Earth's seasons are due to the tilt of its rotation axis, relative to the plane of the solar system....Computer studies show that the moon stabilizes the earth's tilt angle (Ward and Brownlee, 2000). The nearby moon acts as a massive counterweight that holds the earth's spin-axis in place. With no moon, the earth's axis would swing erratically between 0 degrees and 90 degrees due to gravity pulls from the sun and other planets, mainly Jupiter. Seasons would then be unpredictable and much more severe. For example, an earth tilt substantially greater than 23 1/2 degrees could lead to a permanent freezing of the oceans and the end of all life. Computer models indicate that this wandering of the earth's axis without a moon would be gradual, occurring over thousands of years.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Book Quotes: The Moon as a Counterweight
From Our Created Moon: Earth's Fascinating Neighbor by Don DeYoung & John Whitcomb (page 52):
Thursday, May 27, 2010
And the winner is...
It's time to announce the winner of Life, In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson. Using a random number generator and numbering the entrants in the order I received them, the winner is:
Richard B.
Congratulations! I'll be contacting you for your address.
For those who didn't win, you can always buy a copy of this excellent book from your favorite bookstore.
Richard B.
Congratulations! I'll be contacting you for your address.
For those who didn't win, you can always buy a copy of this excellent book from your favorite bookstore.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Our Created Moon by Don DeYoung & John Whitcomb
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Source: Review copy provided by the publisher.
Back Cover Description:
For eons the moon has intrigued humanity. From its creation through the current issues of space exploration, the moon has been both a light in the night and a protective shield of earth placed perfectly by God, regulating our seasons and keeping our atmosphere purified. Billions of dollars have been spent to reach its surface and discover its secrets; open these pages and discover those secrets for yourself.
Now completely updated and expanded, Our Created Moon is filled with the most current full-color images, facts and figures, and innovative teaching resources:
• Developed as an educational resource for use in classroom study, independent learning, and homeschool settings.
• Filled with clearly-stated objectives built upon basic learning as a foundation for more developed learning skills.
• Loaded with provocative questions about the moon’s history, purpose, record in Scripture, as well as a clear response to critics.
• Discover unique and fascinating facts and insights on the moon found throughout the text.
• Make your own interesting findings and observations from practical, inexpensive activities at the end of each chapter.
Review:
Our Created Moon is an interesting science book on the moon for high school age on up. The book was written from a Christian perspective and included references to Bible verses and to God as the Creator of the universe.
There were five chapters. The information was covered in a question-answer format. The full-color illustrations, diagrams, and pictures were lovely and easy-to-understand. There was also moon trivia throughout the book. Each chapter included suggestions for moon-related activities that the reader can do. There was also a glossary in the back of the book.
Chapter One had 16 questions covering basic information, including what is a moon, how far away is the moon, what keeps the moon in the sky, how large is the moon, why do we see only one side of the moon, what caused the lunar craters, and what are moon rocks like.
Chapter Two had 14 questions referring to the history of the moon, including what lunar origin theory dominates today, what is the Roche limit, what is the creation view of the moon, why was the moon created on the forth day, how old is the moon, and what is lunar regression.
Chapter Three had 11 questions about the purpose of the moon, including is the moon a useful night light, what is the lunar calendar, does the moon affect our seasons and weather, and what natural resources are on the moon.
Chapter Four had 10 questions about the moon in Scripture, including what does the moon symbolize biblically, what is the 'language of appearance' in Scripture, what does the Old Testament say about moon worship, and how prevalent was moon worship in the Ancient Near East.
Chapter Five had 11 questions on answering the critics, including does the scientific method rule out any appeal to the supernatural, is the creation view opposed to science research and inquiry, do great distances in space require a vast time scale, and if the moon is young, why does it look old.
Overall, I found the book well-written, clear, and very interesting. I'd highly recommend it to those fascinated by our moon or space.
If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.
Excerpt from page 54
7. How important are the ocean tides?
Tides and wind together generate the ocean currents worldwide, and studies have shown that tides may dominate the process (Wunsch, 200). About 3 trillion watts of tidal power are continually dissipated in the oceans. This nonstop power production is roughly equal to that supplied by all the power plants on Earth, including nuclear, fossil fuel, and hydroelectric plants.
