Wednesday, March 30, 2005

diversity of opinion in the courtroom . . . or is it?

Several sites had news stories about a murder trial where the jury's decision to put the murder to death was dismissed because the court found that some jurors used the Bible verbage, "eye for an eye," in making their decision.

Beliefnet.com's post

I became reminded, however, that it was probably a mundane issue about not being allowed to consult external reference material while deliberating on a case.

I'm suspecting at this point that "media's at it again"; goin' and making something outta something. I guess I'm glad they were disqualified from making a judgement (whichever way that was). I'm more upset about the falsity in the media.

Saturday, March 26, 2005

peace after terror

"It has been said that there are two kinds of people in the world — those who divide people into two types and those who don’t."

from The Globalist:
http://www.theglobalist.com/DBWeb/StoryId.aspx?StoryId=4452

the four freedoms

FDR's 1941 State of the Union address
Norman Rockwell's art

Friday, March 25, 2005

puss moth larva

I found an old picture I'd printed of a puss moth larva. It got me out looking on the web for more pictures, and, maybe, the one I have printed. Here's where the search took me:

But no luck. I didn't find the original. Wonder where I got that . . .

How to turn your Red state Blue

Christopher Hayes, In These Times
In order to grow, progressives need to learn from evangelical movements: Systematically expand the universe of access points to their worldview and actively recruit people into the fold.

http://www.alternet.org/story/21584/

The God Racket, From DeMille to DeLay

from the New York Times . . .

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

The Lady and the Unicorn

Just got done reading this book. I'd read Girl with a Pearl Earring back before the movie came out, and really liked it. So I suspected I'd like other books by Tracy Chevalier. I was not disappointed. In Girl with a Pearl Earring there's no sex that I can recall, though. In The Lady and the Unicorn, there was a bit of sex. But for even the most promiscuous guy in the book, his human side was made well known to the reader with plenty of subtleties. It was a very quick read.

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

last names

So I was wandering aimlessly on Wikipedia, and ended up looking at last names. Here's an interesting page: the Census bureau lists the 88799 most common last names. I was surprised to find some, and was surprised not to find some. Note, this is from the 1990 Census.

Monday, March 21, 2005

Ecumenism in the Episcopal Church

Something I want to print when I get a chance: ECUSA's booklet on ecumenism.

abortion

I just read this about abortion. It helped me to figure out some of my own thoughts on the matter. The first paragraph had me wondering, "but there's a miracle in there!" (in the fertilization; not the ejaculation). The second paragraph seemed to address my concern, but did not provide an answer. I would not be surprised if scientists are currently investigating this stuff. I'd look forward to what they find out.

from godwithoutreligion.com:
I wouldn’t equate flushing sperm down the sink with killing billions of human beings any more then I would equate early abortions with premeditated murder. However there is a point when a human child in the womb is just that- a human child- not a lump of flesh. At least not any more then you or I.

When are we "taking a human life" by definition? When it has a spinal chord and begins sending impulses independent of it's host? When it's heartbeat distributes vital fluids to it's developing extremities? Or when we can clearly see REM action- the signs of dreaming- in the soon-to-be-born child?

god without religion

thought provoking . . .

http://www.godwithoutreligion.com/

guilt vs repentance

I found the following article very thought provoking. Described in it is a description of the contrast between guilt (the Bible might say "tearing our clothes") and repentance, where we are made more receptive to the voice of God. Which could mean, to someone not considering God, their soul's true desire.


The Real Lesson
Henry Drummond

Every person has fallen at some time in his life - most, many times. Peter's steps in denying Christ have since been traced by every human foot. Anyone can understand how he could have slept in the garden, when he should have watched and prayed. Most of us feel an almost unconscious sympathy for him.
But there is something in Peter's life that is much greater than his sin. It is his repentance. We all too easily relate to Peter in his weakness, but few of us grasp the wonder of his change. Sinful Peter is one man, and repentant Peter another. That is the real lesson in his life...
"And Peter went out and wept bitterly."
Source: “Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter”

Sunday, March 20, 2005

Saturday, March 19, 2005

Wikipedia

from Arts & Letters Daily . . .

It seemed preposterous that an encyclopedia could be written and edited by just anyone. Maybe that’s what Wikipedia really is... more»

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

The Atonement

I just got finished reading The Atonement. I didn't like it for the whole first half, because I kept wondering if the author was as mistaken about life as the characters he was describing.

The second half was much different than the first half (although they did go together), and all in all it was a good read, but I don't think I'll be going back to this author soon.

It does provide an in-depth "what if" scenario (as the whole book), and that is cool. It also has WWII atmosphere - like All Quiet On the Western Front, which I had to read in high school.

update 7/30/05: As I think back on this book, I like it more and more. It does go through a person's thoughts in a very similar way as The Brothers Karamazov does.

over-praised

Heard of 'oversexed'? I'm 'overpraised'. Just got this new manager who praises, praises, praises. It's great getting all this praise, but now I'm awfully disappointed when it's not there.

I'm such a child . . .

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

I've been away

I've been away, and haven't been updating this blog. After the Disney trip, I was home for a week, then went to Seattle for work. Even Seattle had nicer weather than we've been having in Rochester. Although we had a couple of excellent sunny winter days here. "Perfect skiing weather," as I recall.

Saturday, March 05, 2005

CREATIONISM, PLURALISM AND THE COMPROMISING OF SCIENCE

Boy, alternative viewpoint essays sure are thought-provoking. I was expecting some word on how pluralists and liberals in general go for the idea that all ideas deserve consideration. Well, wasn't I surprised to see this in the article: "Bush, on the other hand, seems happy to accommodate all points of view (3)."

They said Bush is a liberal! Gotta love it ;-)
from spiked-online . . .

The trouble with 'teaching the controversy'.

Friday, March 04, 2005

Busy Workers Seek Simplicity

from careerpronews . . .

Keeping up to the hectic pace of modern life is wearing many multitasking workers out. As a result, more Americans are joining the simplicity movement and learning how to slow down and enjoy their lives.

Read more from the Chicago Tribune

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

self-publish a book

I saw this link and thought of you, bro'. Hope you like it. :-)

objective news

There's this essay by Bill Moyers. It talks about how the media, after having been told that it no longer has to be objective about the news, is in big trouble. I need to read it better, but it is something that bothers me as well. I don't understand why there should not be news sources that are regulated so that they can guarantee a certain level of objectivity.