M3 Flood Myths: Bible: Noah: Logistics

            So, this is the obvious one. The ark measures 300 cubits by 50 cubits, by 30 cubits (Genesis 6:15). A cubit is not the most precise measurement. Many ancient cultures used them, each with their own version of how long it was. Most used a human measurement, somewhere between the length of the forearm measure from the elbow to the tips of the fingers, or from the elbow to the wrist. The Biblical cubit is generally thought to be roughly 18 inches. The Egyptian cubit is longer, but not by much, and since this is a biblical story, we’ll stick with 18 inches (mostly because it makes the math easier. This puts the ark at around 450 feet by 75 feet, by 45 feet.

F3 Phone Home

            The plan had been simple, send up the Odyssey satellite. As it crossed through the bow shock, it would deploy a simple, square sail made from the same platinum and cobalt metal as the mesh on the Hermes. After one hour, it would cut the sail free, which the team expected would drop the Odyssey back to normal speeds.

Conference Reflection Part Deux

            My actual presentation went well again, this time, and I burned through the material I had quickly, allowing for a lot of time for questions, which is intentional. I would rather answer questions and have a discussion than listen to myself drone on; I am fully capable of droning on when it comes to these subjects. I don’t want to over-prepare and become like some of the other workshops that run over questions because they have to fit the whole presentation in. Questions, especially with fairy tales and mythology, are important. Dozens or hundreds of people will be able to answer format, query, and submission questions, but usually the only expert in my subject area at these events is me.

M3 Flood Myths: Bible: Noah: Morality

            With the Nephilim out of the way, it’s time to get down to it. The reason behind the flood has been established, that people are wicked and violent (and making Nephilim babies). This clearly indicates that God favors certain behaviors over others.

F3 Reduction

            Peter Lee tapped his foot nervously while Jim Macomber and the rest of his team looked at the design on their slates.

            Jim let out a sigh and scratched his nose.

            Peter swallowed hard.

            Charlie Nichols, across the table, caught his eye, gave a brief nod, and a smile.

            Easy for him, his expertise is navigation. But then, this whole thing was his idea.

            Macomber cleared his throat. “So, it’s about the size of a microwave oven?”

Conference Reflection I

This was the second conference I’ve ever presented at, and it was a lot different from the first in terms of logistics. It’s given me some things to think on, and how I should better prepare future conference presentations.

            First, I had assumed that the program would hold a description for each presentation and bio for each presenter. They had been required for the application, after all, so I thought it naturally followed, but that wasn’t the case. So on my end, I think it would be well to provide my own little insert or tiny flyer that can be slipped into the program guide in the event that these features are missing.

            Likewise, providing my own sign for outside the door with the same information (but in larger, easier to read font) wouldn’t be a bad idea.

            Since the only description of my workshop might be confined into a schedule table in the program, I should come up with a much shorter, snappier title for the workshop.

M3 Flood Myths: Bible: Noah: Nephilim

            Noah is what people would consider the de facto flood myth. It is surprisingly straightforward in many ways, but there are some interesting twists we can examine.

Now, before we got in too deep with the flood, we have to make a note of something else, something that many people skip over because it’s so sparsely detailed. Apparently, humanity is not alone. There are others, the Nephilim. “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went in to the daughters of humans, who bore children to them. These were the heroes that were of old, warriors of renown” (Genesis 6:4). Now, the word for Nephilim has also been translated to mean giants in various editions. However, what is remarkable is that this word is so sparsely used in the bible. We have no further explanation about them. Moreover, we have no definite idea on who the sons of god are. Are these the descendants of Adam and Eve? Are they angels? We really don’t know definitively.

F3 Design Problems

            Charlie Nichols was getting tired of the current argument.

“We need power,” Peterson said.

            “Too much mass,” Walker shook his head, pointing at the fusion reactor.

            “The fuel to mass ratio is the best we’re going to get for the size,” Nina said.

            “But we’re talking about one of the largest vehicles we’ve ever sent out. To encompass a fusion reactor, we’re talking bigger than an Apollo module, and you want to send it out of the solar system,” Walker said.

The Blur

            It happens ever semester. After the midterm, the semester starts screaming by. This one has been worse than most because of my conference and travel. There are two weeks to go, and I’m behind and just trying to get by. I can’t wait for the semester to end, though. I feel in desperate need of a vacation.

            Yes, I know I just got back, but I’m talking more about down time than travel, though if I had the money I would gladly do it.

M3 Fairy Tales: Beauty and The Beast

Beauty and the Beast

We come now to Beauty and the Beast. I must confess I have a fondness for the more direct, reconstructed version of the story by Jacobs, but we’ll go with the classical story. Also, I want to point out that none of these stories has Gaston, which is a true tragedy (No one fights like Gaston. No one. . . .)