The Adjustment Bureau is two hours of lovely fun laced with just enough suspense and paranoia and Matt Damon looking both earnest and tasty, which is then completely ruined by the last three minutes of ridiculous feel-good cop out ending.
Seriously. If you're going to make a movie out of a fucking Philip K. Dick story, DON'T GIVE IT A FUCKING HAPPY ENDING.
If you do go see the movie - and I actually recommend that you do, since it's mostly very good - I recommend just walking out of the theater when the two people are kissing on the roof. (Being intentionally vague since it could be spoilery.) Just pretend the movie ends there, and you won't get that moment of enraging let-down that comes with the credits rolling.
Also, and this is a SPOILER:
Anyone else that has seen the movie - do you find it a bit odd that the only non-white character in the entire film is the "renegade" angel? There's the bit where Matt Damon says something like, "You seem different from the others," to him, and it's hard not to snort considering that everyone else from the Bureau is a Middle-Aged or Old White Dude.
/SPOILER
Day was a lot of fun, and something I desperately needed after the hellish, stressful, and morale destroying week I've had. It's been one of those weeks where I spent a lot of time asking myself why the hell I'm in grad school. Though I did manage to finally beat the cold that's been hanging on to me for two weeks, after I decided I was exhausted and just didn't give a shit any more and then went home and slept for nearly ten hours. So yes, kids, sleep is still important, even when you're a (sort of) grown up.
Today Mike and I saw Kat and Aki and Mina, ate food, watched a movie, talked a bunch. Much relaxation had by all, I think. Normally Mina wants Mike to read to her, but it was my turn today I guess. I spent quite a bit of the day stretched out on the floor next to her, reading her little picture books and adding occasional sarcastic commentary.
Most amusing part of the day: Showed up in the morning while Mina was watching Sesame Street. Bert was singing a song about how he couldn't find Ernie in their bedroom. I suggested, "He's probably in the closet."
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Another reason to love the Dropkick Murphys
I already love the Dropkick Murphys to a ridiculous degree - they're right up there with Flogging Molly as one of my favorite bands. And now they just released one of the songs from their upcoming album in support of the Union protesters in Wisconsin. You can listen to it on their website:
Take 'Em Down
Sure gets my blood going.
Lyrics:
When the boss comes callin’ they’ll put us down
When the boss comes callin’ gotta stand your ground
When the boss comes callin’ don’t believe their lies
When the boss comes callin’ he'll take his toll
When the boss comes callin’ don’t you sell your soul
When the boss comes callin’ we gotta organize
CHORUS:
Let them know
We gotta take the bastards down
Let them know
We gotta smash them to the ground
Let them know
We gotta take the bastards down
When the boss comes callin’ you’ll be on your own
When the boss comes callin’ will you stand alone?
When the boss comes callin’ will you let them in?
When the boss comes callin’ will you stand and fight?
When the boss comes callin’ we must unite
When the boss comes callin’ we can’t let them win
CHORUS
We gotta take the bastards down
When the boss comes callin’ they’ll put us down
When the boss comes callin’ gotta stand your ground
When the boss comes callin’ don’t believe their lies
When the boss comes callin’ he'll take his toll
When the boss comes callin’ don’t you sell your soul
When the boss comes callin’ we gotta organize
CHORUS
CHORUS
Take 'Em Down
Sure gets my blood going.
Lyrics:
When the boss comes callin’ they’ll put us down
When the boss comes callin’ gotta stand your ground
When the boss comes callin’ don’t believe their lies
When the boss comes callin’ he'll take his toll
When the boss comes callin’ don’t you sell your soul
When the boss comes callin’ we gotta organize
CHORUS:
Let them know
We gotta take the bastards down
Let them know
We gotta smash them to the ground
Let them know
We gotta take the bastards down
When the boss comes callin’ you’ll be on your own
When the boss comes callin’ will you stand alone?
When the boss comes callin’ will you let them in?
