Click here for an Easy Print Version [All of the following happened, or were reported upon yesterday]
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and President Bush met in Washington while a homicide bombing yesterday in Israel was obviously timed to destroy any progress toward peace in the region.
President Bush said he was "disgusted" by the attack. Yasser Arafat who was busy - possibly shaving - did not have a comment.
The BBC lead on a story about the Church of the Nativity: "A deal to end the Bethlehem church siege has stalled because no country is willing to accept 13 of the Palestinian militants holed up inside."
Italy was to receive them, but the Italians said, in effect, thanks anyway but we're full up on visiting terrorists.
Iraq announced it would "lift the oil embargo" that (a) it imposed last month in support of the Palestinians and (b) no one cared about.
The United Nations announced a new arrangement with respect to sanctions against imports: A list of items with potential military uses will be banned, other items will be allowed. (a) The list is 160 pages long and (b) The Iraqis had wanted the sanctions lifted entirely.
The criminal trial against Arthur Andersen began in Houston, while the Michael Skakel trial began in, Norwalk, Connecticut. Regrettably, there was no news in the Robert Blake trial.
The Rolling Stones announced yet another world tour - marking the 374th anniversary of their founding. Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew died. You can't always get what you want.
Lots of air travel news: An Egypt Air passenger jet crashed in Tunis, Tunisia while a China Northern Airlines plane crashed in the ocean off Dalian, China.
A guy got through airport security in New Orleans with two loaded handguns. He was stopped in one of those random checks at the boarding gate. He said he was in the music business and needed the guns. Meanwhile, according to a local television station, "Workers at the Leesburg Regional (FL) Airport were surprised to find a 10-foot, 300-pound alligator on airport property because it is not near any lake."
The gator, not being in the music business, was unarmed. There was no report on how much the music guy weighed.
The Congress wanted to double the fee which travelers pay for airport security. You don't always get what you pay for.
According to an AP piece by Alan Fram, the plan seems "all but dead on Tuesday as airline lobbyists sprang into action ..." Sometimes you do get what you pay for.
The Associated Press issued a list of the very, very strange bedfellows who are filing suits challenging various portions of the Campaign Finance law:
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-KY, American Civil Liberties Union, Christian Coalition, Libertarian National Committee, National Right To Life Committee, Southeastern Legal Foundation, AFL-CIO, National Rifle Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, National Association Of Wholesaler-Distributors, National Association of Broadcasters, National Voting Rights Institute, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, Fannie Lou Hamer Project, Republican National Committee, California Democratic Party; Republican Parties of California, Colorado, New Mexico, Ohio and Dallas County, Iowa
I saw her today at a reception; A glass of wine in her hand ...
A memo from an Enron lawyer indicates the company was manipulating energy prices in California last summer earning a profit of $30 million. A report from the BBC indicates that the wife of former chairman Kenneth Lay is opening a store in Houston to sell off the family's excess furniture. You don't always pay for what you've got.
While California was being held up by Enron, Governor Gray Davis was letting his constituents down by signing a no-bid contract with database powerhouse Oracle which, according to NPR, will cost the state about $41 million in excess fees.
A $25,000 contribution from Oracle to Davis' campaign account was dated in March, but not delivered until June - just after the contract was signed. But if you try sometimes you just might find;
You get what you need.
On the Secret Decoder Ring page today: Links to the AP Campaign Finance story, the story about Ken Lay's wife, the entire lyrics to "You Can't Always Get What You Want," and the usual stuff.
If you are working at a lobbying firm, a government affairs office, a coalition, or a PAC you should take a
look at this page to see how advertising in Mullings might serve your organization very well:
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