Fantastically Sad Songs

I'm in love with sad, beautiful songs. Ones that make you feel like your heart's been ripped out, but it's still such a beautiful song that you listen to it again. Anyway, I've decided to post my top 10 sad songs instead of my New Year's Resolutions. In protestation of what I consider the lamest holiday ever.

These are just my favorite ones, some people are bound to disagree (feel free to comment and share your favorites, I love finding new songs!), and I will say that although a few of these artists could definately have at least a couple of songs in the top 10, I decided to limit them to one song each.

10) Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton

Kill me now lyrics: I must be strong and carry on / Cause I know I don't belong / Here in heaven

9) Empty by Ray LaMontagne

8) Everybody Hurts by R.E.M.

7) Whiskey Lullaby by Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss

6) You Don't Know Me by Elvis Presley

5) Nothing Compares to U by Sinead O'Connor

4) Goodbye my Lover by James Blunt

Kill me now lyrics: And I still hold your hand in mine / In mine when I'm asleep / And I will bear my soul in time / When I'm kneeling at your feet

3) Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy

WAY better than Sting's version!!!

2) The Drugs Don't Work by The Verve

Kill me now lyrics: If heaven calls / I'm coming too / Just like you said / You leave my life / I'm better off dead

1) Mad World by Gary Jules

Kill me now lyrics: And I find it kind of funny / I find it kind of sad / The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had

Linus Pauling

Who's the supernerd to the left you ask? This is Linus Pauling, one of my top three favorite scientists of all time. Yup, I realize I'm a supernerd too. But listen to what this guy did during his lifetime:

He was born in 1901 and went to college at Oregon State University to study chemistry. The semester after he took Quantitative Analysis, the school invited him to teach the class. He went on to research the link between structures of different substances and their physical properties. His important discoveries helped found the emerging field of quantum chemistry. He also advanced the science of X-ray crystallography, a very important tool for determining chemical structures.

In 1954 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research done on the nature of chemical bonds. Along with his major contributions to the fields of physics and chemistry, he made massive contributions to the field of biology. He was the first to suggest that proteins were made primarily of alpha helices (think DNA) and beta sheets. He also discovered that sickle cell anemia was a molecular disease involving hemoglobin.

After World War II, he was deeply moved to warn people about the harms of nuclear weapons. He protests led him to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962, making him the only person ever to receive two unshared Nobel Prizes.

C'mon, now tell me that's not cool...

Salt Lake City Favorites

The Christmas lights on temple square have had me thinking about all the things I love in Salt Lake. Thought I'd actually make a list of my favorite things that I get to enjoy while living here. Here's my top ten in no particular order.

1) Everything outdoors. In the summer there's so many places to go biking, camping, hiking that it's out of control. In the winter (brrrrr...) there's always skiing.

2) Cocoa Cafe. 300 E. 900 S. One of my favorite places to go and do homework or read a book by their very toasty fireplace.

3) The downtown library. I could write an entire series of blogs on everything in the library that I love from the children's section to the overlook at the top of the building to the art gallery on the 4th floor.

4) Cathedral of the Madeleine. Gotta love those bells (You know you love them Ben).

5) Memory Grove/City Creek Canyon.

6) Temple Square. The tabernacle, the temple, and of course, the Christmas lights.

7) The waterfall up Big Cottenwood Canyon.

8) Abravanel Hall. Ummm...hello. The symphony. Need I say more?

9) The Gallery Stroll every 3rd Friday of the month.

10) The Farmers Market every weekend during the summer at Pioneer Park.