Good for Google

Good for Google.

“The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.” –Olympic Charter

For more.

Done and Done: Supreme Court invalidates DOMA, Effectively Ends Prop 8 in CA

Sometimes they get one right! And on this occasion, it’s a Double Rainbow all the way! ;-)

http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/26/19151971-supreme-court-strikes-down-defense-of-marriage-act-paves-way-for-gay-marriage-to-resume-in-california?lite

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/26/politics/scotus-same-sex-main/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/26/195857796/supreme-court-strikes-down-defense-of-marriage-act

And the decision clears the way for the resumption of same-sex marriage in California.

This debate is certainly not over, but at least now people can enjoy the same marriage rights while we’re having the debate.

And I’ll certainly continue the discussion with those who have concerns about the religious arguments pertaining to same-sex marriage and what the Bible ACTUALLY SAYS about marriage.

Until then, I remain on record for Marriage Equality!

So for now, let us celebrate the fact that our nation has crept a little bit closer to equality.

And unfortunately, let the fear mongering, hatred, and bigotry from fundies in the name of Jesus begin!

SCOTUS declares DOMA unconstitutional. Let the fear mongering, hatred, and bigotry from fundies in the name of Jesus begin!

— Robert R. “Dr. Bob” Cargill (@xkv8r) June 26, 2013

And let us begin with Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, who sounded more pissed than professional in his dissent. Seriously, I expect that kind of rhetoric from the Glenn Becks and Bryan Fischers of the world, but not from an Associate Justice toward a colleague.

Then again,

There are two things with which you cannot argue: stupid and hate, and one often breeds the other.

— Robert R. “Dr. Bob” Cargill (@xkv8r) June 16, 2013

Announcing the Arrival of Quincy and Rory Kate Cargill

Roslyn, Talitha, MacLaren, and I are pleased to announce the newest additions to our family: our son, Quincy Enoch Domenico Cargill, and our daughter, Rory Kate Duvall Cargill were born on May 11, 2013 at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City.

Quincy Enoch Domenico Cargill arrived at 7:22 pm. He weighed 5 lbs. 1 oz. Enoch is Roslyn grandfather’s name. Domenico is Robert’s great-grandfather’s name, and was the patriarch who brought the family to the U.S.

Rory Kate Duvall Cargill arrived at 7:26 pm. She weighed 4 lbs. 14 oz. Duvall is Roslyn’s family name going as far back as can be traced.

Roslyn is doing fine and recovering well. Daddy is already reading Aramaic to them both.

Thank you to everyone for your kind thoughts and warm wishes.

Mommy and Quincy

Mommy and Rory Kate

Discovered on my U Iowa office door this morning, the day before my 40th birthday

I arrived at my University of Iowa Jefferson Building (JB) office this morning (the day before my 40th birthday), and discovered this taped to my door.

It is supposedly the text of “1JB40Car (the Tye-Dye Scroll)”, a newly-discovered Dead Sea Scroll.  It purports to be a list of things I’ve said during various classes at Iowa (with the most incriminating words conveniently lost to lacunae :).

Much of it appears to be corroborated by a textual congruency with a particular Twitter site, which I’m guessing was authored by the same students.

Anyways, I can neither confirm nor deny the accuracy of the statements below.

But I CAN say that I love teaching, I love my students, I love the University of Iowa!

Thanks guys!

(And NO, I shan’t be supplying the missing words…)

The text of 1JB40Car (the Tye-Dye Scroll), discovered posted on my University of Iowa Jefferson Building (JB) office door the day before my 40th birthday. It is a list of things I’ve apparently said during class (with the most incriminating words conveniently lost to lacunae :)

The text of 1JB40Car (the Tye-Dye Scroll), discovered posted on my University of Iowa Jefferson Building (JB) office door the day before my 40th birthday. It is a list of things I’ve apparently said during class (with the most incriminating words conveniently lost to lacunae :)

The top half of 1JB40Car (the Tye-Dye Scroll).

