Burma's/Myanmar's Prime Minister has been ousted by military hardliner Soe Win. This doesn't look good for Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's pro-democracy movement, since Soe Win takes a hard line against them. The political situation still looks bleak in Burma (Flash.) I wonder if Burma's power play leaves India smiling.

Calendars through the Ages - Myriads of variant calendars have seen use in human civilization since the beginning of our ability to measure time. This site lists some of those in use today, and major ones used in ancient times.

Curious George: Who is John Stewart? OK, I've tried to ignore it all for a few days now, but it just keeps clogging up all my favorite blogs. Who is John Stewart? Who is Tucker Carlson? What is "The Daily Show"? What is "Crossfire"? My curiosity is all these guys fault!

Space Mushrooms

Curious George: Cat Scratch Fever My cats are waging war against my furniture. more inside

Curious George - The Vote Van. I'm planning to, on Nov. 2nd, paint my vanagon red white and blue (it's already white), build and mount a barcalounger on the roof, and drive around the city blasting patriotic music with someone on top with a megafone yelling at people to vote. My question is this: I also would like to be able to pick up ballots as we drive along, sort of like the political ice cream van. What is the legality of this?(1) And how could this become a legitimate polling station?(2) more inside

A-carving we shall go... more inside

Curious George: Vasectomy [TMI] I recently had one.

In honor of Wolof's new daughter (sort of), a quick look at Chinese tea. more inside

Dana Reeve, widow of Christopher Reeve is endorsing Kerry for his stance on medical research. Since the death of Christopher Reeve on Oct 10th, Dana and her family have been privately grieving. "My inclination would be to remain private for a good long while," she said. "But I came here today in support of John Kerry because this is so important. This is what Chris wanted."

Man run out of his house by rabbits. Critters this cute are also a scourge in Australia. more inside

Things to do with chainsaws... How about turning a bunch of them into a motorcycle? Somehow, I don't think I am the only one who wouldn't want a dozen or so chainsaws between my legs.

Silenced by the President---Oregon Police Fire On Bystanders Watching Presidential Motorcade -- Published Oct. 16th in the _Iconoclast_, a story from the previous week week in Jacksonville, Oregon (the police using cayenne-pepper 'paintballs' to get critics off the street before the President drives through town). I guess he really doesn't hear anyone criticizing him! Quote: Trish Bowcock, a resident of Jacksonville and a retired attorney who is formerly of Austin, Texas, was an eyewitness to the disturbance and penned her impressions of the scene from a personal standpoint. She has agreed to allow The Iconoclast to reprint her thoughts. Mail Tribune staff members confirmed her contention that law enforcement concentrated on anti-Bush protestors, rather than pro-Bush demonstrators, and that the order to stop the protests came from the U.S. Secret Service. more inside

Fidel Castro broke his knee. Retirement ahead?

The Church of Ed Wood "Ed Wood's films are a vivifying religious energy given to us to teach us how to live our lives. Hidden in his films are messages to us all. To the untrained eye of a philistine Ed Wood hater, his films appear to be nothing more than silly, cheap flops. However, when you accept Ed Wood as your savior, your mind becomes open to the strong political, social, spiritual, religious, and personal messages hidden in his scripts, his films, and his words." [via Rue Morgue Magazine] more inside

Some things are better left to the imagination... Kerry and Bush living in simulated sin, until the neighbors move in. Various parts NSFW in any Red state. (Shamelessly stolen via MeFi.)

Consume. and other enviro-ads (via the rabbit blog)

International Man Of Mystery. Truly, this man is my hero. more inside

Some of the few who started this whole big mess we spend so much time lurking in. Brought to you via The Wayback Machine

AS A REAL MANUFACTURER & EXPORTER OF 5 FINGER TOE SOCKS IN KOREA, WE ARE READY TO COOPERATE WITH YOU. No word on how many cylinders. Be sure to check the gallery - Fishermen's Toe Socks leave monkey toe tips accessible for baiting hooks or nit-picking!