Stretch of warm, spectacular spring weather here on the central coast has broken, yielding to old, boring, semi-perfection. Good day to stay inside and blog, which is good, because that’s what I have to do anyway.

Here are some mid-day items that called out to me from the news pantry:

* Bloomberg anti-gun-violence group mulling massive ad campaign against Mark Pryor.

* Ricin case speculation shifts to failed Mississippi Republican political candidate.

* Harold Meyerson says sale of L.A. Times to the Brothers Koch would violate “civic trust.”

* In decision that is getting mixed reviews from liberals, Andrew Sullivan wins 2013 Hillman Prize for Opinion and Analysis Journalism.

* And speaking of awards, TNR’s Alec MacGillis very unhappy about Pulitzer awarded to the Wall Street Journal‘s Bret Stephens.

And in non-political news:

* Apple’s sales up but profits down thanks to discounted older iPhone sales and low price of Mini.

Back within an hour.

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Ed Kilgore is a political columnist for New York and managing editor at the Democratic Strategist website. He was a contributing writer at the Washington Monthly from January 2012 until November 2015, and was the principal contributor to the Political Animal blog.