Newark News

Welcome to Media Watch. I'm Jonathan Holmes. First up, the intriguing tale of young Ralph Hardy, from Newark, Texas, and his excellent adventure with his father's credit card.

Last week, I apparently touched upon a nerve when I broached the topic of Google Death for using deceptive marketing practices.A There were a lot of interesting points made in the comments here at Mashable and ...

Over at Search Engine Land's Sphinn , people are discussing a search engine optimization tactic which tries to assemble backlink juice by posting a fake news article.

A 13-year-old boy from Texas who stole his father's credit card and hired two prostitutes has been convicted of fraud.

This almost sounds like a movie treatment, rather than something from a news agency : A 13 year old from Newark, Texas confessed to ordering an extra credit card from his father's existing credit card company, ... via Mikemcguff blog

One young Xbox fan had the time of his life in Texas last week, leaving a trail of $30,000 in games, consoles, Oreos and high-price hookers in his wake. via GamePro

Police said they were alerted to the motel by a concerned delivery clerk [read: party pooper] , whom after delivering supplies of Dr Pepper, Fritos and Oreos had been asked by the kids where they could score ... via Light Reading

'A 13 year old from Texas who stole his Dad's credit card and ordered two hookers from an escort agency, has today been convicted of fraud and given a three year community order. via Moonbuggy

Firefighters battled a fire on a freight train in Wise County Tuesday afternoon. via NBC5i.com

“You can go get a subpoena, and I won't give it to you!”

Chuck Grassley, a Republican Senator from Iowa, has been making waves in the conservative Christian community for investigating the actions of popular and wealthy Pentecostal preachers. via About.com

“And they helped me to my chair.”

By Charles G. Anderson Sr. Special to Reporter News Sunday, February 3, 2008 Reporter-News photo by Thomas Metthe Vietnam veterans Larry Cole, left, of Weatherford and Bob Dunham, center, of San Angelo work ... via Report news

A Christian nonprofit group says a Texas televangelist turned a national ministers' gathering last week into a fundraising opportunity for Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee. via WREG-TV Memphis

“Suzie Cromer demonstrated extraordinary courage and kindness, which goes to show how far pets will go to express their love and affection for us”

A firefighter's dog from Newark, Texas, is the 2007 Humane Hero. The Humane Society of the U.S. honored Suzie, following a poll of visitors to the humane society's website . via CW33 Dallas KDAF-TV

“And if there's a death penalty that applies, well just go for it!”

It hasn't generated a lot of headlines, but in the world of religion and politics, it's a pretty big deal. via The Carpetbagger Report

“Unsuspecting parents who take their children to see the movie may be impelled to buy the three books as a Christmas present. And no parent who wants to bring their children up in the faith will want any part of these books”

First up from the God Machine this week is an aggressive push-back in some religious circles against " The Golden Compass ," a new children's film starring Nicole Kidman, based on Philip Pullman's "The Northern ... via The Carpetbagger Report

“It is shameful for any reputable Christian group to be advocating anything other than full and complete transparency and disclosure of finances”

By SAM HODGES and DAVE MICHAELS / The Dallas Morning News One North Texas-based televangelist missed a Thursday deadline to answer a Senate inquiry about his ministry's finances, while another responded and ... via The Dallas Morning News

“Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's”

Unless the Rapture comes early today, six high-profile television ministries have an appointment with Iowa Sen. via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Many conservative Christians feel misunderstood by the general public. To many of them six televangelists under investigation by a Senate committee are an embarrassment. via KDBC

“It may not be a very easy job to get one to come to ORU in a time of challenge like we're facing now”

Read the latest stories about the ORU lawsuit, view the lawsuit and other documents and watch slide shows and video. via TulsaWorld.com - News