Posted 9:06 PM by Gene

The problem with the Web, the thing that must drive too many people bonkers, is how microscopic pins of truth are buried in a vast electronic haystack, escaping all efforts of detection. As a for-instance, it appears the only halfway decent blog out of Turin is the AP's, and surprisingly it has had a few zingers like this one from Larry McShane:

Billy Bush got booed. Loudly.

And deservedly so.

At a Saturday news conference with American figure skater Michelle Kwan, the Turin media horde descended for word on the three-time Olympian's health. Kwan, plagued by a groin injury that nearly kept her out of the games, had cut short her first Olympic practice just hours earlier after struggling through several jumps.

Would Kwan still skate? Would she surrender her spot to alternate Emily Hughes? How bad was her leg?

But the "Access Hollywood" co-host began the news conference by grabbing the microphone to ask Kwan whether she throws up before skating. And whether the fashion world would be stunned if she stopped wearing outfits by Vera Wang. And then ...

"We are in the city of love," said Bush, apparently confusing industrial Turin for Rome. "Do you have plans for Valentine's Day?"

The rest of the assembled media booed the presidential first cousin, who nevertheless plowed ahead with his query.

"Come on!" shouted one frustrated broadcaster.

A flustered Kwan began to speak, then wondered, "Do I have to answer that?"

Uh, no.

Next question.

Nice job, Billy.

Or this one assistant sports editor Josh Dickey:

I guess the anti-Americanism at these games isn't limited to shutting Americans out of the IOC and killing baseball and softball.

I was working and watching the opening ceremony from the AP's area at the Main Press Center, a cavernous, wide-open space where the walls only reach about halfway to the 100-foot ceilings of this former Fiat plant. Out comes the U.S. team, and up come boos _ boos! _ from other work areas in here that reverberate around the building and prick all our ears.

Sounds like some journalists had their impartiality confiscated at customs.

Classy.

There's got to be more truth lying around here someplace, but I'm not going to search through 10,000 sites and 20,000 blogs for it. It HAS to be here.

WHERE?