A Walk With Wiki

Wikipedia is a fantastic resource for quasi-reliable information, but it's even better as a vehicle for time wasting coupled with random education. I'm sure that by now we've all played the game...

1) Choose something to look up on Wikipedia.

2) From that page, choose a link within the article at random.

3) Read some, most, or all of that new article before repeating Step 2.

Out of this roundabout journey, an explorer can find herself learning all sorts of new stuff.

For example:

Vassar College is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college situated in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, USA. Founded as a women's college in 1861, it became coeducational in 1969.... Among the thousands of men and women who have attended Vassar in the last 150 years was Elizabeth Bentley, American spy for the Soviet Union.

Elizabeth Terrill Bentley (January 1, 1908 - December 3, 1963) was an American spy for the Soviet Union from 1938 until 1945. In 1945 she defected from the Communist Party and Soviet intelligence and became an informer for the U.S. She exposed two networks of spies, ultimately naming over 80 Americans who had engaged in espionage for the Soviets.[1] When her testimony became public in 1948, it became a media sensation and had a major effect on the popular anti-communism of the McCarthy era.

One example of anti-communist philosophy is the Objectivist philosophy presented in the works of Ayn Rand. Objectivism asserts that laissez-faire capitalism flows directly from human nature and rational self-interest. Discussing the John Birch Society, Ayn Rand said in a Playboy interview that "What is wrong with them is that they don't seem to have any specific, clearly defined political philosophy. ... I consider the Birch Society futile, because they are not for Capitalism but merely against Communism."

Playboy is an American men's magazine, founded in Chicago, Illinois, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, which has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with a presence in nearly every medium. Playboy is one of the world's best known brands. In addition to the flagship magazine in the United States, special nation-specific versions of Playboy are published worldwide... In many parts of Asia, including India, mainland China, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Brunei, sale and distribution of Playboy is banned. In addition, sale and distribution is banned in almost all Muslim countries in Asia and Africa, such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. However, it is sold in Hong Kong.

In February 2006, Pamela Anderson decided to boycott the Kentucky Derby because of its support for Kentucky Fried Chicken .

Colonel Sanders' secret flavor recipe of 11 herbs and spices that creates the famous "finger lickin' good" chicken remains a trade secret.

That's right, folks. I found my way from Vassar College to finger lickin' chicken in just seven clicks. I love Wikipedia.