Tides are essential to the health of the oceans. The shorelines are continually scrubbed as the water rises and falls in its daily rhythm. In the process, the seawater is oxygenated. Poison runoff from the land to the sea by rivers is diluted, dispersed, and broken down. Without this major stirring of the seas, the water would become stagnant and unhealthy. Sea life would die, especially along the shorelines of the world. This includes the abundant plant life of the oceans. There are vast amounts of "grasses of the sea," or floating plankton, plus larger sea plants such as the "kelp forests" in shallow areas. In fact, there is more total plant life by weight (biomass) in sea water than on all the land. This follows because the world is about 70 percent covered with water.
Plants "breathe" the opposite of us, taking in carbon dioxide and giving off oxygen. Therefore, if sea plants perished, the earth's atmosphere would rapidly deteriorate. We then would have insufficient oxygen for life. In this why our very breath is dependent on the lunar tides. Even in a cursed, imperfect world, the ecological design of the world is amazing, including the essential functions of the moon.
"Look inside" the book.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Book Quote: Civilians Terrorized
From A Soldier's Promise by Daniel Hendrex, Wes Smith (page 158):
The increased American military presence in Husaybah had apparently incited Sayed and his henchmen to crack down on local Iraqis to maintain their control. They were ruthless. They had a group of eight to ten black bag operations guys, probably trained by Steve-O's father. They'd go into the homes of Iraqis, single out the father or mother or a child, and torture or kill them in front of the others to make the point that they would not tolerate American sympathizers. Women and girls were raped. They also used these techniques to force men and boys to fight for them, to plant bombs, or to gain access to the homes they needed as safe houses or weapons caches, lookouts, or ambush sites.
At first, it was hard for me and the other American soldiers to understand why most Iraqi citizens did not respond to our efforts to help them. But it became clear that until we rid them of the predators in their own neighborhoods, the Iraqi people would never be able to embrace the freedom they were being offered.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Giveaway for Life, In Spite of Me
 | | I'm holding a giveaway for Life, In Spite of Me: Extraordinary Hope After a Fatal Choice by Kristen Jane Anderson. To learn more about the book, you can read my review. |
One copy is being given away. This giveaway is for USA and Canada residents only.
To enter the giveaway:
1) you can twitter me saying "Hi @genrereviewer Please enter me in the giveaway for LIFE, IN SPITE OF ME by Kristen Anderson."
OR
2) You can leave a comment to this post asking to be entered. Please leave some way for me to contact you if you win.
The winner will be randomly selected. I'll announce the winner at noon (Central Time) on May 27, 2010 on this blog.
If you entered using twitter, I'll send you a @ or DM telling you of your win and asking where to send the book. If you entered using the blog comments, you'll need to leave your e-mail address or check back to see if you won so you can e-mail me your shipping address. If the winner hasn't responded after seven days, I'll pick a new winner.
I hope everyone has fun with this!
Life, In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson
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Source: This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
Back Cover Description:
She wanted to die. God had other plans.
Why does my life have to be so painful? What’s wrong with me? It’s not going to get better. It could all be over soon, and then I won’t hurt anymore.
Kristen Anderson thought she had the picture-perfect life until strokes of gray dimmed her outlook: three friends and her grandmother died within two years. Still reeling from these losses, she was raped by a friend she thought she could trust. She soon spiraled into a seemingly bottomless depression.
One January night, the seventeen-year-old decided she no longer wanted to deal with the emotional pain that smothered her. She lay down on a set of cold railroad tracks and waited for a freight train to send her to heaven…and peace.
But Kristen's story doesn’t end there.
In Life, In Spite of Me this remarkably joyful young woman shares the miracle of her survival, the agonizing aftermath of her failed suicide attempt, and the hope that has completely transformed her life, giving her a powerful purpose for living.
Her gripping story of finding joy against all odds provides a vivid and unforgettable reminder that life is a gift to be treasured.
Includes notes of encouragement Kristen wishes she had received when she was struggling most.
