According to this story, Florida's Board of Education will be adding evolution to the state's science standards. See, it is this brand new theory that...never mind. Cutting edge, aren't they?
But wait! They must teach it as a theory, not as a fact! Of course it is a theory. So is gravity. Great Cthulhu's cochlea, people-almost all of science is theory.
The thing I hate the most about the Creationist movement is the dishonesty. Because the popular usage of the word theory translates into roughly the same meaning as the word idea, by making sure to include it in (only) this case they are deliberately misleading their own kids. Don't you want little Sally to do well in college someday? Shouldn't that be a bit more important than making sure nothing challenges the idea that the world was made in six days?
Now I don't care what someone believes. If you want to believe that the Earth was made from the blood and bones of Ymir the Frost Giant-hey, whatever floats your boat. That isn't what this is about.
The Theory of Evolution has withstood the most strenuous attempts at debunking for a century and a half. Why these constant attempts? Because it contradicts a literal interpretation of the Bible.
So does Intelligent Design. ID is the idea that Someone (wink, wink; nudge, nudge) set up everything to indirectly create Us. This isn't what the Bible says. So why bother?
Evolution is a huge part of all biological science. So even if you disagree with it, shouldn’t your child understand it? The sad fact is, in my area I find that few people have the remotest idea what the theory even says. It causes such controversy that it is glossed over to avoid problems.
Ah, well. I just bought Carl Sagan’s book The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark. Maybe someday more people will agree that the darkness is only scary when we think it contains monsters.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
How I Read
Currently I am reading How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill. This will be the next book I blog about. I thought this might be a good time to explain how I read.
First, I read the book to get an overview of it. After this, I typically write a brief paragraph. Then I go the book through more carefully, taking notes and contemplating what it says. Even a short book like How the Irish Saved Civilization will likely cover several entries.
Fiction works a bit differently. I read the whole thing to get an idea of how it turns out, then I analyze the plot as a whole. The primary difference is that I judge fiction based on artistic merits or entertainment value, while I judge nonfiction on what I learned, with entertainment factor and style as distant contributing factors.
First, I read the book to get an overview of it. After this, I typically write a brief paragraph. Then I go the book through more carefully, taking notes and contemplating what it says. Even a short book like How the Irish Saved Civilization will likely cover several entries.
Fiction works a bit differently. I read the whole thing to get an idea of how it turns out, then I analyze the plot as a whole. The primary difference is that I judge fiction based on artistic merits or entertainment value, while I judge nonfiction on what I learned, with entertainment factor and style as distant contributing factors.
Hulk-The End Part Three
Summary of Hulk-The End
WARNING: This is a work of fiction. I will be discussing the plot in this post. If you don't want to know the ending, do not read this post.
This is an strange story to summarize. Very little actually happens in the story. Mostly it is a monologue by Bruce Banner with occasional interruptions by the Hulk persona.
The story has Bruce Banner walking about in a deserted wasteland. The world had at some point destroyed itself with nuclear fire. The only survivors are Hulk/Bruce Banner and cockroaches-who have mutated into monstrous new forms. At some point a recorder android had arrived to record the end of mankind, leaving a recording probe to await the death of Banner. Eventually Banner’s physical form can no longer survive and he dies-leaving only the Hulk.
Analysis:
First I’ll comment on the art of Dale Keown. It is fantastic. The Hulk looks, powerful, brutal, and menacing. Fantastic images abound in this graphic novel that truly deserves the term.
This is the greatest Hulk story ever, though you wouldn’t know it from the summary. This is because most of the drama is internal.
This story examines the Hulk from several different angles. One is the Hulk as symbol. The subtitle of the story is The Last Titan. Within the story this is expanded. Prometheus gave man fire. For this transgression he was chained to a great rock and a vulture ate his liver each day. The Hulk was born in the dawning of the Nuclear Age. He was one of the first. Mankind’s knowledge of nuclear fire would destroy it, and the Hulk pays for it by being devoured by the bugs each day, only to regenerate.
There is also the futility of the Hulk’s wrath. In the end, Banner sees eternity stretching out before him. An eternity of peace and being reunited with those that he has lost. In an interesting twist, it is presented in a way that he may simply be hallucinating. However, the Hulk will not go. He ignores Banner’s pleading and changes to avoid going with him. Raging against the dying of the light indeed.
