Short takes II

1. According to chaos theory, a butterfly flapping its wings in Indonesia can set forces in motion that result in a hurricane in the Caribbean. In commenting on the recent earthquakes around the globe, a Muslim cleric said:

"Many women who do not dress moderately lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity, and spread adultery in society, which increases earthquakes."

OK, so maybe the cleric isn't spouting chaos theory -- just garden variety demonization of the power of sexuality.

2. We aren't so far out of that dark age, ourselves. An article in Time, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the FDA's approval of "the pill" for birth control, also pointed out that it wasn't until 1965 (merely 45 years ago) that the Supreme Court's Greenwald vs. Connecticut decision overturned laws still extant in 20 states that prohibited the sale of contraceptives, even to married couples.

Ralph