When the boss comes callin’ will you stand and fight?
When the boss comes callin’ we must unite
When the boss comes callin’ we can’t let them win
CHORUS
We gotta take the bastards down
When the boss comes callin’ they’ll put us down
When the boss comes callin’ gotta stand your ground
When the boss comes callin’ don’t believe their lies
When the boss comes callin’ he'll take his toll
When the boss comes callin’ don’t you sell your soul
When the boss comes callin’ we gotta organize
CHORUS
CHORUS
Saturday, February 26, 2011
What I've been doing lately...
It's been a busy week... couple of weeks... month... well, from about January on. But I've been doing things with my time, at least.
For example, today I went to Denver, CO's Rally for the American Dream. With 3000 of my fellow Coloradoans - including my husband and my parents - I was in good company indeed.
We did a lot of cheering, a lot of chanting. There were maybe ten or twenty "Tea Party" counter protesters. One of whom wandered around in the crowd and tried to start trouble with his bizarre "Can't get a taxi? Blame the Dems" and "Shame on Colorado Dems for Voting for an African" signs. He was completely ignored by the crowd, and then the cops chased him off.
The IAFF was out in force, as were a lot of other union people - and ordinary citizens. At the end of the rally, the Walk for Choice took off. A lot of us joined in, since it's another important thing to support. We walked from the capital to Writer Square and back, shouting chants like, "Not the church, not the state, women must decide their fate!"
At the end of the Walk for Choice, there were maybe ten crazy anti-choice people waiting at the capital, on the other side of the street. It was standard "OMG THE BABEEZ" bullshit. It was also the most surreal moment of the afternoon - there was a very odd old guy with the anti-choicers, holding a very standard sign in one hand. His other hand was raised in a fist and covered with - I swear I am not making this up - a sagging latex mask of Ronald Reagan. Overcome by just how bizarre it was, I shouted across the street, "Dude, you've got a severed head on your hand!"
So yeah. The disembodied zombie head of Ronald Reagan doesn't want you to have an abortion. Or something. Weird. Eerie.
I have also been putting a lot of time in at the core lab. If you want to see what's been eating up most of my spare time, here are some pictures from our current core, which is from a meandering river deposit. I've tried to add some description to the photos, and hopefully it's not too technical.
Busy busy!
For example, today I went to Denver, CO's Rally for the American Dream. With 3000 of my fellow Coloradoans - including my husband and my parents - I was in good company indeed.
We did a lot of cheering, a lot of chanting. There were maybe ten or twenty "Tea Party" counter protesters. One of whom wandered around in the crowd and tried to start trouble with his bizarre "Can't get a taxi? Blame the Dems" and "Shame on Colorado Dems for Voting for an African" signs. He was completely ignored by the crowd, and then the cops chased him off.
The IAFF was out in force, as were a lot of other union people - and ordinary citizens. At the end of the rally, the Walk for Choice took off. A lot of us joined in, since it's another important thing to support. We walked from the capital to Writer Square and back, shouting chants like, "Not the church, not the state, women must decide their fate!"
At the end of the Walk for Choice, there were maybe ten crazy anti-choice people waiting at the capital, on the other side of the street. It was standard "OMG THE BABEEZ" bullshit. It was also the most surreal moment of the afternoon - there was a very odd old guy with the anti-choicers, holding a very standard sign in one hand. His other hand was raised in a fist and covered with - I swear I am not making this up - a sagging latex mask of Ronald Reagan. Overcome by just how bizarre it was, I shouted across the street, "Dude, you've got a severed head on your hand!"
So yeah. The disembodied zombie head of Ronald Reagan doesn't want you to have an abortion. Or something. Weird. Eerie.
I have also been putting a lot of time in at the core lab. If you want to see what's been eating up most of my spare time, here are some pictures from our current core, which is from a meandering river deposit. I've tried to add some description to the photos, and hopefully it's not too technical.
