Brian Gongol
A history of the mobile phone
Bank of England raises rates again
Trying to hold off inflation -- but scaring and surprising borrowers and economists alike
WKRP in Cincinnati comes out on DVD in April
Russian-Belorussian feud over oil pipelines makes trouble for Europe
The fickleness of politics in oil-producing countries (nearly all of the major exporters are experiencing some form of turbulence) creates considerably more risk of trouble for other countries in the immediate future than any long-term concerns about climate change (which may very well be sufficient reason for concern in the long run)
"There will be no military solution in Iraq"
Senator Hagel suggests that the only solution is to move US troops to Iraq's borders to make sure no one else (like Iran) gets funny. Others are also very pessimistic about the military options available.
"Curious George" illustrators barely escaped from the Nazis
Husband-wife duo were Germans who lived in Paris in 1940 and barely made it out -- on bicycles -- before the Nazis arrived
"Republicans sued for breach of Contract with America"
Cityview's "Best of Des Moines" survey
There's an opening on page 5 for "Best radio personality" that could use a couple of votes for "Brian Gongol"...
North Korea to try feeding itself on meat from giant rabbits
A German breeder has come up with a way to raise rabbits that weigh 23 pounds apiece. And since they breed, well, like rabbits, they're potentially a very quick way to produce meat for lots of hungry mouths. It's not a completely foreign idea -- the USDA has regulations on rabbit meat, and it's been an American foodstuff for some time (though it's certainly not mainstream). The idea is novel, but it has a big problem: North Korea has been suffering from food shortages, crop failures, and famine for several years, and there hasn't even been enough grain production to feed the human mouths they have. Since animal meat is notoriously inefficient at converting plant calories into human ones, then increasing meat production in North Korea without vastly improving the way that country produces grains would actually result in a net loss of food for the people.
The greatest public service the New York Times has ever performed
Forget the Pentagon Papers, publishing a list of fifteen questions couples should discuss before marriage could probably preserve more human happiness than anything else the Old Gray Lady has ever done. Little things that contribute in small ways to many people's happiness can mean a lot -- like the invention of Ramen noodles.
"For Better or For Worse" comic strip to test unusual hybrid old/new approach
The strip reaches its 28th anniversary this year, and the creator is backing off a little on her schedule but will continue producing some new strips
Buzz the Tower
Lewis and Clark project could get more money from Congress
