Win Ben Stein's Money (Please)

I've been a little hesitant to blog about Ben Stein's Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed for a few reasons. First, I generally do not care for documentaries because they're typically biased and very tricky to navigate. I'd rather just read about whatever I'm interested in. Secondly, I'm not much of a scientist. And third, Jameson found the movie to proffer intriguing questions and issues (you should definitely read that post for yourself, which is very interesting aside from its affiliation with the movie), and I will have to disagree with that slightly. It is not that I entirely disagree or agree with Stein's conclusions, I just found his method of argument less than compelling.

I will also add this bit of a disclaimer: I treat most movies the same, regardless of their themes or moral points of view. Generally, I gauge whether the piece tells an intriguing story or uncovers "truths" in interesting ways. With documentaries, that analysis is slightly different in that instead of a plot, per se, there is an argument to sift through. In these cases, I tend to evaluate the argument, the inclusion or exclusion of certain facts, and whether the documentary will serve any good.

As a sample, Michael Moore's films are very biased, rarely offer concrete facts, and do little than try to "shed light" on a so-called injustice. Contrastingly, Morgan Spurlock's documentaries do not propose to come to greater truths like Moore's films claim to do, and instead follow Spurlock on some sort of personal journey. Because Spurlock presents no facade behind which he operates, I generally like his documentaries. Aside from that, they're usually funny and offer shout-outs to West Virginia.

In Stein's case, my assessment is lukewarm. During the first 40 mi
nutes, he does a great job of demonstrating the scientific community's exclusion of Intelligent Design. What came after, seemed to be a little overkill. Stein rightly illustrates Darwinian connections to Nazism and less extreme forms of eugenics, as if to convey that unchecked adherence to any theory can lead to extremism. Of course, the same can be said of most religions, not that Stein is attempting to have an Academia vs. Christianity debate.

Stein's interview with Richard Dawkins, however is the most climactic and illuminating sequence of the film. In this interview, Stein questions Dawkins about the exclusion of any non-Darwinian approaches in the scientific community. The importance of this interview is not so much as what Dawkins says, much of which the film has already established, but its illustratation Dawkin's unquestioning adherence to Darwinian evolution the scientific approach, and Stein's adherence to the idea that there is something wrong with that.

I'm sure that I have a bias against this film simply because it is a documentary, and I fail to see how the film answers any questions or even asks any new ones. That the academic community is traditionally non-Christian is not a new thing, nor is the debate of Darwinism vs. Intelligent Design. Personally, I don't see that Darwinism and Intelligent Design (or even Creationism) are mutually exclusive, and even the film says as much. Ultimately, I don't see how the film was particularly effective or convincing, but I suppose it is good to give voice and credence to a side of the debate that usually remains silent in the mass media, aside from any shout-outs James Dobson or Pat Robertson may give.

As always, feel free to disagree!

What Would You Do With Seven Pounds

Apparently, the blogosphere is full of Christmas musings today, and I find that strangely appropriate. I never put much stock in holidays, including Christmas, so whenever I bump into a celebration, it's always sort of unexpected. I love that Christmas enables my family to be relatively (pun intended) together for a couple of weeks, but I can do without the presents and elaborate dinners. I do love the church services, though.

I don't know why I feel that way about Christmas. I'm never filled with this overwhelming love or mercy that others seem to acquire, nor am I especially cynical or overly stressed. I guess I wish Christmas could just be.

But it's been a good holiday thus far. I've visited with all the people I wanted to, watched all the Christmas specials I love, and eaten tons of sugar-coated and salt-covered snacks. Oh, and I learned to make homemade mocha that's almost as good as the stuff the lady at school concocts.

Let me go a little pop culture and tell you about Will Smith's latest Seven Pounds. I can't really say much without spoiling the movie, though. The narrative structure of the film is slightly disrupted, think Momento or Pulp Fiction, so part of the fun is trying to figure out what's going on. Still, the movie is still really cool, save a rather misplaced love scene that involves Smith's Ben Thomas and Rosario Dawson's Emily Posa, who is on the verge of heart failure, and probably shouldn't be engaging in any sort of strenuous activities.

Without giving too much away, I'll just point out that although the film's ending is expected, Ben's journey is captivating, and maybe a bit inspirational. That journey highlights the struggle one makes in deciding to be a sacrifice for others, literally and figuratively. Of course, that reminds me of Christ and His ultimate sacrifice, which ironically makes me think of The Dark Knight. If Seven Pounds follows Ben's conflicts leading up to a sacrifice, The Dark Knight hints at the staggering benefits of that sacrifice. At the end of the film, soon to be Commissioner, James Gordon, explains to his son the importance of Batman:

SON: Why's he running, Dad?
GORDON: Because we have to chase him
SON: He didn't do anything wrong.
GORDON: ...So we'll hunt him because he can take it.

It's really to read the crucifiction story into many superhero tales, and I think this Batman one is oddly appropriate. Christ didn't do anything, wrong, but He took on all the punishment for all the crap we churn up here on earth. It's comforting to know that we're taken care of, no matter what. And that is what Christmas is all about. Well, that food, and Red Ryder BB guns.

