Young Muslims use punk to loosen their religion

Second-generation Americans have found a new way to show their faith, through noisy rock music that reflects their beliefs and considers their questions of identity. MORE HERE.

Crows Zero II

Karozu zero II (Japan)

By RUSSELL EDWARDS

Proving that he would rather fight than quit, prolific Japanese helmer Takashi Miike dishes up "Crows Zero II," the second installment in the manga-inspired schoolboy-gang-war franchise. Sequel adds some new wrinkles to the two-hour-plus slugfest but essentially sticks to the required formula of yakuza codes being played out in an apocalyptic schoolyard. In April, the pic powered its way to a socko $29 million, outclassing the first by $4 million. Miike's international cult following will ensure equally robust ancillary. MORE HERE.

“Bela Lugosi’s Dead”: 30 Years of Goth, Gloom, and Post-Post-Punk

August marked the 30th anniversary of the release of “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”, the first single by goth pioneers Bauhaus. I knew in the back of my head that the song would hit the three-decade mark this year, but the exact date of release slipped my mind, otherwise I would’ve written a glowing tribute to the song two months ago. My forgetfulness works out all right, given that there’s no better time to ruminate on “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” than in the light of Halloween. MORE HERE!

Illegal downloaders 'spend the most on music', says poll

Crackdown on music piracy could further harm ailing industry

By Rachel Shields

Sunday, 1 November 2009

People who illegally download music from the internet also spend more money on music than anyone else, according to a new study. The survey, published today, found that those who admit illegally downloading music spent an average of £77 a year on music – £33 more than those who claim that they never download music dishonestly. MORE HERE.

Pat Robertson denounces hate-crimes bill, falsely claims it doesn't cover religious bias

By David Neiwert Thursday Oct 29, 2009 4:30pm

Yesterday, a genuinely historic moment passed with scarcely a blip of attention from the media: President Obama signed into law the nation's first genuine federal bias-crimes statute.

Everyone interested in advancing civil rights in America and defending the nation's minorities from the deprivation of their rights by terroristic thugs -- particularly their historic victims, from African Americans and Asian Americans to Latinos, to Jews and other religious minorities, to gays and lesbians and transgender folk -- have real cause to celebrate. Brian Levin has a nice collection of their thoughts at HuffPo.

Then, of course, there's the Religious Right, which is holding its collective breath and pouting over the event. Case in point: Pat Robertson at The 700 Club, ripping into the new law both yesterday and today on his show. MORE HERE.

Church of Scientology in France found guilty of fraud

October 27, 9:15 AMAtheism ExaminerTrina Hoaks

Unlike the United States, France has not been duped by the Church of Scientology. Although more and more members have come out exposing the church to be nothing more than a glorified cult, the U.S. continues to recognize it as a bona fide religion. After all, would American royalty (celebrities) be associated with something that weren't legit?

Well, France has veiwed Scientology as a sect for a long time now. And, according to an Associated Press report, European countries have been criticized by the U.S. State Department for considering Scientology to be a cult or sect. MORE HERE.

Also see:

Scientology's, Davis, discusses Haggis' allegations and charges of fraud in France

Faith No More

What I've learned from debating religious people around the world.

By Christopher HitchensPosted Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, at 11:21 AM ET

This week sees the opening on various cinema marquees of the film Collision: a buddy-and-road movie featuring last year's debates between Pastor Douglas Wilson, who is a senior fellow at New St. Andrew's College, and your humble servant. (If I may be forgiven, it's also available on DVD, and you can buy our little book of exchanges, Is Christianity Good for the World?) MORE HERE.

Real Places Behind Famously Frightening Stories

’Tis the spectral season, when darkness approaches sooner, and chilly temperatures bring folks around hearths--literally and figuratively--to tell ghost stories. Light your pumpkin and read about the real places behind some of the world’s classic spooky tales. PICTURES HERE.

By Robin T. Reid
Smithsonian.com, October 16, 2009

Vintage costume photos in celebration of Halloween

Vintage costume photographs MORE HERE.

Photo: Fr the collection of Bob Bragman

A Guide to the Chuseok Ancestral Memorial Service

The ancestral memorial service is the central event of Chuseok, Korea's most important holiday. It's a complex affair, and many Koreans are unsure about the principles for setting out the Chuseok ritual table or the procedure for the service and just follow what others do. Here, the Chosun Ilbo explains the correct procedure in easy-to-follow steps. MORE HERE.

Yoon Do-hyun Poised to Conquer U.S.

Celebrated rock band YB will make their U.S. debut early next year on the Universal label. A documentary of their recent U.S. tour will be aired on PBS as well. "I'm studying English like crazy," lead singer Yoon Do-hyun told the Chosun Ilbo on Wednesday. MORE HERE.

Congress extends hate crime protections to gays

By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer

Thursday, October 22, 2009

(10-22) 15:00 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

Physical attacks on people based on their sexual orientation will join the list of federal hate crimes in a major expansion of the civil rights-era law Congress approved Thursday and sent to President Barack Obama.

