April, 2015

• 21 April

  Cherry Blossom Time in DC

  

  Those of us who live in the nation’s capital have to put up with a lot.  The horrendous traffic, summer heat and humidity, high cost of living, bloviating politicians and posturing bureaucrats, dysfunctional governments, hordes of tourists,  etc.  One of the rewards for our patience is the annual blooming of …

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• 19 April

  5 Words You Should Banish From Your Vocabulary…

  …if you want to be taken seriously. The words you choose will determine how others evaluate your intellect. It matters in almost any interaction you have outside of a close personal relationship. This includes your workplace and any interaction with someone you don’t know well. I’m not going to address …

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• 19 April

  Personal Anecdotes Have Little Value in the Public Sphere

  The telling of personal stories has been an important aspect of human communication since before the development of complex language. Sharing one’s experiences is an integral part of personal relationships. It is typically one the first subjects that friends or acquaintances discuss when meeting (“How are you? What have you …

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• 17 April

  Drone Technology Could Have Prevented Germanwings Crash

  

  The recent intentional crash of Germanwings flight 9525 by a suicidal pilot demonstrated for the second time in the past year the risks associated with having humans completely in control of an airliner.  The German co-pilot of flight 9525 committed suicide and the mass murder of 149 others when he locked …

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• 16 April

  Gyrocopter Stunt Exposes Security Vulnerabilities

  

  Yesterday’s crash landing of a gyrocopter on the Capitol lawn again exposed security vulnerabilities in the area of the National Mall.  The pilot, identified as Doug Hughes, claims to have flown his craft from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, about 65 miles away.  Upon his arrival in DC, he buzzed the White House and …

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• 15 April

  Video: Special Delivery! Gyrocopter Crash Lands on Capitol Lawn!

  

  I was in downtown DC with my laptop and little Panasonic compact camera in my backpack.  I’d been working on a video about protests and demonstrations in DC, and I heard that a group of demonstrators advocating pot legalization and DC statehood had chained themselves to a 42-foot “Liberty Pole” on …

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March, 2015

• 24 March

  Starbucks “Race Together” Campaign is about Green, not Black and White

  

  Starbucks latest step in it’s effort to remain the hippest fast-food joint on the planet is its “Race Together” campaign, unveiled in Mid-March. Ostensibly designed to help foster an open discussion about racial issues, it has been widely criticized and ridiculed for its plan to have its baristas “voluntarily write …

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December, 2012

• 7 December

  Salvation and Damnation in Můstek Station – A Prague Story

  

  The metro ground to a halt and the doors parted. I stepped out, in no particular hurry to exit the station. As I made my way through the crowd rushing to board the train, I looked around, as I rarely miss an opportunity to people-watch. One man immediately stood out …

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November, 2012

• 29 November

  The Old Man and the Sausage – A Prague Story

  

  Firstly, let me say I’m sure I was justified in throwing the old man with the cane to the ground. Well, pretty sure. Sure enough that I’m not wracked with guilt. And I didn’t throw him to the ground so much as let him fall. I know that justifying even …

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