Time to play, What's in my Browser? again.

This dialog attempts to explain scientifically the difference between political Liberal and Conservative thought.  Toward the end of the conversation, one of the interlocutors makes an off-hand comment about Jesus and then back-tracks, saying, "I'm afraid I'm not up on my Theology," but if he had read the Gospels he would conclude that as a serial breaker of purity taboos Jesus must be a Liberal.  Expect mass conversions to Islam if word of this gets out.

Whatever happened to Babylonian paganism?  Not a day goes by I haven't asked myself the same question.  [Warning: long]

The Weekly Standard argues that Russia is bluffing.  I'm reminded of a cover story in The Atlantic a few years back, "Russia is Finished."  It's puzzling to see so many Westerners praising (often through clenched teeth) Putin's supposed brilliance.  Really, if crushing domestic opposition and dabbling in foreign adventurism were difficult, why would it be the Modus Operandi of every potentate since the days of Nimrod?