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Is Lack Of Big Media Coverage Of Oklahoma Explosion OK?
CBS News Public Eye ^ | October 10, 2005 | Vaughn Ververs

Posted on 10/10/2005 5:41:50 PM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia

Has there been more happening at the University of Oklahoma than hazing and all-nighters? The blogosphere, led by Michelle Malkin, has been chronicling the suspicious explosion at the University of Oklahoma just over a week ago, and wondering why the big media doesn’t appear interested.

According to most reports, Joel Hinrichs III was a young man with a history of depression who used a homemade explosive device to commit suicide just 100 yards or so from the school’s football stadium, which was filled with over 80,000 people at the time. Officials were quick to call the incident a suicide, but rumors and reports of Hinrichs’ attempts to buy large quantities of ammonium nitrate and ties to the Muslim community have raised a lot of questions and the answers thus far are not forthcoming.

The Oklahoma Daily, OU’s independent campus paper, lays blame on the FBI today for the confusion:

Remember, the FBI has commandeered this investigation. In doing so and by not telling anyone anything, they are only allowing the events of Oct. 2 to be misinterpreted over and over by people who are firm in believing something that is false and terribly dangerous.

For example, unsubstantiated claims that Hinrichs had been frequenting the Norman mosque have managed to seep onto television news broadcasts even though everyone we have contacted at the mosque says Hinrichs was never seen there.

So who is lying? Inherently, people should perceive the unfounded news broadcasts as the liars, but that doesn’t always happen. And even if only one person sees and believes such a report there or online, word of mouth can transmit that “truth” to hundreds or thousands within a matter of days.

Which is why it is undeniably the duty of the FBI to break its unctuous vow of silence and talk to somebody. The longer the feds delay in doing so, the more they become equally responsible for misinformed social reactions as the hacks who started these rumors in the first place. Many, Malkin included, have wondered where the MSM is on this story. As the Oklahoma Daily editorial notes, local television has covered it and a quick Google search turns up (sometimes conflicting) reports in local and regional newspapers but no major media outlets appear to have picked up the story yet. We asked CBS News national editor Bill Felling, who told us the network is looking into the story. Let’s hope so, it’s one worth airing, whatever the facts are.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: media; mediabias; newsblackout; oubombing; terrorism
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1 posted on 10/10/2005 5:41:54 PM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
MSM has their own priorities, this unfortunately is not one of them.
2 posted on 10/10/2005 5:44:43 PM PDT by VastRWCon
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To: LibertyRocks; Lizarde; PhiKapMom; laz

Ping!


3 posted on 10/10/2005 5:46:45 PM PDT by MizSterious (Now, if only we could convince them all to put on their bomb-vests and meet in Mecca...)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

If cBS did find/make-up info on this, why would anyone believe it is the truth?


4 posted on 10/10/2005 5:46:55 PM PDT by caisson71
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

I for one am not buying the whole "national security / ongoing investigation" song and dance anymore. There have been far too many amazing coincidences in Oklahoma over the last decade for anyone paying attention to ignore.


5 posted on 10/10/2005 5:48:55 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Never a minigun handy when you need one.)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

"misinformed social reactions"

Hmmm. As opposed to what, informed social inaction? So, the silence was and is motivated by fear of the reaction of the American public.

That, by itself, speaks volumes.


6 posted on 10/10/2005 5:50:29 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry (Esse Quam Videre)
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To: VastRWCon

I would like to know if it can be verified that Hinrichs attempted to gain entry to the stadium. That by itself would make this event seem less like a suicide and more like an act of terror or terror/suicide.

If true, then the challenge becomes the determination of what motivated him.


