June 2005 Archives
« May 2005 | Main | July 2005 »
June 30, 2005
Varnishing the Wedge
Ed Brayton and John West are having a discussion about the metaphysical implications/ basis of intelligent design creationism. The discussion was inaugurated by West's expressing frustration with what he called the "hijacking" the expression "intelligent design" by Utah State Senator...Read all of "Varnishing the Wedge"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:11 PM
| Read more on Evolution |
| Abnormal Comments (8)
| TrackBack (1)
| Abnormal Archive Link |
June 28, 2005
President Bush Confounds the Order of Things in the War on Terror
I just finished reading President Bush's speech at Fort Bragg, which the White House entitled "President Addresses Nation, Discusses Iraq, War on Terror." I was unable to hear it but I must honestly say that the President's speaking style drives...Read all of "President Bush Confounds the Order of Things in the War on Terror"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:25 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Become a Statistic
Help MIT build it's survey database. If you are a blogger take the survey....Read all of "Become a Statistic"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:21 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Shameless People Do Shameless Things
Perhaps these ignorant, shameless, fools shouldn't get more publicity then they have already stolen from the dead. But when Shirley told me about this story, I thought it was a joke. Unfortunately, it is all too true. "The 14 demonstrators...Read all of "Shameless People Do Shameless Things"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:24 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 27, 2005
Humankind: An Imperfect Creation
In a humorous Op-Ed piece in the Los Angeles Times, David P. Barash, a professor of psychology at the University of Washington, provides the type of argument against intelligent design creationism that can captivate what I called in a previous...Read all of "Humankind: An Imperfect Creation"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:00 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 25, 2005
The Teacher "Tenure" Initiative: Just Say No
Having explained why California voters should vote no on Governor Schwarzenegger's redistricting initiative, I would like to turn my attention to the even worse, so-called, teacher tenure initiative. Here is the official summary of the proposition from the California Secretary...Read all of "The Teacher "Tenure" Initiative: Just Say No"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:55 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 24, 2005
Thou Shall Not Take The Name Of Intelligent Design In Vain
According to John West, Utah State Senator D. Chris Buttars has "hijacked" the word "design" as in "Intelligent Design" and turned it into, of all things, creationism by calling it "Divine Design" and wanting it to be part of Utah...Read all of "Thou Shall Not Take The Name Of Intelligent Design In Vain"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:29 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Ancient Lesbians and Prostitutes
Two news articles tell of ancient women and at least one of their professions. The first in Haaretz is entitled "Origins of the sex industry" and describes two recent research papers into the origins of prostitution and prostitution in the...Read all of "Ancient Lesbians and Prostitutes"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:46 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 23, 2005
Recent Supreme Court Decisions: Wrong But Not Evil
Today the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to allow local jurisdictions to take private property by imminent domain and give it to private developers. This ruling in KELO et al. v. CITY OF NEW LONDON greatly broadens the legal meaning of...Read all of "Recent Supreme Court Decisions: Wrong But Not Evil"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:02 PM
| Read more on Current Events |
| Abnormal Comments (1)
| TrackBack (0)
| Abnormal Archive Link |
Who Drew on this Stone?
Haaretz reports that Yuval Lufan, of Kibbutz Ginosar, near Bethsaida slightly north of the Sea of Galilee, was looking for basalt stones for his own work as a sculptor when he found one that someone else had already used. It...Read all of "Who Drew on this Stone?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:28 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 22, 2005
Looks Can Be Deceiving
Mark Kleiman has published a piece on his blog that is causing some controversy among the members of the "reality-based community" of which I hope I am a member. The major starting point of his discussion is; The Book of...Read all of "Looks Can Be Deceiving"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:23 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Goodbye Jack Kilby
Jack S. Kilby, modern inventor extraordinary, died Monday. Just by reading this post, I know that you are using a whole collection of products based on one of Kilby's inventions. When you use your computer, your cell phone or talk...Read all of "Goodbye Jack Kilby"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:43 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Support the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act
A friend of ours called my attention to The Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2005 (S. 910). The bill has three basic provisions: A second opinion. This bill assures a patient of a second opinion for any cancer diagnosis....Read all of "Support the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:47 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 21, 2005
A Translation of the Last Page of the Gospel of Judas
I'm a little embarrassed that I did not find this weeks, even months, ago but there is an English translation of the last leaf of the Gospel of Judas on the web. It is in handwriting and at the top...Read all of "A Translation of the Last Page of the Gospel of Judas"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:03 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 20, 2005
The 'Downing Street' Memos
The Christian Science Monitor has a retrospective article on the leaked internal UK government memos concerning UK and US preparations for war in Iraq. The punch line excerpts from the memos are now well known. Or at least they should...Read all of "The 'Downing Street' Memos"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:44 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
A Direct Attack on the Courts
A Saturday New York Times Editorial analyzed a House amendment to a budget bill that would limit the power of the courts by removing the teeth from their decisions. The House of Representatives took a little- noticed but dangerous swipe...Read all of "A Direct Attack on the Courts"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:16 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Who is Speaking to the Muddled Middle?
