July 2005 Archives
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July 31, 2005
An FBI Supervisor on Rendition
Perhaps I am torturing this issue, but it is one that concerns me. Next week's Newsweek will carry a story on a recently obtained memo, written by an FBI supervisor then assigned to Guantanamo, that outlines concerns about extraordinary rendition....Read all of "An FBI Supervisor on Rendition"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:44 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 30, 2005
Where is the Public Outrage?
Thursday I wrote about the opposition within the military to what is euphemistically called "harsh interrogation." You will recall that Rear Adm. Lohr asked, "Will the American people find we have missed the forest for the trees by condoning practices...Read all of "Where is the Public Outrage?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:13 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 29, 2005
Scroll Fragments, S536 and Ice Age Phalluses
I take this occasion to update three unrelated items in the general category of archaeology on which I have previously commented. First, Tyler Williams of Codex has a new picture of the Leviticus scroll fragments and a list of his...Read all of "Scroll Fragments, S536 and Ice Age Phalluses"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:40 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Bigfoot and Bison Hair
DNA tests have shown that the "Bigfoot" hair sample found on a bush near Teslen in the Yukon is "100% identical to the hair of a bison. "The DNA sequence from the Teslin hair sample produced a 100-per-cent match with...Read all of "Bigfoot and Bison Hair"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:30 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 28, 2005
Military Opposition to Practices "Inconsistent with Our Most Fundamental Values"
Today's New York Times has an article entitled "Military's Opposition to Harsh Interrogation Is Outlined" in which it quotes memos from several high ranking military officers on the use of "harsh interrogation" methods. Here are some snippets from the article....Read all of "Military Opposition to Practices "Inconsistent with Our Most Fundamental Values""
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:18 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 27, 2005
Did Trudeau Know This or Was it Just an Obvious Guess?
The top pay rate at the White House for senior aides like Chief of Staff Andy Card and Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove is now $161,000, according to an internal White House list of staff salaries compiled as of...Read all of "Did Trudeau Know This or Was it Just an Obvious Guess?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:07 PM
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Get Your Viking Name While They Last
There seems to be a big rush to get a Viking name. Alun has a "toy" that provides Viking names free of charge and at no obligation. A whole lot of folks must be worried that all the good ones...Read all of "Get Your Viking Name While They Last"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:21 PM
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Search Tool for Classical Literature
Alun now has a fully functional version of his English language, single entry, Perseus search engine up and running. I previewed it last week. In fact, he has made the search form available to all comers. So, give it a...Read all of "Search Tool for Classical Literature"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:55 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 26, 2005
Priorities, Priorities
CNN reports, Senate Republicans on Tuesday moved the National Rifle Association's top priority ahead of a $491 billion defense bill, setting up a vote on legislation to shield firearms manufacturers and dealers from lawsuits over gun crimes. So here are...Read all of "Priorities, Priorities"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:53 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
On the Validity of Religious Experience
In the late sixties, I would have understood all this but I have either outgrown it or grown dimwitted. Ben Witherington is a New Testament Scholar at Asbury Theological Seminary who writes an interesting post on "The Validity of Religious...Read all of "On the Validity of Religious Experience"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:17 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 25, 2005
Life-sized and 28,000 Years Old
The BBC reports the discovery and reassembly of a life-sized phallus some 28,000 years old. A sculpted and polished phallus found in a German cave is among the earliest representations of male sexuality ever uncovered, researchers say. The 20cm-long, 3cm-wide...Read all of "Life-sized and 28,000 Years Old"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:54 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
What Do Facts Have to Do With It?
