Saudi Arabia Appoints First Female Minister

Mmmm...and she's quite a looker, too. I must admit, I've always had a thing for a woman with a goatee. :)

You've got to love it when Google chooses an only partially related file photo next to the headline of a web news article...

Read the real story here

Google Earth now has Google Oceans!

Google Earth is a great free way to learn about the world's geography, history, culture, and biology. It's a free program that presents an interactive earth globe. Travel around through the satellite images enhanced with photos, videos, informational pages from various organizations, and much more. And now, Google Earth has charted the oceans as well! Dive deep down to find marine life, shipwrecks, and much more: Find out more about Google Earth 5 with oceans

Groundhog Day!

That shadow-gazing groundhog is on the minds of most people today, according to the top 100 current Google searches. Out of 100 searches, the groundhog is evident in an amazing figures in 30 of them, including the top 5, and 7 of the top 10. Among the more interesting are #62 (groundhog day lesson plans) and #88 (groundhog puppet). It's also great to see how many ways people can spell Punxsutawney, the groundhog's home town, in Pennsylvania, USA. Here's the full list of groundhog searches:

1. did the groundhog see his shadow
2. punxsutawney phil
3. groundhog day 2009
4. puxatony phil
5. ground hog
7. punksatony phil
10. groundhog phil
13. groundhog coloring page
15. punxsutawney pa
17. jimmy the groundhog
19. groundhog video
20. groundhog day coloring sheets
21. groundhog day word search
25. georgia groundhog
26. ground hog day movie
27. groundhog picture
29. groundhog day activities for kids
36. groundhog prediction
40. groundhog results
48. free groundhog day worksheets
49. groundhog day reading comprehension
50. groundhog clip art
55. punxy phil
56. gobblers knob
62. groundhog day lesson plans
76. groundhog pattern
79. puxatony pa
81. punxsutawney pennsylvania
83. groundhog poem
88. groundhog puppet

By the way, Phil the groundhog saw his shadow, and that means 6 more weeks of winter.

2009 Australian Open Tennis: Celebrity Sighting?

FYI: Octuplets = 8 Babies

USA Today reports that a California woman was relieved to find out yesterday from the team of 46 doctors, nurses, and assistants that helped her deliver her newborns that 'octuplets' does not mean that her babies were born with suction-cup laden tentacles. Rather, it means that she had just given birth to 8 babies.

Her relief was short-lived, however, as she soon realized that one octopus baby might have been preferable. "8 babies will certainly be a joy, but they will require a tremendous amount of work. That one octopus baby would have only required some kind of modified crib/fishtank" she said.

Experts say it is only the second known delivery of octuplets in the United States.

Japanese For Busy People (product review)

I was very disappointed in this book/CD package. The title was misleading. My situation is that I am going to Japan in a couple of months, and, while I am there (for work) I have a series of tasks to accomplish in a very limited period of time. I needed to learn Japanese phrases for all situations that could help me to speed things up and get done faster. For example:

"Could you hurry up with those Ramen noodles?"

"Sorry I pushed past you to get on the Bullet Train."

"I believe I am the next to be allowed entry into the Royal Palace."

Essentially, I needed a phrasebook for busy people in busy situations. The title led me to believe this is what I would get - I had no idea they were referring to people who, because they are busy, have limited time to *learn* Japanese. That's very different.

Fun for kids? The Playmobil Security Checkpoint

It's never too early to get your children acclimated to living in a police state! The Playmobil Security Checkpoint set comes with woman traveler, security checkpoint, luggage and spare change, screening machine, airport employee, and security guard. For drawbacks and personal experiences, read the hilarious product reviews!

Click here to view the Amazon page