Catching up with a couple of things:

"If President Bush had been president, he would have won" the war in Vietnam.
--Lt. Gen. Jay Garner, the administration's pick to run post-war Iraq
(As reported in the New York Times and Washington Post 041603)

Excerpts from a story on Virginia Military Institute's exchange program with the Ecole Polytechnique (Paris):

"...the e-mail sent to each cadet by VMI's director of international programs, which stated: 'Do not allow your personal feelings regarding recent political differences between the United States and France to cloud your judgement.'.......
'The conversations have been interesting,' said VMI spokesman Chuck Steenburgh. 'VMI cadets aren't shrinking violets. They're polite but inclined to ask difficult questions.'
Several times, observers said, discussions got tense, such as one Ecole student voiced her opinion that deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein did not possess weapons of mass destruction. But the conversation never veered out of control, a student said, possibly because the discussions were not widely attended by VMI cadets.
The visiting students said they mostly avoided discussion of the war in favor of learning about American culture. Music, video games, and 'admiration' (among the men) for actress Jennifer Aniston seem to top that list........"
(Washington Post 041803)

Excerpts from White House Officials to Conduct Web Chats
".... Questions will be discarded if they include 'inappropriate messages' said Jimmy Orr, the White House internet media director. After that, [W's Chief of Staff Andrew] Card gets to choose which of the questions he will answer......
...As one press corps wag noted yesterday morning when the discussions were announced, it will allow the White House to give the same message to a 12-year-old in the Midwest that it has long given the press corps: 'When we have something to announce, we'll announce it.' ....
....Orr said the White House has high hopes for its entry into interactivity-- mentioning the web chats in the same breath as its web site's blockbuster hit, 'Barney Cam,' which features a camera that follows the president's Scottish terrier, Barney.....
....on Earth Day, April 22, EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman will hold a discussion."
(Washington Post 041603)

Sign in window:
"Alterations of any kind for men and women"
-Dry cleaning or plastic surgery?

Gathering background on some other things that will be posted soon.....