If On A Winter's Night

"God made the world round so we would never be able to see too far down the road."
Isak Dinesen.

He first noticed the expansions when he wasn't lost all the time; when he knew exactly where he was. He was the type who could get lost walking around the block and then one day he knew exactly where he was. It was like having Google Maps inside his head; including the satellite version; and at street level the directory was excellent. What, was he going to complain that he wasn't lost anymore? That he thought the Medicare implants were overstepping their mark?

And who exactly was he going to complain to?

His brain didn't have an answer for that.

The next thing he noticed was his increased knowledge of the country's bureaucratic and governmental institutions and processes. He could name the departments with ease. He could tell you the head of the West Australian Health Care Complaints Commission. He could tell you the heads of all the departments. He could name the Prime Ministers back to Federation. This was going too far. He went to the doctor. He wished he hadn't.


THE BIGGER STORY:

Washington - New revelations about shootings in Iraq involving the security contractor Blackwater USA have intensified debate in Washington about the wisdom of the US government's reliance on private firms to perform quasi-military functions.

Contractors do so many jobs in Iraq and Afghanistan that at this point the US military cannot carry out basic operations without them, say some experts. Personnel from private firms help run Patriot missile batteries, for instance. They load B-2 bombers, as well as protect US diplomats and visiting members of Congress.