The newest spy satellite proudly sent into orbit this week by the National Reconnaissance Office, $10.3 billion a year second cousin to the NRA, features a giant, evil, earth-sucking, in-your-face octopus with the soothing slogan, "Nothing Is Beyond Our Reach." We feel safer already.

It is hard to imagine the world without Nelson Mandela, prisoner No. 46664, true man of peace and freedom. A moment: He came to Boston in the spring of 1990, newly free from "the long, lonely, wasted years." He was hours late. The massive crowd waited, huddled, patient as Ladysmith Black Mambazo sang for us. Finally Mandela appeared, radiant, and took the stage. The crowd grew thunderous. And the great man danced, gleeful, just a bit. The people roared. The hero grinned. It was perfect, the most electrifying moment ever - except, maybe, when he  appeared at the 2010 World Cup final in Johannesburg, one of his last, great, public moments. One man did so much; one man cannot do everything. South Africa still confronts huge problems. May Mandela's work, grace, strength and legacy live on; may his people abide; may he have peace. From his several foundations: "It is in our hands now."

Even as the corporate lobbyists of ALEC meet in D.C. this week to discuss how best to undermine democracy, The Guardian got its enterprising hands on internal documents charting ALEC's financial troubles since Trayvon Martin's impolitic death and the ensuing unpleasant publicity. Having lost the support of 400 state legislators and over 60 corporations, ALEC plans to make up a huge budget shortfall by plotting to coax back companies under two new projects - Prodigal Son and Jeffersonian - that will help them avoid the pesky legal, ethical and tax challenges that keep arising when they do the frequent lobbying they even more frequently say they're not doing.