Palin, Ltd.

Forbes has a piece doubting Palin's previously reported net worth. For the Forbes' folks, $10 million in earnings last year does not make her a "financial juggernaut."

Bottom line: thanks to a memoir published at the zenith of public interest in her, the former Alsaka governor had a windfall year. But her best days, financially, could be behind her. Unless, of course, she's elected President.

Sports Zeitgeist

What's media hype and what's part of the zeitgest? Initially found very little of interest in the Lebron James' media tsunami, until I read Matt Taibbi's blog posting on the Rolling Stone website titled The Five Funniest Things About the "Lebron James: Global Superdouche" Broadcast. There are so many hilariously insightful paragraphs to pull. The whole piece is well the read:

I'm sure there's a larger point to make in all of this about how the insane pathology behind the Lebron spectacle (read: a co-dependent need to worship insatiable media-attention hogs gone far off the rails of self-awareness) is what ultimately is going to destroy this country and leave us goverened for all time by dingbat megalomaniacs like Sarah Palin. But for now I think it's important to just enjoy "The Decision" on a pure humor value basis, since we're unlikely to see anything that funny for a good long while.

The Wait for Twain is Over

The NY Times' article on the release of the Mark Twain unexpurgated autobiography:

Whether anguishing over American military interventions abroad or delivering jabs at Wall Street tycoons, this Twain is strikingly contemporary. Though the autobiography also contains its share of homespun tales, some of its observations about American life are so acerbic — at one point Twain refers to American soldiers as “uniformed assassins” — that his heirs and editors, as well as the writer himself, feared they would damage his reputation if not withheld.

“From the first, second, third and fourth editions all sound and sane expressions of opinion must be left out,” Twain instructed them in 1906. “There may be a market for that kind of wares a century from now. There is no hurry. Wait and see.”

Call Him Ishmael

Artist Matt Kish has a blog called One Drawing for Every Page of Moby Dick. And that's just what it is. His project is being turned into a book. For the best look at all the images (pages), visit his website.