out of the blue

I think that God is going to strike down the residents of Dover, Pennsylvania for turning their backs on Him by demanding that Intelligent Design not be taught as science in their schools. I mean, aren't preachers like this fellow the kind of Christian everyone wants to be? Let's hear it for God! Let's hear it for crushing blow He will deal to science and scientists when the End Times come! Hip hip hoorah!

Don't we all love His Holy Wrath and Loving Right Hand of Destruction?

I decided not to write up my lab today, even though it was due at 5:00. I'm planning on writing it up tomorrow, which will lose me 10 percent. I think it's worth it, but Becky says I'm a bum. So, when I didn't write it up, she said she was going to. She went to my computer and began typing. Then she looked up my teacher's office, rode her bike to campus, and turned in my "lab report". I think she's silly.

"Smurf's Lab Report
by Me

He actually did show up for lab. For this, we are proud of him. He did not, on the other hand, write up his lab report. Please forgive him.

Thank you."

LJ-Post Flood: 3 of 4

I have come to the conclusion that Jon Carrol has one of the best columns I've ever read (if not the best). It's consistent. It rarely drags on. He uses just the right blend of political commentary, appreciation of life, and random miscellany. Go read.

LJ-Post Flood: 2 of 4

Ouch. Poor Michael Behe. Lehigh doesn't even stand behind him in his belief of Intelligent Design. A disclaimer from the university's web site:

"Department Position on Evolution and "Intelligent Design"

The faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences is committed to the highest standards of scientific integrity and academic function. This commitment carries with it unwavering support for academic freedom and the free exchange of ideas. It also demands the utmost respect for the scientific method, integrity in the conduct of research, and recognition that the validity of any scientific model comes only as a result of rational hypothesis testing, sound experimentation, and findings that can be replicated by others.

The department faculty, then, are unequivocal in their support of evolutionary theory, which has its roots in the seminal work of Charles Darwin and has been supported by findings accumulated over 140 years. The sole dissenter from this position, Prof. Michael Behe, is a well-known proponent of “intelligent design.” While we respect Prof. Behe's right to express his views, they are his alone and are in no way endorsed by the department. It is our collective position that intelligent design has no basis in science, has not been tested experimentally, and should not be regarded as scientific. "

Sometimes when I take communion, I gloat about the people who have to be Body of Christ with me against their will….

Everyone knows of at least one model train enthusiast. But this one takes the cake.

LJ-Post Flood: 1 of 4

John Scalzi's Science Fiction Canon List from his book, The Rough Guide to Sci-Fi Movies. I don't typically do memes, but this one ought to be interesting. Says Scalzi:

"…the part of the book that's going to get most people's attention — and raise hackles — is The Canon, which features the 50 science fiction films I have deemed to be the most significant in the history of film. Note that "most significant" does not mean "best" or "most popular" or even "most influential." Some of the films may be all three of these, but not all of them are — indeed, some films in The Canon aren't objectively very good, weren't blockbusters and may not have influenced other filmmakers to any significant degree. Be that as it may, I think they matter — in one way or another, they are uniquely representative of some aspect of the science fiction film experience."

Here's my bold-ed list.

Akira
Alien
Aliens
Alphaville
Back to the Future
Blade Runner
Brazil
Bride of Frankenstein
Brother From Another Planet
A Clockwork Orange
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Contact
The Damned
Destination Moon
The Day The Earth Stood Still
Delicatessen
Escape From New York
ET: The Extraterrestrial
Flash Gordon: Space Soldiers (serial)
The Fly (1985 version)
Forbidden Planet
Ghost in the Shell
Gojira/Godzilla
The Incredibles
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956 version)
Jurassic Park
Mad Max 2/The Road Warrior
The Matrix
Metropolis
On the Beach
Planet of the Apes (1968 version)
Robocop
Sleeper
Solaris (1972 version)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
The Stepford Wives
Superman
Terminator 2: Judgement Day
The Thing From Another World
Things to Come
Tron
12 Monkeys
28 Days Later
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
2001: A Space Odyssey
La Voyage Dans la Lune
War of the Worlds (1953 version)

Last night was one of the most satisfying nights I've had in a while. I went to the dance class and did well by my standards. Then, Becky and I went back home and I read Anansi Boys through to the very-awesome ending. After that high, I tucked Becky in (in a rather stylish manner, if I do say so myself) and went out on the porch to wait for Aaron. Since I haven't done this ever, I surprised him when he saw me sitting there. We had a nice long talk (three hours or so) and then I cleaned my room in a good mood and went to bed at 3:45-ish. Every day should be like that.

I bought Anansi Boys on a whim last night. Becky and I drove out to get gas, root beer, and ice cream, and we just happened to be near Barnes and Noble. I thought to myself, "Hmmmm…." because I knew it was out. I mentioned it to Becky, and she said, "Well, let's stop there," so we did. There it was, sitting invitingly on the first table of books I saw. A particular sticker caught my eye, which proclaimed its 30-percent-off-ness. An instant later, it was swept up into my arms, and I didn't let go of it until we had to pay. I haven't read it yet, but I hear from Danko that it's excellent. It's on my lineup right after I finish Time Enough for Love. And after I finish my essay, of course.

I am looking forward to this :)

Can you trust the BBC?

What they have to say about Zombies

"There has been a small outbreak of “zombism” in a small town near the border of Laos in North-Eastern Cambodia.The culprit was discovered to be mosquitoes native to that region carrying a new strain of Malaria which thus far has a 100 percent mortality rate and kills victims in fewer than 2 days.

After death, this parasite is able to restart the heart of its victim for up to two hours after the initial demise of the person where the individual behaves in extremely violent ways from what is believed to be a combination of brain damage and a chemical released into blood during “resurrection.” "

Jason's room was a mess. Suffice it to say, it was an adventure to eat cheerios there. Jason was particularly prone to dropping them on the floor, and was also particularly anal about making sure he picked them up again, when he noticed them at all. This had been going on for some time, and by now there was a random distribution of month-old disgustingly stale cheerios among the day old not-quite-as-crisp morsels already on the floor. It had become a minefield. An electric thrill drilled through his mind every time he picked one back up and put it into his mouth, for he never could tell what era it had wandered in from. If during a dig a paleontologist came upon a neolithic man, he could not have been more surprised as when Jason encountered an ancient piece of cereal; and no matter how many times it happened, his russian-roulette ecstasy lessened not at all. Jason doesn't notice the boxes piling up in his room; the game completely engrosses him, and he misses class after class and doesn't sleep. He doesn't note when the men come for him; they let him keep his cereal box, and they scoop up the solid foot of detritus from his floor. The doctors replace the old cheerios with new ones, all fresh and crispy, but he is surprised every time. Heads, heads, heads. Heads.