Wow!  Go look at this photo taken from Arvin, CA of the setting sun and an approaching comet.  Again: Wow!

Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 is now in at least 58 visible pieces.  This truly is a spectacular sky show.  With binoculars, a telescope, or even the naked eye if that’s all that’s available, it’s worth a view.  Note that augmented vision provides the best presentation.

Birds in the News 58 (v2n9) is up and once again has all sorts of good stuff.  The photos are definitely worthwhile (check out the golden eagle, and tell me if you don’t chuckle at that owl photo…), but it’s also got lots of interesting news including this very important new find: “Scientists have discovered that migrating dragonflies and songbirds exhibit many of the same behaviors, suggesting the rules that govern such long-distance travel may be simpler and more ancient than was once thought.”  There’s a lot more.

The scope of Dubya’s domestic spying just keeps getting broader.  Now, it involves specifically monitoring the press.  It’s apparently intended to catch the media’s confidential sources.  OK, we can add “freedom of the press” to the list of civil rights and liberties lost to our country.  I smell a rogue executive…

Go take the National Geographic 2006 literacy test.  It’s fun, educational if you miss one, and won’t take very long at all.  It covers more than geographic knowledge.

Grand Rounds Vol. 2, No. 34: the best of the medical blogosphere from the last week.  I found a lot of good information and enlightening views of medicine in this one.