Mipe Okunseinde of Think Progress walks us through the history of the claims about John Roberts's membership in the far right Federalist Society. I avoided the controversy myself by using the word "involvement" because I couldn't figure out if he...Read all of "What Do Facts Have to Do With It?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:42 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Calling All Gezerites
Joe Seger sent me and about a jillion other aging Gezerites the following message. Remember when, We were all much younger? We loved digging in the dirt? We enjoyed being with all the inmates inside the fences atop tell Gezer?...Read all of "Calling All Gezerites"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:18 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 24, 2005
A New Search Tool for Classical Literature
Alun has a beta site version of a tool to search the Perseus Project. As Alun says, If you’re not a classicist (and even if you are), the Perseus Project is a database of translations of classical texts based on...Read all of "A New Search Tool for Classical Literature"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:59 AM
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July 23, 2005
Polly Toynbee Says it Clearly - The Problem is Religion
Writing in the Guardian and with the recent London bombings as background, Polly Toynbee is straight and to the point, In the growing fear and anger at what more may be to come, apologists or explainers for these young men...Read all of "Polly Toynbee Says it Clearly - The Problem is Religion"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:24 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Rise Above Partisanship Indeed
This morning President Bush encouraged the Senate to "rise above partisanship" and speedily confirm Judge John G. Roberts to the Supreme Court. Here are his exact words: In the weeks ahead, the Senate will have an opportunity to rise above...Read all of "Rise Above Partisanship Indeed"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:51 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Life on Titan?
I normally don't blog on space exploration, not because I'm not interested in it but because one must have some focus even if one has Abnormal Interests. However, I couldn't resist this one. The New Scientist asks, "Has Huygens found...Posted by Duane Smith at 9:27 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 21, 2005
11 Year Old Maribel Cuevas Faces Felony Rock Throwing
I hope there is a hell of a lot more to this then is obvious from the news article. If fact, I can't think of anything that could be missing from the story that would justify an 11 year old...Read all of "11 Year Old Maribel Cuevas Faces Felony Rock Throwing"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:53 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
More on Judge John G. Roberts
Among the various gateways you can use to ask your Senators not to confirm Judge Roberts to the Supreme Court is the Americans United for Separation of Church and State website. It is the way I chose to do it....Read all of "More on Judge John G. Roberts"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:42 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 20, 2005
John G. Roberts: Very Smart, Very Inexperienced, Very Conservative
By now, just about everyone has commented on President Bush's nomination of Judge Roberts to the bench. The best overviews of Judge Roberts can be found at ACS Blog and SCOTUS Blog. Most of my observations below come for these...Read all of "John G. Roberts: Very Smart, Very Inexperienced, Very Conservative"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:33 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 19, 2005
A New Fourth Century Cuneiform Text from Lebanon
The Daily Star from Lebanon reports the discovery of a fourth century BCE clay plate from the fortress in Sidon with cuneiform writing on both sides. This is very late for cuneiform writing. Archaeologists at the "Freres" excavation site near...Read all of "A New Fourth Century Cuneiform Text from Lebanon"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:04 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 18, 2005
Lowering the Bar
Asked today if "he still intends to fire anyone involved in the leak case 'regardless of whether a crime was committed,'" President Bush said, I would like this to end as quickly as possible so we know the facts. And...Read all of "Lowering the Bar"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:26 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 17, 2005
Baptism - Some are Forced and Others are Denied
The Ottawa Citizen reports, The Catholic Church will not baptize the child of a same-sex couple if both parents want to sign the certificate of baptism, the Conference of Catholic Bishops said yesterday. And just think, only 350 years ago...Read all of "Baptism - Some are Forced and Others are Denied"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:09 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
CBS Poll on the Supreme Court Nomination
Taegan Goddard's Political Wire notes, Only 30% of Americans think Evangelical Christians will have too much influence on President Bush's upcoming pick for the Supreme Court, according to a new CBS News poll. Alternatively, 37% think they will have the...Read all of "CBS Poll on the Supreme Court Nomination"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:31 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 16, 2005
A Short Note on Pope Benedict and the Secular West
Chad Orzel of Uncertain Principles has an interesting take on a concern about the direction of the Catholic Church under Pope Benedict. His last few words sum it up. Yeah, they could take some steps that would make the Church...Read all of "A Short Note on Pope Benedict and the Secular West"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:43 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 15, 2005
What is a Scholarly Consensus?
