Yesterday, the gang at Slate launched a new website,  Double X,  described as, "mostly by women but not just for women." The online magazine-sized version of Slate's incredibly popular XX Blog is already full of thoughtful and entertaining content: discussions on the state of modern feminism (or, conversely, why modern feminism can suck it), astonishment at the mystery that is "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" star Kate Gosselin's hair, and a fantastic essay by blogger Marie Myung-Ok Lee, who writes about the decisions and difficulties associated with using marijuana to medicate her autistic son. (I'll have some more to say on that later.) It's enough to make any other newly-launched website feel a little intimidated. More importantly, it's enough to keep you reading, thinking, and laughing for a good, long, time. Welcome, Double X!

Editor's note: You may know Raina Kelly from her very sensible breakdown of the Chris Brown/Rihanna discussion, or the powerful letter to her son written on election night, or any of the myriad other smart and funny pieces she's done online and in the pages of NEWSWEEK. She'll be chiming in on this blog as often as we can get her.

There has to be some kind of explanation for the reams of nonsense news streaming across the web and the airwaves. Maybe it's that we're weary of bad news and need a break from reality. Or maybe it's just too hard to produce features and break news when you can pop a few talking heads on the screen and let them try to out-snark each other.

Watching cable news nowadays is a bit like sitting all day in a Starbucks: both provide the chance to listen in on legions of self-appointed experts talking about nothing. At least at Starbucks, the subject matter changes as the day goes on. On the news, it's the same two or three stupid stories over and over again. As we speak, the story of Miss California is making the rounds. Again. Still.  And thus, I will stick to newspapers until this nonsense blows over.
 
But first, let me just say a couple of things and then I'll move on to more important matters, like what I want for dinner.

1. Can there possibly be a more tawdry way to focus attention on the pros and cons of gay marriage? Perez Hilton should be ashamed for using a pageant contestant as a launching pad to get his views in favor of gay marriage out there. It's kinda like going on a news blitz to attack children for believing Columbus discovered America. It just demeans any cogent and well-thought arguments one might have on the topic. If you're in the business of convincing people you're right, don't go up against a 21-year old blonde beauty queen. Why give Miss California a platform to promote her views? She could speak in tongues (and it sometimes seems as if she is) and still get more airtime than Hilton. Sorry Perez, I think you scored one for the other team.

2. Even if Carrie Prejean had posed completely naked for Maxim while holding a sign that read "I hate Raina Kelley;" I would not care if she kept her crown or not. Beauty queens are like butterfly collectors to me: I respect their right to exist; but I don't want to know anything about them.

3. I want a piece of chicken Parmesan, some baked ziti and a salad for dinner. It's the exact same thing I had for dinner last night; but I'm streaky like that.

Another Reason to Hate Cigarettes. They're kind of racist. The darker your coloring, the more likely you succeptible to smoking addiction. That's what Penn State researchers found when they studied the connection between melanin, responsible for skin and hair pigmentation, and nicotine dependency in African Americans. Scientists already knew that nicotine liked to bind with melanin on a cellular level; this study shows that darker skin color is also related to the amount of cigarettes smoked and the level of carcinogens absorbed from those cigarettes.  (Science Daily)

Flat Tax?  The Senate is considering a tax on soda and other sugary drinks to help fund President Barack Obama's health care plans. If approved as-is, the tax could generate 24 billion dollars in 4 years. At three cents a can - an extra 36 cents per FridgePak - the tax won't likely dissuade soda consumption (and the weight gain it may cause) so much as capitalize on the popularity of sugary drinks. Still, while full-calorie soda and other sugary drinks would be subject to the tax, diet sodas would be tax-free. (Consumer Affairs) 

Medicare on Life Support: Medicare could be broke by 2017, two years earlier than previously predicted. The 8.6 percent unemployment rate means fewer American workers are contributing to the system; the aging boomer population means more Americans than ever are in need of Medicare. Let's all take a break to eat a banana an pop a multivitamin. (NY Times)

The Last Biggest Loser Post For A While, I Promse:  The over-40 crowd ruled at last night's live finale of the NBC reality show. The teeny, tiny, thirsty-looking Helen, 47, bested her 24- and 18-year old competitors, while 64-year old Jerry won the At Home prize, losing almost half of his body fat and the six medications he had been taking previously. Maybe the Senate should consider producing reality health shows with remaining Medicare funds?   (MSNBC)