And today in tasteless news: "A supporter of Rudy Giuliani's [Abraham Sofaer] is throwing a party that aims to raise $9.11 per person for the Republican's presidential campaign."

'Great,' we thought, 'another transparent effort to milk a national tragedy for all its worth and garner Giuliani with undue praise and attention.' But apparently we were wrong.

Sofaer said he had nothing to do with the "$9.11 for Rudy" theme.

"There are some young people who came up with it," Sofaer said when reached by telephone Monday evening. He referred other questions to Giuliani's campaign.

"I'm just providing support for him. He's an old friend of mine," Sofaer said of Giuliani.

Bizarre! But what else could the $9.11 represent? Giuliani's "emergency" fund? A tribute to Reno: 911? Or, perhaps, $3.04 for each of Rudy's three marriages?

Sadly, nobody knows for sure. Well, except for that group of secretive "young people."