Raif Badawi’s Ordeal

Posted on by Mark Aldrich

Raif Badawi remains in prison. Raif Badawi still awaits 950 lashes with a whip. Raif Badawi remains in danger …

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June 17, 2017, marks five years in prison for Raif Badawi, the Saudi Arabian writer who is in jail for writing.

There is no new news to report regarding Raif’s condition. The absence of news is a heavy, ever-present reminder that Raif Badawi is always in imminent danger of his punishment being resumed. Saudi Arabia has never publicly stated any intention to free him, reduce his ten-year sentence, or show him any leniency. He is always in imminent danger.
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January 13 in History

Posted on by Mark Aldrich

The New York Times published an editorial on this date in 1920 that took to task the rocket pioneer Robert H. Goddard for his thought that someday rockets could be used to travel to the moon (and beyond).

How would rockets possibly work in the vacuum of space? the writers wondered. After all, thanks to Isaac Newton, any schoolkid knew that actions work as a reaction, and, in the vacuum of space, where would the reaction take place? Here is some of the Times’ fussy editorial (after the jump):
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January 12 in History

Posted on by Mark Aldrich

Super Bowl III, in which the New York Jets defeated the heavily favored Baltimore Colts by the score of 16–7, took place 48 years ago today.

Jets quarterback Joe Namath, seen above, went 17 for 28 and threw for 206 yards. It remains the Jets’ only SuperBowl win and appearance.
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