Asteroid coming close to earth on April 13, 2029. Merry Christmas everyone! Adding to the long list of things to be bummed about at holiday time, including war, famine, your mother in law, the rise of Paris Hilton, and the world running out of oil...now there's another thing to worry about for the next 25 years: a possible asteroid collision with earth. Asteroid 2004 MN4 is rated a 4 on the Torino Scale, evidently the first time in history that an asteroid has been rated higher than 1. But don't worry too much, chances are still 60 to 1 it won't hit. (Down from just 300 to 1 yesterday.)

The Santa Claus Timeline, and the corporate Christmas party as told my cocktails. Ho, ho, ho

Friday Flash Fun Most monkeys I'm sure remember Billy Joel's hit song "We Didn't Start The Fire" - it looks like someone's found images to go along with the words. [Flash - duh]

Birds do it... In South Africa, the Johannesburg zoo is going to artificially inseminate a pair of lesbian wattled cranes to help propagate the endagered species. Since the cranes are hard-wired for monogamy, the zookeepers decided they needed "to optimize the breeding potential."

City of Socks DATANG, China - You probably have never heard of this factory town in coastal China, and there is no reason why you should have. But it fills your sock drawer. Datang produces an astounding nine billion pairs of socks each year - more than one set for every person on the planet. People here fondly call it Socks City, and its annual socks festival attracts 100,000 buyers from around the world. more inside

we make money not art was to be my link goldmine. But since the guy has no comments on any of his facinating posts, I thought I'd help spread the word. more inside

Fifty ways To Eat Your Ramen ...more people really into Ramen. Includes Ramen poetry and Caramel Ramen on a Stick! Blame it all on Momofuku Ando. more inside

Is it just me or does todays Google look a little kinky?

The Complexity Zoo. For your recommended daily allowance of mathematical arcana.

Top 10 Most Rediculous Metal Pics of All Time. more inside