Is this really a question?

I'm sitting on my couch flipping channels and just landed on the democratic debate. It was a toss-up between watching that and The True Hollywood Story of Sex and the City, but then I was fortunate enough to catch Wolf Blitzer ask the question, "Are Human Rights more important than American national security?"

Richardson - "human rights are important" blah blah blah

Osama Obama - "the two go hand-in-hand, one is not sacrificed at the mercy of the other..." and just as he's about to explain the characteristics the U.S. needs to protray to the world, he's cut off by a commercial for Sony flat screen tv's

Billary Clinton - "national security trumps human rights because the first obligation of the president of the u.s. is to protect the security of the u.s. although that doesn't mean we should neglect our interests elsewhere..."

Is this really a question?

I enjoy that the moderator is the highly enlightened Wolf Blitzer from CNN, the most trusted name in news. And it's nice to see questions being asked by John Roberts, formerly known as J.D. Roberts, master VJ of muchmusic back in the 80s when it was kind of a cool show to watch. You've come a long way, baby.

Not So Different?

Just got back from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after spending a week down there with family. It was a balmy 90 degrees and sunny everyday except for yesterday, very unlike Vancouver. I was there for Stephen Colbert's big announcement although it didn't seem to rock any boats down there. Of course we were with a lot of senior citizens who were more intent on floating in the pool or winning blackout bingo.

Differences between here and Canada: the huge, flatscreen television in the registration area was showing a Joel Osteen sermon, yes, in a very public place. Can't see that happening up here because it might offend someone's senses, although I do find Joel Osteen offensive anyway. And one day when I was out in the pool the staff were piping another Southern Baptist style sermon through the P.A. system. Again, that would never happen here. It felt more like being back in Syria, or any other country in the Middle East for that matter. No matter where you were - on transit, in the market, in a shop or restaurant - there would be some Quranic sermon blasting from somewhere.

The biggest similarity between here and there, the value of the dollar, for which the whole family is very grateful.

Marion Jones

I was watching the news last night and all the coverage of Marion Jones's confession to misleading the FBI and oh, the rest of the world, about her steriod use. She apologized to everyone because her lying caused us all "hurt and pain". I feel neither hurt nor pain for what she did. What I do feel is a lot of cynicism about athletes and their performances.

Right now I'm watching the track and field championships in Stuttgart on the TV and I am constantly amazed at how our bodies are formed and the lengths to which they can go. For me, that celebration is enough, to watch people push their bodies to the limit and do amazing things.

In some ways I don't care if people want to inject themselves with whatever to go higher and faster, you hurt yourself and assume the risk. What I do hate is the lying that goes along with it. When Florence Griffith Joyner died a few years ago at the age of 38, some of those close to her said the world shouldn't be asking if she had ever taken drugs, her legacy spoke for her character and determination. But a heart seizure at 38? Besides, she had always tested negative for steriods, but then again so did Marion Jones.

So finally Marion has come clean, now I'm just waiting for Carl Lewis and Lance.