August 2006 Archives
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August 31, 2006
Further Reflections on Kuntillet ‛Ajrud Pithos II
For any of what follows to make much sense, you'll need to read my most recent post on the Kuntillet ‛Ajrud Pithos II inscriptions. When I first started looking at the literature on the Kuntillet ‛Ajrud Pithio, I was of...Read all of "Further Reflections on Kuntillet ‛Ajrud Pithos II"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:29 PM
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August 30, 2006
Some Text from Kuntillet ‛Ajrud Pithos II
The September issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, page 66, has a very hard to read picture of three joined shards from the Kuntillet ‛Ajrud Pithos II and a very good transcription of the text. As far as I know, this...Read all of "Some Text from Kuntillet ‛Ajrud Pithos II"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:40 PM
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August 29, 2006
I'm a Little Confused
According to the yesterday's Daily Mail, the Vatican Exorcist, Father Gabriele Amorth said recently that Hitler and Stalin where possessed of the Devil. Then the Daily Mail tells us, According to secret Vatican documents recently released wartime pontiff Pope Pius...Read all of "I'm a Little Confused"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:04 PM
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Not Only Cited But Reproduced
Yesterday, I reported on the citation of one of Tyler Williams' posts in Review of Biblical Literature. Today Aydin Örstan tells us that his post "Have lung, will become terrestrial" has been re-published in the September newsletter of the Oregon...Read all of "Not Only Cited But Reproduced"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:24 AM
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August 28, 2006
When is Enough, Too Much?
Today Eisenbrauns announced their latest "back to school" sale. This one features "selected Hebrew and Ugaritic reference" works. And a very good selection it is. Luckily for me, with one exception, I already own all the reference works on this...Read all of "When is Enough, Too Much?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:21 PM
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From a Blog Post to the Scholarly Literature
I've often mentioned the importance of peer review as a screen against error and misrepresentation in scholarship. A long time ago, I even had a couple my articles published as peer reviewed research. Like the vast majority of peer-reviewed papers,...Read all of "From a Blog Post to the Scholarly Literature"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:19 PM
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August 27, 2006
So You Think You Know the Order of the Alphabet
Even if you don't know any Hebrew I hope you will be able to follow this. While I present the Hebrew alphabet in Hebrew letters once, I will use a modified Latin alphabet to represent the Hebrew for the important...Read all of "So You Think You Know the Order of the Alphabet"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:35 PM
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August 26, 2006
The Exodus Decoded, Further Decoded and Debunked
I rely heavily on Chris Heard, not only did he watch The Exodus Decoded for me, he also wrote the kind of detailed review that I might have wanted to write if I had watched it myself. Of course, he...Read all of "The Exodus Decoded, Further Decoded and Debunked"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:10 PM
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August 25, 2006
Friday Pot Blogging
Pictured below is an example of a rather typical Iron II Age pottery oil lamp from Palestine. As in the case of end of Iron I Age, there is disagreement about the date of the beginning of the Iron II...Read all of "Friday Pot Blogging"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:41 AM
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The Final Word on the Hobbit?
Carl Feagans, at Hot Cup of Joe, has a very good summary of the current state of discussion on the remains found on Flores Island. You'll remember that the excavators thought they had discovered a new species, Homo floresiensis. Almost...Read all of "The Final Word on the Hobbit?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:27 AM
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August 24, 2006
Partial Abecedaries from Gezer
As part of my on going project, I've been looking at a number of abecedaries from Palestine and environs. I am mostly interested in the earliest of them but during my search, I ran across something about which I hadn't...Read all of "Partial Abecedaries from Gezer"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:35 AM
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August 23, 2006
Evidence, Who Needs Any Evidence
Two things that greatly irritate me came together with a thud on this evening's local news: the JonBenet extravaganza and online opinion polls. Here is the online poll question KCBS-TV asked of its viewers. If John Mark Karr Killed JonBenet,...Read all of "Evidence, Who Needs Any Evidence"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:11 PM
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A Practical Guide to Anti-superstition
One of the blogs I currently look at almost every day and one of the blogs I read frequently in the year or so before I started Abnormal Interests is Unscrewing The Inscrutable. It's usually irreverent, sometimes obnoxious and always...Read all of "A Practical Guide to Anti-superstition"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:51 AM
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August 22, 2006
Egyptian Loanwords in Epigraphic Hebrew?
