Another Job Perk

RTB's newest book has just been released: Hugh Ross's Creation as Science (Amazon link). To celebrate, we had a "book-release party" on Monday afternoon. As part of the festivities, each member of the staff received a copy of the book.

Mmmm...free books. *happy sigh*

I'm about four chapters into it. So far, there hasn't been any radical new information. But it has served to collect some basic info that was previously spread out among several RTB books. And I expect the later chapters to have a bit more "new" material.

In other news...actually, I guess there is no other news from me. The car-hunt continues, as do work and my reading/writing "projects."

So: To those of you who have just started new semesters in school, I wish you the best of luck and as much lack of insanity as possible.

Role Reversal and Proof of Mercy

My parents returned yesterday from driving my younger brother to Baylor University. By now, he's a good few days into his pre-semester marching band practices.

It's odd to think that just four years ago, our roles were reversed: I was going off to college and he was back home. The oddness is amplified by the fact that we both chose to attend schools in Texas, more than halfway across the country. When he comes home in December, I'll be the one wishing I got a break while he enjoys his time off. But I'm excited for him; he was looking forward to starting, and I'm sure his already considerable musical talent will grow by leaps and bounds with the focused training he'll get.

In other news, I still hate the So-Cal freeway system. No, that's not right. I really like the freeway system; it's a remarkably simple and efficient way to get around. What I hate is the fact that 98% of the people who drive on it are Idiots...or at least they drive like Idiots.

Isaac Newton said, "In the absence of any other evidence, the thumb would be proof of God's existence" (or something to that effect). I have a contemporary version: "The fact that there aren't a whole lot more accidents on the So-Cal freeways is proof of both God's existence and His goodness and mercy; only a good and omnipotent Being could keep that many stupid people safe from themselves."

If you'll excuse me, I have to go beat my Inner Cynic into submission now.

Original Owner

One of my co-workers pointed me to the following story. No idea whether any of it's true or not, but I read it and was highly amused. I hope you will and will be, too.
***

A New Orleans lawyer sought an FHA loan for a client. He was told the loan would be granted if he could prove satisfactory title to a parcel of property being offered as collateral. The title to the property dated back to 1803, which took the Lawyer three months to track down. After sending the information to the FHA, he received the following reply:

"Upon review of your letter adjoining your client's loan application, we note that the request is supported by an Abstract of Title. While we compliment the able manner in which you have prepared and presented the application, we must point out that you have only cleared title to the proposed collateral property back to 1803. Before final approval can be accorded, it will be necessary to clear the title back to its origin."

Annoyed, the lawyer responded as follows:

"Your letter regarding title in Case No. 189156 has been received. I note that you wish to have title extended further than the 194 years covered by the present application. I was unaware that any educated person in this country, particularly those working in the property area, would not know that Louisiana was purchased by the U.S. from France in 1803, the year of origin identified in our application. For the edification of uninformed FHA bureaucrats, the title to the land prior to U.S. ownership was obtained from France, which had acquired it by Right of Conquest from Spain. The land came into the possession of Spain by Right of Discovery made in the year 1492 by a sea captain named Christopher Columbus, who had been granted the privilege of seeking a new route to India by the Spanish monarch, Isabella. The good queen Isabella, being a pious woman and almost as careful about titles as the FHA, took the precaution of securing the blessing of the Pope before she sold her jewels to finance Columbus' expedition. Now the Pope, as I'm sure you may know, is the emissary of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and God,it is commonly accepted, created this world. Therefore, I believe it is safe to presume that God also made that part of the world called Louisiana.

"God, therefore, would be the owner of origin and His origins date back to before the beginning of time, the world as we know it, AND the FHA. I hope you find God's original claim to be satisfactory. Now, may we have our damned loan?"

The loan was approved.