Tuesday SOTU Open Thread [2/12/2013]

President Obama is delivering his State of the Union Address tonight and the usual suspects are spinning up expectations and related goo. DD covered a report from Politico that noted that President Obama won't be extending any olive branches to Republicans this year, and I have been listening to NPR a decent portion of the morning and they are repeating the same thing. What I don't hear is WHY the President should be extending olive branches to a party who works hard at not cooperating in the business of government. I suspect it is the same old -- Democrats are supposed to cooperate and Republicans get a pass on obstructing (with the excuse of sticking to their principles). Anyone else noticing this narrative?

The Olympics are bullshit – this seals it

Because the United States needs another gold medal in wake boarding - the IOC has cut wrestling. You wouldn't know it from our crappy TV coverage of wall-to-wall beach volleyball, but in London 29 countries won medals in wrestling. It is a popular, truly international, sport. But they needed space to add indoor rock climbing to the lineup.

Kinder Morgan Starts Talking

Kinder Morgan is making its proposal to privatize the Port of Wilmington to the Diamond State Port Corporation today. We'll hear more about this (I hope) in tomorrow's news, but wanted to take a look at this deal via what we know already. The most recent information has come from a few NJ articles -- Deal to lease Port of Wilmington at risk; Delaware's Port of Wilmington plan includes expansion; andKinder Morgan seeks new challenge in Del.

Ted Nugent To Attend State Of The Union?

Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX), who threatened President Obama with impeachment over his plan to reduce gun violence, has offered a ticket to the State of the Union tickets to Ted Nugent — whose criticism of the president once resulted in a sitdown with the Secret Service.

Monday Open Thread [2.11.13]

President Obama's State of the Union speech "will be less a presidential olive branch than a congressional cattle prod," Politico reports. Excellent. Hell, if the President wants to curse at the Republicans, I am perfectly fine with that.

BREAKING: Pope Benedict XVI Resigning

For the first time in 600 years, a Pope will leave the job voluntarily and alive. Pope Benedict XVI has announced this morning that he will resign effective February 28, for health reasons.

Monday Daily Delawhere [2.11.13]

When the highest point in our state is only 447 feet above seal level, and the vast majority of the state lies on a coastal plain, it stands to reason that there will not be many caves here. And that is true. There is only one known cave. The Beaver Valley Cave is located near the intersection of Beaver Valley & Beaver Dam Roads in Chateau Country, just 100 feet away from the Pennsylvania border. The entrance is 24 feet wide and 5 feet high, and the main chamber is 16 feet deep, with a crawl space continuing another 40 feet further in. Lenni Lenape Indians used the cave as a resting spot and shelter when fishing in the nearby Brandywine River.

How’s That Good Guy With a Gun Thing Working Out For You?

Seriously -- have you been following the story of the ex-LAPD officer who went on a shooting rampage? It is a horrific story -- a fired police officer who decides that he is working out his perceived injustices on other officers or their families. This is a story of a previous good guy -- one trained to use guns by the government -- who is now just a guy with a bunch of guns seemingly seeking revenge.