From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V2 #136 Reply-To: aml-list Sender: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk aml-list-digest Thursday, August 28 2003 Volume 02 : Number 136 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 28 Aug 2003 10:26:08 -0700 From: Julie Kirk Subject: [AML] Street Painting in Italy Okay, it's a brag...I can't help it! I was able to finally go the the Grazie di curtatone street painting festival in Italy, which is recognized as kind of the mother ship of street painting festivals, the oldest in existence. I have been trying to get to this festival for years and one thing after another has prevented me from the trip, but due to the generosity of a friend who presented me with enough frequent flyer miles for a ticket, I made it this year. This festival is split into three catagories, Semplici, Qualificato and Maestre. In order to move up in the ranks, you have to win first place in the Semplici catagory. Well, competing against about 100 other artists, I did just that my very first time. This means that next year I will compete at the Qualifacato level the winner of which will be bumped up to Maestre. It was pretty exciting, and kind of like a mini olympics where you stand on a podium and get a medal and everything - just no flags ;o) Anyhow, I wanted to share the good news because I'm very excited and a few people on the list have been activily helping me out in another thing related to this, my search for a good contact in Italy to fulfill requirements in my fulbright proposal to study there for a year. At this same festival I was also able to nail down one contact, so only one more to go! I guess that's it, I'm just very happy and feeling very blessed right now. this festival happened on the heels of my father passing away very suddenly a few weeks ago, so it was a welcome bit of happiness in a very unhappy summer. In October I've been asked to paint in a festival in Istanbul also - - who would have ever thought there would be a street painting festival in Istanbul. Julie! www.juliekirk.com www.streetpainting.net - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 13:48:56 -0500 From: Linda Adams Subject: Re: [AML] Heavenly Mothers That could be the right book, but I was thinking of a story giving the history of how she came to write it, and that Joseph Smith gave his approval of the verses. Something like that? At any rate it's one of my most favorite hymns. Linda At 12:36 AM 8/27/03, you wrote: >Linda, could this be the source you are thinking of? >In _Our Latter-Day Hymns_ by Karen Lynn Davidson she quotes Bruce R. >McConkie, "Implicit in the Christian verity that all men are the spirit >children of an Eternal Father is the usually unspoken truth that they are >also the offspring of an Eternal Mother. This glorious truth of celestial >parentage, including specifically both a Father and a Mother, is heralded >forth by song in one of the greatest of Latter-day Saint hymns, O My Father >by Eliza R. Snow." (This McConkie quote is from _Mormon Doctrine_, 2d ed. >pp. 516-17.) > >Nan McCulloch > > >-- >AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature > - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2003 23:42:52 -0500 From: "webmaster" Subject: [AML] Box Office Report 22 Aug. 03 Feature Films by LDS/Mormon Filmmakers and Actors Weekend Box Office Report (U.S. Domestic Box Office Gross) Weekend of August 22, 2003 Report compiled by: LDSFilm.com [If table below doesn't line up properly, try looking at them with a mono-spaced font, such as Courier - Ed.] Natl Film Title Weekend Gross Rank LDS/Mormon Filmmaker/Actor Total Gross Theaters Days - --- ----------------------------- ----------- ----- ---- 2 S.W.A.T. 10,581,327 3,204 17 LDS character 87,847,065 14 Le Divorce 1,368,317 422 17 Matthew Modine (actor) 3,558,534 38 2 Fast 2 Furious 169,835 215 80 Paul Walker (lead actor) 126,522,515 56 Wrong Turn 25,854 45 87 Eliza Dushku (lead actor) 15,352,334 62 Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure 19,340 8 927 Scott Swofford (producer) 15,156,060 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) Sam Cardon (composer) Stephen L. Johnson (editor) 76 Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man 8,748 4 1200 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 15,507,852 83 Cremaster 3 4,650 2 122 Mathew Barney 428,447 (writer/producer/director/actor) 84 China: The Panda Adventure 4,626 3 759 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 3,337,652 97 Galapagos 1,419 2 1396 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 14,052,807 99 The R.M. 1,260 3 206 