Posts for Thursday, June 21, 2007

Question #37130 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Comments

Q:

dear krishna, re: Board Question #36943

it's not just you.
while a prickly face is ouchy, i find that a not-too-recently shaven face that has just a hint of roughness (enough to feel but not see) can be surprisingly attractive; lets you know he's a real man.
my sister really likes her husband's manly face, and i have even noticed her absentmindedly stroking his face and chin on a variety of occasions just because she likes how it feels.

-mabel

A: Dear Gertrude,

I like just a little bit of scruff too, but definitely not too much. I got a rug burn-like patch on my chin once...that was kind of awkward to explain. And it was sore.

-Kicks and Giggles

A: Dear ladies,

I have been known to have the occasional scruff when the company would appreciate it.

-JAC

Question #37126 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Comments

Questions about Guys

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board, Dazed and Confused, and Questioning,

In response to the response for Board Question #36914, DO NOT take Psych 306 unless you are a feminist and would like to be more convinced to be one. Trust me on this one. Psych 306 was one of the worst classes I ever took here at BYU because the entire time I felt like they were trying to convince me that I SHOULD work after I get married and have children and that I SHOULD make it a goal to become the CEO of whatever-I-choose-to-be. In conclusion, don't take Psych 306 unless you want to be convinced to be a feminist. Even the males in my class started turning feminist after the first two weeks of class. It was REALLY SCARY. Don't do it!

- lekker lekker

Question #37124 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Comments

LDS - Policy

Q:

Regarding Board Question #37014,

Not only does the church provide Spanish wards/branches in the US (644 of them), but other languages as well.

Taken from the Church Directory of Organizations and Leaders, it shows that Utah (because that's the report I decided to run) alone has one unit* (ward or branch) of Cambodian, German, Laotian-Thai, Navajo and Russian. Two Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Three Portuguese. Six Deaf, 10 Samoan, 22 Tongan and 121 Spanish.

*These are wards or branches that are set to be language units. Sometimes they will have units where a language is offered but the main language is something else (as in I once attended a Chinese ward but they had Korean listed as an optional language.) I only counted the units that were meant for their language.

~Chillylint (who no longer looks up wards for a living)

Question #37123 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Transportation - Airlines/Aircraft

Comments

Q:

Regarding Board Question #37023,

Sorry I didn't get to this before the question posted; my informant took a little while getting back to me. According to my dad, a flight manager for the USAF:

The spinning white disk on top of the control tower at Logan International Airport is an Approach Control Radar Antenna.

The airspace we travel in is divided into six categories: Class A, B, C, D, E, and G. All flights from ground level through 60,000 feet is controlled by Air Traffic Control.

Logan is a controlled airport, so it has its own approach control and uses the antenna to track aircraft in its airspace. When an airplane is descending into an airport, the enroute air traffic controller passes the plane off to the airport's approach controller. The airport approach controller has jurisdiction of Class B, C and D airspace. Class D airspace extends out to a 4.4 nautical mile (NM) radius from the airport and up to 2,500 feet above ground level (AGL). Class C airspace encompasses Class D and the next shelf in Class C airspace controlled by the approach controller extends up to 4,000 feet AGL and out to 10 NM. Class B dimensions extend out to a 20 NM radius and above 4,000 feet AGL to the top of the delegated airspace assigned to Logan by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The process works in reverse for departure as the approach controller passes off the departing aircraft to the enroute air traffic controller as the aircraft departs Class B into Class E airspace.

More than you ever wanted to know. :) Thanks Dad!

- Kicks and Giggles

Question #37122 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Comments

LDS - Scriptures

Q:

Regarding Board Question #36996,
I believe this person may be referring to scriptures containing the "Guide to the Scriptures," a sort of topical guide/index/dictionary that has already been included in triple combinations in other languages for some time and is available in English both online and on the scriptures CD--and, as I just found out (surprise) via the distribution center website, in English copies of Book of Mormon. It's not new footnotes, but it is pretty handy. Cheesecake points to anyone on the Board who finds out when it was first included in the English printing.

-Baksiidaa

Question #37121 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Comments

LDS - Scriptures

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Regarding (^36996), a year or two ago, Royal Skousen (http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/viewauthor.php?authorID=57) mentioned that he began doing some work with the Book of Mormon. I can't recall exactly what, but it had something to do with re-translating, or going back and looking at original manuscripts and whatnot for a new edition. I don't know anything about dates or anything, but at least they're working on it.

