Open Thread–7/4/2011

Yesterday I had chores to do around the apartment.  I slept poorly due to noise in the building, but I’m current on replies.  Today is forecast to be a hot one, so I’ll be cooking early.  Like many holidays, it’s a slow day for news.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 5:41 (average 6:23).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Think Progress: The NYT has a bunch of interesting charts on this. But suffice it to say that high-level managers appear to have become much more skilled at directed value into their own pockets.

What I always wish I could see more of were direct international comparisons. Not only do high-paid oil and gas CEOs all get paid roughly similar amounts of money despite drastically different performances, but running a large American oil company is much more lucrative than running the giant French oil company.

They exist more to transfer wealth than to produce oil products.

From News Hounds: Andrew Breitbart. Those two words result in derisive laughter from real journalists when combined with the word “journalist.” His thoroughly discredited ACORN/Sherrod/NPR scoops have made him the laughingstock of anyone who requires accountability and truth in journalism. In point of fact, when discussing Andrew Breitbart it’s hard not to use the words the words “journalist” or “journalism” because he’s such an affront to the concept that it’s only natural to begin discussing “journalistic ethics.” Which is why it is so very perfect that Fox “News”—a channel not known for its journalistic ethics either—would turn to Andrew Breitbart—yes, that Andrew Breitbart—to appear on Fox & Friends Weekend to discuss both gender bias in the media and the Constitution of the United States of America.

They would call in the Grand Dragon of the KKK, a subset of the Republican party, as their expert on civil rights.

From Common Dreams: Thousands of marchers stormed the Georgia Capitol on Saturday to protest the state’s new immigration law, which they say creates an unwelcome environment for people of color and those in search of a better life.

Thousands of people march through downtown Atlanta in protest against Georgia’s extreme new immigration law on Saturday, July 2, 2011 in Atlanta. On Monday, a Federal judge temporarily blocked parts of the law. One provision that was blocked authorizes police to check the immigration status of suspects without proper identification. It also authorizes them to detain illegal immigrants. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser) Men, women and children of all ages converged on downtown Atlanta for the march and rally, cheering speakers while shading themselves with umbrellas and posters. Capitol police and organizers estimated the crowd at between 8,000 and 14,000. They filled the blocks around the Capitol, holding signs decrying House Bill 87 and reading "Immigration Reform Now!"

I stand with the protesters.