Don't talk to aliens, warns Stephen Hawking  —  THE aliens are out there and Earth had better watch out, at least according to Stephen Hawking.  He has suggested that extraterrestrials are almost certain to exist — but that instead of seeking them out, humanity should be doing all it that can to avoid any contact.

Wall St. showdown on Senate floor  —  Even as both sides closed in on a Wall Street reform deal, Senate Republicans predicted Sunday that Democrats will fail to push the overhaul bill through the chamber Monday.  —  That sets up a sharply partisan - but potentially short-lived - showdown on the Senate floor.

GRAHAM ASKED FOR ‘STEPPED UP’ ACTION ON IMMIGRATION.... Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is so upset that Dems might take up immigration reform this year, he's prepared to kill his own tri-partisan climate/energy bill.  Some of his concerns are reasonable — Graham was told the climate bill …

Pope ‘condom’ gaffe: FO apologises  —  Internal Foreign Office memo filled with ironic suggestions about the pope's September visit to the UK has prompted an official apology to the Vatican  —  An internal Foreign Office memo about September's papal visit to Britain, born …