eChaser: September 2004


	Welcome to our newsletter ... Society of Professional Journalists, Fort Worth Professional Chapter Public Relations Society of America, Greater Fort Worth Chapter International Association of Business Communicators, Fort Worth Chapter eChaser archive [graphics format] We appreciate our advertisers! Bass Performance Hall Blue Marble Media Business Wire DFW Printing Co. Esperanza's Bakery Fort Worth Business Press Fort Worth Rail Market Friends of the Fort Worth Public Library Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center Immotion Studios InterStar Marketing and Public Relations Joe T. Garcia's Mexican Food Restaurant North Texas Daily Optimist, Abilene Christian University Pancho's Mexican Buffet PR Newswire PRSA Consultants Group The Shorthorn, UTA Star-Telegram TCU Daily Skiff Texas Wesleyan University Tony Roma's The University of Texas at Arlington Weber Shandwick Worldwide Wise County Messenger Witherspoon Advertising and Public Relations September 2004 MEETINGS Next at IABC/Fort Worth ... Now Hear This: Listening Expert Turns Trained Ear to IABC Longtime IABC member Weslynn Martin, now affiliated with the Dallas chapter, is back in Texas after three dozen years of teaching and research in Kansas City at Rockhurst University, where she held the first endowed chair in "interpersonal communication and listening." Now she's teaching professionals to be "listenable." She will enlighten the September luncheon meeting on her research, on listening skills everyone can adopt and on how to move from unconscious incompetence to unconscious competence. Time & date: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7 Place: Petroleum Club, Carter-Burgess Plaza, 777 Main St., 39th floor Parking: $2.50 in parking garage at Seventh and Commerce streets (get ticket validated) Cost: $17 members, $25 nonmembers, $12 students RSVP: Julie Trowbridge at trowbridgeja@c-b.com ----- Next at Greater Fort Worth PRSA ... Everyday Ethics -- Don't Leave Home Without Them Although corporate scandals may dominate the headlines, it's the small daily choices that more often plague communicators and create a challenge for those determined to practice ethical public relations. Are you ready to make those tough choices to handle today's ethical dilemmas? In observance of National Ethics Month, the September program will involve roundtable discussions that organizers promise will be insightful and thought-provoking. Small groups led by chapter members will tackle hypothetical scenarios and use PRSA's Code of Ethics and the new ethical decision-making guide to choose a course of action. A panel of senior practitioners will lead the discussion. Time & date: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8; lunch at noon Place: Petroleum Club, Carter-Burgess Plaza, 777 Main St., 39th floor Parking: free valet in parking garage at Seventh and Commerce streets (get ticket validated) Cost: $20 members, $23 nonmembers, $18 students RSVP by 5 p.m. Sept. 3: rsvp@fortworthprsa.org ----- Next at Fort Worth SPJ ... Leftist Rag! Conservative Pawn! Maybe the Readers Should Wrestle As professional as reporters try to be in pursuing truth, fairness, accuracy and balance, they seem unable to deflect societal cynicism. Their credibility damaged by scandals at The New York Times, USA Today and other papers, they are attacked daily as agents of polar-opposite agendas. The accusations resonate against a backdrop of terrorism anxiety and political mudslinging that have created extraordinary polarization, intolerance and fear. Do readers have a valid argument? Are journalists biased? Career newsman David House, the Star-Telegram's senior editor/reader advocate; former Beltway insider (national political consultant for two U.S. presidents, several members of Congress and one governor) Bill Low and TCU political scientist Adam Schiffer (Ph.D., University of North Carolina, and WLFL-TV post-election analyst) will hold sway at the September meeting on the way newspapers, particularly the S-T, are covering the Iraq war and the November election, with emphasis on the perception vs. reality of any liberal/conservative bias. Time & date: mingling 6 p.m., program 6:30, eats around 7:15 Thursday, Sept. 23 Place: mini-cantina west of the pool at Joe T. Garcia's Mexican food restaurant, 2201 N. Commerce St. Cost: $13 members, $18 nonmembers, $5 students; cash bar; just to hear the program -- free Menu: Joe T.'s legendary family-style enchilada dinner RSVP: Kay Pirtle at mkpirtle@yahoo.com ================================================== STRAIGHT STUFF RSVP deadline is Sept. 10 for the TCU Guild's 50th Anniversary English Tea on Wednesday, Sept. 15. Cost is $20; proceeds benefit TCU journalism scholarships. Contact Lois Powers at (817) 249-7409 or lfp@spowers.net. ... New media, new opportunities. Grapevine Today, a glossy lifestyle magazine soon to be on incoming flights to DFW and in surrounding hotels, had its press rollout in late July. Produced by the American Airlines Publishing Custom group, it initially will appear twice a year, with plans to go quarterly. Ad deadline for the debut issue is Sept 12. For a press kit or to submit story ideas, call Yvonne Anguiano, (817) 963-2510. Meanwhile, the Fort Worth Small Business Times is set to debut soon (ftworthsmallbusinesstimes@earthlink.net), and the Fort Worth Tribune has been on the racks about six months, emphasizing community news. Call Tribune managing editor Steve Geer at (817) 336-0246. ... UT Austin and PRSA Austin each year offer the Public Communication Strategies Certificate Program, with emphasis on research, technology and the internet, strategy development, media relations, crisis communication management, community relations and ethics. The 2004 program begins Sept. 22 and continues Wednesdays through Nov. 10. More here or from Gail Bickling, UT Professional Development Center, P.O. Box 7518, Austin 78713-7518; (512) 232-9530; bickling@mail.utexas.edu. PRSA local update: James E. Lukaszewski, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, will moderate a national panel on "What Makes It an Ethical Issue Anyway?" in a free teleseminar at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, at Alcon Labs, 6201 South Freeway. Expect a lively discussion and maybe some wisdom on how to deal with integrity issues. RSVP to Kristie Aylett, APR, at aylettk@yahoo.com. ... Wall Street Journal news editor and senior writer Ronald J. Alsop will discuss "Your Corporate Reputation -- Your Most Important Asset" at a joint meeting of the PRSA and NIRI Dallas chapters Thursday, Sept. 9, at the Park City Club in Dallas, 5956 Sherry Lane. More here. PRSA local update II: The next Nu Pros lunch social will be Wednesday, Sept. 15, at Cafe Express, 1540 S. University Drive. Friends, neighbors, colleagues -- they're all welcome. ... Volunteers to help plan Media Day, Oct. 15 at Las Colinas Country Club, should e- Sophia Stoller, sophiastoller@excite.com, or Allison Allison, allison_allison@richards.com. ... Kent Dean's communication-based, interactive presentation, "True Colors" -- morning seminar and luncheon Wednesday, Oct. 13, at the Petroleum Club, Carter-Burgess Plaza, 777 Main St. -- will help define your communication style and the style of those around you, including external audiences, co-workers, potential clients and reporters. More info next month. PRSA local update III: Know somebody who should join Greater Fort Worth PRSA? Make a little money off the guy. Members will receive a $25 voucher for the first member they refer and $15 for the first associate member -- through Sept. 30 -- in the chapter's Member-Get-A-Member (MGAM) roster booster. Vouchers can be used for PRSA national events (but not the International Conference) or items in the PRSA store. Every successful recruiter is entered in a drawing for travel certificates, teleseminar registrations and merchandise. And the new member receives an AP Stylebook and a PRSA gift voucher. Think of it as a signing bonus. New members must put