Anyone here familiar with multiplayer online games, like the Ultima Online kind of thing? vw and I are having a sudden jonesing for a game system, but failing that we thought maybe one of those... something we could play together.

For Hec: [link]

Here's a novel idea:

A wild idea to combat global warming suggests creating an artificial ring of small particles or spacecrafts around Earth to shade the tropics and moderate climate extremes.

There would be side effects, proponents admit. An effective sunlight-scattering particle ring would illuminate our night sky as much as the full Moon, for example.

And the price tag would knock the socks off even a big-budget agency like NASA: $6 trillion to $200 trillion for the particle approach. Deploying tiny spacecraft would come at a relative bargain: a mere $500 billion tops.

But the idea, detailed today in the online version of the journal Acta Astronautica, illustrates that climate change can be battled with new technologies, according to one scientist not involved in the new work.

Did no one heed the fate of the Cassidines?

Did no one heed the fate of the Cassidines?

Are you watching "General Hospital" again?

I'm watching the president here at ft. bragg (on tv). please make me turn it off before i scream.

Stephanie, turn off the TV. Watch the baby instead, much much much more fun!

Um, getting the tiny particles up there is not that hard. However, if the tiny particles bring on Global Winter, how do you get them down again?

signed, has no ideas about the Cassidines

she's hiccupping in her sleep. very cute!

very cute!

See, I told you much more fun! Also? Way cuter!