INJUNCTION: 19 Points.

“‘I was getting creamed, so it’s probably a good thing in that respect,’ he joked. ‘The country is probably 10 percent more productive today.'” Maybe, but the flimsy vestiges of my social life just took a massive hit: The Facebook world mourns the death of Scrabulous. I got so depressed about it that I quickly lost 1000 worthless chips in Facebook poker.

From a Dead Man…Greetings.

“What I have wanted most to do…is to make political writing into an art.” By way of Return of the Reluctant, it seems George Orwell’s diary entries will be posted online in blog form beginning August 9, seventy years after he initially wrote them. Welcome to the political blogosphere, George! (And good luck breaking into the TNR-Politico-Atlantic-TPM mutual-regard society.)

Thanks for the Memories.

“We appear to be bringing the worst affected parts of the brain functionally back to life.” Is Alzheimer’s disease about to go the way of polio? A new drug known as rember, according to scientists in England, seems to halt and even roll back the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. “We have demonstrated for the first time that it may be possible to arrest progression of the disease by targeting the tangles that are highly correlated with the disease. This is the most significant development in the treatment of the tangles since Alois Alzheimer discovered them in 1907.

Dubya’s Monica, and her Spoils.

“‘Thirty-four candidates told investigators that Goodling or one of her deputies raised the topic of abortion in job interviews and 21 said they discussed same-sex marriage, the report said. Another job applicant said he admired Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, only to watch Goodling ‘frown’ and respond, ‘But she’s pro-choice.'”

I mean, given all the other crimes and corruption within this sordid administration, why not throw in some good old-fashioned spoilsmanship? Another protracted investigation comes to a head today, as a 140-page internal report breaks down the illegal staffing system in Dubya’s Justice Department, as run by GOP apparachik Monica Goodling. [Mukasey reaction.] The reportconcluded yesterday that Goodling and others had broken civil service laws, run afoul of department policy and engaged in ‘misconduct.’‘” (As seen at The Oak and The Spencerian.)

Virgin’s White Knight.

“‘It was very emotional for me,’ he said. ‘I thought, “Oh my God, we’re getting closer.”‘” I’ll say…Richard Branson and Burt Rutan unveil their space tourism mothership, the White Knight Two. “Virgin Galactic envisions a future where space voyages will become as common as airplane travel. It wants to fly 500 people into space in the first year for $200,000 a head…So far, more than 250 wannabe astronauts have paid the full amount.” Hmm…maybe it’s time to start putting ads on this site.

Depp the Disgruntled Milliner?

Wonka redux? Word is Johnny Depp will be suiting up as the Mad Hatter for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, in 3D. (Burton cast his Alice last week: Australian Mia Wasikowska, recently of In Treatment.) Alrighty then…but after Wonka, Dr. Thompson, and Captain Jack, hasn’t Depp already thoroughly crashed this tea party?

Riddle in the Dark.

In anticipation of the HP & The Half-Blood Prince trailer, which should be on later tonight, USA Today scores two stills from the forthcoming sixth Potter film, including this one of young Tom Riddle looking Omen-ish. (Conveniently, he’s played by Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, Ralph Fiennes’ nephew.)

Update: “I can make things move without touching them. I can make bad things happen to people who are mean to me. I can speak to snakes too. They find me, whisper things…And here it is. (Link sent via Raza.)

Law Smash Puny Stevens.

The case against him has been building for awhile…and, today, the Hulk tie finally failed him. Longtime GOP Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) — he of the “Bridge to Nowhere,” terrorist wife, cocaine-fighting Eskimos and “series of tubes” — is indicted with seven counts of making false statements on his financial disclosure forms. “The indictment accuses Stevens, former chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, of concealing payments of more than $250,000 in goods and services he allegedly received from an oil company. The items include home improvements, autos and household items.

Sen. Stevens is up for re-election this year, but given that he was already losing in the polls against the Dem challenger, Mark Begich, it’s a good bet his stepping down early will only help the GOP…if they can find someone to take his place in time (and if Stevens plays ball.)

Ref Stripes for Prison Bars.

“Tim acted in a completely selfish and unforgivable way, and has forever compromised the way people look at sports and officiating. However, NBA referees will continue to officiate with the highest level of integrity and professionalism.” Disgraced NBA ref Tim Donaghy is sentenced to 15 months in prison. Meanwhile, the forthcoming “Pedowitz report” on referee fraud is still pending, and Commissioner Stern still insists Donaghy was an unfortunate outlier. “‘The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI have fully investigated it,’ Stern said on June 10, ‘and Mr. Donaghy is the only one that’s guilty of a crime.‘” Oookay…but is fixing games to extend series a “criminal” act? That sounds rather lawyerly to me.

House: We Did Ya Wrong.

“African-Americans continue to suffer from the consequences of slavery and Jim Crow — long after both systems were formally abolished — through enormous damage and loss, both tangible and intangible, including the loss of human dignity and liberty, the frustration of careers and professional lives, and the long-term loss of income and opportunity.” The House looks set to pass a resolution apologizing for slavery and Jim Crow. Well, better late than never, I suppose.