The answer?

So, i thought i should give a response to the tree question. I know, it was random, but i was trying to get you guys to talk... as well as help me answer this great question.


My physics teacher asked this in class the other day, and left me thinking about it.


"If a tree falls in the woods, and nothing hears it, does it make a sound?"


She answered yesterday.


"No. Sound is defined as waves hitting a reciever. If there's no reciever, then there's no sound."


Ah, very concise and scientific. But as an amatuer philosopher, i cannot be satisfied. There were some good responses from y'all. To state a few:


"Because we define sound as vibrations caused my movement and transfered through a medium, often air, but can be anything. Sound is not defined by what a person hears, because there are many sounds we can't hear." (Jonny)


"I think it makes a sound... some squirrel heard it..." (Josh)


"put a tape recorder in the woods, and ultimately you will hear a tree or a branch falling and making a noise." (Gian)


"Hook an electric thinger up to it & it'll detect the waves hitting it, it recieves it, is modified by it..." (Mark....whilst probably making big hand motions...)

But my thoughts? What if a deaf person is there? I mean, waves hitting the reciever... but not processed into the brain?

Oh, but Chris had it right... basically... who cares...what importance is there to this?

Guess the point is this. Science doesn't think of everything.


And discussion is important. (hence my letting y'all discuss before i posted...)


Also, i apparently need something more interesting to blog about.

This is another one of those trick questions, isn't it?

Here is my question. It has been bothering me.
"If a tree falls in the woods, and nothing/ no one is there to hear it, does it still make a sound?"
What do you think? Why?


































All explanations, whether scientific, philosophical, or otherwise, are welcomed.

Another Travel Post!

This is another place i'd love to go one day. Cambodia. I doubt i'll go all Angelina and adopt a kid, but this is such a beautiful place, with ancient temples...perfect for a lover of art and architecture. Also still undeveloped and rural... perfect for jungle adventures.

But this is also a country that is still full of pain from years of oppression, and the landmines laid years ago still cause incredible damage.

So perhaps once i'm a surgeon... an extended visit may be in order.

Hmm, yes i think this will go on the "things to do in my life" list.

oh, just maybe...

trying to rearrange plans for the summer... ah Germany, i pray, and then on to Madrid for a month! If i can get the funds... i'd get to see the running of the bulls in Pamplona (on my "things to do in my lifetime" list). I wonder what it takes to get one of those balcony seats.

And we ran away...

My friend (and a mentor to all us girls in Savannah)Laura, was married this past weekend! I was priviledged to serve as a pamphlet-hander-outer and punch-server. Really, twas tonnes of fun. After my punch-serving duties were over, i was rounded up with the rest of the single ladies at the reception for the "throwing of the bouquet". Laura's bouquet was a beautiful dozen of dark red roses. I love crimson roses. Anyhow, she threw it...and though there were about 20 of us, no one caught it. It hit the ground. Then one girl scooped it up off the floor. I had to wonder why no one went through the effort to catch the beautiful bunch of roses. Traditionally, it means you'll be the next to get married...so maybe we thought people would think we were dying to be married off to the next handsome bloke that makes a decent living if we caught it. Maybe it's because none of us thought ourselves worthy enough to be the next lucky girl.
Yet the same thing happened with the men and the garter. It hit the floor, and the guy closest to it picked it up.
Why did we all run away?
I still don't know. Maybe i just wasn't feeling like putting in the effort to step forward a metre and to catch the roses. I'll have to do better next wedding. Maybe in Germany. I'll catch it one day, dang it.

As promised!

This is a short clip of only part of the festivities that went on last weekend at my cousin Anna's 16th birthday party. We had a "murder mystery" to solve... then we went outside to play "monster", which basically meant i had to scare all the girls and make them scream. Woohoot.
Now, what i discovered very soon into the evening was that these girls are watching me. No, not the old "those younger than you are watching you" but rather "Hey, so YOURE Carmen?" "uhm, yes.." "i read your blog! i watch your videos! they're hilarious!". Then another, "so where's your camera?" "in my bag" "so, can we make a video?".
Ha! Well you guys, er, i mean girls, here is the newest video, starring none other but you...


