Yesterday I posted this at the tail end of an open thread:

As I was leaving for work this morning, I heard there had been a water main break very close to my building, and that the street I would take off the expressway was closed.

Okay, I thought, I'll just take a slightly different route and come into the garage from the other entrance.

Well, 'twas not to be.

As I got closer, I could see enough flashing lights that I was pretty sure the street the other garage entrance was on would also be closed.

Called a co-worker, who was most likely to be at work already, and he confirmed that we could not get into the garage, and because the water to the building had been turned off, the office was closing.

Great (sort of - I had postponed until today sending a FedEx because my secretary was out yesterday and I didn't want to impose on the only other secretary in the department) - I'll just go home.

Well...it took me an hour to go about four blocks (it then took me 20 minutes to drive the 25 miles home).  And this was early - before 8:00.  I'm convinced it had a lot to do with the "traffic-control officers" who were "directing" traffic around the closed streets.  I've gotten so that when I see them in the street, I know I'm screwed and it will take 10 times longer.

Anyway, when all was said and done, I think they closed something like 10 blocks in the heart of downtown.

Here are some pictures of the flood.

And a snip of the story:

City transportation officials say the water pipe broke under the intersection of Lombard and Gay Streets around 5:30 am this morning.
All city buildings in downtown Baltimore and the federal and circuit courts were closed after the water main break.

The Schaefer Tower was closed due to low water pressure.

The Schaefer Tower houses 14 State agencies among them the Maryland Transit Administration and the Maryland Public Service Commission. More than 1,100 employees are affected by the building's closure.

The Maryland Department of General Services will alert State employees when the building reopens. Employees and anyone conducting business with State agencies in the building should listen for announcements on reopening on local radio and television stations.

Crews have turned off the 40-inch main and 20-inch main. Kocher says the flooding in the area reached about 2 feet at one point, but the water has receded.

People are being asked to check to see if their businesses are open before going to work and use mass transit since many parking garages in the area are inaccessible.

This morning's commute was not too bad - I think a lot of people may have just been avoiding the area - but it will be interesting getting out of the garage tonight.  Both exits are on one-way streets that are closed, so we will be going the "wrong" way to get out of the garage and get to a street that will take us out of the city.

Leahy's been a bit confused over some contradictory things he's been reading in the WaPo and NYT about Bybee's thoughts on the memos, and wants Bybee to come explain himself.

The interesting little tidbit is this, from the letter:

According to the press account, you became the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Office of Legal Counsel after interviewing with White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales because you were interested in being nominated to a judgeship on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Apparently he asked if you would be willing to head OLC first. I am sure you would like an opportunity to come forward and set the record straight with respect to whether and, if so, how your judicial ambitions related to your participation at OLC.

Listening to the press conference, it sounds like the reason for this is primarily to gig up the vaccine and anti-viral makers to get going right away.

Interestingly, the WHO head is heaping praise on the U.S. for its open sharing of scientific and other information with WHO and other countries and just a generally extra-cooperative attitude.  Not hard to read between the lines on that.  Apparently, the U.S. hasn't been quite so cooperative over the last 8 years.

The thing that kills me about this article is, if you look at the photo, it says:

When the Canyon Creek utility board tried to change a voting location from Jack and Beverly Stueber's Austin, Texas, home to a local school, they ran into federal hurdles.

Very interesting, however for me, Obama is on target, though what business did he consider as the one that betrayed Americans? AIG? Insurance stuff?  GM? The auto?  Or the business of education? Perhaps the legal business? I know the media business, No; I know the business of politics, yep!

As once commented before, many in the Republican Party said the Country should be run like a business. Now Chinese say American very hǎowán. (Funny), you American people always thought Wall Mart was American but it is "Chinee".

So, here we are bailing out big business especially one that is too big to fail but does not want to have the electorate have any say in the operations or who operates these business even though we are kind enough to offer billions to do good and don't know if or when we will ever that money back.

Sheesh, one thing is for sure if I went a bank and said give me a billion dollars and don't ask any questions they would likely haul me off in hand cuffs. Yikes chuckle, chuckle. A lot of political people are stupid.  

There's a tremendous amount of idiots who look so good. It's frightening. In a world of pollution, profanity, adolescence, zits, broccoli, racism, ozone depletion, sexism, stupid guys, and PMS, why the hell do people still tell me to have a nice day?  

So the Ronald Reagan said "Big Government is the Problem" heck we the people are the government, so the logic holds we the people are the problem? I don't think so. Or Obama says business has betrayed us. But, we the people are those that work in big business.

So, we are betraying our selves? No I don't think so, or heck we are giving ourselves money because we screwed up, and now want to help our self but we tell our selves we can not and stay the heck out. Sounds crazier than Screwy Louie's Sports Shop doesn't it. LOL.        

Actually, this notion with the saying America creates business that is too big to fail is also interesting yet can happen with positive effects in capitalism with the possibilities of an extraordinary bull market. Seriously though the one percenters are have a difficult time parting with their money.

Everyone realizes that when big business merges all those involved need to be pensioned out not layed off. Health care for everyone is way over due period. America the world already has a pandemic its called paranoia.

Again to reflect on business, those that want to merge, even if it is a big merger or especially if it is a big merger, people need to be pensioned out rather than laying of the work force. It is a very needed page to be written in our history.

The American people are very generous people and will forgive almost any weakness, with the possible exception of stupidity.
- Will Rogers (1879-1935)

In a statement, Fox said an on-screen graphic would alert viewers to coverage of the press conference on Fox News Channel and the Fox Business Network. The drama "Lie to Me" will air at 8 p.m.