…who chooses which “intelligent designer” is discussed in the class? Given how poorly American high schools teach science, why would anyone of a strong faith want their beliefs distorted in the oubliette of knowledge and education that the public schools have become?

…but is it still the “property” of a company when it is inside the head of a departing employee?

A rather lengthy attempt to analyze the recent trends in public opinion and the politics of the right-wing from a centrist position can be found here. If you prefer your reading of trends to be more partisan, a view of recent events from definitely the left side of the center can be found here.

…looking at pornography can make you go blind (temporarily). No mention about that hairy-palms thing, though…

…and all the nutjobs and moonbats are out in force.

Recent developments in carbon nanotubes indicate that there may be a new technological revolution soon, one that may have effects as far ranging as those of microelectronics in the past decade. Something to keep in mind while the political sound and fury rages.

NEWS FLASH: John Roberts was a conservative 20 years ago! I am shocked, SHOCKED to discover this…

Protesters (as distinct from settlers) at a Gaza synagogue are being forcibly removed, and it appears that the protesters are using some type of chemical to repel the police (this chemical is being identified as “acid” by the Israeli police, as broadcast on CNN International – link). Police officers were seen coming out of the synagogue in their underwear and being doused with water, and the reporter on the scene described a burning sensation in his eyes. The protesters are being...

…I believe it is of vital importance that we separate the method of delivering the message from the message itself. Ms. Sheehan is not the first to invoke the dead to convey a political message, nor will she be the last. Once we actually do the mental work of separating the gut reaction out to analyze the methods used, we might see how our emotions are being cynically manipulated by those on both sides of the political spectrum seeking to gain a momentary partisan advantage in an emotional...

NEWS FLASH: John Roberts is conservative!

Google Earth A Security Risk Nothing more to add…

…or pre-emptive spin control? It is so difficult to determine these days.

…it’s not just for graphite pencil lead and diamond engagement rings any more. There is a discussion of recent developments in carbon-based chemistry, specifically involving carbon nanotubes, at my weblog Random Fate that those curious about the future direction of technology may be interested in reading.

The 25th anniversary of the founding of Solidarity in Poland is approaching. Spiegel Online (the web site of a German magazine) has an interview with a French sociologist who was the confidante of many of the early leaders of the movement that resulted in the formation of Solidarity. It can be argued that the Solidarity movement in Poland was the first crack in the Iron Curtain that ultimately resulted in the disintegration of the Soviet empire. As that age fades into history, it is important that...

Perhaps before those who enjoy the full benefits of freedom of expression in the United States cry that there is a “hostile” environment towards Christianity in the United States, they should take a lesson from the Chinese.

…outside of politics, there have been recent developments showing how lasers are still tripping the light fantastic. In other realms outside of politics can be found photos from a day-trip to Lucerne, Switzerland. After that breather, we now return you to your regularly scheduled political firestorm du jour.

A refreshing change in the typical priorities: BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuters) — Monks at a Belgian abbey have been forced to stop selling their famous beer after it was voted the best in the world and was promptly sold out. The abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren in western Belgium is home to some 30 Cistercian and Trappist monks who lead a life of seclusion, prayer, manual labour — and beer-brewing. A survey of thousands of beer enthusiasts from 65 countries on the RateBeer Web site (www.ratebeer.com)...

…in a move that would have been unthinkable four decades ago, when they were the “bad boys” of rock and roll, now issue a statement: Stones deny song attacks Bush By Michael Rowland in Washington Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger denies one of the band’s new songs, Sweet Neo-con, is an attack on US President George W Bush. The ageing rock group is about to start an extensive US tour. The song takes aim at the staunch conservatives in the Bush administration who were the...

…it is of small comfort to understand that the know-how to make an atomic bomb isn’t exactly secret (and you should know that this commentary comes from someone who has known the basics of how to construct a nuclear weapon for over 17 years). It’s the separation of isotopes that’s damn hard, and our only salvation, for now…

Cross-posted to Random Fate. — When I was in graduate school, on an exam in my Classical Electrodynamics class, we were asked to re-derive the Maxwell Equations assuming that in addition to the existence of electric charge, magnetic charge also was present in the universe (aka magnetic monopoles, of the north and south variety, analogous to positive and negative charge, and magnetic monopoles definitely do NOT exist, by the way). The details of the theory are not important, but the implications...

…where there exists blood and tears and death, and we may neglect the other locations to our ultimate regret in the judgment of history. When I was young, I wondered how could the Holocaust have happened, why was it not stopped by those who saw how wrong it was. Now, I see first-hand how it could have happened, and how it might have continued if the insanity of Adolf Hitler had not led to invading Poland. Darfur is merely the latest in the six-decade long legacy where we neglected the cry of...

In times of disaster, Americans are known for their generosity, even to nations hostile to us, such as Iran. Are we allowing politics to change that admirable trait? At Slate, Christopher Hitchens asked: Question: Why have several large American cities not already announced that they are going to become sister cities with Baghdad and help raise money and awareness to aid Dr. Tamimi? When I put this question to a number of serious anti-war friends, their answer was to the effect that it’s the...

The Commissar of The Politburo Diktat illustrates how jumping on the latest hot news to score partisan points is not necessarily the best way to help “your side” in its credibility.

Yesterday, I attempted to explain how using a too-simple model in a complex conflict could lead to disaster. In that post, I used some examples from history, and in doing so, I have been misinterpreted as making moral-equivalency arguments. I have written a clarification contending that in the current war, however you name it, a War on Terror or a Great Struggle Against Violent Extremism, we must remove the “moral” implications in order to win.

…an interesting question arises. Stephen Green, at The Vodka Pundit, attempts to puzzle out the true motives underpinning the joint military exercises to be held by Russia and China later in August. In his musings (with much before and after the quoted passage below that is well worth reading in entirety), Green writes: A quick look around the map shows that China and Russia don’t share many goals in common. Taiwan? There’s nothing to benefit Russia in reunification. Post-Soviet...