Kurt Hale (writer/director) 1,057,022 John E. Moyer (writer) Dave Hunter (producer) Cody Hale (composer) Ryan Little (cinematographer) Actors: Kirby Heyborne, Will Swenson, Britani Bateman, Tracy Ann Evans Merrill Dodge, Michael Birkeland, Maren Ord, Leroy Te'o, Curt Dousett Wally Joyner, etc. LDSFILM.COM TO ADD A MOVIE LISTINGS FEATURE - Coming soon, LDSfilm.com will maintain a page listing theaters and showtimes for LDS Cinema films as well as smaller, independent films with Latter-day Saint filmmakers in above-the-line roles. To make certain that listings of theaters and showtimes are included and up-to-date, we ask filmmakers to e-mail ldsfilm@baggaleymusic.com on a weekly basis with a list of theaters (including phone numbers - to double-check showtimes - and addresses) and projected showtimes for the upcoming weekend. Please spread the word about this new feature to anyone you know who would be interested in using this resource to find out which LDS-related films are playing in their area. JOHNNY LINGO-MGM CONNECTION - MGM, one of the BIG STUDIOS, will distribute "The Legend of Johnny Lingo," a new motion picture produced by Latter-day Saint producers Jerry Molen and John Garbett and directed by Latter-day Saint film editor Steve Ramirez. Here's a related website showing the movie poster, as well as MGM's distribution of it: http://www.moviemission.com/rsvp/default.asp A full-page ad appeared in the Daily Universe (BYU newspaper) for the movie, and included MGM's logo. JOHNNY LINGO REVIEW ON MERIDIAN - Film composer and LDSFilm.com webmaster has written a movie review of "The Legend of Johnny Lingo." Read it in Meridian Magazine: http://wwwmeridianmagazine.com/arts/030822lingo.html MORE ON JOHNNY LINGO DIRECTOR STEVEN RAMIREZ - Steven Ramirez is best known for editing "The Other Side of Heaven." Ramirez also has one credit as the sole screenwriter of a critically acclaimed direct-to-video movie, "The Killers." The cover for "The Killers" can be seen here: http://www.ldsfilm.com/pm/Killers.jpg BOOK OF MORMON MOVIE RATED PG-13 - According to newly added information on the official website for Gary Rogers' upcoming feature film "Book of Mormon, Volume 1: The Journey," the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) has rated the movie PG-13. According to the movie's website, the rating is probably due to a particularly intense scene in which Nephi and Laban are involved in, as Anakin Skywalker once put it, "aggressive negotiations." The movie's official website is adamant that the movie has no vulgar or profane language, nudity, or sex. Rogers says on his website that future volumes in the series will likely be PG-13 because of the violence inherent in the stories, but that he states that he will never release one with an R-rating. THE WORK AND THE STORY PREMIERE DATES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS - "The Work and the Story," an LDS-themed mockumentary about LDS Cinema stars Richard Dutcher and Kirby "Omnipresent" Heyborne, with writer/director Nathan Smith Jones in the lead role. Plus Jennifer Hoskins, Dave Boud, and Dan Merkley - any one of which could make a fine governor some day. If you go to the official website you can see maps to the locations, and even photos of the venues. See: http://www.theworkandthestory.com KANAB FESTIVAL HONORS TOWN'S HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE - Kanab, Utah, a.k.a. "Little Hollywood" a.k.a. "Hollywood East" a.k.a. "Hollywood With Morals" See http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Aug/08252003/utah/86807.asp CARMEN SINGS - Deseret News, detailed article about the Delta Center concert starring Latter-day Saint singing sensation Carmen Rasmusen: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,510049393,00.html SMART TV MOVIE SLATED FOR FALL - See http://wwwsltrib.com/2003/Aug/08222003/utah/utah.asp DESERET NEWS LETTER SAYS NEIL SIMON AND HOLLYWOOD SCREENWRITERS ARE MORALLY BANKRUPT - See http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,510048362,00.html * * * * * * * * * NEW VUISSA SHORT HEADING FOR ACADEMY AWARD CONSIDERATION - Austrian Latter-day Saint filmmaker Christian Vuissa is the founder of the LDS Film Festival and the recipient of only the second AML Award for Film ever granted, for his ground-breaking LDS-themed short film "Roots & Wings." Vuissa is currently working on the LDS Cinema feature film "Eat, Drink and Get Married." But his latest short film, "Unfolding," is currently appearing across the country in prestigious film festivals. "Unfolding" is/was an official selection at the following festivals (to date): - - daVinci Film Festival 