How Star Wars Shook the World

For those of you who didn't know... yesterday was Star Wars' 30th Birthday.  This article is an interesting read -- even for non-geeks. (are there any non-geeks who even read my blog??)

Ring Fingers and Suicide Bombers

Finger Length

Look at your fingers.  Which one is longer, your ring finger or your index finger?  According to a new report released, if your ring finger is longer the odds are that you have a more natural talent in mathematics.  If your index finger is longer you have a more natural talent in language and reading.  By the way, mine are just about the same.

American Muslim support for suicide bombers

A recent poll shows that just about 80% of American Muslims do not agree with the use of suicide bombers to defend Islam.  That's the good news... the bad news is that 25% of the American Muslims under 30 DO think that suicide bombings are justified.

Undercover Reporter

Watch this report on an undercover reporter who exposed Planned Parenthood.  She is a sophomore at UCLA and is being sued for illegally taping the video.

Proof that you can tell the truth and lie at the same time

Check that price tag before you buy: 20% off plus an additional 25% does not equal 45% off.   A study by University of Minnesota finds that people will buy more if they think they are getting a "better deal."  That "better deal" is because they cannot correctly calculate multiple percentages.

This "lying truth" is the same way that the Devil we lie to oursevles about the real cost of our actions.  Perhaps that's why we are told to "count the cost," not "calculate the cost" in Luke 14:26-33.

I really like the way that Ron Julian from the McKenzie Study Center paraphrases this passage:

All who follow Jesus will inevitably come into conflict with the world around them. Sometimes following Jesus means losing the love of family and friends. Sometimes following Jesus means losing the approval of our neighbors and our society. Sometimes following Jesus means losing our worldly possessions. Sometimes following Jesus means losing our lives. It is all worth it; the wealth which comes to those who follow Christ is richer than anything the world can offer. We cannot avoid this choice; if we insist on keeping the world's approval and the world's wealth, then we cannot be disciples of Jesus. If we are disciples of Jesus, then we will have to loosen our hold on the world and its riches.

Report on College Faculty

Volume II on a series of Profiles of the American University titled "Religious Beliefs & Behavior of College Faculty."

Some Major Findings:

Faculty Feel Warmly about Most Religious Groups, but Feel Coldly about Evangelicals and Mormons
Faculty have positive feelings toward Jews, Buddhists, Catholics,and Atheists.

Faculty Feel Most Unfavorably about Evangelical Christians
This is the only religious group about which a majority of non- Evangelical faculty have negative feelings.

Faculty Are Almost Unanimous in Their Belief That Evangelical Christians (Fundamentalists) Should Keep Their Religious Beliefs Out of American Politics
Faculty who are secular/liberal are more likely to favor separation of religion and government, and those who are religious and conservative are more likely to advocate a closer connection between religion and government.

Although Faculty Generally Oppose Religion in the Public Sphere, Many Endorse the Idea That Muslims Should Express Their Religious Beliefs in American Politics
Faculty are far less likely to endorse Evangelical Christians expressing their beliefs in American politics.

Update: Hamas Mickey Mouse

Nope, the dog didn't eat my homework...

Instead the Hamas Mickey Mouse blames "the Jews"

 For more information, check out the transcript here.

Mickey Mouse twin supports Hamas?

Hamas uses a video of a character that looks like Mickey Mouse to teach children to fight against the West.