- Twister of Fate

Question #37049 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Music - Instruments

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,
So I was looking at a whistle today and noticed there is a small round peice of quark inside it. Two questions 1) How did they git in in there and 2)What is it doing there??
-Bananza

A: Dear George,

I'm going to assume, for the purposes of answering your question, that you mean there's a piece of cork in there. It was probably placed in there before the whistle was fully assembled, and they often put beads and such in whistles to help the sound. The cork is known as a pea and serves to "creat[e] a chaotic vibrato effect that intensifies the sound," according to the Wikipedia article for whistle. Basically, it makes the whistle louder.

Happy whistling!

-Kicks and Giggles

A: My dear,

What were you looking with?! That's amazing! Quarks, wow! What flavor was it?

- The Defenestrator

A: Dear bandana,

Actually, it was a piece of quark cheese. It's included in the whistle as a tasty treat for a hungry whistle-blower.

-=Optimus Prime=-

Question #37046 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Computers - Operating Systems - Mac or PC

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I am heading up to BYU this fall... and as part of my major I have to take some Computer Science courses. (cs142, cs235, ecencs124, etc) Right now I am really contemplating buying a Macbook, and I am just wondering if that causes any compatibility problems with compilers, certain softwares within the programming classes, etc. I could just run Vista and OS X dually, but i don't want to partition my HD. Let me know.

- future mac buyer, desperately waiting for leapord in October.

A: Dear Mac-buyer,

Leopard comes with Boot Camp. As you would be enrolled in a CS course you can get Windows Vista Business for free (and XP). There are a lot of advantages to having a Windows/Linux machine as a CS student. First off, there is a lot more freeware which, BYU being a university NOT a commercial business, uses. Some of those programs will only run on Linux or Windows.

As a former CS 142 TA I recommend buying a PC or at least having something that runs Windows. Installing JAVA is not as fun on a Mac (though the Mac users always had the prettiest GUI programs mmmmm).

You can definitely survive on a Mac without major problems but you're going to want to have Windows on it. It'll make your life easier. I never thought I would say that.

-Castle in the Sky

Question #37045 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Health - Diets

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I have GAS. And not like every now and then. I have gas every single day of my life. I tried one time to think of a day I didn't fart... and I couldn't. Proms, dates, weddings, heck even in the shower... I just have to let them rip. I have gas so often that I am REALLY good at disguising them... like I have total confidence in myself that I can hide them any time I need to. I guess my question is... why do I have gas all the time? I don't have beans at every meal or anything, I mean I could eat gas-x pills like candy and nothing would happen. How can I fix this problem? Someone please save me from myself.

- Yours truly,
Sir Flatulence.

A: Dear Sir Flatulence,

My best suggestion is to change your diet. It's possible that sometime in-between puberty things in your body just went awry and your body is no longer tolerant of some things you're eating. Example: my roommate is allergic to lactose (happened on his mission). So look at different grains, milk/milk products, pasta, fruits. When your "symptoms" are worse what have you been eating recently? Find the connection and you may find a cure.

-Castle in the Sky

Question #37041 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Food & Drink

Board - Writers - What's your favorite

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

What kind of cheese should I buy?

-Cheese Crazy!

A: Dear CC,

Smoked Gouda. It's goud. Heh. Heh. Heh.

- Lavish

A: Dear Crazy,

Please check out my wit (and some generally good answers) in Board Question #32581.

-krebscout

A: My dear,

I would recommend Parmesan. It improves the flavor of many things, and is especially good on popcorn.

Colby Jack is good too—I have been known to eat large chunks of it plain...

I like cheese.

- The Defenestrator

A: Dear Cheese Crazy,

Edible. You should buy edible cheese. Highly recommended over the other kind, the non-edible.

This is easy!

-Yellow

A: Dear cc,

Brie.

-Olympus

Question #37040 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Fashion/Style - Clothing

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I have this t-shirt I got when I visited Scotland a few years ago that is royal blue with a "nessie" monster screen print thing on it. It's one of my favorite shirts and unfortunately, one day when I washed it, it got a couple of those bleach spots on it. I thought one way I could save the shirt would be to dye it Navy with those RIT fabric dyes to cover up the bleach spots. I mentioned it to my mom and she wondered if the dye would stain the screen print part (which is green and some white). Do you think it would?

