- Mayor Bloomberg 's long-time girlfriend passed up a bid for the Senate this election. But as Bloomberg's time in office winds to a close, Diana Taylor may embrace the political spotlight herself . [ New York Times ]

-South Carolina state senator Jake Knotts calls gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley a "raghead" on a radio talk-show. [ Gawker ]

-While television cameras focus on Washington, states pass anti-abortion legislation discreetly and effectively. [ Salon ]

-As racial intermarriage becomes more common, more black men than black women are choosing spouses of another race . The trend might help explain an extremely low marriage rate of black women in the United States. [ New York Times ]

-A CNBC anchor calls an umpire's apology for a bad call "so beautiful," prompting her male co-worker to tell the cameras , "This is why women aren't in charge of sports." [ Jezebel ]

Photograph of Diana Taylor and Michael Bloomberg by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images.