• RT @DiscoverMag: How much dark matter is passing through you right now? Perhaps ~1 particle per coffee cup of volume. http://bit.ly/xN5cx #
• i'm not post-modern, i'm post-ironic. #
• Never. Bake. A. Baby. #
• in a post-migraine coma #
• less and less convinced that the church faces the challenge of postmodernism, thinks society has moved on, at least the intelligentsia have #
• RT @bradandrews: now, the entire imler clan is debating whr baby carrots come from &…they R just deformed full-growns cut dn. deep stuff.. #
• man, never look at the kindle, the kindle is kool-aide…. must. close. browser. #
• RT @darthvader I love national holidays where blowing up a rebel stronghold can easily be considered a spectacular "finale." #
• on the history channel – some weed smoking dude talking about the value of hemp in the 13 colonies #
• quote from weed dude on the history channel : "drugs started our country… [man]" #
• Had a nice time dreaming w/ Casey tonight. Dreams of reinvigorating the "Christian Church" educational system. #
• I have an amazing creative and story-loving nephew Cooper. His "murder mystery theater" show tonight was really cool… #
• He actually duped all of us… I Feel really bad that I was coming out of a migraine at the time and did not listen/play w/ him…………. #
• (crying) Babies are not math problems to be solved.  #
• "insane list for independence" how true. #

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Because it is raining like a mad hatter.

My nephew Cooper is a real treat.  Among other things, he loves to tell jokes, draw and act out stories.  Tonight he prepared a treat for me and my family that was overlooked, a diamond lost in the rough.

It all started (from our perspective) after supper.  Cooper comes up to me and gives me a faux newspaper detailing the story of the “Bad Boy.”  The bad boy was wanted for murder, [something that I forget], and stealing soda.  We congratulated him on his drawing and went back to the remainder of our meals.  This was a mistake on our part…

I had unintentionally acquired a migraine earlier in the afternoon and was shaking off it and a 1.5 hour nap during supper.  I laid down on the couch in the living room after supper and shielded my eyes from the penetrating pain of the track lights.  While I was straddling dreamtime and the land of the living, Cooper comes up to me and tells me there are footprints in the kitchen next to the soda machine.

Dazed and confused as I was, I gave a half hearted attempt at being interested in his tellings and goings.  I asked him whose footprints they were and slipped back into slumber…

A few minutes later, as Cooper was being bidden to bedtime, he pops back upstairs and gives me a confession note, one that implicated my brother Grant in the soda theft.  It was at this time that I thought that he had concocted a neat little game that he was wanting us to play.  However, Cooper had to go to bed at this point and that was the end of it.

When is mother Holly came up stair from putting him down, she told us of Cooper’s Confession.  While she was laying him down, Cooper told her that it was actually him that stole all the soda.  I guess he had worked all afternoon and evening going back and forth between the upstairs stash of soda for the weekend and a minifridge downstairs, hiding cans of soda in his pants, setting the stage for a crime to be solved by his family.  Then, he drafted the faux newspaper, footprints, and Grant’s confession note.  We, his family, were supposed to notice the thievery, find Grant guilty, then investigate the footprints, and ultimately discover that it was really Cooper who was the thief!

What a creative interactive story drummed up by a seven year old!  One that ultimately went ignored by his closest of kin.  He wanted us to join him, he wanted to tell us a story of his own creation… and we failed him.

I could make this into a moral story and even a religious one.  But for now I just wanna highlight his creativity.

During our discussions on apologetics, I was asked what books I would use in an apologetics class.  This is where I was at a loss.  I, in general, don’t like the McDowell and Strobel books.  I don’t think I mind Strobel as much, but some of the McDowell stuff is either outdated historically [1] or are asking the wrong questions. [2]   The only book I know that I would have them read is Live to Tell: Evangelism in a Postmodern Age by Brad J. Kallenberg.  It’s cheap, short, and does a spectacular job with discussing the human side of conversion.  We adapted it in one of the classes JR and I taught last year.

I’d want a really tight Christian philosophy book, one that either treats the logical issues well (that most arguments work given the givens, but that you can’t prove [or disprove] the givens) and some book dealing with textual issues and faith, and one that deals with history and the Bible.  I have a lot to say on each of those books and how it intersects with a post-post-modern worldview framework.  I don’t know what books those would be though…

What books would you recommend? 

