The reason that truly compelling personal stories are few and far between is because they border on the incomprehensible — seemingly more fiction than fact.
Louis Zamperini’s story was, unfortunately, all fact — triumph and then tragedy, despair and ... well, you’ve got to read it to believe it.

Is there a doctor in the house? If so, don’t let him near the patient.
That’s the essence of the story surrounding the 1881 assassination of President James Garfield, who had been in office for roughly three months when he was felled by an assassin’s bullet. The bullet to Garfield’s back wasn’t the major problem, Garfield’s doctors were.

   The race for athletic excellence has created a new form of competition -- scientists taking on scientists in an endless cat-and-mouse game of evasion and detection.

Deadspin broke the story of the non-death of Manti T'eo's fictional girlfriend.

http://deadspin.com/5976517/manti-teos-dead-girlfriend-the-most-heartbre...

Here's a few things to think about as we begin 2013.  A columnist from The Street predicts the future.

Interesting if not necessarily accurate. But who can say it's wrong?

http://www.thestreet.com/story/11805510/1/doug-kass-15-surprises-for-201...

If you haven't made it up to North Prospect Avenue in Champaign lately, there's a new burger joint.

It's called Five Guys, and it's the hottest "better burger" franchise in the market. Business is booming nationally for Five Guys, and the new one in Champaign is going great guns.

New York Magazine is the latest to take an in-depth look at the emotional problems of Jesse Jackson Jr.

The onetime king in waiting isn't doing too well.

http://nymag.com/news/features/jesse-jackson-jr-2012-11/index6.html#print

It's not supposed to be this grim. But some people can't resist. Love how Matt Damon contends the cold-blooded killer he plays is more acceptable than the one played by Sean Connery et al.

http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/film/is-james-bond-in-fact-a-psycho

The famed Chicago news columnist Mike Royko used to sarcastically call the Rev. Jesse Jackson  "Jesse Jetstream," a sardonic take on the senior Jackson's lust for public attention.

American popular culture is irrepressible. No matter how serious a subject may be, there's always time to have a little fun with it.

In 2008, Barack Obama had the "Obama girl."  And now we have the 2012 equivalent.

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2012/10/paul-ryan-the-music-video.php