Often we come across things that we want others to know about. On this page we
introduce various things we have come across and that we think you might be interested in. Our
reviews are organized by category and date.
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Presentation: free_culture
Date added: February 14, 2004
Creator: Lawrence Lessig
To view: Click here
At a weekend Information Technology workshop I attended last week, the professor presented an interesting lecture
on the effect PowerPoint is having on culture. He pointed to a growing body of literature that suggests that PowerPoint
is "making us dumb". He ended by showing us this presentation (done with slideware) created by Lawrence Lessig, one of the
the United State's most prominent figures in issues regarding intellectual property. The presentation is worth viewing
not only to see that slideware can be used effectively, but for the force of Lessig's arguent that society is best off when
creativity is encouraged. The show is best viewed if you have broadband, but is more than well worth the wait even if you don't.
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Article: Ethics of Proselytizings in wake of the tsunami
Date added: February 7, 2004
Author: David Rohde and David Batstone
Source: NY Times and Sojo Mail
To read: Click here
Thought provoking articles giving some very real examples about what happens when religions collide, as they have been
in the wake of the tsunami that has led to major relief efforts in South Asia.
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Reviews: MLK's I Have a Dream speech
Date added: January 17, 2005
Read by: Boys and Girls Choirs of Harlem
To listen: Click here (npr.org)
No better way to remember Martin Luther King Jr. than to hear young voices speak the words that more than 40 years ago
helped to change society.
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Gadget: Apple Ipod
Date added: December 20, 2004
To find out more: Click here
Our friends from Japan who visited this summer gave us one of these as a parting
gift. We have been using it (we is not really the right term, though Sarah did take it on one trip) since and have been
loving it. I bring it with me pretty much everyday and we also have pretty much replaced our stereo in the living room
with a set of speakers that connect to the Ipod.
The best part of an Ipod (and the feature that separates it from
all the other MP3 players out there is the Itunes software (though a few handy addon programs do allow you to
bring the device to its full potential). The software is intuitive, powerful, and the database behind it all pretty much
organizes your music collection with no stone left unturned. The playlists features are really good and unleash the potential
of your collection. And the ability to get to just that song or album you wanted to listen to, within a matter of seconds, is
uncanny. They may be a few bucks more than the competition but let me tell you, when you consider the whole package those few
bucks are well spent.
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Article: Maybe It's Not All Your Fault
Date added: December 4, 2004
Author: Steve Lohr
Source: NY Times
To read: Click here
Interesting article on consumer spending patterns in the US. Also some interesting stats about how much
the average American is in debt. The image that stuck with me the most though was the fact that when one
researcher surveyed 10 - 13 year olds she found that 63 percent of the kids agreed with the statement
"I want to make a lot of money when I grow up," with only 7 percent disagreeing. What are we teaching our kids?
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Reviews: Of U2's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Date added: November 24, 2004
Authors: Numerous
I have read so many good reviews of the album that I just have to share. Kenneth Tanner offers up a thoroughly
enjoyable review from a Christian perspective.
Make sure not to miss the reference to Micheal W. Smith's reaction to Bono's question about the title of the album.
Christianity today contributed these one by Scott Calhoun
and another by Russ Breimeier.
Check them all out and enjoy the album!!
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Article: Does a Free Download Equal a Lost Sale?
Date added: November 24, 2004
Author: Daniel Gross
Source: NY Times
To read: Click here
The researcher in me loved this article. Seems like the studying of file sharing has become a major academic
pursuit these days. This article summarizes the latest study on how file sharing affects sales. Seems like the
research is settling in where it usually does; in the gray middle.
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Article: Music Is Not a Loaf of Bread
Date added: November 24, 2004
Author: Xeni Jardin
Source: Wired
To read: Click here
Related to the article above this interview with the lead singer of the band Wilco explains how file sharing
is more than outright theivery. Also Jeff Tweedy points out how fans of the band donated more than $15,000 to
the band's charity of choice after downloading their music.
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Album: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Date added: November 21, 2004
Band: U2
For more info: Amazon.com
Following U2 has been a passion for years now and Bono's recent emergence on the social justice scene through his advocacy
only make follwing the band's music more interesting. And on those counts the new album definitely doesn't disappoint. It is full of references to global issues and the place
of rich Christians in an unjust world. The final track "Yahweh" really cuts to the core.
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Title: What Is a Foreign Movie Now?
Date added: November 13, 2004
Source: NY Times
To read: Click here to read
Fascinating article on the current state of film making and larger cultural issues in a globalized world. Having lived
overseas and having been immersed in Japanese pop culture and experience American pop culture through different eyes it
especially struck home. Love the quote at the end that refers to Lost in Translation.
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Title: U2: The Catharsis in the Cathedral
Date added: November 13, 2004
Source: NY Times
To read: Click here to read
U2's new album "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" is almost out and this article review the new album as well as putting it
into the longer U2 historical context. Also includes some sound bites from an interview with Bono. The guy is a visionary who
understands a lot about what is going on in this world. I guess he has been in a postion to notice and we can be grateful he didn't
just go along for the ride.
