Maddenation
Precious
I hate movies like Precious. Depressing stories about ugly people (inside and out) whose lives scream stupidity and hopelessness. Yes, I can see the artistry involved and the stark truth of their situations, but as mom asked as we discussed it, “Why do they make these movies?”
Dad • Movies • 03/11/10 • 0 commentsFollowup on Abraham’s Vision
This came up a while ago during our Bible study and last Sunday’s reading reminded me of the insight.
And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
This is verse 5 from Genesis 15 and Patrick wrote about it extensively in his book, Quotidiana. Most of us assume it was nighttime when God came to Abram (as he was then called) in a vision to speak of these cosmic truths. However, verse 12 begins, “Now when the sun was going down…” This, along with the references to birds of prey, strongly suggests that is was during the day that God spoke to Abram.
Dad • Observations • 03/02/10 • 0 commentsAre You A Religious Naturalist?
This 13.7 blog entry over at NPR has got me thinking lately. This recent entry is about God and life and nature and meaning. All these things have been on my mind quite a bit lately as I’m trying to understand my own understandings. In thinking specifically about life (the biology of) and God, I’ve felt deeply moved and utterly lost and baffled. Often, like now, at the same time. I think the genesis of my thoughts on such topics started a few years ago when I heard a talk at the Alder Planetarium by father George Coyne, SJ, an astronomer from the Vatican Observatory. His main point was that God has given us two books with which to know him/her - nature and the Bible. This idea has continued to follow, inspired, and haunt me. This blog post is just the most recent part (the movie Avatar is also connected - more on that later). I wonder what y’all think.
David • Questions • 02/01/10 • 0 commentsTempus Fugit II
Here’s the latest on the concept of time flying faster as we age. Dad’s ‘proportionality’ concept is mentioned (where a year is a much smaller fraction of your life when you’re 60, versus when you were 4). They also throw in some other ideas. It’s pretty fascinating. I wonder how accurate we are at counting a minute?
Okay, I just did it. I got 63 seconds. Not bad.
Here’s the original Tempus Fugit. Ah the glory days of Maddenation!
David • Memories • 02/01/10 • 1 commentsUSC selects a new coach
Looks like it’s still going to be fun to hate the Trojans. Look what they’ve gone and done.
Dad • News • 01/13/10 • 0 commentsHarry Reid
Like many good-ole, red-necked Americans, I’m amused by Senator Reid’s purloined comments about Obama. First, they were downright true, as “insensitive” and ill-chosen as they were. Basically, what Harry was saying was that Americans were ready to vote for someone as good looking and articulate as Obama, but definately not ready for someone as ugly and ugly as Al Sharpton. Or Jesse Jackson.
Dad • Politics • 01/13/10 • 0 commentsThe evolution of evolution
A recent NOVA episode on “what Darwin never knew” was one of the best I’ve ever seen. It celebrated the 200th birthday of Darwin and the 150th anniversary of his epic publication on the origin of species.
Dad • Ideas • 01/08/10 • 0 commentsPassword smashword
OK, I added a new category. So sue me.
Don’t get me wrong. I love electronic gadgets that allow us to do so much today that we could only dream about when I was a young’un. However, I do get a little hyperventilated when the bells and whistles don’t go ringy dingy like they’re supposed to.
Dad • Peeves • 01/06/10 • 0 commentsBest movie quotes
Here is a link to what the American Film Institute thinks are the best movie quotes of the last 100 years.
In case you’re interested, here are the rankings.
Dad • Movies • 12/29/09 • 0 commentsDoing everything we can
Another attempt to blow up a plane over US airspace was foiled on Christmas day by our forces of last resort, the passengers on the plane. Its rather obvious from the details of the event that they were lucky. Had this deranged individual been able to detonate the explosive (instead of merely set a fire with it) it might well have brought the plane down.
Dad • Observations • 12/29/09 • 0 comments