Dude's Got Skilz

I found this on collegehumor.com.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Cubs Watch: Winter Edition

I'll admit it, I'm addicted to baseball. It started when I came to college, and I found that watching MLB on TV was the most relaxing thing to do at the end of a long day. While, that still holds true, I've become a bit of a fanatic of the sport, and even more so of the Chicago Cubs. So, from time to time, I may come here to rant about the sport and/or the best team ev-ah, and today is one of those times.

Recently, the Cubs have tried finalizing a trade for Jake Peavy, a recent Cy Young award winner. One of the conditions of the trade was all-around awesome player Mark DeRosa. Thankfully, albeit unexpectedly and without reason, the Cubs have backed out of the trade.

DeRosa is one of those cool players who knows the game well, is a consistently good batter, and can play almost any position on the field. His loss would leave a major hole in the Cubs starting lineup, and I'm not quite sure why the Cubs would see Peavy worth all that. The Cubs have a great pitching rotation, and aside from a few kinks (mainly from upstart Rich Hill and Ted Lilly), they had a good season. However, the Cubs need to work on their defense otherwise. So I say bring in some southpaw batters if you can, but altogether, get a strong outfield to complement the stellar infield, and you may have another chance at the World Series, which thankfully, doesn't come with an expiration date.

Yay!

My friend Josh bought me this unexpected Christmas gift:





I still have two major papers to finish before Monday, but this DVD will be great company :).

I Still Don't Know What This Song Means

An a capella version of "Bohemian Rhapsody." It's really quite good. I've always thought this would be a great song for a French horn combo to play, but until Dad writes out that arrangement, I'll make do with this one. Enjoy!

Here's the youtube video:



If that doesn't work for you, here's a link to the video elsewhere:

Blessings

I feel strangely connected to everything tonight. Maybe it's the Christmas season, the dusting of snow outside, or just an overwhelming feeling of blessedness.

Most of this year, I've felt very separated from most things, friends, family, and God. While all of those are very scary, feeling estranged from my Father is indescribable. I know that sometimes it feels like God isn't there (when of course he is) and this feeling of "absence" is key to spiritual growth, these absences feel like they occur more often than they used to. Tonight I'm thankful that I feel Him with me again.

I guess I feel a lot of pressure, mostly self-imposed, to get my life started. I see others moving forward, finding their purposes, be it mission work, marriage, whatever. I feel like I need to do more, that I need to go all Thoreau and suck the marrow out of life. But before I begin any sort of life journey, I have to get my spirit in the right place, and I'm working on that.

In times like these, I'm always reminded of Samuel and Ruth. Both of them became followers of God seemingly because other people chose that life for them. In Samuel's case, his mother dedicated him to God before he was even born. Ruth sort of married into the "God family," but even after her husband died, she stuck around. Still, following God was a whole-hearted choice for both of them, for Samuel when he heard God's voice in the night, and for Ruth when Boaz blessed her hard work in the fields.

These two figures stand out because they both turned to God when almost everything else had been ruined for them. For the most part, they were walking alone in the world, then BOOM! God was there. God is there, no matter what, all the time. His presence will outlast any other in my life. I tend to forget that, though, then I spin in metaphorical circles looking for my lost path. If only I would look "up," then maybe I'd stop questioning everything.

Music I Like

Ben Folds, where have you been all my life? It's always amazing when a lot of musicians, or seemingly incompatible musicians make something soul-searching. Check it out, there's even a French horn in there. Rock on!




And because I'm addicted to YouTube for the evening, here's another sample of two very different musicians making beautiful sounds together. Of course, this one has a more intimate sound The first time I heard it I was reminded of all the times I've every played an instrument or sang with others. I miss that. I guess music allows a transcendence I never get from writing, and it's a transcendence that's accessible to everyone, but I think that if you're a musician you're more apt to realize it. And yes, I may have played this video more than 5 times today, if you were wondering.

If I could be best friends

with anyone from M*A*S*H, it would be either Father Mulchahy or Charles Emerson Winchester, III. Maybe both, they kind of complement each other.

What I Wonder About:

• What triggers memories? Sometimes it's fairly obvious, like a song, unexpected email, story, or TV show. Other times they just pop into my head seemingly sourceless. Maybe memories work like life lessons, or those Bible verses we had to remember as children. They come when we need them, offer a light in bleakness, or even remind us of what to do, given a current situation.
• How much of recluse can I be before someone gets mad at me?
• Why is watching TV or reading emails a clear indication that I don't want to be interrupted, but when I'm reading a book, or writing, it's perfectly acceptable to make me break away from my reverie?
• When will I feel comfortable in worship? All my life in church and Sunday services still make me feel like an awkward teenage punk rocker being dragged into the sanctuary by a well-meaning and overly forceful aunt. If I could go to church in an invisibility cloak and sing louder than everyone else, without them actually hearing me, I'd be there 24/7. I think this may be what Heaven will be like. Not really, though. I change for Heaven, it doesn't change for me, right?
  
• Can I purchase a Thought-to-Dialogue-Translator? That would rock, and would make me a much better conversationalist.
• Why does no one in Huntington seem happy in the winter? Do all the citizens fall victim to Seasonal Depression? Eek, maybe it's because the City Council already spent the money for Christmas decorations on their salaries...If that's the case, then I want my "user fee" back. (Yes, I have to pay to work in Huntington, a 2% user fee, a tax really...)
• Could I live in Northern England if I didn't have a car?
• Irish modernists or American Ethnic Postmodernists?

Sorry for the Melodrama

I'll try to do less of that in the future :).