The last week, being the first week of instruction here at Fresno State, has been full of classes - but not homework. It's sort of getting pulled behind a boat on water skis - it takes a bit of time for you to get out of the water after the boat's started pulling. In this case, the homework has not come yet, but I know it will!
Since I have no homework, I try and study some, but after a while, even that comes to a dead end. Thus, in absence of studying and homework, I will write a quick update.
The last week and a half have been full of school for both Corey and I. Mostly engineering/surveying courses for both of us, plus one honors get together for both of us. However, as part of the Smittcamp Honors program, I have to do some honors GE stuff (let out a big, sarcastic, "yippee" with as much solemness as you can muster, and you'll be close to how I feel about those classes), which means on top of the other classes I have humanities. Whee-hoo. At least my humanities professor is more grounded in earth than most college professor and isn't liberal. For example, today he went on and on about how we take a simple thing - bread - for granted and don't appreciate the work and effort that went into that piece of bread (I definitely agree, we need to be grateful for everything that is given to us - "every good and perfect gift comes from above"). He also said that as Americans, we don't truly appreciate hunger (and he added that pretty much everywhere, hunger is a lot less than it used to be) - we are never truly "hungry". I agree again. But then he'll turn around and say that truth can only be found by thought - that truth is relative, basically. I don't agree. Then he'll turn around and say something that is consistent with Scripture, then he'll turn around again and say something inconsistent - needless to say he is quite the mix of truth and un-truth.
My engineering professors, as engineers themselves, are all good teachers, but very technical. I don't mind technical, though (I wouldn't be in engineering if I did mind). They are all very interesting courses, and I find them enjoyable.
Then, of course, Corey and I both have a geology course. In that course, of course (pun intended), there is a lot of secular, evolutionist, old-earth talk. If you get past that, however, the course is very interesting - I've always thought rocks were fascinating. The earth is so incredibly complex! For instance, the earth is in the perfect location in the Solar System - right in the center of the "inhabitable zone" a very thin circle of space that is the only place that sustains life. Then, the sun itself is just right - not too hot or too huge. Then of course, we are in the perfect place in the galaxy that we don't die with the force exerted on us (the galaxy spins, too).
Also, the sun periodically sends intense solar radiation our way - if we had no protection, we would be obliterated. Well, the earth just "happens" to have a magnetic field (only because the earth has an iron core) that wards off that harmful radiation. Then we have the moon in just the right spot, the perfect atmosphere, liquid water, and countless other things that are just right and point not to old-earth evolutionist processes and random chance but to a Creator who knowingly crafted and created a beautiful creation. Clearly we are fearfully and wonderfully made!
I hear these things said in class (even the professor says that things are "just right" for earth) and wonder why creationism is so scoffed at. There is so much proof! But sinful man works to suppress the truth, and without the work of the Holy Spirit, they will not see.
Anyway, that's all for now!
Casey
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
A Fancy Dinner
Update from Fresno:
Tonight Corey and I had the first opportunity to make a real meal and eat it together. We may be bachelors, but we can cook! On the menu: chicken cooked in olive oil, served on brown rice with salad on the side!
Corey works on some homework before dinner.
Viola! A masterpiece! And yes, that is sparkling apple cider, provided by the apartment (so it was absolutely free)!
And no we didn't spend a fortune on this. Total prices (approximate) for the total meal are as follows:
Chicken - $1.00
Salad - $0.30
Rice - $0.30
Olive Oil - $0.25
Dressing - $0.15
Added up, that comes up to about $2, or $1 each. Not too shabby! And boy was it good...
That's all for now!
Casey
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Update From Fresno
Right now, I am sitting on the third floor of the Madden Library at Fresno State, taking advantage of the internet and free computer usage, as well as probably one of the last free times I have with no homework to do or classes to go to, to right this post. Yes, Fresno State...I made it down on Monday and I've been here ever since.
It's a strange feeling, going to college. The classes have been interesting so far, but it is far different than anything I've experienced so far. This library, for instance, is an amazing library - four stories tall, bookshelves full of books every where, and computer sections (like the one I am at now) full of brand-new Macs. Really, the whole campus looks expensive and nice.
But despite the nice things, the well-manicured lawns, the brilliant professors, the campus feels empty. Not devoid of people, of course, but devoid of purpose. Many people have no reason for going to college, but have just gone for the experience without having any reason for coming to a place that will stretch them. For a college is not an unbiased education center. It is an indoctrination center, as well (though not quite to the level of an elementary school). As I notice this, I realize even more that I need to examine myself and make sure that I remain true to my purpose for being here (that is, "to glorify God and enjoy him forever"). I've found that this campus is indeed a dark place, where ideologies collide and faith is attacked. I ask that you would continue to pray for me (and Corey) as I battle in this spiritual battleground.
