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The History of Cool

From First Thoughts

For a hot summer day, the New York Times brings us the history of ” cool ” Already by the time of “Beowulf,” a millennium ago, the original low-temperature meaning of cool had veered into the realm of human emotion — or rather the lack thereof. From Old English to the . . . . Continue Reading »

USCCB Cuts Ties With LCCR

From First Thoughts

The USCCB has  announced that it will have to cut its ties (a paid membership) with the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights after the LCCR endorsed President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan. Bishop William Murphy, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice . . . . Continue Reading »

Abortion by Videoconference

From First Thoughts

On Friday, the  New York Times reported on the “chilling and ghoulish” case of William  Melchert-Dinkel, a Minnesota man who haunted pro-suicide websites and coached at least two people to their deaths all for the “thrill of the chase,” in his own words. Today I . . . . Continue Reading »

A Not So Happy Birthday

From First Thoughts

The anniversary of the Pill is, as Gail Collins phrased it in her celebratory  op-ed , a moveable feast. The FDA actually approved the Pill on June 23, 1960, but it announced its intentions to do so on May 9 and a Mothers Day celebration of the Pill was just too good for the media to resist. . . . . Continue Reading »