More on flying

KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) is saying the sit-in-your-seat-for-the-last-hour and keep-your-lap-uncovered restrictions have been lifted, but the link they give to the TSA to back this up says they're still in effect (but doesn't say anything about them only being in effect for the last hour).

It'll likely take a few days for the "real" word to come down on what new restrictions are. Right now everybody is enforcing whatever they think they've heard, as witness to the bizarre intepretations on some flights.

Meanwhile, in Congress

This one's actually three weeks old (and is currently sitting in committee, where it will most likely quietly die). EDIT: and after I come across it, Pharyngula comes across it, and promptly rants away at a strawman or two.

H.Res.951 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected for use by those who celebrate Christmas.

This is one of these empty resolutions used to give the constituents back home a feel-good. Here's the entire meat of the resolution:( It's short, but still under a cut for politics )

Avatar -- a closer look at The Intersection

The Science of Avatar (Part I, the meat is in the comments) and (Part II), from Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum.

I'm holding off on serious spoilage until New Year's day in my main posts, since the weather has kept several folks from seeing it yet, but there may be spoilers in comments.