7 posted on 10/10/2005 5:50:35 PM PDT by citizenmike
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
If investigators found a connection between this young man and islamic terrorists, they might have to reconsider past evidence of links between islamic terrorists and non-muslim domestic bombers.
8 posted on 10/10/2005 5:51:26 PM PDT by BenLurkin (O beautiful for patriot dream - that sees beyond the years)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
Of course it is ok if you want to live life with your blinders on. I took off the blinders a while ago and realized that the news is more of an agenda than anything else. So the agenda does not think it is wise to report on this story, so what. It has been that way for a long time and if it takes this story for you to figure it out then good.
9 posted on 10/10/2005 5:54:18 PM PDT by TBall
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To: VastRWCon

The lame stream press will only report on this if they can determine some means to link it to yet more Bush bashing...


10 posted on 10/10/2005 5:55:02 PM PDT by VRWCTexan (History has a long memory - but still repeats itself)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
Add to that, the UCLA Bruin web site, reporting a bomb found Friday, still has a link that will not load.

The fact that today at Georgia Tech had a confirmed, bomb go off near campus, with two others found that did not, has not been reported on the National news.

Go here for link. www.11alive.com/news/news_articleaspx?storyid+70306

Something is going on big time by, as it looks like so far, amateur bombers. Or are they trying to prefect their chosen trade.

I would put on my tin-foil hat, but I do not think these things warrant tin-foil, just a heads up to our country. Sadly our government and media think we don't need one.

We don't want to hurt our economy or attendance to football games.

My thoughts, I may be wrong, I hope so.
11 posted on 10/10/2005 5:55:50 PM PDT by tall_tex
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To: cripplecreek

I just can't understand the silence on incident. It's almost as if the authorities are afraid of what they might find if they look too deeply.


12 posted on 10/10/2005 5:57:33 PM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
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To: tall_tex

Woops, link is:www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=70306

Sorry, ;)


13 posted on 10/10/2005 5:58:59 PM PDT by tall_tex
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

I don't think they're worried about what they'll find. I think they're more worried about what we the people will find out. I don't believe our government is actively trying to get us killed but I suspect they'll leave us exposed to danger to protect their secrets.


14 posted on 10/10/2005 6:03:58 PM PDT by cripplecreek (Never a minigun handy when you need one.)
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To: VRWCTexan

""The lame stream press will only report on this if they can determine some means to link it to yet more Bush bashing...""

Agreed, but only in that if they can't nail it on Bush, and they can somehow nail it on a NON-MUSLIM..... then and only then will it be news worthy.



15 posted on 10/10/2005 6:06:33 PM PDT by VastRWCon
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To: VastRWCon

I ment to say a white-non-muslim.


16 posted on 10/10/2005 6:07:21 PM PDT by VastRWCon
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

"It's almost as if the authorities are afraid of what they might find if they look too deeply."

If "vigilantism" is what authorities fear, they're certainly not making this sort of "misinformed social reaction" less likely by denying and stonewalling. That worked in the past, with terrorist events that were more abstract, with no surviving firsthand witnesses. This was not a plane crash or explosion, that could have many alternate explanations. The lone, depressed suicide story does not hold up. There are people posting to this board who were there. They're hacks? Only if you want to deny, divert and discredit.


17 posted on 10/10/2005 6:10:35 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry (Esse Quam Videre)
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To: citizenmike
I would like to know if it can be verified that Hinrichs attempted to gain entry to the stadium. That by itself would make this event seem less like a suicide and more like an act of terror or terror/suicide.

The guards were told to shut up about that, and the University /FBI says no CCTV cameras showed him attempting. Yet the story persists of someone sprinting off when guards asked to inspect his bag. I wish someo Freeper would just go down the the stadium and look for TV cameras at each of the gates and post if all gates are covered. (NOTE: I didn't say to post WHICH gates are covered - not that it matters, because I don't know anyone so dumb that they can't find a CCTV camera with a casual glance around, no secrets being given away here. But the safe way is to not say.)

18 posted on 10/10/2005 6:12:05 PM PDT by konaice
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To: konaice; PhiKapMom

"I wish someo Freeper would just go down the the stadium and look for TV cameras at each of the gates and post if all gates are covered."

Already been done. Talk to PhiKapMom.


