It’s amazing how infrequently the news cites or links to original source material. The hardest part of posting today was finding the dang statutory language. In relevant part the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) stipulates that a governmental entity may not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion . . .[unless it] (1) is […]
Category: religion
Light Speed
Charles Hard Townes died, Thursday, at 99 years of age. You know the light saber? The “Luke, I am your father” light saber? Only the most transcendent, gnarly piece of weaponized technology in the galaxy, light saber? The “zzzuun zzzeen” light saber? Our only hope? Yeah. That one. Townes invented it. You know laser tag? […]
And To The Ends of the Earth
My friend Noah G was out in front of the ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) story before most. He does things like “watch the news” and “occasionally reads” and even “thinks critically.” Sort of a show off. Here’s a picture of him snidely pondering the mysteries of the universe over my shoulder. Revolting. […]
Appall Bearer
Fred Phelps Sr., founder and pastor of Westboro Baptist Church, died this week. The members of Westboro Baptist Church, over a 20 year period of time, have used military funerals as a vehicle to protest and prophesy the judgment of God over the alleged sexual sins of America, principally homosexuality and child abuse in the […]
The Best Pope Ever
I know something about lifetime appointments. Nearly all my “bosses” have one. Life tenure is necessary to insulate certain kinds of authority from external and political pressures. An island of objectivity. But, pardon me for stating the obvious but a “lifetime” is a really long time. Through age and illness and general decomposition, we all […]
The Truth About Te’o
People have suggested that Manti Te’o must either be the perpetrator of a disgusting hoax or supremely dumb. Numerous pundits, including the likes of Stephen A. Smith and Colin Cowherd, have said that it’s inconceivable that a red-blooded, alpha male, Division I athlete could ever carry on a serious relationship almost exclusively online or by […]
Righteous Indignation
We all do it. It’s not just muslims. But, it’s the weakest sort of faith practice to take offense at offenses against your faith. First, don’t be so sure of yourself. Second, if what you believe is true, then things like critique of, or jokes about or irreverence for, it, won’t make any substantive difference. […]
Still Alive
Written and performed by theipoetlaureate. Music produced by dj clutch.
Principled Non-Principle
Congressman Todd Akin, a candidate for one of the two US Senatorial seats in Missouri, implied fairly directly this week that the female body physiologically rejects any zygote conceived in a forcible rape situation such that the question of whether or not an abortion should be legal for instances of rape is effectively rendered moot. […]
No Spin
So the science community is again threatening us with finding the Higgs-Boson. Notwithstanding the admitted and sheer improbability of ever finding the “G-dd@amn Particle” in the avalanche of data compiled by the various particle accelerators around the world, every six months or so the physics community, the mainstream media, or some conspiracy of the two […]
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