Apparently, the Nampa Classical Academy of Boise, Idaho, received praise from school officials in 2008 and several months following for its curriculum plans. Now, things have changed.

Alliance Defense Fund attorneys filed an appeal Monday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, contesting a federal judge’s decision to dismiss a lawsuit that challenges the Idaho Public Charter School Commission’s across-the-board ban on the use of texts and documents deemed to be “religious.” ADF attorneys filed the lawsuit on behalf of Nampa Classical Academy last November after the commission threatened to revoke the academy’s charter if it used the Bible or other religious texts on its classroom resource list for any purpose whatsoever.

Yesterday, those who care, who give a rip, who find interest in James Joyce’s novel Ulysses (or perhaps just want another excuse to drink beer), did something or other to celebrate Bloomsday, June 16. For your literary edification, The Daily Beast has a run down of novels from various countries which have been called the Ulysses of that county. (via Literary Saloon)

In related news, Apple will not allow a webcomic version of Ulysses to be on its iPad product because of “frank nudity,” to quote the co-illustrator, Rob Berry. Though it wasn’t illustrated, Joyce’s novel was banned from the U.S. when it was released in 1920. Several years later, Random House staged a customs incident to get the courts to review the ban, and judges released it for print in 1934.

My mortal enemy, the unspeakable Hunter Baker (don’t buy his book) relates a positive experience with colleagues in his new teaching gig, over at his blog.

A female colleague in the sciences opened our discourse by asking the philosopher, “Why did you find this author’s argument either intereresting or persuasive?” She quickly followed that by adding, “Because I didn’t.” In many circles, her question and comment would set up a quick ending to the discussion. Instead, she merely piqued our interest as the philosopher patiently explained his choice and his opinion. Soon, we were well down the road in trying to find some common ground. Before I knew it, over two hours had passed.

Maybe there’s hope for the nation after all.

Stefan Kanfer has a fascinating article over at City Journal about a man who has always been (in an ambivalent sort of way) one of my personal heroes—the cartoonist Al Capp, creator of Li’l Abner (thanks to Daniel Crandall of The American Culture for the tip).

Back in its heyday, during the Great Depression, World War II, and the Fifties, Li’l Abner occupied a place in the American consciousness for which it’s hard to find an analog in today’s world. Back then everybody—except members of the most extreme religious communities—read the daily comics. Comic strips were what network TV used to be (but also is no more). If there were a page on the internet that everybody in the country visited every day, that would be something like what Li’l Abner was back then. When Abner finally gave up his fight to remain a bachelor and married Daisy Mae, the nation rejoiced (or grieved, depending on their point of view). Continue reading No feather in his Capp →