Busy busy!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Adel Needs Your Help
One of my fellow grad students at CU is named Adel Aboktef. Adel is a generally good human being. He helps out the undergrads in the tutoring room a lot, and he's always ready to lend a hand to his fellow grad students. I actually got to know Adel when, one evening, a bunch of us gathered in the undergrad lounge and we had a discussion about languages and all their interesting little quirks. Adel can also tell the difference between different kinds of feldspars using a petrographic microscope, if you give him a 100x lens and immersion oil. Which, just in case you didn't understand that statement, is damn impressive.
Adel is also from Libya.
Today, he sent several of us this e-mail:
Sometimes, what it takes is putting a face, familiar or not, on injustice and pain. Adel is hurting for his people, and I feel for him. To ask for help like this, from people you barely know if at all, is a difficult thing, and I think it shows how desperate the situation feels. I passed Adel's e-mail on to my representative and both my senators in the hopes that might do something. I'm also putting it out here on the internet, with Adel's permission, to maybe help put a face - or at least a name - on one small part of a peoples' pain.
If you would like to contact Adel, his e-mail address is: Adel dot Aboktef at colorado dot edu
Adel is also from Libya.
Today, he sent several of us this e-mail:
Is there any way you may help me contact US government to help stop the massacre in my home "Libya". The government is killing Libyan people. Fighter planes are bombarding the demonstrators in Tripoli and Bangazi. Please if you have any connections don't hesitate to contact your parliament representative asking to help stop the kill in Libya.
Adel Aboktef
Sometimes, what it takes is putting a face, familiar or not, on injustice and pain. Adel is hurting for his people, and I feel for him. To ask for help like this, from people you barely know if at all, is a difficult thing, and I think it shows how desperate the situation feels. I passed Adel's e-mail on to my representative and both my senators in the hopes that might do something. I'm also putting it out here on the internet, with Adel's permission, to maybe help put a face - or at least a name - on one small part of a peoples' pain.
If you would like to contact Adel, his e-mail address is: Adel dot Aboktef at colorado dot edu
Monday, February 07, 2011
Also: Science! (Bill Nye is coming to CU!)
I haven't heard much buzz about this from my fellow Colorado residents, so I'm guessing this is just not a well-known event. Bill Nye the Science Guy will be at CU's Macky Auditorium on February 15th - which is a week from tomorrow. General admission tickets are $10, and tickets for CU students are $1 if you can wave your student ID at them.
According to the CU Distinguished Speaker's Board, tickets are currently sold out. But if any of you out there in the Colorado portion of internet land would like to see Bill Nye, LET ME KNOW. I will haunt the CU Connection and see if I can scare up some more tickets so long as you promise to pay me back.
According to the CU Distinguished Speaker's Board, tickets are currently sold out. But if any of you out there in the Colorado portion of internet land would like to see Bill Nye, LET ME KNOW. I will haunt the CU Connection and see if I can scare up some more tickets so long as you promise to pay me back.
Congratulations. You Have Survived Your Battle With ::Dentist::
I survived my six month check up! Yay! Considering how much I hate going to the dentist1, I feel like this is really an accomplishment.
Also, I'm finally on Mike's insurance! Double yay! I was ridiculously excited to find this out, since it meant I could finally afford to have x-rays, and a consult with the dentist. And the fact that I was excited about both those things is probably the most clear signal to date that yes, I am now thirty years old.
The news was mostly good. No new cavities, the problem areas between a few of my teeth that seemed to be developing four years ago (the last time I could afford x-rays) have either not gotten worse or even cleared up entirely. So that's happy.
However, the bad news is that my issue with clenching and grinding my teeth has gotten worse. Way, way, way worse. To the point that it's apparently messing up my teeth so badly that it shows up on the x-rays, and has caused me to partially dislodge one of my old fillings. This apparently also explains the headaches I sometimes wake up with, and why my jaw sometimes locks. Awesome.
