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.

George Zimmerman is innocent until proven guilty just like every other American citizen. That Dr. Drew and his cohorts would be finding him guilty on camera is patently irresponsible. What's next? A mob lynching? Remember the Ox-Bow Incident.

Trayvon Martin is dead at the hand of Zimmerman. Yes, a rope was not involved. But Zimmerman (and Geller) appear to be the ones unfamiliar with the lessons of The Oxbow Incident. Was Martin innocent until proven guilty? Last I looked, Zimmerman remains a free man. It's not news, but Geller surely is clueless.

Someone agrees with me:

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Hillary Clinton's protegee and replacement in the Senate, says she'll ask the Secretary of State to run for President in 2016. [...] "I'm going to be one of the first to ask Hillary to run in 2016," Gillibrand told BuzzFeed, saying she "certainly hope[s]" Clinton will run for president.

"I think she would be incredibly well-poised to be our next Democratic president," Gillibrand said. "I think she's extremely well prepared. I think her experience as Secretary of State has not only elevated her stature and experience, but she's proven she's someone who can get things done and I think she'd be an outstanding candidate."

Also this: "Gillibrand's words also a rebuke to her own governor, Andrew Cuomo, who also appears to be positioning himself for a future White House run." STOP Cuomo!!!

Speaking for me only

Bump and Update: Multiple French News sites are now reporting Mohamed Merah is dead. It's been confirmed by police. Three police officers were wounded, one seriously.

This comes after a long, continuous and loud blast of what sounded like automatic weapons. Police now say Merah fired at them and they fired back in self-defense. Apparently, he started shooting at them while in the bathroom and then jumped out the bathroom window. There are even reports he may have died from the fall rather than the gunfight. An autopsy will be performed. Added: He didn't die from the fall but a shot to the head as he jumped from the window. [More....]

The picks:

Wisconsin +4 over Syracuse; Michigan State -5 over Louisville; Ohio State -7½ over Cincinnati; North Carolina -10½ over Ohio; Marquette -1½ over Florida; Indiana +9 over Kentucky; Baylor -6 over Xavier; NC State (+8) over Kansas.

Open Thread.