Dear Leader lives!

For the first time in months, the official North Korean news agency has reported that Kim Jong Il has done something, indicating he might not be dead. Details from the posts at the Korean Friendship Association.

Meanwhile, here are two outstanding websites for DPRK fans, firstly an imperialist insult generator and a handy Icelandic guide to North Korea.

Even better, a website about the little known Pueblo incident and best of all - the Captain's confession.

It is pretty much

impossible to sneak anything past English Pravda these days.

Nature assaulted

Today is National Walk to Work Day in Australia - and Gaia weeps.

What not to wear

Iranian style.

Wings

October 3, 1964 shall be remembered through the ages as the great day that buffalo wings were invented. According to legend, Teressa Bellisimo (statue pictured) of the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York came up with the idea to deep fry chicken wings and toss them in cayenne hot sauce to feed a hungry crowd on the night her son was born.

In Buffalo, buffalo wings are known as "wings".

Secret safe

The latest in the very occasional series suggesting that not all celebrities are dickheads...

The ShadowLands has learnt from a reliable source that on at least one occasion when Nicole Kidman visited Sydney Children's Hospital, she left a cheque for one million bucks with the staff. The donation was made on the proviso that it not be disclosed to the media.

Balls

Thissy here is promising us the last word in gonad gastronomy. One problem only - I can't find it anywhere...

Program announced

REUTERS: The Australian Government has announced a new program aimed at increasing activity and healthy eating habits amongst our increasingly overweight dolphin population.

"Dolphin obesity rates have soared in the past decade - with recent figures showing a quarter of all young dolphins are now overweight or obese,” a Government spokesperson said.

"This figure is unacceptable, which is why over the next four years,the Government will be spending $6.5 million on anti-obesity initiatives amongst smaller cetaceans. Our initiatives will include changing their diets from mackerel to garfish, and an education program.”

Translating for Reuters, a dolphin whisperer said an old dolphin told him that these days younger dolphins were spending less and less time doing tail stands and balancing balls on their noses, while expecting bigger and fatter rewards.

"Eee eee eee eee eeeh," the spokes-dolphin concluded.

Gandhi

Here are some little known facts about October 2 birthday boy, Mohandas "Mahatma" Gandhi.

* As a young man, thanks to his teacher, he first learnt to speak English with an Irish accent.

* He had a set of false teeth, which he carried in a fold of his loin cloth, using them only when he ate.

* He was silent one day every week.

* He made huge amounts of money in South Africa working as a pacifist debt collector.

* His pacifism was passed down by the ancient gurus of India, right? Well actually, he was greatly inspired by an American, Henry David Thoreau. Read this, and tell me it ain't so. Gandhi quote: "I believe in equality for everyone, except reporters and photographers."