Charisse!

This is a video of Charisse (she is my favorite girlfriend) playing the piano at her recital in 2003! She is playing "Jardins sous la Pluie" by Debussy. Listen for the robots!

Web Premier of "Days of Our College Lives"

This is my first film appearance. The film "Days of our College Lives" premiered at Oscar Night and won best coryography and best foreign film. Enjoy. (This is a shortened version for the web) Full Video

And the Outtakes... coming soon

Hot Singles!

...and afterwards, join tens of thousands of HOT SINGLES at the CLXXVIIIth Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the LDS Conference Center listening to the church leaders across from Temple Square. HOT SINGLES!!

P.S. Hot singles, please remember that the conference center does not allow bare midriffs or miniskirts. Please dress accordingly.

Some thoughts spurred by Obama's Speech

Yesterday Barack Obama gave what many are calling a historic speech on the state and role of race in America. While it struck many chords with me, one seems to stand out.

Obama said in his speech:

"The fact that so many people are surprised to hear that anger in some of Reverend Wright's sermons simply reminds us of the old truism that the most segregated hour in American life occurs on Sunday morning. That anger is not always productive; indeed, all too often it distracts attention from solving real problems; it keeps us from squarely facing our own complicity in our condition, and prevents the African-American community from forging the alliances it needs to bring about real change. But the anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races.

In fact, a similar anger exists within segments of the white community. Most working- and middle-class white Americans don't feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race. Their experience is the immigrant experience - as far as they're concerned, no one's handed them anything, they've built it from scratch. They've worked hard all their lives, many times only to see their jobs shipped overseas or their pension dumped after a lifetime of labor. They are anxious about their futures, and feel their dreams slipping away; in an era of stagnant wages and global competition, opportunity comes to be seen as a zero sum game, in which your dreams come at my expense. So when they are told to bus their children to a school across town; when they hear that an African American is getting an advantage in landing a good job or a spot in a good college because of an injustice that they themselves never committed; when they're told that their fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are somehow prejudiced, resentment builds over time." (text)

In the weeks following the attacks of September 11, 2001, President Bush said on one occasion:

Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated. (Applause.) Americans are asking, why do they hate us? They hate what we see right here in this chamber -- a democratically elected government. Their leaders are self-appointed. They hate our freedoms -- our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other. (Sept 2001 text)

And on another occasion:

"...how do I respond when I see that in some Islamic countries there is vitriolic hatred for America? I'll tell you how I respond: I'm amazed. I'm amazed that there is such misunderstanding of what our country is about, that people would hate us. I am, I am -- like most Americans, I just can't believe it. Because I know how good we are, and we've go to do a better job of making our case. We've got to do a better job of explaining to the people in the Middle East, for example, that we don't fight a war against Islam or Muslims. We don't hold any religion accountable. We're fighting evil. And these murderers have hijacked a great religion in order to justify their evil deeds. And we cannot let it stand." (Oct 2001 text)

The way I see it, there are two responses to hatred. As a white, middle-class male I can look at the black American critique of white America and declare "they are wrong about me." I never sent their children to poor schools. I never owned a slave. I never prevented them from getting loans or providing for their family. Their anger toward me is irrational and unfounded. They are fanatics.

I can look toward the East and declare, "they are wrong about me." President Bush and I could stand up and emphasize how unfounded their hatred is toward us. We know how good America is. We know how much good we do in the world and how much we care about freedom and democracy and human rights. They are fanatics. I just can't believe that they are so misinformed about us.

This dangerous path is traveled far too often, and it is dangerous. A husband would never say to his angry wife "you are wrong about me. I know how good a husband I am." Nor would he turn his back, go to his buddy's house and explain, "oh, well this is why she is angry." Not if he valued peace in his home. So what would he say? He would drop his defenses and ask, "Why?" he would seek to understand why the anger exists and then retrospectively consider the sources of her anger. Hopefully, if he loves her, he will lend legitimacy to her concerns and validity to her frustration. When she calms down and understands that he is willing to work through the conflict, she will follow.

