Midday open thread

• My wife and I got back from our brief four-day vacation, our previously mum 1-year-old (as of April 7) daughter had learned how to say "bye bye", "Ari" (her brother's name), "Alli esta" (there he/she/it is), and the usual baby standard "uh oh". Pretty cool! And yes, I owe you guys pictures.
• How do we get Alan Keyes into the presidential debates this fall? Also, I think it's funny how no one wants to be a Republican anymore.
• WTF?

  What if we told you that a guy with no background in science or medicine-not even a college degree-has come up with what may be one of the most promising breakthroughs in cancer research in years?

  Well it's true, and if you think it sounds improbable, consider this: he did it with his wife's pie pans and hot dogs.

  His name is John Kanzius, and he's a former businessman and radio technician who built a radio wave machine that has cancer researchers so enthusiastic about its potential they're pouring money and effort into testing it out.

  Here's the important part: if clinical trials pan out-and there's still a long way to go-the Kanzius machine will zap cancer cells all through your body without the need for drugs or surgery and without side effects. None at all. At least that's the idea [...]

  Today, his invention is in the laboratories of two major research centers - the University of Pittsburgh and M.D. Anderson, where Dr. Steven Curley, a liver cancer surgeon, is testing it.

  "This technology may allow us to treat just about any kind of cancer you can imagine," Dr. Curley told Stahl. "I've gotta tell you, in 20 years of research this is the most exciting thing that I’ve encountered."

• The Freeway Blogger is pretty damn cool. I included his work in my forthcoming book.
• Sometimes, I find Republican bigotry hilarious, like this instance from Sen. Cornyn's bestest blogger buddy:

  Is it just me, or is the "en español" button on Noriega's site highly offensive?

  Keep it up, please!

• It really wouldn't kill traditional media reporters to properly cite bloggers they quote.
• The funny thing about this is that Bush and the Pope actually disagree vehemently on Bush's biggest issue -- the war in Iraq.
• Insider Advantage pollsters, after showing a significant 51-36 Obama lead in North Carolina:

  With significant experience polling races in the South, I think I can say pretty definitively that the comments by Sen. Obama about ‘religion and guns’ this past week have not weakened his position in North Carolina.  

  Since our last poll in late March, none of the key demographic groups have changed significantly. In particular, Sen. Clinton has gained virtually no ground among white voters.

• This week at The Hill I write about the GOP's pathetic Senate chances:

  A Rasmussen Louisiana poll taken late last week gave incumbent Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu a comfortable 55-39 lead over Democratic turncoat and Karl Rove recruit John Kennedy, the state treasurer. Another new poll by Southern Media & Opinion Research gave Landrieu a similar 50-38 lead.

  On its surface, these polls might appear boring, suggesting yet another predictable third-tier race, like the many that dot the political map every year. In reality, these results portend something much bigger — this seeming blowout in the making is the GOP’s best and pretty much only chance for picking off a Democratic seat in the Senate this year.

  And once you get past Louisiana, it only goes downhill for Republicans.

  Last week, I wrote about the GOP's hostility against Latinos.

  Last week, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was forced to spend a couple of days offering tortured and nonsensical explanations for his once-strident opposition to holidays honoring Dr. Martin Luther King.

  Ironically, Senate Republicans were, at the same time, blocking a resolution honoring another pioneering hero, civil rights leader César Chávez.

  In fact, the Senate effort was the second consecutive year in which Republicans had blocked unanimous consent on a resolution that inoffensively “recognizes the accomplishments and example of a great American hero, César Estrada Chávez; pledges to promote the legacy of César Estrada Chávez; and encourages the people of the United States to commemorate the legacy of César Estrada Chávez, and to always remember his great rallying cry, ‘Sí, se puede!’ ”

• I'll be on Bill Maher this Friday.