Academic Freedom Essay Contest

Academic Freedom on Evolution Student Video and Essay Contest

Click here to download entry form
What this Is
A student video and essay contest inspired by Charles Darwin’s comment that “A fair result can be obtained only by fully stating and balancing the facts and arguments on both sides of each question.” The contest seeks the best student-created videos and essays that  communicate support for academic freedom to explore the evidence for and against Darwinian evolution  (for example, an entry might defend the right of teachers to present scientific evidence that challenges Darwinian evolution, or the right of scientists to conduct research about the theory of intelligent design). Entries will be judged based on their creativity, their accuracy, and their persuasiveness. The contest is sponsored by the Center for Science and Culture at Discovery Institute.

Entry Rules
Essays submitted should be authored by a single student and should be no longer than 2,000 words. They should be formatted as a MS Word file, double-spaced, and in a 12-point font. Essays must be submitted electronically along with the official entry form to contest@discovery.org by no later than 5:00 pm Pacific Coast time on January 23, 2009. Additional contest rules are posted below.

Videos submitted can be authored by up to 5 students and should be no longer than 5 minutes. Videos can use drama, comedy, satire, animation, and other methods to communicates their message.

How to submit videos:
Via Youtube: Contestants can join the YouTube Group “Academic Freedom Day Video Contest” by going to http://www.youtube.com/group/academicfreedomday.  Once there you can join the group to upload a video.  Videos will appear on the YouTube  Group “Academic Freedom Day Video Contest” page if they meet the contest requirements.  Additional contest rules are posted below.

Who Is Eligible
Students currently enrolled in high school (grades 9-12) or as a college undergraduate may enter the contest. (High school students include those attending private, public, or home schools.) Essays must be submitted by an individual student, but videos may be submitted by a group of up to 5 students.

 

Glenn Beck's ‘The Christmas Sweater’

From our family to yours. . .  If you give only one gift to you family this year . . . give them THE  CHRISTMAS SWEATER  Dec 18th Wednesday.   

The Christmas Sweater is a new Christmas Memory Play with Music, based on Glenn Beck's soon-to-be-released novel of the same name. It is an exciting and compelling piece of theatre, featuring national television/radio personality Glenn Beck, a 10-piece orchestra and a Broadway gospel singer. Filled with warmth and humor, The Christmas Sweater tells the story of real people as they come to terms with tragedy, family, redemption, love and the power of faith.

The production will be presented as a “Living Movie,” including impressive cinematic animation projections created expressly for this production. The vibrant musical score, which includes traditional Christmas carols, gospel hymns and original songs, underscores Glenn's telling of the tale, sets the various scenes and punctuates dramatic moments throughout.

The Christmas Sweater is, quite simply, a good story well told.

Don't miss your chance to see Glenn Beck like you’ve never seen him before - and from the comfort of your neighborhood movie theatre. Limited seats available – buy your tickets now!

Please note: The December 17th show will be broadcast LIVE. The December 18th show will be an encore prerecorded broadcast of the previous night's show.

Fathom and Mercury Radio Arts present Glenn Beck’s The Christmas Sweater Live from The Charleston Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, December 17th at 8:00pm ET / 7:00pm CT / 6:00pm MT and 8:00pm PT (tape delay) followed by an Encore at select theatres the following night Thursday, December 18th. Please check the theatre lists posted on this page for participating theatres.

PARTICIPATING THEATRES

Click here for the list of theatres participating in the LIVE event.

Click here for the list of theatres participating in the ENCORE event.

PURCHASE TICKETS

Click here to purchase tickets to the LIVE event on Wednesday, December 17th.

Click here to purchase tickets to the ENCORE event on Thursday, December 18th.

Technorati tags: Glenn Beck, The Christmas Sweater, Live Performance, Theater, Family, Fun, Friends, Culture, Christmas Family Fun

The Prophet: Speak To Us Of Work

By Khalil Kibran

As the building of the Peace Palace in Seoul, Korea begins I recall these words . . .

Then a ploughman said, "Speak to us of Work." And he answered, saying: You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth. For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of life's procession, that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite. When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music. Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison? Always you have been told that work is a curse and labour a misfortune. But I say to you that when you work you fulfil a part of earth's furthest dream, assigned to you when that dream was born, And in keeping yourself with labour you are in truth loving life, And to love life through labour is to be intimate with life's inmost secret. But if you in your pain call birth an affliction and the support of the flesh a curse written upon your brow, then I answer that naught but the sweat of your brow shall wash away that which is written. You have been told also life is darkness, and in your weariness you echo what was said by the weary. And I say that life is indeed darkness save when there is urge, And all urge is blind save when there is knowledge, And all knowledge is vain save when there is work, And all work is empty save when there is love; And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself, and to one another, and to God. And what is it to work with love?