Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.

Posts for October 5, 2009

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QDear 100 Hour Board,
Today I was happily munching on some Famous Amos chocolate sandwich cookies, when I noticed each cookie was clearly marked "Oreo." I thought Oreos were Nabisco, and Famous Amos was Keebler, so how did Oreos get put into my box of Famous Amos? Are they manufactured at the same place? Does Famous Amos ever make cookies that say "Famous Amos" on them, like in the picture on my box of cookies? Thanks!

--Confused

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ADearly Confused (said in a preacher-style voice),

First of all, the Keebler Company got bought by Kellogg, so Famous Amos is a Kellogg company now. The cookie industry is a jumbled morass of corporations and conglomerates. A delicious, delicious jumbled morass.

From what I have found, there are Famous Amos factories in New Jersey and Florida. They have their famous factory in Battle Creek, Michigan and apparently used to have one in Chicago where the founder's grandson committed suicide...The two major Oreo factories that Nabisco (ding!) runs are in Chicago, Illinois and Lawrence, Massachusetts. Tying this all up:
1: How did Oreos get into your box of Famous Amos cookies? It was either the ghost of John Kellogg switching packages or a roommately prank.
2: No, they are not manufactured in the same place.
3: Yes, they do make cookies that say "Famous Amos" on them.

Dr. Smeed

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

You know those big crucibles they have at the steel factories that can hold molten steel without melting themselves? I saw one on TV that I could tell was made out of metal by its smoothness and machined shape. So how was the first one of those ever made?

- likes the show "How It's Made"

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ADear ltsHIM,

They used Hessian crucibles, big huge ceramic crucibles that can withstand enormous amounts of heat. The metal is melted in ceramic pots, poured into ceramic molds, and used to hold metal with a much lower melting point.

By the way, "Hessian Crucible" sounds to me like some '80s hair band. Let us not speak of it ever again.

Dr. Smeed

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QDear The Sentry,

I understand that the library security guards make notes on the security videos of awesome things that happen during the day so that other security guards can go back and watch them for a good laugh.

A) Is this true?
B) If so, what are some of the more funny/awesome things you have seen?

- Lady Bug

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ADear Lady Bug,

Yes, what you have overheard is true. We have an extensive system of security cameras that we observe diligently to keep the library safe. Ofttimes we catch shenanigans in the back of the library that people think we can't see; it is usually just a vigorous nose pick or butt scratch that people think they are safe from others observing. Fear not, we don't keep notes on stuff like that.

Some of the funnier things I personally have seen are:
-Synchronized tripping up the stairs. A group of people who didn't look like they were together tripped on the top step of the library atrium at the same time. It was surreal.
-The kid who rolled down the bushes just outside of periodicals. Kids, stay off of that hill, especially in the wintertime.
-Every kid who tries to slide down the handrail out of the atrium. This is a bad idea, especially if you have a backpack full of books, but it is fun to see the surprise on your face as you flip over the rail.
-Dance parties in Special Collections. Special Collections employees, you may not think anyone can see you, but we in security can see you boogie down!
Finally, my personal favorite:
-When one of our officers caught a kid stealing backpacks from the library a couple of years ago. The kid tried to run and when he got caught, tried to fight. Not a good idea when you are facing the number one cadet in the Air Force ROTC. The kid got manhandled; the more he tried to fight, the worse he got. That was so fun to watch.

Remember, citizens. Be good in the library. We are a highly-trained group of security guards.

+The Sentry+

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QDear Married 100 Hour Board Writers,

Did you find that, while you were dating, your relationship with your spouse was “easier” than other previous romantic relationships, or just different (maybe not easier, per se, but more worth it)?

- a now single girl

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ADear single girl,

I found it both easier and more worth it. It was still work (like all relationships), but it was easier to feel close to her, easier to see myself being with her forever and easier to feel committed. If it hadn't been so easy in all of those areas, it might have taken longer, and it would have been more difficult to see why it had the potential to be such a worthwhile relationship.

- Rating Pending (who is glad it was so easy)

ADear girly,

In certain areas, yes, and in other areas, also yes. One of the blessings I had was knowing my wife for a couple years before we began dating. My first girlfriend and I began dating just about as soon as we met, so as we found out the things we didn't like about each other we didn't really know each other well enough to handle it maturely. I couldn't really be honest with her because she would freak out over every little thing.

My wife and I can tell each other anything. While we were friends, we had a lot of testing of each other, mostly me being an idiot (unintentionally, of course) and observing how she reacted in those situations. It was the same on the other side: since we were friends and weren't trying to impress each other, she could be grumpy and angry sometimes without the worry of me freaking out and dumping her or something. Neither of us ever had to be on our best behavior, because we had no romance to kill.

As we started dating, we adapted our behaviors, of course, but we already knew each other's limits. We knew each other's limitations, so we could be on our best behavior as often as we could. Now we know pretty well what will make the other person happy and angry, so we make it a point to stay as far away from that line as we can. I love my wifey-poo so!

Dr. Smeed

ADear a

Yes, it was the easiest relationship I was ever involved in.

It was also the hardest of all of my relationships.

And the fastest, the slowest, the wildest, the calmest, the most instantaneous, the slowest to develop, the tallest, the shortest, the greenest, the reddest, the hottest, the coldest, etc.

You see, it's the only relationship I ever had. So it's all the extremes.

-Humble Master

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

Several years ago a study was done at BYU about how much graduates from different majors were likely to make upon graduation, and what percentage of students in those majors were married. I believe it was reported in the Daily Universe. The findings were interesting, but my own search has turned up nothing. Since you guys are the pros, do you know where it is?

- Talleyrand

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ADear Talleyrand,

I sure hope this is it, because otherwise I have no idea where it is, either. (Just in case that link no longer works when you read this, the article is called "Students marry for richer, not poorer" and was written by Dan Singer. It was published in the Daily Universe on October 13, 2003.)

- The Black Sheep

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

I have a plain, navy blue, knee-length dress whose zipper broke. I'm most interested in making it into a Halloween costume. I'm a moderately good hand-stitcher, but I don't have a sewing machine. Any ideas?

---Portia

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ADear Portia,

Duct tape a dorsal fin over the broken zipper, and go as a shark.

Or only partially stitch it up, and tape the top and the hem with two strips of black gaffer's tape. Form a cone hat out of rolled blue posterboard, and go as a crayon. Spice it up by painting stars on your face with white eyeliner, and go as Midnight Blue. Or you can add a name tag to the crayon getup that says "Hello I'm: Blue Da-ba-doo-da-ba-dai."

Throw on an apron, wear white tights, and throw a black headband on for Alice in Wonderland- depending on the apron you might get away without worrying about the back.

Or throw on a long black robe and go as Rowena Ravenclaw, complete with diadem.

Hope that helps,
-Ineffable

ADear Portia,

If you get a label and a blue hat you could definitely be a bottle of water. Other possibilities include some sort of undead bride, someone from Star Trek, a blue ball-point pen, or a bug (think like caterpillar or centipede; maybe even a butterfly if you can get wings, although that is a little cliché.)

