Monthly Archives: December 2004

We was robbed!

Posted on 12/31/2004 by dave

Your usual installment of Satire Fridays will return next week (also known as next year). Due to the pressing immediacy of current events, today I will report on an event of monumental importance (to me), which is likely of no … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 10 Comments

“I had an abortion”

Posted on 12/26/2004 by dave

Interesting article in Bitch Magazine about the “I had an abortion” T-shirt. Apparently the idea of the shirt is to show people (pro-lifers? fence-sitters?) how many different types of women have had abortions. The article points out that the shirt … Continue reading →

Posted in Contraception and abortion | 7 Comments

Merry Holidays

Posted on 12/20/2004 by dave

Some Christians are boycotting stores that say “happy holidays” instead of “merry Christmas” to their customers. Others boycott stores that mention anything vaguely Christian. What’s a savvy retailer to do? Perhaps they could install monitors that could allow salespeople customize … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 1 Comment

“Star Wars” program hires new consultant

Posted on 12/17/2004 by dave

After this week’s devastating missile defense failure, the Defense Department today announced that it’s taking a new tack in developing its high-tech security system. “We’re well aware the missile test didn’t work. Anybody can see that,” said Defense Secretary Donald … Continue reading →

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Google and the future of the book

Posted on 12/16/2004 by dave

There’s a great new organization and blog forming, focused on the “Future of the Book.” It’s a fabulously interesting question, of course, to ponder what’s going to happen to books in the digital age, and it’s a great idea to … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Technology | 1 Comment

Okay, I’m a dope

Posted on 12/15/2004 by dave

I finally had a chance to read this article, the one I quoted and linked to last Thursday. This is a good example of why we should all read the entire article we quote, not just the brief snippet we … Continue reading →

Posted in Contraception and abortion | Leave a comment

Digitizing the Harvard library

Posted on 12/14/2004 by dave

It’s now been over 12 years since I created one of the first books using optical scanning: 80 Readings. You can actually still get the book on Amazon.com. At the time, the procedure I used to produce the book was … Continue reading →

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What is a woman worth (part 2)?

Posted on 12/13/2004 by dave

On Thursday, I speculated about what would happen if we knew for certain that abortions were not immoral acts. Turns out, it would be pretty difficult to argue against abortion in that case, as long as it’s what the prospective … Continue reading →

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Some must-read articles

Posted on 12/10/2004 by dave

Sorry, no satire today, and not much of a post either, but here are a couple of good links: The plot against sex in America A good read in the New York Times. Points out that America’s climate of sexual … Continue reading →

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What is a woman worth?

Posted on 12/9/2004 by dave

Yesterday I wrote about the hypothetical moral question of what my position on abortion would be if a pregnancy could be terminated without harming the mother. Today I’d like to pose a hypothetical question of my own: What if God … Continue reading →

Posted in Contraception and abortion | 1 Comment

What is a fetus worth?

Posted on 12/8/2004 by dave

Alas, A Blog cites an article that suggests that pro-choicers are neglecting the value of the fetus in their discussions of abortion rights. From the article: Imagine a world in which it was possible to remove fetuses prior to viability … Continue reading →

Posted in Contraception and abortion | 2 Comments

Are computers bad for learning?

Posted on 12/7/2004 by dave

The Christian Science Monitor has an article (via slashdot) about a recent cross-cultural German study indicating that students with more than one computer in the home tend to do worse in schools than students with one or less. A quick … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Technology | 2 Comments

Athletes and drugs: A ranking

Posted on 12/6/2004 by dave

These days, we hear so much about athletes and drugs that it all becomes somewhat of a blur. What with Barry Bonds ingesting whatever clear liquid his trainer gives him, and with Tyler Hamilton kicked out of cycling but keeping … Continue reading →

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Chunks o' news, eat 'em in one bite!

Posted on 12/3/2004 by dave

Just 387 shopping days ’til Christmas 2005! The Kmart store in LaGrange, Georgia has completed its preparations for Christmas 2005 — 387 days early! Store manager Fred Chumly pointed out that last year, Wal-Mart beat them out by putting up … Continue reading →

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Reality distortion in Alabama

Posted on 12/2/2004 by dave

Hit and Run pointed me to this article about an Alabama lawmaker who wants to ban all books with gay characters from school and public libraries: A bill by Rep. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, would prohibit the use of public funds … Continue reading →

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Graphic Protesters

Posted on 12/1/2004 by dave

Last Friday at the entrance to the mall, there were two sets of protesters. This was on the street, mind you, where traffic was just turning in to the immense parking lot. On the first corner were the animal rights … Continue reading →

Posted in Contraception and abortion, General | 1 Comment