Idea

     So, for the longest time now I've been having a lot of trouble coming up with posts for this blog. Sometimes it's because I have waaaaaaaaay too much to say, and sometimes because I have nothing to say at all. So, since I mostly made this for myself anyways I've my discipline is somewhat lacking, like right now, I'm supposed to be working on another paper, but I'm doing this instead #irony? So, I guess it would be neat to give myself writing deadline goals that don't have grades attached to them if I fail (plus also they'll be fun!). So! Now to the challenge. Every month I'll give myself a theme (usually a literary one), and will attempt to post at least twice a week with that theme. Since October ends on Wednesday I guess I'll start with November. I can post on anything really as long as its in that theme and is of a reasonable length. My theme for the month of November will be......

Edmund Spencer's Faerie Queene (one of my most favoriteist books ever) Look for it in the month of November!

I don't have time for this

  

   But that's never stopped me before! I keep meaning to post something on here, but I really have nothing interesting in my life at the moment. Midterms will be over tomorrow, but I don't get to breath yet because I have a five page paper due Thursday and a 10 page research paper due Friday. After this week things will get a little better I guess, this weekend I'm going to a symphony and next Tuesday I'm going to an Opera... for free... that's cool I guess. Also, I did read Silver Chair this weekend, I haven't read that one in a long time. Still not my favorite... The rest of my papers won't be due until the end of November, and then there's finals... but after that CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!! I'll tell you what I am ready for a little holiday cheer. Not that I'll get to relax much over the break either though.... Children, being a chronic procrastinator doesn't make your life better. Even if you can do it, doesn't mean you should. Take it from someone who knows. #notworthit.

     Ethics is not as fun of a class as I expected it to be. Because of that I have amended my expectations for next semester and have no illusions about the interestingness of Epistomology (although I still have Hope for Metaphysics). I love my major, but I mostly love electives. In fact, I've arranged my senior year so that I will take nothing but electives. Electives are the classes you actually care about. Like, next fall I will be in a Lord of the Rings class. MY SCHOOL IS OFFERING A LORD OF THE RINGS CLASS!!!! So, on that note I will now mindlessly transition into a geekfest about the new Hobbit trilogy. THEY'RE BRINGING IN THE APPENDICES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH IS THE VOICE OF SMAUG AND THE NECROMANCER AND MARTIN FREEMAN IS BILBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHH! IAN IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN"T WAIT FOR THE 14THHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. So yeah, that Hobbit thing... it'll be pretty cool, I guess... If you're into that sort of thing.

     Thank you for indulging in my procrastination. I think it was a successful attempt to waste time until lunch so that I could eat, and then have to pack my school things which will take the remainder of my time before I have to leave for class so I don't have to work on my paper which I should be doing right now, but am not. Fish.

Beautiful Numbers

      link

      I will freely admit that math is not my favorite subject (I hate it) and that I'm a bit rusty at it (I can't multiply anymore). But recently I've discovered a new form of math, and I'm a bit obsessed. This discovery has caused me to realize that it's not math that I object to so much as the fact that it's taught in a completely abstract and simultaneously (and a bit paradoxically) practical way. It's boring. And Gross. And makes me want to curl up and die.

      But children there's hope! There is another way to learn mathy things that is infinitely more satisfying. It is abstract and concrete at the same time, but without the mundane attachment of the practical. Yes my friends, they're called Fractals. Fractals are a geometric pattern that is repeated (iterated) at ever smaller (or larger) scales to produce (self similar) irregular shapes and surfaces that cannot be represented by classical (Euclidian) geometry. Basically, they're irregular geometric patterns that repeat at varying scales into infinity. Alternately they're the graphical representations of non-linear functions. 

      Fractals take the abstract form of an equation and give it a visual representation. It's like looking at math. And the best part is that these complex equations can be turned into..... ART!!!!!!!!! They lend themselves very well to a sort of abstract expressionism that can be quite beautiful. Fractal artists use computer programs to insert equations and overlay color patterns to, in some cases, create quite masterful works of art.  

