The following is an excerpt from OpinionJournal.com’s “Best of the Web” written by the editor, James Taranto.

We Just Don’t Have the Heart to Tell Them What Happened
“Looking for Ronald Reagan–and Not Finding Him”–headline, Time.com, Sept. 8

It’s Always in the Last Place You Look
“Another Pile of Fish Heads Found on a Highway”–headline, Associated Press, Sept. 8

Breaking News From 1944
“Two Men Arrested in German Bomb Plot”–headline, New York Times, Sept. 9

News You Can Use
“Norway Is Not a Good Hiding Place”–headline, WSJ.com, Sept. 7

Bottom Stories of the Day

  • “Congo Former VP Bemba Not Running in Elections”–headline, Associated Press, Sept. 9
  • “Oprah Winfrey Chats on Facebook Live Talk Show”–headline, Associated Press, Sept. 9
  • “Meghan McCain Backs Romney”–headline, DailyCaller.com, Sept. 9

Privacy, Please, Mom
“A medical privacy breach led to the public posting on a commercial Web site of data for 20,000 emergency room patients at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif., including names and diagnosis codes, the hospital has confirmed,” the New York Times reports. “The information stayed online for nearly a year.” The story gives an example:

Diane Dobson, of Santa Clara, Calif., said her “jaw dropped” on Saturday when she intercepted the letter from Ms. Meyer addressed to her 21-year-old son, who she said had received emergency psychiatric treatment at Stanford in 2009. Ms. Dobson said it could have been disastrous if her son, who lives at home, had learned that his name was linked to a mental health diagnosis.

“My son, I can tell you, is fragile and confused enough that this would have sent him over the edge,” Ms. Dobson said, saying she decided to speak publicly now because of her frustration with the breach. “Everyone with an electronic medical record is at risk, and that means everyone.”

The Stanford breach does sound like a serious matter, and Mrs. Dobson may well be right that everyone is at risk. At particular risk, however, are people whose mothers go blabbing to newspapers about their medical problems.

For more “Best of the Web” click here and look for the “Best of the Web Today” link in the middle column below ”Today’s Columnists.