As I said, I'm in an experimental mode again re: this blog. (It's strange to call it Hot Potatoes after calling it No Holds Barred since February.) I should have called it HP from the first even though I had a print column of the same name. Anyway, I'll probably be doing the Headlines feature later in the day to free up time around noon. Here goes:

*Al-Qaida infiltrated U.S. military meals? Feds probe Texas firm hired by Pentagon, fear illegals possibly contaminated food/WorldNetDaily: When are we going to get tough on illegal aliens and protect our borders? After someone kills another skyscraper full of Americans?

*Focus group gives slight edge to Kerry: Senator's supporters encouraged by debate performance/Reuters: They're right, but it probably won't matter unless Dubya sleep-walks through another debate.

*Kerry spokesman: Swift vets should 'shut up':
'All of the claims and all of the TV ads were proven false'/CNSNews: Seems the Swifties are still under the Demos' skins.

*Dems mobilize to take back religious turf:
Bush spokesman: 'They're going to find the waters extremely chilly'/AP: It's pretty hard to take back religious territory when your party believes in partial-birth abortion, removing "under God" from the flag salute and supports same-sex marriage. But, hey, let 'em try.

*Minorities half of Texas population: Census shows Hispanics largest group with 7.6 million/Austin Business Journal: If this trend continues, Texas is going to have to "forget the Alamo."

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