Multidimensional

Scientific discovery has indicated that we may live in a universe that features 11 dimensions (or ten or twelve). 11, you say?!? What are all of them?

For years, cosmologists have been saying that the universe would make a lot more sense if only it had more dimensions than the four we perceive — that is, three spatial dimensions plus time.

If there were, say, 10 dimensions or so, the equations linking gravity and atomic forces into a "theory of everything" would work out just fine.

Hmm, so how exactly does this work? If there are really ten, eleven, or twelve dimensions, where are they? Why do we only experience three? Well, scientists believe they may have discovered a reason.

In a paper due to be published in Physical Review Letters, two physicists propose that the kind of cosmos we live in represents one of the most likely results of something you could call the "battle of the branes."

That's not a typo: We're not talking about gray matter here, but rather different levels of dimensional spaces, known as branes. In cosmological parlance, a two-dimensional space, or membrane, is a "2-brane." A line is a 1-brane, a particle is a 0-brane, and we perceive space as a 3-brane.

Harvard's Lisa Randall and the University of Washington's Andreas Karch did some heavy-duty mathematical analysis of a scenario in which an expanding 10-dimensional space holds a variety of branes.

If two branes intersect, they are annihilated and their energy is dissipated. "The net result of all this is that you reduce the number of branes," Karch explained. And because of the 10-dimensional geometry, some types of branes are more likely to survive than others.

When you bring it back up to 10-D (actually "nine-plus-one" D, since we're talking about nine spatial dimensions plus time), the math indicates that the 3-branes like ours hold a special status. "A 3-brane is the largest brane that doesn't get destroyed by its cousins," Karch said.

The findings are consistent with the idea that our whole universe is a 3-D region within a wider, flatter 10-D realm. Such regions "could be like sinkholes in which gravity is localized," Karch said. And ultimately, that could help explain why gravity works the way it does.

The other class of dimensional space that shows a good survival rate is the 7-brane — which doesn't apply to our particular sinkhole in the cosmic roadway, but turns out to match the expectations of string theorists.

"Several versions of string theories require the existence of 3-D and 7-D branes; indeed, the particles that constitute matter — such as quarks and electrons — can be considered open strings with one end planted on a 3-D brane and the other end planted on a 7-D brane," Phillip Schewe and Ben Stein of the American Institute of Physics [said].

The quest could lead theorists forward to that fabled "theory of everything".

This is all somewhat difficult to comprehend. And that's exactly it--our human brains cannot fathom any more than the four we understand. (if you would like to give it a try, Lisa Randall has written a book called Warped Passages in which she attempts to)

As we ponder the universe around us, these findings cause me to wonder what this means. The way it all comes together seems to me to point to something behind the patterns. It's interesting that the numbers 3 and 7 come out. Where else do those numbers take on special meaning?

A recent book, Beyond The Cosmos by Hugh Ross, has gone so far as to say just that-- that the multidimensionality of our universe could point to God. I'd encourage people interested in this to follow up by reading a couple of these books. Personally, I find it compelling that science could point us to God. I do believe that science and religion are not mutually exclusive, and I also think we eventually will find that.

The Catholic church on the Bible

In a surprising development, the British leaders of the Catholic church there have released a document called The Gift of Scripture, which says they no longer believe the Bible is totally true.

Say the Catholic bishops of England, Wales and Scotland:

We should not expect to find in Scripture full scientific accuracy or complete historical precision.

Seemingly, this document has been approved by the Pope, and will be disseminated throughout the world.

The bishops' document was recently presented in Rome at the Congress to celebrate the forty years of Dei Verbum, and to Pope Benedict. The delegates to that Congress, gathered from every continent, will ensure widespread distribution of The Gift of Scripture. The document deserves the same wide distribution in our own countries.

This truly is a peculiar document. The bishops state that The Bible is true in passages relating to human salvation, but say that,

We should not expect total accuracy from the Bible in other, secular matters.

That's a little confusing to me. So basically they're saying that they have the special ability to determine now almost 2,000 years after most of the New Testament was written exactly what is right and what is wrong in the Bible? That does not seem logical or plausible. Shouldn't it either be true or untrue in totality? How can it be God's word if it's not?

This position, of course, is exactly opposite that of fundamentalist Christians who believe the Bible is inerrant. The bishops, however, go on to condemn fundamentalism for its “intransigent intolerance” and to warn of “significant dangers” involved in a fundamentalist approach. "Such an approach is dangerous," they say, as it may cause some people to feel they have a mandate.

Stunningly, in the foreward, the authors say,

People today are searching for what is worthwhile, what has real value, what can be trusted and what is really true.

I ask, is this really helping people find the truth?

Never Give Up

Scientists in Florida stumbled upon the remains of a Burmese python that tried to eat a six foot alligator whole. Both died in the struggle.

It's quite a gory sight. This is what happens when two creatures used to being king of their domain encounter one another. The python is obviously not native to Florida and, according to officials, is a burgeoning problem. They were likely first introduced to the area when a pet owner got rid of their snake and have quickly begun wreaking havoc on the Everglades ecosystem.

To be honest, the scene reminds me of the famous frog-bird cartoon:

And let this be a lesson to you. Don't ever give up.

A Slippery Slope

A recent report from the U.K. says that the institution of marriage in that country is more troubled than it ever has been.

Marriage is on the rocks in Britain, with the proportion of unmarried people set to exceed that of married people within 25 years as more men and women opt to live together without constraints.

This is indicative of the decline in conventional successful marriages since the middle of the century. Statistics are not much different here in America.

Similarly, in a sign of changes to the institution of marriage, the first legal 3-way civil union in the Netherlands also was conducted last week. Said the groom (there were two brides):

I love both Bianca and Mirjam, so I am marrying them both.

Thus, the relationship now has all the legal rights of marriage.

Some have asked, "Why is gay marriage any of my business since it doesn't affect me?" Well, I point to these happenings and say, "Do you see?"

First it was divorce. Now that is 'okay' by societal standards. Next comes gay marriage. If that movement is successful in our country, is it any question the next step would be 3-way polygamous unions as is already happening as illustrated above?

This is the prototypical slippery slope. Once the slide begins, it is very, very difficult to stop. Let us band together and hold onto our marriages as sacred. This is an establishment, a covenant, created by God, which we have no right to destroy.

Piiinnnk is my favorite color...

Did you know that at the University of Iowa, the visiting football team's locker room is completely pink? The lockers, walls, carpet, doors, showers, sinks, urinals... everything. The thinking is that pink will have a calming effect on the players, perhaps causing them to lose a little bit of their aggression and thus not perform at optimal levels.

Personally, I think this is brilliant and would strongly encourage my own Fighting Illini to implement this strategy. I for one would be messed up in the head if I had to dress in such an environment. (I'd probably feel like a sniffly 7-year old waiting to see the pediatrician.)

Of course, there's at least one person at Iowa who's opposed to this tradition. (Must be a Michigan fan.)

