Here is the world news: The slinky, back-twisting British have been using a rock made of plastic and string to transmit secret information across the frozen pavements of Moscow. This information could be about: the direction of Kremlin policy, Russian arms sales to Iran, the security of old nuclear power plants. Blair made a big joke out of it.

Meanwhile, the noble Russians have been accused of blowing up their own powerlines by the Georgians just because it’s safe to take a shot at them this month. Gasputin indeed! Not really Anglofritz territory, but nonetheless.

Here is Ben’s news: There have been events of mythological import swinging among the binaries of my mind, and because I have a cold, I am able to shut out the tinny whine of folk music sprinkling from the house speakers. I hate Cubans. It’s not cool being poor. Do you ever wonder how Anglofritz lives? It’s my turn to wash up tonight.

But what about this whale in the Thames? According to an article in yesterday’s Tagesspiegel, the British had a lot of misgivings and apocalyptic premonitions because of the biblical associations of this whale. Call me Mr. Sceptipus, but I reckon this is not the case. Anyway, if whales were that intelligent they wouldn’t have to keep coming up the whole time for air. They’d just breathe water, because that’s where they live.