19 posted on 10/10/2005 6:14:45 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry (Esse Quam Videre)
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To: tall_tex
If it wasn't for FR, I wouldn't know about any of the bombings. Thank goodness for the internet. It's getting harder and harder for them to hide these types of events.
20 posted on 10/10/2005 6:16:32 PM PDT by mlc9852
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To: RegulatorCountry
That worked in the past, with terrorist events that were more abstract, with no surviving firsthand witnesses.

And before the Internet.

Actually I question the extent to which the "we gotta keep this knowledge out of the hands of the public" really exists.

Its the premise for the vast majority of conspiracy shows and "space invasion" shows on TV, so much so that it becomes sort of a cliche.

But the government is just too porous to keep such a secret, and there is a Mayer Bloomberg somewhere who is going to see it as his duty to protect citizens first and protect sources second.

If the FBI is sitting on this story, they are probably doing it to run down leads.

But that still leaves me wondering why the press is sitting on it.

21 posted on 10/10/2005 6:18:06 PM PDT by konaice
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To: konaice; PhiKapMom

A Freeper did, and I pinged her to the thread. Perhaps she'll repost her findings.

And bear in mind: no camera caught the explosion, either. That doesn't mean it didn't happen.


22 posted on 10/10/2005 6:22:21 PM PDT by MizSterious (Now, if only we could convince them all to put on their bomb-vests and meet in Mecca...)
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To: konaice

"But that still leaves me wondering why the press is sitting on it."

Well, the subject of this thread pretty much lays it on the line. They think all us yahoos down in flyover country are going to start rioting and attacking ME people, if we ever find out what is actually happening. That's why the silence.

Funny thing is, if it ever comes down to that much social disorder, I'll wager it will happen in the big, old-line industrial cities. You know, the sort of places that already, routinely have riots after major sports events.


23 posted on 10/10/2005 6:24:37 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry (Esse Quam Videre)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
The blogosphere, led by Michelle Malkin, has been chronicling the suspicious explosion at the University of Oklahoma just over a week ago, and [I'm] wondering why the big media doesn’t appear interested.

Whorealdo found out there's no one whose stretcher he can help carry on-camera? Gerta found out there are no teenage blondes involved? Blo'Reilly would have to admit he wasn't looking out for Joel Hinrichs III?

24 posted on 10/10/2005 6:29:34 PM PDT by solitas (So what if I support an OS that has fewer flaws than yours? 'Mystic' dual 500 G4's, OSX.4.2)
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It isn't okay. A frigging suicide bomb goes off 100 yards from a full football stadium and the elite media doesn't cover it all. Yet they don't mind giving hundreds of hours to every pretty lil' white girl who disapears or to shark attacks, or whatever other nonsense.


25 posted on 10/10/2005 6:31:15 PM PDT by SmoothTalker
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To: SmoothTalker

I never said it WAS okay....


26 posted on 10/10/2005 6:35:57 PM PDT by solitas (So what if I support an OS that has fewer flaws than yours? 'Mystic' dual 500 G4's, OSX.4.2)
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To: konaice; PhiKapMom; All
I would like to add, PhiKapMom has been doing what so-called "investigative journalists" should have beed doing--but obviously have not. They just blithely report that "no cameras caught him trying to enter the stadium" without bothering to so much as drive by the stadium, let alone do a little recon on foot to see if those cameras would have been aimed properly to catch him trying to enter--or if, for instance, most of those cameras might have been brand, shiney new, and perhaps just put there very recently, like, for instance, Sunday morning.

Nope, they're just too lazy, it's just too easy to parrot whatever Boren and his minions tell them.

Hats off, PhiKapMom. You're a much better reporter than any of them, bar none!

27 posted on 10/10/2005 6:37:26 PM PDT by MizSterious (Now, if only we could convince them all to put on their bomb-vests and meet in Mecca...)
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To: MizSterious

"beed" should have been "been"--note to self: next time use spell check.


28 posted on 10/10/2005 6:38:26 PM PDT by MizSterious (Now, if only we could convince them all to put on their bomb-vests and meet in Mecca...)
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

Good editorial.
PS: Is this "public eye" thing the way CBS is trying to stay relevant in the blogosphere?