Leno v. Letterman

Of the following two guys...


...who do you think is the better late-night comic?

Abortion as a Crime Fighter

Bill Bennett has stirred the Roe v. Wade pot again. This week, he ignited a controversy with his comments on race and abortion:

You could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down.

That would be an impossible, ridiculous and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down.

Whoah, that doesn't sound good. What's the background here?

Well, last spring, a book called "Freakonomics" was released which publicized to the general population the theory that one of the impacts of Roe v. Wade was a drop in crime rates in the '90s. Bill Bennett was using the same rationale to point out that, yes, it is quite certain statistically that the crime rate would drop if all blacks were aborted. Irregardless, though, it is extremely politically incorrect to say so. Hopefully Bennett is aware of that based on his second sentence and his later attempts to clarify.

The problem with his statement, of course, is that he jumped directly to race. He could have (more wisely) used the words poor or disadvantaged instead of a race. And in fact, they would have been more accurate.

As is expected considering the media frenzy, Steven Levitt, author of Freakonomics, has written a response to the comments on his blog. Mostly, he says that he agrees with the correctness of the statement but finds it troubling that Bennett jumped to race as a factor:

He made a factual statement... and then he noted that just because a statement is true, it doesn't mean that it is desirable or moral.

The issue of putting a race on crime is one our country will be dealing with for a long time. Continued analysis can hopefully bring answers to why one most likely commits crime. Is race not a factor? Is it entirely income, the likelihood of growing up in a female-headed household, having a teenage mother, or how urban the environment is that leads to crime and not race? And if so, why are blacks disproportionately represented in those groups?

Do sports even matter?

Well, read this and you tell me.

Does religion help society?

According to a recent study,

belief in and worship of God are not only unnecessary for a healthy society but may actually contribute to social problems.

This obviously is not what most would resonate with based on their experiences. However, this study by Gregory Paul, published in the Journal of Religion and Society claims that, based on societal indicators such as higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, suicide, teen pregnancy, and abortion, there is a correlation between how religious a country is and how poorly they do in these areas.

Particularly he pointed at the United States as an example of a supposedly religious country that is functioning poorly. He says,

Many Americans agree that their churchgoing nation is an exceptional, God-blessed, shining city on the hill that stands as an impressive example for an increasingly skeptical world.

The United States is almost always the most dysfunctional of the developing democracies, sometimes spectacularly so.

For instance, he says,

The study shows that England, despite the social ills it has, is actually performing a good deal better than the USA in most indicators, even though it is now a much less religious nation than America.

He said that the disparity was even greater when the US was compared with other countries, including France, Japan and the Scandinavian countries. These nations had been the most successful in reducing murder rates, early mortality, sexually transmitted diseases and abortion.

So why is this?

I don't necessarily doubt his numbers, but I do tend to disagree with his conclusions. Mr. Paul is basically calling the country hypocritical. He seems to have shown a correlation, but does not convince me of causality. Even if our country is more Christian, is it the Christians who are contributing to these statistics? Because these indicators are not present, are these other countries morally better or better functioning? Would a resident in those places have any better an experience than here?

Nonetheless, it is troubling to know that our country does struggle with some of these issues. I don't think religion is the bottom line cause, however. We need to continue to work on reaching out to the less fortunate among us, and hopefully some of the societal "ills" that befall our populace will continue to regress. The roots of our problems are likely manifold, but let us hope that the Christians amongst the Americans seek to serve as the counter to Mr. Paul's conclusion:

The non-religious, proevolution democracies contradict the dictum that a society cannot enjoy good conditions unless most citizens ardently believe in a moral creator.

The widely held fear that a Godless citizenry must experience societal disaster is therefore refuted.

Google Strikes Again

So at some point we'll run out of cool new things that Google is offering, right? Right??
Last week the NYT profiled a new service that Google, among other companies, is offering. It's called Google Answers.
Basically it's a service at which you can get a question answered for the right price. If you have a question, you post it on there with the amount you're willing to pay for an answer and an expert will anwer it if it's worth it to them.
Pretty cool. So if you have a question you've been dying to know the answer to, look no further for the place to find it.

5 Blades

Stop the presses. Gillete has upped the ante and revealed a -get this- five blade razor called Fusion. This, of course, is one more blade than competitor Schick's Quattro, which was one more blade than Gillette's Mach3.
I think this is getting a little silly. Does continuously adding one more blade really help that much? Personally, I don't care as I use an electric razor.
The crazy thing about this is that satirist The Onion predicted this a year and a half ago. [note: crude, graphic language was used]

Getting Religion

An absolutely riveting piece could be found in Sunday's New York Times Magazine. It describes the author's look back at his own past as an evangelical (subtitling it My long-lost years as a teenage evangelical) through the lens of a new encounter with it at the recent Billy Graham crusade in New York City.

The story was extremely well-written and moved me in several distinct ways. It was sad, angry, hopeful, and melancholy. Mostly, though, I felt sadness. The author, a University of Chicago professor, was to me still searching. He seeks answers to life's deepest questions. He seems to act as a skeptic to shield himself from his own doubt over what is truth. I cannot suggest that you read the article enough for the simple fact that it will lead you to your own thoughts on Truth.

I would, however, like to go through a couple sections of it here and share the thoughts I have. Sit back, take a deep breath, and here's one Christian's perspective on the article.

The author begins by telling the story of his conversion.

Within a few months, I considered myself "saved".

He goes on to say,

Conversion stories are slippery things. "I once was lost, but now am found" - that's never the whole story, and it's usually not the end of the story. It wasn't for me.

A bit of foreshadowing. He goes on,

...But the thirst for knowledge isn't limited to those who attend the right schools. The caricature of American evangelicals as incurious and indifferent to learning is false. Visit any Christian bookstore and you will see that they are gluttons for learning - of a certain kind... If anything, it is their thirst for knowledge that undoes them. Like so many Americans, they know little about history, science, secular literature or, unless they are immigrants, foreign cultures. Yet their thirst for answers to the most urgent moral and existential questions is overwhelming. So they grab for the only glass in the room: God's revealed Word.

And further,

A half-century ago, an American Christian seeking assistance could have turned to the popularizing works of serious religious thinkers like Reinhold Niebuhr, Paul Tillich, John Courtney Murray, Thomas Merton, Jacques Maritain and even Martin Buber and Will Herberg. Those writers were steeped in philosophy and the theological traditions of their faiths, which they brought to bear on the vital spiritual concerns of ordinary believers - ethics, death, prayer, doubt and despair. But intellectual figures like these have disappeared from the American landscape and have been replaced by half-educated evangelical gurus who either publish vacant, cheery self-help books or are politically motivated. If an evangelical wants to satisfy his taste for truth today, it's strictly self-service.

And I can see now how this state of affairs breeds a narrow fanaticism.

