Yearly Archives: 2005

The triumph of capitalism

Scott Rosenberg reports that you can’t even mention the words “socialist” or “Socialism” in comments on Salon blogs any more. For why? It’s the Scunthorpe problem: the words contain a brand name for a viagra-type medication — cialis. So the … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Net stories | 6 Comments

Cardinal Schönborn has a posse

A comment on the previous entry leads me to a blog devoted to the thought of Cardinal Schönborn. I’m more confused than ever. I think that the distinction he is trying to make is between full-on Dawkins style atheism or … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Science without worms | 5 Comments

Is the Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna nuts?

Or have I missed something subtle in this piece about Intelligent Design? He seems to be arguing that we have “philosophical”, i.e mediaeval scholastic, knowledge of certain truths about the world, which take precedence over scientific understandings. For example, we … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Science without worms | 6 Comments

Questions to Santa

Q: I have here a 35mm film canister containing “Creosote salve”, which says it can cure Självsprickor, excema, and weeping sores, as well as repelling mosquitoes and midges. Will it also cure colds? A: Not entirely, but if you rub … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in nördig | 4 Comments

Civilisation in Cambridge

In keeping with the spirit of Christmas I would point out that the Cambridge Wine Merchants of Cambridge, England, are selling some venerable Riesling at prices which are almost incredible. I found in their Bridge Street shop last week a … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Travel notes | 2 Comments

More formal programme plug

The Analysis programme on American religion goes out next Thursday, 29 December, at 8.30 GMT, and can be heard for a week thereafter by any of this blog’s remarkably far-flung readers who have broadband. The cast ranges from a former … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Journalism | Comments Off on More formal programme plug

The Saffron Walden Quadrilateral

I loathe these things, and refuse to transmit this one even to He or qB whose answers might be interesting. But Mrs Tilton has brought such beautiful legs into my life – eight at a time — that I must … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in nördig | Comments Off on The Saffron Walden Quadrilateral

Why no posts

I have been totally consumed by the radio programme I am making — it goes out on the 29th of December and the 1st of January: the details will he here. It’s about the role played by religion in American … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in Journalism | 6 Comments

Etiquette question

How do you address a former president of the United States? I think I’ve got to phone one up on Wednesday. Continue reading

Posted in Travel notes | 4 Comments

Crusading values

I had to write a review of the year for the Church Times yesterday, and found myself unable to think for even a minute about a religion which is currently convulsed over the question of whether homosexuals are human beings. … Continue reading Continue reading

Posted in God | Comments Off on Crusading values