So normally I take great joy in writing a blog entry for the 4th of July, but this year do to scheduling craziness, I probably won't get to it. So, even though it's almost a week away, I thought I'd leave you with two of my favorite patriotic themed links. The first is a Mormon Tabernacle "flash mob" at Colonial Williamsburg. The singing is great, but in the beginning are people in full period getup reading the Declaration of Independence, which I also think is awesome.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBXXLzE0-rY&feature=player_embedded#MoTabTour
The second link is a man who blogged about his son's experience with the Star Spangled Banner exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of American History. It was one of my favorite experiences in D.C. last summer and I recently talked with my Dad who saw it this spring and also loved it.
http://blog.americanhistory.si.edu/osaycanyousee/2011/03/if-i-could-just-get-inside-that-glass-i-could-hear-the-song-in-there.html
Have a great Independence Day everyone!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Busy as a Happy Bee
So I haven't posted much this week because between trying to keep up with my work hours and hanging out with Julia, time has been a bit crunched. We went to the mall on Monday, the cheap movies on Tuesday (Soul Surfer), the Utah Museum of Fine Arts on Wednesday, made cupcakes on Thursday, and went to Lagoon on Friday. It's been a really fun whirlwind, and each of those things probably deserve their own blog post, but this little short one will have to do, because in a moment we're all off to buy snow cones and get some propane for the grill so Tracy can make ribs tonight. I have to admit, this is a really nice way to be busy!
There's also a new post on the writing blog, if you want to check it out. I finished the first draft of my latest book last Saturday. One extra detail that's not in that blog, is that I've heard you should let a manuscript sit for a couple of weeks before you start revising. For lots of reasons I'm anxious to get that one ready to send out, and doubted I could be that patient. However, with everything that's been going on, I haven't gotten back to it. So I guess my business is serving two different purposes.
Here's the writing blog link.
http://jenelcope.wordpress.com/blog/
There's also a new post on the writing blog, if you want to check it out. I finished the first draft of my latest book last Saturday. One extra detail that's not in that blog, is that I've heard you should let a manuscript sit for a couple of weeks before you start revising. For lots of reasons I'm anxious to get that one ready to send out, and doubted I could be that patient. However, with everything that's been going on, I haven't gotten back to it. So I guess my business is serving two different purposes.
Here's the writing blog link.
http://jenelcope.wordpress.com/blog/
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Why I Love Twitter Today
When I posted on Twitter today about my new entry on the writing blog I mentioned that I used a quote from Robin McKinley. Well, Robin McKinley "Re-Tweeted" it and added a comment about liking my banner photo on the writing website (it has several of her books in it) When an author you've loved since you were fifteen years old looks at your blog, and sends you a Tweet, it's a good day!
Summer! and A New Writing Post
Yesterday I actually turned on the air conditioning of a couple of hours. Huzzah! It's about dang time. We have flowers blooming and chives sprouting and all sorts of horticultural excitement at our house. We also had company last night in the form of Tracy's mom, Tricia and our niece Julia. They'll be back later in the week and we get to keep Julia for a whole week. I love it when she comes because it forces Tracy and I to go and have fun, plus she's a great kid.
Also, there's a new post on the writing blog http://jenelcope.wordpress.com/
Also, there's a new post on the writing blog http://jenelcope.wordpress.com/
Friday, June 10, 2011
Best Writing Advice: #1 Sucky First Drafts
New post on the writing blog:
http://jenelcope.wordpress.com/
http://jenelcope.wordpress.com/
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Bravery and Commerce
Tracy has finally (gulp!) put one of his awesome creations up for sale. Right now there's only one, but we plan to have at least three others up by the end of the week - hopefully!
If you want to check it out go to
http://www.etsy.com/listing/75622579/cute-as-a-button-chimemobile?ref=pr_shop
If you want to check it out go to
http://www.etsy.com/listing/75622579/cute-as-a-button-chimemobile?ref=pr_shop
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Inspirational or Intimidating? – Using Great Stuff to Inspire Your Own Work
New blog post on the writing blog
http://jenelcope.wordpress.com/blog
http://jenelcope.wordpress.com/blog
For the Love of History
This is a bit of a rant, so feel free to skip this. Also a warning for any die hard Republicans or Democrats, I do a little skewering of both sides here.