the referring member's name on their application with the code MGAM2004 or use a specially marked MGAM application. Details at prsa.org. ... The chapter will host 15 North Side High School students, all guys, at the Oct. 13 meeting at the request of TEAM Fort Worth, a mentoring program at 14 elementary and middle schools. Each participating PRSAer will meet her student at the elevator, introduce him around and share career interests over lunch. NuPros members lead the volunteer pool, but more help is needed. Contact Andra Bennett, APR, at abennett@fortworthchamber.com or (817) 336-2491 ext. 265. PRSA local update IV: Arlington school district communications specialist Michelle Clark, formerly an account executive at Witherspoon Advertising and Public Relations and an adjunct professor at TCU, has replaced Andra Bennett on the Board of Directors as PRSSA liaison. Bennett completed her term in August, following the second successful year of the PRSSA Mystery Tour and with the TCU PRSSA chapter continuing to grow. Lindsay Houghton, the 2004-05 PRSSA president, is expected to attend her second International Conference as a PRSSA member in New York this fall. PRSA local update V: The nominations committee (Kim Speairs, APR; Kristie Aylett, APR; Heather Senter, APR; Pamela Smith and Roger Partridge) proposes for Greater Fort Worth PRSA the 2005 slate of officers: president, Heather Senter, APR; president-elect/membership, Holly Ellman; VP/programs, Marc Flake; secretary, Krista Brown; treasurer, Glenda Thompson; treasurer-elect, Laura Van Hoosier. Directors: term ending 2005, Gary Morey; '06, John Hoffmann; '07, Theresa Davis. Assembly delegates: term ending 2005, Kristie Aylett, APR; '07, Mary Dulle, APR, Fellow PRSA. The election will be at the luncheon/annual meeting Oct. 13. SPJ national update: Journalists are dying; difficult news days; can't breathe and the water's foul, but at least we're secure; and he must not have been a Republican then. Attacks on journalists worldwide have increased sharply since the war in Iraq, with the first eight months of 2004 approaching the total casualties for all of 2003. See here. ... Advocates say federal Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson's decision to punish five reporters for refusing to identify their sources for stories on nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee will chill vital newsgathering at a time of increased government secrecy. See here and here and here. ... About a dozen journalist organizations complained Aug. 16 that the Homeland Security Department proposes to ditch some routine environmental oversight in the name of security. "It must not be assumed that a choice needs to be made between the environment and security," the Coalition of Journalists for Open Government wrote in response to the agency's directive. More here. ... Deal W. Hudson, publisher of the conservative Catholic magazine Crisis and a close ally of the Bush White House, resigned as an adviser to the reelection campaign because of allegations that he sexually harassed a Fordham University student a decade ago. Hudson, 54, had been a key player in the Republican effort to attract Roman Catholic voters. See here. SPJ national update II: Troops are dying; no color, no credibility; they forgot to vet the mayor; and libel cases down, wins up. ... The 488 Americans killed in Iraq this year died in just 239 days (2.04 daily average), while the 482 killed last year died during 287 days (1.68 daily average); not only has 2004 been bloodier than 2003 in absolute terms, but in relative terms as well. One hundred twenty-one American troops have died since Iraq became "sovereign." More here. ... If it weren't for their blue suits and red ties, there'd be barely any color at all in the Washington press corps, asserts a study released Aug. 4 at the Unity 2004 convention of minority journalists associations. Not quite 10.5 percent of reporters, editors and bureau chiefs sent to Washington by daily newspapers are journalists of color, the study found. More here and here. ... Crawford may be the heart of Bush country, but Mayor Robert Campbell likes John Kerry for president. "I don't see where I'm better off than I was four years ago," he said. "I don't see where the city is any better off." ... Newspapers and other news organizations are going on trial for libel less often and winning more, according to the annual report by the Media Law Resource Center. First, the number of libel trials involving newspapers has declined significantly while the number of trials against broadcasters has risen slightly. Second, juries are warming to media defendants. More here. SPJ national update III: Fighting back; zoned out; and FOI equals terror. Washington bureau chiefs have united to better cover federal secrecy attempts, and the AP CEO envisions an open government lobbying center in Washington, D.C. Tom Curley: "You don't need to have your notebook snatched by a policeman to know that keeping an eye on government activities has lately gotten a lot harder." See here. ... A growing grassroots movement seeks to make the country a USA Patriot Act-free zone, one city at a time. More than 300 cities and four states have urged Congress to repeal or change parts of the act. Barring that, they resolve that their communities will uphold the constitutional rights of the people should federal agents seek help tracking residents. More here. ... Public safety concerns in Ohio and Texas have led to suspicion of people who make open records requests. In Texas, a university student's request for info on tunnels under the school sparked an investigation. Parma, Ohio, adopted a short-lived policy of maintaining detailed information on people who request public records; Parma would have passed on the information to law enforcement officials. See here. SPJ national update IV: In praise of storm-tossed journalists; workplace less safe? that's a standard; and CBO proves tax-shift assertions. Nearly every newspaper in Charley's path across Florida published regular, or even special, editions the day after the hurricane struck. A staffer at the Charlotte Herald Sun, near the storm's epicenter, likened the experience to "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride," a ride across the state at Disney World. See here. ... In the past 3.5 years, OSHA, the Labor Department branch in charge of workers' well-being, has eliminated nearly five times as many pending standards as it has completed. It has not started any major new health or safety rules, setting President Bush apart from the previous three presidents, including Ronald Reagan. See here. ... Since 2001, Bush's tax cuts have shifted federal taxes from the richest Americans to a wide swath of middle-class families, the Congressional Budget Office says in an Aug. 13 report. The wealthiest 20 percent, with incomes averaging $182,700 in 2001, saw their federal taxes drop from 64.4 percent of total payments that year to 63.5 percent this year. For the top 1 percent, earning an average $1.1 million, their share fell to 20.1 percent, from 22.2 percent. Over that same period, taxpayers making $51,500-$75,600 paid a higher percentage of federal taxes; households earning around $75,600 had the biggest jump, from 18.7 percent to 19.5 percent. Put another way, the bottom 20 percent of households received an average refund of $250 each, the middle 20 percent got $1,090, and the top 1 percent pocketed $78,460. The tax cuts this year will boost the income of millionaires by 10.1 percent and of middle-income families 2.3 percent. A former senior economist in the Bush White House, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, heads the CBO. See here.e a specially marked MGAM application. Details at prsa.org. ... The chapter will host 15 Northside High School students, all guys, at the Oct. 13 meeting at the request of TEAM Fort Worth, a mentoring program at 14 elementary and middle schools. Each participating PRSAer will meet her student at the elevator, introduce him