If you can think of any famous people who wore a blue dress, then emulate one of them. One time I was laundry for Halloween, so if you can't figure anything else out, I would recommend pinning other similarly broken clothes to your dress and bringing along a laundry basket.

-Mico

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

I'm about to turn eighteen, and I'd really like to start working toward a good credit score. To do that, I've been looking up different credit cards that are available. But I don't even know where to begin! I'd like a card that gives me either rewards points or cashback, has a clear and concise statement, and has low interest rates. (That reminds me, what is APR, and what is its significance in the big picture?) But it seems like there's no clear choice. What is the best credit card?? Any insights or information would help.

Thanks!
Searching for THE BEST credit card

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ASearching-

Don't get a credit card. It will suck away your life.

What you should do is get something that you have to pay for regularly, like car insurance, a car loan, student loans, a phone, an apartment, etc. Pay your bills on time, every time, and within a few years, you'll have a pretty good score. A credit card is not required to build credit, contrary to popular belief, and it makes you way more likely to spend money you don't have. All these other things require you to learn to budget your money and spend responsibly, which is more important than building good credit quickly.

APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate, and it is how much interest you'll be paying over the year. It's incredibly important.

- Cuddlefish

ADear Best,

We'd like to disagree with Cuddle a bit: credit cards don't suck away your life. Irresponsibility does. It is entirely possible - and good, even - to have a credit card and use it as a debit card. We say don't get a credit card unless you can and will pay it off in full every month. Most companies have an automatic way to do this. And in this case, interest rate (APR) doesn't matter. You won't be paying any interest. And if you're not absolutely committed to paying off your credit card in full each month, don't get a card.

Now if you'd like to try alternate routes to building your credit, take a look at this article that addresses how to apply some of the tactics that Cuddlefish talks about. It's not automatic.

Bankaholic has a good comparison of student credit cards, if you want to check that.

I have two recommendations for choosing a first credit card. First, get a Visa, as it's most commonly accepted (you may want to get an additional card that has better benefits later on). Second, get a card that has good benefits with a business you already frequent. If you go to Costco, apply for the Costco American Express (it's not a Visa, but has great benefits). If you shop on Amazon frequently, get the Amazon.com Visa card. And so forth.

Love,
Waldorf and Sauron

ADear Searching,

One clever piece of advice that I picked up in one of those weird fifth-Sunday meetings works well if you have parents with good credit habits. Most credit card companies will allow you to set up joint accounts with another person. If you set up a joint account with a financially responsible family member, you'll each get your own card. Cut your card up, and let the older grown-up use theirs for some of werf's pesky expenses (just as they would likely be doing otherwise). This way, you start establishing good credit without having to spend anything yourself, which can be a very, very good thing when you're a young student.

~Hermia

ASearching-

It's true that credit cards themselves are not evil, but studies have shown that people are comfortable spending over twice as much money when they're paying with plastic instead of paper. That does suggest to me that credit cards can breed irresponsibility. If you do want to get a credit card, Hermia's advice is good.

- Cuddlefish

ADear Searching,

I know this isn't your question, but I'm here to tell you that you should TOTALLY get a credit card, so long as you have the willpower to control yourself. A long-established credit account, specifically a card, is one of the easiest and most effective ways to establish your credit rating. But here's the kicker: a credit card is only effective if you carry no balance. Seriously. Credit cards are great to have, but if you're going to keep a balance on them, you're actually doing more damage than good. But if you're looking to build a credit rating, get a card and hold that account for as long as possible. The more years you have a paid-off account, the better it looks for you. Kudos to you for starting early. If you have any questions about it, I've taken several finance courses and would be happy to discuss. Shoot me an e-mail at claudio dot the dot crowing at gmail dot com.

-Claudio

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QDear 100 Handy Bournes,

Hypothetically, were I to have documents that I wanted to reserve for another student's eyes only, except that I did not know the student beyond his name and room number, what would be the best way of delivering said documents? I don't want his dorm-/roommates getting their hands on this sensitive material. However, I have access to neither the fellow's room nor his schedule.

- Proteus Smythe, O.H.M.S.S.

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ADear Proteus Smythe, O.H.M.S.S.,

Ever considered the mail?

-glib

APSOHMSS-

I second glib. You could even overnight it if it needs to be delivered quickly. If his roommate opens it, it's a felony. Sure, it costs more than just tracking him down and handing it to him, but it's safe and pretty reliable.

- Cuddlefish

ADear Proteus,

Google Docs are astoundingly simple and effective. This requires both typing/scanning and knowing their e-mail address. Neither are difficult. This has the benefit of being both technologically cool and very cloak-and-daggery.

If you need help setting something up, send me an e-mail.

Dr. Smeed

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QDear Cuddlefish,

If you were a character in Twilight, which one would you be?

-Sky Bones

P.S. There's this awesome Twilight quiz you could take on Facebook.

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ASky Bones, you are so cruel.

Fortunately, since this isn't a real survey, I won't have to retire. I'm sure all my many fans will be glad to hear that.

I'm going to say that I would be Bella's mom, because in the first two books (the only ones in the series I've read), she really doesn't show up at all.

Reading those books took five hours from my life that I will never get back. I feel cheated.

- Cuddlefish

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

Are there any Supernatural fans on The Board? Can you please explain to all Board readers why Supernatural is so incredible?

- Me

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ADear You,

I'm by no means a rabid fan, but I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit that I can see why it's an oddly addicting show. Something about a fast-moving plot meeting the bizarre and funny.

~Hermia

ADear Me(!),

I'll admit, before you asked this question I had never heard of Supernatural. So, I perused the Wikipedia article on it, and yes, I could see how it would be addicting, thus meriting the description of incredible.

Unfortunately, Hermia seems to be the only fan among us. But if we're vying for incredible shows here, then I'm putting in my two cents for Avatar: The Last Airbender. Seriously, it is incredible.

Here, we'll make a deal: I'll give Supernatural a try if you give Avatar: The Last Airbender a try. Deal?

-Sky Bones

ADear Bones,

The Heartless Siren and I and my old roommates will second, third, fourth, and fifth the sentiment that Avatar: The Last Airbender is incredible.

-Curious Physics Minor

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

What are some programs that I could sign up with to go to a foreign country (I speak Spanish) and teach English? Not one of those programs that make YOU pay, but one where YOU get paid. Also, something legit...no scams. I'll have my bachelors in English--looking for no more than a year abroad. Thanks!

- trying to break from the practical

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ADear trying to break from the practical,

Honestly, I'm not sure if I'll be a huge help to you, as I am only familiar with companies that place English teachers in Asia. So, I can recommend some good companies that will place you there, but as far as personal experience goes, that's all I've got for you.

Since I happen to be currently teaching English in Japan and spent a lot of time researching the best companies, I can undoubtedly say that two great programs to consider if the far east is your destination are Interac and the JET Program. They are both fairly competitive, but the pay is very decent and you aren't required to know Japanese beforehand.

