The Dish

This is a pretty staggering figure, don’t you think:

Clinton made 352 speeches last year.

Basically one a day. I guess you just have to stick a microphone in front of him. Still, I don’t begrudge a man who grew up in poverty enriching himself by doing what he does best. Drudge highlights the 9/11 anniversary speech. But it wasn’t about 9/11 as such and I don’t think it counts as an unethical exploitation of the tragedy. Still it prompts the following thought: the press surely needs to ask Rudy Giuliani just how much money has has made off 9/11 in speaking fees and other gigs. If it’s fair to criticize Clinton for this minor coincidence, the vast forture that Rudy has explicitly made off 9/11 deserves full disclosure.

One of those science stories that sticks in the brain:

After plants are potted, roots branch out to suck up water and nutrients. But when several plants of the same species are potted together, things get a little nasty: Each plant flexes its muscles, so to speak, by extending its root growth to try and snatch up valuable resources.

Unless, that is, the plants are siblings—each having come from the same mother plant—in which case they become very accommodating, allowing each other ample root space.

Because the interactions between related and unrelated plants only happened when plants were in the same pot, where root space is limited, root interactions are likely what gives plants the cue that their neighbor is related.

(Photo: the European sea rocket, which was the object of the experiment.)

The good professor is labeled a "schmibertarian" by John Quiggan. The term applies to libertarians who have recently decided that they’re fine with detention without trial, the "anachronism" of habeas corpus, an imperial foreign policy and legalized torture. Not all of them, apparently, are law professors in Tennessee.

Bork’s Libby letter is "not something I would expect from a first-year in law school." Meow.

McCain finally unloads on Clinton Romney.

Hilzoy presents two papers on the rationality of pirates.

It’s an extraordinarily important development, a vindication of the marriage strategy which many of us pioneered despite severe resistance from the gay establishment (yep: HRC and the Clinton machine), and a clear sign that marriage for gay couples is now part of the fabric of America. HRC can still believe that this is a long-term goal, but it’s here long before their precious and entirely symbolic federal hate crimes boondoggle. For me, the most telling fact is that the legislators and people of Massachusetts have actually experienced the fact of marriage equality for several years now. The more people see it for real, instead of through the lurid, unhinged fantasies of Dobsonites, the more opposition wilts. Now, maybe, inclusive Republicans and leading Democrats can grow some balls on the issue. Quit the defensive crouch. That means you, Obama, Edwards and Clinton. And you too, HRC. Dale Carpenter comments here. Here in Ptown, the champagne is already flowing.

(Photo: Kevin Pilla, 43, and his partner of 23 years Thomas Mannix, 44, with dog Buddy, prepare for their civil union ceremony that took place at midnight February 22, 2007 in Asbury Park, New Jersey. The couple was registered as a domestic partnership in 1993 in New York and 2004 in New Jersey. By Colin Archer/Getty Images.)

A reader writes:

I had to smile at your 11:36am "Christianism Watch," because by the standards of the Christianist mentioned in the linked CBN story – as long as he’s OK with Catholics – my credentials are right up there.

I have attended Mass nearly every single Sunday for the past five years, and in the event that I miss one, I usually try and make it up on Wednesday night.

I do a Confession about once every three months on average.

I’m both a eucharistic minister and an occasional lector at my church, and I’ve served as a greeter/"hospitality minister."

On one occasion I even gave out the Eucharist in place of a priest who’d had polio as a child and couldn’t stand for more than a few minutes at a time.

Yet I also favor gay adoption rights, have no problem with gay marriage, oppose the war in Iraq, and think the overturning of Roe v. Wade would have serious negative consequences for this country. Think that Harding University professor, or for that matter many CBN viewers, would be rushing out to vote for me for president? Maybe I should give it a go when I turn 35 in a few years.

Maybe you should. But I bet you that among many actual Christians under 35, your views are not that unusual.

… and get religion. Chad Orzel examines a new study of 10,000 students and concludes:

Clearly, militant atheists need to spend less time on education, and more time on the critical task of getting college students stoned and laid.

I’m more interested in why pot, booze and sex would weaken one’s religious faith. All three have only validated mine.

Sophia Folkesson, a BA Honours student at the Edinburgh College of Art, lays down on her art installation of a floor covered in human hair on June 15, 2007 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The works of over 400 students across 23 art, design and architecture departmentare on display throughout the college. By Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images.