Douglas Ernst

Congress seeks ban on in-flight calls

Congress members from both sides of the aisle unhappy with the idea of in-flight telephone use are working on legislation to keep the airways quiet.

December 10, 2013

400-pound Gitmo inmate loses legal battle over health care

The lawyers for a 400-pound Egyptian inmate at Guantanamo Bay had their request rejected for a court to get involved with his medical handling.

December 10, 2013

Defense bill would decriminalize consensual sodomy for the military

A provision agreed upon by the leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committee would amend The Uniform Code of Military Justice to allow for consensual sodomy, the Air Force Times reported.

December 10, 2013

China: Poisonous smog is a military asset, if you think about it

China's polluted skies aren't filled with smog — it's camouflage — if you believe Global Times, a nationalist newspaper affiliated with the Communist Party's mouthpiece, the People's Daily.

December 10, 2013

Cold War heats up again in the Arctic: Russian airfield reactivated after 20 years

The U.S. "reset" with Russia just got a lot trickier: An Arctic-area Russian airfield that has been closed for 20 years is being reactivated.

December 10, 2013

Buffett: George W. Bush gave ‘greatest economic statement of all time’ in 2008

Which world leader holds the distinction of making the "greatest economic statement of all time"? According to Warren Buffett, it's George W. Bush.

December 10, 2013

Rush Limbaugh: Obama trying to make Mandela death about himself

Radio host Rush Limbaugh accused President Obama on Friday of trying to do "everything and anything he can to link himself to" Nelson Mandela after the former South African president's death.

December 6, 2013

Christmas gift for coffee lovers: Starbucks $450 all-metal gift card

If your loved ones are addicted to coffee, try Starbucks' all-metal $450 gift card as a Christmas stocking-stuffer this year.

December 6, 2013

Chris Matthews: GOP less patriotic than South African white apartheid leaders

Chris Matthews reacted to the death of Nelson Mandela Thursday night by saying that the Republican Party is less patriotic than South Africa's white apartheid advocates.

December 6, 2013

Wounded Warrior donation MIA from lesbian waitress of anti-gay tip story

A former Marine and waitress said that any donations she received after a customer allegedly left an anti-gay screed in lieu of a tip would go to the Wounded Warrior Project — but the organization has not been able to verify that she made good on her vow.

December 6, 2013

Jon Stewart, CIA superspy? Iranian TV creates new ‘Zionist’ conspiracy

Is Jon Stewart a CIA 'Zionist' spy? Iranian state TV apparently thinks so.

December 5, 2013

Paris Metro issues ‘politeness manual’ to improve passengers’ behavior

When all else fails in France, release the manuals. Paris' public transport authority has released a "politeness" manual in an attempt to curb uncivil behavior and increase civility among customers, the Telegraph reported.

December 5, 2013

Happy Meal: Couple goes to McDonald’s, leaves with bag packed with cash

That's a lot of burgers from the dollar menu. A couple from Tennessee, Stacye Terry and her husband Greg, recently made an order at their local McDonald's drive-through and inadvertently left with a bag filled with cash.

December 5, 2013

Hacking software could put ‘zombie drone army’ in user’s hands

Civilian applications for domestic drones continue to evolve, but so do hackers. SkyJack, a "drone engineered to autonomously seek out, hack, and wirelessly take over other drones within wifi distance, creating an army of zombie drones under your control," is one such example, according to security analyst Samy Kamkar.

December 4, 2013

House Dem cites satire piece to strike GOP, Obamacare critics

Rep. Carolyn Maloney used her time during Wednesday's House Oversight & Government Reform Committee hearing in a unique way: She criticized the Republican Party's reaction to the failed Obamacare rollout by referencing satire as "distinguished report."

December 4, 2013