Outside the Beltway

A mere thirty years after the Rubik’s Cube craze died out, a team of math geeks has proven once and for all that the puzzle can be solved in 20 moves or less from any position.

It’s rumored that Rick Gervais, who starred in the British original version of “The Office,” will reprise his role of David Brent and replace Steve Carrell on the American version of the show.

If you needed more proof that our tax system is far too complicated, consider the case of Alex Rodriguez’ 600th home run ball.

Alex Rodriguez has just joined the 600 home run club.

I don’t think Brett Favre’s actually retiring this year. But, by the looks of him, he’s earned it.

When I saw Esquire’s headline, “A Rather Strange Conversation with William Shatner,” my thought was, Is there any other kind?

Electronic books outsold paper books on Amazon over the past three months, but the death of the hardcover is greatly exaggerated.

France’s Christophe Lemaitre became the first white man to run the 100 meters in under 10 seconds when he clocked 9.98 on Friday. Untold blacks have done it since 1968.

Half a century later, Atticus Finch remains a touchstone for what an American lawyer is supposed to be.

A Princeton economist has devised a formula for a classic sitcom paradox.

Starting in November, we’ll get a look inside the mind of one of America’s most fascinating writers.

Did LeBron James pick Miami because of income taxes ? Probably not.

The Taliban have a new secret weapon: Monkey terrorist soldiers.

Muhammed may be in a bear suit, but he still got an Emmy nomination.

NASA engineers are already “close to testing” a solid rocket booster powered by combustible animal dung, and operated according to principles discovered by Ibn Al-Haytham, Islam’s best-known scientist, who died in 1039 AD.

Thanks to JaMarcus Russell, I have learned a new term.

General Petraeus is in charge in Afghanistan! What exactly does this change?

Another depressing poll demonstrating American historical ignorance.

After 69 years fighting crime in a star-spangled bathing suit, Wonder Woman will get a super hero costume.

Africans are rallying around the Ghanaian World Cup team, putting aside stark differences. Should we be surprised?

The most shocking news about Larry King’s retirement announcement was the realization that he was still on the air.

For the first month of Ricardo and Felicity’s affair, they greeted one another at every stolen rendezvous with a kiss — a lengthy, ravenous kiss, Ricardo lapping and sucking at Felicity’s mouth as if she were a giant cage-mounted water bottle and he were the world’s thirstiest gerbil.

The federation governing international soccer joins a long list of international institutions — NATO, the G-8, the UN Security Council, and the EU come readily to mind — that need to be brought into the 21st century.

The Dallas Cowboys may finally get rid of the green pants for 2010.