Fun-filled week, to say the least....

I am, of course, being sarcastic. Last week was filled with so much news, it was almost a little hard for this dirt sailor to keep up with. Famous deaths, protests in Iran, and cautious happenings with our buddies in North Korea. I decided to pass sometime reading, what I thought was an appropriate book at the time.

Better knock, what I consider the least important news stories, out first. Farrah Fawcet, Ed McMahon, Michael Jackson, and now, Billy Mays all died. Wow, it almost sounds like a cruel joke, where you ask yourself, "Who's next?" Mays was the biggest surprise to me, and to be completely honest, the only one where I went, "Aww, man!" Farrah Fawcet and McMahon were before my time, and MJ, well, as Short-Round would say: "He crazy!"

In fact, our little Vietnamese friend would probably also say, "Dr. Jones say, no going to crazy man's house. He say, crazy, plastic man will try to hug me.... inappropriately." Whether you believe he was innocent or not, the fact was he was more than a bit off the reservation. The real disturbing part, isn't his transformation to Barbie's creepy cousin, who is kept in the attic, it's the amount of news coverage totally focused on him and his family. But I always complain on how the "real" news gets ignored, and the priority is celebrity nonsense. I'm saying his death wasn't nonsense, just that we understand the King of Pop has passed away and there are other things in the world brewing.

Death always sucks, especially those who are friends or family to the individual. Trust me, I know. I am not trying to be cold to the musician, it's just that, the way people, for whatever reason, go on about how MJ "touched" and improved their lives seems a bit odd. Maybe I'm just saying it because I'm not exactly a fan of his work. To be honest, Billy Mays touched my life more than any of the other stars who died. I wouldn't have known about Oxy-Clean if it wasn't for him. I thought this was nice. If MJ was your idol, I'm sorry for your lost. He was not mine, and I can't say that my life will change in any way now that he's gone. For many others, this is different, and it is a tragedy. Sorry about what happened, and I hope you all pull through fine. There are plenty of memorials for him and many people who mourn for him.

Back on track... OH YES, so Iran. Nice to finally see it's citizens revolting against the Regime. However, is it too late, and what will come out of it? I, like many others, are curious to see this thing along, and wish our president would be more active with the situation. We understand health care is important, but when an opportunity to do the most with Iran besides war is knocking, here's hoping he'd do more than the little that has been done. Even if the "Green Revolution" succeeds and Ahaminejad, the little piss ant, gets removed from office, I don't see much changing with Iran's relationship with America. This election dispute is not like the Islamic Revolution and the real problem is still in charge. For Iran to truly change it's course, not only do you need to get rid of the puppet president, you need to get rid of the puppeteer, and I mean the Ayatollah and the others behind the scenes.

Lastly, North Korea. It gives me goosebumps, not in a bad way, but from a strange curiosity of what could possibly happen from this. North Korea has always been that nasty pimple that threatens to infect your face if action is taken, and the doctor (the UN) simply prescribes a weak face cream. It's nasty, and you know of the easiest way to clear it right up. But, with pleas from a couple of your friends, you decide to listen to the doctor, apply the cream, and watch it come and go, always nastier each time it comes back, usually the night of a big date or activity. North Korea has threatened to pretty much wipe America off the face of the map with a proposed nuclear arsenal. Call me arrogant, but I can't help but act like these guys: Give it your best shot. I'm not saying that we have nothing to worry about, the idea of real nuclear war is frightening and nuclear weapons should only be used as a deterrant. They should never be used in an act of war, and their presence simply to prevent war, period. But when you look at a country like North Korea, see the genius who runs the country, and you simply wonder. They say if we stop their vessel it will be an act of war. I believe, it would finally show the North Koreans that we still mean business.

NK is nothing more than a little punk, and like a little punk, a quick jab to the nose, and it crumbles to floor. If there ever was a conflict where many could agree that it was a necessary evil, I'm sure North Korea would be one of them. I'm not saying war is the only option, but I won't disagree that maybe we didn't finish a job the first time.

- Sailor Harry