Thou Shalt Not Kill, Except in a Popular Video Game at Church - New York Times

This week's sign that the apocalypse is upon us (as they used to say in Sports Illustrated): Some churches are now using the popular video game "Halo" to attract a particular demographic--adolescent males--so that they can hit them with a religious message after a couple of hours of shooting-em-up on the popular video game. If it wasn't enough of a mixed message that a violent video game would use a religiously evocative name like "Halo," churches are now using the game as a beacon, or a halo, to attract adolescent males so they can preach to them about Christian ideals, including "though shalt not kill."

How weird is that?

Read more...

Link - New York Times

Bringing smart phones to the masses | CNET News.com

Once thought of as productivity tools used primarily in the business world, smart phones are becoming increasingly popular among average cell phone users who want e-mail and web access on a smoother, less clunky interface but who dislike the bulk and cost of traditional smart phones like the Blackberry and Treo lines. Palm, which makes Palm Pilots (PDAs) and Treos, is planning to release a slimmer smart phone for under $100--way cheaper than the $500-$600 cost for Blackberries and Treos.

Link | CNET News.com

Backpacker turns Myanmar activist via Facebook - Yahoo! News

Another example of the power and influence that can be achieved by writing online, a 19-year-old student backpacking through Myanmar was so affected by the civil unrest in that country that he has started a MySpace to help draw international attention to the unrest. His site has gained wide popularity.

Link (Yahoo News)