Cosmos

To those of us who like science, the difference between science and religion can seem pretty self-evident: Religion requires faith, for one thing, and science demands evidence. But that doesn't always satisfy the true believers. "You can't prove there isn't a God," they say, "and if scientists can't prove God didn't create people, how can they claim their 'belief' in evolution is any less religious than religion?" In 2005, with the country watching, the task of answering that question fell to U.S. District Judge John E. Jones, who had to untangle the nature of science and religion to decide whether "intelligent design" theory could legally be taught in public-school science classes in Dover, Pa., near York.

By the end of the day, the top-secret military cosmodrome at Plesetsk remained top-secret. But the main thing is that the Americans got their communications satellite launched, piggy-backed on a Russian military one. Sometimes things actually work in this country. My first doubts about the day's outcome descended upon me as our plane was waiting for permission to take off, when the pilot brought his guitar from the cockpit of our plane and began to sing a series of increasingly sentimental Russian love songs.

Here's what we do. We take up a national collection and rent an unused stadium for 10 days next spring. Veterans Stadium suggests itself, but . . . naaah . . . someplace intimate and nostalgic . . . a minor league park, say, Campell's Field, home of the Camden River Sharks, or FirstEnergy Stadium, the Reading Phillies' joint. And then we play the Global Universal Series of the Civilized Human Cosmos. Best of seven. The opponents: the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs.

Manchester United vs. New York Cosmos 2:30 p.m. Friday (Fox Soccer Channel) One of the most glamorous names in American soccer history is officially revived, as Man U. hosts a testimonial match for retiring midfielder Paul Scholes. Brian McBride, Brad Friedel, Fabio Cannavaro and others will play as guests with the under-23s of the Cosmos. Borussia Dortmund vs. Hamburg 2:30 p.m. Friday (GolTV) As a new season kicks off in Germany, Dortmund begin the defense of their Bundesliga title.

Wildspring, Monroe Township, Gloucester County Good things - and a few surprises - often come in small packages. To wit: A full basement and a two-car garage in a 2,000-square-foot home surprised Melissa Menasce at Wildspring. "We looked at other homes in our price range, but they didn't have as many features as our house," Menasce, an insurance claims adjuster, said. "Our house has about 1,900 to 2,000 square feet with a two-car garage, basement, two-story foyer with a little balcony, cathedral ceilings, and two-and-a-half baths, including a sunken tub in the master bath.

The hard-sell advertising for the intermittently entertaining soccer documentary "Once in a Lifetime" exhorts potential viewers to "experience the irresistible story of the team that had America at its feet. " Well . . . no. America was no more crazy for the North American Soccer League's New York Cosmos in the 1970s than it was this year for its World Cup team. But, yes, there was a brief moment that New York's Cosmos - the team that brought Brazil's Pele to the States and later signed stars like Giorgio Chinaglia and Franz Beckenbauer - sparked an interest in soccer that swelled the youth-league ranks and eventually created the voter demographic known as the "soccer mom. " However, the team's impact and importance is exaggerated by filmmakers Paul Crowder and John Dower, a couple of Brits who clearly love soccer and disco music but don't know much about American sports or their fans.

Emil J. Ciavarelli, 81, a funeral director who was active in community and professional programs, died Monday at his Conshohocken home after a brief illness. Mr. Ciavarelli was born in Ambler, graduated from the former Ambler High School, and earned a business administration degree at Temple University. After graduating from the former Eckels College of Mortuary Science in 1949, he founded Emil J. Ciavarelli Family Funeral Homes Inc., which now has facilities in Conshohocken and Ambler.

Playing in Sendai, Japan, Alex Morgan scored in the 72d minute on Sunday to give the visiting United States women a 1-1 draw in an exhibition with Japan, the team that beat them in the final of the Women's World Cup last year. Until the World Cup, the U.S. women had never lost to Japan - and the Americans haven't beaten Japan since. Japan won the last encounter, 1-0, in Portugal in March. Former Italy, Lazio, and New York Cosmos star Giorgio Chinaglia died of complications from a heart attack at age 65 at his home in Naples, Fla., according to Charlie Stillitano , Chinaglia's cohost on The Football Show on satellite radio.

Two Fairless Hills men have been charged with violating state hazardous- waste laws in connection with the Oct. 13 dumping of 25 gallons of flammable, hazardous waste near two lakes on Old Route 13 in Falls Township. Firefighters were called to the scene by police after four 55-gallon drums containing the hazardous waste were discovered by the general manager of EMS Trucking Co. on the property the company leases at 1731 Old Route 13. The manager found one of the drums leaking shortly after 6:30 p.m. Falls Township Fire Marshal Raymond Forestal began an investigation that was joined by police, the state Department of Environmental Resources and the office of Attorney General Ernie Preate.

What if God spoke, and said: "What's this intelligent design stuff? That ain't science!"? Would ID proponents keep on talking? "Well, not if you redefine science" . . . "There's too many holes in the theory of evolution" . . . "Life is too complex for it to be the product of random mutation" . . . "This is academic censorship!!!" Rather than hurling down serpents, frogs, and thunderbolts, The Divinity might clear the throat and politely restate: "Sorry, one more time: Intelligent design is not science.