Scientist Offers New Hints to the Evolution of Flight. Like the evolution of eyes, the evolution of flight is a biggie in evolutionary biology. . .this article has new information on it. . .

Can someone without a NY Times subscription let me know whether or not the link above works without a user name and password?  Gracias. . .

Just in case. . .username:sum_dum_gai password: abcdefgh

And it's poker night. . .I love poker night. . .it's cheaper than Bossier, though slightly less fun, but really a wicked good time all around. . .and since I'm not hosting this week, no mess!  Woohoo! 

Anyone else play poker out there?  Got any inventive fun games?  Now that I have 5 readers instead of 2, i'm mining for ideas on anything. . .(I wonder how long references to my lack of readership will remain unfunny to everyone but me)

(crowd nervously coughs and shuffles feet)

Whatever, I amuse myself. . .

"We said to the world, 'Either do it our way, or else.' Europe and the Arab world are not convinced or supportive of that approach, and the larger Islamic world is very concerned this is a religious vendetta," Mr. Lems said. . .

That's because Europe is the the biggest collection of pansies and pacifists ever to exist. . .they aren't the ones with two skyscrapers full of people destroyed. . .I heard a report on NPR the other day quoting people who said they opposed the war because they had been in wars and they knew what it was like. . .hello, I don't think it's really up to you, ask the Iraqi people what they want. . .oh wait, you can't because they have a dictator that routinely has people rounded up and killed. . .

"They want U.S. bases in the region and the elimination of all pressure on Israel to withdraw from the West Bank and Gaza," Dr. Lustick said. "It requires war with Iraq to take the oil ... It's grand-scale unilateralism."

First of all, what is "grand-scale unilateralism"? Can there be small-scale unilateralism? Doesn't unilateralism mean we do whatever the heck we want? If so, seems it's always "grand-scale" but whatever. . .Secondly, we don't want bases in the region, I'm pretty sure we'd love to get out of Saudi but we can't until Iraq is handled. . .having bases in the region opens us up to greater threat. . .Thirdly, look at the foreign policy of the last 12 years of presidents and I think you'll see we'd love to have Palestine to have their own state if they'd just quit blowing innocent people up. . .and Finally,  the real issue here is that tired old argument that this is a war for oil. . .ummmm it's funny how these people never say anything about how much oil we get from Iraq. . .that's because it makes up less than a tenth- A TENTH -of our overall oil imports. . .see this brief for all percentages but ponder this if you're lazy and don't want to read anything else. . .We import almost twice as much oil from both Canada and Mexico as we do from Iraq. . .We get 1.5 times as much oil from Venezuela. . .All three of these countries are closer and lots easier to conquer without having to worry about all this "Arab" backlash people talk about. . .why aren't we threatening to kick their ass? Ummmm. . .well. . .hang on I'm thinking here. . .Oh yeah, it's because this isn't about oil. . .

I'm not saying America won't profit if we get rid of Saddam, financially. . .we will. . .and oil will be a big part of it. . .but it's a secondary benefit. . .he's a merciless dictator and whether you like it or not, America is the only nation on the planet with the wherewithal and the balls to do anything about it. Sure we have a vested interest, otherwise we'd be policing the rest of the ruthless dictators in the world (See Mugabe). This isn't about altruism in the end, it's about our best interests. . .and while Iraq's oil is in our best interests, a more important interest is not having a dictator who's bent on killing as many Americans as he can, if given the chance. . .I, for one, would prefer he not be given that chance. . .

This is ridiculous, I should just be waking up . . .

Worm Genome Survey Reveals Fat-Regulating Genes Hmmmm. . . ok so this research could lead to the development of drugs to aid in the fight against obesity. . .great. . .but I'm not sure modifying our genetic makeup is really the way to combat the "Super-Value Meal biggie sized for only 49 cents more from McDonald's" syndrome that we seem to suffer from. . .I understand that some people's genetic makeup gives them the propensity to become obese but what percentage of the overweight population is affected by this type of genetics?  How many overweight (not obese mind you, that's a completely different population as far as I'm concerned) people suffer from "bad" genes versus just taking in a great deal more calories than they expend in energy every day?  Will some day reseachers isolate the genes that make me slower than your average world-class sprinter?  And will I have the chance to "fix" that? 

We're a society that has, or strives for, a pill for every plight. . .somewhere along the way, this will have to catch up with us. . .and not in a good, "Hey you just dropped this hundred dollar bill back by the bus stop and I sprinted to catch up with you and give it back to you because I just saw a Volkswagen Beetle" sort of way. . .

So on Monday night, Sheryl Crow made a comment at the American Music Awards that basically amounted to, and I quote, " I think war is never the answer to solving any problems. The best way to solve problems is to not have enemies."

The best way to solve problems is to not have enemies?  I don't think I have any enemies (well there was this guy named Jesus (Not Geez-us, but Hey Soos (stick with me, this is a parenthetical language--kind of like Scheme (only the true geeks get that) but less powerful and more funny)) who stole my money on the school bus in 7th grade but I think he's probably done enough crack at this point to completely forget about being my enemy) and I still have problems.  So how do I solve my problems if I don't have enemies?

Clearly, I need to find some enemies. . .if only I had enemies, and then didn't have them, then I wouldn't have any problems, at least according to Ms. Crow, who until now I had a modicum of respect for. . .so where can I find some enemies, so that I can get rid of them, so that I can get rid of my problems. . .like my propensity for procrastination. . .or my car payment. . .if only I could make an enemy or two. . .then dispense with the enemy or two, I wouldn't have a car payment. . .

Why are celebrities allowed to speak in public?  This reminds me of when Alec Baldwin (a member of the Baldwin family no less, Christ that's reason to completely tune out right there, is there any less talented family short of the Wayans in Hollywood--and don't get me started on the Wayans, that's just not right) said he was leaving the country if Bush got elected. . .anyone seen old Alec lately?  Yeah he's still here. . .

Let's look at Ms. Crow's history. . .Tuesday Night Music Club. . .Sheryl Crow (every self respecting musician has to name one album after themselves--throw her a bone here). . .The Globe Sessions. . .Sheryl Crow and Friends Live in Central Park. . .C'mon, C'mon. . .does anyone else see the devolution here?  Once she was a talented musical poet, now she's just soaking up the sun. . .Christ I hope she doesn't vote. . .