VBVW for June 6, 2008: Flyover People

• The Very Best

Defense Secretary Robert Gates fired two high-ranking Air Force officials following an inquiry into the bungled management of nuclear weapons. A few misplaced warheads and these guys get the pink slip? Jeez. Harsh.

Hillary is “suspending” her run for the presidential nomination. It’s still a long way from bowing out gracefully, but voters have learned not to expect grace of a U.S. politician. They say it ain’t over till the fat lady sings, and we haven’t heard her crooning “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to” yet.

Bushnell, makers of binoculars and field gear, and Field & Stream magazine have launched a unique photo challenge. They’re offering $1,000,000 for a verifiable snapshot of Bigfoot. Grab your camera and check all the spider holes.

• The Very Worst

Home foreclosures have reached the highest rate in 30 years. Ed McMahon’s house is one of the thousands facing foreclosure. Guess he wasn’t at home when that check from Publisher’s Clearinghouse arrived.

Airlines announced plans to lay off some 4,000 workers this week, meaning there will be even fewer people to choke when your $1000 flight is delayed. The cost of some one-way flights in the United States have jumped more than 300 percent in one year, just in case you’re keeping tabs on the full measure of pain.

Suppliers to the Pentagon have rung up more than a quarter of a trillion dollars in cost overruns, with delays running nearly two years. Forget hedge funds and the oil industry — the real money is in military contracting. Let’s just hope the Iraq War lasts long enough for contractors to see a payoff.