Weekend Roundup

Kids Today

My 5 year old tells me that the big kids "make out" while they hang around their swim meet waiting for their races. When I ask what "make out" means, I get giggles, until finally my 8 year old answers that it means, "bust a move." Who knew?

Young MC

Our Growing Economy

If GDP is up 1%, but inflation is 4.2%, then I don't think the economy is really growing. Oh, and oil is at $142 a barrel.

The Angelina Jolie of Journalism - Lara Logan!

So, I saw CBS's Lara Logan on The Daily Show and thought, "What a gutsy chick going into all those war zones. May she's brainy, too." Well, maybe. But now she's also a tabloid queen for having 2 boyfriends in Iraq who got into a fight over her. A fistfight in Iraq? Now that's news! Oh yeah, she and one her boyfriends are married to other people, and she's from Africa.

Old Ralph Nader Still Crazy But Now Also Racist!

Ralph Nader, who may or may not also be Alan Alda, became a famous liberal icon by writing a daring "tell all" book to inform the country that cars can be dangerous. And he was right! That was about 45 years ago. So, apparently bored, Ralph has kept busy by being a public crank and helping Republicans beat Democrats in elections because his own political soul is too pure to engage in the dirty business of doing any real-life good in the world.

For his next act, Ralph will publicly soil his pants in a condescending and pretentious manner.

Here's Ralph's latest insightful ralph on Barack Obama:

"There's only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate. He's half African-American," Nader said. "Whether that will make any difference, I don't know. I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white? He doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson? We'll see all that play out in the next few months and if he gets elected afterwards."

Well, they call it ralphing for a reason. Obama is obviously just a white-talking mulatto who doesn't give a crap about exploitation. (When's the last time you heard the word "explotation" in a political context?) He ain't no better than that white-playing quadroon Tiger Woods.

Nader, of course, is Green, thus continuously embarrassing all people who care about the environment.

Irresistable headlines

Fla. Man Dies After Taking 23 Shots in 30 Mins.

Before Kissing Girl, Katy Perry Sang to God

Worldview Brainy Chick - Special Edition & More

American Astronaut Karen L. Nyberg

NASA Mission Specialist Karen L. Nyberg, Ph.D.

Dr. Nyberg is currently spending day 10 in space on the Space Shuttle Discovery, which my family and I got to see launch on May 31st. She is the 50th woman in space. Dr. Nyberg is a mechanical engineer, earning her Ph.D. from the University of Texas where her research was on "human thermoregulation and experimental metabolic testing and control." Yeah, I almost majored in that, too.

Although I'm not really sure what that is, it sounds plenty smart to justify a Special Edition of Worldview Brainy Chick.

Also, being able to write "astronaut" on forms as your occupation has to be pretty cool.

So, "bon voyage and godspeed" to Dr. Nyberg and her shipmates on their mission to the International Space Station.

So, What's up with the Brainy Chick Thing?

Well, since you asked, it's my own anti-bimbo contribution to the ongoing fight for equality, meritocracy, and egalitarianism. By recognizing women of real accomplishment. It's not much, but I'm pretty busy and don't have a lot of resources. So I do what I can. "Better to light a single candle" and all that. I have a lot of women in my life, so I care.

People Disappearing From the Internet

Carol Shepp McCain - John McCain's first wife. A lot of conspiracy blog buzz that this former "swimsuit model" has been intentionally removed from most websites. Lots of folks are looking for photos of her though, especially any taken before her 1969 car accident. She's from Philly, so you'd think there would at least be a published wedding announcement from the Inquirer.

Carol Shepp McCain - 2008?

1973?

Old Liberals Never Die

Ex - Noam Chomsky Colleague Brit Hume

They just amend their resume's.

Was Brit Hume really the Washington correspondent for old timey, anti-war, leftie rag Ramparts? The one from Berkeley, not the Irish one. Nothing about it on his Fox bio or Wikipedia page. MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT ELSE HE'S HIDING! Just kidding. A little Fox news humor there. Note to parents - a cool name like "Brit" is a gift that keeps on giving.

Fox Business News?

Two days in a row I find myself watching the Fox Business Channel in the morning because it had the most compelling story. First, a rather in-depth (for tv) look at oil prices and possible reasons why they are so high. Next, an articulate look at the commercial mortgage backed securities (CMBS) market and signs of trouble there. Whatever was on MSNBC, CNBC, or CNN could not compete. And the host, Alexis Glick, is kind of growing on me. Because, unlike most Fox newsies, she's not a complete jerk.

Not a Complete Jerk Alexis Glick

Don't Forget - Father's Day this Sunday!

Side Note To Google

The spellcheck on this thing still calls out "Wikipedia" and "Obama" as typos.

Worldview Brainy Chick for June 2008

Worldview Loves the Brainy Chicks

The June 2008 Worldview Brainy Chick is . . .

Chrystia Freeland!

Chrystia is the US Managing Editor of The Financial Times. FYI, The Financial Times is the British rival to The Wall Street Journal. The FT is, strangely, printed daily on dark pink paper, making it easy to spot. Chrystia shows up regularly on American tv pundit talk shows such as The McLaughlin Group and Hardball. A Harvard grad and Rhodes Scholar, she really is the complete package.

She is the author of the Adam Smith recommended book, Sale of the Century: Russia's Wild Ride from Communism to Capitalism, which you can look at here. She is rare among the pundi in that she has true foresight which she shares in an intelligible and artfully accurate way. She is also very polite, maintaining her poise and composure while holding her own among the yellers and interrupters who infest our political discourse on tv. As listeners, this allows us to enjoy Chrystia's knowledge, logic, and insight on the issues of the day, which never fails to impress. This makes her very likable and watchable, and I believe this better standard of behavior is becoming more common among the younger generation of pundits.

Here is a great clip of her, back in November 2007, when the Republican contest seemed to be between Romney and Giuliani, correctly predicting that the main election issue would turn to the mortage crisis in 2008.

And here is a great clip of her holding her own in John McLaughlin's circus and standing up for accuracy in political discourse. BTW, she refer's to "you guys" can elect your President because she's Canadian.

So thanks, congrats, and plaudits to Chrystia! Keep up the good work!