot oil and when it splatters it makes a huge mess.

Asian Student Alliance is holding their 3rd Annual Halloween Bash. It will take place on  Saturday October 24 7:00-11:00PM at Tivoli Turnhalle, There will be awesome live performances, plenty of prizes and treats, and a cool costume contest. The best part is, you get FREE ADMISSION, courtesy of UC Denver Student Government Association.

Don’t miss this fun, FREE Halloween Bash brought to you by Asian Student Alliance and Student Government Association. Make sure that you invite ALL YOUR FRIENDS to this event!