You're right Novalis, I missed the search part of the request. Good catches on the other points too.

That verbose regexp commenting isn't my normal style. Just thought I'd put it in for any newbies looking at the code.

Yours is hanging for me. Not sure why. No error message. This is with Python 2.5.1. If I figure it out I'll let you know.

It's great to read your code though and see how things are done in Python - it's sometimes mind-numbing reading about it in a book, and much easier to get something out of it by looking at code that is solving a similar problem to something I've just done. Thanks.

Ouch. Found and fixed a bug - the html anchors had an extra character in one case, which would prevent links from being followed on some browsers.

http://sial.org/pbot/31891

If you can't get the python one to run, here's a Perl one that actually works! Sorry, we $#@*!! Perl programmers can't avoid getting our digs in. ;-)

Good old Perl. Does more, fewer lines, more readable.

http://sial.org/pbot/31890

You do have to install a Perl module, HTML::TagCloud, as described in the link, to use this.

I love all the comments from people who say this should be easy. Saying and doing are two different things. Enjoy!

- ISPs merge with media companies and then with each other, and get laws passed to protect consumers from unvalidated information. The Internet starts resembling the AOL experience, and the web is relegated to a position like Usenet today, available only if you pay high prices for a special type of unrestricted connection. Google lives on but its main role is as the plumbing for ads.

- A bundle of ancient silk scrolls discovered buried in the Gobi desert are found to contain the record of a Chinese expedition to North America. One of the scrolls holds a series of treaties signed with native North American peoples, giving North America to China. People in the US laugh it off, but a great debate starts in China. The debate is soon made moot by China taking receivership control of the US by virtue of owning all its debt.

- The fabric of space time starts spitting apart on a previously unknown dimension, but so slowly that it is not noticeable without special measurement techniques. Because of this, our synapses start working differently and everyone starts slowly going crazy, all at once. Mullets come into fashion. Cory Doctorow develops a compulsive fascination with ball and socket joints.

A couple years ago the Washington Post had a comprehensive rundown of the extensive nepotism in the Bush administration, including the Federal government agencies.

Some above have asked the same question, but I'll put it in more pointed terms: I wonder which relative of which Bush buddy is getting these contracts? I wish the MSM would look into this kind of question.

@cshotton:

For someone who accuses others of lacking clues, you seem rather, ah, differently clued yourself.

You point out that the money finds its way into paychecks and then trickles down into the global economy. Sure it does. The clue you are missing is that money spent on solar energy, education, health, and other non-destructive and sustainable efforts also makes its way into paychecks and into the global economy. So while you pretend that your point matters, it actually does not.

The question is, which agendas do we want to advance? The agenda of deepening our dependence on big oil by further committing valuable resources to it? Or an alternative agenda that includes any of a number of much better ways to spend the money?

Your link said: "a mongoose unset us up the bomb"

I think you meant: "a mongoose unset up us the bomb"

the spacebase writes about Richard Dawkins:

>In arguments, he frequently cites 'Science' as blanket proof every time a Christian cites 'Scripture' as a blanket proof. Without specific examples, the argument goes nowhere.

Dawkins provides many very clear and detailed examples in his books. The Blind Watchmaker would be a good one to look at, for example. If you haven't read this book, you are arguing your point against Dawkins from a position of ignorance. Saying he does not have specific examples is ludicrous, or at best ill informed.

Unfortunately this is typical of those who criticize Dawkins. They conclude that he is "shrill" or "arrogant" or (even more rich) "bases his beliefs on faith," without having actually read his work and understood his responses to those charges.

Here is their public comment form:

http://db.jhuccp.org/ics-wpd/popweb/contact.html

Conveniently enough for agitated new-age conference goers and those wanting to join a Santa Fe Fiesta-week brawl, La Fonda Hotel has, right there on the premises, a great little hole-in-the-wall knife store called The Cutlery. That's probably where the man went when he left the room for while.