What Caught My Eye Today

Political Correctness - New York declared the n-word off limits to all races Wednesday in a purely symbolic resolution prompted by the common, casual use of the slur in hip-hop music, comedy and street slang. New York's resolution is not binding and merely calls on residents to stop using the slur. Leaders of the nation's largest city also hope to set an example. What is it with non-binding resolutions? Enough already. Plus, I'm not saying the majority of the population doesn't know what the n-word is, but what if they don't? How do they find out?

Congress - House Democratic leaders are developing an anti-war proposal that wouldn't cut off money for U.S. troops in Iraq but would require President Bush to acknowledge problems with an overburdened military. The plan could draw bipartisan support but is expected to be a tough sell to members who say they don't think it goes far enough to assuage voters angered by the four-year conflict. Bush "hasn't to date done anything we've asked him to do, so why we would think he would do anything in the future is beyond me," said one member of Congress. Well, she does have a point. But here's mine...what benefit do we get from an 'acknowledgment.' While I'm not a big fan of his foreign policy, I'm pretty sure the President know that the military has its hands full, without Congress reminding him.

Anna Nicole Smith - A Florida appeals court helped clear the way Wednesday for Anna Nicole Smith to be buried in the Bahamas, saying evidence supports that it's what the former Playboy Playmate wanted. I'm thinking a open coffin is off the table at this point. What a bunch of vultures. You'd the poor girl would finally get some peace, but they took that that from her too.

Baseball - Major League Baseball star Barry Bonds, embattled in doping controversy as he nears a hallowed milestone, told a San Francisco radio station that he has received death threats. In a rare 90-minute interview, Bonds said that he tries to block out the possible threats as he prepares for the upcoming season, one in which he needs only 22 home runs to break Hank Aaron's all-time US mark of 755. Bonds, booed at every away park the Giants visit and taunted with doping references, explained his sometimes gruff and curt manner by saying the toll of his safety fears wears upon him. "There's a lot of times I want to say I'm sorry to some of the fans. You're only strong to a point and then you get nervous," Bonds said. "I'm kind of standoffish and stuff and you can't really explain that." This is pretty lousy either way you look at it. Either he's right, proving that there are still a lot of people out there full of a lot of hate, or he's lying and proving all of his detractors right.

What Caught My Eye Today

Pakistan - Police are seeking 10 men, including several tribal elders, accused of pressuring a Pakistani woman to hand over her teenage daughter as payment for a 16-year-old poker debt. The woman alleges that, despite paying off her late husband's debt of $165, she was threatened with harm if she failed to hand over her daughter. The 17 year old girl was to be surrendered as a bride for the son of the man who won the card game years before. President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has vowed to give women more rights in line with his policy to project Pakistan as a moderate, progressive Islamic nation. In December, Musharraf signed into law a bill that makes it easier to prosecute rape cases in the courts, and the country's ruling party recently introduced a bill to outlaw forced marriages, including under tribal custom in which women are married off in order to settle disputes. I'm thinking boyfriend still has a little way to go with his reforms.

Afghanistan - A suicide bomber attacked the entrance to the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan on Tuesday during a visit by Vice President Dick Cheney, killing up to 23 people and wounding 20. Cheney was unhurt in the attack, which was claimed by the Taliban and was the closest that militants have come to a top U.S. official visiting Afghanistan. A purported Taliban spokesman said Cheney was the target of the attack. The U.S. Army countered that Cheney's overnight stay occurred only after a meeting with President Hamid Karzai on Monday was canceled because of bad weather. "The vice president wasn't even supposed to be here overnight, so this would have been a surprise to everybody." So basically the military suggesting that this was merely a coincidence. Talk about sheer dumb luck. I gotta say, I'm not really buying it.

Iraq - The United States and the Iraqi government are launching a new diplomatic initiative to invite Iran and Syria to a "neighbors meeting" on stabilizing Iraq. The move reflects a change of approach by the Bush administration, which previously had resisted calls by members of Congress and by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group to include Iran and Syria in diplomatic talks on stabilizing Iraq. How much do you think it ticked off President Bush to have to do this and how much satisfaction do you think the Iraq Study Group is enjoying from this?

Harry Potter - Well not really. Daniel Radcliffe, who plays the boy wizard in the film adaptations of J.K. Rowling's best-sellers, sheds his magician's robes — and everything else — for his West End stage debut as a troubled stable boy in Peter Shaffer's "Equus." In the play, Radcliffe strips naked. He simulates sex. He smokes. Radcliffe said he saw the stage nudity that comes with the role as "a rite of passage. That iconic scene is the physical and emotional climax of the play. So if I do that with pants on, it would be crap." Yeah, dude. Stick with that argument. I'm sure it will all turn out fine. You locked in those contracts for the rest of those Harry Potter flicks before you did this thing, right?

Tennis - Roger Federer took over the No. 1 ranking in men's tennis more than three years ago, and he shows no signs of letting it go. The 10-time Grand Slam champion reached a new milestone Monday when he broke Jimmy Connors' 30-year-old mark with his 161st week at the top of the ATP rankings. So now what does this guy use for inspiration at this stage in his career, I mean besides winning the French Open for the first time?

Baseball - The Veterans Committee admitted no new members to the Baseball Hall of Fame for the third straight election. Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn were elected to the Hall by the Baseball Writers' Association of America in January. They will stand alone at the induction ceremonies July 29 in Cooperstown. "The process was not designed with the goal to necessarily elect someone," Hall chairman Jane Forbes Clark said. Apparently not.

What Caught My Eye Today

Jesus - Archaeologists and clergymen in the Holy Land derided claims in a new documentary produced by James Cameron that contradict major Christian tenets. The documentary argues that 10 ancient ossuaries — small caskets used to store bones — discovered in a suburb of Jerusalem in 1980 may have contained the bones of Jesus and his family. The very fact that Jesus had an ossuary would contradict the Christian belief that he was resurrected and ascended to heaven. Is anyone else having flashbacks to Geraldo Rivera's documentary on Al Capone's vault?

Genealogy - The Rev. Al Sharpton said he wants a DNA test to determine whether he is related to former segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond through his great-grandfather, a slave owned by an ancestor of the late senator. Professional genealogists, who work for Ancestry.com, found that Sharpton's great-grandfather, Coleman Sharpton, was a slave owned by Julia Thurmond, whose grandfather was Strom Thurmond's great-great-grandfather. Coleman Sharpton was later freed. Talk about your six degrees of separation. This is one that I never would have thought of.

Serbia - The highest U.N. court cleared the Serbian state on Monday of direct responsibility for genocide in Bosnia during the 1992-95 war, but said it had violated its responsibility to prevent genocide. Bosnia had asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to rule on whether Serbia committed genocide through the killing, rape and ethnic cleansing that ravaged Bosnia during the war. The court ruled that the Serbian state could not be held directly responsible for genocide, so paying reparations to Bosnia would be inappropriate even though Serbia had failed to prevent genocide and punish the perpetrators. Okay, I'm confused here. What exactly is the difference between 'responsibility for genocide' and 'responsibility to prevent genocide'?

Iran - Major world powers agreed on Monday to begin work on a new U.N. Security Council resolution on Ian over its nuclear program. Iran dug in its heels over its program as the major powers met in London to discuss tightening U.N. sanctions against the Islamic Republic, which the West fears is trying to build nuclear arms. Iran says its program is purely for electricity. No other details were immediately available from the London meeting but the major powers had been thought likely to discuss imposing a travel ban on senior Iranian officials and restrictions on non-nuclear business. You know, if you really want to screw with their travel, force them to fly on Jet Blue.

The Oscars - Here's how the Hollywood Reporter summed up the evening:

"Host Ellen DeGeneres, though true to her kinder, softer brand of humor, got too silly at times. And the show, which feels bloated under the best of circumstances, ran 20 minutes long despite rigid enforcement of the 45-second rule for acceptance speeches. Past Oscar telecasts tried to satisfy both sides by keeping the unpopular awards in the show but getting through them as quickly as possible, as though they were a necessary evil. Practically every Oscar telecast has one or more moments that remain in our minds and get picked up in future clip reels. There were precious few this time around -- maybe only one. That would be near the end of the show, when first-time Oscar winner Martin Scorsese was embraced by fellow directors Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola.

