Loose Cannons

Mission impossible

"You know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror." — Emperor George Bush II, September 6.

Lost in space

"Downgrading Pluto's status will cause psychological harm to some Californians who question their place in the universe and worry about the instability of universal constants." — From the preamble to a bill introduced September 7 by a retiring member of the California State Assembly condemning the International Astronomical Union's decision to classify Pluto as a "dwarf planet". The bill, to which 53 other legislators have signed on, also argues that the "downgrading of Pluto reduces the number of planets available for legislative leaders to hide ... inconvenient political reform measures".

From GLW issue 684