In these trying times, I try to keep up with the news, and I check CNN.com frequently. As such, I’d like to bring your attention to a few items that may have escaped your notice.

There are those who accuse CNN of accepting anything it is fed and regurgitating it for the public, leaving a foul-smelling pile of undigested propaganda coated with a thin, glistening film of legitimacy. An outrageous allegation, as witnessed by the following:

“Though no official records are kept of such finds, a spokeswoman for Frito-Lay said she doesn't recall such a big Chee-to ever making it through the rigorous quality control process since the company began making them 55 years ago. A rare thing indeed because snackers devour billions of Chee-tos every year. More than 3 million bags are made daily, making the tasty treat almost synonymous with America."

Doesn't sound like a press release to me.

Another item you may have missed:

Bush’s Muslim Propaganda Chief Quits

I should point out that this is the actual headline, not some kind of political statement on my part. It's sloppy syntax; neither the propaganda chief nor her propaganda was Muslim.

After September 11, many in America asked, “why do they hate us?” There was a brief flurry of genuine interest in this question, and then the nation realized there was a Friends rerun on, and lost interest. The State Department, though, took action before turning their attention to the antics of Ross, Rachel and the gang. They hired Charlotte Beers, the ad executive who made Uncle Ben’s rice famous, to put together a campaign for the Muslim world to explain to them what we all know: America is swell.

Some rather lengthy TV spots were produced, but none of the state-run TV networks in the Arab world was willing to show them. Those ads which did make it to the Arab public failed to make an impression. Ms. Beers was made to resign.

As a US official quoted in the article remarks, “She didn't do anything that worked.” Incompetent bitch.

I hear some left-wing wackos in the State Department are working on a theory that the credibility of the campaign may have been undermined by the presence of 250,000 US troops poised to invade Iraq. Crazy liberals.