As for my picks...I went 4 out of 6. Didn't fair so well with the actors.

Cycling - Two items of note.

Embattled German cycling star Jan Ullrich, a former winner and five-time runner-up of the Tour de France, has announced his retirement from cycling on Monday. Ullrich was one of dozens of cyclists implicated in an alleged doping network in Spain last year, which led to his team T-Mobile suspending him from last year's Tour de France.

Levi Leipheimer won the Amgen Tour of California on Sunday having never trailed in the eight-day race. Leipheimer, a three-time top-10 Tour de France finisher, completed 639.2-mile race with a 21-second advantage over Jens Voigt of Germany

Olympics - Olympic wrestling champion Rulon Gardner lost a toe to frostbite after being stranded in the wilderness, impaled himself with an arrow and was involved in a serious motorcycle accident. In his latest escape from death, he survived a plane crash over the weekend into the aptly named Good Hope Bay on the Utah-Arizona border. "I think I'm really lucky," Gardner told CNN on Monday, "after everything I have been through." I'd say that's a bit of an understatement, wouldn't you?

What Caught My Eye This Week - Magazine Edition

Business Week

Top ranked companies based on customer service:
1. USAA (Insurance)
2. Four Seasons Hotels (Hotel)
3. Cadillac (Auto)
4. Nordstrom (Retail)
5. Wegmans Food Markets (Supermarkets)

So if you, like me, have never heard of USAA, here's the scoop. USAA provides auto and home insurance for members of the military and their families.

Celebrity Product Endorsement and Appearance Fees. Here's a sampling of rates charged by celebrities:
Derek Jeter: $100 to $150K to play baseball at a company event; $400 to $600K for a 30 second commercial.
Snoop Dogg: $100 to $200K for a private concert; $200 to $500K for a 30 second commercial.
Jessica Simpson: $400 to $800K for a private concert; $700K to $1 million for a 30 second commercial.
Julia Roberts: $1 million for an unidentified TV commercial voiceover.

Newsweek

Depression - Depression, often unrecognized in men, has a wide range of symptoms. At least one of the first two listed below must me present for a diagnosis:
- Feeling depressed, irritable or angry almost everyday (like every workday)
- Lossing interest in pleasurable activities or hobbies (I'm guessing they mean sex)
- Talking of death or suicide (for me or someone I hate?)
- Talking very negatively or being excessively critical (of myself or everyone else?)
- Acting recklessly or without concern for others (like teenagers?)
- Abusing alcohol or drugs (like professional athletes?)
- Behaving violently and picking fights (like NBA stars?)
- Withdrawing from family and friends (aren't most of us guilty of this?)
- Losing interest in work or school (they can't be serious)
- Talking suddenly about separation or divorce (does that mean 51% of us are depressed?)
- Losing the ability to concentrate (on what?)
- Eating or sleeping too much or too little (that doesn't leave much else)

Needless to say, I'm a bit skeptical.

Male Support - It wasn't too long ago that guys had only two choices in the morning: boxers or briefs. Now there is a wide variety of sexy skivvies that have become hot new fashion accessories. Here's a sampling:
- The Fabric: 2ist's soy briefs feel like 'cashmere' according to the designer.
- The Waist: Diesel has Modal, a soft material used in women's nighties
- The Pouch: C-In2 offers features like the 'sling' and the Trophy Shelf...sort of a WonderBra effect.

I may be going out on a limb here, but maybe the Pouch could put a dent in some of that depression that apparently afflicts anyone with a pulse.

The Week

Spam - No, not the funky meat product. I'm talking about junk email. Last year, more than 180 billion spam messages were sent a day. That's more thant 70% of all email traffic. Now there is a new strain of junk e-mail called "Spam 2.0," specifically designed to sidestep previously successful anti-span methods. Here's my plan. We all 'fess up' to the fact that we're already buying Viagra on a regular basis. Based on the spam in my Inbox, that would eliminate most of ones that I get.

Entertainment Weekly

Indy Lives - Paramount Pictures announced that the long-delayed and highly anticipated Indiana Jones 4, starring Harrison Ford, with hit the big screen in May 2008. Wasn't Sean Connery (Indy's dad in the third installment) younger than Harrison Ford will be in this flick? Give the makeup artist an Oscar nomination for that miracle.

Oscars - Speaking of the Oscars, here's the experts picks for some of the bigger prizes (along with my picks:
- Best Supporting Actor: Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls) / Go Eddie
- Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) / I can't go against a former Idol contestant
- Best Actor: Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland) / Peter O'Toole, please.
- Best Actress: Helen Mirren (The Queen) / Streep was priceless, but I have to go with royalty
- Best Director: Martin Scorsese (The Departed) / This guy is so overdue.
- Best Picture: The Departed / Me too (it's the only nominated flick that I saw).

What Caught My Eye Today

Earthquakes - A small earthquake shook the San Francisco Bay Area today. The temblor measured 3.4 on the Richter Scale and was centered two miles southeast of Berkeley, according to the US Geological Survey's website. The quake, which occurred along the Hayward Fault line, is not uncommon in the Bay Area. Small quakes, similar in magnitude to this one, occur around the Bay nearly once or twice a month. What caught my attention was the Did You Feel It web site maintained by the USGS. Instant feedback from the public is displayed on an interactive map.

Iraq - Brushing aside criticism from the White House, Senate Democrats said their next challenge to President Bush's Iraq war policy would require the gradual withdrawal of U.S. combat troops beginning within 120 days. The draft legislation also declares the war "requires principally a political solution" rather than a military one. The provisions are included in a measure that would repeal the authority that lawmakers gave Bush in 2002, months before the invasion of Iraq, and replace it with a far more limited mission.

A White House spokesman said the administration "of course" would oppose an attempt to alter the existing authorization, and he warned that a pullout of U.S. troops could bring chaos to Iraq. "We're operating under a mandate," he said.

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the White House is not only confused, but in denial. "They can spin all they want, but the fact is that President Bush is ignoring a bipartisan majority of Congress, his own military commanders, and the American public in escalating the war," said Jim Manley. "The American people have demanded a change of course in Iraq and Democrats are committed to holding President Bush accountable."

Given that the Senate tried twice, and failed, to pass a non-binding resolution, I'm not exactly holding my breath on this one.

South Korea - The US and South Korea have reached a deal to hand control of South Korea's military back to Seoul by 2012. The agreement ends a 50-year pact that gave the US wartime command of South Korea's army, dating to the Korean War. South Korea ceded control of its military to a US-led UN force during the Korean War, which ended with a ceasefire in 1953. Ceasefire, yes, but how many of you knew that South Korea is still technically at war with North Korea?

Golf - Tiger Woods' winning streak is over no matter what tour he is playing. In a shocking end to a PGA Tour streak that began in July, Woods failed to notice a ball mark in the line of his 4-foot birdie putt that would have won his third-round match against Nick O'Hern. He missed the putt, then lost in 20 holes when the Australian saved par with a 12-foot putt Friday at the Accenture Match Play Championship. I'm guessing that talks of a slump cannot be far behind. Dude cannot even win 8 events in a row, what a chump.

Cycling - You can continue to indulge my love of the sport or feel free to sign off now. My boy, Levi Leipheimer, now leads the Tour of California by 21 seconds (believe it or not, that's a pretty big margin) after winning the 14 mile Stage 5 time trial in Solvang. The tour wraps up on Sunday with a circuit race through the streets of Long Beach.

