There used to be a Japanese tv program where celebrities tried to distinguish between A and B. A was a Strad violin and B was a student violin. Or A was a tuna salad and B was a catfood salad. Or A was photograph by a famous photog. B was a student photo. Etc. the results were essentially random.

I've done it. Pretty interesting. No bad news.

Good lord Peter. If external appearances give some clue about internal differences then racial differences might also offer some clue to.... Wait cancel that thought. My name is not Richwine.

Note: the North Star is only visible in the northern hemisphere. Doesn't this exacerbate the north-south divide?

Thank god my mother had access to birth control. Saves me sending a Mother's Day card.

Diversity means we're all the same. Sleep well.

It's a little warmer today. Buy land in Canada.

I'm in favor of deporting almost everyone.

The coarsening of the culture is an environmental issue.

Wonder what Monica Lewinsky looks like now...

I will be getting a new one in about six months and will report on the process and results.

One more community successfully organized.

Churchill?

PC makes you stupid.

Learn Chinese. It might save your life in a few years.

I am writing this a few miles from North Korea, which makes me an expert. I also have been watching Chinese TV recently, which makes me a double expert. The Chinese are obsessed with Japan. Nearly every news broadcast begins with ten minutes of Japanese quasi-military actions and the reactions of the brave People's Army Navy (sic). Rob is correct. The worst nightmare for Chinese planners is the remilitarization of Japan. The Norks are angling for bribes to keep a lid on their actions. The trick is to be provocative without going too far. You can't reach the top in North Korea without being diabolically clever. Same is true for China, but the Chinese have bigger fish to fry and probably just want to maintain the status quo.