A Stitch in Haste

(First posted Halloween 2005)
I find it hilarious that some radical Christians, in the U.S. and throughout the world, are growing increasingly disturbed about the impact that Halloween is having on young, impressionable, pre-Christian minds.
Just like how Harry Potter is going to turn children into Satanists (or, worse, Wiccans).
The truth is that Halloween is a patently [...]

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The church and the slave prison stand next to each other; the groans and cries of the heartbroken slave are often drowned in the pious devotions of his religious master. The church-going bell and the auctioneer's bell chime in with each other; the pulpit and the auctioneer's block stand in the same neighbourhood; while the [...]

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Still working on a costume for Diamond, but at least her trick-or-treat bag is ready:

I've never been able to conclusively determine whether her obsession with laundry derives from the warmth of the clothes or the drier-sheet scent. Thoughts?
(Carnivalized at Modulator's Friday Ark.)

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Scientific American recently published a collection of "special report" articles on the general topic of "HIV — 25 Years Later." From the Editor's Introduction:
In 1983 and 1984 scientists established that HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus) causes AIDS, which had recently begun cropping up in gay men in California and New York. The discovery quickly led [...]

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–Which nation with a socialized medicine regime recently denied an immigration application from a South African emergency physician, on the grounds that his daughter, who suffers from cerebral palsy (but whom the physician intends to have remain in South Africa), would pose "a burden on the health-care system"? (Via Kevin, M.D.)
–Special Follow-Up Question: Where is [...]

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–Who will replace David Tennant, who just announced that he is leaving the show after the 2009 season?
–Special Follow-Up Question: Do you give any credence to the rumors that John Simm is under consideration? (Recall, it happened before: Colin Baker appeared in a Peter Davison story line.)
–Do you think they will find a way to [...]

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Four more years of filling the federal courts with judges who write opinions like this?
Both the Cobb County Commission [Georgia] and the Cobb County Planning Commission have a long tradition of opening their meetings with a prayer offered by volunteer clergy or other members of the community. The clergy have represented a variety of faiths, [...]

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A remarkably oblivious op-ed on the recent despicable vote by the City Council to extend their own term limits, from a former New York City politician:
But those who want to maintain a democratic check on the executive branch should welcome the result. For while Mr. Bloomberg himself may benefit from the change (if New Yorkers [...]

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Barack Obama, October 27:
No matter what Senator McCain may claim, here are the facts – if you make under $250,000, you will not see your taxes increase by a single dime – not your income taxes, not your payroll taxes, not your capital gains taxes. Nothing. Because the last thing we should do in this [...]

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His conviction on seven counts of violating federal corruption law — both as felonies and as "crimes of moral turpitude" — would disqualify him from almost any job on "greedy" Wall Street. He would be summarily disqualified from working with any registered broker-dealer — as a stockbroker, investment banker, research analyst or any other licensed [...]

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