What Caught My Eye Today

Politics - Vice President Dick Cheney on Wednesday harshly criticized Democrats' attempts to thwart President Bush's troop buildup in Iraq, saying their approach would "validate the al-Qaida strategy." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi fired back that Cheney was questioning critics' patriotism. Pelosi said. "And you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to call the president and tell him I disapprove of what the vice president said," Pelosi said. "It has no place in our debate." Bush had previously urged her to call him when a member of his administration stepped over the line by questioning Democrats' patriotism, she said. Later, Pelosi said she had tried to reach the president but was only able to get through to White House chief of staff Josh Bolten. Okay, stop it you two, or you will be sent to the corner for a timeout. It's sometimes hard to believe that these people are charged with running our country.

Iraq - Britain's Prince, Harry is being deployed to Iraq this spring with his Blues and Royals regiment. Royal officials announced Thursday that the 22-year-old prince would fight for his country. His regiment is expected to set out in May or June for a six-month tour. Harry, a second lieutenant, has been trained to lead a team of 12 men in four armored reconnaissance vehicles. Word of the deployment comes one day after Prime Minister Tony Blair said British troop numbers in Iraq will be cut by 1,600 in coming months. Good on ya, mate. Besides, chicks dig scars.

Indonesia - Indonesian authorities will drop hundreds of giant concrete balls into a fissure Friday to try to stem a gushing mud eruption that has inundated villages and factories, an official said. The hot, noxious mud — enough to fill 50 Olympic-sized swimming pools — has flowed from the hole each day for the last nine months, forcing at least 11,000 people from their homes. Four villages and 25 factories have been buried under a 30-foot layer of mud. Mud fissures are fairly common along volatile tectonic belts like that one running below Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago. Man, these guys cannot catch a break can they?

Dancing with the Stars - ABC announced Wednesday that Paul McCartney's estranged wife, Heather Mills, will be among the competitors. Mills will be the first contestant with an artificial limb to compete on the series. Olympian Apolo Anton Ohno, boxer Laila Ali, former basketball star Clyde Drexler and actor Vincent Pastore, who played gangster Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on "The Sopranos," Actor and former country star Billy Ray Cyrus, former 'N Sync member Joey Fatone, Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finnessey, former "Entertainment Tonight" host Leeza Gibbons, model Paulina Porizkova and former "Beverly Hills, 90210" star Ian are also in the cast. I'm not sure this is going to be a fair contest. Really, who would vote against someone trying to compete with an artificial leg?

What Caught My Eye Today

Iraq - Britain outlined its plan to withdraw around 1,600 troops from Iraq in the coming months and Denmark said it will withdraw its 460-member contingent by August. Lithuania also said it may pull back its 53 troops from the country. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that despite the announced withdrawals, "the coalition remains intact." Do you think any of these guys are being accused of 'cutting and running'? And this coalition deal...what are we talking about here, a coalition of one?

Italy - Italian Premier Romano Prodi resigned Wednesday after nine months in office following an embarrassing loss by his center-left government in the Senate on foreign policy, including Italy's military mission in Afghanistan. Wow, those Italians are a tough lot. Here, when the leader's party loses an election based largely on foreign policy issues, all he faces is non-binding resolutions.

Iran - Officials at the International Atomic Energy Agency are likely to say that Iran has expanded enrichment efforts instead of freezing them. The UN Securtiy council set a 60-day deadline on Dec. 23 for such a freeze and said continued Iranian defiance past that ultimatum, which runs out Wednesday, could lead to sanctions additional to those it imposed last month. Top Iranian officials showed no signs of compromise. On Tuesday, Iran said it was ready to stop its enrichment program, but only if Western nations do the same — something the United States and others with similar programs are unlikely to even consider. Nice to see that we're finding some common ground from which further diplomatic solutions to this impasse can be explored.

American Idol - Auditions and Hollywood Week are finally over. The battle for the final 12 began last night with the men, but the real entertainment came from the sparring between Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest. Seacrest went off on Cowell on the Fox network's singing competition after the acerbic judge called him 'sweetheart'. The needling continued throughout the broadcast culminating at the end of the show with Seacrest thanking Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and the band — but not Cowell. Now this is what I call riveting television.

Grey's Anatomy - ABC has decided to pursue a spinoff of its popular medical drama "Grey's Anatomy," starring Dr. Addison Montgomery-Shepherd, the sexy neonatal surgeon played by Kate Walsh. I suppose this was bound to happen at some point. The formula seemed to work for the Law and Order and CSI franchises.

What Caught My Eye Today

Dogs Rule - Thanks to a high-tech electronic gadget and a big warm dog named Velvet, three climbers rescued after a harrowing fall and a night in the wind and cold high on Mount Hood are expected to be fine. Searchers credited the group's rescue to two things — Velvet, a black Labrador mix who provided warmth as the three climbers huddled under sleeping bags and a tarp, and the activation of an emergency radio beacon the size of a sunglasses case that guided them to the group. Like I said, dogs rule.

Mardi Gras - Crowds roared enthusiastically for the Zulu parade floats on Fat Tuesday and jazzman Pete Fountain led a band of gypsy musicians as New Orleans celebrated Mardi Gras in style, a year and a half after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Last year's festivities were scaled down — fewer parades and only about 13,000 hotel rooms available. This year, 30,000 rooms were ready, and most were filled for the big weekend leading into Mardi Gras.

Air Travel - You may remember me griping about this last week (Feb 15). JetBlue Airways rolled out a customer bill of rights today that promises vouchers to fliers who experience delays in a move it hopes will win back passengers after an operational meltdown damaged its brand and stock price. Customers will be compensated based on the length of the delays. The vouchers range from $25 to the full amount of the ticket. The delays include airplanes unable to taxi to the gate within 30 minutes and flight departures held up for a minimum of three hours. If a flight is cancelled within 12 hours of its departure, customers can ask for a full refund or a voucher. JetBlue said passengers would also receive vouchers if flight delays are the airline's fault. It also vowed to deplane passengers if an aircraft is delayed on the ground for five hours. Well, that is a start. It will be interesting to see if the industry follows suit before Congress decides whether or not to introduce legislation to force a customer bill of rights on all carriers.

Oil Prices - Crude-oil futures fell sharply Tuesday, as forecasts for warmer weather in the northeastern U.S. in the coming days offset other factors, including continued tensions with Iran over its nuclear program. Temperatures in the northeastern U.S. are expected to warm up this week and to be slightly above normal for the time of year in some areas. Crude for March delivery was last down $1.59, or 2.7%, at $57.80 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. That may be all well and good, but how about some relief at the gas pump? Prices in California are up 14 cents over the past two weeks (averaging $2.63). Ever notice how it takes practical nothing to drive prices up but requires a near miracle for them to come down. Anyone want to bet that the oil companies are going to report some hefty profits for Q1?

Baseball - Barry Bonds reported for the San Francisco Giants' first full-squad workout in Scottsdale, Arizona. He begins his 22nd major league season, and 15th with San Francisco, needing only 22 home runs to break Hank Aaron's career record of 755. The seven-time NL MVP still facing constant questions about whether his home run pursuit was fueled by steroids. Let's be honest here. Like him or not, how many of you won't be watching when he goes for 755 and 756?

What Caught My Eye Today

Armageddon - The United Nations will shortly be asked to take on a new and unfamiliar mission - to save the Earth, not from drought, war or disease, but from the cataclysm that could occur following a direct hit by an asteroid. A group of former astronauts and cosmonauts is warning that at least one asteroid already identified in outer space is on a path that could indeed see it colliding with our planet in 2036. An asteroid named Apophis risks passing very close to Earth on 13 April, 2036. Astronomers warn that as of now, there is a 1 in 45,000 chance of a direct hit. Its impact would be enough to wipe out a country as large as England. Now that would suck. I have friends there. Guess I better start collecting on those outstanding IOUs.

Gay Marriage - Hundreds of gay couples were granted the same legal rights, if not the title, as married couples Monday as New Jersey became the third state to offer civil unions. The civil unions, which offer the legal benefits but not the title of marriage, were granted automatically to the hundreds of gay New Jersey couples who had previously been joined in civil unions or married in other states or nations. Shh. No one say anything to Tim Hardaway. He's already riled up enough about the gay population. This could push him over the edge.

