Random notes

Found this harrowing story of the liberation of a prison camp near the end of World War II. Reading it, I try to imagine how these battle-hardened vets must have felt as they melted at the sight of the walking skeletons in the camps...the near-dead viewing you, the liberator, as some sort of angel...not believing if you are real.

What those soldiers must have seen and smelled entering the camp for the first time almost justifies that whole "Greatest Generation" hype that's been crammed down our throats for the past couple years.

Words mean things, Part 65,892

Remember that flap when Bush called the war on terror a "crusade"? Well, Bush one-ups himself with this.


WASHINGTON (AP) -- After President Bush condemned "some kind of false religion" for motivating Mideast terror attacks, his spokesman hastened to emphasize Thursday that the president believes Islam is a peaceful religion.

In a picture-taking session with Jordan's King Abdullah, Bush said he grieved for the seven people killed in a bomb blast in Jerusalem on Wednesday, including five Americans.

"I just, I cannot speak strongly enough about how we must collectively get after those who kill in the name of some kind of false religion," Bush said.

Asked about the remark, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said Bush was referring to terrorists who distort Islam to justify violence.

"The president believes very deeply that Islam is a religion of peace," he said. "There are people who use the pretext of religion as an excuse to kill Jews, to kill Israelis, and now to kill Americans. And the president will oppose that with every fiber in his body."


Great.

Resistance is Futile, baby

Starting Friday, there will be a theater in Seattle that will be screening the new "Austin Powers" movie 30 times a day.

The next time some small film wins some major award and your stumped about why you didn't hear about it, thank Mike Myers for hogging all the room.