around and share career interests over lunch. NuPros members lead the volunteer pool, but more help is needed. Contact Andra Bennett, APR, at abennett@fortworthchamber.com or (817) 336-2491 ext. 265. SPJ national update V: A wounded soldier sees hope; observers go on chad watch; wait, he's one of us; a VP for all the people; and $6 billion worth of secrets. Sgt. Chris Beard suffered shrapnel wounds to his face, back and spine, but he has joined a coalition of Americans and Iraqis who emphasize the improvements being made in the country. More here. ... International observers will monitor the U.S. presidential election in November. Secretary of State Colin Powell made the request. More here. ... The revelation that U.S. officials exposed a mole within al Qaeda after Washington launched its "orange alert" in early August shocked security experts, who say outing the source may set back the war on terror. See here. ... People hoping to attend Dick Cheney's late-July rally in Rio Rancho, N.M., had to sign an endorsement for President Bush to receive passes. See here. A couple of days later in Arizona, a rally organizer asked Teri Hayt, the Arizona Star's managing editor, to disclose the race of a photographer assigned to cover the event. "It was such an outrageous request, I was personally insulted," Hayt said. "Because she has Indian ancestry, were they going to deny her access?" Mamta Popat was allowed to photograph the rally. See here. ... OpenTheGovernment.org, a coalition of watchdog and civil liberties groups, reports that during the 2003 fiscal year, the federal government spent more than $6.5 billion securing classified information -- a nearly $2 billion jump since 2001 and still only a best guess, since the figure doesn't include data from the CIA, which keeps even its overall budget classified. See here and here. ================================================== PEOPLE & PLACES Former Greater Fort Worth PRSA chapter president Mary Dulle, APR, has been elected to the PRSA College of Fellows and will be inducted along with 18 others during the 2004 International Conference next month in New York. Of 20,000 PRSA members worldwide, only 430 have been designated fellows. Dulle, director of strategic corporate communications for Alcon Laboratories, serves on the boards of the Better Business Bureau of Fort Worth and Fort Worth Sister Cities International and recently completed terms on the boards of Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., Jubilee Theatre, Stage West and the Berkeley Neighborhood Association. She is a member of the North Fort Worth Historical Society and a past president of IABC/Fort Worth. ... Euless has earned a 2004 Environmental Vision Award from the Tarrant County Corporate Recycling Council for its recycling program started with grant funding in March 2003. The grant project was written and implemented by Lori De La Cruz, Euless' communications/marketing manager at the time. De La Cruz now owns a marketing and environmental consulting firm, Blue Marble Media. ... Envision Works has launched a free newsletter, The Inspirer ("Eight Essential Rules to Follow When Developing a Brochure" "Want Your Print Ad to Stand Out?" "Entice Your Customer to Read Your Mass Email Campaign"), and Lauren Cleveland is happy to send it to you. She's at (817) 283-0101 or lauren@envisionworks.org. Kudos & contracts ... Print Magazine chose Jennifer Hart's Star-Telegram Sunday Arts/Nasher Sculpture Garden section front as one of the top publication designs of 2003. The entry was chosen from among 20,000 and will appear in the magazine's Regional Design Annual 2004. ... The Star-T's Danny Robbins was named print journalist of the year and Tom Pennington photojournalist of the year at the Houston Press Club's 2004 Lone Star Awards. Overall, the paper won 27 awards in 19 categories on work by Mitch Schnurman, Jen Friedberg, Jill Johnson, Joyce Marshall, Sharon Steinman, Paul Moseley, Karen Brooks, John Gutierrez-Mier, Mary Rogers, Ken Parish Perkins, Jim Reeves, Jennifer Floyd Engel, Ian McVea, Tim Madigan and UTA Shorthorn exes Linda P. Campbell and Michael Currie. Kudos & contracts II ... Rucker Performance has chosen InterStar Marketing & Public Relations to promote the company's custom motorcycle products nationally. Rucker Performance builds high-end bikes, notably the Assassin, which company founder Bill Rucker debuted last month at the nation's largest bike show in Sturgis, S.D. ================================================== GET A JOB A growing technology company needs a media relations manager in Dallas. Among other qualifications, candidates must have at least four years in PR with at least two years in technology; enterprise software experience, especially CRM; and a bachelor's degree. Salary $50,000-$75,000, plus options. E-mail résumé in Microsoft Word format to mlcoyle@sbcglobal.net. ... The Community News, a weekly paper in Aledo, needs a copy editor for an hour a day, Monday-Friday. The person could log in from anywhere to do the work. Contact managing editor Jonathan Sampson, (817) 441-7661 or jsampson@community-news.com. ... Eisenberg and Associates seeks a freelance copywriter with experience in human resources for a global manufacturing client. Must be familiar with employee benefits, executive compensation, diversity issues and insurance. Contact Robert Huckels, roberth@eisenberg-inc.com, or Melissa Jewel, melissaj@eisenberg-inc.com. ... Michael & Partners Public Relations in Addison is restructuring and looking to hire. Health care and/or technology experience preferred. "I really enjoy it here -- there are so many fun, talented people. Hopefully we'll have some new fun, talented people join us soon!" writes account exec Lindsay Reed. Contact her at 16775 Addison Road Atrium at Bent Tree, Suite 550, Addison 75001; (972) 716-0500, ext. 33. ... PHPR, Inc. seeks a three- to five-year PR veteran, part time or full time. Requirements include degree, excellent writing and management skills, HTML and Microsoft Office proficiency, and flexibility to work with "a small, energetic, agile team on projects across many industries." No e-mailed résumés. Contact Paige Kelly Hendricks, 1253 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth 76104; fax (817) 924-2312. ... The Hurst-Euless-Bedford Chamber of Commerce seeks a communications specialist. A bachelor's degree in journalism, PR, marketing or related field is preferred, with at least two years experience. Must be fluent in the full range of publishing and web software. Salary $28,000-$32,000. Send résumé to Mary Frazior at maryfrazior@heb.org. ... The TXU media relations internship is designed for juniors or seniors interested in working in a fast-paced corporate communications department. TXU's communications staff won PR Week's Crisis Communications Team of the Year award in 2004 and was a finalist for Corporate Communications Team of the Year. Contact Kimberly Morgan, (214) 812-7581, kmorgan@txu.com. ... A Global 500 consumer package goods company seeks a PR director, PR manager and promotions managers on the marketing team for its North American food and beverage business. Preference will go to Hispanic and other minority candidates, with bilingual and/or multicultural experience desirable. The search firm, SPANUSA, has been recognized for its placements, including Brandweek's 2003 "Marketer of the Year" and "Best Hire of the Year" at Columbia House's Latin entertainment division. More at spanusa.net, or call Jim Szurek, Jr., (312) 828-9229. ================================================== NEW MEMBERS SPJ ... Brent Wistrom, Wichita Falls Times Record News ... Crystal Glasgow ================================================== COMINGS & GOINGS Exits ... at the S-T: Diario La Estrella entertainment and culture editor Adriana Barrera, a six-year veteran of the publication, to the Fort Worth school district as a bilingual teacher Promotions ... at the S-T: Lucía González, only on board since October, to editor of culture and entertainment at Diario La