The other day I threatened to look for any direct Egyptian loanwords in Epigraphic Hebrew. Here is my report. Did I find any? The short answer is, "it is very unlikely that any words in epigraphic Hebrew are direct loans...
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Posted by Duane Smith at 6:59 PM
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August 21, 2006
Having Trouble Selling Your House? Try Magic!
There is war in Iraq and Afghanistan, an unstable cease fire in Lebanon, problems with Iran and Korea, there is a major labor issue with some City of Los Angeles workers, heck, there's even JonBenet but here is a partial...Read all of "Having Trouble Selling Your House? Try Magic!"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:24 PM
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In the Shadow of Mot or Before Shamesh
Over at SansBlogue, Tim Bulkeley has asked his readers to opine on how to translate the personal name of the main god in the Hebrew Bible. So I put in my two cents, which you can read at Tim's site....Read all of "In the Shadow of Mot or Before Shamesh"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:25 PM
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August 20, 2006
My Ancestor Was an Ape. But In What Ape Line?
Dienekes' Anthropology Blog reports on a paper by Jeffery Schwartz that argues that we are more closely related to Pongo, orangutans, than to Pan troglodytes, chimpanzees, as is usually thought. Dienekes also has a very cute composite picture of a...Read all of "My Ancestor Was an Ape. But In What Ape Line?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 6:27 PM
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August 19, 2006
Hypothesis Testing
The hypothesis I am trying to test is, "There is continuity between the Bronze Age scribal training traditions and the Iron Age scribal training traditions." Of course, this hypothesis could also have been stated negatively. While I'm waiting for some...Read all of "Hypothesis Testing"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:43 PM
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August 18, 2006
Friday Pot Blogging
Pictured below is an example of a rather typical Iron I Age oil lamp. While there is disagreement, the Iron I Age is commonly dated between about 1200 BCE and 950 BCE. Like the Late Bronze Age lamp pictured last...Read all of "Friday Pot Blogging"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:40 AM
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August 17, 2006
Always Read the Notes: Foot or End
I always look at the notes. I'm kind of old fashioned and I wish every note was a footnote. Joseph Naveh, buried this gem in an endnote, I wonder whether all the abecedaries written in antiquity on various objects should...Read all of "Always Read the Notes: Foot or End"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:01 PM
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Adding, Subtracting and Multiplying in Roman Numerals
Mark Chu-Carroll over at Good Math Bad Math tells us how to do it. It's not as hard as you may think; but don't ask about division. He also has a number of other interesting things to say about how...Read all of "Adding, Subtracting and Multiplying in Roman Numerals"
Posted by Duane Smith at 6:58 PM
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August 16, 2006
Planning for and Pontificating About War with Iran
Juan Cole at Informed Comment quotes retired CIA analyst of Arab affairs Ray Close at considerable length on "The Building War on Iran." Close's analysis and Cole's interspersed comments make fascinating and frightening reading. Whatever your position, this post should...Read all of "Planning for and Pontificating About War with Iran"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:24 AM
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August 15, 2006
A Moment for Full Disclosure
I've been worrying a little. I'm worrying about you, my dear readers. And I'm worrying about a possible error you may make if you haven't read the few words I once wrote about myself. Simply put. I am an amateur...Read all of "A Moment for Full Disclosure"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:35 PM
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August 14, 2006
A New Blogger on the Net
Kambiz Kamrani, over at Anthopology.net, has an interesting post on the current government in Iran and blogging. Here's a sample, As an Iranian American, I have seen how outstandingly oppressive and hypocritical the State of Iran has been. One remarkably...Read all of "A New Blogger on the Net"
Posted by Duane Smith at 6:49 PM
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Is a na‛ar Ever a Scribe? Could One Really Write?
