Pixelshot

It’s 8 minutes long. I promise you’ll watch the whole thing:

If there’s one thing that this country needs, it’s to unite together behind a common purpose. The purpose of building a better future. No matter which candidate you prefer, Obama’s thoughts certainly resonate with our point in history:

I love our country. There’s no doubt. But I worry. I worry that we, all of us together, are sleeping at the wheel - sedated by comfortable lives. I also believe that there is hope for the future if we can collectively put our minds to solving the problems before us. Who will lead us as a nation?

In “Who Will Tell the People?“, Thomas Friedman (author of The World is Flat), sums up my thoughts quite elegantly. We need a leader, he says, who will tell us what we need to hear, not just what we want to hear.

“Who will tell the people? We are not who we think we are. We are living on borrowed time and borrowed dimes. We still have all the potential for greatness, but only if we get back to work on our country.”

Have a read.

Why did it take so long before I actually played Guitar Hero?! Well, the wait is over, thanks to my buddy Jeff who took a walk with me to Best Buy tonight to take out some stress with a plastic guitar and Pat Benatar.

C’mon - HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!

Oh and, in case you’re wondering. I rocked the house.

I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before.

I had a message all written up and ready to post, but it just didn’t connect to the general challenges I’ve been
wrestling with recently. So, I started over…

It seems that I am quick to criticize. Quick to find fault. Quick to point out weaknesses. But, in the end, that does me (or others) no good.

As I was talking about this to my sweet Robin last night, she pointed out that I can find a positive spin in the midst of these challenges. I can look at my tasks and see hope and opportunity. The trick is to see them for what they are and what they can be, rather than to complain because things could (or should) be better.

How right she is.

Last October, we heard from Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a member of the First Presidency of the LDS Church, who gave a talk entitled “Have we not reason to rejoice?” (You have to listen to it or watch it to get the full effect of his warm smile.) He speaks of the world’s tendency to focus on bad news. And then points out the great opportunities in life. (Mainly he’s speaking about being a member of the church, so it’s especially poignant for those of you who are members.)

He points out that one of our tasks in life is to “endure to the end.” But, rather than thinking of this as a burden, he encourages us to think of “enduring” is an opportunity for transformation. It is “exalting and glorious, not grim and gloomy.”

Yet our reason to rejoice does not come free. It requires patience, sacrifice, and hard work. It also requires humility, integrity and honesty. But, Christ has the power to “lift you to great heights from what appears at times to be an unbearable burden or weakness.”

No matter our challenges, life can be an opportunity for change and growth, for adventure and exploration. So, a reason to rejoice.

Just what I needed to hear.

Last night, Robin and I saw a movie we both enjoyed, called Molière (2007), about the 17th century French playright. I want to write about it a bit, but first I will have to explain my movie rating system, which I call The What, The How, and The Why, rated from 10 (outstanding) to 1 (worthless).

Categories explained:
The What: The content of the story itself, i.e. “what” is the story and is it organically interesting. Is the screenplay well written. (example: Good Will Hunting - 10)
The How: “how” the story is told, (mainly from a director’s point of view, such as special effects, camera angles, sound, editing, etc) - does the filmmaker use craft and techniques that help to move the story along, or simply to show off. Note that some stories don’t need effects but every story needs some craft in telling the story. (example: The Matrix - 10)
The Why: “why” this story matters - the big picture view (example: Shindler’s List - 10)

Many movies rate high in only one category or they would have little market value. For example, blockbuster Hollywood has made a name for itself for great visuals (high in the How category) but screenplays often fall flat. On the other hand, foreign films usually have high What and Why values (since the filmmakers are fresh and full of ideals), but they don’t have the same budgets as Hollywood so the technical quality may suffer.

But, occasionally, movies will come along that have great scores in all three categories. Consider, for example, the movie Shindler’s List. The story itself was very interesting (What=10); the technique in which the story was told was fantastic (How=10); and obviously the story ranks high in moral value (Why=10).

So, here’s my report from our movie last night. I won’t tell you anything about the movie since I don’t want to influence your own “discovery” of the story.

Molière (2007)
The What = 10 (excellent script, some brilliant writing and character development)
The How = 7 (great costumes, music, colors)
The Why = 6 (lacking a bit in life value, but still has its gems)

Total: 23 out of 30 - not bad!

One of those fun little outings - a photo shoot with the web crew on the 16th street steps.

Just a quick note to wish a happy birthday to my dad, seen in the photo above during his missionary days in Argentina. I was assured that he didn’t always dress like that!

Sundays…er…(Tues)days with Scott?…

Sorry folks. I’ve had a bear of a time keeping up the last few days. My only consistent post: Sundays With Scott, has missed a beat. Never fear, it will stay on track. And, this way you can get a mid-week thought anyway.

Here’s my simple Sunday thought, on Tuesday:

One of my favorite memories of Spain is having the delicious bread dipped in smooth olive oil, mixed with balsamic vinaigrette. There’s something about the mix of the sweet and sour that makes it delicious.

I was thinking on Sunday that there is a life metaphor in that. It takes some of the sweet and sour to make a hearty experience. Of course, you only need a touch of the sour, since it’s more memorable and stronger to the senses. But, a little challenge here and there actually makes life more interesting.

Bon appetite!