Whoah! This is where I felt some frustration. What of Ravi Zacharias, John Piper, J.I. Packer, and Millard Erickson? And how about even C.S. Lewis or Francis Schaeffer? Had they nothing to say? Can theology be worthless if it's a "half-century" old? First of all, isn't God's Word where every Christian should turn first? And secondly, it is unfair to say that new Christian thought is vacant when that is so obviously not the case; there are many examples of people who are fully educated, who write books that are neither "cheery self-help" or "politically motivated."

Back and forth the author moves from his past to the Billy Graham crusade.

As banal as Billy's punch line is, I am reminded of its power... The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Web site reports that during the three-day New York crusade, more than 8,700 "inquirers" came forward, hoping to be born again.

And this cannot be denied. However simplistic, false, or odd these crusades seem to many in society, there are thousands who find them exactly what they need.

But back to the story...

There are deeper forces at work: the yearning for truth, for love and, more elusively, for rebirth.

These are powerful forces, and they can also lead a soul out of faith, as they eventually did with me.

I sincerely feel that if someone is seeking THE truth, they will find it. Sadly, I don't think the author has.

After a few months I got myself into a squabble with someone over Scripture, and sat down the next day to study the verses my adversary had marshaled against me. To my surprise, I concluded he was right about what the Bible said. But in my heart I also knew he had to be wrong about the doctrine at hand. Which meant - it was the first time the thought really penetrated my mind - that the Bible might be wrong. My face flushed and I closed the book. It was my first step out of the world of faith and toward the world I live in now.

It seems like the author had a hope for what the Bible stood for. When its truth didn't jive with what his hope was, he walked away. Why was his adversary wrong about the doctrine at hand? Couldn't it have just as well been the author who was wrong? If there was an obvious error, why isn't it documented along with the other scripture shared?

And finally,

I ask whether he went forward during the altar call, and to my surprise I learn he did. Why? "Because," he says, shrugging, "what he was saying tonight made so much sense."

I found it hard to conceal my bafflement, since Billy had not said much at all. You must be born again - that was it. I felt a professorial lecture welling up in my throat about the history and psychology of religion. I wanted to expose him to the pastiche of the biblical text, the syncretic nature of Christian doctrine, the church's ambiguous role as incubator and stifler of human knowledge, the theological idiosyncrasy of American evangelicalism. I wanted to warn him against the anti-intellectualism of American religion today and the political abuses to which it is subject. I wanted to cast doubt on the step he was about to take, to help him see there are other ways to live, other ways to seek knowledge, love, perhaps even self-transformation. I wanted to convince him that his dignity depended on maintaining a free, skeptical attitude toward doctrine. I wanted. . .to save him.

And here we reach the punch line. In a marvelous article, written as if it were neutral, the author leaves no doubt as to what he thinks. This "Christian doctrine" cannot be true. Somehow there is a perceived anti-intellectualism about evangelicalism. For it is obvious that something that doesn't agree with the latest cutting-edge postmodern thought must be wrong. For what is new is right and truth cannot be found in the past. At least that is what he would have us think.

But what's the real story here? Could it be that there is hurt in his past? No doubt life hasn't been easy. Yes, the church may have let him down. The "adversaries" he faced may have been unloving. Yes, they too were likely imperfect. You know what they say, though; We cannot judge a faith by its worst follower.

I challenge Mark Lilla to continue to seek truth. If he earnestly is, he will find it. Hey, I'd love to get together and have lunch-- as one Chicagoan to another and just sit and visit and seek to find it together.
John 8:32

A Thin Line

Thanks to Gapers Block for pointing us to an intriguing site. Words don't do it justice, but this site shows the very thin line between suburbia and the city. As a civil engineer who also got a degree in urban planning, I thought this site was neat.

Giving it a little bit more of a plug, I should note the site is an advertisement of sorts for an artists showcase:

The exhibition "Urban, Rural, Wild" presents work by eight artists addressing the complex historical and contemporary relationship between metropolitan Chicago and downstate Illinois.

An Upset

Well, I had a semi-sweet return to my alma mater today. An Illini graduate, I returned to see my sister-in-law play them in soccer. She plays for Indiana State.
Well, let's just say that things didn't go well for nationally-ranked Illinois. The Sycamores shocked the Illini, winning 2-1!
To be honest, this was a huge upset. The Illini were expected to compete for the Big Ten title, and were heavily favored in this matchup. However, in this game, they did not come out with the energy they needed to, lost a couple key players to injury, and subsequently lost to a deserving squad of savvy players. The win marked the first ever victory in the Sycamore soccer program history over a ranked or Big Ten school.
So, I came away sad for the orange and blue, but happy for the great game ISU played. Congratulations gals.

Racial Disparities

I'm still ruminating on the effects from Hurricane Katrina. Likely one of the biggest takeaways will be the implications on race relations as a result of perception during the evacuation.

The insinuation was that response to the victims of the hurricane was slower due to the fact they were black. By now everyone has heard Kanye West's famous quote:

George Bush doesn't care about black people.

The reaction from many notable African-American politicians was similar. From Jesse Jackson to Al Sharpton, the federal response was chastized.

Despite the fact I knew there was an undercurrent of dissatisfaction, I was still surprised when the magnitude was revealed. The difference in opinion between blacks and whites on the response to the hurricane was marked. A CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll taken last weekend said:

37 percent [held Bush] most to blame for the fact that many residents were trapped inside the city after it flooded.

Twenty percent of blacks primarily blamed New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, 11 percent blamed the residents themselves and 27 percent blamed no one at all.

Among whites, 29 percent blamed Nagin, 27 percent blamed the residents, 15 percent blamed Bush and 24 percent held no one responsible.

Wow, talk about a difference of opinion.

Now this post is not to say who's right and who's wrong. However, there is quite a disparity here. It hearkens back to past events that have split the population along racial lines. Most blacks thought O.J. was innocent, most whites thought he was guilty. Blacks thought Michael Jackson was innocent, whites think he's guilty. Stereotyping, yes, but generally true.

The reaction to the hurricane only serves to remind us yet again that, yes, there is somewhat of a racial chasm in our country. The question becomes: Why is this and what does it mean?

Classic

Even the president needs to go.

A sad epilogue

The story I relayed in an earlier post has ended in the most unkind of ways. How incredibly heartwrenching. The emotions felt in this family's last year are hard to fathom.
It just must not have been meant to be.

Me and my 3 parents.

Now wouldn't that be a scary proposition? To legitimately have three genetic parents?

Well, it's close to becoming reality. British scientists have been given permission by their governmental oversights to proceed with just this experiment. This experiment would merge embryos with donor eggs to replace damaged mitochondrial DNA. This would in essence give the offspring three genetic parents, with the nuclear DNA of his "parents" and the mitochondrial DNA (which contains 37 genes) of a another woman. To me this sounds like the beginning of a slide down a slippery slope.

The troubling thing is that there are many advocates for the procedure. One medical ethicist said:

For those who would see this as a threat to the family unit, we should endeavour to persuade them that reproductive technologies could encourage a greater acceptance of diversity in our society.

