Today is February 24th. On this date in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII signed a papal bull introducing the Gregorian Calendar. The calendar was not accepted in England or the American colonies until 1752, by which time their Julian Calendar was 11 days different from mainland Europe. Personally, I use a calendar with pictures of cats on it. Because I’m from the internet, and that’s how we do. Also on this date in 1903, Guantanamo Bay was officially leased to the United States for a military base. Today the base, known affectionately as Gitmo, is most famous for being closed by President Obama, per his often-repeated, double pinky-swear promise. [whispering voice] What’s that? [whisper repeated] He didn’t? Man, Harold and Kumar are going to be pissed! Lastly, on this date in 1979, the song “Roxanne” was released by The Police. It eventually became the song people hate the absolute most on karaoke nights around the globe. Consider this an Open Thread.

Taliban’s Response to Obama’s Apology: ‘Kill Them, Beat Them, Take Them as Prisoners’ | CNS News
“Kill them, beat them, take them as prisoners and teach them such a lesson that they never summon the courage to abuse the Holy Qur’an again,” he said.

A talk with Scott Walker | Washington Examiner
“‘They’re working,’ Walker said when asked to describe his reforms. ‘It’s helped to turn the state around. We’re definitely heading in the right direction.’”

The Soylent Green Energy Initiative | Human Events
“Anguished that people are actually holding him accountable for the results of his policies, President Obama – master of the moratorium, enemy of oil pipelines – fled to the University of Miami to assure everyone that he really wants an ‘all of the above’ strategy.”

Free Enterprise is a Right Not a Privilege | Free Enterprise
“I’ve noticed a disappointing rhetorical pattern forming. Members of the administration make off-hand remarks about how lucky successful Americans are to have a government that does so much.”

Today’s Word of the Day comes via Merriam-Webster.
ridotto: noun a public entertainment consisting of music and dancing often in masquerade popular in 18th century England.