VBVW for August 22, 2008: Cold Turkeys

• The Very Best

By week’s end, swimmer Michael Phelps had won his 8th gold medal. Now the 23-year old stands to make $40 million in endorsements. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.

The number of people expected to be driving to a vacation over this Labor Day is down by nearly 10% due to high fuel prices. So what’s the upside? Fewer drivers means fewer traffic fatalities. More than 500 people usually die on U.S. highways over this holiday weekend.

Gwen Stefani had another baby, which may forestall husband Gavin Rossdale from making a record for a few more years.

• The Very Worst

The United States and Poland signed an agreement to create a missile shield, a veiled jab at Russia and its aggression towards Georgia. Is it just us, or is it suddenly cold inside this war?

North Korea has named Sweden — a neutral country — its enemy. Apparently, Kim Jong Il is running out of countries that he thinks he can intimidate.

Michael Thweatt, the school superintendent of Harrold, Texas, recommended that all teachers be equipped with guns in order to deal with possible student violence involving guns. Somewhere, Charlton Heston is looking up from the flames and doing a victory wave.