I'm younger than that now
A tip of the Buzz cap to Bob Dylan -- self-described song and dance man, author, actor, teller of tall tales.
The Minnesota troubadour just turned 71 and will pick up the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday from President Barack Obama.
"Known for his rich and poetic lyrics, his work had considerable influence on the civil rights movement of the 1960s and has had significant impact on American culture over the past five decades," the White House said when it announced the award.
You go your way and I'll go mine
The Senate couldn't reach an agreement last week on extending low interest rates on student loans.
Republicans wanted to cut the rates from an expected jump in July by taking money from Obamacare, while Democrats wanted the money to come from rich taxpayers.
Sen. Claire McCaskill voted for the Democratic proposal and against the Republican plan. Sen. Roy Blunt did just the opposite.
Both, though, issued press releases.
"McCaskill continues fight to keep college loans affordable," said one.
"Blunt remains committed to responsible, bipartisan solution for student loan rates," said the other.
Man gave names to all the animals
Former presidential candidate Newt Gingrich tangled with MSNBC's Chris Matthews on a variety of topics, including zoos -- a favorite topic for the former congressman -- and snakes.
Gingrich likes the python, apparently. Matthews prefers the black mamba, which strikes quickly and is usually fatal.
"You have a more ruthless approach to politics than I do," Gingrich replied.
Life is a bust
That big Rush Limbaugh head in Jefferson City continues to provoke chuckles.
Workers last week installed a camera over the bloviator's bust in the state capitol, hoping to deter potential vandals. It cost about $1,100.
The busts of Mark Twain, Walt Disney and Harry Truman remain untelevised, Reuters reported.
Union clout
A South Carolina labor leader took some swings at Republican Gov. Nikki Haley -- almost literally.
At a retirement picnic, Donna Dewitt clobbered a piñata with Haley's photo attached, and the video quickly whooshed around the Web. The labor honcho later said there was no "ill intent" but said Haley had done damage to organized labor.
Haley -- who said earlier this year that unions aren't wanted or needed in her state -- took the incident in stride, issuing a fundraising appeal based on the incident.
"I wonder if the unions think this kind of thing will make people take them seriously," she tweeted.
How does it feel?
A 3-year-old picture of a young boy rubbing President Barack Obama's head exploded on the Web after The New York Times mentioned it last week.
The young African-American visitor to the Oval Office wanted to know if Obama's hair resembled his own.
"Touch it, dude," Obama offered, and the boy obliged.
The visitor -- Jacob Philadelphia -- is now 8 years old, the newspaper said.
And he wants to be president someday.
Country pie
Romney talked with Iowans recently about America's overloaded credit card, warning of a "prairie fire" of spending and debt.
Obama traveled to Des Moines on Thursday and offered a more mundane analogy. Romney, he said, offers a "cow pie of distortion."
