A bit of humor and a bit of science. Bill Cowles noted earlier today that Arthur Clarke came up with the iPad in 1968: http://www.tuaw.com/2010/01/28/arthur-c-clarkes-2001-newspad-finally-arrives... Then NPR reported MADtv came up with it 5 years back: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/01/meta-post_mad_tv_parody... To put this message at least a bit on topic, I see that S&T reports U Scorpii is in outburst: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/82967237.html patrick