Many Dutch citizens are attempting to “de-baptize” themselves to protest Pope Benedict’s anti-gay marriage declarations; a national database of gun owners may have helped prevent the Newtown shooting; and although the media insist the president is giving in to the Republicans’ demands to make cuts to Social Security, Obama’s been trying to reduce it all along. These discoveries and more below.

On a regular basis, Truthdig brings you the news items and odds and ends that have found their way to Larry Gross, director of the USC Annenberg School for Communication. A specialist in media and culture, art and communication, visual communication and media portrayals of minorities, Gross helped found the field of gay and lesbian studies.

De-baptize” to Protest Pope Benedict Comments Against Gay Marriage Thousands of Dutch Catholics are researching how they can leave the church in protest at its opposition to gay marriage, according to the creator of a website aimed at helping them find the information.

There Is No American Left In September 2012 Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel attempted to break the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) with a bid to privatize Chicago’s public schools.

How Big Data Can Solve America’s Gun Problem Big data might have stopped the massacres in Newtown, Aurora, and Oak Creek.

Let’s Talk About Dying “It’s better than the alternative, isn’t it?” Words spoken repeatedly when, during the course of a research project on aging.

Are the Palestinians Ready to Share a State With Jordan? President Abbas may be pursuing a confederation with Jordan — a move that could finally break the stalemate in the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

The Iceberg Journal It is definitely a Wall Street journal—not a newspaper that covers cooperatives and other parts of the new, democratic economy.

Can We Please Stop Pretending Obama is ‘Capitulating’ on Social Security? Everywhere you look, the media narrative is that President Obama is “capitulating” to Republicans by agreeing to cuts in Social Security benefits.

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#alcohol#american politics#barack obama#catholic church#education#fiscal cliff#gay marriage#gun control#guns#Larry's List#lgbtq#marijuana#newtown shooting#pope benedict#pot#rahm emanuel#social security