Monthly Archives: October 2008

A – “Now you’re thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don’t. I think that’s Old Europe. If you look at the entire NATO Europe today, the center of gravity is shifting to the East. And there are a … Continue reading →

     The tiny, obscure alpine principality of Liechtenstein seems to exist as mainly a repository of arcane distinctions: At 160.4 sq. km (62 sq. mi), Liechtenstein is one of the smallest independent countries in the world (#189 out of 194 … Continue reading →

  Almost a century and a half after Orélie-Antoine de Tounens assumed the title of King of Araucania-Patagonia, his descendants still lay claim to the throne of that putative monarchy at the southern tip of South America. The website that … Continue reading →

  PERTINI DANCE (by S.C.O.R.T.A., 1984) “What a superstar to be, is the best you can see. Yes this is a brave man, oh. The first Italian man, To the people in square, ‘Who is he, a king?’ – ‘Oh … Continue reading →

  “I was contemplating the logo and slogan of `The Hospitality Industry`, the vaguely named corporation that apparently makes foil/paper wrappers for hamburgers, wondering just what `Special World` they were talking about,” writes `Abner Cadaver, hamburger eater`. ”Then I realized the world … Continue reading →

Nobody had ever heard of San Serriffe before April 1, 1977, when the Guardian newspaper (UK) published a special 7-page supplement on the 10th anniversary of that nation’s independence from Britain. The archipelago was discovered by the English in 1421, … Continue reading →

The following was taken from the website eightoverfive, and is “a nonscientific investigation into the relationship of sweet tea availability and  the separation of northern and southern cultures in the United States.”   “An interesting phenomenon exists in the Commonwealth … Continue reading →

In its most recent issue, The New Yorker magazine revisits one of its most famous covers ever. Saul Steinberg’s cartoon on the front page of the 29 March 1976 issue showed the world as seen from New York’s 9th Avenue. Mr … Continue reading →