I don't know too much about the program itself, but one of my good friends taught English in China for six months with the Horizon program and had a positive experience with them. And again, I don't really know many details, but I've heard good things about this program as well.

In addition, I found this site which lists the top ten places to teach English abroad. If you think you might want to teach in one of those countries, then it should be fairly easy to find some reputable programs via the internet in which you can participate. Larger companies that place English teachers abroad would most likely (and should) have a FAQ section and testimonials from former participants. Read those carefully. Make sure there is a decent salary. Find out how many hours per week you will be required to work. Watch out for any large fees you might have to pay (e.g., do you have to find and pay for your own housing?).

So, I apologize that I couldn't be more help to you, but I have faith in your Googling skills. Also, don't forget to utilize your networking skills while you're still in school. Maybe your friends or some professors might also be able to recommend a reputable program. I found the private company I am currently working for through a friend, so sometimes it can really pay to ask around and just get the word out that you're interested.

-Sky Bones

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

I heard that I qualify to be a QMRP (Qualified Mental Retardation Professional) and was wondering how I go about to get certified for that. I know I have to take a test to become certified, but everywhere I ask around doesn't know even what a QMRP is, nonetheless how to become certified. Help. I've been calling gov. offices from this site to find out: http://www.utah.gov/government... Would you please help me? Thanks.

-The Prince

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ADear Prince,

Check out the National Association of QMRPs' website. They say that under federal regulations, you don't have to be certified (just have "a Bachelor’s degree in a human service related field and one years experience in direct service with people with developmental disabilities"), but certification can help in getting a job. They have a certification program.

Love,
Waldorf and Sauron

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

Watching this season of Project Runway, I've noticed that Heidi Klum has been wearing a lot of modest, short sleeve dresses that are really amazing looking. Is there a particular designer she wears a lot or a way to find out more about her outfits?

-Mormon Chic

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ADear Mormon Chic,

After much perusal of scary Heidi Klum fanboards, I regretfully admit you are one of a few fans who has even noticed Heidi Klum's sudden modesty. Most of her fans would be genuinely disappointed if they noticed what you noticed. Since none of my regular Project Runway sources could fill me in on the secret designer, I will give you a very possible explanation. During this season's filming of Project Runway Ms. Klum has been in the family way. However, she cannot simply wear maternity clothes, because that is most definitely a fashion faux-pas. Rather, she has been purchasing bigger sizes of designer clothes. Who, besides the husband, wants to see a pregnant woman wearing obviously immodest clothing? Yes, pregnancy is beautiful, but really now. So, she is wearing the same designer clothing, but in larger sizes.

My suspicion is her sudden liking of more modest clothing is closely tied to her pregnancy. Specific designers were not named on any of the sites I have visited. Originally I was going to suggest to you looking at Ms. Klum fan boards, maybe even asking around about her outfits. After a second look at some of those, I definitely do not suggest looking those up, unless you are actually a creepy elderly man. Ahem, moving on. Ms. Klum is herself a designer, so it is possible that many of her clothes are seriously her clothes.

Yet, on the other hand, she has a monopoly on cute modest dresses. Being Heidi Klum, it would be easy enough to keep others from finding out that secret. Unfortunately, she and I are not such good friends that we borrow each other's clothes, and so the modest mysterious designer(s) remain unknown. Maybe if you continue watching Project Runway she will accidentally let their names slip.

-Mico

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AWerf-

Meet me in the tunnels under campus. I will explain it all, and I promise not to lay a finger on you. Don't worry about the tunnel worms; they'll ignore you if you ignore them.

- Cuddlefish

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

Apparently there is a 3 month supply of food storage for the students of BYU-Idaho under the Taylor Quad. I've been up here for 4 years and this is the first time I've heard of this. Most likely it's a rumor, but I'm wondering if any of you have heard anything regarding this mass food storage. If you have, why do you think it'd be so important to keep it a secret from the students here?

- Kapri

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ADear Kapri

I haven't heard of any food supply at BYU-Idaho, but we've gotten some frequent questions about an emergency food supply at BYU (see here, here, here, here, and here for example). To quote Laser Jock,

Quote:

BYU does have enough food for all the students for three days. This isn't a special stash; rather, it's all the food that BYU Dining Services has on hand at any given time. And no, it's not stored in tunnels or under the stadium or anywhere exotic like that.

My guess is that BYU-Idaho similarly has enough food on hand to feed students for a few days, but it's not a secret food supply, it's just the food that's always on campus.

As for why it would be secret, I'm guessing it's not secret, but neither is it publicized. How would you like it to be publicized? There's no reason to make regular announcements that there is a food supply on campus.

-Humble Master

AKapri-

I sent an email to Greg Carson, director of BYU-I Food Services, and this is what he said on the subject:

Quote:

Hi [Cuddlefish],

Thanks for your note.

No, it is not true that BYU-I has a food storage stored under the Taylor Quad, being kept secret from students and others.

The fact is that University Food Services, along with University Stores and Receiving, has a menu plan, and stores a higher level of certain food items that can/and will be used for emergency purposes if the need arises. The food items stored are normal food items that we use on a daily basis so that they are rotated. The plan is to have the ability to provide up to 90,000 meals if necessary. This is not a secret. It is simply an extension of our normal operations.

I hope that answers your question, and yes, you may quote me.

Thanks.

Greg

I hope that's sufficient proof for you.

- Cuddlefish

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

If I drive behind a large truck, how close do I have to be to take any advantage of a drag effect without being right on his tail?

not visionary

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ADear unprophetic,

Mythbusters actually did some tests on drafting a semi in an episode from 2007; you might be interested in their numbers. At 100 feet (going 55 mph), fuel consumption decreased by 11%; at 50 feet, it decreased 20%. Further decreases were seen closer, but those distances are hugely unsafe.

Several sources I checked recommend a 3-second distance between you and the car in front of you as a safe following distance. At 65 mph, 3 seconds is 286 feet. (The easiest way to check while driving is to count how long it takes you to catch up to an object—say, a telephone pole—after the vehicle in front passes it.) If you were to follow someone at 100 feet at 65 mph, you'd be just about 1 second behind them. As several people pointed out in a couple of online discussions I read, you have to pay a lot closer attention to what's going on. Also, you're at a higher risk of getting hit by rocks kicked up by the semi.

Personally, I think it's better to stay a safe distance, be more relaxed, and spend the extra 11% on gas.

—Laser Jock

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

I'm considering gastric bypass. I know there are risks, I definitely know, and I'm taking them into consideration. One thing I can't get my head around, however, is the reaction of people. I don't want to tell anyone before-hand, so here's where the anonymity of the board works to everyone's advantage. I'm planning on being away from school for a few months afterwards (if I go through with it) but people will notice. My question is this: What would your honest reaction be (not to their face, but in your own head) if you found out one of your friends had gastric bypass? What about someone you're dating? What about someone you're engaged to?

Thanks.

- Fat

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AFat-

Well, my friend did have a gastric bypass, and it bothered me not one whit. I think I can safely say that it wouldn't bother me if my boyfriend or fiancé had one either, but that's not really applicable to my situation. Do what you think is appropriate and don't worry about people's reactions.

