alexist

lows: toddler tantrums

highs: sleepy baby cuddles

perpendiculars, literally: coming to bed late (Neil and Aliza had been in bed for a while) and discovering that Aliza's head is at the side edge of the bed with the rest of her sprawled horizontally.

One of the most extraordinary--and hypocritical--political phenomena is the way many leftists still rush to defend Fidel and his regime. I fully admit that US policy is hypocritical and has been an own goal policy wise, but then you get letters like this:

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/letters/letters-secondarymodern-education-785548.html

It's the standard line of wonderful socialist paradise. Unfortunately it's not true. Cuba's health achievements are impressive given its economy, but in many Cuban hospitals there are few drugs to be had.

The third letter on Cuba? That's the most delusional thing I have ever read (after letter #1). Guantánamo Bay is wrong and a shame to the US--but has the writer considered reading Amnesty International's page on Cuba? "Freedom of expression, association and movement continued to be severely restricted. At least 69 prisoners of conscience remained imprisoned for their political opinions. Political dissidents, independent journalists and human rights activists continued to be harassed, intimidated and detained, some without charge or trial. Cubans continued to feel the negative impact of the US embargo."

Kind of contradicts what letter 1 says of Cuba: "a society based on respect and love for all its citizens, profound cultural diversity, equality and human values that reflect the immense integrity of its leader".

And being elected to the Human Rights Council is no proof of anything; Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and China are also on it.