Open Thread–3/25/2011

Yesterday I did went to the prison as a volunteer.  It was our group’s annual banquet there, and I thoroughly enjoyed having the guys show off their families and talking to them about the work we do to help there.  Needless to say, I’m running late and am exhausted.  Nevertheless, I’m up to date on comments.  However, tonight I need to be at our CoDA group here in town and will be home late, so tomorrow’s posts, if any, will be late and may be abbreviated.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:39 (4:38 average).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From NY Times: Japan’s effort to contain the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant suffered a setback, an official said on Friday,  citing evidence that the reactor vessel of the No. 3 unit may have been damaged.

Ya think?  I’d say the white smoke and steam we saw a few days ago was a dead giveaway.

From Daily Kos: On Feb. 11, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, his wife and three aides flew in a luxury jet to Washington for a weekend of politicking, including an appearance on Fox News Sunday and a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference. “Our problem is not that we tax too little,” Barbour told the gathering. “It’s that we spend too much.”

The potential presidential contender may have another problem: Mississippi taxpayers paid the tab for Barbour’s first-class travel.

Another typical Republican presidential hopeful.

From Alternet: Republicans are ramping up their push to reduce the deficit on the backs of the poor. The Republican Study Committee, the House GOP’s conservative caucus, is lobbying party leaders to include big cuts to food stamps, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and other welfare programs for the poor. The proposal could "save as much as $1.4 trillion over a decade.

This is how Republicans define “shared sacrifice”.  The share for the poor is 100%.

Cartoon:

TGIF!