1. not up with the latest understanding/research on the subjects at hand [↩]
2. Also, they are assuming a that only modernist framework is acceptable, esp. the McDowells.  This is something I’d like to explore later. [↩]

[via]

Diner Observations:

• people across the diner are talking about how foolish statistical studies are… #
• “You get it, and I get it; but they don’t get that 5,000 people can’t speak for everyone!” #
• int. discussion next to me – wives and staying at home by two 40ish men… #
• in an odd way, they supported women in the workplace… because if they are at home…. they nagg on the phone! #
• thus, for them, women should be at work to occupy their time… and home they are listless and bored… which pains these men #

Personal:

• I am looking forward to hanging with fam. tonight. Casey, Rach, @hollyandrews77 , @bradandrews , and… some others ;). #
• Hope to talk Apologetics (how to structure and teach a class) with Casey and others. #
• Done at the diner – heading to Bentch’s to get ready to go to the Imler’s. #
• reed’s butt is an entire wind section in the orchestra! #
• #reedsbutt – as a matter of fact, I think that is why I named him…. Reed. #
• #reedsbutt I know you shouldn’t shun your child, but can you pun him? #
• Reed has 99.0F temp, threw up, is a bit lethargic, spitting up while feeding… could be nothing, could be something – fun to be certain. #

Other:

• #WTJ – if they serve “http://1995-wtj-30-1.pdf” do “http://wesley.nnu.edu/wesleyan_theology/wesleyjournal/1995-wtj-30-1.pdf” #
• #QOTD: What is the difference between being religious and being spiritual? Is it just a manifestation of our desire not to do dead rituals? #
• “momma is always on stage” – the importance of growing children as the very basis of a good society #
• anyone know any really good christian African diaspora albums? #

Retweets/Links:

• RT @michael_bay Again people, I don’t read reviews. I don’t have anything against them. I just don’t know how to read. #
• RT @BreakingNews The FDIC says the Founders Bank in Worth, Illinois has become the 52nd bank failure of this year. The seventh today alone. #
• RT @wilw For the seven of you who haven’t seen it: @Scalzi’s SciFi movies rated by their explosions is pretty awesome. http://is.gd/1lU1d #
• Midgets killed by means of adult-sized drug dose… Poor lil guys! http://is.gd/1m8qp #

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Personal:

• loves spending time with those who actively devalue education at every turn #
• lets see how well we sleep tonight…. lots of family coming in for the rest of the week and weekend…. #

Links/Retweets:

• Science wars, the prelude #
• On entitlement and forgetting god #
• RT @nprpolitics On This Day In 1964: Civil Rights Act Is Signed Into Law #
• Scientific Basis of the idea “Preaching to the choir“ #

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Saw Transformers Revenge of the Fallen last night.  It wasn’t that horrible of a summer-stupid movie.  Well, the 1.5 hour editing down of the 2.5 hour monstrosity on screen wouldn’t have been that bad of a movie.  Excepting therefrom the gratuitous everything, the only thing that really bothered me was the two blackface characters, Skids and Mudflap (everything else was chalked up to a Michael Bay movie adapted from a toy line and was therefore somewhat excusable, I knew what I was going to get when I walked into the theater).

Pictured: Skids, Mudflap, and Blackface

From The ISS Takes on: Transformers 2 by Doktor Maxwell von Puppykicker the Third:

It’s a robot in blackface. What the hell people?

Director Michael Bay and his proponents (typing that hurt me more than you will ever know) have defended the Little Black Sambots by claiming that they were meant to be comic relief characters and that any racial connotations were entirely unintentional. So apparently, it’s just a coincidence that these robots possess apelike features, have flared nostrils and comically enlarged ears and lips, are shown to be unintelligent, speak in an "urban" dialect, carry decorative "bling", and mention not reading very frequently! And that one of them has a gold tooth!

• RT @DiscoverMag Study: Huge Swath of Louisiana Wetlands Will Inevitably “Drown” by 2100 http://bit.ly/afo83 #

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Personal:

• with each page turned my contentment’s burned ’cause I know and fear that the end of Sandman draws near #
• Administrating CDIS class #
• site is not responding… awesome #
• blackboard won’t allow me to upload assignment files! yes! #
• looks like it was a problem with firefox and chrome… cause ie8 worked?! #
• Student quote: “I am confident that I have never been more confused in my life” We are doing the Dao/Tao this week. #
• man, got so so so much done tonight. I needs to grade, but that is it #
• Reed is alseep in the living room, meredith next to him – i dont wanna wake him up… do i try to sleep down here? #
• Hydrant Henry – Reed did it again, pee’ed on his own face. #

Retweets/Links:

• RT @DiscoverMag: For Early Europeans, Cannibalism Was One Perk of Victory in Combat http://bit.ly/9Q57z #
• To study their marketing, not their “science.” http://is.gd/1imTT #
• Word. RT @brendoman: Woops. It’s late #

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E.T.A. by JUNK from Henrik Bjerregaard Clausen on Vimeo.