2003, Corvallis, Oregon, July 18-20, 2003 - - Rhode Island International Film Festival 2003, August 5-10, 2003 - - Atlantic City Film Festival 2003, August 9-16, 2003 - - Temecula Valley International Film Festival 2003, September 10-14, 2003 - - Palm Springs Int'l Festival of Film Shorts 2003, September 16-22, 2003 - - Damah Spiritual Film Festival 2003, Seattle, October 23-25, 2003 - - "Unfolding" won the award for Best College Drama at the 15th daVinci Film Festival 2003. Note that both the Rhode Island and the Palm Springs Festival have been chosen by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as qualifying festivals for the Short Films category for the Annual Academy Awards. With more than 1200 film festivals worldwide, only 47 have this recognition. Does this mean that "Unfolding" will be in contention for Academy Award consideration? Yes, it does. It does not mean that it WILL be nominated, but it has a shot. "Unfolding" is currently on sale only at LDS Video Store (http://www.ldsvideostore.com). * * * * * * * * * A MORMON IN "NORTHFORK"? - "Northfork" is a new feature film currently in theatrical release. The movie stars non-LDS Utah native James Woods in the lead role. Co-stars include Mark Polish, Nick Nolte, Daryl Hannah and Anthony Edwards. The movie depicts a group of government agents trying to persuade residents of a rural area of Montana to move away before the area is flooded. One resident is a devoutly religious taxidermist, "Mr. Stalling", played by veteran character actor Marshall Bell. He and his two wives (named Mrs. Stalling #1 and Mrs. Stalling #2 in the credits) have built a home in the shape of an ark and tell Woods' character that they plan to float when the waters come. A few movie reviewers refer to the three characters (Stalling and his 2 wives) as "Mormons," or "Mormon polygamists," but nearly all other reviewers simply refer to them as "polygamists" (perhaps a nod to Church preferences?), or they simply call Mr. Stalling a man with two wives. I haven't seen the movie, so I have no way of knowing if the characters are intended to be Mormonesque polygamists, or if the Stallings are intended to be general Protestant polygamists. * * * * * * * * * WRITER DAVID CORBETT PRAISES REALISM OF LDS CHARACTER IN "S.W.A.T." - [EXCERPTS:] A former private investigator and one-time probate lawyer, Corbett now makes his living writing crime novels. Good ones. His first, The Devil's Redhead (2002) won instant acclaim for its wit and stunning emotional style. His latest, Done for a Dime, is even better. It's a fast-paced yarn about a murdered bluesman, a bummed-out cop and a horn-playing prime-suspect with Daddy issues, told with plausible plotting, richly imagined characters, a few nice surprises and some extremely believable dialogue. All of which are elements entirely lacking from S.W.A.T. "Nobody speaks in dialogue in this movie," Corbett says. "They all talk in slogans. The only cop who looked and talked like a real police officer was the potbellied Mormon guy in the gun cage, constantly sneaking fast food and soda pop, begging the guys not to tell his wife. That's your average cop. Everybody else in the movie was a cartoon. I was actually embarrassed for Samuel Jackson." "Maybe this movie should have been titled C.L.I.C.H.E," I remark. "Or just plain B.A.D.," Corbett replies. "The characters were so far off the mark. Cops are fascinating people, real cops are. They are really interesting, with great human stories to tell, but in this movie nobody ever did or said anything that made them really interesting. Except the fast food guy." .... Note that the full article contains some R-rated language, not excerpted here. Source: interview/article by David Templeton: http://www.metroactive.com/papers/cruz/08.20.03/talk-pix-0334.html * * * * * * * * * NEWSLETTER FROM HALESTORM ENTERTAINMENT [the following section is taken directly from HaleStorm's mailing to subscribers]: The R.M. will finally open in California on Friday, September 5th. These limited engagements are for one to two weeks only, so make sure you see it opening weekend, or you might miss your chance. Here's a list of the cities where it will be playing: Northern California SAN JOSE CONCORD LA/Orange/San Bernardino County NORTH HOLLYWOOD PASADENA LONG BEACH BREA FULLERTON GARDEN GROVE IRVINE NEWPORT BEACH ONTARIO SIMI VALLEY Southern California SAN MARCOS SAN DIEGO Theaters are being added almost daily! Check your local theater listings for locations and showtimes or go to www.rmthemovie.com/theaters.php for updated theater information. NEW HALESTORM WEB SITE - Go to http://www.halestormentertainment.com