seems i'm a heterodox

robbie has been buggging me to post, so here goes:

<-- fetching photo, no?

my sister sent me an interesting article from the wsj about the fuss going on about galileo over at the vatican . . . currently. seems someone is trying to erect a statue to galileo, "the Che Guevara of secular science," and the old wounds are open again.

One of the most interesting bits:
"Today, the church insists it has no problem at all with modern science, and even science fiction. In May, for example, the Vatican's chief astronomer declared that Christian theology can accommodate the possible existence of extraterrestrials. The Bible, he said, 'is not a science book.' "

NO way!! i think that's the first time someone over in vatican city has admitted such a thing.

Does this put kooky catholic creationists out of business? Certainly it should help the fence-sitters come over to the side of the flying spaghetti monster. check out the site for pics of FSM at the olympics and at ikea!

more importantly this sent me off to find out more about Galileo and the banned book list. Find me one book on that list that hasn't been on some "classics" or must-read list at some point and i'll buy you a drink. machiavelli, sartre, descartes . . . it's pretty hilarious. officially stopped being enforced in 1966 but has never been renounced or denounced or some word like that. my grandfather used to smuggle them into ireland, because obviously the quickest way to make a book popular is to ban it.

and it turns out i'm a heterdox. who knew! it means i'm approaching heretic, but they don't have to kick me out. awesome! i knew i wasn't officially an atheist, though laura tries to convince me otherwise.

also, if you're bored or on call, check this vid out. some people have too much free time. and yes, kristen, i know i have a wiki problem. 1st step is admitting it.