Now, that's scary! They're claiming this is a good thing because it's just adding to human diversity? Whoah. So if we start adding animal genes, that would be good as it's adding to our diversity?

Who is #1? (2 is not a winner and 3 nobody remembers)

On the road to a national championship in college football, every game is precious. Sure, some teams have recovered from a single loss, but it's a long shot. Many teams have even gone undefeated and still come up short.

This weekend college football fans will be treated to a rare September showdown between two football powerhouses: Ohio State and Texas. The winner will will be hailed as the top contender to USC's throne. The loser will have nearly all the nails pounded into its coffin of national title hopes.

Now, imagine for a moment if I were made Supreme Ruler of NCAA Football. I'd have a 4-team playoff system, and here's how it'd work:

a) Every team plays an 11-game regular season. If a conference wants to have a championship game, then fine. 11+1=12.

b) After the conference championship games have been played, the final poll of sportwriters+coaches will come out with a Top 25. The top 4 ranked teams will play in a playoff. The first round will be held one week after conference championships are over. #4 plays at #1. #3 plays at #2. The winners determine who plays for the national title and who plays in lesser bowls during Bowl Week.

b2) There is one exception to my "Top 4" rule; and that is if only one team makes it through the conference championships undefeated. In such a case, that undefeated team would be guaranteed a spot in the playoff. So, let's say the Akron Zips finished 12-0, but were only ranked #17. As long as they're the only undefeated team, they'll automatically replace the #4 team in the playoff. (You might not think that's fair, but remember, you're not the Supreme Ruler of NCAA Football right now. I am.)

Well, that's my two cents. I think that my system would decide the championship on the field, preserve the special importance of the entire regular season, and put human computer pollsters in unemployment lines. Plus it'd give a glimmer of hope to all of the little schools out there who only want a chance to be heard.

How Much Is Too Much?

Searching for cheap gas? When it comes to gas prices, people think they're paying a lot these days. In Chicago, I've seen gas for as much as around $3.50. Prices have been driven higher due to the tightening oil supply in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. But do we pay too much for gas in America?

Compare our situation to Europe. There, in London, gas goes for about $6.60/gallon. It's even higher elsewhere.
What does that say about our situation? I'd say we should consider ourselves lucky. And to be honest, higher gas prices might be a good thing. It would encourage more people to consider alternate forms of transportation or get cars with higher gas mileage. And that of course is exactly why Europe taxes gas more than we do.

What does the situation in New Orleans say about America?

The world is "stunned" at our struggle to cope with the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina. Some have even gone so far as say that the victims' reactions themselves are indicative of the failure of our culture:

"I am absolutely disgusted. After the tsunami our people, even the ones who lost everything, wanted to help the others who were suffering," said Sajeewa Chinthaka, 36, as he watched a cricket match in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

"Not a single tourist caught in the tsunami was mugged. Now with all this happening in the U.S. we can easily see where the civilized part of the world's population is."

I wonder if they're right, though. Would the rest of the world have reacted any better if put in similar circumstances? Somehow I doubt it.

As we do examine what this situation says about our culture, the fact is, as we look at those who so desperately are needing help, there is no escaping that race has become a subtext to the unfolding drama of the hurricane's aftermath.

While hundreds of thousands of people have been dislocated by Hurricane Katrina, the images that have filled the television screens have been mainly of black Americans -- grieving, suffering, in some cases looting and desperately trying to leave New Orleans.

"To me," said Bernadette Washington, "it just seems like black people are marked. We have so many troubles and problems."

While race or their socioeconomic class shouldn't affect how we react to a victim, sadly for some it does.

At that moment, a lady -- white -- came by...and handed her some baby items.

"Bless you," Washington said.

That exchange forced something from Warren Carter: "White man came up to me little while ago and offered me some money. I said thank you, but no thanks. I got money to hold us over. But it does go to show you that racism ain't everywhere."

This isn't the time to analyze why those who are victims are victims, but after the fact, I'm sure it will be a source of much discussion.

Truly, though, underlying all of this is the bottom line. More important than peoples' physical needs are their spiritual ones, and these people seemed to be aware of that:

"It says there'll come a time you can't hide. I'm talking about people. From each other," Bernadette Washington said.

Thomas, the philosopher, waved his bandaged hand. He had a theory: "God's angry with New Orleans. It's an evil city. The worst school system anywhere. Rampant crime. Corrupt politicians. Here, baby, have a potato chip for daddy."

The 2-year-old, Qadriyyah, took a chip from her daddy and gobbled it up. Her face was covered with mosquito bites. But she smiled just to be in daddy's arms.

Thomas continued: "A predominantly black city -- and they're killing each other. God had to get their attention with a calamity. New Orleans ain't seen an earthquake yet. You can get away from a hurricane but not an earthquake. Next time, nobody may get out."

May God's goodness shine on in the midst of this struggle. Our prayers go out to this and all the families facing much today.

The challenges ahead

As the country joins together to recover from Katrina, many challenges await the workers.

The first and foremost seems to be the fixing of the breached levees in New Orleans. As an engineer, tales of how they will stop the flooding are riveting.

Will New Orleans ever return to normal?

A Katrina Disaster

Tonight our hearts go out to those who have lost their home or are struggling to conquer the elements they face after the devastating Hurricane Katrina.

Sadly, there are those taking advantage of the situation:

Denise Bollinger, a tourist from Philadelphia, stood outside and snapped pictures in amazement.
"It's downtown Baghdad," the housewife said. "It's insane. I've wanted to come here for 10 years. I thought this was a sophisticated city. I guess not."
Around the corner on Canal Street, the main thoroughfare in the central business district, people sloshed headlong through hip-deep water as looters ripped open the steel gates on the front of several clothing and jewelry stores.
One man, who had about 10 pairs of jeans draped over his left arm, was asked if he was salvaging things from his store.
"No," the man shouted, "that's EVERYBODY'S store."
Looters filled industrial-sized garbage cans with clothing and jewelry and floated them down the street on bits of plywood and insulation as National Guard lumbered by.
Mike Franklin stood on the trolley tracks and watched the spectacle unfold.
"To be honest with you, people who are oppressed all their lives, man, it's an opportunity to get back at society," he said.

May justice find those who need it.

Triathlon

Congratulations to Mrs. Westy today. Yesterday she completed her first triathlon by placing 25th in her class (out of over 125)!
We started the day early by arriving down at the Accenture Chicago Triathlon by 5:30 and she prepared her spot in the transition area. Her wave began at 7:01 and she was off. Approximately an hour and a half later, she finished the sprint distance. You can view a video of her crossing the finish line here.
It was a great day to be out and enjoying a premier event in a great city. We had fun. Again, congratulations, you did well!