and see the newly redesigned site, featuring links to The Singles Ward, The R.M., and the upcoming The Home Teachers and The Best Two Years! CHECK OUT THESE OTHER FILMS! There's a bunch of new LDS-themed films coming to theaters this fall! Go to www.ldsfilm.com to find out the latest on The Book of Mormon Movie, The Work and the Story, Day of Defense and The Legend of Johnny Lingo! TOO LATE FOR BAGGALEY - I am personally relieved to see that "The R.M." is finally being released in California. Having made what now looks like a foolish prediction that "The R.M." would be passing "The Singles Ward" in gross box office by next week, only to see "The R.M." pass through some surprisingly difficult weeks - encountering difficulty in finding available venues in Arizona and posting record low numbers - I am hoping to see those numbers climb with the addition of California audiences. It will be too late for my prediction to come true by the time the film enters California, but anyone who has an interest in the success of LDS Cinema has got to hope that "The R.M." does succeed in passing "The Singles Ward" - and soon. Last we heard, the DVD/video release was scheduled for the end of September. * * * * * * * * * "DAY OF DEFENSE" TO BE DISTRIBUTED BY L.A.-BASED VIKING MEDIA - "Day of Defense" will be distributed by Los Angeles-based Viking Media. "Day of Defense" premieres in Salt Lake City on October 10, 2003. As far as we know this will be the first movie that Viking Media has ever distributed. This LDS-themed feature film will be only the second LDS Cinema movie to be distributed by an out-of-state firm. The previous time this was attempted was with "Out of Step," whose original release is largely considered the low-point in LDS Cinema distribution history, even though the movie itself is one of the best in the genre. "Out of Step" remains the lowest-grossing LDS Cinema film. If "Day of Defense" tanks at the box office, it may sour local filmmakers on the idea of distributing their LDS Cinema fare with little known out-of-state distributors. They may prefer to stick with more experienced in-state companies such as Excel Entertainment and HaleStorm Entertainment / HaleStone Distribution, distribute the movie themselves (which is what Kels Goodman did with "Handcart," although he doesn't recommend that route), or hope to be picked up by a bigger-name national distributor (which is what Ryan Little hopes will happen with "Saints and Soldiers"). Gary Rogers' Book of Mormon movie is being distributed by "Mormon Movies," a company the filmmakers organized specifically for this purpose, using a novel internet advance ticket sales technique. If their distribution is wildly successful, filmmakers may be taking to Rogers et al about helping them sell seats to their own movies. Note that all of the above does not take into account "Suddenly Unexpected," which was made in Houston and isn't really being distributed by anybody, except the filmmakers, who screened it in one commercial theater in Houston. Hopefully "Day of Defense" will do well in theaters. It is easily the most courageous and interesting LDS Cinema movie made yet, with regards to its thematic content. Most LDS Cinema films have stayed far away from controversial material, and even the much-discussed (and excellent) "Brigham City" really just re-worked the safest movie genre known to man - the thriller/murder mystery. The move contained many, many issues worth talking about, issues about which people disagree. But the core thematic element: a serial killer, is 100% non-controversial. Over 99.9% are against serial killers. "Day of Defense," on the other hand, is centered on controversial issues. Not issues that were controversial 100 years ago or 20 years ago, or last year, but legal, moral, political and ethical issues which are topical right now, issues which are unsettled, issues about which reasonable people find themselves on opposite sides. The topic does not only divide mainstream people from extremists. Roughly half of viewers will not even judge "Day of Defense" on its merits as a film, but based on the degree to which they agree or disagree with how it handles controversial issues. Fortunately, the film's protagonists -- both admirable men -- find themselves on opposite sides of the movie's core issues, which underscores the fact that the film tells a story, it doesn't just preach a sermon with a single viewpoint. Still, many viewers are likely to read into the film what they bring to it. * * * * * * * * * MELLEN STARS IN "THE QUIET" - Kymberly Mellen is a Chicago-based actress. She and her husband, filmmaker