Midday Open Thread

• Maryland is moving toward a streamlined process to replace Al Wynn. Rather than leaving the seat vacant until 2009 or dealing with a lengthy and expensive primary process, they may move straight to a special general election. Which means Donna Edwards could be in office that much sooner.
• On New Jobless Day Eve, Atrios points to some people not being counted among the ranks of the jobless thanks to holes in the safety net.
• dnA sees a curious discrepancy between the great concern some people feel over Civil Rights leaders they don't like and the concern they apparently don't feel over actual Civil Rights issues.
• Stuff Hill People Like. (Blackberries, their parents money, business cards...)
• It looks like Obama is beginning to lay the groundwork to turn down public financing:

  "We have created a parallel public financing system where the American people decide if they want to support a campaign they can get on the Internet and finance it, and they will have as much access and influence over the course and direction of our campaign that has traditionally been reserved for the wealthy and the powerful," Obama said.

  Jake Tapper wants to know if we buy that argument. I for damn sure do. Until we have full public financing, this is the best answer to our money-centered system.

• Horrifying. Another KBR employee comes forward with a story of gang rape and subsequent KBR obstruction and cover-up.
• What if you had a printer that could print a printer, which could print a printer, which could print a printer.

  A self-replicating 3D printer that spawns new, improved versions of itself is in development at the University of Bath in the UK.

  The "self replicating rapid prototyper" or RepRap could vastly reduce the cost of 3D printers, paving the way for a future where broken objects and spare parts are simply "re-printed" at home. New and unique objects could also be created.

  - Devilstower

• MS-01: There's a special election coming up on April 22nd to fill the seat of Roger Wicker (who was tapped to replace Trent Lott in the Senate). In this very red district, do Dems have a chance? James L. takes a  look at our candidate, Prentiss County Chancery Clerk Travis Childers. You might just find yourself surprised - a new poll shows the race a dead heat. - DavidNYC
• Al Gore has a new slide show on climate change available at Ted.com.  It's easily as good as the first presentation, and focuses more on a call to action. - Devilstower