Demon-Haunted

Ironic isn't it that my religious friends seem to think the world is becoming more wicked, ruled by Satan, and headed towards its ultimate demise, Armageddon, when really it seems to be an increase in ignorance, majorly perpetrated and propagated by religion, that could cause our demise?

The Tree of Knowledge, ha.

Camp Reports

Sarabelle is up in the northern part of the state, or, as she first referred to it on her Facebook status, "Tallastupidhassee," at the 4-H Legislature, and here are the texts I've received so far:

Monday - We r basically at the place so tell dad ok

Monday - This is gay I want to come home loads of weirdos and nerds and I don't get what I'm supposed to be doing I haaaaaaaaaate thissssssss but yay for sat and sun don't ever make me do this again ok? Love [Sarabelle]

Tuesday - This sucks I hate it and want to come hooooome its so boring it makes me hate politics so much

Wednesday - [Upon receiving word about our given-up-for-dead cat] DID ORLANDO COME BACK??!!?? ps everything is better now I got picked to be an assistant to the secretary of senate which is what I wanted so yayayayayayayay but ya did he come back??? love [Sarabelle]

Meanwhile, Elle is at kayak camp this week with a friend. The wind was gusty Monday and Tuesday which limited their adventuring somewhat, and today's fishing trip looked promising with hardly a breeze this morning, though the wind has since picked up and we are getting some much-needed rain. Grice was able to slide out of kayak camp, her spot given to Elle's friend, as we were awaiting the results of a series of back x-rays. She's been officially diagnosed with scoliosis, how bad I don't know until we can get up to Shriner's for a more in-depth look. She's got a friend camping out at our house for a few days to keep her occupied.

Later next month, all three will be going away to Camp Cloverleaf with 4-H...

Summer Reading Lists

Grice's summer reading list has yielded a few good reads for me. I devoured The Secret Life of Bees, her selection for English, and am onto her honors biology suggested selections now. Can I just try and tell you how happy I was when I saw the choices?

Only a Theory: Evoution and the Battle for America's Soul
Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5 Billion-Year History of the Human Body
The Making of the Fittest: DNA and the Ultimate Forensic Record of Evolution
The Weather Makers: How Man is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth
The Selfish Gene
American Women of Science
Gorillas in the Mist
The Young Charles Darwin
Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love
The Everglades: River of Grass

Yeah, that happy!

That's just the tip of the iceberg. Any Michael Crichton novel can be read with an eye toward analyzing the science behind the fiction, and the teacher welcomed suggestions from students as well. We ran The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by him and received his approval. Students can read and report on either two books or one book and three of NPR's Science Friday podcasts.

It looks like it's going to be a good class.

"Come with us now on a journey through time and space..."

Old Form ancient Greek comedy: All male cast consisting of a handful of performers playing numerous roles; costumed chorus; the agon, or dispute between characters; the parabasis, or choral section halting the action and speaking directly to the audience; scatological and sexual references; ridiculous and surreal plot lines used as a means of discussing political and social realities; pointed satires of well-known individuals.

Sounds like The Mighty Boosh to Sarabelle and me.







Some highlights from Adult Swim: