The science of becoming batman - how to become a superhero without any superpowers.

I would venture a guess (without wanting to offend any of my friends and readers) that most of us fall into the same 'mediocre' level of natural human development. Other than Angus, Wessel, and Gus I don't know any superheroes.... And then, Gus is only special because he has a supernatural love, Pete is a superhero because he's kind, caring and courageous, and Wessel... Well, he was first in line when they gave out brains.

As for me... well, no superpower that I can detect (although my daughter does thing I am great! In spite of the fact that I 'walk funny' - perhaps it is my 'bionic leg' that makes me special!? For more about that simply search this site for 'motorbike' and 'accident')...

But, here's the kicker! Did you know that you could (possibly) become a superhero just by doing a few special exercises!? Well, that's what the author of this new books suggests.

If I were to be a superhero I would ask that I get a costume that was not too tight (otherwise I would have to stay in shape just to wear it), Oh, and I would ask that I can wear my underpants under my pants (i.e., UNDER pants... ) not like Superman, Batman and a host of other so called 'super' heros... Not so super when you can't figure out how to wear your underpants, now are you!?

E. Paul Zehr has a book coming out in October called Becoming Batman: The Possibility of A Superhero, about the physical and mental training one would need to become a superhero without any supernatural powers. Zehr, a professor of kinesiology and neuroscience at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, is also a karate expert. Over at Scientific American, JR Minkel interviews Zehr about how one might train as the Dark Knight. From SciAm:

What's most plausible about portrayals of Batman's skills?You could train somebody to be a tremendous athlete and to have a significant martial arts background, and also to use some of the gear that he has, which requires a lot of physical prowess. Most of what you see there is feasible to the extent that somebody could be trained to that extreme. We're seeing that kind of thing in less than a month in the Olympics.

What's less realistic?A great example is in the movies where Batman is fighting multiple opponents and all of a sudden he's taking on 10 people. If you just estimate how fast somebody could punch and kick, and how many times you could hit one person in a second, you wind up with numbers like five or six. This doesn't mean you could fight four or five people. But it's also hard for four or five people to simultaneously attack somebody, because they get in each other's way. More realistic is a couple of attackers.

Batman and science (Scientific American), Pre-order Becoming Batman (Amazon)

The launch of CVC media - A fresh approach to Christian Media

Today I had the incredible joy of attending the launch of CVC media in Durbanville (UPDATE, Roger - the link I found is for 1Africa.tv, and the CVC staff picked up on my post and sent me the link to CVC Media's main page).

I was impressed by their HUGE vision (to reach 1 billion people with the Gospel through new media)! They're already a long way towards that goal. Moreover, their fresh approach, and attention to excellence was magnificent to see. These people get it!

In order to effectively share the gospel one needs to add value (so, here in Africa they have schools, farms, clinics etc.) and have a broad based approach (short wave radio, internet streaming, satellite audio and video, and FM stations). Their content is also fantastic, aiming at a younger demographic through care, excellence, and relational follow up through email, text messages and social networking. They have thought of everything. Their approach seems to be more than just a 'hit and run' media venture.

I am impressed! I can see them making a huge impact across the world (they have stations on every continent). Speaking in this picture is Bob Edmundson (not sure of the spelling), a Christian businessman from the UK - his speach was energetic and challenging. He is the primary funder.

I have the joy of knowing Oliver Raper who is the manager for Southern Africa, and Jonathan Haller who was my Program Director at RadioPulpit in Pretoria and is now the program director at CVC / 1Africa. Keep your eyes on these folks! They are going to do great things!

A fantastic weekend in Mosselbay!

Life can be pretty busy in 'Forsterdom' (as Janet so aptly describes our clan)! Between family responsibilities, Church and ministry commitments, and of course work we are always on the go!