A tragedy

This sad story from Russia outlines a calamity in our modern world.
There are more abortions than births in Russia. Between that and a high infant mortality rate, children are lucky to survive past infancy. This story is a reminder of the continuing struggles for people throughout our world today.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall...

...who's the greatest two guard of them all?

If you were ranking the best shooting guards in today's NBA, who would you put at the top of the list? There's plenty of talent to choose from: Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Ray Allen, etc. (Remember, AI played point last year, so you can't pick him!)

Mike Kahn at FoxSports.com has weighed in on the subject. What do you think?

Addicted to the Sun

Do you tan on a regular basis? If so, do you miss it when you skip it? Research now shows that tanning can be addictive. Now that I think about it, it doesn't surprise me. It does seem like some people are obsessive about staying dark, and I guess this explains it.


It again makes me question, though; why does our culture regard a tan as attractive? This is the opposite of some Asian cultures. And I must admit, I feel like I look better when I have 'some color'. Women spend millions on makeup to make their face appear as if they do. Does our culture affect what we find attractive? If so, what does that say about how we choose who we marry and date? Would we not have been attracted to the same person if we had been raised in a different society?

Environmental Responsibility

So, if you're a Christian, is it one of your responsibilities to be a steward of the environment? Newsweek profiles Allen Johnson, who says it is.
What should a Christian's behavior towards the environment be? Should they use 'green' technology whenever possible? Is it right to drive a car with low gas mileage?
In another bookI'm reading, there is a call to live a simple life--using as few resources as possible.
Is this the right answer?

Taped on location in Kirkuk

Interestingly enough, there is a reality TV show attracting large audiences in Iraq that is modeled after the American show COPS.

Wild on the Range

Here's quite the idea some folks, including Ted Turner, have come up with. They want to bring wild animals from Africa to live here in the Great Plains. The endangered animals would then have a home allowing them to be more closely monitored and be protected within the United States from poaching. This would in their eyes increase the chance for these creatures to gain population and diversity.
I'm not sure everyone would think this is a good idea. But I have to admit, I think it would be pretty cool and I'd be up for it. At least the idea should be explored further.

Walken in '08?

Spend no more time following presidential politics. No need to. The 2008 candidate to vote for has already declared.

Please join me in supporting Christopher Walken in 2008.
Honestly, wouldn't he make a great president? It seems almost to funny to be true.

Country vs. Rap

Dear Valued IJAB Reader,

In order to better understand our target audience, we will be asking you questions periodically. By answering these questions, you will be helping us improve our ability to meet your blog-reading needs.

As we get to know your tendencies, tastes, dreams, and fears, we hope to tailor our posts to connect with the very core of your being. So, while taking into full consideration the seriousness of this matter, please take a moment to answer this week's question:

Do you prefer country or rap?

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
The IJAB Quality Assurance Department

Chip Design

Somewhat big news today in the world of computer processor design.
Intel announced that they will be launching a new platform for their next generation of computer chips. I'm not gonna spend a lot of time analyzing that, but what it makes me think of is how far we've come.

Ten years ago, we were eagerly anticipating the release of Windows '95. We were using Windows 3.1. Remember that? Think of the things that are commonplace now that weren't then.

Had you heard of ICQ let alone the idea behind it (IM'ing)?
How about your cell phone?
Have one of those in '95? What e-mail address were you using? Wait, you didn't HAVE an e-mail address? PDA? No, that wasn't a mass movement yet either. In fact, you still were probably using DOS for many of your programs. It's hard to remember. There are tons of examples, though, if you care to turn the way-back machine to 1995.

And what it makes me think about is what ten years can bring. What might the next ten years bring? Voice recognition cell phone/MP3 player/pda's as powerful as today's laptops? What else is on the horizon?
How about twenty years? Thirty? Time will tell, but it's exciting, eh?

ID

Intelligent Design. A concept that has become the latest buzzword in the 'discussion' between liberals and conservatives.

In this piece the author is outraged that only 28% of Americans believe in evolution while 68% believe in Satan. I'm saddened that only 68% do.

He says,

Ignorance in this degree, concentrated in both the head and belly of a lumbering superpower, is now a problem for the entire world.

What awful effect could this have on the "entire world"? Is it a bad thing that many people disagree with him? I guess I'm just kind of frustrated that he doesn't entirely seem to understand the face of Christianity. He states,

Whether a person is religious or secular, there is nothing more sacred than the facts. Either Jesus was born of a virgin, or he wasn't; either there is a God who despises homosexuals, or there isn't. It is time that sane human beings agreed on the standards of evidence necessary to substantiate truth-claims of this sort. The issue is not, as ID advocates allege, whether science can "rule out" the existence of the biblical God.

There are an infinite number of ludicrous ideas that science could not "rule out," but which no sensible person would entertain. The issue is whether there is any good reason to believe the sorts of things that religious dogmatists believe -- that God exists and takes an interest in the affairs of human beings.

He's right, there are facts. There is only one right answer. However, in the truth that is, God does not despise homosexuals any more than he does you or me. In fact, God despises sin but loves us (Romans 5:8). The sad thing is, from the tone of the article, I don't think anyone's ever made this clear to the author.

Intelligent design will be an issue that brings to the forefront each person's intellectual leaning. One will need to remain logical and rational in order to reach correct conclusions.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my wife TODAY!

We celebrated by taking in a Cubs game and going out to eat twice. Very fun.

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

I have no idea about Ms. Sandiego's whereabouts, but I do know where this guy (at right) lives. If you know who this guy is and what he does, then you might view the above picture in a whole new light.

If you don't know who this guy is or what he does, then consider this a puzzle for the inquisitive mind. (I'd give you a hint, but this guy insisted that I keep you in the dark.)

Also, you might like to check out a bigger version of this map that includes North America. It's simply dazzling.

On the road again.

Great news for my industry today. President Bush signed into law SAFETEA:LU (that's short for a mouthful: Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act-Legacy for Users). This federal transportation bill will provide funding for all transportation-related planning, design, and construction over the next five years. President Bush signed the bill right here in Montgomery, IL.

The location was of course no coincidence as it's in the home district of House speaker Dennis Hastert. And of course, Denny came home with funding for his pet project, the Prairie Parkway.

Critics of the bill charge that it is filled with pork. Obviously I'm biased, but I think this is a great bill for America. Transportation spending is sorely needed and, in my opinion, money well spent.


Now sure, there is some pork to be had in the bill (especially for Alaska-- thanks to Donald Young), but again, most of the projects are needed, and will provide people like me a job. Now, how's that a waste of money?

Homeward Bound

The Discovery space shuttle is scheduled to land on earth at 4:46 am EST tomorrow morning (Monday). It's going to be very emotional for many people, especially the families of the 2003 Columbia tragedy.

It's all on the line, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Let's bring 'em home safe...

EDIT: The space shuttle landing was delayed due to weather. Scheduled landing is now 4:07 Tuesday morning.

EDIT: Picture says it all...