29 posted on 10/10/2005 6:38:58 PM PDT by hispanarepublicana (No amnesty needed...My ancestors proudly served. [remodel of an old '70s bumper sticker])
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To: MizSterious
I would like to add, PhiKapMom has been doing what so-called "investigative journalists" should have beed doing

So I've been told. I will try to search for her post, but this sort of info can't appear in too many places, so I'm hopeing she reposts.

30 posted on 10/10/2005 6:41:49 PM PDT by konaice
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To: MizSterious
"beed" should have been "been"--note to self: next time use spell check.

Spell checker must be the Eubonics version...

31 posted on 10/10/2005 6:42:53 PM PDT by konaice
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To: konaice

"Eubonics"

Eminem?


32 posted on 10/10/2005 6:45:30 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry (Esse Quam Videre)
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To: konaice
There is a new camera already installed at Gate 10 (I thought it was Gate 9 but checked today when I was on campus for something else). Anyone familiar with OK knows we have a lot of wind that blows around dirt and anything black and shiny doesn't stay that way for long that is why I assume this is a new camera at Gate 10. I did see video cameras focused on the back of the ticket books but at Gate 1 -- absolutely nothing and I mean nothing. I could not find any cameras on the gates except for Gate 10 which looked to be new along with the one now in the parking garage as you leave.

I did see a white truck working around Gate 7 and 8 when I drove by today -- the kind that installs satellite dishes, etc.

I could be wrong but I had someone with me today and they observed the same thing so we could both be wrong.

33 posted on 10/10/2005 6:47:54 PM PDT by PhiKapMom
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To: MizSterious

Oh yeah, we're supposed to believe anyone from within that mosque when they tell us that Hinlich had no connection with the mosque. Not exactly credible sources.


34 posted on 10/10/2005 6:48:07 PM PDT by WVNan
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To: hispanarepublicana

They just repeated that editorial from the OU Daily which I still believe has Boren's fingerprints on it -- sure doesn't sound like an editorial from a journalism major. He has done it before so I am extremely suspicious this is another one of those times.


35 posted on 10/10/2005 6:49:18 PM PDT by PhiKapMom
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To: WVNan

Isn't it some kind of Muslim doctrine that they are expected to lie to the "infidels"?


36 posted on 10/10/2005 6:50:04 PM PDT by hispanarepublicana (No amnesty needed...My ancestors proudly served. [remodel of an old '70s bumper sticker])
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To: hispanarepublicana

Exactly. It is perfectly fine for them to lie to an infidel.


37 posted on 10/10/2005 6:51:29 PM PDT by WVNan
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To: PhiKapMom

"I could be wrong but I had someone with me today and they observed the same thing so we could both be wrong."

We haven't seen anything yet, as far as spin. This See-BS thing lays the groundwork. Did you snap a few JPEGS at the stadium with your phone or a camera? And, would you post them here, if you did?


38 posted on 10/10/2005 6:52:36 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry (Esse Quam Videre)
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To: citizenmike
I would like to know if it can be verified that Hinrichs attempted to gain entry to the stadium.

According to the local news channel, several witnesses say that he did. The first TV segment said that he tried to enter the stadium three times at two different gates, which is pretty circumstantial.

Another recent news sources quotes a student who says that a guard told him he did. But it would seem that the guards have been told to shut up, so I don't know how it can be verified beyond all doubt.

39 posted on 10/10/2005 6:55:07 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: VRWCTexan

Exactly, if the story dos not make bush look bad, then they simply dont care for the most part


40 posted on 10/10/2005 7:16:47 PM PDT by BigTom85 (Proud Gun Owner and Member of NRA)
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To: All; citizenmike
It has been stated numerous times. Adam Smith, an OU Student said a security guard told him first, and then apparently CH. 9 interviewed the security guard but I haven't found that interview and reviewed it yet.

Most important thing to remember in this is that student witnesses are being discredited left and right.

