I am amazed at how so many people will privilege an a-historical reading of the Establishment clause to abrogate the other 4 clauses of the First Amendment.

Out of Our Heads: Why You Are Not Your Brain, and Other Lessons from the Biology of Consciousness
by Alva Noë
(Hill & Wang, 2009)

Alva Noë is a cognitive scientist and philosopher at the University of California, Berkeley, who has spent the last 15 years working with researchers studying consciousness and how it works. His new mind-altering book, Out ( Read more... )

Almighty and most gracious God, have mercy on N and N, and on all that bear evil to me, and wish me harm; and by every such easy, tender, and merciful means as Thine infinite goodness best can devise, vouchsafe to amend and redress them: and make us saved souls together in heaven, where we may ever live and love together with Thee and Thy blessed ( Read more... )

"The Episcopal Church is passing through a watershed era. I believe that as the Baby Boomers begin to fade out and Generations X and Y begin asserting our voices, yet more changes remain on the horizon. As these changes are coupled with the growth of information technology, emerging/evolving soical media, and widespread social changes, I think we’ ( Read more... )

http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/bishops/thew_forrester_election_report.htmlRead more... )

While I am not exactly sure of who wrote it, I commend to the attention of the about 6 or so of you who read this little corner of the internets the following sight: Comprehensiveness for the Sake of Truth. In particular, I suggest that you ponder this explanation of and expansion upon the Lambeth Quadrilateral and consider adding your signature to ( Read more... )

Israel renames unkosher swine flu

Israeli Health Minister Yakov Litzman has been updating a nervous public on the swine flu epidemic - and he started by renaming it for religious reasons.

"We will call it Mexican flu. We won't call it swine flu," said Mr Litzman, who belongs to the ultra-religious United Torah Judaism party.

Pigs are considered ( Read more... )

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent David Espo, Ap Special Correspondent - 21 mins ago

WASHINGTON - Veteran Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania disclosed plans Tuesday to switch parties, a move intended to boost his chances of winning re-election next year that also will push Democrats within one seat of a 60-vote filibuster-resistant ( Read more... )

I'm in a classroom with no AC. Well there si AC, but not that much. It is always as hot as Hades in here in this section of the buiulding because it gets sun all day and the heat seems to be on from mid-October to mid May. there are rumers that they switched on the AC back here, but I'm unconvinced.

Gonna be a LONG day.

( Read more... )