Welcome Aboard

Speaking of Greg (the guest blogger I mentioned below), I'm proud to announce that he will be joining "It's Just A Blog" as a contributor as of today! Greg is a college friend of mine, a wonderful writer, and full of fantastic thoughts, and so I invited him to join my effort here. I am confident you'll enjoy his work. I'll leave him to introduce himself further if he desires, but watch for his contributions soon.
As well, my wife (aka SheWesty) will also soon be adding her own posts. Between the 3 of us, I hope you stay entertained/informed.

Short Term Service Trips-- Worth It?

I saw an interesting post recently by one of my college friends (who was guest blogging on another's site) on the topic of whether short term service trips by [typically] well off citizens of the world to less-fortunate countries are worth it.
It's an interesting discussion, and one that causes me to at least stop and think about the trips I've personally been able to make. I think it is important for a person to examine where their own mind and heart are at when they choose to embark on a trip such as this. But in my case, I do feel confident it was a trip of value.

Joy in Sorrow

A sad story this week from Virginia.

A brain-dead mother delivered early a healthy baby girl. She then died the next day. Long story short, Susan Torres had succumbed to melanoma, however, not before adding to her legacy by carrying her child long enough for it to survive. Truly it was a bittersweet week for dad and son as they welcomed a new baby girl into the family while they said goodbye to their wife and mom.

Her family decided to keep her alive long enough to give her baby the chance at survival. What I don't get is why was this controversial? Wouldn't any family in this situation have done the same?

NBA

The largest trade in NBA history went down tonight. Twelve players and five teams were a part of it.

Involving such players as Eddie Jones, Jason Williams, and Antoine Walker, this trade will definitely have an impact on the Eastern Conference playoffs. Will Miami be the favorite in the East?

Eureka Springs

I'm back from our quick little trip down to the Arkansas Ozarks and figured I'd share with y'all at least one of the cool things we saw there.
I was quite impressed with the town of Eureka Springs, AR. It's an historic town with a very picturesque downtown that's been almost completely restored. Read more about it here.

If you were ever to be in the area, I'd recommend staying in this town at one of the many Victorian bed & breakfasts. A very cool locale.

The Ozarks

So today we're off for a long weekend in the Arkansas Ozarks with my family.

I really don't remember what the Ozarks look like (haven't been through that part of the country in a LONG time), and so it should be a fun experience. It will at least make for an interesting drive down as we pass through rural Missouri and Arkansas on the way to our destination near the Wal-Mart headquarters. We don't have a lot of plans as to what we'll be doing, but we're hoping to have a nice relaxing long weekend and see some good scenery.

And so, everyone, have a great weekend. I'll be back next week.

Chicago Skyscraper

The home to the world's first skyscraper may soon be home to another mammoth one. Plans are being made for the nation's tallest skyscraper to be built across Lakeshore Drive from Navy Pier.
The building is being created by Santiago Calatrava, the Spanish 'starchitect', for Christopher Carley, a Chicago developer. As can be seen, it's a pretty cool building.

A lot would need to be done before the building actually began, and it's likely it wouldn't be unopposed. It does seem a little out of scale to the buildings around it, and I wouldn't be surprised if Chicago tries to scale it down a bit. The funniest part of this whole thing is the war of words between Donald Trump, who's also building a new tower in Chicago, and Carley. Trump said:

In this climate, I would not want to build that building. Nor would I want to live in that building. Nobody is going to want to live in a building that's a target.

Any bank that would put up money to build a building like that would be insane.

Carley responded, referring to Trump's building,

I wonder where the insanity limit is? It must be just over 1,360 feet.

I hope the building happens, however. Chicago is one of the world's premier cities, full of works by great architects, and this would only add to that.

Heat

Today was the hottest day in Chicago since I moved here. It was hot!
We reached over 100 degrees, and I have to admit, I spent the afternoon indoors as it was a bad day to be out and about.
Let's hope that the rest of the summer is a little cooler--right now we're mired in a drought and the summer has been hotter than normal. It would be nice to get some cooler days.

Perspective

In a world our size, we can easily lose perspective on our place in it. An article I read yesterday reminded me again that we live in a blessed country.
The article describes a visit by some NBA players, as a part of the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program, to a poor part of China. The program has taken players to Africa, South America, and Europe, besides Asia. The author notes that if every NBA player were required to take part in a trip like this, many of the game's off-the-court problems would be helped. The players involved say that they get more from the trip than they could ever give. It truly is a great reminder of what one can learn from engaging a society less well-off than our own.
It reminded me of another set of articles from 2003 by ESPN's Chad Ford describing the first year's program in Africa, also well worth reading (if they were accessible-- I can't see that they are). This might give you a taste.
My wife and I last spring had the chance to take a similar trip to Bolivia and Peru. We helped some Quechuans in Cochabamba, Bolivia build their church before hiking the Incan Trail to Machu Picchu. It was an experience that, like the NBA players in the articles above, moved both of us. Despite living in circumstances less than what we felt were adequate (1 outhouse for the entire neighborhood), the people we worked alongside were so excited to welcome us and befriend us that they bent over backwards to serve us with what little physical means they could.
I would encourage anyone who has not had the chance to go on a short term outreach or missions trip, such as one of these, to go and help wherever needed, wherever it is you feel called to go.

Implosion

So what do you do when you realize that your campus needs some newly upgraded dorms?

Iowa State decided they would do this.

Link of the Day -- Wikipedia

If you haven't found it yet, I'd encourage you to check out the awesome new open-source online encyclopedia called Wikipedia.
The name comes from the web page concept known as a 'wiki', whereby any person can change what's shown on the site.
Basically this is an online encyclopedia that you can contribute to. If you know more than is in an entry, log in and edit it.
The site has become massive, and thus, very useful.
There's lots of room to explore. I could spend hours jumping from page to page.
There's lots cool you can find, and the best part is you can add to it if something is lacking. Say for instance, you want to contribute to Chicago's entry, you can do so here.

Genealogy

Recently I have kind of gotten into outlining my family tree. As an American, I am kind of a motley mix of ancestral origins, and so that was my impetus. I have researched all my grandparents' ancestors back to their country of origin and have done two of my wife's as well.

I have determined that I am 3/8 Norwegian, 1/4 Finnish, 1/4 German, and 1/8 Danish; so largely Scandinavian.

I use the Family Tree Maker software to enter in all my data, which enables me to be able to produce some great printouts and other various producibles showing my family history.

My next step is to take this further. Recently, National Geographic in conjunction with IBM, geneticist Spencer Wells, and the Waitt Family Foundation has launched the National Genographic Project. This project seeks to map the movement (through testing of either your paternal or maternal genograph) of humans through history. They aim to test every people group and produce a full report on the paths of human interaction in our past. For $99, you can sign up to participate by providing your own DNA. This cost helps sponsor the project and will give them a data set while providing you with your genographic history. While I have not yet signed up myself, I have to admit that this is something that I would think would be very cool to know.

