News of the World: Fabuly 2006

capitol

The normally staid and chaste U.S. Constitution has put on a slinky red dress and is out on the prowl with the recent passage of Amendments XXIX through CCVII. State legislatures, legal scholars and ordinary Americans are still trying to get a peek at The Constitution’s new panties. The nation’s collective pants are tightening at the prospect of this sexy new opportunity.

As unnecessary as g-string underwear, the most drastic of the New Amendments is CII, allowing the discontinuation in the Congressional cafeteria of Yankee Bean soup, a staple on the menu for decades. South Carolina’s congressional delegation, representing the largest provider of Yankee Beans to Congress were understandably dismayed at CII’s passage. Amendment CXIV, among the most sensible Amendments passed, protects the right of all Americans to assemble cyclotron-type particle accelerators in their basements, garages or state approved backyard tool sheds.

The “Hairmendments” (CXXIX through CCVII) only affect the procedural processes for official Presidential hair cuts and limit which styles are acceptable for the President, Cabinet Officials and their staffs. While the shag and bowl cut are right out, the bouffant, pompadour, buzz cut and reverse mullet are in. One much-criticized oversight of the Hairmendments is the ambiguous role of dreadlocks in the Cabinet. Because of this, Elizabethian voters have rejected the set outright.

One potential Amendment (what would be CCVIII) is still awaiting passage by Congress. There is little known about its prospects until Congress returns from Amalgamated Holiday #1 recess, but the feeling in Washington is that the Broccoflower Amendment should pass easily.

The March of Progress: Gregor 2006

Hectapus

Durham, N.C. – Utilizing what they referred to as “an insanely easy procedure” scientists at Duke University’s Department of Aquatic Medicine were able to transform two octopuses into one hectopus and one nonapus, with one semi-intelligent tentacle left over.
The operation, which took over twenty-eight minutes to complete, has completely revolutionized the scientific world’s view on cephalopod development.

“Before I thought cephalopods, y’know, could only have eight or ten tentacles. These dudes, though, they just proved that way wrong,” said UC Berkeley physics professor Joseph Orenstein.

It had been thought that octopuses developed eight tentacles due to evolution. Now it is known that intelligent design can create pusses with as many limbs as our whims desire. Huntington F. Willard, Duke University professor of biology, stated that work would now move forward on the triskadecopus because of the hect- and nonapus successes.

While the fate of the semi-intelligent tentacle is in doubt due to its inability to ingest nutrients, Hansel and Gretel, as the nonapus and hectopus are now known respectively, are adapting to their new tentacle arrangements well and are expected to release a statement as soon as cephalopods learn to speak, write and release statements to the press.

News of the World: Gregor 2006

vermont

Military Island, Dry Michigan – With the passage of the “Vermont, It’s About Time Act,” the entire continent is on high alert. For the first time a U.S. aircraft carrier, the Horace B. Borden (CVN-93), is sailing the waters of the Great Lakes and Canadian troops are massed on Vermont’s northern border.

At the bargain-basement cost of $2 million and the state of Vermont, Sinonipponesia entered the war against the Bad Guys last month. While aware of the East’s desire to incorporate Canada into its empire and “teach it a thing or two about Kurasawa,” the Armstrong Administration waved away international concern. “The Sinonipponese haven’t shown aggression in over three years,” said Press Secretary Pimples Mackey.

Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) proposed a bill which would reward our new Coallies with New Hampshire if its involvement in the war proved successful. Mainish residents show 73% approval of their possible new status as an exclave.

John Lynch, New Hampshire’s goofiest-looking governor, said from Concord that his state “promised to behave” from now on. Citizens of New Hampshire were seen offering cookies and milk to neighbors in Massachusetts in an effort to prove they are no longer the nation’s crankiest citizens. People for a Non-Asian New Hampshire have run ads across the country with the tagline “New Hampshire: The Magical Rainbow State!”

Canada placed three strong divisions along its border with Vermont to guard against any assault from the 25th Sinonipponese Midori Yama Division currently stationed in Montpelier. Tensions in the Dominion are high, but Newfoundlanders are the only people so far showing signs of stress. With all grain supporting the war effort, beer shortages have paralyzed the province. More developments as they unfold.

World of Economics

Researchers Release New Findings

A new study conducted by the International Institute of Economics and Such has determined that there is not a high degree of correlation between US space shuttle launches and the gross domestic product of Guatemala.

The group looked specifically at the period between 1985 and 2004 and made the startling conclusion that the Guatemalan economy and the NASA mission schedules seemed to have had no influence on each other.

Incidences of space shuttle missions varied from a high of nine (in 1985) to a low of zero (in 1987). Meanwhile, the Guatemalan economy seems to be growing at a slow but steady rate.

The results can be seen in the graph below, which charts space shuttle launches by year in comparison with the GDP of Guatemala in billions of dollars. Most interesting is the fact that the graph of the shuttle launch schedules resembles a kitty cat.

Guatemala GDP

The March of Progress: February 2006

Astronomers Announce Discovery of
10th-19th Planets!

new planets

Using a new system, which involved looking, astronomers have discovered 10 new planets in our Solar System. Ranging in size from 30 feet across to 120 light years across, the planets should find a happy home with our old favorites; Saturn and those other ones.

Different astronomers caution that we first must define what a “planet” is before classifying the new objects. Specifically they point to the “discovery” of the 19th planet, Andromeda, which had previously been classified as a galaxy. The same can also be said for planet Hubble, which until yesterday was generally considered to be a space telescope.

While these astronomical discoveries are creating great debate in the scientific community, the astrological community greeted the discoveries with glee. Sarah Tombaugh-Chagrin, horoscope writer for the Daily Seattle Bee Courier, has found that the new bodies make every one of her predictions for the last 15 years completely accurate, except for Taurus.

News of the announcement reached the Cistercian Order late in the day, prompting much debate amongst the order’s monks. It is known that Saint Benedict of Nursia was an avid amateur astronomer and such activity has been important to the Cistercians for years. Several monks in Applespiel, Elizabethia reportedly threw down their heavy photographic plates and proceeded outside to shake fists at the sky for several hours.