'But we've got idiots doing this,' Part II: Andrew Sullivan weighs in on the paid proaganda issue: "BFD." And: "The problem is that media is now global, the free citizens of Iraq can access information from almost anywhere on earth, and these (planted) stories will leak and backfire. We're adjusting to war in a new media universe. We haven't adjusted swiftly enough." ... Or as David Halberstam put it: "It's stupid." ... Obviously, I'm concerned about the government's planting of stories etc. But in the big scheme of things, it's a war -- and the real issue is that this administration has been stupid on so many issues relating to it. The paid propaganda controversy, which is way down on my list of concerns, is just one of them.



'The story line for the B’s,' Part III: Two good articles from Karen and Bob on the big Jumbo Joe trade. ... I can't quite believe I'm writing about the Bruins. I've always been more of a Celts fan. But both teams' ineptness bother and captivate me. I'm fed up with long winter nights of watching mediocrities. ... Back to the Bruins: They won last night. One game. But they did show something a friend was ranting about yesterday: skating. And the B's were indeed skating fast last night. ... My friend, who I didn't know was a big hockey fan, said he was pumped about the trade because it might mean the B's are moving toward a faster European style of play needed under new NHL checking rules. The subject of Jumbo Joe and Drew Bledsoe also came up: both are very talented but big, slow and somehow inadequate.  ¶ 9:12 AM