DDOS: from God with love

neteffect, DDOS: from God with love, 21 Oct 09 "On hearing the news that web-sites of several atheist foundations/NGOs have become victims of severe DDoS attacks, I could only think about one thing: it would be quite hard to blame these attacks on either China or Russia."

LDS Church and the net

mormontimes.com, LDS Church using the Internet to its advantage, 8 Oct 09 "There are "Mormon Messages" on YouTube, the Mormon Channel streaming online and several sites designed specifically for search engine optimization. Future offerings may include personalized online general conference journals, upgraded ward directories and content for mobile phones."

Scientology

Julian Dibbel, wired.com, The Assclown Offensive: How to Enrage the Church of Scientology, Wired 17:10 background on 4chan and campaigning techniques used against Scientology

Holy Apps

Guardian,The app economy, 29 Jul 09 discusses several religiously oriented apps for the iPhone, such as iBreviary (longer article in American Magazine on the latter app).

Internet et religion

Jean-François Mayer, Livre: Internet et religion - les enjeux d'une mutation technologique (Infolio/Religioscope)

Details on a new book (in French) on the study of religion and the internet. Some specific content in relation to Islam, and some interesting thoughts on how to approach this growing discipline. I would advise students to use this on my Studying Religions on the Internet MA module. Recommended.

Virtual Shtetl Portal

AFP, High-tech edge for Poland's Jewish history, 16 Jun 09 "The creators of Poland's future Museum of Polish Jews Tuesday in Warsaw launched the Virtual Shtetl website, a portal they hope will build the museum's collection even before its doors open in 2011.

""This portal has the potential to become the greatest source of information about Jewish life in Poland prior to the war," project creator and coordinator Albert Stankowski told reporters in Warsaw Tuesday."

See Virtual Shtetl Portal

Koogle

Reuters, Orthodox Jews launch "kosher" search engine, 14 Jun 09 "Religiously devout Jews barred by rabbis from surfing the Internet may now "Koogle" it on a new "kosher" search engine, the site manager said on Sunday.

"Yossi Altman said Koogle, a play on the names of a Jewish noodle pudding and the ubiquitous Google, appears to meet the standards of Orthodox rabbis, who restrict use of the Web to ensure followers avoid viewing sexually explicit material."

Lester Haines, The Register, Orthodox Jews tuck into kosher Koogle, 15 Jun 09 "Orthodox Jews - whose religious beliefs have previously kept them a safe distance from the internet - can now avail themselves of a "kosher" search engine, suitably tuned to satisfy even the most demanding rabbi."

Some sections of Koogle appear to still be in development.