The AIDS Scare

♠
FRIDAY, Nov. 30 (HealthDay News) -- In the 26 years since scientists first spotted AIDS in America, millions of dollars have been poured into outreach efforts aimed at keeping young people clear of HIV, the virus that causes the disease.

But on the eve of World AIDS Day, a disturbing statistical fact has emerged in this country: The number of newly infected teens and young adults is suddenly on the rise.

-- E.J. Mundell for HealthDay News

It looks like we have gotten too complacent about AIDS. I remember when this thing was a real scare back in the eighties - during my coming of age, too.

Aside from the issues of more people becoming dependent on drugs to beat the disease, the article points out that the big fear is that this virus will mutate and make the drugs useless. That would probably bring the scare back: Sex can kill you! Though, Monk is pretty safe.

It is annoying to think that religious fundamentalists probably think this is good news.

xXx

The AIDS Scare

♠
FRIDAY, Nov. 30 (HealthDay News) -- In the 26 years since scientists first spotted AIDS in America, millions of dollars have been poured into outreach efforts aimed at keeping young people clear of HIV, the virus that causes the disease.

But on the eve of World AIDS Day, a disturbing statistical fact has emerged in this country: The number of newly infected teens and young adults is suddenly on the rise.

-- E.J. Mundell for HealthDay News

It looks like we have gotten too complacent about AIDS. I remember when this thing was a real scare back in the eighties - during my coming of age, too.

Aside from the issues of more people becoming dependent on drugs to beat the disease, the article points out that the big fear is that this virus will mutate and make the drugs useless. That would probably bring the scare back: Sex can kill you! Though, Monk is pretty safe.

It is annoying to think that religious fundamentalists probably think this is good news.

xXx

Nigeria Turns Away From Harsh Islamism

♠
KANO, Nigeria — Just last year, the morality police roamed these streets in dusky blue uniforms and black berets, brandishing cudgels at prayer shirkers and dragging fornicators into Islamic courts to face sentences like death by public stoning.

But these days, the fearsome police officers, known as the Hisbah, are little more than glorified crossing guards. They have largely been confined to their barracks and assigned anodyne tasks like directing traffic and helping fans to their seats at soccer games.

-- Lydia Polgreen for The New York Times

It is being called a humane Sharia, not a punitive Sharia. It is nice to see some healthy turns. It brightens the future.

xXx

Nigeria Turns Away From Harsh Islamism

♠
KANO, Nigeria — Just last year, the morality police roamed these streets in dusky blue uniforms and black berets, brandishing cudgels at prayer shirkers and dragging fornicators into Islamic courts to face sentences like death by public stoning.

But these days, the fearsome police officers, known as the Hisbah, are little more than glorified crossing guards. They have largely been confined to their barracks and assigned anodyne tasks like directing traffic and helping fans to their seats at soccer games.

-- Lydia Polgreen for The New York Times

It is being called a humane Sharia, not a punitive Sharia. It is nice to see some healthy turns. It brightens the future.

xXx

The Gospel of Judas

♠
So what does the Gospel of Judas really say? It says that Judas is a specific demon called the “Thirteenth.” In certain Gnostic traditions, this is the given name of the king of demons — an entity known as Ialdabaoth who lives in the 13th realm above the earth. Judas is his human alter ego, his undercover agent in the world. These Gnostics equated Ialdabaoth with the Hebrew Yahweh, whom they saw as a jealous and wrathful deity and an opponent of the supreme God whom Jesus came to earth to reveal.

-- April D. DeConick for The New York Times

I have not really paid any attention to the uncovering of this new text on Judas and the National Geographic translation. But here is an interesting article arguing that that translation was severly flawed.

( article )

xXx

The Gospel of Judas

♠
So what does the Gospel of Judas really say? It says that Judas is a specific demon called the “Thirteenth.” In certain Gnostic traditions, this is the given name of the king of demons — an entity known as Ialdabaoth who lives in the 13th realm above the earth. Judas is his human alter ego, his undercover agent in the world. These Gnostics equated Ialdabaoth with the Hebrew Yahweh, whom they saw as a jealous and wrathful deity and an opponent of the supreme God whom Jesus came to earth to reveal.

-- April D. DeConick for The New York Times

I have not really paid any attention to the uncovering of this new text on Judas and the National Geographic translation. But here is an interesting article arguing that that translation was severly flawed.

( article )

xXx

Their Truth Keeps Marching On

♠
Texas forces out administrator for questioning creationism

It feels like Perrotta's "Abstinence Teacher" brought to life.

xXx

Their Truth Keeps Marching On

♠
Texas forces out administrator for questioning creationism

It feels like Perrotta's "Abstinence Teacher" brought to life.

xXx

Natural Inequality?

♠
The level of wealth inequality has remained the same throughout history?

( the case )

xXx

Natural Inequality?

♠
The level of wealth inequality has remained the same throughout history?

( the case )

xXx