     This is especially neat in the ramifications it has for understanding, well everything. In modern society we've tended to separate all of the individual disciplines from one another and this has had a very curious (detrimental) effect on all of them. Basically each discipline has become specialized and narrowed to such a degree that it no longer has any concept of its purpose or place in the world (but that's a whole different subject). It's actually a pity that math has been separated from everything else. Math isn't just abstract equations and stuff. It turns out that all the numbers and equal signs actually mean something!(?) And it also turns out that, eventually, all of the technical disciplines devolve into pure mathematics at some point, and even the whole of the natural world. It was once said to me that Biology is Chemistry, Chemistry is actually Physics, and Physics is actually Mathematics, and this is pretty much true. Nature can be broken down into mathematics. Beauty too can be understood in this way. Music is math. Art - math. Poetry - Math. Boom. So, as it turns out, math is a perfectly wondrous medium for creating art (not even always abstract art. sea shells and plants can represented with relative ease in fractals). And now, for your viewing pleasure Fractal Art:


 Lucid-light's Fly Beautiful, one of my favorites

 by Jeddaka This one looks like the White Tree of Gondor

  by lindeloske Math in nature

 By rsidwell This is my favorite one!

 By rosshilbert This one had a super complicated description and all I can contribute is "This is pretty" :D

There you go. This is my new favorite art form that I only half-way want to do. It honestly represents the order and beauty of God's creation. Everything in creation can be represented by math (or at least that's what many mathematician's claim), and Fractal Art is one way to transform abstract concepts into a concrete visual representation that is filled with beauty and grace. #josephgordinloveitt

Insert Witty Title Here

     

     Do you smell that? It's the smell of achievement. Last year I made a bunch of random doodles that all seemed to cohere into a quirky cast of characters. I taped them to my wall (because what else would you do with such doodles?) which, of course, allowed my sundry of roommates to view them. One of them suggested the crazy idea that I turn them into a sort of strange children's story. Ridiculous right? Of course not. I live to do things like this. And so, an idea was born. But, the question remained: How to turn a bunch of doodles into a compelling and magical story?

     Subsequent weeks were spent drafting characters and world dimensions. I made preliminary plot charts, more plot charts, character sheets, drawings. I wrote the laws of the Universe, and made maps. Finally, I was all set, I was going to go for it in June's Camp NaNOWriMo. I wrote about 2,000 words and realized something dreadful. My plot had one huge, gaping hole which made it impossible to move forward. Why were my villains doing what they were doing, and what were my heroes trying to save everyone from? Of course it would be my villains giving me trouble, although I will admit I've never had this kind of trouble writing before! Usually my plots come perfectly gift-wrapped in a false veneer of completeness that I can sort of wrangle into coherenceness as I go. I've been stuck all Summer. I just couldn't figure out where I wanted to go with my story. What do you do with a genre that's been overdone (Teen Supernatural Fiction) to make a story that's new and engaging? Why you borrow heavily from an old source of course! And not just any source, but The Source.

  

      It couldn't be anything other than the Word of God that saved my story from wallowing in the pis of lame plotness. But yes, several days, in a sudden fever of inspiration I was able to fill in all plot holes, find a solid direction for my book, and two more besides! I would like to take this time to thank the author of Daniel (Daniel) for writing down his mysterious visions replete with so many details and crazy neat things that happen. I won't tell you what it's about (for now), until I get a bit of real work done on the story. These things have a nasty habit of changing themselves along the way, so we'll see :).

On another pleasing note (although probably unimportant) I've passed 1,000 pageviews, so yay! 

Coming Up Next: For real, Fractals will be next..... 

Happy New Year

As anyone who has ever been enrolled in school for an extended amount of time knows the New Year does not begin January 1st, but sometime in the end of August. Ah yes, it is the beginning of the New year. We've now left the magic of Summer behind and have entered once more into the cold harshness of the real world. School has begun once more, and boy has it ever.

Last Monday marked the beginning of classes for me and we pretty much took off running. This year I have a pretty fun schedule: British Literature 1, Medieval Literature, Super Intense Art Appreciation on Steroids that Married an Aesthetic Philosophy Class on Drugs,  The Chronicles of Narnia (Yes, I get to take this class and you don't >:), and Ethics. Ironically my least favorite class so far is the only one for my major. If English was like all the stuff I'm taking I would do that instead, but, alas, it is not. It is also American literature and Period Courses.