- I Believe Nessie Is Real

A: Dear Believer,

Unfortunately, I think it might. (The purpose of dye is to stain things, after all.) I don't think you can really be sure what will happen without dying the shirt, itself, but you might try finding another old shirt with a white screened print on it, and dying it as a test. If that shirt survives OK, your favorite shirt might also survive.

Another option would be to go the opposite direction and see if you can bleach the shirt to a consisten color. (Of course, there's always the chance that the bleach would affect the screen printing, too.)

Sorry,

- Katya

Question #37038 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Board - System

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Why do you keep recycaling the title bars? For your long term fans it's a little dissipointing to re-read the same quotes.

-a;lsdfj

A: Dear a;lsdfj,

We keep recycling title bars because it's hard to come up with new ones. We currently have over 280 title bars stored in the database, but each of them has been used once already. We do our best to keep adding new ones, but coming up with 6 new quotes a week is a lot of work believe it or not.

-Curious Physics Minor

Question #37035 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

BYU - Academics

Education - Teaching

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Okay so I am an open major and am trying to choose what to do for a career. I'm thinking of becoming a history teacher in high school. Now I've been looking and there is a History Teaching major and a Social Science Teaching Major. Now since my goal is to be a history teacher in high school it would seem obvious that being a history teaching major would be the correct choice but will choosing something that is a bit more narrow harm my ability to get a job?

- St. Thomas Aquinas

A: Dear St. Thomas Aquinas,

Having just graduated in history teaching and finding the job market less than hospitable, I would strongly recommend that you major in social studies teaching over history. You'll find that you have many more applicable skills by taking the social studies route, no matter what everyone tells you. Perhaps better still would be to major in history teaching, but take a social studies-related minor (such as geography). School districts are always looking for geography teachers and seem to have difficulty finding them. I wish I'd minored in geography, in retrospect.

Another great idea in making this decision would be to check the job listings for several school districts and see what they're looking for right now. If you find more history openings, maybe history is the way to go for you. If it looks like social studies openings are more plentiful, go with that. Speaking to the people in the McKay School Advisement Center will be helpful, too. They get paid to answer questions like this, and they're extremely good at it.

If you have the stomach for it, though, I'd recommend taking the math or science route over anything in social studies. Every school district in the country is looking for math and science teachers. All of them. If you're looking for a job, that's totally the way to go.

- Optimistic., the erstwhile Board history expert

Question #37034 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Language & Linguistics

Entertainment - Movies

Quotes/Speeches

Q:

All-knowing Ones,

What does Sir Percy Blakely keep saying in the movie of "The Scarlet Pimpernel"? It sounds like "sink me" but that doesn't really make sense...

- Je ne comprende pas

A: Dear uncomprehending,

No, you're hearing it right. From Evil Stevie's Pirate Game Pirate Glossary:

Sink me! -- An expression of surprise.

From the OED entry under "sink, v.":

21. To reduce or bring to ruin or a low estate; to overwhelm, destroy; to weigh down.

b. Used as an imprecation [i.e., a curse]. Now arch.
Freq. sink me, used in quot. 1666 as a quasi-n.

. . . 1710 S. CENTLIVRE Bickerstaff's Burying 7 Estate! sink the Estate! 1768 GOLDSM. Good-n. Man II. i, Sink the public, Madam, when the fair are to be attended. 1821 SCOTT Pirate xxxiv, I had rather you tried your saw..upon the ship's knee timbers than on mine, sink me! . . .

"Well, I'll be d---ed!" could be considered a modern equivalent.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to research something about one of my favorite movies (and literary characters).

- Katya

Question #37033 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Relationships - Friends

Questions about Guys

Relationships

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

There's a guy that I can't tell if he's into me or not. We hang out everyday or at least speak with each other in some shape or form if one of us is out of town. He flirts a little but not enough for this chick to tell if he's being friendly or is interested. He's an awesome friend so I don't want to weird him out by outright asking him. How would the all-knowing Board endeavor to find out?

Clueless female

A: Dear Clueless,

Ask him on dinner date for two! :) Make him something and watch a movie. See if it's reciprocated (if he asks you out). Make it clear that it's a date (because you're friends you don't want it to come off as "just a friendship date") but don't overdue it (the only reason I would freak out if a girl asked me out is if I felt she was obsessed with me... yes, I have had a female stalker). But (if I wasn't dating someone already), I'd never say no to a dinner date and it sends a clear message of "like". Or "like like" for those who speak "5-7th grader". Maybe he's just in the "want to establish a friendship first" stage or the "I don't want to hurt the friendship that I've now established" phase. Either way, ask him out and you'll find out! :)

Of course there are "other ways" like elbow touching but, be careful, because elbows can be immodest. Good luck!

