Don’t forget to visit Friday Ark #140 for a boatload of weekend animal fun.

When we need all the Arab linguists we can get, the military continues discharging those who are gay.  “‘At a time when our military is stretched to the limit and our cultural knowledge of the Middle East is dangerously deficient, I just can’t believe that kicking out able, competent Arabic linguists is making our country any safer,’ [Democratic Rep. Marty] Meehan said.”  The Democrats are finally submitting a bill to get rid of DADT.

This is too close to home.  “A Denver Zoo monkey has died of bubonic plague, apparently after eating a squirrel stricken with the disease, Colorado health and zoo officials said on Monday. Five squirrels and a rabbit found dead on zoo grounds tested positive for the flea-borne disease in recent weeks, Denver Zoo spokeswoman Ana Bowie said.”

Get your science on at Tangled Bank #80.