Vance Mellen ("Screatures") are active Latter-day Saints and graduates of Brigham Young University. Kymberly Mellen is the star of a new film "The Quiet," premiering this weekend. Be sure to check it out! >From Vance and Kym Mellen, Mellenhead Productions at http://www.mellenheadprods.com and Legacy Videos at http://www.legacy-videos.com: Hi Everyone, THE QUIET is a film I play the lead in, that is having it's Premier this Saturday, 8pm at the Gene Siskel Film Center. You might recognize a lot of other Chicago actors. Please come if you can!!! See you there... - -Kym You are cordially invited to attend the Sneak Preview of the THE QUIET directed by Tom Silva at the Gene Siskel Film Center located at 164 North State St. on Saturday, August 23 at 8:00 p.m. THE QUIET 2003, Tom Silva, USA, 119 min. With Jeremy Sklar, Kymberly Mellen The Gene Siskel Film Center describes "The Quiet": Made entirely in Chicago, THE QUIET charts the creeping deterioration of the marriage of two affluent young professionals, Ted (Sklar) and Christy (Mellen). A north side town house filled with trendy lifestyle accessories provides an attractive front for a relationship that has long since taken a disturbing turn behind the scenes. Christy's passivity extends to ignoring the obvious signs of Ted's affair, while his deep-seated hostility is manifest in Christy's mysterious bruises. Actors Sklar and Mellen, both veterans of the Chicago theater scene, shine in roles that demand nuanced non-verbal communication. Producer/cinematographer Michael Wright and members of the cast will be present for audience discussion. Jeremy Sklar ("Ted") is an actor, director and drama coach based in Los Angeles, CA. A graduate of USC, he has appeared in a host of theater productions in Los Angeles and Chicago, including Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,Private Eyes, Lion in the Winter and Six Degrees of Separation. He has also directed and acted in numerous independent films, includingGravity, Out of the Blue and Coasting. Kymberly Mellen ("Christy") has appeared in numerous stage productions in Chicago and around the country. Most recently, she played Cleo, Singer in Rocket to the Moon at Writers' Theatre in Glencoe, IL. Other recent Chicago credits include Helena in Short Shakespeare: A Midsummers Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet, and Two Gentlemen of Verona at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, My Fair Lady with Court Theatre, Whale Music (Constellation Players), and multiple roles in The American Girl Revue. She holds a degree from The Theatre School at DePaul University and BYU. How to attend? Tickets to films are $8 ($4 for Film Center members), $3 for student, faculty, and staff of the School of the Art Institute and staff of the Art Institute. For more information, call 312-846-2600 (general information) or 312-846-2800 (Hotline).Tickets are available at the Gene Siskel Film Center Box Office (opens 1 hour before the first show of the day).Tickets may also be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 312-575-8000 or by visiting ticketmaster.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 13:33:17 -0500 From: "Thom Duncan" Subject: Re: [AML] Mormon Reference in SWAT >What I object to is writers who, >in an effort to show human fallibility, make their characters seem like >unthinking Cretan-like Neanderthals or a cross between Homer Simpson and >Archie Bunker. Many of us walking this planet are a cross between Homer Simpson and Archie Bunker, and many of us are Mormons. We like seeing ourselves on the screen. Frankly, when a lot of these hero types show up, we can't recognize them. (For instance, I associated a lot easier with Han Solo than I did with Luke Skywalker.) I think the world of art is large enough for both, or several types, of heroes. - -- Thom Duncan - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 10:44:54 -0700 From: "Kathy Tyner" Subject: Re: [AML] Caffeinated Drinks Eric, I must protest your portrayal of those of us who don't drink Diet Coke. Never touch the stuff. Not because of a purist attitude against caffeinated beverages, but 'cause I don't like most artificially sweetened sodas. Usually leaves an awful aftertaste in my mouth, yeecchh! My drug of choice tends to Dr. Pepper or Vanilla Coke. Without intending to, I've become the mom my daughter's YM compatriots look to to bring a case of the forbidden brew to their sleepover activities. Nothing like studying the scriptures and discussing gospel truths while slugging down a vanilla coke. No odd looks from her advisor, either. I don't vote a straight republican