By Ronald Bruce Meyer I have a GPS in my car, that space-based satellite navigation system that tells me where to go and where to get off at. Oh, I know where my usual destinations are, but in my work I travel to a lot of new places from, or to, my accustomed destinations, so […]

Read about philosopher John Dewey, Alfred Nobel and his prize, a disappointing end of the world, an unbelievable beginning of the world, Scottish philosopher James Mackintosh, Geoffrey “Canterbury Tales” Chaucer, Seth “Ted” MacFarlane, and more …

It was on this date, October 24, 1765, that Scottish political philosopher and politician James Mackintosh was born in Aldourie, near Inverness-shire, Scotland. Because his mother died while he was a child, and his father was frequently abroad, Mackintosh was reared by grandparents. He studied at King's College, University of Aberdeen and, in 1787, took […]

Read about comic Lenny Bruce, Moonies over America, philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, Oscar Wilde, the consecration of Chartres Cathedral, feminist and atheist Rebecca Watson, writer Leigh Hunt, and more …

It was on this date, October 18, 1980, that American blogger and podcast host Rebecca Watson was born. Sometimes known as “The Skepchick,” Watson is the founder of the “Skepchick” blog and, from 2006, co-hosts “The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe” podcast. Watson grew up in New Jersey and earned a Bachelor of Science degree […]

Read about William Tyndale burned for a Bible, Cornell University founded without religion, the Council of Chalcedon defining the split personality of Jesus, Christians v. Pagans, comedian Julia Sweeney, Henry VIII—Defender of the Faith, “Jesus Christ Superstar” rocks religion, and more …

It was on this date, October 10, 1959, that American actress, comedian and author Julia Sweeney was born in Spokane, Washington. From her start with the improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings, Sweeney was discovered in 1989 by “Saturday Night Live” producer Lorne Michaels and became a featured player on the TV show from 1990 to […]

Read about the burning of Michael Servetus, printing Gutenberg’s Bible, feminist Annie Besant, anthropologist Edward Burnett Tylor, Gore Vidal, the Promise Keepers, historian Robin Lane Fox and more …

It was on this date, October 5, 1946, that English historian of antiquity, educator and gardening writer Robin Lane Fox was born. He was educated at Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was a Fellow from 1970-1973. Lane Fox has written acclaimed studies of Alexander the Great and Ancient Macedon, Christianity and Paganism and […]