LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY akashasheiress)

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0825-04.htm

Mr. Nassirian said people at the Education Department had described the omission as “a clerical mistake.” But it is “odd,” he said, because applying the subject codes “is a fairly mechanical task. It is not supposed to be the subject of any kind of deliberation.”

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY nebris)

...via eris_devotee

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY idragosani)

Of course, he's speaking out of his derriere:

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/8/252006b.asp

Response from a writer on Science Blogs:

http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2006/08/producer_defends_darwinhitler.php

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY kalibex)

"Campaign for Children and Families is shocked and dismayed that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed SB 1441 (Kuehl). Today’s disastrous action by Schwarzenegger means Christian and other faith-based colleges in California will be forced to promote transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality if they accept students with Cal Grants.

"People of conscience are appalled that Arnold Schwarzenegger has trampled religious freedom to satisfy hyperactive sexual activists,” said Randy Thomasson, president of Campaign for Children and Families (CCF), a leading California-based pro-family organization. “SB 1441 will force religious colleges to either abandon their Biblical standards on sexuality, or reject students with state financial aid. Schwarzenegger is doing what Gray Davis did – trample religious freedom at the bidding of liberal activists from San Francisco and West Hollywood."

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY rechan)

Stupid question time.

Whenever there's discussion of the War on Terrah, I always hear how Moderate Muslims should scream and yell and go kick the ass of extremist Muslims, since the Extremists are turning everyone against them.

Why do we never hear about how Christians should do the same?

YES I KNOW that at the moment Christians are not bombing people and running brutal theocracies. But when the Stem Cell debate raises its head, the Religious say "Um, no, babies, dieing", scientists create a method of embryonic stem cell research that does not effect the ability for that embryo to grow into a full adult, the Catholic church still opposes it.

Why can we not hold the religiously moderate responsible for the extremists getting heard? Can't we also expect the moderates to keep their zealots in check? To call Bullshit when Robertson or Falwell or Dobson gets the center stage and goes on and on?

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

This LA Times article talks about Thomas Kincaide's investigation of fraud by the Feds:

The FBI is investigating allegations that self-styled "Painter of Light" Thomas Kinkade and some of his top executives fraudulently induced investors to open galleries and then ruined them financially, former dealers contacted by federal agents said.

Investigators are focusing on issues raised in civil litigation by at least six former Thomas Kinkade Signature Gallery owners, people who have been contacted by the FBI said.

The ex-owners allege in arbitration claims that, among other things, the artist known for his dreamily luminous landscapes and street scenes used his Christian faith to persuade them to invest in the independently owned stores, which sell only Kinkade's work.

"They really knew how to bait the hook," said one former dealer who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the case. "They certainly used the Christian hook."

***

The arbitrators, in a 2-1 ruling, also found that Kinkade and other company executives used the artist's familiar Christian-oriented themes to create "a certain religious environment designed to instill a special relationship of trust" with the couple, who have since divorced.

"It was a program of lies and deception, predicated on Christian values that weren't there," said Joseph Ejbeh, the Michigan attorney who tried the arbitration case.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

BoingBoing had a post about a Christian Edition of the free download of Ubuntu:

Q: Is Ubuntu Christian Edition a new distribution of Ubuntu or a derivative?

A: Well it is really neither. Ubuntu Christian Edition is based directly from the standard Ubuntu distribution and only contains extra Christian software available from the Ubuntu software repositories. The graphical changes are minor and are only intended to tailor the project to Christians.

Q: Why should I use the Ubuntu Christian Edition if I can install the same software to the default Ubuntu?

A: The concept behind the Ubuntu Christian Edition is not to deviate from the Ubuntu community. It is intended to draw a larger Christian base to the already thriving community of Ubuntu users. The Ubuntu Christian Edition simply makes it easier for Christians who are new to Linux to see the power of Ubuntu combined with the added benefit of having the best available Linux Christian software pre-installed.