In the chron: Youcef Nadarkhani converted from Islam to Christianity when he was 19. Now he’s a 34-year-old pastor facing execution by Iran for apostasy. Because it involves the barbaric persecution of one of their coreligionists, Christian conservatives in the US and Europe have been doing their best to focus the world’s attention on Pastor...

In the Chronicle: Every few years, the paranoid religious fundamentalists who run Saudi Arabia decree a policy change meant to lead the world into believing that they’re right on the verge of leaving the Middle Ages. Yesterday, King Abdullah decreed that in 2015, women will be allowed to vote and stand as candidates in municipal elections. How...

As we reminisce about a simpler time…a time when neighbors helped neighbors, people left their doors unlocked and paid hospitals with chickens and smiles…a time, it turns out, that existed only if you believe the romanticized, made up crap that pours out of the maws of teabaggers…. Listen...

In the Chronicle: At CNN’s tea party debate last night, Wolf Blitzer asked elderly crank Ron Paul what ought to be done for an uninsured thirty year old who becomes gravely ill. Paul said freedom was all about taking risks, which brought applause from the GOP audience, because they love freedom, but apparently aren’t too keen on sick poor...

Posted in the Chronicle: President Obama’s speech to Congress was well written, thoughtful, and strongly delivered. It wasn’t exactly the Andrew Shepherd hammering I’d hoped for, but the legislation he proposed would do exactly what the nation needs: immediately hire 500,000 people — teachers, police, construction workers and others....

Florida history teacher Jerry Buell has been reinstated after being suspended for something he said on Facebook, while school was out, on his own time and using his own computer. Buell posted his thoughts about New York’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage on July 25: I was watching the news, eating dinner when the story about New York okaying...