According to the Vatican, Islam has overtaken Roman Catholicism as the biggest single religious denomination in the world. Of course: there still are more Christians than Muslims in the world (protestants, orthodox), but Islam has become a good runner up. But it is the biggest single religious domination in the world; 19.2% of the world’s population are Muslim, against 17.4% who are Catholics. (more…)

Via Dean’s World comes the news that the US State Department has its own blog. Quite cool. Be sure to read this interview with Rice.

Newsweek has quite a shocking and in-depth report up about so-called “opium brides.” It seems that some opium farmers can’t pay back their loans: instead of repaying those loans, then, they’re forced to sell their daughters. Opium farmers were never rich, they were simply able to get by, but the war in Afghanistan has changed even that; no longer are they able to take care of themselves, let alone their family. (more…)

Our new site manager, Jason Steck, is improving the site a bit. You’ll see some small changes in the coming days while he’s trying to figure out how to optimize the blog. Our former site manager has resigned, and I’m very happy that Jason was more than willing to take over. He certainly knows what he’s doing, so if you have any questions regarding the design (or comments or praise!) send an e-mail to Jason (for e-mail address, see right sidebar).

Hyperactive progressive Dutchmen have set up a site at which they’ll publish videos of Dutchmen just like them apologizing (to whom and why?) for Geert Wilders’ movie, “Fitna.” An awkward initiative: ‘we are proud of the freedom of speech, so we’ll defend Wilders’ right to make this movie… but we apologize for his outrageous behavior and, thus, for the freedom of speech.’ Or:| MORE ›

Bad news: “Shiite militias in Basra openly controlled wide swaths of the city on Saturday and staged increasingly bold raids on Iraqi government forces sent in five days ago to wrest control from the gunmen, witnesses said, as Iraqi political leaders grew increasingly critical of the stalled assault.” (more…)

MSNBC reports that Muqtada al-Sadr, radical Shiite leader, has offered peace to Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki. Ed Morrissey concludes at Hot Air that al-Sadr’s offer is an indication that he’s losing, that he knows it and that this is the only way for him and his militia to safe themselves. Only problem: it’s not quite like that. (more…)

Karl Rove giving a speech at George Washington University, after he was interrupted (and accused of being a war criminal): “the tail and the horns are retractable.” And: “I’m a myth.” Note one of the more lovely comments at Think Progress: “What’s to say? he knows he’s a traitor, and shouldn’t be surprised when he’s finally strung up.” (more…)

In 1911, the great English physicist Ernest Rutherford brought forth a model of the structure of the atom that revolutionized science. He did it with 20 research assistants (including some of the greatest minds in 20th century physics) in the basement of a rambling old stone house known as the Cavendish Laboratory.

Conditions in the lab were appalling. The roof leaked. It was cramped beyond belief. And Rutherford was a notorious skinflint when it came to paying his assistants.
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The German newspaper the Spiegel reports that Germany opposes US President Bush’s wish to expand NATO. He “wants to bring more Eastern European countries into the military alliance at the upcoming NATO summit” but Germany “is thwarting his plans, because of concerns about Ukraine and Georgia — and in deference to Russia.” (more…)