In early March 2012, a federal judge ruled it would be unconstitutional for the U.S. government to order cigarette manufacturers to put graphic warning labels on cigarette packs sold in the U.S. By coincidence, a couple of weeks later the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention unveiled a $54 million campaign of anti-smoking commercials. The commercials, airing on both TV and the Internet, feature graphic depictions of smokers who have lost limbs, their voice boxes or suffered debilitating strokes, and the campaign is already being hailed for its strong production values and effective message.
That brings to mind some great and not-so-great public health commercials from the past. Here are 10 interesting anti-drug and public health messages through the years. (Warning: Given the graphic nature and subject matter of these commercials, this story is intended for mature audiences.)
5 Military Aviation Incidents That Threatened U.S. Secrets
Sunday, 29 April 2012 12:28 Published in HistoryIranian officials have proudly proclaimed they are building a replica of the U.S.-built RQ-170 Sentinel drone plane that crashed in Iran in December 2011. Whether the Iranians actually have the capability to reverse-engineer that top-secret American technology is a matter for debate, but U.S. officials are closely monitoring the situation. The incident is certainly not the first time the crash of a U.S. military aircraft has sparked concern in the Pentagon over America’s enemies learning about the country’s state-of-the-art technology. Here are five previous U.S. military aviation incidents where technological or tactical secrets were at risk of being compromised.
For more than 100 years, motion pictures have not just survived, they've thrived, both as a storytelling device and an art form. The titles have changed with the fashions of the times, of course, but more importantly, the medium has adapted, embracing new technologies and forms of presentation to remain vital. Here, listed in chronological order, are 10 movies that gave Hollywood new life.
The United States has many famous riverfront cities. Memphis, St. Louis and New Orleans rose to prominence thanks to their locations on the Mississippi. Kansas City sprawls across both sides of the Missouri River. New York, Boston and Chicago aren’t known primarily as riverfront cities, but have one or more rivers that are prominent in each city’s history and economy. And anyone who has ever watched a televised sporting event from Pittsburgh knows from the blimp-cam shots that the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet there to create the Ohio River. But there are a number of other American cities situated by famous and not-so-famous rivers that offer some fun options, from great waterfront restaurants and lodging to sublime greenways and sightseeing cruises. Here are five American cities that are not famous for their riverfronts … but maybe should be.
10 Volcanoes That Pose Significant Threats
Tuesday, 24 April 2012 13:22 Published in Science & TechnologyWe live on an active planet. Every year, some 50 to 70 volcanic eruptions occur somewhere in the world, some featuring slow pyroclastic flows, others causing violent explosions. As the recent eruption of the Popocatepetl volcano near Mexico City reminds us, many of these hotbeds of activity sit dangerously close to population centers. Following are 10 volcanoes that the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior is closely monitoring due to their potential for eruption and their proximity to large populations. The list is in no particular order, as the IAVCEI did not rank the specific threats posed by these volcanoes.
The Secret Service scandal that erupted in April 2012 severely tarnished the image of one of most respected agencies in the United States government. When we think of Secret Service agents, we picture stone-faced men in sharp suits, forming a perimeter around the U.S. president. Yet the Secret Service operated for decades before it began protecting the president, and its current responsibilities go far beyond presidential security, and even extend into other countries. Here are five surprising facts about the United States Secret Service.
Earth Day spins our way every April 22, giving us a chance to wear hemp shoes and eschew plastic bags for canvas totes in our bid to help the planet. Earth Day is a legitimate day of recognition, unlike other rather bizarre “awareness days” or “holidays” throughout the rest of the month. For example, National Zucchini Bread Day is celebrated April 25. If you hate zucchini, or bread, you can instead observe World Penguin Day, also held April 25. As for the rest of the year, be sure to mark your calendar for these bizarre awareness days.
American politics is more polarized than ever and civil discourse between conservatives and liberals has become a rare commodity. It’s hard to have a productive debate about issues when people from both sides toss around inflammatory comments, creating a climate of hate and intolerance. Even worse, each side features many high-profile politicians, pundits and celebrities who either through their role in office or in the media publically fan the flames of discontent. With that in mind, here’s a look at 10 conservatives that liberals love to hate. (Here's a link to our earlier story, 10 Liberals That Conservatives Love to Hate.)
American politics is becoming increasingly polarized. Just turn on the radio or TV, browse news sites or read the paper, and you’ll notice this great ideological divide, which is especially apparent in an election year. It’s red versus blue, conservatives against liberals, and given the tone of some of the rhetoric, there seems to be no middle ground. The two “sides” love to criticize each other, and this hostility is fueled by inflammatory comments made by talk show hosts, political commentators, entertainers, and politicians. On either side of the debate are some outspoken and powerful individuals particularly despised by the “opposition.” Following are 10 liberals that conservatives love to hate. (Here's a link to a similar Listosaur story, 10 Conservatives That Liberals Love to Hate.)
10 Notorious Computer Hackers and Crackers
Monday, 16 April 2012 19:48 Published in Science & TechnologyWhen the first computer networks went online in the 1960s and 1970s, it didn’t take long before computer whizzes found ways to “game” the system. The earliest so-called “hackers,” “phone phreaks,” learned how to access long distance lines to make free calls. By the 1980s, hackers were illegally accessing banks and other institutions for financial gain, and today, cyber-crime costs businesses worldwide some $400 billion a year. But hacking is a very nuanced issue. Many hackers have used their skills to highlight flaws in computer security, sparking a debate about “black hat” hackers who work for malicious purposes, “white hat” crackers with beneficial intentions, or “gray hats,” who fall somewhere in between. Even the term “hacker” has fallen out of favor in the computer world, replaced by the less-judgmental term “cracker.”
However you classify them, the following 10 individuals all made headlines for their hacking and cracking exploits.