Estrella ================================================== RESOURCES The National Weather Service offers a wealth of hydrologic information at www.srh.noaa.gov/ahps. A veritable flood. =================================================== PRESIDENT'S CORNER Pamela Smith, Greater Fort Worth PRSA Congratulations to Mary Dulle, now known as Mary Dulle, APR, Fellow PRSA. Note all those initials behind her name -- in the public relations world, they are among the most distinguished titles. APR acknowledges accreditation and is a mark of distinction reflecting commitment to the profession and to its ethical practice. Recipients are selected based on broad knowledge, strategic perspective and sound professional judgment. The accreditation procedure was recently overhauled, and Mary was one of the first to be approved under the new process. Then in August, she was honored as a lifetime Fellow PRSA. Fellows must have their APR and at least 20 years in the industry. They are identified as mentors and role models, exceptional individuals who have advanced the PR business through their professional performance and leadership and continuing contributions to their chapter. Fewer than 2 percent of PRSA members have received this designation. Other Greater Fort Worth members in the College of Fellows are Carolyn Bobo at Cook Children's Medical Center and Doug Newsom at TCU. Mary exemplifies the consummate College of Fellows member. I know she was surprised to receive this honor, but it was no surprise to our board -- we expected nothing less. We know how great Mary is, and we're ecstatic that public relations practitioners from around the world agree. Her induction into the College of Fellows will take place at a black-tie reception Oct. 23 at the PRSA International Conference in New York City. ----- PRESIDENT'S COLUMN Tim Tune, IABC/Fort Worth I had one of those out-of-the-blue thoughts the other day. Actually, it was an "out-of-the-blues" thought because it occurred as I was reflecting on a Boz Scaggs song, "Runnin' Blues." I decided that of all the senses, hearing is the most precious to me. Even more important than sight. The mind can imagine what the eye cannot see; I'm not sure you can say the same about what the ear cannot hear. I simply cannot imagine life without being able to hear. Hearing has other important uses, of course, such as listening to people. And as we all know, this sometimes isn't as enjoyable, or as easy, as listening to music. That's why I'm so glad that Weslynn Martin, who knows how to listen to others and has made a career out of sharing her skills with corporate America, will join us this month. Communications is said to be a two-way process, and most of our work focuses on the sending part. Here's a chance to explore the other side. Also at the meeting Sept. 7, we will host a group of South Hills High School students involved in the TEAM Fort Worth Stay-in-School Initiative. The students will join us for lunch and the program. You can participate by talking with the students at your table about the workplace and life after high school. Hope to see you there. ----- OVER & OUT John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ I hear that TCU's Dr. Adam Schiffer is articulate and knowledgable, and I know firsthand that David House and Bill Low are witty, insightful and wry (wasn't that from "West Side Story"?), so there you are: Fort Worth SPJ's professional development sessions are back, and with vigor. Thursday, Sept. 23, we'll explore just how biased is the media when nut jobs on all the fringes swear that it favors the other guy. We do the program first, then eat, so if Mexican food (Joe T.'s) makes you sleepy, you can go straight home. Members still pay $13, which is less than the chapter's cost, and students pay eight bucks under that. Click back to p. 1 and RSVP. Do it now. ... A coalition of j-organizations has drafted a petition on behalf of the journalists under contempt orders for refusing to disclose sources in the prominent Wen Ho Lee, Valerie Plame and Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci cases. The goal is to circulate the statement electronically and get journalists nationwide to sign it, then to publish the statement and names in full-page ads as a show of support. It's worth your consideration. ... Another perq of Star-Telegram employment, behind the occasional free meal and ahead of seeing the funnies before your neighbors do, is the in-house Onotes written by this month's program panel wrangler, David House. Here's why: The lady in Denton was trying hard to remember why she'd phoned. "Had something to do with an advertisement," she said. "I stood right here and forgot why I was callin'." While she thought, a creature shrieked in the background. "Wul now what was it?" she said. Shriek. "I know it was something." Shriek. "Lemme see." Shriek. "Ma'am," I asked (shriek), "what is that that keeps on shrieking?" "Oh," she said, "that's my cockatiel, Katie. She's wantin' out of her cage. She can sang 'put your little foot.' " The lady called out shrilly to her pet: "Katie! Sang for the paper: 'Put your little foot, put your little foot.' Hell, she ain't gonna sang." Shriek. "I've got three of 'em. One I just brought (shriek) home, and he'll bite the hell out of you. I reckon he's not over the trip home (shriek) in a shoebox, but he'll come around. I'll call you back when I remember my question." Closing words: "I got a young man named George W. Bush into the Texas National Guard when I was lieutenant governor [1969-73], and I'm not necessarily proud of that. But I did it. I got a lot of other people in the National Guard because I thought that was what people should do when you're in office, and you help a lot of rich people. And I walked to the Vietnam Memorial the other day, and I looked at the names of the people that died in Vietnam, and I became more ashamed of myself than I have ever been, because it was the worst thing I ever did, was help a lot of wealthy supporters and a lot of people who had family names of importance get into the National Guard. And I'm very sorry about that, and I'm very ashamed, and I apologize to you as voters of Texas." -- Ben Barnes in a May interview ... "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." -- President Bush to a roomful of top Pentagon brass ... "I think the ad [criticizing John Kerry's war record] is dishonest and dishonorable. ... It was the same kind of deal that was pulled on me [in the bitter 2000 Republican primary fight]. ... It reopens all the old wounds of the Vietnam War, which I spent the last 35 years trying to heal." -- Republican Sen. John McCain, who nevertheless was later kissed on the forehead by President Bush at an election rally and continues to be rumored as the GOP running mate ... "Why don't they get new jobs if they're unhappy -- or go on Prozac?" -- GOP campaign worker Susan Sheybani, apparently talking to a colleague who was transferring a call from a reporter asking about job quality; when told her comment had been overheard, Sheybani said, "Oh, I was just kidding." ... "Leadership is a couple of things: being able to step up to the plate when it's your turn and stepping down when it's time." -- Nowell Donovan, TCU provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs ... "One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words." -- the founder of German literature, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832 Closing words II, conjoined quotes division: "The image of the Iraqi soccer team playing in this Olympics, it's fantastic, isn't it? It wouldn't have been free if the United States had not acted." -- President Bush, in a TV ad that ran during the Olympics ... "Iraq as a team does not want Mr. Bush to use us for the presidential campaign. He can find another way to advertise himself." -- Iraqi midfielder Salih Sadir to SI.com ... "How will he meet his god, having slaughtered so many men and women? He has committed so many crimes." -- Ahmed Manajid, also a midfielder on the team

