The theory that living in clean conditions may do a disservice to your immune system is gaining some traction with a new study on rats. I’ve heard before that kids who grow up with pets end up having fewer allergies than their petless playmates have. And it seems common sense that immune systems in a […]
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Ponnuru Responds
Not long ago, I posted about a mostly negative book review of Ramesh Ponnuru’s Party of Death. Now we have Ponnuru’s response. (Link found on aldaily.com) [End of Post]
Beer: The New Health Food
Kevin over at szuping.com finds research on the health benefits of drinking a lot of beer. Then, when the liver complains, he found research that drinking a lot of coffee can help that. In short, drinking gallons of beer and coffee is clearly the best way to stay healthy. Right? Â [End of Post]
Acts of War
I’m sure I won’t be the last to say this, but I certainly hope that everyone we go to war with commits similar acts of war. Usually, our enemies commit unimaginative acts, such as killing Americans. But these evil geniuses have come up with a new way. Imagine the horror if the Nazis had tried […]
In Letter News
Apparently reported by Eric Chaikin on the National Puzzlers’ League mailing list (but I found it in Salon.com’s “Table Talkâ€): In the February 17th, 2006 issue of Entertainment Weekly, a blurb on p. 22 about director Werner Herzog contains the sentence: “Then on Jan. 26, Her[zog happened by Joaquin Phoenix’s car wreck and pulled the […]
No-ID Flying
Did you know that you’re not legally required to show ID in order to pass through the security checkpoint at the airport? But can it really be done without nine hours of harassment? Wired News reports that it can. Surprising the pessimists, the boys with the badges actually followed the law and allowed the ID-less […]
Bush: Constitutional Scholar
This isn’t really news any more, but it’s still worth mentioning. Presidents occasionally write a “signing statement†when they sign a bill into law. The gist might be something along the lines of, “the law is ok, but there are parts of it that I don’t think are Constitutional, and therefore I reserve the right […]
The Right to Life
John Derbyshire writes a long, playful, and often meandering book review of Party of Death, by Ramesh Ponnuru. The book apparently claims that the Democratic party is the party of death. According to amazon.com, the inside flap assures us that “It’s not just abortion-on-demand. It’s euthanasia, embryo destruction, even infanticide—and a potentially deadly concern with […]
Dear God
Coincidentally, while I was in the middle of my Bible vs. Law rant yesterday, a friend asked me to help her church with a series they’re doing called “Dear God.†Her pastor had asked them to come up with questions they would ask God, and to get friends to ask as well. Here’s what I […]
Our Country’s Laws are Founded on the Bible. Say What?
I’ve been checking out some of the debates about the latest top priority of the US government. You know, making sure that if you’re in love and want to get married, you have to fit the mold. One frequent point I hear claims that A. US laws were founded on the Bible and B. the […]