I’m not one for New Year’s Resolutions, but I do love a ripping good yarn. To start off 2009, here are the three news stories that I found most interesting from 2008 (excluding all of the coverage and excitement for Obama of course).  Each nomination is followed by a brief excerpt to further entice you.

3) Chinese Attempts to Conceal Rampant Pollution (and its failure)

Although they possess the world’s largest weather modification program, the Chinese point to the Russians as being the most advanced. In 1986, Russian scientists deployed cloud-seeding measures to prevent radioactive rain from Chernobyl from reaching Moscow, and in 2000 they cleared clouds before an anniversary ceremony commemorating the end of World War II; China’s then president, Jiang Zemin, witnessed the results firsthand and pushed to adopt the same approach back home.

2) The Story of the Wax Cartel (and the $900 million fine) (also notable for the best supervillain name of 2008: Tibor Toth)

Most cartels operate in secrecy, destroying documents, encrypting e-mail messages or using prepaid phone cards to erase communication traces. But the paraffin cartel was rare in that some members kept minutes, and attendance lists. Cartel members e-mailed invitations and sought R.S.V.P.’s. They booked each other’s rooms and played host to open bars.

1) Somali Pirates (and its many tales)

When asked why the pirates needed $20 million to protect themselves from hunger, Mr. Sugule laughed and said, “Because we have a lot of men.”

I can’t wait to see what great stories will come out of 2009, hopefully some news a little more positive than the last.

After my “ratcheting down” of posts during my exams, I am now resuming the usual daily post schedule.  Thanks for enduring the brief creative hiatus.

Due to my increased workload towards the end of the semester, I’m ratcheting down my posts to just weekdays.  Sorry to any die-hard fans.

Photo Courtesy of Simon

Here I am eagerly approaching a member of the Free-Hugs Campaign under the Eiffel Tower.  I post this picture because I have some exciting news…I bought a new lens!  (A Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens, if you were curious.)  This isn’t a big deal for anyone but me, though it should lead to some more interesting photography down the line.  I was paid for my blog writing on PSFK and in celebration I decided to reward myself.  Who said anything about a recession?

Also, in accordance with the suggestion of a friend, I’ve decided to make future images links to the full size versions.  My goal for the site layout was to make everything scalable, but apparently on some Windows machines, it makes diagonal lines jagged.  By adding links it will enable people to see the images in the original resolution (usually uploaded at around 1200 x 800 pixels) and maintain the same layout of the site.  Hope that fixes things.

Another picture from the hurricane.  This photo is terrible quality because it was taken with my phone.

Kenyon was hit with heavy winds, but oddly no rain, from Hurricane Ike. We were spared all of the devastation, but many trees fell and electricity has been out at my apartment since Sunday. I’m writing this from the library, but no word on when regular life will resume. Apologies for the lack of posts.

Yesterday, much to my surprise, I won third place in the Washington Post’s Ninth Annual Travel Photo Contest.  Since I was never alerted about my win and I had almost forgotten that I entered nearly 4 months earlier, I was completely unprepared for the discovery of my photo from Paris (the one I used to kick off this blog) printed up on the front of the travel section.  Later in the day I learned that my photo made it to the featured photograph on the homepage of the Washington Post.  Few people in my generation would pick up a copy of the Sunday travel section, but luckily my Mom caught it first thing in the morning.  It’s a dream come true to have a picture of mine in my hometown paper and it was a fantastic birthday gift from the Post.  Next goal: make the top fold of the front page in the print edition.