Religious Humor

Check out this video. This is the first in a series at MrDeity.com. I was laughing my ass off. Warning: if you are at all sensitive to religious humor, you may find some of the videos blasphemous.

From Crackle: Mr. Deity and the Evil - Episode 1

The School Bell is Ringing

I am back in school today. I logged on to my classroom for Introduction to the Old Testament and got my assignments for the week. I have about forty pages to read from the textbook and I have to get on the messageboard and post about the reading.

I'm excited to be back in the mix.

Dialogue

I love dialogue. It is a wonderful chance to flex your mental muscles, test your ideas, and learn something.

My good friend, Jeromy, sent me a link to a blog he came across called An Evangelical Dialogue on Evolution. The author wants to build a bridge for a discussion of evolution between scientists and creationists. From his introduction:

And that brings us to the reason for this blog – a dialogue. The current relationship between evolution and evangelicalism can best be characterized as warfare. I believe that ending this warfare will be good for science, and much more importantly, good for the gospel. Our Christian commission is to tell the good news of Christ’s resurrection, his present and coming kingdom, his new creation. The evangel in evangelicalism should remind us of this everyday. And I strongly believe that our misguided war on science in general and evolution in particular is hurting the gospel; it is preventing many from hearing and responding to the good news. And it is causing some who have heard and believed to now doubt whether it is good news at all. Dialogue is the first step towards a ceasefire.

A noble undertaking. I haven't read more than his introduction at this point, but I intend to keep up with his posts. For the record I believe in God/Jesus and evolution.

I Don't Know Whether to Laugh or Cry

How can people get anywhere in life being this stupid?

Work Ethic

Apparently, Protestants work harder than people of other faiths. It's part of their basic morality or something. Darn it, why couldn't those early Protestants made a virtue of lounging around and reading or something?

Burgeoning Entrepreneurs

Normally, I pick up my daughters after work on Friday, but last Friday I picked them up in the morning on my way to work. The volunteer department at the hospital was hosting a craft fair. The table fee goes to the volunteers who use the money for purchasing things around the hospital.

I signed up my daughter, Erica, for a table so she could sell her key chains. She has been bugging me for a year to let her sit in the front yard at my place and sell her wares, so this was a golden opportunity for her. Shaena sat with her and helped her. She sold her keychains for either $1 or 2$ depending on how much was involved in each one. By the end of the day, she made $31. She was so excited about the whole thing and she's already talking about the sale next year.

I didn't think her mother was going to let her go because it meant skipping school and she had been telling Erica for a few weeks she didn't think it was a good idea. I am surprised, actually, that in the end she permitted it. I'm very glad, though, because it was a wonderful experience for both of them. I got lots of compliments about how smart, polite, and cute they were which made me feel very proud.

Weekly Secret

PostSecret

I get the sense that there are a lot of people like this. They want something more from their life, but they are too scared or just don't know how to get out of their rut and go after what they want. Something I've tried to stress to my daughters is that if they want something, they are the only ones holding themselves back from getting it. Big dreams are worthless if you are not willing to take big actions to make them come true.

Obama and Hope

Andrew Sullivan wrote about Obama's speech at Harvard. He also includes a full transcript. It is very good and is an example of why I think Obama is the best candidate in the running now.

The truth is, though, one man cannot make a movement. No single law can erase the prejudice in the heart of a child who hangs a noose on a tree. Or in the callousness of a prosecutor who bypasses justice in the pursuit of vengeance. No one leader, no matter how shrewd, or experienced, or inspirational, can prevent teenagers from killing other teenagers in the streets of our cities, or free our neighborhoods from the grip of homelessness, or make real the promise of opportunity and equality for every citizen.

Only a country can do those things. Only this country can do those things. That's why if you give me the chance to serve this nation, the most important thing I will do as your President is to ask you to serve this country, too. The most important thing I'll do is to call on you every day to take a risk, and do your part to carry this movement forward. Against deep odds and great cynicism I will ask you to believe that we can right the wrong we see in America. I say this particularly to the young people who are listening today.

Channeling a bit of JFK there and that's not a bad thing. I think many of us in this country have forgotten how to sacrifice and serve. We need leaders guiding us back to that, leaders who will help us rise above ourselves and become a part of something big.

No More Hugging

I guess this school has solved all of their other problems because they have just banned hugging on school grounds.

The principal says the rampant hugging is creating bottle necks in the hallway and making kids late for class. Furthermore she says although hugs are supposed to be handshakes from the heart some times they don't seem so innocent.

So, teachers can't just monitor the halls and tell the kids to keep moving if they are causing a traffic jam? I guess they can't just tell kids to tone it down if their hugs are becoming more than hugs, either. I mean, really, banning hugs? It sounds like something out of a bad Orwell knockoff.

More Teen Sex Insanity

A 17-year-old boy is being charged as an adult with sexual assault in New Hampshire for having consensual sex with his 15-year-old girlfriend.

What benefit does this bring for society? Will other teenagers see this and think, "Gee, maybe I better not have sex with my partner?" No. The only thing that will come from this is the boy's life being ruined if he is convicted as he will be looking at jail time and registering as a sex offender. Why can't they just let parents handle these things (as long as they don't act like the girlfriend's dad, anyway, who beat the boy up at school)?

Celebrity Look Alikes

MyHeritage is a web site with some interesting features. One of them is a celebrity look alike function. You upload a photo of yourself and they show you celebrities that resemble you. I uploaded the head shot of me from on the front page of my blog and got this:

I tried another photo and got this:

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

http://www.myheritage.com/collage

Interesting. Three people appeared on both lists. I had no clue who Chester Bennington was, but Wikipedia says he is the lead singer for Linkin Park. That explains why I don't know him as I'm not a fan of their music. Hrithik Roshan was also a mystery to me, but Wikipedia tells me he is a Bollywood actor. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is the other person to be on both lists.

I think I've learned that I need to look like the first picture more often because that one apparently makes me look like Gavin Rossdale and Leo DeCaprio.

Try it out and let me know who you look like.

UPDATE: I went back and tried a different layout for my pictures since it was hard to read the names in the other style.

UPDATE 2: I did it again with a different picture.

Many Thanks

Debbie, wife of my best friend Jeromy, made a big bowl of chicken fettuccine alfredo as well as a dish of garlic butter for my mom and I yesterday. It tasted very good and the best part was, of course, that I didn't have to cook. So, thank you very much, Debbie.

Scandal Prone or Just in the Spotlight and All Too Human

CNN has an article about the recent Juanita Bynum scandal and asks whether Pentecostal preachers are more prone to it than other movements. This quote from the article is the best answer to that question:

But Anthea Butler, a professor of religion at the University of Rochester in New York believes Pentecostals are no more trouble-prone than other Protestants. "The same sort of thing is happening to Baptists and Presbyterians," she says. "Except for one big thing. They are not media figures." Notes Charisma's Grady: "There's something about someone who is excited about the things of the Holy Spirit that makes them want to get up and proclaim it" — often on TV. "But you'd better have character, or there's going to be a national scandal."

Exactly. If you are going to be in front of millions of people, you better keep your skeletons in the closet or they're going to end up a big deal even if it is something stupid that wouldn't do more than cause a rolling of the eyes or a raised eyebrow if your neighbor or co-worker did it.

Take Away the Mystique

Can this really be a surprise to anyone? I've blogged about this and sex before. I really think that a big part of the problem is that our society trains kids to rebel and then tells them that alcohol and sex are really bad (while media tells them how cool it is). Is it any wonder that teens get drunk and screw? Is it any wonder that kids go off to college and get drunk and screw?