-Castle in the Sky

A: Dear clueless,

If you like him and all, you should flirt back a lot. If he starts getting weirded out, he's probably not interested.

Oh, and I totally support Castle's comment about elbows. I mean, I can't believe they allow short-sleeved shirts on campus, because man, whenever my eyes stray to a girl's elbow, I can barely restrain myself from making out like crazed weasels with her right then and there.

-wet blanket

A: Dear clueless,

Actually, I support wet blanket here:) I wouldn't go straight to the big guns of asking him on a date at this point. (Then again, I'm a girl who's solidly against making the first moves like that except in special circumstances, having been burned time and time again in my younger years for doing so.)

Flirt more. If he freaks out or acts weird, just feel it out. If he's sometimes acting weird and sometimes reciprocating, be sensitive, but don't stop entirely (because that's often a sign of his having not made up his mind). Be sensitive, be sensitive, be sensitive. Pay attention to the way he reacts and up the ante a little on the flirting level if he seems like he'd respond favorably.

Here's one guide. Used with permission, all rights reserved.

-Olympus

Question #37031 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Entertainment - Movies

Q:

Dear Castle in the Sky,

I just got back from BYU International Cinema's amazing presentation of "Howl's Moving Castle" and I was wondering if you've had a chance to see it. It's another one of Hayao Miyazaki's films.

If so, what did you think?

-Loved It!

A: Dear Miyazaki-fan,

I hope you appreciated June 6th's title bar headline. For those who missed it:

"Castle in the Sky, don't forget to bring the movie tonight."

Thank you. Yes, I brought the movie. What was the movie? Howl's Moving Castle. I own it and it sits right next to Castle in the Sky. Mmmmmm soo good. I've seen it dozens of times now in English and once in Japanese (6/6). I mean how can you go wrong with the voices of Christian Bale (Batman, Batman Begins) and Billy Crystal?

Anyways, for anyone who HASN'T seen it. I recommend it. I know there are a lot of people who are afraid of anime and/or foreign films. They are different than our Hollywood films (thank goodness!). However, if you will watch the movie and just enjoy the depth of the characters and their humanity rather than trying to focus on a happy ending (though, I will say, Miyazaki's endings are always happy) you will find a much more satisfying pleasurable experience than any recent Disney film (excluding Pixar).

In Feb 06' when I went to see it there were cheers in the audience during half the film. Sometimes it was so loud we couldn't hear what was said.

-Castle in the Sky

Question #37028 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Medical/Body - Products

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I was wondering why grapefruit and MAOIs don't mix. What the heck?

- Fructarian in a Crisis

A: Dear In Crisis,

The answer to this one was rather interesting. A good place to start is with what happens after you take a medication. Once it's in your system your body starts breaking it down, and eventually it passes out of your body. Enzymes in your liver are mainly responsible for breaking down these substances. One group of enzymes known as cytochrome P-450 plays a big role in metabolizing drugs. Some things are known to increase or decrease the effect of P-450s, including nicotine (which lessens its effect) and grapefruit/grapefruit juice (which also inactivates or lessens P-450s). Various medications can also have an effect.

So what does it mean if P-450s aren't doing as much anymore? Drugs in your bloodstream aren't broken down as quickly, meaning the concentration can build up over time—possibly to dangerous levels. (This applies to a wide variety of medications, by the way, not just MAOIs.)

So let your doctor know if you take other medications, smoke, or like grapefruit. Pay attention to any warnings on your medication. It could be important.

—Laser Jock

Question #37024 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Products

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I have a mild obsession with these Patagonia brand jackets I wore in elementary school. They are mde of fleece with creative patterns--my best friend's had lizards while mine was emblazoned with a dot motif. The colors were really bright and very 90's. They are half zip, except I seem to remember them snapping up instead of zipping.

However, I have been unsuccessful in finding these jackets. I'm pretty sure they're not made anymore, and I've searched Ebay to no avail. Any ideas?

-Everything I need to know I learned in kindergarten

A: Dear everything,

If you can't find them on eBay, I don't know what to suggest. Sorry.