This weekend, however, our good friends Cois and Corne invited us to their place in Mosselbay (Diaz strand to be exact). What a fantastic weekend we've had! Cois and Corne, who are also in ministry, realy know how to kick back! We lazed, relaxed, chatted, watched DVD's, surfed the web, and swam in the heated pools. Of course the Springbok victory over the All Black was a cherry on top!

I haven't felt this relaxed in ages!

Good friends, good times!

Cois and I spent a lot of time talking about our various faith traditions and theological perspectives. Cois was an AFM pastor, and of course I am a Methodist. Cois has three degrees (two in theology and one in psychology). He is a deep thinker with a sharp theological mind! Their perspective on life and ministry is challenging and refreshing. I find it an inspiration! I look forward to being challenged to grow in new ways as our friendship develops in the years to come. Of course I also hope to share some of my passion for social justice and the depth of our historical spiritual heritage with him.

Now, however, we're on our way back to Somerset West. The kids are sleeping. Courtney starts school tomorrow. Megie's client load is at full capacity! So she will be busy. I've also got quite a lot on my plate! Please pray for me as I continue to settle into my new post - I am struggling to fin the time and space to write.

More evidence... Giving away your books for free sells more copies

After reading Cory Doctorow's book 'Little Brother' (see the link from boingboing), I was convinced by his argument that there is both virtue and profit in giving away one's books. So, as you may recall, I put all my books on the web for free download.

I am pleased to report that since I've been giving away my books for free there have been two extremely valuable reactions. First, more people are reading what I write, and so I have had some wonderful conversations, been challenged, inspired, and met many likeminded people. Second, I have sold many more copies of my books than I thought I would.

But, here's more evidence that giving your books away for free increases circulation and sales.

Neil Gaiman and his publisher have published the results of their free online release of his novel American Gods earlier this year -- the conclusion? Giving away ebooks for free sold books: The Indies [ie. independent booksellers -- Neil] are the only sales channel where we have confidence that incremental sales were driven by this promotion. In the Bookscan data reported for Independents we see a marked increase in weekly sales across all of Neil’s books, not just American Gods during the time of the contest and promotion. Following the promotion, sales returned to pre-promotion levels.

The ABC's of New Media... How much of a Geek are you!?

Janet sent me this ABC chart of new media and technology... I am HAPPY to say that I can list EVERY single one of the letters of the Alphabet by its corresponding technology! ha ha! How many can you list?

PS. Having an incredibly relaxed weekend in Mosselbay with our friends Cois and Corne.

Here's a challenge for Pretoria weather... Zeta park se *&%

My friend Wessel posted a great picture of his son playing at one of my favourite places in the Pretoria area, Zeta Park. I remember spending quite a few winters days there lying on a blanked trying to get some reading done for my then incomplete doctorate while little Courtney played on the slides, jungle gyms and swings... Wessel is quite right. Pretoria does truly have the BEST weather out there! See Wessel's post here for more details: http://wesselsplace.blogspot.com/2008/07/fun-at-zita-park-and-update-on-bertie.html

BUT

Wes, this is my hangout... It's a little bit sandy, and it can be a bit wet... There are no swings or jungle gyms... BUT, it is Cape Town ;-)

I miss you my friend! Blessings,

Dion

Liam on the beach.

Courtney, my beach princess (Heck, she is growing up WAY too fast!)

That's me in the nappy... Not really, it's Liam and Megie. Oh and Charlene, here are some more photos of the kiddies!

Sometimes we forget...

My students used to get tired of me reminding them that our task is not only to help persons to find forgiveness from their personal sins, but also to the whole cosmos to be liberated from structural sin...

Here's a reminder again:

Sin and evil are concretely expressed not only in individuals, but also in structures.

- Tito Paredes
director of Centro Evangelico Missiologico Andino Amazonico

What a twitter feed would look like during 'dawn of the dead' (other Zombie movies are available ;-)

I thought this was quite funny! What do you think a twitter feed would look like during a Zombie attack (and YES, of course they..... do exist (not really, but who cares... Dawn of the dead was hilarious!)) Click this image to enlarge it.

