Gordon B. Hinckley Died

President Gordon B. Hinckley, who led The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through twelve years of global expansion, has died at the age of 97.

President Hinckley was the 15th president in the 177-year history of the Church and had served as its president since 12 March 1995.

The Church president died at his apartment in downtown Salt Lake City at 7:00 p.m. Sunday night from causes incident to age. Members of his family were at his bedside. A successor is not expected to be formally chosen by the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles until after President Hinckley’s funeral within the next few days.

Brother Gordon Bitner Hinckley was a great man. He was definitely a prophet, as mighty as Moses, Elisha, and Simon Peter. He enjoyed service to the Church for most of his life: having given many of the Proclamations to the World from the Messiah. As the leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Messiah's own church, he presented the Church to the world. From the time he was President, many temples had been built -- exploding from very few to 132 Temples across the world (one in Ghana, one in South Africa, one in Boston, one in Hong Kong, one in New York City, etc.). Even though he didn't live to see the Jerusalem LDS Temple built (which is forthcoming and to be built by Latter-day Saints) his actions will lead for that to be built.

He presided over an Era of Temple Building, and the explosion of the Internet, and an era of increased faith and spiritual awakening all over the world. He was one of the greatest men today, as Theologian in Chief (not Commander in Chief). So, who will be the new President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? President Thomas Monson.

Body Acceptance

A new week, a new Adventure!

From what I learned this past week, produces a lot of questions and some needed answers. Anyway, I'll talk about that as I learn some more information. On to a better topic -- Body Acceptance!

Did you know that Jennifer Love Hewitt has been called "FAT?" She is a size 2, and no way can Jennifer Love Hewett be fat. She decided to fight back, and tell everyone that she's a healthy size 2.

There has been some good news on the Body Acceptance front, and not just my fellow naturists have been trumpeting the news. There is one thing about having a beautiful woman who is healthy: 150 pounds/68 kilograms is generally an acceptable weight. Tyra Banks, the famous Supermodel, is part of a movement to get women curvier again. She wants to make curvy women feel better about themselves.

So, is pencil thin something to be attracted to? I don't think so. Queen Latifah looks great because she also accepts her figure as normal. As for me, I prefer a woman with a healthy body wieght: 150 lbs/68 kg is good enough. Or at least somewhere in that range. And yes, a size 2, 3, or 4 -- or even 7, isn't fat.

Prepaid Legal

Hello everyone!

I recently reacquired a membership with Prepaid Legal to help me weather the storms of Real Life (Legal-wise). Prepaid Legal is Legal Insurance -- according to the idea, you'll get the assurance of having legal counsel everyday and any day. And a legal shield against any legal infractions made against you. I think this is awesome. Especially now, since minor infractions of justice can or will crop up against me. I recommend to you all to find your local Prepaid Legal agent and sign up immediately.

Galaxies and Dates

Galaxies and Dates. This is a beautiful represenation of M51, which is sometimes called the prototypical Pinwheel galaxy. As you can probably tell, I photoshopped it.

Oh, I actually went out on a date. 1st date in a long, long time. Her name was Whitney, and she has a wild side. A young LDS maiden, she thought that skinnydipping is wild and edgy. So she thought I was cool when I tried skinnydipping.

Unfortunately, she's going to Brazil for 18 months. Yeah, it's unfair. But she's was a nice conversationalist, and even though the date took place in the classroom, it was fun and she was IMPRESSED!

I felt really cool! This is the first time I went out on a date for a long time and it was fun. I'm stoked, I'm ready to date again!

Using Photoshop

I am a God. Oh, I surely must be. What began as a journey with Corel Photopaint 7 to make web graphics has gone full circle with Photoshop CS3 Extended. I can make anything with Photoshop working with the images that I have acquired and or scanned.

I have barely scratched the surface, and already I'm amazed at what I can do. Photoshop is used by Industry professionals to digitally edit images and make them better. You can also make web graphics and paint with Photoshop.