Now, one of the reasons that i stayed in savannah for university was to have a chance to share what i've learned in my short life with the girls around me... the girls in the youth group at my church, girls i run across every day, the freshmen at school, and even you guys that came from the middle of nowhere in georgia out to anna's party. If i could give a few words of advice, i'd tell ya i remember being your age... only a couple of years ago for some of you! And i know it's confusing sometimes, but i really hope and pray that your life is not perfect, that you DO have struggles... but also that through those you will learn to understand what a relationship with Christ really means and how to abide in him. Remember this, it is "Christ IN you, the hope of glory." And as a friend and i were discussing a few evenings ago, no one can teach you this. You must learn it on your own. And as you grow older and more mature, you will see that the things you go through RIGHT NOW are important in who you will one day become. May you even now begin to let Christ live in and through you. Walk in humility, confidence, obedience, and do not be afraid to explore the unknown. God bless all you guys, keep coming back for more videos and posts!!!

Do you know how crazy i am?

Word of advice: Never doubt my insanity.
When i heard of Christine and Michael's engagement, I was not entirely surprised... and when i heard they were having an engagement party tonight... i actually checked airfares to see how much a standby ticket would cost. I almost bought one. I almost just ran off to Louisville for a day... to go to the party. I'm not sure what stopped me. Oh, that the credit card would be maxed out... maybe that. I think my mind really kicked in and said NO! YOUR PARENTS WILL KILL YOU!!! Why, oh why do i do these things? Yet now i still sit here in Savannah and wait for class to start. I'm being responsible. I'm doing what i'm supposed to do, doing what i'm told, preparing myself for sucess in everyway. Yet sometimes i wonder if i would be happier if i actually did do all these things. I wouldn't be sitting here moaning... i'd be off in Kentucky, meeting new people, have another story to tell. I wouldn't be here all alone with no one to talk to. I wouldn't be going to class tonight...and i wouldn't care. Maybe i'm just fed up with school or completely deprived of a social life. But would it be better if i just didn't know any better?

Random sleep-deprived moments of weakness

Alright, i know all you ladies from last weekend are probably saying "WHERE IS THAT VIDEO SHE PROMISED???" Well, it's coming. really... i need to get through this darn week of school first... and then i have a special post for you, my young fans...and for those who have no idea what i'm rambling about... i'll explain soon. But for now:

That's totally the Parthenon.

For 10 bucks

So i got a backpack in the mail from ebay today...~75 litres, and so many pockets and hiding places....

Especially for the Second Tuesday in November

I thought this would be appropriate for election day. (Thanks to Mark for info on The Decemberists.) Have a quick cynical laugh, it won't hurt.

A Challenging Song

These are lyrics from "Rich Young Ruler" on Derek Webb's new album. After I heard this song, i started thinking:
(vs. 1)
poverty is so hard to see
when it's only on your tv and twenty miles across town
where we're all living so good
that we moved out of Jesus' neighborhood
where he's hungry and not feeling so good
from going through our trash
he says, more than just your cash and coin
i want your time, i want your voice
i want the things you just can't give me

(vs. 2)
so what must we do
here in the west we want to follow you
we speak the language and we keep all the rules
even a few we made up
come on and follow me
but sell your house, sell your suv
sell your stocks, sell your security
and give it to the poor
what is this, hey what's the deal
i don't sleep around and i don't steal
i want the things you just can't give me

(bridge)
because what you do to the least of these
my brothers, you have done it to me
because i want the things you just can't give me

So, what really made me think was the second verse. We try to be good christians...we don't have these "huge sins" in our lives...but we refuse to give up all our comforts! Yet Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell all he had and give it to the poor. Then he could follow Christ. It made me think...could we really do that? Could I really do that? I do desire to follow God and live the life he has planned for me... but can I really give it all up? My car? My phone? My computer? My savings? My bed? My books? My family? My desires for relationships and love? We so rarely see the kind of faith it takes to simply give everything we have away and step out for the cause of Christ, His gospel, and His glory. What does it even look like when a person does that? Do we even know anymore? Which do we love more? Christ? Or Comfort?

Oh God, give me the strength to surrender to you, to follow you and serve you and seek you over all the worldly things I desire! Give me a passion for you, to set my eyes on things above. Do not let me ignore the suffering, but to do unto the least of these as if it were for You. Give me faith to persevere, to see what is not visible. Give me hope that my life is spent for a purpose, that your word will not return void as you promise. Most of all, give me love, that I may love others and You enough to live as you have called...as your child, your servant, your hands and feet.