Wal-Mart Employed Racist Computers?

I seriously doubt it.

Now, I dislike Wal-Mart as much as any red-blooded, city-dwelling, sprawl-hating American. But I can't believe that there was any ill intent on the part of the company when its computer system bizarrely began suggesting that shoppers interested in Martin Luther King, Jr.-related films also pick up Planet of the Apes.

And what's up with the over-the-top apologies these days. "'We are heartsick that this happened and are currently doing everything possible to correct the problem,' Wal-Mart spokeswoman Mona Williams said in a statement." I mean, it's not like they're apoligizing for forcing American manufacturing jobs to China here.

Repubs funding Abramoff Legal Defense Fund

That's what returning all his donations is all about, isn't it? Or am I just a cynic?

Military Support for Bush Decreases

I don't know exactly what to make of this, but a recent Military Times Poll shows a substantial estrangement of the troops from W. Of course, it also shows a significant disconnect between Congress and the troops, too.

Some random comments:

• “Collectively, they can’t make a decision together,” said Navy Machinist’s Mate 1st Class James McKelvy, an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy. “It’s really hard to take orders from a body of people that really seems like they don’t have their act together.”

• “It takes a major war for us to decide to put armor on our vehicles and put armor on our troops,” said Marine Staff Sgt. Jeremy Jensen. “It’s taken so long to even up-armor all of our Humvees.”

This can't be a good thing. When the military feels abandoned by its civillian leadership, bad things happen. I'm not talking coup here. Rather, things like the lack of confidence that occurred after Vietnam happen. This is only one poll from one source, so I should take it with a grain of salt. On the other hand, this result surprised me.