Review:
Life, In Spite of Me is an inspirational memoir. As a teen, the author's family didn't talk about bad things, so she held all her grief and confusion inside when her father was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and depression, her grandmother died, a friend in her school was put in the hospital with a brain tumor, a close friend committed suicide, and a guy she liked raped her. She turned to drinking and partying in an attempt to find some relief, but that only made things worse. If any of these things has happened to you or you're struggling with depression, then this book will bring you hope and show you how Anderson found the way to joy.
The memoir was written "in her head as it happened" rather than in a "looking back" style, which created a tension that kept me turning the pages. The book was a fast read and was written in an easy-to-read way. The book began with the gripping re-telling of her attempted suicide, then she told about the events leading up to the attempt, and then about her hard recovery and journey to joy and purpose in God.
It truly is an amazing story. I'd highly recommend this book, especially to people who struggle with depression or wonder if life will ever get any better.
If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.
Excerpt from Chapter One
Dear reader,
This is my story. Sometimes it gets a little crazy…you’ll see, but my guess is that in many ways my story and yours are not that different. Between some of the chapters you will find personal notes from me to you. These include things I wish I had known, things I wish someone had told me back then. I hope you will find what I’ve shared encouraging.
I am praying for you.
Kristen
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Numb. The cold Illinois wind chilled my body.
Numb. My mind, my heart.
At just past 6:00 p.m., the sky was black, and the icy January air hovered over the ground as a thick, misty fog. Snow clung to the dirt in patches, and my heart felt as dead as the wintry world around me. Silently, I trudged through the park and tugged my knit gloves tighter. I wanted only to be happy and for life to be a little easier, but everything seemed to be getting worse.
On one side of me, the park was dark and silent. Once full of life and laughter, my soul was the same. Play equipment, empty and laced with frost, sat motionless. In the other direction, lights from the town attempted to penetrate the fog. The idea of going home caused a heavy weight to sink in my stomach. I didn’t want to face my parents.
Or my life.
Cold seeped through my jeans and coat as I sat down on the hard wooden seat of a nearby swing. Frozen chains creaked softly, and my thoughts took me back to all the times I’d played at this park during happy childhood days—too many to count. Now I was seventeen; those days were long past.
Why does life have to be so painful?
I turned in the swing, twisting the chains above my head tighter and tighter. Then I released. My body unwound in a slow turn. If only the invisible chains wrapped around my heart would free as easily.
A car drove by, and my body tensed. The park closed at dusk. Policemen patrolled the area, and I knew if they found me they’d send me home.
I don’t want to go back… I just can’t do it.
I’d never hung out in this park at night before. I didn’t like being there, but I had no idea where else to go. I just needed time—time to figure out what to do next.
My gaze turned to the two sets of railroad tracks at the edge of the park. The first set of tracks was empty. A cluster of six cars sat on the second set. I knew the cops wouldn’t be able to see me there.
Sluggishly, I made my way over to the line of railroad cars. My eyes zeroed in on the last car. I climbed up the side of it and sat, dangling my legs. I’m not sure how much time passed. Maybe an hour, maybe two. The danger of sitting on the train car put me on edge. After all the years living so near the railroad tracks, I’d never ventured this close.
I blew warm air into my hands, trying to thaw them, but it did little good.
What’s wrong with me?
Everyone else seemed to be able to handle the burdens, the struggles of life, better than I could. All I wanted was to be happy. To have the perfect life I always thought I had when I was a kid. But my arms had grown tired from trying to hold my fantasy world together.
Lately, it seemed I couldn’t do anything right. I wasn’t there for my friends and family when they needed me. I was doing horribly in school, and I’d become a worry to my family. Now I was “grounded until further notice.” I pushed the most recent argument with my parents out of my mind. And then there was the pain that ran even deeper than that. Memories too painful to think about. I pushed them back below the surface, as I had for months. In the past year I’d started smoking, drinking, and partying with my friends on the weekends, futilely trying to escape the pain.
I looked down at the railroad tracks and remembered a time I’d realized the power of a train. A train would kill anyone in an instant. No one could survive that. If I ever wanted to take my life, if ever…that’s the way I’d do it.
