WI Politics

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=711639.

Well not that I live in WI or could even vote for Dr. Burkee but I am encouraging those of you that do to vote for Jim Burkee. He was a prof of mine at CUW and a pretty awesome one too. It seems that Sensenbrenner is trying to push around Burkee. So yeah, thats all I have to say about that.

More on Expelled....

Not that I am home from work and jacked up on caffeine...I am just trying to find out more information on Ben Stein's New movie Expelled. This is so interesting. I just want to know more. So I went back to the website and found Ben Stein's blog. Here is what he had to say on Oct. 31

Let’s make this short and sweet. It would be taken for granted by any serious historian that any ideology or worldview would partake of the culture in which it grew up and would also be largely influenced by the personality of the writer of the theory.

No less a genius than the evil Karl Marx noted that even after capitalism succumbed to Communism, society would still be imbued with the class artifacts and cultural values of the system that preceded it. Much smarter analysts than I have noted that the whole system of Marxism, especially its sharp attacks on capitalists as a class, was motivated by Karl Marx’s envy of the much wealthier industrialist/capitalist members of the Marx family.

In other words, major theories do not arise out of thin air. They come from the era in which they arose and are influenced greatly by the personality and background of the writer. (In law, this theory is known as “legal realism”. Judges make up their minds on the basis of their prejudices and then rationalize their decisions by pretending to be bound by prior case law. One might call what happens with ideologies “political realism.” Persons make up their ideologies based on their times and their life situations.)

Darwinism, the notion that the history of organisms was the story of the survival of the fittest and most hardy, and that organisms evolve because they are stronger and more dominant than others, is a perfect example of the age from which it came: the age of Imperialism. When Darwin wrote, it was received wisdom that the white, northern European man was destined to rule the world. This could have been rationalized as greed–i.e., Europeans simply taking the resources of nations and tribes less well organized than they were. It could have been worked out as a form of amusement of the upper classes and a place for them to realize their martial fantasies. (Was it Shaw who called Imperialism “…outdoor relief for the upper classes?”)

But it fell to a true Imperialist, from a wealthy British family on both sides, married to a wealthy British woman, writing at the height of Imperialism in the UK, when a huge hunk of Africa and Asia was “owned” (literally, owned, by Great Britain) to create a scientific theory that rationalized Imperialism. By explaining that Imperialism worked from the level of the most modest organic life up to man, and that in every organic situation, the strong dominated the weak and eventually wiped them out,

Darwin offered the most compelling argument yet for Imperialism. It was neither good nor bad, neither Liberal nor Conservative, but simply a fact of nature. In dominating Africa and Asia, Britain was simply acting in accordance with the dictates of life itself. He was the ultimate pitchman for Imperialism.

Now, we know that Imperialism had a short life span. Imperialism was a system that took no account of the realities of the human condition. Human beings do not like to have their countries owned by people far away in ermine robes. They like to be in charge of themselves.

Imperialism had a short but hideous history–of repression and murder.

But its day is done.

Darwinism is still very much alive, utterly dominating biology. Despite the fact that no one has ever been able to prove the creation of a single distinct species by Darwinist means, Darwinism dominates the academy and the media. Darwinism also has not one meaningful word to say on the origins of organic life, a striking lacuna in a theory supposedly explaining life.

Alas, Darwinism has had a far bloodier life span than Imperialism. Darwinism, perhaps mixed with Imperialism, gave us Social Darwinism, a form of racism so vicious that it countenanced the Holocaust against the Jews and mass murder of many other groups in the name of speeding along the evolutionary process.

Now, a few scientists are questioning Darwinism on many fronts. I wonder how long Darwinism’s life span will be. Marxism, another theory which, in true Victorian style, sought to explain everything, is dead everywhere but on university campuses and in the minds of psychotic dictators. Maybe Darwinism will be different. Maybe it will last. But it’s difficult to believe it will. Theories that presume to explain everything without much evidence rarely do. Theories that outlive their era of conception and cannot be verified rarely last unless they are faith based. And Darwinism has been such a painful, bloody chapter in the history of ideologies, maybe we would be better off without it as a dominant force.

