Whitehouse Press Corps grilling McClellan Yesterday, Scott McClellan held a press conference at the Whithouse. The Press grilled that SOB on the recent reveleation that Karl Rove is most likely the person who leaked to the press that Joe Wilson's wife was a CIA agent. Not surprisingly, McClellan said nothing.

"SCIENTISTS have been warned that their latest experiments may accidently produce monkeys with brains more human than animal." " In cutting-edge experiments, scientists have injected human brain cells into monkey fetuses to study the effects. Critics argue that if these fetuses are allowed to develop into self-aware subjects, science will be thrown into an ethical nightmare." more inside

Using a cell phone — even a hands-free one — while driving quadruples the risk of getting into a crash with serious injuries, a study finds. more inside

The power of this guy's dad impels you ... more inside

Archaelogical finds at Jinsha in China provide more evidence about the sophisticated but previously unknown culture revealed by earlier discoveries at Sanxingdui.

Lego Turing Machine. You know, that thing. Principles. The Turing machine was an abstract machine devised in 1936 by Alan Turing to give a mathematically precise definition of an algorithm or 'mechanical procedure'. In other words he formalised the concept of the algorithm. He was also dead sexy.

Did you know that Republicans were the party of troop withdrawal? Neither did I. Good for President Bush to do the right thing by removing our troops from harm's way. It shows true leadership and courage to stand up to those damn warmongering Democrats, who ought to be taught a lesson in the 2006 midterm elections if you ask me. If they didn't want the blood of eighteen hundred of our brave sons and daughters on their pretty little hands, didn't want to butcher them in a foreign desolate land, didn't want them to die for obscure reasons and an ill-defined end, didn't want to commit treason in other words... well, they should have voted against the Iraq War Resolution. But they didn't. They are the reason your friends and relatives are dying in that quagmire, and by God they will regret that resolution. I say, in 2006, vote for the party that wants our troops to return home safely. Vote for the party that will get them out of this misbegotten war. Vote for the true patriots. Vote Republican!

Better than Berlinner The Germans have a sense of humor. I think. more inside

Vietnamese Writer Won't Be Silenced Ms. Huong's novels are not openly political, but their leitmotif is the disillusionment of people trapped by a fate beyond their control.

Scientific Study of Consciousness-Influence on Random Physical Events. Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research. 'The observed effects are usually quite small, of the order of a few parts in ten thousand on average, but they are statistically repeatable and compound to highly significant deviations from chance expectations.' On the quantum level, a small effect can have dramatic overall consequences. Interesting.

"Moving Mannequins was established to fulfill the demand for an extremely lifelike display mannequin, which when coupled with movement, stimulates emotion and draws excited attention to the display." Eeeerie.

Space Shuttle Discovery is set to launch Wednesday. If all goes well, the shuttle should launch at 3:51 ET. more inside

<b>Curious George: Alternative Singapore Tour</b>. Off to Singapore on Thursday. 2nd trip there. First one bog standard touristy. However I make a lousy tourist. Guidebooks have been reread and Google links pursued. Am I destined to sit by a pool for a week? Or are there some quirky places/things to see? more inside

The Neanderthal genome is to be reconstructed. They have already had some success at sequencing Neanderthal proteins: John Hawks reckons they most probably have DNA sequences already. Incidentally, we have a better idea of what the Neanderthals looked like thanks to a 'Frankenstein' reconstruction.

Levers

iPod flea

Have you ever played Tom Baker or Normal? Give it a go. I particularly enjoy the extended version of Tom Baker, Steptoe, Blakey or Normal, which I play against my wife and cat, neither of whom know wtf I'm on about. Gleefully, I laugh, as my Steptoe is unsurpassable.

Zoho Mechanical Man: 920 handmade bronze & stainless steel parts, 85 of which are moveable. 43cm high weighing 6kg with a magnetic base. I want one!! (flash)

Curious George: International calls My boyfriend is in Argentina for a couple months. What's the best way of calling him? Calling cards? my own cell phone? my land line? He is purchasing a temporary cell phone for use while he's down there, if that has any bearing on your response.

Curious Flats: as the dust settles in London, where can my friend? more inside