Lecture 12.4.07

2.26 He's up front. We're up and running. New desktop background: the plaque outside of Bascom Hall; the "sifting and winnowing" one. An unconfirmed source who will probably be asleep soon states that this is from Amos.
2.29 "...Last week we got our feet wet with wisdom literature..."
2.31 I began to take notes in this blog window, then caught myself; realizing that I was actually participating in class instead of making random observations about Trox's appearance. This obvious shows my true character: committed to academics and the pursuit of knowledge. I did, however, delete these notes as soon as I realized what I was doing, so as not to interfere with Trox's copyright disclaimer.
2.32 Today Troxel looks very festive and is dressed for the season: a pea green sweater over a red dress shirt sets the holiday mood while his dark khakis inform us that he is in a formal, yet relaxed mood.
2.34 Today we're talking about Job. I really like Job. And Gob. Arrested Development is great.
2.35 I kind of feel like I killed Evel Knievel. I blog about him once and all of a sudden -bam- he's dead. It's a good thing that he patched things up with Kayne before he died. Rest in peace, Evel, rest in peace.
2.36 Trox is using some nice new 'pointing finger' bullet points.
2.39 Still sticking with the pointing finger bullets. These things are freaking sweet. It's like a hand. On the screen. Pointing out what I need to know.
2.41 Trox references Bildad the Shuhite then quips "... actually a quite short guy, considering his name...the Shuhite." Whoa! Shuhite... it sounds like Shoe-height! Well played, good sir. You've made mince meat of him.
2.44 Today we are sporting a light yellow background. An ever so slight marbled background is prevalent. We are also seeing a display of two highlight text colors: both blue and red.
2.45 The main text color now has shifted to a dark maroon. Cancel that. Rather, the main points are in maroon; while all supporting scripture continues to be in black. It's really a nice understated way to make those points stick out.
2.47 "...is a curse only when someone says DAMN GOD?" (caps used to attempt to show articulation and passion displayed by the Trox in saying this.
2.51 Troxel is really feeling it today, though it's hard to tell it if you aren't looking at him. In all honesty, his voice isn't portraying the emotion that I'm used to it carrying. But if you look at him, his body language is telling him a completely different story. Karate motions towards the podium. Circular hand rotations. Intense head nodding. I wish I could push mute and just watch the man go. In retrospect, that is a weird thing to say.
2.55 Troxel is pronouncing Satan as "suh-thon" It makes me feel uncultured. It also makes him sound like the smartest person in the world. (Probally because he is)
2.56 Not so fast, assumptions! It appears that Trox is talking about The Satan, which is clearly shown to not equal to "satan" by a "unequal to" symbol in blue.
2.57 The red highlighted text has shifted to also being italicized.
2.58 Man, this body language is hot.
2.59 An unconfirmed source tells me that Wylie has denied accusations of him only sitting in the back of the room to avoid the watchful eyes of the blog. All I will say is this: prove it.
3.01 It looks as if we are summing up the book of Job, with the help of some nifty check mark bullet points. As we turn to "the debate that rages...", our contrast text color shifts to green. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
3.03 But where does my concept of red and green as Christmas colors come from, you may ask. This guy thinks he knows. He doesn't. He's an idiot. This place has some fancy pants symbolism. Also wrong. And this place's discussion even goes into some historical facts. Unfortunately, they're al made up. The real reason is that Jesus, Santa, and Sam Walton got together and picked the colors.
3.07 For some reason, while I was ranting, the slide show has deemed it appropriate to cross out "The Lord (YHWH)" with a large red X. Also "The land of Uz" is displayed in blue text. I wonder if it's kind of like Oz.
3.08 "Any questions..." No one dares. Trox then proceeds to talk about the necessity of questions if we don't understand something. No one dares.
3.10 Dropping into ecclesiastes. For some reason the room has begun to smell like urine. Seriously.
3.14 Some girl from the third row has the audacity to walk out. I shoot her a gaping mouthed "what are you doing" look, but she refuses to make eye contact with me.
3.16 Nothing to exciting going on on the computer screens around me. Mostly notes, a couple web browsers (news sites for the most part, I can see nyt, cnn) Boring. Somebody play a game.
3.17 We are now going into "Plato's View of the Soul" Troxel has constructed a truly diagram to demonstrate the notion. Two circle's: one which represents the human soul and one which represents the animal. Within the circles are the types of spirit that the beings posses. arrows then appear to demonstrate what portions of the soul would ascend after death, and what would... I don't know, I was kind of zoning out. It's very well executed, however.
3.20 The energy in the room is curiously low today. I'm seeing quite a few nodding heads. Troxel's energy has also noticeably dropped. HIs pate has slightly slowed, and there is a visible lack of body motions.
3.22 Where is BJ Hibellink? How could I not have noticed this? HE usually sits right next to me. He must be trapped in the snow! He probably either slipped and broke his hip or is trapped under an avalanche. How can we learn about Biblical Scholarship at a time like this!? A man is missing!
3.23 I get over it. He'll make it.
3.24 Troxel quips that Ecc 1.18 "... is not a passage that you want to tell your parents as you show them your tuition bill." Slight laughter from throughout the room. The heaviest, of course, if from Marc. Trox jokes, but he knows, too. His oldest is heading off to school next year. He must be feeling nostalgic, while at the same time proud. I am.
3.26 Hand motions are coming back into the equation. It appears that we could be about to witness a classic Troxel 'three twenty-something' turn around. Just when you think the energy is gone; there it is again.
3.27 Trox refuses to call Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes. HE instead is calling it Qohelet. Either that or these are serious typos.
3.28 Total missed opportunity to play The Byrds' "Turn, Turn, Turn." It will have to join Wylie's aspirations of Journey's "Wheel in the Sky."
3.30 Other computer people are still being boring.
3.32 I think the only person sitting in the front row is asleep. Yup. He definitely is. How do you do that? If you're going to sleep, why do you decide to be the only person in the front row. It just doesn't make sense. Perhaps he isn't sleeping, but rather fainted after experiencing the full might and glory of The Trox after witnessing it from a short distance.
3.34 Man, Stephen Still's "Love the One You're With" would be a nice complement to Ecc 9.7-10. I'm sure Troxel recognizes these musical counterparts to his lecture, but chooses not to use them, as he would rather wait for a text that matches up with another Tupac or a BIGgy track.
3.36 For the third time in two lectures, Trox references "my colleague Michael Fox." Disappointingly, this continues to not be Michael J Fox. He does, however, continue to not like being disturbed.
3.37 Another Michael Fox name drop. Trox also uses the word "credence" for the first time I may have heard it used outside of the context of a Clearwater Revival.
3.39 Dave is out. (didn't have time to grab a picture)
3.40 Trox ends lecture early and promises a Song of Songs analysis next time. You don't want to miss that.