If one doubts that there is anything wrong with this world, they only need to look at this sickening story of gross cruelty to an animal that occurred recently in the small town of Cotati, California. This news is revolting to say the least. Even the relative lack of concern and outrage for the killing of a 16 year old boy in the same area a year ago is troubling.

Of course, what can you expect in a country that spends trillions of dollars to fight an enemy that cannot be defeated on the battle field? Bush & Co says we must stay the course and win but win what? He says he will stay until the mission is accomplished. What mission? To overthrow Saddam Hussein? Well, we did that and we should have gotten out right after that but no, he had to make sure the oil fields were ours for the taking and in the meantime we have created a whole bunch of new enemies and even now the powers-that-be in Iraq are saying we should leave. Then there is the matter of trying to set up a democracy where democratic principles never existed. To try to do so at the end of a gun barrel is futile but that cowboy from Texas knows no better.

Message to NASA: When you launch the first manned mission to Mars, I would like to volunteer and if it should be a one-way mission, oh well, c'est la vie.