- Katya

Question #37018 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Relationships - Family - Parenting

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Situation: Having a baby in the middle of your last semester of school then moving right after graduation vs. delaying graduation in order to take your last 12.5 credits spring/summer (and delaying your husband's job prospects).

Question: What are the pros and cons of each that you can imagine?

What I'm essentially wondering is whether it is possible to have a baby and keep going to school for two more months. I already have a pros/cons list but I'd like to hear some outside and hopefully experienced viewpoints.

-Almost Pregnant

P.S. Please don't give me the advice to wait to have a baby. I just realized that that's probably what most of the writers will say, and wanted to make sure you answer my actual question of which would be better, baby in the middle of the semester or taking spring/summer classes with a newborn. Thanks!

A: Dear Nearly Waddling,

As someone going through a similar situation to your quandary, I'm excited to answer this one.

I just graduated and had our first baby, the famed Nikette. (And let me tell you...she really is the most beautiful baby ever born. Seriously.) We are also moving in a month - all the way across the country. And even though moving will be tough, I'm going to say that I think going to classes for two more months would be even harder. Moving you can do in a few days and it's over - not so with classes. You will be so tired the first little while that even thinking about going to class will probably overwhelm you, and finding time to do homework will be tough, since you'll want to sleep when your baby's sleeping. I would take finishing and moving over going back to class. You couldn't pay me enough to go to a class right now. I'm exhausted, not to mention I'd miss the Nikette so much!

Those are my thoughts. Hope they help.

Nike

Question #37017 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Entertainment - Movies

Board - Writers - What's your favorite

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

Out of all the new third movies in trilogies that have come out recently (Spiderman, Pirates, Shrek, Oceans 13), which one is the best?

- too lazy to go see them

A: Dear too lazy

Well, according to the website rottentomatoes.com which compiles and averages the reviews for movies from hundreds of movie reviewers, the best is Ocean's 13, which received positive reviews from 68% of the nation's reviewers. The four films you asked about stacked up like this:

Ocean's 13 68% positive
Spider-Man 3 61% positive
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest 47% positive
Shrek the Third 41% positive

As of right now I've only seen Pirates and Spider-Man, I liked both, but I'm not sure which I liked more (I thought both were quite entertaining, even if they were both more flawed than previous entries into their respective trilogies).

-Humble Master

A: Dear lazy,

IMDb's viewers rated both Ocean's Thirteen and PotC:DMC an average of 7.4 out of 10. Spider-Man 3 came in third with 6.9 and Shrek the Third got only 6.4.

I haven't seen any of them yet, but I'll probably see Ocean's Thirteen tomorrow.

[One day later]

OK, I saw Ocean's Thirteen, and I actually liked it a lot. Part of it was because I came in with low expectations, having rather disliked Ocean's Twelve, but mostly I felt like the recaptured a lot of the spirit of the first movie with less of the silliness of the second movie. I still think that Ocean's Eleven is the best, by far, but I do love the characters in that movie, and it's nice to see again.

- Katya

A: Dear Lazy~

I really liked Spiderman 3. Pirates 3... bugged me, but the fight at the end was good. I was not aware that Ocean's 13 existed until I read your question.

~Hobbes

Question #37009 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Literature

Entertainment - Movies

Q:

Dear 100 hour board,

Ok, school is out and summer's finally here!! My question has three parts:

1. What should I do for fun this summer when I inevitably get bored?

2. What are some good books I should read?

3. What good movies should I watch?

- I LOVE SUMMERTIME!!!!!!!!!!

A: Dear Lusty for July

1. The whole bored question has been addressed a few times.

2. As has the book question.

3. As has the movie question.

(And if you search the archives you'll find even more...so exciting).

But...I'm not going to leave you with a "search the archives" answer. I'll go ahead and toss in my two cents (though you may feel free to consider their worth to be less than that if you wish), since most of those archived answers are before my time.

1. Read the archives of the 100 Hour Board (hehe), read a book, watch a movie, get a job, go for a run, mousercise, bug a younger sibling, learn to cook something, bug an older sibling, get a Super Nintendo and the Dr. Mario game...you will never be bored again, watch the highlight DVD from BYU's last football season, learn to play the piano, jump on a trampoline, go lick the neighbor's dog, try to think of why Paris Hilton is famous and then let me know, read the Sports Guy's blog on ESPN.com, break all the dishes in the house (your parents'll give you something to do for at least a week), do a scientific study of weight gain occurring due to eating a box of twinkies every day for four weeks, do a scientific study of weight loss occurring due to eating nothing but chicken broth and carrot juice for four weeks, go the mall and ask every teenager you see walking around wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt who Che was (look near Hot Topic if you're having trouble finding anyone), start a blog, try to read every blog that exists, count the number of fibers in your carpet, send the Board Writers cheesecakes, perform an anthropological study of Elvish Sleep Trolls, and, when really, really bored, watch VH1.