Our current system isn't working so we obviously need to try something different. By making an issue - be it alcohol, sex, drugs, smoking - less mysterious, less black and white ("It's bad! Don't do it ever!") you make it more difficult to be something that can be rebelled against and less likely for a teen to want to do it "just because." It won't stop all teen drinking/irresponsible college drinking and sex, but nothing will. We're only human after all.

Newt

Just what the Republicans need. Another fake candidate.

Ron Paul seems to be the only principled candidate on the Repub side, but he's a little too out there for most people. I like that he stands by his principles and I'm glad that he's injecting some new ideas into the debate, but I don't agree with a lot of his principles. Even John McCain seems to have given up some of his principles supporting as he has the president's right to take away habeas corpus at will.

It's a pretty sad bunch for the Republicans this election. I don't see how they can win the White House, short of the Dems nominating Hillary that is. Then they've got a fighting chance. Hell, the Republican candidate probably couldn't even beat Mike Gravel.

Poor Guiliani

Guiliani is upset that people are judging his personal life. I think it's called...politics, Mr. Guiliani. Should it happen? Well, of course not, but we are only human. I don't think Guiliani does himself any favors by invoking Jesus on this issue, though. I'm pretty sure Jesus didn't freak out over ferrets.

In the same story, Guiliani uses 9/11 as an excuse for taking phone calls from his wife in the middle of speeches. What can't you use 9/11 as an excuse for anymore? I thought that was over a few years ago, but I guess not. Maybe I can use it as an excuse to take a few days off from work. Hmmmm...

Free Money!

Seriously, how can anybody think this is a good idea? It's a half-step removed from paying people to have kids, not to mention that giving somebody money for nothing is never good (unless you're the Dire Straits). I can't imagine that Hillary could get this passed if she was President, but just the fact that she thinks it's a good idea is one more reason not to vote for her.

Cold Mountain

I finished this book a couple of days ago. It was a very enjoyable read. I saw the movie when it came out a few years ago, but not since, so some of the details of that are fuzzy. The biggest difference is in the portrayal of the romance between Ada and Inman. It is much more low-key in the book. In fact, though it is the prime motivation for Inman's actions and plays a big part at the end, it is hardly a major part of the book. Rather it is the story of two people's journeys - Inman's physical journey to return to Ada, his mental journey coping with the things he has seen in war, and Ada's emotional journey to mature and grow into a self-reliant person. The romance is secondary to these and I think more poignant for it. I understand why they played it up for the movie (and I did enjoy it), but the book is more powerful because of it's low-key approach.

Snake Handlers

Like Ransom at mental_floss, I have long been fascinated with the Christian sects that handle snakes and speak in tongues. I haven't read much about it; I need to get some good books on the subject. Ransom does have a video with clips from a 60s documentary about a West Virginia church that features these things. The sound isn't the greatest, but it's fascinating nonetheless.

Teaching Methods

I agree with Alex that we can't be hoping for real teachers to be like hero-teachers in the movies, but I disagree with him strongly that what teachers need is a strict script to go by. I think teachers need flexibility to address individual students. One size most certainly does not fit all in education. With a system like that you end up teaching to the middle and losing the kids on the ends of the spectrum. I know because I've been there.

When Can You Consent to Sex?

William Saletan writes about the issue of sexual consent age and our laws around it.

This is the reality of sex with minors: The ages of the parties vary widely from case to case. For more than a century, states and countries have been raising and standardizing the legal age of consent. Horny teenagers are being thrown in with pedophiles. The point of this crackdown was to lock up perverts and protect incompetent minors. But the rationales and the numbers don't match up. The age of majority and the age of competence are coming apart. The age of competence is fracturing, and the age of female puberty is declining. It's time to abandon the myth of the "age of consent" and lower the threshold for legal sex.
...
Lay out these numbers on a timeline, and you have the beginnings of a logical scheme for regulating teen sex. First comes the age at which your brain wants sex and your body signals to others that you're ready for it. Then comes the age of cognitive competence. Then comes the age of emotional competence. Each of these thresholds should affect our expectations, and the expectations should apply to the older party in a relationship as well as to the younger one. The older you get, the higher the standard to which you should be held responsible.

We need to do something about sex laws in our country. When a 17-year-old gets a 10 year prison sentence for having oral sex with a 15-year-old, there's a problem. I could go off on other issues like being convicted on rape charges when the woman consents to sex, changes her mind after it starts, admits the man stopped, but still accuses him of rape; but I'll save that for another time.

Acting

I have had a lot of fun at work yesterday and today, not just a "good" day, but fun.

I assisted the Public Safety department with two drills. Yesterday, they ran a violent patient drill in Outpatient Rehab. I got to play an agitated head injury patient on the verge of violence. The rehab staff knew it was a drill, but the employees responding to the Code:Grey call did not. Even though some of them recognized me, they thought it was real and that I was really freaking out. One lady told me I was really scaring her. I was pacing around yelling, "This is bullshit!" and "You can't keep me! I just want to go home!" A few people told me I need to go into acting. Only if I can just take the role of agitated patient, though. I was just copying all of the people I've had to babysit at the hospital while doing security. It was a great stress reliever, though. I was imagining all of the things that make me mad and channeled that. Everyone should get a chance to be an angry, confused person.

Today, the drill was a baby abduction and I got to be the kidnapper. I put on street clothes, my jacket, took my glasses off, and put on a baseball hat pulled low. A girl from patient accounts, Ann, was the mom. The nurse manager took us into a room and gave us a baby doll. Ann put on the gown. My job was to get as far as I could with the baby. Ann gave me a brief head start and then went to the nurse's station and told them that she went into the bathroom for just a minute and when she came out her baby was gone. Apparently she gave a very convincing act with tears and all and the nurses started freaking out. For my part, I made it out of the building in about a minute without being apprehended. I walked by a few people that know me but did not recognize me. I had the doll hidden under my jacket and walked with a purpose but not too fast. I walked to the end of the parking lot and sat down and waited. After almost two minutes a few staff members started surrounding me because my description started to get out and someone had seen me go out. If had a vehicle, though, I would have been long gone. I had a lot of fun and I helped identify some weaknesses in our system for preventing baby abductions.

Both drills were a blast. I can't wait to help with another one.

Another Blade Runner

Ridley Scott is releasing a definitive version of his classic, Blade Runner. His director's cut in the early 90s was closer to his vision (and definitely superior to the original cut), but apparently not quite up to his standards. His new cut will be out in DVD in December. Wired has an interview with Scott about the movie.

And, of course, this is the perfect excuse to link to a clip of one of the most incredible scenes in cinema.

Chaos at Home

I haven't written much lately in part because I've been busy, but more because I've been frustrated and in a bad mood. Home has been crazy lately. Mom fell on Saturday and hurt her side. She was still in a lot of pain on Sunday, so I took her to the emergency department. Thankfully nothing was cracked or broken; she was just bruised up. She's still in a lot of pain, and doesn't get off the couch unless to use the bathroom or go to bed. I took most of Monday off work to help Mom because she was feeling sick from the pain meds and babysitting her granddaughter, Alexis. She's had to babysit too much this week (well, every week). No one seems to want to clean up after themselves around here and I end up cleaning up after my siblings and their kids. Sharie and Shawn live here, but they either avoid everyone or just get angry and moan about how "bad" they have it.

Sorry about the rant/whine, but I had to get it out of my system.

"...an open relationship with the Lord."

A moving account of one person's spiritual journey.

