Violent Video Game Ban Blown to Smithereens

The Supreme Court overturned California’s ban on violent video games; social networking sites may be effectively enhancing our social lives; and a case of public urination in Oregon forces a city to flush its reservoir. These discoveries and more, below.

On a regular basis, Truthdig brings you the news items and odds and ends that found their way to Larry Gross, director of the USC Annenberg School for Communication. A specialist in media and culture, art and communication, visual communication and media portrayals of minorities, Gross helped found the field of gay and lesbian studies.

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Eat Lead! Supreme Court Strikes Down Violent Video Game Law The Supreme Court on Monday struck down a California law that regulates the sale or rental of violent video games to children.

Distressed Greece, Delusional Europe The reaction of European leaders and institutions to the Greek crisis is a sight to behold. Essentially, it boils down to the fact that default would be very inconvenient, both as a practical matter and in terms of prestige.

Obama and same-sex marriage: The lawyerly straddle continues President Obama’s remarks last week to a gay/lesbian fundraising event must have disappointed his supporters who have grown tired of straddling and rhetorical games on the subject of marriage equality from someone who once called himself a “fierce advocate” for gays and lesbians.

Social Networking Sites and Our Lives Questions have been raised about the social impact of widespread use of social networking sites (SNS) like Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, and Twitter.

Let Software Choose the Soundtrack to Your Pictures Websites like Flickr and YouTube make it easy to share photo slideshows and videos of memorable events, but what about the killer soundtrack that every memorable montage must have?

Is the “Museum of Non-Visible Art” a Serious Endeavor? James Franco’s newest art project is either an example of subtle creativity, an extremely shallow con, or a hoax.

Are Our Brains Cut Out for the Internet Age? Recent years have seen a flood of media attention devoted to the relationship between the digital age and the human brain.

One Small Pee for a Man, One Giant Flush for a City Because a 21-year-old man was caught on a security camera urinating into a city reservoir, Oregon’s biggest city is sending 8 million gallons of treated drinking water down the drain.