Although tree-hugging is acceptable...

How to annoy cats and other pleasures

Two professional engineers illustrate the proper care and practical benefits of cats. None of the cats, humans, or engineers were mistreated in the making of this film. They were however, slightly annoyed.

For more fun, perfectly timed photos, cube warfare.

And for the teachers among us, a quick grading scale.

Nazi appeasers!

The US plans to establish a diplomatic presence in Tehran for the first time in 30 years as part of a remarkable turnaround in policy by President George Bush.

The Guardian has learned that an announcement will be made in the next month to establish a US interests section - a halfway house to setting up a full embassy. The move will see US diplomats stationed in the country.

The news of the shift by Bush who has pursued a hawkish approach to Iran throughout his tenure comes at a critical time in US-Iranian relations. After weeks that have seen tensions rise with Israel conducting war games and Tehran carrying out long-range missile tests, a thaw appears to be under way.

The White House announced yesterday that William Burns, a senior state department official, is to be sent to Switzerland on Saturday to hear Tehran's response to a European offer aimed at resolving the nuclear standoff.

Ohhhh Nooooo! What would Grandpoppy Prescott think? What will Americans think? What will other nations think?

Excellent FISA flowcharts

Explaining just how much we've lost.

Brave Sir Karl ran away

To avoid this?:

This morning, Karl Rove refused to appear before the House Judiciary Committee to testify about the politicization of the Justice Department, despite a subpoena. During the hearing, Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) revealed that Rove had not only skipped out of the hearing, but had skipped out of the entire country.

Actually he's back again. But I think we need to encourage him to visit France: (Under international law, authorities in France are obliged to open an investigation when a complaint is made while the alleged torturer is on French soil.)



Send Karl Rove to jail! Even if it's just for the smug look on his face at the end of this interview.

How about putting one at the Golden Gate Bridge?

An underwater turbine that generates electricity from tidal streams was plugged into the UK's national grid today. It marks the first time a commercial-scale underwater turbine has fed power into the network and the start of a new source of renewable energy for the UK.

Tidal streams are seen by many as a plentiful and predictable supply of clean energy. The most conservative estimates suggest there is at least five gigawatts of power in tidal flows around the country, but there could be as much as 15GW.

The trial at Strangford Lough, in Northern Ireland, uses a device called SeaGen and generates power at 150kW. However, engineers have plans to increase power to 300kW by the end of the summer. When it is eventually running at full power SeaGen will have an output of 1,200 kW, enough for about 1,000 homes.

Actually... the most efficient thing would to be to build a wind turbine on the Capitol Hill...

Bush's legacy

Heckovajob, Georgie!

Development: US fails to measure up on 'human index': Nation slumps from 2nd to 12th in global table: Richest fifth take home $168,000, poorest $11,000

Video entertainment

Jib Jab

As well as a blast from the past on the British take on our elections and Bush:



(Two and Three)

In response to the New Yorker's Obama cover

David Horsey draws a picture.

Update 7/17: Chet Scoville of Vanity Press has the best compilation of links and quotes about this cartoon I've seen yet.

McCain has been very very busy

And they have the list!