{"id":12087,"date":"2014-01-28T00:19:41","date_gmt":"2014-01-28T08:19:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=12087"},"modified":"2014-01-28T00:19:41","modified_gmt":"2014-01-28T08:19:41","slug":"open-thread1282014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2014\/01\/28\/open-thread1282014\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–1\/28\/2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m writing for tomorrow and getting as much rest as I can for tomorrow\u2019s prison volunteer trip.  However, I may not get to go, because the group that has that time on the Activities Floor has exceeded the maximum number of visitors allowed on the floor.  When that happens, we get bumped.  That rarely happens, and I\u2019ve requested a waiver.  I feel frustrated not knowing.  I am not at all pleased with the new format for the Pro Bowl.  They have made it a show for individual aggrandizement instead of a competition between the conferences.  DANG!  They TEAbuggered the holy Ellipsoid Orb!! :-(  On the other hand, they had to do something for the NFC players. \ud83d\ude09<\/font><\/p>\n

Jig Zone Puzzle<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s took me 3:49 (average 5:49).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

From The New Yorker<\/a>: <\/font>Dr. Stephen Hawking\u2019s recent statement that the black holes he famously described do not actually exist underscores \u201cthe danger inherent in listening to scientists,\u201d Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota) said today. <\/p>\n

Rep. Bachmann unleashed a blistering attack on Dr. Hawking, who earlier referred to his mistake on black holes as his \u201cbiggest blunder.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cActually, Dr. Hawking, our biggest blunder as a society was ever listening to people like you,\u201d said Rep. Bachmann. \u201cIf black holes don\u2019t exist, then other things you scientists have been trying to foist on us probably don\u2019t either, like climate change and evolution.\u201d <\/p>\n

Rep. Bachmann added that all the students who were forced to learn about black holes in college should now sue Dr. Hawking for a full refund. \u201cFortunately for me, I did not take any science classes in college,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

Andy has given us a tough one, because Hawking must be wrong in saying black holes do not exist. If the space between Batshit Bachmann’s ears, from which no light has ever escaped, isn’t a black hole, what is?<\/font><\/p>\n

From Upworthy<\/a>: <\/font>Oil spills often bring to mind images of oil-drenched birds and blackened coastlines, but this incredible time-lapse video presents the human and financial cost of every oil spill since 1986. Politics aside, these stats are downright disturbing.<\/p>\n