One Smart Parrot

So, I never realized that parrots are as smart as they are. Apparently, a parrot has been shown to possibly understand the concept of 'zero'. That's pretty amazing considering you're dealing with an animal with a brain the size of a walnut.
The other interesting thing is just how hard the concept of zero is. Kids don't get it until around age 4 and many of our ancestors didn't have a word for it until the 1600's. Cool to think that with a bit of calculus, we can now handle indeterminate forms, infinity, and zero functions.

Yuppies

So it appears the term yuppie was coined right here in Chicago. As in: Lincoln Park is home to many of Chicago's yuppies.
A yuppie for those who don't know is a y-oung u-rban p-rofessional.
Pretty cool, another random Chicago claim to fame.

The Emerging Church

Today I thought I'd take the chance to point you towards an interesting summary listing some of the tension points felt as the culture of 'church' changes in our era.

Much has been made of the "emerging church" as evangelical Christianity continues to grow in this new century. The tension arises as members of the "traditional church" bristle at the change occurring around them. A good synopsis of this movement (some have called it a mood) is available in the first couple pages of a book called Reclaiming the Center: Confronting Evangelical Accommodation In Postmodern Times. Also check here for another resource on what the emerging church is.

What will become of this 'movement' remains to be seen, but it will certainly be interesting to watch the shifts in religious cultural norms over the next twenty years.

Africa

Last week the G8 summit met in Scotland mainly to discuss aid to countries stuck in poverty, especially in Africa. The global impact on our climate was also discussed, but the biggest issue was the potential to help those countries who need it. Many around the world campaigned for drastic changes.
Much of the focus has been on Africa and the struggles with poverty and AIDS its residents face. The fate of our fellow members of humanity is certainly our responsibility. However, it is a two-way street. Throwing money at a corrupt government will not solve the problems they face; there needs to be some work done from within. I thought this article in Newsweek provided a good summary.
The G8 summit did conclude with some encouraging results, although not as many as some had hoped. I'm sure we haven't heard the last of these issues.

A Tragedy

Today another terror attack has grabbed the world's attention.
Our hearts and prayers go out to those in London.

This sort of event only serves to remind us of the risks within our own daily path.
But, I firmly believe that we are not to live lives of fear and I would encourage us to continue on as each day will take us.

What is the universe made of?

Have you ever found yourself asking the 'big' questions of science? Are there answers to many of the toughest ones out there?

• What is the universe made of?
• Why do humans have so few genes?
• Are we alone in the universe?
• How and where did life on Earth arise?

Science magazine is tackling these and more in their latest issue. They attempt to answer the top 25 questions currently outstanding in science as a way of celebrating their 125th anniversary. It makes for absolutely fascinating reading and so I encourage you to check it out.

Happy Independence Day!

Here's hoping everyone had an absolutely great 4th of July.
In honor of our country's Independence Day, here's a little trivia:
What year was the Constitution, that source of our country's law, written?
And here's a hint, it wasn't 1776.

A Church-State Solution?

Amongst Americans, even amongst evangelicals, there is often no consensus on exactly what role religion, especially Christianity, should play in government. This issue is becoming one of the forefront ones facing us today and has impact on many of the other issues as well.

The debate comes down to what one thinks the nonestablishment clause in the Constitution means and whether one thinks that defines a clear 'separation of church and state' (a phrase not found in the Constitution). I have a hard time believing that many of the founding fathers would have approved of this enforcement of that clause.

This weekend in the NYT Magazine, a potential solution (so defined by the author) is offered. Methinks the author was a bit too ambitious in his attempt to rewrite a few decades of law in order to come up with something that is 'potentially' less divisive. The article provides an interesting synopsis of the issue, however, and thus for someone interested in living by God's moral code rather than our country's, it was interesting.

Personally, I bet the future will tend towards even more schismatic politics. And I'm not sure where that leaves us.

Link of the Day -- craigslist

If you haven't been there before, check out the world's largest classifieds.

Craigslist was begun by (imagine this) a guy named Craig in the SanFran area and has grown into the best place to buy/sell stuff (outside of an auction format like EBay) in cities.
For some good browsing, check it out.

Google Earth

Well, Google has done it again. Maybe that's why their stock is soaring...
The newest application from Google is called Google Earth. It is the next generation of their prior maps and satellite photos feature.
Though difficult to describe in words, let's just say that this is one of the most fun applets I've used in quite some time. And the best part? It's free! Basically a fully-loaded user-friendly GIS application is now out there for any of us to use. PC World says,

Google Earth is that spellbinding; it ranks among the best free downloads in the history of free downloads.

This piece of software allows you to jump to most addresses in the USA or cities in the world. You can dynamically pan in and out with various layers, in addition to the aerials, turned on. Not only that, but you can tilt and rotate your view dynamically. As well, buildings come in as 3D if you choose (in certain areas). Seriously, although I love maps, and thus may be biased, it's one of the coolest things I've seen online in awhile. It gives one tremendous hope for the potential the future holds for computing.
I would encourage everyone who enjoys technology to download it.

Billy Graham

One of the great evangelists of our time has just completed what will likely be his last revival in America.
Billy Graham preached to an estimated 230,000 people this weekend in Queens, New York City.
Truly, it will be an end of an era when this man dies.

Scientology

So Tom Cruise has made a little noise lately...
This morning, he was involved in a somewhat tense interview with Matt Lauer on The Today Show. Basically, he was espousing his viewpoint that psychiatry is not a real science and that antidepressants should never be used. This is of course based on his religious belief in Scientology.

So many at this point in time may be wondering, what exactly is Scientology? We know that many stars 'follow' it, but what is it all about? Well, let's see if I can fill us in a bit.
The basis of Scientology is this:

Earthlings were invaded millions of years ago by alien souls sent here from outer space.

Wow, that sounds a little out there! So the idea is that only through Scientology can you rid your soul of its alien invader.

Scientology was invented in 1951 by L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction author. He had just written Dianetics:The Modern Science of Mental Health, a book used as a basis for Scientology. Since then, the religion has grown to a claimed size of ~8 million people. The belief system is much more complex than can be completely analyzed here, but there are several places that have done it for us:

• This site offers a thorough scholarly review of what Scientology is all about, including comparing it to and analyzing whether it could coexist with other religions.
• This site claims that much of what Scientology teaches is a lie.

Suffice to say that if you practice a religion, it is likely incompatible with Scientology. For instance, Hubbard called Jesus' crucifixion a false memory and considered Christianity to be false. Of course from Christianity's perspective, Scientology would be considered a cult.

Personally, I find it difficult to believe that a serious seeker of truth would find it in Scientology.

Gay Marriage

The New York Times Magazine on Sunday ran an article on the anti- gay marriage movement in America. Although poorly titled, once you got into the article, it did give an interesting picture of the movement's frontline activists. Much of it was quite fair and it is a good primer for someone unfamiliar with the issues being fought over.
However, one main line I disagreed with the author on was this:

But, of course, the Christian activists aren't vague in their opposition. For them, the issue isn't one of civil rights, because the term implies something inherent in the individual -- being black, say, or a woman -- and they deny that homosexuality is inherent. It can't be, because that would mean God had created some people who are damned from birth, morally blackened.

