Tuesday Talking Points: Snakes of the Plane

Today I have four stories for you.

1. Bees? Forget Bees.
The Christian Science Monitor reported that Florida officials are increasingly afraid of a new hybrid-breed of pythons emerging. Apparently with the illegal introduction of exotic breeds of pythons the likelihood of a hybrid has gone up significantly; this is scary for locals because when animals from different regions mate there is a propensity for recessive genes, most notably aggression, to become suddenly and poignantly excessive; think Africanized Bees. While this is still a few steps shy of Scientist Dane Cook’s fear of killer horses, man-eating snakes are definitely a step up from bees on the ladder-of-things-that-scare-the-crap-out-of-me.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0915/p02s01-usgn.html

2. What is Terrorism?
This is exactly the question that Hugo Chaves and Muammar Gaddafi are asking. The two have gone public with a desire to redefine terrorism, but are mute on what they think it should be. Let me guess: “We want ‘terrorism’ to be defined as the bombing of innocent civilians by anyone except us, and any action taken by America.”

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE58S0GZ20090929?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

3. I’m going to take my ball and go home!
So said Iran when the European Union called them out on the newly discovered Nuclear Power plant. Iran has been indignant about the situation saying that they will not let in inspectors and will simply ignore the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if the “Zionist pigs and American dogs” keep up their persistence. My question: Can we please execute the part of the treaty that says “We will destroy the plants you do not let us inspect”?

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSLT56449320090929?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

4. Sydney, I’m sorry that sucks.
Earlier this week Sydney, Australia was buried in an incredibly huge dust storm. No snippy comments here, that seriously sucks. For the full story and satellite pictures of the storm as it occurred, check the link below.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/09/sydney-dust-storm-from-space/