It's finally here. With apologies again, allow me to launch into the four (so appropriate, eh?) entries I received for this fourth installment of The Scian Melt.

First up is a lament of sorts by Patrix on his fine blog Nerve Endings Firing Away. And are they ever! Patrix finds the Cobb County School System has succumbed to a form of idiocy; insisting that evolution, or the theory behind it is only that a theory and that creationism, based largely on a Judeo-Christian belief of the world really is the only answer.

Continuing in this vein of science versus religion is Sandeep‘s post coincidentally titled, The Science Vs Religion Battle. Sandeep suggests that the age of rationale, independent thought, especially on college campuses is in the crosshairs of the ultra conservative propagandists. Dare to discuss a controversial topic and you will be forever branded a rabblerouser and summarily ejected from the system.

On a lighter note, Prashant Mullick has a lucid explanation of how we perceive colors in the sky.

Lastly, continuing to keep our eye to the starry sky one blogger who goes by Broodingdood has some truly fantastic plans for India's odyssey to the moon. Arthur C. Clarke would be proud.

The next Melt will be hosted by Patrix on or around December 25.

It is with profuse apologies to all that I say the links for the fourth Scian Melt will be up on this site only tomorrow (Wednesday, December 8, 2004).

A combination of receiving a dearth of entries (thanks Thanksgiving!) and a slew of personal errands that simply couldn't be put off caused this delay.

Selva has asked me to mention that the next Scian Blog will be hosted by Patrix at or around December 25.

Via John Paczkowski

Microsoft recently launched MSN Spaces, a “free” blog service. But the legal eagles in Redmond have obviously been working overtime.

If you are ever tempted to use their service, you may want to read over this part of the policy before signing on the dotted line:

“For materials you post or otherwise provide to Microsoft related to the MSN Web Sites (a “Submission”), you grant Microsoft permission to (1) use, copy, distribute, transmit, publicly display, publicly perform, reproduce, edit, modify, translate and reformat your Submission, each in connection with the MSN Web Sites, and (2) sublicense these rights, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. Microsoft will not pay you for your Submission.”

As long as M$ doesn't gobble up Six Apart (whose tool Typepad I use to post my blogs), I could really care less.

Via Rahul Chandran

The future of media as Google envisions it. Turn up the volume on your speakers as it plays. You will need Macromedia's Flash Player to check it out.

Via Sonia Jose

“Established in 1994, Bose Pacia was the first gallery in the West specializing in contemporary art from South Asia. During the past decade Bose Pacia has held over 30 exhibitions and is internationally regarded for promoting the South Asian avant-garde. Visual artists from South Asia work within a wholly unique space – one that is informed by a multitude of cultures, languages and religions and shaped by a complex past and dynamic present. Bose Pacia fosters an active discourse between these artists and the international art community by featuring exhibitions that contextualize contemporary art from this geographic region within its rich artistic traditions and current social tensions.”

Sonia's fiancee won the coveted Bose Pacia Prize last year. Sunoj D, hope to hear from you directly so that I may exhibit your prize-winning work here on Tiffinbox.