Overly Dogmatic

People make a big deal out of orthodoxy, what someone's beliefs are. That's why there's some 35,000 different Protestant sects and each one will tell you their beliefs are the correct ones. Sadly, the difference are often very minor and yet lead to conflict and a spirit of noncooperation. An interesting article examines this issue, specifically relating to our origin and the conflict that has been built up between those who believe the world is 6000 years old and those who believe it is far older. The good old Religion vs. Science debate. The author, a believing Christian, writes that by being overly dogmatic on this issue, Christians are putting a "stumbling block" up for bringing in non-believers who do not accept the young Earth theory.

I am dedicated to standing strongly for Scripture in those areas that are essentials of the faith, regardless of what the “world” says. I can join Luther and say “here I stand”. But when we are talking about areas that are not essential, which are not “salvation issues”, and upon which sincere and dedicated Christians differ, dogmatism can be dangerous. And, I think one of the most serious examples of this danger today comes when Christians take a dogmatic position regarding their view of origins.

The reason why I engage in these discussions is very simple: I want to remove the stumbling block to the Gospel message that is being created by a dogmatic presentation of Creationism. Not the belief in a young earth and creation without evolution per se, but the “either/or” teaching that comes with it. I am not here to argue for an old earth or evolution, necessarily, but against the false dichotomy that so often comes along with Creationism. More and more people are being taught that an old earth/evolution and Christianity are wholly inconsistent and that if you believe one, you can not really believe the other. Such a blanket statement puts two very distinct groups in crisis and I am convinced that souls are being lost to the Kingdom as a result. This may sound a bit over-dramatic, but I have seen too many people distracted from the Gospel message by this issue.

I think a lot of Christians would do well to think about this.

Pathetic

Stealing from old people is pathetic enough. Trying, and failing, to rob an old person is even more pathetic.

Muslim Voices

Muslims have been criticized for not being vocal enough in their denunciation of terror, but their are Muslims voicing their disapproval as Salman al-Audah, someone Bin Laden very much respects, did recently. Muslims may not be as outspoken against terror as they should be, but I don't think the media reports it as much as they should. I haven't seen any report of this other than on the link above. If we want Muslims to speak out we need to ensure their voice can be heard.

Israel and Palestine

Iraq will no doubt be the defining issue of the Bush presidency, but I think historians will also regard his failure to take seriously the Israeli/Palestinian conflict as almost as criminal as his incompetence in the Iraq war. Scott McCleod writes about it on his Time blog.

Everybody knows what the outlines of a settlement are: Israelis and Palestinians came very close to a deal back in 2001 when Clinton was still president and before Bush took America out of the mediation business for six years. My hunch: there will be a meeting, it will be postponed until early '08, the Saudis and other players will excuse themselves, Olmert and Abbas will sign a memo stating some progress, and Bush will urge them to... hold some more meetings.

Old Guard vs. the New

Andrew Sullivan looks at the differences between Clinton and Obama.

Clinton, in other words, represents payback for the Democrats and liberals after the Bush era, just as Giuliani is emerging as the inheritor of the Bush legacy of divide and rule. Right now, Obama remains to the side, offering Americans something else: not payback, but a new page.

Neither black nor white, neither atheist nor born-again, a candidate who favours withdrawal from Iraq but an offensive against Al-Qaeda in Pakistan, a progressive offering the working poor a tax cut, his bet is that, in the end, America wants to come together again. The unanswerable question is whether America really does.

The primaries are quickly approaching. Whoever gets their party nomination and then the presidency is going to need to unite our nation. I'm not sure any of the current candidates could do this with the exception of Obama.

Marriage Secret

PostSecret

Marriage is a funny thing these days. We have unprecedented freedom to choose our mate, but people don't seem to be happier in their marriages and we certainly have plenty of divorces. I can attest to it because I've "been there, done that," but I think one of the biggest reasons for marriages failing is that people rush into them too quickly. You fall in love, and thinking that "all you need is love," you get married. Then you learn all about your mate. That's backward, of course. Before you stand before one or one-hundred witnesses and take a vow of lifetime commitment, you need to learn all about the person you want to marry. You need to sit down with your potential spouse and ask tough questions about life goals, money, children, etc. If your ideas of what your lives should be like are too different and can't be worked out, there's no shame in deciding to not get married. Marriage and a vow of commitment should be taken seriously and not rushed into even if divorces are easy to come by.

Bill O'Reilly the Blowhard

I can't stand this guy. I think he's a pompous ass. Still, it's a bit surprising that he could be this openly stupid.

Helping Out

On Friday I helped a coworker in the Care Management department out. They assist patients with many things from getting set up for in-home care to getting out of town family members a place to stay while a loved one is in the hospital. Theresa needed to get a bus ticket for a patient being discharged, but could not leave to go get it. Often times a Public Safety officer will do it, but the officer on duty was working by himself and could not leave the campus. He suggested Theresa talk to me. I didn't have anything critical going on, so it wasn't a problem for me to run to the bus station and get the ticket.

Theresa was very, very grateful and even called my boss to tell her how happy she was and how great it was that I would do this. It felt good that Theresa was so thankful, but what is always somewhat strange in these situations is the seeming surprise from the person you help, surprise that someone would go out of their way to help them.

Why is that? Why do we live in a society where people are shocked when someone helps them? Especially for something like this where I was on the clock so I got paid for my time. I used a company vehicle, so I didn't have to use my own gas money. I really didn't sacrifice anything to help Theresa out, but somehow it was still amazing to her that I would help. It's sad that we live in a society that greets help with amazement. We should be grateful, but we shouldn't be surprised.

A Moment of Silence

I'm not sure how I missed this news. Robert Jordan, author of the Wheel of Time series of novels passed away last Sunday. He was only 58. Jordan was diagnosed with primary amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy last year.

I've been following the Wheel of Time since the second book came out in 1990. Though the series began to become bloated and decline in quality with the last few books, it still ranks as a favorite of mine. The (supposed) last book in the series remains unfinished. I'd like to be frustrated that it may never be finished, although his wife does have all of his notes for it, but I can't. Robert Jordan has passed away too young and he will be missed.

Photo by Jeanne Collins, taken November 2, 2005 at Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore in San Diego, California at a book Signing for Knife of Dreams.

Umbrage

The brouhaha over MoveOn.org's "General Betray Us" ad is ridiculous. This is one of the better responses to it I have encountered.

It's all phony, of course. The war's backers are obviously delighted to have this ad from which they can make an issue. They wouldn't trade it for a week in Anbar province (a formerly troubled area of Iraq that is now, thanks to us, an Eden of peace and tranquillity where barely a car bomb disturbs the perfumed silence — or so they say). These days, mock outrage is used by every side of every dispute. It's fair enough to criticize something your opponent said while secretly thanking your lucky stars that he said it. The fuss over this MoveOn.org ad is something else: it is the result of a desperate scavenging for umbrage material. When so many people are clamoring for a chance to swoon that they each have to take a number and when the landscape is so littered with folks lying prostrate and pretending to be dead that it starts to look like the end of a Civil War battle re-enactment, this isn't spontaneous mass outrage. This is choreography.

It's upsetting that real discourse is rarely done anymore in modern politics, although I suppose the cynic would say, "Is it really any different now than it was?" Maybe not, but I still get tired of partisan games. Why can't we just have a civil discussion about important issues?

The Iran Question

Steve Clemons doesn't think Bush will bomb Iran. But he doesn't rule out an "accidental" conflict.

We should also worry about the kind of scenario David Wurmser floated, meaning an engineered provocation. An "accidental war" would escalate quickly and "end run," as Wurmser put it, the president's diplomatic, intelligence and military decision-making apparatus. It would most likely be triggered by one or both of the two people who would see their political fortunes rise through a new conflict -- Cheney and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

That kind of war is much more probable and very much worth worrying about.

The neocon movement has failed. Cheney and his ilk need to pack it up before they do more damage to our nation.

A Space Gap?

More woe from NASA.

