Sig Frohlich is dead. Sig Frohlich, who has died aged 97, was a bit-part actor for much of his long career in Hollywood, playing messengers, waiters, callboys, clerks and soldiers, rarely earning even a flicker of recognition from viewers over 50 years. In 1935 he was a mutineer in Mutiny on the Bounty, starring Clark Gable, and a gentleman in … Read More
The Smoking Gun Of Intelligent Design
Interesting testimony in the Dover, Pa case, where legal challenges are being made to the Dover School Board’s decision to promote intelligent design in public education. ID proponents argue, very disingenuously, that intelligent design is NOT creationism dressed up in new clothes. (More background here). Here’s proof of the bullshit. An expert reviewed early drafts of "Of Pandas And People", … Read More
Culture Of Life Update
Several months ago, I wrote this: "It’s really cute that the citizens of Wingnuttia, who truly should be given their own homeland somewhere (they can call it the Christian States of America, or whatever, I don’t care), would prefer women to die of cancer if the alternative is maybe, just maybe, increasing the likelihood of them engaging in any sexual … Read More
Bush: “God Told Me To Invade Afghanistan And Iraq”
Yup. According to the BBC, that’s what Bush reportedly said.
“Of Pandas And People”
That’s the title of the textbook about "intelligent design" — the book that the religious right wants in schools to counterpoint the teaching of evolution. People like me insist that "intelligent design", aside from not being science at all, is merely creationism in new clothes. ID proponents say that "intelligent design" is a theory entirely different from creationism (because it … Read More
Teach Your Children Well
The following is "Lesson Number Five" from the Creation Museum’s webpage for kids: "Hi! My name is Matt and this is my sister Laura. We grew up around the Creation Evidence Museum. Our dinosaur friends name is Muncher. This page will teach you about many of the things we have learned about how God created the world. Join us as … Read More
Flip-Flops
Yesterday, I wrote about a bill in the Indiana State legislature which would essentially require parents (whether married or not) to be pre-approved by The State of Indiana before producing a child. Well, apparently the bill’s sponsor has had second thoughts, and is withdrawing the bill: State Sen. Patricia Miller, R-Indianapolis, issued a one-sentence statement this afternoon saying: “The issue … Read More
Wingnutty In Indiana
This story concerns a piece of Indiana state legislation. It starts off sounding like a typical wingnutty anti-gay, pro-family kind of thing: An interim legislative committee is considering a bill that would prohibit gays, lesbians and single people in Indiana from using medical science to assist them in having a child. Which is bad enough, but the details are even … Read More
Sad News
August Wilson, who chronicled the African-American experience in the 20th century in a series of plays that will stand as a landmark in the history of black culture, of American literature and of Broadway theater, died yesterday at a hospital in Seattle. He was 60 and lived in Seattle. The cause was liver cancer, said his assistant, Dena Levitin. Mr. … Read More
The “Most Challenged Books” Meme
Via Majikthise: "How many of the American Library Association’s top 100 most frequently challenged books have you read?" Mmmmm…. 3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou 5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain 6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck 13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 18. The Color Purple … Read More
Don’t Dream It, See It
I generally don’t write about local events, but my weblog stat counter thingee informs me that I am averaging a couple hundred hits a day now, and many of you are from the Triad region. So to anyone within driving distance of Winston-Salem, have I got a show for you to see. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the … Read More
Would You Believe?
Don Adams ("Agent 86" on Get Smart, as well as the voice of Inspector Gadget) is dead? I blame CHAOS.
Eye On Dover
Intelligent Design in schools comes to the courtroom. Keep an eye on this case. The New York Times sets the stage: DOVER, Pa., Sept. 23 – Sheree Hied, a mother of five who believes that God created the earth and its creatures, was grateful when her school board here voted last year to require high school biology classes to hear … Read More
Attention, “Family Values” People!
See how much your President believes in holding up "family values". Check this out: President Bush decided Wednesday to waive any financial sanctions on Saudi Arabia, Washington’s closest Arab ally in the war on terrorism, for failing to do enough to stop the modern-day slave trade in prostitutes, child sex workers and forced laborers. In June, the State Department listed … Read More
Quote Of The Day
"I guess this means we’ve won the war on terror," said one exasperated FBI agent, speaking on the condition of anonymity because poking fun at headquarters is not regarded as career-enhancing. "We must not need any more resources for espionage." — Anonymous FBI agent, on the news that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is making the "war on porn" one of … Read More