The bottom half of 1JB40Car (the Tye-Dye Scroll).

Happy New Year!

To all who celebrate, I want to wish you a wonderful coming year.

You survived the Mayan Apocalypse and Jesus didn’t return. So in the coming year…

– May you discover much you didn’t know, and may you integrate that knowledge into your life.
– May you find that for which you seek, and find something you did not expect.
– May you learn Hebrew and Aramaic for all the right reasons.
– And, may your life be full of smiles, confident nods from across the room, sidecars, and scholarly publications.

Cheers, and onward!

Robert Cargill

Well Done! University of Iowa to Include Optional Question about LGBTQ Affiliation on Admissions Applications

Eric Hoover writes for the Chronicle of Higher Education:

Last week the University of Iowa added an optional question to its application for undergraduate admission: “Do you identify with the LGBTQ Community?” The university has also given applicants a third gender option, allowing prospective undergrads and graduate students to identify themselves as “transgender” instead of “male” or “female.”

This is good move on the part of my university, and I foresee optional questions like this one – that are NOT used in evaluating admissions, but DO allow students to self-identify as a part of a minority group – becoming commonplace on other national universities’ applications.

It will allow the University’s various social services to better identify and assist those students who want to be recognized as LGBTQ students to receive desired social services.

Likewise, it affirms that there are, in fact, gay, transgender, and intersexual students in America, and recognizes them (again, should they desire to self-identify and be recognized) as equals along with their peers, all of whom possess diverse, personal characteristics including race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran.

I am very proud of my university for, among other things, leading the way with regard to issues of equality and student psychological health.

On Iowa!

---

For more:

question for the ‘yes on prop 8′ supporters: who can caster semenya marry?

i am very, very proud of the fact i am moving to iowa

Full Text of Dr. Cargill’s Remarks at the Pepperdine GSEP Panel Discussion on Racism and Homophobia

It Is OK for Christians to Vote No on Prop 8

Cargill 3.0 AND 4.0 are officially under development

Yeah. THAT just happened.

Roslyn and I are very excited. No knowledge of genders yet, although we do know they are fraternal (and not identical). Ros and the twins (it still sounds weird to write and say it) are all healthy, albeit tired.

Tali is excited and rooting for sisters. Mac is excited, as he wants playmates to climb on. Professor Tiggens, however, is not excited, as he will drop two more spots on the alpha male scale.

We expect the twins, codenamed: Azekah and Sochoh (for reasons unspoken) to be born toward the end of May or early June, just prior to the beginning of Season 2 of the Azekah archaeological excavation beginning mid-July, 2013.

Mac Learns To Navigate the Stairs

My son, MacLaren, has developed a superior method for descending the stairs safely and quickly. Note that he gets down on his tummy and then backs onto the stairs, makes sure the gate is closed (safety first!), and then transforms into a penguin to maneuver down the stairs.

Enjoy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TALI!

Talitha is a teenager today. Happy birthday T. I am so proud of you!!!

Tali and Mac

Tali in Chicago

Tali in Chicago

congrats to peter lanfer and sarah drew lanfer on the birth of their son, micah

Peter Lanfer and Sarah Drew Lanfer

Congratulations are in order to my colleague, UCLA Second Temple Judaism Lecturer and Dartmouth Visiting Professor Dr. Peter Lanfer, and his wife Sarah Drew Lanfer (Dr. April Kepner on Grey’s Anatomy) on the birth of their son, Micah. He was born at 6:21 PM on Wednesday, January 18, 2012. He weighed 7 lbs. 4 oz. and was 19 in. long. (I am told that Dr. Kepner did not perform her own delivery ;-)

Peter says that baby Micah, Mommy, and Baby Daddy are all healthy and resting comfortably.

Peter and Sarah will be great parents (and Lucy will be a great big sister). Blessings upon Micah as he is raised by two of the kindest people I know.

Congrats again,

BC