[Note to the two or three of you who are awaiting my next post on how to identify a scribal school: I am entering a phase of this project that is going to take a little time to sort things...Read all of "Is a na‛ar Ever a Scribe? Could One Really Write?"
Posted by Duane Smith at 3:16 PM
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August 13, 2006
The Danger of Safety
Last week Shirley had a little eye surgery, a "procedure" as they say, something that is very common among those of us pushing the upper limits of middle age. The actual procedure took only fifteen minutes but it required that...Read all of "The Danger of Safety"
Posted by Duane Smith at 8:33 AM
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August 12, 2006
Today is the Day
Remember The Lords' Witnesses and the True Bible Code, well Mark Chu-Carroll at Good Math Bad Math hasn't forgotten them and he has an update. As you may remember, these folks have repeatedly failed in their efforts to predict a...Read all of "Today is the Day"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:42 PM
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Quick Hide the Evidence
If you haven't had your dose of anger for the day, drop by Dispatches from the Culture Wars and take a look at what Ed Brayton and the Telegraph report about Kenya's national museum. I'll give you a hint, Powerful...Read all of "Quick Hide the Evidence"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:04 AM
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August 11, 2006
Friday Pot Blogging
This week's "pot" is the next oil lamp in the series, a Late Bronze Age (1500 - 1200 BCE) lamp from Palestine. Like its Middle Bronze Age predecessor, this lamp is wheel made with a rounded bottom. You can actually...Read all of "Friday Pot Blogging"
Posted by Duane Smith at 6:51 PM
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Anson Rainey on William Dever and the Origins of Those People
Anyone interested in the ongoing war battle controversy debate discussion of the origins of the Israelites those folks that built four room pillared houses in the hill county of Canaan Palestine Israel and Judah . . . well, you know...Read all of "Anson Rainey on William Dever and the Origins of Those People"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:33 AM
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The Sorry and Dangerous State of Science in the United States
Nick Matzke tells the story on The Panda's Thumb, Science magazine has just published the results of international polls assessing public acceptance of evolution around the world: Jon D. Miller, Eugenie C. Scott, and Shinji Okamoto (2006) “.” Science Aug...Read all of "The Sorry and Dangerous State of Science in the United States"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:28 AM
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August 10, 2006
Well Adjusted Archeologists Indeed
I continue to be concerned for the state of archaeology today. Take a look at this from Aren's latest report on this summer's tel es-Safi/Gath dig. I don't recall any season in which we had such a highly motivated, well-adjusted...Read all of "Well Adjusted Archeologists Indeed"
Posted by Duane Smith at 6:56 PM
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Just Trying to Be Helpful
One of the more curious things about some people of faith is just how helpful they can be. I use my Baptist friend Jim West as an example. A couple of days ago he advised the Roman Catholic Church to...Read all of "Just Trying to Be Helpful"
Posted by Duane Smith at 6:49 PM
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August 9, 2006
If You're Going to Do the Crime, You Must Be Willing to Do the Time
This may be true for ordinary criminals but perhaps not so true for torturers. According to the Washington Post, The Bush administration has drafted amendments to a war crimes law that would eliminate the risk of prosecution for political appointees,...Read all of "If You're Going to Do the Crime, You Must Be Willing to Do the Time"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:27 PM
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I'm In Better Company Than I Thought
At least I'm in better company than my friend Joe Cathey who challenged me (and a few others) to take an abnormally interesting "Political Compass" quiz. Here are my numeric results: Economic Left/Right: -3.88 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -6.05 On the "economic"...Read all of "I'm In Better Company Than I Thought"
Posted by Duane Smith at 12:55 PM
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August 8, 2006
Trying to Define a Question in the Hopes of Finding an Answer
