Open Thread–3/20/2011

Yesterday I ran errands including three stops, two bus rides, and about two miles of walking.  After such heavy days Thursday and Friday, I felt exhausted, so I’m not surprised that I overslept.  I’ll publish this article now, so you know I’m here, and that other three articles will be up as soon as I finish preparing them.  I’m up to date on comments and my plan for the day is to get some much needed rest.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:29 (average 4:39).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From CNN: Yemen’s minister of human rights, Huda al-Baan, has resigned after a government crackdown on protesters resulted in the deaths of 52 people last week, an official in her office said Sunday.

Huda is a sacrifice to cover up to appease Western powers, who should not be supporting Yemen’s autocratic government.

From LA Times: More than 45 million Egyptians were eligible to vote Saturday on a set of constitutional amendments designed to pave the way for parliamentary and presidential elections later this year.

Good on them.  Egypt continues to be the bright spot in the ‘Jasmine Revolution’.

From USA Today: A special index created by the Labor Department to measure the actual cost of living for Americans hit a record high in February, according to data released Thursday, surpassing the old high in July 2008.

Reading between the lines it becomes apparent that the CPI, used to determine the COLA adjustments (or lack thereof) for people’s well earned Social Security benefits does NOT measure the actual coat of living.  Fancy that!

Cartoon:

I still miss the orb!