Midday open thread

• Today's comic is Your friendly local police by Matt Bors:
• For over 60 articles a day on Occupy Wall Street, follow the Occupy Wall Street group and the Occupy Wall Street tag right here on Daily Kos.
• Happy International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women:

  Statement by Vice President Biden on the Anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

  Every year on November 25, we remember the millions of women affected by violence here in the United States and around the world. Violence against women undermines not only the safety and dignity of millions of women and girls, but also the health, economic stability, and security of nations. The U.S. government remains committed to advancing the rights of women at home and as an integral component of our foreign policy. On this International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we stand with women and men around the world in saying one violation is one too many, and in renewing our commitment to the right of women and girls to be free from violence and abuse.

• Planning to brave the crowds this Black Friday? You may want to stay away from Walmart. Unless you're looking for a bargain on a "string of violent incidents":

  Black Friday bargain-hunters have been caught up in a string of violent incidents across the United States that have left one customer critically injured during a robbery and shooting and 15 others hurt by an angry shopper using a pepper spray.
  All the incidents took place at Wal-Mart stores as millions of Americans loaded up on holiday purchases.

• The CIA is having a fundraiser:

  CIA officers are asking people to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of the first American killed in the Afghan war by donating to help the children of their fellow fallen.

• Mitt Shakespeare:

  I love the lakes.

  I love the Great Lakes.

  You know, we?ve been to Massachusetts?I love the ocean, too.

  I do love the ocean.

  This has been a mosquito-infested year with all the moisture.

                                 They

                                           flew away                                                          

                                                               with my dog.

  Beautiful area.

  I love water.

  [Eats pork chop]

• Michael Bloomberg for president? On what platform?a chicken in every pot, a spray of pepper in every face?
• Stay classy, Rush:

  Rush Limbaugh dissed Hillary Clinton on his Wednesday show, associating her with the song "Lyin' A*s B*tch" that played when Michele Bachmann appeared on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" earlier in the week. [...]

  He was outraged on Bachmann's behalf, and called the song "disrespectful" to "the only woman candidate for president."

  Then, he said, "To put this in perspective, Hilary wasn't even on the show and they have this song 'Lyin' A*s B*tch.'" He alleged that the media would have been outraged if the same thing had happened to Hilary Clinton on Fox News, but ignored Bachmann's experience.

• Sperm stealing:

  A father of 4-year-old twins is claiming his ex-girlfriend stole his sperm and impregnated herself at a fertility clinic and is now suing for full custody of his sons.

• Meet the Breck girl of 2011:

  Voters routinely ask about it on the campaign trail. Pundits chronicle the slightest changes in its presentation. There is a Facebook page to devoted it ? not to mention an entire blog. ?Has it always been this good?? read a recent online entry.

  The subject of the unusually intense political speculation and debate?

  Mitt Romney?s hair.

  By far his most distinctive physical feature, Mr. Romney?s head of impeccably coiffed black hair has become something of a cosmetological Rorschach test on the campaign trail, with many seeing in his thick locks everything they love and loathe about the Republican candidate for the White House. (Commanding, reassuring, presidential, crow fans; too stiff, too slick, too perfect, complain critics.)

• Tetris: The Movie?
• America hates Jerry Sandusky. A lot:

  Jerry Sandusky breaks the all time PPP record for the least popular person we have ever polled on. A whooping 88% of voters in the state have a negative opinion of him to only 3% with a positive one.  It's clear his NBC interview last week did little or nothing to rehabilitate his image. Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, seen unfavorably by 83% of voters in his state, was previously the most unpopular person PPP had ever polled on.

• Condolences:

  Maggie Daley, the wife of longtime Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, died Thursday at the age of 68 after suffering for years from breast cancer.

• Calling all crafters! The 3rd annual Netroots Nation Holiday Bazaar is Thursday, Dec. 1 through Tuesday, Dec. 6. Upload your donations directly to the Holiday Bazaar auction site or send them to Karen Kolber at karen at netroots nation dot org. All proceeds benefit Netroots Nation.

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