Open Thread–12/5/2010

Yesterday I was feeling quite exhausted and fell behind on replying to comments.  I slept most of the day, on and off, answered a ton of volunteer-related email, spent a couple hours starting to repopulate the corner of my apartment that used to be my computer area before it became a waterfall, and watched parts of THE GAME.  Today, I will probably fall further behind, because I’ve barely put a dent in recovering my computer area, and I’m scheduled for a session of religious masochism as the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb is televising the Denver-KC service.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:32 (5:12 average).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From ESPN: LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner and the fast-paced Ducks (No. 2 BCS, No. 1 AP) negotiated the last speed bump on the way to Glendale, Ariz., grinding out a 37-20 victory over the Beavers in the Civil War on Saturday.

If Oregonian does not watch THE GAME, they lose the ability to resist the rusting from Oregon liquid sunshine.  Oregon-Auburn for the national title.

From Alternet: The White House told government agencies to take measures to prevent employees without proper authorization from accessing classified US diplomatic cables on WikiLeaks.

God forbid that federal workers should become informed on the doings of our own government!

From TPM: A security guard at a St. Paul Planned Parenthood clinic called the cops last week after he spotted a Republican state lawmaker [Tom Hackbarth] with a loaded gun in the parking lot. But the pol says he was only "checking on" his online girlfriend, who he thought may be on a date with another man — a claim police have not been able to corroborate because the man did not have a phone number or address for the woman.

A likely story!  The Republican Party no longer needs insane militia types to threaten violence.  They have legislators for that now.

Cartoon:

May you find peace in whatever you believe this Sunday.