Finally, there is the futility of power. In the end, mankind’s power destroyed it. In the end, the power of the world’s superheroes could not save them or the world. In the end, the Hulk’s power leaves him utterly, totally alone.
The final words are haunting, especially given the Hulk’s oft-repeated mantra of “Hulk just wants to be left alone!”
“Hulk feels...
...cold.”
WARNING: This is a work of fiction. I will be discussing the plot in this post. If you don't want to know the ending, do not read this post.
This is an strange story to summarize. Very little actually happens in the story. Mostly it is a monologue by Bruce Banner with occasional interruptions by the Hulk persona.
The story has Bruce Banner walking about in a deserted wasteland. The world had at some point destroyed itself with nuclear fire. The only survivors are Hulk/Bruce Banner and cockroaches-who have mutated into monstrous new forms. At some point a recorder android had arrived to record the end of mankind, leaving a recording probe to await the death of Banner. Eventually Banner’s physical form can no longer survive and he dies-leaving only the Hulk.
Analysis:
First I’ll comment on the art of Dale Keown. It is fantastic. The Hulk looks, powerful, brutal, and menacing. Fantastic images abound in this graphic novel that truly deserves the term.
This is the greatest Hulk story ever, though you wouldn’t know it from the summary. This is because most of the drama is internal.
This story examines the Hulk from several different angles. One is the Hulk as symbol. The subtitle of the story is The Last Titan. Within the story this is expanded. Prometheus gave man fire. For this transgression he was chained to a great rock and a vulture ate his liver each day. The Hulk was born in the dawning of the Nuclear Age. He was one of the first. Mankind’s knowledge of nuclear fire would destroy it, and the Hulk pays for it by being devoured by the bugs each day, only to regenerate.
There is also the futility of the Hulk’s wrath. In the end, Banner sees eternity stretching out before him. An eternity of peace and being reunited with those that he has lost. In an interesting twist, it is presented in a way that he may simply be hallucinating. However, the Hulk will not go. He ignores Banner’s pleading and changes to avoid going with him. Raging against the dying of the light indeed.
Finally, there is the futility of power. In the end, mankind’s power destroyed it. In the end, the power of the world’s superheroes could not save them or the world. In the end, the Hulk’s power leaves him utterly, totally alone.
The final words are haunting, especially given the Hulk’s oft-repeated mantra of “Hulk just wants to be left alone!”
“Hulk feels...
...cold.”
Sunday, February 17, 2008
An Atheist in the Bible Belt
One of my favorite blogs is that of Atheist in a Minivan/PossumMomma. I found this post particularly inspiring.
I am an atheist living in Northwest Arkansas. This is not a great place to be an atheist. Atheism is not particularly popular here-witness the following column from the local paper.
Ignoring the horrible reasoning of the author, he does seem to represent the view of a lot of people here. At the very least, I have found few Christians who disagree with the sentiments-at best they may admit that he may have "phrased it a bit strongly."
I hope to see a growing number of atheist groups. One of the hardest things about being an atheist deep in the Bible Belt is the feeling of isolation. I know very few atheists, though quite a few agnostics. Religion is such a part of the shared experience in my area yet I cannot share that experience myself. At times when I was younger it was a lonely feeling. I hope to live to see a time when atheists don't feel like they need to be in the closet as I sometimes still do.
I am an atheist living in Northwest Arkansas. This is not a great place to be an atheist. Atheism is not particularly popular here-witness the following column from the local paper.
Ignoring the horrible reasoning of the author, he does seem to represent the view of a lot of people here. At the very least, I have found few Christians who disagree with the sentiments-at best they may admit that he may have "phrased it a bit strongly."
I hope to see a growing number of atheist groups. One of the hardest things about being an atheist deep in the Bible Belt is the feeling of isolation. I know very few atheists, though quite a few agnostics. Religion is such a part of the shared experience in my area yet I cannot share that experience myself. At times when I was younger it was a lonely feeling. I hope to live to see a time when atheists don't feel like they need to be in the closet as I sometimes still do.
The Hulk-The End Part 2
Summary of Future Imperfect #2:
WARNING: This is a work of fiction. I will be discussing the plot in this post. If you don't want to know the ending, do not read this post.
