OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD...


During my year studying in Israel, I dated a nice Sabra/Texan, who described her mother, a die-hard Likudnik as someone who when greeted "Shabbat Shalom" (Good Sabbath) would respond "Ze lo Shalom, Ze Peres" (There is no peace. There is Peres (Prime Minister at the time)). Considering these were the people voting in last week's referendum, should it really be a shock that the Gaza withdrawal went down to defeat?


John Stewart, once again boiling the 2004 campaign down to one sentence: "Why does John Kerry sound more like a dick when he's telling the truth than Bush does when he's lying?"


If I were in charge of the U.S. response to the criminal acts of the guards at Abu Ghraib, I'd do whatever it took to give Al Jazeera and the other Arab satellite channels an image to replace that of the tortured Iraqi prisoners. How about dragging two or three of the guards shown in those pictures before a camera to confess their sins, before sending them to jail pending their military or civilian trials.


The Pistons' 78-56 suffocation of the Nets may have been one of the most impressive defensive performances in NBA history, but it was painful to watch. A Pistons-Spurs final could easily rival the Rockets-Knicks finals its utter lack of aesthetic appeal. I'm enjoying the Kings - Timberwolves series while I still can.


My choice in the current Dem veepstakes? My pick is a former senator from the Midwest, a decorated veteran with impeccible national security credentials. That's right - Bob Kerrey. As I see it, the biggest advantage of a Kerry-Kerrey ticket is that, while nobody's looking, all the Dems have to do is move one little letter, and Bush is really in trouble.