DigElogROCORI

"The Story Of Change" by the folks who produced "The Story of Stuff"

We made The Story of Change to inspire our viewers, Community members and others to step out of the consumer mindset and into our full power as citizens to build a better future.

That's because too often, when faced with daunting environmental and social problems (say, disruption of the global climate) many of us instinctively flex our power in the only way we know how: as consumers.

Plastic garbage choking the oceans? Carry our own shopping bag.

Formaldehyde in baby shampoo? Buy the brand with the green seal.

Warming planet? Change our lightbulbs.

Without a doubt, those are all good things to do. But the fact is, better shopping isn't going to change the world.

If we really want to build a better future, we have to move beyond voting with our dollars and come together to demand rules that work.

That's the lesson we learned when we looked back at a series of effective movements for change, from the U.S. civil rights movement to the environmental victories of the 1970s. They didn't just pester people to perfect their daily choices; they said we will work together until the problem is solved.

That's not simple, and it won't be easy. We'll have to aim high and act boldly.

But we're convinced that history is on our side. So let's get to work and make the kind of change we know is possible.

Sincerely,

Annie, Michael, Allison, Christina, Renee, Naomi, Bill and Toni

The Story of Stuff Project team

P.S. Along with the movie we've launched the Changemaker Challenge, a platform for Story of Stuff Community members to share their action ideas and commitments. Post yours today!

Take A Break... and Walk On Air —

*** Note Titles In Lower Left Corner Of Video  (4 min.)

This video features a series of time lapse sequences photographed by the Expedition 30 crew aboard the International Space Station. Set to the song “Walking in the Air,” by Howard Blake, the video takes viewers around the world, through auroras, and over dazzling lightning displays.

Song lyrics:

We’re walking in the air
We’re floating in the moonlit sky
The people far below are sleeping as we fly

I’m holding very tight
I’m riding in the midnight blue
I’m finding I can fly so high above with you

Far across the world
The villages go by like dreams
The rivers and the hills
The forests and the streams

Children gaze open mouth
Taken by surprise
Nobody down below believes their eyes

We’re surffing in the air
We’re swimming in the frozen sky
We’re drifting over icy
Mountain floating by

Suddenly swooping low on an ocean deep
Arousing of a mighty monster from its sleep

We’re walking in the air
We’re floating in the midnight sky
And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly

This video can also be seen on the NASA website: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=141042671

The World You and I Live In... and are responsible for.

January 25, 2012

A 'Blue Marble' image of the Earth taken from the VIIRS instrument aboard NASA's most recently launched Earth-observing satellite - Suomi NPP. This composite image uses a number of swaths of the Earth's surface taken on January 4, 2012. The NPP satellite was renamed 'Suomi NPP' on January 24, 2012 to honor the late Verner E. Suomi of the University of Wisconsin.

Suomi NPP is NASA's next Earth-observing research satellite. It is the first of a new generation of satellites that will observe many facets of our changing Earth.

Suomi NPP is carrying five instruments on board. The biggest and most important instrument is The Visible/Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite or VIIRS.

To read more about NASA's Suomi NPP go to: npp.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html

DOWNLOAD a copy of any size from NASA  

Sun Storm Creates Fantastic Northern Lights Video

The solar storm that showered the Earth on Tuesday, Jan. 24, was one of the strongest such occurrences in recent years.

Most folks on Earth were unaffected by the storm, but for some, it is a great opportunity to catch northwards lights or halo borealis, a natural light effect due to the collision of solar particles with atoms in the high altitude atmosphere.

One of the most beautiful such videos comes from Helge Mortensen who captured the nature's light show in Norway.

St. Cloud State's "Science Express" Visits The Land Of ROCORI

In this story you will get to see and hear about the new mobile science lab that travels through central Minnesota. Bruce Jacobson shares some information about the "Science Express" and how it positively impacts students around the area. He also discusses some of the groups that helped donate to the project, most notably Medtronic as they donated the mobile unit.

ROCORI students had the chance to use this fantastic learning tool first-hand. They are just a small number of kids that will be using the "Science Express" this year. When the tour wraps up, over 8,000 students will get the chance to learn more about science and potential scientific careers.