The cold air around me brought me back to the moment. A deeper chill settled into my bones—and my thoughts grew darker; I knew I didn’t want anyone to worry about me anymore. More than that, I wanted the
pain to stop.
If I ever want my life to end…this would be my chance.
It’s not going to get better. There’s no reason I need to be here. There’s nothing I’m supposed to do here. They’d be better off without me.
I tried to think of a reason to stay around, to live, but I could think of only one, my two nephews.
I’m not a very good example anymore. They’re probably better off without me anyway, and I don’t have any kids of my own. No younger brothers and sisters either. There’s nothing important I’m supposed to do. My family, my friends…They’ll get over me, right? I’m just causing pain and problems.
I looked around again at the cold, dark night.
This night is icky.
The world is disgusting.
My life sucks.
It could all be over soon, and then I won’t hurt anymore.
I thought about school the next day. The homework I hadn’t done.
I’m such a failure.
Do I want my life to end? If the train comes, should I end it?
Conflicting thoughts ping-ponged, faster, faster.
It’s going to get better.
It isn’t going to get better.
There’s a reason I’m here.
There’s no reason I’m here.
There’s something I’m supposed to do here.
There’s nothing I’m supposed to do here.
I was cold, and it was late. I wanted to leave, but I didn’t know where to go.
Suddenly, a train whistle split the air. My heart pounded. I hadn’t expected the train. Not yet. I still hadn’t decided what to do.
I knew it would be a long time before the next train. This is my chance.
The thoughts came as fast as the train speeding toward me.
I’m so cold. This might be the only train for a while.
If I did it, the pain, the heartache, the numbness would be over.
I’m gonna do it. Soon it will all be over.
I stood between the parked train cars. I glanced across the dip between the tracks I was on and the ones the approaching train was speeding down.
I waited until the train got closer. I didn’t want the engineer to see me. I didn’t want him to stop the train. The large outline of the train’s engine was barely visible beyond the bright headlight. It was almost here.
Heaven waited for me. I was sure of it. I was a good person.
Heaven has to be better than this life.
My heart pounded as I ran up the small bank. The train’s headlight illuminated me. Its horn blared. I tried to push down the fear and shame, turned my face away from the train, and lay facedown.
I clenched my fists, crossed my arms under my head, and braced myself, closing my eyes tight. My head and body lay between the tracks, my legs hung over the rail. I could feel the cold metal against my thighs and the wood and rocks under my stomach. As the train closed in, the ground shook so much that my whole body vibrated. Then the train was upon me, over me.
Pain overwhelmed me. The train roared.
The momentum of the cars pulled at me, as if the train were trying to suck me into itself. The wind tugged harder, wrenching at my jacket and yanking my hair upward. My body rose, lifting slightly.
Then, even more powerful than the wind and the momentum of the train, another force pushed me to the ground. My head and chest hit first, then my hips and legs. Again I felt the power of the train, the shaking of the ground, the roar of it moving over me. The force of the weight pushing me down hurt more than anything else.
Fear coursed through me. I squeezed my eyes tighter.
It’s going to be over now. The pain is going to end. I’ll be in heaven soon.
As the whistle blew again, the vibration of my body stilled.
The sound stopped. The wind stopped. The train stopped.
Am I dead yet?
Read the rest of chapter one.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Book Quotes: America Brought to a Standstill
From Genius on the Edge by Dr. Gerald Imber (page 61):
In the fall of 1872 an equine viral epidemic, called the Great Epizootic, infected nearly 90 percent of the horses in the country. Four million horses died before the disease ran its course, leaving the country at a virtual standstill. Every industry was affected. Goods could not be produced or delivered, and financial panic engulfed the nation. Coal could not be transported from the mines to power the locomotives, and the railroads were forced to shut down. Income for the already financially extended railroads ceased; all were hit hard and many were forced into bankruptcy. Hopkins, who remained financially stable through diversified investments, was able to advance the B&O large sums of money to meet its interest obligations, thereby averting disaster for the company and solidifying his already lofty position in Baltimore business circles.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The Archaeology Book by David Down
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Source: Review copy from the publisher.
