Another victim of the drug war. A 57-year old woman dies of a heart attack following a raid by an elite police squad, who use a "knockless" warrant and a concussion grenade upon crashing through her apartment door. There are many debates swirling around this one, despite the Bloomberg administration response -- a 100% improvement over what his predecessor would have done. For instance, are the police more likely to use a grenade in Harlem than in Gramercy Park? But the debates I haven't seen raised: has the NYC drug war gone paramilitary, and why has this story received so little play? Perhaps Bloomberg's and the commish's reasonable and fast response has been effective in diluting the story. But I suspect it has more to do with 1.) she was a 57-year old Haitian woman, and 2.) police tactics in the drug war are now so out-of-hand and disproportionate, that this isn't much of a news story.

Speaking of the drug war -- cannibis is no doubt the drug of choice for Al Qaeda as well as jazz musicians. One thing on which Democrats and Republicans can agree .

When or when will Bernie and Nick be back? This was a truly ugly game. At this rate, Wells may get his 200th before Clemens gets his 300th, and the Clemens clan will have toured America! I love Jeter and ("el freaque") Soriano; I think they are two of the best, most natural, and fun to watch players in baseball. But I'm beginning to think they are no where near the best shortstop and second baseman in the league. Is it time to start thinking about moving Jeter to third and Sori to the outfield? Something to think about for '04. Maybe pick up Tejada in free agency to replace Jeter. [ed. Already thinking next year? Isn't that what Red Sox fans start to do in August? "It's never to early to start thinking about a repeat!" replies the obnoxious Yankee fan.]