Israel's wall ruled illegal. The construction of the wall being built by Israel, the occupying power, in the occupied Palestinian territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated regime, are contrary to international law. more inside

Star-Spangled Drinking Song. Did you know the melody of the US national anthem comes from an old booze tune?

Mmm, civet feces coffee. The coffee is said to have a rich, full-bodied, almost syrupy quality that supposedly results from fermentation in the digestive tract, blah blah blah. They say it's quite tasty if you can ignore the fact--no sense pussyfooting around here--that it's made from shit. This is definitely not a hoax. And don't worry -- it's safe! Also, there appears to be a club in Sweden dedicated to the drink. more inside

I, Robot: Classics Butchery Vol. 284. The trailer is out, and I couldn't be more disappointed. Even the website sucks. When will I stop expecting Hollywood to do the right thing?

Cornel West: November 2001 (RealAudio). The most important words I heard spoken in the month after September 11. The end not of American innocence -- America has never been innocent. No, what struck me was: This is the end of America's adolescence. more inside

The Titanic in 30 Seconds. Performed in Flash by cartoon bunnies. From the same folks who brought you The Shining and The Exorcist. Via ABS.

Curious, George: Decent Chat? Several recent posts seem to suggest that we monkeys are looking for some decent virtual conversation. Are there any quality chat rooms online? more inside

Black People Love Us! Is it a joke? What kind of joke? Should we be offended or endlessly amused? The letters page certainly doesn't clear things up.

Bowman. Flash game, via ABS. Kinda tricky, but fun once you get the hang of it. To return to the main menu, you'll need to right-click the game (or control-click on the Mac) and choose "rewind".

They lay their eggs in your flesh. Last night at a dinner party, a friend related the horrid tale of someone infested by the larvae of the botfly, which lays its eggs in the flesh of mammals. I didn't believe her until I looked it up for myself -- and it's true. They struck a three-year-old in the neck and back ("The neck lesion continued to enlarge, and by this time a small hole was visible at its center.") They struck one man in the scrotum ("One lady Doc picked up Marks chart & said 'I'm not touching that'!"). The larvae has even shown up in the human eye. (Warning: very nasty picture!) more inside

Ach! My retirement grease! Oklahoma police are looking for grease bandits who made off with 5,000 pounds of used cooking oil and grease from three restaurants. If you have to ask about the Simpsons reference. . .

Killer Coke. We are seeking your help to stop a gruesome cycle of murders, kidnappings and torture of union leaders and organizers involved in daily life-and-death struggles at Coca-Cola bottling plants in Colombia, South America. (Not to be confused with Coca-Cola's own killercoke.com.) Find out why Coke is the Drink of the Death Squads. (This last one is a RealPlayer link.)

The Shining in 30 Seconds. You've seen The Exorcist in 30 Seconds, performed by bunnies. Well, here's Johnny! Via ABS.

Survival Research Laboratories. Producing the most dangerous shows on Earth. I recommend video from the Austin show, particularly the tesla coil and burning pig ball.

All Glory to the HypnoToad.

The World's First Crossword. Also check out crosswords in Italian, Russian, Arabic, Norwegian, and even Latin. more inside

Curious, George: Based on a True Story. Are there any comprehensive resources for learning the whole truth about movies based on real events? more inside

Pennsylvania Church Whips Easter Bunny. Melissa Salzmann, who brought her 4-year-old son J.T., said the program was inappropriate for young children. "He was crying and asking me why the bunny was being whipped," Salzmann said.

Curious, George: What is a papasan? Does the term "papasan" refer to the style of rattan/wicker furniture, or just the familiar round chair with padded cushion? more inside

It's not a rock, it's a machine fitting! The topic of pareidolia is quite fascinating. more inside