I admire the people at NASA. They have gathered some brilliant minds. The problems there I think stem from mismanagement and being a government bureaucracy dependent on tax payer money for support. I think the answer does lie in the private sector.

Pants on Fire

The difference between the blogosphere and mainstream media is at times a large one. One of the big gulfs is when it comes to public figures lying. Bloggers don't hesitate to call pols on it. The MSM tends to gloss it over or bury it in their story. That may be changing.

"We were trying so hard to be impartial we fell down on our responsibility to blow our whistle when they were saying something false," [Adair] says. There had to be a better way to prevent falsehoods from getting out there and sticking, he says. Hence PolitiFact.

About time. We need to hold politicians accountable. They're our representatives.

Slimy Lawyer Ads

Nobody likes advertisements because most of them stink. Lawyers ads are no different. Ransom on Mental_Floss has a post about ads from law practices including videos of a couple of awesomely slimy TV ads. You can't help but laugh watching them (both called "The Hammer") talk about crushing your enemy or getting all of the money (or more!) that you deserve.

What Doesn't Google Do?

Google continues their quest for non-evil world domination with their free presentation builder ala PowerPoint. While I like the Microsoft Office suite and don't have any problems with it, I'm glad to see competition for it. That will only the software for both sides better.

Family Ties

It was my mom's birthday yesterday. It was, unfortunately, not as nice as it should have been. We went to dinner at Applebees. My sister, Sheena, said she couldn't come because her daughter, Aryana, was cranky and crying and her boyfriend certainly doesn't seem to ever babysit. Sharie was her usual angry self and when I tried to get everybody to share some memories of Mom, she said she couldn't think of any. My sweet niece, Alexis, has not been taught how to sit down and behave while eating, so she was making a scene. After dinner, we were all supposed to go out for drinks, but Shawna and Sharie didn't come because they didn't have babysitters or just didn't want to. So, Shawn and I took my Mom out. She has been wanting to play keno for a long time, so we went to a casino that had pool tables so that Shawn and I would have something to do. We didn't end up playing long because Mom's bowels started, ah, acting up and we had to race home to get her to the bathroom. She doesn't see eye-to-eye with public bathrooms, not because they are dirty or anything, but because they are public and she can't always relax enough to go. This seemed to irritate Shawn, but maybe it's just because he feels he is too long from his "true love."

Anyway, I really wish my siblings would make more of an effort for events like this. Sure, things happen, but when it's your mom, I feel like a little extra effort is in order. My brother and sisters are too often enmeshed in their own lives to see what is really going on in other people's lives and to be bothered to go out of their way for someone. I know what it's like because I've been there, but it's still frustrating.

Moody Blues

I had a bout of depression hit me this afternoon. Nothing in particular caused it. I just started feeling that way. It was bad enough that I was hardly able to do any work. I still feel depressed and pissy. Coming home didn't make it any better. I don't want to be bothered by anybody right now or have to think about anything.

It's really a strange feeling. I don't know how people who deal with this on a more regular basis manage. I'd go crazy if I had to handle this more often. Though I deal with fatigue on a daily basis, the emotional roller-coaster ride is the most aggravating aspect of MS that I have to deal with. Thankfully I have no physical difficulties to manage at this point. When those do come, though, I don't think I will be as bothered by them as I am by these bouts of sadness and anger. I treasure my mind above all things that I am and it's frustrating to not always have control of it.

Evangelical Debate

One of the coolest features on Slate are the email debates. Two people email back and forth a few times debating some topic. A recent one, not quite finished, yet, is between Hanna Rosin and David Kuo. Rosin just wrote a book called God's Harvard about an evangelical Christian college, Patrick Henry, that prepares its students to be advocates of Christ especially in politics. Kuo worked for George W. Bush as director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and wrote a book about that and his experience dealing with the Religious Right.

Their debate is about Rosin's book and her claim that evangelicals are pushing for a Christian theocracy. It is well worth the read.

War With Iran?

Barnett Rubin writes about the similarities between current Bush rhetoric and the things he was saying leading up to the invasion of Iraq. Eli Lake gives a snarky rebuttal. Justin Logan responds to Lake.

I don't think the notion that the Bush administration is desirous of war with Iran is a "liberal fantasy" or spin by the media. I think the signs are there. Whether Bush and Cheney will be foolish enough to go through with it is another question, but I get nervous when I wonder about their connection to reality and ability to think rationally about these things.

Secret of the Week

PostSecret

An Attack on Atheists By...An Atheist?

Jonathan Haidt, professor of psychology at the University of Virgina and an atheist, writes an article very critical of "new atheists" such as Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins.

Reading Harris is like watching professional wrestling or the Harlem Globetrotters. It's great fun, with lots of acrobatics, but it must not be mistaken for an actual contest. If we want to stage a fair fight between religious and secular moralities, we can't eliminate one by definition before the match begins.

Ouch. Haidt claims that Dawkins and Harris take a too narrow view of morality and don't understand the benefits that can stem from religion. It is a very intriguing article.

Taking a Stand

Some kids at a high school in Nova Scotia rally around a bullied kid.

Two students at Central Kings Rural High School fought back against bullying recently, unleashing a sea of pink after a new student was harassed and threatened when he showed up wearing a pink shirt.

The Grade 9 student arrived for the first day of school last Wednesday and was set upon by a group of six to 10 older students who mocked him, called him a homosexual for wearing pink and threatened to beat him up.

snip



They used the Internet to encourage people to wear pink and bought 75 pink tank tops for male students to wear. They handed out the shirts in the lobby before class last Friday — even the bullied student had one.

As someone who was picked on regularly in school, it's nice to see other kids standing up for this one.

Now We Just Need Scotty Playing the Bagpipes

This is so awesome.

More Classes

I registered for four more classes the other day. In January I start International Relations II (8 wks) and Middle Eastern Literature (16 wks). In February I have Myth and Ritual as well as Islamic Law and Theology, both eight weeks. I'm getting really excited to be back in school again.

Discipline

I have to think of an appropriate punishment for my daughter, Erica. Shortly before I took her and her sister home tonight, she told met that she cut a few of my cat's whiskers off. My buddy, Tiberius. Erica has strings that she uses to make key chains, bracelets, and such. Tiberius is forever getting into them because she leaves them out a lot. I've told her many times that if she wants him to leave her strings alone she needs to put them away. Well, she left them out today. Tiberius got into them and she decided to snip his whiskers. "It was just the tips," she said. I gave her a talking to and she was nearly in tears. I told her that when she came back next weekend I would have a punishment for her. Now I just need to think of something appropriate for what she did. Ah, kids.

"I'm not dead."

If you think you're having a bad day, think about this guy.

I guess some things don't just happen in movies.

The President's Address

I did not catch Bush's address to the nation the other night on Iraq, and have only reviewed some excerpts. This strikes me as a reasonable assessment of what Bush said as well as a repudiation of some of his details, namely that al-Qaeda in Iraq is our biggest threat there.

Uninformed Voters

Steve Benen asks why Clinton is the Democratic front-runner when a)ending the Iraq War is the most important issue for a majority of the base and b)she is the most hawkish candidate on the war. He blames it on uninformed voters.

I suspect some will suggest that this is an elitist attitude — I’m accusing the majority of people of being uninformed about the details. I don’t think, however, that’s elitist; I tend to think it’s a reality bolstered by the data.

Sadly, this is not something likely to go away anytime soon, whether someone is a Democrat or Republican.

Healthcare and Pension Plans From the Netherlands

Justin Fox over at time has been writing about Dutch healthcare plans and pension plans. Looks like we might be able to learn a thing or two.