So Dr. Jason (the world's tallest dentist) told me to get an over the counter mouth guard thingy to wear at night. Not every night, but just during periods of time when I'm feeling really stressed (HAHAHA) and seeing signs that I might be starting to grind or clench my teeth. He said that would either fix my problem entirely or make it way, way worse. In the latter case I would then need to get fitted for a custom mouth guard thingy that will run $300-$400, because Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas would not pay for piss if you were on fire, unless of course you had already reached your ludicrous deductible, and then maybe, well we guess, if we have to, grumble grumble.
And at the end of the month I get to look forward to having the filling I've destroyed replaced. Which supposedly is only going to take five minutes, but will still involve me getting poked in the gums with a needle.
I can feel my teeth clenching already.
1: If anyone ever tries to convince you to get your wisdom teeth done without being put under, tell them to shut the fuck up and just give you the drugs, because you're carrying a hand grenade and have absolutely nothing to lose.
Also, I'm finally on Mike's insurance! Double yay! I was ridiculously excited to find this out, since it meant I could finally afford to have x-rays, and a consult with the dentist. And the fact that I was excited about both those things is probably the most clear signal to date that yes, I am now thirty years old.
The news was mostly good. No new cavities, the problem areas between a few of my teeth that seemed to be developing four years ago (the last time I could afford x-rays) have either not gotten worse or even cleared up entirely. So that's happy.
However, the bad news is that my issue with clenching and grinding my teeth has gotten worse. Way, way, way worse. To the point that it's apparently messing up my teeth so badly that it shows up on the x-rays, and has caused me to partially dislodge one of my old fillings. This apparently also explains the headaches I sometimes wake up with, and why my jaw sometimes locks. Awesome.
So Dr. Jason (the world's tallest dentist) told me to get an over the counter mouth guard thingy to wear at night. Not every night, but just during periods of time when I'm feeling really stressed (HAHAHA) and seeing signs that I might be starting to grind or clench my teeth. He said that would either fix my problem entirely or make it way, way worse. In the latter case I would then need to get fitted for a custom mouth guard thingy that will run $300-$400, because Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas would not pay for piss if you were on fire, unless of course you had already reached your ludicrous deductible, and then maybe, well we guess, if we have to, grumble grumble.
And at the end of the month I get to look forward to having the filling I've destroyed replaced. Which supposedly is only going to take five minutes, but will still involve me getting poked in the gums with a needle.
I can feel my teeth clenching already.
1: If anyone ever tries to convince you to get your wisdom teeth done without being put under, tell them to shut the fuck up and just give you the drugs, because you're carrying a hand grenade and have absolutely nothing to lose.
Saturday, February 05, 2011
The longest day of Chinese New Year survived
Well, I survived the long, long day of performances for kung fu. We hit the road around 0830 and finished up a little less than twelve hours later. The most brutal part was actually going to Colorado Springs and back. The drive was awful because it was snowing, and being stuck in a car for basically 3.5 hours straight with only a short kung fu break in the middle left everyone extremely stiff and sore. We did kung fu numbers three times, which meant I had to do basic skills with hitting the concrete-filled cylinder three times, and make it look good and energetic all three times. My arms are really banged up now, and toward the end I was actually getting burst veins on the surface of my skin, which is kind of unusual and very unpleasant. My hands and arms are really tired too, from just playing cymbals all day. But yay, we survived! And I got to have a ridiculous amount of amazing food at the end of it, which is always great.
At least I did all my driving around with four extremely awesome people. We had the party car, no mistake. The saga of Porknbuns will forever remain in my memory... it's been a long time since I've laughed that hard about anything.
In bad news, we just found out that Mike's mum is in the hospital with severe vertigo, and the cause could range anywhere from an ear infection to a stroke. Please think some good thoughts her way if you're so inclined. I'm really, really, really hoping it's just an ear infection. We're both incredibly worried.
Bed. Very, very soon.
