OK, it's countdown to my periodontal surgery. 6 hours... That's a special kind of dental surgery that for some reason gets paid for out of my limited dental insurance plan, rather than my super-generous medical plan. But who's counting anyway?
So by the end of the day, I will be the proud owner of two slightly-less recessed tooth/gum intersections... and one heck of a headache. But that's where the Vicadin comes in... Ahhhhhhhh.....
Monday, April 28, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
A hero for our times...
A little while back, Kat and I had the opportunity to hear Francis Collins speak at a local university. Collins is the the national director of the human genome project and also an evangelical Christian. His book, The Language of God, published a year and a half ago has been a best seller, and has been a really pivotal book for Kat and I as it relates to sharing science, and specifically evolution, with other Christians.
Here is a link to the story and podcast of his presenation: http://www.pointloma.edu/Biology/ScienceEducationPrograms/Dr__Francis_Collins_Visits_PLNU.htm
Anyways, the cool thing was that Kat got to have dinner with Collins and 50 or so professors before the speech. She sent him a follow-up note, and this was his response:
Dear Kathryn, Thanks for your encouraging note of April 15. For a source of information about the history of creationism, Ron Numbers book "The Creationists" is by far the most authoritative and objective. You can find it at Amazon, see http://www.amazon.com/Creationists-Evolution-Scientific-Creationism/dp/0520083938 Evolution may be neutral about our place in the tapestry of life, but God (the author of evolution) apparently is not! There is evidence that selection has continued to operate upon us rather recently (think skin color or the ability to digest lactose), but that doesn't seem to affect the Imago Dei. Blessings, Francis
I can't express enough how impressed I am with this man. He is a solid scientist and grounded Christian. I hope through his efforts, and not the foolishness of movies like Expelled, that common ground can be found between the two camps.
Here is a link to the story and podcast of his presenation: http://www.pointloma.edu/Biology/ScienceEducationPrograms/Dr__Francis_Collins_Visits_PLNU.htm
Anyways, the cool thing was that Kat got to have dinner with Collins and 50 or so professors before the speech. She sent him a follow-up note, and this was his response:
Dear Kathryn, Thanks for your encouraging note of April 15. For a source of information about the history of creationism, Ron Numbers book "The Creationists" is by far the most authoritative and objective. You can find it at Amazon, see http://www.amazon.com/Creationists-Evolution-Scientific-Creationism/dp/0520083938 Evolution may be neutral about our place in the tapestry of life, but God (the author of evolution) apparently is not! There is evidence that selection has continued to operate upon us rather recently (think skin color or the ability to digest lactose), but that doesn't seem to affect the Imago Dei. Blessings, Francis
I can't express enough how impressed I am with this man. He is a solid scientist and grounded Christian. I hope through his efforts, and not the foolishness of movies like Expelled, that common ground can be found between the two camps.
Friday, April 11, 2008
America, fear, and guns
Details of a sad story in San Diego were released today. A confrantion between a mom, Silva, and an off-duty cop, White, turned violent. See the story below.
It seems like the mom, Silva, was in the wrong and is at fault. However, the situation turned lethal when a gun was introduced. It seems in that terrible moment of fear and uncertainty (an adrenalized moment with tinted windows and high tension) that a gun pushes a tense situation over the edge.
This is what the statement, based on a “preliminary investigation,” says happened:
White, 28, was driving with his wife south on Old Grove Road about 9:15 p.m. Silva, whose son was in the front passenger seat, was leaving a Shell gas station onto Old Grove at the same time.
An independent witness said that Silva's car nearly ran into White's, and he swerved to avoid an accident. White continued along Old Grove Road and pulled into the Lowe's parking lot.
Another witness said Silva was “tailgating White's car, revving the engine, and yelling and screaming as she followed” White's black Mercury sedan into the parking lot.
White's wife called 911 “to report an aggressive driver.” White stopped his car, and Silva pulled her Honda to the left side of his car.
White displayed a handgun, and then backed away from Silva's car and stopped.
Silva called 911 and reported that there was a man with a gun. She then “reversed her vehicle in the direction of the Whites' car, sideswiping it.” White then fired five rounds into Silva's Honda.
The statement described the front passenger window of Silva's car as “closed” and “darkly tinted.”
After returning from China, where there are no guns, I am just struck by the ridiculousness of an America where so many insist it to be a good thing for every citizen to be armed with a handgun. If a well-trained police officer, when put in a tense situation, is capable of blasting an unarmed (though seemingly disturbed) mom and her son, should the rest of be trusted to show better judgment.
My conservative friends all point out that while China doesn't have guns, it also doesn't have other things like, say, freedom of speech, expression, or religion. Must we tolerate handgun violence if we are to avoid political repression? I don't think so. Places like Norway, where not even the police carry guns, seem to still encourage political enfranchisement from multiple sides.
So why not us? I'd love to hear what people think. Am I missing something here?
It seems like the mom, Silva, was in the wrong and is at fault. However, the situation turned lethal when a gun was introduced. It seems in that terrible moment of fear and uncertainty (an adrenalized moment with tinted windows and high tension) that a gun pushes a tense situation over the edge.
This is what the statement, based on a “preliminary investigation,” says happened:
White, 28, was driving with his wife south on Old Grove Road about 9:15 p.m. Silva, whose son was in the front passenger seat, was leaving a Shell gas station onto Old Grove at the same time.
An independent witness said that Silva's car nearly ran into White's, and he swerved to avoid an accident. White continued along Old Grove Road and pulled into the Lowe's parking lot.
