the shape we're in

Once again, Time magazine has revealed the 100 people whom the editors perceive as most influential in the world right now. They are broken into five supposedly distinct categories: Artists & Entertainers, Scientists & Thinkers, Leaders & Revolutionaries, Builders & Titans, and Heroes & Pioneers. I say supposedly because in last year's issue there was much cross-over, especially between the artists/entertainers and everyone else.

Let's take a closer look at some of those who showed up in the categories, shall we?

Artists & Entertainers

• Justin Timberlake brought the sexy back... whatever that means. I just don't get his appeal.
• Martin Scorsese won an Oscar many believe was long overdue. I've had The Departed for about a month now - still haven't watched it.
• America Ferrera is no ugly betty.

Leaders & Revolutionaries

• Tzipi Livni has the best name. She previously advised Ariel Sharon.
• Omar Hassan al-Bashir is the dictator of the Sudan and the butcher of Darfur. He's proof that it's not just good people who make the list.
• Omigoodness, Hillary is here? Shocked! Shocked, I am! And, yes, her main rival made it, too.

Heroes & Pioneers

• Oprah gets in this category for opening a girl's school in Africa.
• Drew Gilpin Faust is the first female president of Harvard - you know, where Elle Woods attended law school.
• Tony Dungy was the first African American coach to take his team to the Super Bowl. Hmmm... where is that team from?

Scientists & Thinkers

• Al Gore got here by making a horror movie.
• John Mather is developing the James Webb Space Telescope.
• Dr. Nora Volkow researches the influences of drugs on the brain.

Builders & Titans

• Pony Ma is the main Internet guy in China.
• Lakshmi Mittal runs the world's largest steel company.
• Rhonda Byrne wrote a little book that Oprah loved, sparking a phenomenon. Not necessarily a good thing, because the book offers nothing that hasn't been said before.

Surely there are some religious leaders sprinkled around, right? Let's see:

• Peter Akinola, Archbishop of Nigeria for the Anglican church - sharp critic of the Episcopal Church
• Benedict XVI, Pope of the Roman Catholic Church

So... two. Two religious leaders. Both Christians - no Jews, no Muslims, no Hindus. Interesting...

Here is last year's post about the Time 100 issue of May 2006.