I've been thinking about Alex Tabarrok's post, "Theism versus Evolution," on Marginal Revolution. PZ Myers criticizes it on Pharyngula. Tabarrok claims that Only creationists and atheist evolutionists are consistent, everyone else is in a muddle. PZ seems to like this...Read all of "Who is Speaking to the Muddled Middle?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:30 AM | TrackBack (1) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Two Unrelated Updates: The Gospel of Judas and the Judases
First, the picture of a codex that accompanied my most recent post on the Gospel of Judas and in the referenced press release is not the picture of the codex that contains the Gospel of Judas. It is a photo...Read all of "Two Unrelated Updates: The Gospel of Judas and the Judases"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:21 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 19, 2005
The Crucifixion of Sister Maricica Irina Cornici
Does Father Daniel look like a murderer? Well, murder is a legal term, but Father Daniel and four nuns are directly responsible for the death of Sister Maricica Irina Cornici by crucifixion and he just can't figure out what all...Read all of "The Crucifixion of Sister Maricica Irina Cornici"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:16 PM
| Read more on Religion |
| Abnormal Comments (3)
| TrackBack (0)
| Abnormal Archive Link |
The Manuscript Conservation Project at Saint Catherine's Monastery
If you are interested in the Bible as an important piece of literature in the history of Western Civilization or as the center of your religious life, the story of Codex Sinaiticus and other manuscripts housed at Saint Catherine's Monastery...Read all of "The Manuscript Conservation Project at Saint Catherine's Monastery"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:27 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 18, 2005
The Folly of Another Person's Religion
If you do nothing else today, go to Pharyngula and read PZ Myers' brilliant analogy "Planet of the Hats." Among the many things that makes PZ's piece so great it that everyone would find a planet where inhabitants are "obsessed...Read all of "The Folly of Another Person's Religion"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:24 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
President Bush Provides a Test for the Truth
It's true if it isn't "political talk." While encouraging seniors to sign up for the new Medicare Prescription Drug program, President Bush characterized his remarks as follows "This isn't political talk, this is true," (Bush) said. "And I encourage people...Read all of "President Bush Provides a Test for the Truth"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:17 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 17, 2005
Will the Political Exploitation of Terri Schiavo Ever End?
According to a CNN report Jeb Bush, the Governor of Florida and the brother of the President of the United States, has asked Pinellas-Pasco County State Attorney Bernie McCabe to investigate why Terri Schiavo collapsed 15 years ago. What raises...Read all of "Will the Political Exploitation of Terri Schiavo Ever End?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:19 AM | TrackBack (1) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 16, 2005
The California Reapportionment Initiative: Just Say No
It is time to start looking at Governor Schwarzenegger's three initiatives that will join as many as five other initiatives on the California special election ballot this coming November. Originally, there were to be four from the Governor but the...Read all of "The California Reapportionment Initiative: Just Say No"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:00 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 15, 2005
Why? I Certainly Hope Kos is Wrong but I Don't Have a Better Answer
Help me, I would like any reasonable answer to why fifteen Senators, all Republican, did not cosponsor the apology for past lynching bill approved on voice vote yesterday. Under Senate rules, they can sign on at any time, even after...Read all of "Why? I Certainly Hope Kos is Wrong but I Don't Have a Better Answer"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:07 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
The Homo floresiensis Story with a Bad Opening
I thought it was about time for a status update on Homo floresiensis and I must have been right because two were published today. A very good one is on Carl Zimmer's Loom and a disservice to science is in the Los Angeles Times (top front page column one no less). Zimmer builds his report on the Times article by skipping the first two paragraphs. If you want a very informative, concise, update the Loom is the place to go. Anyone who wants to get their update from the Times should skip the first two paragraphs also. Here's why.Read all of "The Homo floresiensis Story with a Bad Opening"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:22 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 14, 2005
A Republican Elephant with the Ganesha at the Tulsa Zoo
