Open Thread–3/14/2011

This morning I have an early doctor appointment (routine), so I have not caught up on comments yet and may not have time before I leave.  If not, I’ll catch them up tomorrow morning at the latest.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:09 (5:14 average).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From NY Times: As the scale of Japan’s nuclear crisis begins to come to light, experts in Japan and the United States say the country is now facing a cascade of accumulating problems that suggest that radioactive releases of steam from the crippled plants could go on for weeks or even months.

Here in Portland the radiation might heat my coffee. 🙁

From Politico: Members of Virginia’s House delegation unanimously agreed to a redistricting plan that will protect all of their seats and strengthen the three GOP freshmen who ousted Democratic incumbents last November, POLITICO has learned.

The new map, according to multiple sources in both parties who are familiar with the plan, was crafted in the past month chiefly by Virginia’s eight GOP members. But it has received crucial private support from the state’s three House Democrats — notably Rep. Gerry Connolly, who barely survived reelection last November and whose Capitol Beltway-area district would get a Democratic bump.

These are 8 Republicans and 3 Democrats that should not hold elected office.

From News Hounds: (F)or the first time in the dozen years since (The Pew Project For Excellence In Journalism) has been monitoring the cable news networks, every channel was down. CNN — with its well-publicized primetime woes — was down the most in 2010, dropping 37% to 564,000 viewers. But Fox News, the No. 1 cable news network, declined 11 percent. And MSNBC — which finished 2010 ahead of CNN in primetime in news’ target demographic of 25-54-year-olds and total viewers — was down 5 percent.

I’m glad MSNBC was down least, but wish Fox and CNN would trade places.

Cartoon:

OGIM!