When It Rains, It Pours ...

And when it pours, it freezes. In the South, we get the least bit freaked out when either snow or ice appear in the weather forecast. Stores run low on batteries and candles; the grocery sells out bread and milk. You'd think the world was about to end.

Let's get a little power-blogging in now before we're forced to defend our food stock with lethal force ...

'Articulate And Bright And Clean'

The blogosphere is abuzz over U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, D-Dela., and his comments about his 2008 rivals -- especially his description of fellow Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.

Mr. Biden is equally skeptical--albeit in a slightly more backhanded way--about Mr. Obama. "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," he said. "I mean, that's a storybook, man."

But--and the "but" was clearly inevitable--he doubts whether American voters are going to elect "a one-term, a guy who has served for four years in the Senate," and added: "I don't recall hearing a word from Barack about a plan or a tactic."

Articulate and bright and clean? Good Lord, I'm glad I'm not his press guy. He might as well said, "You know, he's pretty smart for a Negro." As an editor told me years ago, when I innocently described a black athlete as "well-spoken": "Well-spoken is a white guy's code word for, 'I can't believe a black guy can form a complete sentence.' " I never forgot that lesson, and to this day, attempt to never describe someone as well-spoken or articulate. It's patronizing, especially since you'll never heard a white guy say about another white guy, "Wow, he's articulate." It's the subtle prejudice that we don't expect black people to speak like they aren't out of central casting for "Boyz n the Hood."

My natural inclination is to give Biden a pass, except ... that if a white Southerner (and most likely a Republican) senator referred to Obama -- a Columbia University and Harvard Law graduate and former college professor at the University of Chicago nonetheless -- as "articulate," the mainstream press would be screaming bloody murder.

So, at best, Biden is an idiot who speaks before he thinks. At worst, he's a closet racist who believes it practically impossible that a black man in 2006 can form complete sentences.

The rest of the interview is pretty interesting. At least the man has ideas.

Is Hayden Christensen Gay?

Apparently there's a new movie out called "Factory Girl." And apparently, Hayden Christensen and some actress I've never heard are in it. And apparently, the steam up the screen.

Those who have seen Factory Girl say the sizzling clinch is even saucier - and more revealing - than the famous are-they-or-aren't-they love scene between Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland in 1973's Don't Look Now.But Miller's publicist insisted the sex was not real.

"She's just a really good actress," she told the New York Daily News.

The 25-year-old plays Andy Warhol's beautiful but doomed protege Edie Sedgwick in the movie.

Unconfirmed reports have claimed Miller and Star Wars actor Christensen, who plays her folk rocker lover, were romantically involved off-screen as well.

This, of course, would be contrary to the numerous rumors that Christensen is gay. So why do we care? We don't. We're just taking this guy's approach.

Molly Ivins, 1944-2007

Some sad news today. Longtime columnist Molly Ivins has lost her third battle with breast cancer. She was 62.

Ivins made a living poking fun at politicians, whether they were in her home state of Texas or the White House. She revealed in early 2006 that she was being treated for breast cancer for the third time.

More than 400 newspapers subscribed to her nationally syndicated column, which combined strong liberal views and populist humor. Ivins' illness did not seem to hurt her ability to deliver biting one-liners.

"I'm sorry to say (cancer) can kill you, but it doesn't make you a better person," she said in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News in September, the same month cancer claimed her friend former Gov. Ann Richards.

Our politics rarely matched, but we always thought she was funny. Her editor and friend Anthony Zurcher has written a nice tribute with some typical Molly Ivins moments.

For a woman who made a profession of offering her opinion to others, Molly was remarkably humble. She was known for hosting unforgettable parties at her Austin home, which would feature rollicking political discussions, and impromptu poetry recitals and satirical songs. At one such event, I noticed her dining table was littered with various awards and distinguished speaker plaques, put to use as trivets for steaming plates of tamales, chili and fajita meat. When I called this to her attention, Molly matter-of-factly replied, "Well, what else am I going to do with 'em?"

Now that's my kinda gal. RIP, Molly I.