news.verizon.net wrote:
I'm just getting started in electronics,
and am hoping to get into experimenting[...]
I'm looking for a cheap source for bulk resistors, capacitors,
diodes, and that sort of thing

Get some catalogs and see what folks currently have:
http://www.google.com/search?q=all-e...paypal&num=100

Mostly this is done thru ebay these days.