As I observed the musicians (including my adorable 14-year-old soprano) and their adoring parents at a recent school concert, my thoughts turned to one of my late father’s favorite movies, “The Music Man.” I was thinking of the concluding scene in which the inept, untutored . . . . Continue Reading »
This is shameful eugenics, morally akin in my view, to laws in the USA that barred disfavored nationalities and Jews in the years running up to World War II. A German family has asked for permanent residency in Australia and the country said no because their son has Down syndrome. From the story:A . . . . Continue Reading »
At least, that’s what a new research study is telling us: Clocks spring ahead and fall back when adjusting in and out of daylight saving time. A study published on Wednesday finds that heart attack rates do the same. The research, based on heart attacks in Sweden, concluded that the chance of . . . . Continue Reading »
Want to escape from election-mania without severe withdrawal symptoms? Start weaning yourself off the constant, intense coverage by checking out this appreciative retrospective on the presidency of George W. Bush . . . . . Continue Reading »
This is the way things go with socialized medicine. The health care rationers are going to take months to decide whether to cover a new chemotherapy. From the story:Kidney cancer patients will have to wait months for the NHS drugs rationing body to decide if they can have new drugs after guidance . . . . Continue Reading »
“Vote your conscience” said a recent election message aimed at Catholic voters, and I’ve heard more than one objection. The number of believing Americans without a proper understanding of ethics and civic duty is, I’d venture to guess, devastatingly large, and the last thing . . . . Continue Reading »
Following up on the archaeological discovery of King David’s kingdom in 2005, the New York Times today speculates: ” Find of Ancient City Could Alter Notions of Biblical David .” Overlooking the verdant Valley of Elah, where the Bible says David toppled Goliath, archaeologists are . . . . Continue Reading »
I try to be a realist and an idealist. I promote human exceptionalism, knowing that as an imperfect species, we are unlikely to ever fully achieve the dream of universal human equality. But the only way to get very close, it seems to me, is for our reach to exceed our grasp. That’s my . . . . Continue Reading »
In these darkening days, a little humor is always useful. With Halloween (my least favorite holiday) fast approacing, this primer in surviving zombie attacks is timely. My favorite part is the advice to kill infected friends “with dignity.” . . . . Continue Reading »
That’s the question the Westchester Institute for Ethics & the Human Person , “a research institute conducting interdisciplinary, natural law analysis of complex, contemporary moral issues,” tackles in its latest white paper , “When Does Human Life Begin? A Scientific . . . . Continue Reading »