At least I did all my driving around with four extremely awesome people. We had the party car, no mistake. The saga of Porknbuns will forever remain in my memory... it's been a long time since I've laughed that hard about anything.
In bad news, we just found out that Mike's mum is in the hospital with severe vertigo, and the cause could range anywhere from an ear infection to a stroke. Please think some good thoughts her way if you're so inclined. I'm really, really, really hoping it's just an ear infection. We're both incredibly worried.
Bed. Very, very soon.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Science Fairs and Wind Chill
The DPS District Science Fair was a lot of fun, as usual. We had a kind of ridiculous number of judges this year - not that a large number of volunteers is a bad thing - so we did most of the fair in teams. I actually rather like team judging, since it means that the kids tend to be more thoroughly questioned about their project. Judges seem to have a couple favorite lines of questioning, and as long as they don't overlap that means we're generally more thorough.
Of course, my own favorite sorts of questions are:
- Now that you've done your whole project, if you could change one or more things about your experiment design or your hypothesis, what would you do? (I like this question, since it shows if they've really thought about what they did and picked out sources of error.)
- Can you explain [insert basic scientific principle behind the experiment here] to me? (Which shows if they actually understood any of the research they did.)
This time I got a boot up into middle school, looking at eighth grade projects. To be honest, the three my team looked at didn't really wow me... they all had some serious design issues, and in one case the student couldn't explain the basic scientific concept behind their experiment. Which was sad, since the experiment itself would have been a good one if there'd been some deeper understanding there. Also, as usual everyone had "literature" cited on their boards, but very few students incorporated it into their discussion or conclusion.
So parents, if you're reading this - make sure your kid actually incorporates their research into their experiment and understand it! Otherwise, it really gives the impression that they looked up a bunch of sources and just stuck them on the board because they had to, without actually reading and understanding anything.
Which, I suppose, really prepares them to be freshmen in college, huh.
The thing that set all of the grade winners out this year was definitely use of research - the first place in each grade actually did additional research after their project was done, so they could discuss their possible sources of error or reasons for unexpected results. Which is quite charming. And the winner for all of middle school was a sixth grader, which was pretty surprising. He did a model rocket project which involved testing different design elements, predicting how they would affect the flight of the rocket, and then figuring out why things didn't go the way he predicted when they inevitably didn't. It was pretty impressive.
Anyway, for a bit of excitement, I realized that the Colorado State Science and Engineering Fair has its judging on a Thursday. Now that I've dropped a class, I'm free that day, so I can participate in that one! And it's even more exciting because this year, I can be sure I won't come down with mono again. Wahoo.
It's cold as hell here right now, and only going to get colder. I'm doing an experiment of my own - I pinned blankets over the patio door, since that seems to turn into a little wind tunnel at times, and I'm going to see if the house stays a little warmer. Tengu is already mad as all get out because he was content to stay away from the patio door until the blankets went up, and then he had to OMG LOOK OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. Except I won't let him, since he might pull the blankets down. Yay for cat drama.
Really, I'm just looking forward to making like The Day After Tomorrow and running away from the cold air. It's something to do, since in a moment of brilliance I left my homework at school, where it's going to do me a lot of good. I'm really not looking forward to trying to get to school tomorrow morning, considering this morning it took about two hours each way.
Also, I've added some amazing entries to my "Undergrads say the darndest things" file, but I feel like I shouldn't share them until after the semester is done.
Of course, my own favorite sorts of questions are:
- Now that you've done your whole project, if you could change one or more things about your experiment design or your hypothesis, what would you do? (I like this question, since it shows if they've really thought about what they did and picked out sources of error.)
- Can you explain [insert basic scientific principle behind the experiment here] to me? (Which shows if they actually understood any of the research they did.)
This time I got a boot up into middle school, looking at eighth grade projects. To be honest, the three my team looked at didn't really wow me... they all had some serious design issues, and in one case the student couldn't explain the basic scientific concept behind their experiment. Which was sad, since the experiment itself would have been a good one if there'd been some deeper understanding there. Also, as usual everyone had "literature" cited on their boards, but very few students incorporated it into their discussion or conclusion.
