A cool, dispassionate look at Wheen’s Mumbo Jumbo.… Read the rest
Daniel Boorstin
Feb 29th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe Washington Post obituary.… Read the rest
Is the French Government Anti-Intelligence?
Feb 29th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFrench intellectuals have signed a petition to that effect.… Read the rest
US Trade Embargo Extended to Research
Feb 28th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonTreasury Department warns against publishing scientific research from Iran, Libya, Sudan, Cuba.… Read the rest
The Hubble Telescope is Doomed
Feb 28th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonBush administration has redirected NASA resources to Mars and moon trips.… Read the rest
Prince Charles Makes Fool of Himself – Again
Feb 28th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMore “alternative” treatments should be available on the NHS.… Read the rest
A Defense of Whig History
Feb 28th, 2004 | By Christopher OrletNot long ago the television show Biography aired a documentary on the life of Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company. Midway through the film came the obligatory two minutes concerning Ford’s anti-Semitic rantings, his Nazi medal, and his anti-Jewish newspaper The Dearborn Independent. When it came time to put Ford’s anti-Semitism into perspective, the film-makers explained that Ford’s views were part and parcel of growing up on a Reconstruction-era farm in southeast Michigan, and as such the great man was no different than anyone else of his time and place. The film-makers didn’t go into the reasons why the good folks of southeast Michigan should be naturally anti-Semitic. There were after all no Jews to speak of in … Read the rest
Another Bad Defense
Feb 27th, 2004 11:27 pm | By Ophelia BensonWe’ll get back to the religious discussion (and anyway it’s continuing in a lively manner in the comments), but other things come up in the meantime. This item may seem like just a bit of self-advertising, but it isn’t really. I hadn’t even seen it until today, and didn’t know about it, so I feel I came by it honestly. That is to say, I would have linked to it anyway, even if it had not been by someone who writes a column for B&W; I would have linked to it if I’d never heard of Julian. I would have done a Note and Comment as well, because he mentions some ideas I’ve been scratching away at lately, and others … Read the rest
MMR Parents Denied Legal Aid
Feb 27th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonNo evidence to justify a legal case against MMR manufacturers.… Read the rest
Julian Baggini ‘Not Extreme Enough’
Feb 27th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonRace and culture are not inseparable, and simplification doesn’t help.… Read the rest
The Future of Multiculturalism
Feb 27th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonGuardian readers react to David Goodhart’s essay on diversity versus solidarity.… Read the rest
Solidarity Can Conflict With Diversity
Feb 27th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonThe left’s love affair with diversity may come at the expense of the values it once championed. … Read the rest
Simple-minded but Nonetheless Bigoted
Feb 27th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonChristopher Hitchens detests Gibson’s movie with a passion.… Read the rest
Beagle found?
Feb 27th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonNot some random lost dog, but Darwin’s ship.… Read the rest
Not Only Where but Also What
Feb 26th, 2004 7:08 pm | By Ophelia BensonFunny, it didn’t even seem like that much of a storm. I went out for a walk in it, thinking it was just a common or garden variety storm. I didn’t turn back after five minutes because I was drenched, so it can’t have been raining all that hard! It was certainly raining sideways, thanks to the wind, but I have been in many harder rains. I was wet when I got back but not soaked. And yet there were floods. And then awhile later there was more wind, and then there was a sudden unpleasant absence of electricity, which lasted more than seven hours. Nature can be so obstructive.
I was going to say something about meaning (and what … Read the rest
A Counter-cultural Antiques Roadshow
Feb 26th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonReview of Curtis White’s The Middle Mind deplores ‘torn-jeans prose.’… Read the rest
What is the Connection Between Religion and War?
Feb 26th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘In great contests, each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God.’… Read the rest
First UK Citizenship Ceremony
Feb 26th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIncluding singing, pledging and respecting.… Read the rest
It’s Time for GM Britain
Feb 26th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt’s time for the British government to give the go ahead for GM foods.… Read the rest
Lots of Atheists in Britain Says Survey
Feb 26th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonHurrah!… Read the rest