Grand Larseny

McSweeney’s Internet Tendency is just about the funniest high-brow humor that I have ever run across. I have already posted their insightful analysis of US Airways Flight 1549 (the flight that landed on the Hudson river without pontoon attachments). By “insightful analysis” I of course mean a hilarious lampooning of conspiracy theories that might arise regarding the spectacular nature of the incident. If you’re looking for a good laugh, McSweeney’s is a great place to be.

Imagine my surprise when I found this, the latest addition to an ongoing series they have been publishing entitled Dispatches from Moscow. The dispatches are neither farse, satire, nor irony. They are very thoughtful, very moving depictions of life’s struggles for the modern Russian.

They succeed in spite of their government, in spite of their circumstances. Reading these articles gives me even more of a respect for the Russian people.

The world’s biggest diamoind heist, it turns out, may well have been an elaborate scam. Well, if you can draw a distinction between a scam and a robbery.

Over at Wired the have the full story given by Leonardo Notarbartolo, who is a gentleman I have not had the pleasure of meeting. It’s a really interesting read. The whole ordeal strikes me in a lot of ways like one of the Ocean’s movies. Another great read by Joshua Davis, a very talented writer.