This, of course, is why I'm afraid I shall not be able to contribute much to this during the semester, unless I just have something awesome to share. There is so much reading for all my classes. It's not all painful reading mind you. I can't really complain about having to read all the Narnia books and Arthurian Romances. Still, it takes up a lot of time.

In other news, honors is going well. The semester's just started and we're already doing some fun stuff. Today we're going to the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. They have a Rembrant and Van Dyke exhibit that I've really been wanting to see. We also have a fun game tournament next Tuesday. Also this Saturday marks the American premier of Doctor Who series 7, so there's that as well. It's looking to be a pretty great year. College is getting easier (and by easier I mean it's getting harder, but I'm getting better at it), God is good, and I have nothing to complain about.

Coming up next (because i do have a few posts planned):  Fractal Art a.k.a. if they taught math like this I might still remember the multiplication tables.

The Good Doctor

     Ok, slight confession. I have a tendency to latch onto new things and develop passionate, deep, and incredibly emotional obsessions. I've gotten better recently in curbing my overwhelming (and often short-lived) enthusiasms, however, this time, I have been unsuccessful. Now, what on earth am I talking about? Well, I shall tell you since I have no one else to pour my soul to after I spent several hours last night crying into my pillows (I say crying, I really mean sobbing uncontrollably).  

     Doctor Who. That's right. This summer I have latched onto and devoured that great BBC classic. It was on Netflix and I thought 'why not?' Life forever changed. I started with the 2005 re-vamp - which is a good place for new people to get on - and haven't been able to stop. I'm even considering buying all the episodes ever (all 700 and something). Anyways, I thought I'd do a T.V. show review because this needs to be shared before I 'splode... I do that sometimes

  (anyone get that reference?... No?... OK).

Violence: 9/10

     Good news on this score! This is a remarkably bloodless show. There is some actiony type stuff but it's pretty family friendly. Some of the aliens might scare smaller children, but they look pretty B grade so there you go. *Warning on scariness: Some of the episodes scared the poop out of me. They're not violent, just incredibly suspenseful and I don't deal well with stress. Note- aliens always do it.*

Sexual Content: 7/10

     I give it that score only because of the BBC's agenda. There's no sex of any kind ever. Some characters kiss, but not that often. However, they do irritate me with all the references to homosexuality. Every single show the BBC produces throws it into the mix. In Downton it's Thomas. In Sherlock it's Harry Watson (who doesn't even exist) and all the jokes about John and Sherlock being a couple. In Doctor Who it's several nameless aliens and humans who mention their life with their same gender partner. Also Captain Jack. But Jack is pretty keyed down in Doctor Who, but also you can still tell that he's kind of slutty. He would pretty much sleep with anyone - regardless of gender, or species. I really only know that he's the way he is because I read about his spin-off series Torchwood. Plus, he's only in like 4 episodes. Still, at the end of the day I'm like "OK BBC! I get it! You support that life-style. Move on with the story please." But again, this is more of a general irritant than a Doctor Who specific complaint.

Spiritual Content: 8/10

     This is a show that assumes a naturalistic worldview. As a sci-fi show that worldview pervades everything. That being said I don't find naturalism very threatening. For some people the concept of Doctor Who is exciting because it presents a realm of possibilities (the thought that there is life out there waiting to be found. Also the hope that some handsome stranger will show up in a blue box to take you away... or is that just me?) for Christians, however, it's just a fun show, kind of like a fantasy. Some aliens worship other gods and goddesses. There is one episode with a Satanic monster that was supposedly locked up before time began. This one did rub me the wrong way, I don't remember what the episode was called though. That's really it, pretty nonthreatening if you know what you believe. It's not trying to covert you or anything.

Plot: n/a

     The greatness of the plots varies with each individual episode. Some stand out as my favorites, some just weren't that great.

Character: 10/10

      CHARACTER!!!!!!!!! I've been waiting for this one. Forgive me if I ramble. For those who don't know Doctor Who follows the adventures of the Gallifreyan Time Lord known simply as the Doctor. He travels through time and space in his T.A.R.D.I.S (time and relative dimension in space) with various companions. Last I heard he was 906 years old and still looking great. This is because whenever a Time Lord gets old or is fatally wounded he regenerates. He gets a new face and a new personality. But, this is where the greatness of the show comes is because the writes can write a whole new personality and still, on the inside, keep the doctor the same exact person. I started with the 9th doctor and am currently on the 11th. I liked the 9th doctor, he introduced me to the show. He had some great development as a character, but he only lasted one season. All the doctors are great, but ten is, by far my favorite. 

