A collection of random links

I've collected a lot of links in the past couple of weeks; it's time I sorted through them and posted at least a few of the good/interesting ones.

Here's a collection of blog links:

• The cost of being a woman in science - by Pharyngula; this should be required reading for anyone who thinks sexual discrimination doesn't exist anymore.
  
• On the uselessness of chelation therapy for autism - by Orac; the post also contains links to his excellent thimerosal post series.
  
• Cracking the Flag-Burning Amendment - by John Scalzi
  
• Rice Says Administration Told Americans Iraq Would Be A "Generational Commitment" - Via Conyers's blog
  
• Puggy's Hill - the blog of Ellen Kushner, author of Swordspoint (among other things)

And some recent news links:

• Neanderthal Genome May Be Reconstructed - AP
  
• The Road to Riches Is Called K Street - Washington Post, looking at the growth in lobbying on Capitol Hill.
  
• Ex-Marine Says Public Version of Saddam Capture Fiction - UPI
  
• Ten Thousand Voter Registration Documents May Have Been Shredded in Hocking County, Ohio - The Free Press