Friday, April 24, 2009

Treasures Found Stored in a Cardboard Box- Pictures of Dad on His Mission

DAD went on his mission to Taiwan. His Cardboard box revealed these treasures from his mission-rolls of film!!!!!!!! :-D Pictures are beyond precious and then some to Me...and that's just any good photo-but these.............................

My Dad called his Mission a great adventure. Here he displays talent as a troubadour! :-D I am sure he was called on often to sing and play on his mission.




Dad is on the left. :-) Wish I could name the others offhand!
Cool Dude, Dedicated Missionary!




Dad and a companion
.





Love Dad in this. He is, of course, on the right.
The Lord, I know, is pleased with this missionary. Dad's deep Love for the People of Taiwan is legendary. I Love his stories, his Chinese handbooks, his funny way of Speaking Mandarin and the funny poems he learned in Mandarin. He has always been Studious and Dedicated. I Love You, Dad. Your Example has been so important to Me. You have always viewed service as a privilege. We all need to do that. :-) ♥ Thanks.



Monday, April 20, 2009

Honoring Bill Orton



I get a wistful, idealistic feeling when I think of My experience Volunteer Campaigning for Bill Orton. I was in High School and met Orton at Gene Faux's home. He spoke for a while to us, (campaign volunteers) and I was kind of starstruck. Orton's enthusiasm, gentlemanliness, and utter brilliance stuck Me deeply. There was no pettiness or dirty Political Down-talking of the other guy. He sent us on our way to hand out literature and make a personal connection with potential voters. All positive and can-do. Very cool and business-like with a head for facts; he was equally engaging and personable. I was really impressed.
Before John McCain became famous for coining himself as a "maverick", Bill Orton was the original maverick. He voted against Party lines routinely and voted his conscience. When I wrote him to encourage him to keep funding for PBS safe, he replied and assured me of his commitment to that important issue. He never used idealistic rhetoric to cloud issues. He worked with sweat to make ideal things happen. His reputation as one of the smartest guys in congress was unquestioned. His courage as a Gubernatorial Canidate was added to with grace, reason, and conviction. His brilliance in Law impresses Me to no end.
I am honored to have seen him at a Political Convention followed around busily in the halls between speeches by many people who obviously knew Orton knew his stuff. A Brilliant Doer, Mover, Shaker; He is a legend of Utah politics. I will never forget his win to congress the first time He ran. What a beautiful moment for Utah.
Bill is A Beloved Husband, Father, asset to his Faith and community-beyond reproach in the eyes of his colleagues. Thanks, Bill Orton-for everything! Bless You and Your Family.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Once In A Great While.........


Once in a Great While someone comes along and puts theirself out there and teaches Great Humility in the nicest possible way. Susan Boyle, YOU ROCK. I just barely saw this and will NEVER be the same. :-D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nox2DRCAKxk

So Sorry-Embedding was disabled on ALL posts of this performance, but click on the Link and watch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Carrie-Review #9-Cinema Saturday Make-Up


If You haven't read Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser, do it. As for Carrie-the 1952 film based on the classic Dreiser Novel, This is a film that has dissapointed Me a bit. First of all, the ending was ALL wrong. It is at best confusing and at worst completely skims important parts of the story-but that happens all the way through. Sister Carrie is a story I would LOVE to adapt to screenplay and direct. I have read it twice, and will read it again and again. It is a fascinating tale (a cautionary one, too) about the effect of the world and how one views what is neccesary relative to what lifestyle they are used to, and how desires can easily drive someone awry.


Laurence Olivier is a sublime actor and plays the role of George Hurstwood very well-to the hilt, in fact. Jennifer Jones is the title character, Caroline Meeber. She does well. These two Oscar winners are amazing to watch despite the poor screenplay adaption. Eddie Albert plays the Role of Charles Druet, and does pretty well. (If I casted a movie based on this story, Tom Cruise would be begged by me on bended knee to play Drouet.) I think that the acting is the strength of the movie. The plot involves the coming-of -age of Young Caroline Meeber. "Carrie" as she is called makes her way to Chicago to live with her sister and her sister's family while she begins to seek her fortune. There are many slaps in the face for Carrie-Reality is a harsh companion along the way, but is edged out again and again because Carrie's naievete and good looks make her prime pickings for men of the world. She descends gradually and easily into her predicaments and finally is immersed in a lifestyle wholly disconnected from reality and the values she arrived with in Chicago. Jennifer Jones is great. She is Queen of the Doe-in-Headlights look and the innocent and Earnest Heroine is what she plays best-but can Carrie be called a Heroine? You make the Call. It is worth a look for the performances. Directed by William Wyler. I give this film 2 out of 4 stars.
*Blogger's Note-This is a Make-Up for this past Easter Weekend's break. Ms.Holm will be back on schedule!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Happy Easter

Ms. Holm is contemplating all that Easter Is and Means-and Encourages You to do the same. There will be No Movie Review for this Weekend.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

ROSALIND E. FRANKLIN-CHERRANNE'S GREAT WOMEN SERIES

****CHERRANNE'S GREAT WOMEN SERIES****

ROSALIND E. FRANKLIN-Scientist(molecular biologist)







Where to begin. Rosalind Franklin is a Fave-She just blows Me away. The moment I heard about her, I wanted to scream to the World: "GET THIS-THIS GENIUS IS ROBBED"! >:-( She immediately gained HERO status for Me. This high-brow British Scientist from Jewish descent is fascinating to the hilt; Her contributions to humanity are baffling to say the least, but sadly unsung. The thing is, however, She doesn't really care. She is too cool to "need" the adulation of anyone, but has Mine whole-heartedly anyway. And as for being a feminist icon, She stands on her own as one of the VERY BEST scientists EVER. Being compared to Sylvia Plath as a "wronged woman" in her field doesn't fly with Me because These are Two diametrically different women in so many ways. (Love Sylvia-She will have her own "GREAT WOMEN" profile soon here on Ms. Holm's Soapbox.) Rosalind simply has no self-pity or involvement in Mental Self-Torture. Gutsy, Determined, and laser-focused on her work; She is never anything but cool-headed and analytical. She defies being a victim of circumstance. She just raises an eyebrow and moves to the next project.


