May 2005 Archives
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May 31, 2005
Some Children Will Be Left Behind
Oakland Mayor and former California Governor Jerry Brown has a post, "Everybody to College...Don't Count On it" on education that reflects many of my own views. As Brown says, Mortimer Adler held that every citizen required a liberal arts education...Read all of "Some Children Will Be Left Behind"
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May 30, 2005
It's Worth A Try
The James Randi Educational Foundation has offered the Smithsonian Institute $20,000.00 not to allow the showing of the Discovery Institutes creationist film "The Privileged Planet: The Search for Purpose in the Universe." I wrote about the Discovery Institute's publicity coup...Read all of "It's Worth A Try"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:45 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Where One Finds Island Dwarfism One Should Not Be Surprised to Find Island Dwarfism
I haven't said anything about Homo floresiensis for a while. One of the things that has come up repeatedly is the presence of other "little people" on Flores Island. The Time Asia Magazine has an article on modern day "Pigmies"...Read all of "Where One Finds Island Dwarfism One Should Not Be Surprised to Find Island Dwarfism"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:34 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 29, 2005
Christian Missionaries in Africa as a Matter of National Security?
There's a lot to be concerned about regarding the meeting between Condoleezza Rice, "senior" White House officials and members of the black clergy on developing U.S policy in Africa. One somewhat restrained, but correct, concern was voiced by the Rev....Read all of "Christian Missionaries in Africa as a Matter of National Security?"
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May 28, 2005
A Major Public Relations Coup for Creationism
Frankly, I expected better of the Smithsonian but perhaps there was little they could do. The New York Times reports that the creationist movie "The Privileged Planet: The Search for Purpose in the Universe" will be shown at the Smithsonian...Read all of "A Major Public Relations Coup for Creationism"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:21 AM
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May 27, 2005
Planned Ignorance
Yesterday PZ Myers demolished a "horrid anti-evolution guest column" on both Pharygula and The Panda's Thumb. PZ reproduces the entire article on his site. I just finished taking a look at it from my usual perspective. PZ shows that the...Read all of "Planned Ignorance"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:02 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
A Dominant Sexist Intuition
As you may know, I work part time for a small semiconductor company. One of my occasional jobs is to deflect calls from salespersons that can use up great gobs of the time of people who have more important things...Read all of "A Dominant Sexist Intuition"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:37 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
85% Liberal and Loving It
Feministe led me to a quiz at Bolgthings. The quiz seeks to measure just how liberal or conservative you are. Before I comment on the quiz here are my results; Your Political Profile Overall: 15% Conservative, 85% Liberal Social Issues:...Read all of "85% Liberal and Loving It"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:55 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 26, 2005
A Euphemism for Pudenda
The other day I wrote a post on a special meaning of the word "hand" that comes up from time to time. I promised then that I would give a sermon on "foot" at a later time. That time has...Read all of "A Euphemism for Pudenda"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:23 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 25, 2005
Make Sure You and Your Dogs and Cats Understand the Laws in California
Kos led me to Dumb Laws. Here is a sample from my home state, California. Animals are banned from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship. Not only should animals understand this provision but...Read all of "Make Sure You and Your Dogs and Cats Understand the Laws in California"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:49 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 24, 2005
Selecting a Doctor: The Minimum Requirement
The Panda's Thumb has a discussion of a poll by the Louis Finkelstein Institute for Social and Religious Research at The Jewish Theological Seminary and HCD Research. The results indicate that "the majority of all doctors (78%) accept evolution rather...Read all of "Selecting a Doctor: The Minimum Requirement"
Posted by Duane Smith at 5:02 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 22, 2005
Cat Blogging
This is Socrates (aka Soc). He likes to eat Purina Cat Chow, Indoor Formula and nothing else. Shirley was making a tuna casserole this morning. There was a little tuna left in the bottom of the can so she put...Posted by Duane Smith at 12:40 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
A Perfect Train Wreck
You are walking down a railroad track when you see a train coming toward you; looking around you see that a train on the same track is coming from behind you. What do you do? Get off the track. But...Read all of "A Perfect Train Wreck"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:40 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
The Wall Between Advertising and Editorial Content Continues to Come Down
I can't remember how often editors of trade magazines have told me that there is an infinitely high wall between their editorial content and advertising. I never truly believed it. I knew that they were under extreme pressure from their...Read all of "The Wall Between Advertising and Editorial Content Continues to Come Down"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:33 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Another Piece of Propaganda Exposed
I have barely gotten over learning that retention was not a cost savings measure and now Think Progressive tells me that there has been "credible evidence" of the desecration of the Qur'an in the hands of our government for a...Read all of "Another Piece of Propaganda Exposed"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:20 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 21, 2005
Retention May Not Be a Cost Savings Program After All
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on "retention" and the reason for it that was offered by an official who declined to be named. Perhaps you'll remember that this official explained that "the retention program was as an...Read all of "Retention May Not Be a Cost Savings Program After All"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:21 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 20, 2005
An Ancient Euphemism for Penis Johnson
A friend of mine sent several of us a somewhat aged, slightly sexist, but still humorous joke that was built around a euphemism for urinating: "shake hands with a very dear friend of mine." For the sake of scholarly rigor,...