Oh, and follow me on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/digitaldion

Reasons to be thankful!

I have many reasons to give thanks... Here are just two of them. Charlene and I chatted today and she asked me to post a photo or two of Courtney and Liam to the blog... Well, here are my darlings. They are both doing so well in our new surroundings.

Please continue to pray for our family!

This does not please God!

Today I am teaching a half day class on 'new media' at Media Village in Kalk bay. The drive there from Somerset West takes one along some of the most spectacu;ar scenery in the world! The ocean and the dunes are truly a sight to behold. Today is a cold, wet, stormy day in the Cape.

As lovely as bature is, so depraved is human nature along this route! This picture shows a sea of impoverished humanity living in shacks made of thrown away cardboard, sheet metal and plastic. I can only imagine the suffering - no warmth, no food, no medicine, no electricity, no sanitation.

God is not pleased by this!

When people ask me why I gave up the aclaim of my teaching post to do the work I do now I need only show them this photograph of Khayelitsha (a Xhosa word meaning 'our new home'). Yesterday I chaired a meeting where we solicited a substantial sum of money (well over a million rand) for this community. The money will be used to create jobs, feed people, offer basic medical care and education. I believe God is pleased with that! That is the work of ministry - establishing justice, equity, and suffieciency through generosity and grace!

Please pray for them, and for me.

A lovely service in Paarl - what I miss about preaching

Megan, Courtney, Liam and I have found a wonderful home at Coronation Ave Methodist Church here in Somerset West. I appreciate our Pastors Philip Buckland and Steven Lottering - I am always encouraged and uplifted by the services they lead.

This morning, however, I preached at the Paarl Methodist Church at the invitation of my friend Angus Kelly - see http://www.gruntle.co.za it was fantastic to be there! I left Somerset West in the dark, and arrived in Paarl in the heave Cape rain! But, it was wonderful! Angus and Heather are blessed with a wonderful congreagation who are hoapitable, welcoming, involved in their Church, and wonderful to worship with.

I realised just how much I miss regular preaching (like I used to do at Bryanston Methodist Church most weeks). I am over the 'numbers' thing. I have served in enough large Churches to know that it is not the size of the congregation that counts, but their sincerity and love for our Lord. Bryanston was blessed with both (numbers and sincere love).

Sure I have been preaching and speaking somewhere every week in the last 3 months... But, there is someting very special about jouneying with a group of people that you know and love. At Bryanston I would think of the people I know, those whom I had visited in their homes (and even some in their places of work), seen in hospital, prayed with, and sought God's direction, help, and wisdom for - that 'Pastoral' background made the messages so much more meaningful. There is a depth to the Gospel that comes to the fore when it is birthed in a real world pastoral context.

That's what I miss... Getting to know people, and searching for God's words of challenge and encouragement for their lives (and mine)... There was an intensity and a depth to my preparation, I longed to hear what God would have me say to them, and then I would enjoy weaving together words and concepts, parables and pictures that would inspire, encourage, challenge, and even rebuke.

I miss that weekly discipline!

iPhone 3G mania in New York... You couldn't make this stuff up!

Yup, I would CERTAINLY join this line! It's worth a week's leave ;-)

You couldn't make this stuff up and it could only happen in New York but engadget is reporting that a line has already started outside the Fifth Avenue Apple Store. The iPhone 3G won't go on sale for a week but there is photo documented proof that at least 10 people are already in line to guarantee they can pick up the new iPhone next week. We haven't heard any word on lines forming near podcast co-host Matt Miller's home in Washington but no one's heard from him for a few days. He usually waits until the night before to camp out for an iPhone though.

Well done guys! You've earned your 'Apple credentials' - the Lord is reserving a special place for you in heaven! As an aside, I can almost guarantee that most of these people are assistants and interns for people like Leo Laporte and Kevin Rose....