 

nine, ten, and eleven respectively 

I loved ten, I can't actually describe it to you. The actor, David Tennant, idolized Doctor Who as a child and getting the chance to play the doctor was a dream for him. He brought that love with him and it showed. I watched him die last night and it was heartbreaking. I've never been that attached to a character before. I will say I don't envy Matt Smith (11), because Tennant is a tough act to follow. Ug, thinking about it still makes me want to cry. Ten didn't want to go (the character not the actor), and, quite frankly, I didn't want him to go either, at least, not like that. 

     Also the Doctor frequently travels with companions, normally of the female variety, but not always. I've liked all the companions so far, but it's sad when they leave. I liked Rose Tyler a lot, but Donna Noble and Wilf were my favorite. And as for enemies, the Doctor has many (my favorite - the Daleks) but he always shows them compassion and mercy even when they don't deserve it. That is all I shall permit myself  to say on the subject.

Theme: 9/10

     Most T.V. shows don't have themes they explore but, once again Doctor Who separates itself from the rest. Mostly I've found that the show touches on themes of life and death. There's a line, I think that nicely sums up the point of this show: "When you run with the Doctor, it feels like it'll never end, but however hard you try you can't run forever. Everybody knows that everybody dies and nobody knows it like the Doctor, but I do think that all the skies of all the worlds might just turn dark if he ever, for one moment, accepts it." -- River Song. Everybody dies. This is a fact, but that doesn't mean that we stop valuing life, stop trying to save it. Life is a very precious and valuable gift. You can't stop death, but, especially as Christians we know, that, in the end, life conquers all. 

Overall Conclusion: n/a

     I could pretend to give an unbiased score but I'm not going to. I love this show. It appeals to everything in me. That said, it's probably not for everyone (no, but it is). As always do your own research when deciding to watch something and use your own discretion. This was designed to be a family show so it's pretty safe minus a little bit of language and a few references to homosexuality. I love it and, like I said if you know what you believe then you should be able to enjoy this show. Your eyes have been opened. Welcome to the Whoverse.   

Summer Reading Challenge Update

     Ok, So, at the beginning of the Summer I resolved to participate in a self-imposed reading challenge. I wanted to read 30 books over the summer. It looks doubtful as to whether I'll be able to reach that goal, but I've come a long way so far. I've just now passed the half-way mark! 15 books over the summer so far, and I still have a couple of weeks left! I kind of fell of blogging about them after I finished, so, instead of reviewing each one, I'll just give a brief summary of my thoughts, and whether or not I'd recommend it or not, and a star rating.

#6: Tales of Asgard
       10/10
    So, after seeing Thor, and the Avengers I just got a huge hankering to read Norse Mythology. I invested in this book and it is one of the best things I've ever read. It probably is not one of the most accurate representations of the Norse gods ever, but here's why. A lot of these stories are adapted from something called the Prose Edda which was written sometime in the 1200's, after Scandinavia had converted to Christianity. The gods in these stories are paragons of moral order (except for Loki, but there always has to be one). The stories are fun and witty, and the very end is amazing. It talks about the Ragnarok - the Twilight of the gods - when everything in the world is destroyed and re-made. And, just when Odin thinks that evil is gone forever, sin pops up again. Despairing, he wonders if there will ever be an end to sin and suffering, and at the very end he hears a prophecy telling on one who will come and destroy sin and death once and for all. An obvious reference to Christ put in by the author of the Prose Edda as a tribute to the Christianity that his people had adopted. Super cool, I would definitely recommend this one!

#7: First the Dead
      5/10
     This is a book about a man who researches the bugs that eat dead people. Which is gross. He goes to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to help rescue people and clean up the bodies. He then suspects that someone is using the disaster to cover up murders. Only he can't do anything because he's supposed to be helping the living first, but we all know that he'll solve the murders anyways. It was an ok book, there's nothing wrong with it. An easy read.

