Saddam Hussein: How Social Networking Nabbed Him

If you’re a Saddam Hussein aficionado with a half-hour to kill, Slate has just published a fascinating five-part series titled “Searching for Saddam: How the U.S. military used social networking to capture the Iraqi dictator.”It’s not about Facebook and Twitter, but about how the Army used similar theories of social networking to work their way through Saddam’s tribal contacts and figure out his whereabouts.Here’s the series.

King Tut Thursday

DNA research has given the experts some convincing evidence as to why King Tut died at the young age of 19.The short answer is in-breeding and malaria.King Tut’s parents, they say, were brother and sister. On top of that, or maybe because of it, he had a degenerative bone disease. He also had a club foot and a cleft palate.

Shepard Fairey Draws a Crowd

Shepard Fairey has a new exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati. Called “Supply and Demand,” it runs through August 22nd and shows about 250 of his works.

DVD Review: ‘Harvard Beats Yale 29-29’

Harvard Beats Yale, 29-29Documentary – 2008Viewed on: Saturday night, 20 February 2010Pre-movie meal: French onion soup, fries, and a Dr. Loosen Riesling

Guy Walks Into a Bar…

A drunk was in front of a judge. The judge says “You’ve been brought here for drinking.” The drunk says, “Okay, let’s get started.” A man goes to a psychiatrist. The doctor says, “You’re crazy.” The man says, “I want a second opinion!” “Okay, you’re ugly too!” The food on the plane was fit for a king. “Here, King!”Happy 12th deathday to the “king of the one-liners,” Henny Youngman.

A Few Things About Joyce Carol Oates

The newest edition of Smithsonian magazine has a brief feature on author Joyce Carol Oates and her sense of place.In her case, it’s all about rural New York, specifically Lockport, where she grew up.

Jayson Williams Gets Five Years in Prison

Retired NBA star Jayson Williams has been sentenced to five years in prison.Williams today gave a teary-eyed apology to Superior Court Judge Edward Coleman.

The Dalai Lama Tweets

Yes, from the Office of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, it’s his Twitter account!