Just another meteor shower, you say? Perhaps not. This solar Coronal Mass Ejection (last night) was pointed almost directly at our Pale Blue Dot. A Middle Latitude Aurora Warning has been issued meaning that the Northern Lights may be seen as far south as Northern California, Kansas, Southern Missouri, Tennessee, North Carolina (U.S.) and France, Northern Italy, Poland, Central Russia on the east side of the pond. Southern Hemisphere watchers should be alert as New Zealand and Southern Australia may see periods of activity. more inside

Watch out fellow monkeys; the Superlions are here!

Peter Boyle dead at 71. Oddly, his lengthy career is overshadowed by Everybody Loves Raymond. So much so that the obit doesn't even mention the funniest bit ever put on film:the "Puttin' on the Ritz" scene.

Cat fishing Guess the subject from the Wikipedia categories.

The DJ Riko Merry Mixmas collection is now up for grabs. Includes links for prior year mixes.

The Baiji Yangtze Dolphin is with all probability extinct. The white dolphin known as baiji, shy and nearly blind, dates back some 20 million years. Its disappearance is believed to be the first time in a half-century, since hunting killed off the Caribbean monk seal, that a large aquatic mammal has been driven to extinction.

How do you pronounce Pinochet? There's no single correct pronunciation for the name in Chile. The first two syllables don't change too much, and should be something between "pin-oh" and "pee-no." But the last syllable is up for grabs: Some Chileans go with "shay," others "chay," and still others "chet."

Ben Crispin Glover and his friend Ben, along with a cast of characters (what's your major malfunction?) _{YouTube goodness all around} more inside

52 (Almost) Free Website Advertising Ideas. A must read for all bloggers...

Santastic II is totally Clausome! more inside

Soldiers Say Army Ignores, Punishes Mental Anguish. more inside

The 2006 Golden Bull Awards have been announced. The awards are given to public figures who make baffling statements. This year's Foot in Mouth winner was Naomi Campbell, who said, "I love England, especially the food. There's nothing I like more than a lovely bowl of pasta." The Golden Bulls are given by the Plain English Campaign.

Calice d'hostie! F-bomb OK on Quebec TV, but just you try "saint-ciboire"...

All scores of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's works available online free. The site opened Monday, according to the CBC story, and has been deluged ever since ("NOTE: We are overvelmed by the resonance of this website"). New improved mega-servers expected soon.

A Tale of Two Cockatoos more inside

With Subtle Reminders, Stereotypes Can Become Self-Fulfilling - "A number of experiments show that subtle cues can alter academic preferences -- and test performance -- without anyone being aware of it." more inside

Perfect Xmas gift for the young and young at heart. slow for dial-up

Monkeys Get Ebola (video) When zoologists in the Lossi region of central Africa noticed that some of the gorillas they were studying were becoming sick and dying, they could not have known what was to come. Now gorillas face the possibility of going extinct. more inside

Top 20 Overrated Movies? This list seems designed to infuriate, containing some real classics (not to mention my favorite movie of all time: Moonstruck). Discuss amonst yourselves.

Attack of the Robot Lobsters also related - How to survive a robot uprising