As professional as reporters try to be in pursuing truth, fairness, accuracy and balance, they seem unable to deflect societal cynicism. Their credibility damaged by scandals at The New York Times, USA Today and other papers, they are attacked daily as agents of polar-opposite agendas. The accusations resonate against a backdrop of terrorism anxiety and political mudslinging that have created extraordinary polarization, intolerance and fear. Do readers have a valid argument? Are journalists biased?

Career newsman David House, the Star-Telegram's senior editor/reader advocate; former Beltway insider (national political consultant for two U.S. presidents, several members of Congress and one governor) Bill Low and TCU political scientist Adam Schiffer (Ph.D., University of North Carolina, and WLFL-TV post-election analyst) will hold sway at the September meeting on the way newspapers, particularly the S-T, are covering the Iraq war and the November election, with emphasis on the perception vs. reality of any liberal/conservative bias.

Time & date: mingling 6 p.m., program 6:30, eats around 7:15 Thursday, Sept. 23

Place: mini-cantina west of the pool at Joe T. Garcia's Mexican food restaurant, 2201 N. Commerce St.

Cost: $13 members, $18 nonmembers, $5 students; cash bar; just to hear the program -- free

Menu: Joe T.'s legendary family-style enchilada dinner

RSVP: Kay Pirtle at mkpirtle@yahoo.com

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RSVP deadline is Sept. 10 for the TCU Guild's 50th Anniversary English Tea on Wednesday, Sept. 15. Cost is $20; proceeds benefit TCU journalism scholarships. Contact Lois Powers at (817) 249-7409 or lfp@spowers.net. ...

New media, new opportunities. Grapevine Today, a glossy lifestyle magazine soon to be on incoming flights to DFW and in surrounding hotels, had its press rollout in late July. Produced by the American Airlines Publishing Custom group, it initially will appear twice a year, with plans to go quarterly. Ad deadline for the debut issue is Sept 12. For a press kit or to submit story ideas, call Yvonne Anguiano, (817) 963-2510. Meanwhile, the Fort Worth Small Business Times is set to debut soon (ftworthsmallbusinesstimes@earthlink.net), and the Fort Worth Tribune has been on the racks about six months, emphasizing community news. Call Tribune managing editor Steve Geer at (817) 336-0246. ...

UT Austin and PRSA Austin each year offer the Public Communication Strategies Certificate Program, with emphasis on research, technology and the internet, strategy development, media relations, crisis communication management, community relations and ethics. The 2004 program begins Sept. 22 and continues Wednesdays through Nov. 10. More here or from Gail Bickling, UT Professional Development Center, P.O. Box 7518, Austin 78713-7518; (512) 232-9530; bickling@mail.utexas.edu.

PRSA local update: James E. Lukaszewski, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, will moderate a national panel on "What Makes It an Ethical Issue Anyway?" in a free teleseminar at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, at Alcon Labs, 6201 South Freeway. Expect a lively discussion and maybe some wisdom on how to deal with integrity issues. RSVP to Kristie Aylett, APR, at aylettk@yahoo.com. ... Wall Street Journal news editor and senior writer Ronald J. Alsop will discuss "Your Corporate Reputation -- Your Most Important Asset" at a joint meeting of the PRSA and NIRI Dallas chapters Thursday, Sept. 9, at the Park City Club in Dallas, 5956 Sherry Lane. More here.

PRSA local update II: The next Nu Pros lunch social will be Wednesday, Sept. 15, at Cafe Express, 1540 S. University Drive. Friends, neighbors, colleagues -- they're all welcome. ... Volunteers to help plan Media Day, Oct. 15 at Las Colinas Country Club, should e- Sophia Stoller, sophiastoller@excite.com, or Allison Allison, allison_allison@richards.com. ... Kent Dean's communication-based, interactive presentation, "True Colors" -- morning seminar and luncheon Wednesday, Oct. 13, at the Petroleum Club, Carter-Burgess Plaza, 777 Main St. -- will help define your communication style and the style of those around you, including external audiences, co-workers, potential clients and reporters. More info next month.