Please pray for the following things for both me and Corey:
Clarity of mind and ability to retain knowledge of subject material
That I would be able to find employment, as I will not be able to tutor this semester
That we would continue to remain true to our calling as servants of the Most High
That we would be given opportunities to share the Gospel
That all our physical, spiritual and mental needs would be taken care of
Traveling mercies as we bike back and forth between our apartment and campus
There is much more to pray about for us as we continue our studies here at Fresno State. As James 5:16 says, "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." Please continue to pray for us!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Casey
It's a strange feeling, going to college. The classes have been interesting so far, but it is far different than anything I've experienced so far. This library, for instance, is an amazing library - four stories tall, bookshelves full of books every where, and computer sections (like the one I am at now) full of brand-new Macs. Really, the whole campus looks expensive and nice.
But despite the nice things, the well-manicured lawns, the brilliant professors, the campus feels empty. Not devoid of people, of course, but devoid of purpose. Many people have no reason for going to college, but have just gone for the experience without having any reason for coming to a place that will stretch them. For a college is not an unbiased education center. It is an indoctrination center, as well (though not quite to the level of an elementary school). As I notice this, I realize even more that I need to examine myself and make sure that I remain true to my purpose for being here (that is, "to glorify God and enjoy him forever"). I've found that this campus is indeed a dark place, where ideologies collide and faith is attacked. I ask that you would continue to pray for me (and Corey) as I battle in this spiritual battleground.
Please pray for the following things for both me and Corey:
Clarity of mind and ability to retain knowledge of subject material
That I would be able to find employment, as I will not be able to tutor this semester
That we would continue to remain true to our calling as servants of the Most High
That we would be given opportunities to share the Gospel
That all our physical, spiritual and mental needs would be taken care of
Traveling mercies as we bike back and forth between our apartment and campus
There is much more to pray about for us as we continue our studies here at Fresno State. As James 5:16 says, "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." Please continue to pray for us!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Casey
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Clever Inventions...
Most of you probably know that I love researching things, particularly gadgets of some sort. One of my favorite books as a younger child (and still one of my favorites) was David Macualay's The New Way Things Work. Gadgets and inventions have always fascinated me.
Some of you also probably know that California voted to build a $118 billion high-speed rail, which, since it is all coming out of taxpayer's pockets (and is ridiculously expensive), is not something I like. Though I think high-speed trains and maglev (magnetic levitation) trains are interesting and handy, spending $118 billion on ANY project is a little on the "too much" side.
Now, as much as those two paragraphs seem disconnected, they really aren't. Yesterday, Elon Musk, the billionare CEO of Tesla Motors (electric cars) and SpaceX (private spacecraft - really worth looking up), proposed an alternative to the high-speed rail. His idea is totally new and incredibly cool. While I would prefer the state didn't spend ANY money (we're hopelessly broke as it is), Musk's Hyperloop idea is very fascinating and would theoretically only cost $6 billion (which, though still a lot of money, is $112 billion cheaper than the rail).
I won't tell you too much about the idea - I'm going to link to his plans (all 50 pages of them), but if it worked as he planned, the Hyperloop would take passengers from L.A. to San Francisco in 35 short minutes, going an average of 700 mph. As an additional bonus, the energy costs of the Hyperloop would be very minimal - if you look at Musk's plans, the energy consumed per mile for the Hyperloop is around 10 times less than the energy consumed per mile by a car or train.
I think it would be really neat to have a Hyperloop - but I would like to have it privately built and operated, not state built and poorly operated. What do you think?
Link to plans: http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/hyperloop_alpha-20130812.pdf
Some of you also probably know that California voted to build a $118 billion high-speed rail, which, since it is all coming out of taxpayer's pockets (and is ridiculously expensive), is not something I like. Though I think high-speed trains and maglev (magnetic levitation) trains are interesting and handy, spending $118 billion on ANY project is a little on the "too much" side.
Now, as much as those two paragraphs seem disconnected, they really aren't. Yesterday, Elon Musk, the billionare CEO of Tesla Motors (electric cars) and SpaceX (private spacecraft - really worth looking up), proposed an alternative to the high-speed rail. His idea is totally new and incredibly cool. While I would prefer the state didn't spend ANY money (we're hopelessly broke as it is), Musk's Hyperloop idea is very fascinating and would theoretically only cost $6 billion (which, though still a lot of money, is $112 billion cheaper than the rail).
I won't tell you too much about the idea - I'm going to link to his plans (all 50 pages of them), but if it worked as he planned, the Hyperloop would take passengers from L.A. to San Francisco in 35 short minutes, going an average of 700 mph. As an additional bonus, the energy costs of the Hyperloop would be very minimal - if you look at Musk's plans, the energy consumed per mile for the Hyperloop is around 10 times less than the energy consumed per mile by a car or train.
I think it would be really neat to have a Hyperloop - but I would like to have it privately built and operated, not state built and poorly operated. What do you think?
Link to plans: http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/hyperloop_alpha-20130812.pdf
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Sorry!
I keep saying that I will post - then we get busy again. I will try and post soon...if I have the time. Lots of things have been going on lately! But, on this blog, I don't chronicle events - I save that for the family blog. So, until I post again, if you are really wanting to read something I wrote, you can head on over to dueglory.blogspot.com. Until next time!
Casey
Casey
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