Iran - This time it isn't about the U.S. Iran has rejected claims by Russian officials that it has failed to meet payments for work on the Bushehr nuclear plant in southern Iran. Under the Bushehr deal, Russia would have started the fuel shipments by March, launched the plant in September and begun to generate electricity by November. Russia's Federal Nuclear Power Agency spokesman Sergey Novikov said the "launch schedule definitely could be affected" by the reported delay in payments. An unnamed Russian official told Associated Press Iran was blaming "technical reasons" for the delay. Do you think a bounced check really qualifies as a technical reason. Sounds like a bit of a stretch to me.

Trump - Donald Trump and World Wrestling Entertainment owner Vince McMahon will pick a wrestler to represent them in the ring April 1 at Wrestlemania 23. If their pick is beaten in the "Battle of the Billionaires," the loser will get his head shaved after the match. Is it just me, or is this guy completely nuts?

NASCAR - Kevin Harvick wins the season opening Daytona 500 by 0.02 seconds over Mark Martin. How cool was that finish? But like the rest of the week leading up to race day there was a bit of controversy. Sunday's Daytona 500 was Mark Martin's to win, and according to some, he should have won. NASCAR should have thrown the caution flag immediately upon the start of the mega-wreck on the final lap of the race. NASCAR issued a postrace statement that only made the finish even murkier.

"When the 07 [Clint Bowyer] went sideways on the track, the yellow came out," said NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston. "At that time, the 29 [Harvick] was ahead of the 01 [Martin] and was declared the winner. The vehicles that were involved earlier in the incident [the wreck that preceded Bowyer's] were already off the track and on the apron" and therefore didn't merit a caution.

Perhaps, but let's applaud Mark Martin's class in handling the whole thing. And let's not forget that we still have 35 more races to go.

Cycling - America's premier cycling event (yes there is one), the Tour of California kicked off its first stage today, a 97 mile journey from Sausalito to Santa Rosa. Prologue winner, and Santa Rosa native, Levi Leipheimer crashed late in the stage along with most of the rest of the pelaton but kept the overall lead.

What Caught My Eye This Week - Magazine Edition

Newsweek

Undergarments - One of the more unusual questions raised in the sory of the astronaut turned accused stalker was the deal with the diaper. To avoid time-wasting rest stops during the 900 mile drive from Houston to Orlando, Lisa Nowak wore a diaper. Here is the 'poop' on the diaper. To better accomodate astronauts work in space (like 7 or 8 hour spacewalks), NASA inventing Disposable Absorption Containment Trunks, or 'space diapers'. Astronauts are generally issued 3 diapers for an given mission. Given the tight controls on said devices, it is unlikely, though not impossible, that Nowak wore the NASA grade garments on her drive. It is more likely that she used a commercial product, like Depends. Thank goodness, we got that straightened out. Still one has to wonder why NASA imposes such strict controls on its diapers.

Federal Budget - Here's an interesting breakdown on how federal budget expeditures have shifted over the past 50 years:

1956
Defense: 60%
Interest on National Debt: 7%
Social Security: 22%
All Other: 11%

2006
Defense: 20%
Interest on National Debt: 8.5%
Social Security: 60%
All Other: 11.5%

The deal here is that when it comes to federal budget discussions, the government is really only talking about 11% of expenditures, since the other categories are currently seen as politically untouchable. Pretty hard to affect significant change when you have such a small piece of pie to work with.

Business Week

U.S. Trade Deficit - 2006's $764 billion trade defict was a recordbreaker, but there was some good news. The U.S. actually posted smaller deficits with most of its major trading partners (excluding China) than it did in 2005. The trade deficit in 2006 represented just 1.6% of GDP versus 2.6% in 2005 due largely to global demand for U.S. goods. So as far as I can tell, the good news is that the bad news isn't as bad as it used to be.

Internet Networking - LinkedIn, the online professional site that is partly a social network and partly a virtual business card reports that members employed by salesforce.com and Google have the highest average number of connections (48). By job title, founders and CEOs have the highest number of connections (76), followed by board members (74), and a bit further down the list MBA students (44). By graduate school, Stanford leads the pack (60), followed by MIT (58) and Harvard (57). I've only got 20 connections myself, so I guess I'm below average.

Health in the Workplace - Employers have long been searching for ways to cut medical costs that are largely viewed by employees as entitlements. However, providing healthcare coverage has been an increasing burden for companies which has led businesses to force employees to shoulder more of the cost. Some theorized that higher co-payments and pricier premiums would get people to take better care of themselves. That didn't work, so now many companies (sucha s IBM, Microsoft and Harrah's Entertainment) have turned to wellness programs. Employees who voluntarily sign up of such programs (ranging from weight-loss and smoking cessation programs to mental health counseling) are received discounts on healthcare premiums. While early indicators show that wellness programs are working, there are privacy and discrimation considerations related to how far managers should intrude into employees' lives.

Stuff

Kazakhstan - In a feat that would make Borat proud, the nation's president has commissed a 500-foot tall temperature-controlled tent over the capital city that will includ golf courses, shopping centers and cafes. Sure, that's get tourists lining up at their local travel agencies.

Cardiac Arrest Alert - The Heart Attack Grill in Tempe, Arizona features girls that give the Hooters girls a run for their money. Sexy fetish nurses bring out the Quadruple Bypass Burger ($13) featuring two pounds of ground beef. Assuming you survive the meal, you get rolled out to your car in a wheelchair. I don't make this stuff up, I just report it.

Joke of the Week - 3 guys are selected by a secret government organization and are all brought in for a final test of loyalty. The applicants are told, "Your wife is in the next room. Take this gun and kill her." The first guy goes in but comes out a few seconds later in tears, saying, "I can't do it." The next guy does the same thing. The third guy goes into the room. A couple seconds later ther are 6 gunshots followed by a lot of scuffling. He exits the room out of breath and covered in blood saying, "Some idiot but blanks in the gun! I had to strangle her."

What Caught My Eye Today

Congress - The House on Friday passed, by a 246-182 vote, a measure stating opposition to Bush's decision to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq. The nonbinding resolution was a symbolic rebuke of a wartime president who has lost favor with the public. Here is the text of the Democratic resolution expressing disapproval of President Bush's troop increase in Iraq that the House approved on Friday:

Resolved by the House of Representatives that
(1) Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the United States Armed Forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honorably in Iraq; and
(2) Congress disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush announced on Jan. 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq.

Okay, members of the Senate, the ball is in your court. Are you guys going to actually do something or continue to make yourselves increasingly irrelevant by doinking around with all these procedural votes?

Japan - Japan has turned down an offer from Greenpeace to tow a whaling ship that caught fire off the Antarctic coast. The fire broke out the Nisshin Maru, the 8,000 ton flagship of the Japan whaling fleet, on Thursday, sparking fears that it could spill oil or chemicals. Greenpeace had offered on Friday to tow the stricken boat with its converted salvage ship Esperanza as the Nisshin Maru wallowed without power less than 100 nautical miles from the world's largest Adelie penguin colony. I'm having a de ja vu moment here...Alaska. Exxon Valdez. Man-made threat to sensitive habitat. I think we've been here before.

Healthcare - President George W. Bush said on Saturday it was crucial to rein in U.S. health care costs that are surging at twice the rate of wages and urged the Democratic-led Congress to work with him on the issue. In a proposal that received a chilly response from many Democrats, Bush wants to use tax breaks to encourage people who lack health insurance to buy it on their own. This caught my attention, if for no other reason than I'm relieved to see some policy discussion on something other than the war on terror.

