Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Digital Digest: 20/04/2010

The best of the web

Monday 19 April 2010 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

ECONOMICS Tv.gawker.com

Detroit's plight has been well documented by photographers but none has conveyed the tragedy of a city on life support – and a symbol of America's ills – like new aerial footage filmed for MSNBC's Dateline. In clips on Gawker.TV, Motor City looks more like a war zone than a once-thriving metropolis. Goo.gl/Rhz

POLICING Newstatesman.com

Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Ian Blair has written a lengthy piece for the 'New Statesman', criticising both Labour and the Conservative's plans to imitate American law enforcement agencies in order to combat crime in the UK. "Perhaps too many politicians have been watching 'The Wire'," he muses. Goo.gl/wsoe

FILM Twitchfilm.net

The Twitch blog, devoted to movies from around the world, has debuted a magnificently chilling trailer for the forthcoming Chinese blockbuster, 'Aftershocks'. The film, by director Feng Xiaogang, is about the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, though it will no doubt stir fresher memories of last week's quake in Qinghai province. Goo.gl/zo5v

GAY RIGHTS Bilerico.com

In a surely-not-in-2010 story causing a storm online, the Bilerico Project blog details the case of Harold and Clay, an elderly gay couple in California. After taking every step to protect their rights during a 20-year relationship, their alleged treatment by the authorities after Harold's death defies belief. Goo.gl/iFEi

MUSIC Blur.co.uk

1,000 7" vinyl copies of Blur's first single since 2003, "Fool's Day" went on sale on Saturday to mark Record Store Day, in support of independent record shops, and were snapped up in hours. Log on to Blur's official website to download a free digital version of this welcome reunion.

AMERICA Slate.com

Far from fading away like a bad smell, the ultra-conservative "Tea Party" movement in the US has become more powerful and organised over the past year. Slate has engineered a timelapse map of the country, demonstrating the growth of its activities since January 2009. Goo.gl/Xhqk

PETS Nytimes.com

Intergroom, an international dog grooming show held annually in New Jersey, attracted its fair share of wacky pooch hair over the weekend. 'The New York Times' has obliged pet-coiffe-lovers with this handy slideshow – angels, dragons and 'Alice in Wonderland' tributes abound. Goo.gl/ESeN

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in