THANK GOD FOR EVOLUTION: The Four Part Evolutionary Brain - Sin & Sex

Video excerpts from Michael Dowd presentation: Cold Spring, May 2008
16 minutes

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(Reprinted from www.thankgodforevolution.com with permission of the author)

Governor of New York, Lieutenant Governor of New York, Mayor of Detroit: Recently, the men occupying these powerful posts have had their sexual indiscretions publicly aired. The Governor’s alleged cross-state tryst with a prostitute, and the mayor’s indictment for perjury in his previous denial of sexual impropriety entangled in government business, could subject both to felony charges. Governor Eliot Spitzer, now-Governor David Paterson, and Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick thus join the ranks of American political (and religious) leaders whose legacies have been marred or even destroyed by sex scandals.

Among the reports and commentaries I have sampled on these three events, none thus far has offered a perspective that will provide future governmental leaders with any real help in staying the path. Heightened fear, perhaps. But fear subsides over time — or is decisively over-ruled in the moment by the powerful urges of (what I like to call) our “Lizard Legacy,” supercharged by jolts of testosterone that are both cause and consequence of a significant rise in status. As I wrote in my book (referring to the fall of Pastor Ted Haggard and the impeachment proceedings of President Bill Clinton),

 

“Have we learned anything from these personal and public tragedies? I would venture this: So long as religious and political leaders continue to ignore our evolutionary heritage, and thus do not put in place structures of internal and external support that can withstand the high dosages of testosterone that high status and power necessarily confer, then there will be no hope for a less calamitous future. — TGFE p. 148

How, specifically, would an evolutionary understanding offer effective guidance? First, let us consider the science. Again from my book:

“Our reptilian brain [what I call, our Lizard Legacy] truly has its own agenda, a set of three ultimate goals: sustenance, survival, and sex. Evolution found ways to make sexual fulfillment extraordinarily pleasurable in order to ensure procreation. But the penis, in particular, doesn’t remember the ‘in order to’ part of the deal.” — TGFE p. 147

“Sexual drives that would lead to marital infidelity may, of course, be quiescent in some individuals, but there is a well-established link between high levels of testosterone and how insistent and relentless the sexual drives become. Moreover, there is a well-established link in mammals between gains in status and elevated levels of testosterone. Either can cause an upswing in the other. So even if we begin our social climbing with our internal ‘assassin’ adequately restrained, once our status exceeds a threshold, without support and accountability our elevated hormones may be our undoing. As our secret indiscretions become public, our paleomammalian drive to maintain high status kicks in big time, such that we are tempted to violate other moral principles as well—by lying, blaming others, covering up, perhaps even blackmailing possible informants and threatening them with physical harm. — TGFE p. 147

Science leads to self-understanding, which opens the way for truly effective self-help practices:

“Appreciating that unwanted inclinations are part of our heritage doesn’t mean we must do their bidding. But it does help us accept that the yearnings themselves need not be judged as shameful — and thus we don’t have to be in denial about their existence. A man choosing to live in a committed, monogamous relationship with a woman, for example, can accept that sexually promiscuous thoughts (heterosexual and/or homosexual) are natural and to be expected from time to time. This is true even for those who are completely happy with their partner. Only from the stance of acceptance can one effectively notice and then seek peer support and accountability to remain in integrity when unwanted urges do arise.” — TGFE p. 145

“As I walk an evolutionary path of personal salvation, humility is a requisite, for I cannot save myself by myself. Original Sin runs deep. My Lizard Legacy is too powerful, and my Furry Li’l Mammal lives in a world of small and often selfish concerns. I need others and, in fact, I need the Whole of Reality. Here we see another face of deep-time grace in and through evolutionary psychology and brain science. How much more workable to accept ourselves, in all our flaws, rather than to resist those inborn aspects as if they shouldn’t be! Instincts simply are, and we can see how they served our ancestors. Now, how do we go about the task of channeling those energies in integrous ways, with equanimity and insight rather than white-knuckle horror?” — TGFE p. 169

Accountability is key.  Here are some practices that promote accountability and community nurturance:

“Integrity is not a solo sport; it is a community undertaking. For this reason, I dream of the day when baptism in a Christian church comes to mean this: We know that Original Sin cannot be washed away by a daub of water. Rather, the baptismal act is a commitment by the community to lovingly guide the baptized individual through all of life’s stages and through every challenge, using the awareness and tools that God has revealed and will continue to reveal through the time-tested wisdom of our cultural and religious inheritance and the public revelations of science. The religious community would provide structures of education and support that would acquaint us with our evolved Quadrune Brain: our Lizard Legacy, our Furry Li’l Mammal, our Monkey Mind, and our Higher Porpoise. In adolescence and continuing throughout adulthood, our baptismal community would be counted for peer counseling, recovery work, and encouragement of our Higher Porpoise through participation in evo-integrity groups.” — TGFE p. 174

