--You can read entire Dead Sea Scrolls online. This has to be the coolest online biblical studies tools I've seen in awhile.
--The writers of "Toy Story" are apparently working on a new film about ... Farmville?
--A helpful YouTube channel called "minutephysics" helps to give brief introductions to complicated physics ideas.
*--A virus attacked the computer of the U.S. drone fleet.
--IGN recently updated its list of the best Wii games. What do you think of its choices?
*--Very interesting article on the behind-the-scenes workings that led to the birth of the state of Israel.
*--This story also has been bothering me for awhile now (it isn't very new...). Should guns legally be allowed in churches? That question is actually far less important to me than the question of the theological rationale of why anyone would need to bring a gun to church. Of what is he or she afraid that God can't fix but a gun can?
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label education. Show all posts
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Assorted links, vol. 65
--This infographic explains why we should be subsidizing solar rather than fossil fuels.
*--How do military operations get their code names?
--With so much shouting about Rowan not standing up to the "liberal" churches (or the "conservative" churches, depending on whom you ask), here's a nice outside perspective on his tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury.
--Shane Claiborne and Ben Cohen (of Ben and Jerry's) teamed up to protest militarism.
*--Religion at Burning Man.
--Iran inaugurated its nuclear program.
*--Can the disparate Palestinian groups unify, regardless of the outcome at the U.N.?
*--How do military operations get their code names?
--With so much shouting about Rowan not standing up to the "liberal" churches (or the "conservative" churches, depending on whom you ask), here's a nice outside perspective on his tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury.
--Shane Claiborne and Ben Cohen (of Ben and Jerry's) teamed up to protest militarism.
*--Religion at Burning Man.
--Iran inaugurated its nuclear program.
*--Can the disparate Palestinian groups unify, regardless of the outcome at the U.N.?
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Assorted links, vol. 62
*--Might Rowan Williams be stepping down as the Archbishop of Canterbury in the near-ish future?
--This website parodies fundamentalist Christianity, but some of their lampooning is so good that it took a Google search for me to determine whether the views are real. Until I read a handful of articles, I thought it was serious, and even afterwards I still wasn't positive. Thankfully, the Atlantic and the NY Times came to the rescue.
--An essay about teaching Islam in post-9/11 America.
*--A serious breach of security in Egypt: the military government allowed protestors to invade the Israeli embassy. Mark my words, this is the beginning of a very bad spiral.
--I found a young-earth creationist institute that has an associated school with (non-accredited) bachelor's and master's degrees....
*--And here's a round-up of everything useful online about the proposed Anglican Covenant: a book (which I want to buy), Anglican Communion guide, Living Church guide, No Anglican Covenant guide, Church Times guide, and Executive Council guide.
--This website parodies fundamentalist Christianity, but some of their lampooning is so good that it took a Google search for me to determine whether the views are real. Until I read a handful of articles, I thought it was serious, and even afterwards I still wasn't positive. Thankfully, the Atlantic and the NY Times came to the rescue.
--An essay about teaching Islam in post-9/11 America.
*--A serious breach of security in Egypt: the military government allowed protestors to invade the Israeli embassy. Mark my words, this is the beginning of a very bad spiral.
--I found a young-earth creationist institute that has an associated school with (non-accredited) bachelor's and master's degrees....
*--And here's a round-up of everything useful online about the proposed Anglican Covenant: a book (which I want to buy), Anglican Communion guide, Living Church guide, No Anglican Covenant guide, Church Times guide, and Executive Council guide.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Assorted links, vol. 51
*--US Catholic bishops are not at all happy with Health and Human Services' recent decision (which I noted earlier) to require insurance companies to provide contraception.
--A nice NY Times op-ed honoring teachers.
*--Thought-provoking article about the costs and benefits of enhancing security at federal buildings.
--Interesting essay about the the potential for spiritual renewal in the "New Normal". I also am now interested to read the Richard Rohr book he mentioned.
--Cool article about the broad, but diminishing, diversity of fencing.
*--A good overview of the Andrew Thomas hearing from the local PBS affiliate.
--A nice NY Times op-ed honoring teachers.
*--Thought-provoking article about the costs and benefits of enhancing security at federal buildings.
--Interesting essay about the the potential for spiritual renewal in the "New Normal". I also am now interested to read the Richard Rohr book he mentioned.
--Cool article about the broad, but diminishing, diversity of fencing.
*--A good overview of the Andrew Thomas hearing from the local PBS affiliate.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Assorted links, vol. 43
*--While certainly no longer prevalent, geocentrism isn't dead, either.
