My chum Kiera Feldman has a piece up at New York Magazine on Ken Starr’s latest politically motivated sex scandal witch hunt, this time at Baylor University where he’s president, “Ken Starr Redux: Lefty Icon Targeted Over Alleged Sexual Misconduct.” Read it here.
What does informed consent mean to a “pro-life” governor when the procedure in question is abortion? “Informed consent is already required prior to an abortion being performed in Virginia, based on the longstanding health care concept that complete information about a medical procedure must be given to a patient before she can freely consent to a procedure,” writes Governor Bob McDonnell in a statement issued yesterday after his signing of HB462, a law that requires an ultrasound before an abortion. McDonnell amended the bill, after much publicity, to not mandate a vaginal ultrasound but an external one. But the question remains: If one’s personal belief is that abortion is murder and if one believes that the law should not allow abortion, exactly what must an abortion-seeking woman be informed of? In 23 states, an image of a fetus is not just a start but an addition to other hurdles including age requirements and wait periods.
Is Anonymous against religion?
Alain de Botton’s new book, Religion for Athiests: A non-believer’s guide to the uses of religion was released today. Read reviews here, here and here.
Who’s Kirk Cameron and why’s he hatin’? (Those silly, moving moral standards!) Becky Garrison fills us in here.
There used to be (and still may be) a brilliantly-named center at NYU, The Institute for the History of the Production of Knowledge. I thought of this center when I got an email in my inbox offering me a ten week course on the Constitution. The classes, which include, “The Progressive Rejection of the Founding” and, “Separation of Powers: Preventing Tyranny” cost $50 but you’re welcome to contribute more to support this “major national campaign.” Give $100 and you get a copy of Dr. Larry P. Arnn’s The Founders’ Key: The Divine and Natural Connection Between the Declaration and the Constitution and What We Risk by Losing It. Act fast! I remember being taught that the Constitution was a living document but I think that particular production of knowledge is perhaps out of fashion.