The unimportant news thread

[Ken B]

For Florestan especially.
http://www.salon.com/2015/02/08/its_time_to_fight_religion_toxic_drivel_useful_media_idiots_and_the_real_story_about_faith_and_violence/

[Florestan]

For Florestan especially.

Why, thanks. Lots of things I agree with, lots of things I disagree with. Tayler's knowledge of history in particular is seriously flawed, but that's only to be expected from a liberal journalist (US-style liberal, I mean).

[Ken B]

Neither unimportant nor (he remarked sardonically) news but ... JUDEN RAUS!

https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2015/02/12/students-urge-south-african-university-expel-jews

[Ken B]

Second actually. I grew tired of the fearful looks.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2950409/World-s-penis-REDUCTION-surgery-Teenager-requested-op-genitals-grew-large-stopped-having-sex.html

[ibanezmonster]

Second actually. I grew tired of the fearful looks.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2950409/World-s-penis-REDUCTION-surgery-Teenager-requested-op-genitals-grew-large-stopped-having-sex.html

[Ken B]

This is the best article I have read in a while.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/15/magazine/how-one-stupid-tweet-ruined-justine-saccos-life.html?_r=0

[Ken B]

Strike off the heads of the unbelievers? No-one takes those old religious books seriously!
http://hotair.com/archives/2015/02/15/breaking-isis-releases-video-of-21-christians-being-beheaded-in-libya/

[Todd]

I was sure this ceasefire would hold.  Oh well, time for another stiffly worded memorandum. 

[Florestan]

I was sure this ceasefire would hold.  Oh well, time for another stiffly worded memorandum.

After hearing Putin triumphally announcing something to the effect of peace reigning once again in Ukraine, I told my father "Putin announces peace, so we should expect war to escalate in the near future. " 

[Todd]

OK, so that last intervention in Libya may not have gone particularly well, but this one will.

[Todd]

In an unexpected twist, the establishment candidate backs the establishment.

[Brian]

How are you feeling about the Kitzhaber Kerfuffle?

[Todd]

How are you feeling about the Kitzhaber Kerfuffle?

The putz got his due.  And all this over what amounts to comparatively small sums of money.

[kishnevi]

A demonstration of love your neighbor...
http://www.timesofisrael.com/woman-attacks-jewish-neighbor-to-convince-her-to-convert/

[Ken B]

A demonstration of love your neighbor...
http://www.timesofisrael.com/woman-attacks-jewish-neighbor-to-convince-her-to-convert/

Lots of demonstrations from the godly these days.
http://m.nationalreview.com/corner/398853/wapos-anti-muslim-hate-crime-headline-hoax-ian-tuttle

[Florestan]

A demonstration of love your neighbor...
http://www.timesofisrael.com/woman-attacks-jewish-neighbor-to-convince-her-to-convert/

This article begs several questions.

1. Were there any witnesses? If yes, why did they not intervene to stop that Haragan loon from doing what she did, or at least call the police? If no, how can one know the truth about what really happened?

2. Why did the beaten woman not report to the police right after the incident?

2. How did that Haragan loon know that the other woman was Jewish? Did she take a wild guess, or were they acquaintances?

[Florestan]

Some impressive Islamic breakthroughs in entomology and pharmaceutical industry.

https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2015/02/16/muhammad-on-flies-and-disease-the-scientific-wisdom-of-the-quran-and-hadith/

[kishnevi]

Some impressive Islamic breakthroughs in entomology and pharmaceutical industry.

https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2015/02/16/muhammad-on-flies-and-disease-the-scientific-wisdom-of-the-quran-and-hadith/

I don't doubt his main  point, but judging from his last paragraph Mr. Coyne apparently knows nothing about Jewish practice, which obligates hand washing in exactly the circumstances he mentions.

[Ken B]

I don't doubt his main  point, but judging from his last paragraph Mr. Coyne apparently knows nothing about Jewish practice, which obligates hand washing in exactly the circumstances he mentions.

Well if we're going to split hairs ... Where did he-who-must-not-be-named mandate such washing? Coyne is talking about about God is said to have told his followers, not what they figured out on their own. If its Jewish practice because Jews figured it out without help from a grumpy old man in the sky then Coyne's point is not undercut.

[kishnevi]

Well if we're going to split hairs ... Where did he-who-must-not-be-named mandate such washing? Coyne is talking about about God is said to have told his followers, not what they figured out on their own. If its Jewish practice because Jews figured it out without help from a grumpy old man in the sky then Coyne's point is not undercut.

Exodus 30:17ff is the start of it.