Society
Constitution Check: Does the First Amendment protect a wedding cake as an art form? blog.constitutioncenter.org
Lyle Denniston, the National Constitution Center’s constitutional literacy adviser, looks at a potential Supreme Court test case about religious beliefs, same-sex marriage and a Colorado bakeshop.
Also see Masterpiece Cakeshop petition to the Supreme Court adflegal pdf
Society
ChristianMingle now allows gay dating, after a lawsuit washingtonpost
The lawsuit, according to Christianity Today, argued that ChristianMingle violated California’s non-discrimination law that prohibits for-profit companies, such as Spark Networks, which owns ChristianMingle, from discriminating against customers on the basis of sexual orientation, among other categories.
Based on their ads, I've never thought of ChristianMingle as anything more than a cultural Christianity thing - and the fact that only 1 board member stepped down as a result of the ruling is probably a good indication that that's about as deep as their theology goes. However, still an illustration of the overarching enforcing of state religion.
Fraud
The Unbelievable Tale of Jesus’s Wife theatlantic v
The American Association of Museums’ Guide to Provenance Research warns that an investigation of an object’s origins “is not unlike detective work”: “One may spend hours, days, or weeks following a trail that leads nowhere.” When I started to dig, however, I uncovered more than I’d ever expected—a warren of secrets and lies that spanned from the industrial districts of Berlin to the swingers scene of southwest Florida, and from the halls of Harvard and the Vatican to the headquarters of the East German Stasi.
This is a fascinating long-form article by a reporter who set out to find the origins of a (supposed) 1,300 yr-old papyrus about Jesus' wife, and the ensuing series of lies, historical invention, and deceit of the man behind it. It's a long read, but worth it - particularly for those who've heard the Biblically unsupported "Jesus had a wife" argument. Warning: some aspects of the primary figure's personal life uncovered during the investigation are sexually graphic in nature (the article doesn't dwell TOO MUCH on them).
Society
Prince William appears on cover of gay magazine Attitude theguardian
The second-in-line to the throne appears in the July issue of Attitude magazine, discussing the mental health implications of homophobic, bi-phobic and transphobic bullyings.
Nanotechnology
Powering nanotechnology with the world's smallest engine phys.org
...we have now produced nano-engines that can be operated with beams of light to work pistons, pumps and valves. Made from gold nanoparticles bound together by a heat-sensitive chemical, our machines are strong, fast and simple to operate, making them extremely practical for future applications.
US Goverment
State Department keeps saying that erased video of tough question from Fox News reporter was a ‘glitch’ washingtonpost
Undercovered media story of the week: Fox News correspondent James Rosen revealed that video of him asking a tough question of a State Department spokesperson disappeared from the agency’s video archive. Poof! Where the exchange once existed, a flash of white light replaced it.
At issue was Iran. Let’s turn back the clock. In February 2013, Rosen pressed then-State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland on whether the United States was carrying on “secret, bilateral” discussions with Iranian leaders. No, Nuland said.
What I find interesting, and why I'm relaying this, is there was another video 'glitch' a little over a month ago: OBAMA CENSORS HOLLANDE'S 'ISLAMIST TERRORISM' REMARK (if you can handle David Wood's particularly sarcastic brand of apologetics, he has a good layered verion of that glitched, then magically found, videos on YouTube that really calls into question the 'glitch')
Society
Frozen fans urge Disney to give Elsa a girlfriend in sequel theguardian v
The record-breaking and critically acclaimed 2013 animated film tells of Princess Elsa’s struggle to master her magical powers to reconnect with her sister Anna. It was widely construed as the studio’s first foray into feminism because it eschewed a traditional happy-ever-after with a prince in favour of sisterly devotion. Now Twitter users have called upon Disney to give Elsa a girlfriend in Frozen 2, which is currently in production.
See also Why #GiveElsaAGirlfriend Shouldn’t Surprise Anyone
Some people, including many Christians, were surprised at the news. I, for one, found their surprise a little surprising. In fact, anyone shocked by this news hasn’t been paying attention to what’s going on in the culture.
Life
Bright flash of light marks incredible moment life begins when sperm meets egg telegraph.co.uk v
An explosion of tiny sparks erupts from the egg at the exact moment of conception.
Taxes
Can pay, won't pay: Tax avoidance throughout history bbc
The Panama Papers have revealed the massive scale of tax dodging schemes of the rich and powerful. But tax avoidance is nothing new - people have been coming up with schemes and loopholes for as long as there have been taxes.
Israel
Group of Israeli Orthodox rabbis urges greater acceptance of homosexuals jpost
While the document stated that the "Torah prohibits homosexual acts," the paper penned by the rabbis stressed that Orthodox communities should be more accepting and socially inclusive.
A reminder that though we look to Israel as time wraps up, that as a nation they currently as lost and blinded as the rest.
Israel has hit ‘dozens’ of Hezbollah arms transfers, Netanyahu says timesofisrael
Saying that he was proud of Israel’s ability to maintain “relative quiet and security” in an otherwise stormy Middle East, he told soldiers stationed there: “We act when we have to act, including here and across the border, with dozens of strikes, to prevent Hezbollah acquiring tie-breaking weaponry.”
Travel
Watch an 18-rotor electric helicopter take its first manned flight engadget
The designers still have to ramp up their tests to the point where the Volocopter hits its full 60MPH top speed, but they're now confident enough that they hope to take pre-orders later this year. It'll likely only be limited to enthusiasts at first, but the dream is to use the aircraft's unique properties to expand what's possible.
Syria
Syrian PM says Russia to back new Aleppo attack; opposition says truce near collapse in.reuters
The ceasefire came into effect in February with the aim of paving the way for a resumption of talks to end the five-year-long war. But it has been widely violated, with each side blaming the other for breaches. The fighting south of Aleppo marks the most significant challenge yet to the deal.
Global Religion
Losing my religion: life after extreme belief theguardian
Fleeing the grip of a sect can be a matter of life or death. Megan Phelps-Roper, and two other former believers, reveal how they lost almost everything when they lost their faith
It's no accident an "evangelical" (Westbro) Christian, Jew, and Muslim are highlighted in this article as breaking free from the bondage of extreme religion.
Islam
UK Muslim ghettoes' warning telegraph.co.uk
British Muslims are becoming a nation within a nation, the former chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission has warned.
Kill Ahmadis' leaflets found in UK mosque bbc
A mosque trustee said he had never seen the leaflets before and suggested they were fakes or left there maliciously.
North Korea
Senior N. K. intelligence officer, diplomats defect koreaherald
The colonel-level intelligence officer came to Seoul last year and gave a “detailed testimony” on the Reconnaissance General Bureau’s espionage operations against the South, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing an unnamed source with knowledge on the inner workings of the communist state.
See also NORTH KOREAN MILITARY INTELLIGENCE OFFICER DEFECTS TO SOUTH IN ‘HIGHEST LEVEL CASE’
Archeaology
Ancient Glass-Works Prove Israel Was World Glass Production Center jewishpress
These kilns, about 1,600 years old (dating to the Late Roman period), indicate that the Land of Israel was one of the foremost centers for glass production in the ancient world.
Accidental Discoveries: Hikers Stumble Upon Archaeological Finds in Israel jpupdates
“Israel is a very small country, intensively settled over thousands of years, and there are 37,000 registered archeological sites, so almost everywhere you have the potential to find things,” says Yardenna Alexandre, an IAA research and field archaeologist stationed in the Jezreel Valley.
AI
(chat)Bots, explained recode.net
A bot is software that is designed to automate the kinds of tasks you would usually do on your own, like making a dinner reservation, adding an appointment to your calendar or fetching and displaying information. The increasingly common form of bots, chatbots, simulate conversation. They often live inside messaging apps — or are at least designed to look that way — and it should feel like you’re chatting back and forth as you would with a human.
Suicide
Aboriginal community in Canada declares emergency as 11 people try to commit suicide in one night itv
There have been 101 suicide attempts in the Attawapiskat First Nation, a remote 2,000-strong village near James Bay in northern Ontario, since September.
Apostasy
Norway's state church votes in favour of same-sex marriages mjtimes.sk.ca
Of 115 synod members present at the Church of Norway's council, 88 voted in favour, meaning that the state church will adopt provisions for marrying same-sex couples at its meeting next year and make it part of its official liturgy.
Pope
Pope invites Catholics to ignore church doctrine in document rife with calculated ambiguity albertmohler
Albert Mohler spends the entire briefing today discussing the Pope's document released last week and why it matters to Bible-believing Christians (hint: the Gospel is at stake)
Driverless Car
Ford tests Lidar-equipped car in pitch darkness techcrunch
By using Lidar, Ford recently showed that its autonomous vehicles can drive in complete darkness without human intervention. In the process, they remind us that the self-driving car is about a lot more than as-good-as-humans: It’s about harnessing tech to make cars far safer and smarter than human drivers.
UN
New UN Secretary-General may be elected for 7 years for first time tass.ru
The next UN Secretary-General can be elected for 7 years instead of 5 years for the first time and not be eligible for reelection. President of the UN General Assembly Mogens Lykketoft has told TASS that such an opportunity is currently discussed by the UN member-countries during the secret consultations.
I couldn't find a corroborating article. If true, you know this will kick off the prophesy-phere a chattering...
At Geneva conference, Ban calls for global partnership to prevent violent extremism un.org
the Secretary-General told the Geneva Conference on Preventing Violent Extremism – The Way Forward, co-hosted by the Government of Switzerland and the UN. Mr. Ban stressed: “Let us also recognize that today, the vast majority of victims worldwide are Muslims.”
