This weekend marks the Memorial Day weekend here in the US. The holiday is to commemorate the folks who have protected this country by serving in the armed forces, as well as being the traditional unofficial start of summer, and in the name of the latter, I'm determined to have some manner of barbeque to celebrate our own first summer with a yard. However, in contrast to myself, MrsBlue is what you would have to classify as a reluctant carnivore; she has always had her reservations about too much meat in one's diet... and now with stories in the news about BGH, Mad Cow Disease, Hoof & Mouth Disease, and assorted tales of cattle that just run with bad crowds, you can imagine that in addition to my life being filled with variations on "I told you so," it makes shopping for a cook-out a little daunting. So what's the one item it has been decided we should be willing to risk in a barbeque? If you guessed frankfurters, you're a winner (a wiener winner?), and though the idea is that by going with hot dogs by someone like Hebrew National, who 'have to answer to a higher authority,' one is being as careful with their diet as is practical, it still tickles me to be turning to the traditional icon of gross meat products for safety here.

Story of the Day: Dog Digs From Grave to Stardom (Fox). Thanks theAntiELVIS. As a terrier owner, I had an unfair advantage at easily guessing the group this dog is from.
Bonus Story: Invisible toy doll makes money out of thin air (Ananova). Thanks Mike Smith.
Super Bonus Story: Roukema Introduces Resolution Criticizing The Sopranos (Fox). Our tax dollars at work, as well as something right out of the show (remember Dr. Melfi's husband?). Thanks theAntiELVIS.
Super-Duper Bonus Story: 'Klingon Bandit' Sought by Police (Reuters). Thanks Boba Fett. Apparently posing as a friendly customer in a Klingon mask does not arouse suspicion.
Weird Science: Scientist uses plants to harvest gold (Ananova). Thanks Ant.