Month: July 2007

We hold these truths to be self-evident

George Cruey takes an interesting look at the philosophy behind our Declaration of Independence and how a chance by Ben Franklin took the rational for our independence beyond the Christian/spiritual realm and made it something all men can understand.

If Jefferson’s “sacred” had been left in, the Arabs of Iraq and the Hindus of India could have looked at Democracy (at least in light of our Declaration of Independence) and said, “Ha, Christians! What do they know?” As a result of Franklin’s change, the idea became rational (and secular) instead of being based on revelation from God.

Read his thoughts for yourself. Do you think the change was necessary, worthwhile, important?

Indiana Jones 4 being filmed at Yale

Indiana Jones 4 is being filmed now at the New Haven, Conn. Yale campus. I can’t wait! The film should be coming out next summer.
For whatever reason I had the Indiana Jones theme stuck in my head and listening to the NPR story about the filming is getting me super excited hearing the music again…. did I mention I can’t wait?!
From NPR:

Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Harrison Ford have chosen Yale as the backdrop to the latest Indy adventure, they’ve chosen the classic Gothic spires of Yale University’s Ivy League campus, which has also been featured in other Hollywood films starring Julia Roberts and Uma Thurman.
But the city may never see anything like this again: a vintage 1950s storefront with colorful ’57 Chevys and Studebakers parked outside. Signs for fallout shelters and ads for Vitalis decorate a block gone retro.

Nepal goddess stripped of her title

From NPR:

The young Nepali goddess Sajani Shakya has been stripped of her title — apparently because of her visit to the U.S. to promote a documentary in which she was featured.
Elders in Nepal have said the trip tainted her purity, and purity for a goddess is everything.

I wonder what that says about the U.S. that we’re so “unpure” that we can strip a goddess of her title. Also, isn’t it good to know that God is pure and holy and true no matter what country he’s in?
What a relief that is.

Hamas frees BBC journalist

From NPR:

Alan Johnston, the BBC reporter held hostage by Islamist militants since March, has been freed. At the time of his capture, Johnston was the only Western journalist working full-time in Gaza. The Hamas movement seized full control of Gaza three weeks ago…
Hamas had demanded Johnston’s freedom since it violently seized control of Gaza last month, apparently hoping to curry favor with the West. On Tuesday, Hamas gunmen took positions around Army of Islam’s stronghold, stepping up the pressure to secure his release.

Where was this camp when I was a kid?

From CNet:

There truly is something for everyone in summer camp these days. Just in time for July 4, The New York Times reports on a summer camp that’s a blast. The University of Missouri-Rolla engineering school offers a Summer Explosives Camp that teaches campers how to blow things up.
From watermelons to tree stumps to a 50-foot-high wall of quarry rock, the controlled mayhem serves a purpose, to boost the dwindling ranks of mining and explosives engineers.

Now granted we probably blew half that stuff up at Hidden Acres or in Matt’s backyard without paying for a camp – but camp would have been a lot more fun if we had been able to blow stuff up without getting in trouble.