Repotted Orched the Orchid today. She’s going through some stuff but she’ll be fine. She even has special soil formulated for her people.

What's the point to Microblog?

I’m not sure I really understand the point of microblog. I don’t think I get the concept or the site.

As I scroll through my timeline, it looks more and more like Facebook but for a niche group of tech-types. Not only that, I see a ton of replies to conversations with zero context so I have no idea what it’s about.

Does anyone actually WRITE on this thing?

I loathe Facebook with a purple passion and I am definitely not a tech type, so is there really any point to being here at all?

“The cruelty people do to each other is traced to its origins - hearts that deny God. There is an absence of goodness among us because there is an absence of God within us.” (Eugene Peterson)

Moon Knight S1:E4 - The Tomb

WARNING: Minor Spoilers Ahead

I laughed and scratched my head over the mind-twisting ending of episode four of MOON KNIGHT.

I followed the comic for a short while when it first arrived in 1980 but I can’t say I am truly knowledgeable of the full storyline and so I’am unable to reference it as I watch the show unfold. But I am loving watching it unfold!

I’ve seen all of the MCU television shows and liked them, but MOON KNIGHT is, without question, the best one yet. And I say that not just because I am fond of the character.

Oscar Issac is a fantastic actor and his skills are on display as he gives us two completely different people in Steven Grant and Marc Spector and I can’t wait to see the third identity they keep teasing–John Lockley. I mean the man’s face and body language are completely different for each one. It’s just wonderful to watch.

I’ve always enjoyed watching Ethan Hawke do his thing and there is some real depth to the character of Arthur Harrow. This is a villian with complex motivations and, like any good villian, he genuinely believes he is the good guy in this story.

I also like May Calamawy, who is brand new to me. I’m loving the fact that she is, in many ways both Marc and Steven rolled into one identity. She’s brilliant and incredibly tough. She is no damsel in distress, which is always refreshing to watch. I still think there is more to the story about the death of her father that has yet to unfold so it will be interesting to see how that works out.

This show is funny, exciting, expertly shot, acted, and written. This is really good TV and I’ve liked every episode.

And I laughed out loud when the hippo god waved and Marc and Steven screamed. Can’t wait to see what happens next.

The Blacklist S9:E16 - Helen Maghi :tv:

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

So, I guess the big take away from Episode 16 is it’s always wrong to lie unless you really, REALLY need to.

Red mentioned moral relativism several times in this epsiode. No absolutes. To each his or her own. Do what you will based on your circumstances.

Of course, that’s what seems to work for Red in “his world” as he so often says, but he claims it as a universal truth, which is ironic considering the word “relativism”.

Cooper seems to believe in moral absolutes, though Red claims otherwise, but does he really? He certainly has a very strict code but he obviously does not see it as universal since he recognizes the need for Red to act outside of it, but then he expects his friend Lew, who agreed to testify against him, to stick to it. Then he says that Aram, who did in fact stick to his principles, will learn to embrace moral relativism.

It’s interesting to me that Red is angry at Aram and want’s to punish him for deceiving him and then let’s Maghi go to her new life in paradise even though she did the same. Why? Because Maghi’s motives for lying were somehow more noble than Aram’s?

Again, it’s all relative.

As a Christian, I believe in an absolute moral standard–the character of God. And that character and all that it requires is laid out in the Scriptures. How that is applied in various situations is a unique challenge sometimes, but probably not as often as we’d like to think.

For example: One of the ten commandments is “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16). In other words, don’t lie to each other. The Scriptures also say that God hates the lying tongue (Proverbs 6:16-19). So, obviously, it is always wrong to lie.

However, is it REALLY always wrong to lie? What if I was a Christian in Nazi Germany and had Jews hiding in my home? Some Nazis come by one day and ask me the direct question: “Are there any Jews hiding in your home?” If I tell the truth, a family that is utterly helpless and dependent on me will die. I too will die. And my family will also most likely die. If I lie, all lives are spared, but lying is a sin.

That actually happened to Corrie Ten Boom. She lied to the Nazis. I would have too.

This is an extreme case and I doubt any of us live that kind of life–thank the Lord for that. I think in our world, we are masters at justifying immoral acts for what we claim are moral reasons when really, all we’re trying to do is alleviate our feelings of guilt and shame and justify what we want to do even though we know it’s wrong.

That is certainly the world Red lives in only he’s not as hypocritcal about it as we are. That’s his code.

Fascinating.

I like the way this show tosses around ethical, philosophical, and relational issues. It gives it some depth, some heft.

“Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war!” (Psalm 120:6-7, ESV)

“Ignorance itself is neither shameful nor harmful. Nobody can know everything. But pretending that you know what you actually do not know is both shameful and harmful.” - Leo Tolstoy

This makes me think of social media. Facebook and Twitter specifically.

The Morality of Giving Away Books

“I don’t own many books. So, I collected books in great numbers when I was an undergraduate, mostly history of economic thought. I thought I would build up this incredible collection of the great economics masterworks. But then I started moving around, and then I moved to Germany for a year and I’m, like, ‘This is not going to work.’ So, what I will do–there’s some economic historians in my department. If I get a history book, I will give it to them because I know they won’t necessarily read it. They’ll use it or not use it for reference. And I don’t feel I’m tricking them into reading a book. But I would be very reluctant to give you a book, Russ. Not that I don’t love you or like you, or both, but I would feel that you would feel obliged to read the book. Correct?

It is immoral to give away books unless you truly feel the recipient should read them!”

  • Tyler Cowen