Speed Reader

This is one of the coolest things I have seen. You paste the text you want to read in the box, and then select the speed at which it will flash the text. You can also change the alignment and the size or text as well as how many words are displayed at a time.
Since I read slowly, this is great cause if I have to read long emials or articles or whatever I can just past the text in SPREEDER and get throught it in about half the time than if I have just read it.
Check it out!

Have you ever been in Love

I was watching a DVD about Celine Dion yesterday, and I was amazed (I have always admired her as a singer and person) not only her talent as a performer, but at the person she is and has become. I would LOVE to see her show in Las Vegas, unfortunatley I don't think it will happen. First of all tickets are very expensive and I don't see myself going to Vegas again before here show. I guess Provo isn't THAT far, but as a poor student with no car, chances are slim.

Anyway, to get to the reson I am posting. I heard here singing "Have you ever been in Love" - WOW! I this would be the perfect wedding song. It is very romantic and beautiful :)

I think I am going to learn the lyrics and I think I could sing it to my future spouse - hee hee.

Author Signing

I just met Mark Chamberlain, author of "Wanting More" at the BYU Education week book signing.
It was great to speak to him about his book and especially the concepts of pornography, agency and addiction. I have seen some of his other books "Confronting Pornography" and "WillPower is not Enough" and they are on my reading list, although after our discussion I am tempted to forget my school work ;) and read read read for the next week :)

He has an institute in helping people with destructive habits... which plague this modern generation.

Bushman bum!

I am currently reading "A History of South Africa" by Frank Welsh. I am very impressed so far. He has a great style, and while it is a think 558 page volume I am quite into it! Not at all like the other two (French and Dutch) history books I am yawning... I mean reading ;)
I have already learnt so much from this book. I would highly reccommend it to anyone really wanting to understand South Africa, where its been and where it is today - from an unbiased Englishman.

I also just wanted to share a quick giggle I had. So my mom has always told me I like her (and her mother... ) have bushman bums. I'm not sure if anyone reading this knows what that looks like, but lets say that the rear is not proportionate to the rest of the body... so when Welsh brought up the anatomy of the Khoikhoi and San (native 'yellow skinned' people, who the white Europeans later inter-married with) and described them as having "remarkably protruding buttocks" I had to laugh, and feel a little relieved that its not my fault - althought ice-cream I'm sure doesn't help ;)

Since I am a family history major, I am now very intrigued as to my "native" blood. I must have a Khoikhoi or San bloodline somewhere, I just have to find it!

Wanting More?

I saw a book on sale the other day at the Bookstore and thought... mmm, that looks interesting. A few days later I saw it again and this time I bought it. The title of the book is WANTING MORE: The Challenge of Enjoyment in the Age of Addiction written by Dr. Mark Chamberlain.
I began reading that very day and before even getting to the main text I was touched by his dedication. It reads ...

"To Helen Keller
You taught us to walk with more awareness
on the path we thought we knew"

This is a profound observation, which inspired me to learn more about this remarkable woman. I have heard stories about her before but I think now is the time to learn from a remarkable individual. Furthermore it has made me to do some "stock taking" in my life.

Regarding Chamberlains book, the introducation itself was astounding and I'm currently in chapter one, it may take me a while to finish it as I am in the middle of numerous books right now and I'm a full time student that works part time, but I am learning to find reading a joy again and books great teachers and friends.

For give the pun, but in my books this is a must read!!!

I love my bike

So I just thought I had to write down how much I love my bike and how much I enjoy my adventures on it, making me feel like a kid again. I often explore roads and areas that I never would on foot, and I like to ride the curns and also a very reliable means of transportation, no need to worry about it running out of gas, or if the engine will start after a cold night... I can park it almost anywhere and I dont have to really worry about vandalisation or it getting stolen :) and i wont even mention that I got this bike for FREE!

I love how I feel riding imy bike, I not only get excercise, but I get to experience more of the OUT DOORS. I seem to always discover news routes and ways of getting to my destination. If Im in the mood for sun and more adventure (traffic and stop lights) I go one way or if I'm in the mood for nature and shade I go another. There is nothing better than the wind in your hair, a little sweat down your back and your muscles pumping.

I was recently in France and the Netherlands and I rode a bicyle a couple times while there there. These countries have the necessary infrastructure (for lack of a better word) for cyclists, however I have found you can ride a bike anywhere in the world, sure it is a bit more dangerous when the cars turning right forget to look for cyclists (lets say I had a painful education of that), and while the scenery may not be the same as Europe, the experience can be :)

I also realised something yesterday. My tires we a bit flat and so I took it to the gas station and pumped up the wheels. All of a sudden my pedeling became so much more effective and I felt like I was going faster and further. So it made me realise that one day when I do have a car, I must keep the tires full and I will get further on less gas!!!! See all these benefits - you should get a bike :)