South Dakota Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson in critical condition: Republican governor would appoint a replacement should Johnson die or resign (AP)--The one vulnerable state that would switch power back to the Republicans in the Senate.

Dr. Alex de T.’s diagnosis: Organic Polonium-210 or handheld HAARP neuro-transmitter. We're conspiracy pragmatists!


"Olfactory cuisine": from the Sixth Annual Year in Ideas issue (NYT Mag)--No thanks. We’re Cuddites when it comes to food.


2006 Year in Review (AdT)--The Year of Poison by the Medici Cartel. The ‘Way Backward’ in Iraq. Global water boarding. Anti-Christ squares off against Anti-Allah. George W. raises rent on Osama bin Laden in Crawford spidey-hole.