6/13: Morning Communique

THESE DAYS

Prof. Richard Wiseman, of the University of Hertfordshire, did an online experiment in which 300,000 people from around the world took part in LaughLab, where they voted for the world's funniest joke. And here it is.

American schools are considering emulating math and science teaching systems in Asia that produce better results, amid concerns over a drop in performance of students in the two subjects.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Becca begins a new life caffeine-free. Follow her progress at The New Beccablog: Because I Said So.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

As Jim Walsh mentioned last week, musical rabble-rouser Billy Bragg has a bone to pick with Rupert Murdoch over the rights to music posted at MySpace.

Darth Vader: Intergalactic Sad Sack

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"I did it with my dad. I'd sit on his lap and I drive. We're country."

-- Britney Spears, in an upcoming Today show interview, defending the potential use of her son as an airbag