That’s some smart slime mold, there

Oozing with memory: Scientists studying brainless slime molds in a maze say they have identified an early form of memory. The amoebalike organism uses its trail of goo as an external memory system to narrow its search for food, the study found.

But the existence of brainless organisms that are able to remember the location of food should prove as no surprise to the parents of teenage boys who repeatedly return to the same fridge.

Let them eat chips: London Mayor Boris Johnson is inviting wealthy French immigrants to England to escape the “tyranny” they are suffering under French President Francois Hollande, who has raised taxes on the rich.

It can’t be an easy choice for a wealthy French person: Pay higher taxes or face a life of bangers and mash, toad in the hole and spotted dick.

Survey says: A Mukilteo family came close but failed to win during a recently broadcast episode of “Family Feud,” falling 302-278 to a family from Kentucky. Game show host Steve Harvey also struggled with the pronunciation of “Mukilteo,” giving up after two attempts.

Hopes for developing a game show host capable of pronouncing names like “Mukilteo,” “Skagit” and “Puyallup,” were also bolstered by recent memory work with brainless slime molds who had already mastered “Physt.”

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Editorial cartoons for Thursday, May 9

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toon
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