In Luc Besson’s campy movie, The Fifth Element, the villainous Zorg wants to rule the world. Like many a villain before him, Zorg (Gary Oldman) makes chaos his philosophical and tactical ally. As Zorg puts it: Life…comes from disorder, destruction and chaos…You see Father, by creating a little destruction, I am in fact encouraging life. [...]

BREAKING out! Small spines on Democratic Senators! Having said “yes” to virtually every demand to water down the climate bill, the Democrats most in favor of the climate bill are finally beginning to say “no.” And not a moment too soon, as Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) prepare to release their bill within the next two weeks.

The Obama Administration recently removed protection for the desert nesting bald eagle. In a move reminiscent of the previous administration, it ignored the advice of its own scientists.

They should think about the very real crime of having 600,000 American citizens without representation in their own government.

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13… Pop the video open into its own window to better enjoy it (h/t Mano). The beauty of numbers.

And behold the bobbleheads…

Springtime For Pluto. This Walt Disney Studios cartoon was released on June 23, 1944.

I hope I have never given the impression that I am a nice person. I am in fact as it emerges and happens a shadowy figure with a tantalizingly enigmatic past about whom hangs an aura of tantalizingly enigmatic mystery — and Danger! Yummy Danger! What I mean is, chicks dig me. With spades. Or, [...]

Dennis Hopper’s passion for art and the creative force is at the foundation of his astounding collection.

Large segments of the system no longer function within a competitive market framework, if they ever did. When you see the system in terms of quasi-utilities providing necessary public services in a non-competitive framework, then relying on something like an IPAB, and not Congress, makes sense. And the only way the IPAB can do a decent job is to recognized what paradigm it’s in.

Yesterday Steve Benen and Josh Marshall drew attention to the story of a far-right militiaman who’s opposed to “socialism” and “government handouts” in the abstract, but is perfectly happily to live of government disability checks–money which, to be fair, and as Benen points out, he is absolutely entitled to.