Guinness drops sponsorship of anti-LGBT NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade  —  Guinness today announced that the beer company would drop its sponsorship of the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade due to the parade's discriminatory rule that prohibits LGBT families and organizations from participating.

Crimeans overwhelmingly vote for secession  —  SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine (AP) — Fireworks exploded and Russian flags fluttered above jubilant crowds Sunday after residents in Crimea voted overwhelmingly to secede from Ukraine and join Russia.  The United States and Europe condemned the ballot …

State TV says Russia could turn US to ‘radioactive ash’  —  Moscow (AFP) - A leading anchor on Russian state television on Sunday described Russia as the only country capable of turning the United States into “radioactive ash”, in an incendiary comment at the height of tensions over the Crimea referendum.

That Old-Time Whistle  —  There are many negative things you can say about Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee and the G.O.P.'s de facto intellectual leader.  But you have to admit that he's a very articulate guy, an expert at sounding as if he knows what he's talking about.

Pilot Spoke to Air Controllers After Shutoff of Data System  —  SEPANG, Malaysia — A signaling system was disabled on the missing Malaysia Airlines jet before a pilot spoke to Malaysian air traffic control without hinting at any trouble, a senior Malaysian official said Sunday …

Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps Sr. ‘on the edge of death’  —  The anti-gay Kansas preacher who courted notoriety by picketing the funerals of gays and U.S. soldiers is living out his last days in a hospice care facility near his Topeka church.  —  Westboro Baptist Church member …

Democrats Must Run on Obamacare in November  —  In light of their loss in Florida's special election, Democrats need to adopt a new political approach and emphasize the popular provisions of the Affordable Care Act.  —  In the wake of Democrat Alex Sink's narrow loss in the special congressional election …

The Hidden Rot in the Jobs Numbers  —  Hours worked are declining, resulting in the equivalent of a net loss of 100,000 jobs since September.  —  Most commentators viewed the February jobs report released on March 7 as good news, indicating that the labor market is on a favorable growth path.

NRA opposition may sink Obama's surgeon general nominee  —  Senate Democratic leaders are trying to determine whether Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy has enough support.  As some pro-gun Democrats break with the president, the White House declines to push for a vote.

The Age of Individualism  —  IN the future, it seems, there will be only one “ism” — Individualism — and its rule will never end.  As for religion, it shall decline; as for marriage, it shall be postponed; as for ideologies, they shall be rejected; as for patriotism, it shall be abandoned; as for strangers, they shall be distrusted.

Much depends on Ginsburg  —  The 81-year-old Supreme Court justice should retire this summer to ensure Obama can choose a like-minded successor.  —  President Obama greets Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before his State of the Union address in January.  (Michael Reynolds / EPA / January 28, 2014)