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Title: Values after the Presidential Election
Date added: November 5, 2004
Show: PBS Newshour
To watch: Click here to read the transcipt or watch the segment
Everyone is talking about values. Values were the biggest deciding factor in how people voted according to the pollsters. But
what are those values? And does having values influence your vote in a predictable way. These panelists on the Newshour get to
the heart of some of these discussions.
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Title: Barack Obama at the Democrat National Convention
Date added: July 28, 2004
To watch: Click here
In one of the most inspiring speeches in a long time, up and comer Barack Obama outlined his vision for the country
of the United States at the Democratic National Convention. A lawyer and former community organizer, Obama knows and tells the stories
of people in this country who know what we lack. As a person whose father was a goat herder in Kenya he also knows what the United States
offers and the opportunity that can be had here. As he is a rising star on the political scene, be sure to remember that name!!
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Site: Freecycle
Date added: July 26, 2004
More info: To visit the site
A novel idea to add on to recycling. Freecycle is a site where you can find email groups in your city
of people exchanging items they no longer need. You join the group through
Yahoo groups and have the messages sent to your email inbox. Then when you are interested in an item offered
or have something you want to freecycle you write in to take action. Just yesterday we recieved a great old
wood desk that should go nicely in our new house. The guy even delivered it after we determined it wouldn't fit
in our car. Definitely a great resource to get involved in and sharing and recycling resources rather than tossing
things that have lost their value to their owners.
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Title: Pieces of April
Director: Peter Hedges
Date added: July 18, 2004
More info: Click here for more info (IMDB)
A holiday meal movie, this film centers around a suburban family visit to a way-ward daughter living on the Lower East
Side of New York City. The breaking down of long held perceptions that have caused pain in the past is
redemptive and hopeful. Definitely worth watching.
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Software: AVG Anti-Virus - Free Version
Source: Grisoft
Date added: July 13, 2004
More info: Click here for more info and to download
If you are looking for an antivirus solution and don't want to shell out money to Norton or McAfee try out this product. It provides
a small (i.e. not resource hungry) program that does what it should. Scan and eliminate viruses. Also you can update your definitions
for free as well. You may miss out on some features but if you just need basic anti-virus protection this is a great product.
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Software: PDF Creator
Source: SourceForge
Date added: July 13, 2004
More info: Click here for more info and to download
Great piece of freeware. This software, though a little tricky to install (go to the download page and then download the PDFCreator-0_8_0_AFPLGhostscript.exe file)
makes creating PDF files from any print application a breeze. Using PDFs you can share documents with people across Operating Systems with ease, and you can
ensure that your files will not be manipulated by those recieving them. Definitely a useful tool to add.
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Title: House of Sand and Fog
Director: Vadim Perelman
Date added: July 12, 2004
More info: Click here for more info (IMDB)
An excellent movie that will move you to tears both in its simple pictures of grace and its heartwrenching tragedies.
The story surrounds the lives of an immigrant-Iranian family and a young white woman, whose father has just died and
whose husband has just left her. Their lives intersect when Iranian family buys and repossesses the home of the young
woman, who is wrongfully evicted for not paying business taxes. This movie does not superficially divide characters
into the good and the bad, but rather shows the viewer, through sparse, almost poetic, language and shots, the good-intentions and other-orientedness of all of the characters. The actions of each character spring from a desire to serve or protect those closest to them, but unfortunately the clashing of everyone’s good-intentions results in everyone losing the very thing that inspired them to fight.
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Title: On the Waterfront
Director: Eli Kazan
Date added: July 12, 2004
More info: Click here for more info (IMDB)
With the recent death of Marlon Brando this title was talked about quite a bit. After it was also on a professor's top ten list
I thought we better check it out. And it was worth it. Marlon Brando is fantastic playing Terry Malloy a former prize fighter now
working the mob-run docks of New York City. He comes to grips with his complicity in the situation after the death of friend who
is bumped off for his efforts to improve the conditions for the dock workers. In the end he triumphs and overcomes the system and himself.
The role of the priest is a very interesting one for us, especially as Sarah attempts to work with churches to engage their communities.
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Article: Cabrini Green Series
Source: Chicago Tribune
Date added: July 10, 2004
More info: Click here to read the series
Sarah and I were in Chicago last weekend at a college reunion in the Old Town Neighborhood. It was a Saturday morning and
pretty calm and we had some time to kill so we took a walk. Before we knew it we were in the heart of Cabrini Green. What
a world of contasts down there!! On our friend's block a townhouse just sold for 2 mill and on the next block there is garbage
littered green carpet for grass!! The crazy thing was the next day in the Chicago Tribune a series started on how Cabrini
Green is changing and all the issues that surround it. A lot of community development issues. I have followed the series all
week and it has been amazing. The piece about the pastor from Iowa really hit home. I definitely recommend checking the series out.
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