- Cuddlefish

ADear Fat,

I'm with Cuddlefish one this one. I had a friend who had gastric bypass as well, and it didn't bother me at all. They still had the same personality and everything, so it was almost as if they hadn't really changed at all.

Although, if you are engaged, it might not be a bad idea to let the other party know ahead of time, seeing as how you have acknowledged that there are certain risks that accompany gastric bypass.

-Sky Bones

ADaer Fat,

Why would it bother anyone if you had gastric bypass surgery? My band director got it, and I thought it sounded like a good option for her. (For the time I was in band, at least, she'd always been fairly large; she had the surgery after I'd left for college.) When I saw her later she looked great. Actually, she looked so different that I came close to not recognizing her.

I think it's not a risk-free operation, and not the best choice for everyone, but if someone decides to get it I don't see why it would make me think less of them. (And that goes equally for friends, someone I was dating, or someone I was engaged to.) In fact, if the person is female, I might find her more attractive afterward: I prefer people who aren't obese.

I agree with Cuddlefish that others' possible reactions shouldn't really figure into this, with the exception of a spouse (or possibly someone you're engaged to).

—Laser Jock

ADear Jolly,

My honest reaction would be "Holy cow, he has lost a lot of weight! Good for him." One of my youth leaders was in the several hundreds of pounds when I went on my mission, and by the time I saw him at my wedding (five years later) he had lost 300 pounds.

300 pounds.

Now, I couldn't help but stare. He had lost twice my weight, for heaven's sake, it was a heck of a change! It wasn't a bad stare, it was a "Whoa, [Elwood McGerkin] looks so much different!" kind of stare. I'm sure that if you are large enough to consider gastric bypass surgery you are used to being stared at. One of the oddities that you may have trouble getting used to is that switch. Strangers will not stare at you so much, but your friends (who are used to your formerly jolly condition) may.

It is hard to get used to, not in a bad way. I am not trying to scare you off, just being honest and telling you what I have observed. I have seen two great uncles, a boss, and the aforementioned guy in my ward get gastric bypass surgery, so you think I would be used to it. I am not quite, admittedly. I am only human, and a person's new appearance catches my eye, whether it is new glasses, new makeup, new hair color, a new dress, or major weight loss. Be prepared for others to feel the same way. They won't dislike it, but their reactions can make you feel otherwise. If you decide to go through with it, look to the long term if you have any discouragement. People will get used to it in time, and so long as you feel good, you will too.

Dr. Smeed

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ADear ......,

I am not totally sure if you mean a devotional or a forum, or if it was a campus-wide event, or for one specific department. So, here are a few options. You can look at the speaker archive.

You can also watch devotionals on the BYU Broadcasting website.

Good luck. Must have been a pretty interesting physics guy if you could wait one hundred hours to get this information.

-Mico

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

For the wrong reasons, I rushed into marriage. He's a wonderful, loving husband, and I think that if I had given our dating and engagement more time, I would have still married him (for the right reasons).

My problem is that in our first year of marriage, I let my regret turn into resentment against him. I never expressed these feelings to him, but for a time I could barely stand him. After about a year, I realized I was being incredibly arrogant and prideful, and this was no way to live. Not only did I deserve a happy marriage, HE deserved a wife who loved him in spite of her stupid mistakes. Through a lot of tears, prayer and soul searching, I have been deeply humbled and to my relief, I've found that with the Lord's help, the deep anger and resentment has disappeared, and he is now a dear companion to me.

My question is, what can I do to cultivate these positive feelings towards him into a deep love? He really is an amazing person, as I have come to realize over the last year, but I know he deserves better than what I currently feel towards him, which lacks the depth I want to give to him. I don't have any illusions about happily-ever-after, but I have begun to long for a deep soul connection with him.

- Backwards, But Trying to Move Forward

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ADear Trying to Move Forward,

I really respect you for trying to mend things rather than giving up so easily. That is very honorable of you.

If you married your husband in the first place, you must have loved him, right? You were once deeply attracted to him and wanted to be with him. You made each other happy, or else you wouldn't have wanted to spend so much time with him. Maybe you just weren't quite mentally and emotionally ready to accept the responsibilities that come with marriage. But you know what, that's just fine because now that you've accepted this, you can work to overcome it.

Perhaps what you should try to do is cherish that love that made you want to marry him in the first place. Find things that bring you closer together as a couple. Create memories together now that you can look back on in the years to come. Despite what many people may believe, rarely is there a couple that has an instant soul connection that can independently last for years and years. Yes, everything is wonderful and sparkling at first, but it takes a lot of mutual effort to maintain such bliss.

Go on dates with your husband, cuddle to a movie, feed each other spaghetti, fight over the dishwater, look at pictures from your wedding together, invite friends over for some games, go on a walks or hikes together, and make sure you selflessly serve him. Try to do these things because you want to do them, not because you feel obligated to as his wife.

Completely remove any thoughts of bitterness from your mind and try to start over feeling refreshed and capable. Praying and fasting for help would be a great idea, but also consider taking some time to yourself to meditate and exercise complete control over your thoughts and emotions.

If you could find some way to tactfully bring this up with your husband, then it might not be a bad idea to elicit his help with this matter, too, but only if you think it would be beneficial to you. Sometimes we need time to face our own personal struggles. It's completely your call.

My heart goes out to you, and I truly respect you for trying to improve things instead of letting them fall apart. I really hope this helps you and you find the strength that you need.

-Sky Bones

ADear Trying,

I just want to add to Sky Bones' wonderful answer with a quote from President Hinckley that I've used before, and will probably use again, when answering questions about love, relationships and marriage:

Quote:

True love is not so much a matter of romance as it is a matter of anxious concern for the well being of one's companion.

The negative emotions of anger, resentment, and pride are all self-centered and are the antithesis, according to President Hinckley, of true love.

You mentioned that thanks to your becoming more humble, that anger and resentment have begun to disappear. What a tremendously helpful start to the process of building up a lasting, loving relationship with your spouse! As you go about trying to think of ways to build memories, as you fast and pray for the kind of eternal relationship you both want, I would suggest that you, to your utmost, try to, daily if not constantly, direct your focus and your actions away from what you want and what would only make you happy. It's a shame that the phrase "actions speak louder than words" is such an overused cliché, because it's still very true. Not only do actions outwardly indicate your inward intentions, but they can help you to more actively change those inward feelings. You can fast and pray all day long to have feelings of love toward someone, but doing something for some, I think, is more effective.

Just one more thing. If you do something to serve him in some way, and he doesn't seem to notice or appreciate what you've done, it can be easy and tempting to fall back into that resentment. "I'm trying my best, but he just won't respond," is what you might think. It can take time. But I promise that no matter how long it might take, the love that can grow out of constant, sincere service, kind actions, loving words, and "active concern" will come, however quietly, and that when it comes, it can be strong enough to outlast everything.

