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

Posts for October 29, 2009

Back to top
QDear 100 Hour Board,

For pure personal interests, when and where are the first sessions of EFY happening in South America? I know there happening in January, but other than that I haven’t been able to find out anything else. Depending on dates, I might be able to claim a number of firsts not only for The Pacific, but for the Southern Hemisphere…

-LDS Camera Guy, who’s retired to looking after the Wikipedia page of EFY

Direct Link to Question

ADear Camera Guy,

Whew, sorry this one took so long to post! Long story short, I called the EFY office, and the representative I spoke with didn't have any information, because the man who would have the information, meaning the director, was in a meeting at the time. Email correspondence took place over the course of a few days, and this is the information that I received:

"International EFYs are held according to the direction of the local priesthood leadership...[and] as far as we know, nothing has been announced for South America."

So it sounds like the main EFY office doesn't currently know either, and that they will be releasing that information later on. Keep your eyes peeled! I know I will.

Marzipan

Back to top
QDear 100 Hour Board,

I am a frustrated teacher. Do you guys have any ideas of ways I could show my students how thankful they should be for their education? Videos, facts from other countries, stories, etc. that might make them think for even ten seconds about how lucky they are to live in this country where we know how to read and write and have opportunities many others don't?

- Beside myself!

Direct Link to Question

ADear Beside myself,

I don't know how to make surly students any more happy to take tests or do assignments. To this day I've never thanked a teacher for requiring a book to be read. However, I did have a teacher in high school who took away the "if it isn't directly applicable to my career I shouldn't have to learn it" excuse and made my education seem much more valuable than a mere qualification to start "real life." Instead of focusing on the sobering statistics of kids who can't go to school, she focused on the people that changed the world because they went to school. She always drilled us with the same question whether we were talking about the paranoia of Nero or the cruelty of Stalin: "Who was their biggest threat?" The answer was always the intellectuals. Every oppressive leader tries to shut the mouths of the educated, burning books, closing schools, hanging authors. She stressed that we should always be reading because what you are ignorant of, you cannot fight or change. She blamed neglected literacy for Hitler's retention of power in Germany because every household had a state-issued copy of Mein Kampf, yet it remained unread and the depth of Hitler's villainy remained unknown to the good souls who would have deposed him. In her class I felt an urgency to learn. She had created such a link between ignorance and cruelty, and education and justice that we didn't have a choice but to invest more of ourselves in learning.

You might also be interested in the graphs for primary, secondary, and tertiary education spending, woman's literacy statistics , and this poverty facts sheet.

Good luck,
Ineffable

Back to top
QDear 100 Hour Board,

Why is it so hard and time-consuming to become a naturalized US citizen? I don't blame most the millions of immigrants who come illegally to avoid the hoops and paperwork and seek better lives, since it took my mom almost 7 years to become a US citizen even after being married to a lifelong US citizen.

Confused American

Direct Link to Question

ADear Confused,

Because too many Americans are lazy, ignorant xenophobes.

I have some relatives who it took a decade to naturalize as American citizens. And before they were citizens they had already paid more taxes and contributed more to the American economy than most people who had lived in America for four times as long. The U.S. should make it easy for brilliant analytical minds and up-and-coming entrepreneurs to relocate here, but instead we make it difficult. Even better, we have an immigration debate where both sides apparently agree that reducing immigration is a good thing and disagree only about what to do with the unskilled illegals we already have. As far as I can tell, Republicans generally say to do (semi-impossible) mass deportations and Democrats say to ignore the rule of law. What I think we should do is write immigration laws in such a way that it is easy for foreigners to move here and start working to benefit our economy. Easy enough that the people currently here could just follow the law, so we'd kill two birds with one stone.

However, this would mean that American workers, skilled and unskilled, might have to actually compete to earn their keep. (We wouldn't now have Government Motors if this were the case, but that's another rant.) Many Americans are too lazy for this; they're scared to death of actually getting paid based on what the work they do is worth (laziness). They know foreigners are not so lazy, so they want them to stay away (xenophobia). And they have no grasp of the relevant economics; if they did, they would know the reasons why essentially all reputable economists favor freer trade and more open borders and have policy positions accordingly (ignorance).

So: it's because a majority of Americans (judging by the policies they support with their voting) are lazy, ignorant xenophobes.

Also, all of the above said, I still resolutely blame the immigrants who come here illegally.

~Ƥ. Ɗ. Kirĸe

ADear Confused

The main elements that take time are residency requirements (a minimum of three years living in the U.S., even in expedited cases) and the bureaucratic time involved in the naturalization process after the citizen-to-be has filed initial paper work (apparently an application can take up to 2 years to be processed). So one of the key reasons it is so hard to become a citizen and it takes so long is...because a government bureaucracy is in charge of the process. Not an earth-shattering revelation, I know, but I'm pretty sure it's the truth.

-Humble Master

ADear Confused Americans,

I disagree with the lazy, ignorant xenophobe argument. I think that our relatively stringent immigration policy is fairly beneficial. It prevents a sense of entitlement, which goes hand in hand with the American Dream®.

