​State Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) said that passing a bill that would outlaw congressional insider trading is a crucial move to regain the public's confidence in the government. The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act sailed through a Senate vote earlier today, with a vote of 96-3.

"I believe in the power of transparency," Gillibrand said. "When we open up our government and hold our elected officials accountable, we can get to the real business at hand."

Though the legislation had widespread support on both sides of the aisle, the STOCK act was criticized by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va) and his GOP colleagues. Cantor has said he wanted to see the legislation expanded to include mandatory disclosure of land deals (instead of just stock trades), and extend the bill's reach to members of the executive branch. But Gillibrand said that the bill is directed towards lawmakers in Congress, as well as their staffs and families.

More >>

South Park Studios

​We've all done it at some point, that is, swiped the hotel linens, because who's really going to stop you from stuffing a one-size-fits-all bathrobe into your suitcase? Or so we thought. Now the answer to that question is Linen Technology Tracking, a Miami-based company that has placed RFID chips in sheets, towels, and robes, allowing three hotels in three major cities (including Manhattan) to crack down on those of us who find solace in taking home part of the vacation.

More >>

A Libyan jet crashes in Benghazi. NYT via Patrick Baz/AFP

• ​The U.N.-sanctioned allied attack on Libyan targets continues today as Muammar Qaddafi promises a "long war," telling state television that "We will not leave our land and we will liberate it." U.S., French, and British forces began air strikes yesterday, reportedly destroying one of Qaddafi's convoys in eastern Libya. The New York Times is reporting that American B-2 bombers have struck a major Libyan airfield. The coalition is targeting Libya's air defense systems near the capital of Tripoli. Rebel-controlled Benghazi was quieter today after yesterday's heavy fighting that led thousands of people to flee. Interestingly, Operation Odyssey Dawn (that's what they're calling it) coincides almost to the day with the beginning of the war in Iraq eight years ago. [LA Times, NYT, CNN]
• Meanwhile in Japan, the official death toll has climbed to 8,277. On a more hopeful note, an 80-year-old woman and her teenage grandson have been rescued nine days after the quake from their destroyed house. The boy was able to pull himself out and lead rescuers to his grandmother. [MSNBC]

More >>

via NY Post

​If you thought Watson (the Jeopardy computer) was going to rule our puny human asses alone, now Watson has his minions. The Pentagon has just developed a robotic hummingbird designed for spying called the Nano Hummingbird. The New York Post has the specifics on the spybots: "the Nano Hummingbird, at 19 grams, weighs less than an AA battery. But, given that hummingbirds are not that common in many urban settings, the next prototype likely will be modeled on a sparrow." (Hm, how about a pigeon?)

More >>

Sex shop does not equal New York City.

​The Huffington Post had a pretty cool idea! What if they tackled this whole "New York City" thingamajig head on? What if the loss of Times Square sex shops, Off-Track Betting parlors, and "rock clubs" (in particular, one named CBGB) have changed the deepest nature of our city, making us dull and average and prepackaged like American cheese? Wouldn't an exploration of that be fascinating? Plus, give good SEO?

More >>

​Who among New York City's media set has never read a single MediaBistro mailer or blog? Nobody. Which is strange, because it's not like they break crazy news or anything! But it is a clearing house for two things: (1) Everything That Happens in Media, Especially in New York City and (2) Good Talent, who peaces the fuck out of there as soon as someone offers them a salary that's slightly above what bad subway buskers rake in, because even those guys make more than MediaBistro bloggers. Such is the case with Fishbowl NY blogger Alex Alvarez, whose hard work has finally paid off with a job in the Dan Abrams Gulag of Media. Press Clips, Day 24, The MediaBistro Conspiracy Edition.More >>

Because it's Friday, and you're probably drinking (soon?) even if we're not...Here is a monkey being an adorable asshole. Don't try this at home. 'Cause we're pretty sure owning a capybara in New York City is illegal, no matter how awesome they are.

​Well, this is fun. Pulitzer Prize-winning nonprofit news organization ProPublica recently compiled an awesome database of very compelling information. And as it turns out, I went through it, and consequently, have a funny story about it!

More >>

​We guess everyone has to grow up sometime. (Sadface.) Two-year-old Ardi Rizdal, or Aldi Suganda, depending on who you ask, had the shockingly awful -- but somehow exceedingly debonair -- habit of dragging on some 40 ciggies per day. But after the Indonesian child-man was forced into government-paid rehab in Jakarta, "The baby has quit smoking," according to officials. Does this mean he'll have to give up the awesome leather bomber jacket, too?

More >>

via the New York Times

​New Yorkers can be careless: We leave cell phones in cabs like they're loose change; we lose our dignity at bars every weekend; we get locked out of our apartments more than we would care to admit, and sometimes, some of us lose extra specially important belongings -- like this guy, Adam Grossetti from Carroll Gardens, did on his way to an audition, according to the Times.

More >>