Picture This

Happiness is, of course, a function of relationships, personal fulfillment, and many other intangibles. However, small collections of material goods don't hurt.

I got a rather nice toy for a graduation present. I'm no photographer yet, but I've spent some time acquainting myself with the camera and doing a little practice. And you, my poor...er, lucky readers, get to witness the results. (I'm afraid I don't know how to do a "below-the-fold" trick, so this might take a while to load if you've got a slow connection.)

First, some Random Scenery:


Next, some photos taken at Diamond Valley Lake, a rather nice reservoir/recreational locale out in the So-Cal desert. Unfortunately, I can't post the panoramic videos I took (did I mention it's a rather nice toy?), but hopefully you'll like the photos.


The Lake


One of the dams that keeps The Lake together.


A pier ("Sven...Ja, Olie?...")


A friendly warning. I'm sorry to say we didn't see any rattlers, though.


A "mini lake" next to a water-treatment facility.


Stairs going up one of the dams


See? They really are stairs


One of our small, slithery friends.


Another. Pretty cute, eh?


And now, an experiment involving a truck, a parking lot, and a digital camera with 57x zoom:
Unzoomed:


10x optical zoom (the optical limit for this camera):


Full Zoom!


And finally:
More happiness came when I got two brand-new bookcases in which to stash my ever-growing collection of books.

These two are my old bookshelves; I've had them for several years.


New Bookshelf #1:


New Bookshelf #2:


I call this shelf "The Queue": as you might suspect, it's my immediate lineup of books-to-read:


Notable titles: The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester, The Once and Future King by T.H. White (a nearly-new hardcover acquired for $7 at Borders), Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton, The Partner by John Grisham, and Ovid's Metamorphoses.

(Incidentally, uploading photos with Blogger is a bit of a pain. If you enjoyed today's slide-show, I'll be happy to repeat it as I get worthwhile photos. Otherwise, let me know, and I'll save myself some effort.)

[Insert "Code" Pun Here]

On May 16, I finished reading the most controversial novel in recent memory (I think), The Da Vinci Code. I figured I really should read the book if I wanted to be able to form worthwhile opinions about it. Once I got past the many and varied historical and theological errors, I found the book a fairly enjoyable read, but I would definitely file it under "pop fiction": moderately entertaining, but of moderate literary quality, at best.

You may recall that my historian friend expressed his indignation that a world-renowned symbologist and art historian would not speak French (among other problems) (see this post). In a similar vein, I (language geek that I am) was dumfounded by this passage from the book:

"It's pentameter!" Teabing blurted, turning to Langdon. "And the verse is in English! La lingua pura!"

Langdon nodded. The Priory, like many European secret societies at odds with the Church, had considered English the only European pure language for centuries. Unlike French, Spanish, and Italian, which were rooted in Latin--the tongue of the Vatican--English was linguistically removed from Rome's propaganda machine, and therefore became a sacred, secret tongue for those brotherhoods educated enough to learn it. (p. 329)

Now, I'm no historical linguist, but the last time I checked, English is "linguistically removed" from Latin the way I'm "genetically removed" from my grandfather. Not only did English borrow directly from Latin to a measurable degree, it borrowed extensively from French (and at least a little bit from Spanish and Italian).

If we're going to talk about a European language that's linguistically removed from Latin, why don't we pick German? German and English share a common linguistic ancestry, but English was much more heavily influenced by the Romance languages than German. And if we're just looking for a "pure" language, why not Hebrew or Greek? The idea that English would make a good "secret language" is absurd; not only is it one of the most "impure" languages around (as Brown uses the word here), but it's also one of the most-widely-spoken languages on the planet today, making it a rather silly choice for a secret language. (end of lecture)

So why did I wait to post about the book until weeks after I read it? Because my primary purpose here is not to discuss TDC by itself, but to compare it to a similar work. (Also, Blogger has been screwy for the past few days.) As I read the book, I found myself thinking that the writing sounded rough and unpolished, especially at the beginning. This led me to wonder what would sound good to me. To that end, I wanted to set out some thoughts and comparisons.

Unfortunately, this post has already gotten a bit long, and my time is short. In the interest of (a) keeping my readers awake and (b) having more worthwhile posts, I shall postpone said discussion for a later time.

Ye Reale Worlde

Hail and well met, good readers. I, Martinian, Scrybe and Chronikler of Historikal Accounts, bid you welcome to this, my first attempt at record-making. In order that we might have a full and detailed record of the events described herein, I spoke with the very subject of this account, and he shared with me the following tale:

"It was Monday, May 15, 2006, just before 9 o'clock in the morning. I stepped out of the car and glanced around me. It looked just as I remembered: a small parking lot, open to the street on the south and bordered on the east by a white brick wall. The L-shaped building housing the Reasons to Believe offices bordered the lot on the west and north. 'This is it,' I thought to myself, 'your first day of work.' With a deep breath and a quick prayer, I walked into the reception area to announce my arrival.

