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McLeroy [Texas Board of Education Chair] nomination in jeopardy
Source: The Austin American-Statesman

State Board of Education Chairman Don McLeroy, R-Bryan, faced searing questioning during his uncommonly long confirmation hearing Wednesday at the Senate Nominations Committee.

Major German online companies agree to block child porn websites
Source: DW-World.De

German internet providers have grudgingly agreed to block websites containing child pornography. Critics say their deal with the government won't make much of a difference.

'Spirituality for Kids' class draws fire
Source: The L.A. Times

In a light-filled classroom in Sherman Oaks, gregarious teacher Jenna Zucker dons a straw hat and, in an exaggerated Southern drawl, invites the gathered first- and second-graders to an imaginary picnic.

San Antonio-area student can keep long hair
Source: The Houston Chronicle

SOMERSET — A Native American Somerset High School senior — whose parents filed a federal lawsuit saying his right of religious expression was violated when he received an on-campus suspension — can return to class without having to cut his shoulder-length hair.

'Sexting' lands teen on sex offender list
Source: CNN

When Vanessa Hudgens' naked photos hit the Internet, the "High School Musical" star quickly apologized. But sending nude or seminude pictures, a phenomenon known as sexting, is a fast-growing trend among teens.

Aren't Flag-Desecration Cases a Thing of the Past? Not in Nebraska
Source: Wall Street Journal

A judge in Sarpy County, Nebraska earlier today ruled that prosecutors can go ahead with their case against a member of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., whose members believe that U.S. troop deaths are punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.

4 admit painting racist graffiti at NCSU -- in "Free Expression Tunnel"
Source: NewsObserver.com

Campus police say they will not bring charges against four people who admitted spray-painting racist graffiti aimed at President-elect Barack Obama in the Free Expression Tunnel at N.C. State University.

Must It Always Be About Sex? -- That Wonderful Horrible Effing F-Word...
Source: The New York Times

The Supreme Court specializes in law, not lexicography. But it will soon have to consider the meaning of that most versatile of four-letter words.

Sarkozy loses 'voodoo doll' case
Source: BBC News

A French judge has rejected President Nicolas Sarkozy's attempt to stop sales of a "voodoo doll" in his image. Dismissing the case, the Paris judge said the doll was "within the authorised limits of free expression and the right to humour".

California doctors can't refuse treatment to gays on religious grounds, court rules
Source: The L.A. Times

Doctors may not discriminate against gays and lesbians in medical treatment, even if the procedures being sought conflict with physicians' religious beliefs, the California Supreme Court decided unanimously Monday.

Olympic Gag Order
Source: The Washington Post

WHEN BEIJING was bidding to host the 2008 Summer Olympics, part of its pitch was that the games would help promote human rights in China, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) bought it. But with the Aug.

China seeks India's backing on Tibet
Source: BBC News

[State Councillor Dai Bingguo] urged India to "understand and support" China's policy towards Tibet, following recent unrest there [...] in a telephone call to Indian National Security Adviser MK Narayanan.

Can Nothing Be Done About the Pedophile Blogger? How the Law Deals With Dangerous People
Source: writ.news.findlaw.com

Jack McClellan, a man who proudly calls himself a pedophile, blogs about his sexual interest in little girls and calls his readers' attention to various locations where interested parties can find large numbers of children (including international cities where children tend to be …

Nolan Bowie: Treating money as free speech
Source: The Boston Globe

Money, by definition, is a medium that can be exchanged for goods and services and is used as a measure of their values in the market.

Which freedoms do we want online? How Free are We?
Source: BBC News

My colleague, Chinese journalist and blogger Michael Anti, pointed out that although political expression is tightly controlled in China the government is not really interested in other aspects of people's lives, while here in the UK we can talk about democracy but other forms of …

The Cartoons That Don't Make It to Print
Source: NPR

I enjoy listening to NPR... usually... for the most part... sometimes. I used to enjoy their counter-culture stance (albeit left-leaning, on some days), until - thanks to the current administration - they became the vox populi.

Bloggers Shrink the Planet
Source: Wired News

From the article: NEW DELHI -- Exciting things happen when dedicated bloggers from around the world meet for the first time. For Briton Rachel Rawlins, being introduced to Tunisian exile Sami Ben Gharbia was the chance to meet a personal hero.

Newman's Own 1st Amendment Award
Source: PEN American Center

For the 15th consecutive year, Newman's Own, the food company whose founder and president, actor Paul Newman, donates all after-tax profits to charity, is funding a First Amendment Prize administered by PEN American Center. -- Nomination Deadline is Dec. 29th, 2006.

Call for jailed bloggers to be freed
Source: Independent.co.uk

Amnesty International is launching a campaign on behalf of a whole new category of prisoners of conscience - internet bloggers and chatroom visitors arrested by repressive governments for expressing unwelcome views or disseminating sensitive information online.

UK journalists union calls for Yahoo boycott
Source: Reuters

The union representing journalists in the UK and Ireland called on its 40,000 members to boycott all Yahoo Inc. products and services to protest the Internet company's reported actions in China.

Gonzales calls for mandatory Web labeling law | CNET News.com
Source: CNET

Web site operators posting sexually explicit information must place official government warning labels on their pages or risk being imprisoned for up to five years, the Bush administration proposed Thursday.

Digital Copyright Law Hurts Consumers, Scientists, and Competition
Source: eff.org

A new report released today from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), "Unintended Consequences: Seven Years Under the DMCA," collects reports of the misuses of the DMCA -- chilling free expression and scientific research, jeopardizing fair use, impeding competition and innova

Jytte Klausen: A Danish Drama
Source: prospectmagazine.co.uk

Jyllands-Posten, the newspaper that published the infamous Muhammad cartoons, is based in my home town and still sits on my family's coffee table. This is the real story of how a provincial newspaper's prank turned into a global crisis.

Denmark, Where Are You?
Source: stopterrorkrigen.dk

In the following open letter, an outstanding figure in Danish culture, the composer Thomas Koppel (Savage Rose), challenges the Danish government to step down over its handling of the Mohamad provocation - and its responsibility for Denmark's participating in the illegal war and

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