#8: Beowulf
      8/10
     I am the only person I've ever met who read this book under no compulsion. It was a very good book. It was short and to the point which I love. Plus, I got to play the 'See how may things from this book that Tolkien used in Lord of the Rings' game. I got fourteen. It was a good story, and I don't really remember any objectionable content. I enjoyed it, and would recommend it to others. 

#9: The Woman in White
      8.5/10
     Alright, so, this was a long book for a reading challenge, but I knocked it out in three days. It's a Sensationalist Novel, which makes it over the top, dramatic, and incredibly fun to read. These people's lives are absolutely ridiculous which is, of course, awesome, because why would I want to read about someone with a normal life? I wouldn't.All that to say I loved it. Recommend it to everyone. 

#10: The Father Brown Stories
     8/10
    Written by G.K. Chesterton, these are some of the best detective stories ever written. Chesterton was one of the great Christian thinkers with C.S. Lewis and Tolkien in their Inklings group. The Father Brown stories follow Father Brown (fittingly enough) a priest whose experience, rather than making him less able to understand the world, allows him to know people at their worst and gives him keen insight into the human soul. he uses these insights to occasionally solve crimes, and more than occasionally to win people's souls. Written before Chesterton converted to Catholicism these stories still convey deep and important Christian truths. I still don't like them as much as I like Mr. Holmes' stories, but the hero has more to be said for him than Dear Sherlock. My favorite one was the Winged Dagger. Recommend to all mystery lovers.

#11: Where the Broken Heart Still Beats
      3/10
     This was marketed to me as historical fiction. The only historical part was two of the names, everything else was made up. That's all my disappointment can bring me to say on this book.

12: Robinson Crusoe
      9/10
     When I first read this book it was an abridged version. I liked it, and figured I'd read the real thing. Guess what the abridged version left out. Oh yeah, that would be the entire point of the book. This is a book written about a man's journey to Christ. It is NOT a book about a man surviving alone on a island. It takes abandonment on an island for this man to think about his life and recognize his need for a savior of his soul, rather than a savior for his body. In the end he gets both. It's a great book, I've always loved it. I love it even more now.

#13: The Mysterious Affair at Styles
      7/10
     This was my first introduction to the Agatha Christie novels. I enjoyed it thoroughly, I couldn't put it down. Her ending was really clever. However, it was just another mystery novel. It was a good introduction to her work, I want to read more, but I feel like she's written better stories.

#14: Anne of Green Gables
      8/10
     This is another one that I've re-read, but to be fair I really remembered nothing about it. It was like reading it for the first time. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved Anne. She's so flighty and ridiculous, but grows up pretty well. It's a good book and I recommend it to all. Not my favorite, but still a good read.

#15: Taking Back Astronomy
      6/10
     So, I LOVE science - especially Astronomy. My church recently had an Apologetics Conference where a member of the Creation Science Institute came and spoke, and I picked up this book there. It's produced by Answers In Genesis, and is basically about the secularization of Astronomy and how the science actually supports a Biblical interpretation of cosmological history. Let it be known that I typically agree with everything Answers In Genesis affirms. I am a literal Six day Creationist, I'm not a Darwinist, so my beef with them isn't a scientific one. All of their material, I believe, is really confrontational. If you do not hold to their exact beliefs you are 100% anti-biblical (that is a quote from the book), and you hate Jesus (that is nowhere in the book, nor on their website, or in nay of their materials, but people make that complaint) and I just find this notion to be ludicrous. 
     I really think that you can be a Christian and believe in an Old Earth creation and still be within the realm of Biblical orthodoxy (I do not think that you can believe in theistic evolution and be OK), it just depends on how you interpret the word yom. I know credible scientists who reject Darwinism completely, and are old earth creationists. It's not like a one or the other thing. The fact is, we just don't know. Also I had an issue with their logic in the book (they rejected uniformitarianism and then used uniformitarianism to defend their own position). It was a good book, I agreed with the conclusion, it was very informative, and I loved the pictures, I just really wish AIG wasn't so confrontational.  


p.s. Despite my thoughts on the book and the organization I still desperately want to go to the Creation Museum.

Next up: Dietrich Bonhoeffer Biography, Ben Hur