Fun with Current Events

It's been a rough week already (Is it Tuesday? I think it's Tuesday) so I need some extra laughs. Fortunately, BBC news was kind enough to serve some comic relief.

A headline stated that a chimp planned to throw rocks at people visiting a Swedish zoo. They found rocks in his cage and decided he planned on throwing them. Several thoughts:

1.The report says he hid the stones with the intent to throw and it shows that he was planning ahead. So he's really smart, right? Personally, I think he was trying to store food.
2.There are worse things to throw. At least if you dodge a rock you won't still get pebbles on you and smell like rock all day.
3. Who investigated the crime? Did they use human detectives, or do they train animals to do that?
4. When was it planning to throw the rocks? On the anniversary of Planet of the Apes' release? I'll bet it was. Mark my words.

Who Will Watch this Cartoon?

If you've ever watched super hero cartoons in the '80s and read the graphic novel Watchmen,this is for you. I especially enjoy the "friend to animals" line.

Some Good Thoughts

This is a response to the previous post, so if you didn't read that yet this won't make a whole lot of sense. Some non believer read through the Bible,yada yada, he wrote a book about it. I didn't read the book, so I'm responding to the article he wrote.

Some thoughts:

1. He enjoyed reading the Bible. He called himself a "Bible-thumper" and decided everyone should read it. He didn't whine about how hard it is to concentrate on it or to find time to read it, or how boring it can be. He appreciated it.

In Average Joe(Joe could be short for Josephine)Christian's defense, we could say the Bible was easier for him because he wasn't trying to apply it to his life. I concluded that's a cop out. I enjoy good literature (fiction and non) on its own merits, not because I'm trying to learn something from it. But I do learn, and the fact that I like what I'm reading has a lot to do with it. I get absorbed into good writing, and usually research more about it because I want to. I think we've forgotten how to really read.

2. His reading didn't affect his beliefs. I'm not surprised, as reading any book, even the Scriptures, doesn't have power alone. Only the Holy Spirit can give understanding.

3. His reading made him angry in places. He acknowledged questions about God's nature are easier to answer in the person of Christ. But, he mentions, he can't believe in Christ.

There's quite a bit more to mention, but I'm still processing it. Why are you asking me to type out half-thoughts? Shame.

Good Reading

What do you get when an agnostic reads through the Bible? Some interesting thoughts.

http://www.slate.com/id/2212616/

Fun with Editing

Our mission's team is working on a skit we're going to do for the India trip. We tried it out and agreed that it's good, just too long. As I'm trying to cut it by about half, I'm reminded of these guys.



Also, I love how 30 seconds now translates to 1 minute. Time zones must be involved somehow.

Fun with Paperwork

I was helping students fill out some forms to get our India visas for the spring break missions trip. One student said to the other, "Don't read the Korean instructions. It's confusing. Read the English."

As someone who wants to learn the Korean language, I find that a bit discouraging.

Book and Movie Review: Watership Down

Honestly, this is the third and last time I'll mention this book. I borrowed it from our school so I kept having to remind myself to finish reading it and return it at some point. What better way than posting said reminders on the world wide web? And don't say post its, because I keep losing the @^@$&@& things.

WD is one of those books I wish I was forced to read in high school.(Don't get me started on that one.) If I wanted to oversimplify it I'd call it a cross between Lord of the Rings (fortunately in one,smaller volume) and Animal Farm. Only the farm is made entirely of rabbits, and... oh, well. That's why I don't oversimplify.

There was plenty to enjoy about this book. First, it's an adventure based in everyday elements. If you get past the talking animal part, the rest of the story has an earthy element to it. I hadn't even bothered making a green book list, as I don't remember many worth mentioning. This would make the cut.

Second, it has a human story to it. Apparently, Richard Adams started telling his daughters the stories to entertain them on long trips. The stories were based on his experiences in WWII, and it shows. The elements of bravery, friendship, loyalty and even simple faith shine in the best moments.

I read up on this book, so to speak, and found out it was accused of being misogynist when it was first published. In its defense, I'll say this is only because it was published in the 1970s. If Tolkien had written it in the 1950s (and the oversight of female characters in his writing is comparable) there wouldn't have been such a fuss. This was just an author writing about what he knew, and(like Tolkien)he didn't know women that well. It happens.

I made the mistake of watching the movie around the same time I read the book. Movies go faster. Much faster. Oops.

The animated movie was made shortly after the book and is surprisingly well-made. The expressions and backgrounds rival some of my favorite Miazaki movies. If I could go back and change my green movies list, I would. Maybe it can take Shane's spot.

Nope, I'm lazy. Shane stays.

I should put a warning here. Watership Down may be animated and PG, but it's at least as violent as the book. Neither are made for young kids.

Another warning. The movie is good, but it's better and makes more sense if you read the book first. Some changes were made for time purposes, as we've yet to see a three hour animated movie. Still, those changes make for some nice head-scratchers here and there. Overall, the movie gets the best parts right.

Yet another warning. It doesn't have much to do with water or anything to do with sinking ships, so don't expect rabbits in a sinking ship and get all disappointed. Now you know.

I've read a lot of non-fiction lately, so this was refreshing. It reminds me that some of the best fiction can be more true than a lot of non-fiction out there. As Stephen King said, it's "the truth in the lie".