H/T BoingBoing

Good morning, and TGIF! Michael Rigley created this beautiful animation, titled "Network," for his BFA design thesis project at the California College of Art. It's about personal data captured by cell phone providers and is quite relevant this week.

Our deepest condolences to Stephen Colbert of the Colbert Report and family on the passing of his mother, Lorna Colbert, 92.

Your morning open thread begins below.

On the "Colbert Report" this week, Stephen Colbert addressed Monsanto's GMO wheat incident last week, which led to Japan and South Korea to suspended U.S. wheat imports, causing wheat futures to tumble.

Comparing wheat to zombies, Colbert called it “amber waves of frankengrain” and "the return of the walking bread." He even mocked Monsanto for claiming it is "mystified by the appearance of the wheat," noting that "at this point, [the wheat] can probably talk" and solve the whole mystery.

Colbert also mentioned that Monsanto could face criminal prosecution and a $1 million fine over the discovery of the wheat that hasn't yet been approved by the U.S. government, adding that it would be merely pocket change based on Monsanto’s profits.

Colbert was joined by science journalist Laurie Garrett to discuss the new strain of wheat, and what role it might play in the future of the maker of Agent Orange. She said that Monsanto has been “leaking” the fact that they may have been sabotaged, adding that "There's no reason seeds should survive in the soil for the last couple of years."

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PBS dropped a documentary called "Citizen Koch" because they feared the reaction of billionaire sponsor David Koch.

That news hasn’t sat too well with many, including Stephen Colbert, who takes PBS to task for cancelling the documentary. Noting that government contributions constitute only 12 percent of PBS’ funds, Colbert explained that public television is now “more and more dependent on viewers nothing like you.”

"I guess for a donation of $75 you get the PBS tote bag. And for $23 million, you get PBS's nut sack."

Stephen Colbert weighed in on Exxon's tar sands oil spill in Mayflower, Arkansas this week. He mocks Exxon's cleanup efforts as they "Try to put the Pegasus pipeline oil back underground where it came from and employs a time-honored cleanup technique pioneered by drunk guys."

This segment features video footage taken by the Tar Sands Blockade as they "broke into" Arkansas.

Better coverage by Colbert on the situation there in Mayflower than you'll see on any of the MSM.

On Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Friday night, Stephen Colbert dropped in to sing "Friday" with the Roots. Your late night open thread begins below the fold.

Hat tip to Atrios.

Thursday night Steven Colbert took Pete Hoekstra to task for his plan to change the Constitution and take away your right to vote for U.S. Senator.

You heard that right: Pete Hoekstra actually wants to repeal the 17th Amendment and give Lansing, Michigan politicians the power to pick your next senator.

Rep. Hoekstra (R-MI) is running against incumbent Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) this year, after a failed effort to replace Governor Jennifer Granholm in 2012. Wildly popular with the GOP, Hoekstra's campaign contributors have deep pockets, making him a very real threat.

Colbert wrapped up the segment with a stinging rebuke, "The point is these candidates are being refreshingly honest when they say that voters cannot be trusted to choose their senator...and if we elect them, we'll prove them right."