In news that will not surprise you in the least — but will put you off your breakfast — Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo will not be charged.

Late last night, the House passed their continuing resolution to fund the government for the rest of Fiscal Year 2011, which cuts over $60 billion from the discretionary budget over the next seven months, and includes a host of ideological measures. The final vote was 235-189, mostly along party lines, although three Republicans – Jeff Flake, John Campbell and Walter Jones – voted no. Flake and Campbell wanted bigger cuts. Not one Democrat crossed over to vote for the bill.

When Cal Ripken, Jr. was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, he told the crowds that he was just doing his job, the way so many other ordinary folks do, like teachers, police officers, mothers, fathers, business owners, and others. He said “You all may not receive the accolades that I have throughout my career, so I’d like to take the time out to salute all of you for showing up, working hard and making the world a better place.”

Sounds like what’s happening in Madison to me.

Since the attack at 3AM Friday in Bahrain when government forces attacked sleeping democracy activists, there have been persistent rumors of 60-70 missing protesters.

Union-busting is exactly what it is. It’s not about the “budget deficit”. The “budget deficit” is one of Walker’s own making, resulting from tax breaks to his buddies — as you would know if you didn’t depend on Politifact and network TV to tell you everything you know.

Saturday, Iraqi orphans march in Baghdad demanding better treatment by the government, joining uprising across the country protesting corruption and lack of the most basic services.

Lately, I’ve been knitting to live music. In some ways, it’s more fun. I canceled my NetFlix subscription, because they kept removing things I wanted to watch from InstantView. I was having to watch them on YouTube, instead, and wondered why I should continue paying for NetFlix. So, it’s gone!

Kermit (as Sinbad) and his band of pirate frogs — Surfin’ USA, from episode 518 of The Muppet Show.

There have been a lot of posts here in the past few days about the prospective “grand bargain” being discussed by a bipartisan group of U.S. senators… and, by implied extension, the White House.  As writers here have pointed out, the basic Republican idea is to get Democrats — including President Obama — to collaborate [...]

When impunity replaces accountability, you are left with the rituals of democracy instead of its substance.