It has to do with perception. We perceive 9/11/01 as an attack on everything we stand for, but the violence in Iraq, and the middle east as a whole, is acceptable and will lead to something greater. We never, ever, consider what it would be like if the tables were turned. Aasif Mandvi turns those tables in this clip, if only slightly.

Please watch.

Kids today are putting on far more weight (and fat) than their parents.

And guess who is to blame? Yes, the government. When your children are unhealthy and lack the motivation to go outside and do anything, it's the fault of the educational system.

There's nothing like pointing the finger at a faceless entity.

CNN:

The percentage of students who attend a daily physical education class has dropped from 42 percent in 1991 to 28 percent in 2003, the report says.

The number of kids considered overweight has more than tripled since 1980, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Among those between ages 6 to 19, over 9 million kids -- 16 percent -- are considered overweight.

Of course, some people choose to blame other influences.

Jacalyn Lund, president of National Association for Sport and Physical Education, also contends that not every child has the time or money to play soccer or basketball or take ballet lessons after school.

"The upper echelon in our society will have more access to sports, and the lower income kids will get less and less physical activity. ... (This trend) keeps poverty-stricken kids where they are ... it's not getting better; it's getting worse in our nation," he said.

I didn't realized it cost very much money to go running. I remember when I was younger (and yes, I did play a great deal of organized sports) we would simply go to the backyard, take an old baseball bat and a tennis ball, and play a baseball game with a tennis ball on the property each of us lived on.

We also used to run around the forest and paintball, play capture the flag at night, etc. So yes, while a number of people do have access to after-school sports (and I should point out, most private, competitive organizations will make every effort possible ensure no qualified athlete is denied on economics. I was part of a soccer club in the Olympia-area and I know it is encouraged for other members of the club to donate to a pool fund designated for such a purpose), it is far from the only way to keep yourself moving.

I'm not sure what this has to do with Olympia, but I love the visuals.

Olympia, Washington (PRWEB) August 22, 2006 -- A unique and precedent setting memorial bench was dedicated on July 1, 2006 at Mills & Mills Memorial Park in Tumwater (Olympia), WA, recognizing the relationship of a gay couple. Gary Perkins died on June 11, 2005, and his partner, Hal Stockbridge, created a black granite bench to honor his beloved partner. It is rare to find monuments or grave markers that give recognition to gay and lesbian partners.

Stockbridge related his purpose, saying, “In my research for designing this memorial, I found that few like this exist anywhere for gay couples. This memorial will be quite special to our GLBT/Family and Friends and the local community as we continue to work towards recognition of loving gay partnerships, both locally and nationally.

Now do something!