In a visit to Des Moines, actress Sharon Stone referred to the United States' color-coded threat ratings created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as an example of what's wrong with our nation today.

"It's a difficult period for me to want to have my life controlled by the orange, yellow, purple, green fear factor," said Stone, a Democrat and single mother from Pennsylvania. "I refuse to live in a world where I get up every day and am told how scared I should be."

There's no PURPLE.

Why are you letting the gubbament tell you how to feel? That's WEAK.

'I remember the memos from 20th Century Fox,' Hamill said. ' 'Can you put a pair of lederhosen on the Wookie?' All they could think of was, 'This character has no pants on!' This went back and forth. They did sketches of him in culottes and baggy shorts.'

TROY, Ala. (AP) -- Jason Samples threw one touchdown pass and caught another and offensive lineman Junior Louissaint scored on a 63-yard fumble recovery as Troy upset No. 19 Missouri 24-14 Thursday night.

I feel better knowing other people are hurting, too.

Two years ago, Hawkeye and Cyclone fans bonded in their frustration over spotty cell phone service in Iowa City. Wireless providers say this year will be better.

Good grief.

In my mind, Roland Story is a 1930s matinee idol. Sergeant Bluff Luton is a soldier decorated for destroying a German position. Vinton Shellsburg is a small-town magistrate, marrying couples in his courtroom and wisely deciding local disputes.

Such great names are being transformed into dull and nondescript generic labels. The solid Carson Macedonia (whom I picture as a spaghetti Western star) morphed into Riverside. The respectable Clarence Lowden (a by-the-book school principal) turned into North Cedar. The colorful Dysart Geneseo (an Amazonian explorer) became Union Community. Alas, Bridgewater Fontanelle is now part of Nodaway Valley.

This essay is beautiful. Kudos.

HOUSTON (AP) -- Dancing, singing and a new set of strollers capped a star-studded baby shower for Solange Knowles, little sister of Beyonce.

Knowles, 18, wed Daniel Smith, a college football player, in a ceremony in the Bahamas in February.

Gosh, and people tell me that only happens in Iowa. *rolls eyes*

Ask Claycomb to provide some highlights of his career and he immediately comes up with what he thinks is a better news story: 'Why don't you ask the TV weather people why they are standing out there in the hail and lightning and in the path of tornadoes while they are telling us to get inside?' he said.

Instantly, I like this man. :)

CNN.com - Singapore reality TV: 1st?pregnant couple wins - May 20, 2004: "Singapore has made baby-making a top national priority after it recorded its lowest-ever birth rate last year since independence in 1965.
Only 37,633 babies were born in 2003 -- way below the 50,000 it requires for defense and economic purposes.
The self-confessed nanny state has so far tried to impassion its citizens into mother- and fatherhood with tax breaks, cash bonuses, state-subsidized child care, and even a state-sponsored dating agency.
In August, a government-appointed baby-boosting committee is expected to outline a slate of new initiatives designed to motivate its citizens in the bedroom. "


They need to start importing American teenagers. Babies all over the damn place!