2. The Crying of Lot 49, Song of Solomon, Catch 22 , The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, The Eyre Affair, Heir to the Empire, Understanding Comics (if everyone would read this book I would never have to explain how and/or why I study comic books), Ender's Game, Heir to the Empire, Huckleberry Finn, Pride and Prejudice, Runaways vol. 1, Bone, Oliver Twist, Good Omens, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Neverwhere.

3. I've looked over my DVD collection, and I'm going to recommend movies I like, but that there's a fair chance you have never seen (thus, for example, The Lord of the Rings trilogy will not be appearing on this list, even though it is recommendable, because there is a high probability you have already seen it). In no particular order: It Happened One Night, Hero, Metropolis, The Hudsucker Proxy, Mr. Smith Goes to Washigton, The Prestige, M, House of Flying Daggers, Arsenic and Old Lace, Serenity, Good Night and Good Luck, The Magnificent Seven, Thirty-Two Short Films About Glenn Gould, The Quiet Man, Harvey, North by Northwest, Duck Soup, anything by Buster Keaton (Chaplin gets much deserved fame from the silent era, but Keaton is the man), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

3b. If you're looking for TV series (this can pass a lot of time): The West Wing, 24, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Frasier, Everybody Loves Raymond, Arrested Development, Looney Tunes, Northern Exposure, Scrubs, Smallville, Veronica Mars, LOST, The Cosby Show, Malcolm in the Middle, and The Office are all mightily entertaining in my book.

-Humble Master

Question #37006 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Literature - Harry Potter

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

I have a big crush on Harry Potter. I am looking for a man that shares all of his physical and personality traits. How would I go about finding this man? What do you think he would enjoy doing on a first date?

- The Finster

A: Dear Finster,

Just to be safe, I'd suggest waiting until the last book comes out to see if your true love gets himself killed at the end.

- Katya

A: Dear The Finster,

You could approach this several different ways:

1) Anastasia style. Or rather, Dimitri style. Hold auditions. Have people come from far and wide to audition for the part.

2) Meet Daniel Radcliffe. You'd at least get the physical traits. I'm not sure about the personality traits. I hear he's a good actor, though.

3) Look really hard.

4) Ask around if anyone knows a young, brunette, moody teenage boy with a good heart, burning desire to save everyone, the skill and luck to do so, magical powers, with an evil overlord after him. Oh, and don't forget the lightening shaped scar.

5) Find a boy. Find lots of money. Gain a silver tongue and persuasive powers. Make him look like Harry Potter. Make him act like Harry Potter.

6) Find a boy with the same personality traits. Make him drink polyjuice potion. I'm not sure where you'd get the piece of Harry... perhaps Daniel Radcliffe?

First date... I'm pretty sure he'd be really awkward on a first date. Please don't take him to a cozy little tea shop with hearts all over and cupids dropping confetti from above. Especially not on Valentine's day. Really, I think your best bet is to simply become really good friends with the boy, let him become comfortable around you, drop shameless hints for years, give up trying, make him jealous, then win him over. Much better chances of keeping him than you'd have trying to make him feel comfortable on a date.

- Niffler

Question #36995 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Legal (law)

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

When you're married by a preacher,priest,etc, when is the exact moment you're married? Could you still back out between "You may now kiss the bride" and the actual kiss?

- Cold feet

A: Dear Frigid Phalanges,

When you and the preacher sign the paperwork.

—Laser Jock

Question #36950 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

LDS - Doctrine - Word of Wisdom

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

The question is why most of us have not been informed about this:

I have a Chinese friend taking the discussions - the elders told me she's having trouble accepting all of the Word of Wisdom, which surprised me - she is a health nut like me. I asked why - they mentioned green tea and Jasmine flower tea (which is flavoured and rolled with the green tea leaves). The Chinese teaching elders in my area explained they were taught this in the MTC. They said there is a brown book (untitled)at the resource center at the MTC for Mandarin elders that states this in print. With all the health claims for green tea in the media, it would be swell if members could be informed. From previous posts, some are still confused about this tea; last year, I had asked this question in Relief Society and no one knew if green tea was against the WoW, nor did my son-in-law who served in Hong Kong a few years ago! I know you guys cannot dispense church doctrine or tell the GAs what to do - perhaps this specific issue regarding green tea has only recently been clarified, with it being more widely available than in the past?

