All entries by this author

Borders Stands Up for Free Speech *

Nov 20th, 2008 | Filed by

Borders will launch the Patrick Jones book that Waterstones disavowed on orders from ‘Christian Voice.’… Read the rest



From Meritocracy to Celebritocracy *

Nov 20th, 2008 | Filed by

The celebrity class may help to persuade people that Britain is a fairer place than it really is.… Read the rest



‘Overparenting’ *

Nov 20th, 2008 | Filed by

Does it produce pampered ninnies or selfish, authoritarian robots? Or both? Or neither?… Read the rest



Sweden’s New ‘Halal-TV’ is Controversial *

Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by

Fun new show hosted by three women in hijab; secular and liberal Muslims not represented.… Read the rest



Religious Hegemony in Ulster *

Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by

Exclusivist Christian ideology reflects the narrow authoritarian religious and political culture of N Ireland.… Read the rest



Bush Admin Rushes Through a New Rule *

Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by

Sweeping protections for health care providers who oppose procedures on religious grounds.… Read the rest



‘International Socialism’ Hails the Taliban *

Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by

‘For too long most of the left in Pakistan has identified the jihadis and the Taliban as the main enemy.’… Read the rest



The Terror of Palin *

Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by

Concerned Women for America released a statement saying: ‘Take that, feminists.’… Read the rest



Women Still Wait for Justice in Algeria *

Nov 19th, 2008 | Filed by

From forcing women to veil, to rapes and assassinations, fundamentalists imposed their rule.… Read the rest



Run out and buy a Denali

Nov 18th, 2008 3:10 pm | By

Congress is having fits trying to figure out what to do about the big 3 US carmakers. Let them sink? Give them billions and billions and billions of dollars? Retool them to make buses and repair bridges? No that last one isn’t a real proposal, at least not that I know of. Barbara Mikulski’s is real though.

Mikulski did not call for the $25 billion worth of federally guaranteed loans that Reid is seeking. Instead, she offered her own proposal costing $8 billion: tax breaks for those buying cars between now and the end of next year.

That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard in – a day or two anyway. What a good idea! Give people tax breaks to encourage … Read the rest



Meera Nanda: ‘Why I Criticize Hinduism’ *

Nov 18th, 2008 | Filed by

‘Hinduism, my critics tell me, is far more rational and “scientific” than these other “Semitic” religions.’… Read the rest



Nirmukta on Deepak Chopra and New Age Claptrap *

Nov 18th, 2008 | Filed by

The writings and speeches of the new-age gurus are read with utmost seriousness by their followers.… Read the rest



Nirmukta on BJP Doublespeak *

Nov 18th, 2008 | Filed by

It has been reported that there is a Military School in Nasik to train Hindu terrorists.… Read the rest



Does Religion Make You Nice? *

Nov 18th, 2008 | Filed by

Outsider status can have a corrosive effect on morality.… Read the rest



French ‘Virgin’ Annulment Reversed *

Nov 18th, 2008 | Filed by

Annulment called ‘a fatwa against the emancipation of women’ and ‘a ruling handed down in Kandahar.’… Read the rest



The Atheists are Gathering *

Nov 18th, 2008 | Filed by

Run for your lives.… Read the rest



Herding atheist cats

Nov 18th, 2008 9:47 am | By

You don’t say.

Atheists “are talking to a very small slice of the population,” said Mathew Staver, a leading Christian conservative and law-school dean. “In some ways, they’re really just talking to themselves.”

Well no kidding. And what does Mathew Staver think theists are doing? In some ways, all groups are just talking to themselves; and in other ways not. But at least atheists aren’t also just talking to an imaginary friend, and we’re also not constantly invoking an imaginary friend when talking to other people, unlike some people I could name.

In rural Chambersburg, Pa., one Christian group responded to an “Imagine No Religion” billboard with a giant sign of their own, asking: “Why Do Atheists Hate America?”

Read the rest


Prince Charles Will Mouth Off as King *

Nov 17th, 2008 | Filed by

Says he would like his role to evolve so that his ‘knowledge and experience’ are not wasted.… Read the rest



Somalia: Islamists Whip People Who Dance *

Nov 17th, 2008 | Filed by

‘We neither killed them nor injured them, but only whipped them according to the Islamic law.’… Read the rest



Unelected Charles Wants More Power *

Nov 17th, 2008 | Filed by

Wants to go on promoting anti-science nonsense as king.… Read the rest