Another witness said Silva was “tailgating White's car, revving the engine, and yelling and screaming as she followed” White's black Mercury sedan into the parking lot.
White's wife called 911 “to report an aggressive driver.” White stopped his car, and Silva pulled her Honda to the left side of his car.
White displayed a handgun, and then backed away from Silva's car and stopped.
Silva called 911 and reported that there was a man with a gun. She then “reversed her vehicle in the direction of the Whites' car, sideswiping it.” White then fired five rounds into Silva's Honda.
The statement described the front passenger window of Silva's car as “closed” and “darkly tinted.”
After returning from China, where there are no guns, I am just struck by the ridiculousness of an America where so many insist it to be a good thing for every citizen to be armed with a handgun. If a well-trained police officer, when put in a tense situation, is capable of blasting an unarmed (though seemingly disturbed) mom and her son, should the rest of be trusted to show better judgment.
My conservative friends all point out that while China doesn't have guns, it also doesn't have other things like, say, freedom of speech, expression, or religion. Must we tolerate handgun violence if we are to avoid political repression? I don't think so. Places like Norway, where not even the police carry guns, seem to still encourage political enfranchisement from multiple sides.
So why not us? I'd love to hear what people think. Am I missing something here?
The much delayed China post
Apologies for my tardiness... I returned from China a week ago last monday, and am just now getting a post up on our much-neglected blog. In my defense, I was holding out hope that I would get pictures from my fellow travelers (still hoping). I do have a few shots that I took with my camera, and I thought I would share those along with my thoughts on China, chopsticks, the Olympics, and more...
China yesterday
China is a country of such a long and amazing history. I find it interesting that their language does not have tenses for when events occured. To the best of my understanding, when people speaking Mandarin describe events in the past, they say (roughly) "Chinese emperors rule huge kingdoms in the past."
In short, past and present seem to coexist in China in a way that I've never really experienced.
Adventures in Chop Sticks
Eating in China was a lot of fun. Very communal and very sociable. The Chinese use little plates and lots of shared dishes on a lazy susan-style rotating table. Dining is all about grabbing food off plates with chop sticks as it spins by. Very indicative of the nation's communal culture.
I especially loved the "homestyle" breakfast place that our Chinese hosts took us to. For about 40 cents, I could get an egg, tray of steamed pork buns, and a bowl of tofu soup. Nice!
China for the future
Beijing is BOOMING. The Olympics are everywhere, including the cute little figures who will mascot the games. While I don't agree with all of China's policies, especially as it regards to freedom of religion, I definitely grieve for them with the turbulent first days of the torch's transit. China is SOOOOOO excited about the Olympics, and they are pouring so much into it.
Anyhow, the growth in China is pretty specatular. We visited a number of companies in a variety of industries, and all were very excited China's prospects. Not sure what I think about it all. I feel conflicted about China's record on human rights and oppression, but I am excited about their rapid rise out of poverty and isolation.
Ultimately, I hope the confluence of east and west will be good for all... Such is my general optimism. We'll see...
China yesterday
China is a country of such a long and amazing history. I find it interesting that their language does not have tenses for when events occured. To the best of my understanding, when people speaking Mandarin describe events in the past, they say (roughly) "Chinese emperors rule huge kingdoms in the past."
In short, past and present seem to coexist in China in a way that I've never really experienced.
Adventures in Chop Sticks
Eating in China was a lot of fun. Very communal and very sociable. The Chinese use little plates and lots of shared dishes on a lazy susan-style rotating table. Dining is all about grabbing food off plates with chop sticks as it spins by. Very indicative of the nation's communal culture.
I especially loved the "homestyle" breakfast place that our Chinese hosts took us to. For about 40 cents, I could get an egg, tray of steamed pork buns, and a bowl of tofu soup. Nice!
China for the future
Beijing is BOOMING. The Olympics are everywhere, including the cute little figures who will mascot the games. While I don't agree with all of China's policies, especially as it regards to freedom of religion, I definitely grieve for them with the turbulent first days of the torch's transit. China is SOOOOOO excited about the Olympics, and they are pouring so much into it.
Anyhow, the growth in China is pretty specatular. We visited a number of companies in a variety of industries, and all were very excited China's prospects. Not sure what I think about it all. I feel conflicted about China's record on human rights and oppression, but I am excited about their rapid rise out of poverty and isolation.
Ultimately, I hope the confluence of east and west will be good for all... Such is my general optimism. We'll see...
Thursday, April 10, 2008
We still exist
Hey there, everyone.
Just wanted to let you know we haven't forgotten the blog completely! Brent still intends to post some pics from his recent Spring Break trip to China, and I'll eventually do the same for my whirlwind trip through AR-LA-TX. Since we got back last week we've been readjusting to a new quarter, hosting a missionary brunch, and doing school stuff.
Tomorrow I am very excited to get to meet Francis Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project, and author of "The Language of God," a book I wish I had written. He'll be giving a talk out at Point Loma Nazarene at 7:30pm (4/11) if you live in the area.
Thanks for checking in! More to come in the near future, we think--
Kathryn
Just wanted to let you know we haven't forgotten the blog completely! Brent still intends to post some pics from his recent Spring Break trip to China, and I'll eventually do the same for my whirlwind trip through AR-LA-TX. Since we got back last week we've been readjusting to a new quarter, hosting a missionary brunch, and doing school stuff.
Tomorrow I am very excited to get to meet Francis Collins, Director of the Human Genome Project, and author of "The Language of God," a book I wish I had written. He'll be giving a talk out at Point Loma Nazarene at 7:30pm (4/11) if you live in the area.
Thanks for checking in! More to come in the near future, we think--
Kathryn
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