"......Internet that may be our best hope yet of freeing humankind from the baleful influence of supernaturalist magic of every sort"
I think this is way too optimistic, Chet.The global internet is already a source/purveyor of everything from the sublime to the ridiculous,and will continue to be so.It will always be as useful to the purveyors of 'supernatural magic' as it is to those who use it for balanced,reasoned discourse....It will continue becoming an ever vaster storehouse of diverse information which users will put to ends which run the whole gamut from what is best to what is worst in the human 'spirit'.
paul | 07.16.07 - 2:56 pm | #

Hmm, could the Internet prove to be a bond of perpetual peace and friendship ... and the means to diffuse religion to all the world?

President Buchanan's message to Queen Victoria over the new transatlantic cable:
"...it is a triumph more glorious, because far more useful to mankind, than was ever won by conqueror on the field of battle. May the Atlantic telegraph, under the blessing of heaven, prove to be a bond of perpetual peace and friendship between the kindred nations, and an instrument destined by Divine Providence to diffuse religion, civilization, liberty, and law throughout the world."
Bro. Bartleby | Homepage | 07.16.07 - 6:49 pm | #

Cygnus photo. My image from last evening was not this good. Cygnus is nearly directly overhead at about midnight in the Mid-West in the summer.

http://www.aoc.nrao.edu/~whwang/...ygnus- 2003.html
brome grass | 07.17.07 - 4:37 am | #

http://www.aoc.nrao.edu/~whwang/ Gallery of images.

Also a research scientist using the largest optical and radio telescopes. http://www.aoc.nrao.edu/~whwang/
brome grass | 07.17.07 - 4:47 am | #