The following table is an attempt to synchronize the archaeological findings from Aphek and its nearby (3 km, 1.8 miles) neighbor, 'Izbet Sartah. The Aphek observations in this table come only from the acropolis. Site and Stratum Period Date Observations...Read all of "Trying to Define a Question in the Hopes of Finding an Answer"
Posted by Duane Smith at 2:32 PM
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August 7, 2006
Wedging the Wedge
Over at Panda's Thumb PvM tells us about “Countering the Wedge: A multi-pronged, multi-year strategy to oppose creationism and intelligent design in the science curriculum of public schools” by Massimo Pigliucci, David Baum and Mark McPeek. All three authors are...Read all of "Wedging the Wedge"
Posted by Duane Smith at 6:57 PM
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The Exodus Decoded Decoded
Chris Heard has another "pre-look" at Jacobivic's The Exodus Decoded which I ranted about a couple of weeks ago. One of the problems with Chris is that he isn't very good at the pure rant genre. But he is very...Read all of "The Exodus Decoded Decoded"
Posted by Duane Smith at 6:49 PM
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August 5, 2006
Marketing Models and The History of Israel: Random Thoughts
In preparation for my next two or three posts of how to identify a scribal school, I've been reading an ever growing collection of papers in the general area of education in ancient Israel. For now, I am focusing on...Read all of "Marketing Models and The History of Israel: Random Thoughts"
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:16 PM
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Another Oldest
The headline says "Expert: Tablet May Have Oldest Writings." The AP story has shown up several places but perhaps the Boston Globe has the best coverage because it puts the picture of the tablet right at the top of the...
Posted by Duane Smith at 1:08 PM
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August 4, 2006
Friday Pot Blogging
Last Friday I pictured an Early - Middle Intermediate Bronze Age (Middle Bronze Age I) lamp. This Friday's "pot" is a Middle Bronze Age II (~1850 - 1550 BCE) oil lamp. Like the others in this collection, this lamp is...Read all of "Friday Pot Blogging"
Posted by Duane Smith at 4:24 PM
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Pat Robertson on Global Warming
PZ Myers at Pharyngula wrote a post that I was about to write. So please, go read his. It is better than mine would have been anyway....Read all of "Pat Robertson on Global Warming"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:19 AM
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August 3, 2006
On Racism, Anti-Semitism, Homophobia and Sexism
While what Mel Gibson reportedly said during his DUI arrest and his several subsequent apologies is a catalyst for what follows, these thoughts are only tangentially related to Mel Gibson. I have no way of knowing if Mel Gibson is...Read all of "On Racism, Anti-Semitism, Homophobia and Sexism"
Posted by Duane Smith at 6:57 PM
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August 2, 2006
An Interesting Coincidence
As I prepare for my next post on identifying a scribal school, I am looking at a variety of texts that may have bearing on that discussion. I am also waiting for my copy of Horowitz, Oshima, and Sanders, Cuneiform...Read all of "An Interesting Coincidence"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:59 PM
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The Other Truth About Kansas
Most of Kansas voted for proscience State School Board candidates in the primary election held yesterday. While they were unable to boot all the creationists, this is a very good start and a major set back for those who poured...Read all of "The Other Truth About Kansas"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:40 AM
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August 1, 2006
There's a Carnival at Biblicalia
Kevin P. Edgecomb is hosting Biblical Studies Carnival VIII on Biblicalia. Kevin has done a great job considering that four of the entries are from a certain pagan who dabbles in Hebrew Bible studies and related abnormal things. Thanks for...Read all of "There's a Carnival at Biblicalia"
Posted by Duane Smith at 7:33 PM
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The Sitz im Leben of Scribal Schools
Paolo Merlo from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome left a very interesting comment on my most recent post on "How to Recognize a Scribal School." Because of its importance and a difficulty that it highlights I want to further...Read all of "The Sitz im Leben of Scribal Schools"
Posted by Duane Smith at 9:41 AM
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