[TERRORISM] - Anthrax Source - A UK paper is reporting that the FBI has identified the person who sent the anthrax letters late last year. We've heard precious little on this story - especially considering we have a new homeland security organization in place.

Is the FBI intentionally keeping the wraps on this story as some speculate? The Federation of American Scientists have put together an analysis of the letters which is very interesting. A quote from the introduction:

The perpetrator is surely too smart to believe that either the FBI’s ludicrous recent actions or the White House protestations of ignorance mean that the authorities are not on to him.  Blanketing Central New Jersey with fliers showing handwriting that was obviously disguised can’t possibly evoke useful information, nor can letters to 32,000 American microbiologists, 31,800 of whom live in a different world from the perpetrator.  This is no way to instill public confidence in the competence of the FBI. [...] Most importantly, the apparent lack of action is sending a dangerous message to potential bioterrorists.

[FOOD] - March is Massachusetts Maple Month - Here's a site with everything you ever wanted to know about maple syrup production in Massachusetts - from types of trees to how to make "sugar-on-snow." Massachusetts Maple Producers Association

Also of note on the site for this month:

Twenty-four restaurants, from Boston to the Berkshires, have teamed up with 14 Bay State maple sugar producers to celebrate Massachusetts Maple Month this March. The restaurants are featuring special maple menus and events as part of the celebration coordinated by the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association and the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture.

A list of participating restaurants and sugarhouses is available on the web at www.massmaple.org. A brochure featuring maple recipes is also available.

[WEIRD WIDE WEB] - Hats of Meat
There are no flies on this website. Or are there?

[FOOD] - Living high off the hog - A trip to Smokey Bones today prompted me to try to determine the difference between baby back ribs and St. Louis style ribs. I found the answer here: Everything you've ever wanted to know about pork ribs.

[NEWS] - Gumbo closes New Orleans airport - Suspicious, delicious and nutritious. Now a really good gumbo would close an airport for at least 10 hours, so I suspect this was lesser gumbo. Maybe it had some bad okra in it. CNN.com - Gumbo closes Big Easy airport for 5 hours - February 21, 2002

[HUMOR/NEWS] - The cover of Der Spiegel - Gives a glimpse into how some europeans look at our leadership. Die Bush Krieger: Amerikas Feldzug gegen das Bose

[HUMOR] - How Company Policy Begins - This has been around in email a few hundred times, but it is true enough to mention here. Author unknown.

Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water. After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result - all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.

Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth.

Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.

After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana. Why not? Because as far as they know that's the way it's always been done around here.

And that, is how company policy begins.

[FUN FACTS] - WHAT'S THAT STUFF? is a small website with the details on things like Cheez Whiz, lipstick, self-tanners, lightsticks, etc. As Chuck predicted, this site is right up my alley.

[NEATO] - Happy Palindrome Day -BBC News | UK | Party like it's 20/02/2002

[FUN] - Where's George? - is a site dedicated to registering your US currency in a huge database. Then you spend the money, sit back and wait for someone else to re-enter the bills. When that happens, you will get a message from the website. You can also get anonymous messages from people who receive your bills.

You can increase your chances of getting "hits" on your bills by writing "www.wheresgeorge.com" directly on the bill. Otherwise, people are unlikely to find out about the website and enter their serial number. Use your own judgement. I have registered some bills and will wait and see what happens.