*--Did you know that there isn't presently evidence to support the visual/auditory/kinesthetic learning style trichotomy?
--Is the GOP against science?
--Is it fair to ask about political candidates' religious beliefs? (I think it is.)
*--A Relevant Magazine op-ed blog suggests that an obsession with modesty, like an obsession with immodesty, objectifies women.
--Also from Relevant, here are lists of their votes for six major issues that divide Christians and six things that can unite Christianity.
*--Did you know that there isn't presently evidence to support the visual/auditory/kinesthetic learning style trichotomy?
--Is the GOP against science?
--Is it fair to ask about political candidates' religious beliefs? (I think it is.)
*--A Relevant Magazine op-ed blog suggests that an obsession with modesty, like an obsession with immodesty, objectifies women.
--Also from Relevant, here are lists of their votes for six major issues that divide Christians and six things that can unite Christianity.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Assorted links, vol. 42
--An openly gay Mormon is now an LDS church leader. Progress, or confusion?
--An expose on the key players in spreading Islamophobia in America.
--I must be ahead of the curve, because I bought Scott Kugle's book months before this interview came out. Alas, it still remains in the long queue of yet-to-be-read books....
*--Read and learn just a few of these cheat sheets of smart things to drop into casual conversations (don't overlook the fact that there are four addition pages of them!) and you will basically feel like a genius.
*--If you've ever watched a reality show like Project Runway or America's Next Top Model, then you should definitely listen to this fictional story from the past week's This American Life on NPR.
--Have you heard of the Constitution Party?
--An expose on the key players in spreading Islamophobia in America.
--I must be ahead of the curve, because I bought Scott Kugle's book months before this interview came out. Alas, it still remains in the long queue of yet-to-be-read books....
*--Read and learn just a few of these cheat sheets of smart things to drop into casual conversations (don't overlook the fact that there are four addition pages of them!) and you will basically feel like a genius.
*--If you've ever watched a reality show like Project Runway or America's Next Top Model, then you should definitely listen to this fictional story from the past week's This American Life on NPR.
--Have you heard of the Constitution Party?
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Assorted links, vol. 39 (religion edition)
*--Eye-opening story about the racially-preferential enforcement of the honor code at BYU.
--Speaking of Mormons, here is the LDS church's head of public affairs' apologia for why he thinks Mormon doctrines and the traditional Christianity of the creeds are not at odds (which, to me, seems clearly to be nothing more than a perfunctory, surface-level bow to standard Christian terms, without any acknowledgement that Mormons radically redefine those terms to the point of being unrecognizable -- but maybe that's just me).
*--A fiery defense of evolution that claims that it is a mortal threat to Christianity altogether. Overblown?
*--You've heard of the Muslim Brotherhood, but what about their female counterparts, the Muslim Sisterhood?
--Speaking of Islamists, The Washington Post thinks that it is perhaps a good thing that they are participating in the post-Mubarak political processes in Egypt. The Economist agrees.
--An important introductory step in Islamic-Buddhist relations.
--Speaking of Mormons, here is the LDS church's head of public affairs' apologia for why he thinks Mormon doctrines and the traditional Christianity of the creeds are not at odds (which, to me, seems clearly to be nothing more than a perfunctory, surface-level bow to standard Christian terms, without any acknowledgement that Mormons radically redefine those terms to the point of being unrecognizable -- but maybe that's just me).
*--A fiery defense of evolution that claims that it is a mortal threat to Christianity altogether. Overblown?
*--You've heard of the Muslim Brotherhood, but what about their female counterparts, the Muslim Sisterhood?
--Speaking of Islamists, The Washington Post thinks that it is perhaps a good thing that they are participating in the post-Mubarak political processes in Egypt. The Economist agrees.
--An important introductory step in Islamic-Buddhist relations.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Assorted links, vol. 37
--Math concept of the day: sexy primes.
--As Steve Jobs retires as Apple's CEO, take a brief look back through his career at some of the many things on which he has patents.
--Do you know someone who is being abused? This lengthy but worthwhile blog post is definitely worth reading to help understand him or her better.
*--Since 9/11, there have been a surprising number of people whose curiosity about Islam has led them to convert.
*--What will it mean that astronomy is entering the time domain?
--Here's a new blog that you should be reading if you are interested in global warming (which I also added to the blogroll).
--And have you heard of unschooling, which is basically child-directed education taken to the extreme? What do you think about it?
--As Steve Jobs retires as Apple's CEO, take a brief look back through his career at some of the many things on which he has patents.
