Rats and Other Vermin!

Scientists in Uruguay have found the fossil remains of a 2,000 pound (1,000 kg) RAT that lived 2 million years ago -- the largest rodent ever found.

"We report the discovery of an exceptionally well preserved fossil skull of a new species of rodent, by far the largest ever recorded," they wrote in a report in Britain's Proceedings of the Royal Society.

"Rodents are a very successful group of mammals living almost worldwide and with small body masses (generally less than 1 kg or 2.2 pounds)," they wrote.

"However, our work suggests that 2 million years ago in South America, rodents with 1,000 kg (2,200 pounds) of body mass (a 'mouse' larger than a bull) lived with terror birds, saber-toothed cats, ground sloths and giant armored mammals....... among others."

Always poking, always peeking,
Climbing, jumping, sometimes squeaking,
Twitching whiskers, cunning faces,
Hiding in the strangest places!
Nibbling here and napping there,
Always finds the time to spare
Folks can have their cats and dogs,
Horses, snakes, and even frogs.
For me you stand out from the rest.
For no doubt about it- the RAT'S a pest!
-Anonymous

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The Book of Mormon needs changes!

Just like any old religious document it often runs afoul of modern scientific fact and needs an "Opps! We got it wrong!"

Mormons, (As told in my book "The Plain Truth About God") have had to backtrack on a number of issues during the last little while including Polygamy, Slavery, Ancestry and a bunch of other stuff.

The change is in the second paragraph of the introduction to the 2006 Book of Mormon, the most recent printing of the book published by Doubleday.

The last sentence of that paragraph, which discusses the fate of ancient civilizations, stated in previous editions that the Lamanites, a nation of people that originated in Jerusalem, “are the principal ancestors of the American Indians.”

The newest edition states the Lamanites are “are among the ancestors of the American Indians.” The change suggests that more recent scientific data contradicts Mormon teachings.

The Book of Mormon is the reference book for the church, just like the Bible.

Mormons believe the founder of the church, Joseph Smith, translated the book from a set of engraved golden plates buried on Cumorah Hill in Manchester, N.Y.

The book teaches, in part, that Native Americans were descendants of the Lamanites, who migrated to America from Israel.

Science has found no credible evidence to support the migration theory in the Book of Mormon, according to the Institute for Religious Research. Instead, science supports a Siberian or Asiatic origin for Native Americans, the institute reported in 2004.

The only good thing I can say about the Mormons is that at least they had the guts to change their dogma in the face of scientific evidence, instead of rejecting it or even condemning it like the Christian and Islamic faiths.

(Although they are ALL guilty of being "full of shit!")

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Now............ don't do your kid a favor by having "Clowns" at their next birthday party! (Unless he's 32)

Children don't like clowns and even older kids are scared of them.

The news was revealed in a poll of youngsters by researchers from the University of Sheffield who were examining how to improve the decor of hospital children's wards.

The study, reported in the Nursing Standard magazine, found most the 250 patients aged between four and 14 that they quizzed disliked clowns, with even the older ones finding them scary.

"As adults we make assumptions about what works for children," said Penny Curtis, a senior lecturer in research at the university.

"We found that clowns are universally disliked by children. Some found them quite frightening and unknowable."

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One American politician that I have a lot of respect for is Ross Perot. (Remember he's the one that got his employee's out of Iran during the hostage crisis!)

Ross is not one to pull any punches so I pay attention when he says that John McCain is not all he is cracked up to be!

Seems he has issues with McCain's honesty and character!

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Next, I'm not sure if this is some sort of Hollywood record..... but somehow I doubt it!

The wedding ceremony for Eddie Murphy and film producer Tracey Edmonds two weeks ago is already over...... we think!

Murphy, 46, and Edmonds, 40, traded vows on New Year's Day on a private island off Bora Bora in French Polynesia in a ceremony that was not legally binding.

"After much consideration and discussion, we have jointly decided that we will forgo having a legal ceremony as it is not necessary to define our relationship further," said a statement on behalf of both Murphy and Edmonds issued by publicist Arnold Robinson.

This not only leads us to the question "Did they, or didn't they?" But also: "Will they, or won't they?" And of course" "Do we care, or not?"

Two weeks is a short time even by Hollywood standards but I don't think it's anywhere near a record!

Got some quicker one's, leave a message in the comments section!

Allan W Janssen is the author of the book The Plain Truth About God (What the mainstream religions don't want you to know!) and is available at the web site www.God-101.com

Visit the blog "Perspective" at http://God-101.blogspot.com