Mutants from Space

So scientists sent some disease-causing microbes up to space to see how the experience might change the microbes. Apparently, space only makes them more dangerous:

Following the shuttle flight, studies using mice showed the salmonella bacteria aboard the shuttle were "almost three times as likely to cause disease when compared with control bacteria grown on the ground," said a university statement outlining the study.

I suppose I can't fault the scientists for trying this experiment as long as everyone learned a lesson and will no longer take disease-causing microbes to space. But wait:

The scientists plan to carry out more experiments on the same theme possibly on space shuttle flights in 2008.

On the bright side, we can worry less about the scientists who are creating an army of clones that will destroy humanity, because the world will be wiped out much earlier by the super-strength diseases that are being cultivated in space and brought back to our planet.

Ernie Chambers, part II

Ernie Chambers sued God to prove a point that anybody can sue anybody. It is a silly point, particularly coming from a state senator. (Also because he filed it in response to a complaint that the judge said was frivolous and demanded that the plaintiff show cause or be sanctioned, but that is a non-issue because folks like Chambers don't really care about reality).

The most disappointing part of the whole event is the true lack of spectacle. If you are going to prove a point with a grand gesture, make sure the gesture is GRAND. Ernie Chambers clearly needs some lessons in drastic statements. Fairly often there is a report in the news about somebody suing God, but this complainant shows us how to make a statement.

Ernie Chambers at his Best

The craziest man in Nebraska is suing God.

I guess he does not know about sovereign immunity.

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

I tolerated this horrible article in Newsweek last night as I waited for a haircut. Honestly, I can't think of a time that I've ever read Newsweek and not been just completely disgusted at the absolute lack of journalism involved. Anyway, I was happy to have come across this article in response to all of the ignorant criticism. Fr. Groeschel, my hero, as I have well documented, knew Mother Theresa quite well, and his parting words of wisdom are applicable, I think, to all such controversies:

"The wise person, Catholic or non-Catholic, not only disengages himself or herself from this, but also intelligently and with good information stands against the tide."

How not to do it:


Sorry Bill Donahue, but how terribly ineffective. And there is nothing quite like Chris Matthews reading Mother Teresa's letters.

The better approach:


P.S. Don't ever watch Penn and Teller do anything ever again.

How Remarkable

While at work a few months ago, a young man decided to kill himself by jumping from a tower only a short distance from my office building. It would have been easy to witness for anyone with an office on the west side of the building and, even after it was known to have occurred, you could still clearly see the dead body lying at the base of the monument. And perhaps that proximity was the only thing that made this event more captivativing than any other of the many tragedies that occur on a daily basis.

At least, that was until this information came out about the suicide. In response to a piece in the Kansas City Star that discussed the circumstances surrounding this man's suicide, a reader and relative of the deceased wrote in to tell a truly remarkable story. Check it out.