The Stuff of the Earth, PaleoJudaica, Ralph the Sacred River, Anduril, Higgaion, Biblical Theology and perhaps others who study the Bible have been discussing the nature of consensus. It all seems to have started when NT Gateway Weblog took issue...Read all of "What is a Scholarly Consensus?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:13 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Discovery of Bar Kokhba era Scroll Fragment
On the Biblical Studies News Group, Yitzhak Sapir reports the purchase of a new Bar Kohba Scroll fragment from Nahal Arugot, near Ein Gedi. Walla News, apparently reporting an article from Yediot Ahronot, reports that in the past year a...Read all of "Discovery of Bar Kokhba era Scroll Fragment"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:41 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 14, 2005
Not Illegal but Perhaps a New Kind of Special Interest
According to this morning's Los Angeles Times, Two days before he was sworn into office, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger accepted a consulting job paying an estimated $8 million over five years to "further the business objectives" of a national publisher of...Read all of "Not Illegal but Perhaps a New Kind of Special Interest"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:38 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 13, 2005
Jonathan Witt Should Read Before He Writes
Responding to George Will's excellent column on "A debate that will does not end," Discovery Institute Senor Fellow Jonathan Witt, Ph.D. in English, writes to Newsweek, George Will says the theory of intelligent design isn't falsifiable - isn't a "testable...Read all of "Jonathan Witt Should Read Before He Writes"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:44 PM
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Lead with the Facts: They are Usually Bad Enough
Raw Story , with which I am generally in agreement, has the following misleading headline, Ohio Republican chief justice disqualifies Democrats from hearing corruption case The fact is, Ohio Chief Justice Thomas Moyer, a Republican, disqualified all 34 judges on...Read all of "Lead with the Facts: They are Usually Bad Enough"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:50 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 12, 2005
Holy Golf Balls
There have always been religious knickknacks that cluttered the bookcases and sometimes the minds of the faithful, but this is the first time I've heard of a contest to determine the best of the lot. The Scottish Christian Resources Exhibition...Posted by Duane Smith at 10:10 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
A Time to Keep Silent, and a Time to Speak
Now that it looks like things are spiraling out of control, it is apparently a time to keep silent at the Whitehouse. But 2003 was the time to speak. September 29, 2003, McClellan on Karl Rove's involvement with regard the...Read all of "A Time to Keep Silent, and a Time to Speak"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:19 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 11, 2005
Sing Like a Man
This is old news by blog standards but an editorial in this morning's Los Angeles Times led me to a CNN report from July 1. It seems that 17 year old Mikhael Rawls will not be allowed to sing in...Posted by Duane Smith at 11:39 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 9, 2005
You Want Creationism?
You want creationism? How about the Cherokee buzzard that gouged the valleys and mountains? And why should Chinese-Americans tolerate neglect of P'an Ku and the cosmic egg at the zoo, or Norse descendants not speak up for Audhumla, the giant...Read all of "You Want Creationism?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:02 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
A Beautiful St. George Bellerophon the Dragon Chimera Slayer Mosaic from Palmyra
The Times of London online tells of the discovery of a beautiful mosaic from c. 260 CE found on the "dining room floor" of Roman (?) building in Palmyra, Syria. The article tells us a little about the mosaic; The...
