Proverb

For a person with a barbed-wire tattoo, it's often better to skip the question, "When did you get that tattoo?" and just ask, "When did you regret getting that tattoo?"

from my Palm.

Perception, Beauty, and Greatness

This is a wonderful insight into the human being.

After you read that (it's short), consider these questions:

Do we really know beauty, or are we revealed/told what it is?
Is human greatness actually not that special?
Are beauty and context interdependent?
What else are we calling normal or ugly just because of the context in which we experience it?

Someone else had something to say about perception...
"Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand."

We spend way too much time seeing and don't realize what vehicle we are using to see. More simply put, there are things that we as 21st century humans will simply not know or understand. History will teach us that exceptionalism is a very bad idea, especially in humans.

The Church of Atheism

I'm working on an article to submit to some papers on campus regarding some contradictions of New Atheism and just some interesting facets of their worldview. As you can see, I'm very early in the process and need to do some narrowing down. But c'mon, throw me a bone here.

I'm doing this because I've realized that over the past year I've been inadvertently researching the New Atheist movement and have a solid amount of sources to write a pretty informed article. But I didn't really get off my rear until I saw this New York Times blog entry, which set me over the edge. I now must write.

I know there's more of this going on in Europe, and I have seen things online, but the New York mass transit is brilliant.

The quote that threw me for a loop was this: "Jane Everhart, a spokeswoman for the New York City Atheists, said that campaign was highly successful and brought in many new members."

They're proselytizing.

Beyond this, in my speaking with Atheists and my involvement in the PSU atheist/agnostic group, I've found that they're not just proselytizing and creating fellowships - they're worshipping.

More to come.

Before I Head Out...

Can I just command you to see "Where the Wild Things Are"? GO. NOW.

I'll be away this weekend speaking and experiencing what God does at the 2009 Men's Retreat at Cascades Camp, just outside of Yelm, WA. If you pray to Him, pray for changed lives for all of us. We need to be more like Jesus.

See you Sunday.

News I Get To Break (I Think)

Last night I got to hear and meet Michael Chabon, who is one of America's greatest living writers. He read from his new book and first work of non-fiction, Manhood for Amateurs. I was all set to go it alone since I really have no friends who like to read as much as I do, but right when I was getting there, I saw an old professor of mine that I greatly admire. She was alone as well. It was great seeing her there because she actually did the footnotes for Chabon's celebrated book, The Yiddish Policemen's Union, and knows him personally from graduate school. This means that I got to sit front row in a PACKED and HOT Pearl Room at Powell's. But let me get to what I really wanted to talk about.

At the reading last night, Chabon announced that the Coen brothers are going to be making his book, The Yiddish Policemen's Union, into a movie.

(!!!)

He said it's in the very early stages, but it's the Coen bros and Michael Chabon. I can hardly contain myself. I envision this combination working out very well for all parties. The Coen brothers do really cool things, and they're some of the best when it comes to adaptations of books. Plus, Chabon's stories are close to flawless.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about and these names seem both meaningless and drab, please do yourself a favor and see a movie made by the Coen brothers and read a book by Michael Chabon.

Anyways, thought I should let you know that this project is really set up for total success. Keep your specs peeled.