Powell talks to German Kids

Education
An interesting article that sadly shows how knowledgeable German (and other European countries as well) kids are regarding world affairs as compared to American kids. I saw this when I lived in Germany in the summer of '68 and again when I spent a semester in Germany in '71. Believe me, there is no comparison. I guess that is what comes with the thought of being the most powerful country on Earth and a long ways away from other countries. Unfortunately, both of those are rapidly diminishing in this new "global" world and kids in this country (and their teachers and parents) had better wake up and start learning about the world. Makes me think of a comment I heard by James Olmos on Charlie Rose last night, who mentioned that kids up till the age of 12 can learn to speak, write and think in 4 languages simultaneously with no difficulty. How many American kids can speak another language? Pathetic few.

A mini-series worth watching
Speaking of James Olmos, tune in to PBS this Sunday night at 7 p.m.(check the web site in the following link for exact times in your area - I get local PBS and it happens to be on at 3 p.m in my area) for American Family, the first drama series ever to air on broadcast television featuring a Latino cast, and the first original primetime American episodic drama on PBS in decades, first premiered in January 2002. Episodes from the first season currently air on Sunday nights (check local listings), leading up to the April 2004 premiere of the second season. “I wanted to do something different with AMERICAN FAMILY this year,” said series creator, Academy Award® nominee, writer/director Gregory Nava (El Norte, Selena). “Instead of doing an episodic series, I wanted to tell one epic story that unfolds like a mini-series over 13 parts. The topical story lines will be based around events of the Iraq war, and will show how the Gonzalez family came to America during the Mexican Revolution. AMERICAN FAMILY will depict all the sacrifices they have made through the years to achieve the American dream. In every household in America, there is an epic story – this year AMERICAN FAMILY will tell that story.”

Television has some fine offerings, unfortunately you need cable to see most of them, with the exception of PBS that comes along now and then with outstanding programming, such as the one mentioned above. If you live in an area where you can get Direct TV, Dish, or cable, and you're sick of the crap on TV, do yourself a favor and sign up, but make sure to get HBO and Showtime where some of the best TV is being produced.

Quote of the Day
"I have witnessed the softening of the hardest of hearts by a simple smile."
Goldie Hawn

Odd Summary
Reuters - A German cat weighing six times the normal weight is so fat that it cannot take more than four steps without getting exhausted, officials at a Berlin animal shelter have said after receiving the six-year-old feline. Mikesch, a black and white house cat weighing in at 18.5 kg (nearly 41 lbs), was taken away from his elderly owner on Thursday. The man, who was himself taken to a nursing home, had been feeding the cat two kg (4.4 lbs) of mince each day.