General political righteousness.

Enjoying a night at the Metropolitan Opera, audiences were no doubt thrilled when when a man climbed on stage during the curtain call to protest Russian President Vladimir Putin. Why? Because as every Columbian knows, politics is everywhere. Even where maybe it shouldn’t be.  (New York Times)

As part of a sweeping effort to reform campus culture,  Dartmouth College President Phillip Hanlon has announced a ban on hard liquor, including on those over the campus drinking age. Meanwhile, Columbia University President Lee Bollinger considered a ban on Butler library on Friday nights, probably. (New York Times)

Be on alert: later today Governor Romney will announce officially whether he will be running for President, and by extension, whether he will once again become a permanent fixture in your television, your conversations, and your dreams. (CNN)

Voting on a number of amendments intended to weaken support for Keystone XL Pipeline legislation, the Senate has officially acknowledged the existence of climate change, though it continues to deny its dependence on man made forces (even as it eventually did approve Keystone construction). As of now, Nature has no comment, but that one Facebook friend certainly does. (Newsweek)

No doubt upset that another entity would dare infringe on its role, a national government is requiring greater transparency in private data collection. Thanks to efforts taken by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the U.K., all knowing Google will share more information on the tactics used to collect data in the region. (PC World)

Firmly expressed political conviction via Shutterstock