"I Come in Pea.."

Here's a night where Heather and I fooled around with the webcam on my iMac. It's strange how amusing a visual effect can be.

Personality Info

Here's some info about my personality. I usually hate these things. But this one's short. That makes all the difference. I wish others could do it for me.

Islamic Fundamentalism

I heard this definition yesterday while listing to Tony Campolo's Podcast "Across the Pond." It's in reference to Islamic Fundamentalism but as Tony pointed out, and I agree, this could be applied to all types of fundamentalism; including Evangelical Fundamentalism.

Islamic Fundamentalism:

"A reactionary non-scientific movement, aimed at returning society to a centuries old set up, defying all material and historical factors. It is an attempt to roll back the wheels of history."

(Aside: The only thing I don't like about this definition is that it presupposes that if we go back in history, culture becomes more moral. But, if you could ask those from yesteryear, they'd look backward for a critique of their "modern" culture too.)

Fundamentalism seeks to provide simple answers to complex questions. It promises to take it's followers back to "the good-old-days" when black was black and white was white (all too often, not as much anymore though, this is/was, unfortunately, in a literal sense). At face value these simple answers appear to be intellectually lacking; however, they do bring comfort to the confused soul. At some point in our lives fundamentalism is the only societal system we understand. Try communicating complex, morally ambiguities, situations to a child and you'll soon resort back to a fundamentalist "that's right" or "that's wrong" (ex: how lying is OK when it's to save someone's feelings but not when it's to save someone from getting into trouble).

As I look back at my teenage fundamentalist years I see how they helped me navigate the temptations of life. I didn't need a discussion on "how far is too far," I needed a guide line to follow. And, if it was up to me, I'd preach one thing and practice another. But, as I got older, this approach did more harm than good. It caused me to define people as good or bad and not consider the complexities of human relationships and the human experience. I couldn't make decisions in grey life because I was always looking for a pole to agree with. And most of life doesn't occur at the poles, it's somewhere closer to the equator; where simple answers cannot fully satisfy complex questions.

"Who Killed the Electric Car?"

I watched this little documentary the other night. Though I'd never heard of it playing in big movie theaters, it's not small on impact.

The film tracks the birth, production, life, and death of the EV1, an pure electric car from GM. It's an interesting and strange story. It starts in California where smog levels are high. The Air Advisory Board implements a law that an increasing percent of cars produced and sold must be "no emissions." GM complies and produces the EV1 and markets the car. However, something is brewing. There becomes a huge waiting list for the cars and yet no cars seem to be available to fulfill the demand. Also, the marketing team will not accept any suggestions from the sales reps actually selling cars; in fact they do the opposite. Oil and car companies alike begin to petition this California Air Advisory Board to back down. Then they sue. Facing this pressure the board backs down and GM slowly gets back all it's EV1 cars. They were only sold on lease, and when the lease was up, no matter what they offered to pay, drivers were not allowed to keep their cars. The small amount of infrastructure that was put in place was taken out and the Electric Car was forgotten.

What seems crazy to me is not the fact that the oil and car companies but the kibosh on the electric car. It's that it even got out in the first place. Someone up there must have really lost it. Maybe the big decision makers went on an extended golf trip came back and had to do a lot of clean up.

This film is just another step in my growing disgust of the internal combustion engine. Just thought I'd share my thoughts on it. I would highly recommend checking out this film.

Links:
-Sony Pictures Film Site
-Wikipedia: Who Killed the Electric Car
-Wikipedia: EV1
-Just do a couple Google searches "EV1" - "Electric Car" - "oil addicted" - etc.

Don Rabbit

Here's the images from the little illustration of "Don Rabbit" in the book "Blue Like Jazz." I got it off the website so give credit where credit is due and check it out (here). It's a great funny little story and it's exemplary of the book so if you like it I suggest you look into reading the book.


Here it is: It's a pdf so you'll have to click on the link


HERE


Cheers,

A

Java Script taking over my web life

I've been working with iWeb for some time now making websites for both our church (thefellowship.ca) and for myself (adamnoble.ca). However, I struggle to have enough time to update these sites regularly and it takes forever to create something new and then update. Not to mention my continuing love affair with Facebook, which at times tries to take over my need to publish old school. I might have found a nice middle ground.

I've downloaded a powerful little program called "iWeb Enhancer." Basically what it does is it allows you to add java script to your iWeb sites. I then search out a good "Google gadget" that will read a rss feed or some other type of script and enter it into the iWeb site. That's a lot of gibberish to say that I can now update my blog with Blogger and my pictures with Picasa (another Google product) they automatically update on my adamnoble.ca, old school, published, website. I've even figured out how to make it so that people can actually go on my facebook (after having registered and added me as a friend obviously) right inside my adamnoble.ca website. It's great. It allows me to update things via browser based publishing anywhere I am. I can even email in my blog posts from Blogger.

All this to say it's worth taking the time to research this stuff if you're in to blogging. It takes the whole thing to a new level. You can customize exactly the look and feel without compromising the ease of posting through blogger or any other blog program.

Anyway, that's all. Happy surfing.

falling prey to the google revolution

As much as I don't like to follow the trends - though you might be questioning that claim as per the "Facebook" badge next to this post - I am however very impressed with the new products that Google is coming out with. They seem to be shooting to make everything "web based" so that you can work on your documents, handle your email, update your calendar, etc. I've just figured out how to embed a search engine into a website so that you can use the power of the Google search but just for pages found on your site. However, I still have to figure out how to get the "google bots" to check and update my website content in their church engine. Still there's lots you can do for free with Google.

Navigating the Grey Inport

I've imported a bunch of postings that I did on my previous blog, "Navigating the Grey." However, I didn't input the comments so if you want to read them you have to go to the original website: Navigating the Grey. Here's the new posts as they show up on this blog. They are posted with the original date so they don't show up at the top of the list.

Inspirational Keys

Why Can's I Own Canadians?

Repsponse: Jesus vs. The Church

Is Jesus' Salvation Just a Ticket to Heaven?

Why am I a Christian?

Act with Action

Alcohol-ism

The Power of the Dark Side

Absolutly Relative

Jessica gets engaged

Yesterday I was awaken to someone repeatedly calling my house at 12:45am. Annoyed I woke up on 6th time and answered the phone with an obviously condescending voice. After I say hello the voice on the other end says: "May I speak to Heather?"

I respond with the typical, "May I ask who's calling?" (Subtext: What is this man doing calling my wife at this time in the morning?)

"It's Kevin Reitema." (Heather's sister's boyfriend) Now I know. Jessica is engaged. Why else would he be calling at such a late hour. Although, they live in Saskatchewan and it wasn't 12:45am there.

Anyway, here's some pictures of the couple and of course... the ring.

Frozen H2O

The other day a friend and I had a disagreement about whether water expands or shrinks when it freezes. I said "expands" as per the how pop cans I left outside exploded. He said "shrinks" as per how the water he puts in the ice cube tray is more than the ice he gets out. We turned to the infamous Ask Me Now. And the first answer came back as follows:

"According to our reference site, Generally, water expands when it freezes because of its molecular structure, in tandem with the unusual elasticity of the hydrogen bond and the particular lowest energy hexagonal crystal conformation that it adopts under standard conditions."

Feeling this to be inadequate to finish the conversation I asked a more specific question and came up with this:

"According to our reference site: Water starts out behaving normally. As its temperature drops, water obediently shrinks together--until it reaches 4 degrees Celsius (39 degrees F.). Then, amazingly, water reverses course, its volume slowly increasing as it chills. When water finally freezes, at 0 C (32 F.), it expands dramatically. Scientists say water's quirky behavior is caused by the shape of its molecule and by how its molecules bond to one another."

Now with a satisfying answer, I then turned to the issue of the shrinking water in the ice cube tray. Here Ask Me Now failed to understand my question and spat out this answer:

"Liquid water is most dense, essentially 1.00 g/cm³, at 4 °C and becomes less dense as the water molecules begin to form the hexagonal crystals of ice as the temperature drops to 0 °C. This is due to hydrogen bonds forming between the water molecules, which line up molecules less efficiently (in terms of volume) when water is frozen. The result of this is that ice floats on liquid water."

So as I thought about the mystery of the missing water I began to develop my own hypothesis. Maybe the water in the ice cube tray isn't shrinking at all? Maybe it's evaporating into the air in the freezer? Think about it; when is the air driest during the year? In the winter when it's the coldest, like in a freezer. Maybe the cold dry environment of the freezer caused the water in the ice cube tray to evaporate. This is my hypothesis. I'll leave you with that.

"Banking Can be This Comfortable"

I recently received my first mortgage statement from TD Canada Trust. Believe it or not, this is an actual quote from the statement in regards to future statements:

“At TD Canada Trust, we like to keep you informed about matters affecting your account. Starting in 2007, TD Canada Trust will no longer send you a semi-annual mortgage statement. Mortgage Statements will be provided once a year.”

So because TD wants to keep me informed they have decided to stop sending two statements a year and instead send one. Because somehow one statement provides me with more information? It’s just so blatantly, obviously, and oxy-moron. It’s like a Gas Bar saying they are committed to being available for their customers; and, thus, are no longer going to be open all night. It just doesn’t make sense. If you want to send me fewer mortgage statements, fine; but don’t preface it with how you want to keep me informed. Just don’t send as many.

