Mother's Day Follow-up

I was a good sport. I did the overpriced brunch thing, wrapped up some chocolates in a box, bought a cheesy card that cost the same as a Subway sandwich (6 inch). It was fine. But my mom managed to validate my Hallmark holiday cynicism.

My mom is a sucker for saccharine, gaudy cards - the more glittery flowers, the more layers of blank pages, the better. But I don't think she ever really reads the most important part - my personal message. Sunday proved my suspicion. I put my mom to the test.

In her card, I wrote a message in swirly, small handwriting that looked like it could have been words, but the whole thing was actually gibberish. She opened the card, closed it and said, "That's so sweet, honey. Thanks." I said, "Did you read my message?" She said, "I did. Quickly." She opened it again to redeem herself. I watched her squint, sweat, bring it closer to her face. 5 minutes later, she was still at it, grimacing.

I finally put her out of her misery and told her my message did not say anything. It didn't go over that well. She chuckled and rolled her eyes and continued to eat her $40 omelette.

Iran frees Roxana Saberi

A key piece of evidence brought about her conviction on espionage charges. Roxana Saberi possessed a copy of a classified report by the Iranian government report about the United States war in Iraq. The prosecutors accused Saberi of passing the document on to American officials.

But a letter from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asking for a careful review of Saberi's case, apparently, influenced her release.

Saberi is free now and will, most likely, leave Iran within a few days. The court reduced her sentence from 8 years in prison to a suspended two-year term and banned her from practicing journalism in Iran for 5 years.

The move to release Saberi may help the Obama administration's efforts to improve relations with Iran. Obama welcomed the decision as a "humanitarian gesture."

"I'm very happy to be released and to be with my father and mother again," Saberi told reporters in Tehran. "I'm thanking all those people around the world who knew me or who didn't know me but helped my release. Right now I just want to be with my parents and my friends and to relax," Saberi said.

The Committee to Protect Journalists, though "thrilled" by Saberi's release, offered a swift reminder: "Several Iranian journalists remain jailed today. We urge they be given the same opportunity for judicial review."

Mama gets no paid leave

The Economic Policy Institute says that compared to countries with similar per capita income, the United States provides the fewest mandated maternity leave benefits in both length of leave and amount of paid time off.

What is wrong with us?

Anyway, have a Happy Mother’s Day.