Photoshop is a tool with a seemingly infinite range of capabilities. Notice I said tool. Photoshop is neither evil nor good, because both producers of Playboy and producers of Ensign both use Photoshop to manage their graphics for their respective magazines. And those two magazines are as different as night and day. I use photoshop purely for educational and artistic purposes these days.

But as I said, I have barely scratched the surface.

Physics and Sir Issac Newton

Interesting that I have been taking a beginning physics course. Again, I apply an image of Sir Issac Newton produced in Photoshop using a couple of filters applied to Text.

Sir Issac Newton has been credited with the invention of Physics -- which is the science of how things work in our world. Although this is not quite true. Aristotle and other Natural Philosophers before him actually applied science to the physical world before Sir Issac Newton did so. However, the good Knight had worked hard in discovering a certain amount of things.

And in no particular order, the first was Calculus. That body of mathematics that calculated how nature worked. Newton discovered integral Calculus, the same Calculus that Archimedes used to calculate the volume of a sphere by slicing it into an infinite amount of slices.

Second was his work on optics. Third, and perhaps his most famous works, was his work on motion which is found in most every beginning Physics text.

The laws are stated as thus:

First Law

If no net force acts on a particle, then it is possible to select a set of reference frames, called inertial reference frames, observed from which the particle moves without any change in velocity. This law is often simplified into the sentence "An object will stay at rest or continue at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external unbalanced force".

Second Law

Observed from an inertial reference frame, the net force on a particle is proportional to the time rate of change of its linear momentum: F = d[mv] / dt. Momentum is the product of mass and velocity. This law is often stated as F = ma (the net force on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration).

Third Law

Whenever a particle A exerts a force on another particle B, B simultaneously exerts a force on A with the same magnitude in the opposite direction. The strong form of the law further postulates that these two forces act along the same line. This law is often simplified into the sentence "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction".

From the investigations of these forces, it is clear that Newton had studied the "Masters" the scientists that came before him. Anaximenes, Anaxagoras, Pythagoras, and Aristotle are among those that he read. It was from their notes handed down to us by Hypatia of Alexandria that formed the seeds for the Theory of Gravitation and the Laws of Motion that Sir Issac Newton put forward.

As for my beginning physics course, Newton is lauded and praised in the History of Science. But my course material stinks. The textbook puts me to sleep, and it looks like it has been written to impress Plato and other academics of that school. Sadly, it puts them to sleep.

Nevertheless, Newton had made great strides in making the world of Physics a better place to learn and study so that we will know how our world works.

Going Back to School

What is wonderful about going to school is the cool things you can learn while going there. Take a class on Multimedia Essentials, and you are reintroduced to Photoshop. But not just Photoshop 3, 4, or 7 -- but Photoshop CS 3 extended.

IN just seven years, I saw Photoshop updated in what -- six or seven different versions. Photoshop CS Extended is light years ahead of Photoshop 4, which I used when I took a beginning Photoshop class at the same college. However, because of this new Photoshop version I had purchased last summer, I finally realized how Godlike I can be within the program.

Here is a great example of the new skills I've been learning. This is a beautiful, wonderful swimsuit model with a background applied to her. Yes, this is one hot swimsuit model in a glamour shot (which is designed to accentuate everything desireable).

I learned this skill through a video tutorial available here on Photoshop Planet. The tutorial is about using Photoshop's Pattern Maker to create a wonderful background for your photos.

Confessions of an LDS Free-thinker (3)

This is the third of my confessions. I think. Lately, one of the things I have been wrestling with is the meaning of the words sustain and emulate. This is simply because my Bishop of my Church congregation (called a ward) has been giving me some grief over what sustain and emulate actually mean. As a free thinker, I'm an agent unto myself and I am capable of creating as God does. Same as any other human on the planet.

