When the firecan jockeys have flown their blowtorches some 100,000 miles, the doctors take over for the ground physical.

A Beijing diplomat complained China is “fed up with the footdragging” of Burma's strongman, General Than Shwe, and his inner circle, one of the cables, released by WikiLeaks, reported.

Half the populace are idle, / Half are busy in a room; / All are gravebound from the cradle, / All are hotfoot for their doom.

A few suggestions are given . . . maintaining an effective naval squadron to show the flag and protect American interests.