Open Thread–4/18/2011

Yesterday I awakened around noon, turned in the TV and discovered, to my chagrin, that it wasn’t Easter.  I guess I was more tired than I thought, because I ate and slept the rest of the afternoon and evening.  I am up to date on comments.

Jig-Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:52 (5:01 average).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Reuters: The State Department has secretly funded Syrian opposition groups, according to diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks, The Washington Post reported on Monday.

The cables show that the State Department has funneled as much as $6 million since 2006 to a group of Syrian exiles to operate a London-based satellite channel, Barada TV, and finance activities inside Syria, the Post said.

I’d like to think that support for democracy is behind this, but I suspect that collusion with Israel is the cause.

From Xinhua: The Tokyo Electric Power Company has also set out a detailed roadmap for ending what has become the world’s worst nuclear crisis in 25 years. The company is aiming to reduce radiation leaks at its Fukushima nuclear power plant within three months, and achieve a full shutdown in six to nine months.

I have to wonder if Tokyo Electric has been bought out by either BP or the GOBP.

From The Vile Plutocrat: Discovery Communications Inc. is launching a television network for rich guys and their toys.

[excerpt] Called Velocity, the new network will replace the current network HD Theater in some 40 million homes on Sept. 25.

They should call it the RBC (Republican Beneficiaries’ Channel).

Cartoon:

OGIM!  Yesterday really was Easter! (That was not intended to be a factual statement.)