Minnesota Governor and possible GOP running mate Tim Pawlenty said yesterday that the GOP needs to adopt Obama's positive message. Talk about botching an interview! jmj

Scientists from the California Institute of Technology have discovered a rare form of synesthesia, in which people can hear sounds from a picture. The more common form of the condition is found in individuals, such as John Mayer, who can see colors in music, letters, or numbers. jmj

The memeticians love, and I mean love, graphs, maps and charts. Check out this sweet chart for movie box office sales in 2008. You will not be disappointed. jmj

The best pinball machines of all time, from Popular Mechanics. tjc

We all know by now that Manny Ramirez, #2 on my MLB fanboy list, was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers last week in a three way deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates that sent LF Jason Bay to the Boston Red Sox. Since the trade, Manny is hitting a whopping .600 with 3 HRs and 6 RBIs in five games while hitting in the three hole. Jason Bay, who is hitting in the six hole, is sporting a .423 average with one HR and 7 RBIs in six games, which is also outstanding. David Ortiz, the DH for the Sox, has been moved from the cleanup spot to the three hole since the trade and is hitting a dismal .100 with 0 HRs, 2 RBIs and 4 walks.

Without Manny, Ortiz has no protection in the lineup and he is being pitched around, making the other hitters beat them, which they apparently are since the Sox are 5-1 since the trade. Interesting. jmj

Esquire asks Tom Brady who's on his level, among many other things. (We know, Tom, we just want to hear it.) tjc

"There's one guy whose game I love. That's Peyton," he says. Of course! The sole equal. "Being in the system I've been in for eight years, with the same coach and the same offense, when we call a play, I've run it hundreds of times. Peyton and I share that. When you practice an entire NFL season, that's 123 practices. A hundred and twenty-three practices with sixty plays a practice, you know, that's six thou--that's a lot of plays."