Good times, bad times

First, the bad news: Terrorists are, get this, planning to attack the United States, Tom Ridge said. That sure warrants a press conference, especially since everyone was distracted by some dirty, no-good, good-looking lawyer for a bit.

Thoughts on the story from...

...another reporter I overheard at the office today: "It's like the government that cried wolf."

...the true spokesman for the left, John Stewart: "To sum up today’s press conference, be afraid enough not to vote for John Kerry, but not so afraid as to not vote for President Bush. Thanks, Tom.” (Two things: How plausible would it be for Stewart to make an Arnold-esque jump into politics? If he ran, do you think he'd win in a big landslide or a little one? Second, it must be nice to be Stewart, since he kind of gets credit for not only his good material, but all the gems his writers come up with too.)

...me: How seriously can we take these press-conference warnings, since they only seem to coincide with when Democrats are making news. I mean, to refer to my West Wing knowledge, I can't remember a single announcement like this bumping Republicans out of the news cycle ... except for that one time Ashcroft and Ridge weren't on the same page back in May or whatever, after Al Gore's fiery speech.

Anyways, in an effort to keep my skepticism from fully mutating into cynicism, I'll ask: What is the appropriate balance between an informed public and plain, simple, politically motivated fear-mongering?

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Threats of another variety

Sweet:

Free agent shooting guard Manu Ginobili reached a verbal agreement to re-sign with the San Antonio Spurs Thursday night, a league source told ESPN Insider Chad Ford.

The contract will be for six years and between $50 million and $55 million, according to the source. Ginobili's agent, Herb Rudoy, declined to comment but said he may have something to announce Friday concerning Ginobili's status.

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Something interesting

I think this quote could actually describe me, especially the first part. I found it in a rather unexpected place. Can anyone guess who it actually describes? (Lilly, you keep quiet.)

However, I did [record] a series of mostly repetitive observations by former girlfriends. The consensus is that although ______ was virile and attractive in [his own]way, his advances were unexciting. "Too nice, too easily pushed off," one old torch singer said, "and too damn philosophical about it afterward. He didn't have that, uh, slight menace that gives a girl a thrill." A group of women who knew him socially ... blamed his tepid sex appeal on a lack of "focus"—the word recurs—"as though we didn't interest him as individuals."

Not to imply that I find most women boring, it's just that, outside my friends, I actually do for the most part. But that's another story for another day. Check back tomorrow for the answer.