This is almost funny.

A homeschooled group of kids played chess in the league for years, and won the championship. Then, the next year, they changed the rules so they couldn't enter.

All the homeschooled kids were from the same area, but they changed the rules - uh - in case they weren't?

"Roger Brownell, a homeschool parent in Tucson who was on a state chess committee looking into the matter, agreed with the final ruling. If homeschool students were allowed to form teams, he said, it would be like allowing sport teams to take students from any geographical area.

But homeschool proponents look at the chess world as way behind the times, especially since public education has changed so much with increasing numbers of charter and magnet schools, which take students from all over, just like private and parochial schools."

Homeschooled chess team not allowed to defend Championship title

This is a very cool interface for streaming music. First, pick what genre you want to hear, then pick your mood. Do you want classical, but energetic classical? Its right there, and then you can select a specific song if you like from there.

Very cool. This one is a keeper for me.

Match your music to your mood - Musicovery!

Do what? DO WHAT?
UG

The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon, USA

For background on this short article and powerful picture, see: Longer article and explanation of Iran's Fashion Police

"The clashes, which took place at Haft Tir Square in Tehran, came during the current Iranian security forces campaign to enforce the dress code. "

Fashion Police - Graphic - The Ugliness of Islam Fundamentalism

Hollow earth is a good example of how Middle Ages thinking is still present in today's society.

Hollow Earth? Hallow maybe. :)
Or maybe Bin Ladin is living a comfortable life in Cappadocia.

RE: Pravda: Another human civilization may live inside Earth's hollows

I always thought it was more like "So.... it is, let it be, So!"

Kryptos

Oh

Holy

Crap

Please tell me I'm not reading what I think I am reading.

If I pose a risk, he can seize everything I own. DId I take the wrong pill?

Did he just take a sharpie and blot out the 5th Amendment?

"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

Bush's Latest Executive Order - All Your Property Are Belong To Us

I have the Harry Potter book in hand.
There was a great turn out at both Barnes and Noble and Kroger. Barnes and Noble was SO crowded that not everyone could fit in, so a lot of folks spilled over to Kroger.

Kroger was totally unprepared for the crowd. They didn't have anything to open the boxes with, and only one register running.
The eager fans opened the boxes with keys and pocketknives while the skeleton crew got the self checkout lanes ready.

The Carpet book, posted online, is real.

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is funding Wood's research in the hope that it will lead to stealth surveillance robots for the battlefield and urban environments. The robot's small size and fly-like appearance are critical to such missions.

Like that things going to stay on the battlefield. Cute little bugger, eh?

Technology Review: Robotic Insect Takes Off for the First Time

Well. You just said it better than I ever could have. I saw that, and surely tilted my head like a dog hearing a siren. WTF.
I always said "The courts are the hope of the country." Lately I dunno about that. They are like a stacked deck.

Judge dismisses civil suit in CIA leak scandal | Politics | Reuters