Catholic ‘civil rights’ group accuses organizers of gay pride parade of ‘inciting religious hatred.’… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Aberystwyth Cleric Defends ‘Life of Brian’ Ban
Jul 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Hasn’t seen it, says it was unpleasant then and still is, therefore should be banned.… Read the rest
Olivia Judson on Recent Evolutionary Change
Jul 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Start with the evolution of beak size in finches in the Galápagos archipelago.… Read the rest
Michael Shermer on a Habit of Human Cognition
Jul 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We have evolved brains that pay attention to anecdotes because false positives are usually harmless.… Read the rest
Universal or selective?
Jul 23rd, 2008 5:34 pm | By Ophelia BensonThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) begins with a preamble, the first clause of which says
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world…
The Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam (CDHRI) also begins with a preamble; its first clause is quite different:
… Read the restReaffirming the civilizing and historical role of the Islamic Ummah which God made the best nation that has given mankind a universal and well-balanced civilization in which harmony is established between this life and the hereafter and knowledge is combined with faith; and the role that this Ummah should play to guide
Getting a Laugh From ‘World Youth Day’
Jul 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The walls had collapsed. I was standing out in the open. It was very liberating. … Read the rest
Man, 64, Will Wait to Poke Bride, 10
Jul 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He’s paid the SR100,000 but will wait until she’s 15. Lucky girl.… Read the rest
Hitchens Gets Himself Waterboarded
Jul 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Waterboarding used to be something that Americans were being trained to resist, not to inflict… Read the rest
Interview With Barbara Ehrenreich
Jul 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
You could have sunny economic indicators but the population is so divided there’s not an average.… Read the rest
Karadzic as Dabic, Spiritual Explorer
Jul 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He was an expert in ‘human quantum energy’ and ‘a researcher in psychology and bio-energy.’… Read the rest
How special
Jul 22nd, 2008 3:30 pm | By Ophelia BensonAnd then there’s Prince Charles’s surprise colleague.
Captured war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic was living in Serbia’s capital Belgrade and practising alternative medicine, Serb officials say. He was sporting a long white beard…
Good good; glad he looked the part. And so appropriate…’alternative medicine’ – yes that’s one of those ironic euphemisms that murdering bastards go in for, isn’t it, like Sonderbehandlung. Killing people wholesale is special handling all right, and it’s also alternative medicine, very alternative indeed. Very droll, Rado.
“He was involved with alternative medicine, earning his money from practising alternative medicine… he was working in a private practice.”…He even gave public lectures and was a regular contributor to Healthy Life magazine, editor Goran Kojic said.
Okay … Read the rest
Allah stop playing with your food
Jul 22nd, 2008 2:59 pm | By Ophelia BensonLet’s see – fish? Check. Barrel? Check. Shooter? Check.
But what else can I do?
Diners have been flocking to a restaurant in northern Nigeria to see pieces of meat which the owner says are inscribed with the name of Allah. What looks like the Arabic word for God and the name of the prophet Muhammad were discovered in pieces of beef by a diner in Birnin Kebbi. He was about to eat it, when he suddenly noticed the words in the gristle, the restaurant owner said.
Ah, in the gristle – that’s a nice touch. I remember gristle from my childhood – I was always spitting it out, and having to be instructed in the polite way to … Read the rest
Why No Marx in Econ, No Freud in Psych?
Jul 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Because of ‘antihistorical imperatives’? Or for the same kind of reason Galen is not taught in med school?… Read the rest
Allah Autographs a Piece of Meat in Nigeria
Jul 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Diner was about to eat it, when he suddenly noticed the words in the gristle.… Read the rest
Pope Says No to EU Party Invitation
Jul 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Vatican is alarmed at putative ‘drift towards militant secularism.’ Cause and effect? Who knows.… Read the rest
‘Faith Leaders’ Exaggerate Hostility to Gays
Jul 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Report says believers are ‘significantly more moderate’ on homosexuality than is often alleged on their behalf. … Read the rest
Karadzic Was Practicing ‘Alternative Medicine’
Jul 22nd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
What else is there to say?… Read the rest
Politicians and Diplomats Should Support ICC
Jul 21st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
To say diplomats and politicians alone should decide what to do about Sudan risks maintaining status quo.… Read the rest
DR Congo: Civilians Still Being Killed
Jul 21st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Killing and rape in North Kivu continues at a horrifying rate despite signing of peace accord.… Read the rest
Pope Warns of ‘Spiritual Desert’
Jul 21st, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
This was shortly after apologizing for all that priestly groping.… Read the rest