The Californian in me – there is a little and it is of the Orange County strain, Newport Beach variety, rather than the preppier Santa Cruz that also runs in our family – aches to know what others drive. To me it still defines them more than a mere bookshelf or music collection. Were I [...]

“[The] single, simple, self-evident explanation is that the enormous act of defection, of betrayal, treason, is almost invariably the act of a warped, emotionally maladjusted personality. It is compelled by a fear, hatred, a deep sense of grievance, or obsession with revenge far exceeding in intensity these emotions as experienced by normal, reasonably well-integrated and [...]

Graham Greene, an Mi6 correspondent during his days in Lagos, wrote that “espionage today is really a branch of psychological warfare. The main objective is to sow mistrust between allies in the enemy’s camp… The real value of the two scientists [Fuchs and Nunn May] to the Soviet was not from their scientific information but [...]

From a FOIA-released WWII training manual for special officers: Cover A: General Freedom – financial – social – movement – leisure. B: Essential details Name – history – documents – clothes – behavior (money-associates-tastes-local conditions-table manners-slang-mannerisms). iv. Coming down to business – change your line of appeal to suit the case, eg for a priest, [...]

Would it be easier to block the Strait of Malacca than the Strait of Hormuz: EIA/DOE inquiring minds want to know.

Piper Alpha… Deepwater Horizons… rigs have beautiful names. The Deepwater Family: Deepwater Discovery – Drillship type rig. Owned by Transocean Inc.. 2000 Deepwater Expedition – Drillship type rig. Owned by Transocean Inc.. 1999 Deepwater Frontier – Drillship type rig. Owned by Deepwater Drilling LLC. 1999 Deepwater Horizon – Semisub type rig. Owned by Transocean Inc.. [...]

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Not sure if this is insult or flattery. From Cute Boys With Cats; photo by Pink Eye. The evolution of a pet name. Small black cat introduced to main pride. Floppy (a fawnish, foppish, not quite grown into his paws) appearance noted. The name Floppy is coined. As other aspects of his personality become apparent, [...]