PZ Myers of Pharyngula has been targeted: Now I’ve got Bill Donohue’s attention.

Standard response, i.e. flood of nasty e-mails, death threats, you know, the usual thing, and demands that he be fired. They are astroturfing his university and the state legislature. No threats of rape reported, but then, PZ probably isn’t as big a threat as Melissa and Amanda.

What did he do to bring down the wrath of Donowho? He disrespected the communion wafer.

Frankly the difference between transubstantiation and consubstantiation was one of the elements that led to the Reformation. It is something that causes a great problem for those of us who have lived abroad in non-Christian countries, because the taboo against cannibalism is rather basic to many cultures. While I’m sure that a Jesuit could handle it, is a very bad position for an non-Catholic to be in while forced to represent all of Christianity by virtue of being the only Christian around. I had a gag-reflex response when transubstantiation was first explained to me by a Catholic.

[Read more →]

Those of you who care probably caught the news about problems with the Internet’s Domain Name Servers [DNS]. EBW printed the official security alert, while Badtux provided the penguinized version.

This Tuesday all of the big guns issued patches for the problem, but things did not go smoothly for everyone, as the BBC reports: Net address fix foxes web users

Many users of the ZoneAlarm firewall have been floored by a fix to the net’s addressing system.

Those hit found they could not get online after installing a Microsoft patch to close a security loophole.

Left open the flaw would have allowed malicious hackers to redirect users to fake websites, even if they typed the correct address.

Many net hardware and software firms prepared and applied patches this week to close the serious hole.

[Read more →]

“No one could have imagined” the Secretary of State stepping into the middle of this mess: U.S. vows to defend against Iran missile threat

(CNN) — U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice — responding to Iran’s latest test-firings of missiles — has made it clear Thursday her country is determined to prevent Tehran from threatening the interests of itself and allies like Israel.

Rice was speaking at a news conference in the Georgian capital of Tblisi after Iran test-fired a long-range missile. According to Iranian state media, Iran conducted more test-firings Thursday.

Rice said the United States has been working with allies to “make certain that they are capable of defending themselves” against any threat from Iran.

“We take very strongly our obligation to help our allies defend themselves and no one should be confused about that,” she said.
…

[Read more →]

CBS says Rove Ignores Subpoena, Refuses To Testify.

There is at least one cell in the basement of the Capitol. Congress needs to use its power of inherent contempt and throw Karl in that cell. He will be released when the new Congress is sworn in, but neither the Shrubbery, nor the courts can get him released earlier.

The current DoJ isn’t going to do anything, so do it yourself, Congress. It might help to move your approval ratings out of single digits.

Position: 27.7 N 61.2 W. [10 PM CDT] Updated
Movement: Northwest [315°] near 8 mph.
Maximum sustained winds: 85 mph.
Wind Gusts: 105 mph.
Hurricane Wind Radius: 30 miles.
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 140 miles.
Minimum central pressure: 980 mb.

Bertha is back down to Category 1, but the sun is out. It has slowed but is still moving to the Northwest. Bermuda is getting swells from the storm, but it isn’t clear if anything else will hit them.

While the numbers are lower this afternoon, the storm is looking stronger from the satellite images.

10 PM There is an eyewall replacement in progress, so some weakening is probable.