Freedom of speech reexamined....

After a teenager falsely yelled “bingo” in a Kentucky bingo hall, he was charged with disorderly conduct.  Likening the prank to yelling “fire” in a crowded theater, the judge ordered the teen not to say the word “bingo” for six months.

Scratch and lose....

A survey of 2000 high school students revealed those who had received instant scratch lottery tickets as children and adolescents have more permissive attitudes about gambling than those who had not received such gifts. Kids who get such gifts gamble earlier in life and may be more prone to develop severe gambling disorders later on. The findings support other research showing that early gambling experience is associated with future problems in stopping despite experiencing major difficulties related to it.