A priority of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., that had been on the congressional agenda for a decade, the measure expands current law to include crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The measure is named for Matthew Shepard, the gay Wyoming college student murdered 11 years ago. MORE HERE!

Versailles get dolled up for visual-kei fest

By DANIEL ROBSON

Special to The Japan Times

With dozens of Japanese bands trying to crack the West over the last 20 years, whoever would have guessed visual-kei would be the first genre to truly succeed? MORE HERE.

All dressed up: The members of Versailles (clockwise from top left: Kamijo, Hizaki, Teru and Yuki) say their sense of fashion is just as important as their music.

The age of listless, wary, anxiety-ridden and insecure young men

Pity the young Japanese male. For him, it’s shock piled upon shock. No wonder he’s reeling.

The monthly magazine Nikkei Woman (November) lists what career-oriented men have had to contend with over the past 20 years. 1990 brought the bursting of the so-called bubble economy, the beginning of the end of opportunity as we knew it. 1993 saw in the “hiring ice age”—firms hit by the recession froze hiring, condemning all too many college grads to drudgery as part-time “freeters.” One glimmer of light over the next few years was the venture firm Livedoor, fronted by flamboyant celeb-entrepreneur Takafumi Horie, aka Horiemon, symbol of commercial imagination and path-breaking derring-do. His arrest on fraud charges in 2006 doused the flicker of hope he represented. Then in 2008 came the Lehman shock. Japan’s economy didn’t quite die, but doesn’t quite live either. MORE HERE.

Ultimate Sunday morning toaster grills your bacon as well as your bread

By Beth Hale
Last updated at 8:13 AM on 23rd October 2009

It's the perfect answer for anyone in need of a speedy breakfast - a toaster which can also grill a couple of rashers of bacon.

The device, called the Toast N Grill, has a normal toaster-style slot along the top for two slices of bread.

But it also has a mini-oven compartment underneath, in which the user can grill a slice of bacon and then keep it warm while preparing the toast. MORE HERE.

Enlarge

Tefal launches all-new Toast N Bacon device to create the perfect bacon butty in minutes

FFRF sues IRS, Geithner and California over 'Minister of Gospel' tax benefits

October 20, 10:08 AMAtheism ExaminerTrina Hoaks

The national Freedom From Religion Foundation, along with 21 of its California members, has filed a nationally-significant federal lawsuit in Sacramento, challenging tax benefits for "ministers of the gospel," commonly known as "the parsonage exemption." MORE HERE.

What Happened To All The Ferocious Female Punks?

By Rae Alexandra

Posted on 10/21/09 at 03:43:41 pm

In ‘Never Mind The Bollocks: Women Rewrite Rock’ - Amy Raphael’s 1995 examination of women in rock subcultures - Huggy Bear bassist, Niki Elliott, announced: "True punk rock feminism will never die."

"Of course it won’t!" we all thought, high on the empowerment and political discourses that riot grrrl had brought us dissatisfied, alternative girls. "Revolution Girl Style Now!", Bikini Kill’s Kathleen Hanna screamed at us over and over again. MORE HERE.

'Jesus's face' spotted on the toilet door in Ikea Glasgow

By Tom Chivers
Published: 11:16AM BST 19 Oct 2009

Jesus, or possibly Gandalf, as spotted on the door of the gents' toilets in a Glasgow branch of Ikea Photo: JOHN GUNION - THE SUN

A bearded face, with long flowing hair, is plainly visible on the wooden door of the men’s toilet in the Braehead outlet of the Swedish furniture and meatballs giant. MORE HERE.

Fry & Hitch v the Catholic Church

Tuesday, 20 October 2009

Last night, I went along to the Intelligence Squared debate on whether "the Catholic Church is a force for good in the world" at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster. It was a fairly grand affair, not least because of the impressive venue, and Intelligence Squared had assembled quite a panel to thrash out the issue. Speaking for the motion were Archbishop John Onaiyekan, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria and Anne Widdecombe, the Conservative MP and outspoken Catholic convert. Speaking against the motion were Christopher Hitchens, author of God is Not Great, and Stephen Fry, who is well known for his humanist views (in fact, Laurie Taylor interviewed him about this in New Humanist a few years ago). The debate was chaired by the journalist Zeinab Badawi. MORE HERE.

New Conservative Bible will eliminate 'liberal' text

Version removes adultery story

By Bob Smietana • THE TENNESSEAN • October 18, 2009

If Andy Schlafly has his way, there will be no socialists or snake handlers in the Bible. No woman caught in adultery. And, definitely, no Stephen Colbert.

Schlafly, founder of Conservapedia.com, wants to save the Scriptures from liberals with his latest venture, the Conservative Bible Project. He says translations like the New International Version have added socialist ideals to the Good Book. But his rewrite of the Bible has drawn criticism from biblical scholars, liberals and conservatives. MORE HERE.