W Collection, our resident Strategic Arms Limiter, has just sent the White House a breakthrough proposal. The Ghostly Genius suggests that Russia equip all of its missiles with homing beacons, thus guaranteeing us the same interception rate as in last month's successful tests (100% of one try). In turn the United States will promise that all further development of targeting software will be conducted using only the programmers who designed and developed the Windows operating system. Ah, at last, a permanent peace.

Would that the stem-cell controversy were as peaceful. It's a tough call, and Team W applauds the President's heroic straddle. But surprises abound in this biological brouhaha, as the Listless Leader discovers when he encounters duplicitous duplication in "Cellmates".

Next week, the old Four-Hammerer drives yet another nail into the coffin of American historical perspective, in "Constructionation"

And WC tells us the President's summer vacation reading list includes a new mystery, which we've just finished. Don't tell the Prez, but it turns out Puff and Spot ate the cookies.

That's it until next week. In the meantime, console yourself with Winston Churchill's observation: "Everyone has his day and some days last longer than others"

Hank