American Pride: In January, spokesman Nick Inskip of the trade association of Australia's legalized brothels and strip clubs praised the American sailors who that week began several days' shore leave in Brisbane. ''[T]he fellows are fantastic customers,'' he said. ''They are so well-mannered. . . . They're very aware that they're representing their country, and that's why they behave so well.''

More things to blame on Bush: (1) Two gunmen robbed a 57-year-old woman in her Westerville, Ohio, home in February, but, according to a police report, argued among themselves about how to do the job, until one of the men, perhaps feeling sorry for himself, said, ''This is all George W. Bush's fault. He screwed up the economy.'' All the two men needed, he said, was ''gas money for the car.'' (2) A 29-year- old man was convicted in February after he jumped over a fence at the White House to meet up with Chelsea Clinton. According to an officer, the man seemed unfazed at being told that the Clintons no longer lived there but did say that ''George Bush told me to jump the fence, and I jumped the fence.''

- Compiled

by Chuck Shepherd