Today is April 27th. On this date in 4977 B.C., the universe was created. At least, that’s what 17th century German astronomer Johannes Kepler calculated. So Happy Birthday, Universe! If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have anywhere to exist, which is the bulk of what I do. Also on this date, in 1773, British Parliament passed the Tea Act, setting in motion a chain of events that led to the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773. The protest was vastly more successful than subsequent counter-protest, Occupy Crumpets. On this date in 1791, Samuel B. Morse was born. Morse once famously said “…. .-! / — .- -.. . / -.– — ..- /
.-.. — — -.-!” Truly a touching sentiment. And finally, today is National Hairball Awareness Day which may sound gross, but is a lot less so than National Hairball Self-Awareness Day, which was predicted by the Mayans. Consider this an Open Thread.

Republicans prepare contempt citation against Eric Holder | CBS News
“House Republicans investigating the Fast and Furious scandal have gotten the go-ahead by their party leaders to pursue a contempt citation against Attorney General Eric Holder, senior congressional aides told CBS News.”

Jon Stewart Mocks N.C. Democrats | Free Beacon
“Daily Show host Jon Stewart mocked the state of the Democratic Party in North Carolina Thursday, between the trial of former presidential candidate John Edwards and the ongoing sexual harassment scandal in the North Carolina state Democratic Party:”

First Signs of a Real Obama Backlash? | PJ Tatler
“Barack Obama, meanwhile, is oblivious to all this. He keeps on pushing government as the be all end all solution to everything. A new poll out suggests that this attitude is going to catch up with him.”

Top Ten Rejected NPR Headlines | Ace of Spades HQ
NPR asks, “Is Slow Growth Actually Good For The Economy?” Ace serves up a list of ten rejected NPR headlines of equal absurdity.

Today’s Word of the Day comes via Merriam-Webster.
patagium (puh-TAY-jee-um): noun 1. the fold of skin connecting the forelimbs and hind limbs of some tetrapods (as flying squirrels) 2. the fold of skin in front of the main segments of a bird’s wing