Public School Woes

Jonathan Kozol, a noted critic of our nation's public school system, talks to Salon about No Child Left Behind and the struggles teachers face in the system.

I am still flabbergasted that anyone thought NCLB was a good idea. I think most people heard the title and thought is sounded good, so were for it. After all, if you are against NCLB, you must want to...LEAVE CHILDREN BEHIND! What kind of sick person wants that? I do think that our society has a vested interest in giving all of our children the best education possible. I don't think the government should be telling teachers how to do their jobs, though. Give schools the tools they need to mold young minds, but let them work out the details. The bigger the gap between where decisions come on how to educate our students and the students themselves, the bigger chance we have of failing to give the students the best education possible.

To Be Fair

I recently linked to a study examining difference in liberal and conservative brain functions. Here is a rebuttal of said study. I didn't mean to imply that I agreed with the study 100%, at least the interpretation of the results. I do find it very interesting, however, but then I find the workings of the brain fascinating. I would like to see more tests done on this and perhaps other views of the results.

"...irrational escalation of commitment."

An interesting analogy for the Iraq war from an economic point of view.

The Sunni POV

Matt Yglesias posts about what Sunni leaders are telling their people. In short: 1) we were defeated and went to them for help in pursuing al-Qaeda, 2) they are not a minority and will not submit to Shia rule, 3) we should leave immediately, 4) we make things worse, 5) it's okay to attack our troops. I guess Bush must be talking to different Iraqis than everyone else.

Tetris Master

I used to account myself a fair Tetris player back in the day. I'm nothing compared to this guy, though. No, that video is not sped up. Watch the timer on the bottom of the screen. He really is that fast.

UPDATE: Fixed link.

Women Are Strange

Katie Joy sent me a text message yesterday morning, "Top of the morning to you." It's the first time I've heard from her since our date a week and a half ago. I replied asking her how school was going. She never responded. I almost sent another message asking if her text to me was an accident and she meant to send it to someone else. I can't help but laugh about it.

3:10 to Yuma

I saw this the other night with my mother. Fan-freakin'-tastic. Definitely one of the best movies I have seen in awhile. Christian Bale plays Dan Evans, a Civil War vet missing part of one leg, and desperately trying to provide for his family. Russell Crowe is Dan Wade, a brilliant, if psychotic, leader of a band of outlaws. When Wade makes a mistake and is caught, Evans agrees to assist in escorting Wade to the train station to catch the "3:10 to Yuma" which will take Wade to jail. A battle of wills ensues fueled by the unrelenting pursuit of Wade's gang led by his number two man, Charlie Prince (a gripping performance from Ben Foster).

Bale and Crowe are without a doubt two of the finest actors in Hollywood today. As Wade, Crowe has so much masculine charm rolling off him you can feel it. Bale's raw intensity as a man so desperate for his wife and sons to see him as a man is heartbreaking. Both deserve Oscar noms as does Foster come award season.

One of the prominent themes of the movie is the nature of being a man. What is a man, exactly? Evans is certainly not seen as one by his family. His oldest son, especially, views him with contempt, contempt for not being able to provide for his family and being unable to protect them from the angry landlord to whom they owe money. Wade on the other hand seems to be the epitome of masculine - strong, confident, charming - but he is a ruthless killer. Making things worse for Evans is that his son, William, admires Wade and even his wife finds herself charmed by him. The pain is so evident in Evans seeing this and wanting so badly for his family to look at him like that. The dynamic between these two characters is what makes this a brilliant movie.

Definitely worth the price of admission. Check it out.

Men Are Nasty Predators

At least that's how we are being portrayed more often in our society. Check out this excerpt from a recent article in the Wall Street Journal.

The result of all this hyper-carefulness, however, is that men often feel like untouchables. In Cochranville, Pa., Ray Simpson, a bus driver, says that he used to have 30 kids stop at his house on Halloween. But after his divorce, with people knowing he was a man living alone, he had zero visitors. "I felt like crying at the end of the evening," he says.

At Houston Intercontinental Airport, businessman Mitch Reifel was having a meal with his 5-year-old daughter when a policeman showed up to question him. A passerby had reported his interactions with the child seemed "suspicious."

In Skokie, Ill., Steve Frederick says the director of his son's day-care center called him in to reprimand him for "inappropriately touching the children." "I was shocked," he says. "Whatever did she mean?" She was referring to him reading stories with his son and other kids on his lap. A parent had panicked when her child mentioned sitting on a man's lap.

This is horrifying. I understand the need to protect our children, but we are getting to a point where we are ostracizing men and depriving children of positive male role models. We can't keep our children in bubbles. We can't assume that every man is a monster out to molest our children. Read this letter to Prudence on Slate (second one down). A mom is concerned about her daughters sleeping over at a friend's house because they will be "sleeping in the same house with another nonfamily man," i.e. their friend's dad, a married man. What is our society coming to?

First Google Earth, Now Google...Moon?

Google is offering a $20 million dollar prize to the first person/s to put a robotic lander on the moon with little or no government aid. I think this is very exciting and I can't wait to see what will come of it. When I was younger and still dreamed of a career in aerospace engineering I always thought (and still do, actually) that real progress in space exploration would come from the private sector. The government is too big and unwieldy and has to overcome too many hurdles to be a major player in the space race. Yes, it got us to the Moon in '69, but how far have we come since? Not very. It will probably be at least ten years before someone can claim this prize, but it promises to be an exhilarating race.

"...and He wept."

God Angrily Clarifies 'Don't Kill' Rule

I meant to post a link to this yesterday, but I didn't get around to it. I like The Onion a lot not just because it is so funny, but because like the best satire, it holds up a mirror to people and says take a look. I think I've mentioned before that some of their articles are so true I have a hard time laughing. The one I linked to above is my favorite article from them. It's...well, read it for yourself.

Left Brain/Right Brain

A new study shows a difference in brain activity between liberals and conservatives. It boils down to liberals being better at adapting to new situations.

Each participant was wired to an electroencephalograph that recorded activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, the part of the brain that detects conflicts between a habitual tendency (pressing a key) and a more appropriate response (not pressing the key). Liberals had more brain activity and made fewer mistakes than conservatives when they saw a W, researchers said. Liberals and conservatives were equally accurate in recognizing M.

This is very fascinating, although I can't wait to hear someone using it to justify their superiority.

What is a Liberal?

William Saletan writes about liberals and their position on biotech such as stem-cell research. He is rather scathing in his remarks, though he still identifies as one.

Then what makes me think I'm still a liberal? I guess it's a stubborn belief that liberalism isn't whatever dogmas currently possess this or that lefty camp. Liberalism is an admission of uncertainty. It's open to self-correction and to the complexity and unpredictability of life. Many ethicists and other self-described liberals don't fit or accept that definition. But I do.

I think that a big part of the problem is that we have been conditioned through the media to divide everybody into two neat camps that never overlap. Conservatives on one side. Liberals on the other. And never the twain shall meet. Our society is actually a spectrum of views with people scattered all along it. We hear things like Red State/Blue State and pretty soon, even though, we are probably closer to the middle than we'd care to admit, we're calling ourself a liberal or conservative and demonizing the other side. It doesn't lead to healthy debate.

Weekly Secret

PostSecret

The Surge

With General Petraeus due to give his testimony soon on progress in Iraq, Matthew Yglesias takes a look at a report that says the surge has failed according to the goals set by the Bush administration. Bet you won't hear Petraeus or Bush say anything like that, though.

Side Effects

I can understand why a lot of people don't stay on Avonex. The side effects don't hit me as hard as they did when I first started taking it, but they still aren't fun. I take it before I go to bed on Saturday night to try to sleep through some of it. It helps, but it's not perfect. It gave me the chills last night and no amount of blankets could warm me up. On Sunday, I usually feel more tired than usual, slightly "achy" all over, and just a general malaise. If it wasn't free as part of the MS study I am in, I would be exploring other options.

