An office building in California was evacuated, many employees were rushed to the hospital, the terrorist response teams were called in... All because of a bottle of vodka.

"It is really funny that 400 people could get poisoned with one bottle of Russian vodka. It can happen in America only, where people easily become panic-stricken after all sad experience with terrorism, anthrax letters, bombs, etc."

I'm so proud of my country.

But speaking of terrorism, today's Washington Post has an excellent article on Afghanistan, with some surprisingly 'unfiltered' comments from soldiers on the ground. I'll never understand why some boys (and girls) want to grow up and join the military. I know, they were the ones playing with toy guns while I was taking apart my parents' clock radios.

From Central and Eastern Europe today: the Macedonian government is moving ahead with discussion on minority rights for ethnic Albanians. Meanwhile, their trigger-happy interior minister Ljube Boskovski gets a little carried away with a fun new grenade launcher.

For those of you looking for some real estate, why not buy half a Czech town? I hear the skiing is wonderful, and it's a lot cheaper than Aspen. Fewer movie stars, though.

And finally, from the "well, duh" file...


Today is one of those dreary gray days where it's hard to do much of anything. Which is OK, since I don't have to. I do have a second interview at Borders this Saturday, though, so next week might see this bum employed. And I'm waiting to hear from Starbucks as well. No, I'm not endorsing them--but it's right down the road from my apartment and they need some summer help... and I need some extra cash. Don't give me that look. Yes, you. I saw that.

Still, today shouldn't be a total waste. I hereby declare this Laundry Day.
Now where did I put those quarters...