8/18 Morning Communiqué

CITY PAGES BLOGS AND NEWS

In the song "Hotel California," what does "colitas" mean? Was Sir Isaac Newton a virgin? You've got the questions, and Cecil Adams is the man with the answers, as we welcome The Straight Dope to City Pages every Friday.

THESE DAYS

A quarter of British office staff hate their co-wrokers—and a third have quit to escape them, a survey reveals.

According to reports, Apple has sent "cease-and-desist" letters to companies that are using in any way, "Pod" as part of their names or products. [via Slashdot]

A study by Italian doctors noted 7- to 12-year-old children felt less pain during blood tests when they watched cartoons during the procedure.

MINNESOTA BLOG OF THE DAY

Writer Jason Weidemann just returned from a conference in Montreal where the hightlight of the trip appeared to be watching Family Guy in French. Check out Jason's blog, fiveoclockbot.

[Minnesota-based blog directory]

TIME WASTERS

Charles Darwin bobbleheads for sale [via Pharyngula]

An odd little cartoon from 1975 about Mormonism

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

"I hate to admit it, but I've decided to give that up. How can any film survive if everyone says it's going to be a flop from the very day the project is even conceived?"

-- Madonna, mourning the end of her acting career