June 2006 Archives
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June 30, 2006
Caveats: Why We May Lose Many Battles but Eventually Will Win the War
Chris Mooney says of Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, . . . though I am not a scientist, being pretty familiar with much climate science I felt that most of what I saw was accurate. However, I was most troubled by...Read all of "Caveats: Why We May Lose Many Battles but Eventually Will Win the War"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:10 PM
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Friday Pot Blogging
I was reading an account of Florida State University Professor of Classics Lynette Thompson's recent work at the Cetamura del Chianti Etruscan site when I was struck by these words, In all, the pit contained approximately 10 vessels, some miniature...Read all of "Friday Pot Blogging"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:08 PM
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June 29, 2006
It Sure Must be A Slow News Day
What with Israel carrying on a military operation in Gaza, the Supreme Court saying the President over stepped his authority at Guantánamo, not to mention continued mayhem in Iraq and Iran asking of more time to respond to the international...Read all of "It Sure Must be A Slow News Day"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:44 PM
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Today's Supreme Court Ruling: Will the US Return to the Fraternity of Moral Nations?
It appears that the ruling in Hamdan covers a lot more than military tribunals. It held that the Geneva accords of torture applied to the United States. Here is part of what Marty Lederman at Scotusblog had to say. More...Read all of "Today's Supreme Court Ruling: Will the US Return to the Fraternity of Moral Nations?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:49 AM
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June 28, 2006
My Ethical Philosophy - So Says the Internet
Janet at Adventures in Ethics and Science took this quiz to determine her "ethical style." She seemed happy that the quiz didn't say she was "bossy." I decided to take the ethics quiz too. And I'm glad that " arbitrary...Read all of "My Ethical Philosophy - So Says the Internet"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:31 AM
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They May Like You Better When You're Gone
Adyin at Snail's Tales has an abnormally interesting and very humorous post about being asked to peer review an article in a subfield of research in which he no longer participates. It reminded me of a quite unrelated event in...Read all of "They May Like You Better When You're Gone"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:49 AM
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June 27, 2006
I'm 56% Cynical
You Are 56% Cynical Yes, you are cynical, but more than anything, you're a realist. You see what's screwed up in the world, but you also take time to remember what's right.How Cynical Are You? I'd like to think this...
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:11 PM
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Beware of the Language of News Releases; But Have a Great Fourth of July Weekend in Manhattan
Earlier this month I told of a claim by the Lord's Witnesses that there was an 85% probability of a nuclear attract on Manhattan on June 9 or 10. Yesterday they issued a news release with the following headline, Bible...
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:49 PM
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June 26, 2006
Apparently Some Folks Don't Mind the "Screw-loose People"
John Jacob is running for Congress in Utah and is facing five-term Congressman Chris Cannon in a Republican primary. But he seems to have another opponent, Satan. Or at least that's what he told Robert Gehrke a reporter for The...Read all of "Apparently Some Folks Don't Mind the "Screw-loose People""
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:33 AM
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How to Recognize a Scribal School
Part 2: The Use of Literature and Myth Along with Specialized Akkadian Scribal Training in Late Bronze Age Finally, this has taken a lot longer than I hoped it would. In my first post on how to identify a scribal...Read all of "How to Recognize a Scribal School"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:40 AM
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June 25, 2006
The Rebel Job
I just finished reading Loren Fisher's latest book, The Rebel Job. The anchor and longest chapter of the book is a fresh and refreshing translation of Job 3-26 which Loren the scholar calls Job II and which Loren the poet...
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:44 PM
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June 24, 2006
If This is True, I Want Some of the Credit
A Washington Post article claims that the number of reported rapes in the US has dropped significantly over the last twenty years. The number of rapes per capita in the United States has plunged by more than 85 percent since...Read all of "If This is True, I Want Some of the Credit"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:47 PM
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June 23, 2006
I Have Sinned!
No, not that sin. Today I reshelved books that I had been using at Honnold Library in Claremont. I not only reshelved books that I used this afternoon, I reshelved books that I found in the reshelving staging area that...
