The Supreme Court is hearing six hours of arguments over three days on the Affordable Care Act.

During the first of three days of historic arguments, the justices voiced doubt that a U.S. tax law requiring that people pay first and litigate later should delay the legal challenge to the president's signature domestic legislative achievement.

This morning the court heard 90 minutes of arguments from an outside lawyer about whether it is premature for it to consider the law. It agreed with both parties that it can determine the case now.

Tomorrow the Court will hear argument on the the constitutionality of the provision mandating that individuals obtain insurance. The ruling is expected by June.

Here's a thread to discuss it.

Pakistan has decided to charge three of Osama bin Laden's wives and two of his daughters with the crimes of illegally entering and residing in Pakistan. The penalty is five years in jail. I wonder if they get credit for the 11 months served to date under Pakistani house-arrest in a "sub jail."

Two of the wives, Amal, 29, of Yemen and Khairiah, 61, of Saudi Arabia, had to be separated by Pakistani security officials. Amal suspects Khairiah of helping Americans capture Osama. Khairiah has accused Amal of "sticking to Osama like a prostitute who wanted sex 24 hours a day." [More...]

Health care arguments in the Supreme Court, Trayvon Martin, and the Toulouse killings are still dominating the news. Dominique Strauss-Kahn's motion to dismiss the civil case brought by Nafissatou Diallo will be heard Wednesday. The hearing won't address the underlying allegations, only issues of diplomatic immunity.

Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

Abdelkader Merah, brother of Mohamed Maher, who was killed in a police raid in Toulouse after confessing to the killing of Jewish students and their teacher and three French soldiers, was brought before a judge at the Palais de Justice in Paris early Sunday morning. He is expected to be charged with complicity in his brother's killings or criminal conspiracy in connection with a terrorist enterprise.

Abdelkader's wife, Yasmina Mesbah who was arrested with him, was released at 4:30 am today without charges, according to her lawyer. (Her name seems to be disappearing from news articles, here's another cached version.) Zoulhika Aziri, the mother of Abdelkader and Mohamed, was released from custody Saturday. She also won't face charges. [More...]

Dick Cheney had a heart transplant today at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Va. He's been on the list for 20 months.

Heads-Up: Comments calling for his demise will be deleted. It's bad form and probably bad karma.

Comments critical of his politics and actions as Vice President are fine, if expressed without name-calling.

The 2011 cost of a heart transplant is $1 million. Is 20 months a normal wait time? Here are the current guidelines for allocation of thoracic organs (heart and lungs.)

Kim and Mona Dotcom are the proud parents of twin girls, delivered Thursday at the National Women's Hospital in Auckland. The twins are healthy, and Mona is doing fine.

They arrived as scheduled by caesarean, weighing in at 2.4kg and 2.8kg. On Friday, he texted: "Two healthy Kiwis were born yesterday. All good. When they asked me if I'd like to keep the placenta (weird question) I said 'yes' and 'please send it to the FBI for forensic analysis so they can verify there is no pirate DNA'."

On a more serious note, he thanked the judges who approved his bail:

"I would like to thank them for the opportunity to be there with Mona for the birth. It meant a lot to us."

The other three Dotcom kids have names beginning with "K": Kimmo, Kaylo and Kobi.

The Herald on Sunday suggested a name and he responded: "Kiwi Dotcom it is. Awesome!"

I pick Louisville (+1 1/2) over Florida, Ohio State -3 over Syracuse, Kansas over North Carolina over and Kentucky over Baylor.

Open Thread.

The LA Coroner's office released a summary of Whitney Houston's autopsy report yesterday. You can read it here.

She did not die from a lethal combination of cocaine and xanax as many people assumed at the time. While there were traces of Xanax, Flexeril (a muscle relaxer) and Benadryl (an antihistamine) and marijuana in her system, they did not contribute to her death. Alcohol was not a factor.

She drowned following a cardiac event in the bathtub. The official cause of death was:

1. Drowning
2. Effects of Atheroschlerotic Heart Disease and Cocaine Use

Translation: Her chronic use of cocaine over the years exacerbated the hardening of her arteries and heart disease. The hardening of the arteries caused her to have a cardiac event in the tub and she slipped underwater and drowned. [More...]

The AP has released documents showing the NYPD Intelligence Division infiltrated and spied on liberal groups. Some activists are mentioned by name. The officers attended meetings, rallies and after-parties.

Here's a sample document.

More documents are available at the Associated Press website here.

With "supporters" like Pat Robertson, Tim Tebow does not need detractors. Robertson said:

And you just ask yourself, okay, so Peyton Manning was a tremendous MVP quarterback, but he’s been injured. If that injury comes back, Denver will find itself without a quarterback. And in my opinion, it would serve them right.”

Calls himself a Christian. What a despicable man. Tebow needs to learn to get away from these people.

Speaking for me only

I thought I was out of touch. Jeralyn friend Geraldo makes me look like I'm on top of all new trends:

GERALDO RIVERA: Well, I have a different take, Brian, on that. I believe that George Zimmerman, the overzealous neighborhood watch captain should be investigated to the fullest extent of the law and if he is criminally liable, he should be prosecuted. But I am urging the parents of black and Latino youngsters particularly to not let their children go out wearing hoodies. I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin's death as George Zimmerman was.

Hoodies? Really? Maybe 10 years ago this kind of mindless rant would have been timely. But railing against hoodies is as timely as railing against tatoos. Hell, I have hoodies. (Which makes hoodies pretty uncool if you ask me.) Geraldo needs to get out more.

Speaking for me only

Open thread.