Britney Spears - Pop star Britney Spears sported a newly shaved head when she dropped by a Los Angeles tattoo parlor and quickly drew a crowd. An LA television station KABC showed video of Spears entering the parlor with a small tattoo visible on the back of her neck and her head completely shaved. The tattoo artist told the station Spears got a "dainty" new tattoo. "She got some cute little lips on her wrist -- red lips, a little pink," he said. Spears has acknowledged that her image had taken a beating in recent months. She has become a regular fixture on the circuit of big-city U.S. nightclubs since her split in November from husband and former backup dancer Kevin Federline. Yo girlfriend, I'm no expert, but do you really think this is going to improve your image?

What Caught My Eye Today

Air Travel - On Wednesday, hundreds of JetBlue passengers were stuck for as long as 11 hours in parked jets at John F. Kennedy International Airport during the winter storm. There are no government regulations limiting the time an airline can keep passengers on grounded aircraft. In the late 1990s, the nation's 14 largest airlines joined forces to block a drive by Congress to enact legal protections for passengers, changes that were sought after a series of flight cancellations and delays. The airlines' voluntary code of conduct simply says that during such extraordinary delays, they will make "reasonable efforts" to meet passenger needs for food, water, restroom facilities and medical assistance.

So basically, we get screwed and have no recourse. But fear not, there is hope on the horizon...

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif) said Thursday she will introduce a bill to give passengers the right to get off the airplane if it's been on the ground for more than three hours past its scheduled departure time. I wonder where she'll find the time. After all, that non-binding anti-war resolution seems to be occupying a lot of legislators time.

Iran - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that President Bush lacks the authority to invade Iran without specific approval from Congress, a fresh challenge to the commander in chief on the eve of a symbolic vote critical of his troop buildup in Iraq. She went on to say that Bush consistently said he supports a diplomatic resolution to differences with Iran "and I take him at his word." The article didn's say whether she was smirking when she said this or not, so I'll assume she was being serious.

NASCAR - The 2007 season gets underway this Sunday with the Daytona 500. What the vast majority of us consider 'wreckless driving' and 'hit and run' these luck bastards call racing.

However, all is not well in the world of stock car racing.

NASCAR officials warned teams last season that penalties would escalate to grab the attention of owners, drivers and crew chiefs. They seemingly have it now. Six teams have been busted for breaking the rules, including two-time winner Michael Waltrip, who humiliated Toyota by flagrantly violating the code of NASCAR's garage in the Japanese automaker's debut. The latest driver to fail inspection is Jeff Gordon. Gordon, who won the second of Thursday's two 150-mile qualifying races, now will start the Daytona 500 in 42nd place. NASCAR inspectors said his Chevrolet was almost an inch too low but blamed it on a part failure, not cheating. He was not stripped of the victory.

NBA - Tim Hardaway, who spent 13 seasons in the NBA, was removed from league-related appearances, one day after an anti-gay tirade on a local radio program. Hardaway responded to a question on WAXY about former NBA player John Amaechi and the Englishman's admission of homosexuality with a hard-line stance against gay players in the NBA. "I hate gay people," Hardaway said. "I let it be known I don't like gay people and I don't like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States sports." I think its safe to assume we know where he stands on gay rights.

NBA - The Boston Celtics ended their 18 game losing streak by defeating the Milwaukee Bucks, 117-97 on Wednesday. And in the process, lost its place on my blog. Now they're just another lousy team. In case anyone is wondering who currently has the longest losing streak in the NBA, that would be the LA Lakers sporting a 4 game losing streak.

What Caught My Eye Today

Congress - Day two of the historic debate in the House of Representatives. Breaking ranks, a small band of House Republicans declared their opposition to a troop buildup in Iraq on Wednesday, and President Bush appeared resigned to passage of a nonbinding measure disapproving of his decision. The Democratic leadership says its important for the President to know that it opposes the war. Let me see if I've got this straight. The President is looking at the lowest voter approval ratings of his presidency and got hammered in that latest elections. But this, a non-binding resolution, this will get his attention.

I've been dumping on the the House of Representatives long enough. Let's see what our friends in the Senate have been up to. These guys actually managed a filibuster on the Senate version of the non-binding resolution on opposition to sending more troops to Iraq. Nice to see those tax dollars at work.

Iran - Controversy over a possible missed U.S. opportunity for rapprochement with Iran grew on Wednesday as former aide accused Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of misleading Congress on the issue. A former aide at the NSC when it was headed by Rice said a proposal vetted by Tehran's most senior leaders was sent to the United States in May 2003 but "the administration rejected the overture." No, no. Not possible. How could that possibly have happened? We always go with diplomacy first.

Dogs - Results are in from the 2007 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Group winners:
Working Group - Akita, Ch Redwitch Reason To Believe
Terrier Group - Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Ch Hobergay Fineus Fogg
Toy Group - Toy Poodle, Ch Smash Jp Win A Victory
Non-Sporting Group - Standard Poodle, Ch Brighton Minimoto
Sporting Group - Springer Spaniel, Ch Felicity's Diamond Jim
Hound Group - Petit Bassets Griffons Vendeen - Ch Celestial CJ's Jolly Fairchild
Herding Group - Bouviers des Flandres - Ch Ace's Indelible Mark HT

The 2007 Best In Show Trophy was awarded to the English Springer Spaniel.

Couple of post scripts:
The Terrier group winner, "Harry" is owned by Bill Cosby.
The English Springer Spaniel last won best in show in 2000. The breed has 7 total best in show titles.
Dogs rule.

What Caught My Eye Today

Iraq - The Iraqi commander of the Baghdad security crackdown announced Tuesday that Iraq will close its borders with Syria and Iran for 72 hours as part of the drive to end the violence that has threatened to divide the capital along sectarian lines. 72 whole hours, like in a row? Just out of curiosity...then what?

Al-Qaeda - Al-Qaeda's No. 2 said President Bush was an alcoholic and a lying gambler who wagered on Iraq and lost, according to a new audiotape released Tuesday. Ayman al-Zawahri said in the tape, "Bush suffers from an addictive personality, and was an alcoholic. I don't know his present condition...but the one who examines his personality finds that he is addicted to two other faults — lying and gambling." Hate to burst your bubble, bro'. This is way old news.

Congress - The Democratic leadership set aside most of the week for the historic debate on the Iraq war, expected to culminate in a vote on Friday on a bare-bones, nonbinding resolution that "disapproves of the decision of President George W. Bush...to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq." The debate was Congress' first on Iraq since Democrats gained control of the House and Senate in midterm elections shadowed by voter opposition to the war. Decorum carried the day in the chamber — where catcalls are part of near-daily discourse — as Democrats and Republicans took their five-minute speaking turns across the hours. Ok, I'll come clean...I turned on C-SPAN to catch a glimpse of the goings-on. All I can say is, I want my Cheddar Vision!

North Korea - A hard-won disarmament pact that the U.S. and four other nations struck with North Korea on Tuesday requires the communist nation to halt its nuclear programs in exchange for oil while leaving the ultimate abandonment of those weapons projects to a potentially trouble-filled future. By tackling so many issues in a process likely to take years, the deal could unravel, pulled apart by differing agendas of its six signers, which also include China, South Korea, Russia and Japan. "We have a lot of work to do," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill told reporters. "It's certainly not the end of the process, it's really just the end of the beginning of the process." I read a related story saying that the Chinese are quite taken with Secretary Hill's good manners and general demeanor. Looks like our man Hill is chill.

Boston Celtics - 18 losses in a row. 'Nuff said.

Surveys - Finally, on a lighter note, Salary.com is conducting its annual survey to determine what the sexiest job is. Last year's winner was Firefighter. Here are the contenders for 2007:

Pilot, Landscaper, Soldier, Lawyer, Teacher, Event Planner, Cowboy, Flight Attendant, Interior Designer, Police Officer, Bartender, Reporter, UPS Driver, Personal Trainer, Investment Banker, Photographer, Surgeon, Veterinarian, Firefighter, CEO, Nurse, Professor, Construction Worker.

My vote goes for Mike Rowe's hosting gig on the Discovery Channel, Dirty Jobs.

