Japan's Strict Building Codes Saved Lives  —  From seawalls that line stretches of Japan's coastline, to skyscrapers that sway to absorb earthquakes, to building codes that are among the world's most rigorous, no country may be better prepared to withstand earthquakes than Japan.

The State Department spokesman and the Prisoner in the Brig  —  I just heard an extraordinary remark from State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley.  He was speaking to a small audience at MIT on “the benefits of new media as it relates to foreign policy”, an event organised by the Center for Future Civic Media.

President of China?  —  Obama's lament.  —  “Mr. Obama has told people that it would be so much easier to be the president of China.  As one official put it, 'No one is scrutinizing Hu Jintao's words in Tahrir Square.'”  —  “Obama Seeks a Course of Pragmatism in the Middle East,” The New York Times, March 11, 2011.

Gang Rape Story Lacked Balance  —  The exterior of an abandoned trailer where an 11-year-old girl was assaulted.  Numerous readers shared their concerns over how The Times handled the coverage.  —  The story quickly climbed The Times's “most emailed” list but not just because of the sensational facts of the crime involved.

Dumbing Deficits Down  —  Like anyone who writes regularly about what passes for economic and fiscal debate in American politics, I've developed a strong tolerance for nonsense.  After all, if I got upset every time powerful people were illogical and/or dishonest, I'd spend every waking hour in a state of raging despair.

Lawmaker advocates eugenics  —  A 91-year-old state representative told a constituent that he believes in eugenics and that the world would be better off without “defective people.”  —  Barrington Republican Martin Harty told Sharon Omand, a Strafford resident who manages a community mental health program …

Walker signs budget-repair bill, judge denies TRO request  —  Gov. Scott Walker signed the bill Friday that repeals most collective bargaining by public employee unions.  He will hold a ceremony and news conference later in the day to tout the signing.  Meanwhile, a judge decides …

Calif. man swept out to sea taking tsunami pics  —  CRESCENT CITY, Calif.—The Coast Guard searched for a man Friday who was swept out to sea by powerful waves generated by the tsunami in Northern California while taking photos near the mouth of the Klamath River in Del Norte County.

Japan struggling to ‘cool down’ nuclear plant, minister says  —  Tokyo (CNN) — Officials ordered an evacuation Friday of residents living near a Japanese nuclear power plant, saying there has been no sign yet of leaks but indicating a struggle to “cool down” the facility.

Obama: No sense in defunding public broadcasting  —  President Obama defended public broadcasting from cuts on Friday, emphasizing that defunding networks like NPR and PBS would do little to rein in spending.  —  As Republicans in Congress hope to defund government assistance to the Corporation …

The Cook Report: Trend or Fluke?  —  A new poll that shows independents warming to the role of government could signal an important shift.  —  I only get to celebrate special days like my birthday, wedding anniversary, Thanksgiving, and Christmas once a year, but I can rejoice every month …

Five charged in alleged plot to kidnap or kill troopers, judge  —  FAIRBANKS: Scheme targeted judge and state troopers, officials say.  —  Five people in the Fairbanks area were arrested Thursday by state and federal law enforcement on charges connected with an alleged plot to kidnap …

After GOP denials, Scarborough says he was courted for Senate  —  MSNBC host Joe Scarborough on Friday said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) has asked him about running against Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) in 2012.  —  Scarborough said in an interview with The Hill, “John suggested last month …

Bachmann increasingly serious about presidential bid  —  Washington (CNN) - Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann is increasingly serious about joining the wide-open race for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.  —  And a growing number of conservative activists, legislators …

Earthquake turns TV networks into print  —  An 8.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan yesterday, and a tsunami is spreading, right now, across the Pacific ocean.  Thus we have much news that is best consumed live and uncooked.  Here's mine, right now:  —  Not many of us carry radios in our pockets any more.

Hammertime: Moore's National Resources  —  This week, Michael Moore offered a simple and elegant solution to our debt problem.  —  Calling the assets of wealthy Americans a “national resource,” he suggested our problems would all be solved if we could just have access to all that money.

Doctors say Gabrielle Giffords told she was shot  —  Rep. Gabrielle Giffords's husband has told her that she was shot, but she has no memory of the incident, her doctors said Friday as they offered an update on her medical condition.  —  Doctors treating the Arizona Democrat …

Appropriations Committee Introduces Three Week Continuing Resolution - Bill will Prevent Government Shutdown, Cut $6 Billion in Spending  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers today introduced a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government at current rates …

My Sign-Off From Politics Daily … True to form, I was too busy to go to the meeting and missed my own firing yesterday; don't you hate it when that happens?  (All my life, my mom has been saying I'd be late to my own funeral, so could we please not tell her she was right?)

North Korea's Digital Underground  —  TO SMUGGLE FACTS INTO OR OUT OF NORTH KOREA IS TO RISK IMPRISONMENT AND EVEN EXECUTION.  YET TODAY, AIDED BY A HALF-DOZEN STEALTHY MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY, CITIZEN-JOURNALISTS ARE USING TECHNOLOGIES NEW AND OLD TO BREAK THE REGIME'S IRON GRIP ON INFORMATION.