The first issue ended with a face-off between the Hulk and his future self. The second issue begins with the result-the Hulk flying through the air courtesy of the Maestro. The fight between the two is short-the Maestro's experience and trickery help him to beat the Hulk. The fight ends when he snaps his neck.
The Hulk awakens to find himself mostly paralyzed, with a servant girl attending to his every need. The Maestro is attempting to turn him to his own side. He believes that the Hulk's journey through time has created an alternating timeline, as the Maestro has no recollection of these events.
As time passes the Maestro takes the Hulk to the Wastelands. A small community struggles to exist there. The Maestro is reintroducing nutrients to the soil, but demands their daughters for his harem in return.
Maestro continues to explain how humanity destroyed themselves. Only he could survive and attempt to rebuild. For years the world called him a monster-but in the end he won. The Hulk seems to be considering the Maestro's position.
Later that night (presumably), the Maestro's chief minister attempts to assassinate the sleeping Hulk, only to find the rebels have infiltrated the palace. The Hulk is also up and about-he recovered far faster than the Maestro had allowed for. He had continued to feign helplessness in order to lull the Maestro into a false sense of security. The Hulk heads for the Maestro’s sleeping chambers for a final showdown.
Only to be met by a horrendous blast. The Maestro is wielding a weapon designed to kill him.He knew the Hulk had recovered and was waiting for this situation to occur so that he could destroy the rebels once and for all. He begins to track down the injured Hulk.
He tracks him to Rick Jones’ museum. Jones distracts the Maestro and is killed. The Hulk attacks but the Maestro is too strong. The Hulk crawls away, with the Maestro mocking his every move as he closes in for the kill.
Then the Hulk pushes a button.
He activates Doom’s time machine, sending the Maestro to the moment of the gamma bomb test that created him. The Maestro is destroyed in the blast.
Analysis:
This story is a great example of Peter David’s writing. Unlike many comic villains, one can almost empathize with the Maestro. He had been treated as a monster, yet in the end he was the one to survive.
The plot is convoluted with the Hulk and the Maestro constantly trying to outwit each other. It is interesting to note that at no point does the Hulk actually physically beat the Maestro. He beats him by trickery alone.
I personally feel that Peter David writes the Hulk better than anyone. What is interesting about this story is the ambiguity of the characters. While this has become fairly standard these days, it was still unusual enough at the time.
This story doesn’t showcase Peter David at his most brilliant-the next story in this collection does. In the next post I will cover Hulk-The End, which I consider the greatest Hulk story of all time.
WARNING: This is a work of fiction. I will be discussing the plot in this post. If you don't want to know the ending, do not read this post.
The first issue ended with a face-off between the Hulk and his future self. The second issue begins with the result-the Hulk flying through the air courtesy of the Maestro. The fight between the two is short-the Maestro's experience and trickery help him to beat the Hulk. The fight ends when he snaps his neck.
The Hulk awakens to find himself mostly paralyzed, with a servant girl attending to his every need. The Maestro is attempting to turn him to his own side. He believes that the Hulk's journey through time has created an alternating timeline, as the Maestro has no recollection of these events.
As time passes the Maestro takes the Hulk to the Wastelands. A small community struggles to exist there. The Maestro is reintroducing nutrients to the soil, but demands their daughters for his harem in return.
Maestro continues to explain how humanity destroyed themselves. Only he could survive and attempt to rebuild. For years the world called him a monster-but in the end he won. The Hulk seems to be considering the Maestro's position.
Later that night (presumably), the Maestro's chief minister attempts to assassinate the sleeping Hulk, only to find the rebels have infiltrated the palace. The Hulk is also up and about-he recovered far faster than the Maestro had allowed for. He had continued to feign helplessness in order to lull the Maestro into a false sense of security. The Hulk heads for the Maestro’s sleeping chambers for a final showdown.
Only to be met by a horrendous blast. The Maestro is wielding a weapon designed to kill him.He knew the Hulk had recovered and was waiting for this situation to occur so that he could destroy the rebels once and for all. He begins to track down the injured Hulk.
He tracks him to Rick Jones’ museum. Jones distracts the Maestro and is killed. The Hulk attacks but the Maestro is too strong. The Hulk crawls away, with the Maestro mocking his every move as he closes in for the kill.
Then the Hulk pushes a button.
