The Christian Science Monitor was prohibited from Fridays. Fridays were/are to be the day before the 'weekend' and the day for tabloid features. This particular Friday Aaron got to discuss gambling in the way of a Lotto Winner. Israel is mentioned in a negative light. I preceived this as Sharon 'getting her jollies' in allowing Aaron to ridicule his own faith in the shadow of tabloids. Perverse. She placed her religion on a higher status. It was 'planned' by Sharon to hurt. Dominate.
BROWN: Morning papers after the break.
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BROWN: OK, I don't know how this is going to go. I don't feel great about morning papers today, but we'll give it a go anyway.Time to check morning papers from around the country and around the world. We'll throw a tabloid or two in because it's Friday or because we feel like, though I got a really nasty note last week from somebody who hated the tabloid part, thought it was undignified. Bat boy, undignified. Imagine.
"The International Herald Tribune." It's interesting to see how papers are headlining the CIA report. Very straight-ahead from "The International Herald Tribune," published by the "New York Times." Panel Assails CIA on Iraq. Senate Committee Says Prewar Threat Was Overstated." Can't get much straighter than that, can you? And, no, you can't.
"Washington Times." "CIA Blamed For Bad Data On Iraq Arms. Senate Panel Clears Bush of Using Pressure." So they put that sentence on the front page. Also, I don't know about this as a front- page story. We could argue whether it's news or not. "Republicans Question Kerry's Heart and Soul, Cite Vulgar Remarks at Concert Attended By Him." There was an event in New York yesterday. It got a little crazy. Anyway, I'm not sure it's front page. But they did. And it's their paper and they get to do what they want.
"Philadelphia Inquirer" on the front page. "Bush Faults NAACP's Leaders, Citing Harsh Remarks By Some. He Said He Would Seek Members' Support in Other Ways." Yesterday, he said he wouldn't speak to the convention which meets in Philadelphia because of a scheduling problem, but it turns out that was not reason."
"The Des Moines Register." Good to have them with us tonight. "Report: Prewar Claims Were False." That's how they lead. They also put the world court decision on Israel and the wall on the front page. "U.N. Court Deals Blow to Wall."
A minute left.
We ought to do a few tabloids, right, just for that guy that wrote me last week. OK, always a Saddam story. Here's this week's.
"The Dream Scream. Exposed, Saddam's Bid to Hire O.J.'s Defense Team." I don't think that's going to help. We were talking about bat boy earlier, weren't we? "Bat Boy's Unbelievable Claim: Britney Is My Bride."
(LAUGHTER) BROWN: That could be true. Come on. I don't know about this either. "Judge Orders Mafia to Admit Gays." "Queer Eye For the Wise Guy," they write. And finally -- oh, not finally, "Terrorists Sick New Plan to Kill Us With B.O." And "Baby Shrek. Mom Couldn't Stop Watching the Movies While Undergoing Fertility Treatments." And so -- give me a shot -- this is what she gave birth to. Oh, my.One more story before we go. We'll take a break first.
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BROWN: If it's at all possible, we'd like to send you off on Friday with something to put a little spring in your step, something to remind you, all of us, really, that fortune doesn't always glower at us poor little human beings down here on planet Earth. Sometimes, quite contrary, it beams. It did today on Geraldine Williams, who was turned by lady luck into one lucky lady.
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BROWN (voice-over): Geraldine Williams of Lowell, Massachusetts, a retired 68-year-old university janitor who's been cleaning houses for the last couple of years, bought the only winning Mega Millions lottery ticket in last week's giant 11-state drawing. She wins the second largest jackpot ever paid out to one person in North America, a cool $294 million.
GERALDINE WILLIAMS, LOTTERY WINNER: I just said, oh, God, oh, God, let it be, let it be.
BROWN: This means Ms. Williams, who has been dusting books and mopping floors, had a better year than Mel Gibson, Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods, J.K. Rowling, a better year than Steven Spielberg or Peter Jackson of "Lord of the Rings" fame, a better year than Simon & Garfunkel and Bruce Springsteen combined.Actually, Geraldine Williams, bowler, golfer, mother of three, grandmother of eight, is worth more now than Fidel Castro. Sure, you wish you had won. We all do. But put envy aside. If not you, who better as a second choice than Geraldine Williams. So let's all just bask in her good fortune.