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Posted by Duane Smith at 8:06 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Bibliography Page
This page is not a real post. Unless you like lists of books, it is not intended to be read. I will link to it from time to time as I post on subjects that need a higher level of...Read all of "Bibliography Page"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:59 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 19, 2005
New Minoan Linear A Tablets from Bulgaria
The Sofia News Agency has just announced a very exciting find: tables written in Minoan Linear A from southern Bulgaria. The article doesn't say much and there are no pictures. One thing it does say is somewhat misleading. Ancient tablets...Read all of "New Minoan Linear A Tablets from Bulgaria"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:03 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 18, 2005
Why is This Not a Surprise?
In interviews and briefings on Wednesday, the generals pulled back from recent suggestions, including some by the same officers, that positive trends in Iraq could allow a drawdown in the 138,000 American troops late this year or early in 2006....Read all of "Why is This Not a Surprise?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:04 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Complete Coverage of the Los Angeles Mayoral Election
The incumbent, scandal surrounded, James Hahn, who cannot be trusted around city hall, was defeated by, soft on crime, Antonio Villaraigosa, who cannot be trusted around small children. Otherwise, they have the same policies....Read all of "Complete Coverage of the Los Angeles Mayoral Election"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:49 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
I'm Luke Skywalker
Following Pharyngula, who followed The Worldwide Rant, I took "The Ultimate Star Wars Personality Test" at Liquid Generation. The results: I'm Luke Skywalker. That sounds good to me. I'm not so sure about the "dull routine of your life" part...Read all of "I'm Luke Skywalker"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:31 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 17, 2005
What More Can Newsweek Do?
The Administration is calling on Newsweek to do more than simply retract the story about the supposed desecration of the Qur'an during an interrogation at Guantanamo Bay. What Scott McClellan asked for is now well known. I repeat Reuter's account...Read all of "What More Can Newsweek Do?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:38 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 16, 2005
Hating the Truth More than Liberals
The Kansas City Star ran an article (registration required) yesterday by Michael D. Sorkin on Bill Moyers' speech in Kansas City. Among other things, Moyers addressed complaints by Kenneth Tomlinson, Chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that the media...Read all of "Hating the Truth More than Liberals"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:01 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 15, 2005
A Couple of Thousand Years Just May Make a Difference
IOL, a South Africa online news service, published a report of the discovery of a statue of a winged Goddess of Triumph from Palmyra. What interested me about this is that the story offered the following information: SANA quoted the...Read all of "A Couple of Thousand Years Just May Make a Difference"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:00 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 14, 2005
Why Read Broadly and Abroad?
Find your way to In the Light of Reason. Arthur Silber compares two articles on Iraq; one from the New York Times, ("The Mystery of the Insurgency" by James Bennet, May 15, 2005) and one from the London Review of...Read all of "Why Read Broadly and Abroad?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:05 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Goodbye Howard Clinebell
Howard Clinebell Jr. was one of my teachers. He died April 13. Clinebell's impact on what was once called mainstream Christianity was very significant. He founded the pastoral counseling movement; was the author of over twenty books; and was a...Read all of "Goodbye Howard Clinebell"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:53 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 13, 2005
So What Do the Other 15% Think?
Don Froomkin writing in the Washington Post quotes a Wall Street Journal article (Subscription Required) that says, Most Americans don't trust President Bush's motives when it comes to overhauling Social Security, a recent Harris Interactive poll shows. In fact, only...Read all of "So What Do the Other 15% Think?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:09 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 12, 2005
Eisenhower on the Politics of Federal Social Programs
Kos follows David Sirota in quoting part of a November 8, 1954 letter from President Dwight David Eisenhower to his brother Edgar Newton Eisenhower. In this letter he defends the "moderation" of his presidency. The letter begins with a response...Read all of "Eisenhower on the Politics of Federal Social Programs"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:30 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 11, 2005
To Curse of Not to Curse - - Tut, Tut
The announcement of an upcoming National Geographic movie has resurrected the legend of the curse of King Tutankhamen. The announcement reflects on the possibility that Lord Carnarvon (and others) died from some toxin associated with Tut's tomb or mummy: bacteria...Read all of "To Curse of Not to Curse - - Tut, Tut"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:10 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Just Who Were These People?
