Bits and Tidbits, October 2010

• Interesting: 420 Characters by Lou Beach. This "book" is a collection of short stories, designed to tell the whole thing in the length of a "status update". Warning for the sensitive: some are a bit crass.
• Statistical: Generic Names for Soft Drinks by County. Is it a Coke, a soda, a pop, or something else altogether? Apparently it depends on where you live, almost with precision.
• Very cool: 3-D Printing Is Spurring a Manufacturing Revolution. My guess is that, in 5 years, this technology will be mainstream-- and in 10, it will have changed international trade permanently.
• So fun: NBA 2K11 (Jordan Challenge + MJ: Creating a Legend). I'm not really a gamer-- certainly not hardcore-- but this looks like so much fun.

Video Tidbits, October 2010

(HT: Megan)




(HT: Philip)

Rethinking education

Here's a great animation of a presentation done by Sir Ken Robinson, who proposes some great ideas for how we might rethink and re-model our educational processes:

I'd love to see this worked out into curricular models and nuts-and-bolts concepts.

Also, I think this approach is highly compatible with some of the tools for learning that the Classical model of education employs. And it also sounds a little bit like some of Charlotte Mason's ideas.

Spiritual Life Conference 2010

Our Second-Annual Spiritual Life Conference will be on November 5-7. This year's conference is focused on the subject and theme of "Christ-Centered Worship" and our speaker will be Dr. Mark Dalbey.

The conference will include lectures on Friday evening, Saturday evening, and Sunday morning; an open Q&A Lunch on Saturday; and worship together on Sunday morning. The cost is kept as low as possible to make it easier to attend: $10 for members/regular attenders of HWPC, and $20 for non-members/non-regulars.

If you're interested in more information, check out the website: slc.hickorywithepc.org.

Video Tidbits, September 2010

Rich Hall on Tom Cruise:

(HT: Glen)

Bill Cosby, on understanding "southern":


John Rutter does benedictions:

(HT: Holli)

Bits and Tidbits, September 2010

• Amazing: Pencil Sculptures. This is work on a scale of intricacy that I can't really imagine doing. (HT: Jon)
• Fascinating: Does Your Language Shape How You Think? I've always found this kind of linguistic study worth considering.
• Cool: Inkling textbook/classroom software. I'm not a prophet, but I believe we'll see this kind of tech mature over the next couple of years, and iPads (and their like) will dominate the classroom.
• Self-Defense: In Defense of 'Happy Days'' 'Jump the Shark' episode. Here's the guy who actually wrote that episode defending why it didn't actually jump the shark. Surreal.
• Give Him Your Coat As Well: A Victim Treats His Mugger Right. It's almost as if Jesus knew what He was talking about...!
• The Future?: Concept: Seabird Phone from Mozilla. This may indeed be something pretty close to the future of phones and mobile computing-- not from Microsoft, Google, or even Apple, but from Mozilla (the folks that make the Firefox browser).

Important reading

This post from Scot McKnight's "Jesus Creed" blog is, I think, vitally-important reading for all Christians today: Beck's Black Robe Brigade (by John Fea).

John Fea, Professor of History at Messiah College in Pennsylvania, has written a helpful reflection on the intersection of American history (or some parts of it) with faith and politics. Fea's assertion, which I believe is true far too frequently, is that we are regularly being presented with claims and conclusions that are based on parts of history, and/or that are based on simple answers to questions that are far from simple (if they can even be answered at all).

The issues discussed in the aforementioned post are very real and present issues that are coming soon to a town near you (if not to a church you belong to!). It is worthwhile to be aware of all of the questions asked in that post, lest we fall into blind or ignorant acceptance of cultural/political half-truths.

This dovetails with ideas that I've been reflecting on, and intend on posting about, centering around the question, "Who are you quoting?" (Look for that in the next couple of weeks, hopefully.)

Fea has a forthcoming book, Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? A historical introduction which is due out in February (pre-orders are available through Amazon-- see the link for the book).

Smart folks I know...

I thought it might be nice to do a round-up of some of my buddies who are bloggers. I highly recommend the following:

• Barlow Farms. A friend and former neighbor covers just about all the bases. Jon lived in the same apartment complex while we were in seminary, and I got to know him enough to recognize that, when he had something to say, it was worth hearing.
• The Nesting Place. An old acquaintance blogs on (extraordinarily creative) home decorating. "Nester" (aka Myquiline, in the offline world) and I were Young Life leaders together in another age.
• In Light of the Gospel. A fellow pastor looks at important questions, ideas, and people. James is the pastor of a church about 20 minutes from mine, and he and I have gotten to be friends over the last several years.
• Half-Pint House. A friend blogs about everyday life. Megan and I became friends through her blog first; interestingly, I began reading it because (at that time) her family was preparing to move to St. Louis to begin studies at Covenant Seminary, where I was then a student. She and her husband Craig (who is a highly-capable blogger in his own right, at Second Drafts) became some of our very good friends.
• Traveling. A sent-out missionary reflects on where theology, culture, and life intersect. Bethany was one of my youth group students for about four years, so I get to claim some degree of spiritual influence on her; now she returns the favor in spades.
• Scribo Facio Noto. A classmate challenges the status quo of church and ministry. Matt and I shared a lot of common ground while in seminary, and I continue to find that we still do.

Here's a disclaimer: every one of these folks has tons more traffic than I do, so I'm surely only linking to them because I can claim to know them. But all of their blogs are worth reading.

Something tells me I'm into something good...

If you didn't catch any of the new series Parenthood last year, you missed a gem. A capable ensemble cast tackles the topic pretty well, and doesn't pull punches (too much, at least).

Story-wise, there is a lot of depth and some profundity to find. One of the aspects I appreciated about the show was that they faced some real and substantial issues head-on: inter-racial couples, separation and divorce, learning disabilities, and teen rebellion were a few. They also didn't mind admitting frequently that there are always consequences to choices, and sometimes the consequences are severe.

At another level, we found the acting and direction to be of better-than-average quality as well. It's refreshing to find a show that, a) isn't presented as "reality"; b) doesn't rely on sexual innuendo or slapstick comedy and laughtracks; and c) doesn't revolve around some sort of behind-the-scenes legal or medical angle.

There are some disappointments. It's a little far-fetched how much this large extended family is able to prioritize things like a nephew's baseball game. And there are occasionally scenes that are suggestive enough that we'll make sure the kids aren't sneaking a peek.

But how can you NOT like a show that ends its first season with Craig T. Nelson (yes, "Coach") singing Herman's Hermits' "Something Tells Me I'm into Something Good" while playing the ukelele?

Parenthood starts season #2 tonight on NBC. You still have time to watch the last episode of season 1 online, if you hurry.

Profound, and sadly true

Here's a recent cartoon from Dave Walker: