There was an episode of Star Trek (Original Series, The Paradise Syndrome http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Paradise_Syndrome) that explained it by saying the "Preservers" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Star_Trek_races#Preservers) seeded the Galaxy, and that's why most aliens they encountered looked humanoid. Yes, I know I just admitted I watch Star Trek (and actually remember plot lines.) But what else is on at 6 am?

Yeah, why not just do a slingshot around the sun instead. We know most microbes on Earth wouldn't survive Mercury or Venus (not that we should deliberately try), so if we're just attempting to find out if they can survive the trip outside the magnetosphere for a long period of time, wouldn't the slingshot work bet? Just loop it around the sun and have it crash back on Earth.

I've got a 360, and I really think allowing a keyboard and mouse type interface on it for gaming purposes would make me switch from mostly PC gaming to the 360 completely. It's a shame they don't develop for controllers other than the 360 controller and fake instruments. Until then, I will continue playing RTS, FPS, and MMOs on the PC, even if it is incredibly painful to do so (which believe me, it is. Even considering the problems XBox Live has (namely some of its users) at least it works. So many PC games have netcode that could only be created by Satan to punish players (see Company of Heroes, et al.)

[H]ard|OCP just did a video article on 3-way SLI for those who are interested. http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTYwNiwsLGhlbnRodXNpYXN0

I heard Blizzard is upgrading WoW to the Universe Server in a few more years...

Give your eyes some credit (and stop spreading that terrible rumor!). The US Air Force has shown that the human eye can detect and identify objects at slightly over 200 fps. Really we need to go WELL above 200 frames in order to get to true realism (perhaps to 500.) If you'd like a more in depth explanation of the 200+fps ability of the human eye, I'd refer you first to here: http://www.tweakguides.com/Graphics_5.html and secondly to Google. It's well documented. On the Tweakguides page there's even an application called FPS Compare that runs a 3D environment split down the center, with different rates on either side. It's interesting. You may not consciously notice the difference at first, but try the random testing (look at the readme file) and give it a shot. I could usually pick out the faster rate, even when comparing 80 to 100.

I'm not sure if any of you have actually tried to test AT&T's network coverage, but this http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/ is a very generous map for where you can get "good coverage" in the middle of the country. If you want a better idea of where you're get good coverage, zoom in one level from the furthest out. A lot of that partner coverage is subpar. Then look where their 3G coverage is. That's really where you're going to get a "great" signal. For two examples look at Wichita, or Omaha: the cities are fine, but as soon as you go outside of it, you're SOL. Same for most of the mountain-west. I just hate seeing AT&T maps with orange coverage everywhere when really, it's not. Such a crock.