Who were these people and where did they come from? There is a report out of Iran of the excavation of a late Iron Age (~800 BCE) graveyard in the village of Lafourak in the Savad Kouh area of Mazandaran....Read all of "Just Who Were These People?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:39 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 10, 2005
Now New York
I want to write about something else: archaeology, Ugarit, Paleoanthropology, anything. I'd even like to publish my next installment in Marketing Biology. But crazy stuff keeps coming up. Now, Daniel Hooker of the New York State Assembly has introduced a...Posted by Duane Smith at 8:58 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Kansas Evolves Back
I haven't written about the Kansas farce over teaching creationism. But I just saw an editorial, dated May 8, 2005, in the Washington Post that deserves much wider readership. I will quote three paragraphs. NEARLY FIVE YEARS into the 21st...Read all of "Kansas Evolves Back"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:10 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 9, 2005
Creationists Have Fun and Our Children Suffer
John Lynch at Strange Fruit has some fun with creationist claim that they are more fun than scientists. We run across this again and again - IDer seeing themselves as "fun" and therefore preferable to us dour Darwinists. All his...Read all of "Creationists Have Fun and Our Children Suffer"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:52 AM
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May 7, 2005
Is it Anas al-Liby or Abu Faraj al-Libbi?
The Times Online is reporting that the big Al-Qaeda catch last week may well be a small fish. The capture of a supposed Al-Qaeda kingpin by Pakistani agents last week was hailed by President George W Bush as “a critical...Read all of "Is it Anas al-Liby or Abu Faraj al-Libbi?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:15 PM
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The Purist Form Marketing
When there is nothing to sell but a lie. PvM writing on Panda's Thumb directs our attention to "The Bait and Switch of 'Intelligent Design'", by Keith Lockitch, Ph.D. and junior fellow at the Ayn Rand Institute in Irvine, California....Read all of "The Purist Form Marketing"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:29 PM
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May 6, 2005
A Couple of Good Science Based Titles
I've been a little under the weather this week, so I haven't completed my next installment of Marketing Biology. However, I have seen two articles whose headlines and first paragraphs are like those that every article on evolution should have....Read all of "A Couple of Good Science Based Titles"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:24 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 5, 2005
Alabama on My Mind*
I don't live in Alabama. Anywhere there is an effort to legislate nonsense may well be the starting place of a trend that could even reach California or Washington, DC. For this reason, I take interest in Alabama. On May...Read all of "Alabama on My Mind*"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:29 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 4, 2005
Thomas Jefferson Pseudepigrapha
I've been trying to find anything that might be the basis of Pat Robertson's reference to Thomas Jefferson as explicitly rejecting atheists on his cabinet. I can find nothing. All evidence points in exactly the opposite direction. However, it appears...Read all of "Thomas Jefferson Pseudepigrapha"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:00 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 3, 2005
Stop the Free Publicity for Creationists
Yesterday I wrote about an article in The Christian Science Monitor that told of new tactics used by creationists to disrupt biology education. I failed to mention that that article had a sidebar that was came straight from the Discovery...Read all of "Stop the Free Publicity for Creationists"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:19 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
May 2, 2005
Did Thomas Jefferson Ever Say Anything Like That?
Sunday on ABC's This Week the following exchange took place between George Stephanopoulos and Pat Robertson. Stephanopoulos: You know, President Bush at that press conference also said that he believes you're equally American, whether you're Christian, Muslim or Jew. And...Read all of "Did Thomas Jefferson Ever Say Anything Like That?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:02 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
How to Market Creationism - Turn Children into Salespersons Rather than Students
The Christian Science Monitor has a new article on the problems teachers face in teaching science. It begins with this: Nearly 30 years of teaching evolution in Kansas has taught Brad Williamson to expect resistance, but even this veteran of...Read all of "How to Market Creationism - Turn Children into Salespersons Rather than Students"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:02 PM
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May 1, 2005
The Number of the Beast - 616
Get out your Bible and look up Revelation of John 13:18. You will read something like, This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is...Read all of "The Number of the Beast - 616"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:42 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Out of Their Cotton-picking Minds
Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger reflected on Social Security at Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting. Buffett and Munger also told shareholders they oppose U.S. President George W. Bush's plan to allow privatization of Social Security because the government has a duty...Read all of "Out of Their Cotton-picking Minds"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:15 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |