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The government of Northern Ireland has managed to simultaneously embarrass comic-book fans and English speakers in general.  According to its website:

Six super heroes swept into Belfast today to help launch a unique new comic aimed at promoting and defending the rights of small children.

Herbie Healthy, Sophie Safe, Archie Achiever, Emer the Eco Girl, Donna Does-a-lot and Rory Rights… joined Junior Ministers Gerry Kelly and Ian Paisley Jnr at the headquarters of the play agency, PlayBoard, to unveil the “Super Six” comic to a group of primary school children.

[end quote]

Some quick thoughts.

1. Northern Ireland has a “play agency.” !?!

2. I think any self-respecting three-year-old would burst into tears if forced to read any comic book about Donna Does-a-lot or Emer the Eco Girl. In fact, even conceiving these comics is an attack on the dignity and rights of children.

3. “super heroes” and “super powers” look awkward. I recommend “superheroes” and “superpowers”. Would you want to read Super Hero Nation? That sounds like a Japanese drinking game.

Agent Orange, our resident mutated alligator, offers us this nugget of reptilian wisdom.

I’ve previously suggested that the best analogy between alligators and crocodiles is like college to kindergarten. Here’s another: alligators are to crocodiles like astronauts are to humans. We’re what little crocodiles dream about becoming but fall hopelessly short of.

The Gator News Network is covering an interesting story out in Colorado. Our mutant alligator on staff, Agent Orange, has more.

Got gator? If you’re Colorado, the answer is a surprising yes.

Apparently Colorado’s hot springs have been tapped to create an alligator zoo in the Rocky Mountains. If seeing four hundred alligators in the Rockies weren’t exciting enough for your family, your kids can pet or ride one (see 2:35 for more). Hell, unless you weigh five hundred pounds, you can probably ride one too. There’s also an alligator-wrestling course (we’ll go easy on you… we’re friendly like that).

One of the trainers says that he named his gator Fluffy. “What else are you going to call a 600-pound alligator?” Runt?