And The New Name For Slime Beetle of the Year

From Cornell University News Service:

Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld are now species of slime-mold beetles -- but strictly in homage

ITHACA, N.Y. -- U.S. President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld may not all get a library, airport or highway named after them. But each has a slime-mold beetle named in his honor. Bush thanks entomologist.

Two former Cornell University entomologists who recently had the job of naming 65 new species of slime-mold beetles named three species that are new to science in the genus Agathidium for members of the U.S. administration. They are A. bushi Miller and Wheeler, A. cheneyi Miller and Wheeler and A. rumsfeldi Miller and Wheeler.

This is just too damn funny. The scientists claim that this was a homage to the men in question. I find it hysterical and all too appropriate.