Here's a little bit of history I didn't know about: The Hartford Convention. Apparently, New England (or at least the Federalist Party members in those states) thought about seceding from the Union and talked about it in a convention in Hartford. Why don't we learn about these things in high school?

Trent at s1ngularity::criticism offers a take on "The Lord of the Rings" (the books, natch) as anti-racist. I'm not sure I buy it any more than I buy the racist viewpoint, but it's nice to see it spinned in the other direction. The comments also add a lot to the discussion.

Apparently Alexis Kanner died back in December. Kanner played some great parts on "The Prisoner" TV series. He hasn't done much else that I recognize, but it's sad to see him pass.

You'll all be glad to know that the woman with the giant tumor (see yesterday's entry) has gotten it successfully removed.

Here's a site on Nazi architecture that includes images from the 1930s and '40s and the same place today. The real interest here is the "Thingstatte" (scroll down to the Heidelberg section) which was called a "veritable church of the Reich" by Goebbels. It was an open air stadium built to harken back to the ancient pagan gatherings. (Page found via Cylindrical Primate Storage Unit.)

According to Poynter Online, The New York Times Book Review is changing direction. Now there will be less literary fiction reviewed and more nonfiction. Because literary fiction is boring. Unlike, say, the latest book on budget implications on capitol hill. Or the big, multivolume epic on the life of President Garfield. The Book Review is the only section of the Sunday Times I still read, even as boring as it is now. This "updating" of the Review is bound to send me off completely.

All right this is disgusting and I urge you not to look at it: Woman to have 12 stone tumour removed. Apparently, 12 stone is almost twice the woman's body weight. This is so ugly and bizarre, it doesn't seem to be real. Ugh.

Complete mammoth skull unearthed in England.

Fishermen have been making some big catches lately. Here's a world record blue whiskerfish. Tanzanian fishermen caught a rare dugong, which must be like a manatee (it looks like one and they call it a "sea cow.") And thank god for the Russian army. They saved 10 tons of beer that sank under ice in River Irtysh. Best catch of the day.

Story and video of mysterious object caught on video over Kansas City sky. It looks like a flat, white rod or something. Not very impressive. And the second half of the video, you can barely see the object.

Some people are reporting that "Enterprise" may get canceled. Not having cable and not watching TV anyway, it doesn't concern me much. But I've always liked the Star Trek franchise. Still, I think this is exactly what it needs.
For too long, Star Trek has been coasting. After the Deep Space Nine (the pinnacle of Star Trek shows), they had the awful "Voyager" and the (from what I've seen) boring "Enterprise." On top of that, the last two movies have not been winners with critics or with fans. And "Nemesis" was a bomb at the box office. It's time for Star Trek to settle back into obscurity for a little while, let people work up some interest in it again. Wait a few years. Then maybe Paramount can get an ambitious and intelligent writing staff to come up with a new direction for Star Trek.
Or maybe, it's just time the franchise was put to bed and better stuff will take its place.

This link is more for me to go back for than any other reason. Someone named Dorothy Lamour has put 1940s science fiction comic books on the web. They look great, ray guns and green guys with clubs and bug-eyed monsters.

Girl, 6, found dead in motel and an exorcism is suspected as the reason. The girl had a broken back and, according to this article, was stabbed. That's some pretty severe demons. Oh, and the adults and two children were found outside, in the snow, naked.

There's a new blog called Boomer Deathwatch and it's something to see, especially by people of my generation. They take all the angst about the selfishness and screwed-upness of baby boomers and print it in great detail. I'm not sure I feel as strongly as they do, but I'm sure enjoying the bile. I like their disclaimer too:
"And if you're in any way offended by the content or message of Boomer Deathwatch, sorry, but we really don't care. Seriously. We'll probably just post your pissy e-mail and make fun of it, so don't bother."

Taiwan scientists accidentally develop two-headed fish.

Starfish Invasion Reported In Volusia. Reminds me of the beginning of "Rebirth of Mothra II," with the red starfish attacking everything.

Big fish that turned up on Philippine beach is either a giant dolphin or a small whale. This might clear things up: "'Dolphins are small whales, whales are big dolphins. This one is a giant dolphin so it must be a whale,' Avila said."

An explorer has bought a Russian icebreaker and is heading out to the North Pole to determine if the Earth is hollow. Here's the pitch from Steve Currey's Expedition Company - Voyage to Our Hollow Earth: "Don't miss this chance to personally visit that paradise within our earth via the North Polar Opening and meet the highly advanced, friendly people who live there. We are of the opinion that they are the lengendary Lost Tribes of Israel who migrated into the North Country over 2,500 years ago and literally became lost to the knowledge of mankind. "

Check out the video on this page (you'll need Quicktime.) It's fun with electricity! (Link found via Cylindrical Primate Storage Unit, which I love more and more every day.)

'Hole in sky' amazes scientists, with picture. (Link via The Anomalist, from who I steal many links.)