Crick and Watson???? BAH. Sure, they contributed................WHATEVER. THIS IS THE REAL HERO OF DNA SCIENCE!!!!!!! And for Me-all science period. Watch this amazing snippet from the NOVA special entitled "The Secret of Photo 51"!!!!!!!



Here is the YouTube link-You can watch the whole thing!!!!! (You will easily find each section.) I recommend it!!! I know it is a bit of a tease to just post the first opening section, but DO sit down and watch the whole thing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0SEuOcnoOw





ALSO, These Books are a MUST for Franklinites:




The first is By Brenda Maddox who inspired the NOVA special, and the other is by Anne Sayre.


Here is a cool Quote:

"In [The Double Helix, Watson] tells about how happy they were, he and Crick, that my husband was not allowed to come because had he come, he would no doubt have seen these excellent photographs that Rosalind Franklin made and had and which, when they saw them, with their other data, they were able to work out the structure of DNA...[If] ever there was a woman who was mistreated, it was Rosalind Franklin, and she didn't get the notice that she should have gotten for her work on DNA."Ava Helen Pauling. Interview with Lee Herzenberg. September 1977.

Nobel in 1962 for Watson, Crick, and Wilkins??????? Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. >:-( That makes Me PULL OUT MY MAD face...but I must remember to take a lesson from Rosalind. Only expend energy on important stuff! What others do and think should never control what You do or think. Keep Your Cool and be EXCELLENT-that is the best "revenge". Thanks, Rosalind. Thanks for those lessons, and for giving SO UNBELIEVABLY MUCH TO HUMANITY for so little.

;-) Not that You were asking for any thanks.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Brightness of Faith=Brightness of Future! The Prophet at the 179th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints



Brightness of Faith=Brightness of Future...........
At first glance the equation would probably seem a bit too baffling or even simplistic for those who don't have the benefit of the knowledge of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ-and indeed probably might seem that way for many who do. When the Prophet Thomas S. Monson said in the Sunday Morning Session(April 5th) : "Fear Not, Be of Good Cheer-Your Future is as Bright as Your Faith", it was as if a lightbulb was turned on again for me. The fact that My Future would indeed be as bright as My faith was in a way disconcerting at first-There is a LOT of ugliness out there to distract and dampen. The Fog of discouragement is often thick. But as we grow and push as hard as we can toward making our faith as bright as we can make it, the Future part of the equation will be something to thank Our Heavenly Father and Savior for. I thank My Heavenly Father for this Prophet. He is a man who loves You and Me. He is sensitive to Suffering of others. He is a supernal representative of Our Heavenly Father and Savior in every way. He loves Literature. He Loves Learning. He has held positions in the Church and has served and sacrificed for others in many ways that will most likely remain unknown. He shirks his own comfort when others are in distress. I am thankful for this Prophet. :-)



Here is a Cool Link to a story I found about the Prophet. Take time to read it!








Blogger's Note: Ms. Holm apologizes for the lateness of this entry!

Thursday, April 2, 2009

My Dream Concert! ARGERICH-CHERRANNE'S GREAT WOMEN SERIES

****CHERRANNE'S GREAT WOMEN SERIES****

MARTHA ARGERICH- ♫Pianist♫

This is a YouTube video of Ms. Argerich performing the First movement or so of the fabled "Rach 3" in the early '80's.

Martha Argerich is one of my HEROES. The effortlessness with which She tackles the Piano keys is SO UNREAL!!!!!!! I have heard tell that she memorizes music to be played in concert on a plane (without practice), and then PERFORMS without a hitch. I am APPALLED at that kind of sight-reading and memorization skills. I didn't mention, of couse, her EXPRESSION, feeling and technique. For her mastery of those, there are NO WORDS. She, in My opinion is the GREATEST PIANIST EVER!!!!!!!! If I got to pick ANYONE TO SEE IN CONCERT, IT WOULD BE HER THAT I WOULD PICK FIRST. Just to watch her fingers race across the keyboard in a way no other can touch would be truly something that I would LOVE to experience in concert.-JUST WATCH THE VIDEO!!! :-O AMAZING!

I LOVE THIS QUOTE:

"Argerich brings to bear qualities that are seldom contained in one person: she is a pianist of brainteasing technical agility; she is a charismatic woman with an enigmatic reputation; she is an unaffected interpreter whose native language is music. This last may be the quality that sets her apart. A lot of pianists play huge double octaves; a lot of pianists photograph well. But few have the unerring naturalness of phrasing that allows them to embody the music rather than interpret it." - Alex Ross for The New Yorker in a 2001 article-(copied from Wikipedia)

Martha was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on June 5, 1941. If Anyone fit the description of musical prodigy, it is her. She debuted at age eight playing Beethoven no less! She is PURE GENIUS.