For a comprehensive summary on what's been reported so far in this case please see my blog (originally posted here at FR, but too large to do so now - lots of source links, documents, etc...)

War in the Heartland? - Terrorism and the OU Bombing
A Comprehensive Summary on the OU Bombing - last updated 10/09 @ 5:00 AM

41 posted on 10/10/2005 7:18:30 PM PDT by LibertyRocks
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To: konaice; PhiKapMom

I've got links to some of her eyewitness reports from Oct. 1 in the summary at my blog. Check out post #41 for the link. She has done an incredible job for sure.


42 posted on 10/10/2005 7:22:35 PM PDT by LibertyRocks
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To: MizSterious; indcons

Thanks for the ping! (o:

Indcons... here's another article for the list. (o:


43 posted on 10/10/2005 7:23:55 PM PDT by LibertyRocks
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To: All; rightwingintelligentsia
Some of these paragraphs are lifted right out of the OK Daily editorial I posted earlier today. Must be written by the same person...
44 posted on 10/10/2005 7:25:21 PM PDT by LibertyRocks
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To: PhiKapMom; indcons; MizSterious; laz; Lizarde; hispanarepublicana; Rte66; flattorney

See post #44 - duplicate paragraphs in this blog and the OK Daily editorial from today.


45 posted on 10/10/2005 7:28:15 PM PDT by LibertyRocks
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To: All; PhiKapMom; MizSterious; hispanarepublicana; Lizarde; laz; Rte66; indcons; flattorney

My apologies, I'm trying to respond too quickly to my pings. This blog writer lifted the stuff on purpose and it is a quoted excerpt - not his writing.


46 posted on 10/10/2005 7:30:22 PM PDT by LibertyRocks
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To: rightwingintelligentsia
"FBI to break its unctuous vow of silence "

Maybe it's just me, but really, "unctuous"?
unctuous \UNGK-choo-us\, adjective:
1. Of the nature or quality of an unguent or ointment; fatty; oily; greasy.
2. Having a smooth, greasy feel, as certain minerals.
3. Insincerely or excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech; marked by a false or smug earnestness or agreeableness.

CROM, is 'unwarranted' or 'unnecessary' too hard to use or is somebody from your college lit class visiting?

(spits and walks off)
47 posted on 10/10/2005 8:53:03 PM PDT by ASOC (Insert clever tagline here: _______)
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To: ASOC

"CROM, is 'unwarranted' or 'unnecessary' too hard to use or is somebody from your college lit class visiting?"

I think they meant onerous, myself.


48 posted on 10/10/2005 8:56:32 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry (Esse Quam Videre)
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To: konaice
So I've been told. I will try to search for her post, but this sort of info can't appear in too many places, so I'm hopeing she reposts.

Continue looking, but the gist of it is that only some gates have cameras, and other than the "donor" gates, those point away from the gates and to the ticket windows, IOW they are there for theft prevention, not physical security. She also reports new cameras going up after the fact. So, it could be true that no video camera caught anyone running away after refusing a backpack search, but the cameras, those that exist all, are not positioned to have caught something going on at the turnstiles (or whatever arrangement they have for taking/checking tickets at the gates).

BTW, she also made a recon pass by the Mosque and the apartment complex where Joel lived, verifying that the old blue Lincoln Town Car was still there as of yesterday, over a week after the event.

Meanwhile here are a couple of her posts on the subject:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1500193/posts?page=33#33

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1499412/posts?page=98#98

49 posted on 10/10/2005 9:05:07 PM PDT by El Gato
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To: SmoothTalker

Also, the kid's apartment was loaded with explosives and his Lincoln Town Car had over 400 pounds of bomb making stuff in the car. His roommate was from Pakistan and is now no where to be found.

Just these FACTS seem enough for the MSM to go National with a story, and no one is even talking about putting any "dots" together as far as three know college campuses in the USA having devices explode!

I guess I'm Stuck on Stupid and I'm not even a Democrat!


50 posted on 10/10/2005 9:30:33 PM PDT by not2worry (What goes around comes around!)
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