The state of the culture

Well, a lot of us could have told the researchers this:

Poor Hoosier atheist activists can't get a break. First, Bloomington refused to let its buses carry the Indiana Atheist Bus Campaign's signs proclaiming that "You can be good without God," ruling the message too controversial. Then, the Mishawaka and South Bend bus people, because of the Bloomington flap, decided to seek board approval for putting the signs on its buses.

Both the best boss and the worst boss I ever had were women, which I offer as my credentials for being fair-minded about this issue (or at least as fair-minded as a man can ever be). The New York Times is really stirring the workplace pot with its article on women bullying women at work.

Observations such as these:

Why, you silly, ignorant lummox. This is not a porno palace, not in New Haven, Ind. This is an institution dedicated to saving failing marriages:

"80 percent of American families have some sort of adult novelty, I've seen many marriages saved by having adult novelties of some sort," said the owner of Cupid's Castle.

[. . .]

Trekkies decry the new "Star Trek" movie as "fun, watchable." Where are the heavy handed messages? Where is the stiff acting? There isn't even a single scene of people sitting around a table endlessly discussing Klingon politics. And, most disappointing of all, the story line made sense. "Fans felt like the series belonged to them, and now the studio has turned it into something people will actually enjou." I love The Onion.

Does it occur to anybody else that the more "rights" students have, the less the adults are in charge and the less likely real education is being concentrated on? Those rights now extend to the most frivolous of all school activities:

The Indiana High School Athletic Association's executive committee has unanimously approved a rule change allowing girls to try out for baseball and other boys sports, formalizing a move made following settlement of a lawsuit.

Nerds of America, come out Mom's basement and unite! A frightened world needs you!

Cincinnati police have a new ally in their fight against crime, whether they want it or not.

He calls himself Shadowhare, and he wears a mask and a cape to conceal his true identity. He's Cincinnati's own version of a superhero fighting crime and injustice where he finds it.

[. . .]

Some will be pleased and some horrified that the Supreme Court let stand the Federal Communications Commission's change of rules on bad language -- especially but not confined to the "f" word and the "s" word. Even if their use on radio or TV is fleeting and unanticipated, the FCC can still levy heavy fines not just on the program where the offense originated but on all affiliates that carry the offending program.

A different perspective on gay marriage:

If you put something out with the trash, the police can search it without a warrant. Anyone walking by can take it. Although it's still on your property, it's not really yours anymore; you've relinquished your claim to it. And that's exactly what done with marriage. We might as well let gays have it. We're not using it.

[. . .]

Being "persecuted as a Christian" doesn't seem to be quite the hazard it was in earlier times:

Dyker Neyland says she fought for her daughter's right to attend Irving's Thomas Haley Elementary School wearing an untucked shirt because of her religious beliefs as a Christian.