Pope Francis, a deeply humane man focusing on the faith rather than the politics, is a breath of fresh air at the head of an organization that desperately needed it. It's too early to tell how far he's willing to go in opening up his church, but one wonders if the right-wing theocrats who so dominate the public face of fundamentalist Christianity in America will ever show such enlightened thinking. (I wouldn't bet on it.)

Occasional Planet: Four ways Republicans are guilty of attempting to murder democracy.

P.M. Carpenter: A comically frustrated Karl Rove tries to speak logic to Teabaggers.

Joe. My. God.: The Koch Bros. present the creepiest anti-Obamacare ads ever.

Limbo: Gorgeous movie-style posters for every original Star Trek episode.

Pruning Shears: Is football on a path to obscurity among casual fans? (A Browns fan says maybe so.)

Round-up by Michael J.W. Stickings of The Reaction (Twitter: @mjwstickings). I'll be here through Sunday.

Send requests and suggestions to mbru@crooksandliars.com.