You see, America is a desirable place to live. You would think that we would encourage everyone to jump on board! What happens when everyone jumps on board a boat, though? No matter how nice and desirable that boat is, soon it won't be able to hold everyone. You know my feelings on overpopulation: I think it is something to worry about.

You may say that Americans are lazy, ignorant xenophobes, and others will argue that we should have looser immigration restrictions because we are all children of immigrants, but I think that these two arguments cancel each other out. Americans are lazy, most Americans are descended from immigrants, thus the children of immigrants are going to get lazy, ignorant, and xenophobic.

Of course, I don't agree that it happens just like that, but people come to America to obtain a life of privilege and opportunity, and to have a better life for their children. My great-grandpa did it, and here I am. It was tough for him to get to America and become a citizen, even in the early 1900s, and it should have been. It still should be. America should be the place for the hardy, the independent, and those who are willing to work hard. I think swimming through a sea of bureaucracy to get citizenship is a small price to pay to prove that you have earned the right to be here.

That said, it appalls me that so many Americans wouldn't be able to pass a citizenship test. They should certainly work harder to redeem the gift that they have been given. I am not against immigration, I think it should exist to create better Americans and I think that our currently arduous system should do that.

Dr. Smeed

ADear Confused,

It's because America's borders are an economic and psychological shield that allows us Americans to feel okay about living in opulence and surplus while our foreign trade policies rape and pauperize the Third World.

-Groucho, Harpo, and Karl

Back to top
QDear Claudio ~

How do I learn more about the chemistry of cooking? Even just the basics would be great. Like, what do eggs do in a recipe? Butter? (And butter vs. margarine vs. oil (and the various kinds of oil) vs. shortening?) Baking soda vs. powder? I'm wanting to branch out and be creative with my recipes or even just substitute ingredients in my current recipes, but I'd like to learn about what various ingredients actually do first. How can I learn?

~ Dragon Lady

Direct Link to Question

ADear Dragon Lady,

What a great question. I think more people would be better cooks with just a bit of chemical know-how. Unfortunately, most of mine has come through a bizarre amalgam of Food Network (Good Eats in particular), a few years of basic chemistry courses, reading, researching, and experience. This is a cocktail that can be difficult to duplicate. So, here are some thoughts:

1. Take some basic chem courses online. Well, "courses" may be a bit liberal of a word. I guess use things like this. In particular, I'd recommend learning about atoms, ions, molecules, polarity, solvents, osmosis, reactions, thermochemistry, acids, and bases. Almost everything that happens when you're cooking with everyday ingredients falls into these categories. Wikipedia is also very useful for this sort of thing.

2. Know your ingredients. What makes your food work/taste the way it does? Why do onions make you cry (as you break cell walls by cutting, you blend chemicals together that release sulfur which can form acids that irritate your eye)? Why does flour thicken liquids (the heat causes starches to burst, releasing long glucose chains which get tangled up and thicken the sauce)? These sorts of things. All of this kind of information is available on Wikipedia. Curious as to what gluten is and what it does? Look it up! That might lead you to the question of what protein contents different kinds of flour have. Also available! Then you may wonder what effect those protein contents have on bread. Bam! This leads to my next point:

3. Keep being curious. Your question is exactly the right way to start! Keep wondering why your food and cooking work the way they do, and when you get some facts, think about how they apply to other dishes you may cook. For instance, you may wonder why you only put egg whites in an angel food cake. Looking for answers to that will tell you that it's because to achieve the proper airy texture of angel food, you want a good egg white foam. What, then, makes it foam like that? Well, it's the fact that the proteins in egg whites reduce the surface tension of the water in the white, allowing for a good foam to form. What happens with those proteins? Well, as you beat the heck out of them, they denature (meaning that they uncoil) which allows for them to tangle up with other denatured proteins, forming a mesh that allows for bubbles to form. Where else can you use that information? Souffles, meringues, and other foods like them.

4. Find some experts. My guru in this matter has been the great Alton Brown. A few weeks ago I recommended his cookbooks, and I do so again here. He teaches why foods react to each other and to heat in the way they do, and knowing this allows you to start mixing things together in unique and interesting ways.

If you ever want to talk cooking, chemistry, or any mixture of the two, shoot me an e-mail at claudio dot the dot crowing at gmail dot com. I don't know everything on the subject (not by a LONG shot), but I'm always excited to learn and discuss it. Good luck to you!

-Claudio

Back to top
QDear 100 Hour Board,

I want to take my significant other to BYU's production of "Absent Friends." However, I'm worried - she really hates the topics of child abuse and rape, so I don't want to offend her... So am I safe? I don't really want to read the online plot summaries because I want to see it too! Thanks!

- Worried

Direct Link to Question

ADear Worried,

You should be safe. I would say more, but it looks like you don't want to know anymore.

-Whistler

ADear Worried,

May I also point out the obvious, that playwrights who write about child abuse or rape also hate child abuse and rape?

