Utah decides to make pornography a public health issue...

This is perhaps the most baffling, the most unbelievable, the most stupid reason I've ever heard for banning pornography, and the reality is, it won't change a thing.

And yes, this is a pretty thinly veiled attempt to ban porn, under the guise of declaring it a "public health crisis".

But it should come as no surprise.  Back in 2009, a study showed that Utah had the highest rate of online adult site subscriptions in the US.  And ever since then, the political nuts have been trying to take out the industry, no matter what.

But, no matter what those who favour censorship and restriction may try and do, they can never silence the people.

By trying to ban it, all they do, is make it more attractive.  By trying to restrict it, they encourage people to watch it.  By claiming it's about 'public health', they are really trying to avoid the reality that this is about the same old "we know what's best for you" attitude that conservatives have tried to force on people for years.

Internet firewalls put up by governments are regularly breached by individuals, the anti-censorship movement is as strong as ever, and the rights of people to watch anything legal in their homes, must be upheld, no matter what the pro-censorship brigade might think.

CBS News: The growth of online porn

Is the viewing of online porn addictive?  CBS News medical correspondent Dr John LaPook talks to addictions treatment specialist Mavis Humes Baird about the growth of online pornography.

Watch CBS Videos Online

"Sex mags" on sale in US military stores... so what?

United Press International is reporting that the American Family Association and other anti-pornography groups are claiming that pornographic magazines such as Playboy and Penthouse are on sale in US military stores.

This stems back to 1996 when Congress passed the Military Honour and Decency Act, which prohibited sale of sexually explicit magaizines in US military stores.

Quite honestly, this belongs in the Ridiculous News File, because there is no issue here. This is a piece of self promotion by those who believe that censorship is not only good, but should be encouraged. I'd rather discourage censorship and let the individual choose rather than have governments or quangos or self appointed censors dictating what I can and cannot read or see.