Eclectic Interests (From Food to Shows)

“Lions, and Tigers, and Bears. Oh my!” “Spooky, scary skeletons send shivers down your spine!”     Fear. What do you think of when you hear the word? Spiders? Snakes? Dark? Loneliness?     I am personally afraid of heights (among many other things!).      Many movies and shows invoke feelings of fear or discomfort. Do you think that a movie can create a fear for someone? Have you experienced that before?     In my experience, I do think that movies can increase fears we already hold. I was terrified of the dark as a child. I thought of all the possible monsters that could be under the bed or in the closet. Movies filled the closet with possible monsters.      Conversely, I also took great courage from movies. When I was afraid, I would think of Scooby-doo. As I got older, I thought of Aragorn instead. I had great role models from media who could go on no matter the odds.     I believe we can learn fear from movies, bu...

Commentary  I watched a 2011 short documentary entitled Miss Representation this week. It gave me much to think about. I have noticed some negative things in our culture, but I had not noticed a few things. I will share a few things that I learned, and then let's think further about the message. The first thing that struck me is how flagrant and explicit ads can be. I did not realize how little regulation there was on what ads can be aired nowadays. Compared to 2011, 2024 has even more availability of ads for young children.  Another point that made me pause was the lack of normal women in TV and movies. I have noticed this before, but I hadn't thought too hard about it. The only women who are main characters in movies right now are unrealistically gorgeous and one or two dimensional. According to much of the media, women have to be size 0 or size negative one in order to be deemed attractive. They also cannot have body hair, have wrinkles, or any normal fat. All of which is p...

“Book on Tape Worm”, sounds like a metal or punk rock band right? Not quite. It is a self described "chamber pop band". It feels like a group of friends formed a book club, wrote poetry together, and started jamming together.      The lyricism in their songs is very strong. You can tell this is not an average band when you read the song titles in their first album. For instance, "To Mock a Killingbird", "Act I", "Act III", and "Shadow Puppets" are just a few.      The music in their songs is distinct with a cello, piano, guitar, and drums pulling it all together. I would recommend them to someone looking for a new band. They are a chill band which is both thought-provoking and calming. (photo credit:  https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fbookontapeworm.bandcamp.com%2Ftrack%2Fbrightest&psig=AOvVaw3rOOQy61Gu53MHl2lG-jcD&ust=1708902234420000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBMQjRxqFwoTCNjH-oi...

When I say bed-time story what book flashes through your mind? I believe books are super important to childhood.  I don't remember all the books my mother read to me as a child, but I do remember some. They made me want to read. Here are a few classics from my childhood. (https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91FJd1K7LpL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg) (https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81QDaMjbQXL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg) (https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81h-G+1aswL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg) (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347457249i/285775.jpg) What books were important in your childhood?  What books do you remember?

Here is a good indie-rock band. They also have folk elements. They are clearly inspired by Mumford and Sons along with Bastille. They are based out of Cedar Hills, UT, but they often come to Velour (Provo) or Fork Fest (in American Fork.) They have been releasing music since 2018. In 2022, they released their first full album, Rim of the World . This album feels nostalgic, even if you have never heard it before. My three favorite tracks on this album are: Bloodhound, Sea of Sirens, and Ghost Story. Ghost story begins with a compelling guitar rift and drumbeats which pull you straight into the song. The lyrics they sing are also very compelling. They paint stories, tell of strengthening love, and write poetry. I highly recommend listening to Rim of the World . You won’t regret it (Picture credit:  https://www.lanternbysea.com/the-band )

    Provo has one of the best local music scenes in the country. The best place to see this is the music venue on Center Street called Velour. It has been the home of many great bands such as Moth and the Flame, Neon Trees, and Imagine Dragons. As you walk in you can feel the combined passions and varied visions of the bands who have played their.     One new and up coming band is the band No Such Animal. They are an alt-rock band with a fresh sound. I have seen them at Velour for multiple concerts. Recently they released a new album called The Entertainer . It is a cohesive album with a grand vision and great lyrics to guide it. I would highly recommend listening to it. The Entertainer feels like the results of a big producer, but still grounds you in the feeling of college life.      I have loved diving into local music. It is a form of media that connects you to the community and helps you see others a little clearer. The music you can fin...