ticket, although I know plenty of democrats that ALWAYS vote their party no matter if it's a yellow dog running for office. Probably punching the card with one hand while holding a Diet Coke in the other. :) Everyone gets a kick out of all my hats, be they my felt cowboy/scout hat, or one of my berets, (especially the Salt Lake Olympic one), worn at a jaunty angle. Alas, I often don't get my Visiting Teaching done before the month is nearly gone, and that I'm not proud of-I do take that seriously and ought to be more diligent on my errand from the Lord. And my sisters love it when I wear my hats at a jaunty angle when I come to see them. :) Kathy Tyner Orange County, CA - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 13:55:43 -0500 From: "Thom Duncan" Subject: [AML] Uplifting Writing (was: Mormon Reference in SWAT) It has been my experience that a writer whose FIRST thought is not offend or to strengthen and uplift will invariably fail to do either. With that paradigm driving their writing, writers will invariably find themselves saying things like, "I [can't] show Joseph drinking wine on the afternoon of his martrydom. It will offend my mother." Thus, imo, losing an opportnity to give us insight into Joseph Smith that, prophet though he was, he was also human enough to find comfort in the fruit of the vine at a very trying time of his life. That truth (that Joseph knocked back a couple in jail) can be just as uplifitng (if not more so) than tyring to show that he was above such things. An artist driven first by character may or may not include that scene, but his/her reasons will be, imo, a lot clearer than one who decides not to write the scene because of what the Bishop might think. It's also been my experience that, no matter how hard an LDS writer tries, they can't hide their Mormonness too long. It'll show up in theme, style, or some other way. There is no reason to force the issue. Just sit back, concentrate on character, and let the Mormonness come on its own. - -- Thom Duncan - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 14:37:26 -0400 From: "Mike" Subject: Re: [AML] Perceptions of Error among Leaders For what it's worth: in my BYU "Teachings of the Living Prophets" class, we were taught that only the First Presidency's and The Quorum of the Twelve's messages were to be regarded as scripture. The rest of the addresses were not. Which is not to say that any address by a "general" General Authority could be lightly disregarded; it just did not carry the same level of authority (almost viewed as suggested guidelines-to-live-by, but not definitely not scripture). C.S. Bezas Parenting the Adolescent http://www.bellaonline.com/site/adolescence BellaOnline.com Drama How-to's for Homeschoolers http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/homeschoolers_drama Suite101.com A Christian Lifestyle http://www.bellaonline.com/site/lds BellaOnline.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 13:54:28 EDT From: Derek1966@aol.com Subject: Re: [AML] Deseret News: Hatch Friend Buys His CD's In a message dated 8/26/03 09:40:06 PM, rrasband@yahoo.com writes: << deseretnews.com Deseret News, Friday, August 22, 2003 Hatch friend buys his CDs Developer says purchase of 1,200 discs not political By Lee Davidson Deseret Morning News WASHINGTON - As he was seeking political favors, a friend of Sen. Orrin Hatch bought a whopping 1,200 copies of Hatch's largely self-produced music CDs, for which Hatch receives $3 to $7 each. Hatch, R-Utah, and his friend, Monzer Hourani, a Houston developer who twice before has landed Hatch into major ethics controversies, say he wasn't trying to buy political help with those CDs and they merely share a love of his music. But the story, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, is attracting national attention because, of course, ethics rules ban lobbyists from paying money directly to senators. Also, the situation is reminiscent of a scandal that forced former House Speaker Jim Wright, D-Texas, to resign. In it, labor unions and other interest groups bought in bulk copies of a book that Wright wrote giving him extra royalties. The House Ethics Committee accused him of using that purchase to evade outside earnings limits. >> I'm not out to paint Hatch has a saint by any means, but Lee's article is a shoddy bit of journalism. He never contacted the only person who could verify this information (me), just quoted the Wall Street Journal which, in spite of 5-6 conversations I had with them, were unable themselves to get the story straight. I suspect they started with a theory and set out to do everything they