PRSA local update III: Know somebody who should join Greater Fort Worth PRSA? Make a little money off the guy. Members will receive a $25 voucher for the first member they refer and $15 for the first associate member -- through Sept. 30 -- in the chapter's Member-Get-A-Member (MGAM) roster booster. Vouchers can be used for PRSA national events (but not the International Conference) or items in the PRSA store. Every successful recruiter is entered in a drawing for travel certificates, teleseminar registrations and merchandise. And the new member receives an AP Stylebook and a PRSA gift voucher. Think of it as a signing bonus. New members must put the referring member's name on their application with the code MGAM2004 or use a specially marked MGAM application. Details at prsa.org. ... The chapter will host 15 North Side High School students, all guys, at the Oct. 13 meeting at the request of TEAM Fort Worth, a mentoring program at 14 elementary and middle schools. Each participating PRSAer will meet her student at the elevator, introduce him around and share career interests over lunch. NuPros members lead the volunteer pool, but more help is needed. Contact Andra Bennett, APR, at abennett@fortworthchamber.com or (817) 336-2491 ext. 265.

PRSA local update IV: Arlington school district communications specialist Michelle Clark, formerly an account executive at Witherspoon Advertising and Public Relations and an adjunct professor at TCU, has replaced Andra Bennett on the Board of Directors as PRSSA liaison. Bennett completed her term in August, following the second successful year of the PRSSA Mystery Tour and with the TCU PRSSA chapter continuing to grow. Lindsay Houghton, the 2004-05 PRSSA president, is expected to attend her second International Conference as a PRSSA member in New York this fall.

PRSA local update V: The nominations committee (Kim Speairs, APR; Kristie Aylett, APR; Heather Senter, APR; Pamela Smith and Roger Partridge) proposes for Greater Fort Worth PRSA the 2005 slate of officers: president, Heather Senter, APR; president-elect/membership, Holly Ellman; VP/programs, Marc Flake; secretary, Krista Brown; treasurer, Glenda Thompson; treasurer-elect, Laura Van Hoosier. Directors: term ending 2005, Gary Morey; '06, John Hoffmann; '07, Theresa Davis. Assembly delegates: term ending 2005, Kristie Aylett, APR; '07, Mary Dulle, APR, Fellow PRSA. The election will be at the luncheon/annual meeting Oct. 13.

SPJ national update: Journalists are dying; difficult news days; can't breathe and the water's foul, but at least we're secure; and he must not have been a Republican then. Attacks on journalists worldwide have increased sharply since the war in Iraq, with the first eight months of 2004 approaching the total casualties for all of 2003. See here. ... Advocates say federal Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson's decision to punish five reporters for refusing to identify their sources for stories on nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee will chill vital newsgathering at a time of increased government secrecy. See here and here and here. ... About a dozen journalist organizations complained Aug. 16 that the Homeland Security Department proposes to ditch some routine environmental oversight in the name of security. "It must not be assumed that a choice needs to be made between the environment and security," the Coalition of Journalists for Open Government wrote in response to the agency's directive. More here. ... Deal W. Hudson, publisher of the conservative Catholic magazine Crisis and a close ally of the Bush White House, resigned as an adviser to the reelection campaign because of allegations that he sexually harassed a Fordham University student a decade ago. Hudson, 54, had been a key player in the Republican effort to attract Roman Catholic voters. See here.

SPJ national update II: Troops are dying; no color, no credibility; they forgot to vet the mayor; and libel cases down, wins up. ... The 488 Americans killed in Iraq this year died in just 239 days (2.04 daily average), while the 482 killed last year died during 287 days (1.68 daily average); not only has 2004 been bloodier than 2003 in absolute terms, but in relative terms as well. One hundred twenty-one American troops have died since Iraq became "sovereign." More here. ... If it weren't for their blue suits and red ties, there'd be barely any color at all in the Washington press corps, asserts a study released Aug. 4 at the Unity 2004 convention of minority journalists associations. Not quite 10.5 percent of reporters, editors and bureau chiefs sent to Washington by daily newspapers are journalists of color, the study found. More here and here. ... Crawford may be the heart of Bush country, but Mayor Robert Campbell likes John Kerry for president. "I don't see where I'm better off than I was four years ago," he said. "I don't see where the city is any better off." ... Newspapers and other news organizations are going on trial for libel less often and winning more, according to the annual report by the Media Law Resource Center. First, the number of libel trials involving newspapers has declined significantly while the number of trials against broadcasters has risen slightly. Second, juries are warming to media defendants. More here.

SPJ national update III: Fighting back; zoned out; and FOI equals terror. Washington bureau chiefs have united to better cover federal secrecy attempts, and the AP CEO envisions an open government lobbying center in Washington, D.C. Tom Curley: "You don't need to have your notebook snatched by a policeman to know that keeping an eye on government activities has lately gotten a lot harder." See here. ... A growing grassroots movement seeks to make the country a USA Patriot Act-free zone, one city at a time. More than 300 cities and four states have urged Congress to repeal or change parts of the act. Barring that, they resolve that their communities will uphold the constitutional rights of the people should federal agents seek help tracking residents. More here. ... Public safety concerns in Ohio and Texas have led to suspicion of people who make open records requests. In Texas, a university student's request for info on tunnels under the school sparked an investigation. Parma, Ohio, adopted a short-lived policy of maintaining detailed information on people who request public records; Parma would have passed on the information to law enforcement officials. See here.

SPJ national update IV: In praise of storm-tossed journalists; workplace less safe? that's a standard; and CBO proves tax-shift assertions. Nearly every newspaper in Charley's path across Florida published regular, or even special, editions the day after the hurricane struck. A staffer at the Charlotte Herald Sun, near the storm's epicenter, likened the experience to "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride," a ride across the state at Disney World. See here. ... In the past 3.5 years, OSHA, the Labor Department branch in charge of workers' well-being, has eliminated nearly five times as many pending standards as it has completed. It has not started any major new health or safety rules, setting President Bush apart from the previous three presidents, including Ronald Reagan. See here. ... Since 2001, Bush's tax cuts have shifted federal taxes from the richest Americans to a wide swath of middle-class families, the Congressional Budget Office says in an Aug. 13 report. The wealthiest 20 percent, with incomes averaging $182,700 in 2001, saw their federal taxes drop from 64.4 percent of total payments that year to 63.5 percent this year. For the top 1 percent, earning an average $1.1 million, their share fell to 20.1 percent, from 22.2 percent. Over that same period, taxpayers making $51,500-$75,600 paid a higher percentage of federal taxes; households earning around $75,600 had the biggest jump, from 18.7 percent to 19.5 percent. Put another way, the bottom 20 percent of households received an average refund of $250 each, the middle 20 percent got $1,090, and the top 1 percent pocketed $78,460. The tax cuts this year will boost the income of millionaires by 10.1 percent and of middle-income families 2.3 percent. A former senior economist in the Bush White House, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, heads the CBO. See here.e a specially marked MGAM application. Details at prsa.org. ... The chapter will host 15 Northside High School students, all guys, at the Oct. 13 meeting at the request of TEAM Fort Worth, a mentoring program at 14 elementary and middle schools. Each participating PRSAer will meet her student at the elevator, introduce him around and share career interests over lunch. NuPros members lead the volunteer pool, but more help is needed. Contact Andra Bennett, APR, at abennett@fortworthchamber.com or (817) 336-2491 ext. 265.

