Yes. I'm Still Obsessed With Mad Men ...From Paris

Yes. I confess. I'm still happily obsessed with 'Mad Men.'  You must watch this show.  You must.

And when I say 'yes', I mean "YES! YES! YES !!!!"

War On Words: NYC Dept. Of Education

The New York City Department of Education is waging a war on words of sorts, and is seeking to have words they deem upsetting removed from standardized tests.

Fearing that certain words and topics can make students feel unpleasant, officials are requesting 50 or so words be removed from city-issued tests.

Here are some of the words:

• Birthday celebrations (and birthdays)• Cigarettes (and other smoking paraphernalia)• Computers in the home (acceptable in a school or library setting)• Crime• Homes with swimming pools• Hunting• Junk food• Loss of employment• Politics• Religion• Religious holidays and festivals (including but not limited to Christmas, Yom Kippur, and Ramadan)• Terrorism• Weapons (guns, knives, etc.)

For the full story and complete list of words: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/03/26/war-on-words-nyc-dept-of-education-wants-50-forbidden-words-removed-from-standardized-tests/#.T3IInqb8eY4.facebook

The Governing Class is clueless

Most of us know that when then-Speaker Pelosi was asked where the Constitution gives Congress the power to enact an “individual mandate,” she replied with a mocking “are you serious? Are you serious?”

Here are a few more pearls of constitutional wisdom from our elected representatives.

Rep. Conyers cited the “Good and Welfare Clause” as the source of Congress’s authority [there is no such clause].

Rep. Stark responded, “the federal government can do most anything in this country.”

Rep. Clyburn replied, “There’s nothing in the Constitution that says the federal government has anything to do with most of the stuff we do. How about [you] show me where in the Constitution it prohibits the federal government from doing this?”

Rep. Hare said “I don’t worry about the Constitution on this, to be honest [...] It doesn’t matter to me.” When asked, “Where in the Constitution does it give you the authority …?” He replied, “I don’t know.”

Sen. Akaka said he “not aware” of which Constitutional provision authorizes the healthcare bill.

Sen. Leahy added, “We have plenty of authority. Are you saying there’s no authority?”

Sen. Landrieu told a questioner, “I’ll leave that up to the constitutional lawyers on our staff.”

Something to keep in mind when someone argues that the Supreme Court should defer to the constitutional wisdom of its coequal branches.

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30-mile wide rock formation in Sahara Desert spotted from Space Station

NASA explains that the structure, located in west-central Mauritania in West Africa was once thought to be an impact crater, but its “flat middle and lack of shock-altered rock indicates otherwise.“ It was also theorized to be the result of a volcano but that ”seems improbable because of the lack of a dome of igneous or volcanic rock.”

So what is it? According to NASA, current thoughts are that it was ”caused by uplifted rock sculpted by erosion,” but why it is circular still remains a mystery.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/what-is-the-hypnotic-structure-in-the-sahara-desert-nasa-captured-from-space/

KIds!

Former Black Panther (and current congressman) wears hoodie on House floor

Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., lost his right to speak on the House floor after he violated rules by putting on a hoodie and sunglasses in honor of Trayvon Martin, the Florida teen shot last month.

"May God bless Trayvon Martin's soul, his family and -- [inaudible]" Rush said as he was removed from the House floor this morning for wearing a hoodie.

http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/dem-pulled-house-floor-trayvon-hoodie/450891

Michael Ramirez imagines Obama in the same room with Jefferson

Magic Johnson-led group are the new owners of the Dodgers

A group led by Lakers legend Magic Johnson emerged Tuesday night as the new owners of the Dodgers, ending months of uncertainty for the storied but troubled baseball franchise.



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Breed of dog from Biblical times under assault

Pricked, pointy ears and almond-shaped brown eyes. A tan or black-and-white coat and a tail that curls upward. For many in Israel, this is the description of a pesky stray that feeds on garbage. But for a passionate few, it is a cultural treasure that should be preserved.

Meet the biblical dog.

"When they talk about dogs in the Bible, it was these,” says Myrna Shiboleth, who has done more than anyone to rescue the breed formally known as Canaan dog. “It was the same dog.”

The archaeological evidence bears it out, from 1st-century rock carvings in the Sinai to the skeletons of more than 700 dogs from the 5th century B.C. discovered south of Tel Aviv. When Jesus and Moses turned their heads to the sound of a barking dog, it was the Canaan that they saw.

But after surviving the birth of three religions, the Crusades and countless wars, the Canaan dog — one of the oldest known breeds of pariah dogs — is the focus of a battle that pitches people who believe in the value of preserving the primitive breed for scientific and sentimental reasons against modern bureaucracy. As often is the case in Israel, land use is at the heart of the battle.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/in-israel-a-battle-to-save-the-ancient-canaan-dog/2012/03/21/gIQA1IQEfS_story.html?hpid=z4

I see a pattern here

President Barack Obama had to engage in some damage limitation yesterday after comments he made to Russia's leader were picked up by an open microphone.

In a conversation which both men thought was private, Mr Obama told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he would have more room to negotiate over US plans for a missile defence shield in Europe after the November presidential election.

"This is my last election," he was heard telling Mr Medvedev, who leaves office in May to be replaced by Vladimir Putin. "After my election, I have more flexibility."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/obama-caught-on-open-mic-making-promises-to-russia-7593408.html