Lot of stuff out there today...allow me to summarize.

•The science of the brain freeze is revealed to a hitherto horrified adolescent world. This is the sort of information that I wish i had had back in 1688, when 7-11 rolled out the first slurpee. Yes, I was there.

•It was Reagan, Reagan, Reagan; now it's going to be ClintonClintonClintonClintonClinton. The BBC wonders why it is that political memoirs are so lousy [do you recall reading a good one, Doc?]. And speaking of the BBC, David Dimbleby asked Mr. Clinton his usual close, penetrating, rude, in-your-face questions, and Mr. Clinton got very angry. Hmmm. Clinton should have watched tapes of Rumsfeld dealing with Dimbleby. That was a gladatorial combat to remember. And Mr. Clinton should thank his lucky stars and be thankful that it was Dimbleby and not Paxo.

•Apparently the White House is considering speeding up the process of hiring a new director of CIA. They should. What they should do is appoint someone with the job of cracking heads and firing people, while moving up junior talent to positions of responsibility. That's what has to happen in a war; it's called battlefield promotion. My pick for the job would be Rudy Giuliani. But I doubt that such a person would be selected. The safe bet seems that it will be Porter Goss, the head of the House intelligence committee, and a former CIA case officer in the '60's. I doubt that he would be the reforming chief that's needed. Probably better in that role would be Congressman Chris Cox.

•My jinx is still on: The Globe and Mail smugly reports that the Conservatives are down six points in the polls as the Canadian election approaches on frosty, maple-syrup flavoured feet.

•And Mark Steyn patiently explains European realities, and What Federalism Means.