Outside the Beltway

“Cyber Monday” is a myth created by a marketing company.

President Obama proposes freezing federal civilian salaries for the next two years, saving billions in anticipated spending.

The two English language newspapers who have been Julian Assange’s accomplices in disseminating stolen secrets defend themselves.

The major outlets that received document drops from Wikileaks are covering the story in different and interesting ways.

Another FBI sting operation results in the arrest of a “terrorist,” or did it create a crime where none existed before?

After days of hype, National Opt-Out Day fizzled. It’s a classic collective action problem.

The diplomatic ramifications of the latest Wikileaks leaks are just starting to emerge and may place some countries in very embarrassing positions.

A new round of Wikileaks documents is out, and it opens the door on diplomatic correspondence previously hidden from the public.

McCain brings up “regime change” in re: the DKRP and China apparently isn’t doing enough.

Shocking Headline Of The Day: “Willie Nelson charged with pot possession in Texas.”

Nearly four weeks after Election Day, Alaska’s Joe Miller still won’t concede the inevitable.

The American copyright system is broken. Cory Doctorow offers some useful suggestions for fixing it.

Duke economist Dan Ariely argues that the Western notion of gift giving is irrational.

The Republican talking point that lowering taxes lowers spending and raising taxes increases spending is denied by reality.

Former Senator Alan Simpson is fighting back against the critics on the left and the right who are shooting down the Deficit Commission’s plan before it’s even been released.

Somali-born teenager plotted to carry out a car bomb attack at a crowded Christmas tree lighting ceremony in downtown Portland on Friday, but the bomb turned out to be a dud supplied by undercover agents as part of a sting.

In an effort to combat illegal file sharing, the US Department of Homeland Security is seizing domain names.

The over-hyping of President Obama’s lip getting cut while playing basketball is a bit much.

The Chevy Volt’s $33,000 price tag makes its modest fuel savings hard to justify.

David Broder, three weeks after the election, explains “What Murkowski’s write-in win says about the electorate.”

Tom DeLay is a sleazebag and has been found guilty by an Austin jury for skirting the law. But it may in fact be a miscarriage of justice despite the victim being as unsympathetic as it gets.

There is a simple mathematical equation that explains why deficit reduction is so difficult.

President Obama is likely join the ranks of the unemployed come noon on January 20, 2013 if a Fed forecast is right.

Gate Rape: Sexual groping of one’s genitalia at airport security by agents after a traveler refuses full body x-ray search.

If some security “experts” get their way, the security procedures we encounter at airports could start showing up elsewhere. Will Americans stand for it?

Looking to avoid airport body scanners? You might not be able to do it on any form of public transit if Janet Napolitano gets her way.

According to a new poll, the Tea Party movement, which is largely now the base of the GOP, is not completely in step with the views of American voters as a whole.

Top administration and congressional officials can skip the indignities of airport screening, even when they fly commercial.

Gel shoe inserts are not permitted on airplanes, so save yourself the hassle and put your inserts in your checked baggage — that’s right, inserts are not even allowed in your carry-on. Shoes constructed with gel heels are allowed but like all other shoes, must be removed and screened.

Tonight’s topics: Escalation on the Korean peninsula, the continued woes of the eurozone, and goodness knows what else.