Madea

A: Dear Madea,

I sent your question to my friend that served his mission in Hong Kong and he gave me this response:

Our standard rule on tea was that if it was made with flowers or herbs it was alright with the Word of Wisdom. (And I just confirmed that by asking two other guys here at work that also served their missions in Asian speaking areas.) If it is made from tea leaves, it is not ok. Green tea is not ok nor is yellow tea, red tea, or black tea. Those teas have certain harmful substances in them that are not good if consumed in large quantities. In some instances they can offer health benefits but we are still asked not to take them. If anyone has any questions as to the negative effects of tea they needn't look further than an old Chinese person who has drunk tea their whole life. Their teeth are horrible.

Chrysanthemum tea is ok and I was always fine with telling people Jasmine tea was ok too because Jasmine is a flower.

There is a supplement at work that is green tea encapsuled and from what I've heard it's fine to take because we're not drinking it.

About the brown book... A lot of stuff in the MTC is ancient. It's probably best to refer to Preach My Gospel if anything.

Hopefully that helps some. If she has anymore questions, I'm sure he'd be happy to help.

- Lavish

A: Dear Madea,

Although the green tea issue was brought up about a week ago, I wanted to put in a link to the librarian's comprehensive list of archived posts in Board Question #36813. I'm particularly fond of Board Question #23817 and Board Question #24388. You probably read these already, but maybe that list will be helpful for new readers.

—Laser Jock

Question #36939 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

Music

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

BYU has an event called Guitars Unplugged which is sponsored by the BYUSA and took place back in March. BYU-Idaho also has a Guitars Unplugged, it is the most popular event on their campus. Utah State University has a much smaller guitars unplugged which is used as a fundraiser. Any idea where Guitars Unplugged made birth? And how that went about happening?

- Google didn't help

A: Dear Google

The term "unplugged" to describe a performance on an acoustic guitar was popularized by MTV when it began airing "Unplugged" specials in 1989. From the Wikipedia article about MTV Unplugged:

The inspiration for the Unplugged series has also been solely attributed to Bon Jovi's performance at the music awards. However, many music experts have cited both Elvis Presley's "boxing ring" performance in his 1968 Comeback Special, and the Beatles filmed performances in the 1970 film "Let It Be" as "unplugged type" sessions that were ahead of their time, and many consider them "pre-cursors" to the later "Unplugged" concept.

Though the term was originally applied to rock groups who, uncharacteristically, performed acoustic versions of their songs for the MTV specials, the term has now been applied to any acoustic performance. Undoubtedly college age individuals, the target audience of MTV, picked up on the terminology and started hosting unplugged concerts (though most of the artists performing have likely never played anything plugged).

-Humble Master

Question #36922 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

LDS - Missionaries

Relationships

Q:

Dear All-Knowing 100 Hour Board,

So there's this guy (ooh man trouble!), that's returning home from his mission in about 2 months, and he's great. Really great. We've been writing these last two years (met at efy just a few weeks before he left) and we've become pretty close. How much time should I allow him to get back into the swing of things and such? I know each guy is different, but how long, on average, does it normally take? Also, how do I let him know I'm interested in him (if he can't tell by the letters and packages of homemade chocolate chip cookies)? Or how do I know if he's interested in me?

Positively Twitterpated

A: Dear Twitterpated

If you've sent him boxes with cookies you can be one hundred percent certain that he and his companions have had discussions about you (and his companions undoubtedly like you if you're sending cookies). If he is still in regular contact with you he is most likely interested, and he'll let you know how long he needs once he's back.

-Humble Master

A: Dear Positively Twitterpated,

I wish I could give you a really solid, "this is how it alway is" answer. Unfortunately, I think it really depends on the guy. For example, Yellow's brother just got home from his mission and there's a girl that really likes him. He has said himself that she's a really great girl. But you can tell that he's a little overwhelmed by her forwardness at this point. I mean, he has spent the last two years being told not to pay attention to girls. See what I mean? Girls are just generally more emotional and affectionate. On the other hand, I have a friend whose missionary came home and a week later they were right back in the swing of things. My little sister had a guy that she like... half dated before his mission and then wrote to the whole time but when he got home neither of them knew what the other was thinking so it was super awkward and they misunderstood what the other actually felt. Now, about a year later, they're thinking about getting married.

