:: Friday, January 24, 2003 ::
Just in time for Super Ad Sunday...
Culture Is Not Optional offers A statistical tribute to the National Day of Advertising.
:: Andrew 12:48 + ::
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Weird (but real) science
From New Scientist: Three-dimensional tubes of living tissue have been printed using modified desktop printers filled with suspensions of cells instead of ink. The work is a first step towards printing complex tissues or even entire organs. "This could have the same kind of impact that Gutenberg's press did," says tissue engineer Vladimir Mironov of the Medical University of South Carolina. Link via blogdex.
:: Andrew 07:03 + ::
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404 Not Found
Hilarious.
:: Andrew 07:00 + ::
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But you won't catch them on 'American Idol'
Here is Relevant Magazine's list of the top 10 new bands to watch in 2003. And if you're wondering about Relevant's track record, here's who the editors picked for 2002. Link via Rock Rebel.
:: Andrew 06:56 + ::
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Better than sliced bread -- or an SUV
A group of MIT geeks have proclaimed the toothbrush as the greatest invention Americans cannot live without. (I suppose they're right, although some of us here in the Missouri Ozarks apparently have yet to hear of this wonderful new invention.)
A brief history, from the CNN story: It's been a long road to the top for the toothbrush. The first was built in 1498 by a Chinese emperor who had hog bristles embedded in a bone handle. ... The hog bristle toothbrush became popular in Europe, but because it cost so much, poor families would often share the same brush. It wasn't until 1938, according to the ADA, that DuPont introduced nylon bristles as a replacement for pig hair.
Link via Josh Sargent.
:: Andrew 06:48 + ::
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Another little something for my inner geek
If you're tired of those shiny, happy Apple "Switch" ads, try this. From Jack Burton, via InstaPundit.
:: Andrew 06:43 + ::
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Lost book of the Bible we'd love to see
Today's reading from the Book of Lieberman is from chapter xi:
1. And it came to pass that the Time of the Voting did come again. 2. And the Lord said unto Joe, “Behold! For Albert runs not, and the land is in great need, and therefore, Joe, must thou seek the Office that I have provided for thee.” 3. And Joe was amazed, saying, “Lord, I cannot win, for I am a Jew of the Chosen People, and the people, for the most part, are not.” 4. And the Lord said, “Nay, Joe, for thou art my child and worship me, and they art my children and worship me as well, and this shall they know of thee.” 5. And Joe said unto the Lord, “But Lord, there is the matter of thine Son, whom they worship and I do not. What is the deal with that?” 6. And the Lord said, “Joe, it is complicated.” And Joe said, “Perhaps, Lord, thou wouldst feel better if thou told me the truth.” 7. And the Lord waxed wroth and said, “Is it thine custom to pry into your Lord’s personal life? Do I ask thee to explain thine family? Why must thou be such a Nosy Parker?” 8. And Joe fell on his face, and begged forgiveness, and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “Yes, Lord, I will Run.”
From Adam Felber's Fanatical Apathy, via Holy Weblog!
:: Andrew 06:36 + ::
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:: Thursday, January 23, 2003 ::
Will Harrison Ford star in the biopic?
An Indiana Jones he's not -- "I never jumped out of running cars, I never went into a dungeon full of poisonous snakes, and I never fought Nazi Germans” -- but Israeli archaeologist Dan Bahat is convinced he'll be the man to find the Ark of the Covenant. Link via Christianity Today Weblog.
:: Andrew 06:28 + ::
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My inner geek is very, very happy these days
Anyone who's read the intro to Hooked on the Net knows I'm a bit of a chess geek, as well as a computer geek. So you can imagine my excitement when I read about the next big man-vs-machine chess match. It's Garry Kasparov vs. a computer again! Woohoo! How exciting is that! You can have your Super Bowl, mister! Give me a rousing chess tournament any day.
:: Andrew 19:01 + ::
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I really wasn't planning to post about Roe v. Wade today...
Especially after seeing this stuff yesterday, the 30th anniversary of that landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, and then reading these reactions (among others). (Richard Hall put it best when he called abortion one of those "subjects that generate more heat than light.") But this piece by Frederica Mathewes-Green is wonderful. So I'm posting it, in hopes that you will read it. If you read nothing else on this blog today, I beseech ye, please read this piece. Link via blogdex.
:: Andrew 08:30 + ::
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Please pass the virtual soap
Introducing the Cuss Control Academy. It's mission: "To increase awareness of the negative impact bad language has on society and on individuals who swear too frequently of inappropriately" and "To help individuals and groups eliminate or reduce their use of profanity, vulgarity or offensive slang." Via memepool.
:: Andrew 08:15 + ::
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And while we're on the subject of manners...
Please read these excerpts from a top-secret memo from Kofi Amman to UN weapons inspectors in Iraq:
When introduced to your host's veiled wife, it is inappropriate to:
- Ask if she's all "Phantom of the Opera" under there
- Remark upon the presence of "junk in the trunk"
- Sensuously peel back her garments and check for illegal weapons
And:
Should you find what you believe to be a chemical, biological or nuclear agent, do the following:
Step 1: Dip index finger in suspected agent.
Step 2: Place index finger on tip of tongue.
Step 3: Gruffly exclaim, "It's pure."
Step 4: See a doctor immediately.
From Modern Humorist.
:: Andrew 08:07 + ::
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Bene the borg
Yes, Bene Diction is a borg. But this blog is two, two, two borgs in one!
:: Andrew 08:02 + ::
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And the beat goes on...
