[samantha brett] the girl’s done it again

When Forbes Magazine recently published a story by Michael Noer revealing there's a certain type of woman to avoid marrying, shockwaves rippled through the dating scene. After all, if it wasn't hard enough to find a date already, Noer was now denouncing an entire group of eligible bachelorettes! He writes: "Guys: a word of advice. Marry pretty women or ugly ones. Short ones or tall ones. Blondes or brunettes. Just, whatever you do, don't marry a woman with a career." Comment here.

[in brief] some nice news for a change

Fans of the Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond have raised so much cash for an air ambulance charity after his near-300mph dragster crash that he could have a new helicopter named after him. I think he’d be more delighted that the air-ambulance are getting the funds and may I go further – if he were aware of this amount being raised for the charity, it would buck him up no end – the power of mind over matter. In other words, it might just speed his recovery along.

[that interview] clinton on killing bin laden

You figure it: "That's the difference in me and some, including all of the right-wingers who are attacking me now," Clinton said on Fox News Sunday. "They ridiculed me for trying. They had eight months to try, they did not try." And further: "I want to know how many people in the Bush administration you asked, 'Why didn't you do anything about the Cole?' I want to know how many people you asked, 'Why did you fire Dick Clarke?" Wallace later countered that he was surprised by Clinton's "conspiratorial view" of "a very non-confrontational question". Clinton continued: "And you’ve got that little smirk on your face and you think you're so clever, but I had responsibility for trying to protect this country. I ... did everything I thought I responsibly could." On NBC's Meet the Press, Clinton said the biggest problem confronting the world today is: "the illusion that our differences matter more than our common humanity. That's what's driving the terrorism." In other words, Bin Laden and co are results of a process. Interesting thought but how to turn it to advantage?

[tony & hazel] anyone have a bucket handy

The only lines from the Guardian worth commenting on: Disappointing those who have criticised the "marketisation" of state services, Mr Brown will say that the public and private sectors must work together. Rivetting. Meanwhile: Hazel Blears has heaped praise on Tony Blair, telling delegates Mr Blair had been a "great leader" and an "inspiration" to the Labour Party. I can report that there is absolutely no evidence Tony and Hazel are an item, nor that they are joining John, Edwina, Sarah, Clare, Robin and Gaynor in Majorca for a naughty weekend in early October. That's just scurrilous scuttlebutt.

[far-east] japan's new cabinet

Shinzo Abe, 52, has picked pro-growth party heavyweight, Hidenao Nakagawa for secretary general, the party's No. 2 post and de facto campaign manager. Nakagawa has played an important role in the outgoing PM’s economic policies and is behind Abe's stance of "No fiscal reform without growth". A close Abe ally, 62-year-old Nakagawa has said spending cuts must come before tax increases and he stresses the need to foster economic growth. Abe selected Shoichi Nakagawa, known for his tough stance against China and sharing Abe's views on putting patriotism back into classrooms, as its policy chief. Nakagawa, 53, also paid a visit to the Yasukuni Shrine on August 15. Taro Aso, now likely as foreign minister, was set to meet Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo later on Monday amid speculation that Abe could hold a summit with Chinese President Hu Jintao soon after taking office. [Reuters, CNN] All fairly clear – wonder what China thinks.

[islam] the language of peaceful restraint

The Islamists in Mogadishu have organized teams to clean up the city. Young couples take to the waterfront; thousands of children flock to soccer fields in the city centre; hard to imagine that this is Mogadishu, clan against clan and 15 years of anarchy. But over the past three months, the Islamists have defied international expectations in many ways. Not only have they pacified Mogadishu, they also seem to have moderated their message. Instead of a harsh, Taliban, religious horror, as many feared, they have softened their views, at least officially, delivering social services and pushing for democratic elections. Maoist tactic. It will be interesting to observe, after the last warlord has departed this life, if the climate of peace and love continues. Hope so, of course.