The most interesting news story of the day concerns the actual mechanism used by the Chinese authorities to censor the internet. It’s not what you’d expect — rather than a direct filter on content, it’s a 21st-century variant of the “Panopticon”. Thanks to Andy Bostom, C. Cantoni, El Ing...

[written in the departures lounge at the Chennai Airport] Here are some tips I've been meaning to share... so while I'm waiting for my flight to be called, I'll jot down as many as I can.  Feel free to add your own: 1.  Use a full-service travel agent wherever possible (the kind with a 24 ...

So, I did a bit of a collaborative effort with my dear friend omanexpat. Done in two different perspectives, you should be able to tell which one is which, without us being obvious. He IS the better writer.. :POh, and the story is rather long. I guess we got a bit long-winded. lol The mall is busy, ...

Its seven o’clock in the evening when the call comes in.   LONE FEMALE, NON-START AT HOME ADDRESS.   The heading gives it a priority, we always respond to a lone female call before anyone else. I’ve worked for the breakdown service for some time now and I make my way quickly to...

Never before have so many Midwestern teams that aren't actually located in the Midwest been in one stadium at once! The disappointing Cleveland Browns and differently-but-equally disappointing Buffalo Bills will battle to the frigid death to see who's less disappointing team of all. It's going to be...

The Life of Riley is a weekly post that details my activities since I ended a thirteen year career as a corporate drone. These posts are usually long, personal, and geared more for my own memory than the reader’s entertainment. Sunday (Day 519): Two Small Failures Was Plenty We went to the hou...

My family spent the entire weekend field-testing the new World of Warcraft expansion. It was a really fun geek weekend of pushing ourselves to stay up until dawn, crash for a couple hours, and then get back at it. All our computers are in one room, which is littered by fast food containers and empty...

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This week, a woman named Paula Goodspeed died in Los Angeles, outside the house of Paula Abdul. It appears that she committed suicide. Why do I know about this? Why do I care? I know about this because Paula Goodspeed appeared to have a bit of an obsession with Paula Abdul. And because she auditione...

This past Monday marked the founding of the US Marine Corps on November 10, 1775.  The event was preceded by a short essay crafted by Mackubin Thomas Owens, FPRI Senior Fellow, who served 30 years in the Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve.  This essay titled "Ripley at the Bridge...