Back Cover Description:
Developed with three educational levels in mind, The Archaeology Book takes you on an exciting exploration of history and ancient cultures. You’ll learn both the techniques of the archaeologist and the accounts of some of the richest discoveries of the Middle East that demonstrate the accuracy and historicity of the Bible.
In The Archaeology Book you will unearth:
• How archaeologists know what life was like in the past
• Why broken pottery can tell more than gold or treasure can
• Some of the difficulties in dating ancient artifacts
• How the brilliance of ancient cultures demonstrates God’s creation
• History of ancient cultures, including the Hittites, Babylonians, and Egyptians
• The early development of the alphabet and its impact on discovery
• The numerous archaeological finds that confirm biblical history
• Why the Dead Sea scrolls are considered such a vital breakthrough
Filled with vivid full-color photos, detailed drawings, and maps, you will have access to some of the greatest biblical mysteries ever uncovered. With the enhanced educational format of this book and the unique color-coded, multi-age design, it allows the ease of teaching the fundamentals of archaeology through complex insights to three distinct grade levels.
Free downloadable study guide.
Review:
The Archaeology Book is educational nonfiction about archaeology, with a focus on Bible-related archaeology, for grades 5-8. The full-color photographs of ancient ruins, digs, etc., were lovely, and the maps were useful. I liked the "David Downs Journal" sections which told of his experiences while on digs. Other archaeologists were also quoted describing a find or commenting on archaeology. There was a glossary in the back, though most words were either explained in the text or could be figured out from the context.
The book started with information on archaeology, like how a dig is laid out, what archaeologists look for, what that tells them, how layers are given a date, and why there can be controversy among archaeologists about the interpretation of a find. Then the book covered various Middle Eastern civilizations: Israel, Egypt, the Hittites, Ur, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Petra, and the Phoenicians. It told how the civilization was "found" again by archaeologists, where the civilization was located, and information about those kings mentioned in the Bible or Biblical events related to that civilization. (For those who care, the author's alignment of ancient civilizations to the Bible was based on Courville's & Velikovsky's ideas.)
There was a section on the Dead Sea Scrolls. It described ancient writing, writing material, the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, where they were found, what was found, and how the scrolls were pieced back together. He described how critics said the Bible was full of copying errors, so I was very surprised and disappointed that he never explained that the Dead Sea Scrolls showed how accurately the Bible had been copied over thousands of years. He did mention that the many copies of the book of Daniel in the find meant that they thought Daniel was a genuine book of prophesy, but that's about it.
Overall, the information was very good and was presented in an easy-to-understand and interesting fashion. The more difficult topics, like carbon-14 dating and the reasons for revising the Egyptian chronology, could have been explained in a little more depth, in my opinion, for the high schoolers. I think high schoolers would find the book pretty basic.
The book had three levels of information. Grades 5 & 6 are supposed to read the sections with the yellow background. Grades 7 & 8 can read the sections with the yellow background and the blue background. Grades 9-11 can read all the sections (including those with the white background). Sometimes, this worked out. Other times, the information would be disjointed and confusing if read this way. For example, several times a story was being told and the background would switch from white to yellow (or blue) under the text of the story. Yet the yellow (or blue) section would make no sense without reading the white section first.
The book as a whole seemed appropriate for grades 5-8. Personally, I'd recommend ignoring the colored backgrounds, letting the child read the whole thing, and helping anytime they have trouble. I've explained much more advanced chronological ideas to a 6th grader with no problem, so it may be just a matter of the child's reading level.
I'd recommend this book as an interesting introduction to Biblical archaeology for tweens on up...as long as the reader also takes time to learn about how the Dead Sea Scrolls confirm the Bible's accuracy.
If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.
View an excerpt.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Book Quotes: Using Food as a Reward or Punishment
From Life Inside the "Thin" Cage by Constance Rhodes (page 70):
It is common in our culture to use food as a reward--I find myself doing this with my own son. A classic example of this is the promise, "Be good in the store, and Mommy will give you a treat." Indeed, food and the activity of eating were intended to be pleasurable. But it's important not to overemphasize the role of food as a reward, since this can send the message that eating is more than a normal and enjoyable part of our everyday lives. The child who is always rewarded with food grows into the adult who reasons away her overeating, saying, "I deserve this carton of ice cream. I've earned it!"
