A steady hand
Now Playing: Cristina Branco - Canta Slauerhoff
I've actually set up an excel file to keep track of the blood pressure and other statistics related to heart and exercise. I've also managed to keep it up - the exercise part which is a good thing indeed. The singer Cristina Branco is a 'Fado' singer. Not really sure what that it means but it sounds good, it is a sweet female voice singing in Portugese and for me, that's all that matters.

Reading over at Xinhua news (China) that they've recently had a "International Symposium on the Death Penalty" held last month at Xiangtan in Hunan province. Of note they argue that China needs to abolish or curtail the use of the death penalty there when it ratifies the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Xinhau Death Penalty Article They argue, among other things that to abolish the death penalty would be a sign of the civilized society. The death penalty is one of the things that the United States holds in common with China. Ironic to think that China may abolish the death penalty before the United States.

Was watching the BBC World News on PBS this evening and they had a story about the marsh people of Iraq. The marsh people are folks who lived in the marsh lands and were considered to be disloyal and untrustworthy by Saddam. So he drained their marshlands to starve and drive them out. Much like Stalin when he would block escape from areas of the Soviet Union that were in drought and starving, Saddam was successful in destroying the people and their livelihoods. Well, with the Americans there the marshes have been allowed to marsh up again and those who had fled have come back. You see them in their boats poling through the marshlands. Another story you wouldn't hear on FOX News. Amazing.