could to prove it, when in fact it has no merit. The CDs which Hourani bought were at a discount price, and Hatch received NO royalties from the sales to Hourani. In fact, on CDs sold at that price to Hourani or to Hatch's Campaign itself, Hatch had to forfeit any royalties, but still pays half of production costs. On CDs which are sold at normal rate, yes, Hatch can receive anywhere from $3 to $7, depending on the sale price--but those are CDs which HE OWNS in joint partnership and has paid half of all production costs. And all monies received by him are reported annually on 1099 forms and part of his public tax record. John Perry Provo - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 13:16:29 -0600 From: Margaret Young Subject: RE: [AML] Heavenly Mothers I've been looking for a reference for an anecdote about heavenly mothers that someone told me Joseph Smith had said. Here is what my friend said: Joseph Smith was once lying on the ground looking up into heaven when he said to a friend beside him: "Do you know what I see? I see a father, a mother, and a son." Apparently later church leaders edited out mother and replaced it with Holy Spirit. Does anybody have a reference for this anecdote? If so, it would be helpful to me. Thanks, Tom No reference on that one, but I do know that Joseph Smith comforted Zina Diantha Huntington (later Smith and then Young) when her mother died. He told her that she would see her own mother and her Heavenly mother in the next life. Hope I'm not repeating anything already said. I used the quote in _One More River to Cross_, which will contain the source in the endnotes. I don't have the book with me at present. And I'm not even going to touch the implications of what later Church leaders might have edited out, but you might want to look at Janice Allred's writings. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 13:15:47 -0700 From: "Jeff Needle" Subject: RE: [AML] BofM Movie Fireside We had a similar situation here in San Diego when an LDS musical group came to town to give a concert. Local wards refused to publicize the event; it flopped. It was sad. - ---------------- Jeffrey Needle jeff.needle@general.com (or, if there's a bounce) jeffneedle@tns.net - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 13:40:22 -0700 (PDT) From: "R.W. Rasband" Subject: Re: [AML] This List - --- JanaRiess@aol.com wrote: > Hello friends, > > I just wanted to take a moment and tell you all how much I have come to > love > this list. This afternoon I laughed long and heartily at Chris's story > about > listening to Metallica while editing the Conference talks; then the very > next > message was Margaret Young's beautiful post about the death of her > friend's > husband, and how they are coping. It brought me to tears. I don't > always have > time to read the posts, and rarely have time to contribute much, but > this list > has been a great blessing for me, and I just wanted you to know. It > makes me > more optimistic about Mormon literature and about Mormonism in general. > > I also greatly enjoyed meeting many of you last week in Salt Lake and > Provo. > Thanks for making me feel so welcome. > We think you're pretty great, too. I couldn't get to your Sunstone presentation on Buffy The Vampire Slayer and the gospel, but have ordered a tape. (Let's see BYU put something like *that* on for Education Week.) ===== R.W. Rasband Heber City, UT rrasband@yahoo.com __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 14:43:38 -0600 From: "gtaggart" Subject: RE: [AML] BofM Movie Fireside Margaret wrote,=20 "Boy, I'm replying to way more posts than usual, but since this one is a family issue and I gave the closing prayer at that devotional, I feel I'd better address it. The showing of portions of _The Other Side of Heaven_ at the BYU devotional was at the request of Merrill Bateman, who believed that the every BYU student should see it. John Groberg was very nervous about it. Nonetheless, it happened. It probably was a bad precedent to set, so I just want the blame cast in the appropriate direction." First, I enjoy your posts Margaret, so keep 'em coming. Second, I = watched the Groeberg devotional on TV. Like most everyone on this list, the description of the Book of Mormon fireside offends my sensibilities. = And I'm hoping that next time I go to the Provo Temple, I don't see = "sponsored by Deseret Book" on a marquee. However, I don't remember being offended = by the Groeberg devotional; in fact, I was touched by the producer's short = talk and testimony (sorry, but his name escapes me). All in all, however, = I'd prefer my advertising/promotion straight