14 Dec 2007
Online Sex Offender Database Leads To Murder?

A scarlet letter pinned to the wrong coat ...

The LA Times reports on the story of Michael A. Dodele, a convicted rapist, found murdered in a Lakeport trailer park. He moved there after having been released from prison just 35 days before. A 29-year-old construction worker has been arrested in the attack, and explained that he killed Dodele to protect his son from child molestation. He found out on the internet about Dodele being a sex offender, via the 'Megan's Law' database. The public entry for Dodele in the database was wrong — though he was found guilty of committing crimes against adult women he was not a child molester. Dodele's entry in Megan's Law DB has been removed.

(link) [Slashdot]

07:28 /Politics | 0 comments | permanent link

Mixing Jesus With Java

Fascinating trend - almost as though these folks are moving voluntarily to a model that's been more or less forced on heathens by circumstances. Change the religious elements and trappings, and you could be at any number of kindred celebrations.

I do note, however, that the group has one paid staffer, something that I don't believe any heathen group in the country can duplicate.

The transition from a casual, coffee-shop gathering to a Christian worship service is almost imperceptible. In a cozy space at Jammin' Java, a cafe in a Vienna, Va., shopping center, 18 young adults sit and chat, refill their mugs, or prepare the area for the coming service. A projector screen is set up; candles are arranged; a basket of rolls, a chalice, and small glasses of grape juice are set out. At 10 o'clock, systems engineer Deanna Doan steps up to the mike, and the group finds itself celebrating the second Sunday of Advent.

(link) [U.S. News & World Report]

07:27 /Asatru | 0 comments | permanent link