Monthly Archive

April 2011: Status Check
2011: Barack Obama is not an American citizen: this meme is strong in American political culture. With the 2012 presidential looming and a Republican primary race taking shape, birtherism has made a particularly virulent resurgence in the public consciousness, with 25% of Americans and 45% of Republican respondents believing... ...; Break on Through to the Other Side
2011: In what can only be seen as a stunning breach of security, over 400 Taliban prisoners escaped from a prison in Afghanistan. Although over 60 Taliban fighters have been recaptured, the Los Angeles Times reports that their plan was audacious in its simplicity:

Afghan insurgents proudly claimed...
...; Some Men are an Island
2011:2011: In what can only be considered a promotional stunt that would make Ayn Rand weep with joy, the tiny country of Liechtenstein has partnered with the rental service website Airbnb to allow you to rent the entire country for a hefty price—something which rapper Snoop Dogg attempted... ...; Killing the Killer
2011: How the mighty have fallen. Smallpox, which has killed hundreds of millions dating back to pre-history, is on its last legs. The World Health Organization is renewing the debate over weather to destroy the last remaining samples of the once-feared virus:

Two labs possess the last known live...
...; Capital Offense
2011: The death penalty is a perennial flash point in modern justice systems, one that forces a community to confront the most fundamental conceptions of the nature of crime and the role of punishment in maintaining a civil society. In Texas, the nature of criminal punishment has been called into... ...; Still a Maid
2011: When Diana Spencer became engaged to Prince Charles, her uncle made a public statement of certainty about her virginity before the royal wedding. Don’t expect any similar announcements from the Middleton household, the sexual history of the future royal is not up for discussion, reports the Associated Press.:... ...; Traveled the World and the Seven Seas
2011: Not content to eventually conquer space Richard Branson’s Virgin empire has announced its next target—the ocean deep. Branson is planning a series of expeditions to some of the deepest points on Earth, one in each of the world’s five oceans. The billionaire adventurer this week unveiled Virgin Oceanic... ...; Setting the Record Straight
2011: There are few things easier to do then falsify a celebrity’s Wikipedia page. It takes a only a few keystrokes and few stray eyeballs that pick up on rumors that can set the Internet ablaze. What are the well-known (and well-off) supposed to do? Start an account with the... ...

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