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Posted by Duane Smith at 2:37 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 8, 2005
The Evil Westboro Baptist Church's Take on the London Bombings
Just when I thought I had finally gotten to the bottom of the nut jar, there was still one very big nut. God Hates Fags, the official website hatesite for the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas' attacks on gays,...Read all of "The Evil Westboro Baptist Church's Take on the London Bombings"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:28 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Terror Hits London - Take Two
Yesterday I wrote a rather angry response to the vicious attacks on public transportation in London by what appears to be religious fanatics. The problem with angry responses is that they often capture only half the emotion of the moment....Read all of "Terror Hits London - Take Two"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:03 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 7, 2005
Finally, R.I.P. Terri Schiavo
Florida's state attorney said there was no evidence Terri Schiavo's collapse 15 years ago involved criminal activity, and Gov. Jeb Bush on Thursday declared an end to the state's inquiry. Bush had asked State Attorney Bernie McCabe to investigate Schiavo's...Read all of "Finally, R.I.P. Terri Schiavo"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:49 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Conservatives Opine on Evolution
The New Republic Online reports on interviews with 15 "conservative pundits" on how they feel about evolution and intelligent design. None of them is a biologists. Nor does it seem that any of them rise to the level of informed...Read all of "Conservatives Opine on Evolution"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:43 PM
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Tulsa Zoo Update
TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Tulsa's Park and Recreation Board voted Thursday morning to drop plans for adding a creationism exhibit at the Tulsa Zoo. The board voted 3-to-1 to reverse last month's decision to allow the exhibit. Mayor Bill LaFortune...Read all of "Tulsa Zoo Update"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:34 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
Terror Hits London
By now, you've heard the news: at least 33 dead (likely many more), hundreds injured. An Al Qaeda sub-group has taken credit the coordinated attack and they certainly deserve the blame. I want to be as clear as I can...Read all of "Terror Hits London"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:49 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 6, 2005
With Photoshop, A Picture is Not Worth a Thousand Words
Last month I wrote about Bret Schundler, a GOP candidate for the Governor of New Jersey, who doctored a poster from a Dean presidential campaign to show himself in front of a screaming crowd. Of course, it was Dean's screaming...Read all of "With Photoshop, A Picture is Not Worth a Thousand Words"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:18 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 5, 2005
Be Cautious about the 40,000-Year-Old "Footprints" for Mexico
News@Nature.com reported yesterday that Silvia Gonzalez, who was born in Mexico but is now in England, has discovered impressions preserved in volcanic ash that may be footprints of a person. Gonzalez led a team consisting of David Huddart of Liverpool...Read all of "Be Cautious about the 40,000-Year-Old "Footprints" for Mexico"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:27 PM | TrackBack (1) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 4, 2005
Whose Ten Commandments Anyway?
With all the discussion of the Ten Commandments in the news lately, only a few have asked, "Which Ten Commandments?" Well, Tyler F. Williams on Codex Blogspot has some very good observations on the question. Part of the problem is...Read all of "Whose Ten Commandments Anyway?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:05 PM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
A Fourth of July Hymn
As Shirley and I look forward to enjoying this Fourth of July with my brother and his wife, I am remembering one of the most patriotic songs ever written: one that I always loved to sing in those bygone days...Read all of "A Fourth of July Hymn"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:33 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 3, 2005
Another Minor Milestone
At about 6:57 this morning Abnormal Interests logged its five thousandth visitor. Back on April 13, 2005 when it logged its one thousandth visitor, I threatened that I would write another one of these updates at this milestone. These numbers...Read all of "Another Minor Milestone"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:19 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 2, 2005
A Man from Qeriyot But Not a "Liar"
The Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament claims1 that Judas Iscariot's last name means "liar" based on the supposed Aramaic word shiqray meaning "liar." But there are good reasons not to believe this. Edward Cook explains on Ralph the Sacred...Read all of "A Man from Qeriyot But Not a "Liar""
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:45 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
July 1, 2005
A Creationist Supreme Court? We Could End Up Just a Vote Away
Commenting on Justice O'Connor's announced retirement, Chris C. Mooney raises frightening possibility: the beginning of a pro-creationist court. You will recall that the famous 1987 Edwards v. Aguillard decision was a 7-2 split, with Scalia and Rehnquist in favor of...Read all of "A Creationist Supreme Court? We Could End Up Just a Vote Away"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:31 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
From the Chester Beatty Archives
Wieland Willker reports on a memorandum in the Chester Beatty archives concerning the discovery of the Chester Beatty Papyri. It contains information on the circumstances of the discovery and their contents. The Papyri in question were found in three earthenware...Read all of "From the Chester Beatty Archives"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:30 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |
40% of a Fight Against Malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa
Since I complained before, it is hard not to welcome Presidents Bush's pledge to provide additional funds to fight malaria in Africa. President Bush, under pressure to provide more help to Africa ahead of a G8 summit next week, pledged...Read all of "40% of a Fight Against Malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:25 AM | TrackBack (0) | Abnormal Archive Link |