Up to 2,000 British schoolgirls will suffer FGM during the holidays, but there have been no prosecutions to date.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
The picture in Wikileaks docs is bleak 
Jul 26th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The docs sketch a war hamstrung by an Afghan government, police force and army of questionable loyalty and competence.… Read the rest
Wikileaks documents indicate Pakistan aids Taliban
Jul 26th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Officials say portrait of ISI collaboration with Afghan insurgency is broadly consistent with other classified intelligence.… Read the rest
Tuesday around 6ish
Jul 25th, 2010 4:21 pm | By Ophelia BensonIt seems unlikely that there is anyone in the Seattle area who reads me but doesn’t read Pharyngula, but just in case there is, PZ is in town (in Auburn actually) and we’re going to meet up at the Pike Place Brewery so that Pharyngulites can buy us a beer. Cam and Josh will be there I think. Come along.… Read the rest
Stop that woman!
Jul 25th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Wajiha Al-Huwaidar’s husband gets an automated SMS text message from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs whenever she leaves the country.… Read the rest
Barbara Forrest on Louisiana Science Education Act
Jul 25th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Louisiana Family Forum wrote the bill, assisted by the Discovery Institute.… Read the rest
No blasphemy for Russia
Jul 25th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Two Russian museum curators were found guilty of “inciting religious hatred” for displaying a painting of Jesus with Mickey Mouse’s head.… Read the rest
Some solid information at last
Jul 25th, 2010 11:52 am | By Ophelia BensonJerry Coyne has done a post on “Tom Johnson” and “Exhibit A” and the mythical rudeness and savagery and tendency to spit and kick of the mythical “New Atheists.”
The upshot is, Exhibit A never happened. It was a story. The guy who played the part of “Tom Johnson” made it up. He has apologized to Jerry via email, and says he will apologize to other people soon.
So that’s that. The “new atheists are evil and Exhibit A may have happened” crowd are wrong, and we can stop arguing about it.
There’s another thing.
… Read the rest“Tom Johnson” (hereafter “TJ”) remains anonymous, though his identity is apparently known by Mooney, Jean Kazez, and others. For a few weeks I have known
Jerry Coyne on “Tom Johnson” and “Exhibit A”
Jul 25th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Actual information at last, from people who actually know. It never happened. The monster spitting atheists don’t exist.… Read the rest
Universities and the fight for reason and capitalism
Jul 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A major bank donates millions to universities, conditional on the teaching of Ayn Rand’s novels in special courses extolling capitalism and self-interest.… Read the rest
Carol Everhart Roper reviews Does God Hate Women?
Jul 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
More favorably than Cristina Odone and Sholto Byrnes did.… Read the rest
New Scientist pulls story on creationist code
Jul 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If somebody complains, out it goes.… Read the rest
How to spot a hidden religious agenda
Jul 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
An article removed from the New Scientist website because they “received a complaint about the contents.”… Read the rest
Make your vote count
Jul 24th, 2010 12:34 pm | By Ophelia BensonExactly. If only more people realized this.
It’s a question of integrity. If I don’t agree with some of the church’s most central teachings that rule out – on a spectrum from abomination to sinful – contraception, abortion, sex before marriage, homosexual sex, divorce and women priests, then I really shouldn’t be a member.
Quite right, not least because your membership does its bit to endorse those central teachings. Membership is a kind of vote – passive, but nonetheless countable. If you think some of the church’s most central teachings are reactionary and hostile to women, then quite right, you shouldn’t cast your vote for them.
… Read the restI haven’t practised since I made my Confirmation, yet my name is still
Leaving the Catholic church is a matter of integrity
Jul 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If I don’t agree with some of the church’s most central teachings, then I really shouldn’t be a member.… Read the rest
Vatican complains of “secularist leanings” of BBC
Jul 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“The BBC is unable to take the faith with the seriousness it deserves.”… Read the rest
Why Sherrod was thrown to the wolves
Jul 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
At the behest of a source whose track record should have set alarm bells ringing in the head of any responsible journalist.… Read the rest
IQ2 debate on rescinding invitation to pope
Jul 24th, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Johann Hari and David Aaronovitch for, Helena Kennedy and Philippe Sands against. Hari and Aaaro won.… Read the rest
Hitchens on Mel Gibson’s Catholic bigotry
Jul 23rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
What he is issuing is the distilled violence, cruelty, and bigotry that stretches from the Crusades through the Inquisition to fascism.… Read the rest
Fox “News” forgot to question the source
Jul 23rd, 2010 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
If you have no reason to trust the source, and you do have reasons not to, then don’t trust it.… Read the rest