This leads to the second option for responding to hatred and anger. I can admit that their concerns may be founded on legitimate concerns. Do radical Islamists really hate America and her Ideals? do they hate democracy and freedom and technology? or is their frustration the result of disappointment that American foreign policy has progressively paralleled the European imperialism that has plagued the region for centuries? Do they hate me, an American student struggling to pay for my education and situate myself into my community, or do they resent American foreign policy that continually inserts itself into the equally sovereign governments and politics in order to secure its own material wealth and military might?

Are black Americans mad at me for holding them down or are they frustrated that for hundreds of years the issue of race in America has not been resolved, but rather pushed under the rug or delegitimized by activists "unmasking bogus claims of racism while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism."

Obama is right. "The anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races." He is right not only on our home front, but on the international. He has consistently proposed policy that takes into consideration the possibility that we do no understand why people are angry. He has opposed actions that oversimplify the complexity of foreign policy and anti- American and anti- Israeli sentiment.

I don't think there is an easy way to improve our Middle East adventure, and I don't believe that the issue of race can be solved by one person. But as I look toward the elections in November, I am continually impressed with the manner Obama presents the issues and his stances. I am simultaneously distraught by McCain repeating Bush's policy of shoot now and keep shooting until they stop hating America.

Barack Obama on Race

A story from the life of my g-g-grandpa Alexander Nephi Stephens

This is a story recorded in Stephens Family Histories, as remembered by John Nephi Stephens, my great-grandfather, about his dad, Alexander:

"Another story he told was that he went into Ogden one winter day. Later in the afternoon he was coming out of the Ogden Theater, the theater was about half way up the hill on 25th street. As he came out he saw a very large negro lady carefully coming down the icy sidewalk. Suddenly both of her feet slipped out from under her and she slid down to where Dad was and knocked both his feet out from under him and he landed sitting up in her lap and thus they continued down the hill until they came to a sudden stop against a telephone pole on the main corner of Washington Avenue and 25th Street. Then the colored lady said, 'White boy, you all got to get a transfer, this is as far as I go.' "

Lifesize Globe

So Krystyna told me a story:

A student walked into the BYU Harold B Lee Library and walked up to the security desk.

"I heard there was a life-size globe here?" she asked.

To which he replied:

"You are standing on it."


(and for your viewing pleasure, this is the globe she was talking about, on the second floor of the HBLL)

a Conversation between my dad and I

Jacknimbl: she plays in an all girl D&D group...

Metacoder: lynz played a hobbit version of D&D at the mall the other week and she really got off on it

Jacknimbl: so yeah, any ammo she has against me, i have that
Jacknimbl: hehe
Jacknimbl: you do realize that d and d kills pretty much all aspect of a social life, right
JackNimbl: ?

Metacoder: oh yeah, i know all about it...

Jacknimbl: so she will have to stop when she is 21

Metacoder: did you hear that gary gygax the developer of D&D passed away last week?

Jakcnimbl: yeah i think i did hear that somewhere
Jakcnimbl: how did he go? a spear? an ogre? a pit with spikes?
Jakcnimbl: or maybe a doppleganger?

Metacoder: lol.... some evil spore in a cave maybe

JackNimbl: hehe
JackNimbl: a lance shooting out of a wall and impaling him

Metacoder: yeah! thats it! i kinda miss those games....

on nathanial hawthorne...

When I was in high school, we read "The Scarlet Letter" By Nathanial Hawthorne. As a project, we created a period newspaper with articles about the characters etc. I got to do the Comics section... (it is easier to see if you click on it)

More rummaging

Ok, so wrote this in Nov 2006

Dear God

my ipod broke.
first date.
middle east confusion
Please don't exact 8 hours of sleep tonight
economics test
loneliness
my roommate is struggling
how will i pay for school?
failing a test
not enough food
roommates play xbox
devotionals (prophet)
is the tango a sin

just wondering,
Cory

I was rummaging

So, I was cleaning out my random documents folder and found these things that I thought would be nice to post.

شعر عميق وفصيح:

Haiku

Keys

Damn, I've lost my keys.
hiding somewhere, out of sight.
I should buy a spare...

Breathe

Are we just God's Breath
On a cold winter morning
To exist, then fade?

Dream

I dream'd you last night
in my arms and in my sight.
but then I woke up.

Danny's Kids and the Vandals

This is a slide show of Danny and Naomi's Children, Bella, Trip, and Maeve. The song was chosen arbitrarily because the slide show ended up being exactly the same length. The song is by The Vandals. Enjoy my unclehood!