He activates Doom’s time machine, sending the Maestro to the moment of the gamma bomb test that created him. The Maestro is destroyed in the blast.
Analysis:
This story is a great example of Peter David’s writing. Unlike many comic villains, one can almost empathize with the Maestro. He had been treated as a monster, yet in the end he was the one to survive.
The plot is convoluted with the Hulk and the Maestro constantly trying to outwit each other. It is interesting to note that at no point does the Hulk actually physically beat the Maestro. He beats him by trickery alone.
I personally feel that Peter David writes the Hulk better than anyone. What is interesting about this story is the ambiguity of the characters. While this has become fairly standard these days, it was still unusual enough at the time.
This story doesn’t showcase Peter David at his most brilliant-the next story in this collection does. In the next post I will cover Hulk-The End, which I consider the greatest Hulk story of all time.
Hulk-The End Part 1
Yes, I am a geek. To honor my geeky roots I will share my thoughts on a comic book for my first real post. The next post should be more substantial.
The book in question:
Hulk-The End. Hardcover, Marvel Comics 2008.
WARNING: This is a work of fiction. I will be discussing the plot in this post. If you don't want to know the ending, do not read this post.
This is a collection of stories printed earlier. In this case the stories were originally published as Future Imperfect #1-2 and The Incredible Hulk-The End. The link between the two radically different stories is that both are possible futures for the Incredible Hulk.
I'll admit that I rarely read comic books these days. I only buy collected editions, and even that is rare. However, I have always had a fondness for the Hulk. Peter David added a depth and complexity to what is on the surface a very simplistic character. I've been hooked ever since.
Future Imperfect dates from 1992. At that time the multiple personalities of Bruce Banner's fractured psyche were merged together, resulting in him having the Hulk form at all times yet being in control of it. (I know that isn't an absolute case, but I'm writing for everyone here)
Summary of Future Imperfect #1
The story originally took place over two issues. The first introduced the players. We begin by following a group of anti-authority figures as they do...something. We're not sure exactly what they are doing at first. They live in an apparently post-apocalyptic future, inhabiting a city known as Dystopia-not exactly subtle. They soon run afoul of the local authorities, who kill one of them and capture another.
Then the Hulk steps in. He makes short work of the remaining soldiers and imparts a warning to the master of the city-the Maestro. The message that the Incredible Hulk is coming for him.
A messenger tells his lord about the Hulk's arrival. We find out that the Maestro is in fact an aged Hulk.
One of the surviving rebels is a woman named Janis. She takes the Hulk to their secret base (there's always a secret base) under the city. By this point the Hulk is demanding proof of her claims about the future. So she takes him to her leader. Not, not THAT Leader. Their leader is in fact an aged Rick Jones. For those who don't follow comics, Rick Jones was the teenager that Bruce Banner tried to save, becoming the Hulk in the process. He became a companion of many different heroes in the years following this event. He lives in a shine to the fallen heroes of Earth. This is a wonderful homage to modern superheroes and villains. The double paged spread is filled with relics that I myself enjoyed identifying. We also learn that Janis is Rick Jones' granddaughter.
Meanwhile we are given a flashback showing us how the rebels brought the Hulk to the future-with the aid of Doctor Doom's time machine. This leads to Rick Jones telling the Hulk (and us) the history of his version of the future. Mankind fell not to alien threats or the plots of supervillains, but to the old specter of nuclear annihilation. The Maestro built Dystopia, becoming absolute ruler of the few survivors. Rick tells the Hulk the Maestro’s identity as the Maestro leads an invasion of the rebels’ base. The defenses take care of his men, leaving only him.
At the end of the first issue, an elevator slowly raises the Hulk up to face his future self. They both utter the same line:
“Doctor Banner, I presume.”
Analysis:
Peter David wrote this story, with George Perez as the artist. The art is very cluttered and a bit too colorful for my tastes. It is very good, just not my favorite look for the Hulk. I never could get used to him being dressed (relatively) normally either. But that's just me.
Most of Future Imperfect #1 is set up for the fight we know is coming in the next issue. Considering that the writer had to set up a dystopian world, get the modern-day Hulk into it, and get him involved in a rebellion against his future self, I'm alright with that. When I originally read this story, I couldn't wait to see the next issue.