So parents, if you're reading this - make sure your kid actually incorporates their research into their experiment and understand it! Otherwise, it really gives the impression that they looked up a bunch of sources and just stuck them on the board because they had to, without actually reading and understanding anything.
Which, I suppose, really prepares them to be freshmen in college, huh.
The thing that set all of the grade winners out this year was definitely use of research - the first place in each grade actually did additional research after their project was done, so they could discuss their possible sources of error or reasons for unexpected results. Which is quite charming. And the winner for all of middle school was a sixth grader, which was pretty surprising. He did a model rocket project which involved testing different design elements, predicting how they would affect the flight of the rocket, and then figuring out why things didn't go the way he predicted when they inevitably didn't. It was pretty impressive.
Anyway, for a bit of excitement, I realized that the Colorado State Science and Engineering Fair has its judging on a Thursday. Now that I've dropped a class, I'm free that day, so I can participate in that one! And it's even more exciting because this year, I can be sure I won't come down with mono again. Wahoo.
It's cold as hell here right now, and only going to get colder. I'm doing an experiment of my own - I pinned blankets over the patio door, since that seems to turn into a little wind tunnel at times, and I'm going to see if the house stays a little warmer. Tengu is already mad as all get out because he was content to stay away from the patio door until the blankets went up, and then he had to OMG LOOK OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. Except I won't let him, since he might pull the blankets down. Yay for cat drama.
Really, I'm just looking forward to making like The Day After Tomorrow and running away from the cold air. It's something to do, since in a moment of brilliance I left my homework at school, where it's going to do me a lot of good. I'm really not looking forward to trying to get to school tomorrow morning, considering this morning it took about two hours each way.
Also, I've added some amazing entries to my "Undergrads say the darndest things" file, but I feel like I shouldn't share them until after the semester is done.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Science Fair Season
Ah, it's that glorious season, when the sale of tri-fold boards spikes, and eager young scientists stand ready to excitedly tell judges how they grew mold on bread or watered plants with a variety of appalling substances. It's science fair season!
I actually feel a little sad about it this year. Because of my class and teaching1 schedule, the only one I can possibly volunteer for is the DPS District Science Fair, since it's on a Saturday. The rest take place on weekdays, when I can't afford to miss. I'm particularly disappointed that I'll have to miss the Colorado state science fair again. That's the one I missed last year because I'd just come down with mono and, I was informed, looked like I was going to die.
Bread mold jokes aside, this sort of volunteering is something that anyone who cares about science education should take seriously. Particularly when it comes to people who make their living in the sciences (either in academia or in the private sector) it really does make a huge difference for kids to meet us as judges. It's one thing to hear about how cool science is in school, and another entirely to meet real grown ups who do real science for a living.
To my fellow Coloradoans, particularly any Denverites that might be reading this, it's time to get involved!
Denver Public Schools science fair information
Denver metro science fair information
Colorado state science fair information
If you're not a Colorado resident, don't despair - there are science fairs everywhere in the country, and this is the time of year they get started, preparing for the International Science Fair. If you're interested in judging for a fair, a good place to start looking for your local events is on the Intel ISEF website. Though that's by no means an exhaustive list and all you really need is some Google-fu.
Make a kid's day. Make a difference. And as a bonus, there are normally cookies.
1 - Still feels so, so weird to be saying that.
I actually feel a little sad about it this year. Because of my class and teaching1 schedule, the only one I can possibly volunteer for is the DPS District Science Fair, since it's on a Saturday. The rest take place on weekdays, when I can't afford to miss. I'm particularly disappointed that I'll have to miss the Colorado state science fair again. That's the one I missed last year because I'd just come down with mono and, I was informed, looked like I was going to die.
