Good morning 99percenters!

Fun fact of the day: The U.S. Constitution took effect on March 4, 1789. As originally adopted it made no mention of a date to inaugurate the president. March 4 was codified as Inauguration Day in 1792, and was written into the Constitution with adoption of the 12th Amendment in 1804. But the March inauguration meant an extended lame-duck session for Congress, and in 1933, the 20th Amendment established that the terms of the president and vice president end at noon on January 20. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first to be sworn into office on that day in 1937 beginning his second term.

This evening's music features New Orleans songwriter, pianist and singer Allen Toussaint.

Good morning 99percenters!

Our National Park System really is a treasure. It’s also something that we need to fiercely protect and ensure its proper funding. Even though it enjoys the support and enthusiasm of about 70% of our population, Congressional Republicans find it a rich target for their slash and burn budgets.

Writer and historian Wallace Stegner called national parks "the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst."

The Hill reports that Howard Dean had that and more to say about Elizabeth Warren:

Democracy For America founder Howard Dean, who has backed Clinton for president, said Warren is “right on policy, but the rhetoric needs to be toned down.”

“Our program cannot be soak the rich — that's a mistake and alienates middle class people. But on substance, the Warren wing is correct,” said Dean.

This evening's music features North Mississippi hill country bluesman Mississippi Fred McDowell.

Good morning 99percenters!

Interested in travel? Well then, I’ve got an article for you. 52 Places to Go in 2015.

Top Ten:

1. Milan, Italy
2. Cuba
3. Philadelphia
4. Yellowstone National Park
5. Elqui Valley, Chile
6. Singapore
7. Durban, South Africa
8. Bolivia
9. Faroe Islands
10. Macedonia

Good morning 99percenters!

So did March come in like a lion at your house? Just how predictable is the weather where you live? According to Nate Silver at fivethirtyeight.com it depends on where you live. Honolulu is the place to be if you want predictability. Don’t want to leave the mainland, then check out San Diego. But where is the weather truly the most unpredictable?

Good morning 99percenters!

Ever heard of the Internet Cat Video Festival? Neither had I until I saw a reference to a sold out screening at Ann Arbor’s State Street Theater earlier this week.

I was about to post this diary when I discovered Leonard Nimoy had died, and posted a diary on him instead. I thought about not posting this one today, but, on second thought, Mr. Nimoy actually was a great fighter against racism and believed strongly in civil liberties, so I think it might be fitting to post it now.*

It's Always Been This Way: Racism, the Bill of Rights, and the Justification of Tyranny