Happy dad/daughter news: an Alameda, CA father/daughter Valentine's Day dance.

There's little else to report. This month's federal budget fun hasn't left out fathers (quick review: the government is set to approve it's 2003 budget, almost five months late, and the Prez has submitted his proposed 2004 budget). The '03 budget apparently includes money for the National Fatherhood Initiative to study out-of-wedlock births, and the '04 proposal includes $20 million "to promote responsible fatherhood and marriage." Clearly, these are not directly related to the at-home dad lifestyle, but we'll take attention at the fringes. Responsible fatherhood -- ensuring that fathers have the same rights and responsibilities as mothers -- is key to the kind of equal caregiving society that will result in more and more dads to keep me company at the local coffeeshop ...