- Rating Pending (who will probably use that quote many, many more times)

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

I served a mission in Germany and while there, I fell in love with a little piece of food called a dönner kepab. It's somewhat like a Gyro, in the fact that they cut the meat from one of those turning roasters, but the sauce was the money maker. Is there a place in Provo or Salt Lake that one could find these?

- Hungry Now

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ADear Hungry Now,

I have a friend, Photogenic, who served in Germany, and she said the closest that one of her friends has found is Burger Supreme's gyro. There also used to be a restaurant in Riverton (Dooners) that sold something very similar, but they closed in September of 2008.

She agrees with you that döners are absolutely delicious and she misses them.

—Laser Jock, with help from Photogenic

ADear an hungered,

OH MY GOSH HOLY CRAP YES, döners are totally awesome. I went to high school in Germany AND I have Turkish heritage, so I understand your love. If ANYONE knows where to get an authentic döner kebab in the state of Utah please send in a comment and I will reward thee handsomely.

-Cognoscente, who would seriously plan a road trip around this

ADear Hungry Now and other interested readers,

Mazza Cafe in Salt Lake City has both Kebabs and Shawarmas (which are essentially the same thing as I understand, only differing in the sauce.)

You may thank me now.

(Of course, I, in turn, must thank X-Factor in Board Question #27302, but I'll still accept your gratitude.)

-Yellow

ADear Hungry,

If all else fails, you can always try making your own. This recipe is for an oven-style one, but you can always pick up a rotisserie if you really feel the need for authenticity. Having never eaten one of these, I can't really say how this ranks, but you should really consider just learning to make them yourself. Good luck!

-Claudio

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ADear money money,

The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.

However many Accounting 200 students might profess otherwise, I will assume Master Norm has a soul.

Therefore the worth of Norm Nemrow is great.

Or, if you're looking for a fiduciary value, here goes. Assume Norm Nemrow's flesh sells for the same as Evander Holyfield's; by analogy with this site's extrapolation from how much this amount of flesh cost Mike Tyson, Norm would be worth on the order of $20 billion. (I can't be bothered to adjust for inflation or work at guessing Norm's weight, so this is an approximation.)

~Ƥ. Ɗ. Kirĸe

P.S. Despite how some others might interpret your question, I'm going to stick with my assumption that you didn't mean to pry into Master Norm's personal finances. You no doubt realize he (probably intentionally and for reasons that fully satisfy him) doesn't throw such information around and realize that questions about such matters would be best addressed privately to him.

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ADear Ariel,

Sorry you didn't appreciate the weather. Can't believe no one thought to consult you. Our bad.

The fact is, a storm is coming in. An extreme cold front in the north created a lot of high pressure and high winds that are bringing an extremely cold storm toward Utah. The smoggy haze that you are not liking is the normal prelude to a storm with precipitation and the dust is from extremely high winds. Tomorrow (Wednesday, September 30th) will be approximately forty degrees colder than today. Forty! That's obscene. Additionally, by the time this posts in one hundred hours, the temperatures will probably be on the rise again and the upcoming storm will have swept out the haze, dust and clouds.

- Rating Pending (who hopes he enjoyed this potentially last day of eighty-something degree weather)

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

I was recently on BYU TV (it was filmed on September 15th) for my involvement in Involva-paloza. I know that that it aired sometime that week and really wanted to see the newsclip and archive it for my club. How would I get this clip?

-The Juggler

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ADear Juggler,

Waldorf and Sauron briefly discussed some of the process in Board Question #53619. Even if you know exactly which episode you were in, there's a good chance that actually getting the clip will be rather expensive. However, you'll want to talk to BYU TV yourself to find out if they can help you and how much it's going to cost. Their contact information can be found here. Good luck!

—Laser Jock

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

I was talking with a friend about some houses that we saw. They were about 3 stories tall, but each level was fairly small. In talking about the space saving opportunities for such a house we alighted upon the idea of a spiral escalator. Would it be possible to build a fully functioning double helix spiral escalator (one side of the helix going up, the other going down)?

I just think that would be awesome if it would work.

- Eris, keeper of Kallisti, Apple of Discord

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ADear Eris,

I'm sorry to drop a bucket of cold disappointment on you, but someone already beat you to the idea of a spiral escalator. In fact, they beat you to it by more than a hundred years. The first spiral staircase was built in 1906 by Jesse W. Reno, the man responsible for building the first publicly practical escalator. The 1906 spiral escalator was built for a London underground station. Unfortunately, London officials never approved of the escalator due to safety concerns and the unused spiral escalator later fell into disrepair. Here's a picture of Reno and another escalator designer working on it.

As far as using a double spiral escalator as a means of saving space, you've already been beaten to the punch by Mitsubishi. The Japanese company has been selling functional spiral escalators since 1985 (you can read that in the Wikipedia article linked above). While I can see spiral escalators as being functional and saving a lot of horizontal space, I still think they would be more impractical than a traditional stairwell with landings. Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas has a huge, two-story spiral escalator. While I'm sure that a house-sized version of a spiral escalator would be scaled back considerably, I think that its diameter and the need for support structures both on the inside and outside of the staircase would make it more bulky and impractical than anything else.

- Rating Pending (who thinks that you should still try because this would be really cool)

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AWARDOCWTOT-

I haven't actually seen the people you're referring to, but a bunch of guys with orange tripods have been hanging around my neighborhood recently. It turns out they're surveyors. Maybe the guys at BYU are doing the same.

- Cuddlefish

ADear WARDOCWTOT,

Yes, they're using surveying equipement. Most likely, you're seeing students in Civil Engineering 113 doing their classwork. (Thanks, Misaneroth.)

-Yellow

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

Who does this:?
http://www.jer3miah.com/

Are they really students here too? Do they plan to do a season two? When will it start?

- Recently found it and thought it was awesome.

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ADear In the Know,

They really are students at BYU. The next season will start "when they finish it, or at least half of it." You seem like the sort of fan who might enjoy perusing these forums.

-Mico, who knows a fellow, who knows a girl.

ADear Recently,

As of a week and a half ago, they hadn't received funding for a second season, therefore the producers weren't sure if there would be one. They do have a plan for the story.

Love,
Waldorf and Sauron

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QDear Knowledgeable 100 Hour Board,

I am a new student at BYU, and I am having some difficulty fitting in. I had debated for a long time about going here instead of another university to which I was offered admission, but I had eventually felt that coming here was my best option. I, however, am not so sure any more. I am having much difficulty fitting in here and finding a group of friends, and have found myself feeling greatly alienated. I have tried attending club meetings, however, they are simply too large to feasibly meet and develop relationships with people. I tend to hang with the "nerdier" crowd, so to speak, and I have been unable to find said crowd as of yet. It has become even more difficult, as I had to switch dorm halls and now have no roommate and I have had difficulty getting to know the individuals on my floor. I had a great group of friends at home, but I met all of them through my classes at school, but I have found that my classes are too big to allow for even sitting next to the same person more than once.

