"Passing Strange: A Gilded Age Tale of Love and Deception Across the Color Line," by Martha A. Sandweiss (Penguin Press, $27.95) ...more

March 22, 2009

In the 17th century, the Catholic Church rejected the teaching of Galileo on the grounds that it contradicted Scripture. Today, one would be hard pressed to find anyone who would not accept Galileo's position. The problem was not with Scripture, but with the church's understanding of both Scripture and the science Galileo taught. Apparently, some members of the School Board of Highlands County have not learned that lesson and persist in making the same error the Catholic Church did centuries ago. The creation myths of Genesis I and II affirm our belief in God as creator but cannot be understood as giving us a scientific historical description of creation itself. The first two chapters of Genesis both say the same thing but their particulars vary and contradict one another. Did God create man and women both at the same time and after he created animals as in Genesis I or did God create Adam and then the animals before taking a rib from Adam to make Eve as in Genesis II? ...more

February 1, 2008

SEBRING — The head of Florida's Democratic Party has assured Highlands County's rank and file that its delegates will be seated at the national convention, Aug. 25-28, in Denver. Karen L. Thurman, who chairs the state party, is "confident that when it is all said and done, our delegation will ... travel to Denver for the National Convention," said Pam Holt, a spokeswoman for the Highlands County party. That's true, said Mark Bubriski, communications director, and it's coming from other party leaders as well. By August, he reasoned, the primaries will be long gone, and so will be the issue of which state held its election first. In eight months, the more important issue will be whether the Democratic Party really wants to upset the voters of Florida and Michigan. ...more

December 24, 2007