What Caught My Eye Today

Iraq - Car bombs shattered a crowded marketplace in the heart of Baghdad on Monday, triggering secondary explosions, engulfing an eight-story building in flames and killing at least 78 people in the latest in a series of similar attacks aimed at the country's Shiite majority. Where is the government? Where is the security plan?" survivors screamed. Good question.

Anti-War Bill - House Democratic leaders circulated a nonbinding resolution Monday saying that Congress "disapproves of the decision of resident George W. Bush ... to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq." The measure, expected to come to a vote by Friday, also says that "Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect the members of the United States armed forces who are serving or who have served bravely and honorably in Iraq." Debate on the resolution is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, with each of the 435 House members allotted five minutes to speak. I don't want to sound like a broken record, but...it's NON BINDING, people. If it's not too much to ask for, do you think you could spend some time on something that is binding, like say healthcare reform or Social Security?

Zimbabwe - Inflation in Zimbabwe has continued to spiral upwards, leaping to a record annual rate of 1,593.6% in January. The country has been hit by an unemployment rate of more than 80% and chronic shortages of food and fuel. The top union representing government employees demanded a review of all civil servant salaries, and said if the demand was not met the "agitated" workers would consider protests. I don't want to poke too much fun of an obviously detriorating situation, but how much of a threat does this protest really pose? Only 1 in 5 people can still claim that they are actual workers.

Napping - New research on napping provides the perfect excuse for office slackers, finding that a little midday snooze seems to reduce risks for fatal heart problems, especially among men. Those who napped at least three times weekly for about half an hour had a 37 percent lower risk of dying from heart attacks or other heart problems than those who did not nap. The researchers said naps might benefit the heart by reducing stress, and jobs are a common source of stress. Just out of curiosity, did the study measure the amount of stress among those men who found themselves recently unemployed due to slacking off?

Cycling - International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials have rebuked World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chairman Dick Pound for comments critical of cyclist Lance Armstrong, according to newspaper reports. The Los Angeles Times and New York Times reported that the IOC Ethics Commission censure was dated February 2 and came following a complaint filed in 2005 by the American, a seven-time Tour de France winner.

Here's what specifically caught my attention...

IOC officials endorsed their ethics panel's finding that Pound's comments "could have been regarded as likely to impugn the probity" of Armstrong and were imprudent given the Olympic movement "spirit of friendship, solidarity, and fair play."

For those of you, who like me, have no idea what impugn and probity mean...

impugn: To attack by words or arguments; to call in question; to make insinuations against; to oppose or challenge as false; to gainsay (this, incidentally, was the word of the day on March, 3, 2000 according to Dictionary.com)

probity: Complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness (also honored as word of the day on January 29, 2000)

So to translate...

IOC officials endorsed their ethics panel's finding that Pound's comments "could have been regarded as likely to call in question the Complete and confirmed integrity" of Armstrong and were imprudent given the Olympic movement "spirit of friendship, solidarity, and fair play.

What Caught My Eye Today

Abortion - Voters failed to overturn Portugal's strict abortion law Sunday because of low turnout at the polls, but the prime minister nonetheless vowed to relax the restriction through legislation in the conservative Roman Catholic country. With nearly all the votes counted, almost 60 percent of voters approved the referendum allowing women to opt for abortions up to the 10th week of pregnancy, while slightly more than 40 percent opposed it. However, under Portuguese law more than 50 percent of the country's 8.9 million registered voters must participate in a referendum to make the ballot valid. The turnout Sunday was 44 percent.

And in a related story...

Lawmakers who watched as a near-total ban on abortions failed in South Dakota voting booths last year have revived the legislation with changes that may make the difference in public acceptance. The bill introduced in January includes exceptions for victims of rape or incest and if continuing the pregnancy would harm the woman's health significantly. Last year's ban exempted only abortions needed to save a woman's life, and the lack of more exceptions was cited when voters repealed the ban in November. Public opinion polls have shown that a ban with rape and incest exceptions would pass muster with South Dakotans.

So Portugal first. A country that is 90% Catholic whose religious leaders threatened their congretations with excommunication if they voted for this law could only manage a 44% turnover? Gee, I wonder why? And then there is South Dakota. Is there some concentration of Portuguese-born clergymen in South Dakota that I haven't heard about?

High Fashion - Five models were declared too thin for the catwalk at this week's international designer show in Madrid. Last year, Madrid's Cibeles became the first high profile parade to bar models whose ratio of body weight to height was so low it was deemed an unhealthy example to the public. Bit of a non-sequitur here, but try to follow me on this one. If the fashion industry, let me say that again, the fashion industry, can enforce standards for acceptable health levels for its models, why can't the brain trusts at the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency, sort out this deal with Floyd Landis?

Speaking of cycling...

Cycling - Discovery Channel will drop its sponsorship of former Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong's team after this season. In a statement, Discovery said it was proud to sponsor the team for three seasons, but "we have decided to aggressively shift our focus and resources to support our core business goals and objectives." This goes out to the handful of sports fans who may actually know what I'm talking about...Who didn't see this one coming?

Baseball - Those of you who have been suffering baseball withdrawals (its been nearly 4 whole months since the World Series) can breathe a sigh of relief. Spring training for pitchers and catchers starts on February 15.

Basketball - This one falls into the category of not being able to turn away from watching a train wreck. The Boston Celtics have chalked up 17 straight losses and now own the worst record in the NBA. Fans in Vancouver are hoping that the Celtics can find a way to continue its losing streak for 7 more games. The current record for consecutive losses is held by the former Vancouver Grizzlies with 23. Anyone else notice that the Grizzlies aren't that much better in Memphis than they were in Vancouver?

What Caught My Eye This Week - Magazine Edition

Newsweek

Iran and Iraq - The National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), representing the concensus view of all 16 US intelligence agencies, says Iranian or Syrian involvement [in Iraq] is "not likely to be a major driver of violence." US officials maintain that Iran is helping Iraqi Shia insurgents build bombs. Meanwhile, other US officials familiar with unpublished intel said evidence of Iranian involvement is "ambiguous". I may be going out on a limb here, but maybe, just maybe, the term 'ambiguous' is a politically friendly was of saying 'utterly and completely baseless and lacking in any actual factual evidence'. I'm not suggesting that our intelligence is necessarily wrong. After all, we have such as successful track record so far in the Middle East.

Prosti-tots - The new term being tossed around to describe a new generation of "young girls who dress like tarts, live for Dolce & Gabbana purses and can neither spell nor define such words as 'adequate'". The article goes on to say, "A lot of parents are wondering about the effect of our racy popular may have on their kids and the women they would like their girls to become."

Here's my favorite excerpt...

"The answers are likely to lie in yet another question: where do our children learn values? Here's a radical idea--at home, where they always have."

Yeah, that is a radical idea.

Business Week

Ford Taurus - Ford executives have decided to resurrect the Taurus name just four months after stopping Taurus production. Ford plans to rename the Ford Five Hundred sedan to Taurus based on the fact that the Five Hundred has 30% name recognition versus 90% for the Taurus. A familiar cliche comes to mind here, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but you still have a pig." I may be thinking outside the box on this one, but how about building a better car, one that people would actually want to buy?

The Week

Vaccines - The American Prospect Online reports that a new vaccine can prevent millions of cases of cervical cancer--but only if it reaches those most at risk. State legislatures are now debating whether to require school-age girls to be vaccinated agains the sexually transmitted diseases which causes cervical cancer. Conservative Christian groups oppose the vaccine on the grounds that removing the threat of genital warts and cancer, would encourage teens to engage in premarital sex. Oh, I don't know, we could still threaten to stone them to death or make them wear scarlett letters on their clothes.

Virility - Bloomberg.com reports that 18% of American men cannot get it up, alleging that sedantary lifestyle and bad diet are to blame. Of the more than 2100 men who responding to a national health questionnaire, nealry one in five said that they were either 'sometimes able' or 'never able' to hold an erection through intercourse. That includes 5% of men in their 20s and 30s, 15% in their 40s and 50s, 44% in their 60s and 70% in their 70s or older. I'd like to know who sponsored the study. Maybe Viagra or Cialis? As for the age groupings, heck, if I still have control of any of my body functions into my 70s, I'm claiming victory.