Just remember that although you guys have been writing to each other for the last couple years, things are going to be different in person. That's just the way it is. I mean, letters are really hard to "mess up." They don't get annoyed when you keep them waiting 15 minutes because you're not ready when they pick you up. Plus you'll be exposed to all his annoying habits that you didn't have a chance to see much before. I'm not saying that it won't work. I'm just saying go into this with your eyes open, you know?

Hm. I still feel like I'm not being very encouraging. How about something more like, "I'm sure things'll work out great!" Yeah? Maybe? Meh. You know what I mean. In any event, good luck with things! It'll be nice to have him back.

- Lavish

A: Dear PT,

I had to laugh when I found this question sitting in my "Assigned" folder. I haven't exactly kept it quiet that my own boy got home on June 6th. In his particular case, it took him two days to get back into the swing of certain things; I flew out to his homestate on the 8th and he held my hand as we drove back from the airport. This surprised me, I assure you. But his family attests that having a girl around actually helped speed the process of normalcy - they said he was acting really strange right until I showed up. Take that for what it's worth.

I showed my boy your question, and he said, "I don't have much to say. Every missionary is different ... that's it." Upon further prodding, we agreed that while showing interest is good, letting him make all the first concrete moves is best. I would say this isn't the case with regular guys - history shows that I fully endorse females making first moves - but for freshly returned missionaries, you better let him lead all the way. "It could take a week, it could take months," he said.

As far as showing your interest goes, you've done that pretty well so far, at least as well as you should while he's still a missionary. Don't flirt while he's still out. Once he's back, though, go for the gold. I'm a big proponent of being straight-forward. There are loads of how-to questions about flirting and all that in the archives, but I have the feeling you know how to do it naturally.

-krebscout

Question #36915 posted on 06/21/2007 3:01 a.m.

LDS - Prophets & General Authorities

Q:

Dear 100 Hour Board,

My curiosity has been piqued. Today I was looking for an mp3 of the talk, "Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments," but I couldn't find it anywhere. But that isn't the most interesting part. During the search I was unable to locate the talk in ANY form on the following websites:

lds.org
speeches.byu.edu
byubroadcasting.org/findatalk/

It doesn't show up anywhere as if it doesn't exist. I am wondering why. The only explanations that I can think of is that either the talk possiblly contains a piece of questionable doctrine that the Church doesn't want to advocate, or that in they want to reserve the talk for monetary purchases only. Just wondering...

- Piqued

A: Dear Piqued,

I agree that "Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments" is a very powerful talk, and I was intrigued when I couldn't find it on any of those sites either. To get a good answer for you, I e-mailed BYU Speeches about the article. Here's what I got back, from a very helpful lady named Heather:

Thanks for your email. I hope this response comes before your 100 hours are up. "Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments" was removed from our Web site at the request of the speaker. We do not know why we received this request, but often speakers will remove their talk from a public Web site if it is to be published in a book. This talk was indeed published in a book by the same title which can be found at LDS bookstores. Hope that helps!

Heather
BYU Speeches

I then asked if there were any copyright issues with copies from other sources, since some web sites still have the article. Here's what she said:

Elder Holland has revised and improved on the original both in print and with a video. This could perhaps be why he requested the removal of the old version.

Though a few talks have been pulled from the official BYU Speeches Web site, they are still available in print in past volumes of BYU Speeches. The Harold B. Lee Library has the entire set of past volumes, and we still sell some out-of-print volumes. We have always felt our mission is to make these messages easily available, and photocopying has always been encouraged.

Typically we ask that other Web sites link to our Speeches site instead of posting talks themselves. Perhaps some other sites loaded the talks before they were pulled from our site. Salt Lake may in fact notify them. But the talks were available electronically for several years and were distributed widely.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Heather
BYU Speeches

So, there you have it. If you're anywhere near BYU, the library might be the best place to get a photocopy of the talk. You can also try contacting BYU Speeches yourself to see if they still have any copies of that year of BYU Speeches. (He gave the talk on 12 January 1988.) There is also a slightly different version printed in the November 1998 Ensign. Finally, you can check out the book she mentioned, which is published under the same name (Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments).

Good luck in your search, and I hope you enjoy the talk!

—Laser Jock