I feel like they left something out. What could it be? Thinkthinkthink…

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana University researchers say half of all urban teenage girls may get one or more sexually transmitted infections within two years of becoming sexually active.

The researchers at the IU School of Medicine and Regenstrief Institute say their findings point to the need to screen sexually active teenage girls sooner for infections.

via Study: Sexually active girls at risk of infection – Yahoo! News.

It’s great that they’re studying rates of sexual infection among teens. But is it not glaringly obvious that screening only girls is addressing only half the problem? These girls are being sexually active with someone, and many of those someone’s are bound to be male – so why not address that?

I don’t know if this is a problem with the design of the study, that they excluded teen boys, or a problem with the reporter who did not investigate to see if there was a similar research program being carried out for males, and if not, why not. It seems worthy of a question or a quote or something.

I miss journalism, I really do.

Daily FAIL

Shitty UK tabloid The Daily Mail evidently thinks that there’s some way to be “gently” gang-raped.

A New Zealand backpacker vainly begged for mercy as she was ‘violently’ gang-raped near Buckingham Palace, a court heard today.

via Backpacker ‘begged for mercy as she was gang-raped in park next to Buckingham Palace’ | Mail Online.

OK what?

OK is this just an insane image/headline juxtaposition, or is it just me?

Our Nation’s Youts

A guy I follow on Twitter, @kopper, posted a link to this delicious tidbit, and I could resist screen-capping it for posterity. It’s a news item posted on the website of our very own local KMOV. (Your News, Your Weather, Your Life.)

Presumably this guy both attended and graduated from J-school. This fact would make my heart weep for de youts of our nation, but my heart has long since ceased giving a shit about anything.

Seriously, I wouldn’t let an 8th grader get away with this kind of bullshit. I mean, this is so far beyond needing an editor. This is needing a literacy coach. This should engender in us all a deep and abiding sense of shame for this person having “earned” a high school diploma.

“Police say Ward’s daughter would not let him see his grandchild because for one reason.” indeed.

Is it just me, or…

does this Rolling Stone cover seem way less about Britney than it does her body?

It’s very “Look at me! I once more conform to your standard of what a super-star desirable female should be! Here is my lean stomach to prove it!”

Between the skirt pulled down and the shirt pulled up, it’s like her flat stomach is the membership card to some club she wants back into.

Which, I guess it actually is. That fucking sucks.

Also, some magazine i was reading referred to her “weight problem” the other day. Now seriously, what do we think is the most a non-pregnant Britney ever weighed? 135? Tops?

I hate media.

ToastedRav.com/Post: Archon: Dawn Of The Nerds

ToastedRav.com/Post: Archon: Dawn Of The Nerds

This guy wanted to make all the people at Archon look stupid and (I suppose) look cool in comparison. He only made himself look like a total jacktard.

People having fun and minding their business with other like-minded souls don’t need this geek poking around making fun of them with generalizations that sounded out of date 10 years ago.

Find something worthwhile to talk about, or get a different insight on what’s happening at that kind of event, but just wandering around with tired jokes and a lame POV in an attempt to let people know that geeks are geeky and into geeky stuff… What’s your point?

You fail at reporting and at being amusing.

Media Ignores Massive Voter Purges by Republicans

While the media focuses on the antics of McCain’s chosen VP battleground states are purging their voter rolls.

In Colorado, one fifth of all voter registrations were dropped.

Florida is refusing to accept 85,000 new registrants — overwhelmingly blacks.

Ohio & Nevada are scrubbing tens of 1000s of voters who lost their homes.

read more | digg story

Hrmmm, what’s missing?

Now… what’s missing in this description of a suspect the police want help in catching? What could it be, you crackerjack reporters?

STLtoday – Police seek help to catch armed robber 09/07/2008

CHESTERFIELD — Police want the public’s help in identifying a suspect from an armed robbery in the 100 block of Amiot Court.

About noon on Thursday, a man entered a model display home and produced a pistol, threatening a woman in the house. The victim fought with the suspect and sustained injuries that are not life threatening. The suspect took the victim’s purse and fled in a maroon two-door vehicle.

Police describe the suspect as 30-40 years old with medium build and a goatee. He had a noticeable scar on his neck. The suspect should be considered armed and dangerous, police said.

Anyone recognizing the description of the suspect or having information about the crime should contact the Chesterfield Police Detective Bureau at 636-537-3000.

If you said “Hair color and/or skin color.” you get full bonus points and an instant journalism degree! We would also have accepted “any information about the suspect’s attire.”

At least the weather will be nice… for your MURDER!

Media coverage, McCain versus Obama

$520 shoes, and he’s right – no one blinks an eye.

Crooks and Liars » $400 haircuts vs. $520 Italian leather loafers
…the media seems to go to great lengths to look for evidence to bolster the far-right meme that Obama is some kind of outsider. From bowling to orange juice to arugula, reporters love to characterize Obama as something less than a “real” American.

Well, McCain has a half-dozen homes and spends on shoes what some families spend on rent. All the while, he advocates more tax cuts for millionaires, opposes increases to the minimum wage, and tells Americans their economic problems are in their heads.

Which candidate is outside the American mainstream?

Sloppy Journalism or Crappy Headline?

I was excited to view this slideshow from the Chicago Tribune, ostensibly about animals who were once thought extinct now reappearing in the wild.

The header for the slideshow reads:

“Reappearing in the Wild: Creatures once thought extinct now have a second chance.”

Which would lead one to believe that it was about… I dunno, presumed-extinct creatures reappearing in the wild? However of the animals listed:

1. South China Tigers – considered extinct, most recent photo proved to be a hoax (not reappearing in the wild)
   
2. Black Footed Ferrets - Have been reintroduced via breeding program
3. African Manatees (image shown is NOT of an African manatee) these are considered extinct, though “some scientists argue that this is not the case.” WTH?  (not reappearing in the wild)
   
4. Ivory Billed Woodpecker – considered extinct, though someone claims to have spotted one, though scientists now think that spotting may have been a case of mistaken identity. Again – WTH? I think I saw Bigfoot, but maybe I didn’t, and some scientists think I was drunk on tequila shooters that night. This passes for reporting? (not reappearing in the wild)
   
5. Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly – has been reintroduced to the wild, and has a really pretty picture, to boot.
6. Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna – thought extinct, was rediscovered in 2007
7. Red Wolf - highly endangered, breeding programs are helping it to survive in the wild
8. Baiji Dolphin – A 6-week journey in their habitat failed to spot even one of these rare dolphins, leading them to be considered extinct. However “hope was rekindled a year later when scientists claimed they may have spotted one.” *sigh* (not reappearing in the wild)
   
9. Miss Waldron’s red colobus monkey – considered extinct, however photos “may prove the species still exists” (not reappearing in the wild)
   
10. Quagga mare – is extinct, and some guy is trying to breed “Quagga-like zebras” Someone trying to breed something similar is NOT the same as them reappearing in the wild. (not reappearing in the wild)
    
11. Tasmanian tiger – extinct. Someone replicated one of their genes in a mouse. “raising the long-term possibility of bringing the animal back to life.” Interesting, but NOT “reappearing” by a long shot. (not reappearing in the wild)

So… seven of the eleven animals discussed show absolutely no concrete evidence of reappearing in the wild. Was this the most badly researched slideshow feature of all time, or was this reporter the subject of some kind of crappy-headline malfeasance by an obtuse editor-person at the Tribune? Whichever, it’s sloppy as hell of the paper to publish this under that header.

Stupid PD Headline of the Day

Their headline: Radioactive landfill cover is criticized

My thought: OMG, where do they get (and why would they use) a radioactive landfill cover?

Their actual meaning: “Covering [rather than removal of] radioactive landfill is criticized.”

WTPF? Bad Blood-Drive Headline

St. John’s Mercy Blood Donor Services Blood Drives

This headline meets the “If you have to read it more than three times to make sense of it, it’s a crap headline.” rule.

Maybe they want to stay away from the beer?

“Beer-food event hosted by Family Violence Council”

The St. Louis Family Violence Council is hosting “All in Good Taste” — a beer and food tasting event from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at Lumen, 2201 Locust Street.

To be fair, I don’t know if I can really call this a crap headline, as the event itself is kind of ridiculous, in context. But the headline is badly written, no matter how stupid the subject matter is.

American Medical Association notes on link between domestic violence and alcohol abuse.

New Girl Crush – Lara Logan

Saw Lara Logan on The Daily Show and fell in love a little.