This last line is a typical misunderstanding of evangelical Christianity. In fact, not only has God created "some people" who are by rights "damned", but we all are. For it says in the Bible (Christianity's handbook) that "all" have sinned and thus fall short of God's standard. Someone practicing homosexuality is no different than you or I in the fact that we sin. Thus, the central premise of Christianity is that we are redeemed not of ourselves but because of Jesus.

This has ramifications on this issue because if this is what the author, after all his interviews and interactions with activists, thinks, imagine what the gay couple in one brief, contentious conversation would. The lesson that the Christian community must communicate is that we all are wicked but we all are offered grace.

In the author's conclusion he says, in describing an encounter between a lesbian couple and an anti- gay marriage activist, that:

What was expressed as love was received as something close to hate. That's a hard gap to bridge.

And he's right, that is a tough gap to bridge, however, for Christians, that is the task.

The Virtues Of Dirt

So which do you think is healthier for your child? If you keep them scrubbed and very clean or if you allow them to be quite a mess? While not quite that cut and dry, the hygiene hypothesis says it's the latter.
In today's Chicago Tribune, an op-ed piece asks parents to let their kids be kids and put those antibacterial wipes away. Bring on the pets and dirty playmates because it could keep your child healthier.
I have to admit, it makes a lot of sense to me.

Chicago's Team?

As you know, Chicago has two baseball teams. In a metro region this size, there should be no problem supporting both of them. Right?
Sadly, that isn't so. The Tribune says:

Total paid attendance for each club for the three dates: Cubs 19,410; Sox 56,609.

Think I reversed the numbers? Wasn't it the Cubs with more fans? Wrong, think again. The year is 1962, and the White Sox are the hands down city favorites. Crazy, eh?
Crazy because today the situation has reversed. The White Sox are the first place team in the division, but the fans aren't seeming to follow. Meanwhile, the Cubs consistently sell out. Even the Wall Street Journal has an article about the Sox fans' apathy despite their best record in baseball status.
The reasons for the Cubs' popularity over the White Sox today as compared to then are hard to nail down, but most people would say it's because of Wrigley Field. I might disagree. I think it may be because of the neighborhoods around the parks. If the City of Chicago had done a little better job of bringing in/allowing the same types of businesses around the *former Comiskey* Cell as surround Wrigley, I think it would be a different/the same story.

Link of the Day -- Paul Shirley's Blog

Who, you might be asking, is Paul Shirley? Well, after reading his playoff blog (on the heels of his successful regular season blog), you'll know he's likely the funniest, most well-spoken NBA player. I'll leave it at that.
You have to read it for yourself. And I will add, my wife was even laughing out loud at parts of this. Enjoy.

I'm back.

And so is the Class Matters series from the New York Times. Sunday's article was a fascinating one about a woman right here in Chicago who has made the jump from extreme poverty to the middle class. It's an absolutely riveting article yet again.
The most dynamic bit to me was the fact that her oldest children (one who had been profiled by the NYT earlier in 1993), who matured while she was still struggling, are stuck repeating the failures she made earlier. This even while her youngest, blessed with things the oldest didn't have, are succeeding.
How little difference might there be between a child who "makes it" and one who doesn't?

Wedding Bells

Well, I'm taking off today for my sister-in-law's wedding this weekend. (Read all about it here.) Thus, I may not be posting as often, but if I am able to, consider it a bonus.
Have a great week.
And here's wishing Becca and George a wonderful wedding day and a blessed happy marriage.

Grades

Today the Boston Globe published John Kerry's college grades. Lo and behold, guess who did not perform any better than W. Bush??
They attended the same school and likely took similar classes. So is it so obvious anymore which is brighter?
While not a stellar mark on either's record, this likely is somewhat of a surprise to a portion of the voting public.
It's all history now, though.

Link of the Day -- Baby Name Wizard

So if you read yesterday's post, you heard that one of the topics in Freakonomics is baby names. In fact, a whole chapter is devoted to it.
Well, in the spirit of that, let me point you to one of the coolest baby name sites out there. Baby Name Wizard is an applet that allows you to see how a name ranks and has ranked across time. I quickly spent a half hour trying different names and attempting to correlate certain patterns with certain types of names. All in all a fascinating site, which I'm sure you'll waste some time at. Good work to the creator.

Book of the Day -- Freakonomics

Today I finished reading one of the current non-fiction bestsellers, and I would love to recommend it, as I loved it. The book is Freakonomics.
If you've ever asked questions that buck conventional wisdom, this book is for you. It's a book written by Steven Levitt, a renowned economist at the University of Chicago, and Stephen Dubner, a writer for the New York Times, and it is mostly about studies Levitt has completed. He has applied his economics background to largely social science questions and by using his knack for asking the right questions, he has used data to show us a plethora of interesting, and often surprising, things. Being a bit of a numbers guy myself, I immensely enjoyed this book.
If you've ever wondered what caused crime to fall in the mid-90's or what makes a good parent or will my child's name matter, this is the book for you. If you are a fan of turning conventional wisdom on its head, this is definitely the book for you. And if you enjoy a good non-fiction read, and enjoy finding the truth in the world around us, make this one of the next books you read.
You will see I have linked the authors' blog on the right, and from there, you can browse to the book's website. Both are great clicks. Baseball fans take note of some of the comment-generating posts Levitt has made on baseball...

Link of the Day -- The Presurfer

Hey folks, just wanted to throw up a link of the day. Today's is The Presurfer. He calls his blog a Daily Dose of Diversion.
The Presurfer was one of the first blogs I began reading, and the links he finds satisfy the curiousity for quirky links we all have. I'm sure you'll find something there to click.

Darwin on Trial

Last week, the Chicago Tribune ran a profile of Phillip Johnson. He is what some call the 'Father of Intelligent Design.' Being as that has been in the news lately, it is appropriate to examine who Mr. Johnson is.
Most everyone seems to know the issues at hand. The intelligent design movement is one that looks at evolution and sees the holes in it. It also sees indications of beings designed so complexly that they could only have been designed intelligently. Phillip Johnson was one of the first to espouse this viewpoint, and made it widely known through his book, "Darwin on Trial." Another famous example of this perspective is found in "Darwin's Black Box," by Michael Behe.
Now, as many states are attempting to decide whether to teach this concept alongside evolution in their classrooms, I'd encourage you to read "Darwin on Trial" to learn firsthand exactly what the discussion is about. I have read the book, and the fundamental flaws in the evolutionary theory do seem at times to be potentially insurmountable. Of course, it is the best naturalistic possibility we have, and thus, science sticks with it. Would an intelligent creator be a blow to science? That is the question that needs asking.