Very creative. They don't give the locations, and I suppose the more creative ones wouldn't survive from anywhere I've lived in the U.S., where the chairs would be promptly carted away and taggers would deface what remains.

He seems to speak Italian better than he does English

This is about the 10th person I've heard described as "THE" inspiration for Indiana Jones. Wikipedia lists five supposed "confirmed models" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_jones#Models). Otto Rahn is not in the list, nor are a handful of others that supposed real Indiana Joneses.

I wonder if he poops on passerby for realism

Geekazoid: in response to the first paragraph of your most recent post, I explained in my previous post that despite whatever meaning you personally ascribe to it, the word "troglodyte" is in fact commonly used as a term of reproach for right wing public figures. I personally don't care much for O'Reilly either, and could care less whether he deserves the label "troglodyte" or not. But don't change your argument and say "even so it doesn't really matter.." - I was simply pointing out that you were mistaken in your repeated statements about the word being apolitical.

It is probably true that certain people here would revel in Hillary or Obama bashing, but many of us simply enjoy this site and complain about the political content mainly because it is not "neat". The Neatorama crew are entitled to post whatever they please, but as someone who regularly enjoys the site, I offer friendly, constructive advice not to poison the atmosphere with injections of schoolyard-taunt politics. If it must be political, at least make it Neato; Stanhope's stale and unfunny links usually have made 500 rounds on the Internet, on Digg, etc. before they arrive here.

Geekazoid, in the insular world of lefty commentators, "troglodyte" is a standard term of insult to imply that right-wing blowhards are in fact knuckle-dragging subhumans. If you Google "troglodyte" and "Rush Limbaugh", "George Bush" or any other "conservative" public figure, you will find endless pouting and venting of hate.

Carruthers, Adam Stanhope doesn't care what you or the others who don't share his views think. As many of the people who have commented here seem to think, if you don't find the same joy in O'Reilly-Bashing, Bush-Bashing, etc., then you thats just because you are a staunch supporter! Its a binary worldview with no nuance or middle ground: either join the cackling crowds endlessly mocking right wing pundits, or stand accused of being a "supporter".

To all you critics of Stanhope: here is no use in trying to argue why this kind of post isn't "neato": Stanhope and Alex wear blinders and intellectual deficits when it comes to politics, you are instantly tuned out as a flag-waving "troglodyte" who loves Bill O'Reilly.

I like Neil Young's music too, but this seems kind of dopey to me. I prefer the old days when men in bushy white beards picked Latin phrases or obscure Greek myths. Just seemed more timeless than some dude who just happens to like Neil Young.

I've met a lot of guys who take the "firm handshake" principle way, way too far. He-men of the grip, who attempt to grind the bones in your hand to a fine powder. I also worked at a company that brought in a trainer who (among other things) instructed us in the ways of the proper handshake: "Web-to-web, thats the key!". While an appropriately firm handshake is a good thing, if you make business decisions based on a person's grip, you deserve to go bankrupt and are probably well on your way.

There must be a way to tie this to global warming

I'm surprised they didn't try to tie it to global warming

fz : the big deal is that Leonardo was a visionary who was way ahead of his time, thinking about drag forces when his contemporaries were obsessed with magic spells.

@Avier: You are correct, we refer to ourselves as Americans. Its a figure of speech, a long-established shorthand, much simpler than saying "I'm a United States of American". As with many words, there are regional differences in meaning. I know many people from the C-O-N-T-I-N-E-N-T get all hot and bothered at this difference in usage, but get over it. The Newsweek articles was published for an "American" audience, so to speak. Nobody is sleighting you.

Secondly, though Zakaria's overall argument is probably correct, the examples given in this blurb are rather silly. The "tallest building", "largest casino", "largest mall" - these are just carnivalesque status symbols. Rule of law, long-term economic stability, the ability to accommodate sustained growth without inequalities and social/political unrest - these are the more significant (and difficult to assess) questions.

Orjan: keep smiling, and hoping about that one. The EU seems poised for a century of steady decline.

No, it doesn't look real to me.

I want my one minute back

Having spent 2 hours in a frozen elevator, I can't imagine the ordeal this poor chap went through. I did have to endure two a-hole lawyers threatening to sue so-and-so the entire time, but 41 hours? He deserves a medal.