from SMBC

You know, I’ve always viewed Keith Olbermann as an overly sanctimonious and loquacious demagogue, but his words in this speech really resonate with me. It has all the trappings of a Knox College Political Science essay, but I think it very well sums up and counters the rather obvious attempts by some opportunistic politicians who are looking to exploit xenophobia and fear to get votes, or a certain news network’s attempts to get more viewers.

Bravo, Mr. Olbermann. Maybe I’ll watch your show sometime.

In California scientists are filled with curiosity by a series of rocks which in Death Valley which seem to be slowly migrating aimlessly across the desert floor.  Dubbed “Sailing Stones”, they are more specifically found in the dried out lake bed known as the “Racetrack Playa” (and no, that’s not the name of a rap artist).

The rocks careen about in a seemingly random pattern, rocks very rarely moving in parallel. The exact causes are not known and remain a bit of a mystery to this day, though many scientists do have theories.

Wind and ice both are the favored hypothesis for these mysterious sliding rocks. Noted in Don J. Easterbrook’s “Surface Processes and Landforms”, he mentioned that because of the lack of parallel paths between some rock paths, this could be caused by the breaking up of ice resulting in alternate routes. Even though the ice breaks up into smaller blocks, it is still necessary for the rocks to slide.

from wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailing_stones

http://boingboing.net/2009/02/19/obama-sushi.html

More here

Harvey Pekar of comic world fame was found dead in his Cleveland home this morning.  He was 70 years old.

I also did some experiments with some long exposure times and wiggling the camera:

This is not a trolley...

Dear Metrobus,

This is not a trolley.  Just because you paint your buses to look like a cartoonish mockery of a trolley does not make it a trolley.

“The #99 Downtown Trolley features a whimsical and colorful wrap that transforms buses into trolleys,” said Dianne Williams, director of communications at Metro.

from globe-democrat.com

No… no it does not.

Still, I guess I am glad that they are expanding the public transportation in STL.

I’d rather have real trolleys though…

Local entertainer and MC, Clownvis, recently appeared on “America’s Got Talent” and served the judges, in my opinion, a much needed ribbing.  They didn’t let Clownvis sing any Elvis songs because of copyright issues, and really the crowd didn’t give him a chance to get into his act before they started booing because they are an empty minded, shallow, impatient bunch of haters.  Really, I hate this show, and I loved Clownvis taking on the pompous, overly worshiped judges with a frank bit of deflating humor.

Really, who is that British guy?  Seriously?  No one I know knows who he is.  “His worst nightmare”?  What?  You’re nothing, buddy, and your show is another redundant bit of clap trap.  Huzzah and hooray for Clownvis for showing the emperor has no clothes.

John Cole, Scranton, PA, The Times

Mike Lester, Rome News-Tribune, Rome, GA

Steve Greenberg -- Los Angeles, CA

Gary McCoy, Illinois -- The Suburban Journals.

David Fitzsimmons,Arizona Daily Star, Tucson AZ

Joe Heller, Wisconsin -- The Green Bay Press-Gazette

Bob Englehart, Hartford, Connecticut -- The Hartford Courant

All comics hotlinked from Cagle.com

See more here on Smashing Magazine: