If it becomes heavily publicized? IF??? The Curveball story (albeit not a personal interview, but the exposure of him as a con-man) has been in constant discussion for years now. Hundreds of articles, op-ed pieces, blog posts, and most recent books on the Iraq War mention the story, if not make political hay out of it.

It only seems like a revelation to those of you who don't read enough, at least not at a level commensurate with your anger. If you had bothered to do some basic research, you'd understand that the cat has been out of the bag on this one for some time.

At any rate, there are a million opportunistic Rafid Alwan's ready to step forward in any situation. Directing enmity towards this pathetic character is a waste of your breathe. It is the role of intelligence agencies to vet sources, and the role of political leadership to exercise judgment in reviewing those results. Both the Bush administration and the CIA failed with respect to Curveball.

Yet the Bush administration's assertions about WMD in Iraq were not solely dependent on Curveball's testimony. This source was used to make the case for the "immanency" of a WMD threat from Iraq before the public and international community. Yet in addition, mountains of pre-war and post-war evidence attest that Saddam was determined to acquire WMDs following the lift of sanctions(see the Duelfer Report), though contra the conclusion of American leadership (including Sens. Clinton & Kerry), there were no stockpiles, no immanent threat. The role of Curveball in all of this? Seems little more than noise, the fog of war, a two-bit con-man. Without him, the case for war would have been framed differently, but the outcome, I believe, would have been the same.

I would build website for Adam Stanhope, a forum where he could share his political views and music videos.

It was funny for a few seconds. But then the guy should have stepped in and stopped them.

Oops, I said "but if the shoe ain’t broke, don’t fix it" Wow! maybe I'm developing Yogi Berra disease! I hope I spontaneously come up with more of these

Adam, its a catchy tune, but I agree w/ T. Giachetti. Please don't start diluting Neatorama with music videos, which we can find elsewhere. Just as with your politics posts, the music videos may or may not be good, but if the shoe ain't broke, don't fix it. Keep Neatorama 100% neato, IMHO.

(Or start Stanhoparama?)

Miss Cellania: I agree completely about it not being "mind boggling". They speak as if the digits of Pi as if they are some esoteric secret beyond the grasp of a lowly prankster. I've always thought the circle-artists were math-aware (lots of symmetries and reflections, and the surveying skill that goes into executing the designs).

hmmm "land of the slave". Thats an interesting quote. Ahh, the calm, sober judicious voice of reason and sanity. You raise many subtle and intriguing points and express them with grace and humor.

But what the F--K!@! are you talking about and what the !@!#$ does it have to do with shopdropping?

Thats the cutest darn wall I've ever seen. I never thought I'd say that about a wall.

I have one of the smaller versions sitting on my desk, which I printed out after seeing the effect on video. It is a neat effect, but not as spectacular as it seems to be when captured with a single-lens camera (you have to squint just right to trick your brain). I think most of those people are not marveling at the illusion, but trying to figure out what the dinosaur is all about.

Seems like left-wingers hate right wing bumper stickers, while right-wingers hate left-wing bumper stickers. Really, if you feel like you must shove your politics in the face of the person driving behind you, realize that you are not winning any converts on the road to wherever, but only sending the message that you are a swaggering, obnoxious boor.

So its not at all surprising that people with sarcastic political bumper stickers are prone to road rage/territory issues. Its like walking up to a stranger on the street and saying "hey, guess what I think about so and so". Look buddy, I don't give an f what you think. If you want to get off to a good start, to persuade me to your cause, start with a civil introduction.

Neutral public spaces, what a concept!

Wow, thats zany and cool. I love that the Internet allows people to share their creative ideas with the world.

Awesome, I hope it works!! But hopefully its not...

1) Announce a new energy-related breakthrough technology(or perhaps take an old one, and repackage it.)

2) Claim that once some minor kinks are worked out, it will be a solution to the world's energy woes and a bonanza for investors.

3) Promote the technology heavily, especially to gullible, wide-eyed reporters without a science background, the type that do not raise practical questions about scalability, cost-benefit analysis, etc.

4) Solicit "startup money" from investors, and let them know that they will be in on the ground floor.

5) Shift and commingle funds through a confusing network of bank accounts. Announce some tantalizing preliminary results, but request more money to finish the "last mile".

6) Disappear to a tropical country with a favorable legal structure, siphon off some of your winnings for legal defense against disgruntled investors ("I never promised them it would work, it was always risky").

7) Resurface years later with plastic surgery; repeat.

Um, let's not slip the dogs of panic just yet. This group tested ONE shower curtain, their testing was not verified by an independent lab, and was subject to a variety of other problems. See "Studies Gone Wild? Death by Shower Curtain"

http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=5057141

I'm skeptical because PVC has been used for so long and is so ubiquitous. I'm not saying I'd be comfortable living in a house built out of the stuff, but I think this is absolutely a panic story. My local news ran this story as if you had these shower curtains, better make sure you have your funeral plans all set.

Yes but people need to blame SOMEONE. I mean, if concepts like peak oil and commodity speculation are too abstract for the common folk, let's blame the rapacious oil executives. And if the people are too confused by the ambiguous role of the executive, let's make blaming easier by funneling rage towards your local gas station owner. Just like those emails said, if we all boycott the local gas station, gas will be back to $2.00 in no time flat!!

All apologies to the proud owner, but that is one weird looking animal.