JERKS!

Teen denied Eagle Scout for disobeying ‘duty to God’ by being gay

Gay teen Ryan Andresen denied Eagle Scout honor (KGO)

The Boy Scouts of America on Thursday said that they had denied a gay California teen Eagle Scout honors because he had not lived up to the principle of “duty to God.”

COMPUTING HISTORY

Archaeologists return to ancient Greek ‘computer’ wreck site: official

Ancient Greek computer the Antikythera Mechanism via AFP

A new search has begun at a Greek island where an ancient device known as the world’s “oldest computer” was found over a century ago.

PANTS ON FIRE

Romney surrogate claims ‘Etch A Sketch’ lying is ‘good campaign tactics’

Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA), appearing on CNN. Photo: Screenshot via CNN.com.

Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) admitted to CNN’s Soledad O’Brien on Friday that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is in fact changing his position on numerous issues just to pick up skeptics in the political center.

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED

‘Third Eagle’ posts new song protesting ‘first gay president’ Obama

Third Eagle screen grab

A singer and songwriter who calls himself “Third Eagle” insinuates that President Barack Obama is a gay man who is waiting for the election to be over so he can leave his wife and start getting “oral” from a man named “George, Ed or Steve.”

THE DEBT TRAP

National Bank of Canada foreclosing Americans’ homes over credit card debt

A woman receives a foreclosure notice. Photo: Shutterstock.com, all rights reserved.

The National Bank of Canada is attempting to foreclose upon hundreds of American families’ homes in California over old credit card debts.

GAME OF THRONES

Catholic theologian: Unseat pope and push ‘authoritarian’ church to radical reform

Pope Benedict XVI via Agence France-Presse

Hans Küng urges confrontation from the grassroots to unseat the pope and force radical reform at the Vatican.

Science

11-year-old Russian boy stumbles upon woolly mammoth find of the century

An 11-year-old boy from Russia’s north has stumbled upon a well-preserved woolly mammoth, in what…

Study: Climate change disbelievers get most column space in U.S. and UK newspapers

Climate sceptics feature more prominently in newspapers in the US and UK than other countries,…

Turd-eating worms clear air around Canadian toilets

M&M’s-crazed bees make blue and green honey

Tech News

Vest lets Facebook users hug from afar

A vest developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology lets Facebook users hug one another…

Apple honors one-year anniversary of Steve Jobs’ death

Apple paid tribute Friday to Steve Jobs a year after his death, with a video…

Media

International Herald Tribune celebrates 125 years

First delivered by horse-drawn carriages to Paris newsstands and hotels, the International Herald Tribune marks…

Psy brings ‘Gangnam Style’ home to Korea with free concert in Seoul

South Korean rapper Psy will give a free concert in Seoul Thursday, capping a stunning…

World

New black ‘Rooti’ dolls aim to foster African knowledge and pride

‘Rooti’ dolls designed to help western children of African parents stay in touch with their heritage First there was the golliwog,…

IMF: Global growth forecast slashed unless politicians restore confidence

The International Monetary Fund has cut its global growth forecasts for this year and 2013 and called on politicians in…

Dutch police hunt for sheep-stealing mafia

Dutch police are hot on the trail of a sheep-rustling ring responsible for the unprecedented theft of hundreds of ovines,…

Norway gives 14 weeks paid parental leave to dads

Norway is to extend the amount of parental leave reserved for dads to 14 weeks, bringing the period that can…

U.S. News

Study: Record number of LGBT characters on TV

There is a record percentage of gay characters on US television this season, reflecting Americans’…

Man sucker punches public defender after getting 15-year sentence

A man in Rock Hill, South Carolina earned himself an extra six months behind bars…

Study shows free birth control results in fewer abortions

A three-year study conducted in St. Louis, Missouri showed that when effective contraception is available…

Doocy: Lawmaker who won’t pray in public shouldn’t use money with ‘In God We Trust’

Fox News co-host Steve Doocy on Friday suggested that Pennsylvania state lawmaker Babette Josephs (D)…

Santorum suggests ‘eating’ Big Bird: ‘You can kill things and still like them’

Former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum on Thursday suggested that Big Bird’s death at the…