Refreshing royals

CNN.com is reporting that Prince Harry has been actively serving in Afghanistan on the front lines with his army unit for the past 10 weeks. I don't think we should ask our young men and women to be on those lines, but respect very much the loyalty and sacrifice that these soldiers show every minute they're over there. They've done everything asked of them and more and they're doing it for us.

Its about time one of the leaders responsible for the decisions to invade Afghanistan and Iraq allowed their son or daughter to serve in those conflicts - just as the sons and daughters of the middle and lower economic classes have done for years now. I know the Queen and her family are mostly figureheads these days, but they're still seen as the elite ruling class in the UK.

Also, I am pleasantly surprised that the media has known about Prince Harry's service and have managed to keep it secret for 10 weeks in the interest of his safety and the safety of those who are standing side-by-side with him on the front lines. This kind of news makes me able to believe almost anything - I'd almost believe it if you told me that Ann Coulter had something constructive to say or, (albeit, less likely) that President Bush has read the Constitution.

This is a good story - the royal family just got a lot more likable in my book.

No problem

No problem

Retiro feliz, Castro

It looks like the biggest, baddest revolutionary on the planet is retiring with his gold watch and pension plan intact. Happy retirement, Castro - you fascist dictator, you.

Now is the time to bust that embargo wide open. What better way to finally tank the Cuban communist economy than by flooding it with commercial goods hawked and pushed by a capitalist machine that has pervaded all other corners of the globe? Roll in there and buy all of those pristine classic cars and sell them some Hyundai’s, which means they'll need 50 Hyundai dealerships to service the cars (send them that “Huuuuge” guy - good riddance). Give them enough Starbucks coffee to get them addicted and then set up 500 Starbucks locations. Give Paris Hilton and her friends all visas and let them strut around Havana making young Cuban girls feel too smart and too fat - they'll all buy pink bedazzeled phones and diet pills (bonus: PH won’t be here).

The plan is genius. Pretty soon, Raul Castro and his regime will be crushed under a wave of materialism. If 50 years of CIA ingenuity can't kill communism in Cuba, maybe Pepsi and McDonalds can give it a shot.

Ms. Clinton

I agree whole-heartedly that the children of politicians should be left alone by the press. It isn't fair for young children to be splashed across the 24-hour news channels just because of what their parents do for a living.

But, please. Chelsea Clinton is 27 or 28 years old now. She has a masters degree in international relations from Oxford, and she is an active, senior member of her monther's national campaign for the presidency. She's taking superdelegates out to breakfast and giving speaches at colleges. Now she's heading off to Hawaii to lead the campaign in that state. She has actively campaigned in Arkansas, California, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah, Wisconsin, and others.

Chelsea Clinton is far from the innocent 12 year old girl who moved into the White House in 1993 and should be fair game, just as every other member of a national political campaign is.

Happy Valentine's Day

For a long time, I've had the same valentine every year . . . Maggie the labrador! This is her:

Maggie is an excellent valentine and always remembers to let me rub her belly in honor of the occassion.

This year, I have two valentines. Its awfully nice to have the second valentine because he is sweet and handsome and intelligent ;)

As a bonus, valentine no. 2 can rub valentine no. 1's belly and maybe I get the day off . . . heh heh.

The real deal . . . ?

I'm kind of cynical about politicians these days, like most people. I used to really believe in our leaders . . . but they disappointed me.

But I think this guy might be the real deal. I can feel my cynicism starting to peel away around the edges.

Super duper, it's Tuesday

Don't forget to vote today! Every eligible voter needs to go to the polls today and make a choice - I don't care what you choose, just make a choice.

Well . . . I do care what you choose, but I'd rather have a majority outcome than watch 5% of the population pick my candidates for President.

And, if you live in Western NY, please note that the polls don't open until Noon today (I wish someone had told me that this morning :)