Articles from March, 2009

The Gulf: The Empty Quarter

Darryl Campbell gets lost (metaphorically speaking) in the Arabian desert.

The Rambling American: Communism Sells Out

Former Soviet Bloc governments now embrace Western economic development, but Locke McKenzie sees citizens who are nostalgic for the communal values of socialism.

Understanding Mini-Comics

Mini-comics are an under-appreciated subset of an already niche medium, yet they seem to transcend form and content. Kevin Nguyen asks aficionados and authors to define what exactly a mini-comic is.

Taxi Drivers and Taxi Passengers in Austin, Texas

Taxi cabs are the merry-go-rounds of the soul. Nick Martens describes three rides during the Bureau’s trip to last week’s South by Southwest Interactive Conference.

London Scrawling: Freedom of the Press

David Tveite digests the UK’s trivial, ubiquitous tabloid culture.

A Lunch Too Pretty to Eat

Jordan Barber talks to Anna the Red, famous across the web for her videogame-inspired bento art.

Bitching It Out (Out with Bitching)

Alice Stanley drops knowledge like bombs on why you shouldn’t use the B word.

“Watchmen”: Better Than Anyone Could Have Reasonably Expected

In response to Kevin’s opinion that the Watchmen film was too faithful, David Tveite argues that it’s actually a successful film.

Australia: Unworry, Be Happy

After touching down in Brisbane, Bowman Leigh gets her first lesson in Australian culture.

A Brush with Fame, Twice Removed

Caitlin Boersma crashes the Saturday Night Live after-after-party.

“Watchmen”: An Adaptation Lost in Translation

Can an adaptation be too faithful? Kevin Nguyen argues that Watchmen fails because it devotes too much of itself to recreating the comic.

The Gulf: As Pretty as an Airport

The sterile nature of airports only exacerbate the misery of flying. Darryl Campbell reports from Dubai International, where decor apparently means “giant plastic UFOs.”