Adding to our confusion about the proper role of food is its use as a form of punishment. For example, when I was a child, my parents experimented with making us miss dinner as a consequence for wrongdoing. While many parents consider this an effective punishment, I personally think it is not a healthy one.
Using food as a punishment or a reward communicates that food and bad or good behavior are linked. It is only logical that these mixed messages can cause problems later in life when we turn to food for comfort or abstain from food as penance.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Discovery of Design by Donald DeYoung & Derrik Hobbs
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Source: Review copy from the publisher.
Back Cover Description:
From the frontiers of scientific discovery, researchers are now taking design elements from the natural world and creating extraordinary breakthroughs that benefit our health, our quality of life, our ability to communicate, and even help us work more efficiently.
An exciting look at cutting-edge scientific advances, Discovery of Design highlights incredible examples that include:
How things like batteries, human organ repair, microlenses, automotive engineering, paint, and even credit card security all have links to natural designs
Innovations like solar panels in space unfurled using technology gleaned from beech tree leaves, and optic research rooted in the photonic properties of opal gemstones
Current and future research from the fields of stealth technology, communications, cosmetics, nanotechnology, surveillance, and more!
Take a fantastic journey into the intersection of science and God's blueprints for life - discovering answers to some of the most intricate challenges we face. Experience this powerful apologetics message in a multi-purpose resource as a personal enrichment tool or as an educational supplement.
Review:
Discovery of Design explored more than 79 examples of biomimicry--where humans have based technological designs off of mechanisms found in microorganisms, insects, flying animals (mainly birds), water animals (fish, whales, etc.), land animals (including a dinosaur), humans, plants, and even non-living things.
Some of the descriptions were more detailed than others. Some were potential or future applications while most where examples of already-in-use technology. The information was written at a level that a teenager could understand, and there was a glossary in the back for the few scientific terms.
Each entry focused on an interesting ability found in nature and then explained how humans have (or are trying to) create something based on that design to solve a problem or increase the efficiency of a current design. Black-and-white pictures illustrated the text. The book referenced where this information came from for further study (articles, books, or internet search words). There were also three "study" questions per entry that were related to the information in the entry but would require a search elsewhere for the answers. Or you can just look in the back of the book for the answers.
There is an intelligent design theme to this book with the Biblical God as the Designer, but that's not the main focus or purpose of the book.
Overall, I'd recommend this very interesting book to people who like engineering design, design in nature, and/or biomimicry.
If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.
Excerpt from pages 48-49
Termite Mound => Ventilation
Termite mounds across the plains of southern Africa reach heights of 10 feet (3 m) or more. Engineers have long been impressed with the self-cooling system built into the mounds by Macrotermes michaelseni termites. Their food supply is a "farmed" fungus that must be kept at exactly 87F (30C). However, the outside temperature varies widely between 35 and 104F (2-40C). To compensate, the termites open or close a series of internal heating and cooling vents. These vents connect numerous tunnels that maintain temperature along with ideal moisture and oxygen levels. The network of tunnels somewhat resembles our internal circulatory system of veins and arteries. When rain occurs, clay on the surface of the termite mound swells and provides waterproof protection. During dry periods, the clay contracts and ventilation cracks appear.
Architects are making use of the principles of termite mound ventilation. One result is the Eastgate Building in the capital city of Zimbabwe, Harare. This 18-story shopping complex has no mechanical air conditioning or heating, yet remains comfortable. The interior ventilation system of ductwork is based on the structure of termite mounds. Outside breezes pull fresh air throughout the building. As a result, the Eastgate structure uses just 10 percent of the energy of a conventional building.
Internet search words: air conditioning, Eastgate Building, termite
Questions for further study:
1. How many termites may live in a single African mound?
2. Describe how the termite mound heating and cooling vents operate.
3. What is the average temperature of Zimbabwe's capital city, Harare?
A: pg. 196
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