Danger! - Laura Bush, in

Danger! - Laura Bush, in Moscow:

"American children, I'm afraid, are addicted to television," she told the first ladies of Russia, Armenia and Bulgaria on Tuesday, citing studies that place average TV consumption in the United States at several hours a day.

She continued:

"When you read with your child, you show them that reading is important, but you also show them they're important — that they are so important to you that you will spend 20 minutes a day with your arm around them," she said.

In that context, she termed TV-watching a big no-no.

"We're always, everyone — librarians, teachers — are trying to inform parents about turning the television off," said Mrs. Bush, a former teacher and librarian herself. "Television watching is very passive and ... reading is much better exercise for the brain."

Note to Mrs. Bush; careful with that kind of talk, or you'll lose the show-biz vote.

In the meantime, I'd like to officially welcome Bulgaria to the First World. Not only are they contributing troops to the liberation of Iraq, but their first lady, Zorka Parvanova (far right, below)...

...is further evidence of something I noticed three years ago; every Bulgarian woman I've ever met has been a heart-rending babe.

Posted by Mitch at October 1, 2003 06:00 AM