Maybe we would have a new theory: We are just pitiful humans. Life is unimaginably complex. We are still trying to figure it out. We need every bit of input we can get. Let’s be humble about what we know and what we don’t know, and maybe in time, some answers will come.

By Ben Stein

Another thing I found on this blog page was a quote...against the film.

"It's (EXPELLED) going to appeal strongly to the religious, the paranoid, the conspiracy theorists, and the ignorant –– which means they're going to draw in about 90% of the American market."

-Atheist blogger and fabulist PZ Myers, on a film he has not yet seen.

I just can't stop thinking about all of this. I am very interested in this film...I will be there opening day to see it. If it plays in St. Louis.

Anyone....Anyone...

So just a quick note before I leave for work. Check out the preview for Ben Stein's new movie Expelled. This looks like it could be good. See it for your self.

Bored...

So I'm working part time at LHM again. I have to cover the front desk on fridays for an hour. Boo...its just really boring. So I figured it was time for an update. So I am picking up more hours at LHM. D$ is going to have a baby and I'm filling in for her for a bit. So that's exciting. I'm doing new things that I didn't do before and some things that I had. Sbux is crazy as usual. One day its slow the next we can't keep up. I do love it. It keeps me on my toes.
School is going good for Nick. He's almost done with this winter quarter and soon he will be signing up for the last quarter of classes. I am really excited about that. Only 3 months till call day. Not that I am counting. I am ready to settle and start a normal schedule and stuff. Sem life is tough and fun. Its sort of a bittersweet time here.
Other than that not much else is going on. I can't believe that lent is just around the corner. Um..we saw some good movies recently. Talk to me is out on DVD. I really liked it. Runway Girl was also out and as many of you know I am very much in to the 60's and stuff...but this movie is a major skip. I am also working on a new baby blanket for someone I work with. So yeah thats all...

Happy 2008!!

Our last Christmas home was a good one. We had a lot of people to see and we got everyone in. It was a fun time but very busy. Now Nick and I are sick and we are resting these last few days off. So this next year will be a big year for us with Call day in April and then graduation in May. We'll keep you posted as to what we find out.

Wintery Scene

St. Louis got a bit of snow on Saturday night. So I thought I'd run to the Seminary and take some wintery pictures. There are more on my flickr site but heres a preview.

The snowy chapel

Wintery Luther


Nick and the Snowman of the Quad

Walking in a Winter Wonderland??

Well its kinda snowy here in St. Louis. I guess we are getting like 4-6 inches of snow. I don't know but there is quite a bit out there and its still snowing. YIKES. Enjoy the wintery pictures of St. Louis...they don't get this type of weather that often.

And I've Never Been To Boston In The Fall...

But I have been to St. Louis in the fall...its pretty out right now.

Finally!

Well this whole posting every day is harder than I thought. I just have a weird schedule and I don't get the time to get on the computer as much as I'd like.

Anyways, I finally have the new pictures up from my photo day. I played with a couple of the features so check it out! Here is a preview of something I saw at Forest Park. For those of you who don't know its the location of where the 1904 World's Fair took place.

Not so good

So this NaBloPoMo isn't going so well for me. I missed another day. But I have a good excuse. Before work I went out and took some pictures with the fixed camera. It was fun. I went to Forest Park and then over to the seminary. I have a new "art project" for myself. I am going to be taking pictures of the sem during all the seasons. Its a very pretty place and the seasons can really enhance the beauty of it. It was fun. Sooo...you'll get to see some of those soon. I work to much so hopefully by monday you can see those.

Get ready!!

Well tonight I have to work from 10pm to 2am for the christmas floor set. I am not really looking forward to it. I have to close tomorrow now and I really wanted the day off. But one of our shifts just had a baby (well his wife did) and he can't come in now. Understandable...but now I am closing 3 days in a row. I can't wait until thanksgiving! I need a break.