--Do you know someone who is being abused? This lengthy but worthwhile blog post is definitely worth reading to help understand him or her better.
*--Since 9/11, there have been a surprising number of people whose curiosity about Islam has led them to convert.
*--What will it mean that astronomy is entering the time domain?
--Here's a new blog that you should be reading if you are interested in global warming (which I also added to the blogroll).
--And have you heard of unschooling, which is basically child-directed education taken to the extreme? What do you think about it?
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Assorted links, vol. 34
[Lots of links today. I probably should have split this into two post, so sorry. I'll give you four or five highlights today instead of just two or three.]
--One way to boost young people's future prospects: longer school days.
*--Based on info from an admittedly small sampling of UCC pastors in Canada, here are 25 theologians whose works the pastors would recommend to people in their pews.
--Wow. Dominique Strauss-Kahn is off the hook and on his way. I still wonder if he's getting away with sexual assault.
*--A fascinating opinion piece arguing a position that I've been arguing for years now: that just because you wear a military uniform in no way guarantees that you are a hero.
*--Panelist have been selected for the attorney discipline case against Andrew Thomas.
--The new MLK monument opened on the National Mall.
--Bisexual men exist, Northwestern University says.
--What should the state do about polygamous/polyandrous/polyamorous relationships?
*--The Washington Post thinks we have nothing to fear from evangelical candidates like Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann, and that to call them "dominionists" is to misuse the term. But Religion Dispatches counters that the Post has missed the point. What do you think?
--One way to boost young people's future prospects: longer school days.
*--Based on info from an admittedly small sampling of UCC pastors in Canada, here are 25 theologians whose works the pastors would recommend to people in their pews.
--Wow. Dominique Strauss-Kahn is off the hook and on his way. I still wonder if he's getting away with sexual assault.
*--A fascinating opinion piece arguing a position that I've been arguing for years now: that just because you wear a military uniform in no way guarantees that you are a hero.
*--Panelist have been selected for the attorney discipline case against Andrew Thomas.
--The new MLK monument opened on the National Mall.
--Bisexual men exist, Northwestern University says.
--What should the state do about polygamous/polyandrous/polyamorous relationships?
*--The Washington Post thinks we have nothing to fear from evangelical candidates like Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann, and that to call them "dominionists" is to misuse the term. But Religion Dispatches counters that the Post has missed the point. What do you think?
Monday, August 8, 2011
Assorted links, vol. 24
--The Japan earthquake broke off glacial ice thousands of miles away in Antarctica.
--The Philippine Episcopal Church is not in favor of the Anglican Covenant.
*--Worthwhile commentary about S&P's downgrade of the U.S.
--What might the consequences of London's riots be?
--I want to watch this new documentary about an international Qur'an recitation competition. Has anyone seen it?
--According to a recent study, increased education doesn't drive people away from church, but it does tend to liberalize their religious views.
--Muslims living in the upper floors of the world's tallest building have to fast longer during Ramadan than those living on ground level.
*--Looking for antimatter? Check between the Van Allen belts.
*--The clandestine, fascinating story of the development and spread of the Stuxnet virus.
--The Philippine Episcopal Church is not in favor of the Anglican Covenant.
*--Worthwhile commentary about S&P's downgrade of the U.S.
--What might the consequences of London's riots be?
--I want to watch this new documentary about an international Qur'an recitation competition. Has anyone seen it?
--According to a recent study, increased education doesn't drive people away from church, but it does tend to liberalize their religious views.
--Muslims living in the upper floors of the world's tallest building have to fast longer during Ramadan than those living on ground level.
*--Looking for antimatter? Check between the Van Allen belts.
*--The clandestine, fascinating story of the development and spread of the Stuxnet virus.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Assorted links, vol. 21
--Has anyone read "God Wins"? Another response to "Love Wins," so it seems, like the Francis Chan book I posted about the other day. I want to know what someone else thinks about it before investing.
*--A fascinating article and question: are humans innately liberal or conservative?
--Teachers' cheating in Atlanta public schools seems to have been widespread.
*--But on the plus side, here's a more full and happier look at Atlanta as a whole.
--Look like Kansas Planned Parenthood will keep its funding, at least for now....
--This brief article made me sad for two reasons: first, because Taco Bell was negatively involved, and second, because the writer called the Narazites an "obscure religious group"....
--And when was the last time you read about street art in Belarus? :-)
*--A fascinating article and question: are humans innately liberal or conservative?
--Teachers' cheating in Atlanta public schools seems to have been widespread.
