All entries by this author

Without the Data, There’s Only Someone Saying *

Jul 18th, 2008 | Filed by

Journalists don’t always understand what it means for there to be evidence for an assertion.… Read the rest



Midwives Train as Surgeons in Mozambique *

Jul 18th, 2008 | Filed by

Is on track to achieve UN Millennium Development goal to reduce maternal death rate by 75% by 2015… Read the rest



UK Govt to Fund Board of Islamic Theologians *

Jul 18th, 2008 | Filed by

Sheikh Mogra said ‘This board has to be something owned by us, driven by us but supported by government.’… Read the rest



Mandela Turns 90 *

Jul 18th, 2008 | Filed by

Calls for the rich to do more for the poor.… Read the rest



Man Knifes Sister for Being ‘Bad Muslim Girl’ *

Jul 17th, 2008 | Filed by

Told sheriff’s investigators he attacked his sister because she had disgraced their family.… Read the rest



‘Islam is a Religion of Moderation and Tolerance’ *

Jul 17th, 2008 | Filed by

‘A new page for humanity in which – God willing – concord will replace conflict.’ God unwilling, not.… Read the rest



God Donates Gold Teeth, One Per Customer *

Jul 17th, 2008 | Filed by

Pray for a sign, go home, find gold tooth in mouth. A miracle!… Read the rest



Saudi King Says Religions Should Unite *

Jul 17th, 2008 | Filed by

To combat problems such as ‘breakdown of the family,’ code for women who don’t submit enough.… Read the rest



Saudi Monarch ‘Decries Extremism’! *

Jul 17th, 2008 | Filed by

Conference to emphasize ‘a more tolerant side’ of Wahhabi Islam. Right. … Read the rest



Saudi King ‘Appeals for Tolerance’! *

Jul 17th, 2008 | Filed by

‘Has called on followers of the world’s main religions to turn away from extremism’! Yes, really.… Read the rest



This Is An Annoyance-Free Zone (but tacky souvenirs welcome)

Jul 17th, 2008 | By Josh Slocum

It’s probably too much to hope the Parliament of New South Wales is hanging its head after a righteous scolding by the Federal Court of Australia[1]. After all, the government was bold enough to outlaw “annoying” the Catholic throngs descending on Sydney for a five-day Pope-a-Rama. Attempting to shame the Catholic Church is likewise futile; given its irony-free staging of the world’s biggest adolescent/clergy mixer, we must presume it innocent of that emotion.

But let’s try anyway.

Previously, on “World Youth Day. . .”

The Vatican picked Sydney for its latest “pilgrimage of faith, where young people from diverse backgrounds meet and experience the love of God.” Events from July 15-20, 2008, will include spiritual favorites: multiple catechisms, on-site confession, … Read the rest



Wahhabi wisdom

Jul 17th, 2008 10:57 am | By

What the Saudi king said.

This message declares that Islam is a religion of moderation and tolerance, a message that calls for constructive dialogue among followers of religions, a message that promises to open a new page for humanity in which, God willing, concord will replace conflict.

And God not willing? What then?

More to the point, of course, the idea that Islam and especially Wahhabi Islam is a religion of moderation and tolerance is a bad joke. Saudi Arabia tolerates almost nothing, especially if women want to do or drive or walk into or sit down in or refuse or accept or look at or listen to or read it.

Mankind is suffering today from a loss of

Read the rest


Sandra Tsing Loh on ‘I Choose My Choice!’ *

Jul 16th, 2008 | Filed by

Ignore stupid subtitle; the article is good.… Read the rest



HRW on the International Criminal Court *

Jul 16th, 2008 | Filed by

The ICC has made progress in bringing justice to victims of horrible abuses despite daunting obstacles.… Read the rest



Carl Zimmer on How the Brain Controls Time *

Jul 16th, 2008 | Filed by

The brain has several ways to tell time, and none of them seems to work like a conventional clock.… Read the rest



Anwar Ibrahim Arrested for ‘Sodomy’ *

Jul 16th, 2008 | Filed by

Sodomy, even between consenting adults, is punishable by 20 years’ imprisonment in Malaysia.… Read the rest



Fadela Amara Says Burqa is a Prison *

Jul 16th, 2008 | Filed by

‘Not a religious insignia but the insignia of a totalitarian political project that advocates inequality between the sexes.’… Read the rest



Pope Annoyance Laws Ruled Invalid *

Jul 16th, 2008 | Filed by

Justices ruled the clause relating to annoying and inconveniencing pilgrims was excessive.… Read the rest



Marketing of ‘Fat-burning Bead’ Ends *

Jul 16th, 2008 | Filed by

One claim suggested Accu-Slim Beads worked faster than starvation with one bead behind each ear. … Read the rest



Get over it

Jul 16th, 2008 10:58 am | By

This is a very stupid observation, presumably by a dull-witted sub-editor who didn’t read the article with attention:

The fruits of the feminist revolution? Sisterhood, empowerment, and eight hours a day in a cubicle.

That’s right. Why? Because lots of jobs involve eight hours a day in a cubicle. Such is life. But the point of the feminist revolution is that women ought not to be debarred from life in the larger world merely because they are women. Women ought to be seen as and treated as people just as men are people, and both sexes ought to have the ability to take their chances in the world as it is. That’s all. ‘The feminist revolution’ did not think … Read the rest