So, now that you know my situation (sorry for the novel), I suppose that my question is, what can I do to find friends here? I have considered signing up for service opportunities, but I would like to be able to find friends beyond that. Where would you recommend trying to find that "nerdier" set, for lack of a better descriptor? How can I make the most of my time here at BYU and end my desire to transfer? Thanks!

- Honey Bunches of Awesome

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ADear My Favorite Cereal,

I know your question doesn't have to do with your "novel," but I just want to say you are not even close to the only one who is having a difficult time with the BYU crowd. When I first got to BYU last year, I basically locked myself in my room. It took me quite a while to make friends with my roommates or classmates. Just saying, you should look out for other people in your same situation. BYU is pretty huge, and there are people all around who feel they cannot find their niche.

Now, since you are a self-proclaimed nerd, I have the connection to a pretty great club. What you are looking for is Quark, BYU's Science Fiction and Fantasy club. But, the fun doesn't stop there. Their activities include a book club, writing meetings, movie nights, t.v. show marathons, game nights (video games at people's houses, the occasional on-campus LAN party, and the board games club), and all sorts of random miscellaneous things. The people are really nice, and it is easy to fall into a group of people who enjoy the same things you do. My only warning to you is brush up on your xkcd before going. And introduce yourself on the forums, because they are very active.

You may also be interested in the Quill and the Sword, which is a club dedicated to medieval history and culture. I admit I do not know as much about them, but I hear they are a pretty tight-knit group. Another, much lesser known group, is the group of people who run and maintain the Lost Media Archive. They also hold Incredibly Strange Movie Nights, which showcase incredibly strange movies. I attended one during the summer, and it was really fun. The people who run it are really nice, and while it is not necessarily "nerdy," it is more intellectual than your average group of friends. I would definitely recommend at least attending one or two of these movie nights; if nothing else you will meet some awesome people.

Wow, you just got a sequel. In summary, Quark is your best bet. Also, if you are not into the clubbing scene, I would recommend trying to start a study group with some people who just look like your kind of people. That is totally righteous judging. BYU isn't so scary once you find a solid group of friends, and from what you have written, you seem like a nice person who can definitely do that. If you decide not to transfer, I would totally like to hang out with you when I come back in Winter semester! Feel free to send me an e-mail at onomatopoeiaboom @ gmail.com (remove the spaces, of course).

-Mico, wishing you much luck and friendship

ADear Honey Bunches,

Mico has some great suggestions. May I also encourage you to be patient and expand your horizons a bit.

Like Mico, I pretty much hid myself away for my first year of college, hanging out mostly with roommates and a couple of friends from high school. I, too, felt that everyone around me was too "different" from me in some way (a whopping two years older, liked sports too much, liked reading manga too much, didn't appreciate the Brontës as much as I did, etc.), and tried to find the same kind of people that I had always been friends with. It wasn't until life and BYU's weird social scene had kicked me around for a few years that I realized that one of the best things you can do is to be friendly and befriend people who are different from you. It doesn't mean that these are the friends with whom you have to discuss the meaning of the universe every weekend; you will find such friends who share plenty of common ground with you as you open your horizons and begin to network a bit.

~Hermia

ADear Honey Bunches,

I just was researching the Lost Media Archive, and they also have a blog on blogger, which may be updated more frequently. Another club thing that could be fun for you is the American Culture and Literature club. On October 20th we're meeting at 7pm in 4188 of the JFSB and discussing "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." It might just be a bunch of boring English majors, or it could be fun times! Jiu-Jitsu club is also pretty cool; I attended over the summer and made some friends and learned some martial arts.

Aside from clubs, I'd recommend taking a smaller class. If you don't have any upper-level classes to take in your major yet, take a small writing class, a language class, or an exercise science class and make some friends. You'll have fun learning and meet new people. Another good way to meet people might be through your ward and stake activities. Yes, it's true that there are less introverts who like going to them, but how else are you going to find each other?

-Whistler

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

I was recently at an awesome Muse/U2 concert. This was my first rock concert (besides Tower of Power in a very small venue with my dad), and I experienced an interesting sensation. Muse had their bass (sound, not instrument) turned up very high, and when they started playing I could feel the bass reverberating in my bones, especially the bass drum. After a few minutes of this I started to feel slightly sick, like my heart wasn't beating right, but I felt my pulse and it was normal. Can you explain my body's reaction to the heavy bass?

-Let me in the sound

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ALMITS,

You're definitely not the only one who experiences such reactions from thumping bass.

Here's a quote from a study entitled "A Review of Published Research on Low Frequency Noise and its Effects" by Dr. Geoff Leventhall:

Quote:

Biological effects on humans, In the numerous published studies there is little or no agreement about the biological activity following exposure to infrasound. Reported effects include those on the inner ear, vertigo, imbalance etc.; intolerable sensations, incapacitation, disorientation, nausea, vomiting, bowl spasm; and resonances in inner organs, such as the abdomen and heart.

That quote is from section 13.3 on page 55, which you should read the rest of. Also, check out Table 4 on page 49. There's quite a bit of interesting stuff in that study (or rather, I suppose it's a compilations of other studies on the subject), if you have a few minutes to flip through it.

Here's another part that may be interesting, also from page 55:

Quote:

Danielson and Landstrom (Danielson and Landstrom, 1985) exposed twenty healthy male volunteers to infrasound in a pressure chamber and the effects on blood pressure, pulse rate and serum cortisol levels of acute infrasonic stimulation were studied. Varying frequencies (6, 12, 16Hz) and sound pressure levels (95, 110, 125dB) were tested. Significantly increased diastolic and decreased systolic blood pressures were recorded without any rise in pulse rate.

That sounds like it might be what happened to you: feeling different but no change in pulse. Then again, I wasn't there/in your body, so it's hard for me to know.

So with all of this, it's not completely determined what the effects of low-frequency noises are on humans, but it only makes sense that it would mess with us in some way. I mean, we're vibrating ourselves a LOT with sound waves that low, and you can't just do that and NOT experience any detrimental sensations from it.

But no worries, it's probably not a big deal, so long as you don't constantly expose yourself to it. As always, we are not doctors, so if you experience anything abnormal, especially days after the concert, go to a doctor.

-Commander Keen

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ADear ---,

I do not believe that anything coincidental has happened in my life. Everything that has happened has been because of an action that I or someone else took.

Amazing to think about, isn't it?

The most seemingly coincidental thing happened just last year, however. When I lived in California my family was pretty close friends with another family in the ward. They had a son about my age. We moved to Utah and, although our mothers stayed in touch, we didn't.

Fast forward many years...due to a completely out-of-the-blue decision, I transferred to BYU after my sophomore year of college. One day, as I was sitting at the table in my apartment doing homework, there was a knock on my door. I opened the door, and there was the guy I had been friends with 700 miles away and many years ago!

"Anomalous?" he asked shyly.

"So-and-so?" I responded (intelligent reply, I know).

He said that he had heard that I was at BYU from his mom, looked me up on stalkernet, and was surprised to find that we had the same address (except for the apartment number, of course). Weird.

