Technology

Discovery Channel Shows Off Penetrator Bomb

Staff / Truthdig Mar 13, 2007 One of the weapons used with devastating effect against U.S. forces in Iraq is the so-called explosively formed penetrator, which the administration has accused Iran of producing. Astonishingly, the Discovery Channel recently aired a puff piece that delightedly showed off such a bomb, complete with a demonstration of how effective the compact device was against armored military targets. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Wikipedia Changes Policy After Poster Is Exposed

Staff / Truthdig Mar 8, 2007 The popular online encyclopedia Wikipedia, which draws its content from countless anonymous contributions, will institute safeguards following revelations about the identity of one of its most industrious contributors. Ryan Jordan, under the name "Essjay," wrote thousands of articles for the site while claiming to be a theology professor but was exposed by The New Yorker as a 24-year-old college dropout. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Perils of Cyberbaggage

Ellen Goodman / Truthdig Feb 22, 2007 Politicians know all too well the impact the blogosphere can have on their careers, but bloggers themselves are discovering their words can come back to haunt them. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

New Mexico Tries Talking Urinals

Staff / Truthdig Feb 18, 2007 New Mexico's transportation department has installed 500 talking deodorizers in urinals around the state in an effort to curb drunk driving. The motion-activated device plays a recorded message that encourages the captive listener to phone a friend or a cab if he has "had one too many." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Tying up the Netroots Nomination

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig Feb 16, 2007 Barack Obama probably won't best Hillary Clinton unless he trumps her efforts on the Internet. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Dingell Takes On the FCC

Staff / Truthdig Feb 16, 2007 Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), who just became head of the Commerce Committee, tells a public-radio interviewer that he's about to launch a Net Neutrality-flavored smackdown against the FCC. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Many Iraqis Survive by Using Google Earth, Other Web Tools

Staff / Truthdig Feb 14, 2007 According to the BBC, sites like the Iraq League site and Internet tools like Google Earth have become important means of survival in Iraq -- helping Iraqis avoid death squads, plan escape routes and guard against attacks. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

A Novel Approach to Homeland Security

Staff / Truthdig Feb 13, 2007 The Navy is hoping to deploy a group of dolphins and sea lions to protect a base on the Puget Sound from the risk of scuba-diving terrorists. Seriously. Not surprisingly, PETA thinks it's a bad plan. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Avatars Against the War

Staff / Truthdig Feb 9, 2007 While thousands of people were in D.C. protesting the war on Jan. 30, more than 120 digital versions of people gathered online in the Second Life world to stage a virtual protest. Watch a video of it. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The Machine Is Us

Staff / Truthdig Feb 8, 2007 Confused by all this talk about Web 2.0? This clever video (which is burning up the charts at YouTube) breaks it down for you -- with a sweet techno music backing. Our favorite idea: We "teach" the Internet a new idea with our every click. We are the machine. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

When Gay Sheep and the Blogosphere Collide

Staff / Truthdig Jan 25, 2007 Dr. Charles Roselli says a British newspaper misrepresented his research into gay rams, but that didn't stop the blogosphere, PETA and gay rights activists from running wild with the story. Despite an intense PR campaign to undo the damage, critics are still skeptical of the doctor's ethics. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bill Moyers on Net Neutrality’s Motley Crew

Staff / Truthdig Jan 17, 2007 At a media reform conference in Memphis, the PBS newsman applauded the coalition-building skills of the architects of the Net Neutrality movement. "Who would have imagined that sitting together in the same democratic broadband pew would be the Christian Coalition, Gun Owners of America, Common Cause and MoveOn.org?" Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )