The Church of Scientology has gone on trial in the French capital, Paris, accused of organised fraud.

The case centres on a complaint by a woman who says she was pressured into paying large sums of money after being offered a free personality test.

bbc

Today, you can set up a Ubuntu based computer easily and have no more difficulties with installation and maintenance of your system than any arbitrary OS on any arbitrary set of hardware. But there was a time when Linux was harder and not for just anyone. For me, messing with a system that is a bit of an uphill battle is worth it if that system does certain magic. This is an example of this magic.

To comment on this post, please visit this open thread on my old blogs. The commenting system on this blog is currently broken. Sorry for the inconvenience.

When I wrote my review of Evil Genes: Why Rome Fell, Hitler Rose, Enron Failed, and My Sister Stole My Mother’s Boyfriend (see: When Your Genes Turn Bad … I was unaware of this review by Grrlscientiest, but now I am so I’m pointing it out to you.

Four Stone Hearth # 67, the Anthropology Blog Carnival is at Soring Out Science. Check it out.

The 11th Skeptics Circle (I just don’t believe there have been that many) “You’re Gonna Love It Edition is now at Action Skeptics. Here.

Assuage Guilt: Get Inspired. Do Something:

Here is the first nine minutes of the speech. For the rest, go to Guilty Planet. And while you there browse around, it is an interesting place.

Don’t forget to periodically visit The Energy Grid, where you will find interesting posts such as this one: Politics or technology? (And something else altogether?)

Politics or Technology?
Which will be more important in addressing the open questions of energy security and environmental sustainability?
Who will save us from the impending meltdown towards which our most respected scientific models suggest we are headed?
Scientists or senators? Diplomats or designers? Engineers or community organizers? Us or them?

It may have to be us. All of us.

To comment on this post, please visit this open thread on my old blogs. The commenting system on this blog is currently broken. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Open Thread on cats vs. Dogs!