However, in my quest to learn more, I am frustrated by my Bishop's understanding of what it means to support the Leaders of the Church. I support the leaders of the Church, I really do, but as far I understand things, my support can go only so far as sustain is defined. However, my bishop is only interested in "sustaining" the Leaders as so far as emulating them as examples of how we aught to live our lives. And this gives me a headache since I do not believe in blind obedience.

sustain

Transitive Verb.
Pronunciation: \sə-ˈstān\

Function: transitive verb

Etymology:

Middle English sustenen, from Anglo-French sustein-, stem of sustenir, from Latin sustinēre to hold up, sustain, from sub-, sus- up + tenēre to hold — more at sub-, thin

Date:

13th century

1: to give support or relief to
2: to supply with sustenance : nourish
3: keep up, prolong
4: to support the weight of : prop; also : to carry or withstand (a weight or pressure)
5: to buoy up <sustained by hope>
6 a: to bear up under b: suffer, undergo <sustained heavy losses>
7 a: to support as true, legal, or just b: to allow or admit as valid sustained the motion>
8: to support by adequate proof : confirm sustains our contention>

Now, emulate.

emulate

Pronunciation:

\ˈem-yə-ˌlāt, -yü-\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

em·u·lat·ed; em·u·lat·ing

Etymology:

Latin aemulatus, past participle of aemulari, from aemulus rivaling

Date:

1582

1 a: to strive to equal or excel b: imitate; especially : to imitate by means of an emulator
2: to equal or approach equality with

So, are we supposed to bear up our leaders, to buoy them up, and to support them as legal and just? Or are we suposed to imitate them? Really, I have no idea at what my bishop is trying to get at. If it is the former, I do that wholeheartedly. The latter, I'm not to sure about. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are taught that Jesus' life is our example, and that Jesus is our exemplar. Jesus is the Master of all the masters; His teachings supercede Buddha's, Lao Tzu's, Confucius', Moses', and Joseph Smith's. These other masters all complement their Master in their teachings on how a person can reach his or her fullest potential. So, why is emulating President Hinckley more important than living the Life of Jesus? I have no idea; but I'm beginning to feel that I'm being pulled this way and that way with my relationship to my bishop.

Jiang Hu Hong Kong (and Salt Lake City)

After my censure by ICE, I decided to work on a few things that would prove that I'm capable of originality. The first thing is an adventure designed for strong action in a world of Shadow and Martial Arts; a shared world known as Jiang Hu (which means "Rivers and Lakes").

In this first, adrenaline charged, high octane adventure; our intrepid band of adventurers start in Salt Lake City and fly to Hong Kong to retrieve an artifact stolen from the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.

The adventure should contain lots of explosions and be a good, all around can of action and adventure. A high FX Adventure, the adventure is based on the d20 Modern System.

Stage of Draft: Rough.

Working with the Youth

I'm working with the Youth in my Church Group and have volunteered to join the Boy Scout Troop on the merit badge council. Although I have to wear those stupid swimsuits when I go swimming with the youth (a naked leader with the youth doesn't come with good consequences); it's a set up I have to deal with.

I'll save the swimsuit arguement at a later time.

Anyway, as secretary, I pass boys off for their Scout advancements and merit badges. Although I thought that I'd be doing something else. I'll probably will. The fun hasn't really kicked off yet. :) I was called as Young Men's Secretary earilier this month. I haven't been updating my blog; mostly because my MS Windows computer has been giving me distress. I want to shoot it with a 12 gauge shotgun (BLAM!).

Writing for ICE

My dream for writing for Rolemaster has been dashed mostly because I have a problem coming up with original stuff. Well, the problem is simple. I do have a hard time coming up with original stuff. This is simply because I agonize over it. I fuss and fuss and don't let the gear work turn. ;)

However, the gear works have turned, actually. I did think of something original. It's an idea that will work nicely.

School

Sorry about the relative quietness, but I'm making preparations to go back to school. As of today, my computer has been going haywire lately. A windows ME machine, it has been trying my patience. I scream at it every time I get a fatal error. It's just insane to buy another Windows Machine.

So, I've decided to stop the insanity and pick up an Apple MacBook Pro. It's mainly for school, and it's been fortuitous to get ready for school and get a private education loan. So, it's a plus.