*--But on the plus side, here's a more full and happier look at Atlanta as a whole.
--Look like Kansas Planned Parenthood will keep its funding, at least for now....
--This brief article made me sad for two reasons: first, because Taco Bell was negatively involved, and second, because the writer called the Narazites an "obscure religious group"....
--And when was the last time you read about street art in Belarus? :-)
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Help restore ancient manuscripts!
I already mentioned this in my last assorted links post, but in order to help prevent it from being lost amid other links, I wanted to draw special attention to it. At this website, you can help Oxford University to transcribe ancient documents found in the treasure trove unearthed at Oxyrhynchus. After two brief tutorials, you will be able to help identify and electronically record the Greek letters on the manuscripts and to make measurements of the various dimensions of the fragments, in order to assist the researchers in reassembling and translating them. You don't need outside knowledge of the Greek language or alphabet; you are taught what you need to know. Definitely check it out and spend a few minutes helping out this valuable academic endeavor!
Assorted links, vol. 20
--A humorous take on the fact that the Pope has begun to use Twitter.
--What do dominatrices (dominatrixes?) do in their spare time? This one wrote a memoir.
*--Awesome article about the correspondences between Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz. I would actually be interested to read the new book about them, despite it's length (832 pages...).
*--You have to check this out! On this website, there are real papyri uncovered in Egypt at Oxyrhynchus, and you can help Oxford University transcribe and measure them. [Side note: I may put up another post, just about this website, because the project seems that cool.]
--Has anyone read, or does anyone know anything about, the book "The Prophet and the Astronomer"? Sounds like something that might be worth checking out.
--Two new blogs to check out: one by Lucas Mix, an Episcopal priest with an extensive science background, and the other about history, politics, and Christianity -- both added to the sidebar.
That's all for now, but more coming soon!
--What do dominatrices (dominatrixes?) do in their spare time? This one wrote a memoir.
*--Awesome article about the correspondences between Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz. I would actually be interested to read the new book about them, despite it's length (832 pages...).
*--You have to check this out! On this website, there are real papyri uncovered in Egypt at Oxyrhynchus, and you can help Oxford University transcribe and measure them. [Side note: I may put up another post, just about this website, because the project seems that cool.]
--Has anyone read, or does anyone know anything about, the book "The Prophet and the Astronomer"? Sounds like something that might be worth checking out.
--Two new blogs to check out: one by Lucas Mix, an Episcopal priest with an extensive science background, and the other about history, politics, and Christianity -- both added to the sidebar.
That's all for now, but more coming soon!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Assorted links, vol. 16
*--Get excited for cloaking technologies.
--Berlusconi is finally taking a well-deserved beating in the Italian polls. Good riddance.
--What percent of nineteenth-century Mormons were involved in polygamy?
--A biography of the new Catholic Archbishop of Milan, a potential pope-to-be.
--An article on the faith (or lack thereof) of the characters in the video game series Assassin's Creed.
--New blog on religion and U.S. history (added to the sidebar)
*--And while we're on the topic of American history, definitely check out this article about David Barton, whom you may have seen on John Stewart discussing his re-imagined version of our country's founding.
--A world-class Chinese gymnast whose career was ended by injuries has been relegated to the streets, a victim of China's sport system.
--Berlusconi is finally taking a well-deserved beating in the Italian polls. Good riddance.
--What percent of nineteenth-century Mormons were involved in polygamy?
--A biography of the new Catholic Archbishop of Milan, a potential pope-to-be.
--An article on the faith (or lack thereof) of the characters in the video game series Assassin's Creed.
--New blog on religion and U.S. history (added to the sidebar)
*--And while we're on the topic of American history, definitely check out this article about David Barton, whom you may have seen on John Stewart discussing his re-imagined version of our country's founding.
--A world-class Chinese gymnast whose career was ended by injuries has been relegated to the streets, a victim of China's sport system.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Assorted links, vol. 6
Some awesome links for today's roundup:
--LA Times's list of a mere 203 new books for your summer reading pleasure
--Sarah Palin (reportedly) just bought this house in Arizona...
--A report on failed prophecy (written in preparation for rapture-fail)
--More needs to be done to prevent future shootings like the one in Tucson
--The Archbishop of Canterbury has his own website (which includes a partial bibliography, and also some awards that I want to receive :-))
--An entire abstract algebra textbook is on Scribd!
--Easy-to-understand introduction to the four unsolved geometry problems of antiquity
Enjoy!
--LA Times's list of a mere 203 new books for your summer reading pleasure
--Sarah Palin (reportedly) just bought this house in Arizona...