What Caught My Eye Today

Iraq - A leading figure in the Bush administration's march to war in Iraq helped justify the 2003 invasion by undercutting the CIA with questionable intelligence about Saddam Hussein's links to al Qaeda, a Pentagon watchdog agency said in a report on Friday. The chairman of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, said the report showed "extremely poor judgment for which our nation, and our service members in particular, are paying a terrible price." So to recap...goose eggs on the WMDs and ties to Al-Qaeda. Yeah, this is a strong endorsement of our intelligence gathering capabilities.

Russia - The Russian Defense Minister rejected U.S. arguments for deploying an anti-missile defense system in eastern Europe and insisted Russia would not be drawn into a Cold War-style arms race. He said there was no need to base part of the system in NATO countries Poland and the Czech Republic to defend the United States from rockets launched in Iran and North Korea, as Washington argues, saying, "Any expert can prove the flight trajectory of the missile will be very far from the Czech Republic and Poland..." I don't want to sound fatalistic or anything, but dude saying that that our defense plan is a bad idea because the expected missile trajectory was all wrong doesn't exactly give me a warm and fuzzy.

Portugal - A Portuguese bishop compares abortion to the hanging of Saddam Hussein. Meanwhile, a parish priest warned worshippers they'll be automatically excommunicated if they vote "yes'' in a referendum Sunday. Portugal has a liberal center-left government but is steeped in a conservative culture, and is among a dwindling number of European democracies that strictly limit abortion. And they wonder why Catholicism is declining in Europe? Who do they have handling their public relations...Torquemada's ghost? (Okay, this reference is a bit obscure. This ray of sunshine was the first Grand Inquisitor of Spain, known for his campaign of persecution against the Jews and Moors of Spain in the 15th century.)

Anna Nicole Smith - An autopsy found no pills in her stomach, but officials were awaiting the results of toxicological tests that would indicate whether she had taken drugs. The autopsy was able to exclude any types of physical injury such as gunshot wound, asphyxiation or blunt trauma on the body of the 39-year-old former Playboy playmate, wealthy widow and reality TV star, who died Thursday after being found unconscious in a hotel room. Has anyone else noticed how that love triangle story involving the astronaut has suddenly dropped off the front pages?

Social Security - A man accused of faking retardation for nearly two decades so his mother could collect Social Security benefits totaling more than $59,000 has agreed to plead guilty, a federal prosecutor said Tuesday. Seriously, who's the real retard here?

What Caught My Eye Today

Vickie Lynn Hogan - She was stricken while staying at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and was rushed to a hospital where she was declared dead. The curvaceous blonde whose life played out as an extraordinary tabloid tale — Playboy centerfold, jeans model, bride of an octogenarian oil tycoon, reality-show subject, tragic mother was 39. You may be more familiar her stage name...Anna Nicole Smith.

Driving - Vermont lawmakers are considering a measure that would ban eating, drinking, smoking, reading, writing, personal grooming, playing an instrument, "interacting with pets or cargo," talking on a cell phone or using any other personal communication device while driving. The punishment: a fine of up to $600." I see fornication didn't make the list, so I'm cool with this.

Air Travel - More on Pelosi's request for an upgrade to a big plane for travel. After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Pentagon agreed to provide the House speaker, who is second in the line of presidential succession, with a military plane for added security during trips back home. Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican, flew in a small commuter-sized Air Force jet. Pelosi said she would be happy to fly on commercial airliners but said the House sergeant-at-arms office urged her to continue Hastert's practice of using Air Force transport. She said she was informed on her first trip home that her plane would not make it across the country. "I said well, that's fine, I'm going commercial," she told Fox News Channel. "I'm not asking to go on that plane. If you need to take me there for security purposes, you're going to have to get a plane that goes across the country, because I'm going home to my family." Funny how those little tidbits of information seem to have been left out of the initial allegations made by the Republicans. Always nice to see members of Congress getting along so well.

Cheddar Vision - Catch the latest craze to sweep the Internet (http://www.cheddarvision.tv). When contacted about the sudden emergence of a competitor, the International Coalition of Paint Drying Watchers issued the following statement, "We've seen competitors come and go. A couple of years ago, the Watching Grass Grow World Alliance launched a similar campaign against us and folded after a couple of months. We feel that we offer a superior offering to our customer base, and that this latest attempt to challenge our dominate market position will ultimately fail."

NBA - The Boston Celtics losing streak hit 16 on Wednesday night. Amazingly, they are only the second worst team in the NBA. That distinction goes to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Cycling - Floyd Landis won't defend his title in this year's Tour de France in order to concentrate on fighting doping charges against him. I don't want to split hairs, but you cannot defend something that you might not have.

Soccer - Only six soccer stadiums in Italy meet security requirements, meaning that league games in other arenas will be played without fans following last week's death of a police officer during riots at a game in Sicily. See, that's why they're called 'hooligans' rather than 'fans'.

What Caught My Eye Today

Astronaut Stress - NASA, at a loss to explain what went wrong, said it would revamp its psychological screening process in light of Lisa Nowak's arrest. The review will look at how astronauts are screened for psychological problems. You guys really stayed ahead of the curve on this one, didn't you?

Air Travel - Republicans on Wednesday assailed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's request for access to an Air Force transport plane as an extravagance. Republicans are taking issue with the size of the plane Pelosi has requested. Pelosi had asked for access to a C-32 plane, a military version of the Boeing 757-200. "It's not a question of size, it's a question of distance," Pelosi said Wednesday. "We want an aircraft that can reach California." Now, now...we all know that size really does matter.

Iraq - Three former Iraqi diplomats and their families are seeking asylum in Australia after Iraq ordered them back to their war-torn country, government officials said Thursday. Can you blame them?

NBA - Former NBA center John Amaechi, who spent five seasons with four teams, on Wednesday became the first NBA player to publicly come out. Way to 'man up', dude (sorry, couldn't help myself). I'm not exactly sure why this sort of thing is still newsworthy, but can you imagine the stuff that will hit the fan when the first NASCAR driver comes clean? Seriously, you don't mess with a man's chassis.

Snickers - The Superbowl ad for Snickers candy bars was benched after its maker got complaints that it sent the wrong message to viewers. Yeah, I agree...the chest hair pulling was way too violent.

What Caught My Eye Today

Gay Marriage - Last summer, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that the state could prevent gay and lesbian couples from marrying because the state has a legitimate interest in preserving marriage for procreation. In response, the Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance filed an initiative which contains 5 has five clauses that would have to be met for a legal marriage. It would allow only couples capable of having kids to marry, and that they file "proof of procreation" within three years of the marriage. If not, the marriage would be annulled. The initiative would also force couples who married out of state to show the same proof of procreation or their marriage wouldn't be recognized, and it would become a criminal act for anyone in an unrecognized marriage to get marriage benefits.

You have to give these guys points for creativity. Here's one to scratch your head on...what if the initiative actually becomes law? Not possible, you say? How many of these would you have thought 'impossible'...

- The guy who starred as 'Gopher' on 'The Love Boat', gets elected to the US Congress representing Iowa
- A former professional wrestler, known as 'The Body', gets elected as governor of Minnesota
- A former Warner Bros. contract player and later television star, gets elected as the 40th President of the United States (did a pretty good job ending that Cold War deal, too)
- The 'Terminator' gets elected as the 'Governator' of California

...It could happen.

Iraq - An Iranian diplomat has been kidnapped by gunmen in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. Iran condemned the abduction, saying it held the United States responsible for the diplomat's "safety and life." I'm guessing these guys read the same 'Diplomacy for Dummies' book that North Korea did. Lemme see I have this straight. Iran loses one of its diplomats in Iraq. The US is to blame. If the US doesn't secure the safe return of said diplomat, relations with Iran will become more strained. Hello? We have no diplomatic relationship with you guys in the first place.

