A Fool and his Words are Soon Parted

News at Half-Mashed: Capitol Gets Nerve February 12, 2006

Sometimes, you don’t have to add anything to a news story. You just have to delete a bit. Take the following story from the AP (as quoted by the NY Times):

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (AP) — A Capitol office building was evacuated Wednesday night after sensors indicated the presence of a nerve agent, but a later test was negative.

Several senators were among 200 people who were moved to a Capitol parking garage as the police conducted several tests before concluding that it was a false alarm.

…

Doesn’t it make more sense this way?

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (AP) — Capitol building was evacuated after sensors indicated the presence of nerve, but a later test was negative. Several senators moved before concluding that it was a false alarm.

I don’t want them to get gas. I just want them to get some nerve.