Outside the Beltway

A special surprise was waiting this morning for those who subscribe to Jim Geraghty’s Jolt newsletter.

Philip Greenspun wonders, “How did the New York Times manage to spend $40 million on its pay wall?”

To honor the administration’s “no boots on the ground” statements, all covert U.S. personnel in Libya will work barefoot. – Jim Geraghty

Politico’s Matt Wuerker illustrates the funding disparity between the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Customers at a Radio Shack in Montana have an opportunity to get a free gun if they switch to Dish Network.

Obama Captain America parody: I’m not punching you Gaddafi I’m having a limited humanitarian intervention with your face.

Canada is leading the operation in Libya but no one is leading Canada.

Humorous take on America’s wars.

Infographic on How to Have a Rational Discussion.

Earth’s moon will seem bigger Saturday night than it has since 1993. It’ll still be the same size as usual, however.

Simplest possible NCAA Tournament bracket

Ru Paul for President 2012 bumper sticker

Comedian Gilbert Gottfried is the latest idiot celebrity to damage their career on Twitter.

If the Republicans need their own Bill Clinton, how about Mark Sanford?

This video “Teachers Unions Explained” isn’t particularly fair but it’s nonetheless amusing.

A Welcome to Wisconsin sign with another sign saying “A Division of Koch Industries” is going around Twitter.

The peculiar habit of some Indo-Europeans of assigning gender to nouns is frustrating and amusing.

“Could you please go shopping for me and buy one carton of milk, and if they have eggs, get 6!” A short time later the husband comes back with 6 cartons of milk. The wife asks him, “Why the hell did you buy 6 cartons of milk?” He replied, “They had eggs.”

Mashup of White House spokesman Robert Gibbs telling reporters what jobs he’s never held

Amy Chua captured the two things we fear most: the Chinese and our children.

The Beast has released its The 50 Most Loathsome Americans of 2010, which I gather is supposed to be amusing rather than taken seriously.