Egotistical Bias

Megan McArdle writes about why people divided on a touchy issues, say abortion, end up talking past each other rather than having a real dialog.

A Few Thousand Words

My new niece, Aryana.


Brother, Shawn; sister, Sharie; and Dad out playing pool.


My mother volunteering at the hospital I work at.


Me getting ready to go to a 50s theme party for our summer student volunteers at work.


My daughter, Erica.


My daughter, Shaena.

My Photo Album

Must Have Made An Impression

But not a good one. While I wasn't sure if Katie Joy and I had enough commonality of vision to build a long-term relationship, I still wanted to explore things. I am getting the impression that she is not interested, though. We went out last Saturday. I sent her a text message on Monday just saying "hi." She never responded. I called her yesterday. She did not answer and I left a message. She has not called me back. Yes, she is very busy, but she is not so busy that she couldn't make a brief phone call to say "hi" if she was interested in going any farther.

I'm a lot more secure and confident than I ever used to be so I'm not depressed or thinking I'm a loser because of this. Sometimes things don't work out and there are lots of other women out there. I wish she had called me to tell me how she feels. Actually, I am willing to bet that she will call me sometime in the next week or two but it won't be to go out again, but just to talk. Ah, well.

I suppose that means I'm in the market, as it were.

Moral High Ground

Susan Jacoby has an interesting post about politics and morality over at the Washington Post.

"Shouldn’t politicians stop talking about which party holds itself to some abstract “higher standard” and start talking about common sense, compassion, and fairness in political decisions inevitably circumscribed by inevitable human error?"

I agree with her that painting issues in a black and white manner cannot lead to good outcomes. Neither side of a conflict will be able to come together if they each view it through a lens of good and evil. Once you identify your opponent as evil, the only option then becomes totally destroying them. How can you settle for less when the stakes become that high? Unfortunately, we do not leave in a world of blacks and whites, but a spectrum of grays. That doesn't mean I believe in a wishy-washy moral relativism where I don't judge anyone's actions. It does mean that I believe the world is too complex to put everything into two neat, sharply divided categories such as black and white, good and evil.

Who Isn't al-Qaeda These Days?

Bush and the neocons have been attempting to frighten Americans with rhetoric about "fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here" and "if we leave, Iraq will turn into a haven for al-Qaeda." They have made much of AQI or al-Qaeda Iraq and how they are causing most of the problems for our troops in Iraq. Matthew Yglesias takes a look at this "fact" and finds it a myth.

Shock to the System

Britains are concerned about the spread of Tasers amongst their law enforcement officers. Here in America, Tasers are becoming very widespread amongst police and security forces. Our cultures are quite different when it comes to weapons, though, and I can see where the Taser would be a tougher sell there. It is an excellent tool, but it is easily abused and training needs to be rigorous and thorough for anyone carrying one.

As I wrote a few months back, I did get certified to carry a Taser since I occasionally pick up relief shifts for the security department at my hospital. Getting certified did include getting getting shot with the probes and taking the full five-second ride. I even have it on video.



Yes it is the most painful thing I have ever done. I will certainly be very cognizant of what will happen if I make the decision to draw and employ it.

And, though it is not funny if the Taser needs to be used in the course of the job, it can be very amusing to watch people volunteer to take a hit with it. More amusing than my jolt in the video above is this tough guy's valiant attempt to shotgun a beer before the Taser knocks him down. Comedy gold.

Boys Just Make a Mess of Things

An interesting new study says that single-sex schools are good for girls, but not as good for boys who do better in mixed classes. There hasn't been much scientific research in this area, so it is fascinating to see some hard data.

The question is, then, what to make of it? Obviously we can't send girls to girl-only schools and boys to mixed schools. It doesn't quite work out. An interesting compromise might be to have boys and girls on the same campus. In the morning they go to single-sex classes, but in the afternoon they go to classes together. I wonder how that might work out.

No More Batteries?

If this pans out, it could drastically alter our economy and our lives. The company's claims are rather spectacular and there hasn't been much in the way of hard proof, so I remain doubtful, but it is exciting nonetheless.

What Men Want

I love the headline for this story on CNN: Men Want Hot Women, Study Confirms. Similar to a story I linked to before about "fires" and "warming," I remain skeptical of this. It's going to take a lot evidence for me to buy into this outlandish theory.

Beyond the blindingly obvious, though, there are some interesting findings in the study.

Oh, the Drama...

Sometimes I almost feel like I'm drafting a soap opera when I'm writing about personal matters especially when it comes to dating. I suppose that's half the fun, though, right?

I went out with Katie Joy on Saturday. As I wrote before going to a movie turned into going to church, dinner and then the movie. Services started at 4:30, so I picked her up a few minutes after 4. She goes to Faith Chapel, a Four Square church and the largest church in town. There was upwards of 1000 people at the service we attended and construction is being done on a massive new worship center. I knew what to expect and I'll post more thoughts on the service and church in another post (especially since I went to another not so dissimilar church the next day), but suffice to say for now that I was completely disengaged on the level of worship and coming to know God. My interest during the service was focused on studying the church. What does the church look like? What sort of sermon does the pastor give? What kind of words does he use? What is the music like? It's one thing to read about these things, but it is another thing to actually be there. On that level, it was quite fascinating.

Her parents and siblings were there. I met them all on my first date with Katie Joy, but I wasn't expecting them to be there. Not only that, but she said her parents were going out to dinner after the service and she wanted to join them. With a silent groan, I said "okay" and we met them at JBs, a quiet little restaurant that I remember visiting frequently while young (often after church), but have visited maybe once in the last six or seven years. Katie Joy's siblings also came, but her sister left before too long to meet some friends.

This is the first time I have interacted much with her family. Her brother, Jeremy is a snot-nosed brat. If his parents hadn't been there, I likely would have punched him in the face. I kept telling myself that he is only fifteen, but still, a sound beating would do wonders for him. Her mother, Connie, is very nice. She seems to be a simple, quiet woman. Her father, Curt, was also nice and seemed intelligent. Somehow politics came up. How politics came up at my first dinner with her parents is beyond me, but I was sweating a bit. Katie Joy mentioned that September 2 was the anniversary of the longest filibuster in Senate history. In response to his questions, I was trying to explain to Jeremy what a filibuster was, who Strom Thurmond was, and why he was filibustering. Curt was quick to jump in a make a comment about Democrats also being racist and not supporting legislation for desegregation. I didn't know what to say for a second. I had not mentioned anything about conservatives, liberals, Republicans, Democrats, left, or right. I just said that Mr. Thurmond supported segregation and was trying to stop the passage of the Civil Rights Act. Thankfully it didn't go anywhere else. I enjoy talking about politics, but I didn't feel like getting into an argument with Katie Joy's father about it.

Next, we were off to the movie. We had decided to see Becoming Jane, a story about Jane Austen that attempts to fill in some blanks in her life. It was a very good movie. In the row in front of us was one of those people that feels a need to talk to the movie. At one point he hollered, "Make your move!" and it was all I could do not to laugh uncontrollably. Even more amusing later in the movie was a shout about "Germans." There was lots of muttering throughout, but those were the two funniest moments.

The crazy old man was not the only amusement during the movie. Part way through, I casually reach my hand over to hers and start to hold it. She giggles, pulls away, and whispers, "What are you doing?" If we hadn't been sitting in a movie theater, I would have said, "What the hell do you think I'm doing?" As it was, I just smiled and continued watching the movie. I couldn't help but think of Top Gun and Slider's remark, "Crash and burn, eh, Mav?" I didn't think holding hands on our third date was rushing things, but what do I know?

