David Wright Fuels Up

Have you seen Mets slugger David Wright's new ads for Vitamin Water? It looks like he's seen 'em and likes what he sees ...

A More Dangeous World -- For Americans

Bob Herbert's op-ed in today's Times is definitely word a read. He examines how the U.S. is doing in "war on terror" (hint: it's not good). Pick up The Times for the full thing, but here are some highlights:

After all the sound and fury of the past few years, how is the U.S. doing in its fight against terrorism? Not too well, according to a recent survey of more than 100 highly respected foreign policy and national security experts. The survey, dubbed the “Terrorism Index,” was conducted by the Center for American Progress and Foreign Policy magazine. The respondents included Republicans and Democrats, moderates, liberals and conservatives. The survey’s findings were striking. A strong, bipartisan consensus emerged on two crucial points: 84 percent of the respondents said the United States was not winning the war on terror, and 86 percent said the world was becoming more --not less -- dangerous for Americans.

The sound and fury since Sept. 11, 2001 — the chest-thumping and muscle-flexing, the freedom fries, the Patriot Act, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the breathtaking expansion of presidential power, Guantanamo, rendition, the expenditure of hundreds of billions of dollars --seems to have signified very little.

“The experts also said that recent reforms of the national security apparatus have done little to make Americans safer. Asked about recent efforts to reform America’s intelligence community, for instance, more than half of the index’s experts said that creating the office of the director of national intelligence has had no positive impact in the war against terror.”

The Wreckage in the China Shop (via TimesSelect)

Robby Ginepri Ousted

As predicted earlier this week, Robby Ginepri went down with little fight in the first round at Wimbledon on Wednesday, losing to fellow American Mardy Fish in straight sets. What's eating Robby Ginepri remains a mystery.

Previously: Where have you gone, Robby Ginepri?

Brandon Routh: Spirit of '78

Unless you've been sleeping under a rock then you know that "Superman Returns" flies into theaters today, giving Amy Sedaris and Stephen Colbert's "Strangers With Candy" a real run for its money at the box office.

What I didn't know was hunky new Man of Steel Brandon Routh was immortalized yesterday at Madame Tussaud’s House of Wax here in New York -- which happens to be around the corner from where I work (thanks for the call, Clark Kent).

I'm sure we're going to be learning everything and more about the new super guy in the coming weeks and years, but I already know that this guy evokes Christopher Reeve so strongly that I almost feel like a little kid in '78 swooning over my first man in tights. I've read that Dana Reeve sent Brandon a letter noting the unbelievable similarities shortly before her death, and you can't help but think that she and Christopher are watching the excitement for this character build all over from a big multiplex in the sky.

Queerty has a bunch more pictures over here.

Previously:

Super Bulge

Superman 8.0

Size Queens of the World Unite

Madonna's Hand Signals

(click to enlarge)

We were just talking about good plastic surgery vs. bad at work yesterday and my co-worker Lynn pointed out that no matter how much money you had or how good your surgeon was, there's nothing you can do about your hands.

Morning Wood: Lucas Black

Lucas Black caught my eye recently in the "Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" trailer, but a quick look at his IMDB page and his screen credits are long and impressive, including "Sling Blade," "Cold Mountain," "Friday Night Lights" and "Jarhead."