Anthony Jeselnik impersonates Dane Cook

Hanns Scharff, Chief Interrogator for the Luftwaffe

Hanns Scharff was an interrogator for the Luftwaffe during World War II. Eschewing violence, his methods were so successful that the United States began teaching them during the post war period.

From the wiki:

After a prisoner's fear had calmed, Scharff continued to act as a good friend to the prisoner, including sharing jokes, homemade food items, and occasionally alcoholic beverages. Scharff was fluent in English and knowledgeable about British customs and some American, which helped him to gain the trust and friendship of many of his prisoners. Some high profile prisoners were treated to outings to German airfields (one POW was allowed to take a German aircraft for a trial run), tea with German fighter aces, swimming pool excursions, and luncheons among other things. Prisoners were treated well medically at the nearby Hone Mark Hospital, and some POWs were occasionally taken from captivity to visit their comrades at this hospital for company's sake as well as the better meals provided there. Scharff was best known for taking his prisoners on strolls through nearby woods, first having them swear an oath of honor that they would not attempt an escape during their walk. Scharff chose not to use these nature walks as a time to directly ask his prisoners obvious military-related questions, but instead relied on the POWs' desire to speak to anyone outside of isolated captivity about informal, generalized topics. Prisoners often volunteered information the Luftwaffe had instructed Scharff to acquire, frequently without realizing they had done so.

Justice Cincinnatus

Kermit Roosevelt, former clerk for Supreme Court Justice David Souter, attempts to shed light on the retiring jurist.

The Supremes respond to the announcement of Souter's retirement.

The Nith U.S. Circuit Court has ruled on the Jeppesen case

The court makes short work of the Obama administration's invocation of States Secrets to quash legal actions against the government:

"According to the government's theory, the judiciary should effectively cordon off all secret government actions from judicial scrutiny, immunizing the CIA and its partners from the demands and limits of the law."

The upshot of this is that the court has (re-)affirmed that the only legitimate use of the State's Secrets privelege is for individual pieces of evidence which are evaluated by the courts.

A stirring victory for government accountability and transparency. 

As always, Glenn has more.

Best Movie Review Ever

Paul Constant, writing for The Stranger, reviews Crank 2.

"It's like if Michael Bay and John Waters had breakup sex and made a little ADD baby who hated humanity. Awesome! Awesome!"

via Crooks and Liars.

The Decemberists on the Report

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Decemberists - The Wanting Comes in Waves
colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Gay Marriage Commercial

Here's a movie Nick and I did.

Susan Boyle World Record Internet Views

Susan Boyle World Record Internet Views from Bob Odenkirk

Denny Chitterbottom (Bob Odenkirk) has viewed Susan Boyle's video more than anyone else has. He's her biggest fan.

Meet Maggie

Black Bevis and Butthead.

check it ( might need to let it buffer)

GI Joe: Resolute

Warren Ellis has written a new GI: Joe miniseries for the Cartoon Network. Parts 1 - 8 are currently available, and parts 9 and 10 are scheduled to be released later today.  The finale will be aired on the Cartoon Network on April 25th at midnight.

Part 2 contains some serious Snake Eyes action.

The Georgia Guidestones

In 1979, a mysterious stranger claiming to represent a secret organization commissioned the construction of a gigantic monumental structure whose purpose is to aid the survivors of the apocalypse in rebuilding society. The monument contains written instructions in the world's major languages, a clock, compass, and calendar.

via Metafilter.

How Obama Excused Torture

"The evidence is now undeniable. President Barack Obama is flouting his unflagging constitutional obligation enshrined in Article II, Section 3 to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.” He is also reneging on his signature campaign promise to restore the rule of law, transparency, and accountability to the White House. He is displaying the psychology of an arrogant empire as opposed to a modest republic in continuing and escalating the Bush-Cheney duumvirate’s global and perpetual war against international terrorism heedless of foreign sovereignties or the lives of civilians."

Bruce Fein, constitutional lawyer and former Associate Deputy Attorney General under Reagan, discusses the Obama administration's record on torture, secrecy, and the rule of law.

Update: Andrew Sullivan on Obama, Bush, and the Rule of Law: "...Obama's refusal to investigate war crimes is itself against the law."

Update II: Regarding Torture (via Glenn).

http://gobacktoohio.com/

Finally!!!!!!!!

John Madden retires.......

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9462768/Boom!-Madden-announces-retirement-from-booth?GT1=39002

Spanish Prosecution Update

Spain's Attorney General has apparently decided to quash the prosecution of the "Bush Six," despite earlier reports that National Court prosecutors intended to bring charges. 

Since the Obama administration, despite its legal obligation to investigate these matters, seems determined to let this go, this might be the end of the matter. 

Civil War General Quote of the Day

"If I owned Texas and Hell, I would rent Texas and Live in Hell."

                              - Philip Sheridan

This one's for you, Rick Perry! 

via Metafilter. With apologies to all of the good Texans.

The Ballad of Catan

The Party of Fiscal Discipline

In honor of the April 15th "Teabagging," I present to you colorful representations of the national debt under Republican presidents:

Source: zFacts - US National Debt Graph

Source: zFacts - Presidents and the Federal Debt