Strange Maps

Strange maps is a cool blog-thing and the title is self-explanatory so I won't explanator it.

Of particular interest:

• the map of the Planet Mongo
• a Maine map placing Stephen King's fictional locales

Also, other maps of general interest.

Mice Get All The Cool Stuff

These days, every couple of months some lab coat issues a press release about how his or her team has used stem cells to replace livers or arms or something. This month, it's eyes. OMG I would totally marry stem cells if I wasn't already engaged.

The other day I was thinking about the maladies that accompany mortality, and I felt pretty capable of learning to accept cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. But I get a case of the heebie-jeebies thinking that some day I could go blind.

So I'm glad they're developing the technology for seeing-eye mice when my vitreous humor dries up in about 20 years.

The Sound of One Mind Boggling

Political uncertainty seems to have returned to us the Bush of old, the Bush who ate feet in front of the press. From the Washington Post, commenting on the electorate's apparent view of his view of Iraq:

"Somehow it seeped in their conscious [sic] that my attitude was just simply 'stay the course,'" he complained.

Where did we get that ide--? Oh, I remember. When you said it over and over and over and over and over and over. That's how it got in my conscious.

Electorate Hector

I was going to say something about how, despite all the "throw the bums out" rhetoric we've been subjected to this election season, we still basically voted in Kodos over Kang.

But you know, Rumsfeld getting the boot, that's almost kind of serious. I mean, it's still politics. The Bush administration sacrificed a big piece to show their seriousness, but at this point in the game, Rumsfeld is thoroughly expendable. Enjoy defense consultation, Rummy!

Still, that sacrifice is a real signal that the Bush admin plans to play ball in its remaining two years lest their many sins haunt them sooner rather than later.

Of course, your life won't be any different. See the Onion article for the truth of the matter.