What were the Americas like before Columbus arrived? According to 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, a recent book (itself an expanded version of the Atlantic article in the first link), they had a much bigger Native American population than the standard story tells us, they had been populated for way longer than the 12,000 years the standard story holds is the case, and those people had developed cultures that were way more advanced than the standard story says. Here is an interview with the author, Charles C. Mann. Here is a review of the book.

Curious George: Articles on Widescreen Vs Fullscreen I need to write a speech on why widescreen is better than fullscreen and need help! more inside

The First Annual Solstice Synchronized Global Orgasm for Peace Hey, you never know. I certainly plan to do my part.

Monkey Goodness from Adobe Creative Suite (Warning: Flash, broadband, trying to get you to buy their stuff). Not sure if it does a very good job of describing their products, but a dang cute monkey...

“V” Makes A Mark In DC. As promised a week earlier, on Tuesday, November 14, 2006, nearly 100 men and women in “V” masks and clothing arrived at the White House and other government buildings to receive a response to the People’s Petitions for Redress of Grievances. There was no response from the powers that be, but there are some great photos. [Via.]

Central Asia travelogues. Forget about the fictional home of Borat (no links, find your own), this is about the real countries of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as seen through the eyes of random web people. more inside

Explore of the Forum Antiquum of the University of Pennsylvania. "a 'gateway' site providing easy access to hundreds of internet resources related to the study of the ancient Mediterranean world (between ca. 5,000 B.C.E. to ca. 1500 C.E.)." more inside

Fisting and God's Will Plunging into sex-positive Christianity: "My love thrust his hand through the opening, and my feelings were stirred for him. (Song of Solomon 5:2-4)" more inside

Henry Darger He's been mentioned in comments, but we have never really talked about this sad proponent of outsider art. more inside

Mortality and epidemiological methodology -- Most of us have heard of the 2004 Lancet study which had estimated mortality in Iraq following the start of the war; this has recently been updated with a new study (Full article in PDF). Following on the criticism and defence of the original study, This American Life dedicated most of a program, What's in a number? 2006 edition to talking about the study and the methodology (including an interview with one of the authors). (via homunculus, Wolof and the Monkeyfilter comment archives) more inside

Confessions of a Bookplate Junkie

Bush a Grauniad reader although, sadly, not a regular.

Foley: 'It's Just Been a Real Hard Time'
when talking to reporters goes horribly wrong.

Curious George: Fake Blogs I use Google Alerts to be on the lookout for a variety of terms that help me track public mention of certain topics that are of interest to a couple of my clients. Recently I have been getting hits on spam blogs; blogs that are filled with random phrases that apparently are just out there to snare traffic. I'd link to a few here, but then the terrorists would win. more inside

Advice for the aspiring corporate wife. If only Kevin Federline had seen this article, maybe the marriage would have lasted. more inside

Fecal Breach in Hot Tub So we were sitting there, chatting it up in the hot tub, when suddenly... Oh, and not to be confused with the uber-famous and so TOTALLY NSFW Tub Girl. I'm sure not even a TicTac will get the taste out of her mouth...

Life's Rocky with Raccoons ... trying to eat your best friend.

Space Patrol Official Handbook

Long Horses Hardy Burmeier has extensively documented the now extinct long horses, capable of carrying up to four men on their backs and of spectacular acrobatic feats.

The power of the sun in our hands Could it be that we are on to an endless source of cheap electrical power? Should Google invest? Will the US government take it's collective dick out of the oil industry's arse? more inside