Then analysts began looking at several previously unexamined sources of data about fires across the city, and a pattern emerged.

WHITEHOUSE: Efficiency through Strategic Data Analysis

Most railways and roads were built in a radial pattern, with Mexico City as the spider in the centre of the web.

ECONOMIST: All roads lead to Mexico City

Today, it is a famously laid-back city that girdles a comely, Sydney-pattern harbour.

BBC: The wonders of Canada by rail

The game followed a similar pattern after the break, with City fashioning the better chances and Aalborg committing plenty of men forward in the hope of snatching an away goal.

BBC: Man City 2-0 Aalborg

Nick Holmes, who works on the Stealth team, says there is a pattern of people in particular areas of the city being attacked by gunmen from rival areas as part of feuds going back ten years or more.

ECONOMIST: Guns in Nottingham

"They want to know the usage pattern -- how many calls are going from Quezon City to, say, Makati -- of a brand-new group of customers, " says Duffy.

CNN: BUSY SIGNALS

This lending pattern, and its soon-to-come aftermaths, should be the real concern for city policymakers like Bloomberg.

FORBES: Mayor Bloomberg Rezones the Mortgage Crisis

In one of its most sensitive police "pattern or practice" investigations to date, the Justice Department is now working to get Los Angeles city officials to sign a consent decree authorizing a third party to monitor the city's Police Department and imposing other safeguards.

CNN: latimes.com: Bush sees U.S. as meddling in local police affairs