Dan Carpenter in the Indy Star on Sarah Palin last week (inter alia, of course):

And the Obama detractors who rejected his assertion that his campaign for office was not about him are content to let her be a kind of Cleopatra in a parka, reclining symbol of lost stature.

… interesting mental image …

Excerpts from a piece at Network World … not bad:

On a recent excavation, Chris Locke unearthed an amazingly well-preserved fossil of Hilarofustis atarium, commonly referred to as the Atari joystick. This is the most recent “discovery” he has made, but among his Modern Fossils collection you can also spot long-dead boom boxes, aged iPods, obsolete hard drives, and ancient phones.

[…]

Here are a few of the “finds.”

Hilarofustis atarium

One of our earliest specimens, Hilarofustis atarium occupies the same position on the food chain as Dominaludus nintendicus but predates it by several years. Examples of this particular species are somewhat rare, especially today, as so many other species have arisen to take its place.

Dominaludus nintendicusThis is an early example of the “game controller” unit, specifically from the mid-1980s. The earliest examples of this species appeared in Japan, but quickly spread throughout the United States and the rest of the world within only two or three years.

Ludustatarium temperosony

First seen in the mid-1990s, Ludustatarium has been found throughout the world. Similar in origin and function to Dominaludus nintendicus, Ludustatarium is obviously a more complex evolution of the form.

Dexteludicrum repuerasco

First seen around 1989, Dexteludicrum repuerasco has also appeared worldwide. Dexteludicrum repuerasco obviously bears some of the same traits as Dominaludus nintendicus, but it includes extra components.

Ambulephebus sonysymphonia

First found in the late 1970s, often in close proximity to Asportatio acroamatis, suggesting a possible symbiotic relationship. This species rapidly evolved into many other forms, including a large, round version (Ambulephebus discus) and the rare Ambulephebus minidiscus.

Experts theorize that the entire Ambulephebus genus was virtually wiped out by the sudden appearance of Egosiliqua malusymphonicus near the turn of the century. Some Ambulephebus remain, but not in the numbers once seen.

Egosiliqua malusymphonicus

Egosiliqua malusymphonicus, which first surfaced in 2001, remains today in several forms, most closely resembling this one. Some observers speculate that it evolved from Ambulephebus sonysymphonia, while others suspect that Egosiliqua was the natural predator whose presence led to the eventual extinction of Ambulephebus.

[…]

• Ancient Atari Joysticks Unearthed

The Sun has the scoop on the next ‘Big Brother’ (UK presumably) episode:

As part of a Greek themed shopping challenge two housemates must dress up like the father and son team for a performance. [sc. Stavros Flatley ~ ed.]

Greek Irish fusion dancers Demetrios Demetriou, 40, and son Lagi, 13, will provide the pair with an instructional DVD to make sure they get the steps just right.

An independent judge will rate the two housemates’ performance of the River Dance track Cry of the Celts later today.

Other housemates will take on the roles of ancient Greek gods including Zeus and Atlas.

And one contestant will take the role of either Aphrodite or Eros and record a singles video telling the world they are looking for love.

Big Brother viewers will then be able to bid for a date with them through the show’s website.

Slightly less majestic roles include posing as Greek presidential guards while three other housemates will have to run a 24-hour kebab van.

In case you’ve never seen Stavros Flatley: