Thursday, March 31, 2005

The goods behind the hoo-hah

The goods behind the hoo-hah about Tom Delay.

Bill Bradley speaks up after what seems a long media silence. Sen. Bradley ran a helluva race against Gore in the 2000 primaries; I say Gore won because of his proximity to Clinton, while Bradley should have won because he'd have fought harder. Maybe this suggests he'll want back in for 2008?

Animals laugh. This story blew my mind. Anyone who knows me, knows that I try not to underestimate non-human intelligence, especially in social animals, but laughter? Wow! I had never thought of it this way before.

My mind already having been blown yesterday, I then tripped across this gem. A new theory of yawning, now based on actual evidence! I've always found it curious that we have traditionally attributed yawning in humans to anoxia (lack of oxygen, from shallow breathing I guess?), while attributing it in other apes to shows of aggression or dominance. Curious, and often amusing, as I watch who yawns in the company of whom. Even more fun now!

Not pretty
, but important.

Scott Ritter, no holds barred
. Tough!

Sunday, March 27, 2005

We've been had.

That's right: Secret plans for Iraq's oil fields were being drafted just weeks after George took office in 2001. Weeks. Long before the "new Pearl Harbor" (in the words of the PNAC) of 911. Ahem. From the brilliant Greg Palast: as usual, well written and thoroughly documented. That's right, folks: we've been had.

So, why is gas still so expensive? Primarily because oil companies are in business for one reason: to make money. Cha-ching!

South America Watch: Otto "The Fourth" Reich versus the Western Axis of Evil, Hugo! and Evil Genius Fidel Castro

The Long Emergency. Scary.