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:20 PM
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Tilting the Playing Field
Ed Brayton has a great post on HR 2679, the so-called "Public Expression of Religion Act of 2005." This bill would make it impossible for the winner to recover legal fees in a lawsuit brought on establishment clause grounds and...Read all of "Tilting the Playing Field"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:29 AM
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June 21, 2006
Homo floresiensis(?): Another Take
Karl Zimmer at The Loom reports on another study of the remains from Flores Island. Gary D. Richards writing in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology Online says that the remains are those of pygmy humans. Below is Zimmer's summary of...Read all of "Homo floresiensis(?): Another Take"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:50 PM
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Just Use the Bible
A few days ago, I directed you to a funny post by Ed Brayton at Dispatches from the Culture Wars on the attempts of the Louisiana state legislature to edit the wording of the Ten Commandments. Well Ed has a...Read all of "Just Use the Bible"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:29 PM
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Coptic Version of Isaiah Identified
The archaeological mystery has been solved! The latest research shows that the manuscript found by Polish archaeologists in the village of Gourna (Sheikh abd el-Gourna) near Luxor in Upper Egypt contains the entire biblical book of Isaiah in the Coptic...Read all of "Coptic Version of Isaiah Identified"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:28 PM
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June 20, 2006
An Intersection of Evolutionary Biology and Archaeology
I have an interest in archaeology and a usually unrelated interest in evolutionary biology. Actually, my interest in evolutionary biology is mostly focused on Paleoanthropology but I'm willing to be a little broader when something really abnormal comes along. A...Read all of "An Intersection of Evolutionary Biology and Archaeology"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:21 PM
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June 19, 2006
A Pseudo-Letter on the Teaching of Writing
I'm still not ready for the next (second) installment of my series on how to identify a scribal school but I thought some of you might enjoy this "letter" on teaching writing. 1 [To the divi]ne king 1b [say:(?)] 2...Read all of "A Pseudo-Letter on the Teaching of Writing"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:24 PM
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June 17, 2006
The Role of Readers, Present and Future, in Motivating Literature
Jim Davila at PaleoJudaica.com directs us to an abnormally interesting article, "A literary circle in Judah," in Haaretz by Yaacov Shavit. Jim is correct in saying this piece is "speculative" but it is interesting nonetheless. The question of the extent...Read all of "The Role of Readers, Present and Future, in Motivating Literature"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:32 PM
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Noah's Ark: Found Again
And again and again. And this time in Iran. Brannon S. Howse writing for the Christian Worldview Network reports the latest "discovery." Led by explorer, adventurer, and featured Worldview Weekend speaker Dr. Bob Cornuke, a fourteen man crew returned this...Read all of "Noah's Ark: Found Again"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:45 AM
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June 16, 2006
Just Don't Confuse a Bronx Cheer for An Argument
If I didn't know better, I'd think Jim West says things just to cause controversy. Today he writes in support of "ad hominem" expressions as a virtue. He extols its value as a sign of moral courage. Hence, the greatest...Read all of "Just Don't Confuse a Bronx Cheer for An Argument"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:30 PM
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June 15, 2006
In Which I Endorse the Efforts of the Science Bloggers
I received the following email from by my blog friend afarensis. Hi Duane, I was wondering if you could mention this: http://scienceblogs.com/afarensis/2006/06/15/post_1/index.php on your blog at some point? It's for an extremely good cause (helping science education). Thanks! afarensis The...Read all of "In Which I Endorse the Efforts of the Science Bloggers"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:13 PM
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June 14, 2006
How Long Should It Take For a Book to Be Returned to its Shelf?
If you don't want to read a rant, don't read this. For about a week, I've been trying to finish my second post on how to identify a scribal school. In one sense, I am nearly done with only a...Read all of "How Long Should It Take For a Book to Be Returned to its Shelf?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:25 PM
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The Oriana Fallaci Trial
Ed over at Dispatches from the Cultural Wars has a strong post primarily on the need to strengthen the hand of modernists Muslims. But he begins with a few comments on the trial of Oriana Fallaci in Italy. It seems...Read all of "The Oriana Fallaci Trial"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:22 PM
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June 13, 2006
Protecting the Delicate Field Archeologist
Joe Cathey hopes to be posting from the renewed Gezer excavations. It seems he is having a little trouble getting started. Here is part of his report from yesterday; I am sorry that I have not posted as much as...Read all of "Protecting the Delicate Field Archeologist"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:57 PM
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The 19th Amendment as a Symptom of Men Not Doing Their Jobs!
