Here's a BBC recap of today's events in Libya. In Yemen, security forces are battling al Qaeda.

In Colorado Springs, Bruce J. Nozolino, a former Lockheed Martin executive facing a 31 count indictment on "charges that he killed his ex-wife’s lover, shot and wounded her divorce attorney and tried to kill the judge who presided over the divorce" in four separate shootings over an 8 year period, has been denied a public defender because he has $221,000 in assets (a condo and a pension.) Who will represent him? $221,000 is far below what a competent defense costs in a murder case. In addition to legal fees, there will be significant expenses for forensic experts and a private investigator. And what happens if he can't find a private lawyer? Does he get released on speedy trial grounds at some point?

The judge needs to rethink this decision. Indigency is not just a matter of how much money one has, but whether one can afford a defense. The Fifth and Sixth Amendments guarantee the right to a fair trial and to present a defense, as well as the right to effective assistance of counsel. Even Rod Blagojevich now has court-appointed lawyers.

On a lighter note, the season finale of Shameless airs tonight on Showtime. It's easily the best new series of the season.

RIP Geraldine Ferrarro. She died this morning. The first woman to be nominated for Vice President, she was 75 and battled myeloma for 12 years.

Amanda Knox: Reports leaking from independent inquiry into DNA evidence are that the DNA was contaminated by being improperly stored in liquid.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh says he's ready to step down. (Update: Not so fast, now he says he's not ready.)

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

I'll be watching the basketball. So here's an Open Thread.

Let's Go Gators!

Open Thread.

38 years later in 2004:

45 years later, it's Motown night on American Idol. While I'd love for one of the contestants to choose a Four Tops song and channel Levi Stubbs, I'll be glad to watch whoever they choose. The appeal of Motown is ageless and timeless and it's always fun to see it passed on to a new generation.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Open Thread.

A new season of Dancing With the Stars begins. We don't have Bristol to kick around any more. Unfortunately for viewers, pro dancer Derek Hough is taking the season off. I'll be mildly curious to see how Kirstie Allie and Sugar Ray Leonard do. Otherwise, I'm not too interested. I'm going to watch The Triangle Waist Fire instead.

Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

A Wisconsin judge has blocked the state's new union law.

For those of you not following March Madness, here's an open thread for all other topics.

The U.N. has authorized military strikes and imposed a "no fly zone" in Libya. Secretary of State Clinton said in Tunisia today.

"...that a no-fly zone would include "certain actions taken to protect the planes and the pilots, including bombing targets like the Libyan defense systems."

The U.S. is monitoring inbound flights from Japan for radiation. So far, there's no cause for concern. Also, the U.S. has chartered flights to evacuate family members of state department officials from the Northeast region of Japan. [More...]

Wisconsin marijuana activist Ben Masel is well known to readers of TalkLeft. He's been a frequent commenter here for many years.

I'm so sad to read this interview with Ben today, in the Wisconsin State Journal. Ben has terminal, stage IV lung cancer, that has "metastasized past a cure." Ben says the treatment plan has gone from "cure" to "contain."

Ben is undergoing radiation, and will start chemotherapy in May. He still plans on being in Denver in April for a NORML conference. I look forward to finally meeting him in person.

Our best thoughts go out to Ben. Feel free to leave him yours in comments.

It's a busy work day for me, here's an open thread for you, all topics welcome.

Here are my winning picks:

EAST 1st Round

(1) Ohio St (32-2)
(16) TexSA/AlaSt Ohio St

(8) George Mason (26-6)
(9) Villanova (21-11) George Mason

(5) W Virginia (20-11)
(12) UAB/Clem W Virginia

(4) Kentucky (25-8)
(13) Princeton (25-6) Kentucky

(6) Xavier (24-7)
(11) Marquette (20-14) Marquette

More one the flip . . .