It's That Time of the Year

April Fools Day. A day when you can’t really trust everything you read or hear. This should be a low-key event this year as it falls on Saturday and it’s usually a time for job related pranks.

I just checked the internet news for any obvious “foolery” but didn’t see any blatant ones. A possible sighting? The Google announcement that they are getting into the dating business with SoulMate Search. That sure looks like it might be a spoof. But Google always surprises…

I’m sure happy with the looks of the new chair, but here’s the odd thing. I thought we had ordered the chair with a black frame, but since it was such a long time ago, I’ve forgotten. And we had ordered it after viewing a bad photocopy of the chair. Anyway, the frame is a rich and dark brown color, and it’s just right for that spot in the living room and now the room looks complete…except for one or two more paintings? And an area carpet? Maybe a small footstool for the chair? I suppose we will never stop decorating. It’s one of those “human” things…

Speaking of decorating; and since it is Saturday, that means we will be attending our watercolor class this morning, the last one in this series. I only missed a portion of one class and I think I’m catching on. I know that I’m looking forward to another series of classes in another month or so. It really stretches your creative mind and that’s a good thing.

I was watching NOW last night and it was quite good. The stories were on Iraq and Afghanistan and how the democratization is progressing in those countries. It isn’t. Particularly in Afghanistan where the Taliban is now operating openly in the southern provinces. Former Taliban leaders have been placed in high government positions and are re-instituting their control over the population. Some $8 billion in aid is simply gone. Christian Parenti has a great report on what’s happening. The Iraq report details some of the heartache that the Marines are experiencing.

The story that “everyone wants a democracy” is simply not true. A lot of people just want to feel safe. And they will trade freedoms for that feeling. Heck, we’re willing to do that very thing ourselves…and that’s scary.