"The receptionist smiled as I entered. I smiled back and told her I was there to meet the executive vice president. She took my name and called the EVP, but he wasn't in his office. The receptionist left to look for him, leaving me to browse the shelves of books that make up RTB's on-site bookstore. After a few minutes, the receptionist returned and announced that she would lead me to his office, where he was now waiting.

"The EVP greeted me and we chatted for a few moments about my final days in college before he gave me a small stack of paperwork to complete. One employment application and one W-4 form later, I was ready to start working. The EVP said he would lead me to my work station.

"We walked outside and up a flight of stairs to the office suite where I worked last summer. 'I wonder if I'll get my old cubicle back,' I thought to myself. I watched, intrigued, as my guide produced a small plastic stub from his pocket and held it to a device on the doorframe. I would learn shortly that this was a new security system; the doors are magnetically locked, and the small plastic stub is the key that opens the lock. After a high-pitched beep, a small LED on the device lit up green, and we entered the building.

"'This is where you'll sit,' my guide said, and my jaw literally went slack. He had led me not to a cubicle, but to an office. 'I get an office? I gasped. 'Yep,' my guide said with a grin. I looked around the office...my new office (to this day, I still have trouble grasping that). The single bookshelf was well stocked: old copies of RTB books for reference, a Merriam-Webster dictionary, and a handful of Bible references and grammar guides.

"My eyes wandered to the desk. There, next to the computer, were my 'welcome-aboard' gifts, a set of tools sure to become my new best friends: a red pen, a mechanical pencil, a brand-new NIV study Bible, and an equally brand-new copy of the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition. I have to admit that I was a bit intimidated by the CMS. I flipped to the back and checked the page numbers. 'There are more than 900 pages in this thing,' I thought. 'That's quite a tome. I've got my work cut out for me.'

"I went from my office to meet my supervisor, who talked to me for a while about the projects they had lined up for me. My position is a new one, so the Editorial staff are still working out exactly how they'd like to use me. We took a break from our discussion at 10 o'clock to join the staff prayer meeting, a time for people to talk about business projects and share prayer concerns, both business and personal. After the meeting, I returned to my office and began looking over some of the material I had been given (the employee handbook and RTB style sheet, in particular).

"At 12:30, I was invited to attend what is known as the 'Scholar's Lunch.' Basically, the RTB scholars (the ones who do the research and writing) and the editorial staff have lunch together and spend an hour or two talking about a range of subjects; our discussion that Monday wandered from Reformation history to the possibility of using podcasts and blogs as media for RTB to use. To top it off, the entire Scholar's Lunch is considered work time, which means I don't have to count it as a lunch break on my timecard. Scholar's Lunches are weekly events, and I've been invited to attend all of the future ones. I expect them to be among the highlights of my time at RTB.

"The remainder of the week was relatively slow. I proofread some chapters from an upcoming book about worldviews; began learning how to handle Today's New Reason to Believe (a daily feature on the website), which will become one of my primary responsibilities; edited a handful of newsletter articles; and began reading the CMS and a few of the grammar guides on my bookshelf. I was assured that my workload will increase considerably in the days ahead, but for now I'm settling into the position and getting accustomed to the idea of being a full-time worker."

As the season of Autumn, wherein the Leaves of the Trees are transformed from the beautiful shades of emerald to the dazzling colors of red and orange and gold, so is the transition from one time of Life to another. As the Subject of the above Account has found joy and purpose in his work, may you all enjoy the peace and blessings of Our Lord.

Aspirat primo Fortuna labori.--Virgil
(Fortune smiles upon our first effort.)

Hi Ho, Hi Ho

I am now halfway through my first week as a full-time employee/member of the Real World. The experience so far has been excellent; my co-workers are awesome, and I can already tell that working in Editorial is going to help me polish and refine my writing ability, which is definitely a good thing. I'm pretty sure I'm going to enjoy the work; I've done some editing before, of course, but I am now a Professional (assuming "professional X" is defined as "one who is paid to do X").

In addition to personal development and earning money, I'll get to know and interact with some brilliant people, which is sure to give me lots of opportunities to do some heavy thinking. To top it all off, RTB has a good working relationship with Biola (which may or may not help me get accepted there in the future).