After the movie, I dropped her off at her car which was outside of the place she works. She said she had a good time and drove off. I had a good time, too, although I'm not sure if our relationship is going to go anywhere. No, not because she wouldn't let me hold her hand, but because I'm not sure we have similar visions for our futures. Maybe I'm wrong; I don't know. It's just a feeling.

Secret. Secret. I've Got a Secret

PostSecret

I know some people who feel this way. It's sad that we are always harder on ourselves than other people because we fear their rejection. The people who truly love you won't judge you.

UPDATE: Fixed image problem. I need to preview more often before I post.

Clinton vs. Obama

Oooh...lots of matchups today. This one about Hillary Clinton's and Barack Obama's views on Cuba. Clinton thinks we need to maintain our current position on Cuba (trade embargo, travel restrictions, etc.) while Obama believes we need to change this because it has proven so effective. This seems to be a cornerstone of Clinton's campaign, a mindset that we don't need change, the old ways work just fine (as long as it's a Democrat at the helm, of course), and is one of the reasons I can't support her as President. Of all of the candidates so far, I think Obama is the best one to heal our nation after the disastrous Bush II presidency.

Breast Feeding vs. Bottle Feeding

It is stories like this one that make me jaded and cynical about politics. Money rules the day.

You have to register to read the link above. You can read about it here in a more colorful version.

"Makes you wonder, you know?"

Sting reflects on his career.

Space Invaders

Check out this video. Who knew Ronald Reagan was a closet Watchmen fan?

Religion vs. Science

It baffles me at times that people can so vigorously attack science because it doesn't jive with their religious beliefs. Michael Lemonick, science writer for Time, recently had a post on his blog about some recent fossil discoveries and what they may mean for our current understanding of evolution. It is not an earth-shattering discovery, but one that could mean a minor revision of the time line we have now. Of course this brings out the creationists in force. How people can be so ignorant in this day and age is perhaps something I will never completely understand. These people are no different from those who excommunicated Galileo for his heathen beliefs. In fact I'm reminded of the people in the following video. They both have about the same level of understanding of science.



There doesn't need to be a divide between science and religion. I happen to believe in God. I also believe that science is a wonderful tool for understanding this incredible world God has created. Most scientists will tell you they do not have all of the answers and are not trying to disprove the existence of God. I'm sure that dealing with some of these rabid fanatics makes them wish they could, though. Hell, I almost wish I could just to see the look on their faces, but, then I am feeling spiteful today.

The Future

While I've had a broad outline of my plans after I get my bachelor's degree - teach, work in a think tank/policy research center, get my graduate degree - I haven't thought too much about the fine details. That may have changed.

I recently read something about an organization called Teach for America. They recruit people, most commonly recent graduates, and send them into some of the most impoverished schools in America. The contract is for two years and the teachers earn scholarships for graduate school. This sounds fantastic. While it will probably be two years before I graduate, plenty of time to look at many opportunities, this one is going to be high on my list of choices.

Whither Have I Come?

Over the last year I have been thinking about my roots a lot. Where have I come from? What were my ancestors like? Where did they come from? My family has never been close to extended relatives. In fact, I barely know any outside my direct family. When I was younger it never seemed like a big deal, but lately I have felt a desire to know more and to be able to pass that on to my children.

Next year, with the money from my tax return I am going to buy a digital camcorder. I want to begin interviewing members of my family about their life, their memories. I also want to record an annual interview with my siblings, my children, and my nieces and nephews. I think I will do it around Christmas time since that seems to be the easiest time to get everyone together and the perfect time of year for such a project. I want to pass those movies down to my kids and their kids and their kids and so on. I think modern technology gives us a wonderful opportunity here.

I am also going to begin researching my family genealogy. My father has done some work on his family and he gave me the binder of materials he has collected. He has managed to trace a part of his mother's family back to the late 17th century. It is very exciting and I'm looking forward to this. It is a long term project, of course, but one that should prove fascinating.

My Life in Pictures

Just a reminder to friends and family that I do have an online photo album. I have recently uploaded a bunch of photos, too, so check 'em out. You can make comments about them, as well.

Another One Bites the Dust

I finished reading The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova last night. In fact I stayed up much later than I should have because I couldn't put it down. Taking place in three time periods, it is the story of a girl who finds a strange document in her father's library. When she asks him about it, he begins to tell her a strange story about that most famous of vampires, Dracula.

Much of the story is told through old letters and historical documents. The amount of historical detail is amazing. Kostova makes the settings in her book, primarily Eastern Europe, come alive. She also cleverly weaves the stories from each of the three time periods together building toward a very suspenseful climax. This was a very enjoyable read.

The one problem with the book is the sheer number of coincidences. I'm normally forgiving of these because often if they were removed you wouldn't have a story at all. However, Kostova really stretches suspension of disbelief at times with the sheer number of coincidences. Because the book is a mystery, I kept hoping that some explanation for some of them would be proferred, but, alas, such was not meant to be.

I did like the book, though, and intend to buy my own copy (I borrowed this from Shawna) eventually. I look forward to more books from Kostova.

Geeks Are Good

We're going to save the world.

US Americans

I know this video has been all over the web and on late night talk shows, but I couldn't resist posting it here as well.



How beautifully ironic that in a question about education in America, Miss South Carolina demonstrates our education problems in this country. That, and the problems you get when you create a society that says it's okay to float by on your looks.

Fundamental Mistakes

Hilzoy has a devastating post on the Dish examining the mindset of Bush and his advisors on Iraq.

First, if it's true that "a fundamental error is a sure sign of not caring", then I think we have to conclude that neither George W. Bush nor any of the advisors he listened seriously to really cared about winning in Iraq. Some of their errors, even egregious ones, are not necessarily fundamental in this sense. But if ever there was a fundamental mistake, the failure to plan for the occupation of Iraq has to count as one.

Indeed.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Of course the games girls like the most involve playing with the minds of boys. I'm not sure why we put up with it exactly, other than...well, I guess we like it. *sigh*

Katie Joy volunteered on Tuesday, so I swung by and talked to her. I asked her when we could go out again and you'd think I'd asked her to solve Fermat's last theorem. She smiled and laughed as she said, "Well, I'm busy that night," and "That night won't work," and so on. I think we went on like that for twenty minutes before I said, "You tell me what you want to do and when." She suggested a movie and asked me to see what was playing.

She was volunteering again today. I printed out movie times for all of the theaters in town and we talked about what to see. We finally decided on Becoming Jane. That was fairly easy. We (she) still had to figure out when we were going to go. She pulls out her color-coded schedule and tries to figure out the "best night." She finally decides that tomorrow (Saturday) will work. I was starting to wonder if I would have look up movie times for the next week by the time she decided. I'm sure she finds this all wildly amusing.

That wasn't it, of course. She wanted to go to the 7:00 show which was fine with me. I said I would pick her up, but then she started going on about working and church. Katie Joy asked if I would go to church with her. Afterward, we could do dinner and then go to the movie. I found myself agreeing before I thought about it too much. I knew if I did start thinking about it, I would probably say, "No thanks."

Katie Joy is intelligent, but I also think she is naive about many things. It seems like she has led a very sheltered, charmed life. Maybe she hasn't, but I don't think my insight into people has failed me here. I almost get the sense that while she understands intellectually that their are different beliefs than hers in the world, she doesn't quite grasp that those beliefs are very real to many people. We were talking about school and I mentioned my upcoming class, God and World, examining the views of God/god/deities in religions throughout the world. The first thing she asked me was, "Well are you going to have to read the Bible?" Her tone of voice almost turned her question into "The only book you need to read is the Bible."

