The Space Race is ON!!! ...goosebumps, I've got goosebumps.

Killer flu strain released accidently by some dumbass to labs in 18 countries.

Validating your speciesist opinions, kinda, sorta-- or at least giving you an out when referring to certain someones as subhuman in mixed company. more inside

Bonsai Kitten "By physically constraining the growth of a developing living thing, it can be directed to take the shape of the vessel that constrains it. Just as a topiary gardener produces bushes that take the forms of animals or any other thing, you no longer need be satisfied with a housepet having the same mundane shape as all other members of its species. With Bonsai Kitten, a world of variation awaits you, limited only by your own imagination." This is one of the more twisted ideas I have run across.

Forgetful Monkey: Any of you folks know a decent web-dohickey for finding words within telephone numbers?

link We've all heard about "reasonable doubt," when it comes to law, but where does this come from? The "reasonable doubt" rule was not originally designed to serve the purpose it is asked to serve today: It was not originally designed to protect the accused. Instead, it was designed to protect the souls of the jurors against damnation. Convicting an innocent defendant was regarded, in the older Christian tradition, as a potential mortal sin. The purpose of the "reasonable doubt" instruction was to address this frightening possibility, reassuring jurors that they could convict the defendant without risking their own salvation, as long as their doubts about guilt were not "reasonable." In its original form, the rule thus had nothing to do with maintaining the rule of law in the sense that we use the phrase, and nothing like the relationship we imagine to the values of liberty.

Vestments A recent remark about the dress sense of papal candidates caused me to wonder about the flouncy white thing - I think perhaps it is an alb. More about vestments. People get pretty serious about vestments. This Anglican lady is, well, zealous about preservation. There are scores of retailers and designers of clerical garb: at the big Koinè show this year the focus is on chasubles. Some noteworthy entries

Happyface spiders. Theridion grallator, enough to freak your dreams forever. more inside

Rumored for weeks, confirmed by the source: Britney pregnant

"Should Hillary Clinton Run for Presidents?" Headline typo aside (it is just the internets, after all), the article brings up some interesting points. It may be three and a half years away, but in many ways the 2008 campaigns are already underway. My question to you monkeys: Would you consider voting for any of them?

Curious George: Hey monkeys, wanna see SideDish’s wedding photos? (More inside.)