We then spent the next little while catching up with each other. I learned that he is too smart for his own good (computer engineering major) and he learned that I'm too hyper for my own good (I bounce up and down a lot when I get excited).

Seemingly coincidental? Yes. But I'm one of those "everything happens for a reason" types of girls.

⋯Anomalous

ADear ---,

Like Anomalous, I'm not so sure that this was completely due to chance, but definitely the most coincidental-ish thing that has happened to me (recently, at least) was to get randomly put with the same awesome roommate twice. I had a great roommate in the dorms the spring term after my freshman year. We then continued on with our BYU careers separately (she wanted to stay in the dorms, I wanted to flee the freshman scene), just to wind up in the same off-campus apartment four years later. Now that we've both grown up a bit, we're even better friends than before.

~Hermia

ADear dashdashdash,

In middle school I had an acquaintance who moved to Dubai with his whole family. He left behind his friends, and his girlfriend of the time. I knew him from our choir class together. About three years later, in high school, I went to New Jersey with my parents, to visit some people and go to New York City. My mom and I thought it would be fun to see Wicked one night, so we went to a cheap ticket office and got the last tickets for that night's show.

THEN, during the intermission, guess who my mom sees? Some kid who kind of looks like a guy she used to see at my school. Yes, the guy from my middle school, who moved to Dubai, was in NYC on a random weekday during the summer, seeing Wicked not even six rows away from me.

That was a coincidence if I ever heard of one. Here is a slightly less coincidental one, but sort of cute. I don't know how into cutesy things you are, but I'm telling you anyway, so you best not mind. In high school I started dating a fellow. We had been in the same ward when I was about eight and he was almost ten years old. After close to a year of dating, his family was watching old family home movies when they came across one where I was totally mentioned. "Isn't this Mico's book?" "Yes, we better return it at church." Coincidence? Absolutely.

My life isn't too coincidental, really. Mostly predictable, too, but there you go!

-Mico

ADear,

I have a friend who conjures himself like Beetlejuice. Seriously, it became a running joke to call him he-who-must-not-be-named in conversation because once "Michael" crossed one of our lips he would round a corner, or call, or somehow make himself manifest. One time we were laughing about this phenomenon, and I kid you not, the school newspaper wafted open on a desk to an article about the school play he was starring in, and there his picture was staring at us.

Since I don't honestly believe that Michael has magical powers, that would probably be the most coincidental event of my life.

-Ineffable

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QDear Ineffable + 100 Hour Board,

Thank you for your great suggestion for Board Question #53669. The truth is, though, that I actually have a boyfriend, so asking this fellow out isn't a possibility. Any suggestions you can give me for what to say immediately after he comments negatively about his weight would still be helpful! Thanks for answering my question once; perhaps you could do it again?

–Roonil Wazlib

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ADear Roonil Wazlib,

You could go Ineffable's route anyway, just take out the "date" aspect. Tell him you and some friends are going to a movie, playing games, hiking, or whatever it is you kids do these days. That would definitely show him that you still consider him a fun fellow.

Right after he says something self-deprecating you could consider sighing, looking him straight in the eye, and saying, "Do you really think that is most important?" or something to that effect. Tell him clearly that you do not appreciate his comments, and while you don't know the details of his situation it really will not do any good to make negative comments either. I have used this technique before, not with a peer, so it may be different, but in most situations being straightforward about your concern is most effective.

If you want to go the "I'll show you how I feel" route, you could follow up all of his comments with equally self-deprecating ones. Maybe you will prove a point. I think this method is much more likely to backfire, though.

-Mico

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

LOL guys! I just submitted a question with a typo in it (I realized it right after I clicked "submit"). This typo isn't a big deal, but (for future reference) is there a way to retract a question if, say, you realize you made a mistake in it or if you no longer need it answered?

-Roonil Wazlib

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ADear RW,

No, there isn't. If you make a big enough mistake that it will significantly change your question (or our answers), the best you can do is submit a correction as another question; the editors can then change your original question for you (and delete the extra one). However, since they're busy folks, it's best if that doesn't happen very often, and a minor typo will just have to stand.

The same goes for retracting a question; often, by the time you submit a retraction (and the editors see it), the question will already have been answered. Thus, given that someone has already put some time into it, it usually makes more sense to post the question anyway. Maybe someone else will find it interesting or informative, even if you no longer need an answer.

—Laser Jock

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

Someone once told me that you shouldn't run your garbage disposal at the same time as your dishwasher because all of the food in the disposal will get in your dishwasher. Is this true?

- Nervous about doing both simultaneously

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ADear Nervous,

I have done this frequently without incident.

~Hermia

ADear Nervous,

If the dishwasher is installed properly, you won't have to worry about this. If you're interested in how the two are hooked up, I found a couple of ways it's done: one is to run the dishwasher drain hose up to an air gap vent first, and then to the disposal. The other is to simply run the hose up to the underside of the countertop and then down to the disposal, so that there's a loop of hose above the level of the disposal.

You can read more about this in this forum thread.

—Laser Jock

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

I know this has been covered before, but I poked around in the archives and couldn't find what I was looking for, so I feel justified in asking. I'm frustrated with my dating life. I try to go on dates as often as I can -- as my schedule will allow, and as I can come up with someone I want to take out and a suitable activity -- and I generally have a nice time, but haven't felt a real connection with someone in a while. Here are some of the reasons I think it isn't working so well:

I'm busy. Even if I might have time to go on a date one week, often I am so busy during the week that I don't even realize that the weekend is coming until it has arrived. I like to have well-planned dates and not ask girls at the last minute either.

I lack confidence. I don't some much lack the confidence that I am a guy worth dating or that I would make a good boyfriend and husband, but I lack the confidence that I can actually find someone who would be interested enough to find out, and have enough interest in her as well, who is actually single, and that our personalities will go together well, and that we will be able to communicate well enough with each other, and all this at the same time, given my track record. I think part of this comes from the fact that I actually had a really wonderful, even ideal relationship before my mission, which in post-mission circumstances would have led to us getting married, and I fear that another relationship can't reach the same level emotionally as this one did.

I'm fairly shy. I enjoy meeting people in comfortable situations but don't do well starting up conversations with people I don't know without some sort of 'in'. Nor do I think I'm the kind of person where a solid relationship could develop from some chance meeting.

My feelings have been hurt over and over, and it's not something that I really enjoy putting myself through constantly.

Sometimes I am worried enough about seeming to boast when I share my strengths that I will instead conceal them completely.

Past experience has taught me to expect that if I am interested in a girl, then she will not be interested in me, and if a girl seems like she might be interested in me, either she isn't really, or she's probably not my type. I try not to think that way but subconsciously I can't control it.

I think this is mostly mental, but I tend to feel like I don't stack up to the kind of girl that I am looking for. I don't have unrealistic expectations, but certain things are really important to me, and somebody who possesses them may not find the critical qualities that they are looking for in me, especially if they don't know me very well.

I have a hard time meeting people who share a lot of my common interests, or finding ways to get to know them better in casual, friendly situations to where I would feel comfortable asking them on dates later.

