Boston Mayor Shows Tough Love for Fellow Democrat

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Doubting Thomas

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino is giving fellow Democrat, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, less than rave reviews.

State House News writes that the mayor says Patrick, "carried a grade of a 'C' for the first three years of his term — before stepping his game up to a 'B+' level the last four months." Menino admitted the poor report card won't please the governor, who is running for reelection in November: "He won't like it, but that's all right."

Menino also questioned whether any Democrat would challenge Senator Scott Brown, expressing doubt the "tsunami" would be vulnerable in 2012.

Move Over Project Runway

There's a new fashionista prowling the catwalks.

The French Press Agency reports Pyongyang's official Web site says North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's trademark suit is now a worldwide fashion phenomenon: "The reason is that the august image of the Great General — who is always wearing the modest suit while working — leaves a deep impression on people's mind in the world."

The article quoted an unidentified French expert as saying world fashion interest in Kim's style is "unprecedented."

The personality cult surrounding the reclusive dictator is well known. North Korean media describe his near-magical powers, such as the time he scored 11 holes in one, in a single round of golf.

Against the Grain

And finally, a new study finds that grass-fed cattle in China actually reduce the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide and can be good for the environment.

The Daily Telegraph reports the authors of the German study published in Nature magazine say the research doesn't apply to all countries, but that sometimes free range livestock can be an environmental plus: "It's been generally assumed — that if you increase livestock numbers — you get a rise in emissions of nitrous oxide. This is not the case."

— FOX News Channel's Lanna Britt contributed to this report.