A man was shot dead in Florida for texting his daughter during a movie; two police officers were acquitted after beating a mentally ill man into a coma; meanwhile, MOMA has been turned into a department store. 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.

Man Fatally Shot for Texting in Movie Theater A man at a movie theater in Florida was shot dead by another patron after an argument erupted over his texting during a screening.

Did a Federal Court Just Kill the Open Internet? The court said that the Federal Communications Commission did not have the authority to impose regulations that ensure “net neutrality.”

Trojan Cans: How Did the Self-Service Economy Emerge? Classic business history links the evolution of markets and consumption to underlying macro, classic, and web-like infrastructures such as energy grids, transportation systems, and communication networks, which have transformed the economy.

A California Jury’s Baffling Verdict A video shows two former police officers beating a mentally ill man into a coma. So why were they acquitted?

MoMA’s Faux-Populist Expansion Makes it Look Like a Department Store This is how you ruin a cultural institution.

Why the Washington Post’s New Ties to the CIA Are So Ominous American journalism has entered highly dangerous terrain.

Downtown Tel Aviv Is Nearing a Racial Boiling Point For some people, it’s all very simple: The Africans in Israel are refugees; they must be recognized as such and must be given their rights and the opportunity to live and work there.

WAIT, BEFORE YOU GO…

If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.

Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG