In case you missed the news over the weekend, Maru is alive and well, and taking appropriate civil-defense measures. (Well, technically hiding from a toothbrush. “No! The prevention is important.”) Maru’s pet humans thank you for your concern, and for praying for Japan.

Since we’re looking at a number of hours between writing this post and its appearance Tuesday morning, we’ll forego an easily superseded news roundup, and declare that despite the inevitable design failures, cost overruns, construction shortcuts, operation scandals, disposal issues, mining contamination, water disruption, environmental risks, socialized losses, proliferation concerns, and occasional uninhabitable hellscape, nuclear power remains the solution to America’s energy future.

I Am Maru

The Human Rights Campaign has released its list of gay-friendly companies…

Whether you are buying a cup of coffee or renovating your home, by supporting businesses that support workplace equality you send a powerful message that LGBT inclusion is good for the bottom line.

…allowing the Friendly Bigots over at WorldNetDaily to turn the list upside down:

The only restaurant giant with a zero score not pushing “gay” causes is OSI Restaurant Partners, which operates Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Cheeseburger in Paradise, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Outback Steakhouse.

Bonefish Grill isn’t part of the Homosexual Agenda? So if we order a delicious, succulent, mouth-watering Bang Bang Shrimp, we won’t catch anything?

Buying for Workplace Equality 2011 [HRC]

American companies that don’t promote ‘gayness’ [WND]

Is it a coincidence that the NCAA basketball logo bears a striking resemblance to the Islamic star and crescent? Is it any more a coincidence than a year ago, when wingnuts made a fuss about the U.S. Missile Defense Agency logo? Can we get more hits than Stinque Asshole of the Year Pam Geller by raising the spectre of Sharia Law’s ban on shooting threes when a man is open inside? Can you hear us now, Drudge?

While you’re cowering in fear, you’re also invited to participate in our annual Spectacular March Madness Pool, brought to you by Mellbell. To join the Stinque Braquet, visit Yahoo Sports and enter the Secret Codes:

Group ID: 129942
Password: thedance

Winners will be resented, while losers will be publicly castigated. Good luck!

“Carl Paladino’s campaign stiffed about a dozen consultants, vendors and staff members for some $130,000 in salaries, fees and expenses, according to numerous veterans of his failed gubernatorial bid.” [Buffalo News, via Political Wire]

We’re going to presume that Arthur S. Brisbane is 60. We’re presuming that Arthur S. Brisbane is 60 because Arthur S. Brisbane was 59 when Arthur S. Brisbane was announced as the new “Public Editor” of the New York Times last June. If you’re not familiar with a Public Editor, his job is to write letters to the editors of the New York Times. Only unlike yours, his get published.

Like this one, published Sunday:

A Cocktail Party With Readers

A cocktail party! How very New York Times of Arthur S. Brisbane! Not a beer, mind you. Nor a bong hit, for that matter. No, a cocktail party. Something we haven’t seen since Woody Allen’s early, funny films.

Only it’s not a real cocktail party. Arthur S. Brisbane is being fanciful. Arthur S. Brisbane is being fanciful because Arthur S. Brisbane is searching for words to describe a novel experience in Arthur S. Brisbane’s rarefied life. For you see, Arthur S. Brisbane has discovered Twitter:

Read more »

This really shouldn’t be a surprise … GottaLaff put together a video from Mitch Daniels’ appearance on this morning’s MTP (he’s the governor of Indiana):