Enter Star Trek Next

Just as I was getting psyched for the next James Bond, along comes updates from the Star Trek set.

Above: Captain Kirk helms the bridge.

In 2005, JJ Abrams, the mastermind behind Alias - my previously favorite weekly - agreed to resuscitate the dwindling Star Trek franchise. I, for one, could not have been more please. Abrams directed Mission Impossible 3 after Tom Cruise became addicted to Alias. During filming, Abram's series, Lost, appeared on televisions, panicking us about numbers and polar bears in Hawaii. It was beautiful.

And so what's the news? Time travel. Seriously, can Star Trek be Star Trek without time travel? It's hard to imagine. Still, the delicate topic seems born in the Star Trek universe - and refined therein. Star Trek is science fiction for smart people, at first. After a little watching, it is science fiction for deeper, even emotional people. As Romulans wrestle with early Star Trek characters in the forthcoming movie (May 2009), I'll relish the reinvigoration of a universe that molded my childhood.

You might already know who Randy Pausche is. He wrote The Last Lecture and since died from pancreatic cancer. He was quite a man, very positive. How much more the better is Star Trek? How much more the greater can I brag on Star Trek? But for to have Randy cameo the film? Kudos to JJ Abrams for having enabling such a treasure in the canon of Star Trek optimism. Frankly, I'm psyched.

Read more here (spoilers detected!)

Separation of Church and State

I heard Whoopi Goldberg in a John McCain interview rudely demand, "Do you believe in separation of church and state? Do you believe in separation of church and state?" He answered "yes" with a follow-up about faith's inevitable role. Nonetheless, I imagine if McCain were Kabbalah, et al Whoopi would have down-shifted her attack.

Why do some feel "separation of church and state" (which insists the government cannot force religion on its people) means we must divorce our moral worldview from political decision-making? How can I determine what is right, without first considering what is right? Isn't it a first principle of sorts for decision-making? Am I missing something?

I heard someone ask – why does your religion create laws that influence me? That's because my religion is my worldview; I believe it is true. Everyone believes their worldview is true. Those who believe many worldviews are true believe the "many worldviews are true" worldview is true. You see? If you believe something, you have a duty (and right) to act on accordingly. Don't you?

Here's a quote:

"Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, William Jennings Bryan, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King—the majority of great reformers in American history—were not only motivated by faith, but repeatedly used religious language to argue for their cause. So to say that men and women should not inject their 'personal morality' into public-policy debates is a practical absurdity."

What do you think of that remarkable quote?

Fly on the Wings of Love

It's not often I gush over a song. 

Every year, the European Broadcasting Union has a contest for best European song. The contest is getting increasingly horrible. But back in 2000, the Olsen Brothers (a well tenured group) submitted Fly on the Wings of Love on Denmark's behalf. 

They won. And, with incredible success (despite jeers that it was old fashioned) pulling a record-setting victory. Watching this video, I really believe the singer loves his love. It's a way I want to be, and a pleasure to watch over and over and over. At least, for me. 

Why aren't songs like this anymore? Maybe I'm old fashioned.

Cripple Creek

A trip to Cripple Creek to see the Fall colors.

It's a pretty part of Colorado and a fun train trip.

Mount Princeton

About a month ago we visited Mount Princeton just outside Buena Vista.

We're going to miss summer.

Geocache Colorado

Kyndall's parents have gotten us into geocaching.
It's a kid's dream come true - a hidden treasure box in the woods full of toys.
The girls really love it, and I dig it, too.