For that to be true the birds would have to be agents of the mice. And that seems a bit far fetched.

But can it replicate......"Earl Grey hot" ?

Hmmm didn't know that one, thanks looks interesting. But I may have to disqualify him for not actually being a rat ..... I think.

With things like the Asus EEE Pc, and web enabled phones doing so well, there's definitely a market segment here. But at almost $700 they're already coming in at the high end of that segment. You can get a pretty well appointed laptop for that kind of money. I think they need to bring the price way down to really compete.

No offense intended. My point is that the mid 40s and up camp (including me ;) are likely to think of Flowers for Algernon first. Since many of us already read it in high school when secret of NIMH came out. And were perhaps a bit (or more) too old for the movie. People roughly your age I would expect might think first of Secrets of NIMH, as you point out already in sequel mode and no doubt on TV a lot. I don't know how many 20 and under there are on Shashdot, but I expect they might think first of Pinky and the Brain. I know about the later 2 because I have kids. I'm not sure where the mice from Hitchhiker's Guide fall in. But it's a reoccurring theme, or perhaps meme and I find that interesting. Maybe the real question is how old are the researchers?

Me too, but if there are any younger folks on the list perhaps N.I.M.H or even "the Brain" would strike the same nerve.

Or in this case ex-ter-mi-RAT!

I think the real accomplishment that this reflects is Obamas role in changing the perception of the US as an aggressive unilateral nation that has no serious interest in dealing with global warming or participating in true international cooperation. In this respect it is similar to the Gorbachev award in the 90s. I think it is an opportunity for some introspection into how US diplomatic style affects the rest of the world for better or worse. It is also an indication of a changing of the winds on how we as a nation are perceived, and perhaps an opportunity for a better relationship with the larger community of nations. Like the general goodwill of other nations extended to the US after 911, this is an opportunity that can be squandered, or used constructively. Only time will tell whether Obama seizes or drops this moment.

Now that one was almost weirder than the last. Strange day on the tubes I guess. By the way anonymous coward, I'm probably what you would consider a "leftie", so you might want to examine your own bias as well.

Wow that smelled a bit antisemitic/racist/whatever, bitrex. I'm disappointed that kind of comment got modded up so far.

Clearly this is the prototype for the first Dalek. I'll bet it can't vacuum stairs either.