Barbie and other boobs

I suspect several things about life that do not conform to logic but are informed instead by intuition and the evidence of my own eyes.

First, I believe that the devil tempts certain Christians to behave in ways that make Christianity look ridiculous, the better for the wicked one to promote disbelief among good and sensible people.

I personally do not think Christianity is ridiculous but there's plenty of people out there to foster that notion. All you have to do is turn on a TV to see them. Nobody could be that stupid unless the devil made them do it, or so I suspect.

I also believe that certain things happen in life for no other reason that the Almighty wants to give Ellen Goodman a column topic.

For example, the woman who had eight babies recently as a result of fertility treatment was acting, unbeknown to herself, as an agent for the mysterious cosmic force that gives Ellen Goodman suitable material. (I am jealous, of course, because no cosmic force gives me column topics - I have to come up with them the old-fashioned way, through desperation.)

In the case of the West Virginia lawmaker who wants to ban Barbie just before her 50th birthday, it seems to me that several of my beliefs come into play.

In the first place, no one could propose something so dumb without help - why, not even an illiberal liberal could be that stupid.

Although his bill has not a snowball's chance in Hades, West Virginia Delegate Jeff Eldridge provided rich fodder for every right-wing crank in the country to natter on about how liberal Democrats want to take your infant's doll away and next they will come for your guns, which, of course, have more sentimental value.

Surely the devil made him do it.

At the same time, the whole topic of Barbie turning 50 - and now some clown wanting to ban her in West Virginia - seems a blessing from heaven upon Ellen Goodman as she searches for a column idea. I will be greatly disappointed if she does not rise to the bait.

A note to Little Minx who left a comment on my last posting, concerning Bob Woodward and the famous line about "follow the money":

As it happens, someone at the PG asked him whether "follow the money" was still good advice for investigative reporters seeking to get at the truth. He agreed that it was.

But he also offered an interesting historical note: The phrase "follow the money" was never in the Watergate book "All the President's Men."

It was written by a screenwriter for the movie who wanted to encapsulate the process followed. Woodward didn't disagree with the characterization but the reporters never said it at the time.