The U.S. Senate recently rejected two separate plans, for withdrawal of our troops from Iraq.  In related news, the stocks in both the bodybag and coffin industries continue to rise!....The President continues to insist that this is, in no way, similar to Viet Nam.  Actually, he's correct.  He has been to Iraq!....Are you worried that 'W' may be illegally eavesdropping on you?  Have no fear - the Republican Congress is about to complete legislation making it legal!  What happens in Verizon, stays in Verizon!...And after years of  President Clinton begging for, and being denied(he balanced the budget anyway!), the 'Line Item Veto,' George Bush is now saying that it is mandatory, if unnecessary spending is ever to be brought under control.  What a difference a day makes, huh, George?....How about  this?  Harriet, a 176 year-old tortoise has died, at an Australian zoo.  She was one of the three tortoises that Charles Darwin had brought back from the Galapagos Islands, in 1835, and one of the oldest living creatures on Earth(others being Joan Rivers and any male wanting to marry Anna Nicole Smith!)....Canada is considering raising the legal 'age of consent' from 14 to 16, with a five-year differential exception, not wanting any of their Arkansan friends to have to leave!....Baby Joe Mesi, a heavyweight, out of Buffalo, NY, is boxing again.   Recovering from several brain aneurisms, he apparently has no one in his corner to guide him intelligently.  My father, Phil Muscato, was the best heavyweight to come from Buffalo, and he died(age 68) after a long bout(18 years) with brain/nerve-damage, as a direct result of boxing.  Muhammed Ali, Jerry Quarry, Thomas Hearns, etc., should be an example for all young people to go to school, get an education, and not use your head for a punching bag - no matter how much people are willing to pay to see you get pummeled!....Why do Americans say 'soccer,' while the rest of the world says 'football?'  'Soccer' is the American form of the Latin 'succorum,' evidently meaning 'to suck, except on the rare occassion when a goal may be scored!'....200 million students in China are mandated to learn English.  When they emigrate to the U.S., they usually speak better English than American born students.  And if the Chinese are willing to learn English, while living on the opposite side of the world, why are the Mexicans so adamant not to - and our politicians so eager to comply?....In the United States, it is estimated that 75% of pencils are painted yellow!....