RAGGED THOTS: Weekend Diversions

Weekend Diversions

If you're passing up on the last weekend of the baseball season (as the Mets seemingly have already), here are a few things to keep you busy and stimulate your mind.

Here a couple of good essays:

Former SEC speechwriter Matthew Rees reflects on the stock market crash of '87 and what, if any, lessons might be gleaned today.

And, in a story with 50 years breadth, David Margolick examines the Little Rock Nine in 1957. A marvelous read. You can also check out a slide-show of the young girls' experience.

And if you want to listen to some political stuff, you can do that too:

Newt Gingrich seems to be showing a bit more leg on the idea of a 2008 run. Captain's Quarters blogmeister Ed Morrissey gets Newt to size up his competitors, the Republican Party and the unveiling of his "American solutions." The interview begins at around the 14:40 mark. Oh, Newt had an op-ed on similar matters in last Sunday's NY Post (usual full-disclosure rules apply to any items on my former boss).

UPDATE: Ed Morrissey assess Newt's plans for next year -- and beyond.