Today is March 16th. On this date in 1521, Ferdinand Magellan reached the Philippines, which didn’t work out too well for him as he was killed there. His expedition was the first to circumnavigate the globe. No word yet, though, on when someone is going to circumnavigate YOUR MOM! BURN! Sigh. Also on this date, in 1926, Robert Goddard launched the first successful test flight of a liquid-fueled rocket, paving the way for modern rocketry and space flight. Goddard once said: “It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.” I hope he’s wrong though, my dream yesterday involved being chased by a whale through quicksand while Ferdinand Magellan threw apples at me, and I hate when that happens. Finally, today is National Artichoke Hearts Day, which sounds vaguely violent, but is actually delicious. Consider this an Open Thread.

Anti-Rush Campaign Was Media Matters Astroturf | Commentary
“Wonder how the left was able to mobilize so quickly on the Rush Limbaugh boycott? According to the architect behind it, Media Matters online strategy director Angelo Carusone, the project was actually created in 2009, but stayed inactive until the Sandra Fluke controversy boiled over”

Bin Laden Plotted To Punish America With A Biden Presidency | WaPo
“Obama is the head of infidelity and killing him automatically will make (Vice President Joe) Biden take over the presidency. … Biden is totally unprepared for that post, which will lead the U.S. into a crisis.”

U.S. Chamber Challenges Legality of NLRB Appointments | Free Enterprise
“Appointing three of five members to the NLRB in a legally questionable way casts doubt on the work of the entire agency.”

Seaweed in your gas tank | Charles Krauthammer
“President Obama incessantly claims energy open-mindedness, insisting that his policy is “all of the above.” Except, of course, for drilling”

Today’s Word of the Day comes via Luciferous Logolepsy.
fichu: noun sheer, triangular cape worn over the shoulders