Fallen Into Knowledge

yeah, that’s right.  I failed abysmally.
I found (with some help) a test that determines your worldview, you can take it, too, if you want.  Supposedly, if you get all the answers right they will sent you a certificate.
Well, I scored 42%, and (apparently) am a Secular Humanist Worldview Thinker.Here is the breakdown:

Scoring/Ratings Chart
Strong Biblical Worldview Thinker
75% - 100%
Moderate Biblical Worldview Thinker
50% - 74%
Secular Humanist Worldview Thinker
25% - 49%
Socialist Worldview Thinker
0% - 24%
Communist/Marxist/Socialist/Secular Humanist Worldview Thinker
under 0%

All silliness aside, I am really glad that I didn’t make the cut and get the certificate.  For those of you not taking the test right now here is a sample of the question (with my gut-level response

“The Bible, rightly divided, should be the foundation for all our beliefs, actions, and conduct.”

How do we divide the bible rightly?  And with what tool?

“When you study the Bible as a whole, it becomes clear that God is very supportive of an economic system that is based on private property, the work ethic, and personal responsibility.”

“strongly disagree” - I wonder what the “right answer was?”

“Values clarification courses or situational ethics should be taught to students in our educational system.”

Wait - those aren’t the same thing!

Go over and look at the website:  It is shot through with the assumption that America and Christianity are pretty much synonymous, and that America is the instrument by which God enacts His public policy (which, naturally, is of the Republican, heavily Supply-side Economics, Pull-youself-up-by-your-Bootstraps Pro-War variety).  I suppose that I should not be bothered by the fact that I failed their phony test, but I am.  I dislike being labeled as a secular humanist:  I am not, and many of the answers i gave would never have been given by one.  I am bothered by the fact that my failing the political test also determines the results of the faith test.
Here is what I suggest:
“The Bible, rightly divided, should be the foundation for all our beliefs, actions, and conduct.”
The Bible, rightly divided, does not lead one to discount the faith of others based on whether they are Republican or not.
Okay, I’ll stop the diatribe now.

So Finals week is almost over for me; my last project is due Thurs. by 5pm. But this afternoon I needed a break - to get outside and breathe some. So I decided to ride down to Powells and use the gift card that someone so kindly gave to me. I just happened to be trying to cross the Steel bridge when the first of the ships came in for the Rose Festival, a fun coincidence. An enjoyable bike ride. And a successful trip to the bookstore (books by Jameson and Wendell Berry). It worked.
Also, while fixing dinner I heard the good news that Portland has met the first goal of the Kyoto Protocal. Portland is the only city (hopefully just the first) in America to do so. It makes me proud to live in Portland knowing that this city is taking the Prorocal and global warming seriously, even though the nation is not.
Okay, Back to the school work.

That’s right, a Simpsons Movie is not in production.  Such a beast has long been rumored, but has now been confirmed.  This show has been an enormous cultural influence; and, given that it had ten million viewers last season, it is still going strong after 16 seasons.  My mother still will not let me watch the Simsons (but I do anyway) reflecting a once-popular view that the show promoted questionable values, even though it is now commonly considered to be the most religious show in television(1, 2, 3).
My favorite episode has to be “Tales from the Public Domain” or maybe its when bart becomes a faith healer, or maybe when Homer gets smart, or…
Random Pole:  which character do you identify with?

The weatherman in hell is reporting snow flurries:

Apple Switching to Intel (News)

Or, to hear it from the source, watch the Keynote

Last night the Rose Festival was kicked off by a fireworks show.  While I normally go, this was the first year I watched from the Eastbank.  Besides being less crazy and crowded, I got some cool pictures.
Tonite is the Starlight Run, which preceeds the parade.  Look for me, I’m number 1816.  I think this will be the 14th time I have run out of the last 15 years.