up. Don't "lock" me in a = chapel or LaVelle Edwards' Stadium and bombard me with ads, books, films, etc. As a student at BYU many years ago, I attended a married student ward in = the Deseret Industries building. I remember walking into sacrament meeting = and the guy in charge of programs handed me one. He just happened to be a Beneficial Life agent, and lookey here, at the bottom, he'd printed the slogan, "Is Your Life Beneficial?" with his name and phone number. = Don't think it happened more than once. Compare that with the BYU ward I = serve in. Our stake president has asked us to counsel students to hand us = their tithing envelopes outside of our MARB classroom/chapel. Greg Taggart - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 15:13:36 -0600 From: Barbara Hume Subject: Re: [AML] Joseph Smith Ordination of Elijah Abel At 01:59 PM 8/23/03 +0000, you wrote: >Apparently, there are a number of people wondering about the veracity of >the claim that Joseph Smith ordained Elijah Abel to the priesthood. A gay friend of mine says that Joseph Smith also presided over a marriage between two men. Anybody know anything about that claim? He gave me no documentation. barbara hume - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 16:14:05 -0500 From: "Lisa Tait" Subject: Re: [AML] BofM Movie Fireside - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott Parkin" It still feels like moneychangers on the > temple steps for me. > > Suggestions? Or am I just being too sensitive? > I for one agree. I was extremely uncomfortable when flyers for "The Other Side of Heaven" showed up in the foyers of our church building (in suburban Houston) and then it was mentioned over the pulpit in the vein of "of course you're all going to go see this wonderful new church movie." I'm holding my breath to see what happens on the Book of Mormon movie. I'm reminded of the marketing blitz we endure every summer from earnest young BYU students, sent down here to pay their way through college by selling Living Scriptures stuff. 'Hi Sister Tait, I got your name from so and so, and look, here's a list of all your fellow ward and stake members who have been customers and who else can you tell me about that might be interested?" They seem to be careful not to ask for ward directories or anything that blatantly inappropriate, but I find the whole marketing pitch extremely offensive and I make it clear that I am not interested from the beginning. But then they still want referrals to other ward members. And they're such nice kids, and it's so darn hot here in Houston and how can you not at least invite them in for some water and visit with them a little? I hate it. It was especially bad this summer. And I feel sorry for them because I can't imagine they're making that much money, at least not in our area that has already been so thoroughly and repeatedly canvassed. Whatever the product or situation, I just don't see any appropriate way to use the church as a marketing avenue. And yet there is a hunger and an audience out here, especially away from Utah, for arts, entertainment etc. that is aimed at an LDS audience. I don't know how it ought to be navigated, but it seems that it would pretty much have to be an all or nothing approach--everything gets publicized, or nothing does. And right now the official position seems to be all nothing, but the actual practice is anything but. Which means that we'll have flyers for The Other Side of Heaven posted on our bulletin boards, but nobody will hear anything about Brigham City, and that's not fair. Lisa Tait - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 15:15:36 -0600 From: Barbara Hume Subject: Re: [AML] More Bookbinding Adventures At 11:29 PM 8/22/03 -0600, you wrote: >I've soured on Yes glue because it doesn't seem to dry hard enough and >sometimes separates. Based on advice from Paris Anderson and Michael >Collings, I went to Aleene's Tacky Glue, a PVA glue, and have been happy >with the results. I think Elmers would probably work as well. Elmers used >to be like wood glue, and I think Elmer's School Glue may still be, but >Elmer's all purpose glue I'm pretty sure is a PVA glue now. This is based >on classroom chemistry experiments my wife Robin has done with the >different glues--she's convinced the two kinds of Elmer's are different >and that the all-purpose glue is a PVA. I recently consulted with a librarian in book repair concerning an 1834 book I own that needs its cover reattached. She recommended the Tacky Glue, but not Elmer's. barbara hume - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V2 #136 ******************************