My Top 5

1. Walter Cronkite is dead.

And yet another huge icon of Americana is gone. Let me be the first of many to say that this has been a rough 4 weeks to be an icon in this country. Mr. Cronkite has been a part of all of our lives and, as a perpetual student of politics and law, I can truly say that reporters of this caliber will always leave a hole in my world. Of course, I think he set the bar that so few after him have been able to reach.

2. All You Subscription Deal @ Southern Savers

Ok, for those of you who seek out the best deals on the planet each week to keep your families fed, here’s the deal for you. But you’ve got to hurry, the deal expires July 31, 2009, so you must act quickly. Go on over to Southern Savers and check it out. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

3. Sanford scandal leads to first key departure.

While I’ve never had anything nice to think or say about Joel Sawyer, press secretary to our future ex-gov, I still find his timing to leave the office interesting. He refuses to give too much detail on what his next venture in life will be, but I pity the fool that’s hired him. He’s an idiot, plain and simple. Well – but maybe not, at least he’s finally showing SOME intelligence – a little late, mind you, but some, just the same. He’s finally figured out that it’s best to put as much distance between him and Mr. Argentina as possible. Thanks for playing, Joel. You won’t be missed.

4. Lawyers & Politicians ARE NOT treated equally in SC!

You might have to look back at the original story to get my full meaning here, but this truly disgusts me. We are locking up kids for years for carrying around a couple of joints, but a Solicitor in this state can fail (miserably, I might add) several field sobriety tests and yet still he is able to avoid both the DUI charge AND any other charge that would require a jail time penalty. Yep, our justice system is totally fair and balanced here. Wow!

5. White Man’s Last Stand by: Maureen Dowd

Simply my favorite editorial this week. You go, girl!

1. Jon minus Kate: Stepping out with the Plastic Surgeon’s kid

I know a lot of people are sick and tired of the whole Jon & Kate thing, but for me, someone who rarely watched the show except for those rainy weekends that coincided with a marathon running of the episodes, this definitely has my attention. I cannot understand what in the heck this man is thinking. For someone who always seemed so committed to the family, his wife, and his adorable children, this is just sickening. The French Riviera?!? A 22-year old?? What? And you say this is the daughter of Kate’s plastic surgeon? WTF?!?
Anyone else notice that his comment, “it started out as a friendship and then became something more” sounds an awful lot like Mark Sanford’s explanation of his affair with his “soul mate”. I guess Jon didn’t know where Argentina was and just jetted off to the next best sexy sounding place on the place. Nice work.

2. Penguin goes straight!

I don’t know when the last time was that I saw such an adorable story. Who knew?

3. Harry Potter: The movie I can’t wait to see this summer.

Yes, I’m a huge Harry Potter nerd. I’ve read all the books, but can’t wait to see the newest installment. It’s a tradition in my family with the kids and I think we’ll put this on the calendar for next week. Yay!

4. Tracing the First Lady’s slavery roots

Who knew her roots would lead to Georgetown, SC – quite literally up the road from me? Interesting. Of course, I also find it interesting that very little attention has ever been given to the genealogy of other First Ladies.

5. Shelfari: My favorite place to document my reading life

A great place to track the books you own, want, lend out. You can also rate and review the books you read and then get recommendations on what to read next. Tons of other great features, as well. Check it out!