Monthly Archives: August 2005

The Attorney General of the state of California has sued McDonald’s and Wendy’s for failing to put warning labels on French Fries telling consumers that they contain chemicals (which in very large doses) might cause cancer or other health problems. … Continue reading →

According to news reports, the Rev. Fred Phelps, founder of Westboro Baptist in Kansas, contends that American soldiers are being killed in Iraq as vengeance from God for protecting a country that harbors gays. The church, which is not affiliated … Continue reading →

Every so often I receive email from anti-Semites. Today was one of those every so oftens. Since I teach a course on the History of Anti-Semitism, I find such email useful as a primary source; as is very common, the … Continue reading →

You know, I really don’t understand statements like this (from a news article): The Family Research Council, a conservative Christian think tank in Washington, D.C., argues in its book Getting It Straight that finding people are born gay “would advance … Continue reading →

I get email. My article that points out that the United States is not a Christian nation and that its founders were not all Christians (see Notes on the Founding Fathers and the Separation of Church and State) has brought … Continue reading →

It is a very peculiar thing how Israel is so often targeted by various groups. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America issues anti-Israel diatribes, and so too, now does the Presbyterian Church. It really makes little sense. James Lileks had … Continue reading →

I’ve disliked the Intelligent Design concept since I first heard about it when Behe’s book came out. Frankly, to me it seems to be another example of the disreputable idea theologians have referred to as “the God of the gaps” … Continue reading →

Space.com is reporting that: THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2005 Launch of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has been officially reset for Friday morning. The launch team will start a fresh countdown this evening, leading to liftoff at 7:43 a.m. EDT (1143 GMT). … Continue reading →

I set my alarm early this morning so I could watch the landing of the space shuttle Discovery at 5:12 AM local time. It wasn’t too long after I switched on the cable news that that I heard the familiar … Continue reading →

MSNBC reports: HOUSTON – As the shuttle Discovery prepared on Friday to leave the International Space Station, NASA scheduled its next shuttle mission for Sept. 22 provided it can find a quick fix to falling fuel tank foam that has … Continue reading →