the absence of detectable advanced civilizations may result from the inevitable destruction by black holes of such civilizations once they acquire the capacity to build an LHC-like device. Hence, the LHC will destroy the earth.

Obama's yes vote on FISA is completely unnecessary from an electoral calculus. My sense is that the story line that the Democrats "cave in" because of fearing voters will see them as soft on terror is a smoke screen. Democrats are winning seats in Mississippi! None of these jerks needed to vote for this to be more than competitive in their next election. They all know this,but they feel somehow compelled to "compromise". Curious, isn't it? Compromise, when you don't need to and don't have to. I don't buy it. I think the Democratic leadership, and Bush Democrats ("Blue Dogs") were party to, or had prior knowledge of, the illegal surveillance programs. So this vote is to cover their own asses. Nothing else makes sense.