Zippo Closes In on 500M Lighters

Lighter company shifting toward life after tobacco

(NEWSER) - Other than the tobacco-makers themselves, Zippo is the one of the companies you'd think of as least-able to survive in the post-tobacco world. But the maker of the iconic lighters has big plans: Zippo is transitioning into "a lifestyle-products company," its CEO tells the Wall Street Journal . The firm has launched a line of cologne as well as casual clothing, watches, and camping supplies. More»

A look at Rotten Tomatoes gives the crown to the Civil War

(NEWSER) - The new Steven Spielberg-Tom Hanks series The Pacific got the folks at New York magazine's the Vulture blog wondering which war has produced the best movies. They looked up every one they could think of at Rotten Tomatoes, then averaged the scores. The winner: the Civil War. Here are the results, along with a top scorer from each conflict: More»

Domestic issues must trump unwinnable war: Dem elder statesman

(NEWSER) - When George McGovern hears about President Obama's plans for Afghanistan, he reluctantly reaches an unavoidable conclusion. "I can only think: another Vietnam," the 1972 Democratic presidential nominee writes in the Washington Post . "I hope I am incorrect, but history tells me otherwise." After 9 years at war, he asks: "Why waste these fine soldiers any longer?" More»

Wired picks the year's best

(NEWSER) - This has been a vintage year for pop culture, say Wired writers listing their year's best in fields from film to video games to microsculpture.

• Stephen Colbert's "hyper-real genius" made the year for Scott Thill, who believes "Earth’s most relevant living cultural critic" is long overdue for an Emmy for The Colbert Report.

Watch clips from Patton to Glory to Full Metal Jacket

(NEWSER) - In honor of Veterans Day, the Huffington Post runs down the best war movies of all time:

• Apocalypse Now: Vietnam War
• From Here to Eternity: Pearl Harbor
• Patton: World War II
• Braveheart: Scotland’s battle for independence
• Lawrence of Arabia: World War I
• Band of Brothers: World War II (and, yes, a mini-series, but a good one)