Enlarge Robert Willett/Raleigh News Dr. Patrick Wooden, senior pastor of the Upper Room Church of God In Christ in North Carolina, celebrates early returns that show strong support for Amendment One, which bans gay marriage in the state. Robert Willett/Raleigh News Dr. Patrick Wooden, senior pastor of the Upper Room Church of God In Christ in North Carolina, celebrates early returns that show strong support for Amendment One, which bans gay marriage in the state. We like when conventional wisdom is challenged. And during the past couple of days, we stumbled on two stories that challenged assumptions both the news media and Americans seem to make. First, Reuters compares Americans to anorexics when it comes to taxes. Essentially, they say when Americans respond to polls, ... Continue reading →
The Google Chrome logo is displayed at a store in London last year. STORY HIGHLIGHTS Report: Google Chrome passes Internet Explorer in browser wars The stats may not be exact, but they do indicate a trend Chome's popularity has been rising as IE's wanes Google's browser is seen as being faster and more innovative (CNN) -- This might be the start of a new chapter in the browser wars. Over the weekend, Google Chrome routed more Internet traffic than Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which long has held its spot as the most-used Web browser in the world, according to data from StatCounter, an Internet monitor. Don't rush to over-interpret this bit of news, though. Other Internet trackers still show Internet Explorer -- which comes pre-installed on ... Continue reading →
CFTC Commissioner Bart Chilton says this is not a mullet. We report, you decide. NPR story Continue reading →
Enlarge Justin Sullivan/Getty Images It would take a lot of marijuana plants such as these to make four tons. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images It would take a lot of marijuana plants such as these to make four tons. Who dumped the dope? That's the question of the day along the coast of Southern California as authorities try to figure out how four tons of marijuana — more than 150 bales — got into the Pacific Ocean near Orange County's Dana Point Harbor. They were found this weekend about 15 miles out to sea. According to the Orange County Register, Border Patrol spokesman Michael Jimenez says that in most other cases when bales of pot have been recovered from the ocean, traffickers have dropped them into the ... Continue reading →
John O'Boyle/AP Dharun Ravi. After emotional appeals from parents on both sides of the case, Dharun Ravi was this afternoon sentenced to 30 days in jail and three years of probation for bias intimidation and invasion of privacy when he used a webcam to spy on his gay roommate at Rutgers University in September 2010. That roommate, Tyler Clementi, committed suicide shortly after the incident involving the webcam. The tragedy has gotten national attention. As The Associated Press says: "The case has turned both Clementi and Ravi, who for just three weeks shared a Rutgers University dorm room they were randomly assigned, into widely known symbols. Clementi is seen as an example of what can happen to young gays who are too often bullied even ... Continue reading →
HARRISBURG, Pa. May 21, 2012, 11:38 am ET HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The June child sex-abuse trial of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky will not be delayed, a judge ruled Monday. The one-sentence order by Judge John Cleland did not explain his reasons, but it means the case will very likely begin with jury selection inside a central Pennsylvania courthouse in barely two weeks. Sandusky lawyer Joe Amendola had asked for the delay on May 9, arguing that he needed more time to find and interview witnesses, and that pending criminal charges against two Penn State administrators made them unavailable as witnesses. He said without the delay, he was concerned he would not be able to represent Sandusky effectively and adequately. Sandusky, ... Continue reading →
Enlarge Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images Congress, shown gathered for President Obama's State of the Union in January, is speaking at about a grade level lower now than in 2005, according to the Sunlight Foundation. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images Congress, shown gathered for President Obama's State of the Union in January, is speaking at about a grade level lower now than in 2005, according to the Sunlight Foundation. Members of Congress are often criticized for what they do — or rather, what they don't do. But what about what they say and, more specifically, how they say it? It turns out that the sophistication of congressional speech-making is on the decline, according to the open government group the Sunlight Foundation. Since 2005, the average grade-level at which members ... Continue reading →
Enlarge Ed Perlstein/Redferns Robin Gibb (center) performs with brother Bee Gees Maurice (left) and Barry in 1979. Gibb died in London on Sunday. He was 62. Ed Perlstein/Redferns Robin Gibb (center) performs with brother Bee Gees Maurice (left) and Barry in 1979. Gibb died in London on Sunday. He was 62. Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees has died. Gibb died after a long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery, according to a statement on his official website. "The family have asked that their privacy is respected at this very difficult time," the statement said. Robin and his brothers Barry and Maurice Gibb racked up dozens of hit songs in their five decade career. Robin Gibb, who had cancer, was 62. The Bee Gees might ... Continue reading →
