Spider myths debunked. No, you don't inhale four spiders a year in your sleep. No, the daddy longlegs doesn't have the world's worst venom. No, hobo spiders don't chase you down to attack you. What is it about spiders that invites so many fabricated scientific facts? Rod Crawford, curator of arachnids at Seattle's Burke Museum, helps debunk some of the more notorious claims. (Also see this spider myth page.)

Any man can be a Father, but it takes a special person to be called Dad.

Will Michael Moore's Facts Check Out? From Today's New York Times: "...I was recently allowed to attend a Hollywood screening. Based on that single viewing, and after separating out what is clearly presented as Mr. Moore's opinion from what is stated as fact, it seems safe to say that central assertions of fact in "Fahrenheit 9/11" are supported by the public record (indeed, many of them will be familiar to those who have closely followed Mr. Bush's political career). Mr. Moore is on firm ground in arguing that the Bushes, like many prominent Texas families with oil interests, have profited handsomely from their relationships with prominent Saudis, including members of the royal family and of the large and fabulously wealthy bin Laden clan, which has insisted it long ago disowned Osama."

The Devil's Dictionary. A fascinating, humourously vitriolic, ultra-cynical list of words from the turn of the last century. CONSERVATIVE, n. A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others. more inside

Footy footy. This is a treat, whether of not you follow the game or not -- surprised no-one's posted this update of a fav meme yet. I wanna see mexican waves of this in the crowd now.

Monkeyworld provides homes for 'abused spanish beach chimps on drugs" who endure horrible lives: "Some photographers will try and control their chimps by beating them and pulling their teeth out " If I hadnt read in detail I would have cracked a smile becuase I'm evil like that.

From The Guardian Observer more inside

Technorati Provides search and notification services for active content on the World Live Webtm. Monitoring over 1.8 million sources (weblogs, RSS) with over 10,000 new sources added each day, all with a median index update time of under 9 minutes. See who is talking about your blog. Pretty cool.

Witchcraft and the Occult in Iceland, 1400-1700 more inside

Call me Ishmael. Apparently Madonna has / wants to change her name to Esther, to connect to the dead biblical queen's energy. Is she serious?