In resetting my Verizonwireless.com user name, "verizonsux" was unavailable, as was "verizon(expletive deleted)," "(expletive deleted)verizon," and "dieverizon."

What was I thinking.

-P

December 7, 1941.

A day that will forever live in infamy.

Why does nobody deliver hamburgers?

-The President

Condi Rice said earlier today that "the U.S. may make some mistakes" in the war against terrorism.

So, as long as she's giving us permission, let's go make some mistakes.

-P

This is the story in the criminal trial of alleged racist behavior among fans at a professional soccer match in Italy.

The Italian court on Monday ruled in favor of one of the men, who argued he was not being racist when he launched the assault with the words: "Sporche negre -- cosa ci fanno queste negre qua?" ("Dirty negroes -- what are these negroes doing here?")

Most Italians would have no doubt that calling someone a "dirty negro" was a racist insult. The term is seldom heard and is considered no more acceptable in Italy than it would be in Britain or the United States.

However, an insult should be judged racist "only if it is motivated by real hatred," or is likely to cause racial hatred in others or lead to "discriminatory behavior for reasons of race, ethnicity, nationality or religion," the court ruled.

On the other hand, the crime of racism is not constituted by expressions of "generic dislike, intolerance or rejection based on race, ethnicity or religion," which appeared to fit the case in question, the court said.

It sounds like Bob Byrd and Strom Thurmond died and went to heaven. Or Italy.

-P