There’s only one relevant question regarding Major Nidal Malik Hasan: Did he act alone?

That was the lingering question Thursday afternoon, when the news talked of “multiple suspects” in the Fort Hood shootings. Big difference between a sole sorry nutjob and a conspiracy.

But when the potential conspiracy evaporated — the other suspects were cleared — well, folks went on looking for one anyway. There are books to move, after all.

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We don’t have the heart to mock right now — we’ll save Yesterday for Tomorrow — so here’s a heartwarming video that’s making the rounds. The little girl’s dad is in Iraq. She thinks.

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Among the lighter news we’ve been distracted from the past couple of days is a report that Disney is roughing up Mickey Mouse for a new generation:

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Developing story — this update from 2:36 pm:

Orlando police confirmed that a man suspected in a deadly mass shooting in downtown Orlando has been taken into custody.

The suspect, Jason Rodriguez, 40, is a former employee of Reynolds, Smith & Hill, a transportation consulting company. A SWAT team took him into custody at his mother’s house, Orlando Police Chief Val Demings said.

One person is dead and 5 are confirmed shot in the incident, which took place about 11:50 a.m. at Legions Place, an office building near Interstate 4 and Ivanhoe Boulevard. A handgun was used in the attack, police said.

It’s early, so nobody is blaming Obama yet.

(Earlier Sentinel reports placed the toll at two dead, 17 injured.)

Downtown Orlando shooting: 1 dead, 5 injured [Orlando Sentinel]

Commentary’s Linda Chavez couldn’t wait to exploit a tragedy, as her 5:27 p.m. Thursday post makes clear:

We still don’t know what was behind the killings at Fort Hood this afternoon, in which 11 soldiers and the killer died, but President Obama’s rushed press conference was surprising in its flippancy nonetheless. Before he got to the issue on everyone’s mind — namely the deaths of Americans in uniform — the president gave a “shout-out” to government bureaucrats gathered for a previously scheduled conference at the Interior Department, complete with appreciative chuckles. He treated the event like a pep rally rather than a tragic occasion with a wider audience than those gathered in the room. I wonder how many media outlets will compare Obama’s performance to President Bush’s “Pet Goat” moment on 9/11. I won’t hold my breath.

We’re not sure whether we qualify as a “media outlet”, but here goes…

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So we had this heartfelt 400-word cautionary post on the epistemology of breaking news all written up, and then we decided: Fuck it. It’s Friday. Go with the Coal Coloring Book.

‘Let’s Learn About Coal’: Industry Front Group Distributes Coloring Book On The ‘Advantages’ Of Coal [Think Progress]

Dick Armey, October 23:

Coming to Mr. Hoffman’s defense, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, who accompanied the candidate on a campaign swing, dismissed regional concerns as “parochial” issues that would not determine the outcome of the election.

Dick Armey, Wednesday:

“The fact of the matter is, he didn’t pay enough attention to the local concerns, and they were able to tag him as being unaware of the local needs and concerns,” Armey said.

Lesson: If you’re gonna whore yourself to Teabaggers, get the money up front.

Armey throws Hoffman under the bus: ‘He didn’t pay enough attention to the local concerns.’ [Think Progress]