Kansas State Senator Kay O-Connor is running for the GOP nomination for Kansas Secretary of State. She was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1992. She currently serves "on Senate committees as Vice Chair of Elections and Local...Read all of "The 19th Amendment as a Symptom of Men Not Doing Their Jobs!"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:52 PM
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June 12, 2006
Not Just a Cranium: Homo floresiensis
Much of the discussion concerning the remains found on Flores Island has focused on the LB1 cranium. But there is a lot more to this find that a cranium and afarensis has a very interesting discussion of the humerus, scapula...Read all of "Not Just a Cranium: Homo floresiensis"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:22 PM
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June 11, 2006
The Oldest Book I Own
Following a meme from Chris Tilling, Chris Weimer asks, "What is the oldest book you own?" Well, I think the oldest book in our library is a collection of sermons by John Evans, (Practical Discourses concerning the Christian Temper, London:...Read all of "The Oldest Book I Own"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:24 AM
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Overcoming Sexism - Mine
Those of you who had the fortitude to wade your way through my first post on how to identify a scribal school may have noticed that when in need of a pronoun to describe a scribe, a scribal student or...Read all of "Overcoming Sexism - Mine"
Posted by Duane Smith at 10:16 AM
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June 10, 2006
Papyrus Ebers Online
When I was working on "KTU 4.767: A Medical Text from Tell Taanach" I wanted to look at the Papyrus Ebers to see if there was anything to learn from it about "a wrapping of henna" which I think is...Read all of "Papyrus Ebers Online"
Posted by Duane Smith at 11:35 AM
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June 9, 2006
Exodus Fragments Associated with the Gospel of Judas
Wieland Willker writes on the "Textual Criticism of the Bible" news list, As you probably know, the Gospel of Judas book find did not consist of the Gospel of Judas alone, but also of other books, including Exodus in Greek...Read all of "Exodus Fragments Associated with the Gospel of Judas"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:39 PM
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June 8, 2006
Rewriting the Ten Commandments
Ed Brayton at Dispatches from the Cultural Wars has a very funny post on the efforts of the Louisiana legislature to edit the wording of the Ten Commandments so it can harmonize the various English versions. Here is my favorite...Read all of "Rewriting the Ten Commandments"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:01 PM
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The Happiness Test
Take the happiness test. Here's what it said about me. People who score in this range like their lives and feel that things are going well. Of course your life is not perfect, but you feel that things are mostly...Read all of "The Happiness Test"
Posted by Duane Smith at 6:55 PM
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June 7, 2006
To Whom Should One Listen
The bibliobloggers are having fun with the question of the qualifications of the "ideal interpreter" of the Bible. Various people have taken a stab at this question. I think the question is just backwards. Rather than asking who is qualified...Read all of "To Whom Should One Listen"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:29 PM
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June 6, 2006
The Sign of Our Anniversary
There are those who think 6/6/06 has some special meaning and I agree that it does but for quite a different reason. Today is the forty-second anniversary of our marriage. Shirley has put up with a lot over the years...Read all of "The Sign of Our Anniversary"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:32 AM
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June 5, 2006
Did I Get It All That Wrong?
Eisenbrauns is peddling a very cool mug that has the first two lines of the Enuma Elish and a rather strange colophon. The first line of the colophon reads in Akkadian amiltamkâr (LÚ.DAM.GÀR) kib-rat erbetimtim which I translated "merchant of...Read all of "Did I Get It All That Wrong?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:44 PM
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America: Humiliated and Degraded
If you only read one thing today make it the Los Angeles Times front page article "Army Manual to Skip Geneva Detainee Rule." Julian Barnes' piece begins, The Pentagon has decided to omit from new detainee policies a key tenet...Read all of "America: Humiliated and Degraded"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:13 AM
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June 4, 2006
The Lords’ Witnesses Use Advanced Numerology to Predict Terrorist Attack!
Jim West calls our attention to some particularly funny stuff. The Lords’ Witnesses, that's the name of a group of "researchers," tell us that, "Bible Scholars Predict 85% Probability of a Nuclear Terrorist Attack on the UN Complex in Manhattan...Read all of "The Lords’ Witnesses Use Advanced Numerology to Predict Terrorist Attack!"
Posted by Duane Smith at 6:23 PM
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June 3, 2006
Quotes of the Day
Blogging is a little slow right now. I'm working on a couple of big projects and it's a little too hot to be terribly creative but I did pull these quotes from supporters of the President from the New York...Read all of "Quotes of the Day"
Posted by Duane Smith at 6:22 PM
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June 1, 2006
I am a Wicked Amermaidist; I Believe in Amermaidism
Bertrand Russell didn't think anything about a hippopotamus in his rooms at Cambridge until Ludwig Wittgenstein brought up the subject. And he didn't think anything of it for the same reason that I don't think there are mermaids. There was...Read all of "I am a Wicked Amermaidist; I Believe in Amermaidism"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:24 PM
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