SPJ national update V: A wounded soldier sees hope; observers go on chad watch; wait, he's one of us; a VP for all the people; and $6 billion worth of secrets. Sgt. Chris Beard suffered shrapnel wounds to his face, back and spine, but he has joined a coalition of Americans and Iraqis who emphasize the improvements being made in the country. More here. ... International observers will monitor the U.S. presidential election in November. Secretary of State Colin Powell made the request. More here. ... The revelation that U.S. officials exposed a mole within al Qaeda after Washington launched its "orange alert" in early August shocked security experts, who say outing the source may set back the war on terror. See here. ... People hoping to attend Dick Cheney's late-July rally in Rio Rancho, N.M., had to sign an endorsement for President Bush to receive passes. See here. A couple of days later in Arizona, a rally organizer asked Teri Hayt, the Arizona Star's managing editor, to disclose the race of a photographer assigned to cover the event. "It was such an outrageous request, I was personally insulted," Hayt said. "Because she has Indian ancestry, were they going to deny her access?" Mamta Popat was allowed to photograph the rally. See here. ... OpenTheGovernment.org, a coalition of watchdog and civil liberties groups, reports that during the 2003 fiscal year, the federal government spent more than $6.5 billion securing classified information -- a nearly $2 billion jump since 2001 and still only a best guess, since the figure doesn't include data from the CIA, which keeps even its overall budget classified. See here and here.

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Former Greater Fort Worth PRSA chapter president Mary Dulle, APR, has been elected to the PRSA College of Fellows and will be inducted along with 18 others during the 2004 International Conference next month in New York. Of 20,000 PRSA members worldwide, only 430 have been designated fellows. Dulle, director of strategic corporate communications for Alcon Laboratories, serves on the boards of the Better Business Bureau of Fort Worth and Fort Worth Sister Cities International and recently completed terms on the boards of Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., Jubilee Theatre, Stage West and the Berkeley Neighborhood Association. She is a member of the North Fort Worth Historical Society and a past president of IABC/Fort Worth. ...

Euless has earned a 2004 Environmental Vision Award from the Tarrant County Corporate Recycling Council for its recycling program started with grant funding in March 2003. The grant project was written and implemented by Lori De La Cruz, Euless' communications/marketing manager at the time. De La Cruz now owns a marketing and environmental consulting firm, Blue Marble Media. ...

Envision Works has launched a free newsletter, The Inspirer ("Eight Essential Rules to Follow When Developing a Brochure" "Want Your Print Ad to Stand Out?" "Entice Your Customer to Read Your Mass Email Campaign"), and Lauren Cleveland is happy to send it to you. She's at (817) 283-0101 or lauren@envisionworks.org.

Kudos & contracts ... Print Magazine chose Jennifer Hart's Star-Telegram Sunday Arts/Nasher Sculpture Garden section front as one of the top publication designs of 2003. The entry was chosen from among 20,000 and will appear in the magazine's Regional Design Annual 2004. ... The Star-T's Danny Robbins was named print journalist of the year and Tom Pennington photojournalist of the year at the Houston Press Club's 2004 Lone Star Awards. Overall, the paper won 27 awards in 19 categories on work by Mitch Schnurman, Jen Friedberg, Jill Johnson, Joyce Marshall, Sharon Steinman, Paul Moseley, Karen Brooks, John Gutierrez-Mier, Mary Rogers, Ken Parish Perkins, Jim Reeves, Jennifer Floyd Engel, Ian McVea, Tim Madigan and UTA Shorthorn exes Linda P. Campbell and Michael Currie.

Kudos & contracts II ... Rucker Performance has chosen InterStar Marketing & Public Relations to promote the company's custom motorcycle products nationally. Rucker Performance builds high-end bikes, notably the Assassin, which company founder Bill Rucker debuted last month at the nation's largest bike show in Sturgis, S.D.

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A growing technology company needs a media relations manager in Dallas. Among other qualifications, candidates must have at least four years in PR with at least two years in technology; enterprise software experience, especially CRM; and a bachelor's degree. Salary $50,000-$75,000, plus options. E-mail résumé in Microsoft Word format to mlcoyle@sbcglobal.net. ... The Community News, a weekly paper in Aledo, needs a copy editor for an hour a day, Monday-Friday. The person could log in from anywhere to do the work. Contact managing editor Jonathan Sampson, (817) 441-7661 or jsampson@community-news.com. ... Eisenberg and Associates seeks a freelance copywriter with experience in human resources for a global manufacturing client. Must be familiar with employee benefits, executive compensation, diversity issues and insurance. Contact Robert Huckels, roberth@eisenberg-inc.com, or Melissa Jewel, melissaj@eisenberg-inc.com. ...

Michael & Partners Public Relations in Addison is restructuring and looking to hire. Health care and/or technology experience preferred. "I really enjoy it here -- there are so many fun, talented people. Hopefully we'll have some new fun, talented people join us soon!" writes account exec Lindsay Reed. Contact her at 16775 Addison Road Atrium at Bent Tree, Suite 550, Addison 75001; (972) 716-0500, ext. 33. ... PHPR, Inc. seeks a three- to five-year PR veteran, part time or full time. Requirements include degree, excellent writing and management skills, HTML and Microsoft Office proficiency, and flexibility to work with "a small, energetic, agile team on projects across many industries." No e-mailed résumés. Contact Paige Kelly Hendricks, 1253 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth 76104; fax (817) 924-2312. ...

