CNN.com - Bremer criticized Bush on terrorism before attacks - Apr 29, 2004 - "L. Paul Bremer, the U.S. administrator in Iraq, said in a speech six months before the September 11, 2001 attacks that the Bush administration was "paying no attention" to terrorism.

"What they will do is stagger along until there's a major incident and then suddenly say, 'Oh my God, shouldn't we be organized to deal with this,"' said Bremer at McCormick Tribune Foundation conference on terrorism on February 26, 2001."

I can't help but feel stupid and a little guilty, because I remember a time when I thought invading Iraq was a good idea. I was caught up in the country's anger over 9/11 and still wanted the government to hold someone responsible. Articles like this one should be front page news, because they'd lead more people to the conclusion that war should be the last option in every situation.

CNN.com - Secret Service questions student on drawings - Apr 27, 2004 - "The 15-year-old boy's art teacher at Prosser High School turned the drawings over to school administrators, who notified police, who called the Secret Service."

You've got to be kidding me. Doesn't the Secret Service have something better to do than worry about a 15-year-old kid's stupid drawings?

MSNBC - Altercation - "Based on his intellect, experience and knowledge of the issues Kerry—like Gore—is obviously more qualified to be president than Bush is. Furthermore he is morally far better qualified to send men to die in battle if need be. And finally, he is also closer to the American people on the panoply of issues that people say matter to them. What Kerry is not is more “likeable,” at least as defined by the punditocracy. This may even be true. But so what? Just look where “likeability” has gotten us. We are the only advanced democratic nation in the world even to entertain such nonsense as a serious issue. And yet it will likely decide whether Bush and company are given a chance to finish the work they have begun: destroying the fiscal basis of our children’s future; ensuring the violent hatred of our nation for generations to come and inviting Christian fundamentalists the right to determine what rights we enjoy in our public and private lives. I know that sounds overheated and inflammatory. I only wish it were, but there it is. That’s all."

MSNBC - Help for patients who wake during surgery - "According to the New Scientist, around one in 1,000 surgery patients has some recollection of an operation carried out under general anaesthetic.

"While some of those will only have a fleeting impression, up to half will have been acutely aware of the procedure, conversations between surgeons, and the pain."

Being awake and fully aware of the pain of the scalpel, but unable to say anything, would have to rank up there with the scariest things ever.

The five A/V receivers I bought because they were mis-priced on BestBuy.com shipped yesterday, and arrived in Buffalo today. I'll have them tomorrow. There's one on eBay right now, USED, going for $200, which is four times what I paid for each of these... and I'll be selling them new.

And no, I won't give you one for $100 or any other price that's much lower than what I can get on eBay, and I don't even feel bad about it, because I just bought a house and a ring, which means I'm in way more debt than you right now.

MSNBC - Parents of 'Weird Al' Yankovic found dead - Sad story.

My three favorite questions asked by Geico when I called (eight months later, and after changing my policy so I'd only have to pay $50 of the repair, but that's a story for another day) to report that my truck had been keyed. Remember: All that happened was someone scratched the back of my truck with their key.

3) "Were you in the car at the time?" Yeah, I just sat there while someone was keying me.
2) "Did the car have to be towed?"
1) "Did the airbags deploy?" My response: "You're kidding, right?"

CNN.com - Kids taking food home from school - Apr 15, 2004 - Hard to believe that in the richest, most industrialized nation in the world, we still have kids who go "home" after school to places where they aren't fed.

I've been shopping for A/V receivers for the new living room, and I had one Pioneer model in mind that I wanted. It was anywhere from $250-$300 after shipping on most sites, so I checked Best Buy to see if maybe they had it with free shipping. They had it, and it had one of those things where the price is hidden, so you have to add it to your cart to see the price. So I do, then my shopping cart comes up with the receiver in it, priced at.... $50. I checked to make sure it really was the right receiver, thought about the ethical implications for 0.00243 seconds, then changed the quantity to "5" and hit "Checkout".

The order went through, even though they're backordered now (they sold out 10 minutes after I made my purchase), but the email I got says they should ship on the 18th. So, I'll keep one, then sell the other four on eBay and pull in a cool $800 or so. Go jewboy go jewboy go.

wnbc.com - News - Ferry Headed To Rochester Hits Manhattan Pier, Damages Hull - Guess we'll be waiting a little longer for the fast ferry!