Better late than never… random linky goodness:

What’s up with Venezuala’s diamond production, asks Douglas Farah; one apparently unexplored angle is that the unaccounted-for stones are being hoarded or stockpiled: a million dollars in diamonds is far easier to handle than a similar value of, say, gold bullion…

An interesting look at al Qaeda’s potential use of Twitter and similar services. One of the threats examined - the use of services like Twitter to collect information about users who are potential “targets” - is very true, and very real - and applies to potential “targets” of many, many other groups, as well. I’m just waiting to hear about the first gang “hit” predicated on Twitter info;

If Osama bin Laden writes a book, will anyone read it? Will the right people read it? Only time will tell…

And lastly, an oldie but a goodie: Rap fan sentenced to listen to classical music in lieu of a fine quits after fifteen minutes, pays money instead. Apparently the local police department “keeps three CDs for this type of sentence.” Sad, but true…