even crime in iowa city challenges traditional gender stereotypes

Here in Iowa City, life is never dull. And by now, everyone knows Iowa City’s reputation as a socially progressive center where common stereotypes, such as traditional gender roles, can be nonexistent or even, on occasion, reversed. In fact, even the rare crime committed in Iowa City can exhibit characteristics that defy traditional stereotypes. Take [...]

i think he was looking for the red sox

I came out of my Gilmore Hall office in Religious Studies today and found this guy screaming at me. I told him, “Actually, Papelbon is in Boston, not Iowa City.” I don’t think he got the joke. As a huge Red Sox fan, it was a rough night. And it wasn’t Papelbon’s fault. And if [...]

commentary by ahmed souaiaia on the role of the military in egypt

My University of Iowa colleague, Dr. Ahmed Souaiaia, has an interesting commentary on the role of the military in Egypt entitled, “Military is trickle-feeding democracy to change-hungry Egyptians.” He fears that “the military is not interested in a swift handing of power to civilians.” In fact, the military may find a way to remain in power: [...]

שנה טובה

!!שנה טובה Happy New Year!! May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year! FARLI (The Foundation for Archaeological Research of the Land of Israel) has also put together a nice שנה טובה card wishing a Happy New Year and fruitful archaeological discoveries. Visit their website. Also to celebrate, I offer you a take on [...]

we were NOT founded as a christian nation: thoughts on article 11 of the u.s. treaty with tripoli

With Libya continuing to be in the news, I was reminded this morning of one of the earliest treaties the United States ever signed with another nation. (See complete list here.) It is the Treaty of Tripoli, signed with Ottoman Tripolitania in Tripoli on November 4, 1796, unanimously ratified by the U.S. Senate on June [...]

This ought to be the first rule of “Biblical Archaeology” (via Bad Archaeology)

An article on Bad Archaeology makes some good points about some recent archaeological claims: “Biblical archaeology” is in “scare quotes” because it’s a highly problematical concept, but more of that later. What I want to address first is what ought to be a first principle for anyone reading about claims for discoveries that are supposedly [...]

a note on how new discoveries *should* be announced to the public

Given all of the debunking and criticism of pseudoscientific claims and sensationalist headlines I do on this blog, I thought I’d take a moment to mention a recent discovery and the team of real scientists who released their discovery to the public the correct way. In particular, I’d like to highlight two things: 1) the [...]

cargill poses topless

(How’s that for a sensationalistic headline!) That’s right, MacLaren Grey Cargill had his first professional photos taken. Britt Wilson Photography is incredible: professional, on time, and great results. Mommy and daddy are proud. And I must say, the boy is growing up quickly. He’s getting big and starting to try and talk a bit (at [...]

the faces of maclaren grey

nami is back, this time with a movie

NAMI is back, and this time they are armed with a movie (so you KNOW it’s real)! (I and several others have reported on NAMI’s nonsense in the past.) The movie is being screened at the Fire Church, part of the Fire School of Ministry. The Fire School of Ministry is the product of Dr. [...]

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