The Vatican ‘Backtracks’ (Just a Little) on Its Support of Gays Thanks to the Theocons

With all the conservative backlash, it was only a matter of time until the Holy See had to rephrase its statements on gay cohabitation; according to activist Richard Stallman, cloud computing is a “trap”; meanwhile, employees continue to lose the most at corporations. These discoveries and more below.

Under Conservative Assault, Vatican Backtracks on Gay Comments Under furious assault from conservative Catholics, the Vatican backtracked Tuesday on its surprisingly positive assessment of gays and same-sex relationships.

Five Maps That Capture the Evolution of the World Throughout History Maps, says Great Maps author and historian Jerry Brotton, are more than a geographic object, a tool to get us from point A to B. From the ancient Greeks to Google Earth, all human cultures have had an innate urge to map.

The 350,000 Percent Rise of Christopher Wool’s Masterpiece Painting Art dealer Christophe Van de Weghe strode into Christie’s auction house in New York with orders from a mystery client.

Cloud Computing Is a Trap, Warns GNU Founder Richard Stallman Web-based programs like Google’s Gmail will force people to buy into locked, proprietary systems that will cost more and more over time, according to the free software campaigner.

UK Envoy: British Public Opinion Against Israel Diplomats respond to British parliament’s vote to recognize a Palestinian state, with former Israeli ambassador to US saying Israel sticking head in sand instead of leading its own diplomatic front: We prefer fighting rockets than boycotts.

The Science of Us A sergeant in the city police force was worried about rising ethnic tensions.

A Bigger Pie Doesn’t Mean You Are Getting a Slice The kerfuffle between executives and shareholders of The Coca-Cola Company seems to have been smoothed over, at least for now, but no matter how much the two sides wrangle over the pie, they do agree on one crucial detail: Employees deserve nothing.

Big Data Can Peer Into Your Soul Based on Your Zip Code Software company Esri’s database files Americans into 67 different consumer groups—with eerie accuracy.

Sir Alan Duncan: Middle East Peace: The Principles Behind the Process May I start by expressing my gratitude to RUSI for providing me with a platform from which I can express my considered thoughts on an issue that has concerned – not to say, troubled – me for over thirty years.

In Battle Against Kurds, Is it AKP’s Policy to Back IS? On Oct. 7, I joined my colleague and old friend Hasan Cemal at dinner in Istanbul.

A Bombshell Document at the Vatican Synod Since Jorge Maria Bergoglio became Pope Francis, a little more than a year and a half ago, the Argentine has radically changed the tone and the mood surrounding the Catholic Church.

‘Preppers’: Training for the End of the World as We Know It A visit to “prepper camp,” a four-day session on surviving super viruses, natural disasters, socioeconomic collapse, world war, and more.

Who’s Behind Hong Kong’s Counter-Protests? Mainland Chinese, organized crime, and business interests counter the Umbrella Revolution.

My Terrifying Night With Afghanistan’s Only Female Warlord I’d been living in Afghanistan three weeks when my guide, a young Afghan named Sharif Sahak, showed me a photograph of the country’s only known female warlord, Bibi Ayisha, nom de guerre: Commander Pigeon.

Has Medium Actually Pulled off what Pierre Omidyar Only Promised? Investors and advisors in Medium who I’ve spoken with say one thing has consistently surprised them about the company: That famed founder Evan Williams is not “religious” about anything.

This 22-Year-Old Quit Being A Kindergarten Teacher To Twerk Professionally A Florida woman makes six figures jiggling her booty for 2 million Vine followers.

Francis vs The Theocons They are, naturally, having a collective breakdown.