Random thoughts of the day.

Why oh why did Zhang Yimou pick Jimmie Page and Whole Lotta Love to represent London and the UK at the closing ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics. I mean, this is the land of Shakespeare, The Beatles, God Save the Queen. Come on people, get over Led Zeppelin.

Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps are aliens. I can prove it. Nobody can run that fast or swim that fast. There, I proved it.

Anyone notice the top two video releases this week? The Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana. I'm old. The New Kids on the Block are back. They are old enough to be Miley's dad (sorry Billy Ray). So if that's true then where does that place Jimmie Page? And me?

It would be very cool if the Tampa Bay Rays finished ahead of the Red Sox and Yankees. I'm tired of New York and Boston dominating the sports pages.

Putting aside the lighter side, if you haven't noticed yet the New Cold War is getting hotter. I don't quite get what is going on in Georgia (the country not the state) but the Russians are saying they have successfully tested a missile that is capable of breaking through the proposed US missile defense. Oh great. Here we go again. Does anyone believe that either Obama or McCain can handle this?

Did you know that we have American troops in 130 countries around the world? Yes, 130. Why?

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both viewed an isolationist policy as best for the new nation. Both agreed that aligning with foreign nations was not in the best interest of the United States. Both agreed that becoming entangled in foreign intrigue was not in the best interest of the United States. Yes, it's a different and much smaller world now, but it makes no sense to me that we have troops in 130 independent nations around the world.

And finally, why are we still in the 60's regarding Cuba? We deal with China, we negotiate with North Korea and Iran and are cozy with the oppressive Saudi regime. Isn't it time to say hello to Cuba?