Public Service Announcement: When In The UK, Don't Order An "Irish Car Bomb."

Seriously, you might not want to, no matter how much you might like the drink here.

FYI: Social Media Cuts Both Ways, Scumbag

There's been a lot of talk about how the UK rioters used social media.  Well, social media cuts both ways.  Check out this absolutely glorious tweet by the Greater Manchester Police. You're nicked!  Besides, never waste sympathy on stupid criminals (dirtbag du jour).

FYI: American Airlines' New Luggage Policy Stinks

FYI: American Airlines is now charging passengers for luggage check-in. That's right. I flew American Airlines to get back to Nerdworld, and apparently it's just not enough that I have to pay an outrageous amount of money for my ticket and also endure bad service. Now I have to pay extra for checking in bags!

Yes, it'll cost you an extra $15 to check one bag and another $25 for a second one. Don't even think about checking a third one, because that'll cost you $100 more.

I was going back to campus for a new school term, so I had a lot of luggage. A LOT. I couldn't help it. I had two big bags (one was almost entirely full of books and articles and journals and nerd-stuff). I had to check both of them in, and that meant I had to cough up an extra 40 bucks.

I was furious. $40! But I had no choice but to hand it over.

So here's your public service announcement. American Airlines is now charging extra for luggage!

Nerd Notes and FYI: the World's Top 10 Think Tanks

Interesting list of the world's top 10 think tanks, as noted by Foreign Policy. The list is specifically about non-American think tanks.

It's nice to peek in every once in a while to see what the eggheads and analysts are doing.

Here is the list:

1. Centre for European Policy Studies, Belgium
2. French Institute of International Relations, France
3. German Institute for International Politics and Security, Germany
4. Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russia
5. International Crisis Group, Belgium
6. International Institute for Strategic Studies, United Kingdom
7. Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, Israel
8. Japan Institute of International Affairs, Japan
9. Royal Institute of International Affairs, United Kingdom
10. Shanghai Institute for International Studies, China

Nerd Notes and FYI: The Middle East Strategy at Harvard Blog

Here's an interesting blog that's worth looking at for various topics now and again:

the Middle East Strategy at Harvard blog.

Nice, often thoughtful or thought-provoking thoughts for nerds and for folks who like to read what nerds have been studying.