Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln: A Man (and a Film) for the Ages
November 07, 2012
It's easy to forget, when in a high school history class or reading a textbook, that the founders of our country were real people. We know them for their achievements, the highlights of history and thumbnail sketches. Benjamin Franklin flying a kite in a storm while planning to open the first post office and work on French diplomacy. George Washington crossing the Delaware river and defying the British. According to noted historian Sarah Palin, Paul Revere famously rode his horse by night to warn the British that they would not be taking away American's right to bear arms.
Memories of Paul Kurtz
October 21, 2012
I heard with a heavy heart that CFI founder Paul Kurtz has died...
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‘The Master’
September 30, 2012
In the new film The Master, Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the leader of a New Agey, quasi-religious cult which draws troubled people into their fold.
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Sexism, Activism, and All-Male Clubs
September 28, 2012
What should we do about private organizations who have sexist policies? Sometimes we stand up to them; sometimes we don't.
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The Zanzibari Cat
September 24, 2012
Reflections of a feline-loving traveler in East Africa.
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Public Figures Who Lie About Sports Achievements
September 13, 2012
Rep. Paul Ryan recently lied about running a marathon in under 3 hours, but he's not the first to exaggerate sports achievements.
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Bearing the Burden: On Being Chosen to Suffer
September 06, 2012
Many people, from those taking care of disabled children to those dealing with traumatic events, believe that they have been specially chosen to bear that burden. Is this healthy or harmful?
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Another Abduction/Rape Highlights Glaring Failure of Psychic Detectives
August 27, 2012
Another young woman abducted and raped for year highlights the utter failure of psychic detectives.
One Month After ‘Batman’ Massacre, Still No Evidence of Film Influence
August 22, 2012
A month ago, shortly after a shooter in Colorado attacked a premiere of the film The Dark Knight Rises, I wrote a piece addressing the then-circulating question of whether or not the shooter's massacre was inspired by the Batman film. Many readers suggested that my blog was too quick to dismiss the link, based on little information; a month later, what does the evidence show?
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MacOzymandia: Visit to a Scottish Cemetery
August 03, 2012
As the Ness River slowly weaves and wends through the town of Inverness on its way to Loch Ness, it passes under a white metal bridge walkway. That walkway continues across a small road and soon narrows into a brick-paved alleyway between two churches before ending at a modest street. A sign on the wrought-iron entrance reads, "Church of Scotland-The Old High Church." That's where I heard voices across the centuries.
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