--A report on failed prophecy (written in preparation for rapture-fail)
--More needs to be done to prevent future shootings like the one in Tucson
--The Archbishop of Canterbury has his own website (which includes a partial bibliography, and also some awards that I want to receive :-))
--An entire abstract algebra textbook is on Scribd!
--Easy-to-understand introduction to the four unsolved geometry problems of antiquity
Enjoy!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Assorted links, vol. 3
The tabs of post-worthy articles are once again piling up, so here you go:
--The government wants its documents to be more comprehensible to the public (a laudable goal!)
--Speaking of writing, here is a good categorization of different degrees of grammar rules and style points (and has anyone read any of these three books?)
--Why do 23% of Republicans continue to assert that Obama was born abroad...after his long form birth certificate was released?
--CDC warning on how to deal with zombie apocalypses
--Democratic and Republican profs grade differently
--In a sadly unsurprising and idiotic result, white Americans think they are facing discrimination
--Here's the text of Obama's speech on the Middle East
That's all for this episode -- what do you think? I'm considering posting more of these round-up posts (hopefully around once a day) and moving away from individual topics. Thoughts?
--The government wants its documents to be more comprehensible to the public (a laudable goal!)
--Speaking of writing, here is a good categorization of different degrees of grammar rules and style points (and has anyone read any of these three books?)
--Why do 23% of Republicans continue to assert that Obama was born abroad...after his long form birth certificate was released?
--CDC warning on how to deal with zombie apocalypses
--Democratic and Republican profs grade differently
--In a sadly unsurprising and idiotic result, white Americans think they are facing discrimination
--Here's the text of Obama's speech on the Middle East
That's all for this episode -- what do you think? I'm considering posting more of these round-up posts (hopefully around once a day) and moving away from individual topics. Thoughts?
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
English composition
A thought-provoking article from Salon, asking such questions as whether it is worthwhile to teach high school English students the classic works of literature, when what they really need is intensive remedial training on how to write correctly and effectively. Having edited more than a few shockingly poorly written college essays, I can sympathize; many undergraduate students have simply failed to learn basic grammar rules and argument strategies (plus, I suspect that the only reason they spell as well as they do is thanks to the little red squiggly line in Microsoft Word!).
Iran online
Did you know that both the supreme leader and the president of Iran have their own English-language web sites? I suppose I shouldn't be surprised -- I would think that the web pages of various U.S. government officials are available in myriad languages, including Persian (although, now that I'm looking for them, alternative languages seem difficult to find) -- yet I am, in a good way.
Monday, May 16, 2011
May 21, 2011 (it ain't the end)
All of this media blitz about Harold Camping, the world ending this coming Saturday at precisely 6:00 PM, etc. is making me sad, for several reasons. First, the number of people who have signed on to this idea, giving up everything in the process, once again demonstrates a conception of heaven as a means of escape from this world (a narrow and pale view of what heaven should be). This view leads people to forsake or even do damage to our world, since it becomes ultimately of no consequence. Second, the undue attention being given to this tiny group is causing undue ridicule on Christianity writ large. Most people, Christians included, are rolling their eyes at this latest bout of apocalyptism, but to those outside, it could be taken as a more broadly-accepted Christian belief than it actually is. Also, given the methods of arriving at this prediction (dating based on Jesus' life, or the supposed date of the Flood), it is easy to lump these folks into the already-scorned anti-science camp reserved for young-earth creationists and their friends. Third, and perhaps more saddening, in my religious studies classes, I have studied and written papers about failed prophecies, and I know that just like all the other predicted dates, May 21 is going to come and go without incident. This will lead to disheartened Christians among those who believed the predictions, blundering explanations from Camping as he tries to retain as much dignity as possible, and scorn from without. No one wins. I suppose the only upside will be an excuse to listen to Jay Sean and Nicki Minaj (or for someone to write the 2011 remix -- run with that idea, it's a potential goldmine...).
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Ayn Rand
So I've been hearing a lot about Ayn Rand lately, and I have come to realize that I know hardly anything at all about her. NPR is talking about her, House Republican budget chairman Paul Ryan makes sure all his staff has read her most famous novel, the Guardian thinks Tea Partiers are taking her out of context, and a movie of her novel Atlas Shrugged is out. And yet I don't know the first thing about her life, or objectivism, or anything about her. I didn't have any of her novels as required reading in high school (you decide whether that makes me lucky or deprived). So yesterday I picked up an introduction to Ayn Rand book, which I'll be eager to read and report on. For those who have read her works, what's the big deal?
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