Harvey Milk is getting a Presidential Medal of Freedom 11 Aug 2009 This is a Very Good Thing: Harvey Milk became the first openly gay elected official from a major city in the United States when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. Milk encouraged lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens to live their lives openly and believed coming out was the only way they could change society and achieve social equality. Milk, alongside San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, was shot and killed in 1978 by Dan White, a former city supervisor. Milk is revered nationally and globally as a pioneer of the LGBT civil rights movement for his exceptional leadership and dedication to equal rights. Forget about that Hawking guy, or that Tutu fellow. They have had their recognition. Milk has been more important than most individuals in the struggle for universal human rights. There are some other interesting folk too: Joe Medicine Crow being one of them. A nice selection. Politics
Australian stuff On rednecking 2 Apr 2010 A comedian known for his scatological and iconoclastic humour calls Australians “basically English rednecks”, offending three ethnic and regional groups in one go. I watched this and laughed. It was very funny. But a prime minister, who is so uptight only dogs can hear when he farts, takes umbrage, and… Read More
Evolution Expectorated! 16 Feb 2008 A real journalist reviews a media conference held for the new pro-ID film Expelled: Freedom of expression is unseemly at an Expelled press conference. There was no give-and-take, no open marketplace of ideas, in fact, scarcely any questions at all. Ruloff and Stein batted one softball after another out of… Read More
Administrative American Chemical Society: Spammers 13 Jul 201115 Jul 2011 The ACS have informed me (see comments) that they will stop sending me these emails. This obviates the need for this post. Ever since I set up this blog I have been hit by unwanted press releases from the American Chemical Society. I spend too much time throwing their releases… Read More
“Forget about that Hawking guy . . .”? What will you say when someone wants to recognize “that Wilkins guy” for his contribution to the philosophy of biology? PS One of the librarians at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology (www.senecac.on.ca) has agreed to order _Species: A History of the Idea_ for the Markham campus library.
Would you prefer Commentessa? Or how about commentata and commentatum for members of the commentariat? (I stole commentariat from John Pieret who stole it from Dr. Isis!)
True enough, John, but I’m going to buy your book. What am I DOING in the blogverse. I can’t say @#2 I can’t call someone an $#$%^ I can’t even tell someone to light him or herself on fire. See you back on UseNet