Past Articles

Friday’s Wall Street Journal included a story about the difference between how Hong Kong and US port authorities screen containers for bombs. The Chinese have developed a screening method that takes every single container through the detector, leaving nothing to chance. The technology is expensive but there is no doubt […]

Last night I joined two old pals at an upscale restaurant bar in South Deerfield. It was Chandler’s and the walls were lined floor to ceiling with bottles of American wines. The light came through the glass and created a warm atmosphere. The place was empty as we took our […]

NY Times Style section includes this nugget about a rich apparel company owner. “Even under the murkiest of he-said, she-said circumstances, Mr. Dov Charney’s management style runs counter to American cultural and business norms and has left him vulnerable to the kind of claims he faces now, workplace experts and […]

“The 1999 Acura Integra coupe was the most-stolen vehicle last year and Integras from other model years weren’t far behind, likely the targets of street racers who want their fast engines, according to a report released July 19, 2005. One out of every 200 registered 1999 Acura Integras was stolen […]

Erik Gauger puts out an online email travel publication and website called Notes from the Road. I admire his balls-on, descriptive and reverant approach to travel. “I tried pitching my stories to an online magazine called GORP, which I admired for their lack of annoying advertising, commercialization or pop-under ads […]

Rob Sheppe writes in Sportfishing Magazine included this scary tale today. “The Schultz family – Bob, his son Stephen, and 20-year old daugher Allison – were on a fishing trip off the coast of Panama. Bob had taken his children to Panama for some quality time away from the demands […]

I met a big man named Bill at a tavern on Nantucket. Broadcasting loudly across the bar, he was hard to ignore. He had acres of tattoo ink up and down both of his beefy forearms and wore lots of gold jewelry. When he laughed, he pushed you at the […]

The Village Voice’s Anya Kamenetz recently wrote a piece on the experience of being a rich ‘trustafarian’ in today’s world. “Some people do treat me differently when they learn I have money. Doesn’t really matter, I guess. It’s not like I’ll be buying drinks for everyone!” He shares a $1,400-a-month […]

Paul Krugman argues in the NY Times that national health care has become a big factor in where Toyota decides to build auto plants…and they recently chose Ontario, Canada over the US because of this and the level of education of the workers. “There has been fierce competition among states […]

Suzanne D’Amour once had it all. She married her boss, dentist Robert D’Amour, after meeting him on her job as a dental hygenist in Springfield, MA. After years of marriage to the man 22 years her senior, she got bored and met Alex Rankins, a beefy, black Springfield bar bouncer. […]

Summer nights can be brutal for those of us who live in un-airconditioned houses. Covers wet with sweat, tossing and turning; no wonder Lunestra is the new drug of choice. Last night, again, racked with an inability to stay asleep, I woke up at 2 and headed downstairs to the […]

Reuters reports that Brazilian police arrested 10 people on Thursday accused of selling drugs using Google’s international social networking site Orkut, which is hugely popular in the Latin American country. “We’ve nabbed 10 so far, but there may be more,” he added. The ring distributed mainly ecstasy and marijuana. Orkut […]

Rachel Kramer Bussel writes the Lusty Lady column in the Village voice and included this recent look at the sex lives of comedians. “Eric de Picciotto’s had his share of groupies, even though he makes sure to mention his longtime girlfriend during shows. “One night, a woman from the audience […]

Today’s The Onion had this news. “Marine Corps Shortens Slogan To ‘The Few’WASHINGTON, DC—In light of recruiting shortfalls, a near standstill in re-enlistment, and rock-bottom troop morale, U.S. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Michael Hagee announced Monday that the Marines will alter their unofficial slogan, abbreviating it to the more accurate […]

Steve Jones in writes on the Travelmole July 20, 2005 about an industrious teen from England. “A teenager awaiting his A level results has become the latest entrant into the low cost airline arena. Daniel Reilly, 18, has leased a Boeing 737 with money from venture capitalists to set up […]

Bethanne Patrick, AOL’s book editor, writes a clever blog. Here is part of today’s entry. “Last Friday I received a call from my pal A.J. Jacobs, editor-at-large to Esquire magazine and author of 2004’s delightful ‘The Know-It-All: One Man’s Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World,’ which covered […]

Here is one way to attack spam, found on New Media Report, written by Elizabeth G. Hines. Anti-spam/spyware company, Blue Security, has developed a method of actively deterring spam—by hitting the spammers before they hit you. When you sign up for their Do Not Intrude Registry, Blue Security will set […]

Kurt Andersen wrote in New York recently about the Aspen Institute’s ‘glitzy-wonky summer camp,’ which some day I hope to observe. “And just like at school or camp, there was buzz about the hotties and fresh faces. The week’s “It” boy was Noah Feldman, a good-looking, silver-tongued, terrifyingly self-confident 35-year-old […]