Violent extremists seek to divide communities and the goal is to let fear rule, he said. “Let this conference – and our unity today – be the ultimate rebuke to that bankrupt strategy.”
Archeaology
Palestinian Christians bitter over destruction of church ruins in Gaza jpost
Palestine Christians on Wednesday expressed anger over the way the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have handled the ancient ruins of a Byzantine church that were uncovered in Gaza City last week.
See also Builders find remnants from Byzantine period in Gaza
Islamic State nets millions selling plundered antiquities online smh.au
According to Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, IS is making up to $265 million a year by smuggling and selling looted jewellery, coins and other precious archaeological items through auction sites and specialist online stores.
North Korea
Thirteen North Korean restaurant workers defect to South Korea theguardian
Jeong claimed it was unprecedented for so many people to have defected from the same North Korean restaurant abroad. It is also unusual for South Korea to make a formal announcement about defections, or to even comment on them. Jeong said the government decided to go public about the arrivals because of the unusual nature of the defections.
Cashless Society
Fingerprints to be tested as ‘currency’ the-japan-news
Starting this summer, the [Japanese] government will test a system in which foreign tourists will be able to verify their identities and buy things at stores using only their fingerprints.
False Religion
Pope to church: Be more accepting of divorced Catholics, gays and lesbians cnn
"By thinking that everything is black and white, we sometimes close off the way of grace and growth," he writes.
Self-Driving Cars
Toyota Joins the Race for Self-Driving Cars with an Invisible Copilot technologyreview
Toyota’s researchers are developing what they call a “guardian angel” system that will automatically take control of a vehicle, or subtly adjust a driver’s actions, in order to avert danger. In contrast to other companies working on self-driving vehicles, the Japanese carmaker sees combining machine and human driving as a key step toward full autonomy.
Robots
THE WORLD'S FIRST ROBOTIC KITCHEN moley
Moley has created the world's first robotic kitchen. Featuring an advanced, fully functional robot integrated into a beautifully designed, professional kitchen, it cooks with the skill and flair of a master chef. The prototype was premiered to widespread acclaim at Hanover Messe, the international robotics show.
Includes fascinating video.
Alphabet’s secretive Schaft Inc. shows off new bipedal robot in Tokyo techcrunch
There’s a new bot in town (Tokyo, specifically), and while it might not be as cute as Nao, as creepy as Spot and BigDog or as anthropomorphic as Atlas, it might be more practical than all of them. It walks on two legs, but not like a man, or even a bear. This one, designed by Alphabet-owned Schaft Inc., has its own uniquely robotic form of locomotion.
Includes a video. A step in the direction of more functional and less creepy robot :)
Genetics
Chinese Researchers Experiment with Making HIV-Proof Embryos technologyreview
Chinese fertility doctors have tried to make HIV-proof human embryos, but the experiments ended in a bust. The new report is the second time researchers in China revealed that they had a go at making genetically modified human embryos.
Space Tech
SpaceX just made history and landed a rocket on a ship techinsider.io
But the huge, history-making moment — causing everyone at SpaceX to lose their minds in a roar of applause during a live webcast — was when the company landed a rocket on a ship at sea.
Space
Spacecraft to seek life on Mars in European-led mission reuters
A spacecraft is due to set off for Mars next week on a mission that scientists hope will help answer one of the most burning questions of spacefaring times: Is there life on other planets?
Also: Europe's ExoMars spacecraft launches to Red Planet to seek out signs of life
Same-Sex
Missouri State Senate Overcomes 39-Hour Filibuster to Pass Religious Freedom Bill thenewamerican
By a margin of over three-to-one, members of the Missouri state Senate passed a bill that allows religious leaders and business owners to refuse service to homosexual partners requesting wedding services.
Genetics Tech
Researchers grow human tissue on a chip wwlp
It’s shaped like a microchip, but if you look closely, blood is flowing into those tiny vessels. This is a patch of heart tissue made entirely in a lab.
Has video
10 Biohackers Who Turned Into Superhumans youtube
A video highlighting the creepy, unnatural things people are doing to change who God created them.
Brain
The U.S. Government Launches a $100-Million "Apollo Project of the Brain" scientificamerican
...[IARPA] has dedicated $100 million to [this] project. The Machine Intelligence from Cortical Networks program, or MICrONS, aims to reverse-engineer one cubic millimeter of the brain, study the way it makes computations, and use those findings to better inform algorithms in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Has video
Archeology
Hiker finds rare 2,000-year-old gold coin in northern Israel timesofisrael
The coin carries an image of the Emperor Augustus, founder of the Roman Empire, who ruled from 27 BCE until his death in 14 CE, and was minted by Emperor Trajan in 107 CE.
Has video
Other...
Mysterious 'sea monster' washes up on beach in Mexico travel.aol