At this point, my work week involves leaving home just after 8am, working from 9am to 5:30pm, and returning home just after 6pm. The commute isn't pleasant, but it could be a lot worse. When the work really picks up intensity in about a week it's going to be exhausting, but at least my evenings are essentially free. I hope to find some courses to take in the fall (probably undergrad philosophy courses to fill in the gaps in my university education), but for now it's nice not to have to worry about studying. Well, other than studying RTB company policy, the Chicago Manual of Style, and various things related to our current projects.

So there you have it. After a week of relaxation, I have embarked on what I see as a rather exciting new journey. I hope you're all doing well, enjoying yourselves, and remembering to praise God for His grace and goodness.

Oh, one more thing: if you're bored and want to kill a few minutes with something frivolous, this is kinda fun.

Ye Laste Huzzah

It is with heavy heart that I, Martinus, Scrybe and Chronikler of LETU Historie, prepare myself to compose the account that follows. My sight grows dim, my breath rattles in my chest, and my hand trembles as I grasp the quill. My days as Chronikler have been happy and full, yet I fear that the time for me to pass on draws near. It will be left to younger, abler hands than mine to continue the Story. But for now, there is one last tale for me to tell.

In the Yeare of Our Lord 2006, near the end of the Springe Semestre, there were great Excitement and frantic Confusion in all the land. Many were overwhelmed by the vast quantities of Work remaining to be completed and feared that they would not endure. Yet Our Lord is loving and gracious, and with His help, all found the strength to complete their tasks. Thus did they arrive at the Final Weeke.

In those last days, some found their time consumed with studying for and taking the dreaded Exams of Ending, arduous and challenging. Their elder companions, who had endured such Exams many times before, now found themselves approaching the time for the Ceremony of Commencement, at which their efforts would be recognized with the conferral of Degrees. These Graduates, freed from the obligations of Exams, devoted themselves to preparing to leave the land of LETU. Yet even this was not the full extent of the Confusion.

In the midst of Exams and preparations for departure, two among the people had a greater event approaching: Jared Wheelwright, bibliophilic denizen of the Cave of Ice, and Rachel Aviansmann, fair maiden from the realm of Seven-Teenay, were frantic in their preparations for the culmination of their betrothal (which was recorded at an earlier time).

And so, on the fifth day of Maye, the people of LETU did assemble for the joyous ritual of Matrimonie. Many stories could be told of the tumultuous preparations on that day; chief among these would be the account of the Silver Candelabra. This precious relic, vital to the completion of the ceremony, was found broken mere hours before the ceremony was to take place. Though many offered counsel for resolving the tragedy, the Bride's father, a man skilled in many arts, ultimately restored the Candelabra to its former condition. The ceremony, led by His Excellency Baron Watson, was a lovely and moving event. Indeed, the Emperors of old rarely saw such splendor and joy.

That evening, following the Wedding, the Graduates made their way to the Hall of the Glass Key, where they had gathered with families and friends to prepare for the Banquet of the Seniors. Good food and good cheer were abundant, and many were honored for their excellence of mind and spirit.

As morning dawned on the sixth of Maye, the Graduates assembled at the edifice known as the Home of the Sun (called Sol'Heim in the local tongue) in anticipation of the Ceremony of Commencement. Upon their arrival, they were clad in the traditional garb of Academia: black robe and four-cornered hat. Alas, the skies had emptied themselves the night before, and the Great Field was deemed unsuitable for the Ceremony. Thus, after a period of eager waiting, the Graduates were led into a large Chamber, where the Ceremony was performed. Many who wished to view the Ceremony were forced to be seated in a secondary location and watch via an enchanted Screen, for which there was great grumbling and complaining.

After the Ceremony of Commencement, friends gathered across the land for rejoicing, congratulations, and fond farewells. It is said that the very air of LETU took part, as fantastical Bubbles floated around the Students and into the sky. May the prayers and wishes of the Graduates and their friends similarly soar to Our Lord above, to whom be Honor and Glory. Amen.

I, Martinus, write this account with my own hand. May it bring Entertainment and Edification to those who find it.

Goodbyes are not forever;
Goodbyes are not the end;
They simply mean I'll miss you
Until we meet again.
~Author Unknown

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." --Paul, 2 Corinthians 13:14

Quick Update

This post probably won't be as long as it should, but I'm exhausted and need to get to bed. Yet I can't not post something, so we'll see what happens.

The past few days were absolutely insanely busy. But now it's over: I have arrived safely home with a bachelor's degree in hand. As you probably know from other blogs, two of my closest friends are now married. The ceremony was beautiful, and I was honored and thrilled to be asked to participate in it. I wish the newlyweds the best in their new unified life.

