News and Notes

• The figure of Iraqi deaths from the war, according to the UN, is less than 25,000.

• Smash is all over the latest BRAC list. My area took a hit with proposed closing of Fort Monmouth up north and NAS Willow Grove across the river north of Philly. My former town, San Diego, appears to have gotten off fairly lightly, as did most of CA. My former places of work at NAS North Island and Point Loma appear to have gained as has Naval Station in National City.

• A Pulitzer Prize winning writer for the Sacramento Bee has been fired for fabricating sources. The Pulitzer now means about as much as winning the Palme D'or at Cannes. Well, Mareen Dowd did win one, so I guess it lost any prestige at that point.

• Uzbekistan is in turmoil.

• A seven year streak by Tiger Woods ends at the Byron Nelson Classic. What an amazing streak. BTW, keep an eye on the US Open qualifying, I have a friend who needs to play well for a few more weeks and he may get to play at Pinehurst.