Bread mold jokes aside, this sort of volunteering is something that anyone who cares about science education should take seriously. Particularly when it comes to people who make their living in the sciences (either in academia or in the private sector) it really does make a huge difference for kids to meet us as judges. It's one thing to hear about how cool science is in school, and another entirely to meet real grown ups who do real science for a living.
To my fellow Coloradoans, particularly any Denverites that might be reading this, it's time to get involved!
Denver Public Schools science fair information
Denver metro science fair information
Colorado state science fair information
If you're not a Colorado resident, don't despair - there are science fairs everywhere in the country, and this is the time of year they get started, preparing for the International Science Fair. If you're interested in judging for a fair, a good place to start looking for your local events is on the Intel ISEF website. Though that's by no means an exhaustive list and all you really need is some Google-fu.
Make a kid's day. Make a difference. And as a bonus, there are normally cookies.
1 - Still feels so, so weird to be saying that.
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Agora
Home from England, safe and sound. I've been fed (thanks to my parents) and have also taken a shower so I no longer smell like the inside of a plane. So really, I'm feeling refreshed and human again, but incredibly tired. I knew we'd gotten back into the US of A when, upon entering the immigration area, there was a TSA agent wandering around and telling everyone that we had to keep our cell phones off because it was illegal to have them on. For no apparent reason. Oh capricious and ridiculous airport security, I haven't missed you at all.
I spent most of the flight back watching movies. One of them was Agora, which is a movie about the fall of Alexandria to the Christians and the death of Hypatia. So, I expected it to be a very depressing movie, because we all know what happens to Hypatia.**
What I didn't expect was how angry the movie made me feel. Not angry at the movie, but just angry, the emotion building up from helpless frustration.
One image the movie kept coming back to was the library of Alexandria, after it had been ransacked by the Christians. The movie showed it as basically being destroyed inside, the scrolls torn up or gone entirely because they'd been burned, and animals were then penned inside it. The willful, gleeful disregard and hatred of knowledge made me angry, even if it was just a movie, even if it was an event that happened over a thousand years ago.
Then I think about our modern day situation, say, with John Shimkus on the Energy and Environment subcommittee, claiming that global climate change can't be true because of something the Bible says. And I feel exactly the same sort of building, helpless frustration, because I don't think we've really changed at all since Hypatia was flayed and dragged through the streets of Alexandria.
It's a good movie. Watch it. Be prepared to cry at the end. And to feel angry, so angry, every time you see the destroyed library, every time someone makes an argument based completely on illogic and blind belief that simply can't be refuted because no one would listen.
** - Just in case you don't know, let's just say that the Christians didn't give her chocolates and an award for being female, outspoken, and interested in science.
I spent most of the flight back watching movies. One of them was Agora, which is a movie about the fall of Alexandria to the Christians and the death of Hypatia. So, I expected it to be a very depressing movie, because we all know what happens to Hypatia.**
What I didn't expect was how angry the movie made me feel. Not angry at the movie, but just angry, the emotion building up from helpless frustration.
One image the movie kept coming back to was the library of Alexandria, after it had been ransacked by the Christians. The movie showed it as basically being destroyed inside, the scrolls torn up or gone entirely because they'd been burned, and animals were then penned inside it. The willful, gleeful disregard and hatred of knowledge made me angry, even if it was just a movie, even if it was an event that happened over a thousand years ago.
Then I think about our modern day situation, say, with John Shimkus on the Energy and Environment subcommittee, claiming that global climate change can't be true because of something the Bible says. And I feel exactly the same sort of building, helpless frustration, because I don't think we've really changed at all since Hypatia was flayed and dragged through the streets of Alexandria.
It's a good movie. Watch it. Be prepared to cry at the end. And to feel angry, so angry, every time you see the destroyed library, every time someone makes an argument based completely on illogic and blind belief that simply can't be refuted because no one would listen.
** - Just in case you don't know, let's just say that the Christians didn't give her chocolates and an award for being female, outspoken, and interested in science.
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