10/07: Morning Communique

THESE DAYS

Democrats are fighting attempts to make cuts in food stamps and conservation programs at a time when people are coping with hurricanes and drought.

Scientists have taught dolphins to combine both rhythm and vocalizations to produce music, resulting in an extremely high-pitched, short version of the Batman TV theme song. [via Boing Boing]

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Thoughts on politics, road trips, sports, and the rigors of higher education can be found at ShadowEyes.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

Made-up words from The Simpsons

Syriana is a potboiler about the Middle East, the CIA, and Big Oil, starring a bloated George Clooney, with Matt Damon, Chris Cooper, Amanda Peet, and Christopher Plummer.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"Well, certainly the president can claim executive privilege. But in the this case, I think with a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, you can't play, you know, hide the salami, or whatever it's called. He's got to go out there and say something about this woman who's going to a 20 or 30-year appointment, a 20 or 30-year appointment to influence America. We deserve to know something about her."

-- DNC Chariman Howard Dean, committing a double-entendre while discussing the Miers appointment on Wednesday night's episode of Hardball with Chris Matthews

"However nice, helpful, prompt and tidy she is, Harriet Miers isn't qualified to play a Supreme Court justice on 'The West Wing,' let alone to be a real one."

-- Right wing pundit Ann Coulter, also not interested in playing hide the salami with Harriet Miers

"While I'm not a huge fan of Japan, I do like their custom of bowing. I would bow. I would do whatever is necessary not to shake hands. From now on let's do what the Japanese do and greet each other with a nice civil, sanitary bow."

-- Short-fingered vulgarian Donald Trump, going all Howard Hughes on us