The Beer Barrel

US army screening process found wanting as untrained Texan claiming to be a former Marine joins Army Reserve as sergeant

Friday 21 May 2010 15.34 BST

A Texas man with no military experience managed to trick the US army into letting him enter a reserve unit as a noncommissioned officer earlier this year, putting an untrained soldier in a...

Announcing Google TV: TV meets web. Web meets TV.
5/20/2010 10:00:00 AM
If there’s one entertainment device that people know and love, it’s the television. In fact, 4 billion people across the world watch TV and the average American spends five hours per day in front of one*....

By Clifford Coonan in Bangkok

Thursday, 20 May 2010

The Thai government forced Red Shirt protesters to surrender yesterday, but far from bringing the six-week stand-off to a close, the day ended with downtown Bangkok engulfed in flames, at least six people dead, and hundreds of people cowering in a temple as bullets and grenades rained down...

Smoking is banned in almost all indoor spaces in Illinois, including restaurants and bars. But if a Kane County resident has her way, smokers wouldn't be allowed to light up outside either.

The suburban county's board is considering a ban on smoking outdoors in residential neighborhoods, reports the Daily Herald.

Aurora Township resident Stacy...

U.S. Congress approves Obama funding for Iron Dome defense system

Lawmakers voted to give Israel $205 million for its production of the short-range rocket defense system by a 410-4 margin.

By Natasha Mozgovaya

Lawmakers, by a 410-4 margin, backed Obama's...