May 17, 2013: Morning
By The Morning News
—
- Russia ships sophisticated anti-ship missiles to Syria, fulfilling order placed in 2007.
- Putin installs helipad at the Kremlin to appease Muscovites' fury over politicians skirting traffic laws.
- Business booming in “Gun Valley,” aka "the swath of Western Massachusetts and Connecticut where industrial gun making in America began."
- Texas gunmaker debuts new "smart rifle," which uses built-in laser range finder and ballistics computer to never miss.
- In the middle of the Mojave Desert, the Defense department has built 15 simulated towns for training soldiers, populated by 350 civilian role-players.
- See also: Dutch training grounds for emergency personnel that look like movie sets.
- After shortages of milk, butter, cornmeal, coffee, sugar, and flour, Venezuela now faces a dearth of toilet paper.
- Syrian rebel who ate a pro-Assad soldier's lung on camera explains himself.
- Thorough reviews of the Mr. Men series of children's books.
- See also: Round-up of the best one-star reviews of classic literature on Amazon.com.
- Publisher threatens critic with $1 billion lawsuit after being accused of preying on needy academics.
- In Janet Malcolm's case, "imperfect objectivity is a selling point."
- Nashville's Connie Britton says the best way to destroy a sex tape is with a wood chipper—"a no-fail sort of a thing."
- Calendar made from pressed tea leaves features pages to tear off and brew.
- Of all the bulls in Costa Rica, the most celebrated and revered is the bull people call “Malacrianza.” Translation? “Badass.”
- See also: Selected for 2013's Best American Travel Writing, "The Bull Passes Through."
- Travel writer reports on America's least-visited national park: Alaska's Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve.
- John Lanchester explains the mechanics and appeal of Fitbit and Google Glass for non-techies.
- Determined 11-year-old uses his 3D printer to make jewelry for his sister.
- Wooden pinhole cameras sold to photographers who'd like to retire their smartphones occasionally.
- List of five-hundred-plus great works of cinema to watch for free online.