The Hurst-Euless-Bedford Chamber of Commerce seeks a communications specialist. A bachelor's degree in journalism, PR, marketing or related field is preferred, with at least two years experience. Must be fluent in the full range of publishing and web software. Salary $28,000-$32,000. Send résumé to Mary Frazior at maryfrazior@heb.org. ... The TXU media relations internship is designed for juniors or seniors interested in working in a fast-paced corporate communications department. TXU's communications staff won PR Week's Crisis Communications Team of the Year award in 2004 and was a finalist for Corporate Communications Team of the Year. Contact Kimberly Morgan, (214) 812-7581, kmorgan@txu.com. ...

A Global 500 consumer package goods company seeks a PR director, PR manager and promotions managers on the marketing team for its North American food and beverage business. Preference will go to Hispanic and other minority candidates, with bilingual and/or multicultural experience desirable. The search firm, SPANUSA, has been recognized for its placements, including Brandweek's 2003 "Marketer of the Year" and "Best Hire of the Year" at Columbia House's Latin entertainment division. More at spanusa.net, or call Jim Szurek, Jr., (312) 828-9229.

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SPJ ... Brent Wistrom, Wichita Falls Times Record News ... Crystal Glasgow

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Exits ... at the S-T: Diario La Estrella entertainment and culture editor Adriana Barrera, a six-year veteran of the publication, to the Fort Worth school district as a bilingual teacher

Promotions ... at the S-T: Lucía González, only on board since October, to editor of culture and entertainment at Diario La Estrella

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The National Weather Service offers a wealth of hydrologic information at www.srh.noaa.gov/ahps. A veritable flood.

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Pamela Smith, Greater Fort Worth PRSA

Congratulations to Mary Dulle, now known as Mary Dulle, APR, Fellow PRSA. Note all those initials behind her name -- in the public relations world, they are among the most distinguished titles. APR acknowledges accreditation and is a mark of distinction reflecting commitment to the profession and to its ethical practice. Recipients are selected based on broad knowledge, strategic perspective and sound professional judgment. The accreditation procedure was recently overhauled, and Mary was one of the first to be approved under the new process.

Then in August, she was honored as a lifetime Fellow PRSA. Fellows must have their APR and at least 20 years in the industry. They are identified as mentors and role models, exceptional individuals who have advanced the PR business through their professional performance and leadership and continuing contributions to their chapter. Fewer than 2 percent of PRSA members have received this designation. Other Greater Fort Worth members in the College of Fellows are Carolyn Bobo at Cook Children's Medical Center and Doug Newsom at TCU.

Tim Tune, IABC/Fort Worth

Hearing has other important uses, of course, such as listening to people. And as we all know, this sometimes isn't as enjoyable, or as easy, as listening to music. That's why I'm so glad that Weslynn Martin, who knows how to listen to others and has made a career out of sharing her skills with corporate America, will join us this month. Communications is said to be a two-way process, and most of our work focuses on the sending part. Here's a chance to explore the other side.

John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ

I hear that TCU's Dr. Adam Schiffer is articulate and knowledgable, and I know firsthand that David House and Bill Low are witty, insightful and wry (wasn't that from "West Side Story"?), so there you are: Fort Worth SPJ's professional development sessions are back, and with vigor. Thursday, Sept. 23, we'll explore just how biased is the media when nut jobs on all the fringes swear that it favors the other guy. We do the program first, then eat, so if Mexican food (Joe T.'s) makes you sleepy, you can go straight home. Members still pay $13, which is less than the chapter's cost, and students pay eight bucks under that. Click back to p. 1 and RSVP. Do it now. ...

Another perq of Star-Telegram employment, behind the occasional free meal and ahead of seeing the funnies before your neighbors do, is the in-house Onotes written by this month's program panel wrangler, David House. Here's why: The lady in Denton was trying hard to remember why she'd phoned. "Had something to do with an advertisement," she said. "I stood right here and forgot why I was callin'." While she thought, a creature shrieked in the background. "Wul now what was it?" she said. Shriek. "I know it was something." Shriek. "Lemme see." Shriek. "Ma'am," I asked (shriek), "what is that that keeps on shrieking?" "Oh," she said, "that's my cockatiel, Katie. She's wantin' out of her cage. She can sang 'put your little foot.' " The lady called out shrilly to her pet: "Katie! Sang for the paper: 'Put your little foot, put your little foot.' Hell, she ain't gonna sang." Shriek. "I've got three of 'em. One I just brought (shriek) home, and he'll bite the hell out of you. I reckon he's not over the trip home (shriek) in a shoebox, but he'll come around. I'll call you back when I remember my question."

Closing words: "I got a young man named George W. Bush into the Texas National Guard when I was lieutenant governor [1969-73], and I'm not necessarily proud of that. But I did it. I got a lot of other people in the National Guard because I thought that was what people should do when you're in office, and you help a lot of rich people. And I walked to the Vietnam Memorial the other day, and I looked at the names of the people that died in Vietnam, and I became more ashamed of myself than I have ever been, because it was the worst thing I ever did, was help a lot of wealthy supporters and a lot of people who had family names of importance get into the National Guard. And I'm very sorry about that, and I'm very ashamed, and I apologize to you as voters of Texas." -- Ben Barnes in a May interview ... "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." -- President Bush to a roomful of top Pentagon brass ... "I think the ad [criticizing John Kerry's war record] is dishonest and dishonorable. ... It was the same kind of deal that was pulled on me [in the bitter 2000 Republican primary fight]. ... It reopens all the old wounds of the Vietnam War, which I spent the last 35 years trying to heal." -- Republican Sen. John McCain, who nevertheless was later kissed on the forehead by President Bush at an election rally and continues to be rumored as the GOP running mate ... "Why don't they get new jobs if they're unhappy -- or go on Prozac?" -- GOP campaign worker Susan Sheybani, apparently talking to a colleague who was transferring a call from a reporter asking about job quality; when told her comment had been overheard, Sheybani said, "Oh, I was just kidding." ... "Leadership is a couple of things: being able to step up to the plate when it's your turn and stepping down when it's time." -- Nowell Donovan, TCU provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs ... "One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words." -- the founder of German literature, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832

Closing words II, conjoined quotes division: "The image of the Iraqi soccer team playing in this Olympics, it's fantastic, isn't it? It wouldn't have been free if the United States had not acted." -- President Bush, in a TV ad that ran during the Olympics ... "Iraq as a team does not want Mr. Bush to use us for the presidential campaign. He can find another way to advertise himself." -- Iraqi midfielder Salih Sadir to SI.com ... "How will he meet his god, having slaughtered so many men and women? He has committed so many crimes." -- Ahmed Manajid, also a midfielder on the team