CNN is reporting that Zimbabwe has taken into custody "mercenaries" from a U.S. registered plane. NPR reported this morning that Zimbabwe state media has described the mercenaries as "strongly built, white men", although the prisoners have not actually been seen by journalists. No weapons were found on the plane other than knives.

If I were a man, I'd get a tattoo. But I'm not, so I'll have to settle for one of these.

Fetid Farmer Forcibly Freshened. Kenyan John Kasokong had not bathed for a decade. His stench so overpoweringly toxic, villagers took violent action with soap and a rope. Quonsar is next. Millions rejoice.

Our own moonbird has finally launched Queermeta. Now I don't have to feel so guilty for queering up MoFi.

Hell Monkey vs. Los Plantanos more inside

Free Quonsar! With every pack of cornflakes!

The Last Written Words of Albert Einstein. His last spoken words are apparently lost forever, because he spoke them in German to an American nurse who didn't understand a word. This was found unfinished, next to his deathbed. Note: This is a rather large jpg. Can anyone read it? Shed any light? Switch on the languagehat-signal!

Ricky Jay. Because I've been professionally immersed in deception, I have been accused of keeping a low profile. Even though I have been in show business all my life some think I have no profile at all. more inside

Seattle to Recognize Marriages by Gay City Workers Breaking News. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels on Monday ordered the city government to recognize gay marriages performed in other states, even though Washington state law clearly prohibits same-sex marriage. "Spouses of city employees in same-sex marriages will enjoy all of the health and insurance benefits that all opposite sex partners enjoy," Nickels said at a news conference. Same-sex couples with marriage licenses recently issued in cities including Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco would be eligible for full benefits with no extra paperwork required to apply.

Spalding Gray found dead. Monologist Spalding Gray disappeared two months ago, and now everyone's worst fears have been confirmed.

John Allison Interview John Allison is the creator of the online comic strips Bobbins and Scary Go Round. He discusses his work (he sounds like he's not looking to get syndicated) and how he makes a living. This comment was says a lot about Allison. Sales are healthy enough to constitute a large part of my living. People like to support the comic and I really don't like the idea of donations, it's too much like begging. I try to make good products that people will want to buy, at a reasonable price. I refuse to sell anything that I wouldn't buy myself, just so people can blow their money on trinkets. My friends shake their heads at my ghastly, moralistic ways.

Curious George: Stopping site abuse? I know that MoFi imposed some sort of waiting period to deal with this problem, but any other tried and true methods of stopping script kiddies (et cetera)? more inside

Hypochondriac? ... or just worried you might be one? Search the database of symptoms and diseases and find out. You may be sick, and not even know it!

Poems made from spam Poems constructed from the subject lines of spam. I'm sure I could knock out a couple of these if only I hadn't cleared out my inbox half an hour ago...

The Mongol Rally! "On the 28th July this year London will witness the launch of the Mongol Rally, the world's most extreme car race. From here a horde of the least likely vehicles will be winding their way across 1/3rd of the world to Mongolia. The rules are simple, cars must be less than 1ltr and teams need to raise

How is the universe going to end? An entertaining article all about the freezing/burning/infinite/finite/depressing/exciting end of the universe, and the eschatologists who contemplate it. "Eschatology — it's a great word. I had never heard of it until I discovered I was doing it."

The 16 Best-ever Freeware Utilities. So they say. I use a few of 'em. I also use a few of the ones from here, which I find pretty useful. There's some good ones here, too.

The Photography Collections of George Eastman House: the index of photographers includes Matthew Brady, Yousuf Karsh, Alfred Stieglitz, and Man Ray. This extensive and varied site is being continually added to, and is worth returning to. Happy exploring.

Comedy writer David Feldman is running for president. "I am a Patriot who believes you should never burn the American flag. Because I'm an environmentalist I recommend boiling the American flag. Although I have no military experience in the traditional sense, once while standing over a urinal in Spain I drowned a grasshopper with nothing but my stream." His other columns are worth checking out, too.

The Anti-Barbie Club