The great lesson my mother and father gave me was almost invisible. It was a strong sense of being rooted.

If you're in Journalism and you're looking for friends, you should get a dog.

Be careful. Journalism is more addictive than crack cocaine. Your life can get out of balance.

Foreign news is considered an expletive. Thoughtfully written analysis is out, 'live pops' are in. 'Action Jackson' is the cry. Hire lookers, not writers. Do powder puff, not probing interviews. Stay away from controversial subjects. Kiss ass, move with the mass, and for heaven and rating's sake, don't make anybody mad- - certainly not anybody you're covering, and especially not the mayor, the governor, the senator, the president or the vice-president or anybody in a position of power. Make nice, not news.

We may see Michael Jackson's baby before we know the final outcome of this race for the House of Representatives tonight.

Texas: 32 electoral votes, another of the so-called big enchiladas or if not an enchilada at least a huge taco.

President Bush insisted today that he was not caving in to big-money contributors, big-time lobbyists, and overall industry pressure when he broke a campaign promise to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. But the air was thick today with accusations from people who believe that's exactly what happened.