I am a historian, I love history. We've moved so I could study it, it's part of who I am. Needless to say I have something of a personal investment in the way that it is used and spoken of in the public sphere. There are so many reasons to study our past, and while I'm not of the "doomed to repeat it" school of thought, I do think an understanding of history helps us understand the world in which we live in today. (Studying history, for those of my readers who care about such things, is also something the scriptures encourage us to do. In D&C 88: 78-79 in a list of things that should be "taught diligently" it lists "things which have been" and "the wars and perplexities of nations.")
I also think, though some in the academic field might look down their noses at such a statement, that if you love our country you need to celebrate the great achievements of our nation, while also being aware of its mistakes. I am perhaps a bit more patriotic and emotional than many academic historians, but so what, I'm happy to admit that when I stood in the room in Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed I had to fight back tears, and that I had a similar experience at the Lincoln Memorial. There are reasons to honor the past and feel deep gratitude towards the men and women who worked their very hardest and did their very best to create a great nation.
But, and here's where the rant comes in, if people want to use the American past for political reasons they at least need to get it right! Don't turn George Washington into the poster child for small government and conservative values, don't try to compare Barack Obama to Abraham Lincoln in order to boost his greatness – just don't. (And I'm sorry to be specific and controversial here - but Sarah Palin needs a full time history tutor and a willingness to admit when she screws up.)
Is there a Founding Father who would back up conservative folks who want smaller government? Oh, absolutely. There are several – Thomas Jefferson for starters. But I think clinging on to George Washington here shows a real misunderstanding of the complexity of federalism.
Is it potentially a cool bit of trivia that the three presidents who spent most of their lives in Illinois (Lincoln, Grant, Obama) have some kind of connection to solving racial discord in our country? Sure. But I'd like to point out that the only president born in Illinois was Ronald Reagan and, in addition, I don't think President Obama did much rail splitting in Honolulu.
PLEASE notice here that I am giving examples of both the "right" and the "left" doing this - this isn't a rant about politics, my political views would take a novel to explain, not a blog post – it's a rant about people using history but not bothering to study it. History is complex and fascinating and wonderful, and by turning it into an inaccurate political sound bite, it diminishes its value to our nation.
Oh, and for the record, I think each time one of these politicians invokes our glorious past for their own purposes they need to donate ten dollars towards history scholarships or historical preservation. Well, a girl can dream.
I am a historian, I love history. We've moved so I could study it, it's part of who I am. Needless to say I have something of a personal investment in the way that it is used and spoken of in the public sphere. There are so many reasons to study our past, and while I'm not of the "doomed to repeat it" school of thought, I do think an understanding of history helps us understand the world in which we live in today. (Studying history, for those of my readers who care about such things, is also something the scriptures encourage us to do. In D&C 88: 78-79 in a list of things that should be "taught diligently" it lists "things which have been" and "the wars and perplexities of nations.")
I also think, though some in the academic field might look down their noses at such a statement, that if you love our country you need to celebrate the great achievements of our nation, while also being aware of its mistakes. I am perhaps a bit more patriotic and emotional than many academic historians, but so what, I'm happy to admit that when I stood in the room in Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed I had to fight back tears, and that I had a similar experience at the Lincoln Memorial. There are reasons to honor the past and feel deep gratitude towards the men and women who worked their very hardest and did their very best to create a great nation.
But, and here's where the rant comes in, if people want to use the American past for political reasons they at least need to get it right! Don't turn George Washington into the poster child for small government and conservative values, don't try to compare Barack Obama to Abraham Lincoln in order to boost his greatness – just don't. (And I'm sorry to be specific and controversial here - but Sarah Palin needs a full time history tutor and a willingness to admit when she screws up.)
Is there a Founding Father who would back up conservative folks who want smaller government? Oh, absolutely. There are several – Thomas Jefferson for starters. But I think clinging on to George Washington here shows a real misunderstanding of the complexity of federalism.
Is it potentially a cool bit of trivia that the three presidents who spent most of their lives in Illinois (Lincoln, Grant, Obama) have some kind of connection to solving racial discord in our country? Sure. But I'd like to point out that the only president born in Illinois was Ronald Reagan and, in addition, I don't think President Obama did much rail splitting in Honolulu.
PLEASE notice here that I am giving examples of both the "right" and the "left" doing this - this isn't a rant about politics, my political views would take a novel to explain, not a blog post – it's a rant about people using history but not bothering to study it. History is complex and fascinating and wonderful, and by turning it into an inaccurate political sound bite, it diminishes its value to our nation.
Oh, and for the record, I think each time one of these politicians invokes our glorious past for their own purposes they need to donate ten dollars towards history scholarships or historical preservation. Well, a girl can dream.
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