Morning Whip, July 17, 2005

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#10: Pig sperm . . . In . . . Spaaaaaacccccceeeeee!!!!!!!!
Chinese to send pedigree swine semen soaring spaceward[*1] .

#9: Bullying is learned, not inherited
Quebec researchers study pairs of twins.[*2] Don’t hit your brother. Don’t call him a poopy-head either.

#8: Hangovers, on the other hand, might be genetic in part
Japanese researchers[*3] zero in on the gene for processing acetaldehyde as the key to susceptibility to hangovers.

#7: Plague of locusts hits France
As if losing the Olympics to England wasn’t enough, parts of southern France are being stripped bare by the voracious insects[*4] ,

#6: Go see Batman Returns.
It’s a surprisingly good movie[*5] , much truer to the spirit of the comic than either the 60’s TV show (BAM! POW!) or the various recent movies.

#5: Tigers 5. Royals 3
Royals[*6] need to go 50-22 to finish at .500, 32-40 to avoid 100 losses.

#4: First criminal case filed against Saddam
Saddam is charged[*7] in the death of “dozens” of Shia Iraqis.

#3: Shuttle launch on hold “indefinitely”
No progress reported[*8] in search for elusive sensor problem which is keeping the aging Shuttle on the ground.

#2: Plame Game update
The 2005 Washington Summer Games, having come up empty with Karl Rove, now go after Cheney’s chief of staff[*9] . Anything to pass the time until the Redskins take the field, I guess. Still unanswered is why it’s appropriate for a senior diplomat to be married to a CIA officer, covert or otherwise.

#1: India-U.S. Summit on tap this week
India Prime Minister to visit Washington[*10] this week. Medary.com’s stand is that India and the U.S. need to become much closer allies and partners to meet the 21st Century’s challenges.