Good morning, Headliners. How will you be celebrating the birthday of Nicolaus Copernicus today? Among the Headlines Du Jour from yesterday include:

• 356 – Emperor Constantius II issues a decree closing all pagan temples in the Roman Empire.
• 1674 – England and the Netherlands sign the Treaty of Westminster, ending the Third Anglo-Dutch War. A provision of the agreement transfers the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam to England, and it is renamed New York.
• 1846 – In Austin, Texas the newly formed Texas state government is officially installed. The Republic of Texas government officially transfers power to the State of Texas government following the annexation of Texas by the United States.
• 1847 – The first group of rescuers reaches the Donner Party.
• 1859 – Daniel E. Sickles, a New York Congressman, is acquitted of murder on grounds of temporary insanity. This is the first time this defense is successfully used in the United States.
• 1878 – Thomas Edison patents the phonograph.
• 1953 – Censorship: Georgia approves the first literature censorship board in the United States.
• 1963 – The publication of Betty Friedan‘s The Feminine Mystique reawakens the Feminist Movement in the United States as women’s organizations and consciousness raising groups spread.

Now let’s delve into today’s Headlines Du Jour:

LGBT NEWS:

The evolutionary puzzle
of homosexuality

Washington State To Automatically Marry All Same-Sex Domestic Partners

Scientists mystified as 20 earthquakes hit Oklahoma in one day

THE “O” IN GOP STANDS FOR OLD:

Bobby Jindal Relaunches Himself One More Time

The Cost of Voting Republican: Economy Lost $3 Billion Due to GOP Blocking UI Entension

FOLLOW THE MONEY:

Comcast Gave $854,000 to
Congressional Committee
Overseeing its Merger with Time Warner

Filthy rich but secretly terrified: Inside the 1 percent’s sore-winner backlash

The Tea Party Demands that
Mitch McConnell Drop Out Or
Else Alison Grimes Will Win

Voting Against John Boehner Just Became The Tea Party’s Litmus Test

FREE THE WEED!!!

Louisiana governor open to
legalizing medical marijuana

Washington State Legislators
Pass Hemp Nullification Bill

Inside Girl Scout Cookies

Kinky Friedman Agriculture Commissioner campaign rooted in marijuana legalization

Kansas Bill Would Allow Spanking
Children To Point Of Bruising

How Fox News Talks About African-Americans When It’s Not February

Don Lemon Attacked By Fox News Over
His Reaction To Michael Dunn Verdict

CRACK MAYOR CORNER:

Doug Ford says Rob Ford is
being bullied by gay community

Rob Ford not backing down from controversy, says he can see ‘no reason’ to put up Pride flag to support gay rights during Olympics

Rob Ford may have broken
election rules, rival says

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