Today is May 4th. On this date in 1979, Margaret Thatcher was sworn in as Great Britain’s first female Prime Minister. She was famously known as the “Iron Lady” for her steadfast opposition to the Soviet Union and communism, and because of the iron armor she wore when fighting crime with Tony Stark. Also on this date, in 2010, Pablo Picasso’s “Nude, Green Leaves and Bust” sold at auction for a record $106.5 million. Picasso was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, and co-founder of the “Cubist” movement. Cubism breaks up the subject and views it from multiple angles on the same canvas. It caused some horrifying abominations when briefly adopted at Hogwart’s. On this date in 1987, live models were used in bra ads for the first time. Reached for comment, teenage boys everywhere said “Awww yeah!!!” And finally, today is International Star Wars Day, or May The 4th Be With You Day. The previous link has some suggestions on how to celebrate. I have one more: Visit an Occupy encampment and periodically blurt out “what an incredible smell you’ve discovered!” Consider this an Open Thread.

Taxes, unions and regulation make states hostile to business | Washington Examiner
“As Republican Govs. Scott Walker of Wisconsin and Mitch Daniels of Indiana have sought to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses and keep spending at sustainable levels, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, is trying to tax his state out of its disastrous fiscal condition.”

The Life of Emily | CatholicVote.org
“3 Years Old: Emily stays at home with her mother, who reads stories to her and plays with her. Government-funded preschool programs for three-year-olds weren’t considered that important then. Mothers were.”

Generalissimo Obama | Free Beacon
“Column: Presidential Rhetoric Shows The Antidemocratic Strain In Progressivism”

Wisconsin Recall Amnesia | WSJ
“Now that the recall election of Mr. Walker is in full swing, Big Labor must be wondering where the outrage went.”

Drugmakers’ Deal With Obama Said to Be Probed by House | Bloomberg
“Pfizer Inc. (PFE) and Merck & Co. (MRK) are being pulled into an expanding congressional investigation about the agreement drugmakers reached with the Obama administration to support the Democrats’ overhaul of the U.S. health-care system, according to three people familiar with the talks.”

Today’s Word of the Day comes via Dictionary.com.
flaneur: noun idler; dawdler; loafer.