“It’s actually quite relaxing,” Philippe Reines, a State Department official and famously obsessive BlackBerry user, wrote from his desk. “You know you’re not missing anything because nobody else can send, either.” READ MORE

The Daily Mail reports on a troubling incident that may very well change the shape of the 2012 presidential race and have wide reaching ramifications for the fate of the free world. READ MORE

You know you're really late to the party when you learn about a new trend in youth culture from the Times' Sunday Styles section. Sadly, that's what happened this weekend when I read Guy Trebay's article on "jerking," a new dance craze that's apparently burst out of Los Angeles via the internet. On the upside, the new knowledge answered a question I'd been asking my television machine for the past few weeks. This was: What is that spastic karate-chop shit the crazy-haired girl in those "All You Need is Love" Blackberry commercial is practicing in front of her bedroom mirror? It seems strangely codified; she films others doing it, then tries really hard to perfect her own version. You feel embarrassed for her when you see it. (I hope she got a paid a lot for that commercial.) But then we're asked to believe she wins the respect of her crew and their rivals after executing perfectly in a street dance-off competition. (The theme of the commercial seems to be: You can do anything if you really try your best. Climb a mountain, make clothes, do ballet, whatever.) READ MORE

Well of course I think U2 is overrated, their longevity having now earned them a spot in the consensus rock pantheon that the quality of their music never would have otherwise. But to give credit where it's due, they have made some great music ("One" is about a well-crafted a pop song as you get, I think.) And Bono puts his money (or, well, other rich people's money, probably... but he puts his time and effort) where his mouth is when it comes to trying to make the world a better place. He's a force for good. Fine. READ MORE