TopFinds: PETA Compares Animal Killing With Beheading, While U.S. Bank Disaster Looms

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PETA says the beheading of a 22-year-old is no different than what animals go through every day. Google's free music downloads. And a vibrator that can deliver an orgasm with the touch of a button. These are the top stories from around the world.

Tech & Internet

The Web is constantly touted as a breeding ground for free speech, open access to information and pornography democracy. So what would happen if our favourite medium was all of a sudden censored? Sue D. dives deep into the issue of Web censorship in her article about the i-Patriot Act waiting to be implemented. As Sue writes:

Lawrence Lessig, who is a respected law professor for Stanford University told an audience at a tech conference that there was going to be a i-911 event that would spur the implementation of patriot act laws for online, which he calls i-Patriot Act.

What's next, an e-Gitmo?

Also in tech and Web news: Thailand banned the popular video game Grand Theft Auto after a cab driver was killed, Chris V. reported; MIT designers are working on creating a $12 laptop (we're hoping the developing world will be spared from the agony that is Windows Vista); women can now get the ultimate vibrator, a device that delivers the Big-O with the touch of a button (men all around the world are gearing up to spend nights alone, wives nowhere to be found); Google will be offering free music downloads in China (North America's music industry needs to wake up); and DigitalJournal.com Managing Editor, David Silverberg, offers a look into a virtual world where you can explore the Web in a video-game like fashion while talking with friends or strangers.

And if you've ever been curious about the technology behind the Olympic Games (how do they get the stats delivered so quickly and who runs it all?) this episode of Digital Journal TV brings you behind the sports to show you the 4,000-strong team bringing home the IT gold:

World, Business & Politics

Photo courtesy Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad A shot from the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Beijing, China image:42383:6::0

The Chinese government is an interesting beast. With the Olympics now underway in Beijing, the world's spotlight is now focused on Beijing. And on the heels of the world's largest sporting event, we're seeing new developments in how open communist China is with its people and the rest of the world. In an article on China's use of the media to address the public, Paul Wallis goes in-depth to uncover what looks like a government propaganda being spread through the media. Wallis writes:

The world has never been slow to find reasons to criticize China. It’s a matter of opinion whether the efforts of Chinese citizens are fully appreciated as being very brave. Many people, complaining about corruption in their provinces, (which is a very serious offence in China), seem to be getting the short end of the stick.

In other world, business and political news: The opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games kicked off today with a bang, reported Leslie Macumber (YouTube is also showing the Games in some countries); Brazil is looking to change its foreign policy stance and develop stronger relationships with developing nations rather than traditional allies, reported Knight Shield (excellent coverage of a topic completely buried in Western media); men fighting over women might not be a modern-day phenomenon wrote Aditi Chengappa, as researchers say grumpy and protective male habits may date back as far as pre-historic times (yes, this is even more fodder for women who argue males are still cavemen); Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is in jail (where he got a private cell) according to Cynthia T; thousands of Chicago residents went days without power, reported Nikki W; an American submarine may have leaked in Japanese ports, writes Bob Ewing; McCain is more trusted on nine of 14 electoral issues according to a Rasmussen report; and as Sadiq Green reported, McCain faced heat about his candidacy this week from someone whose parents named her after a famous city likely just so she wouldn't forget how to spell her own name (something tells me she still struggles). Sadiq also did an interesting piece on how McCain makes for a bigger celebrity than Obama. Good arguments.

Health, Lifestyle & Entertainment

Photo by xbloodsin image:42393:3::0

Imagine living in an apartment building where your neighbours stayed up all night having sex, and you were forced to listen to the headboard bang incessantly against the wall? What if you had to listen to the sexual romp sounds for two years? Well, this is exactly what has happened in the U.K., Pamela Jean reports, and neighbours have had enough:

Kerry Norris has resided in the one bedroom apartment for 13 years. Seems the trouble started 2 years ago when she and Adam began their courtship. Kerry, a 29 year old unemployed, single mom says she and her boyfriend Adam Hinton have a "normal sex life". Not so claim her neighbors. Having registered official complaints for well over 2 years against the couple for their all night vocal sex sessions, they finally got their day in court.

