Those of you who spent some time in the 1980's may appraciate this link. It's a page where you can watch various 80's commercials, including the California Raisins. X-Entertainment's Download Center - Watch Hundreds of 80s Commercials, FREE!

"All men go to good earth in one eternal silent night."

These were the last words of a computer program as it was killed by another program by the same author, called the "Grim Reaper". You can read the whole article here: The Salt Lake Tribune -- Inventor's machine can think for itself.

Here's an excerpt from the author's website, www.imaginationengines.com:

"a neural network exposed to any conceptual space and then internally irritated, in a specially prescribed way, tends to generate coherent ideas derived from its absorbed wisdom."

We love the subs!

You may have noticed recently some very strange Quizno's commercials featuring rodent-like creatures singing about toasted submarine sandwiches. I just found a good article on it, on adweek.com. Apparently, the commercials are done in Flash by an Englishman, who runs rathergood.com. Other cartoons on his site feature dimented kitten rock bands and "When Biscuits Go Wrong".

Some people find the commercials disgusting and bazzarre, but I couldn't stop laughing! "They got a pepper bar!"

I got to thinking about music today. It started when I downloaded and listened to In My Life, by the Beatles. This song really touched my heart, because it reminded me of my high school days, singing with the Madrigals and the Concert Choir at Woods Cross High School. In My Life was one of the songs we sang--it was also one of my favorites. Those were some good times. I have some fond memories of participating in that choir.

Having been touched to remember--and miss--those days when I sang with the choir, I looked online for some choral music to listen to. One such song was Dirait On, one I had heard before I got serious about singing. The song really moved me at that time, and it moves me still today. If there were ever any one song which really instilled in me the passion to be a part of a chorous, it was this one. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing is also a very touching song.

Music--and I mean real music--has the power to move me and make my heart beat faster. To get lost in the music, because it is so very beautiful. I miss that. I mean, I miss having that on a regular basis--and being part of a team which produced that wonderful effect. Of course, the past gets better every day, but that's the part of 3 years ago which I miss the most.

Besides the satisfaction of making beautiful music, it is very satisfying to work with other individuals of great talent. To be part of something worthwhile--there is a certain grand feeling to it.

I did inquire somewhat as to joining the Concert Choir or the Chamber Choir at Weber State University, where I am a student. I'd really like to be part of a choir like that again. So, I e-mailed the choir director there, Mr. Mark Henderson, and am awaiting a response. However, when I looked at the course schedule for the upcoming semester, it showed Mr. Michael Huff as directing the choir. (!) This is of course a pleasant surprise to me, since Michael Huff was my next-door-neighbor for many years, and the director of the first choir I ever sang in--the Val Verda 6th Ward choir--to which I owe much. I wonder if he is really the new WSU choir director, or if that was just a mistake?