Love,
Waldorf and Sauron

Back to top
QDear 100 Hour Board,

I've been listening to music from that show "Glee" lately, and I really like the renditions of "Hate on Me" and "Bust your Windows," so I was hoping that I could buy some of the original artists' other songs, but the problem is that they're so... boring. And slow. Are there any suggestions on fast, powerful RnB-like songs or artists similar to those two?

Thanks!

- Can't think of a cool alias

Direct Link to Question

ADear cool,

Alicia Keys and India.Arie are awesome. Erykah Badu is a little more laid back, but also top notch. Lauryn Hill is older, but classic. I'd check them out.

If you want to try a little neo-soul hip hop as well, consider this a strong recommendation for the Roots. They're upbeat, genius, and positive.

-Cognoscente, who feels like a strong black woman now

Back to top
QDear 100 Hour Board,

If I paint with tempera paint on a regular canvas, do I need to seal the painting in any way to preserve it or anything? Wikipedia says that tempera paint, unlike oil paint, doesn't change color over time, so the seal would be for that. It would be to protect it from flaking or something.

--un artiste

Direct Link to Question

ADear Artiste,

That depends on what kind of tempera you're talking about.

The Wikipedia article for tempera is talking mainly about egg tempera, which is pretty advanced. If this is what you're talking about, don't put it on canvas at all. It's so fragile that it will crack and flake on canvas no matter how you try to seal it. Put it on a hard surface - a gessoed board, for example - and then keep it under glass to protect it.

If you're talking about American "tempera paint," a.k.a. poster paint, then beware. This is far, far less colorfast than oil, and it will probably also flake just because it's cheap and, just like it sounds, temporary. You could try for a good water-based seal (look in the paint section of a craft store. Don't get any sealant or varnish meant for oils), but I doubt it would preserve your masterpiece for long.

My advice: Get yourself a set of acrylics. You can get a decent set for cheap if you go to Robert's (they have a 40% off coupon on any one item every day. Ask for it at the register). Acrylics are not quite as colorfast as oils or egg tempera, which last for hundreds of years, but they will last for a few generations. And you don't have to seal the finished piece unless you want to.

Good luck,
Waldorf and Sauron

Back to top
QDear 100 Hour Board,

So, I'll be going into the MTC here in a week and a half, and right now there is one main thing that I am worrying about. Rs. I can't roll my Rs. And I'll be speaking Spanish.

So, my question is this. Do you know of anyone who speaks Spanish but can't roll their Rs? How do they deal with it? Is it like a lisp in English?

Thanks!

- Fredjikrang

Direct Link to Question

ADear Fredjikrang,

I do, in fact, know someone who can't roll their Rs in Spanish. Me. Or at least, I didn't used to be able to.

It's really annoying (and a bit embarrassing), and yes, comparing it to a lisp in English isn't far off. The good news is that barring an actual physical defect of some sort, I'm quite confident you can learn to roll your Rs. Why? Because I eventually did, after a long, long time.

The secret is to just not give up. Even if it takes months; even if you practice rolling your Rs while walking around in the MTC and get weird looks; even though it's easy to get discouraged—eventually you'll get the hang of it.

Ask for advice from your MTC teachers, from native speakers, etc. Sooner or later someone might explain it in a way that makes sense to you, or maybe you'll just gradually get it yourself. Either way, I'm confident you'll eventually get it.

Good luck!

—Laser Jock

ADear Fredjikrang,

I sent your question to a friend of mine who was raised bilingually (Spanish and English) in a Spanish-speaking country. Her advice is actually slightly contradictory to LJ's:

Quote:

I'd say that not being able to roll your "R's" isn't that big of a deal. People might giggle a little, but in that "Aww, you're trying but you can't. That's so cute!" sort of way, for the most part. Most people who can't roll their "R's" right off the bat can't learn to do it, as it's something that sometimes has to do with the shape of your tongue and the length of that little strip of tongue that attaches your tongue to your jaw. I know a few people, born and raised in Spanish-speaking countries, who can't fully roll their "R's".

So, coming from a native speaker, she thinks if you can't do it right away, it might not be worth all the effort. Everyone should still be able to understand you and think you're, well, "cute."

Apparently LJ was eventually able to figure it out through much trial and tribulation, it seems. I've never been able to roll my Rs, at least not without sounding like a huge dork, or rather a gringo. Don't sweat it. You'll do just great! Good luck and we'll miss you!

-Sky Bones

Back to top
QDear 100 Hour Board,

As you travel east on 300 South in Provo, there is a canyon in front of you and slightly to the south. Back behind that canyon is a tall mountain that seems to have terracing on it (this is especially noticeable when it has snowed a little). Are those just natural ridges? Or are they man-made terraces? Also, is there a trail that I could take to climb up there and take a look at it? Or would I have to trailblaze (and risk having to come back early because of an overwhelming craving for Subway)?

—Mediocre Mountaineer

Direct Link to Question

ADear MM,

Hooray past answers! Although no trails go all the way to the top of Provo Peak (as you can find from a quick search), there is indeed one that goes to the terraces that were made by the CCC.

—Laser Jock