Ted Lee on BYUSA

Considering it's length and some good insights, I decided to post this reply as its own post. Ted Lee says:

My biggest problem with the BYUSA candidates is how it feels they are lying to you through their teeth (though, this is standard fare for most political campaigns).

I often hear the argument from aforementioned campaigners that if we do not vote, we lose the chance to choose a representative for us on campus. I have even heard candidates tell me that from time to time. Yet they fully understand that they are not that liason between the administration and the student body on important student issues, merely a member of (in my eyes) an overexagerated ward activities committee.

When you press them on serious issues, such as how the new BYU approved housing policy restricting it to a two mile radius around campus is going to affect the already dishonest housing market here in Provo (and cause an economic bubble), they back down and say, "We are a service organization. We don't deal with that kind of stuff."

So which is it? Are you a serious representative or just an elected activities planner? Don't say you're something when you're not. The buzz word this year, I hear, is accountability. Too many people, they tell me, don't know what BYUSA is and thus the disillusionment.

I would propose a counter argument. Instead of shunting the accountability to us students, why not take accountability to yourselves, as candidates, who falsify what you really do and promise ridiculous things in order to get voted into a position that you essentially plan to use to pad your resume?

There have been many grumblings among various circles I associate with about how BYU is treating their students, from parking to housing to departments to book prices and so forth. They feel that theirs is a role of reactive rather than proactive. BYU comes out with a new policy without consulting many students. The students then are forced to adjust to policies which they have had no say or representation in. Do not tell me that these policies are inspired. There is a difference between prophetic edicts in interpreting doctrine and providing direction and spiritual counsel for the church and the decisions dealing with the earthly. Remember that the prophet Joseph Smith started an anti-bank - and it failed. We are not insulated against bad judgement calls or unexpected results from decisions when we leave the realm of the spiritual.

Students don't care if we have doughnuts before devotionals. That's not something that really matters to them. We come to this great university to learn and, as the phrase goes, "Go forth and serve" and be a light unto those around us. How can we learn to become examples, when there is little chance to do so? How can we learn to use the proper channels of democracy to affect the world around us when we live in a campus that treats us as children that cannot govern themselves? How is it that BYU can say they prepare people not only so that they can get a job but to be productive citizens when we ourselves do not have the proper ability to voice our opinion, whether in the newspaper or in student organizations?

BYU could afford to give some transparency and self-goverance, or at least a voice, to the student body. It is a win-win situation. Not only do they provide students with a legitimate channel to voice concerns, but they provide opportunities for students to learn first hand how government can be utilized effectively in bringing about benificial change, as well as the dangers of neglecting community politics or studying issues in choosing good candidates. Students, it seems, are becoming frustrated with the fact that they do deal with a non-government that props itself as a government. Our university paper is nothing more than a glorified ward newsletter, not the public forum of public opinion journalism is taught as here in the university. A student government, even a limited one, would help students feel they have some say and control as to the various policies BYU conjurs up that affect our immediate lives. Instead, it seems BYU doesn't really care about us students, and more on projecting a favorable image to the world, gaining more honors, rankings and accolades. And why not? In a pragmatic stance, there's so many clamouring to get in here, what's the loss of a disgruntled student who decides to pursue his education elsewhere?

But I digress.

Conquistador, Part IV: Defeat

Welcome to the final installment, Conquistador

Defeat

“Mo-o-o-o-m! Where’s my shoe?”

“Keep looking! You must’ve put it somewhere.”

“I need it now! I’ll be late to Jimmy’s party!”

“Why don’t these kids just put things back where they belong?” my mother asked herself, “This room is pathetic. You can’t even see the floor! How do they live like this?”

She reached beneath the bed in search of the lost shoe.

“What is this…what the…JACK!! Get over here right now! What is this?” she interrogated fiercely.

“Nothing.” HA! I tricked her. Yet another victory for he who is mighty to conquer.

“Sit down! You’re not leaving.”

“But the party!”

“How long has this pepperoni been here?”

“I don’t know.” Hahaha! She’ll never break me. I’ve an iron will!

“You’re grounded for a week.”