The story up to this point is fairly standard comic-book fare. I personally feel that the next part is far better. Hopefully I'll get to it tomorrow.
The book in question:
Hulk-The End. Hardcover, Marvel Comics 2008.
WARNING: This is a work of fiction. I will be discussing the plot in this post. If you don't want to know the ending, do not read this post.
This is a collection of stories printed earlier. In this case the stories were originally published as Future Imperfect #1-2 and The Incredible Hulk-The End. The link between the two radically different stories is that both are possible futures for the Incredible Hulk.
I'll admit that I rarely read comic books these days. I only buy collected editions, and even that is rare. However, I have always had a fondness for the Hulk. Peter David added a depth and complexity to what is on the surface a very simplistic character. I've been hooked ever since.
Future Imperfect dates from 1992. At that time the multiple personalities of Bruce Banner's fractured psyche were merged together, resulting in him having the Hulk form at all times yet being in control of it. (I know that isn't an absolute case, but I'm writing for everyone here)
Summary of Future Imperfect #1
The story originally took place over two issues. The first introduced the players. We begin by following a group of anti-authority figures as they do...something. We're not sure exactly what they are doing at first. They live in an apparently post-apocalyptic future, inhabiting a city known as Dystopia-not exactly subtle. They soon run afoul of the local authorities, who kill one of them and capture another.
Then the Hulk steps in. He makes short work of the remaining soldiers and imparts a warning to the master of the city-the Maestro. The message that the Incredible Hulk is coming for him.
A messenger tells his lord about the Hulk's arrival. We find out that the Maestro is in fact an aged Hulk.
One of the surviving rebels is a woman named Janis. She takes the Hulk to their secret base (there's always a secret base) under the city. By this point the Hulk is demanding proof of her claims about the future. So she takes him to her leader. Not, not THAT Leader. Their leader is in fact an aged Rick Jones. For those who don't follow comics, Rick Jones was the teenager that Bruce Banner tried to save, becoming the Hulk in the process. He became a companion of many different heroes in the years following this event. He lives in a shine to the fallen heroes of Earth. This is a wonderful homage to modern superheroes and villains. The double paged spread is filled with relics that I myself enjoyed identifying. We also learn that Janis is Rick Jones' granddaughter.
Meanwhile we are given a flashback showing us how the rebels brought the Hulk to the future-with the aid of Doctor Doom's time machine. This leads to Rick Jones telling the Hulk (and us) the history of his version of the future. Mankind fell not to alien threats or the plots of supervillains, but to the old specter of nuclear annihilation. The Maestro built Dystopia, becoming absolute ruler of the few survivors. Rick tells the Hulk the Maestro’s identity as the Maestro leads an invasion of the rebels’ base. The defenses take care of his men, leaving only him.
At the end of the first issue, an elevator slowly raises the Hulk up to face his future self. They both utter the same line:
“Doctor Banner, I presume.”
Analysis:
Peter David wrote this story, with George Perez as the artist. The art is very cluttered and a bit too colorful for my tastes. It is very good, just not my favorite look for the Hulk. I never could get used to him being dressed (relatively) normally either. But that's just me.
Most of Future Imperfect #1 is set up for the fight we know is coming in the next issue. Considering that the writer had to set up a dystopian world, get the modern-day Hulk into it, and get him involved in a rebellion against his future self, I'm alright with that. When I originally read this story, I couldn't wait to see the next issue.
The story up to this point is fairly standard comic-book fare. I personally feel that the next part is far better. Hopefully I'll get to it tomorrow.
Friday, February 15, 2008
About Me
This is my first attempt at a blog. In this blog I will write down whatever strikes me as interesting. Most of this will be what I have read lately. I am an avid reader. Perhaps even an obsessive one. I read fiction, science fiction, religious texts of all religions, philosophy, on rare occasions comics, history, philosophy-about the only thing I don't read is romance novels.
I'm in my late thirties, happily married to a beautiful woman, no children. I'm American, I'm a radical centrist politically, and an atheist-though not a very rabid one.
I hope you enjoy reading. Once there's something to read, of course.
I'm in my late thirties, happily married to a beautiful woman, no children. I'm American, I'm a radical centrist politically, and an atheist-though not a very rabid one.
I hope you enjoy reading. Once there's something to read, of course.
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