More Muhammed Cartoon Controversy in Scandinavia

Fears grew of a new confrontation over images deemed blasphemous by Muslims as Pakistan joined Iran in protest over a sketch by a Swedish artist portraying the prophet Mohammed as a dog.

[EDIT]

The publication, in the newspaper Nerikes Allehanda, came after several galleries had refused to display the drawings, apparently for fear of violent retaliation from offended Muslims.

Early last year, violent demonstrations erupted throughout the Muslim world after the publication in Denmark of 12 cartoons of the Prophet Mohamed which were also deemed blasphemous.

"Alongside the picture, we published a comment piece saying that it was serious that there is self-censorship among exhibition [galleries]," said the Nerikes Allehanda editor-in-chief, Ulf Johansson.

Full article

English translation of the Nerikes Allehanda editorial

Eli Valley's Foxman comic

One of the best sites I've ever seen...

Disinfotainment

Arson at the Crematorium

Israel's only commercial crematorium, viewed by Orthodox Jews as an abomination, was severely damaged in a suspicious fire Wednesday, just hours after its secret location was revealed in a religious newspaper.

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Lowbrow

Earlier tonight on Ovation TV I watched The Lowdown on Lowbrow, a documentary about the lowbrow art movement, of which I am a great fan. La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Juxtapoz magazine, and Robert Williams were all featured prominently.

When I first moved to Hollywood, my apartment was on Lanewood Avenue, which is two blocks from Hollywood Boulevard. I walked past the nearby La Luz de Jesus many, many times, but I thought it was just a strange Mexican store-front church, so I never went inside. It was only after I had left California and started law school back in Louisiana that I began my subscription to Juxtapoz and discovered my mistake. Missing that opportunity to see such interesting artwork in my own old neighborhood is one of my three big regrets about my time in Los Angeles. (The others are never getting a hotdog at Pink's and never going to the Ackermansion.)

Local ADL Leader Fired Over His Refusal To Deny Armenian Genocide

The national Anti-Defamation League fired its New England regional director yesterday, one day after he broke ranks with national ADL leadership and said the human rights organization should acknowledge the Armenian genocide that began in 1915.

Full article


Joey Kurtzman of Jewcy has written a great criticism of Genocide-denier Abe Foxman and follow-up pieces about the Watertown debate and Andrew Tarsy's firing.

Government to pay $80K to pair arrested for anti-Bush T-shirts

The federal government has agreed to pay $80,000 to a Texas couple arrested and charged with trespassing in 2004 after they refused to cover up homemade T-shirts with anti-Bush slogans.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of Nicole and Jeffery Rank of Corpus Christi, Texas, announced the settlement yesterday.

The Ranks were handcuffed, removed from the July 4, 2004, presidential rally at the state Capitol and held in police custody for between one and two hours.

Full article

A Little Intifada Now and Then Is A Good Thing

I made the t-shirt design above and the one immediately below in protest of the forced resignation of Debbie Almontaser for actually discussing the meaning of the word "intifada" rather than just condemning the original INTIFADA NYC t-shirts. Click on either image to be brought to that design's store, where other shirt styles and more products are also available.


The a-Rab (which looks like it's going to be a very interesting website) has created its own t-shirt commentary on the controversy:

The Dollar Is Flat

The new Thomas Jefferson dollars came out yesterday. Though I strongly support dollar coinage and Jefferson is probably my favorite President, I haven't gotten to the bank to buy my TJ's yet.

I did do an experiment with one of my George Washington dollars, though. I've lived near train tracks for most of my life, so I've flattened several dollars worth of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters over the years. I wondered what would happen if I put a GW dollar coin on the rail. Below are the results. I've included an unflattened coin for comparison.

I was a little disappointed that it wasn't flatter. You can even still read "IN GOD WE TRUST" on the side. I'm not sure if the coin fell off the rail before the entire train ran over it or if these dollar coins are just very sturdy.

"WARNING: I'm blogging this." T-shirt

There's also a bumpersticker and a thong, so all scenarios are covered.

Clowning 4 Christ

We are a Christ Centered, Bible believing Ministry and our goal is to spread the Gospel through our unique clown performance in churches and community venues through the United States. In addition to our performance we also teach a professional level of clowning to all Christian clowns as well as clowns in training.

Clowning 4 Christ