Free Republic

A multi-faith cemetery will have all its graves aligned with Mecca, despite Christian burials traditionally facing east. CHRIS BIRKLE finds out how Christians and Muslims feel about the controversial council decision In today's secular society you could be forgiven for not knowing which direction Christian graves face. Ancient tradition shows they should look east in anticipation of the second coming of Jesus Christ. But all headstones at the new £2.5m High Wood Cemetery in Bulwell will be plotted to face north-east, in line with Islamic faith. Muslims believe the dead look over their shoulder towards Mecca, towards the south-east

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM - news) late on Wednesday rolled out a new version of its database software aimed at users of Linux (news - web sites) and Unix (news - web sites) operating systems that it hopes will help the company take away market share from market leader Oracle Corp. (Nasdaq:ORCL - news). IBM said the latest version of its DB2 software that runs on Linux and Unix automatically self-manages databases, allowing companies to better manage, process and retrieve data such as product pricing. Armonk, New York-based IBM said that the latest database software,...

Anyone who has ever gone trolling the aisles of a Home Depot on weekends in search of just the right light bulb or tub of plaster and been grateful to get it at a fair and reasonable price might see an upward climb in those prices in the days ahead.