In other news: Mary Kate Olsen has denied any involvement in Health Ledger's death, writes Vinay Chand; Christina Applegate has breast cancer reports KJ; a new knitting book teaches sewing fans how to knit evil dictators including "Knitler," named after Adolf Hitler reported MDee; and a Manhattan gym is charging clients $110 per hour to use Nintendo Wii and the Wii Fit video game (the console only costs $249 to buy);

TopFinds Awards

Facebook A photo from Tim McLean's Faceboko tribute page image:42241:3::0

The recent news of the beheading of a 22-year-old Canadian on a Greyhound bus continues to make news all around the world. But in a controversial (read "disgusting") follow-up, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has gone too far, running an ad comparing the recent horrific beheading of a 22-year-old Canadian on a Greyhound bus to the slaughter of animals for human consumption. Carolyn Price wins this week's TopOpinion Award for her incredible report on this news event. As Price reported, PETA says animals are not expecting to get their heads cut off so we should be just as shocked about that as we are about Time McLean's murder. The ad has been heavily criticized, as Price writes:

I have looked into my heart, and decided that PETA should be boycotted from the face of this earth for it's sheer stupidity and their display of absolute callousness toward Mr. McLean's memory and to his loved ones, most especially his parents.

We couldn't agree more.

Winning this week's TopHealth Award is Paul Wallis for his report about millions of uninsured Americans who are suffering from chronic untreated medical conditions. Wallis digs up info on a 2004 study that was just released, indicating that more than 11 million Americans are seriously sick without insurance, and "health insurance is now doing more damage to the US than World War II," writes Wallis. The report analyzed government health surveys of adults between 18 and 64 years of age, and estimates that almost one-third of Americans who lack insurance have chronic conditions. Wallis is highly critical of the U.S. healthcare system, writing:

"Even on a dollar based assessment, it would be cheaper to just go out and shoot 1 in 30 Americans, than to pretend this form of health care could ever work at all."

G. Robert M. Miller better clear of his mantle for yet another award, because this week he takes home a TopPolitics Award for his opinion piece on the current state of U.S. politics and the race to the White House between John McCain and Barack Obama. Miller addresses issues surrounding politics and the media, and how opinions get shaped; he also argues politicians rarely say anything of importance, and the resulting media coverage can be equally as pitiful. Miller grinds McCain into the ground for not being able to communicate his campaign goals properly, while spanking Obama for not being willing to debate McCain without a teleprompter. As Miller writes:

So McCain is incapable of saying intelligent things and Obama is afraid of talking to him. Translation: they both are idiots. And while that is entertaining and all, it isn’t very productive.

Also on the political beat was Sue D. who wins this week's TopGossip Award for her ongoing coverage of the John Edwards affair. Initially, Sue covered a story claiming John Edwards had an affair with Rielle Hunter. Edwards denied the affair and an alleged "love child," until yesterday when Sue reported the National Enquirer published spy photos of Edwards with a child. In a follow-up today Sue learned Edwards has admitted to the affair, but denies the fact he fathered Rielle Hunter's baby. Sue earns kudos for following this story so closely, as it's always interesting when a gossip story turns into a major political scoop. All we can say is that it's a relief it was in a hotel rather than the Oral Oval Office like another well-known Democrat.

On to more serious news for Americans, hundreds of U.S. banks are going to close shop in the next 18 months, according to a university professor. Chris V. wins this week's TopBusiness Award for his report detailing the ailing financial climate in the United States. Professor Nouriel Roubini of New York University says medium-sized banks will get hit hardest, as they lack the financial resources of large institutions such as Wachovia. Chris also lends some criticism on the situation, writing:

The government and U.S. taxpayers will be the ones forced to pay the heavy price for the banks’ failures. It will cost an estimated $1- to $2-trillion to bail out failing banks.

And rounding out this week's awards is the well-deserved Michael Squires for his coverage about Russia invading Georgia. Squires wins the Top Breaking News Award for staying on top of this situation while most of the rest of the world was consumed with the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games. Squires started with an in-depth look at the escalation in the region, and followed-up with confirmation that jets and tanks had rolled in. Good work Squires, and keep us posted on developments in the area.

Illustration by DigitalJournal.com The TopFinds Awards for the week ending Aug 8, 2008 image:42400:2::0