In summary,

“There is profound relief in knowing that the inclinations we most dislike in ourselves and others are often not of our or their own doing. In a way, our flaws are not our fault. We didn’t choose them; nor did others. We all, to some extent, inherited them. Our inherited proclivities were shaped by the particulars of our human, mammalian, and vertebrate evolutionary journeys, nuanced by the developmental journey each of us navigates from womb to tomb. This gift of understanding is the foundation for any lasting transformation. It encourages us to move beyond denial or condemnation and simply accept that there are powerful drives within all of us that we did not choose. Once relaxed and accepting, we can begin to forgive self and others for past transgressions. This forgiveness, in turn, clears the board and gives us the courage to look full-square at our current situation and from that vantage to embark on realistic paths for bettering our lives, enriching our relationships, and blessing our world.” — TGFE p. 154

Visit The WEBSITE:Thank God For Evolution

SEE OTHER MICHAEL DOWD DigeElogROCORI VIDEO EXAMPLES:

Thank God For Evolution : TONIGHT!

ANNOUNCING FREE "THANK GOD FOR EVOLUTION!" PROGRAM TUESDAY EVE, May 6th,
7-9pm at Peace Lutheran Church, 1000 Red River Avenue (CR-2 & Greystone),
Cold Spring, MN 56320, (320) 685-7656 or (320) 685-3596,
http://www.peacelutherancoldspring.com/

The presentation, given by Rev. Michael Dowd, is based on his recently
published book of the same title, which has been ENDORSED BY 5 NOBEL
PRIZE-WINNING SCIENTISTS and dozens of other luminaries across the religious
and philosophical spectrum: http://ThankGodforEvolution.com/nobel

BOOK TRAILER: (84 seconds long - visually stunning, and fun!)
http://www.ThankGodforEvolution.com/book-trailer.html
Low bandwidth version on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nTPyL-G2gk

PRESS RELEASE: http://thankgodforevolution.com/media/

RECENT MEDIA ATTENTION:
Local, national & international coverage: (BBC, Wired, Newsweek, etc):
http://thankgodforevolution.com/news

REV. DOWD'S BLOGS:
http://ThankGodforEvolution.com/blog
http://EvolutionaryChristianity.com

VIDEO & AUDIO CLIPS of Michael and his wife Connie Barlow, an acclaimed UU
evolutionary humanist science writer and family educator:
http://www.thankgodforevolution.com/audio-video

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
- Michael: http://thankgodforevolution.com/the-author.html
- Connie: http://thegreatstory.org/CB-writings.html

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Michael and Connie's message is the
way that it has been embraced and even celebrated by those across the
theological and philosophical spectrum: from mainline Protestants and Roman
Catholics, to evangelicals, Jews, Buddhists, Quakers and others, including
non-religious groups.  See here: http://www.thegreatstory.org/programs.html
and here: http://www.thegreatstory.org/what_others_say.html

VIEW VIDEO SAMPLES OF MICHAEL DOWD:

 

Thank God For Evolution : Coming May 6th

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To those who have rejected evolution…
I promise that the secular version of evolution you have rejected is not the version of evolution presented in these pages. Indeed, if the understanding of our collective past and the vision of our common destiny outlined here do not inspire you to be more faithful in all your relationships, to find new ways to bless others and the world, and to awaken eagerly each morning to a life filled with meaning and purpose, then please continue to reject evolution!

To those who accept evolution begrudgingly (like death and taxes)…
I promise that this book will provide you with an experience of science, and evolution specifically, that will fire your imagination, touch your heart, and lead you to a place of deep gratitude, awe, and reverence. You will also find here effective ways to talk about evolution to any friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors who are biblical literalists or young-earth creationists.

To devoutly committed Christians…
Whether you are Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical, Anabaptist, or New Thought, and whether you consider yourself conservative, moderate, or liberal, my promise to you is that the God-glorifying evolutionary perspective offered here will enrich your faith and inspire you in ways that believers in the past could only dream of.

To Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and other non-Christians…
I promise that it will be easy to apply most of what you find here to your own life and faith. I also promise that if you explore the meaning of your tradition’s insights within an evolutionary context, as I attempt to do with Christian doctrine, you will provide an invaluable service to your religion and our world.

To agnostics, humanists, atheists, and freethinkers…
I promise that you will find nothing here that you cannot wholeheartedly embrace as being grounded in a rationally sound, mainstream scientific understanding of the Universe. I also promise that the vision of “evolutionary spirituality” presented here will benefit you and your loved ones without your needing to believe in anything otherworldly.

To those who embrace an eclectic spirituality…
I promise that this perspective will enrich your appreciation of the traditions and practices that nourish you most deeply, while helping you find new excitement in each. It will also help you communicate and relate to others who hold very different religious or philosophical worldviews.

To those who aren’t really sure what they believe…
I promise that this holy evolutionary understanding will not only help you make sense of the world; it will also provide a rock-solid moral and ethical foundation for a life of passion and deep meaning in the midst of inevitable difficulties.

To those who struggle with addiction or codependence…
I promise that if you say “Yes!” to the path of evolutionary integrity offered in this book, you will gain a profound understanding of yourself and others. The framework presented here is fully compatible with 12-step and other recovery programs. In coming to appreciate the deep roots of human instincts, you will see new possibilities for living the life of your dreams, while benefiting others, and you will experience a freedom and peace that “passes all understanding.”

Finally, to those with loved ones who have been unable to embrace science because of their religious faith, and those with loved ones who have been unable to embrace religion because of their scientific worldview...

I promise that sharing this book will make a difference in your relationship. Discussing Thank God for Evolution! with those you deeply care about will open new doors of possibility between you and provide common ground where none existed before. This book is a perfect gift, not to convert others to your way of thinking but to converse with them deeply and heartfully about those things that matter most.

Thank God For Evolution!

Michael Dowd LIVE! – Tuesday, May 6, @ 7 pm at Peace Lutheran Church, Cold Spring.

Come here Reverend Michael Dowd share a gospel that’s billions of years old and find out why Americans everywhere are engaging in a life-changing new conversation about Creation.  See for yourself why Nobel Prize winning scientists and religious leaders across the spectrum are lining up to praise his bold new book that builds bridges, provides guidance, and restores realistic hope for people of any religion or belief system.

www.thankgodforevolution.com

Questions?  Contact Brad Matuska (685-5450) or Duane Kuss (685-8603).

Thank God For Evolution : MICHAEL DOWD

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Nobel Laureates Endorse Thank God for Evolution!

"The science vs. religion debate is over! Michael Dowd masterfully unites rationality and spirituality in a world view that celebrates the mysteries of existence and inspires each human being to achieve a higher purpose in life. A must read for all, including scientists."

— Craig Mello, 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

“The universe took 13.7 billion years to produce this amazing book. I heartily recommend it. I am often asked how science and religion can co-exist. This is a wonderful answer.”

— John Mather, Chief Scientist at NASA, 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics

 

“If anyone can persuade a monotheist that the science of evolution—biological, geological, or cosmological—can enrich his or her faith, I'm betting on Michael Dowd.”

— Thomas C. Schelling, 2005 Nobel Prize in Economics

   

“Honest students of God should welcome the revelations of science as insights, not fear them as threats. Here is a book in that spirit by an ardent believer, who takes evolution to heart, and celebrates it.”

— Frank Wilczek, 2004 Nobel Prize in Physics

“At last someone who understands that all of reality is sacred and science is our method of comprehending it.”

— Lee Hartwell, 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

   

For More Information: >>> Thank God For Evolution

Download the PDF Version of Michael's book FREE!

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LIVE @ PEACE LUTHERAN - Cold Spring, MN
Tuesday, May 6th, 2008   7:00 PM

Planet MARS Flyover

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Did you ever dream of traveling to a near by planet and soaring over it like a bird?  Do you enjoy the fabulous photos that have come back from the rovers that are exploring the surface of Mars at this very moment?  This video provides a dramatic virtual flyover of NASA's two Mars rover landing sites and was created using 3D imagery from the agency's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO).  The images were made using the most powerful camera ever sent to another planet.  So sit back, put your feet up, and enjoy a tour of both the Mars Victoria crater site and the rugged Columbia hills area.