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]

It’s a horrific day, so I thought we needed a fat Japanese cat acting out.  Not his best work, but it’s not bad.

WTF?

At least seven people are dead and 12 wounded in a shooting at Fort Hood in Texas, the base’s public affairs office told NBC News on Thursday.

The official would not give his name nor additional details. It was unknown whether victims are soldiers or civilians. One gunman was reportedly in custody and another was on the loose, NBC News said.

NBC affiliate KCEN in Waco reported that the second suspect may be holed up in a building on the post.

[MSNBC]

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]

Andrew Sullivan interprets this Gallup map to mean that maybe the bad Muslims out in Saudi Arabia don’t hate us as much as we thought, because they want to be us.   Of the 700 Million people who want to migrate, a quarter would like to end up in America, and another 6% want to go to America Lite, which is Canada.   Of course, Sullivan forgets to consider that perhaps all those people want to move here to murder us.  That’s 175 million more terrorist illegal immigrants we’re going to have to kill.  And we’ll probably do something stupid like go and elect one of them President Barack Obama.

700 Million Worldwide Desire to Migrate Permanently [Gallup]

Why Do They Hate Us (or Maybe They Don’t)? [The Daily Dish]

Rep. Alan Grayson (D – Outraged) is not backing down. Not only does Congress’ most passionate promoter of health care reform refuse to apologize for calling out obstructionist Republicans who are standing in the way of meaningful reform, but yesterday the Florida Democrat held a “Roll Call of the Dead” to highlight the number of people who are expected to die in each GOP member’s disctrict next year as a direct consequence of a lack of affordable health insurance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD4rOkq9fUo

This is the sort of man the Democratic party, and yea… even America herself, needs right now.

(Via: Democratic Underground)

(Update: Huffington Post has the whole, three part speech)

Prejean Sex Tape Triggers Settlement [TMZ]