Hairstyles of the young and cute

Maria's hair has been getting longer and was hanging down into her eyes. The following conversion ensued:

Mark: Why don't we cut it?
Sue: Then she'll have a mullet
Mark: <silence>

What could I say? Sue had played the trump card, the nuclear option of hairstyle arguments. There was no responding.

(Although in reality, I probably made some smart-alec comment like "What's wrong with a mullet?)

Sue's solution is a tuft on top, fastened with a teensy-tiny rubber band. It's reminiscent of Pebbles (from the Flintstones).

The Selfish Gene

I recently read "The Selfish Gene" by Richard Dawkins. It's a look at evolution from the perspective of the gene as the unit of replication and natural selection (rather than treating the individual organism as the fundamental unit).

Near the beginning of the book, there is this statement discussing possible moral take-aways of the book:

I am not advocating a morality based on evolution. I am saying how things evolved. I am not saying how we humans morally ought to behave. [...] My own feeling is that a human society based simply on the gene's law of universal ruthless selfishness would be a very nasty society in which to live.

And he goes on to emphasize that in building a society we wish to live in, we must teach the desired traits (generosity, altruism, etc.), since they will not be hard-wired by biology.

This is an example of an appropriate attitude towards evolution. Christians ought to learn from this atheist. Unfortunately, many easily-heard voices in the evangelical Christian community proclaim the "evils" of evolution and attack the science. This leads to a number of problems:

1. It wastes energy and resources tackling the wrong challenge. The real challenge is working out an understanding of what the general revelation of science tells us about the nature of God.
2. The Christian community (needlessly) appears backwards in it's views on science
3. It creates unnecessary barriers to belief (and offers good reasons to dis-believe.)

In a future post I will discuss why there is resistance to this viewpoint among evangelical Christians.

Sights on the return trip

At a rest stop in Virginia, there was this helpful section for the pets:

Also in Virginia, there was a set of old buildings next to the gas station. From this angle, it looks like a dire warning should one decide to go past the church.

But, it turns out to only be an old gas station.

Eating ice cream again

We returned once again to our favorite ice cream place (for the final time this trip. Sigh. We're leaving Saturday morning.) Sue tried a milder flavor (strawberry) and a new feeding technique (use the tasting stick to feed small bites so the cold doesn't overwhelm her), and it appeared to work. Maria ate some ice cream, and she liked it!

Maria walking with one hand now

The last few days, Maria has been making make progress in walking - she's only using one hand now.

Yes, I know, most people walk on their feet. And so does Maria. But she also needs extra support by holding onto other people as she walks. Previously she needed support from both hands, but recently she's been doing well holding on with just one hand.

Fresh salsa

Sue made some yummy fresh salsa, and I had some time to play with the macro lens.

Future physicist apparel

Maria's aunt Monica gave her a physics-themed shirt. Here she is modeling it, with a Physics Today for extra authenticity.

Sunrise over the Atlantic

As a consolation for Maria waking up too early, I did get a picture of a nice sunrise.

A now a word from our sponsors

When it's time for a snack, reach for Goldfish crackers...

And now our spokesbaby will show where to put the crackers.

Maria playing on the beach

Along with playing in the water at the beach at Jockey's Ridge, Maria played in the dry sand. A small drama ensued.

Act I: Situation normal. Playing in the sand.

Act II
Limb check: Right arm present and accounted for.

Left hand present and accounted for.

Legs. MISSING!!! Raise the alarm!

Act IV: Contact with legs reacquired. Everything restored to situation normal.

Maria with some guy in a goofy hat

Here's Maria at a sound-side beach, where the waves are much smaller and the water warmer. There's some strange guy in a goofy hat behind her. Don't know where he came from, or how he wound up in the picture.

Longing for the sea

Reading material for former presidents

While walking, we saw this sign with three names on it. But it sure looks like a commentary (or a suggestion) on the reading material of former presidents.

Where we travel to North Carolina and get lost in the desert

History repeats itself - previously we got lost in the deserts of Michigan. It happened again, only this time it was in North Carolina.

Though the people in the picture seems awfully happy for being lost in the desert.

Maria eats ice cream

We walked to an ice cream shop and gave Maria her first taste of ice cream.

But first, her picture with a pirate outside the shop.

The ice cream is mandarin chocolate chip (the orange and chocolate flavor together is very yummy)

The first bite looks good

The second bite receives a different reaction. Perhaps it's too cold.

Maria at the beach

Maria gets her first experience with the ocean at the Outer Banks, NC.

She wasn't so thrilled with the water (it may have been too cold), but she does seem to like running up and down the dunes.

I hate being described accurately by random strangers

As in this description of Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
Although I didn't quite follow the steps in order. Skipped step 3, but that should be rectified soon.

In the same vein, there's two entire blogs:

• Stuff White People Like. I read this blog looking for things that don't describe me, and use that to feel vaguely superior to other White People (it's not clear to me why being different is superior. Sometimes lots of people *are* right.) Or perhaps it's an attempt to retain some shred of feeling like a unique individual and not a zeitgeist zombie.
• Stuff Christians Like

(HT: Found all of these via The World Needs More Ninjas)

Maria's first blog entry

Guest blog entry from Maria:
j/. 00 / cxxxxxxxxxxxxx bv vv

Random thought and a parental concern

Random thought:
If/when the grunge bands from the 90s become lounge acts in Vegas, will they wear sequined flannel shirts?

Parental Concern:
Will I harm my daughter's language acquisition by reading her stories in Swedish Chef?

One year old! One year old!

Maria had her first birthday Thursday. Sue and I can hardly believe it's been a year already. To celebrate, we gave her a cupcake with one candle. She was a little confused by the cupcake as we normally give her food in small pieces and not one larger, whole object.

Camera geek note: Pictures taken with 50mm f1.4 lens that arrived Thursday, just in time for her birthday pictures.