I gave a mid-term examination this past Wednesday morning in a course called “Introduction to Literature.” When I put that test in my students' hands, I had no idea I'd be telling this story now.

One of the working rules of pounding out a readable newspaper column is to focus squarely on a single topic, and to stick to it. Every now and again, however, I find it devilishly hard to follow rules.

Local reporters surely must have covered the gay pride parade in Taipei yesterday, which attracted some 18,000 participants last year.

Many of us probably smiled at the news last week that a foreign graduate student had been chosen to be “Magistrate for a Day” for offshore Lienchiang County.

It is amazing, but sad to see what some people put themselves through in a search for spiritual light.

The David Letterman sex scandal surfaced in the news two weeks ago. Although some pundits are questioning why in these liberal times the foibles of a comedian's private life constitute a news event, this is a story that has legs and is likely to stick around a while longer.

A couple months ago, two of my favorite former students came to visit me over lunch. As we finished the meal, they asked if I had heard much about the social network system known as “Facebook” (hereafter, FB).

I am counting on the understanding of kind readers (and most of my readers are kind, I do believe), by giving myself a bit of a day off here today. I am taking it easy, living the life of Riley, as my Dad might smilingly say, as I celebrate a certain small anniversary.

The United States has its first black president, but it may have to wait to get a green one. Right now, Barack Obama has his hands full.

At first glance, it all seems like a whale of a good idea, especially in troubled economic times that were recently made more troubled yet by Typhoon Morakot.