Carnivalia and an open thread

With cephalopodmas approaching again, some people may be in need of some festive wrapping paper (or even, if they have the printing resources, some fabric): 600px repeating design (which would probably work well at 200-300dpi).

Oops - I missed off the last part of that link somehow (and the directory isn't much use on its own): 600px repeat.

SEF: seriously, you could sell that. In Target.

As far as open threads go, please remember one of my classmates. He was brutally murdered last night.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/12504161.html

Komma was a genuinely sweet guy. I fear he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and he will be missed.

He had recently passed his general exam and only needed to finish his dissertation to be a bona fide PhD.

First, as far as carnivals go, Four Stone Hearth is at the Greenbelt on the 19th and Skeptic's circle is the 20th at Aarvarchaeology.

As for the open thread, I would point out this news piece that's been relatively quite on the Skeptic/Atheist circle as far as I have seen
http://archaeoporn.wordpress.com/2007/12/13/student-sues-over-anti-chri…
I really want to be behind the teacher, but one of the things he is reported to have said seems over the edge.

Sorry to double post, but I forgot to say that I am sure I speak for everyone when I say how sorry we are for the loss Jeb.

Dear Jeb,

I heard that shocking story on the national news this morning. I know your handle from earlier Pharyngula threads, and am saddened to hear that it hit so close to home for you.

Even though I have lost a classmate to unexpected and violent death, I would never presume so much to say that I know how you or anyone else may feel. But I will offer up my experience in the hope that it may be helpful to you in some way.

Take extra good care of yourself--I found myself really anxious, upset, and angry long after I thought I should have gotten over Jessica's death, whatever "getting over" might mean. It was tempting to think that such a traumatic event had much less effect than it really did. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't have put those expectations on how I "should" feel and when.

Reaching out, like you did here tonight, is a good thing--talking about it to people you trust can hurt, but the hurt does get better over time. Easy to say, I know; much harder to see when you're in the middle of it.

I'm sorry I have nothing more to offer than a few words, Jeb--please do take good care of yourself.

--Ravensara

Condolences for your loss Jeb, it is always a tragedy to lose a beautiful mind. My heart goes out to his family in India.

The Institute for Creation Research is moving to Texas and trying to get accredited here:

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/12/15/1215crea…

"The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will make a final decision next month on whether to issue a certificate of authority, which would give the institute two years to obtain accreditation. An advisory committee voted unanimously Friday to recommend the board grant the certificate.

The institute is moving its operations from Santee, Calif., to its new Dallas facility and plans to seek accreditation from a state-approved regional body such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, officials said."

"Texas higher education officials said the board sent a team of independent consultants to visit the institute and examine curriculum, administration, finances and other aspects.

The team gave an overall favorable report, though it noted an exception written into the institute's academic freedom policy: "It is ... expected that faculty members as teachers, scholars, and citizens, will further the ministry of the Institute through their life example and commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord. Acceptance to this limitation of academic freedom is reaffirmed with each annual contract."

However, the report said, the institute offered a "plausible" scientific program."

you could sell that.

I'm not actually that in to making money. The complications are likely to be greater than the benefits. However, if there was a charity which could make money out of it, that would be different.

In Target.

To me that's a brand of children's book! I don't recall any of them being particularly cephalopodic.

I am shocked - shocked, I say - that noöne has yet brought up this horrible example of discrimintion.

It may not be Expelled stuff, but I should think it'd make your bloodichor boil.

Serious stupid viewpoint:

http://www.citizenlink.org/Stoplight/A000005834.cfm