Remember the decision to place a creationist display in the Tulsa Oklahoma zoo? USA Today has a piece on it that includes the following, Zoo officials argued that the zoo, as a scientific institution, does not advocate religion and that...Read all of "A Republican Elephant with the Ganesha at the Tulsa Zoo"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:57 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
A Victory for Reason
You may remember that in April I wrote about the Gull Lake Community Schools in Richland, Michigan's attempt to evade the issue of two teachers openly teaching creationism in the face of specific instructions from their superiors not to. Well,...Read all of "A Victory for Reason"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:05 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 13, 2005
The News of the Day
The local CBS-TV 6 O'clock News covered the big stories of the day this evening. We learned that Governor Schwarzenegger called for a special election in November to have the voters decide his initiatives that will redefine the economic and...Read all of "The News of the Day"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:05 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
The End of California Government as We Know It
If you want to understand the dynamics of Governor Schwarzenegger's drive for a special election this coming November get over to The Left Coaster. Here's a sample, By calling another special off-year election just for governor-sponsored initiatives government as we...Read all of "The End of California Government as We Know It"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:39 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Creationists on Mars Hill or Building an Altar to the Unknown God
After perusing the testimony in the Kansas Science Standards Hearings on teaching intelligent design creationism in Kansas schools and reading some of the many comments by knowledgeable bloggers, I would like to offer my two cents. A major theme in...Read all of "Creationists on Mars Hill or Building an Altar to the Unknown God"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:16 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 12, 2005
Helping Africa if Anyone Cares
The end of last month I wrote about a meeting between Condoleezza Rice, "senior" White House officials and members of the black clergy on developing U.S policy in Africa. The focus of that meeting seemed to be AIDS orphans. In...Read all of "Helping Africa if Anyone Cares"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:29 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Gospel of Judas Update
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the Coptic Gospel of Judas. There is a new press release from the Coptic Museum on i-Newswire. It doesn't tell much that was not already known and discussed in my previous post. The...Read all of "Gospel of Judas Update"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:24 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 11, 2005
You Might Want to Wait a Day or Two Before Going to the Bank
The lines at the teller window may be a little long for the next day or two as a host of Republican politicians rush to the banks to arrange the return of tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations...Read all of "You Might Want to Wait a Day or Two Before Going to the Bank"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:01 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
A Great Tool
Zack Hubert is developing an extensive website of biblical language resources. If you want to research biblical texts in their original languages and are in a hurry this is a great place to start. Both the Christian Greek New Testament...Posted by Duane Smith at 2:07 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
ID Creationism is Also Bad News for Faith
Ed Brayton of Dispatches from the Cultural Wars calls our attention to a column in the Chicago Sun-Times . "Intelligent design has no place in science classes" was written by Richard G. Colling PhD, chair of the biology department at...Read all of "ID Creationism is Also Bad News for Faith"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:43 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 10, 2005
A Public Creation Display with an Escape Clause
The Tulsa Park and Recreation Board decision to place a display that tells a story of creation based on Biblical accounts raises a host of issues. Among the most interesting is the extent to which concern for compliance with the...Read all of "A Public Creation Display with an Escape Clause"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:45 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
From Classless Society to Class Warfare
When I was growing up in the forties and fifties my parents and the other adults around me told me one of two things: either America was a classless society or America was striving to be a classless society. My...Read all of "From Classless Society to Class Warfare"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:37 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 9, 2005
400,000 Year Old Tools from Iran?
The Tehran Times article has just enough information to cause thought but not nearly enough to know what to think. Archaeologist Ali Mahforuzi said on Wednesday that 400,000-year-old stone tools discovered in the valleys of Shuresh near the Rostam Kola,...Read all of "400,000 Year Old Tools from Iran?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:36 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 8, 2005
Creationism at the Oklahoma Zoo
Here is the heart of the story as reported on KOKI, the Tulsa Fox affiliate. The Tulsa Park and Recreation Board voted 3-to-1 to display the exhibit on creationism despite opposition from zoo employees, religious leaders and others who say...Read all of "Creationism at the Oklahoma Zoo"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:56 AM | TrackBack (2) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 6, 2005
Our 41st
On this day in 1964, between final exams and graduation, I married Shirley Pletcher in the Methodist Church that I attended and for which she worked. That was 41 years ago. We continue to have a great life together. She...Posted by Duane Smith at 9:36 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 5, 2005
Pay to Play in Sacramento
I'd love to comment on "Candid Talk on the Party Line" in today's LA Times, but Shirtley and I are about to leave on a short vacation. There will be light blogging for the next few days. Here is a...Read all of "Pay to Play in Sacramento"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:10 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 4, 2005
The Irony of Jonathan Wells' Paper
By now, Wells' paper in Rivista di Biologia has been much discussed and criticized by scientists and laymen alike. And, of course, the Discovery Institute has announced it with their usual flair and hyperbola. Well's paper may have little or...Read all of "The Irony of Jonathan Wells' Paper"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:14 PM
| Read more on Evolution |
| Abnormal Comments (26)
| TrackBack (0)
| Abnormal Archive Link |
Guffa Blogging
This is a guffa. Anyone who has ever been on an excavation will know its many charms. The rest of you only need to know that it is a dirt bucket used to carry the fill matrix out of the...
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:49 AM
| Read more on Archaeology |
| Abnormal Comments (3)
| TrackBack (0)
| Abnormal Archive Link |
Sailing for Punt
Al Ahram has a good summary article on the continuing excavations at the ancient port of Marsa Gawasis, south of Hurghada in Egypt and the whole issue of trade with Punt. I have written on the excavations a couple of...Read all of "Sailing for Punt"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:13 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 3, 2005
Staging Politics and Potholes
If Governor Schwarzenegger's blatant use of "product placement" in his never ending advertisements attacking public employees and the State Legislature is not enough to drive you batty how about his staging a pothole. As the San Francisco Chronicle reports, Gov....Read all of "Staging Politics and Potholes"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:41 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
New Neo Assyrian Tablets from Northeast Syria
Arab News reports, The Syrian-Belgian joint excavation mission in northeast Syria has recently discovered some cuneiform tablets dating back to the neo Assyrian king in the (sic) Mesopotamia Shamshi Adad, 1800 BC, as well it unearthed the king (sic) personal...Read all of "New Neo Assyrian Tablets from Northeast Syria"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:42 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
June 2, 2005
Darwin's Harmful Books
I'm a little late in writing about Human Events' list of the Ten Most Harmful Books of the 19th and 20th century. It has taken me a while to get over the fact that we did not have all of...Read all of "Darwin's Harmful Books"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:15 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Update on the NAGRA Amendment and the Law that Should Not Be
I just received an email from Moira Breen of Progressive Reaction that contained the following: . . . I'm trying to send out alerts to bloggers who've posted in the past on McCain's NAGPRA amendment/Kennewick Man, etc. . . I've...Read all of "Update on the NAGRA Amendment and the Law that Should Not Be"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:54 PM
| Read more on Archaeology |
| Abnormal Comments (2)
| TrackBack (0)
| Abnormal Archive Link |
June 1, 2005
Oxyrhynchus Update
The Washington Post had a good survey on the work to read the many Oxyrhynchus Papyri fragments and the papyri from the ancient Roman site of Herculaneum. An interesting note that is new, at least to me, is the possibility...Read all of "Oxyrhynchus Update"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:33 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Let's Teach all the Important Myths in Public Schools
The Los Angeles Times published this letter in response to an op ed piece by David Gelernter that promoted teaching the Bible in public schools. I agree wholeheartedly with Gelernter. Many of our public high schools and middle schools teach...Read all of "Let's Teach all the Important Myths in Public Schools"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:42 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
A Real Partial Victory
While the Smithsonian will show the Discovery Institutes film "Privileged Planet" they have issued the following statement. Statement by the Director, National Museum of Natural History The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History recently approved a request by the Discovery...Read all of "A Real Partial Victory"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:41 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Blogging Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity
James R. Davila has an informative article on the Society of Biblical Literature website entitled, "Assimilated to the Blogosphere: Blogging Ancient Judaism." But it covers blogging early Christianity also. Davila focuses on how Judaism and early Christianity blogs provide the...Read all of "Blogging Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:07 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |