Miscellaney

Chernobyl: 20 Years Later

by

A couple of years ago, I noted a photo essay that explored the “ghost town” that is now Chernobyl, Ukraine. It is a haunting, disturbing essay, and should be revisited today, the 20th anniversary of the disaster. Even more disturbing, is this photo essay that chronicles victims of the accident. It is difficult to watch … Read more

Hats Off To Honda

by

Dear Honda, When my 1993 Accord’s front end crumpled like tissue paper as I struck head-on the pickup that pulled out in front of me on Sunday, my hopes of taking the vehicle over the elusive 180,000 mile mark were summarily ruined. This was indeed a lofty goal, but I’d take a totaled vehicle any … Read more

Ronald H. Nash, R.I.P.

by

News is circulating about the death Friday of philosopher Ronald H. Nash. I had the privilege of taking two of Dr. Nash’s classes when I was in seminary: Introduction to Philosophy, and Worldview Analysis. He was by far one of the most memorable teachers I’ve ever had, and consequently one of the most effective — … Read more

Best of 2005

by

A few of my bests for 2005: Best Novel: Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead. It’s one of a kind and should not be missed. I’ve been promising my review for quite some time, and I assure you, it will be posted here not too far into the new year. Best Nonfiction: Nancy Pearcy’s Total Truth: Liberating Christianity … Read more

God Incarnate

by

As the disciple whom Jesus loved put it so eloquently: The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to … Read more

Christmas Shopping as Cultural Experiment

by

I’m the type of person who likes to make the best of a bad situation, and Christmas shopping presents limitless opportunities for me to do so. How do I turn shopping with the masses into something enjoyable? By donning my cultural anthropologist hat and making other shoppers the subjects of observation. Here’s what I noticed … Read more

Man v. Machine

by

If you’re a chess geek, or a wanna-be chess geek like me, I recommend the DVD Game Over: Kasparov and the Machine. It’s a documentary of the 1997 controversial rematch between world-champion grandmaster Garry Kasparov and IBM’s “Deep Blue” computer. Kasparov handily defeated the supercomputer in 1996, but in ’97, Kasparov lost the match in … Read more