Todd's Blog

I'd like to publicly thank the staff at Patrick Henry College for a very smooth conference.  I've heard a lot of good things about the conference from those who attended.  Next year's conference will be in Pittsburgh on August 2-4, in conjunction with the International Conference on Creationism . I'll be posting some thoughts on the conference over the next few weeks, because I'm very busy right now and that limits the time I can spend online. Also, if you're interested in a copy of the Shenandoah video we showed on the bus, drop me a line.  If there's enough interest, I'll see what I can do to make copies and offer them for sale. Feedback? Email me at toddcharleswood [at] gmail [dot] com.

The geology and biology abstracts for the Origins 2012 conference are now available at the JCTS  website: 2012 Creation Geology Society abstracts 2012 Creation Biology Society abstracts Feedback? Email me at toddcharleswood [at] gmail [dot] com.

Beautiful video of images from the International Space Station, courtesy Knate Myers Photography : Where can I go from your Spirit?   Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there;   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn,   if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me,   your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me   and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you;   the night will shine like the day,   for darkness is as light to you. (Ps. 139:7-12) Feedback? Email me at toddcharleswood [at] gmail [dot] com.

I've been getting some questions about the field trip, so here are a few details:  We'll be on a charter bus for most of the day.  We should arrive at the park just before 10 am and leave the park around 3 pm.  There will be a few instructional stops before lunch, then we'll be at Big Meadows for at least 90 minutes.  Big Meadows has a very nice museum and visitor center, as well as hiking trails for short strolls through the woods.  You shouldn't have to do anything strenuous, unless you decide to do something crazy at Big Meadows. Be advised that some forecasters are calling for partly cloudy weather with a high of 100 degrees (that's 38 for you centigrade fans), so please dress appropriately.  We will provide a generous supply of water and Gatorade for the trip, but you should plan to bring your own sun block if you need it. The bus will load outside of the Barbara Hodel Center on the campus of Patrick Henry College beginning at 8 am.  That's th...

BioLogos recently posted an interesting set of essays by Richard Hess on the meaning of the Hebrew term  mîn   ( Part 1 and Part 2 ), which many readers might recognize as relevant to issues of baraminology.  Or as the BioLogos editors put it: The baraminology Wood and others pursue as an alternative to evolution is predicated on taking Genesis to mean that God created (Hebrew bara ) such fixed species (Hebrew mîn ). Frankly, I think it's a really nice essay that everyone interested in creationist biology ought to read.  I endorse Dr. Hess's conclusions: Those attempting to draw any formal classification or biological significance from mîn are asking too much of a word that does not appear to serve that purpose.  I concur that  mîn  seems to be used equivalently to the colloquial "all kinds" or "every sort."  I know that many creationists have asserted otherwise  (most famously Frank Marsh), and I think they are mistaken. Does th...

Information for all ticket holders:  Registration for the Origins 2012 conference will open at 12:30 pm on Wednesday, July 25.  Registration and check-in will take place in the Hodel Center.  If you are driving to the conference, here's a map with the Hodel Center marked with a green arrow: View Larger Map If you are flying to the conference, we need to know NOW if you would like a ride from the airport.  Please email me or Joe Francis to be included on the airport pickup schedule. Platinum ticket holders:   If you are staying in the dorms you must bring your own linens.  Pillows, sheets, and towels are not provided. Feedback? Email me at toddcharleswood [at] gmail [dot] com.

Evidently, there are more bones of Australopithecus sediba  sitting in a big rock at Lee Berger's lab in the University of Witwatersrand.  In an interesting twist, National Geographic is helping them set up a lab where the preparation of the new fossils will be streamed live on the internet.  It's kind of a neat gesture of open access.  Read all about it in the press release: New Au. sediba fossils discovered in rock Feedback? Email me at toddcharleswood [at] gmail [dot] com.