Monthly Archives: February 2009

Non-believers we can do without.

Posted on February 21, 2009 by Heather Mac Donald

Andrew writes: The idea of an atheist ‘movement’ “on the march” is not, I confess, something that fills me with great joy. Especially when its leaders march under such idiotic banners as the British bus ads:  “There’s probably no God.  … Continue reading →

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Coping With Criticism

Posted on February 21, 2009 by Andrew Stuttaford

The idea of an atheist ‘movement’ “on the march” is not, I confess, something that fills me with great joy, but running through a recent story in the London Independent on this topic, it’s possible to detect at least one … Continue reading →

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On a hard-to-reach library shelf

Posted on February 21, 2009 by Walter Olson

Per the Telegraph, some Muslims in Leicester, U.K., moved copies of the Koran to the top shelves of libraries, because they believe it is an insult to display it in a low position. The city’s librarians consulted the Federation of … Continue reading →

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Greenhouse gasbags

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Heather Mac Donald

More proof that greenhouse-gas environmentalism—for liberals, one of the main reasons for getting rid of the allegedly anti-science, religiously-driven Bush Administration–is just posturing.   The California  legislature has been struggling to close a $41 billion budget deficit.  This is the same … Continue reading →

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Rat Fun

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Bradlaugh

I’ll admit, I got this via the website of lefty blogger P.Z. Myers. It’s still darn funny.   [Sorry, Viacom pulled the clip after I posted that.  Try the link now.]

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Secular green ideas waste foolishly

Posted on February 20, 2009 by Heather Mac Donald

Chez Panisse founder Alice Waters argues that the federal school lunch program should be revamped to give children locally-grown, organic produce.   She’s right about the scandal of federally-subsidized junk food being served to children; it’s a tragedy that Americans have … Continue reading →

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Full Disclosure

Posted on February 19, 2009 by Bradlaugh

In re the Attorney General’s remarks about the need for us to speak frankly about race, I have a modest suggestion. I suggest that anyone who wants to offer public opinions in this zone should first do a couple of Implicit Association Tests … Continue reading →

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Miscellany, February 18

Posted on February 18, 2009 by Walter Olson

“UC Berkeley Website on Evolution Sued for Violating Establishment Clause”. Sued almost certainly without success: the Ninth Circuit has rejected the claim, although the litigant is seeking Supreme Court review. [Citizen Media Law] Nancy Friedman: You know about those atheist … Continue reading →

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Pagans & Christians

Posted on February 17, 2009 by David Hume

In the late 4th century the Roman Empire was diverting its state subsidies from the customary pagan cults to the Christian church.  At the same time the public space was evolving from one where tokens of pagan piety were being … Continue reading →

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Charles Darwin, Conservative?

Posted on February 16, 2009 by Andrew Stuttaford

Here’s an extract from a TNR piece by Alvaro Vargas Llosa on Charles Darwin: “Herein should lie Darwin’s appeal to the right: The English naturalist gave scientific validity to the revolutionary idea that order can be spontaneous, neither designed by … Continue reading →

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