For twenty years now, Terry Mattingly has been covering the religion beat for various news organizations. Back in the day, he wrote, The role religion plays in America and the world has been a well-kept secret in most of the nation's newsrooms. While reporters chase the latest stories in politics, sports, business, education and other subjects, the billions of dollars and hours Americans invest in religious activities receive minimal attention. ... When news events escape the church page they are often covered by reporters with little interest in religion and little education in the style and language of religious leaders and organizations. Religion has almost been ignored by radio and television. Today, he writes: Much has changed in 20 years. Editors have been bombarded by research showing that religion ranks high in the interests of readers. Year after year, numerous events rooted in religion have appeared in the Associated Press list of top news stories. From Mattingly's recent column, 20 years on the God beat, part one.
:: Andrew 07:56 + ::
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Oh, those nasty allegations!
Someone has been accusing David Hopkins of being a so-called Christian.
:: Andrew 07:42 + ::
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Well, if I can't recover my royalties...here's another idea
A struggling freelance writer tried to sell his family on eBay. For the asking price of $5 million, the buyer would receive a lifelong friendship with the Young family, who would provide household help and guidance to the wealthy patrons. Steve and his wife, Diana, would be willing to change their last names as well. They would also relocate to wherever the buyer wanted. *Momentary ponder.* Nah. Don't think Dyann would go for it. Especially the name change thing. It was tough enough getting her to go with Careaga. Link via Eighty-Three Re-invented.
:: Andrew 07:37 + ::
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:: Wednesday, January 22, 2003 ::
Dear Canadians:
Please don't send us any more of this ungodly, bone-numbing weather. We of the warmer climes are not as hardy as you, and cannot stand it. It's gotta be two below zero here! (Fahrenheit, that is.) With a wind chill of 19 or 20 below!
Update: Just took a peek at Karen Neudorf's blog. She's blogging from Canada, where yesterday it was -13F with wind chills of -29F. And here I am complaining about a mere -19 wind chill. I'm such a wimp.
:: Andrew 07:32 + ::
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:: Tuesday, January 21, 2003 ::
Back to blogging. I'm doing some honest-to-goodness blog-surfing today. And here are the links and commentary to prove it:
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would have loved this
It's the Firey Furnace Hot Sauce! Comes complete with appropriate scripture right on the label! Give these away to all your unsaved friends! Link from Pagan Prattle by way of Holy Weblog!
What Would David Brooks drive?
A Hummer, of course. Brooks weighs in on the anti-SUV controversy: This anti-SUV fervor strikes me as a classic geek assault on jock culture. Here are the geeks: thoughtful, socially and environmentally conscious. They understand that only spiritually shallow people could possibly get pleasure from a motor vehicle. Then there are those jocks. They cruise through life infuriatingly unaware of how morally inferior they are to the geeks. They make money, become popular, play golf and have homes that are too large. And they're happy! For all the wrong reasons! And so every few years the geeks pick on some feature of jock life (McMansions, corporations, fraternities, country clubs) and get all worked up about it. And you know what? The jocks don't care! They just keep being happy. The geeks write, protest and fume. The jocks go to St. Croix. Link via blogdex.
Put down the nukes and pick up HTML for Dummies
From Slate: Pyongyang may be building nuclear missiles, but it has yet to figure out how to launch a decent Web site. The home page for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is such a strikingly amateur piece of work that many who find it wonder if it isn't some sort of hoax. You can't make this stuff up, people.
Choice and the post-Roe generation
On the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Time examines young adults' conflucting views on abortion. While their parents may have reflexively worn the pro-choice or pro-life label, the children of the post-Roe generation have more nuanced views on the issue. ... So how do you rally a generation that has known nothing other than legally sanctioned abortion? For starters, you hold rallies. Via Christianity Today's Weblog, which provides thorough coverage commemorating the Roe v. Wade decision.
Splash. Screens. Must. Die.
Heal Your Church Web Site offers sound advice on why website splash pages are bad. Quoting Vincent Flanders -- "Wal-Mart doesn't block the entrance to its stores by making you watch a movie or make you listen to someone who explains the history of the company" -- Dean lays out a strong argument against flashy splashies.
Deep Dirt gets a facelift
First Josh Sargent, then Karen Ward. Iggie has been busy!
:: Andrew 16:28 + ::
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Communication breakthrough. Received an e-mail yesterday from Huntington House, the contents of which I won't divulge here, but suffice it to say that this approach -- putting my case before the court of online public opinion -- has done more than have all my e-mails and telephone calls over the past several months.
Since posting about this problem last Thursday, I've received a lot of support and advice from the blogging community. Many of you wrote e-mails to the publisher on my behalf. Many of you prayed on my behalf. Many of you provided wise counsel. Many of you provided links from your site to this one, and commented on the situation publicly as well as privately. Thank you, one and all, for your help.
Many of you may still be wondering whether I plan to sue to recover the royalties. Filing suit against Huntington House was never on my agenda. For the record, I am philosophically opposed to filing suit. (But it's one thing to be "philosophically opposed" to something and quite another to find one's self in a situation in which that philosophy is challenged by real-world events.) As for me, I think I need to spend a bit more time absorbing the themes from the Sermon on the Mount. Especially:
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. (Matt. 5:7)
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." (Matt. 5:21-22a)
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." (Matt. 5:38-42)
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt. 6:19-21)
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:1-2)
And especially:
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Matt. 6:12)
This is the first time I've really had to take Matt. 6:12 literally.
While you're saying a prayer for me, say a prayer for Huntington House as well. They're struggling financially, and need help.
Now playing (in the soundtrack of my mind): Hard, by Rich Mullins.
Lord, it's hard to turn the other cheek
Hard to bless when others curse you
Oh Lord, it's hard to be a man of peace
Lord, it's hard, oh it's hard,
You know it's hard to be like Jesus
:: Andrew 07:14 + ::
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Simon Dawes, 