Graduation has been a mixed bag emotionally. I'm happy to be finished and excited to be moving on to new challenges and experiences. On the other hand, I have left my second family, and I'm already starting to miss them (I blame a combination of sickness, sleep deprivation, and stress for this early onset). I'm just glad to have the Internet as a way to maintain contact, and gladder to know that we will meet again, whether in this life or the next.

Now, about those "new challenges and experiences":

For those of you who didn't hear (and I'm sorry if I forgot to tell you in person): You may remember that last summer I did my English internship with Reasons to Believe (if you don't, check the archives). Well, I have a full-time job lined up working there as an "Assistant Editor." I'll be making about $15/hour, which makes me rather happy (it's a lot more than I expected to make). I start one week from tomorrow (on 5/15), which means I get a one-week break before diving into "the Real World." Exciting times, indeed. I'll certainly post details as the job unfolds.

On a somewhat sadder note, I was not accepted to Biola University. While this is disappointing, it's not really too bad. I get a year to live at home, do some reading, make some money, and do some actual research on grad-school opportunities. The Lord has a plan, and I trust it's better than mine. At this point, I think I'll reapply to Biola next year, but we'll see what happens.

Well, I wound up posting more than I thought I would. More to come as time and motivation permit.

"Public Service" Announcement

I am about to disconnect my computer as part of packing for post-graduation departure. Sorry for the lack of posts this week, but I hope to have some relatively worthwhile material before too long.

I'll post something when I get home and settled.

Blessings and safe travels to everyone.

Reflections

Some pearls of wisdom gleaned during my college career:

From Professors:

Psychology:
"What kind of associations do we have with grass? It's clean, it's fun, people frolic in it!"

"They bring us closer to the Lord, pop quizzes do."

"Math is someone you don't want to meet in a dark alley. Because let's face it: "math" is a four-letter word."

"Who doesn't miss the afternoon nap, or snack time? These were good things, wasted on the young."

English/Philosophy:
“If your life is not making sense, stick your thumb in your eye. Pain has a way of focusing our attention.”

“You know things are bad when they start writing country-western songs about you.”

“What do you call a sea captain who can sail anywhere in the world and robs people? That’s a pirate. He’s got a patch over one eye and he says ‘Arrr.’”

“English women in the good old days were like Xena, warrior princess.”

“I’m very suspicious of people who want to do away with Christmas.”

“Some things give me the heebie-jeebies: cell phones have been a plague on society.”

“You can blame Aristotle for everything.”

“To believe in an empty tomb does not require you to have an empty mind.”

“We’re just flopping along…flopping? Flipping? Are we flopping along? What are we doing?”

“Job [the book of the Bible] is not about suffering: it’s about the sovereignty of God. God has the right to do whatever He wants.”

"My car could be wet for other reasons. There could be an army of demented teenagers with Supersoakers out there."

History:
“I don’t give grades; I just discover them.”

Textbooks:
Miscellaneous:
“The next reason that you might think you do not understand what I’m telling you is, while I’m describing to you how Nature works, you won’t understand why Nature works that way. But you see, nobody understands that.”
--Richard Feynman

Critical Thinking: Consider the Verdict
On truth tables:
“Now that’s the sort of fun you can have for hours, without gaining weight, spending money, or risking infection.”

“You cannot judge an argument by its source. If we should discover that an argument long attributed to Socrates was in fact given by Socrates’ favorite sandal maker, then that would be important for scholars studying ancient Greek philosophy, but it would have no bearing on the strength of the argument.”

“Unfortunately, many people—particularly politicians and advertisers—lean on statistics the way a drunk leans on a street lamp: for support, rather than illumination.”

An Introduction to Language:
“Pragmatics also tells us about language use. It tells us that calling someone a son of a bitch is not a zoological opinion, it’s an insult. It tells us that when a beggar on the street asks do you have any spare change? it is not a fiduciary inquiry, it’s a request for money.”

Nonclassical Physics: Beyond Newton's Views
“At present, it is believed that quarks are the fundamental fermions that engage in the strong force. Six different types are known, and they have been given the names up, down, strange, charm, top, and bottom. (No meaning should be attached to these names. In the early days of elementary particle physics, frivolity reigned, and particles and properties were often given fanciful names.)”

>Literary Theory: An Introduction:
on the "structuralist" view of readers:
“An ideal reader would need to be fully equipped with all the technical knowledge essential for deciphering the work, to be faultless in applying this knowledge, and free of any hampering restrictions. If this model was pressed to an extreme, he or she would have to be stateless, classless, ungendered, free of ethnic characteristics and without limiting cultural assumptions. It is true that one does not tend to meet many readers who fill this bill entirely satisfactorily, but the structuralists conceded that the ideal reader need not do anything so humdrum as actually exist.”