News

Networking Sites, Chat Rooms Face Banishment

Staff / Truthdig Jul 28, 2006 In an effort to combat sexual predators' use of social networking websites, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would effectively make sites like Amazon and MySpace inaccessible at public spaces. This is well-intentioned but horribly executed. Let's hope the worse-than-"Do Nothing" Senate can keep this one from becoming law. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Playing the Atheism Card Against Pat Tillman’s Family

Stan Goff / Truthdig Jul 28, 2006 The family of slain NFL-player-turned-Army-Ranger Pat Tillman may have been irreligious, but does that mean they're not entitled to the truth about the fratricide that killed their son? New Truthdig contributor Stan Goff, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces soldier who has written extensively on the topic, probes for the truth. Dig deeper ( 10 Min. Read )

Teens Will ‘Huff’ Anything These Days

Staff / Truthdig Jul 28, 2006 Two teenagers in France fell ill after sniffing mothballs as a recreational drug. One developed scaly skin on her legs and hands. Developed scaly skin after a close encounter with an insect? Sounds like Jeff Goldblum's transformation in "The Fly." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Move Along… There’s No Reform to See Here…

Staff / Truthdig Jul 28, 2006 After promising fast action on lobbying reform in the wake of numerous scandals, the Senate and the House have proved unable to put together a reform bill that both can live with -- so instead they've made plans to adopt vastly scaled-back versions. No wonder: USA Today reports that our Congress is on track to spending fewer days in session than the infamous 1948 "Do Nothing" Congress. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Sen. Stevens Open to ‘Daily Show’ Appearance

Staff / Truthdig Jul 28, 2006 The Alaska senator whom Jon Stewart (and much of the world) has mocked mercilessly for his infamous "series of tubes" diatribe on Internet fundamentals, says he'd consider appearing on "The Daily Show" to defend himself Stewart has yet to extend the offer . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Colbert Accuses Congresswoman of Sexual Harassment

Staff / Truthdig Jul 28, 2006 Stephen Colbert, in his endlessly entertaining mission to interview every member of Congress, sat down with DC Rep Eleanor Holmes Norton on Thursday While she might not have gotten the joke, the congresswoman demonstrated great patience as she and Colbert argued over whether Washington, D, is part of the United States. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

U.S. Softens Stand on Internet Control

Staff / Truthdig Jul 28, 2006 An administration official has indicated the United States may loosen its control over the Internet. The statement comes as something of a surprise after last year?s announcement by the Bush administration that the U.S. has no intention of relinquishing authority over its own invention. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

A Brief History of Human Sex

Staff / Truthdig Jul 28, 2006 To get an idea of how we humans might act if unfettered by cultural restraints, we could look at bonobo chimpanzees, which engage in frequent sexual acts "a fairly quick, perfunctory and relaxed activity that functions as a social cement," according to an expert . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Army Dismisses Gay Arabic Linguist

Staff / Truthdig Jul 28, 2006 A decorated sergeant and Arabic language specialist was discharged after an investigation determined that he was gay. He alleges his commanding officer blatantly violated the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, and that investigators asked him if he had close friends who were gay, and if he was involved in community theater. Thank goodness our military is on top of things. We've got too damned many Arabic linguists in the service these days. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Sean Hannity Concert Guest Gets Tossed for Being Liberal

Staff / Truthdig Jul 28, 2006 Check out this video a blogger (and AlterNet) made of being tossed out of Sean Hannity's "Freedom Concert" simply for being liberal. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Low-Fat Ice Cream Uses Cloned Fish Blood Proteins

Staff / Truthdig Jul 27, 2006 Appetizing news from the N Times: "New industrial processes, including one that involves a protein cloned from the blood of an Arctic Ocean fish, have allowed manufacturers to produce very creamy, dense, reduced-fat ice creams with fewer additives" Yum. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Profits up 40% at Shell, 36% at Exxon

Staff / Truthdig Jul 27, 2006 No need for creative accounting at these outfits: It's good to be an oil company these days. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )