I finished reading "Kitchen Privileges" by Mary Higgins Clark. My Mom lent it to me and told me that she really enjoyed it. It is an autobiography, although much of it is about family and friends and people who are part of Mary's life. I think that I have read only one of her suspense/mystery books, so I'm not a huge fan. The first half of this book is great, while the second half kind of plateaus and goes downhill. The stories of her growing up as an Irish-Catholic girl in the Bronx are definitely the best part of the book. I think that she could have expanded the book with more stories about her childhood and ended when she got married and it would have been more interesting. During the adult years, she seems to skip back and forth between timeframes which is sometimes confusing. Still, overall it's an enjoyable read. It's interesting to see how our society has changed since her childhood. I may even pick up one of her suspense books to see if it's better than the one that I read.

I read that there is a civilian in Iraq who uses BLOGSPOT to communicate about the war. I don't know if it's written in English or some other language, but it is remarkable either way. I think that it is great that the web can be used as a communication vehicle for the entire world. It gives one hope that someday we can all learn to live together. I think that reading about life from ordinary people can tell you a lot more about a country than any newspaper or TV reporter. When reporters are involved, I always get the feeling that they are putting their own spin on the news. They filter out anything that doesn't fit with their view and insert things that were never there to begin with. There is something pure about someone stating his opinion in his own words. Right or wrong it helps you understand them better.

I watched the Academy Awards last night. Steve Martin did a great job as the host. It was nice to see someone who is genuinely funny for a change. Thankfully, most of the presenters and winners kept their political opinions to a minimum. Those who mentioned the war, mostly hoped for a quick end and peace; something almost everyone would agree with.
* * *
I was happy to see "Chicago" win for best picture. I didn't see "The Hours" or "The Pianist", so I'm not the best judge. "Chicago" was a fun picture to watch, though. I'm not that interested in seeing films that are depressing. I can watch the news if I want to be depressed.
* * *
All the protesters in the streets are starting to annoy me. The United States is under an orange alert which means the police and security forces are under a lot of stress and are being overworked. They shouldn't have to neglect security at the airports, schools, government buildings, and churches and temples in order to arrest protesters who are mostly trying to salve their own conscience. Here's an idea, get out and vote next time! I appreciate the sentiment that peace is needed, but the action of protesting in the streets is misguided. They're just creating more problems, not solving any.