I try to be patient but I tend to get discouraged because I have longed to be a husband and raise a family since I was high school, and have been working hard at finding my eternal companion for over two years now without a whole lot of luck. And I know that 'unhappy' or 'discouraged' aren't exactly at the top of anyone's list. I know the answers to this part: Serve others, have fun, enjoy being single, live the gospel. And I do those things, and they help, but they can't completely fill the empty space that seems to grow as time goes on.

After describing my situation in plenty of detail, I'll leave my question open-ended. What advice can you offer me?

- stymied

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ADear Stymied,

Close no doors.

Don't bother predicting how things are going to turn out, because we're usually very, very wrong. From your list, I'm betting you marry some girl that you're going to meet in a place like an elevator. She's not going to be "your type." She's going to be equally as intelligent in her pursuits but they're going to be things you know little about. Don't worry though, they will be the kind of stuff that inspires your curiosity and therefore will facilitate many dates. Her associated ignorance of your favorite past times will result in you looking very good. You won't be able to explain them without exposing your strengths. She'll think you're brilliant for all your random knowledge. And even though she's going to be Samoan-statured spiritually in addition to being clever and beautiful, she'll think you're wonderful. She won't be perfect. She's going to get super anxious even when she knows that she just needs to trust in the Lord. Or, she's going to get frustrated to the point of resignation when obstacles are thrown in her path. You'll sweep her off her feet with your level-headed steadiness, or your ability to finish things that seem impossible. You'll get your happy ending, just not the way you plan it.

I know that two years feels like an eternity- but it really doesn't even register as a blip in your existence. Life's just started. Relinquish your hold on the reigns- God does a much better job with timing than we do. I know that that still leaves you feeling unsatisfied for the right now- I'm sorry. I know it's hard to hear "Family: isn't about time?" and not think "Exactly!" It's all going to be alright.

One last piece of general advice: buy a jar of Nutella. It's like a gastronomical hug.

-Ineffable

ADear stymied,

Well, let's make some suggestions based on the data you've presented. You say that often you are busy to the point that dating becomes last-minute. Maybe you need to chill out on your life a little, so you'll have the leisure to plan out dates. But, personally, I don't think that's your problem. I think that if you really liked a girl, you would make time to ask her out on a date.

You say that you don't often strike up conversations with people. That's okay, but you should have some sort of social network. Use the "ins" you have: talk to your roommate's sister when she comes by, meet a few people you don't know at your friend's birthday party, and crack a joke to the girl at work who always walks by with all the copies (or, whatever). Try to think of meeting new people as an opportunity to improve their lives instead of worrying that you'll say something wrong.

Another thing: it seems like you're concentrating a lot on dating, specifically. Are there ways you could get to know girls a little better before asking them on dates? I'm not saying to give up on dating, but a tiny bit of hanging out might help you meet new people in a non-threatening environment. Looking back on this, it looks like you're having a problem here. Do you get facebook invites to parties? Or fliers on your door for weird movie nights? If not, maybe you should start a movie night. This way the girls who do come already either like you or the movie you're showing. Half the selection process will already have been completed!

I'll have to admit this: I feel kind of like a hypocrite giving you this advice to meet people you already have an in with. I'm much more comfortable in my own world, and sometimes I'd rather go to International Cinema by myself than risk asking someone to go with me. I tell myself that I like being by myself, which is sometimes true, but not always. Something I've found that helps is actually going to institute and those firesides and trying to talk to someone in the process. It's scary, and it hasn't gotten me any dates, but it's getting me somewhere, right? Anyway. I guess the advice for both of us is to chill out, it's okay if we don't get married by the time we're thirty as long as we're looking, and to keep taking those risks, hoping that someone will love us.

-Whistler

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ADear RN,

Survival is a tricky thing. After some research, I have found that there are no good alternatives for human babies besides infant formula products, made specifically for babies who are not getting breast milk. Once a baby is more than a year old at least, it is safe to begin feeding werf cow's or goat's milk. Feeding young infants anything besides infant formulas or breast milk is described as "totally unsuitable" and "often dangerous."

It seems that while an infant could survive on a different type of milk, the nutrients would not affect werf in the same way. It is unhealthy and definitely leads to unwanted complications and developmental problems. Some way to survive.

-Mico

ADear RN and Mico,

Not only could they survive, but they would become the founders of the most powerful empire in the world!

Dr. Smeed

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

I apologize if this question has already been answered but I couldn't find it in the archives. What it the largest LDS temple? I found a site saying it was the LA temple but others saying it's the SLC temple. I've also heard the DC temple is up there. I was thinking that the endownment rooms in LA temple seem larger than in SLC. Sorry for so many random thought. Thanks as always!

- ALH

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ADear ALH,

The largest LDS temple is the Salt Lake Temple. Its total area is 385,000 square feet. The reason there is confusion is because the Los Angeles California Temple used to be the largest. However, the Salt Lake Temple underwent renovations which expanded the total area. The Los Angeles Temple is still the second largest. Statistics on how large the endowment rooms are is not available. You will just have to go to the temple a lot and compare.

-Mico

ADear ALH,

The Washington D.C. Temple is the tallest temple, which is why you sometimes hear its name pop up when discussing temple dimensions.

This is just a guess since I've never been to the Los Angeles Temple, but the Salt Lake Temple was built with many more additional rooms which are used by the First Presidency and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. This might explain why it is so large, but the endowment rooms themselves might seem on the smaller side to you.

But, yes, as of right now, based on square footage the Salt Lake Temple is the largest temple in the world.

-Sky Bones

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

It was once told to me by a missionary back home, Maryland, that there are three temples that have the Angel Moroni holding not only the trumpet but also the brass plates. I know that the DC Temple is one of them, but what are the other two?

Thanks in advance,
Elliot H. Croft

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ADear Elliot H. Croft,

According to this website, it is actually the gold plates that the Angel Moroni is holding, and there are five temples featuring this, which are: the Los Angeles California Temple, the Washington D.C. Temple, the Seattle Washington Temple, the Jordan River Utah Temple, and the Mexico City Mexico Temple.

And here's an interesting fact from the same website: apparently the Angel Moroni statue atop the Monticello Utah Temple was originally white enamel-covered fiberglass, but was replaced by the traditional gold-leafed statue a year later.

-Sky Bones

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QDear 100 Hour Board,

Are freshman required to have a meal plan? I was 100% sure they were until recently someone was telling me they didn't have one because BYU removed the requirement at the last minute before the year started.

Is this true? If this is, why did BYU remove the requirement?

- Not planning to get rid of his meal plan, but curious just the same.

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ADear Not planning to get rid of his meal plan, but curious just the same.,

Freshmen are not all required to have meal plans. The requirement to have a meal plan is based on where you live, not your year in school. The only reason you must have a meal plan is if you live at Helaman Halls, because, as the FAQs say:

Quote:

Helaman Halls does not have cooking facilities. To encourage proper nutrition the University has mandated that residents need a meal plan to help them meet their nutritional needs.

- The Black Sheep