Love Triangle - From the 'truth is stranger than fiction' file, a married mother of three who flew on a space shuttle in July, was charged with attempted murder, accused of hatching an extraordinary plot to kidnap a woman, who she believed was romantically involved with a fellow astronaut. According to police, 'her obsession with him led her to drive 900 miles from Houston to Orlando, bringing with her a trenchcoat and wig, armed with a BB gun and pepper spray, and wearing a diaper to avoid bathroom breaks on the arduous drive.' I can just see the executives at the FOX and Lifetime television networks tripping over themselves to secure the film rights from the alleged assailant and victim.

What Caught My Eye Today

Iraq - Republicans blocked a full-fledged Senate debate over Iraq on Monday. The 49-47 vote was 11 short of the 60 needed to go ahead with debate, and left the fate of the measure uncertain. So much for the passage of a symbolic, non-binding, and, ultimately useless resolution. Here's a thought...rather than whining about the current strategy, maybe Congress could come up with an alternative for getting us out of this mess.

Gavin Newsom - San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said Monday that he plans to seek counseling for alcohol use, following the disclosure that he had an affair with the wife of a veteran aide. I tried to ignore this, I really did. Can someone tell me how this managed to become national news? Think about it...a publicly elected official getting caught with his pants down...we've been down this road before.

Rudy Giuliani - Giuliani refiled papers with the Federal Election Commission establishing a committee to explore a presidential bid, which allows him to raise money, travel and hire staff. In case anyone is keeping track, we're up to 6 official candidates (Joe Biden, Christopher Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich and Tom Vilsack) and 4 with exploratory committees (Hilary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama, Bill Richardson and Giuliani).

Super Bowl - Way to go Peyton. Though for my money, the MVP should have gone to Dominic Rhodes. Stat of the game came in the 3rd quarter when Yards Off Interceptions (for Indy) were 97 and Passing Yards (for Grossman) were 114.

Super Bowl Ads -

My top three:
1. Bud Light - Rock, paper, scissors...an instant classic
2. Doritos - These guys made this ad for $12...and it was funny.
3. Snickers - Guys kissing, chest hairs being yanked out...what more could you ask for?

My bottom three:
1. Revlon - Sheryl Crow is still smokin' hot, but spot was dead on arriveal.
2. HP - Speaking of which...zzz.
3. GoDaddy.com - Danica Patrick's cameo not withstanding...this was a letdown.

What Caught My Eye This Week - Magazine Edition

Here are some items that caught my attention this week.

Newsweek

"The Enemy At Home" by Dinesh D'Souza is a new book by the right-wing critic who blames the terrorist attacks of 9/11 on left-wing politicians, movie stars and activists.

D'Souza claims that he is 'merely identifying people who, blinded by hatred of President Bush, actively work to promote the interests of the jihad...'

Wait, there's more...

'D'Souza believes that bin Laden, although his tactics were deplorable, was expressing a legitimate case against America, that notorious fount of pornography, homosexuality and women's liberation.'

Almost done...

He writes, 'What traditional cultures...consider deviant and disgusting, many liberals consider progressive and liberating.'

I'm not sure I can top this. Sadly, I think this guy is serious.

The Week

It was a 'Good week for: Emma Faust Tillman of Connecticut, who at 114 was named the world's oldest person by Guinness World Records.'

Unfortunately...

It was also a 'Bad week for: Emma Faust Tillman of Connecticut, who died days after assuming the title of World's Oldest Person. The title now passes to Yone Minagawa, 114, of Fukuoka, Japan.'

At least she got her 15 minute of fame...barely.

Business Week

What's Hot in 2007 according to 'Parker on Wine' by Robert Parker
- Spain's 2004 and 2005 vintages
- Argentinian malbec
- Italian prosecco
- Chateauneuf du Pape
- Paso Robles syrah and syrah blends
- Southern Italy
- Germanys 2005s

What's Not
- Bordeaux wine futures
- Red and white Burgundy
- Overpriced mediocrities for the Napa Valley
- Brunello di Montalcino
- Alsatian whites
- Gigondas
- New Zealand

FHM

Rest In Peace. After a seven year run, the March 2007 issue is its last. I'm not ticked off because I've lost a treasured part of my weekend ritual (turns out they have an online edition). I've peeved because I'm paid up through 2009. I want a refund!

What Caught My Eye Today

Iraq - The chairman of the House Armed Service Committee commenting on a collaborative report by 16 U.S. spy agencies says it "demonstrates that the situation in Iraq is indeed dire and deteriorating." Dude, you needed a report to figure this out?

Iraq and Afghanistan - The Bush administration will ask for another $100 billion for military and diplomatic operations in Iraq and Afghanistan this year and seek $145 billion for 2008, a senior administration official said Friday. This new request brings total appropriations for 2007 to $170 billion. Here's what we could have blown that money on instead:

- 109 billion cups of Starbucks coffee or...
- 54.8 billion Big Macs or...
- 1.4 million Porsche 911s or...
- 850 Boeing 747s or...
- 100 Space Shuttles or...
- almost 2 International Space Stations or...
- Peru

Global Warming - According to a United Nations panel consisting of more than 2500 scientists, mankind is to blame for global warming. The findings conclude that it is 'more likely than not' that greenhouse gases have made tropical cyclones more intense. For those skeptics out there, see my next observation...

Central Florida Storms - Early Friday morning, the deadiest combination of thunderstorms and tornados to hit Florida in nearly a decade destroyed hundreds of homes and killed 19 people or more.

Coffee - Consumer Reports magazine had trained tasters sample a medium cup of black coffee from McDonald’s, Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks. And the winner was...McDonalds. Here are some of the reviews:

- McDonald's: "decent and moderately strong...with no flaws."
- Burger King: "looked like coffee but tasted more like hot water."
- Dunkin' Donuts: "weak and watery....with no oomph."
- Starbucks: "strong but burnt and bitter enough to make your eyes water instead of open."

Harry Potter - In a follow up to yesterday's posting, Amazon.com reported generating more than 1.5 million pre-orders for Book 7 on Thursday. It took two and a half weeks for Book 6 to generate the same number of pre-orders.

Did You Know? - Heard this little tidbit on the radio today. The busiest traffic interchange in the U.S. is the 101/405 Interchange in Los Angeles. Next time you get that question playing Trivial Pursuit, you'll be prepared.

What Caught My Eye Today

Iran - It's comforting to find French President Jacques Chirac has his stories straight when it comes the prospects of Iran developing nuclear weapons. He said in an interview on Thursday that it would not be very dangerous for Iran to have one or two nuclear bombs. Later the same day, his office delivered the following statement, "France, with the international community, cannot accept the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran and calls on Iran to respect its commitments under the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty)...."

Exxon Mobil - The world's largest oil company announced record annual profits in 2006 of $39.5 billion, topping the record it set in 2005 of $36.13 billion. I'm all for making a buck, but doesn't this sort of thing tick you off just a little bit? I suppose I shouldn't complain too much, after all gas is 2 whole cents cheaper than a year ago (the statewide average in California this week is $2.49 vs. $2.47 in 2006).

Harry Potter - Book 7 comes out July 21. In a related story, Amazon.com reported higher than average traffic today. Coincidence? Let's just say that I've pre-ordered my copy.

Miss USA - Says she dabbled in cocaine. Well, thank goodness she chose to share that little tidbit with us. Maybe this will give fresh life to that stimulating dialogue between Rosie and Donald. It's been like a week since we've heard from these two. No wonder I've been feeling out of sorts this week.

Super Bowl - Another sign that the game is almost upon us...GoDaddy.com gets its Super Bowl spot approved on its third try. Quite an improvement over the 13 times it took to get past the CBS censors last year. One can only hope that the ads aren't too watered down. Click here for the spots that didn't make the cut.