New Projects

Well I finally finished one crochet project and I am now starting on another. I would give more details about it but its a present and I don't want that person finding out what it is. But its my first time making something like this and its going pretty well.
Wednesday night is the floor set at Starbucks. I'm not looking forward to it. But I do have Thursday off. So whatever. It just feels too early for Christmas. But I guess there are only 2 more weeks till Thanksgiving. This year is just flying by.
I have my camera back but I haven't had time to take pictures and get them on the computer so enjoy a picture of a Lutheran pumpkin.

Nothing in particular

Just another post of nothing ness...I got my camera back. I am going to take some pictures soon. I've been working too much. I want this shirt.

Well its techinically still the 3rd for me!

So I know its the 4th. I missed another day...oh but I didn't! See I have just finished my day and I am just now ready to go to bed. It was a CRAZY close at work tonight and I am having a hardcore apple cider before bed. What a way to end the day. So thats it basically. I'll leave a real message on the 4th.

Day 1

Well November is the month of NaBloPoMo (otherwise known as National Blog Posting Month) and I am already a day behind. Thats sort of how things have been for me this year. Our last year of seminary and I'm always a day behind. Yikes.

For me right now things are good and busy. I am working at Starbucks and LHM which has been exciting. I'm working a lot but things are going really well. This year is a little bittersweet everything is our last right now. We are enjoying our time in St. Louis and seeing friends but next year we'll be spread out through out the country and making new friends. So its a little odd. The colors are so pretty here right now. I wish I had my camera but it isn't doing so well.

Nick is doing well too. Next week is finals and we have only two more quarters left of 4th year. Wow that went fast. He's been doing well in classes and really well at field work. He gets to preach over the quarter break and is looking forward to it.

Well thats pretty much all I have. I'm going to try and post everyday...we'll see how well I keep that up!

Something old, something new...

Congratulations Steph and Sean!
Oct. 13th, 2007

Red Scarf Project!!

I just wanted to let any of the knitters/crocheters know that if you would like to participate in the Red Scarf Project again this year you'd better get started. They have changed the dead line from January to October 15th! So start sending your red scarves to:

Orphan Foundation of America
The Red Scarf Project
21351 Gentry Drive
Sterling, VA 20166

For more info on details go Here.

Hello again!

I am back from California and the trip was really fun. I got to see a lot of cool things. Texas never ended but Cali was beautiful.

This is the desert in CA.

I know its blurry but this is one of the vineyards we passed.

San Fransisco at Night

When I was there the weather was beautiful. It was in the low 80's and the breeze was awesome. It was really neat. Now its back to the grind stone.

Nick is back in classes and he is really excited about them this year. He is looking forward to discussions with the classmates and profs. He is really excited about this last year. I am too but its just strange. We are almost done with all this schooling. I can't believe that we are actually done...well almost. This Wednesday we have a meeting about the call process....which sounds like its going to start sooner than I thought. Its a little scary I must admit. But more exciting than scary. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us.

It is nice to be back in St. Louis. We get to see old friends and go to some places that we couldn't go to for the last year. Its also really weird because they tore out the bridge that goes over hwy 40 from our apartment. I used to know my way around the city and now I don't. They are also doing construction on the roads that I need to use and that is frustrating too. So I am relearning by trial and error. If I get lost I turn around. Its worked so far.

I am working at the Delmar Loop Starbucks. Its a very different store from my old one. Its going to take some time to get used to it. I miss the people from Moline a lot. They were really great. I also miss the drive thru. It was so much fun. Now I have a new challenge. Getting used to the store where everything is stored above my head. I need a ladder to get just about anything. I need to invest in some giant heels. That might not be safe though.

So thats all I've got so far. I'll update with pictures later.

Real quick

We made it to St. Louis well and I am back from CA. I am waiting to get internet in the apartment before a real update. sorry

Its that time again

Well everyone its that time again for us to move. We move on Saturday and then on Sunday I am flying to New Orleans where I'll be picked up by my friend Jenna and then driving to California to help her move. I know I am crazy but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I am very much looking forward to our trip. It will be a lot of fun. I will update with pictures then.
Sam