19 Nisan 5768: Ḥol hamMo‘edh Pesaḥ/Day 4 of the ‘Omer/Plumber’s Day/24 Hour Comics Day/Astronomy Day/Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

Greetings.

Worthy causes of the day, thanks to Barry: “RIGHTS, NOT GUNS FOR ZIMBABWE” and “Moratoria on Medicaid Regulations”.

Relevant to today’s actual holiday: Rhymes with Orange 2008-04-21 and Rhymes with Orange 2008-04-23.

Relevant to one of today’s quasi-holidays: “Hubble Photographs Dozens of Colliding Galaxies ”.

Today’s news and commentary:

• “Dumb Leadership (1988)”
  
• “US, UK, France, walk out of UN meeting after Libya makes Nazi comparison” and “EU Raps China for Ties to `Oppressive' African States ” (Some countries are actually learning.)
  
• “FBI, politicos renew push for ISP data retention laws”
  
• “Tips for Saving Fuel”
  
• “Israel to pump diesel to Gaza for power plant” (What point is there providing any aid to the enemy? Didn’t they used to call that “treason”?)
  
• “N. Koreans Taped At Syrian Reactor”
  
• “EPA scientists complain about political pressure” (It is his last year of office, and Bush still has learned nothing about scientific integrity, much less political integrity.)
  

Today’s weird thing, suggested by Barry, is “The Battle Hymn of the Republic, Updated”. Though over 100 years old, Mark Twain’s lyrics are eerily relevant even today. Enjoy and share the weirdness.

Aaron