Anyway, my date, I mean "hanging out," tomorrow with Katie Joy is church, dinner, and a movie. Even if going to her church is not the first thing that comes to mind when I think of something fun to do, I'm sure I will enjoy the evening. She is fun to be around even when she is playing her female games.

Back to School

It's that time of the year and I will be starting classes again myself in October. I have Introduction to the Old Testament, an 8 week class, beginning that month and God and World, again 8 weeks long, which starts in November. I am excited to get back into the mix. I checked my records and I am officially a junior now; I have 66 credits. I'm hoping to add 33 more in the coming year. Slowly, but surely I'm getting there. The light at the end of the tunnel may be you...is just a freight train coming your way...is starting to appear.

I hope that doesn't mean I have to grow up. I don't think I want to do that. One of my favorite quotes is from C.S. Lewis. "When I became a man, I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up."

A Topic Close to My Heart

Time recently had a cover story on child geniuses and the problems they face in school. As one of those kids who never struggled in school, never felt challenged, and never felt like I fit in, I have a first-hand account of what life is like for people like this.

AS A CULTURE, WE FEEL DEEPLY ambiguous about genius. We venerate Einstein, but there is no more detested creature than the know-it-all. In one 1996 study from Gifted Education Press Quarterly, 3,514 high school students were asked whether they would rather be the best-looking, smartest or most athletic kids. A solid 54% wanted to be smartest (37% wanted to be most athletic, and 9% wanted to be best looking). But only 0.3% said the reason to be smartest was to gain popularity. We like athletic prodigies like Tiger Woods or young Academy Award winners like Anna Paquin. But the mercurial, aloof, annoying nerd has been a trope of our culture, from Bartleby the Scrivener to the dorky PC guy in the Apple ads. Intellectual precocity fascinates but repels.

I loved learning, but I hated school. I convinced my high school administrators to let me graduate a year early, but even that was a joke. I could have easily had a college degree by then if I had been given the chance. Interestingly, the article noted a study that showed that kids allowed to skip grades do not suffer socially as has long been thought. In fact, they turn out better than those who are not permitted to skip ahead.

Gael, a math teacher, began to research giftedness and found that high-IQ kids can become isolated adults. "They end up often as depressed adults ... who don't have friends or who find it difficult to function," she says. Actually, research shows that gifted kids given appropriately challenging environments--even when that means being placed in classes of much older students--usually turn out fine. At the University of New South Wales, Gross conducted a longitudinal study of 60 Australians who scored at least 160 on IQ tests beginning in the late '80s. Today most of the 33 students who were not allowed to skip grades have jaded views of education, and at least three are dropouts. "These young people find it very difficult to sustain friendships because, having been to a large extent socially isolated at school, they have had much less practice ... in developing and maintaining social relationships," Gross has written. "A number have had counseling. Two have been treated for severe depression." By contrast, the 17 kids who were able to skip at least three grades have mostly received Ph.D.s, and all have good friends.

The biggest problem our schools have is that they don't teach to individuals; they teach to the mass in the middle. No Child Left Behind only exacerbates this. What is needed, and what I envision in the school I want to open some day, is an individual curriculum based on each child's talents and desires. That is the only way to ensure each child can develop their full potential whether they are a genius or not.

UPDATE: Fixed formatting.

A Last Minute Stay

My brother, Shawn, has decided to hold off on selling the house for two years. I'm a bit shocked, I must say. While he has said a few times that the money is not his main reason for selling (it is the "burden" of owning it and Mom), he was just saying two days ago that he needed the money to make it in Missoula. The problem is that he really doesn't know what he needs. Love, or what he thinks is love, has clouded his mind and being with his girlfriend is all he can think about. I know exactly what he is thinking and feeling right now. I went through the same thing when I was younger. I just hope he learns more quickly than I did what is wrong with his current path.

I know my Mom is happy, but I can't help but feel that on a certain level this just prolongs the agony. Two years is not a long time and before you know it the time will be gone and once more my mother will faced with the soul-crushing experience of parting from a life-long dream. Perhaps something will change in two years. Who knows? I hope that whatever happens a decision can be reached that is not too painful for my mom.

In the meantime, it might get a little hairy making ends meet here. Shawn wants to be free of all responsibilities here including contributing to the house payment. Mom and I would be drained to the breaking point if we had to pay for everything on our own, so we are talking about finding someone who wants to rent a room. The obvious first choice would be one of my sisters, but I don't think that is feasible. Sheena, while deeply unhappy with her current boyfriend in many ways, in all likelihood does not have the strength of will or desire to leave him. Sharie is living here, but has not been subtle about her desire to leave as soon as possible. Shawna will not live here as long as Sharie is, but even after Sharie leaves, I don't think she would want to move back. Shawna is too antsy and she feels like a "loser" living with her mother.

That means Mom and I will have to look elsewhere and I can't say I'm excited about the idea. I'm not so worried about finding a decent person who pays the rent on time as I am having a stranger move in. I'm a fairly private person. The notion of a stranger living here, eating here, hanging out here is somewhat unnerving. We'll see, I suppose.

I am happy that Mom does not have to face moving out now. I hope everything works out down the road.

Recent Viewings

I have watched two fantastic movies in the last week, Pan's Labyrinth and The Fountain

Pan's Labyrinth is a Spanish movie from director Guillermo del Toro. A young girl visits a dark, fantasy kingdom to escape her tumultuous life as the step-daughter of a sadistic army captain battling rebels in 1940's Spain. Make no mistake, this is a fairy tale. It's not the Disney fairy tales we're used to these days, though. It is more akin to the older fairly tales, those that were dark and not always pleasant. And dark it is. There is a lot of graphic violence, but del Toro never makes it feel gratuitous. This is a story of good and evil and the evil is certainly very evil. Ofelia's journey to reclaim her birthright as the princess of a magical kingdom is heart-wrenching especially since del Toro leaves the reality of the kingdom ambiguous. Is Ofelia making it all up in her mind because her life is so disturbing or is it a real place? Bonus points for that, the rich cinematography (fantastic use of color), and for the beautiful, haunting score. Definitely one of the more enchanting movies I have seen in awhile. Highly recommended.

I also very much enjoyed The Fountain, though I can see why it was very divisive to critics and viewers. It is not a movie easily digested. Tom/Tomas/Tommy is a man unwilling to accept death and journeys through time searching for a "cure." Their are three time periods in the story - past, present, and future - and Aronofsky weaves them together in a non-linear fashion. The first half of the movie can be tricky to follow as you only feel like you have a partial grasp on the full extent of events. By the end, though, I was blown away at the power of the story. What begins as the story of a man battling the age-old villain of Death becomes...well, you'll just have to see it for yourself. Hugh Jackman does an incredible job; I feel he is one of the best actors working right now (see also The Prestige) and doesn't get enough recognition for it. Darren Aronofsky is also someone to watch. He has a very unique vision. I think that even if this is not a movie you like, Aronofsky deserves credit for making a movie quite unlike most churned out of Hollywood these days. I wish more movies aimed this high.

"...because it is right."

Hilary Bok (Hilzoy) has a post on The Daily Dish examining Obama's foreign policy views. It lays out clearly some of the reasons why I think Obama is the best candidate in the race right now.

Missing You

I took my daughters home last night. They had been staying with me since the 17th. I won't see them for two weeks because their mother is taking them on vacation to South Dakota and they won't be back until next Sunday. It's hard not being around them more. I miss them terribly, especially knowing how horrible their home life is. For those parents who do live with their children, count your blessings and don't take your moments with them for granted.

Weekly Secret

I chose a more amusing one this week than usual.



PostSecret