London Attacked

So, supporters of NYC as a potential 2012 Olympics location had to defend the city against concerns of terrorism. Turns out everyone was focusing in the wrong spot. London was awarded the prestige of hosting the 2012 Olympics (did I mention they have a sweet logo?), and the next day their transit system was attacked by terrorists.

Wrongfully Arrested

So, 'Scooby', a fellow Canadian LDS blogger was recently arrested for failing to appear at a small claims court hearing. She was shackled, handcuffed, strip searched and detained in a cell overnight. Turns out, she was never served papers to appear in court.

That really sucks.

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Thanks for the warm welcome Kim. This seems like a safe passage into the bloggernacle and I'm grateful for the oppurtunity.

As Kim mentioned, I live in the Edmonton area. Just moved out of the best ward I have ever been a part of and now find myself in Sherwood Park and I'm very much, "the new girl" and my family is probably annoying countless fellow Sherwood Parkians by squatting in their pew. Many of my posts will probably wine about our weekly struggles of incorporating ourselves into this new environment. Well, until I get over it...

Seven years ago I married my best friend and we've settled into a comfy marriage, and I've decided I'll scrapbook our wedding photos. Think we might actually make it now (Somewhere there is a 6+ foot tall blond rolling his eyes). We have a lot of fun together and tend to bond over renovations. My daughter is five and will be venturing into grade one in the fall. It's gonna be a great summer with more pictures drawn for the fridge than I know what to do with.

Random things about me: Photography is one of my passions. I hope to set up a studio in my home and pursue this artform as a hobby with benefits. I spend an absurd amount of time at Totem Building Supplies lately as our new home requires "some work." I work as design team member for an online scrapbooking community and it fills my needs creatively (for the most part).

Hope this didn't all sound too smug and simple. If it does, not to worry, something always goes wrong.

I genuinely look forward to being part of Our Thoughts.

Yet Another Blogger

Our ranks are growing again. Our newest blogger, Nikki Workman, currently hails from the Edmonton area, where she lives wither her husband and daughter, but she was raised in Penticton, BC. Some in the Bloggernacle may recognise her from her personal blog at Isn't this kind of personal?

Nikki writes well and takes awesome photos. We are happy to have her aboard and look forward to her posts.

Welcome, Nikki.

P.S. For those wondering what's happened to Mike, he was swept up by gigantic end-of-school aliens and then whisked away to a planet called "Summer Vacation". I hear he is planning an escape for sometime next week.

America and 1 Nephi 13

I cannot count the number of times I have heard someone report that the prophecies contained in chapter 13 of 1 Nephi refer to the colonisation of the United States.

And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land. (v. 12)

The above verse, for example, is said to have referred to Christopher Columbus. Yet, it is a well-established fact that several Scandinavians arrived in the American contents several centuries before Columbus ever did. In addition, Columbus was preceded by at least one explorer (João Vaz Corte-Real) and subsequently followed by one other (John Cabot or Giovanni Caboto). In actuality, it would seem that Columbus should fall under verse 13:

And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters.

The next few verses go on discussing white people colonising the "land of promise" and the "land of their inheritance". It is widely believed that the furthest north the Lehitic people landed on the American continent is present-day Mexico. At the very last then, the land of promise referred to Mexico, not the United States. This makes sense of course, since many white people from Spain and France colonised the area of Mexico.

Verses 17 and 18 are popularly interpreted to refer to the Revolutionary War between Britain and what would become the United States. Yet, Mexico held several wars with mother Gentiles. Cinco de Mayo, for example, celebrates Mexico's victorious defeat of French forces that had occupied the country. In addition, Mexico's Independence War lasted from 1810 until 1821, complete with a constitution drafting. For that matter, Brazil held a war of independence against Portugal from 1821-1825 that included land and naval battles, as did Chile's fight against Spain during 1817-1818.

So to what does 1 Nephi 13 refer? Who knows? The prophecies are too vague. Certainly they came true, but I am apprehensive to say the unequivocally refer to the United states when much that is contained in the chapter could refer to several countries in North and South America.

Celine Dion Live 8

Live 8 was pretty cool this week. Despite the criticisms many gave for the supposed lack of entertainers in Barrie, ON (not Toronto as Bono sang), it was a good show. The finale by Gird Downie, Neil Young, BNL, Bruce Cockburn, and others was patriotic and inspiring.

Celine Dion was too self-absorbed to make it and thought she would be benevolent enough to appear via a satellite feed from Vegas. Justifiably, she was booed by those in attendance. If you're going to perform, be there. If you're not going to be there, don't perform.

Seattle Bloggersnacker

I am off to Seattle the week of July 17th to attend Web Design World. I'll be arriving into SeaTac on the night of the 17th (Sun) and leaving the morning of the 20th (Wed).

Anyone else from the Bloggernacle going to be in the Seattle area? Wanna get together? I'll be staying at the Seattle Marriott Waterfront. My wife thinks I am going to partying there, so I might as well live up to her expectations.

J. Stapley from Splendid Sun has offered his house as the Bloggersnacker location.

Post a comment if you're coming.

EDIT: This is a repost.