Newley Purnell

Tourists are eschewing the Taj Mahal; Bhutan, one of the most isolated countries in the world, is getting its own version of Windows; and, here in the States, it seems Jim Traficant’s unruly mop is definitely a rug.

In an attempt to improve their English pronunciation, some Chinese people are undergoing tongue surgery.

Beware of strangers bearing Sony Ericsson T68i camera/cell phones. They may part of an extreme guerrilla marketing campaign.

“The EBay Way: How Auction Sites Like EBay Turn Retail Economics on Its Ear for the Betterment of Just About Everybody.”

Lance Armstrong has won his fourth straight Tour de France. Here’s a revealing profile of the man who is arguably the greatest cyclist ever.

In other news, “Grad Student Deconstructs Take-Out Menu.”

Welcome to The Wacky World of Japanese Ice Cream. Don’t miss flavors like ox tongue (“What better to tickle the taste buds than tongues?”), wasabi, shrimp (“It’s prawnographic!”), eel, and especially chicken wing (“It actually tastes like a fried chicken wing, which is fine if that’s what you’re eating, but not if you’re tucking into some ice cream.”).

A baseball strike is looming. This NY Times op-ed (free registration required) and Allen Barra’s Salon.com piece, “Bud Selig’s Buddies,” help explain why.

Chindogu + a hint of Engrish = Prodikeys.

The remarkably good “Six Feet Under” has garnered 23 Emmy nominations, more than any other show.