Articles by Paul Riegler
David J. Farber, ‘Grandfather of the Internet,’ Dies at 91
David J. Farber, a pioneering computer scientist, researcher, and professor who taught a generation of students who continued his work in building an online world and, as a result, was sometimes referred to as the “grandfather of the Internet,” died on 7 February at his home in Tokyo. He was 91.
His son Emanuel confirmed Professor Farber’s death with an e-mail message to his father’s Interesting-People remailing list.
Professor Farber was a …
What is a Hobson’s Choice?
Those whose understanding of the history of language is somewhat askew use “Hobson’s choice” as a synonym for “dilemma.” Let’s eliminate any confusion in this department once and for all.
The phrase was once so ensconced into the English language that it became the title of a play. Harold Brighhouse’s “Hobson’s Choice,” which takes its title from the expression, without altering the meaning. Indeed it has been transformed into several films …
Review: 2026 Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies – In a World Fraying at the Edges, Athletes Come Together to Unite
The opening ceremonies at the Winter Games of Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo – where athletes pledge sportsmanship and peaceful international competition – took place Friday night, although some competitions had begun on Wednesday.
The ceremonies, Helmed by veteran producer Marco Balich, were a true celebration of Italian culture and history, the extravaganza playing out before a crowd of some 80,000 spectators. Supersized-head versions of Verdi, Puccini, and Rossini made an early appearance, and …
Pan Am Shuts Down, Leaving Behind an Unparalleled Legacy of Industry Innovation
NEW YORK, December 4, 1991—Pan Am took its last gasp on Tuesday, two days after Delta Air Lines suddenly backed out of a financing agreement meant to keep it afloat, too weak to attempt another comeback.
The World’s Most Experienced Airline was survived by over 7,500 employees and its end came almost 11 months after Eastern Airlines suddenly stopped flying on January 19, 1991. It was also survived by its competitor, …
George’s 2025 Word of the Year
And the Word of the Year for 2025 is…
GEORGE, the newspaper borne of an age of Information Overload, and created for those with short attention spans or those who are short on time, has chosen the neologism “enshittification” as its 2025 Word of the Year.
Enshittification, which is also known as “platform decay,” describes the deterioration of online platforms and services as the user experience decays over time. This decay is …
Another Historic Pan Am Terminal is Facing the Chopping Block
The iconic Marine Air Terminal, located at LaGuardia Airport, built to handle Pan American World Airways’ fleet of flying boats, the Boeing 314 Clippers, which landed on the nearby Bowery Bay, is the most historically significant commercial aviation building in the United States, Linda Little Freire, the chairperson of the Pan Am Museum Foundation, told FBT.
Pan Am’s transatlantic Boeing 314 flying boats moved to the terminal from Port Washington in …
Austria Will Be Back at the World Cup After a 28-Year Absence
To understand the professional Fußball, or football, scene in Austria, it helps to start with Germany’s, which is vastly larger and far more lucrative. Germany’s Bundesliga is an elite, world-class league that consistently produces and attracts top global talent. Austria’s, meanwhile, is smaller and has a much lower profile. It therefore stood as a major accomplishment, as Austrian football went from strength to strength, first winning the senior national team’s …
