And I must be the only person here who was turned on to literature by high school English classes.
Well, I was already turned on to some literature, but my high school junior English class really broadened my horizons. We did Lord of the Flies, and I ended up selecting Player Piano from the options list. And just to stick another thumb in Ms. Trefzger's eye, it was a Christian school. Thank you, Mr. Van Zanten!
I went to a college where they figured everyone needed a basic education in liberal arts, including the science and engineering students, to the tune of about 98 hours (quarter system) of classes from a cafeteria-type list.
Northeast Missouri State University (-> Truman State) was similar. It could still be similar; I hope so. However, it cut both ways. There was a general science component as well, though it often came down to "Physics for Poets." Nevertheless, the weight was definitely on the humanities and social science side...and I am profoundly grateful for that. I entered as a science nerd who, although having enjoyed literature since an early age, wanted to focus on science classwork. I left as a science nerd who had been greatly changed by his/her exposure to sociology, anthropology, linguistics, etc.
Now, to support Ms. Trefzger's point, all of this also catalyzed the destruction of my fundamentalist Christian faith. But after the fact, I'm grateful. Obviously, it wasn't real faith; it was just how I'd been brought up. The fact that American fundamentalists don't value genuine faith that is developed independently in the face of challenge seems to be a tacit admission that they wouldn't like the outcome of the process.
Well, Spin is now on the New Book shelf at the local library, so I'll have to investigate. Darwinia certainly had some interesting ideas. I was a little disappointed by The Harvest,
[ROT13 "SPOILER"]
qhr gb gur ynpx bs nzovthvgl. Bar fvqr jnf fb pyrneyl gur "evtug" bar. Vg jnfa'g cbffvoyr gb ernyyl flzcnguvmr jvgu gur bgure fvqr'f cbvag bs ivrj, jvgu bar boivbhf rkprcgvba.
Oh, and Jesus gets killed in Passion of the Christ. (Hat tip to Penny Arcade.)
Okay, American people. Over to you.
So, we're doomed, then. Or will a waning spark be fanned once more into a bright flame, bringing a light that will illuminate all corners of our system of governance, restoring accountability once more?
Nope, I'm sticking with doomed.
the Nag Hammadi scrolls have genuinely transformed our understanding of early christianity.
True. For one thing, early Christians apparently wrote a lot of texts that start out, approximately: "Here's a bunch of the secret stuff I got from Jesus!" Weird how that sort of thing didn't make the final cut. Personally, I have an unreasoning aversion to thinking of early Christianity as just another mystery cult scam, but that might be accurate regardless of my feelings. All those rapidly-becoming-unemployed Mithraists had to go somewhere. "Exhausted by Isis? Does Dionysios worship make your liver hurt? Take charge of your destiny with Secrets of Jesus(TM)! SoJ changed my life...and it can change yours!" Hmm, okay, that does sorta sound like Jerry Falwell.
All right, could we please stop throwing books across the room, even if we don't like them? Acts of violence against books disturb me.
Colleen McCullough's series about the Roman Empire. Comedy GOLD, people!
Hey, now. At least the appendix to the first book gives a good overview of a lot of those tricky Roman political thingummies. And the later stuff gets more treacly because of her premature deification of Julius Caesar (he becomes "Divus Julius" after he dies, ma'am), but at least the first book demystifies the Romans of the Republic, who were not lofty toga-clad demigods striding through marble halls.
Oh, okay, the prose is overwrought and often stupid. I've made fun of it myself. But it's the Internets(TM); it's mandatory that someone take a contrary position.
the zeppelin, with its precious cargo of ancient Atlantean julienne slicers, bearing down on the Syracusan Duomo* as its Archimedian solar death mirrors rise from their crypts, click into place, and prepare for zep ignition
Mr. Ford, could you please write this story? I would pay you thousands of dollars for it.* If you could somehow make it a sequel to The Last Hot Time, that would be even better. Thanks in advance!
*DISCLAIMER: This should not be construed as an actual offer to pay thousands of dollars. Void in the United States and its Territories, with the exception of Guam. Void in Guam.
Given that the House leadership have made it clear this amendment won't survive conference committee, where do they fit in? As Uruk-Hai? And remember, Senator Frist voted in favor, after holding up consideration of the entire bill purely to quell this amendment. So I'm expecting that the House-Senate reconciled bill will not contain the anti-torture provision, and all the Senate Republicans will happily line up to pass the bill anyway. So at least these nine were up front about it, instead of hiding behind procedural trickery.
Oh, and yes, Senator Corzine was on the gubernatorial campaign trail. Clearly, his vote wasn't needed.
No, no, no. I think the Puppeteer label fits the Bush clan perfectly.
They send *others* into battle, leading from behind.
Yeah, but the Puppeteers were also really smart, subtle, pro-science, and excellent at long-term planning.
I'd rather deal with a "ferocious carnivore" cougar or wolf than a "cowardly" vegetarian bull.
Well, the effect is slightly different if it's a ferocious carnivorous tiger contrasted with a cowardly vegetarian mule deer, and sentience is added to the mix. Which is a little bit closer to Kzinti and Puppeteers, IMHO.
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