Inspirational Keys

I know this key chain has gerat potential to diminish the respect that some of you may have for me but let me explain.

I recieved this as a gift from one of my friends who recently went to Cuba. Not knowingly they gave out key chains as a memorable trinket of their trip. This was the only one with such a profound message. I was the one who received it.

As I thought about the little saying I reflected on my upcoming house purchase. One week from today we get the keys to my new house. MY house. MY expletive house. Somehow our culture has this attitude: everything that is mine is mine. Makes sense. However, it goes against the teachings of Christ. Material possessions and the idea of owning things wasn't important to Jesus (Matt 16:24, Matt 19:21, Matt 8:20, to name a few). So why should it be important to me.

Moving into this house and owning something huge must not change me. I must remember that it is not my house but God's.

I know this issue doesn't seem grey; but, it was so strikeingly presented to me in this key chain I felt I had to share it. As I though I was receiving a perfect gift for someone moving, I was actually receiving a perfect illustration of what this moving must not produce in me.

Act with Action

First off let me say sorry for the lengthy period between posts. It's been Christmas season here at the Noble household and with both family events and me being in retail (my day job) my time has been precious. However it's a thoughtful Christmas gift from my wife that brings me the inspiration for this next post. So tip the egg nogg to Heather.

I was reading an interview with Bono in Rolling Stone and was once again struck with inspiration from this professing Christian Rock Star/Political Activist. His direction clear and his actions speak loudly. He is pushing world hunger up the stairs. Making it an obstacle for all of us, not just those caught in it's traps. Bringing it out of the closet and making it the emblem on his chest. To him ending world hunger is obviously the chief aim of every well fed human.

In November I was also bombarded with the need to do something for the poor and oppressed. I attended a conference where a passionate young woman called us to socio-economic action. She noted how Christians do the worst job at helping those in need, both next to them and around the world. She even pushed the envelope in saying that, given the situation of AIDS in Africa, every Christian family should adopt. Radical yet inspiring things.

For these people this issue is black and white. There is no grey. They have clear ideas of the way things should be and proceed toward them. They look at the world with different eyes than most of us. They see the needs and stop at nothing to fill them. They are inspirational, often confrontational, yet always seemingly successful (or they wouldn't get the press). We know what they do, we hear their stories of success, we see people whose lives have been changed by them; but what do we do? What do I do? Now that you have me caring so much how put me to work? But no. There is no arena to play out these new rules. There is no field to practice on. Their is no court to better our skills. There is only drive, but no destination.

How do we treat issues like this? Here we have a reverse problem present. The answer is black and white but the means is grey. What is most effective? In the case of poverty and hunger: how do we stop it? What is our best approach? What can I do right now in my own city/neighborhood? These questions plague me. I feel so much compassion inside but have no outlet. And I'm not looking for a quick fix: working at a soup kitchen or handing out sandwiches (not that these are meaningless, they are still needed services). I'm looking for a way to integrate my love for people into my everyday life. Don't just call me to act... Give me an action!

The Power of the Dark Side

I'm sitting here watching the latest Star Wars release, Episode III. Though I do prefer the originals, this episode does have something to contribute to our discussion of "the grey." In it Annikan, who was once our famed hero, goes through his transformation into Darth Vader (sorry if I ruined it for you). For Annikan/Vader the transition is quick and definable. Though he struggles with himself he moves from one side to the other. He must make a choice. The choice is quite clearly black or white. Will he move to the dark side, or will he remain true to the Jeti? You know the answer.

I saw some of myself in Annikan's story. So many times I find myself making decisions that are black or white. My opinion on issues may be grey but my actions mustn't be. In each moment, each time I am confronted with a choice, I must choose black or white. This is what complicates the grey areas even more; and thus, purposes the existence of this blog.

For example: in terms of politics, Christianity does not require party allegiance (or at least it shouldn't). One Christian can vote Liberal, another Conservative, and still another NDP. In fact, one Christian can vote for all three parties in his/her lifetime and not place his/her faith in jeopardy. Though the issue of politics is grey, the voting process if very black and white. One cannot place a grey vote; one is forced to choose. Just like Annikan. Just like me.

But when will I choose white and when will I choose black? That is the question. We can discuss how grey an issue is until we are blue (or grey) in the face; but we still must choose black and white when we live it out. If we feel politics are grey we must still vote one way or another. If we see alcohol as grey we must still decide when and when not to drink. Etc, etc, etc. And the real, down-to-earth, practical, and grass-roots question becomes: When is a grey issue black and when is it white?