It's just struck me that the blackout would have been a golden opportunity to get a great view of the ever-closer planet of Mars without the detriment of all the light pollution in the area, which is especially remarkable here in the vicinity of New York City. Over the next few days the red planet will achieve its closest proximity to Earth in anyone's (even Joan Rivers') memory, but I imagine the view would be that much more spectacular in the darkness. The lights here in the tower came on for Thursday's overnight before dying again Friday, but I hope some of those in the city remembered to take advantage of the unusual occasion of one of the brightest spots on earth becoming one of the darkest.

I got a couple of comments from readers who received a Gator pop-up dealie. There are few things I despise more than spyware installers, and this was not supposed to be running here. After learning about this, the powers-that-be were able to pinpoint the offending campaign where some weasel had slipped these in there, and it was killed. If this should happen again going forward, please be willing to drop an e-mail to me or a forum post about it so that the croc hunter can be sent after the offending reptile.

Play Time:	Letterscapes. Thanks (Spooky42).
Stories of the Day:	Thai ban for 'Big Flabby Buttocks'. Thanks Larry. Mobster's smuggled sperm counts for extra 16 months in prison. Write a Story, Go to Jail.
Wild Science:	Japan ready to market robot suit. Robot attends Czech state dinner. Earth-like planets probably water-logged Simulation suggests formation of wet worlds is easy.
Weird Science:	Genetic Tests in Your Bedroom. Brain scans show why we always have room for dessert. Tongue transplant patient released. Thanks Devicer.
Follow-up:	Tampa drops face-recognition system.
	Thanks Mike Martinez.