Short Cuts

Who Are You Calling Nonessential? Tina Brown seems to be the first victim of what one can think of as a national communications snow day - that's when they excuse nonessential workers and it means you. Her new CNBC show was set to debut featuring fluff-ball chitchat about the movies. Even when she tried to change the subject to the far more ponderous "The Challenges of Leadership" (double snore), CNBC wasn't having any and punched the hold button.

Nixed Chicks In Fine Fix: Does anyone find the raging fury aimed at the Dixie Chicks for an airhead remark made in London a bit over the top? People are bulldozing their albums, boycotting stations, trashing their CDs and tearing up concert tickets. Bigger stars have said equally stupid things and not engendered such rage. We suggest the girls make up for it by touring some of the God-awful sand choked, wind driven Army bases and singing their hearts out - naked. That would show they are sorry. Perhaps indignation could be aimed more effectively at old dudes like Walter Cronkite and Jimmy Carter who know better. You might want to tuck this list of Saddam lovers into your checkbook as well.

Isn't That Special: The duplicity of the French never ceases to astound. Now that they have failed in their attempts to destroy the administration's efforts to stop a madman they are offering dainty little (and totally unneeded) helpings of fig-mousse to make the medicine go down. If we aren't going to buy their products, why would we take their help?

Hans in Wonderland: At the tag end of the London Telegraph piece linked above is this astonishing paragraph:(The UN Security Council)"will press ahead with a ministerial-level meeting to hear the weapons inspectors' report on a dozen 'key disarmament tasks' that Iraq has yet to complete." And, poor Hans Blix, clearly stunned from seeing the arch of his swing across the world stage slam into a brick wall is wandering the now empty halls muttering. Yesterday he was asked if he thought the Iraqis would use chemical weapons. "I doubt that they will have the will," he said. "There are some people who care about their reputation even after death." Speak for yourself, Blixster.

Help Is On The Way: Yesterday this site had to be down for a while to chase some cyber dust bunnies. The hysterical response from readers who couldn't get onto the site for an hour or so made us realize we are dealing with addictive behavior. Our StaffPeepster, who has the kindest heart among us, not to mention advanced degrees in psychology, has set up a panic room for future occasions when your Ldot IV news drip gets unplugged. Bookmark this site for information and comfort should we be temporarily down in the future.

-Your Here-to-Serve LComStaff

Wednesday, March 19, 2003