I just read this piece about figure skater Michelle Kwan going back to school to finish up her college degree. I have to say that I’m pretty impressed by that decision. Kwan has had incredible success throughout her career (despite the fact that she never won Olympic Gold), and certainly should be in a very stable position financially. So she doesn’t exactly need to go to school. I’m sure she could get a commentating job, become a coach, or even continue skating in exhibition programs or whatever. But it speaks volumes about her character (not to mention the way she was raised) that she thinks a college degree is important.

The only surprising thing is that she chose to go to the University of Denver, which isn’t exactly a high-profile school. Kwan previously attended UCLA, and probably could have gone back there or, at the very least, to a higher-ranked university (Denver is 88th).

I wonder why she chose Denver?

Am I the only one that thinks this story is not a big deal at all? I can’t believe all the fuss they’re making about a “male heir” in Japan. Does the Japanese royal family even do anything anymore? I pretty much assumed they were like the British royal family in that they simply attended ceremonial functions and such. They don’t have any real power anymore, so would it really make a difference if the child were yet another girl?

Don’t get me wrong: I’m happy that the royal couple had a healthy child. But I just don’t think it should be treated as the second coming!