Marvin has the most boring job in the universe – but all is not as it seems…

720P HD Version + more info available at our website: http://junkworks.org/

Director: Henrik Bjerregaard Clausen
Modelling & Character animation: Søren Andersen & Michael la-Cour
Original Music & Sound Editing: Rasmus Kudahl Kaae Munch
Production: JUNK

Originally premiered at BreakPoint ‘08 in Bingen, Germany where it won the 1st prize in the animation competition.

Here is a list of the tweets of some of the Major World Religions that Stephen Prothero has been tweeting about.  I am having my students pick 1 or 2 of them to unpack for one of their short assignments.  Here are the ones he has done so far:

Islam 140: Allah told Gabriel told the prophet Muhammad (PBUH): Just 1 God, pray to Him 5x day, give alms, fast, hajj to Mecca. Submit! Ahh!

Judaism140: 1 God, 1 chosen people. Do the Law (all 613), tell the story (Egypt to Zion, exile to return), repair the world. 2010 in 97500!

Hinduism140: Goal=escape life/death/rebirth. How? Know u r God or love Vishnu/Shiva/Goddess (u pick) or offer work&breath 2 God. Om Apu Ahh!

Buddhism140: Life=suffering. Clinging=the disease. Nirvana=the cure. Path=let go(d), be good/wise/mindful. Buddha=dried shit. Wake up! Ahh!

Xianity140: Adam&Eve hungry so we=sinners. JC died&rose so we=saved. Is God3in1/Bible true/Kingdom coming/Pope Catholic? Believe/Love! Ahh!

Atheism140: Warning: religion=hazardous 2 ur health. There is no uknowwho but Freud & Marx is his prophet. Faith=D’oh. Be good w/o god(sic)!

Confucianism140: C says social harmony comes by self-cultivation. Heaven=silent, goodness speaks. So revere the old, do the rites. Be human!

Daoism140(Tao of Twitter): Confucius sucks. Ritual=empty. True Way=wu-wei, natural as flowing water. Be free, be qi, live 4 now 4 ever. Ahh!

Yoruba140: Ashe=power 2 make things happen. Gods have it. U2. So divine ur destiny. Connect w/ gods by sacrifice. Life=dance. U r the wise 1

Red Sox140: Church=Fenway. Fans=Faithful. Saints=Ted/Yaz/Fisk/Pap/Papi/Youk. Devils=NYYs. Redemption=2004/2007. “Gods don’t answer letters."

I think I am going to have my students unpack everything in the tweet and then evaluate the tweet’s accuracy.  That should take them one page.  Then I think I am going to have them comment on the overall effectiveness of the tweet in light of the religion.  I don’t know how I am going to say this, but I want them to talk about the medium in connection with the content.  I might have them read a couple of articles on Prothero and twittering for them to throw themselves against:

1. Religion 101, in 140 Characters
2. Tweeting on High

Not sure exactly how I am going to do this though.  I got a couple of hours to think about it.  For now, I am off to eat!

Thoughts whilst I gorge?

Update: This site has been down for the last few hours.  In that time I finished up the assignment and posted it.  This is the assignment:

Short Assignment 2 – Twitter and Major World Religions: Accuracy and Efficacy

Description: Boston University’s Stephen Prothero is attempting to do a Major World Religion’s course through Twitter this summer. [1] Your assignment is as follows:

1. Pick one of his tweets concerning one of the major world religions we are covering this week or have covered so far.
   • His twitter page is http://twitter.com/sprothero
   • b. I have listed the tweets you can pick from at the bottom of this page.
2. Quote and unpack everything contained within the tweet. This should take you ¾ – 1 page. Use the book or Google book searches (cited and linked) to do this.
   • Hint: use/sign up for a twitter account and ask Prothero questions concerning parts of the tweet that you don’t understand. Incorporate your responses and reflect upon them in your paper.
3. Grade Prothero’s tweet for accuracy. Put yourself in the shoes of an adherent of the religion. How would you feel having your religion reduced to those (particular) 140 characters?
4. Lastly, read the following articles and reflect upon what Prothero is doing and how effective it is. Be sure to reflect upon the nature of what Prothero wants to do, the need to be respectful/accurate, and the limitations/advantages of the medium.
   • News article 1: Religion 101, in 140 Characters
   • b. News article 2: Tweeting on High

1. Twitter.com is a micro-blogging service where messages/posts are limited to 140 characters. A tweet is one of these postings. For further information and reaction, please research new stories etc. for a reaction, utility, and analysis of the service. [↩]

From some 1944 Hungarian newspaper.

