Vices no laughing matter for Protestants

Vices

Russian adult-oriented cartoon network 2x2 has come under attack from the country's Protestant leaders over accusations that it promotes immorality, violence and sexual sin. Leaders of Protestant churches Wednesday asked the Prosecutor General's Office to revoke the channel's broadcasting license. The satellite channel broadcasts animated comedies, including "Futurama" and "South Park," and regularly issues a parental advisory that children younger than 14 should not watch the shows.

Dutch outlaw bestiality

The Dutch parliament voted unanimously Thursday to outlaw bestiality and pornography involving animals. Sex with animals and the making of animal pornography will carry a punishment of up to six months in jail under the measure. Animal pornography is explicitly forbidden in 80 countries.

Award pulled

News media reported this week that a government official in central China who died drinking in a karaoke bar has been stripped of a merit award after an outcry on the Internet. The state-run Xinhua news agency said Thursday the former family-planning commission director in Henan province was found to have died while drinking and "having fun" at a karaoke bar. The Communist Party had honored Guo Shizhong posthumously with a "level three order of merit for an individual" after he died of a brain hemorrhage in February, an award usually given to those who "who die of honor on post," Xinhua said.

People

Last-minute changes

Singer-pianist Harry Connick Jr. said Thursday he was forced to make last-minute changes to his show last weekend in Shanghai because an old song list was mistakenly submitted to Chinese authorities to secure the performance permit for the concert. Authorities insisted he play the songs on that list, even though his band did not have the music for them. Embarrassed last week by Icelandic singer Björk shouting "Tibet!" at the end of a Shanghai concert, Chinese authorities have promised to be stricter with foreign performers.

Clooney, pals help out

Not on Our Watch, a group founded by George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and others who want to end the tragedy in Sudan's Darfur region, on Thursday donated $500,000 to the United Nations' World Food Program so it can continue sending humanitarian aid to Darfur. (Over the last year the program has fed 2 million to 3.2 million people in Darfur.)

Today in History

1794: Eli Whitney received a patent for his cotton gin, an invention that revolutionized America's cotton industry.

1900: Congress ratified the Gold Standard Act.

1923: President Harding became the first chief executive to file an income-tax return.

1951: During the Korean War, United Nations forces recaptured Seoul.

1964: A jury in Dallas found Jack Ruby guilty of the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President Kennedy.

1980: A Polish airliner crashed while making an emergency landing near Warsaw, killing all 87 people aboard, including 22 members of a U.S. amateur boxing team.

Today's Birthdays

Former astronaut Frank Borman, 80. Actor Michael Caine, 75. Composer-conductor Quincy Jones, 75. Actor Raymond J. Barry, 69. Movie director Wolfgang Petersen, 67. Comedian Billy Crystal, 60. Prince Albert II, the ruler of Monaco, 50. Actress Tamara Tunie, 49. Actor Gary Anthony Williams, 42. Actor Jake Fogelnest, 29. Actor Chris Klein, 29. Actress Kate Maberly, 26. Singer-musician Taylor Hanson (Hanson), 25.

Seattle Times news services