So the techies are testing the impact of today’s modest ration of music videos against a high-volume day, and we’ll know more soon. Blog and learn.

Here are some midday news items for your consumption:

* Breaking news: Nidal Hasan, the Fort Hood shooter, found guilty on all counts and could face death penalty.

* Here, finally, is the transcript for the president’s speech on college affordability in Buffalo yesterday.

* The Southern Poverty Law Center’s Hatewatch has the alarming story of a North Dakota town being taken over by white supremacists.

* Felix Salmon cites NASDAQ incident yesterday as evidence that data crashes are “inevitable and mostly harmless.”

* At TAP Jonathan Bernstein makes the case against the case against funny-looking legislative districts.

And in non-political news:

* Delta Airlines edges tobacco company for title of “Least Respected Company in America” according to survey of brand reputations.

Back after a lunch break. Here’s the incomparable voice of Joan Baez performing “The Ballad of Sacco and Vanzetti:”

YouTube video

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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.