All entries by this author

Bill to Let Students Sue if Beliefs Are Dissed *

Mar 23rd, 2005 | Filed by

Florida legislators to decide what serves ‘legitimate pedagogical purpose.’… Read the rest



Dutch MPs Wilders, Hirsi Ali Live Like Prisoners *

Mar 23rd, 2005 | Filed by

They received death threats after criticising behaviour of militant Muslim immigrants. … Read the rest



Jeb Bush Considers Adopting Terri Schiavo *

Mar 23rd, 2005 | Filed by

As courts continue to reject appeals, Florida governor talks of protective custody.… Read the rest



Woman Leads US Muslims to Prayer *

Mar 23rd, 2005 | Filed by

Challenge to second-class status greeted with refusals and threats.… Read the rest



‘Authorized by Allah’ to Beat Students at Picnic *

Mar 23rd, 2005 | Filed by

Militias in Basra force women to wear hijab, close shops selling alcohol or music.… Read the rest



Both Speculated, but They Were Chalk and Cheese *

Mar 23rd, 2005 | Filed by

Einstein was a scientist and Freud considered himself one.… Read the rest



Feudal Care

Mar 23rd, 2005 3:04 am | By

And another thing.

By now most people who read liberal blogs are aware that George W. Bush signed a law in Texas that expressly gave hospitals the right to remove life support if the patient could not pay and there was no hope of revival, regardless of the patient’s family’s wishes. It is called the Texas Futile Care Law. Under this law, a baby was removed from life support against his mother’s wishes in Texas just this week. A 68 year old man was given a temporary reprieve by the Texas courts just yesterday.

I didn’t know that until I read it on a blog. It doesn’t surprise me – of course Bush would sign a law like that. … Read the rest



Consistency? Don’t Be Silly

Mar 22nd, 2005 8:47 pm | By

I know. Why’s she so quiet all of a sudden? you’ve been thinking. What’s the deal? Did something very heavy sit on her or what? Has she gone prancing off on a trip again? Is she at the mall shopping for new spring outfits? Getting her hair done? Training for a marathon? In prison? What?

Since it’s not as if I fall silent in the normal course of things, is it. No. No, it’s none of those, just a death struggle with my computer. So I finally shot it (I had to) and got a new one. Which means I have to go from three meals of cat food a day to two, for the rest of my life – … Read the rest



Pope Cited in Lawyer’s Argument *

Mar 22nd, 2005 | Filed by

‘Court has ordered her to disobey her church and even jeopardize her eternal soul.’… Read the rest



Judge Rules Against Feeding Tube *

Mar 22nd, 2005 | Filed by

She can breathe but not speak – or think, feel, or experience.… Read the rest



Federal Judge Refuses Feeding-tube Request *

Mar 22nd, 2005 | Filed by

Since substantial likelihood of success is not there.… Read the rest



Evangelical Populism Trumps Facts *

Mar 22nd, 2005 | Filed by

Milestone in the campaign for faith over fact and miracles over medicine.… Read the rest



Bush Intervenes to Block Right to Die *

Mar 22nd, 2005 | Filed by

Ends vacation early to strike a blow for minimal government.… Read the rest



STWC Excludes Opponents of Iranian Regime *

Mar 20th, 2005 | Filed by

Refugee group of Iranian marchers refused permission to speak from platform.… Read the rest



Dictionary of National Oops *

Mar 19th, 2005 | Filed by

New DNB has many mistakes, some quite basic.… Read the rest



Michael Holroyd Wins Biography Prize *

Mar 18th, 2005 | Filed by

Wrote biography of some geezer starring Emma Thompson.… Read the rest



Pinter Makes Bad Career Decision *

Mar 18th, 2005 | Filed by

Inexplicable winning of Wilfred Owen award for poetry not a good reason to give up day job.… Read the rest



Four Men in Pakistani Rape Case Re-arrested *

Mar 18th, 2005 | Filed by

To be held until Supreme Court decides final appeal. … Read the rest



Effort to Force Schiavo to Stay Alive Rejected *

Mar 18th, 2005 | Filed by

Presumption in favour of a degrading life as an empty shell?… Read the rest



Some Snickers and One Flinch

Mar 17th, 2005 8:26 pm | By

Okay, I know I’m being bad. But some nonsense is just so nonsensical it just cries out for it. ‘And if the children cry out for rebuke shall we walk on the other side?’ I bet you don’t know what part of the Bible that’s from. Neither do I.

Anyway. They’re schlepping around with their tongues hanging out, begging us to laugh at them. So let’s laugh at them. First let’s laugh at Jesus-sniffing.

You can find candles with just about every fragrance imaginable, from blueberry to ocean mist to hot apple pie. Now there’s a candle that lets you experience the scent of Jesus, and they’ve been selling out by the case…”You can’t see him and you can’t touch

Read the rest