“But I…but…how can...I need…”

Death. Death by cornering. That’s why I’m here today. No I didn’t go to the party. I sat in that corner for an hour. I haven’t even been out of this stupid house in a week.

Perhaps even a knight has to ask permission.

Conquered.

The End

BYU Student Association Elections

I sat down this afternoon to write a scything, witty, and probably a little cynical response to the BYU Student Service Association's election season, but as I looked a bit into it, I must say I was taken aback.

My plan consisted of a series of questions to ask the candidates that would expose their self-aggrandizing efforts to put one more thing on their resume at the expense of general peace of several public areas on campus.

Among others, these are some of the questions I have asked several of the BYUSA candidates:

• What is your opinion of the current tax system in the US?
• What is your opinion of the education system today? Should it be reformed?
• War in Iraq - stay or go?
• Who are you voting for in the US elections?
• Are you a democrat or republican

After each, I asked, "So, do any of these questions have anything to do with your candidacy for the presidency of BYUSA?"

For the most part, each looked at me with a wry eye and was convinced that I was not serious. But I was, so they answered. Out of obligation, I must say that I was not impressed by the majority of the responses in most cases, but after it was all said and done (and an inquiry into the election manual written for potential candidates and published by BYUSA), I learned at least two things.

1-) To his credit, Chance (of the Adam/Chance campaign {site} emphasized one point that I thought was worth noting here. The BYUSA is not a student government in the same mold as other college student governments. Chris Giovarelli, the BYUSA Elections Committee Chair, said in an introduction to the "Elections Handbook:"

Created in 1988 with a model centered on student-service rather than student-governance, BYUSA is not a typical university student association. BYUSA’s vision articulates that members of the organization should aim to be leaders centered on Jesus Christ who seek to build Zion communities among students.

In that sense, it is absurd to consider the organization and its elections in terms (or as a scaled down model) of the presidential elections we are facing as a nation. The college is not nor does it purport to be a democracy. With that in mind, I reconsidered each set of initiatives, and surely invite others to follow {BYUSA Election Page}.

Be that as it may, the organization itself has a power structure and politics rule the process. In the end, it is still an attempt for individuals to obtain power over initiatives and policies of a constituency. Considering this perspective, the election process, seemingly farcical given the power structure of the university, is still valid. Therefore, I found it necessary to actually consider carefully who I would vote for.

2) Yet, as I review each candidates initiatives, I increasingly find that I do not care about free food (particularly when I am obligated to accept a six inch ruler to measure my neckline), DJs, parties, and other trinket initiatives that create superficial warm-fuzzies on campus.

The exception to this, in my opinion, is the agenda regarding the voice of BYU students in the local government. On this issue, I support Roman/Johnson {website}. While speaking with him regarding my questions, he emphasized his initiative for voter registration campaigns at BYU in order to create a student voice in the local government.

We are 30 thousand strong and we live under a government whose policy affects how we live. Yet too many are not even registered in our own city. Even if we are transients, we hold the obligation and right to promote and vote for public policy that favors our community. The silent majority never wins because no one cares about what they are not saying. I mention this only in passing.

In summary, the BYUSA is a good organization, but its potential seems to be untapped as it tries to open "new entrances to the library" and create programs that are unreasonable given the scope of the organization and the length of the terms. Hopefully every candidate will read this and consider why there is such disillusionment about the student non-government.

If enough people are interested in the individual responses to the questions, I will post them as I compile them. Let me know.

Conquistador, Part III: Re-entry

Welcome to the third instalment of four, Conquistador

Re-entry

Silence. A worthy companion yet, in treacherous defiance, she abandons her master at the slightest sound. Betrayal is her game and quick is her flight. If, though, her loyalty one does win, secret successful passage is his. Silence be a lady tonight. Silence, if you’ve ever been a lady to begin with, Silence be a lady with me.

Ever so gently I drew to the gate, my movement soft and my steps silent. The great knob turned, breaching the portal. I slithered through the darkness as a serpent in the marsh. Nothing disturbed. Nothing heard and nothing seen, but the flicker of a flame hovering upon the wall.

My hoard rests deep beneath the roots of trees. Nowhere but below the soil lies the lair where mighty Knights their weariness show. Thus descended I, in the middle of the night, to my room.

To Be Continued...

Stay tuned for Conquistador, Part IV: Defeat