Headlines from August 18, 2010

A city in the southern Netherlands seeks to end drug tourism by keeping it legal only for the Dutch.
How "three cups of tea" has become shorthand in the U.S. military for winning trust in Afghanistan.
U.S. watermelon farmers focus on small, seedless "personal melons"--and it's getting harder to buy anything else.
As the Gulf shrimp harvest begins, fishermen worry government safety tests may have been inadequate.
Evidence reveals pizza's life-saving qualities: lowering cancer risk, preventing heart attacks.
He squeezed the bag and recorded a 95 decibel level. Sun Chip eaters can't hear you over the noise of their new packaging.
Slight hearing loss among U.S. teens has jumped 30% in the past 15 years--iPods and their kin are likely suspects.
Scientists discover mind-controlling fungus that manipulates ants.
Video: Bloopers from Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas.
Inspired by Pluto's demotion, One Ring Zero writes a scientifically accurate album about the solar system--listen here.
From 2004, Pitchaya Sudbanthad's profile of One Ring Zero, first known in New York as the McSweeney's house band.
Q&A with a man who travels the country fixing typos on road signs.
The abbreviation "ms" is nearly 300 years old, and has stood for both "miss" and "mrs."
Australia's prime minister calls for a republic as soon as Queen Elizabeth dies.
God save the queen: Jonathan Bell explains the distinction between English and British.
Scavengers pull up Gaza Airport's runways to recover and sell gravel underneath.
Nature sells on television--pet shows struggle outside America while high-definition peril sells the best.
Nebraska art museum stores most of its male artists--Brancusi, Rothko, Hopper--to showcase 8% of its collection: art by women.
Police corruption rampant in Nigeria, says Human Rights Watch report, "Everyone's in on the Game" (see cartoons).
Call center workers becoming as cheap to hire in the U.S. as they are in India.
Minor league baseball players frequently make less than minimum wage, and they've still got to buy their own bats.
Scientist drops subjects from 150 feet, confirms we experience dangerous events in slow motion.
Story of "the Drunkards' Strike," or, the dangers of driving in Bolivia.
Korean cars have always been a staple on American highways. Beloit College's list of cultural assumptions for the class of 2014.
Emails exchanged with Roberto Bolaño.
J.D. Salinger's used toilet on sale for $1 million (free shipping).
Who knew there was a Build-A-Bear Workshop... in hell! Tumblr: Crap at my parents house.
Related: Gallery of Kent Rogowski's "Wild Animals."