Personal:

• Thankful that Meredith has maternity leave and that my job can be done from anywhere (w/ an Internet connection)… and for all the support #

Retweets/Links:

• RT @BreakingNews “Infomercial King” Billy Mays has died, according to Fox News. He is most known as the salesperson promoting OxiClean. #
• RT @BreakingNews Billy Mayswas reportedly inside the U.S.Airways planewhich made a hard landing in Tampa,FloridaonSaturday. He has now died. #
• Bill Mays is dead; too soon for oxiclean jokes? Do we have to wait 30 minutes? #
• RT @sportsguy33 Let’s be honest. Our play by play guy should have gotten between 10-500 times more excited for that last goal. Gimme (cont… #
• …cont) a voice crack at least. #
• RT @sportsguy33 So tense. Hey, name me one reason why the NBA shouldn’t move to the yellow/red card system starting next season. You can’t. #

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First Name:

Female: Thecla

Male: Ambrose

Middle Name:

Female: Athanasia

Male: Arius

Full Names:

Female: Thecla Anathasia Imler

Male: Ambrose Arius Imler

Thoughts:

Not sure about those.  Lots of “A’s” and they don’t roll off the tongue as a unit well.

Gallery Link

For those of you wanting to blog with Windows Live Writer, there are a couple of plugins that will allow you to upload regular files (first, two). Both work just fine, provided you mess with their inserts a bit.  Each of them, for some reason, wrap one or two div tags around the file link:

   1:  <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; 

   2:  display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px"

   3:   id="scid:F60BB8FA-6F02-4999-8F5E-9DD4E92C4DA7:e71ac66c-7a44-4a0a-94d2-aef23165a848"

   4:  class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent">

   5:  <div>

   6:  <a href="$Edwards..1994..Defining.the.Web.of.P.pdf" target="_blank">

   7:  Edwards - 1994 - Defining the Web of Power in Asia Minor The Novel.pdf

   8:  </a>

   9:  </div>

   10:  </div>

All that jazz functions to create a little box around your link text which makes one unable to insert the text inline with the rest of your writing: 

    However, they work just fine if you cut and paste the link code:

   1:  <a href="$Edwards..1994..Defining.the.Web.of.P.pdf" target="_blank">

   2:  Edwards - 1994 - Defining the Web of Power in Asia Minor The Novel.pdf

   3:  </a>

And your link text will show up inline just fine: Edwards – 1994 – Defining the Web of Power in Asia Minor The Novel.pdf.

Here is a scene that Michael Bay [1] should have filmed in Transformers, Revenge of the Fallen from All Hail Megatron #12.  Devastator and Omega Supreme [2] battle it out over New York.  Of course their battle spills over onto Ellis Island, where they inevitably smash into the Statue of Liberty. 

If you thought Bay would be all over that, check out how the page concludes:

1. this is the best fake twitter page ever.  Example 1, Example 2, Example 3 [↩]
2. which I had never heard of before, but I guess is what the Transformer writers made up to be a counter-balance to Devastator [↩]

Personal:

• thinking about "thy will be done on earth…" as the paradigm through which we see christian action in this world #
• just vegging out tonight – need to put my thoughts for the 2nd limial meeting together for tomorrow #
• Reed slept all night… I mean cried all night. Don’t know why. We feel like good parents. 1hr of sleep. #
• Reed slept through the night. I mean cried. Don’t know why. One hour of sleep. We feel like great parents. #
• it is good to have meredith back, even though she is sleep deprived… #
• With Reed in the "Pink Room." Letting Meredith sleep whilst she can. #
• Reading next to my sleeping son. #
• Reed just pee’ed on his own face, Meredith thinks he choked on a bit of it. Teach him to spout while I am changing him. #
• Wish tweetdeck for iPod touch had landscape mode #

Retweets/Links:

• RT @NBA Blake Griffin’s rebound total last season was the highest by an Division I player since Indiana State’s Larry Bird in 1978-79 (505) #
• RT @michael_bay In space, you CAN hear Michael Bay scream (at you). #
• New Sonic© fav – vanillia coke, lite ice. Mere still rocks the dr van cherry coke #
• http://twitpic.com/8mrdg #
• the cos’ :: http://is.gd/1gt2Z [sample :: http://twitpic.com/8mz2b ] #

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